I hope you are all having a great week! Don’t forget that this Sunday is Mother’s Day. I hope you have a chance to honor a special mom in your life this week!

This is a great opportunity to invite someone to church. Pastor Ronn will be preaching on “Satan’s Lies to Moms,” and he will be praying a blessing over the women in our church body.

We have a few new things coming up, so be sure to keep reading:

BIKER BLESSING

On May 15, we are inviting all of our motorcycle-loving friends to attend our 10 a.m. service. Right after the service (around 11 a.m.), Pastor Ronn will pray over our guests, and we will have refreshments in the parking lot. This is a great opportunity to invite your friends to church! It will be fun to see all of the motorcycles after the service.

OPEN HOUSE FOR MASSEYS

The Massey family will be moving to Arkansas this spring. Stop by to say good-bye at an open house from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 14 at the home of Tim and Carrie Klayum. Dessert and coffee will be served. All are welcome.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

Please make plans to attend our Congregational Meeting at 6 p.m. May 22 at Alpha Baptist Church. This meeting is going to be jam-packed full of important information, celebration and a congregational vote. Members will decide whether to bring Pastor Ben Wangler on staff full time as Associate Lead Pastor. Also that evening, we will hear important church news and ministry updates. In addition, we will welcome new members and have a graduation ceremony for our eighth graders.

JUSTICE AND COMPASSION

We have two opportunities coming up to find your passion for compassion. At 10 a.m., May 28, we will have a chance to care for the elderly when we visit Sunrise Nursing Home in Naperville. Whether it’s visiting with residents, helping plant a garden or playing bingo, come sign-up at the welcome table for this month’s invitation to compassion.

In June, the compassion event is focused on welcoming the stranger. Do you have a heart for other cultures or are you good at welcoming newcomers? Come interact with newly-arrived refugee families and volunteers at the World Relief Refugee picnic in Aurora. Sign-up at the Welcome Table for this family-friendly event.

CHURCH PICNIC

On June 5, we won’t be able to use Bolingbrook High School because of graduation. Instead, we have decided to have an all-church picnic! Please make plans to join us for burgers on the grill and lots of fun from about 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. that Sunday. More details coming soon. Invite your friends!

SANCTUARY SOFTBALL

The first game of the season is May 9. Players who are at least 15 years old are welcome to join the team. Please contact Bill Reimer, Jr., (bvreimer0523@yahoo.com). Games are played at 6:30 p.m. at Jamie McGee Elementary School in Bolingbrook. We will post the game schedule on the calendar on our web site. We love having fans come out to cheer on the team!

DATES TO REMEMBER

 

May 1-22: EXpliSit sermon series.

May 8: Mother’s Day.

May 9: Sanctuary softball game at Jamie McGee Elementary School, 6:30 p.m.

May 14: Open House for Massey family.

May 15: Biker Blessing.

May 22: Congregational Meeting, 6 p.m., Alpha Baptist Church, 240 S. Schmidt Road.

May 28: Justice and Compassion opportunity at Sunrise Nursing Home, 10 a.m.

May 29: Family Sunday.

June 5: No service. All-church picnic, 11 a.m.

June 5: World Relief picnic in Aurora, 4-7 pm.

If you missed the first message in the EXpliSit series, you can watch the sermon on our YouTube channel or download the podcast from our web site.

 

No matter how far you have gone, He is waiting for you to come back home.

Praise God for that truth, which was the focus of the first sermon in the “What Good is God?” series! If you missed the service, you can watch the sermon on our YouTube channel or download the podcast from our web site.

You also can download the small group questions by clicking here.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

Pastor Ronn Smith made an important announcement on Sunday regarding a proposed staffing change at The Sanctuary. If you missed the Sunday morning worship service, please visit our blog to view video of the announcement.

The elders have unanimously agreed to bring Pastor Ben Wangler on staff full-time as Associate Lead Pastor. Members will be asked to vote on the proposal at a congregational meeting May 22, and we will have an informational meeting April 10 to answer any questions regarding this change. We will be sending out a letter with more details later this week.

NEW DIRECTORY

Sunday is the last day to submit your info for our updated church directory. If you were not included in the last directory or if you have new information since then, please submit your info by using the form on our web site. We also will have paper copies available on Sunday at the Welcome Table.

If you have been in the directory in the past and you don’t have any NEW info, you don’t need to fill out the form. Thank you!

MEN’S MINISTRY

Men, if you are planning to play wallyball on March 19, please e-mail Tom Matt, tmatt101@gmail.com. The men will meet at 8 a.m. at Annerino Community Center in Bolingbrook. Cost is $1. Anyone who is interested can go to breakfast afterward. Please let Tom know if you plan to attend so he can reserve enough courts.

Please sign up at the Welcome Table if you are planning to attend the men’s retreat April 15-16. Dr. Bill Hamel, a senior pastor and district superintendent of the Evangelical Free Conference, will be the speaker. The theme is “Finding Freedom in a Demanding World.” The conference is at Timber-lee Conference Center in East Troy, Wisc. Many of the men also will be playing golf on Friday before they head to the conference. Please contact Tom Matt if you have any questions, tmatt101@gmail.com. Click here to register online or contact Tom for details.

FAMILY SUNDAY LUNCH

March 27 is Family Sunday, and we will have a potluck lunch after the service.  Please bring a main dish to share either in a crock pot or a cooler. (We don’t have a refrigerator.) If your last name begins with A-L, please also bring a side dish, salad or chips. If your last name begins with M-Z, please bring a dessert. The church will provide plates, cups, coffee and water. The lunch will be in the lounge area upstairs. For the safety of all of those in our church body, we kindly ask that you bring food that does not contain peanuts or nuts.

DATES TO REMEMBER

March. 13- April 24: “What Good is God?”

March 19: Men’s Ministry wallyball, 8 a.m. at Annerino Center. Sign up online.

March 20: Deadline to submit info for new directory.

March 27: Family Sunday Lunch right after service.

April 10: Informational Meeting, 3:30 p.m. at the church office, to get info prior to Congregational Meeting in May.

April 15-16: Win “D” City Men’s Retreat, Camp Timber-Lee, East Troy, Wisc. Sign up online: http://gld-efca.org/MensRetreat.aspx

April 22: Good Friday service, 7 p.m., Alpha Baptist Church, 240 S. Schmidt Road.

April 24: Easter Sunday.

May 22: Congregational Meeting, 6 p.m., Alpha Baptist Church, 240 S. Schmidt Road.

Sunday is the last week in the “Till Death Do Us Part” series, and it’s going to be a special service. Several couples from our church body will be answering questions on marriage during the service.

If you missed any part of the series, you can watch the sermons on our YouTube channel or download the podcast from our web site. Coming up on March 13, we will begin a new series called, “What Good is God?”

ASH WEDNESDAY

Join us March 9 at the church office as we experience Ash Wednesday together. We will have three opportunities to choose from: 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30 p.m. (The church office is at 682 W. Boughton Rd.) Any questions? Contact Stephani, steph@cometothesanctuary.org.

NEW DIRECTORY

We are updating our church directory. If you were not included in the last directory or if you have new information since then, please go to our web site to submit your info. We are hoping we can streamline this process by collecting everyone’s info through the web site.

If you have been in the directory in the past and you don’t have any NEW info, you don’t need to fill out the form. Thank you!

JUMP ZONE!

We are going to Jump Zone! Invite your friends and family to attend this KidsTown event, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 6 at Jump Zone in Bolingbrook! We’ll have free food, free admission and tons of fun! This is a great opportunity to invite your neighbors for a fun evening!

The Jump Zone event is open to all ages. However, we will still have Thrive for our Junior High students that night.

SOUPER SATURDAY

Ladies, I am excited about the great response to Souper Saturday! This is going to be an awesome time to fellowship and enjoy some great food together. Most importantly, I can’t wait for you to hear the testimonies of our two speakers, Angela Horejs and Marilyn Webster. They are both Ordinary Women with an Extraordinary God.

If you haven’t signed up yet, you can still do that on Sunday morning at the Welcome Table, on our web site or Facebook, or by e-mailing Emily Neal, eneal@cometothesanctuary.org.

Souper Saturday is at 6 p.m. March 12 at Fellowship Chapel, 308 Robinhood Way, Bolingbrook. Please bring soup, salad, bread or dessert to share.

MEN’S MINISTRY

Men, if you are planning to play wallyball on March 19, please e-mail Tom Matt, tmatt101@gmail.com. The men will meet at 8 a.m. at Annerino Community Center in Bolingbrook. Cost is $1. Anyone who is interested can go to breakfast afterward. Please let Tom know if you plan to attend so he can reserve enough courts.

And don’t forget to sign up for the Win “D” City Men’s Retreat, Timber-lee Christian Center, East Troy, WI. The Sanctuary worship team will be leading worship. Register online or contact Tom for details.

GOOD WORKS MEETING

Would you like to learn more about the Good Works mission trip to Athens, Ohio? For the fifth year, a group from The Sanctuary will be partnering with Good Works to help families living in an impoverished area near the Appalachian Mountains. Learn more about the trip by attending an informational meeting at noon March 6 in the church office. Please bring your own lunch. The whole family is invited to attend the meeting. For more information, contact Tim and Carrie Klayum, timklayum@gmail.com or cklayum@gmail.com, sign up online, or pick up a Good Works brochure at the Welcome Table.

DATES TO REMEMBER

March 6: Informational meeting for Good Works trip, Noon at church office. The trip will be July 31 to Aug. 6.

March 6: The Truth Project, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Sign up at Welcome Table or online.

March 6: KidsTown Event at JumpZone in Bolingbrook, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

March 9: Ash Wednesday service, 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the church office, 628 Boughton Road, Bolingbrook.

March 12: Souper Saturday (a Women’s Link event), 6 to 9 p.m., Fellowship Chapel, 308 Robinhood Way, Bolingbrook. Sign up at the Welcome Table or online.

March. 13- April 24: New sermon series, “What Good is God?”

March 19: Men’s Ministry wallyball, 8 a.m. at Annerino Center. Sign up online.

April 15-16: Win “D” City Men’s Retreat, Camp Timber-Lee, East Troy, Wisc. Sign up online: http://gld-efca.org/MensRetreat.aspx

Blessings!

Emily

Pastor Ronn will continue the Foundations series this week with a message on “Sanctification.”

Again this week, adults and kids will have a chance to build their own foundation out in the hallway at our Lego table before and after the service! We will have a different challenge each week and award prizes to our top Lego builders on Jan. 30.

Here are a few reminders about other things that are coming up:

TIME CHANGE FOR MEN’S FOOTBALL
For those men planning to attend the men’s event on Sunday, please feel free to arrive any time after 1 p.m. The start time for the game has been changed to 2 p.m. The men will be watching the Bears take on the Packers in the NFC Conference Championship game.

The men are gathering at the home of Jeff Holtz. Please bring an appetizer or snack, if you are able. Contact Tom Matt or Theo Collins for details: tmatt101@gmail.com

PASTOR’S DESSERT
If your are new to The Sanctuary, you are invited to attend a Pastor’s Dessert, Sunday, Jan. 30, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the home of Pastor Ronn and Michele Smith. This is a great time to meet Pastor Ronn and Michele, learn more about the church’s vision, ask questions and get to know other people who are new to The Sanctuary. Please sign up at the Welcome Table on Sunday.

CHILD DEDICATION
If you would like to have your child dedicated to the Lord, please sign-up to be part of our next child dedication on Jan. 23. Please e-mail Steph in the church office by Thursday, if you would like to be part of the child dedication: steph@cometothesanctuary.org.

BAPTISM CLASS
If you would like to get baptized, please sign up at the Welcome Table for our next baptism class on Jan. 29. The class is from 9-10 a.m. in the church office. Breakfast food will be provided. We will have a baptism service during Community Night, which is at 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at Alpha Baptist Church.

FAMILY SUNDAY LUNCH
We will be having a potluck lunch after the service on Family Sunday, Jan. 30. Please bring a main dish to share either in a crock pot or a cooler. (We don’t have a refrigerator.) If your last name begins with A-L, please also bring a dessert. If your last name begins with M-Z, please bring a side dish, salad or chips. The church will provide plates, cups, coffee and water. The lunch will be in the lounge area upstairs.

SMALL GROUP
Small groups are getting back into full swing this week. If you need to download the small group questions, you can find them on our web site by clicking Community and then Resources.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
If you would like to start planning ahead, here are some future dates to mark on your calendar:
Feb. 19: 8 a.m., Men’s breakfast at Charlie’s restaurant at Clow International Airport in Bolingbrook. Please e-mail Tom Matt if you plan to attend, tmatt101@gmail.com.
Feb. 20-27: Step Into Africa. ” The World Vision Experience: AIDS” is a 2,500 square foot interactive exhibit that invites visitors to “step into Africa” by hearing, seeing and walking through an African village to personally experience the lives of children affected by AIDS. The stirring audio tour and captivating photography will transport you into the life of an African child and give you a new perspective on the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time… AIDS. You are invited to reserve your FREE tickets today! Tickets are recommended, but not required. The exhibit is self-guided, and takes approximately 20-30 minutes. Parental discretion advised for children under 13.
Feb. 26: Membership class, 9 to 11 a.m., more details coming soon.
Feb. 27: Community Night baptism service, 6 p.m. Alpha Baptist Church.
March 6: Planning meeting for Good Works trip, which will be July 31 to Aug. 6.
April 15-16: Men’s Retreat, Camp Timber-Lee, East Troy, Wisc.

CONNECT ONLINE
If you want to keep up with all that’s happening at The Sanctuary, check our blog (www.cometothesanctuary.org), join us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/cometothesanctuary), follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/sanctuaryfeeds), and subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/cometothesanctuary.

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