Join us Each week in person or online
Sundays at 9:30am.
SCRIPTURE: LUKE 1:39-45
SERMON SERIES
ADVENT
Dear Church Family,
Welcome to the 4th Sunday in Advent! We hope that you will join us in worship this week.
During Advent, Pastor Jeff and I were delighted to welcome two guest preachers to the pulpit. For the first Sunday of Advent, Pastor Tarcisio preached from Thessalonians and admonished us to pray, pray, pray for the work of the Kingdom of God.
Last Sunday for the third week in Advent, Pastor Tammy preached from Philippians, encouraging us to rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances even in our suffering because God is with us.
For the two Sundays in Advent Pastor Jeff and I are preaching, we have chosen the lectionary passages which herald the testimonies of Zechariah and Elizabeth. The story of this exemplary couple testifies to what God has done, not in their personal lives, but for the whole world in sending to us a Savior.
See you on Sunday!
Pastor Dawn
IMPORTANT CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Mark your calendars for some special services at Glen Ellyn Covenant
this holiday season.
Christmas Eve Worship Service : Tuesday December 24 at 5pm.
Please join us for a candlelight Worship Service.
Worship & Breakfast Potluck December 29: Join us (come in your PJ’s) on Sunday morning as we gather together for worship and fellowship. Following this shorter Worship Service, we will enjoy a Potluck Breakfast in the Family Life Center. Bring your favorite Christmas breakfast dish to share!
“THAT TIME OF YEAR”
…means different things to different people. To the Financial Management Team, it means budget season amidst uncertainty about year-end giving. From our various communications, you should know that giving has been much lower than our expenses this year. While this creates challenges for financial management and planning, the great reality is that we are a healthy and growing church.
We ask that you prayerfully consider how you might help in our challenge to close the fiscal year with giving that meets our General and Missions expenses. All donations for 2024 must be received or postmarked by December 31. Giving online can be done at https://gecovenant.breezechms.com/give/online
Thank you again for being part of our family at Glen Ellyn Covenant!
Eric Fowler
Chair of the Leadership Team
REBECCA ROSENGREN’S ARTICLE WHICH APPEARED IN THE DECEMBER EDITION OF
THE “COVCHURCH NOW” NEWSLETTER:
“a MOTHER’S GRIEF AND LUCIA’S FAITH”
Amid unimaginable loss, Rebecca Rosengren shares how St. Lucia’s story—and her new children’s book—brought light to darkness.
My earliest memories of celebrating St. Lucia Day involve tables full of Swedish coffee cake and cookies, night church where one of the girls in high school walked down the aisle with a wreath of burning candles on her head, and finally, my mom’s historical reading to the family during which I’d frequently lose focus. St. Lucia Day, rooted in Swedish traditions, honors St. Lucy, a third-century Christian martyr known for her faith and generosity. Celebrated on December 13, it symbolizes light in the darkness, with processions featuring girls wearing white gowns and candlelit wreaths. I remember wishing for a storybook with pictures that would help my imagination as I listened.
As I grew older, the tale of this brave young girl who lived out her faith in complete surrender amazed me. Her conviction and heart burned brighter than the fear of losing comfort and safety. She lived out her short life filled with the grace and beauty of Christ’s presence amidst cruelty and darkness. This faith sparked a light in countless others across continents and over thousands of years. My heart has grown to treasure her profound faith and heartbreaking story as well as all the traditions that grew from its retelling.
A few years ago, I watched my daughter’s face fill with wonder as she took in the magic of our church’s annual Lucia evening service. The sanctuary was lit by candlelight, filled with the nostalgic sounds of Christmas hymns and the stories of old retold. The children watched with excitement as the lights dimmed and one of the high school girls walked down the sanctuary aisle with a wreath of burning candles adorning her head and carrying a tray with treats. She turned to face the congregation and shared a few verses of Scripture, speaking of God’s light and the fellowship we share as we walk together.
In that moment of celebrating the light we carry in the darkness, I felt compelled to find a children’s book about Lucia that I could share with my daughter. However, after searching for a book that didn’t yet exist, I was inspired to write and illustrate the book myself.
With encouragement from friends and family, I was finally ready to publish at the end of August 2023. My plan was to finalize the book proposal over Labor Day weekend and send it off to potential publishers by that Monday.
But on Friday, September 1, 2023, the unimaginable happened. Our kids went up to our family cottage early that day with their grandparents while my husband and I finished out the work day. In the afternoon we received a phone call. There had been an accident. Our three-year-old son, Elijah, was found in the lake and unresponsive. Within a few hours, our family had a new reality. Eli was in heaven and the life we had together was shattered.
Two days later I was on a walk with a friend. She was encouraging me to use my writing and painting as an outlet for my grief. While explaining how close I was to publishing The Legend of Lucia, I also remembered a new children’s book idea that had randomly popped into my head a couple of years earlier while I was sitting by the water. The plot is essentially an allegory for faith. After two brothers are lost at sea, the younger brother bravely dives into the water to find food, eventually growing gills to breathe underwater, experiencing adventures as he helps his older brother dive in as well.
Overcome by emotions, I wondered why I had even thought of this plot years ago. I had filed it away for later—only to share it at this very moment for the first time. There were too many parallels between this new book idea and Eli’s story for me to ignore. Eli was the youngest brother to McKenna (seven years old) and Bruce (age ten). At the same time, the realization that I had just finished a story of a girl who surrendered her life to follow her faith gripped me. Regardless of all my unanswered “whys?” I know God is with me, giving me what I need to survive or surrender each day. Lucia’s story of faith and all the legends that stir up a deeper, living faith has been a light in the darkness.
Friends helped me finish publishing The Legend of Lucia by December 13, 2023, and I read the final copy to the children during the Lucia service at our church. Just a year earlier, Eli had been on stage next to me as I read the rough draft, and my daughter held up the watercolor paintings for the other kids. The memory of his sweet smile, as I read the story, is crystallized in my mind and heart.
In prayer, God has whispered (or stated very clearly) many reminders, promises, and help. In one instance, he reassured me that no matter how self-conscious or silly I may feel, I need to keep writing, especially the stories of the power and beauty of living faith.
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 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!
WOMEN OF THE WORD
INTERGENERATIONAL BIBLE STUDY
JOIN US FOR A STUDY OF PHILIPPIANS
BEGINNING JANUARY 2025
Mondays at 6:45pm at the home of Pastor Dawn
Tuesdays at 9:30am in Higher Grounds at church, chilcare provided
Upcoming Dates:
January 13/14, January 27/28; February 10/11, February 24/25;
March 10/11, March 24/25
JOIN “MOMS TOGETHER”
EVERY OTHER TUESDAY IN 2025!
Moms Together will meet every other Tuesday 9:30-11am in Higher Grounds.—beginning January 21st. Allison Borton leads a time of conversation and encouragement for moms of preschoolers and school-aged children.
Please RSVP to allisonmborton@yahoo.com if you need childcare
HIRING COLLEGE STUDENTS
We are looking for willing and able College Students to help with childcare in these women’s ministries. It’s a great opportunity to serve in these important ministries while having tons of fun with the kids!
This is a paid position
All who are interested can call the church office at 630-469-5405
PASTOR DAWN’S OFFICE IS FILLING UP!
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. There’s still some room!
A final drop-off date will be after the New Year.
Sign up link: https://signup.com/go/qxShXOO
PARTNERS IN MINISTRY
Book Collection for Tarcisio
We continue collecting books for our partner Rev. Tarcisio Magurupira. The theology-based books will help the Evangelical Theological College’s Bachelor of Theology program achieve accreditation by The Association of Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA). The children’s Christian education books will be useful in the district and national camps. Place books for donation in the coat room near the Higher Grounds coffee area at church. Rev. Magurupira is academic dean and lecturer at the ETC and is director and field officer of Firm Foundation.
Glen Ellyn Walk-In Ministry
If interested in serving on the Board of Glen Ellyn Walk-In Ministry, contact Diane Brown at dgraceb05@gmail.com. Supported by 13 area churches including ours, this faith-based organization provides emergency help with expenses such as utilities, food and gas vouchers, and auto repairs and insurance.
Repeat Boutique
Children’s winter coats, adult coats, men’s sweaters, and jeans are needed. Linens (bed sheets and towels) are in short supply as well. Additional volunteers on Thursday and Friday mornings would be helpful. Repeat Boutique provides clothing and household goods to refugees, low-income families, and Christian workers. Contact Rosie Gardner (RosieGardner@sbcglobal.net) for assistance in responding.
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.
