GE COV Weekly Newsletter

Join us Each week in person or online
Sundays at 9:30am.


QUICK LINKS


THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Sunday Sermon

Habakkuk- Questions, Discomfort, & Trust

Habakkuk 2:6-20


FEATURED UPDATES

 
 

CHURCH PRAYER MEETING!

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

The Church prayer meetings are on Zoom every Monday night at 7pm!

Zoom ID: 859 848 614

Password: geecc

All are welcomed to this sweet hour of prayer! See you there!

 
 

Next steps

Next Steps: Discerning God’s Will for Our Lives, a class for Young Adults (college-aged and 20-somethings, taught by Pastor Dawn and Dr. David Lauber, held in the North Alcove)

-Pastor Dawn Lauber, Associate Pastor of Congregational Life

 

 

 
 
 
 

a message from the children’s ministry

There are great things happening in our Children’s Ministry!

Every week, the kids have been actively engaging with Sunday School lessons, activities and worship. They’ve played, sang worship songs, made crafts, and learned lessons regarding God’s love for them and his people.

We are so thankful for our team of volunteers, who enjoy working with the kids to plant kingdom seeds in their hearts. They have stepped out beautifully during this time of transition!

While we have wonderful volunteers, we are still in need of more to serve our children!

If you are looking for an opportunity to serve, please consider helping with children’s ministry. It is a perfect opportunity to spread the love of Jesus!

‘But Jesus said to them “Let the children come to me! Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” -Matthew 19:14

 
 
 
 

easter flower donations

The sanctuary will be decorated on Easter Sunday, April 9, with flowers placed in memory or in honor of friends and loved ones. You may also give a donation to the church for worship enhancements.  These donations will be used to purchase flowers for the Easter Sunday display and for other items that will enrich our worship experience.   

The Easter bulletin insert will have a list of names in whose memory or honor the flowers are given, as well as of those giving the memorials. Contributors are invited to take a plant home after the service on Easter.  Plants not claimed will be used to decorate the sanctuary in the weeks following Easter. 

For inclusion in the Easter bulletin, please complete the lower portion of the form and place it in the offering plate, along with your memorial or honorary gift, by Palm Sunday, APRIL 2ND*.  Checks can be made with the form or can be made by using the drop down menu for online giving. For further information, please contact the church office at info@gecovenant.org or 630-450-5095. 

 
 

Holy week 2023

The following events for Holy week will include;

4/2 Palm Sunday and the Instillation of Pastor Dawn Holt Lauber at 9:30am

4/7 Good Friday service 7pm and a Children’s service at 10am

4/9 Easter service at 9:30am. There will be no Sunday school that day!

 
 

THE SEASON OF LENT Dwelling in Habakkuk

The season of Lent is the forty days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Week, representing the forty days when Jesus was tested in the wilderness.

Lent is a time of repentance and transformation as we grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus, and prepare for His resurrection on Easter Sunday. We set aside time to praise and worship God, to confess our sins and failures, and to commit to pray and study God’s Word more.

JOIN US FOR LENT AT GLEN ELLYN COVENANT CHURCH

Sunday Morning Worship (Habakkuk: Questions, Discomfort, & Trust)

Sunday Evening Prayer, February 26 – Next Sunday, 5 PM

Sunday Evening Soup Suppers, February 26 – March 19, 5:30 PM

Wednesday Evening Small Groups*, March 1 – March 29, 6:30 PM

*In person and online options

 
 

celebrating 50 years of hope

Outreach is celebrating their 50th anniversary on April 22nd!

There’s a lot happening so use the link to check out the fun events that are happening!

https://weareoutreach.org/events/celebrating-hope/

 
 

MISSIONS FOCUS

Missions Focus

Supporting Covenant World Relief & Development
During the coming weeks we are collecting funds in support of the work of our missions partner Covenant World Relief & Development (CWRD). Perhaps you have noticed the Covenant World Relief-labeled donation collection cans in the atrium. Children and parents alike are encouraged to take a can home or create their own to gather coins for CWRD for collection on Easter Sunday. Donations may also be made by check or via our church website. CWRD’s mission is “to join God in loving, serving, and working in relationship together with the poor, oppressed, traumatized, and marginalized.” CWRD’s website describes these initiatives—disaster relief, clean water, refugee response, and refugee journey. The values that guide how CWRD seeks to carry out its mission—such as representing the kingdom, working in mutual partnership with local organizations, strengthening local communities, and serving the most vulnerable—are also detailed there. Watch for more information here and in the missions display case in the atrium during the next few weeks.


Other Needs and Opportunities

Information on ongoing needs and opportunities with our partners is available from Darren Miller via missions@gecovenant.org and the missions partners’ websites. Let Darren know if you would like to be added to the distribution list for partner newsletters. Let Diane Brown know if you would like to be added to the GE COV Prayer Letter, which includes our missionaries.

 

 

 


GE COV Weekly Newsletter

Join us Each week in person or online
Sundays at 9:30am.


QUICK LINKS


THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Sunday Sermon

Habakkuk- Questions, Discomfort, & Trust

Habakkuk 2:1-5


FEATURED UPDATES

 
 

CHURCH PRAYER MEETING!

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

The Church prayer meetings are on Zoom every Monday night at 7pm!

Zoom ID: 859 848 614

Password: geecc

All are welcomed to this sweet hour of prayer! See you there!

 
 

Next steps

Next Steps: Discerning God’s Will for Our Lives, a class for Young Adults (college-aged and 20-somethings, taught by Pastor Dawn and Dr. David Lauber, held in the North Alcove)

-Pastor Dawn Lauber, Associate Pastor of Congregational Life

 

 

 
 
 
 

a message from the children’s ministry

There are great things happening in our Children’s Ministry!

Every week, the kids have been actively engaging with Sunday School lessons, activities and worship. They’ve played, sang worship songs, made crafts, and learned lessons regarding God’s love for them and his people.

We are so thankful for our team of volunteers, who enjoy working with the kids to plant kingdom seeds in their hearts. They have stepped out beautifully during this time of transition!

While we have wonderful volunteers, we are still in need of more to serve our children!

If you are looking for an opportunity to serve, please consider helping with children’s ministry. It is a perfect opportunity to spread the love of Jesus!

‘But Jesus said to them “Let the children come to me! Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” -Matthew 19:14

 
 

easter flower donations

The sanctuary will be decorated on Easter Sunday, April 9, with flowers placed in memory or in honor of friends and loved ones. You may also give a donation to the church for worship enhancements.  These donations will be used to purchase flowers for the Easter Sunday display and for other items that will enrich our worship experience.   

The Easter bulletin insert will have a list of names in whose memory or honor the flowers are given, as well as of those giving the memorials. Contributors are invited to take a plant home after the service on Easter.  Plants not claimed will be used to decorate the sanctuary in the weeks following Easter. 

For inclusion in the Easter bulletin, please complete the lower portion of the form and place it in the offering plate, along with your memorial or honorary gift, by Palm Sunday, APRIL 2ND*.  Checks can be made with the form or can be made by using the drop down menu for online giving. For further information, please contact the church office at info@gecovenant.org or 630-450-5095. 

 
 

THE SEASON OF LENT Dwelling in Habakkuk

The season of Lent is the forty days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Week, representing the forty days when Jesus was tested in the wilderness.

Lent is a time of repentance and transformation as we grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus, and prepare for His resurrection on Easter Sunday. We set aside time to praise and worship God, to confess our sins and failures, and to commit to pray and study God’s Word more.

JOIN US FOR LENT AT GLEN ELLYN COVENANT CHURCH

Sunday Morning Worship (Habakkuk: Questions, Discomfort, & Trust)

Sunday Evening Prayer, February 26 – March 19, 5 PM

Sunday Evening Soup Suppers, February 26 – March 19, 5:30 PM

Wednesday Evening Small Groups*, March 1 – March 29, 6:30 PM

*In person and online options

 
 

celebrating 50 years of hope

Outreach is celebrating their 50th anniversary on April 22nd!

There’s a lot happening so use the link to check out the fun events that are happening!

https://weareoutreach.org/events/celebrating-hope/

 
 

MISSIONS FOCUS

Missions Focus

Praying for Our Missions Partners
Our church supports several missionaries and local and international ministries and service agencies. The Missions Team invites you to intentionally pray for these individuals and organizations—four Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) missionary couples, three non-ECC missionary couples and three individuals, and several local and international agencies and ministries. Stop by the missions display case in the church atrium to see highlights of our missions partners.


Other Items

Information on ongoing needs and opportunities with our partners is available from Darren Miller via missions@gecovenant.org and the missions partners’ websites. Let Darren know if you would like to be added to the distribution list for partner newsletters. Let Diane Brown know if you would like to be added to the GE COV Prayer Letter, which includes our missionaries.

 

 

 


GE COV Weekly Newsletter

Join us Each week in person or online
Sundays at 9:30am.


QUICK LINKS


THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Sunday Sermon

Habakkuk- Questions, Discomfort, & Trust

Habakkuk 1:12-17


FEATURED UPDATES

 
 

CHURCH PRAYER MEETING!

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

The Church prayer meetings are on Zoom every Monday night at 7pm!

Zoom ID: 859 848 614

Password: geecc

All are welcomed to this sweet hour of prayer! See you there!

 
 

Next steps

Next Steps: Discerning God’s Will for Our Lives, a class for Young Adults (college-aged and 20-somethings, taught by Pastor Dawn and Dr. David Lauber, held in the North Alcove)

-Pastor Dawn Lauber, Associate Pastor of Congregational Life

 

 

 
 

a message from the children’s ministry

There are great things happening in our Children’s Ministry!

Every week, the kids have been actively engaging with Sunday School lessons, activities and worship. They’ve played, sang worship songs, made crafts, and learned lessons regarding God’s love for them and his people.

We are so thankful for our team of volunteers, who enjoy working with the kids to plant kingdom seeds in their hearts. They have stepped out beautifully during this time of transition!

While we have wonderful volunteers, we are still in need of more to serve our children!

If you are looking for an opportunity to serve, please consider helping with children’s ministry. It is a perfect opportunity to spread the love of Jesus!

‘But Jesus said to them “Let the children come to me! Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” -Matthew 19:14

 
 

THE SEASON OF LENT Dwelling in Habakkuk

The season of Lent is the forty days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Week, representing the forty days when Jesus was tested in the wilderness.

Lent is a time of repentance and transformation as we grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus, and prepare for His resurrection on Easter Sunday. We set aside time to praise and worship God, to confess our sins and failures, and to commit to pray and study God’s Word more.

JOIN US FOR LENT AT GLEN ELLYN COVENANT CHURCH

Sunday Morning Worship (Habakkuk: Questions, Discomfort, & Trust)

Sunday Evening Prayer, February 26 – March 19, 5 PM

Sunday Evening Soup Suppers, February 26 – March 19, 5:30 PM

Wednesday Evening Small Groups*, March 1 – March 29, 6:30 PM

*In person and online options

 
 

celebrating 50 years of hope

Outreach is celebrating their 50th anniversary on April 22nd!

There’s a lot happening so use the link to check out the fun events that are happening!

https://weareoutreach.org/events/celebrating-hope/

 
 

MISSIONS FOCUS

Missions Focus

Home Altar Devotions This Week
Covenant Home Altar devotions for this week are provided by Eugenio. He and Pia are Evangelical Covenant Church missionaries serving church leaders and other missionaries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Along with the opportunity to join him and others in these devotions, this is a chance for special prayer time for Eugenio and Pia and their ministry. The devotions are available here.


Other Items

Information on ongoing needs and opportunities with our local and global missions partners is available from Darren Miller via missions@gecovenant.org and the missions partners’ websites. Let Darren know if you would like to be added to the distribution list for newsletters from our partners. The GE COV Prayer Letter, available via Diane Brown, shares how we may pray for our missionaries. The missions display case in the church atrium shows highlights of our missionaries and ministry partners.

 

 

 


GE COV Weekly Newsletter

Join us Each week in person or online
Sundays at 9:30am.


QUICK LINKS


THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Sunday Sermon

Habakkuk- Questions, Discomfort, & Trust

Habakkuk 1:1-11


FEATURED UPDATES

 
 

CHURCH PRAYER MEETING!

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

The Church prayer meetings are on Zoom every Monday night at 7pm!

Zoom ID: 859 848 614

Password: geecc

All are welcomed to this sweet hour of prayer! See you there!

 
 

Next steps

Next Steps: Discerning God’s Will for Our Lives, a class for Young Adults (college-aged and 20-somethings, taught by Pastor Dawn and Dr. David Lauber, held in the North Alcove)

 Your Family Story: Parenting with Purpose, taught by Dr. David and Tara Van Dyke, held in Munson Hall) 

-Pastor Dawn Lauber, Associate Pastor of Congregational Life

 

 

 
 
 

a message from the financial team

2022 year-end statements have been mailed to all members and 4th quarter donors this week. If you have any questions or do not receive a statement, please contact Financial Secretary Wendy Miller (giving@gecovenant.org or 630-596-6487).

 

Also, if you would like a box of numbered donation envelopes for giving via checks or cash, please pick up one on the table in the Higher Grounds coffee area.

 

 
 

a message from the children’s ministry

There are great things happening in our Children’s Ministry!

Every week, the kids have been actively engaging with Sunday School lessons, activities and worship. They’ve played, sang worship songs, made crafts, and learned lessons regarding God’s love for them and his people.

We are so thankful for our team of volunteers, who enjoy working with the kids to plant kingdom seeds in their hearts. They have stepped out beautifully during this time of transition!

While we have wonderful volunteers, we are still in need of more to serve our children!

If you are looking for an opportunity to serve, please consider helping with children’s ministry. It is a perfect opportunity to spread the love of Jesus!

‘But Jesus said to them “Let the children come to me! Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” -Matthew 19:14

 
 

THE SEASON OF LENT Dwelling in Habakkuk

The season of Lent is the forty days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Week, representing the forty days when Jesus was tested in the wilderness.

Lent is a time of repentance and transformation as we grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus, and prepare for His resurrection on Easter Sunday. We set aside time to praise and worship God, to confess our sins and failures, and to commit to pray and study God’s Word more.

JOIN US FOR LENT AT GLEN ELLYN COVENANT CHURCH

Ash Wednesday Service, Tonight, 6:30 PM

Sunday Morning Worship (Habakkuk: Questions, Discomfort, & Trust)

Sunday Evening Prayer, February 26 – March 19, 5 PM

Sunday Evening Soup Suppers, February 26 – March 19, 5:30 PM

Wednesday Evening Small Groups*, March 1 – March 29, 6:30 PM

*In person and online options

 
 

Men’s Ministry Update

Covenant Point Men's Retreat: Feb. 24-26, 2023

Each year, Covenant Point hosts a men’s retreat for Covenant Churches in the Midwest.  We have had a number of men from our church attending this annual event in years past.  Whether there is one, or a dozen men from our church, it has always been a great time of fellowship, worship, and learning.  Please check out the link below to learn more (and register if you wish).

 2023 Men’s Retreat Covenant Point Bible Camp

 7pm Friday, Feb 24 – 10am Sunday, Feb 26

Come for a weekend of fun, fellowship, meaningful conversation, and worship.  Invite your friends for the excellent food, good times, and life-giving worship and messages. Recreational opportunities include a broomball tournament, afternoon jam session (bring your own instrument), snowshoeing, cross-country skiing on our groomed trails, sauna and polar bear dip, or games and conversation in the dining hall.

Check-in begins at 7:00 PM on Friday, with our first gathering at 8:00 PM.

 
 

MISSIONS FOCUS

Missions Focus

Covenant Devotions Next Week
We have the chance for devotions next week with one of our missions partners. Covenant Home Altar devotions for the week of February 26 are authored by Eugenio. He and Pia are Evangelical Covenant Church missionaries serving church leaders and other missionaries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Along with his devotions, this is an opportunity for special prayer time for Eugenio and Pia and their ministry. Covenant Home Alter devotions for this Sunday, Feb. 26 are available here.

Love Offering
We will receive the Love Offering this coming Sunday, for “Every Kid a Camper,” in support of Harbor Point Ministries and scholarships for campers to attend Covenant Harbor and Covenant Point.

Other Items
Information on ongoing needs and opportunities with our local and global missions partners is available from Darren Miller via missions@gecovenant.org and the missions partners’ websites. Let Darren know if you would like to be added to the distribution list for newsletters from our partners. The GE COV Prayer Letter, available via Diane Brown, shares how we may pray for our missionaries. The missions display case in the church atrium shows highlights of our missionaries and ministry partners

 

 

 


GE COV Weekly Newsletter

Join us Each week in person or online
Sundays at 9:30am.


QUICK LINKS


THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Sunday Sermon

Build on rock

Matthew 7:24-27


FEATURED UPDATES

 
 

CHURCH PRAYER MEETING!

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

The Church prayer meetings are on Zoom every Monday night at 7pm!

Zoom ID: 859 848 614

Password: geecc

All are welcomed to this sweet hour of prayer! See you there!

 
 

Next steps

Next Steps: Discerning God’s Will for Our Lives, a class for Young Adults (college-aged and 20-somethings, taught by Pastor Dawn and Dr. David Lauber, held in the North Alcove)

 Your Family Story: Parenting with Purpose ( This Sunday), taught by Dr. David and Tara Van Dyke, held in Munson Hall) 

-Pastor Dawn Lauber, Associate Pastor of Congregational Life

 

 

 
 

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM THE ARK

 
 

a message from the financial team

2022 year-end statements have been mailed to all members and 4th quarter donors this week. If you have any questions or do not receive a statement, please contact Financial Secretary Wendy Miller (giving@gecovenant.org or 630-596-6487).

 

Also, if you would like a box of numbered donation envelopes for giving via checks or cash, please pick up one on the table in the Higher Grounds coffee area.

 

 
 

BOOK CLUB

 Join us on Zoom each Thursday evening, 7:30-8:30pm as we discuss Pastor David Swanson’s “Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity”. 

All are welcome! 

Pastor Swanson is the Pastor of New Community Covenant Church, a multicultural congregation in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, and speaks around the country on the topics of racial justice and reconciliation.  

If you are interested in joining, contact Darren Miller, Mary Crickmore, or the church office.

 
 

THE SEASON OF LENT Dwelling in Habakkuk

The season of Lent is the forty days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Week, representing the forty days when Jesus was tested in the wilderness.

Lent is a time of repentance and transformation as we grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus, and prepare for His resurrection on Easter Sunday. We set aside time to praise and worship God, to confess our sins and failures, and to commit to pray and study God’s Word more.

JOIN US FOR LENT AT GLEN ELLYN COVENANT CHURCH

Ash Wednesday Service, February 22, 6:30 PM

Sunday Morning Worship (Habakkuk: Questions, Discomfort, & Trust)

Sunday Evening Prayer, February 26 – March 19, 5 PM

Sunday Evening Soup Suppers, February 26 – March 19, 5:30 PM

Wednesday Evening Small Groups*, March 1 – March 29, 6:30 PM

*In person and online options

 
 

Men’s Ministry Update

Covenant Point Men's Retreat: Feb. 24-26, 2023

Each year, Covenant Point hosts a men’s retreat for Covenant Churches in the Midwest.  We have had a number of men from our church attending this annual event in years past.  Whether there is one, or a dozen men from our church, it has always been a great time of fellowship, worship, and learning.  Please check out the link below to learn more (and register if you wish).

 2023 Men’s Retreat Covenant Point Bible Camp

 7pm Friday, Feb 24 – 10am Sunday, Feb 26

Come for a weekend of fun, fellowship, meaningful conversation, and worship.  Invite your friends for the excellent food, good times, and life-giving worship and messages. Recreational opportunities include a broomball tournament, afternoon jam session (bring your own instrument), snowshoeing, cross-country skiing on our groomed trails, sauna and polar bear dip, or games and conversation in the dining hall.

Check-in begins at 7:00 PM on Friday, with our first gathering at 8:00 PM.

 
 

MISSIONS FOCUS

Missions Focus

Celebrating 37 Years in Missions

This past Sunday we celebrated with Scott and Mary Crickmore the 37 years they served in missions. They shared a video of their time in Mali and then more information about their careers. Below is their intriguing biographical narrative.

In 1982 when Scott and Mary met on a New York-Paris-Tel Aviv TWA flight, Scott was a B-52 pilot in the Air Force Strategic Air Command nuclear deterrent force, and Mary was on the staff of Young Life in Oklahoma City. A year later they were married by Pastor Liljegren here at Glen Ellyn Covenant Church, where Mary grew up. They began to look for mission opportunities, focusing on unreached people groups. In March of 1985, during the African famine, they went to Mali short term with the Christian Reformed Church to manage transportation and distribution of food aid. They were invited to commit to a long-term ministry to the Fulani people group, who are Muslim herders.

In 1987 Scott and Mary moved into a Fulani village to do incarnational evangelism (identifying with and living like the local people to the extent possible) and development work. During the next 24 years, they lived part time in the village and part time in the capital, and worked on public health, access to veterinary help and animal medicine, literacy, land rights, irrigation, and Bible studies using the texts that were being produced by Wycliffe and the Norwegian Mission Society. They became involved in the Bible translation work for Fulani language variants in six countries using new computer software, and Scott coordinated an annual conference and training for all the Fulani translation teams. In 2006, the New Testament for Malian Fulani was dedicated. By 2025, some of those teams will have complete Bibles.

Since 2005, their roles shifted to more administration and support of nationals and younger missionaries. In response to an invitation from The Seed Company, Scott changed organizations in 2011 to support the funding of Bible translation projects full time. When they retired in November 2022, Scott was a regional director over 10 countries and Mary was a regional director throughout five countries. They both mentored younger people (with more energy!) who have taken over their roles.

Other Items

Information on ongoing needs and opportunities with our missions partners is available from Darren Miller via missions@gecovenant.org and the missions partners’ websites. Let Darren know if you would like to be added to the distribution list for their newsletters. The GE COV Prayer Letter, available via Diane Brown, shares how we may pray for our missionaries. Our missions display case in the church atrium shows highlights of our missionaries and ministry partners.

 

 

 


GE COV Weekly Newsletter

Join us Each week in person or online
Sundays at 9:30am.


QUICK LINKS


THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Sunday Sermon

Don’t you know?

Matthew 7:21-23


FEATURED UPDATES

 
 

CHURCH PRAYER MEETING!

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

The Church prayer meetings are on Zoom every Monday night at 7pm!

Zoom ID: 859 848 614

Password: geecc

All are welcomed to this sweet hour of prayer! See you there!

 
 

Next steps

Next Steps: Discerning God’s Will for Our Lives, a class for Young Adults (college-aged and 20-somethings, taught by Pastor Dawn and Dr. David Lauber, held in the North Alcove)

 Your Family Story: Parenting with Purpose ( Feb. 12, Feb. 19, taught by Dr. David and Tara Van Dyke, held in Munson Hall) 

-Pastor Dawn Lauber, Associate Pastor of Congregational Life

 

 

 
 

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM THE ARK

 
 

an update from the ark preschool

February is a big month at The Ark Preschool as we are gearing up for fall enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year. We started accepting applications on February 1st and classes are filling up very quickly!  If you have family, friends or neighbors with preschool age children, please have them call The Ark Office at 630-858-7755 or e-mail me (holly.pelsor@gecovenant.org) for registration information.  Applications are located outside of my office and on The Ark Preschool website.

 

I want to thank those of you who donated to the Love Offering on January 29th.  All donations went towards The Ark Scholarship Fund which helps families who are unable to afford full tuition for their children due to a number of life circumstances.

 

We have a scholarship family in our Fours Afternoon Class that recently moved to West Chicago.  Due to only having one car, the family is having a hard time getting the child to and from preschool every day and is looking for someone to help transport him on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.  School starts at 12:30 and ends at 3:00.  Please contact myself or Lois Hanson if you would like to help and want additional information.

 Thank you for your support of The Ark ministry to our community and church family. 

 

 
 

BOOK CLUB

 Join us on Zoom each Thursday evening, 7:30-8:30pm as we discuss Pastor David Swanson’s “Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity”. 

All are welcome! 

Pastor Swanson is the Pastor of New Community Covenant Church, a multicultural congregation in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, and speaks around the country on the topics of racial justice and reconciliation.  

If you are interested in joining, contact Darren Miller, Mary Crickmore, or the church office.

 
 

A letter of thanks from the hudsons

Pastor Jeff and the Glen Ellyn Evang. Covenant Church,

We are so grateful for all the incredible support for our family during this very difficult time.

Thank you so much!

-The Hudson Family

 
 

Men’s Ministry Update

Covenant Point Men's Retreat: Feb. 24-26, 2023

Each year, Covenant Point hosts a men’s retreat for Covenant Churches in the Midwest.  We have had a number of men from our church attending this annual event in years past.  Whether there is one, or a dozen men from our church, it has always been a great time of fellowship, worship, and learning.  Please check out the link below to learn more (and register if you wish).

 2023 Men’s Retreat Covenant Point Bible Camp

 7pm Friday, Feb 24 – 10am Sunday, Feb 26

Come for a weekend of fun, fellowship, meaningful conversation, and worship.  Invite your friends for the excellent food, good times, and life-giving worship and messages. Recreational opportunities include a broomball tournament, afternoon jam session (bring your own instrument), snowshoeing, cross-country skiing on our groomed trails, sauna and polar bear dip, or games and conversation in the dining hall.

Check-in begins at 7:00 PM on Friday, with our first gathering at 8:00 PM.

 
 

MISSIONS FOCUS

Missions Focus

Celebrating 37 Years in Missions

This coming Sunday, we will hear from Scott and Mary Crickmore about their missions careers. They shared the following intriguing biographical narrative.

In 1982 when Scott and Mary met on a New York-Paris-Tel Aviv TWA flight, Scott was a B-52 pilot in the Air Force Strategic Air Command nuclear deterrent force, and Mary was on the staff of Young Life in Oklahoma City. A year later they were married by Pastor Liljegren here at Glen Ellyn Covenant Church, where Mary grew up. They began to look for mission opportunities, focusing on unreached people groups. In March of 1985, during the African famine, they went to Mali short term with the Christian Reformed Church to manage transportation and distribution of food aid. They were invited to commit to a long-term ministry to the Fulani people group, who are Muslim herders.

In 1987 Scott and Mary moved into a Fulani village to do incarnational evangelism (identifying with and living like the local people to the extent possible) and development work. During the next 24 years, they lived part time in the village and part time in the capital, and worked on public health, access to veterinary help and animal medicine, literacy, land rights, irrigation, and Bible studies using the texts that were being produced by Wycliffe and the Norwegian Mission Society. They became involved in the Bible translation work for Fulani language variants in six countries using new computer software, and Scott coordinated an annual conference and training for all the Fulani translation teams. In 2006, the New Testament for Malian Fulani was dedicated. By 2025, some of those teams will have complete Bibles.

Since 2005, their roles shifted to more administration and support of nationals and younger missionaries. In response to an invitation from The Seed Company, Scott changed organizations in 2011 to support the funding of Bible translation projects full time. When they retired in November 2022, Scott was a regional director over 10 countries and Mary was a regional director throughout five countries. They both mentored younger people (with more energy!) who have taken over their roles.

 

They will share more this Sunday, Feb. 12, briefly during the worship service and more in depth during the Sunday School hour. We hope you will be able to join us.

 

Other Items

Information on ongoing needs and opportunities with our missions partners is available from Darren Miller via missions@gecovenant.org and the missions partners’ websites. Let Darren know if you would like to be added to the distribution list for their newsletters. The GE COV Prayer Letter, available via Diane Brown, shares how we may pray for our missionaries. Our missions display case in the church atrium shows highlights of our missionaries and ministry partners.

 

 

 


GE COV Weekly Newsletter

Join us Each week in person or online
Sundays at 9:30am.


QUICK LINKS


THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Sunday Sermon

Bearing Fruit

Matthew 7:15-20


FEATURED UPDATES

 
 

CHURCH PRAYER MEETING!

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

The Church prayer meetings are on Zoom every Monday night at 7pm!

Zoom ID: 859 848 614

Password: geecc

All are welcomed to this sweet hour of prayer! See you there!

 
 

Next steps

Starting this Sunday January 22nd – Next Steps: Discerning God’s Will for Our Lives, a class for Young Adults (college-aged and 20-somethings, taught by Pastor Dawn and Dr. David Lauber, held in the North Alcove)

 Starting next Sunday January 29th – Your Family Story: Parenting with Purpose (Three-week class Jan. 29, Feb. 12, Feb. 19, taught by Dr. David and Tara Van Dyke, held in Munson Hall) 

-Pastor Dawn Lauber, Associate Pastor of Congregational Life

 

 

 
 

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM THE ARK

 
 

BOOK CLUB

The GEECC book club is starting a new book on January 26th!  Join us on Zoom each Thursday evening, 7:30-8:30pm as we discuss Pastor David Swanson’s “Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity”. 

All are welcome! 

Pastor Swanson is the Pastor of New Community Covenant Church, a multicultural congregation in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, and speaks around the country on the topics of racial justice and reconciliation.  

If you are interested in joining, contact Darren Miller, Mary Crickmore, or the church office.

 
 

Men’s Ministry Update

Covenant Point Men's Retreat: Feb. 24-26, 2023

Each year, Covenant Point hosts a men’s retreat for Covenant Churches in the Midwest.  We have had a number of men from our church attending this annual event in years past.  Whether there is one, or a dozen men from our church, it has always been a great time of fellowship, worship, and learning.  Please check out the link below to learn more (and register if you wish).

 2023 Men’s Retreat Covenant Point Bible Camp

 7pm Friday, Feb 24 – 10am Sunday, Feb 26

Come for a weekend of fun, fellowship, meaningful conversation, and worship.  Invite your friends for the excellent food, good times, and life-giving worship and messages. Recreational opportunities include a broomball tournament, afternoon jam session (bring your own instrument), snowshoeing, cross-country skiing on our groomed trails, sauna and polar bear dip, or games and conversation in the dining hall.

Check-in begins at 7:00 PM on Friday, with our first gathering at 8:00 PM.

 
 

MISSIONS FOCUS

Missions Focus

Ministry Partner Update: Glen Ellyn Food Pantry

 In its January 23, 2023 newsletter, the Pantry reported that with the increase in grocery prices it is experiencing an especially busy start to the new year and that extra help is needed, due to the surge in need. On one recent day, for example, the Pantry welcomed 17 new families and distributed nearly 500 bags of food, compared with 100 bags of food distributed on many days in the summer of 2020. The Pantry indicated that it has had generous community support and is doing its best to meet the challenges of the current economy.

The “Winter Top Needs” listed in the newsletter last week are jarred pasta sauce, canned tomato sauce/tomato paste, canned beef stew/sloppy joes, coffee/tea, cooking oil, mayonnaise/salad dressing, Club crackers, toothpaste, shampoo/conditioner, and liquid hand soap. The most-needed items on a week-to-week basis are shown on the Pantry’s homepage and Facebook page.

 

Join in a Ministry Celebration

Looking ahead, we hope you will be able to join us at church Sunday, Feb. 12 in celebrating with Scott and Mary on their 37-year missions ministries. We will provide more information about them in the GE COV newsletter next week and they will share about their ministries on Feb. 12.

 

Other Items

Information on ongoing needs and opportunities with our missions partners is available from Darren Miller via missions@gecovenant.org and the missions partner websites. Let Darren know if you would like to be added to the distribution list for our partners’ newsletters. The GE COV Prayer Letter, available via Diane Brown, shares how we may pray for our missionaries. Our missionaries and ministry partners are highlighted in the missions display case in the church atrium.

 

 

 


GE COV Weekly Newsletter

Join us Each week in person or online
Sundays at 9:30am.


QUICK LINKS


THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Sunday Sermon

The Golden Rule

Matthew 7:12-14


FEATURED UPDATES

 
 

CHURCH PRAYER MEETING!

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

The Church prayer meetings are on Zoom every Monday night at 7pm!

Zoom ID: 859 848 614

Password: geecc

All are welcomed to this sweet hour of prayer! See you there!

 
 

Next steps

Starting this Sunday January 22nd – Next Steps: Discerning God’s Will for Our Lives, a class for Young Adults (college-aged and 20-somethings, taught by Pastor Dawn and Dr. David Lauber, held in the North Alcove)

 Starting next Sunday January 29th – Your Family Story: Parenting with Purpose (Three-week class Jan. 29, Feb. 12, Feb. 19, taught by Dr. David and Tara Van Dyke, held in Munson Hall) 

-Pastor Dawn Lauber, Associate Pastor of Congregational Life

 

 

 
 

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM the ark

 The Ark Preschool’s Love Offering will be collected during worship this Sunday, January 29th.  The Love Offering is collected in support of The Ark Preschool's Scholarship Fund.  This fund helps families who are unable to afford full tuition for their children due to a number of life circumstances.  We thank you for your continued prayers and support of The Ark Preschool. 

 

 
 

BOOK CLUB

The GEECC book club is starting a new book on January 26th!  Join us on Zoom each Thursday evening, 7:30-8:30pm as we discuss Pastor David Swanson’s “Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity”. 

All are welcome! 

Pastor Swanson is the Pastor of New Community Covenant Church, a multicultural congregation in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, and speaks around the country on the topics of racial justice and reconciliation.  

If you are interested in joining, contact Darren Miller, Mary Crickmore, or the church office.

 
 

Men’s Ministry Update

Covenant Point Men's Retreat: Feb. 24-26, 2023

Each year, Covenant Point hosts a men’s retreat for Covenant Churches in the Midwest.  We have had a number of men from our church attending this annual event in years past.  Whether there is one, or a dozen men from our church, it has always been a great time of fellowship, worship, and learning.  Please check out the link below to learn more (and register if you wish).

 2023 Men’s Retreat Covenant Point Bible Camp

 7pm Friday, Feb 24 – 10am Sunday, Feb 26

Come for a weekend of fun, fellowship, meaningful conversation, and worship.  Invite your friends for the excellent food, good times, and life-giving worship and messages. Recreational opportunities include a broomball tournament, afternoon jam session (bring your own instrument), snowshoeing, cross-country skiing on our groomed trails, sauna and polar bear dip, or games and conversation in the dining hall.

Check-in begins at 7:00 PM on Friday, with our first gathering at 8:00 PM.

 
 

MISSIONS FOCUS

Missions Focus

A Note of Thanks

Our congregation’s Annual Meeting always prompts me to reflect back on the year that has passed, and the many ways that I’ve seen God working through our congregation.  Thank you, church family, for the many ways that you helped support our missions partners in 2022!

· For faithfully reading the prayer letter and missionary newsletters, and “praying without ceasing” for our missionaries around the world

·For corresponding with our missionaries, and adding notes of encouragement to the missionary Christmas letters

·For those who took the call to “Go!” literally and travelled to Ghana and Belgium to encourage our missionaries in person!

· For being the hands and feet of Christ in our local community, by assisting refugees through World Relief, stocking the shelves at Repeat boutique, praying for clients in need at Walk-in Ministries, serving at clients at the food pantry, and in so many other practical ways

·For many of you who served on the boards that support our ministry partners, locally and abroad

· For the nearly $144,200 that you approved in the missions budget to support our ministry partners

·For the $50,000 that you approved for the “Missions Opportunity Fund” to support innovative new missions initiatives

 On behalf of the missions committee and our ministry partners, THANK YOU for responding to God’s call to be a part of building His kingdom.

 

Other Items

 Information on ongoing needs and opportunities with our missions partners is available from Darren Miller via missions@gecovenant.org and the missions partner websites. The GE COV Prayer Letter, available via Diane Brown, shares how we may pray for our missionaries. The missions display case in the church atrium shows highlights of our missionaries and missions partners. 

 

 

 


GE COV Weekly Newsletter

Join us Each week in person or online
Sundays at 9:30am.


QUICK LINKS


THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Sunday Sermon

Just ask!

Matthew 7:7-11


FEATURED UPDATES

 
 

CHURCH PRAYER MEETING!

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

The Church prayer meetings are on Zoom every Monday night at 7pm!

Zoom ID: 859 848 614

Password: geecc

All are welcomed to this sweet hour of prayer! See you there!

 
 

Next steps

Starting this Sunday January 22nd – Next Steps: Discerning God’s Will for Our Lives, a class for Young Adults (college-aged and 20-somethings, taught by Pastor Dawn and Dr. David Lauber, held in the North Alcove)

 Starting next Sunday January 29th – Your Family Story: Parenting with Purpose (Three-week class Jan. 29, Feb. 12, Feb. 19, taught by Dr. David and Tara Van Dyke, held in Munson Hall) 

-Pastor Dawn Lauber, Associate Pastor of Congregational Life

 

 

 
 

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM the ark

 The Ark Preschool’s Love Offering will be collected during worship on Sunday, January 29th.  The Love Offering is collected in support of The Ark Preschool's Scholarship Fund.  This fund helps families who are unable to afford full tuition for their children due to a number of life circumstances.  We thank you for your continued prayers and support of The Ark Preschool. 

 

 
 

Men’s Ministry Update

Covenant Point Men's Retreat: Feb. 24-26, 2023

Each year, Covenant Point hosts a men’s retreat for Covenant Churches in the Midwest.  We have had a number of men from our church attending this annual event in years past.  Whether there is one, or a dozen men from our church, it has always been a great time of fellowship, worship, and learning.  Please check out the link below to learn more (and register if you wish).

 2023 Men’s Retreat Covenant Point Bible Camp

 7pm Friday, Feb 24 – 10am Sunday, Feb 26

Come for a weekend of fun, fellowship, meaningful conversation, and worship.  Invite your friends for the excellent food, good times, and life-giving worship and messages. Recreational opportunities include a broomball tournament, afternoon jam session (bring your own instrument), snowshoeing, cross-country skiing on our groomed trails, sauna and polar bear dip, or games and conversation in the dining hall.

Check-in begins at 7:00 PM on Friday, with our first gathering at 8:00 PM.

 
 

MISSIONS FOCUS

Missions Focus

Missions Partner Highlight: Update

Tarcisio, our ministry partner with “Firm Foundation” ministry in Zimbabwe, shared this update: The National Children’s Camp was very successful—a record 5,300 children participated, and scholarships were provided to more than 3,000. He said: “It was awesome to see so many kids learning about Jesus and having fun together.” Tarcisio also expressed gratitude for our prayers and support this past year, as well as for God’s protection over and provision for all the needs of the camp. To learn more about Tarcisio visit Firm Foundation’s webpage.

Other Items

Information on ongoing needs and opportunities with our missions partners are available from Darren Miller via missions@gecovenant.org and the missions partner websites. The GE COV Prayer Letter, available via Diane Brown, provides information on how we may pray for our missionaries. The missions display case in the church atrium shows highlights of our missionaries and missions partners. 

 

 

 


GE COV Weekly Newsletter

Join us Each week in person or online
Sundays at 9:30am.


QUICK LINKS


THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Sunday Sermon

Judging Others

Matthew 7:1-6


FEATURED UPDATES

 
 

CHURCH PRAYER MEETING!

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

The Church prayer meetings are on Zoom every Monday night at 7pm!

Zoom ID: 859 848 614

Password: geecc

All are welcomed to this sweet hour of prayer! See you there!

 
 

makerspace

The Maker’s Space grew out of our congregation of GEECC in 2013, and is going into our 9th year of meetings of many different people. It is a place where we welcome creativity in our lives and introduce our creative Creator to our friends in our community. It is a safe place where you and your friends will feel welcomed. This year’s sessions will focus on Creative Prayer, using art to have a conversation with God. Having a conversation with a friend requires listening as well as talking, and we will be using art as a tool in the conversation process, especially when there are no words to describe our emotions. We will explore different kinds of prayer using different art mediums.

The final session is Jan. 15, with Guest Artist Alison Tisdale Régnier “Paint your Heart Out” 5-7pm in Munson Hall

Read more @www.themakersspace.us and RSVP@2013themakersspace@gmail.com

 
 

Thank you from the bischoffs

Dear Church Family,

Paul and I would like to express our gratitude for all your prayers, cards, and wonderful meals while I was recovering from my knee replacement surgery. We felt your concern, and love and care.

We feel privileged to be apart of our church family.

Thank you.

Blessings, Jayne Bischoff.

 
 

Men’s Ministry Update

Covenant Point Men's Retreat: Feb. 24-26, 2023

 Each year, Covenant Point hosts a men’s retreat for Covenant Churches in the Midwest.  We have had a number of men from our church attending this annual event in years past.  Whether there is one, or a dozen men from our church, it has always been a great time of fellowship, worship, and learning.  Please check out the link below to learn more (and register if you wish).

 2023 Men’s Retreat Covenant Point Bible Camp

 7pm Friday, Feb 24 – 10am Sunday, Feb 26

Come for a weekend of fun, fellowship, meaningful conversation, and worship.  Invite your friends for the excellent food, good times, and life-giving worship and messages. Recreational opportunities include a broomball tournament, afternoon jam session (bring your own instrument), snowshoeing, cross-country skiing on our groomed trails, sauna and polar bear dip, or games and conversation in the dining hall.

Check-in begins at 7:00 PM on Friday, with our first gathering at 8:00 PM.

 

 

 
 

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

 Dear Glen Ellyn Covenant Church,

Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from my role as Director of Children’s Ministries. What has caused this resignation is the relocation of my family to Arizona. My last day will be Thursday, January 26th, 2023.

 To ease the transition after my departure, I am happy to assist you with any training tasks during my final weeks on the job including meeting with the necessary people to make sure tasks are delegated so the children’s ministries on Sundays can continue until you are able to find my replacement.

 I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the knowledge and experience I’ve gained by working here. I’ve felt so loved and supported by your church throughout my time here. I’m very grateful for the time I’ve spent on staff and as a congregant. It’s been a pleasure working for you, and I hope our paths will cross again in the future.

 

Sincerely,

Crystal N. White

 

 
 

MISSIONS FOCUS

Missions Focus

Praying for Our Missions Partners

 Our church supports several missionaries and local and international ministries and service agencies. The Missions Team invites you to intentionally pray for these organizations and for each of our missionaries.  

Ongoing needs and opportunities with the ministries and service agencies are available from Darren Miller, via missions@gecovenant.org. Prayer requests are listed in the GE COV Prayer Letter, available from Diane Brown. For highlights and updates about our missionaries and missions partners, occasionally stop by the missions display case in the church atrium to see what’s new.