E-Connections Newsletter - May 2008
In this Issue:
Sundays in Summer Growing Together in Love-Breakfast Sunday School News Discovering Jesus' Miraculous Power! Junior High News Connecting at LEFC (events) Reaching Out Looking For ??? (opportunities, etc)	Sundays in Summer by Steve Mathewson Beginning on Father's Day, June 15, we are moving to a new Sunday Schedule for the summer. We will hold one worship service at 9:00 a.m., and then a Sunday School/Fellowship hour will begin at 10:30 a.m. Here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions. Why make this change? There are three key reasons. First, this a transition into the back-to-back worship service schedule which we will follow beginning on Sunday, September 7. Those services will begin at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., so our summer schedule will help everyone get used to this schedule as well as time to decide what service to attend in the fall. Second, we want to generate some momentum during the summer when our attendance is typically down. There may be some Sundays when getting everyone into our worship center is a tight squeeze, but with the balcony, we should be able to do this. Third, we want to take some pressure off of our worship arts and children's ministries as they regroup for fall.
What will this change look like for children? First, there will be regular child care in our nursery rooms for infants and toddlers from 9:00 a.m. through to 11:30 a.m. Our pre-school and grade school children will be dismissed in the first service about 9:30 a.m. Their program will run through 11:30 a.m. This will give parents an opportunity to attend the adult offerings in the Sunday School/Fellowship hour from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. However, for parents who choose not to stay for the Sunday School/Fellowship hour, children can be picked up between 10:15 and 10:30 a.m. Otherwise, parents will not need to show up to help their children make the transition between the worship service time and the Sunday School time. What will this change look like for adults? Our current Adult electives will continue through the end of June. Then, beginning in July, there will be two opportunities. One is an adult elective. The topic will be announced early in June. A second opportunity is to attend a sermon-based discussion class. This class will function more like ABF classes used to function. There will be an opportunity for sharing and prayer. Then, there will be time to discuss questions or issues related to the sermon. Change can be challenging, but the new summer schedule should help us make a great transition into the fall. Let's work together to make these changes work! What will this change look like for student ministries? Grades 6 through High School will continue to meet in the youth chapel and gym with a start time of 10:30 a.m. Please note: A Town Hall Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, June 8 at 6:00 p.m. This will be an opportunity for you to meet with our staff and discuss the changes we are making to a new summer worship service schedule and to the back-to-back worship services in the fall. We want to answer your questions and to listen to any input which you have to offer. The changes we are making will provide a good opportunity for us to work together and demonstrate unity even when we may have to set aside our own personal interests for the sake of our mission.
Growing Together in Love-Breakfast For those that missed the May 4th dinner, we invite you to a breakfast on Saturday, May 17th, 9-10 am.  Please call the Church Office, 847-362-8155, or email Church.Office@lefc.com by Friday a.m., May 16th to let us know if you plan to attend.

Sunday School News by Kristin Swanson and Irene Kalantzis Our school year for regular Sunday School classses is winding down.  There will be a celebration in the Worship Center for Kindergarten through 5th Grade on June 8th during the "between services" Sunday School hour (the last Sunday before the schedule change).  Families of students and our church family are all invited to attend.  You can get a glimpse of what each class has been studying all year and hear some special stories from both the students and the teachers. Our Summer Sunday School Program starting June 15th will be available for ages 2 through 5th grade.  This program will begin when the children are dismissed from the Worship Service through to the end of the Adult Education/Fellowship hour (11:30 a.m.). There will be a class for PreSchool and under using a fun and innovative curriculum titled Lil'K with a theme of "I Can Share".   The elementary students, completed-Kindergarten through 5th grade will be using a fun, energetic, innovative media-driven curriculum title KIDMO with the theme: "AIM-Agents in Motion".  More information will be available at church, soon.

Discovering Jesus' Miraculous Power by Kristin Swanson Power Lab, VBS 2008: July 14 through 18 at 6:00 - 8:30 pm. Completed-Kindergarten through 5th grade may register now for this exciting week of wacky, science fun where we will discover the power Jesus gives us!  Register now to ensure a spot--don't forget to bring a friend with you!  The cost is $20 for the week.  We have several volunteer positions available.  We are looking for 8-10 site leaders.  The sites are crafts and missions, games, snacks, bible story, and a cinema science site.  We are also looking for 12-14 Lab Crew leaders who will lead a crew of 7 kids through each site and build relationships with the kids in their crew during the week.  There will be an initial volunteer meeting on Wednesday, May 28th at 6:30 pm in our Lower Level.  Materials and job descriptions for all volunteer positions are available from Kristin Swanson.  Come and be a part of an exciting week at our church and in the lives of kids.  Calling all Grandparents, Mom and Dads, College students, High School and Junior High students--kids love you and you will love them!  For more information, please contact Kristin Swanson or Irene Kalantzis at 847-362-8155.

Junior High News by Ryan Johnson First, a Thank You note: I have been overwhelmed with your hospitality! It was great to hear from so many people that they would love to help me in this time of transition. So many people that I know, and even people who I don’t know very well, have offered to give me a home for this period of homelessness. I really do feel cared-for here. I did find a home, I felt bad choosing just one. If there are people who need me to watch dogs, cats, fish, or houses and were hoping to have me stay there, just let me know. The next two months are pretty flexible. If there is anything I can do in return for your hospitality just let me know. I would like the Junior High students to note the following events: May 23rd "Night at the Drive-in" and overnight—Yes, we are going to the drive-in again this year! July 22nd- 25th—Great Escape—Registration is due May 15th, so sign up ASAP BARF Fest is coming up the first weekend of August. More information will be coming If you have a season pass to Six Flags, let me know because I have one too. Maybe we can go together a couple times throughout the summer!

Connecting at LEFC: Christian Cancer Survivors meeting on May 14th at 7:00 p.m. in the Youth Chapel, featuring the topic: Peter Walks on Water, Matthew 14:22-33.  Newcomers are welcome!  Contact Farrel Fort for more info. Men, be sure to check the website calendar of events  planned for you this season which include: May 17th      - Work Day June 20th      -  Men's Golf Outing July 11th       -  Men's Cookout July 26th       -  Family Nite at the Schaumburg Flyers vs. Kansas City T-Bones game and fireworks Oct 24-26th  -  Men's Fall Retreat November     -  Men's Ministry Food Drive    Summer Bible Study for Women: We will read and discuss Jill Briscoe's book, "8 Choices That Will Change a Woman's Life". Based on the wisdom of the book of James, this book offers simple guidelines for life's complex choices. Meetings will be on Wednesday evenings 7 to 9 pm in the Prayer Room beginning June 11 through Aug 13 (skipping  July 16th -VBS week). To enroll in the study call Jackie Buerstatte or Linda Petersen.        60+ crowd, join us for a theatre-dinner afternoon!  We will be seeing Brigadoon at the PM&L Theatre in Antioch and then going out to dinner at an Antioch restaurant following.  Cost for the theatre is $12.00.  Please sign up by May 18th at the Special Events Center.  For more info, contact Sarah O'Brien.

Reaching Out Support our Gateway Mexico Mission Team: Friday, May 16th - Babysitting Night 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. Please sign up for babysitting by Thursday, May 15th via email or phone call to Rick Chalupnik, 847-362-8155, ext 18.  Please bring a sack dinner for your children. ProMeta is an online university for pastors in Latin America. We are hoping to raise $9,690 to support the development of a new course. See our website page for more info and video clips. Please prayerfully consider your involvement in this effort. Myanmar Disaster: Almost 2 million people are struggling to survive in difficult and deteriorating conditions. They are drinking contaminated water and searching for food, while living in make-shift shelters exposed to the elements. Overcrowding of villages with unsanitary conditions is prevalent, and many children have been orphaned. Current reports from Myanmar highlight the death toll exceeding 100,000. The immediate need is funding to begin the process of rebuilding lives and to provide food, shelter and clothing. Please see the EFCA TouchGlobal info on what you can do to help.  China Earthquake: The worst earthquake that China has seen in 30 years caused widespread devastation, with as many as 80% of the buildings destroyed in one area alone. The escalating death toll is now at 19,000 people. As aftershocks continue, people living in Sichuan Province are frightened–many living in the streets. EFCA TouchGlobal Crisis Response and partner ministries in China are networking to deliver much needed supplies to victims. Please see the EFCA TouchGlobal website on what you can do to support this effort.

Looking For ??? Service Opportunities: Our ministries can use your help.  Please check out the service opportunities at http://www.lefc.com/churchservice.asp REMINDER: Saturday, May 17th, beginning at 8:00 am, is our all-church Work Day to help maintain our faciliy.  This is a combined Anglo/Hispanic service opportunity! Prayer Opportunities: You are invited to share your prayer needs, and praises, with the church family. Call or email the church office (847)362-8155; church.office@lefc.com) or speak to any staff member to have your need added to the weekly list of prayer concerns. If you wish to be in prayer for the needs of our church family, the weekly list is available in the church office. Women’s Prayer Time: Fridays in the Prayer Room, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Contact Dee Stateler

Directions: Be sure the stop by the Welcome Center for more information about our Sunday morning schedules and directions. Be sure to log on to our church website at  www.lefc.com on a regular basis. To add something to the Web site, contact the Church Office. Our Church Calendar can be found on the website.   If you would like to subscribe OR unsubscribe, please send an email to Church.Office@lefc.com and give the email address you want added or removed. Your email address is for the church use only and will not be distributed to anyone. If you have an article or info you would like to submit for E-Connections, or if you have questions about E-Connections, please contact Church.Office@lefc.com.