Do Hard Things - Book

Written by two, twin 19 year olds, you can learn so much from the book - "Do Hard Things" by Alex & Brett Harris

"rebelution" - is probably a new word to you, it is a combination of rebellion and revolution to form an entirely new word for an entirely new concept: rebelling against rebellion. More precisely defined rebelution is "a rebellion against low expectations" especially in teenagers.

One Hour a Week!

Have you ever longed to serve the community locally? This Fall Willow Creek is partnering with Kids Hope USA. Kids Hope is an award winning national mentoring program that works exclusively through local churches, teaching them to engage their members in one-on-one relationships with at-risk public elementary school children.

Our hope is that Kid's Hope that will train and develop mentors to build into the lives of vulnerable students. Then we hope to have mentoring partnerships with schools in Cary, Fox River Grove. The commitment for a mentor after our Willow Creek/Kids Hope training is to give one hour a week (before school, during the school lunch hour or after school) to one child. School personnel consistently report that many children involved with a Kids Hope trained mentor exhibit significant change in academic performance, attitude, attendance and behavior. Check out this video:



So, if you have the desire to make a huge difference in the life of an at-risk child, come to our mentor training at Willow Creek on Saturday, October 16th from 8:00-11:00AM. Registration is through classes. Go to https://classes.willowcreek.org/default.aspx?page=3258&profile=3672&eventid=3672&pageid=3240&sort=Date&pprofile=102

Summit Lunch and Discussion

Last year we had lots of people from our area take advantage of our Leadership Summit lunch and discussion. This year I have again been able to reserve a nice, private room for both Thursday and Friday of the Summit.

We can help you with a sandwich, chips and drink lunch for $5 or if you already have a lunch you can just bring it with you. We have room for about 25 people, very convenient and affordable. No leaving the campus, no fighting the traffic, no worrying about lunch and you get to hang out with some great people.

Location: Room 3000 of the Staff Center – Building A – the building nearest Algonquin Rd. entrance. Room 3000 is on the third floor, lakeside of the building.
Cost: $5 for lunch

Just RSVP me if you want to come:

Thurs. - Aug 5th - indicate Lunch or No Lunch

Friday – Aug 6th - indicate Lunch or No Lunch

email: Ryan Boldt

West Dundee - 2nd Street on Good Morning America

Wow, this is really cool! I think there are a few blocks around Cary and Fox River Grove area that could challenge for this award next year!

Join a Men's Breakfast

This month we’re learning from the strength given to Samson. He came into the world under unique conditions, was committed by his parents to be set apart for God, and lived a life that exposed his strengths and his weakness. Look at how God uses both, for His purposes.

Learn more about the many Men's Breakfasts around the suburbs.

http://www.willowcreek.org/mens

Bill Hybels and President Obama - Immigration

Bill was with President Obama and introduced the President for his speech on Immigration reform. The President delivered remarks on the need to fix our broken immigration system through comprehensive immigration reform at the American University School of International Service.

The audience of approximately 250 people will be composed of evangelical, business, labor, and community leaders, as well as law enforcement and elected officials.
see more details at: Suntimes Blog

Watch it at: CSPAN

Truth Quest Event - Comparing World Religions

TruthQuest apologetics event is this month on Friday, July 30th at 7:30pm.
Hosted in Room 392 which is above the West entrance above the Harvest food court area.

Dr. Harold Netland from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School is our special guest this quarter and will address and compare key doctrinal issues from four major worldviews. This will be an excellent event both for people interested in checking out the claims of Christianity and for Christians to become better equipped.

I had Dr. Netland as a teacher at Trinity and absolutely loved his book "Dissonant Voices." An excellent book comparing world religions.

Click here to register: TruthQuest

For any questions email:
Andy Martin

Willow Creek Is Open this Summer

Every year, The Holy Observer website resurrects a story with the headline: “Shutdown Season: Willow Creek Community Church Will Close its Doors for the Summer.” None of the information on the site is true.

“Stories and content on The Holy Observer are mostly fabricated and should not be taken seriously. Real names are used on occasion for satirical purposes, but quotations and situations associated with those names are usually fictitious,” claims a statement on holyobserver.com.

Willow Creek is open through the summer for services, ministry, and scheduled events.

Summit signup only $99 - till June 29!

The Leadership Summit is filling up, but you can still get the $99 deal until June 29th.



Get info and signup at: www.willowcreek.com/summitwccc

Used Toy Sale - for kids in Haiti - Results!

Our area community life folks did a great job this weekend with a used Toy Sale for children in Haiti,

Tammy Massey reported the results:"We were at $2900 as of Friday night and decided to sell on Saturday as well... We are currently at $3170 with some toys listed on craigslist. :) Yeah God!"

All proceeds go help children in Haiti via our partner ministry Brighthope.

Engage Online Tool - Beta Testing

I just got more information on what the WCA is looking for next Monday night for the Engage Beta Market Test. We are looking for a cross section of people (teenagers through 60+) who would be interested in coming to learn more about the Engage tool. The meeting in Monday the 21st from 6:30-8:30pm (room TBD). We need 40 people who MUST have and bring their own laptops with wireless capability.

The evening will consist of:
An orientation and vision of Engage tool
Demo of the product
Engagement with the spiritual growth assessment tool/small group module
Feedback discussion (likes, dislikes, confusion, etc)

The purpose of this meeting is to give the WCA user feedback on various aspects of Engage to help them continue to build the product. To that end – we are looking for people who like to be in on the ground floor, who like to test things and like to give constructive feedback. Extensive computer knowledge is not a requirement – but at least the ability to turn on the laptop and connect to the internet is required. Have the interested people send me an email to express their interest and I will make sure they have updated room information. Snacks and beverages will be provided.

RSVP or if you have questions – contact Amie Carlson at acarlson@willowcreek.org

Baptism - June 27 in the Willow Pond

Get ready for Baptism in a couple weeks. Christ asks his followers to be baptized as a symbol of his work. Being washed of our sins and born to live a new life.

Baptism is the symbol of being a Christian. I know we have numbers of people that have expressed an interest in following Christ in this. Here is how you can!

http://www.willowcreek.org/?p=98

Love Thy Neighbor Serve - June 12th

Our next project. Will be at the Norton house on Saturday June 12th starting at 8:30am. It will include removing and replacing the plywood and screen from the screen porch.

The replacement materials will also need to be painted. Contact Andrewe Dimino at 847-942-9528 to serve.

JOIN THIS TEAM AS THEY MAKE A HUGE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.
HELPING OUR FAMILES IN NEED

Blitz Build - Home rehab in Carpentersville

Take part in transforming our community as we have an opportunity to rehab a house in Carpentersville. By picking up a hammer, you will build hope and a future for a family. With the stroke of a paintbrush you can do more than paint a wall you will help create a safe haven for a children and a family.

There are a number of projects to choose from the week of June 19-26.
Visit: http://www.blitzbuild.org/

Fishing Derby

Saturday, June 128 a.m.–1 p.m., at the lake, South Barrington campusWillow Creek Community Church is passionate about reaching out to those affected by physical and developmental challenges. Each year, we celebrate the community of people with special needs with our Fishing Derby.


Sign up to volunteer painting faces, baiting hooks, grilling burgers, donning a Disney costume, and more

Used Toys Feed Children in Haiti!!

Just think if you could leverage all your kid's older toys and allow them to get some new toys all the while feeding children in Haiti! Well you can!

This year's USED TOY SALE FOR CHARITY is hosted at 4 homes in the area.
Here is how you can participate:

1. DONATE YOUR TOYS - On June 7-9 11am-7pm at one of 4 locations, call for drop-off appointment.

*450 Alma Ter, Cary - call 847-462-1764
*9492 Inversness Dr, Huntley 847-669-7832
*1206 Mayfair Dr, Carpentersville, 847-836-2347
*23707 Hearthside Dr, Deer Park, 847-726-2686

Make sure to label each item with a price. Children’s toys, books, games, puzzles, videos, or stuffed animals, etc. all in very good condition.

2. SHOP - June 10 & 11, 9am - 4pm, you and all your friends can come back and shop with your kids for any toys they might want to get.

This event has raise over $4600 in years pasted to help children around the world. This year we plan to raise $3000, enough to feed 75 school children, at the Mayaya School in Haiti, for one whole year!!

Thanks for your part in serving the poor. We hope to see you before or at the sale!
For any questions contact:
Tammy Massey - godskds2@yahoo.com

Compassion & Justice Core Gathering

Connect with other people throughout all of Willow Creek who are living out the values of compassion and justice. Be equipped to continue strong in your serving through excellent training. Be inspired through stories, prayer, and God moments as you catch a glimpse of all God is doing throughout our church and ministry partners both locally and globally.

Arloa Sutter, the visionary founder and leader of Breakthrough Urban Ministries in the west side of Chicago, will be sharing with us how God has shaped her to live a lifestyle of Compassion and Justice. (Learn more about Arloa here http://breakthrough.org/general/29/about-arloa)

Saturday, June 5th
7:00-8:30 pm
Room 100 (under the Chapel at Willow Creek-South Barrington)

Light refreshments served Please register online so we can plan the eveningClick this link to register: http://community.willowcreek.org/eventregister.aspx?event=2893 Blessings, Heather Larson and the C & J Team

Seed Packing Event Pictures

Summer at the Creek - Guest Speakers

This summer on Wednesday nights we will take a break from Classes and be having some awesome speakers and worship in the Lakeside Auditorium. More details will follow, watch for a summer calendar that will be handed out at up coming weekend services with speaker and date information.

But just to wet your palette get ready for these and more.....

Grant Osborne NT Professor at Trinity - I had him for the Synoptic Gospels and he was great. Scot McKnight Professor from North Park - I loved his work on the "Jesus Creed"

Matt Soerens - Author of "Welcome the Stranger" a book on Immigration Issues.

Harvey Carey - We love him!

and

Rob Bell - is BACK!! July 14th (I think)

Area Seed Packing Event - Celebration of Hope

Over 1400 volunteers served over the weekend at our site. We had individual volunteers, couples, families, small groups, friends, and neighbors that served together to accomplish this wonderful event in our community. It was great to partner with Area Pastor John Eiermann and people from the Jacobs/Huntley area. There were seven 2 hour shifts that made up the largest serving site to date as part of Willow’s three week Celebration of Hope 2010 event!

We produced: 229 cases of family packs, equaling 45,800 individual family packs, made up of 229,000 individual seed packs of radish, broccoli, onion, carrots and tomato seeds. During the introduction we talked about the potential of the “mustard seed”, the smallest of all seeds that grows into the largest tree in the forest. The seeds we packed, over the weekend at our site alone, have the potential to produce 45.8 million pounds of food. It is hard to believe – only God.

You the volunteers who served over the weekend never cease to amaze me. Your willingness to donate your time, energy and effort to serve the needs of the poor in such a substantial way is nothing short of a huge win for the Kingdom of God here on earth. In addition to that, you inspire me, inviting family, friends and neighbors to enjoy the gift of participation in service to the Kingdom and its rich blessings.

Thank you to Bob Kuehn owner of Nationwide Freight who donated the space we used for our event. And thanks to all of you, who volunteered, putting your hands and feet to use, working to solve the real issue of hunger for brothers and sisters in our world. Well done good and faithful servants, well done.

Day 2 - Food Challenge - Celebration of Hope

Day 2 is here - my family is really crabby, but we were all kind of aware of why. And it led to a great discussion around the table last night of how hard it is for kids and parents in Africa to get along with each other when everyone is hungry and frustrated because there is not enough food. It gives us perspective.

We Pray:
We pray for those around the global who don't get enough to eat, may we have compassion on them and act in ways to help. Stir our hearts for our brothers and sisters around the global in need and may we reach out to those who are far from you and offer a helping hand.

CARS

We are always on the look-out for volunteers but even more importantly we are needing more folks to donate their cars to us. With the shrinking economy our resources are diminishing which limits what we are able to do. Here are some asks to help us while you are talking to folks in the different communities.

We are able to pick up cars of any condition within 24 hours of their call. Cars, trucks, SUV's, trailers, snowmobiles, jet-ski's, wave runners, motor homes and motorcycles...even tractors have value for us.

Cars that are only good for scrap are worth between $350-$400 so they also have value.We help folks other than single Mom's. The Mom's may be our typical client but not the only ones.

If you come across someone needing either a car repair or the gift of a car they need to contact the Pastor On Call (they must be a WCCC attendee) We have teams of volunteers serving Monday through Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. We also have opportunity for folks to serve during regular business hours.

Volunteers can either call the ministry directly or go to the cars website and sign up online, or email at cars@willowcreek.org

Area Seed Packing Event

The Challenge: Help pack 2.5 million seed packets for 500,000 Zimbabwe families to plant family gardens.

The Zimbabwean villages who received meal packs from Willow Creek over the past two years experienced much needed relief from the hunger and malnutrition that had threatened their families’ health and growth. But now how can we continue to support Zimbabwe families in need? Church leaders there have told us, “We must stabilize our communities through renewable food programs. Can you help send us seeds?”

Join the Willow Creek Celebration of Hope this April to provide food security for 500,000 families in Zimbabwe by helping to pack 2.5 million seed packets for family vegetable gardens.

Our area's packing site will be located in at "Elgin - Nationwide Freight" just north of I-90 & off Randall Road, near Burnt Toast, on April 17-18. There are other locations listed for your convenience.

The serving opportunities will be announced at the Easter services but I wanted to give you the “inside scoop” so you can register early to ensure your spot. You can register by clicking on this link. http://community.willowcreek.org/coh.aspx.
~

Local Impact Students - Mission trip to Zambia!

Our Student Impact House group had a number students leave today for Zambia, Africa. Join us in praying for the health & safety for the team/leaders and may their impact be truly global! Our local Dundee Crown students going are Nick Reedy, Jared Niequist, Kathleen Palahniuk, & Sarah Miles.

There are also some area kids going to South Africa! I'm sure all the parents would welcome prayers.

Join a Group!

The groups season is just getting ramped up. There are a number of open small groups in the area.



Just search at: Join a Group

Habitat for Humanity - Serving Opportunities Carpentersville

Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year so our goal is to do 20 projects. We are planning to complete 10 rehabs and 10 A Brush with Kindness (ABWK) projects. ABWK is a new program for us this year and here's some brief information: The new program will serve low-income homeowners who struggle to maintain the exterior of their homes. Volunteers help homeowners with exterior maintenance which typically includes painting, landscaping, and clean-up. A Brush with Kindness ensures that families live in well-maintained homes. The program is designed to revitalize the appearance of the neighborhood, encourage connections within the community, and most importantly, help preserve affordable housing stock. There is no cost to the homeowner for this program.

We are planning on doing 5 rehabs in Carpentersville, 4 in Elgin and 1 in St. Charles and the ABWK have not yet been selected. So there are many projects with various scopes of work we could really use your help with...please let us know if you'd like to be involved.

Also, if you know someone who would like to apply for a Habitat for Humanity house, please let them know we are having a meeting this Saturday, February 6th at 10 am at First Congregational Church on Rt. 31 in West Dundee.

We still need 4 families for houses for this year. And if you know someone who owns their house but needs a free paint job and might want to apply for the ABWK program, please have them call our office and ask for Justin, 847-836-1432 or justin.lucas@hfhnfv.org.

Thank you.

Barbara Beckman - Executive Director
Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley
20 S. Grove Street,
Suite 201,
Carpentersville, IL 60110
p. 847-836-1432 f. 847-836-1495
http://www.hfhnfv.org/