Tomorrow, the first Saturday in May, is International Labyrinth Day. Our next intergenerational labyrinth walk, as part of the congregation’s participation in Lar’s confirmation, will be on Sunday, May 5 at 9:00 am and will be our acknowledgement of International Labyrinth Day. Walkers of all ages are encouraged to join us. We hope to see you there.

Don’t Forget – Bookcase Project Presentation – tomorrow, 3 pm, at Faranda’s Banquet Center, 302 Grove Street, DeKalb. The public is encouraged to attend.

The more we read, the larger our worlds become. The more books we love, the larger our hearts grow. (Barbara Brown Taylor)

Looking Ahead

Lars, Dawn, John, and Martha will be visiting the Muslim Association of Greater Rockford (MAGR) on Monday afternoon as part of Lar’s confirmation program. This visit will be hosted by Sarene Alsharif who has helped us with interfaith experiences in confirmation before.

Under the direction of Becky and Theresa, our children will be preparing delicious refreshments for the congregation on Mother’s Day, May 12. Don’t miss their yummy gift to all of us. Children will meet in the kitchen at 9 am that day.

Council Meeting – Wednesday, May 15, 6:30 pm.

Graduation Sunday will be held on June 2.

Confirmation Sunday will be held on June 9.

Mayfield Fellowship Meeting, June 13, noon, DeKalb County History Center. Sign-up sheet will be in Gathering Area early in June.

The annual car wash to benefit the Monarch Waystation, staffed by our children and some adult helpers, will take place on Sunday, June 16. Thanks to Dawn and John Carlson for coordinating this event.

Mother’s Day Offering 2019 – Foundation A. Jean Brugger (FAJB)

Attached to this memo you will find the sheet for our annual Mother’s Day offering.  This year’s offering will be sent to the Foundation A. Jean Brugger in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. Jean is a long-time friend of Martha and her family – Amanda and Carmelo, and Molly. Over the years since Jean moved to Nicaragua, they have visited Jean and seen her work in person. Jean is a UCC person who relocated to Nicaragua after she retired in the mid 1990’s from her position as the Parish Nurse Coordinator at Deaconess Hospital in St. Louis. In 2000 she established her foundation and was able to build on her experience of programs for health and wellbeing based in congregations and communities. Her foundation’s mission is “to create and promote educational and community development programs in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua and surrounding areas.” These are Jean’s words about the first decade of the FAJB as recorded in a book she wrote in 2010:  “Never fear that what you give, either financially or otherwise, is too little to make a difference. I can attest to the fact that this small project in this small town HAS made a difference in many lives and repays me ten-fold for anything I have given.” Please return your Mother’s Day sheet and contributions remembering and honoring special women in your life by Wednesday, May 8.  Names will be listed in the bulletin on May 12.

Remember, we are saving plastic caps for the Granville UCC. Bring them to church in coming weeks. Becky will deliver them on our behalf to the Granville church.

From Our Friends at Federated UCC, Sycamore

The 8th Annual Pork Chop Dinner will be held on Friday, May 17, 2019, from 4:30-6:30 pm.  The will be tables for eating in and carry-outs available.

The Sue Lyon Book sale is scheduled for June 13-15. Books may be dropped off at Blackhawk Moving, 340 South Ave in Sycamore until June 3.