Guiding Star – tomorrow we will celebrate Epiphany.  One tradition wound into Epiphany is the arrival of the wise ones at the stable after a long journey with a guiding star. What would we each identify as our guiding star?

Intergenerational Labyrinth Walk

Our first intergenerational labyrinth walk of 2020 will be held tomorrow at 9:00 am.  Walkers of all ages and varied experience with the labyrinth are welcome to join us.

Christmas Greetings Received

The congregation received Christmas cards from Safe Passage and from Trisha and Greg Zachwieja. We also received a holiday thank you from the Children’s Waiting Room at the courthouse for the more than 100 board books that Toma and Duane delivered after the December Mayfield Fellowship meeting.

JAMS Notes

During December we collected over $500 of the $800 needed for Lina’s tuition, room and board, and other school fees for this new school year at JAMS. We will continue this mission focus throughout January. Your generous support will be appreciated.

2020 Annual Meeting – Sunday, January 12, 2020 after worship – your attendance will be an asset as we review the reports for 2019 and make decisions for the year ahead.

Sign-up sheets are in the Gathering Area for liturgists, hospitality hosts, and bulletin sponsors.  Bulletins are $7 per week.  Sign-up soon!

DeKalb/Sycamore Bookcase Project

This is the ninth year that 50 children from the Two Rivers Head Start program will receive a handmade bookcase with a nameplate and a starter set of books in May. For some of these children these will be the first books in their home. This is the seventh year that Mayfield has enthusiastically and generously participated in our area Bookcase Project. We will be collecting new and gently-used picture books in February.  Each year there is a Literacy Banquet held at DeKalb High School cafeteria.  Proceeds from this dinner fund the materials for the bookcases built here in DeKalb County for the project. The 2020 Literacy Banquet will be held on Thursday February 6 at 6:00 pm.  Tickets are $20. It would be great if we could fill a table.  Let Martha know by Friday, January 24 if you would like to attend.

Ask Jen About Her Brochures

Jen is working hard at developing her independent music instruction program with adults and her music therapy program. She has brochures available for both of these. Check in with her if you would like more information on either of her programs.

An Update on Plants, Pollinators & Prayers

Martha, Diana, and Peggy are currently reviewing a fine cut of Randy’s film on our Monarch Waystation – Plants, Pollinators & Prayers. It is beautiful, and we are excited that before too long it will be available for viewing. We are very grateful to Randy for his artistry and sturdy commitment to our habitat restoration for monarchs and other pollinators.  Just a reminder – we received our first $750 from Abbey of the Arts for the Waystation in late November 2013. This has been a project of love for years now, both the creation of the Waystation and Randy’s documenting of that process. The film will remind us of how many people have been a part of this sacred work.

Throughout the Year

  • We have whole hog sausage available for sale at church. $5 per pound, bulk and patties.
  • We support the work of the Northern Illinois Food Bank in addressing the needs around hunger and food insecurity in thirteen northern Illinois counties. Food Bank gifts can be given in the food bank box or the offering plates.

The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for.
And the most you can do is to live inside that hope.  Not admire it from a
distance but live right in it under its roof.  (Barbara Kingsolver)