Heads up!  Summer reading ahead!

The books for our continuing summer Books and Bagels program have been selected.  This popular series takes place on the fourth Sundays of June, July, and August in the Conference Room at 9:00 am during the education hour. Participants need to acquire their own books, which are generally available from our local libraries.  Please join us for interesting and lively discussions.  The books for this summer are:

June
The Exotic and the Mundane by Joyce Dickens (memoir)
Travel the world with one couple who made a life-changing decision. We’ll explore the highs (and lows) of that momentous choice.

July
The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon (non-fiction)
This book presents twelve unsung Americans who changed the course of history from our country’s founding to the civil rights movement.

August
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd (novel)
The first lines of the book read “I am Anna. I was the wife of Jesus ben Joseph of Nazareth…”. From  this intriguing beginning, explore with us the fictionalized account of Jesus’s life through the eyes of Anna, his wife.

Questions:  Contact Susan Strasser.

(Source: Susan Strasser’s May 2, 2025 email)

All are welcome to our service of Scripture, sermon, prayers, and song. This morning, members of the South Shore Drill Team will lead us in worship and share their experiences. Following worship, they will join the rest of the Team members in the Great Hall for lunch before marching in Geneva’s Swedish Days parade.

Our service also includes a special time for the children. Children begin worship in the Sanctuary and leave with teachers during the sermon time for Sunday school. They are also welcome to worship with their families in the pews. Sound is also turned on in our Gathering Space just outside the big glass doors to the sanctuary in case your child needs a little more space to move around during the service. A nursery is available for younger children if your family prefers that option.

Masks and socially distanced seating are optional.

Our Summer Sunday School takes place from Sunday mornings, from June 1 through August 10. Following the Children’s Time in worship, children preschool age and younger will gather in the Nursery (Chapel Room) for story time with hands-on activities. Kindergarteners through fifth graders will meet in the Conference Room for story telling with Legos.

Questions: Email Bridget Wachter, Children’s Ministry Committee Chair.

(Source: May 12, 2025 email from Kristin Williams.)

Following worship, the Mission Committee will host lunch for the South Shore Drill Team members who will be participating in worship on that day. FVPC members and friends will prepare hamburgers, fruit, chips, and ice cream sandwiches for our guests. After lunch, the Drill Team will continue its long-standing tradition of marching in Geneva’s Swedish Days Parade.

(Posted 5/27/25. Source: Minutes of the May 5, 2025 Mission Committee meeting.)

Lazarus House dinner preparation takes place on the fourth Sunday of the month in the Great Hall Kitchen, 3:00-6:00 pm.

Organizer for this event: Beth Jahoda

All are welcome to our service of Scripture, sermon, prayers, and song.

We will be worshipping outdoors this morning. We will meet at Shelter 4 on the east side of Route 25 in Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva. The service will begin at 10:15 am.

Please note that there will be no service at Fox Valley Presbyterian Church on June 29. The building will be closed. In case of inclement weather, an email will be sent with alternative plans on Saturday, June 28.

Organizers for today’s worship service: The Worship and Music Committee and Earth Stewardship Team.

Our Summer Sunday School takes place from Sunday mornings, from June 1 through August 10. Following the Children’s Time in worship, children preschool age and younger will gather in the Nursery (Chapel Room) for story time with hands-on activities. Kindergarteners through fifth graders will meet in the Conference Room for story telling with Legos.

Questions: Email Bridget Wachter, Children’s Ministry Committee Chair.

(Source: May 12, 2025 email from Kristin Williams.)

Our Summer Sunday School takes place from Sunday mornings, from June 1 through August 10. Following the Children’s Time in worship, children preschool age and younger will gather in the Nursery (Chapel Room) for story time with hands-on activities. Kindergarteners through fifth graders will meet in the Conference Room for story telling with Legos.

Questions: Email Bridget Wachter, Children’s Ministry Committee Chair.

(Source: May 12, 2025 email from Kristin Williams.)

Our Summer Sunday School takes place from Sunday mornings, from June 1 through August 10. Following the Children’s Time in worship, children preschool age and younger will gather in the Nursery (Chapel Room) for story time with hands-on activities. Kindergarteners through fifth graders will meet in the Conference Room for story telling with Legos.

Questions: Email Bridget Wachter, Children’s Ministry Committee Chair.

(Source: May 12, 2025 email from Kristin Williams.)

Spiritual director Bill Epperly will lead a class focusing on the spiritual connections between Christianity and Buddhism that will meet in the Conference Room, 9:00-10:00 am. Bill teaches at DePaul University in Chicago and has completed a three-year training course in mindfulness. He will be leading us in a time of mindfulness worship during our July 27th worship service.

The Lilly grant that was awarded to Pastor Michelle is making this session possible. Our time with Bill will give us a taste of what Pastor Michelle will be experiencing on her pilgrimage to Kyoto and her 30-day silent retreat during her sabbatical.

(Posted 6/3/25. Source: Pastor Michelle’s note for the June 2025 edition of The Burning Bush monthly e-newsletter.)

Our Summer Sunday School takes place from Sunday mornings, from June 1 through August 10. Following the Children’s Time in worship, children preschool age and younger will gather in the Nursery (Chapel Room) for story time with hands-on activities. Kindergarteners through fifth graders will meet in the Conference Room for story telling with Legos.

Questions: Email Bridget Wachter, Children’s Ministry Committee Chair.

(Source: May 12, 2025 email from Kristin Williams.)

Heads up!  Summer reading ahead!

The books for our continuing summer Books and Bagels program have been selected.  This popular series takes place on the fourth Sundays of June, July, and August in the Conference Room at 9:00 am during the education hour. Participants need to acquire their own books, which are generally available from our local libraries.  Please join us for interesting and lively discussions.  The books for this summer are:

June
The Exotic and the Mundane by Joyce Dickens (memoir)
Travel the world with one couple who made a life-changing decision. We’ll explore the highs (and lows) of that momentous choice.

July
The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon (non-fiction)
This book presents twelve unsung Americans who changed the course of history from our country’s founding to the civil rights movement.

August
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd (novel)
The first lines of the book read “I am Anna. I was the wife of Jesus ben Joseph of Nazareth…”. From  this intriguing beginning, explore with us the fictionalized account of Jesus’s life through the eyes of Anna, his wife.

Questions:  Contact Susan Strasser.

(Source: Susan Strasser’s May 2, 2025 email)

Our Summer Sunday School takes place from Sunday mornings, from June 1 through August 10. Following the Children’s Time in worship, children preschool age and younger will gather in the Nursery (Chapel Room) for story time with hands-on activities. Kindergarteners through fifth graders will meet in the Conference Room for story telling with Legos.

Questions: Email Bridget Wachter, Children’s Ministry Committee Chair.

(Source: May 12, 2025 email from Kristin Williams.)

Church members and friends are invited to lend a hand preparing bag lunches for the Lazarus House transitional living center in St. Charles. This is a great summertime drop-in mission opportunity, and families are welcome, too. Please join us in the Youth Lounge after worship if you are interested in participating.

Organizer for this event: Karen Peruba, Youth Ministry Committee member

(Posted 5/20/25. Source: Karen Peruba’s May 20, 2025 email).

Lazarus House dinner preparation takes place on the fourth Sunday of the month in the Great Hall Kitchen, 3:00-6:00 pm.

Organizer for this event: Beth Jahoda

Our next restaurant fundraiser takes place today at Aurelio’s in Geneva. We will be getting together at noon and at 6:00 pm to enjoy a meal together. To join either group, email Liz Holding so that she will be able to make reservations for us.

Organizer for this event: Liz Holding

The Deacons are organizing a church outing to the Kane County Cougars baseball game. Watch this space and church publications for more details.

(Source: April 22, 2025 Session minutes)

Our Summer Sunday School takes place from Sunday mornings, from June 1 through August 10. Following the Children’s Time in worship, children preschool age and younger will gather in the Nursery (Chapel Room) for story time with hands-on activities. Kindergarteners through fifth graders will meet in the Conference Room for story telling with Legos.

Questions: Email Bridget Wachter, Children’s Ministry Committee Chair.

(Source: May 12, 2025 email from Kristin Williams.)

Our Summer EcoWalk takes place today. We will gather at 9:00 am at Norris Woods Nature Preserve in St Charles, and will be joined by folks from Faith in Place.

Norris Woods may be familiar to some, as we have taken an EcoWalk there before. The trailhead and parking lot is behind Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Organizer for this event: Jeff Mengler

(Source: April 23, 2025 email from Jeff Mengler)

Our Summer Sunday School takes place from Sunday mornings, from June 1 through August 10. Following the Children’s Time in worship, children preschool age and younger will gather in the Nursery (Chapel Room) for story time with hands-on activities. Kindergarteners through fifth graders will meet in the Conference Room for story telling with Legos.

Questions: Email Bridget Wachter, Children’s Ministry Committee Chair.

(Source: May 12, 2025 email from Kristin Williams.)