Sunday, October 1
- 9:30am NSMC Hybrid Worship (contact Anne for details on how to join Zoom)
- Guest Speaker: Rev. Karen Sersen, Chaplain and retired United Methodist pastor
- Karen is a friend and chaplain colleague of Anne’s. She also serves as chaplain for her local fire department. Karen is a marathon runner, a mother of two young adults, and an energetic, visionary pastor and advocate for justice. This Sunday, Karen will share her story and help to lead our shared worship time
- Communion
- 11:00am Christian Formation
- Leader: Linda
- 12:00pm Potluck
Tuesday, October 3
- 7:00pm ARCC (Action/Reflection Creation Care) meeting
- Gerry will share his learning on the ecology and management of the lake in his neighborhood, Loch Lomond, in Mundelein.
Thursday, October 5
- 7:00pm Zoom Bible Study with Shane (contact Anne for details on how to join Zoom)
- Join us for a study of the gospel of John
Sunday, October 8
- 9:30am CCMC Hybrid Worship (contact Anne for details on how to join Zoom)
- Theme: Hear, O Israel
- Scripture: Deuteronomy 5-6
November Worship Planning
Anne, Shane, and Suzanne invite you to participate in worship planning for the month of November only. They want to include different people as planners and this is a great way to do a manageable number of Sundays. They will be meeting Tuesday, October 10, 7:00pm, on Zoom. Together, we will reflect on our shared worship in September, share ideas for exploration, and indicate an interest and willingness to participate in worship. If you are interested and willing, please contact Anne or Suzanne.
CCMC Ritual Suppers
Starting Wednesday, October 11, NSMC is invited to join CCMC to meet second and fourth Wednesdays at 6:30pm for a ritual supper. This will include a light meal with communion, scripture reading in Lexio Divina style, sharing, a book discussion, centered prayer, and when weather permits, listening to nature. The goal is to practice deep listening to God and to one another, so that we are able to discern the ways God is working in the world, and the ways that we can plug into what God is doing.
Retreat 2024
The next annual retreat will be February 2-4, 2024 at Menno Haven Camp & Retreat Center. Jay Wittmeyer, the director of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center will deepen our understanding and practice of peacemaking in this next year in which the presidential election will again highlight our national divides.
Please contact Anne in the next two weeks and indicate your interest in attending. We are also considering options for food arrangements depending on how many people attend. One option is to provide our own breakfast foods, cold drinks, plates and utensils (coffee and other hot drinks would be provided.) Another option is to have a brunch and dinner instead of three meals. All of this depends on getting an accurate head count, so your quick reply would be much appreciated. If you have other thoughts about the meal arrangements, please pass your ideas on to Anne. Thank you!
Plan to join the ARCC (Action/Reflection Creation Care) meeting this coming Tuesday, October 3, 7:00pm. Gerry will be talking about the community project he is involved in. He will discuss things that residents can do to help restore Loch Lomond to a healthier environment.
Faith in Place is hosting their 2023 Green Team Summit, October 8-11, 2023. The keynote speaker will be Leah Thomas, author of The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet.
Six virtual sessions have been planned for the four days with various speakers and topics. For more information and to register for the event, please visit the Green Summit website.
Learn more and register by October 15, 2023, for the Mennonite Church USA Generation Z Energy and Spirit Challenge. Register here: mennoniteusa.org/energy-spirit View the PowerPoint slide here: mennoniteusa.org/slide-energy-youth
Ingrid Friesen Moser, wellbeing coordinator for Mennonite Church USA’s The Corinthian Plan, shares how spending time outdoors can help heal us and, when we come together for climate justice, can also help our planet. Read her story here: mennoniteusa.org/heal-ourselves
–from Creation Justice Ministries 52 Ways to Care for Creation
Coffee Hour
Consider your church’s coffee hour. Is there any single-use plastic being used? What changes can be made? Can mugs replace single-use cups? Can spoons replace plastic stirrers? Look for sustainable and/or local coffee brands as well.
Editor’s Note: A big thank you to our faithful NSMC coffee crew and the changes they have already implemented.
–from Creation Justice Tips | United Methodist Church
Pollution and Sick Children
500,000 school days missed annually by U.S. children are due to pollution from burning fossil fuels. Sick children mean parents miss work. Missing work often means no wages. Missing too frequently may mean no job. People who live closest to toxin-spewing plants pay a heavier price than those who have resources to live elsewhere. Justice requires action to stop air pollution. Find likeminded help at Moms Clean Air Force.
Mow Those Leaves
Rather than collecting and bagging your leaves, mow over the fallen leaves. By mulching them in place, you return their nutrients to your lawn, and you avoid adding to a landfill.
–from the Sierra Club
100 Things You Can Do to Save the Planet
- Learn, get educated on issues and solutions so you can help make America Green Again.
- Participate in stewardship projects to remove trash, pull invasive plants, plant trees, build hiking trails, etc.
–from Ecocation
50 Ways to Save the Planet
- Buy disposable paper products instead of plastic ones.
- Buy second-hand.