Sunday we welcomed Debbie Griffith Samuels, Director of Mission and Outreach, and her husband Deacon Wiley Samuels. This was her first visit to our church, unless you count her selflessly donated kidney that was here last week with our speaker Jerome Nelson! 

Jerome Nelson, our Central Conference Superintendent, joined us and it did our hearts good to see our brother in good health. We also warmly welcomed Lydia Barry, our newest regular attender.

We welcomed back Pete Sjoblom, Director of Congregational Vitality at Central Conference of the Covenant Church, who facilitated our Veritas workshop about 3 years ago. 

We are immensely blessed to have a pastor with a loving family, who are all fervently missed during this sabbatical.  But in Pastor Kevin’s absence God continues to graciously provide through His willing and gifted servants.  Our genuine, diverse, faithful church family experienced another beautiful and rich worship service Sunday morning.

We welcomed guest speaker David Liming and his wife Karen and daughters Rose (5) and Maggie (3).   He brought a unique perspective as a technological support worker for Wycliffe bible translators, and he shared a table full of related interesting paraphernalia.

Sunday morning we welcomed special guests Paul & Linda Erickson and Brian, Julie, Leo, & Aletheia Sendelbach.  Paul and Linda kicked off our Sunday school season with an interesting and informative talk on the current state of Missions.

The service this week was a unique and moving experience architected by Gweneth.  The goal was a harvest feast of praise.  Rembrandt’s Return of the Prodigal Son on the screen set the tone visually.  Themes were pulled from The Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love With the God Jesus Knows by James Bryan Smith.

Sunday morning was, as usual, a special time of praising God and loving each other.  Vanessa briefly shared of the League’s recent Russian Messianic Synagogue in the Chicago area…and how for many corporate worship comes at significant sacrifice. Miguel and Dante graced us with a simple & beautiful rendition of Chris August’s Starry Night.

Apologies for this being a little late...  I think we are all adjusting to Pastor Kevin beginning his three month sabbatical.  While we as a church are happy that Pastor Kevin is getting a much needed rest, we certainly miss his teaching and family's presence.  

South Side Mission is a ministry that we, at FCC, have partnered with for many years.  "South Side Mission exists to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ to the poor, and in His name to love, feed, house, clothe and teach all those people He sends to us."  This ministry is a very tangible example of being Christ's hands and feet.