Reba Place Church

Worship with us at 620 Madison Ave, Evanston, IL.

E-mail the church office at rpcoffice@gmail.com to get on the church e-mail list - expanded edition of the newsletter sent each week, plus occasional midweek announcements.

Announcements for
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Fourth Sunday of Lent

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS - set your clocks one hour forward or you'll be one hour late for Sunday worship!

THIS WEEK IN REBALAND

Sunday, March 14: Fourth Sunday of Lent
- DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS (set clocks 1 hour forward!)
- Easter Choir Rehearsal after worship, 12:15 - 1:30 (bring your own lunch)
Sunday night: RPC Youth Group, 6pm, Ministry Center (535 Custer Ave)

Monday, March 15: Monday night potluck, 6pm, Cana (727 Reba Place) & Monday night seminar, 7:30pm, Cana

Tuesday, March 16: Women's Bible Study, 10:30am, Ministry Center Room C (535 Custer)

Thursday, March 18: Men's Bible Study, 7pm, Ministry Center Room C (535 Custer)
- Thursday morning: - Youth group goes to Dunkin Donuts, meet at 722 Monroe by 7:30am

Sunday, March 21: Fifth Sunday of Lent
- Easter Choir Rehearsal after worship, 12:15 - 1:30 (bring your own lunch)
- Sunday night: RPC Youth Group, 6pm, Ministry Center (535 Custer Ave). Parents join youth group for info about Summer mission trip at 7pm.

To see more events, check out the website calendar.

LECTIONARY READINGS THIS WEEK

Joshua 5:9-12, Psalm 32, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
note: we have been basing Sunday worship themes on the Sunday school texts rather than the lectionary texts, but we're still including the lectionary readings in the 24/7 for those who may use them for their personal devotions.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON THIS WEEK

#2 Welcoming Jesus, John 12:1-19. Next week: #3 Jesus washes the disciples' feet, John 13:1-20

CHURCH OFFICE NEWS

Saturday, March 13... TO THE CROSS AND BEYOND: LENTEN RETREAT DAY, 9am - noon in the RPC Ministry Center, Room C (535 Custer Ave.). Experience the last days of Jesus as you enter and meditate in rooms depicting Gethsemane, Jesus' beating, the cross, the tomb and the resurrection. Led by Pat Harris, Lois Engleman and Penny Lukens. There will be a talk and introduction to the prayer areas at 9 a.m. followed by an extended period of silence and prayer. Bring a Bible, notebook and pen. All are invited to come away to a quiet place with Jesus and pray.

Sunday March 21... FOOTWASHING: We will have footwashing as an optional part of Sunday worship. Bring a towel (one that would work for drying feet.)

Sunday, Mar 21... REBA SINGERS AT ST. NICK'S: Do you remember the beautiful, meditative music sung by a group at the end of one of our Reba Advent services? This same vocal group will sing the Stations of the Cross at St. Nick's (Ridge and Washington) on Sunday, March 21, at 3 p.m. Conductor Don Colleton is the composer, and Mollie and Rob Bady and Anne Gavitt are singers and Helen Hudgens the accompanist. This would be a beautiful and most meaningful way to prepare for Holy Week and Easter.

Want prayer by committed pray-ers?

1. Telephone prayer chain for emergency and confidential requests. Call Lois E.
2. Email prayer line for all other requests. Call Roselyn at the church office at 847-869-0660 or email at rpcprayer@gmail.com.

FRIENDS & FAMILY

ARTICLE ABOUT LOIS & ICONOGRAPHY: From Lois Engelman: This link goes to an article in the Tribune which appeared March 5 and describes the icon workshop which I attend. It contains interviews with several of us, including myself, about what iconography is and what it means to our faith life. It mentions Reba Place as a Mennonite community which has been supportive and displays several of my icons in its worship setting.

SATURDAY NIGHT MOVIES AT THE CLEARING: 722 Monroe St. 7:00 sharp! Mar. 13 Pete Seeger: the Power of Song 93 min. Archival footage, interviews and home movies paint an affectionate portrait of the pioneering folksinger and political activist. Highlights include candid conversations with legendary artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. Mar. 20 Wild China min. A fantastic BBC documentary uncovers some of the most exotic and uncharted natural habitats hidden within the vast and diverse topography of China, including Yunnan's forests, the Tibetan plateau, the Silk Road and the Mongolian steppes.

VEGGIES

Plow Creek Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Registration is open! Are you interested in receiving delicious, sustainably grown, in-season fruits, vegetables and herbs every week from a nearby Mennonite farm? The CSA season runs from the beginning of June through late October, and each week you'll receive a large box of produce delivered to the Manna Garage. The cost for a share is $450 for the season, which can be paid in two installments. There are opportunities to split a share with another household for those who think a whole box will be too much. Please contact Annie (773-396-9713, anniegillbloyer@gmail.com) if you have questions or would like a registration form, and let her know if you'd like to be paired with another household for sharing. Shares are going fast, so please register as soon as possible to reserve your share! This is the time of year that the farm needs our money so that they can buy seeds and supplies for the season!

COMMUNITY & WORLD

MENNONITES & PATRIOTISM: From Tom Finger: Goshen College is now playing the national anthem before athletic contests, reversing a 114-year tradition. This has raised a host of related issues. For information, visit the Jesus Radicals site.

Mar 12 & 13... BENEFIT SHOW: Woman's Club of Evanston Benefit Show "The Age of Hilarious." March 12, and 13. Proceeds from all of the shows will directly support Center for Independent Future's mission to support adults with disabilities achieve their dreams. Tickets $30. Please visit the Woman's Club website for more info.

Mar 12 - 14: WE'RE INVITED: PLAY BY LOCAL PLAYWRIGHT: Jediraq - A New Play by A Local Playwright. A new play is opening this weekend and running for the next month at the Piccolo Theatre in Evanston (off the Main St. 'L' Station) It is about the Iraq War and designed to be both entertaining and educational. It is produced by New Suit Theatre Company. It runs through mid-March. For tickets and more info, please visit http://newsuittheatre.com/plays.html. Group ticket sales are available at a reduced rate. "In 2007 Dustin Meghan, a self-absorbed college journalist, is working on his latest article when he is interrupted by someone not much older then he. The woman tells Dustin she plans to travel to war-torn Iraq and send him letters about what she learns there. When asked why she is doing something so dangerous, she replies: 'Because I can't stand doing nothing.'"

Sat, Mar 27... HAITI FILM: Neighbors for Peace will screen a film about Haiti at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 27 at the Evanston Library. "The Agronomist" by Jonathan Demme is a remarkable documentary of Jean Dominique and Haiti’s first independent radio station. Reviewers call it a "serious recount of Haiti during its numerous regimes" and recommend it to give background to the current tragedy. Free and open to the public

Sat, Mar 27 - FRIENDS OF KOINONIA GATHERING @ RPC - Come meet Bren Dubay, Director of Koinonia Farm , and other community members. The evening will consist of a meet & greet, viewing of the documentary "Briars in the Cotton Patch" and a Q & A time. At 6:30pm Reba Place Church, 620 Madison St., in Evanston. Refreshments will be served. RSVP to 847-328-6066.

Saturday, Mar 27... CHERENET FAMILY BENEFIT CONCERT: You are invited to attend a Musical Benefit Concert Given by Jill Burlingame-Tsekouras (flute) and Katie Aucremann (euphonium) to provide support for Hailu Cherenet and his family. Hailu is a leader in the Meserete Kristos Church, a fast growing Anabaptist congregation in Ethiopia. Hailu has been studying for his PhD in the US for the past 5 years and is now writing up his dissertation. Please join us for this evening of fellowship, a taste of Ethiopian food and some good music. The benefit will be held at: 6:00 PM, Saturday March 27, 2010, Lombard Mennonite Church 528 E. Madison Street Lombard, IL.

RETREATS AT WILDERNESS WIND: God's creation will nurture you through canoe trips, cabins, yurts, and retreats at Wilderness Wind, a Mennonite camp based in Ely, Minnesota near the Boundary Waters. WW is taking reservations for summer 2010. Special retreats - Lakeside Writer's Retreat with Jeff Gundy and Julia Spicher Kasdorf, Quilter's retreat, Primitive Living Skills for those who want new challenges, and Fishing for smallmouth bass, walleye, and northern pike. Check www.wildernesswind.org or call 316-217-1129.

POSITIONS OPEN IN THE RPC COMMUNITY

SUNDAY SCHOOL COORDINATOR POSITION: We are looking for someone with leadership and administrative skills to implement the RPC Sunday School program, both the academic year program, and a summer program (probably a somewhat different format that the school year). This position would involve an average of 4 hours per week, mostly self-scheduled as convenient, and some Sunday morning responsibilities. Specific duties include recruiting Sunday School teachers and substitutes, supporting Sunday school teachers, and helping implement a child safety policy. Qualifications: Anabaptist/Mennonite Christian who is a regular attender of RPC, with the plan to become a member at the next available membership process; love for children/youth and Christian Education/Formation; good people and project management, organization, and administrative skills; good communication skills; reliable, timely, friendly, enthusiastic, and supportive. Experience in the fields of education and teaching is a plus, as is knowledge of the RPC community! Starts at $13/hr. For full job description and hiring procedure, contact Roselyn at the RPC office, 847-869-0660 or rpcoffice@gmail.com.

REBA PLACE CHURCH OFFICE MANAGER POSITION OPEN: The church must hire an office manager to replace Roselyn Wilson, who will be stepping down at the end of May. Preliminary interviews will take place during March. Training for the position begins in May. Necessary skills: ability to work independently, to prioritize and to initiate and lead new projects. Past training and experience in office systems, computers, the internet and data systems. The applicant must be a Christian who actively participates in a local congregation, with the expectation that they either are already part of the RPC community or will become involved once hired. Personable with excellent communication skills and a willingness to learn office technology and take on new responsibilities. Contact the RPC church office for a full job description and application, (847) 869-0660 or rpcoffice@gmail.com.

SENIOR CONNECTIONS SEEKS DIRECTOR: Dear Friends and Colleagues: We are writing to you because you have been important to Senior Connections over the years and we value our strong collaborative relationship with you. We want to let you know that as of December 31, 2009, Ellen Butkus after 18 years is transitioning out of her position as Director of Senior Connections. Ellen is serving as Interim Director while we seek her successor. Because we are not equipped to process large volumes of applicants, we are selectively posting this opening with friends and colleagues who know our organization well and might have ideas of who might be interested and qualified for this part time Director's position. Please forward this posting to colleagues who might be interested. See the Senior Connections page for more information and a job description.