Church News

On Sunday, May 18, we will be celebrating our graduating High School Seniors. We would like to recognize all graduates of the congregation on this Sunday.

If you or a family member are finishing an undergraduate, masters, doctoral or other program, let us know so we can recognize this milestone in worship.

Please email Rebekah Anderson by Monday, May 12.

Join us to celebrate important milestones in the lives of our youth.

For 8th graders currently finishing Confirmation, we’ll celebrate their hard work and dedication to learning about their faith as they enter a period of discernment before choosing whether or not they’d like to join the church.

For 10th graders, we’ll celebrate the culmination of their discernment following their time in Confirmation in 8th grade by welcoming them as members of the church.

This is such a special Sunday. We hope you’ll join us!

The Pentecost offering helps our youth begin life with a strong start — a solid foundation of faith formed in the first third of life, from childhood through young adulthood.

Each year on Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the church. The Holy Spirit remains with us still, connecting us with the church of the past, continuing to inspire the church of today, and pointing us to the church of the future.

Each year, this celebration is marked by receiving the Pentecost Offering which nurtures the faith of those who are the church.

Congregations keep 40% of receipts to initiate or support programs for young people in their communities. Please consider giving generously this Pentecost Sunday, June 8!

Sundays, June 1, 8 & 15

We are again collecting money to purchase backpacks for the students at Christopher House. When school begins in the fall, we want the children to have the excitement of new supplies. The suggested donation is $20, but all donations are very welcome!

Please donate cash or checks or use the church’s website choosing Christopher House Backpacks from the drop down menu. Make checks payable to Presbyterian Women.

We are asking for monetary donations only.

Your support is needed now more than ever! Thank you!

Mary and Martha’s Lending Closet is ready for the spring and summer seasons. If you have not checked out Mary and Martha’s Lending Closet yet – now is the time. Make sure to reserve your items for your graduation party, summer backyard BBQ or whatever event you are hosting.

You might be wondering what exactly Mary and Martha’s Lending Closet is. We are your one-stop shop for all things entertaining – from tables and chairs, to serving dishes, dishes, glassware, vases, centerpieces, outdoor games, and yes – a giant movie screen and projector for that fun backyard movie viewing.

We are the perfect place to borrow for your next book club, graduation party, shower, neighborhood gathering, the casual or fancy dinner party.

We have it all. What does it cost? Just make a donation to the closet. Make an appointment today to reserve your items for your next gathering, or just to see what is available.

Engraved bricks in the Memorial Prayer Garden honor loved ones and friends, living or deceased, in a beautiful setting.

Engraved bricks require a donation of $50 for two lines of 12 characters and spaces or a donation of $65 for three lines of 12 characters and spaces. Forms are available in the literature rack by the church office and on the website.

Bricks are ordered once each year and are installed only in the fall, usually September or October. Late orders will not be ordered until next year. Mail or deliver your completed order form and attached check to the church office. If you have questions, you may contact the church office.

For installation in the fall of 2025, please have your orders in by Monday, June 30.

We’re organizing teams for the 2025 season at Palatine Hills Golf Course. During May through August, we will have Tuesday evening tee-times for 9-hole rounds.

Whether you are already a great golfer or just learning how to play, you are welcome to join the league. We also need substitutes!
For additional information, please contact Arlene Bullerman.

It is still cold but Easter will be here before we know it. The first sign of spring is the sign up for Easter flowers on March 2 and March 9 in the Narthex.

Help our church put on a fresh new spring look by supporting Presbyterian Women (PW) flower orders. PW members will be ready to take your contributions before and after Sunday services.

Suggested donation is $35.

Thank you for bringing some spring beauty to our church.

Contact Marty Kraybill, [email protected] with questions.

Please consider joining our newly created Wedding/Funeral Guild.

Are you good at coordinating events? Do you like to connect with people during important times? Maybe, being a part of this guild is just right for you. If interested please contact Pastor Barbara.

Sundays, March 2 and 9, Aidan McLeod of Scout Troop 32 will be holding a book collection as part of his Eagle Scout Project. Bernie’s provides new and gently used children’s books for newborn babies through children in 6th grade to promote literacy and learning in underserved communities throughout Chicagoland.

Collection bins will be in the Lobby of the church starting on March 2. Bernie’s accepts new and gently used fiction and non-fiction picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, mysteries, science fiction, sports, art, science and technology books.

For more information about Bernie’s, please visit: www.berniesbookbank.org

On Sunday, February 2, we celebrated Scout Sunday with Scout Troop 32. As part of the worship service, we recognized member and troop leader, Nick Lopuszynski who received the God and Service Award.

The God and Service Award was designed to express appreciation for outstanding leadership and significant contributions by an adult to the spiritual, social and physical lives of our young people.

Other members of the congregation who have received the award in the past are Kim Hogan, Connie Landwehr and Rob Lincoln.

Congratulations Nick!

Our popular Restaurant Walk fellowship program returns for another session in March and April. This is a great way to connect with other members of the congregation while enjoying a restaurant meal together.

Restaurant: Bistro Chen (Chinese)
10 E. Miner Street, Arlington Heights

Dates:
Sunday, March 2 12:00 pm

Tuesday, March 11, 6:00 pm

Tuesday, April 8, 6:00 pm

Sunday, April 13, 6:00 pm – After Haydn’s Creation Concert

You can park at church and it is a three minute walk to the restaurant, or on Miner Street near the restaurant.

To sign up for a date: Click the button below, sign up at church, or call Carol Vega in the office.

As we continue our journey through this year, the Children’s and Youth Ministries Committee will be sending care packages to support our First Pres college students on their journey. If you’d like to donate treats or other items to include in the packages, we will be collecting items in the Narthex on Sundays, February 9 and February 16, or you can deliver them to the church office by February 19.

Suggested items:

•$5 Starbucks gift cards

•Prepackaged snacks such as: cookies, candy bars, crackers, granola bars

•Gum

•Packets of hot chocolate or soup

Monetary donations to help cover shipping are also appreciated and can be given online. We are also collecting current mailing addresses for the college students, as well as cell phone and email address.

If you have college students in your family, please send us the info via email to Rev. Rebekah Anderson or Darl Pochert, [email protected].

We have been busy bees here at First Pres. If you have a chance, go downstairs and see our Kitchen and the PADS area! Thanks to Carolyn Selke, we have completed a reorganizing and deep cleaning of the kitchen. You won’t believe how good it looks! The first phase of the renovation of the PADS area is finished. Thanks to those who painted, sorted, disposed of unwanted items and generally everyone who lent a hand to create a beautiful, clean space to welcome our overnight guests. It looks like a totally different space. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Dear church family, thank you so much for your generous response in supporting our refugee family. Within a very short time, we were able to collect everything that we needed. In early January, we rented a truck and completely furnished an apartment for a family that has been in a refugee camp in Uganda since 2019, after fleeing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Now they have a new home. A special thanks to Kim, John and Ben Nowak who found needed furniture and brought it to church. Kim Nowak and Kim Hogan spent an afternoon cleaning the apartment. Moving day volunteers include: Therese and Ben Haines, Carol and Kevin Kelley, Amy Lumsden, David Hogan and Jack Hempleman. Amy Hempleman also tracked down a lot of the decorative items that made the house much more homey. We are eternally grateful to all of them! Your commitment to helping those in need is a blessing.

Our first quarter bookmarks will go to the support of Dia Nuevo, a Spanish speaking new worshipping community of the Chicago Presbytery in Hanover Park. Dia Nuevo is comprised of first generation immigrants from Colombia, Venezuela and Guatemala. Their pastor began to gather new immigrants from the area for Bible study and prayer with the help of Elmhurst Presbyterian Church during the pandemic. The church now has about 30 members. Please give generously.

On our cold nights in January and February, it is wonderful to have a warm house and a cozy blanket to wrap yourself in. Not everyone is lucky enough to have that warmth and comfort. During the months of January and February, PW will be collecting for the Blanket Drive. The goal of Church World Services (CWS) is to build a world where there is enough for all. By providing a donation of $10, CWS can provide a blanket as a vital and powerful resource for someone needing a little support, warmth and encouragement. Please help those facing crisis by donating to the Blanket Drive.

Envelopes can be found in the pew rack and checks may be made out to First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights (indicate Blanket Drive in the memo). You may also donate online (select BLANKET DRIVE on the dropdown menu). Please be generous! Questions? Contact Lois Meisterheim