Announcements September 12, 2009

INTRODUCTION TO PREACHING CLASS

It will be conducted at the Beverly Hills SDA Church, starting September 5, 2009.  Classes will continue each week through Sabbath, November 28, 2009.  The meetings begin at 4: 30 p.m. each Sabbath afternoon. Anyone interested in preaching may attend.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER:

Sep. 5- Nov. 28 – Introduction to Preaching Class
Sep. 12 & 19 – Spiritual Gifts Seminar
Sep. 13 –
Sep. 22 – First Day of Autumn
Sep. 25-27 – “Free Indeed” Women’s Ministry Convention
Sep 25-27 – Camp Akita Youth Retreat
Oct. 2-4 – Bible Worker Training
Oct. 16—18 – IL Conference Prayer Retreat
Oct. 17 – “Treasurers in the Sand, Beauty in God’s Hands” Women’s Retreat

SPIRITUAL GIFTS SEMINAR

Sabbath afternoons, September 12 & 19, 2:00-3:30 p.m. at the West Central SDA Church, 1154 S Wisconsin Ave, Oak Park, IL. Pastor Jose Diaz will help you understand spiritual gifts and why God gives them to us and how to discover and use your particular gifts in ministry to others. Please contact Pastor David Sitler at (630) 853-3913. Fellowship meal on Sabbath, September 12 right after church before seminar.

PRAYER MEETING

Prayer meeting resumes this Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. We will continue our study from the book of Revelation. Handouts are supplied so bring your Bible and a friend!

2009 ILLINOIS CONFERENCE PRAYER RETREAT

October 16-18 at Camp Akita.  It starts at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.  Pastor Paul Goia is the guest speaker who will be sharing his experience and journey in prayer.  It is $60 per person for the weekend in the cabins and $80 per person sharing for the weekend in lodge rooms. Call Shona Cross at (630) 856-2880 for reservations.

CAMP AKITA YOUTH RETREAT

September 25-27, 2009.  This is a fun event for Junior and Senior High School-aged youth to enjoy the outdoor setting of Camp Akita, get to know new friends and connect or re-connect with God through nature, recreation, prayer and His word.  The cost is $60, all-inclusive of activities, lodging and food (beginning with breakfast Sabbath morning). Registration deadline is September 17; late registrations will incur a $30 late fee after that date.  You must pre-register to attend.  For more information call the Youth Ministries Department at 630-856-2857 or email youth@illinoisadventist.org”

SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY

If you are interested in hosting a small group Bible study in your home as part of a home rotation, please talk with Pastor Arner.  At the Hinsdale church, we would like to train at least 10 Bible workers from Downers Gove. If you would like to be a part of this outreach please let Pastor Arner know.

NEXT FELLOWSHIP DINNER

September 19.  Hostesses: Soni Macy, Shari Williams, Vera Connolly, Zita Kirsnauskaite, Peggy Smith.
Note: Please bring a vegetarian dish and a salad to share.

DAY STAR OPEN ENROLLMENT

Day Star Preschool is accepting applications for school year 2009-2010.  For more information, please call (630) 968-8848.

BIBLE WORKER TRAINING

If you are willing to give personal Bible studies and would like to learn how mark this date!  October 2-4 will be a Bible worker training course with Ernestine “Teenie” Finley.  The workshops will be at the Hinsdale church and we would like to train at least 1- Bible workers from Downers Grove.  If you would like to be a part of this outreach please let Pastor Arner know.

ATTENTION DOWNERS GROVE CHURCH MEMBERS OF ACADEMY AGE STUDENTS

The Downers Grove church pays a $75 subsidy to all students attending an Adventist Academy.  A different arrangement has been made for Hinsdale Adventist Academy.  The subsidy is paid August through May.  We need to know the names of the students and the academy they are attending.  Please contact Andy Wegrzyn with this information.

BAG & TOSS LITERATURE EVANGELISM MINISTRY

Be a part of the Bag & Toss Literature Evangelism Ministry – not only will you have fun but you will be blessed in knowing that you are reaching souls for eternity!  Please see David Holloway or Elvis Rodriguez

GUITAR CLUB

The Downers Grove SDA Personal Ministries have begun free beginner’s praise and worship guitar lessons here at the church. They meet on the 2nd and 4th Sabbaths from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.  Please invite your friends or relatives who have an interest in playing guitar to these group lessons.  For more information go to their Web site: www.dgsda.org/guitarclub.  All ages are welcome.

WOMEN’S MINISTRY BOOKSHELF AND CORNER

Please look for the bookshelf located under/near the Mailboxes at Church.  Feel free to borrow a book.  There are note cards, paper, sticky notes, and pens for you to write notes of acknowledgements, friendship, comfort and wisdom.

ACTIVITIES OF THE WEEK:

Today  September 12
3:00 p.m. Guitar Club
6:00 p.m. Youth Prayer Group
7:06 p.m. Sunset
7:30 p.m. Pathfinder Club Registration & Social

Sunday September 13
Grandparent’s Day
10:00 a.m. Adventurer Club Registration
Monday September 14
7:00 p.m. Church Board Meeting
Wednesday September 16
7:00 p.m. Prayer Meeting
Friday September 18
6:55 p.m. Sunset
7:30 p.m. Pathfinder Club Induction Meeting

Continue reading about Announcements September 12, 2009

To follow is the text version of the Illinois Conference Update, August 19,
2009.  To view this e-news publication in full color, click on the
attachment. This file can be opened with the latest version of Adobe Acrobat
Reader which is available at no cost from www.adobe.com.

Touch Every 1 For Jesus

Don’t forget Signs of the Times as a useful tool in Touching people for
Jesus.  Contact the Adventist Book Center for more information about
subscriptions or sponsoring a Signs distribution box at 1-800-765-6955 or
online at www.AdventistBookCenter.com.
“When God Said Remember” is a new pocket size book from Mark Finley on the  Sabbath.  It is an excellent book to place in the hands of a person with
whom you are studying the Bible when you come to the Sabbath.  It is
available from the Adventist Book Center for $1.99 per copy, less in
quantities.  With Elder Finley coming to do a series in Chicago next year
this is a good way to begin developing a tie-in to those meetings, too.

One of the ways that a church can help strengthen new members in the faith
is by providing them with a good Christian television alternative.  The
Texico Conference (New Mexico and western Texas) has a program where
churches purchase a satellite dish for each new family that is baptized.
Members install these dishes and so the cost is only about $150 per home.
Then these new members can enjoy the Hope Channel, the Hope Church Channel,  3ABN, LLBN, as well as several Adventist radio stations including LifeTalk Radio.

New Jerusalem SDA Church held a Tent Meeting in Kankakee.  Evangelist Ron  Williams II, from Dallas, TX was the speaker.  Pastor Wayne Odle reports
that 37 new people were baptized.

News
Congratulations to our Trust Services Department. On July 20 they received a continuation of their Level A accreditation from their accrediting body.
The chairman of the committee wrote: “The latest audit verified the quantity
and quality of the work you have accomplished. Congratulations on a job well
done?”

We had an unusual one-time tithe blessing in February last year.  When you
factor that out of the accounting, we have had a 4.6% tithe increase
year-to-date through the first two quarters of 2009.  Thank you for your
faithfulness.

Natanja Hensley is the editor of the Broadview Academy Alumni Newsletter.
If you are not on her email list but would like to be you can subscribe by
contacting her at hope_chgo@hotmail.com.  She would like to feature our
former summer camp, Little Grassy, in an upcoming newsletter.  If you have
old pictures of Little Grassy Camp she would love to hear from you.

For those of you who would like to have a video of the Chicagoland
Convocation, DVD’s are available for Sabbath School (Afternoon Service
included in this DVD), Main Service & Praise Festival at a cost of $5.00
each, shipping included.  We may have a photo DVD available as well.
Contact Norma Gregory to place your order.  (630) 856-2874  or
norma@illinoisadventist.org

Upcoming Events
NAD Health Summit will be held in Orlando, Florida on January 29 – February  7. Keynote speakers will be Mark Finley, DeWitt Williams and Peter Landless.  Visit nadhealthsummit.com for all the details.

Illinois Conference Women’s Ministry invites you to a special one day event  Sabbath, October 17, 2009.  Treasures in the Sand, beauty in God’s hand to be held at Lindner Conference Center, 610 E Butterfield Rd, Lombard,  Illinois.  Keynote Speaker is Sally Streib, author, naturalist,
conchologist, Bible student & teacher.  To register or for more information
call 708-596-2000 X2404 or visit www.illinoisadventist.org for a brochure.

A SABBATH SCHOOL WORKSHOP by Dr. Donna Habenicht, Religious Educator and founder of Wisdom Tree Ministry, is scheduled for Friday evening, 7 p.m. at  Burbank SDA Church.  The Workshop continues all day, Sabbath, August 22.
Topics are: It Takes a Church; How to Help Children Grow Spiritually;
Children’s Ministry for Small Churches; How Today’s Kids Learn; and Grace
and Kids.  Please join us August 21 & 22 at 8351 S. New Castle Ave.,
Burbank, to improve Sabbath School programming.  Sabbath noon will be a
fellowship meal.  For more information please contact:  Stanley Hagen
630-968-3940

Elmhurst SDA Church is celebrating its 40th Anniversary on November 21, 2009.  Everybody is invited to come to look back at all of God’s blessing.
If you would like more information please contact them at 630-530-0600 or
visit their website at www.tagnet.org/elmhurst or leave us a message at
girose@aol.com.  If you know any past members of Elmhurst Church please let them know of this special celebration.
The Fall Campmeeting at 3ABN is scheduled for September 24 – 26. The keynote speaker will be Elder Robert Folkenberg, Sr., former president of the
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and now director of the
evangelistic program, ShareHim.

Personnel
Here are the names of new teachers in the Illinois Conference educational
system this year:
.       Tamara Darrow – Science Teacher at HAA, is coming from Guam
Adventist Academy in Yona, Guam.
.       Gordon Dezotell – Math Teacher at HAA, just graduated from Atlantic
Union College, South Lancaster, Massachusetts.
.       Gabriel Mendez – Principal/Teacher at  Springfield is coming from
Berrien Springs, Michigan.  Gabe is a graduate of Hinsdale Junior Academy
and Broadview Academy.
.       Catherine Morse – 5-8 Teacher at  Gurnee is coming from Rogue Valley
Adventist School, Medford Oregon.  Cathy is returning to the Illinois
Conference.
.       Marie Ott-Benson – 3rd grade Teacher at HAA is coming from Meadow
Creek Adventist School in Wisconsin.  Marie’s husband, Jeremy, graduated
from HAA.
.       Starla Powell – Principal/Teacher at  Marion is coming from the
Lincoln Public School system in Lincoln, Nebraska
.       Karen Reinke – 5th grade Teacher at HAA has been working as the NAD
editor & writer for the new North American Division language arts
curriculum, Pathways.
.       Melanie Joy Uzarraga – 2nd grade teacher at HAA – Over the last 5
years she has been a stay-at home mom raising her young family here in
Illinois.  Before that she taught in the same position at HAA.

We also have some new pastors in our conference:
.       Blaine Fults is the new pastor of the Rockford and Freeport
Churches.  He has come to us from the Oregon Conference.
.       Zorislav Plantak is the new pastor of the Elk Grove Village Church.
.       Arek Bojko, pastor of the Chicagoland Polish Church, has added Deer
Park to his district.
.       Alex (Sasha) Bolotnikov is raising up two new congregations:
Russian and Jewish.

Obituaries
Betty Simmons, wife of longtime Illinois Conference pastor, Earl Simmons,
passed away on August 10 after a long struggle with cancer.  The time and
place for her memorial service have not yet been announced.
Lula Connour, member of the Rushville congregation, passed away on Friday,  August 14.  Visitation for Lula Connour will be at the Hurd-Hendricks
Funeral Home in Galesburg on August 19 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.  A graveside
service will be held in Oaklawn Memorial Gardens in Galesburg at 11:00 a.m.
on August 20.
Dr. Harold May, member of the Hinsdale Church, passed away on May 18, 2009.  Since retiring as a physicist, his passion has been for community service.  He was 90 years old.
Alberta Holt, member of the Salem Church, passed away on June 10.  She and
her husband, Jack, were instrumental in establishing the very first 3ABN
satellite downlinked television station.
Dr. Gloria Mouzon, member of the West Central Church, passed away on June 25  at the age of 61.

Illinois Conference Update August 19, 2009 (PDF)

Continue reading about Illinois Conference Update August 19, 2009

Dear Youth,

This Sabbath there is going to be youth prayer group at 6:30pm. Please come for Christian fellowship and time to praise God.
We have two separate groups within the whole group. One for Young Adults and one for the junior youth. Each Group has their own devotional time.
Please feel free to bring friends.
We will be meeting at a different location though. This week we will be meeting at Rod Metcalf’s Home.
The Youth Leaders will also have maps with them on sabbath if anyone needs directions.

With Love in Christ,
Your DG Youth Leadership Team

Continue reading about Youth Prayer Group 8/22/09

The Following is a PDF version of the current Downers Grove Seventh-day Adventist Church News Letter.

DGSDA News and Notes, August 19, 09

Continue reading about DGSDA News & Notes – August 09

Continue reading about Youth Prayer Group August 1st.

Dear Church Family,

It’s hard to believe that we have already reached the end of July!

Wednesday night Mike Korting walked into the sanctuary and said “It’s been a long time since I have seen the sanctuary like this”. Mike is Pam Dyes brother and they along with others were here when this church was originally built. I must admit that it is exciting to see what God is doing with the building project. It is even more exciting to see what He is doing building relationships and strengthening our church family.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it!

There are just a couple of things to let you know this for Sabbath and beyond.
1.We will be in Michigan tomorrow where I will baptize Miranda Richardson. David Holloway will be preaching.
2.There will be fellowship lunch tomorrow picnic style so bring already prepared appropriate food.
3.The church service may be outside weather permitting so throwing in some lawn chairs today might be a good idea.
4.Please continue to pray for those who are having difficulties of some kind.
5.There will be an announcement tomorrow for needs with the renovation in the week ahead. I hope that you are enjoying this special time God gave us.
6.You are invited to stop by the church any time and see what you can do to help.
7.We are not planning to stream live again until we are back in the sanctuary. You can still go to www.livestream.com/downers and access services from the on demand tab.

Thank you for being part our church family here at downers and I hope you have a wonderful Sabbath.

Blessings,
Pastor Joe

Continue reading about DGSDA News and Notes July 31, 2009

ACTIVITIES OF THE WEEK:
Sabbath July 25
3:00 p.m. Guitar Club
6:00 p.m. “Orion Door” Concert
7;00 p.m. The Orion Connection
8:16 p.m. Sunset
Sunday July 26
Northern Bike-A-Thon
Wednesday July 29
7:00 p.m. Prayer Meeting
Thursday July 30
Single Mom’s Retreat Begins
7:30 p.m. Small Bible Study Group
Friday July 31 -  8:10 p.m. Sunset

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER:
July 30-Aug. 2 – Single Mom’s Retreat
Aug. 6 – DGAS Early Registration
Aug. 11-16 – International Camporee
Aug. 20 – DGAS First Day of Class
Sep. 11-12 – Youth Leadership Training

NEXT FELLOWSHIP DINNER
August 1  Hostesses: Tina Leonor, Pam Dye, Vera Connolly & Zita Kirsnauskaite.
Note: Please bring picnic food for an outdoor meal to share this day.

DUE TO SANCTUARY REMODELING
We will not be having church services in the sanctuary on August 1, 8 and possibly the 15.
Those Sabbaths we will plan to meet for church outside or in the Fellowship Hall.

Continue reading about Announcements July 25, 2009

July 26 at the Great Western Trail at Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve in Kane County.  Registration begins at 8:00 am registration at Shelter #1 and ride begins at 9:00 am.
Download registration forms from www.campakita.com (click on the Bike-A-Thon button) and preregister by July 22 to ride.
The Bike-A-Thons are for EVERYONE, adults and children alike, and they are fun family activities.  Pathfinders may receive 45% of the funds they raise for their NAD Courage To Stand Camporee expenses, excluding the $25 registration fee.

Click here for a link to the trail map:
http://www.kaneforest.com/recreation/trails/maps/greatWesternTrail.pdf

Continue reading about NORTHERN BIKE-A-THON

Join other single moms and their families for fun, fellowship and spiritual growth at the Chocolate Boutique. It’s Not About Eating Chocolate; it’s about connecting chocolate to the lavish and knowing the extravagant grace of God.

All single moms and their children are welcome to the retreat at Camp Akita, July 30-August 2. Cost is $55 per adult and $15 per child. Register on line at www.campakita.com, click on “Summer Camp”.
Registration closes July 20; space is limited so register early.
For questions, email Judy Neal at:

Continue reading about Single Moms’ Retreat

A God Centered Cosmic Presentation

The Downers Grove Seventh-day Adventist church is pleased to host a God centered cosmic presentation on July 24 and 25.
July 24, 7:00 p.m. – “The Orion Connection”
July 25, 6:00 p.m. – concert by “Orion’s Door” gospel group.
July 25, 7:00 p.m. – “Eternal Universe, Eternal Love.”

The Orion Connection

“The Orion Connection” is a self-supporting ministry headed by Victor Martinez. The ministry is offering a superb Power-Point presentation which explores facts from astronomy, the bible, and the spirit of prophecy in search for the dwelling place of God and angels. It consists of astronomy pictures, MPEG animations, Bible verses, and Spirit of Prophecy quotes.
A second presentation, “Eternal Universe, Eternal Love”, explores the glory and vastness of the universe, space travel, intelligent beings on other planets, and God’s eternal love for mankind.  These presentations are spiritually-uplifting, inspiring, informing, and personally challenging to faithfulness in daily living as we prepare the world for Jesus’ soon coming.
Along with the presentation, a gospel concert by “Orion’s Door” brings heart warming bluegrass gospel, praise and contemporary Christian music. This is one of those Sabbath services when you should bring the whole family!

Note:
Please bring light refreshments such as fruit, pretzels, crackers, cookies, etc. to share after the concert on July 25. If you are willing to help with serving please contact Cheryl Fierce

Continue reading about The Orion Connection July 24 & 25