July 2014 - Irving Park Lutheran Church

TIDINGS
Phone: 773.267.1666
www.iplc.org
Rev. Erin Bouman, Pastor
[email protected]
IPLC Office
[email protected]
SUMMER SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday, 9:30 am Worship
STAFF
Dawn Benson
Church Secretary/Bookkeeper
[email protected]
Roger Bingaman
Dir. Of Music/Office Manager/Tidings
Editor [email protected]
Dwan Buetow
Mid-week Worship Coordinator
[email protected]
Chris Richard
Director of Ensemble
[email protected]
Dawn Benson & Phil Bole
Custodians: [email protected]
Nancy Hall [email protected]
Darcie Wadycki [email protected]
Co-volunteer Sunday School
Coordinators
CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL
Dawn Benson
Jonna Brodersen
Pat Desecki
Sue Geisler
Jan Glure
Don Hamilton
Sharon Iverson
Ginia Jahrke
Eleanor Kepp
Richard Koehler
Holly Lundquist
David McKenzie
Dennis Sherlock
Lee Stein
Sandra Stumme
Sarah Stumme
Darcie Wadycki
Cory Wojtkiewicz
COUNCIL PERSON EMERITUS
Lloyd DaMask
Gordon Johnson
Richard Wielock
from Irving Park Lutheran Church
July, 2014
The 41st Volume, chapter 7
Come to the Front
by Pastor Erin Bouman
A couple of weeks ago I sat in an airport lounge, waiting in a crowded gate to
board a plane. The airline workers at the desk made regular announcements that
the flight was fully booked, that we should all have only one carry-on, and that we
should check items that were too big to fit in the overhead bins. At one point the
announcements started to include invitations to upgrade into first class, where
there were more seats available, for an additional fee—enough of a deterrent that I
stopped paying attention.
Eventually I got on the plane, squeezed my way through the many other
passengers all working to squeeze their things into the storage spaces above and
below, and settled myself into my reserved seat. Soon after a flight attendant
walked by and said, somewhat quietly, “I need 5 people willing to come to the
front.” Again, more concerned with where I was already, finally and firmly
situated, I didn’t pay much attention. It only dawned on me a little later – too late
to take advantage of it! – that she was inviting people into first class, free.
After kicking myself a bit about the situation, it made me think of grace and of
sharing the good news. In some ways, God’s grace is like that offer from the flight
attendant: a first class experience, totally free! All we need to do is be willing to
come up to the front. Sadly, we are often so intent on our middle seat at the very
back of the plane that we miss this wonderful offer.
But, of course, God doesn’t limit grace to the five people who are paying attention.
So perhaps this story is a bit more of a parable about evangelism—what we do to
share the good news. Assume our church is a plane. Are we sometimes like the
airline workers at the gate: what we say is mostly announcement and requirements,
with an emphasis on things that don’t fit in and fees? Or, perhaps, we’re more like
the attendants on the plane: whispering our offer, without really saying what it is?
It would have been total chaos if the airline operated differently than it did. (I was
glad to get to and from my destination safely and on time.) It would be the
kingdom of God come near if we operated in the gracious way that God does. By
the grace of God, we can and do! Our community of faith is neither an anxious
airline lounge nor a crowded aisle in coach; we are a people in flight, lifted up on
the wings of the Spirit.
Fly with us in worship this July. Come hear parables of the kingdom from the
gospel of Matthew. Come hear them, and invite someone to come with you when
you do. Loudly and clearly, share the first class news of God’s grace, available to
all, totally free,
NEWS FROM AROUND I. P. L. C.
Welcome to IPLC for Produce We’re happy to be a pick-up
site for shares of community supported agriculture (CSA) this
summer; pick-ups begin July 6th and extend through the fall.
Thanks to all who helped spread the word about this
opportunity and to all who signed up—members of the
congregation as well as the wider community. (For more
information on the CSA, visit willowridgeorganicfarm.org or
be in touch with Rebecca Haneberg at
[email protected])
Stewardship Team Highlights...
 We are using a new stewardship program this year.
 You will see guest speakers throughout the year, as well as
announcements in the bulletin and the Tidings.
 This fall there will be a Pledge and Pizza Sunday on
November 23 following the worship service.
Summer Fellowship after Worship – Sign up for August!
It’s great to see the fellowship happening after the 9:30
worship service this summer. Thanks to all who are a part of
this! We could use a few more hosts for August. See the signup sheet on the bulletin board in Victory Hall or contact Elmer
Haneberg at [email protected].
Applying Bible Principles
Money is a neutral commodity, a means of exchange. It is
neither inherently good nor evil. But a wrong view of money
can become a problem to us.
Magic Mushroom July 7 – August 1st IPLC’s Magic
Mushroom Summer Children’s Program is in full swing this
month, Mondays through Fridays 9 - noon. Thanks to all
teachers and leaders and classroom aides. Magic Mushroom
Sunday is July 20. Pray for this ministry and come join us for
opening or closing worship each day!
In First Timothy 6:9-10, Scripture warns about the dangers of
a determination to get rich: “But those who want to be rich fall
into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful
desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the
love of money is a root of all kinds of evil; and in their
eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith
and pierced themselves with many pains.”
Piano Restoration Fund Many thanks to Joe & Ginia Jahrke,
who in celebration of their 50th Wedding Anniversary have
made a significant donation towards the restoration of IPLC’s
Steinway grand piano. The piano, which is 107 years old, is a
rare and valuable instrument but is in need of major repair.
The Jahrke’s very generous gift offers seed money towards the
piano’s total restoration, improving its action, sound and
appearance—veritably offering it another lifetime. (We are a
people of resurrection.) You may contribute to the Piano
Restoration Fund with checks to IPLC, noting in the memo
line “Piano Restoration.” All are invited to an anniversary
celebratory coffee hour on Sunday, July 27th—which is the day
after the Jahrke’s anniversary.
When we have a consuming desire to get rich, when we are
obsessed with money so that it becomes the focus of our time
and attention, then we have made it the number one priority in
our lives. In that spot, it replaces everything, including God.
We begin to find our security in money, not in God and in God
alone.
However, when our view of God is right and our view of
money is right, we will realize that money cannot buy security;
money cannot purchase happiness; money cannot guarantee
peace or joy or contentment. God alone can provide these
essentials as we “ . . . strive first for the kingdom of God and
his righteousness.”
Learning New Liturgical Music Before Worship Our
Preludes this summer are practice sessions -- join us at 9:25
am to learn parts of Setting Nine from our hymnal, Evangelical
Lutheran Worship (ELW). Each week we’ll focus on a new
piece and then incorporate it into the service.
In his book, The Gift of Giving, Wayne Watts said this: “God
always lovingly instructs us in the path that is in our best
interest and which will bring us the greatest happiness in life.
Therefore, for our good, He instructs us to put Him first in all
things, and this includes how we use our money.”
Music Clinic in Park Ridge Members of the Worship Team
are attending a Music Clinic sponsored by Augsburg Fortress
on Wednesday, July 23 & 24 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in
Park Ridge. The event is free and open to any interested! For
more information, see augsburgfortress.org/community/events/
featured/music_clinics_summer_2014
How do you view
money? Is it at the
center of your life,
th ereb y
p erh ap s
replacing
God’s
rightful role? And
equally important, are
you using the money
God has given to you
to advance His
kingdom and His
righteousness?
Thanks for Curb and Garden Care! The grass and flowers
around the church are looking great – thanks to all who have
planted, watered, and weeded. Thanks, too, to Lloyd DaMask
for repairing the curb on the front curb on Harding. All of
these ministries send a message of welcome and care to all
who enter our doors.
2
RETURN TO SENDER
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
If only the bricks could talk!
As one might expect if you’re 110 years old, Irving Park
Lutheran Church has seen just about everything pass through
the intersection of Belle Plaine and Harding. So when it’s time
to write the monthly Historically Speaking epistle, there’s
never a shortage of material.
When the 1934 collection of IPLC Tidings literally fell
off the top shelf and onto the desk, we took it as a sign to see
what was happening 80 years ago in July of 1934. So we
mined the 12-page edition and found several interesting
nuggets:
Leonard R. Hansen—
class of 1935

Eleven of our Irving Park Lutheran Church members died
during World War II. Not all of the 11 wrote letters to Pastor
Joshua Oden.
One who did was Leonard Robert Hansen, a member of
the IPLC Confirmation Class of 1935. Hansen, the son of Mr.
and Mrs. J.P. Hansen, wrote a V-Mail that made its way to the
church office in September of 1943. About nine months later,
23-year-old Leonard Hansen was killed on July 13, 1944, as he
was guarding a cave entrance in Saipan in the Marianas Islands.
Leonard Hansen was a Schurz High School graduate. He
was taking courses at the Illinois Institute of Technology when
he joined the Marine Corps in 1942. He took part in many
military campaigns in the South Pacific.
Here is Mr. Hansen’s V-mail (approved by the government censor) that he wrote to Pastor Oden:
Dear Pastor,
I am very sorry to have neglected writing to you before. I
wish to thank you and the people of our church for writing me
and sending me the gift for Christmas. I received that gift
while I was on Guadalcanal and also a couple of letters from
girls of our church. The messages were read in a foxhole that, I
assure you, proved to be a great comfort. It was hard to get
anything to read on that island and the Tidings was read cover
to cover not only by me but also a foxhole buddy of mine.
Although there was death all about us, the island was very
beautiful where bombs hadn’t done much damage. Church
services were held rain or shine under the open skies except
for tall coconut trees which gave little shelter.
Yes, even some parts of war are beautiful and what little
beauty there is, is fully appreciated.




Pastor Joshua Oden and Helga, beginning their 26th year at
IPLC, were vacationing in Europe and on their way home.
They spent time in London, Norway, Sweden, Denmark,
Germany and France.
With eyes on the future, the Church School Building
Campaign was in full swing, passing its goal of $25,000
pledged on Aug. 1. (Editor’s note: The plan was to expand
the current church building, adding a three-story edition
that would extend the church building to the north over the
area that now houses the parsonage garage and the garage
at our two-flat at 4112 N. Harding. The plan was scuttled a
year later when it was determined that too much of the
original building would have to be destroyed. In 1936,
IPLC opted to build the Educational Building instead, with
groundbreaking on June 14, 1936.)
The Vacation Church School ended with a picnic in
Lincoln Park on Friday the 13th. After the picnic, the
students stopped at the nursery at nearby Augustana
Hospital to see the newborns.
On July 31, the church school children went to Wrigley
Field and actually saw the Cubs win a game, beating the
St. Louis Cardinals 7-2.
On Sunday, July 22, about 30 members of the Ruth Circle
enjoyed a breakfast of bacon and eggs at Montrose Beach,
followed by a dip in Lake Michigan. Of course, they made
it back to church in time for the Sunday service.
The Midweek Prayer Service attendance was called “very
encouraging.”
Eric Anderson of “Anderson’s Bath and Swedish
Massage” (a regular advertiser in the Tidings) was
recovering from an appendectomy.
Department of Corrections: Never having been good at
math, the Historically Speaking bureau chief usually relies on
his math checker to get it right. But the last item in last
month’s installment was only 10 years off. We wrote that in
June of 1993, IPLC “was only six months away from turning
100 years old.” Oops. We thank Mrs. Historically Speaking for
pointing out the mistake.
Yours,
Leonard R. Hansen
Editor’s note: Please check out the names of our missing
letter writers on the IPLC website at iplc.org/
news_return_to_sender.shtml. We’re still looking to return
letters to 109 letter writers or their families.
–Ralph Greenslade
– Ralph Greenslade
3
NEW
FROM
CARLSON COMMUNITY SERVICES
Matt Wylder,
Garden Coordinator
MAGIC MUSHROOM AND
IRVING PARK FINE ARTS COMMITTEE
PRESENT
“JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH”
JULY 18TH
Magic Mushroom children’s summer program and the Irving
Park Fine Arts Committee will present “James and the Giant
Peach” on Friday, July 18th at 10:00 a.m. A musical based on
the children’s classic by Roald Dahl, “James and the Giant
Peach” recounts a young English boy’s adventures when he
goes to live with two horrible aunts. This exciting musical
about loyalty and friendship brings Roald Dahl’s book to life
with song, dance, costumes and sets.
Kid power!
THREE BROTHERS GARDEN GROWING
STRONG!
The pile of wood chips in the IPLC parking lot is growing
smaller, thanks to the hard work of volunteers and Boy Scout
Troop 863. Volunteers have been weeding aggressively and
laying wood chips to keep the weeds at bay. Thanks to the
Haneberg family, Yaz Ebeid, the Bouman family, Melanie
Reschke, Judy Madsen and many people from the
neighborhood for their help. Thanks to Sarah Frank and the
Department of Forestry for the donation of wood chips!
The performance will be held at Irving Park Lutheran Church.
The show is free of charge, but donations will be accepted
gladly. American Eagle Productions, a Chicago-based theatre
company specializing in children’s classics, created the show.
Magic Mushroom children’s summer program serves the
Irving Park neighborhood with a superior summer enrichment
program for children aged 3 years through 6th grade. The
program is sponsored by IPLC.
Matt Wylder, a junior at DePaul University has been hired as
the garden’s summer Garden Coordinator. Matt will manage
the harvests and track volunteer hours and produce yields.
Matt and his family moved to the 4100 block of Springfield
from Crystal Lake a year ago. Stop by the garden during our
weekly harvests on Tuesdays from 5-7 p.m. and introduce
yourself to Matt!
The Irving Park Fine Arts Series is in its 20th season of
bringing high quality, professional musical and theatrical
events to the Irving Park neighborhood. Carlson Community
Services, a 501c3 neighborhood not-for-profit, sponsors the
program.
Three Brothers Garden is a partnership between Irving Park
Lutheran Church and Carlson Community Services, a 501c3
not-for-profit. The mission of Carlson is to connect the Irving
Park community with programs that enrich lives through
education, culture and service. Contact Liz Mills at
773.398.6766 or [email protected] for
more information or visit www.carlsoncommunityservices.org.
For more information, contact Liz Mills at 773.398.6766 or
[email protected].
Making the mountain into a mole hill -- shovel by shovel!
Garden transformed after a hard day's labor.
4
SAME GENDER MARRIAGE
Thank you to all who participated in various types of
discussions these past months and shared feedback and written
comments in our congregational response forms. At our June
23rd meeting, the Church Council reviewed the results of the
response forms, discussed the ELCA’s input, shared personal
reflections and journeys on the matter, and determined that it
was time to act. All present approved a resolution supporting
the use of church property for same gender marriage, with two
abstentions. The full text of the resolution will be sent to
every member and is included below:
AT
IPLC
Whereas, any relationship of mutuality and covenant,
whether it be a marriage or a same-gender marriage, needs
the accountability provided by the church community,
Whereas, in scripture, the source and norm for our
proclamation, faith, and life we hear Jesus command us to
love God with all our heart, soul, and mind,
Whereas on June 1st, 2014, the Religious Freedom and
Marriage Fairness Act took effect as law. This means that
after May 31st, same gender couples are permitted to
marry, legally, in Illinois.
Motion: With respect to the Religious Freedom and Marriage
Fairness Act, which took effect on June 1st 2014, be it
resolved that the Congregational Council of Irving Park
Lutheran Church approves the use of church property for
same gender marriage.
Be it resolved that the Congregational Council of Irving
Park Lutheran Church affirms the current practice of the
pastor and office staff around preparation of couples for
marriage,
Amended Policy on Same-Gender Marriage:
Be it further resolved that the Congregational Council of
Irving Park Lutheran Church affirms that the current
marriage practice be acceptable for couples of the same
gender,
Whereas, in our earliest scriptural accounts of creation we
hold timelessly true that all people are created to be in
relationship with one another,
Whereas, we also believe that God calls us into covenantal
relationships with one another, and that those covenantal
relationships are meant for the flourishing and benefit of
the kingdom of God,
JULY
BIRTHDAYS
1
3
6
8
11
13
14
15
16
17
19
20
22
24
25
26
28
29
31
Amy Monday
Charlotte Bushell
Kris Helgeson
Elizabeth Liubin
Giovani Monroe
Faith Stein
Ava Stewart
Abbey Davis
Ian Stewart
Marie DaMask
Gordon Johnson
Per-Hugo Kristensson
Barbara Morton
Sarah Clausen
Richard Reschke
Max Ward
Donna Santiago
Nancy Curtis
Margo Lurie
Sharon Iverson
Joseph Howard
Caitlin Liubin
Kate Ward
Recognizing that members of this faith community do not
all share this biblical understanding of marriage,
Be it finally resolved that the Council supports the use of
church property for same gender marriage.
ANNIVERSARIES
Rex & LaVere Hagedorn-7.2.60
Kate & Dan Ward-7.10.10
Melanie & Richard Reschke-7.19.81
Ginia & Joseph Jahrke 7.26.64
CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS—RIVER
In the Bible, rivers (and other bodies of
water) often represent deliverance, salvation, freedom
and cleansing. The Jordan River is especially
prominent: The Israelites crossed it to enter the
Promised Land after God delivered them from
slavery, and John baptized Jesus (and many other
people) there. The image of crossing the Jordan River
has long been a metaphor for death — crossing from
earthly to heavenly life, from worldly struggles to the
bliss of God’s kingdom, from physical ailments to the
wholeness of a resurrection body.
5
July
Assisting Minister /
Greeters
Communion
Assistants
Lector /
Tellers
Acolytes /
Coffee Hour
6
Jan Glure / Kirsten Gettings,
Rich & Grace Wielock
Chris Richard, Sandra
Stumme, Holly Van Essen
Don Hamilton / Darcie
Wadycki, Sandra Stumme
Gabriel Neff /
13
Dawn Benson / Richard
Koehler, Dwan Buetow
Gerard Curtis, Sue Geisler,
Pam Nigro
Roberta Bole /
Holly Lundquist
Faith Stein /
The Hall Family
20
Roberta Bole / Elmer
Haneberg, Gerard & Nancy
Curtis
Dwan Buetow, Lee Stein,
Faith Stein
Dwan Buetow / Sharon
Iverson
Zach Rogers /
Frieda Stevenson
27
David Hall / Roberta Bole, N
& G Curtis
Sandra Stumme, Dawn
Benson, Grace Wielock
Ginia & Joe Jahrke /
Dallas Brodersen / Ginia &
Joe Jahrke
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
1
2
8:00 Basketball
9:30 Staff,
Jazzercize
3
7:00 Jazzercize
Fri
Sat
4
5
9:30 Jazzercize
8:00 AA
9:00 Men’s
Volleyball
8:30 Jazzercize
9:45 Basketball
6
9:30 Worship
7
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
9:30 Jazzercize
7:00 Boy Scouts/
Webelos
8
9
10
11
12
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
8:00 Basketball
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
9:30 Staff,
Jazzercize
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
7:00 Jazzercize
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
9:30 Jazzercize
8:00 AA
9:00 Men’s
Volleyball
8:30 Jazzercize
9:45 Basketball
13
9:30 Worship
14
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
9:30 Jazzercize
15
16
17
18
19
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
8:00 Basketball
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
9:30 Staff,
Jazzercize
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
7:00 Jazzercize
7:30 Book Club
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
9:30 Jazzercize
10:00 James and
the Giant Peach
8:00 AA
9:00 Men’s
Volleyball
8:30 Jazzercize
9:45 Basketball
20
9:30 Worship—
Magic
Mushroom
Sunday
21
22
23
24
25
26
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
9:30 Jazzercize
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
6:30 Property,
Service Team
7:30 Learning
Team
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
9:30 Staff,
Jazzercize
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
7:00 Jazzercize
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
9:30 Jazzercize
8:00 AA
9:00 Men’s
Volleyball
8:30 Jazzercize
9:45 Basketball
27
9:30 Worship
28
29
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
30
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
31
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
4:00 magic
Mushroom
Closing Program
9:00 Magic
Mushroom
9:30 Jazzercize
T I D I N G S
From Irving Park Lutheran Church
3938 W. Belle Plaine Ave.
Chicago, IL 60618-1997
Address Service Requested