The Sanctuary

This week at The Sanctuary

admin — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:13:35 +0000

If you have friends who love motorcycles, make sure you invite them to church this weekend for Motorcycle Sunday! We have a special service planned that you won’t want to miss. Pastor Ronn will pray a blessing over our guests after the worship service, and we will have a cook-out in the parking lot. Make plans to stay for lunch! Print out invitations from our web site.

Picnic in the Park
Join us for a great day of family fun at our KidsTown event Saturday at Phillips Park in Aurora. All families are invited to this free event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The park includes a zoo, a mastodon exhibit, gardens, play area and picnic pavilion. Please bring a sack lunch and join other Sanctuary families for all or part of the day! Invite your friends! Please sign up at the Info Table or online if you plan to attend. Families should meet by the front entrance to the visitor center at 9 a.m. If you arrive later, call Rainie Curtiss to meet up: 630.512.7282.

Child Dedication and KidsTown Sunday
Mark your calendars for a fun-filled Sunday of worship on May 26 when the children of The Sanctuary will be leading our worship service! Kids in preschool through third grade will be on stage singing and teaching the songs they sing in KidsTown. We also will celebrate with our fifth graders who will graduate out of Krew into our junior high ministry, Thrive. In addition, we will have a child dedication during the worship service. If you would like to have your child dedicated to the Lord, sign up at the Info Table or online. Invite your friends and family to be part of this service!

Celebrating our graduates
Congratulations to all of the eighth graders and seniors who will be graduating this year! We will be celebrating with our youth during a special service on Wednesday, May 29, at Joyful Spirit Church, from 7 to 8 p.m. Please join us for a time to recognize these graduates and encourage their families as they enter a new stage in their lives.

Eighth grade graduates:

Whitney S.
Claire U.
Cassie D.
Allison V.
Vince C.
Hudson H.
Joe M.
Sam S.

High school graduates:

Danielle S.
Brianna F.
Kalina M.
Jasmine B.
Caitlyn D.

June 2
We are not able to use Bolingbrook High School June 2 due to the school’s graduation. We are going to use that morning for several “Family Chat” meetings to bring you up to date on some important information. We will: Take a tour of our new facility and see first-hand the progress of construction. Find out the latest info on our plans for the interior of the building. Get the inside scoop on the state of our finances. Learn about an opportunity of what is before us and a way you can invest in our church, both financially and with your time. We will conduct four meetings at 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. at 1251 Windham Parkway. Space is limited to 50 people at each meeting. Sign up at the Info Table for a spot.

Women’s Bible Study
Ladies of The Sanctuary are invited to a women’s Bible study this summer. Sign up at the Info Table if you would like to be part of this six-week study, which will go through the DVD series, “The Law of Love: Lessons from the Pages of Deuteronomy” by Beth Moore. Each week will include a 90-minute lesson from Beth Moore with follow-up discussion. (No homework required.) The study will be held Tuesday evenings beginning June 25 at 1251 Windham Parkway. Contact Jill Showalter for more info: theshowalters@comcast.net.

This week at The Sanctuary

admin — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:35:05 +0000

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” (Proverbs 31:28-29)

We look forward to celebrating Mother’s Day with you on Sunday! We are so thankful for all of the moms in our lives! Thank you for all you do.

Help with our building
Join us from 8 a.m. to Noon on Saturday to help with demolition at our new facility at 1251 Windham Parkway! We need to remove two small walls to get ready for the build-out of our auditorium. We have some work gloves and masks available at the building, but please bring your own if you have them. We will NOT be having a work day on May 18.

Picnic in the Park
Join us for a great day of family fun at our KidsTown event May 18 at Phillips Park in Aurora. All families are invited to this free event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The park includes a zoo, a mastodon exhibit, gardens, play area and picnic pavilion. Please bring a sack lunch and join other Sanctuary families for all or part of the day! Invite your friends! Please sign up at the Info Table or online if you plan to attend. Families should meet by the front entrance to the visitor center at 9 a.m. If you arrive later, call Rainie Curtiss to meet up: 630.512.7282.

Motorcycle Sunday
We are so excited to be hosting our third annual Motorcycle Sunday on May 19. This is a fabulous morning to invite friends to ride their motorcycles to church. Pastor Ronn will pray a blessing over our guests after the morning worship service, and we will have a cook-out in the parking lot. Make plans to stay for lunch!

Child Dedication and KidsTown Sunday
Mark your calendars for a fun-filled Sunday of worship on May 26 when the children of The Sanctuary will be leading our worship service! Kids in preschool through third grade will be on stage singing and teaching the songs they sing in KidsTown. We also will celebrate with our fifth graders who will graduate out of Krew into our junior high ministry, Thrive. In addition, we will have a child dedication during the worship service. If you would like to have your child dedicated to the Lord, sign up at the Info Table or online. Invite your friends and family to be part of this service!

Celebrating our graduates
Congratulations to all of the eighth graders and seniors who will be graduating this year! We will be celebrating with our youth during a special service on Wednesday, May 29, at Joyful Spirit Church, from 7 to 8 p.m. Please join us for a time to recognize these graduates and encourage their families as they enter a new stage in their lives.

Eighth grade graduates:

Whitney S.
Claire U.
Cassie D.
Allison V.
Vince C.
Hudson H.
Joe M.
Sam S.

High school graduates:

Danielle S.
Brianna F.
Kalina M.
Jasmine B.
Caitlyn D.

June 2
We are not able to use Bolingbrook High School June 2 due to the school’s graduation. We are going to use that morning for several “Family Chat” meetings to bring you up to date on some important information. We will: Take a tour of our new facility and see first-hand the progress of construction. Find out the latest info on our plans for the interior of the building. Get the inside scoop on the state of our finances. Learn about an opportunity of what is before us and a way you can invest in our church, both financially and with your time. We will conduct four meetings at 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. at 1251 Windham Parkway. Space is limited to 50 people at each meeting. Sign up at the Info Table for a spot.

This week at The Sanctuary

admin — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:24:32 +0000

What makes a story EPIC? Risk. Sacrifice. Fear. Obstacles. Failure. Victory. An EPIC story includes characters we love. As their lives unfold, they face fears and obstacles. We admire the sacrifices they are willing to make for the cause or the person they are fighting for. We love the critical moments. A character faces the impossible. The miraculous happens. The incredible ending in which a character triumphs over opposition.

What is your story? Will it be an EPIC adventure? God has called each of us out of a boring, uneventful life to follow Him. Are you willing to accept that challenge even when it requires risk, sacrifice, and possibly death? Join us beginning Sunday for a seven-week sermon series focusing on how YOU can live an EPIC life. What story will you leave behind?

Help with our building
Join us from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday to help with demolition at our new facility at 1251 Windham Parkway! We need to remove two walls to get ready for the build-out of our auditorium. We also will be working from 8 a.m. to noon on May 11. We have some work gloves and masks available at the building, but please bring your own if you have them.

Leadership Community
If you are a volunteer in any ministry area at The Sanctuary, please plan to attend Leadership Community at 7 p.m. May 6 at New Song Church, 151 E. Briarcliff Rd. This will be an awesome time to come together to learn more about our vision, build leadership skills and huddle with our ministry teams.

Benevolence Offering
We will be taking a benevolence offering at the end of service Sunday. This is a special offering that goes directly to help those in our church body who have a financial need. Please look for the ushers as you leave the auditorium.

Picnic in the Park
Join us for a great day of family fun at our KidsTown event May 18 at Phillips Park in Aurora. All families are invited to this free event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The park includes a zoo, a mastodon exhibit, gardens, play area and picnic pavilion. Please bring a sack lunch and join other Sanctuary families for all or part of the day! Invite your friends! Please sign up at the Info Table or online if you plan to attend. Families should meet by the front entrance to the visitor center at 9 a.m. If you arrive later, call Rainie Curtiss to meet up: 630.512.7282.

June 2
We are not able to use Bolingbrook High School June 2 due to the school’s graduation. We are going to use that morning for several “Family Chat” meetings to bring you up to date on some important information. We will: Take a tour of our new facility and see first-hand the progress of construction. Find out the latest info on our plans for the interior of the building. Get the inside scoop on the state of our finances. Learn about an opportunity of what is before us and a way you can invest in our church, both financially and with your time. We will conduct four meetings at 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. at 1251 Windham Parkway. Space is limited to 50 people at each meeting. Sign up at the Info Table for a spot.

This week at The Sanctuary

admin — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:38:06 +0000

This Sunday is Family Sunday! Children in kindergarten and up will join their parents in Big Church for worship. This is a great time for families to worship together, and it also gives our wonderful volunteers a week off to join us in the regular worship service.

Pastor’s Dessert
Have you started attending The Sanctuary in the last year or so? We would love to get to know you better and help you understand our mission and vision! Join our pastors on May 1 for our next Pastor’s Dessert! This is a great time to learn more about our church, ask questions, meet other new people and have some yummy dessert! Sign up at the Info Table or online if you plan to attend. Pastor’s Dessert is 7 to 8:15 p.m. at the home of Pastor Ronn and Michele Smith, 1481 Lily Cache Lane.

Picnic in the Park
Mark your calendar for May 18 for a KidsTown outing at Phillips Park in Aurora. All families are invited to this free event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The park includes a zoo, a mastodon exhibit, gardens, play area and picnic pavilion. Please bring a sack lunch and join other Sanctuary families for all or part of the day! Invite your friends! Please sign up at the Info Table or online if you plan to attend.

Child Dedication
We will have a child dedication during the worship service on May 26. If you would like to have your child dedicated to the Lord, sign up at the Info Table or online.

KidsTown Sunday
Mark your calendars for a fun-filled Sunday of worship on May 26 when the children of The Sanctuary will be leading our worship service! Kids in preschool through third grade will be on stage singing and teaching the songs they sing in KidsTown. We also will celebrate with our fifth graders who will graduate out of Krew into our junior high ministry, Thrive. Invite your friends and family to be part of this service! when the children of The Sanctuary will be leading our worship service! Kids in preschool through third grade will be on stage singing and teaching the songs they sing in KidsTown. We also will celebrate with our fifth graders who will graduate out of Krew into our junior high ministry, Thrive. Invite your friends and family to be part of this service!

This week at The Sanctuary

admin — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:35:01 +0000

Thank you so much for your prayers, generosity and support in the first year of our ARISE journey! If you would like to STEP UP to lend a hand in the next phase of ARISE, we need help with the build-out of our new facility at 1251 Windham Parkway. Join us from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays or from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays to help with ongoing projects, including construction, cleaning and painting.

Sleeping with the Enemy
Are you married to your enemy or to your friend? Our current sermon series, “Sleeping with the Enemy,” will focus on the significance of friendship in marriage. If you have children who attend the service with you, we want to make you aware that the sermon topic on Sunday will focus on intimacy. We would love to help you find a place for your child in KidsTown. Just look for the volunteers at the top of the ramp, and they can direct you to the appropriate classroom.

Child Dedication
We will have a child dedication during the worship service on May 26. If you would like to have your child dedicated to the Lord, sign up at the Info Table or online.

EPIC begins May 5

admin — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:16:28 +0000

What is your story? Will it be an EPIC adventure? God has called each of us out of a boring, uneventful life to follow Him. Are you willing to accept that challenge even when it requires risk, sacrifice, and possibly death? Join us beginning May 5 for a seven-week sermon series focusing on how YOU can live an EPIC life. What story will you leave behind?

I am a terrorist

Cheryl Lynn Cain — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:53:42 +0000

I made a resolution this year, a very dangerous one. I resolved to, in place of judging someone, to see how I am like them. Since judging was never really my call or responsibility and loving is, I thought this may be a helpful vehicle. I had no idea what I was in for.

It started easy enough…I can act without thinking, I can be selfish, I can be in denial. But then came the harder ones, someone who is self absorbed, someone who can abuse another, someone who can inflict pain. And then when I read over the headlines again this morning and I sought to exert my patriotic duty of judging those would attack my country, my stomach sank. I made a resolution. And today I had to see how I terrorize.

It’s a humbling posture. To see yourself in another. To be the person who needs grace, who needs forgiveness, who needs love. But in the end, being “us” instead of “us and them” is the only way I can effectively offer compassion to an enemy. Any other way is pity. And so I started to cry. Not because I couldn’t do it but because I knew it was true. I sometimes look to harm others. My weapons are much more accepted in planes and public buildings. Words, thoughts and snide remarks always make it past security. But they detonate and there is carnage, the scene can be bloody. I cried some more.

Now I am not saying justice isn’t called for, because it always is. And socially, we should seek that to the ends of the earth. But personally and ecclesiastically, I also have a call: to love my enemies.

As God would have it, we recently started a series at church called “Sleeping with the Enemy”, a title that can make anyone cringe. The challenge, to see how we may be more enemy than friend to our spouse. So here I am, with my heart and the headlines. And a resolution that brings me to that uncomfortable place where Jesus tells me to hold my stone and remove my plank and to look at the ways I may terrorize the ones closest to me. And surely that also calls for investigation.

This week at The Sanctuary

admin — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:53:00 +0000

Are you looking for a way to get connected at The Sanctuary? Small group is the place to make that happen. This Sunday is the last chance to sign up for the next small group session, which begins next week! It is our desire that every adult at The Sanctuary is part of a small group. These groups meet once a week to study God’s word, pray together and have fun together! Stop by the Info Table to sign up, and we will help you get plugged into a group that works for you.

Sleeping with the Enemy
Are you married to your enemy or to your friend? Our current sermon series, “Sleeping with the Enemy,” will focus on the significance of friendship in marriage. If you have children who attend the service with you, we want to make you aware that the sermon topic on April 21 will focus on intimacy. For parents of children in junior high, if you would prefer that your child not attend service that week, we would be happy to help you find a place for them to serve in KidsTown. Please contact KidsTown Director Rainie Curtiss if you would like to arrange a spot for your child to serve: rcurtiss@cometothesanctuary.org.

Pastor’s Dessert
Have you started attending The Sanctuary in the last year or so? We would love to get to know you better and help you understand our mission and vision! Join our pastors on May 1 for our next Pastor’s Dessert! This is a great time to learn more about our church, ask questions, meet other new people and have some yummy dessert! Sign up at the Info Table or online if you plan to attend. Pastor’s Dessert is 7 to 8:15 p.m. at the home of Pastor Ronn and Michele Smith, 1481 Lily Cache Lane.

Leadership Community
If you are a volunteer in any ministry area at The Sanctuary, please plan to attend Leadership Community at 7 p.m. May 6 at New Song Church, 151 E. Briarcliff Rd. This will be an awesome time to come together to learn more about our vision, build leadership skills and huddle with our ministry teams.

Picnic in the Park
Mark your calendar for May 18 for a KidsTown outing at Phillips Park in Aurora. All families are invited to this free event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The park includes a zoo, a mastodon exhibit, gardens, play area and picnic pavilion. Please bring a sack lunch and join other Sanctuary families for all or part of the day! Invite your friends! Sign up at the Info Table or online.

Motorcycle Sunday
We are so excited to be hosting our third annual Motorcycle Sunday on May 19. This is a fabulous morning to invite friends to ride their motorcycles to church. Pastor Ronn will pray a blessing over our guests after the morning worship service, and we will have refreshments. More details will be coming soon!

KidsTown Location Change
We need to change the location of our classrooms for Klubhouse, which is kindergarten through third grade. Bolingbrook High School staff have asked us to move these classrooms upstairs for the remainder of the time we are holding our services at the school. Parents should check in all children at one location up the ramp on the second floor. KidsTown volunteers will direct children to their new classrooms.

Motorcycle Sunday on May 19

admin — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 17:41:43 +0000

We are so excited to be hosting our third annual Motorcycle Sunday on May 19. This is a fabulous morning to invite friends to ride their motorcycles to church. Pastor Ronn will pray a blessing over our guests after the morning worship service, and we will have a cook-out in the parking lot. Make plans to stay for lunch! Pick up invitations at the Info Table or print them out from our website.

Motorcycle Sunday flyer

Pastor’s Dessert on May 1

admin — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 17:33:24 +0000

Have you started attending The Sanctuary in the last year or so? We would love to get to know you better and help you understand our mission and vision! Join our pastors on May 1 for our next Pastor’s Dessert! This is a great time to learn more about our church, ask questions, meet other new people and have some yummy dessert! Sign up at the Info Table or online if you plan to attend. Pastor’s Dessert is 7 to 8:15 p.m. at the home of Pastor Ronn and Michele Smith, 1481 Lily Cache Lane.