Today Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday collide as they fall on the same day. Those at worship on 2.11.18 received a valentine with an Ash Wednesday invitation inside it. That invitation is printed below. Please join others in the congregation as they participate in this activity. And if you come to service this Sunday or any other Sunday between now and March 25th, don’t forget to bring a cup or mug for the altar.

Psalm 23:5 offers us the image of an overflowing cup. This Lent we are going to use ordinary cups (or mugs) of your choosing, The Cups of Our Lives, to explore our spiritual lives. Select a cup or mug from your cupboard. On this Ash Wednesday, hold it in your hand for a few minutes and take a look at its size, shape, color, material, handle or not, and any other details. As you continue to hold your cup, consider these questions: How full is your cup? What do you thirst for? What would you like the cup of your life to contain? What service with others might spill forth from your cup? How is your cup a vessel of love? Bring your cup to worship on 2.18.18, the First Sunday in Lent, or on any other Sunday in Lent and place it on the altar. Please leave it there through Palm Sunday worship, 3.25.18.

Don’t forget Ed Thompson’s Memorial Service is today at 11 am at Mayfield. Our love and prayers are with Ann and her family.

We also extend our prayers across the community and far beyond for any whose lives were impacted 10 years ago today by the shooting at Northern Illinois University.

A Word from Marlo

Marlo has recently sent pictures of the dresses being made in Florida from pillowcases and other fabric for children in Haiti.  Below is a picture of three animal-themed garments. Thank you for all the pillowcases, material, and notions you passed on to Marlo last summer and fall. Watch future memos for other pictures.

Bookcase Project News

Once again we are collecting books between now and March 4 for this year’s bookcase project. Picture books, soft or hardcover, new or gently used, are needed for 50 children at the Two Rivers Preschool. Each May another 50 children receive a locally made bookcase with a starter set of books. For some of them, these will be the first books in their homes. Help us fill up the bookcase in the front of the sanctuary.

The annual Bookcase Literacy Banquet will be held at the DeKalb High School on Tuesday, March 13 at 6:00 pm. Tickets are $18 per person. The proceeds from the banquet will be used to purchase the materials for the bookcases. Let Martha know soon if you would like to attend this local celebration of young children and reading.

Current Ongoing Collections

• We continue to raise money to cover Anita’s $800 tuition at Jane Adeny Memorial School this year. We still need $150. We hope to conclude this collection by the end of February. Add your gift to those already given and mark it clearly JAMS Tuition.
• Every Sunday you have an opportunity to make a contribution to the Northern Illinois Food Bank. If each of us who attends worship in a month makes a monthly gift of $3 or more, our support of the Food Bank for 2018 will be significant. In our area, the Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Senior Mobile Pantry is coming to Club 55 Senior Center, 330 Grove Street on Thursday, February 22.

JAMS Benefit Concert Follow-Up

On a snowy Sunday afternoon, February 4, the benefit concert for Nelle Conley’s upcoming music program at JAMS raised over $3100. That is more than enough to cover Nelle’s traveling costs. Additional funds will be given to other programs at JAMS. Thanks for your support.

Keep Those Plastic Caps and Lids Coming

Our mound of plastic is growing. When we have a chance to weight what has accumulated, we will let you know how we are doing toward our goal of 800 pounds of plastic for two recycled plastic waystation benches. A recent cap and lid delivery came from Somonauk Union Congregational Church.  We were also contacted by a Girl Scout Troop at Garden Prairie UCC. They are gathering up caps and lids for us and hope to visit the garden during the growing season. The layer of partnerships around our Monarch Waystation is thickening. It is very exciting. 

A Word from our Trustees:  Winter Weather Reminder

If you have any questions about whether worship is being cancelled on any Sunday this winter due to weather, by 7:00 am that Sunday morning you can check for an email blast or you can look on the front page of our website, www.mayfieldchurchucc.org.

Thank you, all of this year’s Sunday bulletins have been sponsored.  Don’t forget to get your payment to us, $7 per week.