"Creation" Art Classes for Youth!

"In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth."
Those are some of the most well known words in the Bible. But what do they really mean to the creative mind? We are created in God's image... which means that we are created by our Creator to be creative!

Join us for "Creation" art classes led by Karen J. Layer on Fridays, October 14 and 28!
These classes, designed for creative types of grades 6 and up, will begin at 6:00 p.m. Pizza will be served promptly at 6 and all illustration supplies will be provided.

October 14 will be a cartooning class!

Any questions? Contact Pastor SoYoung Kim (773-344-7704) or Karen Layer, karenlayer(at)aol(dot)com.

Serving God with Vision!

Please join us for a season of stewardship emphasis beginning Sunday, October 16th. We plan on joyfully celebrating this time by putting a special emphasis on our children and youth ministry as well as celebrating our other ministries. We know that they are our future and we want to continue to develop a vital ministry here at New Hope!

We also plan to have fun exploring this with skits and personal stories, so expect to learn, laugh, be encouraged and be inspired.

Who know what can happen as we open our hearts and minds to SEE the possibilities in our lives? What do your truly SEE for New Hope? What is your part in this vision and how can we come together? How can we use our monetary resources to support the vision?

On Celebration Sunday, November 20, we will enjoy our bountiful potluck dinner and collect financial commitment cards for 2012.

WARNING: As God opens our eyes, we may SEE things we never saw before!

Outreach News for October

New Hope received donations for UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) in response to news stories of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Thank you for your compassion and generosity!

"New Hope Knitters" can begin making scarves for Night Ministry clients.

Food pantry donations for the months of October and November will be used for the Thanksgiving distribution on November 19th. On the first Sunday, please bring:

• canned sweet potatoes
• cranberry sauce
• vegetables
• gravy
• boxed instant mashed potatoes

The food pantry generally distributes the holiday meal bags to 250 families!

On September 10th we set a new record! 22 volunteers trekked to GCFD from our food pantry. While there they:

• Packed 1,040 senior boxes that will help senior citizens fave food for 3-4 days.
• Placed 14 items in each box, packing a total of 11,960 pounds.
• Earned $5 credit per service hour = $330 that will go to our account at the depository. We are charged between 7 and 15 cents per pound of food we receive from them.
• This is enough for nearly a two-week supply of food.
• Especially good news is that it was the first time for 9 of our volunteers.
• To date, about 75 different volunteers have joined us for at least one Food Depository experience.

Thank you to everyone who participated in HopeFest on September 11th. Our church was an outstanding witness to the love and hope we find through faith. Special thanks to Sue Laurie, Liz Okayama, and Pastor SoYoung for your leadership roles serving on the planning team.

We really surpassed our goal by providing 413 prayer squares that were placed in "Thank You gift bags" to first responders in Norwood Park, Park Ridge and Des Plaines. The bags also contained homemade cookies and a thank you card. In our neighborhood we delivered bags to the Emergency Room at Resurrection Hospital and the Norwood Park Firehouse.

A snapshot of successes -- Besides the relationships built with First UMC Park Ridge, FUMC Des Plaines and with organizations in our community:

• over 200 people experienced a commemorative service at 7:30 a.m. Darryl Stephens played taps here.
• 600 Thank You bags were assembled
• 50 volunteers worked at Park Ridge Youth Campus
• 4,000 items of food donated and dispersed between 3 food pantries
• Over 25 people visited Bethany Terrace in Morton Grove, sang in a combined choir, visited with residents, decorated a party room for Grandparents Day
• 80 units of blood donated at the two blood drive locations
• 1400 thank you notes written to our first responders and military
• 1200 people participated throughout the day
  

Looking ahead to November: The Dollmaker

Join the New Hope book group on Tuesday, November 29 at 7:00 p.m. as we discuss The Dollmaker by Harriet Arnow. The meeting will be held at the home of Julie and Sue, 5810 W. Greenleaf, Chicago.

The story of a family that moves from the rural home in Appalachia to Detroit, MI where the father hopes for a better way of living. His wife, Gertie, is not too sure. The family settles down in a tar paper shack by the railroad tracks in an industrial area. Gertie holds onto her homespun ways, one of which is through carving. One item that she hangs onto is a piece of a tree limb in which she sees a figure of Jesus calling to her to carve it from it. The piece of cherry wood with an emerging figure becomes a metaphor for Gertie herself.

October book: The Book Thief

Join the New Hope Book Group on Tuesday, October 18 at 7:00 p.m. Meeting at Liz Okayama's house, 4340 N. Marmora, Chicago, we will be discussing The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

The story of Liesel Meminger, a young foster girl living outside of Munich in Nazi Germany. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she discovers something she can't resist--books. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever they are to be found. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, Liesel learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids. Heartwarming and heartbreaking as people endure the war.

Nurture Volunteers Needed

Would you be willing to:

• Make coffee on Sunday mornings?
• Bring light refreshments on Sunday mornings?
• Serve as a greeter for worship, providing a warm welcome, handing out bulletins, lighting candles and assisting those using the chair lift?
• Serve as liturgist during worship, reading the welcome, Scripture, and announcements?

If so, we would like you to volunteer! Thanks to those who are already serving faithfully in these roles. An orientation to each of these activities can be provided for new volunteers. Hospitality is one of the core ministries of a congregation. Sign up to offer one of these simple acts of kindness.

Fall Cleanup Day!

Join us on Saturday, October 15 from 9 a.m. to noon for our annual fall yard cleanup day! We will rake, weed, clean, chop and mow to get our church yard ready for winder.

Doughnuts and cider will make an appearance. There will also be some indoor cleaning projects for those who can offer some elbow grease there as well.

House Gatherings in October!

Join New Hope friends in your neighborhood at a House Gathering during October! One of your neighbors has offered to host you and others in the area for an evening of light refreshments and a time to get to know our new pastor.

Gatherings will begin at 7 p.m. and end by 8:30 p.m. In the comfort of your neighbor's home, you will have an opportunity to get to know your New Hope friends better. Pastor SoYoung would like to hear about your faith journeys and vision for New Hope.

Your host will contact you with the date of the House Gathering in your neighborhood. Don't miss the chance to get together for fellowship and friendship. (If that particular date is not good for your schedule, please join with another group.)

Safe Sanctuary at New Hope UMC

In order to provide a safe environment for our children and youth, New Hope UMC has adopted a Safe Sanctuary policy. This policy creates standards for our nursery, Sunday School and programming. Some of these standards include: more than one adult present at all times and windows into all classrooms. Every leader who works with children or youth must have a criminal background check run every three years. There is a procedure for lay and clergy to follow if they suspect a child is being abused. If you have any questions or would like a copy of the Safe Sanctuary Policy, please ask.

October 15 is Repack Day at GCFD

We are now recruiting volunteers to help at the October 15 repack day at Greater Chicago Food Depository. Group will meet to carpool at New Hope at 8 a.m.; return around 1 p.m. Participants must wear long pants and closed toe shoes (regardless of weather). All are asked to bring a food item or two to give to the Depository. If interested, contact Bob Burkhart at 847-583-1088 or rgburkhart(at)att(dot)net.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Join our knitting circle on October 16 after worship!

Shawls and scarves are intended for anyone who can benefit from a token of love and support from the New Hope community. On the third Sunday of each month, all are invited to bring their knitting or crochet projects.

Study on Exodus: "Who and Whose We Are"

Rev. Dr. Darryl Stephens will lead this class on the Old Testament: its people, its drama, and the ways they encountered God along their journey. Come to learn about the past and how it teaches us for our present day. Darryl enjoys the preparation, you will enjoy the discussion and insights! Wednesdays at New Hope UMC, 7-8:30 p.m., October 12 & 19; November 2, 9, & 16 (note: no class on Wed., Oct. 26!)

Read Exodus chapter 1:1-7:7 in preparation for the first class!

Tuesday Bible Class with Luncheon

Bring your own lunch and join Bible study! Beginning October 4th, every Tuesday from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Youth Group Gathering

Youth grades 6 and up are invited to join our youth group meetings on Fridays, 6-8 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.

Membership Exploration Class

A four-week program begins Thursday, September 29 from 11:15 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. Anyone who would like to know more about the United Methodist Church, its history, theology and doctrine are welcome! Participants will be invited to join the New Hope membership this fall.

Worship in October

Join us for Worship in October:

• October 2, Rev. SoYoung Kim will be preaching on "Bearing Fruit," Matthew 21:33-46

• October 9, Rev. SoYoung Kim will be preaching on "One Heart and One Vision," Romans 15:1-6

• October 16, Sheila Moyer & Barb Kurtz will lead us in celebrating laity Sunday and kicking off our stewardship campaign, "Serving God with Vision," Matthew 6:24-33

• October 23, Rev. SoYoung Kim will be preaching on "Serving God with the Cost," Luke 14:27-33

• October 30, Rev. SoYoung Kim will be preaching on "Serving God with Joyful Heart," 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

October 24 event at Nonno Pino's - come join the fun!

Please join us on Monday, October, 24 at Nonno Pino's in Edison Park for the Baird Warner Goodwill Benefit. 20% of proceeds from the evening will benefit the food pantry. The event begins at 5:00pm. Nonno Pino's is located at 6718 Northwest Highway. Come join the fun, enjoy great food, and help raise funds for the New Hope Community Food Pantry!

Special thanks to Lisa Sanders and Baird & Warner in Edgebrook for sponsoring this event.