FIRST LOOK - First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton
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April 2022
FIRST LOOK
•
The Eternal Season
For the past few years, at the beginning of April I’ve enjoyed walking through the Lincoln Marsh
Natural Area with our over-sized Bernedoodle, Frankie. As the days pass, I like to see the trees
sprouting leaves and the surroundings slowly returning to green. The first days of spring mark
the beginning of an eternal season. We begin to see life and growth again. Plants start to grow
and flowers slowly begin to bloom.
The month of April also marks Holy Week and Easter. For our local church in Wheaton and the
church around the world, Christians will come together to celebrate communion, bear witness
at the cross, and sing the alleluias of Easter morning. We experience the in-breaking of God’s
kingdom on earth.
During this season we can know afresh that no matter how difficult life gets, we have a savior
who conquered death. Even as we lament and intercede for all those affected by the war in
Ukraine, we call upon our Lord who knows the tribulations of this world. In John 16:33 Jesus
said, “I’ve said these things to you so that you will have peace in me. In the world you have
distress. But be encouraged! I have conquered the world.”
As a church, let’s express encouragement as we face the highs and lows of life. As we have
slowly come out of the pandemic, let’s find our unity in Christ, in whom there is not east or west,
and be the Easter people he calls us to be.
God bless you,
Pastor Kellen
Easter
FIRST PRESBY TERIAN CHURCH OF WHEATON
LENT
2022
Worship Schedule
Maundy Thursday, April 14 – 7:00 p.m. In Sanctuary and Livestream
Good Friday, April 15 – 7:00 p.m. In Sanctuary and Livestream
Easter Sunday, April 17
7:00 a.m. Sunrise Worship
9:00 a.m.* Worship in Sanctuary
10:30 a.m.* Worship in Sanctuary and Livestream
*Childcare provided for the 9:00 and 10:30 services
Sermon Series – through April 10
Poured Out: A Lent Series – During Lent,
we pour out our grief and sin, pain and regret, holding
nothing back. In response, God too holds nothing back,
pouring himself out for our redemption. We will explore
our need to confess our sins and fully trust God’s
faithfulness to forgive.
Easter Sunday Sermon – April 17
“No-body”
Mark 16:1-8
This first Easter morning was expected to be the final anointing of the Savior.
The women came fearing that death would be the final answer. Nobody
expected to find the tomb empty. This year, we come seeking Jesus with our
own expectations. We will be greeted again on Easter with the unexpected
realization that there was no body. He was raised, the resurrection has the
final word. Come yet again, as we worship the risen Lord this Easter.
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Outdoor Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 9 at 10:00 a.m.
Join us in fun, faith and fellowship as we celebrate the risen
Lord in anticipation of Easter. There will be crafts, face painting,
tattoos, the Easter Story and an egg hunt. Our Easter Egg Hunt
and Celebration will go on rain or shine! Bring a basket or bucket
for collecting eggs. Register at firstpreswheaton.org/EggHunt.
Palm Sunday Pancake Brunch
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
After our Palm Sunday services conclude, come
enjoy a FREE brunch with our Church family.
APRIL 10 Our WF high school students and leaders will be
serving food as a thank you for your support for
their mission trip this summer!
Sunday School
Palm Sunday Procession
Sunday School children will meet in the gym at
10:15 a.m. to prepare to process through the church
for Palm Sunday. Sunday School teachers will
lead the children out of church to Sunday School
following the procession.
Easter
Lilies
Adult Education will not be held on Palm Sunday Lilies will adorn our chancel for Easter and be
and Easter Sunday. We look forward to the new delivered to our homebound parishioners and closest
Adult Ed series starting April 24. Watch for neighbors. To dedicate Easter lilies in honor or memory
details to come! of a loved one, please complete the online form at
firstpreswheaton.org/Lilies. Printed forms are available
The Wednesday evening FIDE Adult Education in the Rotunda and church office and should be
series Witness at the Cross continues through returned to the church office, along with your donation,
April 13 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. no later than Monday, April 11. Your dedication will be
Join the discussion here: printed in the Easter bulletin. You may pick up your lily
firstpreswheaton.org/WednesdayAdEd following the last service on Easter, or during office
hours the following week.
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Abundant Compassion
Matthew 25
We have accepted the Matthew 25 invitation to help our denomination become a more
relevant presence in the world. We recognize Christ's urgent call to be a church of
action, where God's love, justice and mercy shine forth and are contagious. And we
rejoice how our re-energized faith can unite all Presbyterians for a common and holy
purpose: our common identity to do mission.
Areas of Focus
Building congregational vitality • Dismantling structural racism
• Eradicating systemic poverty
Michah 6:8 Committee
Micah 6:8 committee is a Matthew 25 mission action partner
ministry of First Pres. We are committed to living out Christ's
commandments to "love one another" by supporting, in actionable
ways, the dismantling of structural racism and systems that inhibit
inclusivity and perpetuate injustice or prejudice. We are committed to creating and supporting the ministries of the
church that work for reconciliation and amplify that all people are equally loved and accepted by God.
Welcome To America Packs
Thank you to our dedicated volunteers who spent time organizing
“Welcome to America” packs for refugees from Afghanistan, Burma,
Conga, Syria and more. This program, through Exodus World
Service, organizes and coordinates the distribution of the welcome
packs, which will be used to furnish apartments for the newly
arrived refugees.
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Women’s Ministry
Thank You Notes Strawberry Supper
~ Thursday, May 5
6:00-7:30 p.m. in Stewart Hall
Thanks to all our First Pres family for
Join us for a celebration of Women’s Ministry!
giving us love and support for the past
Soup, salad and strawberry shortcake will be served.
52 years. Ralph and I will be moving to
Wisconsin to be close to our daughter Keynote –
and her husband. “Known: Believing
Please call the church office for our Who God Says You Are”
new address. We will miss you all. Speaker Aubrey Sampson
God bless you. coplanted and serves on the
– Ralph and Peggy Martin preaching team at Renewal Church
in West Chicago. She is an award-
nominated author, a contributor to Propel Women,
~ and the cohost of the Common Good Radio Show,
and the Nothing is Wasted podcast. Aubrey speaks
To my church family, thank you for all of your and preaches at ministry events around the country.
prayers on my recent surgery. They meant She and her family live and minister in the Chicago-
everything to me and was very appreciative land area.
of the outpouring I received. Thank you
from my heart.
– Norman Hull All are welcome! Bring a friend.
RSVP by Sunday, May 1 to the church office.
Free will donations accepted.
You’re invited to attend this virtual
meeting through Abraham’s Children Prescription
for Life
Saturday, May 5
10:00-11:00 a.m. (Central) The Older Adults
Via Zoom Committee, after a
COVID hiatus, is
beginning our bottle
2021 has come and gone – campaign again. For
What has changed for over 25 years, First
Arabs in the past year? Presbyterian has supported the Older Adults Program
at the Outreach Committee Center in Carol Stream.
A chance to get a new perspective
Your generous support helps to provide services for
on current conditions in Israel
and Palestine from an expert
older adults such as Friendly Visiting, Mood and
on all things Middle East. Memory Clinic, social activities, field trips, and the
Bring your questions. popular monthly Lunch and Learn events.
Contact the church office James Zogby, PhD
Bottles will be distributed after church on Sunday,
for additional information. President, Arab American April 24, and may be filled up with your loose change,
bills or checks. Thanks for your generous support.
A fundraiser for Nazareth Hospital and Nursing School For questions contact the church office.
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Four year old preschool classes
had a great time on Olympics day!
Church families enjoying
the movie/PJ event in March.
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EATO
WH FP N
Genesis
Middle School
Ministry
March was an exciting month because we
kicked off our 2022 Confirmation class
with our 8th graders!
Another highlight from the month was our
March Madness Basketball day, where we
took over the ministry center for some
basketball competitions, had snacks
and watched college basketball together.
This month we welcomed back our WF Praise Band!
Participating in worship has been such an important
part of WF and we are very excited to have the band
back together. We also spent lots of quality time
together around a bonfire, in prayer and growing
WF our relationships with each other.
High School
– Jordan Stevens,
Ministry Director of Student Ministries
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April Book Club
Thursday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
A Most Beautiful Thing by Arshay Cooper
A moving, true story about Arshay Cooper and a group of young men growing up on
Chicago’s West side, who form the first all-Black high school rowing team in the nation.
Having no idea what the sport of crew is, Arshay decides to take a chance that will
forever change his life, and those of his fellow teammates, many never having been
in water before. As Arshay and his teammates begin to come together to learn how
to row, the sport takes them from the mean streets of Chicago, to the hallowed halls
of the Ivy League. But Arshay and his teammates face adversity at every turn, from
racism, gang violence, and a sport that has never seen anyone like them before. For
questions and the zoom link contact the church office at office@firstpreswheaton.org.
Camerata Chicago
Chamber Orchestra
Golden Age of Baroque Concert
Tartini Trumpet Concerto
with fantastic trumpeter Travis Heath
Saturday April 23 at 3:00 p.m. at College Church
Learn more at
cameratachicago.org/category/concerts/
Use coupon code FPWH for a 25% DISCOUNT
In a celebration of the Golden Era of Baroque,
trumpeter Travis Heath performs the Tartini
Trumpet Concerto with Camerata Chicago
conducted by Maestro Drostan Hall. Camerata
Chicago will perform the Concerto Grosso
Alexander's Feast by Handel and a variety
of baroque and lyrical classics in a program
which heralds the delights of spring.
Program Schedules and Church Office Hours
The First Pres calendar of events is available online at: firstpreswheaton.org/calendar.
Church Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
715 North Carlton Avenue, Wheaton, Illinois 60187
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Phone: 630-668-5147
of Wheaton www.firstpreswheaton.org office@firstpreswheaton.org
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