The Record
Second Presbyterian Monthly Newsletter - April 2018
Second Presbyterian Church is building a Christ-Centered Community Through Inspirational Worship, Education Ministry and the Power of Service.
FROM YOUR PASTOR
Easter is not a Sunday, but a season. Luke writes that the risen Jesus “presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1: 3). The early church added seven Sundays to this season, to truly celebrate the miraculous power of the resurrection. The last holy day is Ascension (usually on a Thursday) followed by the Sunday of Pentecost.
My favorite hymn tells us about the season of Eastertide that we celebrate. . .
NOW THE GREEN BLADE RISES
Now the green blade rises from the buried grain,
Wheat that in dark earth many days has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been;
Love is come again like wheat arising green.
In the grave they laid him, love by hatred slain,
Thinking that he would never wake again,
Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen;
Love is come again like wheat arising green.
Forth he came at Easter, like the risen grain
He that for three days in the grave had lain;
Raised from the dead, my living Lord is seen;
Love is come again, like wheat arising green.
When our hearts are wintry, grieving or in pain,
Your touch can call us back to life again,
Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been;
Love is come again like wheat arising green.
From The Lutheran Book of Worship
David M. Neff
Pastor
APRIL 15—THE TITANIC IN MUSIC AND STORY
Friends of Historic Second Church, in partnership with Glessner House Museum
and the Greater Chicago Chapter of the Victorian Society in America, will sponsor
a special performance entitled “The Titanic in Music and Story” on Sunday, April
15 at 3:00 p.m. John Sherer, organist and music director at Fourth Presbyterian
church will perform music from 1912, music performed aboard the Titanic, and
music written in honor of those lost; and will share stories of some of the 1500
victims, including Second Presbyterian member Ann Elizabeth Isham. Period
attire is encouraged. The ship’s wheel will be displayed for photo opportunities. A
reception will follow. The cost is $25.00 per person, tickets can be purchased
online at www.glessnerhouse.org
Friends of Historic Second Church, in partnership with Glessner House Museum
and the Greater Chicago Chapter of the Victorian Society in America, will sponsor
a special performance entitled “The Titanic in Music and Story” on Sunday, April
15 at 3:00 p.m. John Sherer, organist and music director at Fourth Presbyterian
church will perform music from 1912, music performed aboard the Titanic, and
music written in honor of those lost; and will share stories of some of the 1500
victims, including Second Presbyterian member Ann Elizabeth Isham. Period
attire is encouraged. The ship’s wheel will be displayed for photo opportunities. A
reception will follow. The cost is $25.00 per person, tickets can be purchased
online at www.glessnerhouse.org.
THE RESURRECTION
Enough! The Resurrection, a heart’s clarion!
Away grief’s gasping, joyless days, dejection.
Across my foundering deck shone a beacon, an eternal beam.
Flesh fade, and mortal trash fall to the residuary worm;
World’s wildfire, leave but ash:
In a flash, at a trumpet crash,
I am all at once what Christ is,
since he was what I am,
And this Jack, joke, poor potshard, patch matchwood,
Immoral diamond is immortal diamond.
Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1899)
LECTIONARY PASSAGES—THE 50 DAYS OF EASTERTIDE
April 8-- Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9’; John 20: 19-31
April 15-- Psalm 116: 1-4, 12-19; 1 Peter 1: 17-23; Luke 24: 13-35
April 22-- Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10: 1-10
April 29-- Psalm 31; 1 Peter 2: 2-10; John 14:1-14
May 6-- Psalm 66:8-20; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14: 15-21
May 13-- Psalm 47 or Psalm 93; Ephesians 1: 15-23; Luke 24:44-53
BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES
Please join us for Bible study on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in the Library. The curriculum is “Living the Word”. A different lesson is highlighted each Sunday morning. On Tuesday afternoons, the Reverend Dr. Joel Tolliver continues teaching on the book of Genesis. Please join us for this informed and inspiring discussion. All are welcome.
JOIN THE CHOIR
Our Summer Volunteer Choir will begin singing on the first Sunday in June. Be on the lookout for additional information. You don’t have to be a member of Second Church to join.
JOIN THE WORSHP AND MUSIC COMMITTEE
The Worship and Music Committee is responsible for:
· Maintaining and enhancing Sunday Worship Services
· Engaging additional participants in the service aspect of worship (ushering, liturgist/readers and serving communion)
· Developing and enhancing the “music tradition” of the church including creating new traditions
We are looking for A Few Good Men and Women to join our committee! We meet every 5th Sunday at 12:30 pm. Won’t you consider joining us?
Worship and Music Committee – Darlene Pollard, Chair
NEWS FROM THE PEWS
Congratulations to Francis Osazuwa who won the Dalsy Award for Extraordinary Nursing from the University of Chicago Hospital. Francis serves as an attending nurse in the Surgical Unit.
Austin and Antoinette Ashmore spent Easter in South Carolina with family.
Paula Patel recently took a trip to Cancun, Mexico!
Ramon and Leah Smith took a trip to Puerto Rico to visit Ramon's family.
ALL INVOLVED POTLUCK, FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH
The Board of Deacons would like to invite everyone to an "All Church Potluck" every first Sunday of the month.
Our next potluck is Sunday, May 6th. Bring your favorite dish to share at the potluck. All dishes are welcome!
We ask in order to minimize the cleanup afterwords, you bring your favorite dish in a foil pan or a dish you will take home. The foil containers will be put in the recycle bin.
If anyone would like to help serve or has any questions please feel free to contact or Barbara Floyd at 312-485-0362.
Thank you for all you do!
Barbara Floyd
IN MEMORY OF LEONORE WALTERS
Leonore Noll Walters was a native of Berea, Kentucky, where her father was professor of physics at Berea College and her mother taught English at Berea College high school.
Leonore majored in drama at the University of North Carolina, and remained active in theater at Eastern Kentucky University where she received her M.A. She taught English at high schools in Kentucky and Ohio before going to Indiana University, where she earned a Ph.D. in English literature. She taught at Youngstown State University, and also wrote, produced and appeared as the host of a documentary “Women of the Western Reserve” for the local public television station. She then realized her ambition to move to New York City, forking for the Modern Language Association, where she directed a national project in women’s literature. She spent the final twenty years of career as professor of English at the Borough of Manhattan Community College.
Leonore had a lifelong love of music, and was a soloist in alto and mezzo-soprano roles in oratorio, opera and operette as a young woman. She continued to play piano and sing in church and community choirs throughout her life. She had a passion for justice, and was especially devoted to civil rights and women’s issues. She had an abiding love for all animals and belonged to numerous animal welfare organizations.
Leonore and I met in the choir of the First Presbyterian Church of New York City in 1987, and were married there in 1992. I was very impressed by her deep commitment to public education, and to the care and concern she gave to all of her students, which made her a wonderful teacher and earned her the respect and affection of her students and her colleagues. She taught me by the wisdom, humility and integrity with which she lived all of her life. We enjoyed doing everything together, and she was, as the book of Ezekiel says, the delight of my eyes. Leonore’s great love made me more loving, her honesty made me more honest, her strength made me stronger, her courage made me more courageous, and her joy made me more joyous. I am thankful from the bottom of my heart every day for the privilege of having been her companion and partner.
Doug Walters
TUTORING PROGRAM RECEIVES GRANT
Please find enclosed a donation of $750 from the Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance for the After-School Tutoring Program. This check is presented in recognition of the great work you continue to provide for those in need. The mission of the Second Presbyterian Church in their educational outreach is a highlight of our community, and we look forward to continuing to support the work of Second Presbyterian Church, on behalf of the community residents and businesses.
Jeffery Ayersman
Richard Smith
THANKS TO OUR WEEKLY COUNTERS!
Each week after the worship service, a committed group of volunteers stays to count and deposit the morning offering. Thank you to the following counters for a job well done:
First Sunday ~ Lee Jenkins, Shirley Powell
Second Sunday ~ Eugene Leonard, Darlene Pollard
Third Sunday ~ Ann Belletire, Argie Johnson
Fourth Sunday ~ Barbara Crawford, Marlene Heath
The director of accounting is Rowena Balogun.
Thanks to all!
Share your love of art and architecture by becoming a docent at the Second Presbyterian Church today! It is Chicago’s only National Historic Landmark church recognized for its significant Arts and Crafts interior created by architect Howard Van Doren Shaw. Find his artistry highlighted by the plaster and wood ornamentation and original art glass lighting throughout the building. The church showcases its wealth of art through the Pre-Raphaelite murals of Frederic Clay Bartlett and the windows by the firms of Louis Comfort Tiffany and others. We invite you to revel in the beauty and become mesmerized by the history of the art and architecture of Second Presbyterian Church.
Docent training will occur at Second Presbyterian Church, 1936 South Michigan Avenue. The training program will include three sessions at 1 ½ hours each on Thursday evenings beginning at 6:30 pm on April 19th and continuing on April 26th and May 3th. The last session will meet on Saturday, May 12th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. If you have questions, please email
or call (800) 657-0687
Friends invites your participation in docent training and requests that trainees commit to attend all four training sessions. A $10 fee for materials is required on the first night of training. Payment is waived for students. Please complete the application form and return as indicated.
Applications can be found at:
http://www.2ndpresbyterianfriends.org/support/become-a-docent
Return application by to:
Friends of Historic Second Church
1936 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
Or email to historic2ndchurch@yahoo.com
Help us to keep going and growing.
To Give:
Mail a check payable to:
Friends of Historic Second Church at 1936 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616, or
Visit our website at www.2ndpresbyterianfriends.org/support/donate,
Questions Call: 1-800-657-0687
Thank you.
PER CAPITA GIVING $33.61
Through our association with Presbyterian Church (USA) we are part of the largest Reformed denomination in the United States. This membership gives us: Training and recruitment of ministers; participation in overseas missions; the fellowship and advice of the Presbyterian Congregation worldwide; the ability to lobby in Washington and at the United Nations; the support of our area Presbytery and Synod; the services of the Presbyterian Foundation. ..and much, much more.
All for only $33.61 a year?
These are tremendous benefits are paid for through an annual Per Capita Assessment. This year it will cost us each $33.61 for the entire year, less than a dime a day. We are obliged to pay $33.61 to Presbyterian Church (USA) on behalf of every single active member. Even though some members have contributed MULTIPLES of their Per Capita, we still need to raise more than $1,100 to meet our congregational obligation.
Please give now! $33.61
YOUNG HEARTS
Young Hearts: On Saturday, May 5th, all members and friends ages 21-40 are invited (with their children) to join us at Leslie and Adam's apartment (1130 S. Michigan Ave. Apt 3315) for a meal and fellowship at 12pm. Please let Pastoral Assistant Leslie Deslauriers know if you plan to attend by Thursday, May 3rd. You may call, text or email Leslie at (615)630-2495 or studentpastorleslie@gmail.com.
COMMUNICATION
Do you feel like you’re missing out on information on the church? Have you missed a worship service that you would have liked to attend? Be sure to read your monthly newsletter, check your email, read the announcements in the back of your bulletin, check the church calendar (on the website and the bulletin boards outside of the kitchen, in Fellowship Hall, and at the Cullerton Ave. lobby) and check social media. The calendar on the church website is a google calendar and you can even sync your phone or tablet so that you’ll never miss another church event! If you’d like more information or would like to update your contact information, please contact Pastoral Assistant Leslie Deslauriers (studentpastorleslie@gmail.com) or call the church office (312) 225-4951.
The next Communications Committee Meeting will be on Monday, March 5th at Kroll’s South Loop at 6:00p.m. If you would like to serve on this committee, please contact Elder Eric Annafi (eannafi@gmail.com) or Pastoral Assistant Leslie Deslauriers.
FORGIVENESS—AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT TO A HAPPIER LIFE
Everyone enjoys living a happier, fulfilling life. Family counselors advise that one of the essential components to living a happier life is developing the ability to forgive—first yourself, then others.
This topic will be explored in-depth in a series of sharing and discussion groups beginning the Sunday after Easter, April 9, 2018. Bring your refreshments to the Library and join us to explore this very sensitive topic that engages people from all walks of life—those who forgive easily as well as those who struggle with this sometimes difficult practice.
The discussion will last one hour. During May, we will meet on the first Sunday of the month. Those who will be participating in the group discussions are invited to complete the sign-up sheets in the bulletin and place this in the offering plate.
I look forward to hearing your stories and sharing this topic with you!
Reverend Theola Jones