Author: jodny

SEPTEMBER 2020

Newsletter

A newsletter for members and friends of Elmhurst Presbyterian church

inside

Pastor's + Corner Rev. Traci smith

PAGE 2 Upcoming Events
Calendar
PAGE 3 Family Ministry
PAGE 4 Music Ministry
PAGE 5 Upcoming Events
PAGE 6 Session News
PAGE 7 September Reminders
PAGE 8

Pivot!
On one of my favorite episodes of one of my favorite TV shows, Friends, two of the main characters are trying to move a large couch up a set of stairs with a corner landing. The c ouch is unwieldy and hard to move, and one of the characters keeps shouting “PIVOT! PIVOT!” Eventually the couch flies off the side of the landing and falls to the ground with a thud.
During this time of COVID19 there is a lot of talk about “pivoting” in a business sense. The word “pivot” has become sort of tired and jargon, sort of like words “actionable” and “circle back”. Still, it’s a good word. To pivot is to change directions because something is no longer working.
The pandemic has forced us to rethink virtually every area of our life and ministry, both inside and outside of the church. It has been both disorienting and freeing to me. How about you?
As we move into the final three months of 2020, we will no doubt, continue to Pivot and change course, again and again.
One of the most precious aspects of being a Presbyterian congregation is the fact that the Pastor works with lay leadership. When our lay leaders and pastors are ordained and installed for ministry, we answer this question: Will you pray for and seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love?
During the past few months we’ve been challenged to find all of these resources: energy, intelligence, imagination and love. I’ve been incredibly proud of all our leaders: Session, Trustees, and Deacons. Each board has worked incredibly hard to “pivot” as they say. And no couches have fallen off the stairs and on to the floor.

With gratitude,
Pastor Traci

Upcoming»

events

Happening in SEPTEMBER »»»

6

Sunday, September 6 - Recorded Worship Service and 11:30 a.m. ZOOM Coffee Hour.

12

Saturday, September 12 at 5 PM– Outdoor Worship Service, Please bring your own lawn and water bottle.

13

Sunday, September 13 - Recorded Worship Service and 11:30 a.m. ZOOM Coffee Hour.

16

Wednesday, September 16 - 7pm Zoom Meeting -- What have you been reading, watching, or listening to?

19

Saturday, September 19– (10 AM-12 NOON)– Deacon’s Mobile Food Drive. 5 PM Outdoor Worship Service.

20

Sunday, September 20 - Recorded Worship Service and 11:30 a.m. ZOOM Coffee Hour.

23

Wednesday, September 23 - Pop in for Prayer, Popsicles and People! 7:00 p.m. in the parking lot.

26

Saturday, September 20- 5 pm Outdoor Worship. Please bring your own lawn chair and water bottle.

30

Wednesday, September 30 - BOOK Discussion on ZOOM - How to be an Antiracist by Abram Kendi, 7:00 p.m

PAGE 2

Family

ministry

Turn, Turn, Turn
We’ve been waiting for a change, haven’t we? For the months that we’ve been distancing and careful, staying away from our family (if needed) or only seeing them, wearing our masks, and meeting together virtually, we have been waiting for something to change. While the changes we’ve wanted are long coming, we do have the visual reminders that the earth continues her seasons. As the trees turn and the days shorten and the wind has an edge, we remember that while we await changes in our governments, our collective health, and our world, the earth remains.
I’m thinking of you and your kids. I miss them and I miss being in the same room with them. I’m thinking of you and your new life of virtual learning, of low-grade anxiety, of missing what you love. The earth continues her slow revolution and we continue holding on to the hope for something to change. I’m holding space
for you and your family and your inner peace.
September marks the beginning of our trek through the bible! While I can’t be with your kids to tell them the stories, I can make videos! With my new handy-dandy video camera, I’ve created a web series of biblical storytelling! Check our YouTube page for new content every week. If you’re an adult and want to brush up on the difference between Elijah and Elisha, then check out our page as well. No age limits
Emily Culella, Director of Children & Family Ministry.

PAGE 3

MUSIC MINISTRY

By Susan Smentek

Hello, Friends.
When EPC started creating online Sunday Worship Services back in March, I thought we’d be making videos for a few weeks. As you know, we’ve been online for months now. The COVID-19 pandemic instantly hit the live music industry very hard. We are not able to sing together, inside the Sanctuary or, outside of church, without risk. On May 5, The National Association of Teachers of Singing, the American Choral Directors Association, Chorus America, Barbershop Harmony Society, and Performing Arts Medical Association presented a webinar titled, A Conversation: What Do Science and Data Say About the Near Term Future of Singing. Some of their findings included that there is no safe way for singers to rehearse together until there is a vaccine or 95% effective treatment in place (most likely 1-2 years). Masks and spacing DO NOT protect singers from contagion, and singers are super-spreaders.
Keeping the health and safety of EPC musicians and the congregation in mind, I have worked with Keith Baumann and Gayle Bisesi to craft meaningful musical moments to go along with the Sunday Worship message themes. Gayle has been able to record outstanding gospel, praise songs and traditional hymns in her home studio. I send her song ideas and then, she comes up with the backing track, records her performance and, sends the video to me. She’s amazing! The Sanctuary serves as the perfect space for Keith and I to record an extensive catalog of songs that draw on sacred, popular, and traditional music. We approach each song by creating a unique arrangement and perform it utilizing a wide variety of stringed instruments to add a special flavor to every tune. Since I am singing live in the room, no one else can be in there to help so, we are also in charge of setting up lights and microphones and, running the video camera. After we finally get a good take (there are a few bloopers!), Keith has more work to do back at home with converting the video file and re-mixing the audio (otherwise, you would only hear me singing on the right and him playing on the left) When the two music videos for the week are finished, there’s still more editing that needs to be done to compile all of the portions of the service into one file. I’ll save that fun story for another day!
Thank you to everyone for joining us in worship online on Sundays. If there are hymns or songs that you would like to hear, please let me know.. Send EMAIL to epc@elmhurstchurch.org or tell me when you see me on ZOOM or in person. Visit our YouTube Channel, Elmhurst Presbyterian Church and click on “Playlist” to select the “Music” Playlist, if you’d like to hear and see any of the songs that we’ve done during our online Worship services.

PAGE 4

upcoming

events

Welcome to the new format of the EPC Newsletter!
We hope this space will continue to be a place where members, friends, and visitors can learn about the happenings of Elmhurst Presbyterian Church! If you'd like to contribute something to the newsletter, please make sure you submit your article to epc@elmhurstchurch.org by the 14th of the month!

SATURDAYS AT 5 PM / BRING YOUR OWN LAWN CHAIR AND WATER BOTTLE.	SEPTEMBER 5TH / SEPTEMBER 12TH / SEPTEMBER 19TH / SEPTEMBER 26TH

PAGE 5

session

news

Throughout the summer, our Session has continued to work diligently to lead our church during these challenging times. They even met in July – typically a “bye” month – to take several actions that couldn’t wait until the regularly scheduled August meeting.
In June, Session approved the installation of a state-of-the-art video and audio system to improve our online capabilities. We can use it to continue our recorded services, as well as adding live-streamed events and enhancing our (eventual) in-person worship.
In July, Session approved a series of outdoor, socially distanced services of worship on select Saturday evenings at 5:00 pm. Saturday worship will complement Sunday worship while offering an in-person experience.
Session changed the structure of the existing college loan program to one providing scholarship grants for graduates pursuing post-secondary education, including baccalaureate, associates and vocational programs. They set the 2020 award amount at $2,000 per person and selected three EPC recipients for 2020.
In August, Jami Sharko, the Director of the Buttons & Bows school visited Session to briefly report on how the school is doing. She talked about the history of Buttons & Bows at EPC, and she answered questions about how it is contending with the realities of the pandemic.
As part of it strategic responsibilities, Session has been considering the longer-term implications for areas such as worship, mission, fellowship, weddings, funerals and use of our facilities. In all discussions, they seek to respond to Christ’s call to service while protecting the safety, health and well-being of our members, congregants and community.

The Session is here to serve EPC to the best of our ability. If you ever have questions about our work or ministry, please don't hesitate to contact Pastor Traci or myself.
Respectfully Submitted,
Tom Mason, Clerk of Session

PAGE 6

SEPTEMBER REMINDERS:

SEPTEMBER BOOK STUDY
SEPTEMBER 30TH
7 P.M. on ZOOM
How to be an Antiracist
By Ibram X. Kendi

PAGE 7

367 Spring Road Elmhurst, IL 60126

Looking for some leaders to help with worship for our Saturday and Sunday services. If you'd like to help, and you don't want to use the sign up form, please email Jasmyn at epc@elmhurstchurch.org

367 Spring Road | Elmhurst, IL 60126 | 630/834-7750
Elmhurstchurch.org | epc@elmhurstchurch.org

Heading Note: The second word has 2-3 letters past the end of the first word
Styles:
Regular text—Palatino Linotype, 11 pt font, single line spacing
Contrasting Text—Futura, often all caps, letter spacing “very loose”
Accent Boxes—use 10% tint of the color