Serving God

Last month is this space we addressed the question “Why a sabbatical?” The answer was, in a word, renewal. The logical next question is: what will we do to be renewed spiritually, mentally, and physically? Relieved of the daily duties of pastoral ministry for three months, what will we do?

First, we will travel. We will be a part of a group led by Rev. Brad Berglund and his wife, Rita, on a Spiritual Pilgrimage to Ireland. Some of you may remember Brad from the worship workshop he did here several years ago. This two week pilgrimage has been a dream of ours for a number of years. It will be a time of intense inner journey as we pray together and visit ancient holy sites throughout Ireland. We will follow that with a week in Scotland connecting with old friends and visiting the Iona Community, another place of profound holiness for us.

Then, we will settle in. Our home base for October and November will be Carol’s family home in Chautauqua, New York. It will be a very quiet place for us to rest and read and just “be”. The focus of Doug’s study will be leadership and how it differs from management. The focus of Carol’s study will be spiritual formation and how to move from a model of Christian education to a model of growing disciples. We also plan to spend time being creative with our hands. Carol hopes to sew and knit. Doug wants to learn to frame pictures.

We will also make short weekend trips to visit multicultural churches similar to North Shore. Worshipping under the leadership of respected colleagues is an experience we look forward to. Those trips will also include visits to some relatives on the east coast. As we said last month, long walks, a slower pace, and reconnecting with extended family and friends will all play a part in the renewal that will help us return at Thanksgiving fit and healthy, inside and out.

Grace and peace,

Pastors Carol and Doug

To be continued…

In August: Plans for continuing ministry and renewal while the pastors are gone.

¿Qué Vamos Hacer en Nuestro Sabático?

El mes pasado escribimos de la importancia ¿Por qué un Sabático? La respuesta fue, en una palabra, renovación. La siguiente pregunta es lógica: Que es lo que vamos hacer para ser renovados espiritualmente, mentalmente, y físicamente? Sin las responsabilidades pastorales por tres meses, ¿Qué es lo que vamos hacer?

Primero, vamos a viajar. Vamos hacer parte de un grupo dirigido por el Rev. Brad Berglund y su esposa, Rita, en un peregrinaje espiritual en Irlanda. Algunos de ustedes recordaran del Rev. Brad que predico aquí. Esta dos semanas de peregrinaje ha sido un sueno para nosotros desde hace anos. Va hacer un tiempo de reflexión profunda y de visitar lugares sagrados en Irlanda. Después de Irlanda vamos a ir una semana a Escocia a visitar amigos y visitar una comunidad llamada Iona, lugar que es sagrado.

En los meses de Octubre y Noviembre vamos a quedarnos de donde es la familia de Rev. Carol en Chautauqua, Nueva York. Va a ser un lugar para descansar y “ser.” El enfoque de los estudios del pastor Doug va ser acerca de la diferencia entre gerencia (manejo) y liderazgo. El enfoque de la pastora Carol va ser acerca de formación espiritual dentro del ministerio de educación cristiana. También queremos ser creativos con nuestras manos. Carol espera aprender a cocer. Doug quiere aprender a hacer marcos de cuadros.

Vamos hacer viajes a iglesias que son multiculturales como la Iglesia de North Shore. Alabando debajo de un liderazgo que respectamos. Vamos a visitar a parte de nuestra familia que no normalmente tenemos las oportunidad de ver. Y como les dijimos el mes pasado vamos a tomar largas caminatas y tiempo para reflexionar. Todas estas actividades van a servir para renovarnos.

Vacation Bible School - August 4 to August 8, 2008 , 6:30-8:30 PM

Everyone has a place in the Holy Land!!!

Join us in Jerusalem Marketplace and walk with Jesus, eat exotic foods, camp with the tribes of Israel and learn Hebrew.

Become part of living history as a tribe leader, shopkeeper, village playground leader and more.

We need people who are gifted in sewing, carpentry, pottery, weaving and other crafts.

When the temperature rises, come, load up your camel and let us be your oasis.

Wilbur Warner Grants

The Wilbur Warner Trust Grant Committee met in May (one of two meetings each year) to consider grant requests. We made five grants totaling $15,000.

The American Baptist Historical Society was granted $4,000 for the purchase of archival quality shelving units as part of their move to Mercer University. The selves will hold fragile documents (such as letters from missionaries) which preserve the story of American Baptist mission work in Burma.

The Interfaith Worker Rights Center in Chicago received $4,000 for updating, translation, printing and distribution of 13,000 copies of its Worker Rights Manual. LaSalle Senior Center in Chicago received $2,000 for the purchase of mattresses for seniors moving from SRO’s into apartments, and for a Wii game to help seniors at the center improve their coordination and balance while enjoying social interaction. The Charis Community Church, Bacolod City, Philippines, and the Alliance of Bible Christian Communities of the Philippines each received $2,500 for the purchase of a van for use in their ministries.

New Orleans Pastor and Wife to Visit North Shore

Missional Ministry is pleased to share that the Rev. W. H. Jenneford Sr. and his wife Helen will visit with us the weekend of June 7^th and 8^th. Rev. Jenneford is pastor of the Greater New Home Baptist Church in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana. His church is our sister church as we have joined the Churches Supporting Churches Ecumenical program to help reestablish churches after the devastation of hurricane Katrina. Many people have done wonderful work in rebuilding houses like Habitat For Humanity and others, but this effort is to connect churches directly with churches that are trying to return and be an anchor in the community as people come home.

So, on Saturday, June 7^th at 10am we invite all Church Council members and leaders to join with the Jennefords in Nambu Chapel to talk with them about their church. Then, at 2pm on Saturday, pastors and church leaders from other area churches will meet with them to see if they would like to join with us in this effort. On Sunday, June 8^th, Rev. Jenneford will share briefly in each worship service at North Shore. At 12:30pm, following Adventures In Learning classes, we will have a lunch with the Jennefords and have an opportunity to hear more about what they are doing to reestablish their church presence and how we can help. Be sure to mark your calendars today!

2008-2009 Scholarships Awarded

At the Annual Meeting on May 18, the Scholarship Committee was delighted to announce the recipients of scholarship awards for the coming school year. They are:

	· The Susan J. Kosmos Memorial Scholarship of $1000 is given to Sara Avadarian. After several years at community college Sara has been able to fulfill her dream of attending North Park University. She will be a junior majoring in Global Studies. After graduation she hopes to teach English in some other part of the world.
	· The North Shore Scholarship of $1000 is awarded to Poe Clee in recognition of his invaluable leadership in helping North Shore embrace our new Karen brothers and sisters. Poe Clee will be a sophomore at Truman College, studying Political Science. His goal is to work with an international human rights organization.
	· The Edwin Gay and Sylvia J. Hardy Memorial Scholarship of $1000 goes to Danny Raguay, who grew up at North Shore participating in Sunday School, youth group, and has volunteered with VBS and the soccer program. He will attend community college in the fall and hopes to become an architect.

The High School Senior Spotlight Award (an award created by the Committee that may or may not be given in the future) of $500 is given to José Choto in celebration of the excellence of his academic and extra-curricular achievements in high school. Jose also has been a young leader at North Shore, on the mission trip to Cuba, in creating Power Point presentations, and more. He will attend the University of Southern California and is planning to study Cinematic Arts. José has responded: “Thank you all for not only helping me in my studies, but in my spiritual journey as well. I hope to use this money to educate myself and to one day realize my dreams.”

The Scholarship Committee commends all the students who applied for scholarships, as well as all of North Shore’s fine young people who are continuing their education in order to use their talents to serve God in the world.

Gifts to the North Shore Baptist Church Scholarship Fund are always welcome. As the fund grows, we will be able to give even more help to North Shore’s students.

2008 Summer Prelude Series

For most of our Sunday services this summer, the gathering music will feature keyboard works of Johann Sebastian Bach. Focusing primarily on the dance movements of his English and French Suites, this music has a calming, contemplative character well suited for freeing our thoughts of our busy summer adventures, so that we may be better prepared to worship our God. For good measure, a few Sundays will be devoted to his famous inventions and some of the preludes and fugues from his revolutionary treatise, The Well-Tempered Clavier.

Given the breadth of these works, the gathering music will start around 9:45 am throughout the summer. The first Sunday of the prelude series will begin June 15 and will feature movements from the French Suite in G major, BWV 816. Come early on Sunday mornings to enjoy these sublime masterpieces as you center yourself for worship.

Estes Park—July 5-11, 2008

This summer we have four of our young people going to Estes Park, Colorado for the national youth gathering “More Than A Week ‘08”. This will be a time to hear good speakers, praise bands, and enhance their spiritual experiences with God. The four young people that are going are: José Choto, Patty Roa, Rebecca PyaOhn, and Zeporah PyaOhn. Keep them and the leaders going with them in your prayers.

Church Picnic 2008

The North Shore Baptist Summer picnic will be July 27 beginning at 12:00 noon. If you are planning to come, please bring your own chairs and a side dish or dessert to share. The main dishes will be provided by the church. It is going to be a lot of fun with outdoor games and fellowship. Don’t forget to mark it on your calendar! The picnic will be held at: North Park Village, Peterson Park (5801 N Pulaski). The bus will be available for those who cannot get there otherwise. More information coming soon!

Annual Meeting Sunday

All of North Shore’s Language groups joined together in the spirit of Pentecost on our Annual Meeting Sunday, May 18th. Language was no barrier as we celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit, heart the story of the first Pentecost, and sang praises in Spanish, English, Karen and Japanese. Nine new members received the Right Hand of Fellowship: Jean Anne Feiler, Joseph Feiler, Kenneth Garret, Michael Zovan Thawng, Rony Reyes, Francisco “Pancho” Solano, Junko Sekino, and Josefina Olker.

One to Know

Junko Sekino

Where are you from? I’m from Sendai, the largest city in the northeast region in Japan. Sendai is known as the origin of many foods, such as, gyutan (grilled cow tongue—it may sound gross, but tastes good!), zundamochi (sticky rice with sweet edamame paste), and saskamaboko (kind of fish cake shaped like bamboo leaves).

What brought you to North Shore? Shortly after I moved to Chicago for my studies, my friend and I were walking towards Andersonville. Then we saw a sign at North Shore saying there was a Japanese service. So we decided to come on the next Sunday.

What are you studying in school? I studied at Loyola University Chicago’s master’s program in Community Counseling. I graduated from Loyola on May 10th!

What words do you live by? “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34)

Who influenced you in your life? Who is your role model? My family, friends, teachers and mentors...I think everyone whom I met in my life has influenced me at a certain degree. My biggest role model is Sadako Ogata, former U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and current president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

What memento do you keep from your childhood/past? I remember that I was quite a book worm. I used to rather read books even when I went to my friends’ homes.

Share a special memory of your childhood/past. When I was in the 5th grade, I danced the role of Alice in “Alice in the Wonderland” in my ballet recital. It was my first (and last) major role I got, so I was really thrilled. “Alice” is still one of my favorite books!

How has life been different than what you imagined? I have never imagined living in Chicago and studying counseling. When I was little, I wanted to become either a school teacher, or an accompanist for a ballet school!

What is the most important lesson you have learned so far? “Life is short...eat dessert first!”

What do you do for fun? I like to cook, to take a walk by the lake, and to do crafts when I’m free. I’m also passionate about going to theatres...I like ballet, opera, musicals and anything about performing arts!

Special Summer Services

June 8, Music Sunday - Worship will feature anthems, hymn singing and commentary on the theme: “Songs of Hope and Courage”

July 20, Creation Sunday - Worship will be outside in the Centennial Garden. It will be lead completely by our praise team, Ruach and feature “camp style” songs. Justin Thornburgh will offer a message. Come dressed in “camp attire” and enjoy the great outdoors!