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You will find an accepting group of fellow travelers at Rogers Park Presbyterian Church This is a place for people at every stage of their faith journey and we welcome you and your gifts.
Miriam Pukalo
Earlier this week, long time Elder, Miriam Pukalo passed away. A memorial service will be held at the church July 12th at 11:00 AM after the service.
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Church Service 10:00 AM
During the summer, we have the service 1 hr. earlier to beat the heat.
WELCOMING SUMMER
Somebody told me about a billboard she saw while traveling in North Carolina. It read, Three-fourths of the Earth’s surface is water, and one-fourth is soil. It’s easy to see that the good Lord intended for us to do more fishing than yard work.
While you might not agree with the specific conclusion, the point is on target: relaxation, rest and recreation are part of God’s plan for our lives. Physical exercise, a change of pace, and different scenery can do wonders for our mental and emotional outlook. Vacation can be a great opportunity to catch up on those projects and pursuits we never quite find time to do otherwise. Family members and friends will rejoice in the additional time that we give to nurture our closest associations. A relaxed schedule -- or better, no schedule -- can attune our hearts to the “still, small voice” within.
Native Americans have a saying: The bow that is always pulled taut is easily broken. Much of the stress of our life comes from its busy-ness. And we see its destructive effects in our bodies, relationships, and inner peace. This summer let us learn to let go, bend, and breathe deeply -- to relax.
Recreation (re-creation) can do wonders for our spirits too. Jesus said, Come to me, all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. The rest Jesus gives is not a surrender of our responsibilities, but an invitation to receive the strength and spirit we need to accomplish them gracefully. “Vacation” literally means to empty oneself, and can provide the space to be filled anew with the creative, renewing Spirit of God. My prayer for all of us is to enjoy re-creation often. Worship is one way to experience the refreshing balm of God’s presence and a community of persons who care about you. Hoping to see you in worship at Rogers Park Presbyterian this summer -- beginning June 21, we gather at 10:00 a.m. Shalom!
Kent Organ, Interim Pastor
Welcoming New Members
On Sunday, June 28, we happily welcomed four new members into the Rogers Park
Presbyterian family.
Raymond Call, Jr. is already involved as a youth group advisor. He is an investments
solutions representative for Country Insurance.
Edem Djiracker, who came to the U.S. from Ghana in 2002, is a consultant in finance,
payroll and computers.
Rosa Lee Johnson, a Lakeview High grad, will attend Southern Illinois U this fall. This
summer she's working at Alternatives, Inc.
Claudia Tengey, also is from Ghana, arriving in 2003. The mother of Eli and Edem, she is
a caregiver with children and the elderly.
We are delighted to have these friends join us in the life and work of Rogers Park
Presbyterian Church.
A PASTORAL TRANSITION COMING
Our interim pastor, Kent Organ, will conclude his service with us at the end of July. Our Session (governing body) has consulted with Chicago Presbytery’s committee on ministry, and has decided next to seek a “temporary supply pastor.” Having a temporary supply pastor gives the church great flexibility, since that individual -- unlike interim pastors or stated supply pastors -- may be considered for longtime service, if that should be the congregation’s choice. The Session’s pastoral search committee is composed of Elders Essie Jones, Jeremy Cowan and Georgette Joseph. It is their hope to present a candidate to begin service in August. So we will stay tuned.
During Kent Organ’s time with Rogers Park Presbyterian Church, we have set short-term goals and re-formed committees, engaged in a pastoral vacancy self-assessment, revised church by-laws, assessed church building needs, negotiated a new lease with Christopher House Head Start, narrowed the gap between income and expenses, begun a youth group, found a new live-in custodian, and begun preparations for our 2010 100th anniversary celebration. We thank him for his service.
INTRODUCING DAVID PRICE
David Price is our new live-in custodian. He and his wife Linda, who is a medical assistant, now reside in our four-room apartment. In return for this living space and utilities, David will work for the church 25 hours per week. He began his service with us on June 1. David, in his “day job,” is a jack-of-all-trades handyman, who can install and repair just about anything. These skills will be useful here. We welcome David and Linda Price to the Rogers Park Presbyterian Church family. And we thank Maurice Glover for his service during the past few years as our acting custodian.
OUR PENTECOST CELEBRATION
The Day of Pentecost, was a festive occasion for us. The three congregations that use our church building met together in worship to celebrate the birthday of the church described in Acts, chapter 2, when the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples of Jesus and people from all over the world -- people of many races and tongues -- all understood their testimony. And so on May 31, here at Rogers Park Presbyterian, we worshiped with the Haitian United Church of God and the Bethel Presbyterian Church of Ghana in three languages: in English and French and Twi. Each congregation’s choir sang an anthem. And then,. Following the worship service, we went to the Fellowship Lounge for an international feast, after first being led in a prayer of blessing, in Twi, by Bro. Paul Asiama. It was a joyful day, and we look forward to many more such celebrations of the Spirit together.
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