This is one of the beautiful photos that Randy recently took on a frigid winter day in the waystation.

Winter Weather Note

On any Sunday morning when winter driving is questionable, the decision about whether church is canceled or not will be made by church council leadership between 7:00 and 7:30 am. Their decision will be communicated across the congregation both by email and by Facebook at that time.

February Intergenerational Labyrinth Walks – Come, experienced and new walkers, and join us on the labyrinth at 9:00 am February 2nd and February 16th.

Sign-up sheets are in the Gathering Area for liturgists, hospitality hosts, and bulletin sponsors. Bulletins are $7 per week.  There are plenty of openings on each sheet. Sign-up soon! We appreciate your participation.

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; please add your books to the bookcase in the front of the sanctuary throughout the month of February. Books will be dedicated on Sunday, March 1. There is also an annual Literacy Banquet held at DeKalb High School cafeteria. The 2020 banquet is scheduled for Thursday, February 6, 6:00 pm, DeKalb High School cafeteria. Proceeds from this dinner fund the materials for the bookcases built here in DeKalb County for the project.  Ten Mayfield people – Peggy, JT, Joann (Peggy’s mom), Rob, Rob, Theresa, Billy, Ann T., Sue G., and Martha will be representing the congregation at the banquet.  Children will receive their books at Faranda’s during a celebration open to the public on Saturday afternoon, May 9.

Mayfield Fellowship Meeting – Thursday, February 13 – Noon – Somerset Farms’ Clubhouse – bring a dish to share for our potluck lunch – use the sign-up sheet at church to indicate you are coming and what your dish will be – program details are being firmed up now and will be announced soon – the Fellowship schedule for 2020 will be available at the 2/13 meeting

Gateway Arts Building

There will be an open house including a 5:15 pm ribbon cutting at the Gateway Arts Building, 2225 Gateway Drive in Sycamore on Thursday, February 13 from 5:00-7:00 pm. This building is a place that supports creative and healing arts. Jen is the organizing energy for this event, and her music therapy and music instruction programs will be introduced that night. There will also be refreshments and tours.

Breakfast Church

Our second Breakfast Church will be held on Sunday, February 23 at 10:00 am. Our first Breakfast Church on December 15 was well attended and well received. Join us for this modern day interpretation of the early church’s practice of weaving a meal and worship together.

JAMS News

This year’s Transformation Through Rhythm concert will benefit JAMS and will be held on Friday night, March 20 at DeKalb High School. If you have never attended one of these concerts before, you are in for a treat. Percussionists in several groups from elementary school children through college age students and adults will thrill you with their skill and the spirit of their playing.

Mayfield Fellowship Retreat

This year’s Mayfield Fellowship Retreat for members and friends of Mayfield will be held on Saturday, March 28th at Russell Woods Forest Preserve, 8:30 am – 3:00 pm. Consider coming this year and inviting someone else to come with you. The fee for the day will be $20 and will include lunch and all materials. We will focus on the theme of Sabbath in this year’s retreat. It will be a day of rest, renewal, and a recognition of the giftedness of life in the midst of all the demands and commitments of our days. Registration forms will be available later in February.

Plants, Pollinators, and Prayers

The documentary that Randy has patiently been working on for years now, the story of the development and thriving of our Monarch Waystation up to this point, has a tentative date and place for its first public showing.  The details are these:  Tuesday night, April 7, 6:30 pm at the DeKalb County Farm Bureau (Peace and Bethany Roads).

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. The food bank is partnering with the DeKalb County Community Gardens in the new food hub project in Genoa. 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)

There will be no memo next week, the week of January 26th. Look for the next memo in your email later in the week of February 2nd.