Congo Connection - Fall 2022

FIRST FALL 2022 CBOrinNginGg tOogetCheOr faNithNEcComTmIuOnitNy. ENGAGE ENGAGE ENGAGE ENGAGE ENGAGE ENGAGE ENGAGE ENGAGE First Congregational Church of Western Springs | 1106 Chestnut Street | 708.246.1900 | wscongo.org

A LETTER FROM OUR MODERATOR Dear Members and Friends, A theme in their message is that being transgender is just one part of who they Now that we have voted to affirm our are – they are also athletes, authors, new Covenant of Inclusion and attained filmmakers, volunteers, musicians, and Open and Affirming status from the UCC, students. It was a good reminder to it’s tempting to jump to “next steps” in widen my perspective. My daughter, this journey. Carolyn, who is gay, is also a runner, a caring dog-owner, hilarious, an In writing this letter, however, a quote by empathetic listener, a counselor to her John Dewey came to mind, “We do not friends, and an excellent student. Let me learn from experience, we learn from look deeper into everyone I meet. reflecting on experience.” Wise words that also make me laugh because 3. Be a continuous, curious learner. An reflecting requires time and 80+ year old member of the Inclusion intentionality…two things which seem to Team keeps saying, “I have learned so be in short supply these days. The much…” That is now my prayer too – to practice, however, seems worthy so I’ll be more open to new experiences, new share my reflections on participating in people, new information, and new this journey of inclusion. Here are a few: perspectives and to allow it to change me. “God is still speaking…” Help me to 1. A heart-centered approach is key. be a better listener. While my brain does a good job at planning, forecasting, and processing Indeed, reflection seems worthy of some information, true acceptance comes time. It’s exciting to be at this phase of from kindness, empathy, and love, which our inclusion journey, to expand our everyone deserves. Jesus and Mister work and look for ways to extravagantly Rogers were 100% correct. welcome all who have felt marginalized. 2. Avoid the temptation to become I am grateful for First Congo — for the fixated on any one thing. The co- thoughtful and engaged members, founder of an organization called pastors, and friends, and for our GenderCool came to First Congo and declaration that support, respect, love, and shared their vision to replace acceptance abound here. Let it be so… misinformed opinions with positive experiences meeting transgender and Blessings, non-binary youth who are thriving. Amy Baldwin Moderator

It’s that time of year when summer feels like it’s IN winding down faster than we want it to, and we begin THIS to plan what our lives will look like this fall. With that in ISSUE mind, we hope this edition of Congo Connections will inspire you and your family to discern how you will 04 SOME POSITIVE RESULTS faithfully ENGAGE with God and First Congo! You’ll 05 FROM THE PANDEMIC hear about some of the wonderful ministry and 06 testimony of what's been happening in the life of our 08 We had 95 members join our church between March church, as well as new opportunities to engage with 09 2020 and May 2022. We interview some of them to your faith and community. Don’t miss the fall calendar find out why. on the final page and, as always, reach out to any of the 10 clergy or staff to learn more about how to ENGAGE! 11 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT We talk with Pat & Dennis Gurney who rejoined the church in the fall of 2021 after a 16-year absence. THE LONG HISTORY OF FIRST CONGO PRESCHOOL Pastor Rich and Preschool Director Marcy Duzsa discuss the early days of our Preschool through the present day. GOD IS WAITING JOYFULLY & EXPECTANTLY FOR YOU A silent retreat for the First Congo staff confirms the benefits of mindfulness and meditation to bring us closer to God. FROM BINGO TO BANDS: NEW WAYS TO CONNECT Discover what's happening this fall with our new Faith & Fun events! THE YOUTH ROOM REDESIGN Our Youth Room gets a facelift. We talk to designer Kristen Pipal and facilitator John Pogue about the thinking behind the new look. HOPEFUL, NOT HELPLESS! Communications Manager Stephanie King-Myers discusses her new perspective on stewardship. ANNUAL EVENTS CALENDAR A 1-page summary of the 2022–23 calendar of events. If you'd like to submit an article for First Congo Connection, email [email protected]. FIRST CONGO CONNECTION | Page 3

REPERCUSSIONS OF THE PANDEMIC: THE SPREAD OF HOPE AMONG A GROWING COMMUNITY by Jeannette Lloyd Amazingly, our church community not only survived the pandemic but thrived as far as growing our new members. Between March 2020 and May 2022, we had 95 new members join the church. During this time, worship was on Zoom, outside, hybrid, and the same was happening with our new member classes. At a time when it seemed inconvenient to join a church, we have more families engaged and interested in membership than ever. We asked some of these families — Becca & Sam Kubek, Lorri & Pete Freebeck, Marissa & Mike Cuttica, and Colleen & Kevin Whittingham — why and here is what they shared: with Covid restrictions.\" For the Cutticas, it was the outdoor services. \"I loved them! They were so peaceful!\" The Kubeks added that check-ins via email/text from Rich, Katherine and Jeannette were vital! The Whittingham family The Kubek family How have you grown in your faith since you have engaged here at First Congo? The Cuttica family The Freebeck family \"My faith journey has deepened,\" said Becca Kubek. \"I grew up Catholic but First Congo, being more open, What drew you to our church community during has really involved me more. I also had major health the COVID pandemic? issues the last year and relied heavily on my faith. I was supported with meals and prayers by the Becca Kubek said, \"I was searching for a preschool for wonderful Congo community. The Moms in Faith Retreat in February was also a big stepping stone for our son and wanted to join a church soon. This seemed my growing faith journey. Lorri & Pete Freebeck now feel they belong to a faith community that aligns with like the perfect fit for both.\" Lorri & Pete Freebeck were their belief system, \"All should be welcome at church.\" drawn to the Congo community because they \"felt First What would you tell prospective members the best thing is about our church? Congo created an outlet for 'easy' access to church The Whittinghams said, \"All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome, in this space!\" For their through the Zoom church services.\" For Marissa & Mike part, Marissa & Mike Cuttica stated, \"We had really given up on a religion being something we could get Cuttica, it was the youth programming that drew them behind. We're happy to support First Congo!\" here. \"We continue to enjoy the opportunities for our On May 27th, we celebrated all of these new members at an outdoor celebration hosted by the kids and were excited to be part of a congregation that Onions. What a joyous day! is so accepting of all people.\" Some would wonder why you didn’t just wait to join until things opened back up again. What was that strong pull for you? Becca & Sam Kubek felt conflicted wanting to wait until things opened up and wanting somewhere to go as well as a sense of community and belonging. \"It was exciting for us to join at that time. It gave us a new beacon of hope!\" For Lorri & Pete Freebeck, it was \"that feeling and knowledge that First Congo staff was always available if needed.\" Was there one specific thing during the pandemic that helped you feel connected to our community? Colleen Whittingham said, \"Honestly, the virtual services were such a gift. Sundays just felt different — when all the other days just blurred together! It felt like we were a part of a community beyond the four walls of our home.\" Lorri Freebeck explained that she \"felt connected through conversations with friends who attend First Congo regarding sermons and just living FIRST CONGO CONNECTION | Page 4

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: PAT & DENNIS GURNEY Our journey at First Congo began after being in the Catholic Church for 30 years. Someone suggested we hear Bob Kemper preach at the United Church of Christ. It took only one sermon to know that we had found our home. His ministry as well as the aura he created was a comfort and inspiration to us. We were welcomed warmly, as we still are today. We joined the church in the 70s with John and Susan Rodgers. John immediately encouraged us to be involved and — sometimes with arm twisting — we became active members. We were involved with Plymouth Fellowship Youth Group, M&M’s Fellowship group, Ushers, Rummage, Benevolence, and whatever else John dreamed up. We found a happy home in this church for over 25 Dennis & Pat Gurney years. We were stimulated and inspired and made to feel we were relevant members. We made friends in the various groups, connected to people we are still involved with today. The sense of belonging we felt then, as we do now, is an important part of our life. As time went on, we retired from our jobs in education and relocated to Chicago for a time of new adventures and experiences. We were involved in new activities, new volunteer opportunities, and a general enjoyment of the city. We kept a looser connection to this church as we sampled other houses of worship but often came back here to a secure spiritual place. That sampling made us realize how special this church really is in providing a religious place to call home. So, after 16 years, we are back in this area to take up again with the UCC and rejoined the church in the fall of 2021. We have again found a place that fits our needs and one that inspires us to be contributors to something bigger than we are. As before, we are always impressed with the quality of the people who lead us on our spiritual journey. Pat & Dennis Gurney Dennis & Pat Gurney FIRST CONGO CONNECTION | Page 5

FIRST CONGO PRESCHOOL: PAST & PRESENT by Rich Kirchherr & Marcy Dusza 75 years old!? Yes, if you can believe it, 75 is the current age of someone who was in our very first three-year-old preschool class in 1949, the inaugural year of our church’s preschool. I can’t begin to tell you how unusual a preschool was back then. They were almost unheard of, and our church went out on a limb by starting one. In fact, on and off for the next 10 to 15 years, it was occasionally controversial in the life of our church. One of the reasons our preschool raised a few eyebrows in the 1950s was because of the Cold War. It was suggested by some public figures and politicians, and even put into the congressional record of the U.S. Congress, that one of the paths for communism to seep into our nation was by taking children out from under the care of their parents (at the time, they meant their mothers). So, our congregation brought out a consultant, Dr. Phoebe Anderson, who was a PhD in child development. Her husband, Dr. Phil Anderson, accompanied her and helped lead listening sessions around the issue. He was the professor of pastoral care at Chicago Theological Seminary (a bit of trivia about Phil — he served a long time at CTS, and was both Bob Kemper’s and my professor of pastoral care). Phoebe lectured and led conversations on the importance of socialization and play in children and helped defuse any concerns around undermining the family. Today, we continue to be blessed by our preschool’s remarkable ministry to our church and communities. It is thriving and currently led by our director, Marcy Dusza, and a cadre of gifted and loving teachers. I wish to emphasize the idea of the preschool as a ministry of our church. Our preschool does not pay rent to the church, but rather makes a pledge, as able. It is governed by church members who serve on the Preschool Committee, which is a subcommittee of our Christian Education Ministry/Committee. Now, I will pass the baton to Marcy to describe the preschool today... Thanks, Rich! When Rich and I sat down to chat about writing this article together, it was so interesting to hear the stories about the beginnings of this amazing preschool as I had never heard them before. I must admit, they are both fascinating and a little shocking! I have been teaching at First Congo Preschool for 11 years and have just completed my first year as director. Our preschool is thriving with 10 full classes and a wait list for most. We offer families a variety of different classes for children ages 2–5 years old, including Almost 3’s, 3’s, PreK, Wednesday and Friday Kids' Day Out, and a PreK Enrichment class. We’ve even offered a Spanish class in previous years! We have been consistently full each year with an enrollment of approximately 120 students. Our students are led by an amazing team of 13 highly qualified teachers who are passionate about providing a loving environment for children to learn and grow. We are also fortunate to have the help of the incomparable Jeannette Lloyd (our Preschool Communications Manager) and the expertise of Nurse Jean Larson, who visits our classrooms with lessons for the children, such as healthy eating habits, yoga/deep breathing exercises, and summer safety tips. At First Congo Preschool, our motto is “Where Kids Can Be Kids and Learning is Fun!” In a time when many preschool programs have opted to go more academic, we offer a play-based, hands-on approach to learning. Research has shown FIRST CONGO CONNECTION | Page 6

Preschool (continued) Preschool 2022 – RRR: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Week The Kirchherr - Kralovec family that there are numerous virtues to a play-based program. Play benefits all areas of a child’s learning and development including intellectual, social, emotional, language and physical development. Our focus is on engaging the children in hands-on learning and multi-sensory process art. We believe it is the process and exploration that matters, not the final result. We offer many opportunities for families to feel connected to our preschool program. Some examples include home visits at the beginning of the school year, so the children and their parents have an opportunity to meet their teachers outside of the classroom before the school year starts; a fall kickoff party organized and hosted by our Preschool Committee, complete with entertainment, crafts and, of course, sweet treats; and a Holiday and Spring Singalong event. So many families throughout Western Springs and the surrounding communities have been touched by this wonderful preschool and we look forward to many more years of fun and learning ahead! I encourage you to check out our newly updated website at firstcongopreschool.org for much more information, and to see some adorable pictures of our preschool in action! Aaron Onion & Sydney Sabbagha FIRST CONGO CONNECTION | Page 7

By Hope Sabbagha & Meredith Onion Come. Listen. Live. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me And you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 The Message translation This beautiful passage from Matthew formed the foundation for your First Congo staff’s recent silent retreat! We spent a faithful day together at the Graue Mill house and the grounds of Fullersburg Woods, with the only goal being to spend time with God. Facilitated by Gail Donahue and Joan Kelly of Sacred (www.mylifeissacred.com), we were invited into a day of meditation and reflection, walking and praying, coloring and journaling, resting and observing, all while remaining silent other than at the very beginning, and the discussion at the end of the day as we shared our experiences. Some of us were nervous about trying to remain silent – you know how we all love to talk! And some of us could hardly wait to be quiet. Some of us were reluctant to set aside our phones. Some of us couldn’t wait to turn them off. But God, being God, met each of us wherever we were. As Gail and Joan reminded us, God was waiting joyfully and expectantly for us to arrive – delighted to be spending the day with us as we focused on keeping company with the divine. Jean Larson, our Faith Community Nurse, commented, “It was a profound experience. A perfect way to refocus and dive deep.” And KC, our Bell Choir Director, shared, “I barely made it in the door before the burdens were lifted and I relaxed and started crying.” We pray that you take time this fall to spend some uninterrupted quiet moments with God. Perhaps the Matthew scripture will serve as a point of reflection for you as well. FIRST CONGO CONNECTION | Page 8

Infusing FAITH & FUN: New Ways to Make Congo Connections by Stephanie King-Myers AMPLIFIED -2:32 Like many First Congo members, I was raised Catholic. Nine years of Catholic school and daily masses always felt more like a chore First Congo Youth than worship. But at First Congo, there's a culture and a vibe that allows members to feel at ease, be authentic, and yes, to have fun, 0:58 while deepening their faith. This fall, First Congo is creating more opportunities for members to connect with one another and deepen their faith — through FUN — with our \"Faith 'n Fun\" events. We'll kick things off with \"Faith, Fun & Floats\" on Sat., Oct. 1 from 6–7:30PM in Plymouth Hall. Anyone for root beer floats and BINGO? There may even be a prize or two. More details will follow.... Members can also look forward to The Art of Faith & Fun — art openings and exhibits to celebrate the historical art of the church Rich's Window by Jessica Root as well as that of local artists (stay tuned for details and dates). Another new event puts the focus — and spotlight — on our youth. There is so much talent among our congregation's teens that we wanted to create an opportunity, as with Words & Music, for them to examine the intersection of their faith and pop culture as it relates to their lives, their stories and the music they love. Our first \"Faith & Fun AMPLIFIED\" event will take place Sunday, October 9 at 5PM in Plymouth Hall. Please join us for a performance of songs interspersed with stories from teenage guest speakers on a unique theme (TBD). Kids 12 and over are invited to sing or play in the band, or participate as a storyteller. Contact Mike Tilden at [email protected] for more information. OUR YOUTH ROOM GETS A MAKEOVER by Beth Tracy We celebrated Rich’s 35 years in ministry this summer and were reminded of the many hours he spent in the Youth Room playing games, sharing joys and concerns, and forming deep relationships with peers and with God. To celebrate this anniversary, we established a committee to refresh the Youth Room and \"create a space that reflects our vibrant community and adheres to our historical esthetics — a welcoming place for all to gather.\" Rich said. Around the same time, John Pogue, a freshman at Benet, asked if the church had any Eagle- T-shirts turned into pillows Scout-worthy projects. And just like that, John became our painter extraordinaire! John was thanks to Erin Cleary! an active member of JRneys, was recently confirmed, and already has many fond memories of the Youth Room. John wanted to take on this project because he realized that, \"God has helped and inspired me as a Boy Scout to help my church community.\" Kristen Pipal, owner of KP Home, an interior design business, happily donated her expertise to consult on the redesign the space. As a former PFer and Adult leader, this project was special to her. She recalls, \"The Youth Room had a facelift 20 years ago and I was on the committee because even then I had a passion for design. It's a full-circle moment with a lot of nostalgia built in.\" Kristen wants to create a space where you can show up just as you are and be authentically yourself. \"There was always great energy in that room, which has to do with the environment that First Congo creates,\" she continued. \"I hope they feel a sense of belonging, home, and community here, as I always have.\" We look forward to having John and all our youth back in “their” room in Sept. 2022. The changes? New paint, fun pillows, a little coffee bar and brand new carpet. Though the room has been refreshed, we hope the ability to form close bonds within its walls and the First Congo community will remain unchanged. As Kristen recalled \"Kirch\" saying at a fireside chat when she was a PFer, \"Faith is found in a community, and the community can deepen our faith.\" FIRST CONGO CONNECTION | Page 9

HOPEFUL, NOT HELPLESS! WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE CHURCH TO STAY IN MINISTRY by Stephanie King-Myers It’s a hard, awkward truth that I've basically ignored: The church we attend needs my family’s financial support — no matter how small — to be in ministry. This is difficult for me to admit: Although I've participated in staff meetings for nearly three and half years now in the part-time position of Communications Manager, it's taken this long for the lightbulb to go on. I've even helped advertise our stewardship campaign and contributed to budget spreadsheets. I knew the church requires funds for its ministries, but I didn't connect my individual, seemingly insignificant annual participation — my pledge — to its successful operation. Embarrassingly, I admit that I thought the offering plate covered a lot of the expenses (realistically, it's only about 1% of the annual budget). As a former business owner, you'd think this fact would have clicked into place sooner, but I never realized how much generosity is needed to share God’s love. The church's ministry operates on funds raised and contributed by all of its members and friends — the congregation. Underneath it all, there are staff salaries, monthly bills, repairs and maintenance (new roof, painting, landscaping, cleaning, room renovations), events, musicians, and mission work, not to mention the stratospheric costs brought on by Covid to update and implement the technology and staffing required for virtual services . And most of the events and classes we offer are free of charge, request a nominal fee, or perhaps an at-will offering. Think about it: People pay billions of dollars to enjoy great music and public speaking — two primary things people experience in the worship of God on Sunday morning. My husband and I recently attended a Ray LaMontagne concert for our anniversary. The ticket price was $180 each. It seems a bit far-fetched, but realistically, shouldn't we be willing to contribute to, with as much excitement and joy, all of the things the church does — the things we take for granted because it's a church? The reason the church conducts the stewardship campaign and asks for a pledge commitment from each member every year is so that they can budget in order to provide us with so many hopeful experiences as well as a beautiful venue in which to gather. And that's the point of it all, isn't it? Finding hope. Making a pledge is certainly a matter of RESPONSIBILITY, but it's a responsibility whose undertaking renders me hopeful. Each time I contribute — financially, through volunteerism, or by singing — I feel a sense of hope that I am contributing to something bigger than myself. In a world in which I feel hopeless and helpless far too often, this is truly significant. I encourage you to consider it. If you feel like you can’t do a THING to help in this world, DO THIS. FIRST CONGO CONNECTION | Page 10

annual calendar 2022–23 MONDAYS FRIDAYS 10AM: Lectio Divina with Meredith via Zoom 9–11AM: Moms in Faith (with childcare) 3rd Mon./month, 7PM: Committee Meetings & Church Council 12–1PM: Friday Forum (open to all) TUESDAYS SATURDAYS 9:30–10:30AM: Tai Chi 1st Sat./month: 9–12PM: Green Team / Western Springs Styrofoam Recycling 2nd Tues./month, 7–8:30PM: Bereaved Parents Group 2nd Sat./month: 8–9AM: Men's Breakfast WEDNESDAYS SUNDAYS 9AM: Faith & Flow Yoga 9 & 10:30AM: Worship Services 10:30–12:30AM: Watercolor Class 10:12AM: Adult Faith Formation 2nd & 4th Wed./month, 7–8:30PM: Moms in Faith 10:30AM: Confirmation Class 7PM: JRneys Junior High Youth Group 4PM: Faith & Flow Yoga 7PM: Plymouth Fellowship (PF) High School Youth Group THURSDAYS 9–11AM: Thursday Morning Woman’s Book Discussion For more information on these and other 5–6:30PM: Seek.Pray.Love. events at First Congo, please visit our 7–8PM: Bible Study, Gospel of Luke website at wscongo.org/events. SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER Sept. 5–9: Men’s Canoe Trip to Boundary Waters Oct. 1, 6–7:30PM: Faith, Fun & Floats New Member Orientations I & II (Dates TBD) Sept. 6, 9:30: Children's Ministry Committee Oct. 2, 10:30AM: New Members join Nov. 4–5: Bread of Life Retreat, Tower Hill Sept. 7, 7PM: Jason Shaw, Maintaining Mobility Oct. 2: Family stewardship project Nov. 6–10: Adult Work Trip to Back Bay Mission, & Stability Oct. 9, 5–6PM: Faith & Fun AMPLIFIED in Biloxi, Mississippi Sept. 11, 9 & 10:30AM: Sunday school program, Oct. 18–19 6–8PM: Woman's Society Rummage Sale Nov. 20, 5–6PM: Words & Music Alleluia Choir year begins + Confirmation Kickoff Oct. 21–23 Seek.Pray.Love. Retreat Nov. 27, 7–8PM: Contemplative Prayer via Zoom Sept. 17, 3–9PM: Confirmation Fall Day Retreat Oct. 23: Crop Walk at First Congo Sept. 18, 2–4PM: PF Kickoff Oct. 23, 5–6PM: Words & Music Sept. 18, 3–5PM: Preschool Fall Family Kick-Off Oct. 23, 7–8PM: Contemplative Prayer via Zoom Sept. 18, 5–6PM: Words & Music Oct. 30, 3:30–5PM: Congo Halloween Party Sept. 21: JRneys Kickoff Sept. 25, 10:30AM: First Confirmation class Sept. 25, 7–8PM: Contemplative Prayer via Zoom Sept. 25 & 27: New Member Orientations I & II DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY Dec. 18, 3PM: Words & Music – Carols Jan. 22, 5–6PM: Words & Music Feb. 12, 4–6PM: Family Communion Workshop Dec. 21, 6:30–8:30PM: Longest Night Labyrinth Walk Jan. 22, 7–8PM: Contemplative Prayer via Zoom Feb. 19, 5–6PM: Words & Music Dec. 24, 2PM: Live Nativity Feb. 22, 6:30AM: Ash Wednesday Family Service Dec. 24, 4PM: Family Worship Service Feb. 24–25: Women’s Retreat, Camp Manitoqua Dec. 24, 5:30PM: Family Worship Service Feb. 26, 7–8PM: Contemplative Prayer via Zoom Dec. 24, 8:30PM: Christmas Eve Service New Member Orientations I & II (Dates TBD) Dec. 24, 10:30PM: Christmas Eve Service Dec. 25, 9:30AM: Christmas Day Service MARCH APRIL MAY Mar. 5–9: Women’s Vision Trip to Common April 6, 8PM: Maundy Thursday Worship New Member Orientations, Part 1 & 2 (Dates TBD) Hope/Guatemala Apr. 7, 10M: Good Friday Worship May 12: New Member Welcome Party Mar. 19, 5–6PM: Words & Music Apr. 8, 9–11:30AM: Holy Saturday Yoga Workshop May 21, 5–6PM: Words & Music Mar. 19, 7–8PM: Contemplative Prayer via Zoom Apr. 9: Easter Sunday worship services Apr. 16, 5–6PM: Words & Music Apr. 25–26, 6–8PM: Woman's Society Rummage Sale Apr. 23, 7–8PM: Contemplative Prayer via Zoom

First Congregational Church of Western Springs First Class 1106 Chestnut Street U.S. Postage Western Springs, IL 60558 PAID Western Springs, IL Permit #50 Let us pray... Loving and gracious God, thank you for these lovely summer days. May we see You in the beauty all around us — lush green trees, colorful blossoms, gorgeous blues skies, the laughter of children running through a sprinkler, families united around picnic tables, and so much more. As we look forward to autumn, may we prayerfully discern how to be more attentive to your presence, and practice being your disciples as we reach out to love our neighbors. May your Holy Spirit move us to Engage with you, our faith, our church and our community in all seasons. Amen. IN MEMORIAM Scan here to RSVP for our Scan here to check out all ALL-CHURCH PICNIC of our upcoming events: Peter Ayres 01-01-2022 Nancy Mensen 02-08-2022 on Sunday, Aug. 28 Joanne Housel 04-07-2022 following 9:30AM worship: Louis Phelps 04-30-2022 Dick Beal 05-01-2022 We try to include the milestones of every member. If we've somehow missed yours, please email [email protected] so that we can include it in our next edition. First Congregational Church of Western Springs | 1106 Chestnut Street | 708.246.1900 | wscongo.org