Join us Each week in person or online
Sundays at 9:30am.
Scripture: Romans 4:13-25
SERMON SERIES
A YEAR LONG STUDY OF ROMANS
Dear Church,
I am SO excited about this week’s scripture passage! I am not sure what your favorite verse in the book of Romans is, or if you even have a favorite verse, but my favorite verse is in this week’s passage! It is Romans 4:17, which describes God as the One who gives life to the dead, and CALLS THINGS THAT ARE NOT AS THOUGH THEY WERE. Isn’t that incredible? As someone who was on the path of becoming a career agricultural commodities options trader on the Chicago Board of Trade, I had no intentions of becoming a youth pastor 15 years ago. But God called something that was not as though it was, and the trajectory of my life changed! Sarah was a barren woman, but God blessed her with Isaac. She was unable to have children, but God brings life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. We were dead in our transgressions, but God has raised us to life in Jesus Christ! I am so excited to worship with you this week.
See you Sunday.
Pastor Jeff
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
Help us share the love of Christ this holiday season by filling a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child! The ministry sends gift-filled shoeboxes to children in need around the world, sharing joy and the message of Jesus. Please take a shoebox from the display at church, fill it with small toys, hygiene items, and school supplies and return it to us by THIS Sunday November 24. Let’s come together to make a difference in the lives of children who need it most.
Thank you for helping spread hope this Christmas!
WE WELCOME PRESIDENT TAMMY SWANSON-DRAHEIM
Tammy Swanson-Draheim serves as the first female president in the denomination’s history. She has held a variety of roles within the denomination for more than 23 years and most recently has served as superintendent of the Midwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church since 2011.
Join us on Sunday December 15th as President Swanson-Draheim preaches in our Worship Service and teaches Adult Sunday school.
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL THIS FALL
Please join Dr. David Lauber as he teaches on Orthodoxy, Heresy, and True Worship this coming Sunday, November 24th in Munson Hall.
LUCIA SERVICE AND RECEPTION
Please join us for our annual celebration of Lucia on Sunday December 8 at 5pmI This is a wonderful time to invite friends and family for the traditional program followed by a time of food and fellowship. Interested in helping? Sign ups for food and other help are in Higher Grounds.
Lucia rehearsal for the children will be Sunday, December 1st during the Sunday school hour.
FRONT DOOR MINISTRY
Thank you to all who have joined this important ministry! Front Door Ministry offers a friendly face and helpful advice to newcomers to GE Covenant on Sunday mornings. Would you consider joining our team? We especially need Door Greeters and Connectors for these Sundays; November 24, December 8,
and December 22.
Soon we will need to add parking attendants to this ministry as our parking lot is full every week.
Thank you!
Click to sign up!
MENS & WOMENS BIBLE STUDIES:
Our Intergenerational Evening Men’s Bible Study meets every other Wednesday night at church from 6-7pm. Pastor Jeff leads a study of Luke’s gospel.
Our last meeting before Christmas: December 11 at 6pm.
Our Intergenerational Women’s Bible Study .
For our last meeting before Christmas we would like to have the Monday and Tuesday group meet together. Please email Pastor Dawn if you will be able to meet on Tuesday December 3 at 6pm at Pastor Dawn’s home for food, fellowship, and our final chapter.
Please email dawn.lauber@gecovenant.org with any questions.
Moms Together continues Thursday, December 5 at 9:30 am at Allison Borton’s home. We’ll have treats and desserts while we celebrate Christmas together!
Please RSVP to allisonmborton@yahoo.com for childcare.
Please note: The Ladies Christmas Tea on December 19 has unfortunately been cancelled.
EXODUS WORLD SERVICE
Thank you for all who have already donated to our “Welcome to America Pack.” This is a whole-church endeavor to welcome a refugee family to America with practical Christian love.
Please see the link below and consider participating in this project. All items can be dropped off at Pastor Dawn’s office.
Sign up link: https://signup.com/go/qxShXOO
COLLECTING BOOKS FOR THEOLOGY PROGRAM ACCREDITATION
Our partner in Zimbabwe, Rev. Tarcisio Magurupira, is collecting books to achieve accreditation by The Association of Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA) for the Evangelical Theological College’s (ETC) Bachelor of Theology program. The ETC, where Rev. Magurupira is academic dean and lecturer, was founded in 2004 to provide theological education to urban and rural pastors.
Some 5,000 books were collected for the college in 2022, but the ACTEA recommends that the ETC’s library have an additional 5,000 to 10,000 books to meet the students’ resource needs and the accreditation requirements. Although Tarcisio is pursuing a few seminary-level book sources, anyone interested in donating unused or unneeded theological books from their own home libraries is welcome to do so. Children’s books are of interest as well, given their utility for Christian education and English language learning in conjunction with the church district and national children’s camps.
Please place books for donation in the coat room across the hall from the library, near the Higher Grounds coffee area at church. Thank you!
Rev. Tarcisio Magurupira also is director and field officer of Firm Foundation.
LOCAL MINISTRY PARTNERS
Glen Ellyn Walk-In Ministry
This faith-based organization serves Glen Ellyn residents, church members, and referred PADS clients, providing emergency help with important expenses such as utilities, food and gas vouchers, as well as auto repairs and insurance. Glen Ellyn Walk-In Ministry, which served about 300 clients this year, is supported by volunteers and 13 area churches, including ours, and other organizations and individuals.
This ministry needs someone from our church family to serve on its Board, which meets every other month on Friday mornings. Contact Diane Brown (dgraceb05@gmail.com) for more information.
Repeat Boutique
This Christian, non-denominational ministry provides clothing and household goods to refugees, low-income families, and Christian workers in need. This year, Repeat Boutique served 16,315 individuals, up from 13,000 in 2023. Last month alone they served people from 42 different countries of origin who speak 28 different languages.
The organization is especially in need of children’s winter coats, and adult coats, men’s sweaters, and jeans. As usual, sheets and towels and pots and pans are also needed. Another need is for a few more volunteers on Thursday and Friday mornings.
Members of our church have been active in the organization through the years and some currently serve there. Learn more here. Contact Rosie Gardner (RosieGardner@sbcglobal.net) for assistance in responding to these needs.
COVENANT HARBOR CAMPS
SUMMER 2025
Registration is now open. You may set up or update your account now to streamline registration. For more information, go to Covenant Harbor - Christian Camp and Retreat Center in Lake Geneva, WI
COLLEGE STUDENT MINISTRY
NEXT MEETING IS NOVEMBER 24 AT 5PM
College students, you are warmly invited to join us for food, fellowship, and conversation.
November 24: Pastor Dawn and husband David will host
December 8-we hope you will attend the Lucia service with beautiful Swedish goodies afterwards
December 15: Paul and Jayne Bischoff will host.
IF YOU COULD HELP WITH THE SIDE DISHES ON THE NOVEMBER 24TH, OR DECEMBER 15, OR FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE TEXT KRISTIN KRIEGBAUM, AT 630-294-0045. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WEEKLY CHURCH PRAYER MEETINGS
MONDAYS AT 7PM ON ZOOM AND WEDNESDAYS AT 10:30AM IN PERSON IN THE CHURCH LIBRARY
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” -Colossians 4:2
ZOOM PRAYER MEETING DETAILS
Zoom Meeting ID: 859848614 Password: geecc
Send a prayer request to Jayne Bischoff who will forward to Prayer Partners. Please mark if confidential. (jaynebischoff@gmail.com)
WORSHIP ARTS NEWS
Calling all artists! Thank you to those who have already displayed their artistic responses to our sermon series on Romans.
It is exciting to see the new submissions in our south alcove. If you missed the “assignment” – we are creating a display of art that reflects a favorite verse from Romans.
Please email Kriste Sveen for more details as needed.
