Copy of WH Feb 11 2018 May 13 2018

May 13, 2018:

Hi, friends!

First, let us wish all our moms, stepmoms, foster moms, grannies, moms to be, moms of fur-babies, mother figures, and men out there who are doing both the dad AND mom jobs HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! We hope all of you have a blessed weekend. Thank you for joining us on this holiday.

While most folk find today joyful, for others it brings up tears and feelings of sadness. For this reason, Mishel Rych brought “Lenny the Therapy Dog” to church so those who needed some extra loving could pet him and feel calmer. We hope all you visitors felt welcome.

Pastor Billy continued his messages from the Gospel of John with a sermon called “Want vs Need” with text from John 7:25-52. Pastor Bob was called up to show and blow his giant shofar. (If you don’t know what this is, Monday afternoon you can go to the Home Page and click WATCH to look and learn.)

This week our friend and brother, Rich Portwood, would’ve turned 61. In his memory, the worship team led us in “Draw Me Close”, the song many of us will forever associate with him and that buttery vibrato. He is missed.

Speaking of missing people, Harvey Ferguson returned to Memphis this week before we got done enjoying him. Hopefully he can visit again over the summer.

Good news at the Sandoval house! Roger completed his stay in rehab after breaking a hip and is finally back home! We are eager to see him back in church when he feels able.

Diamond Torrez had surgery on her broken wrist, so let’s pray for pain relief and a speedy recovery for her.

Noel Knott Yost just graduated from EMT training! Madison DesLaurier graduated from Joliet Junior College Honors Program! Congratulations, ladies!

Lisa Jasinski was the lucky lady who won the drawing for the giant gift basket for shopping “My Sister’s Closet”. Congratulations!

Senior Ministry Italian Potluck Dinner is Friday, May 18th, 6:00 pm at the Lee home in Frankfort. There is a sign-up sheet for food and attendance.

Newcomer’s Dessert at the Knotts’ home is Friday, May 25th at 6:30 pm. They will supply the food and beverages. There is a sign-up sheet for guests and for any staff who wants to attend.

2018 Church Picnic is at the Round Barn in Manhattan after service Sunday, June 10th. Join us for good food, fellowship, and games! Free!

VBS — “Quest for the Armor of God” is June 11-June 14, 6:30pm -8:00 pm. This is FREE for ages 4-12. Sign up NOW as a participant or to volunteer. Pastor Sandoval and Miriam can answer any questions about VBS.

Next Sunday we are in for a treat as Pastor Billy’s most influential friend in the ministry is coming from Washington to preach for us. Come out to hear Pastor Shawn Roberts deliver the Word. We start at 10:00, but if you come early, you can have coffee and a snack and get to know some new folks, too. Have a blessed week!

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May 6, 2018:

What a gorgeous April Sunday! Welcome back to this page, friends.

Today Pastor Billy returned to the pulpit with a message titled “Jesus Comes With Controversy”. Text was from John 7 where Jesus visited the Festival of Tabernacles. You can view this message Monday afternoon by going to our Home Page and clicking WATCH. Good news! There was an audio glitch in Pastor Julian’s video last Sunday but he re-taped it, so that is also available for you to see now. Yay for technology!

We were introduced to Dr. Tim Radcliffe who will soon be our neighbor a few doors down the sidewalk. He has been in practice 26 years and addressed the crowd to share a bit of what he will offer. If you are in need of a chiropractor, a naturopathic MD, nutrition or fitness advice, go talk to Dr. Tim!

Thank you to the many women who donated clothing, shoes, accessories, and housewares for “My Sister’s Closet” sale here Friday. We appreciate all who prepared the items, hauled the many bins and racks to and from the building, and those who volunteered at the actual event. There was also a lot of work required for cleaning up and putting the sanctuary back together for today’s service, so thank you to all who helped restore this place back to “normal”. We heard Tom Wozny stayed til nearly 3 am! At last report, nearly $900 was raised. Thank you to Pat Wozny for leading this High Heel Women’s Group fundraiser that reached out to our community!

There is an Italian Potluck Dinner for Seniors 55+ Friday, May 18, 6 pm at Durk and Linda Lee’s home in Frankfort. There is a menu sign-up at the Connection Table. Please join us! Senior guests are welcome.

Newcomer’s Dessert is Friday, May 25th 6:30 pm at the Knott’s home in Manhattan. They will supply the refreshments. Come ask questions about the church and get to know some of the staff better at this free event. Reserve your spot at the Connection Table clipboard sign-up.

Church Picnic is at the Round Barn in Manhattan after the June 10th Sunday service. Listen for more details in weeks to come!

We are going to need your help with VBS June 11-June 14. This is a FREE event, but you must sign up your children ASAP at the Connection Table. The theme is “Quest for the Armor of God”. See the Sandovals for more info!

Sending up special prayers for Brenda Hajek’s brother-in-law, Danny who has just begun radiation and chemo. This morning he went down and had to have CPR. He has been transferred to M-ICU, and has been stabilized.

Diamond Torrez fell and broke her wrist playing soccer, so we wish her a quick recovery. Being in a sling is no fun when the weather is gorgeous and a girl has stuff to do.

Phil and Leslie Graniczny are busting with pride because their daughter just earned her PhD from Chamberlain College of Nursing! “Heather McDonald, DNP”. That has a nice ring to it. Good for you, Heather!

Congratulations to Taylor, Brad, and Mason as Mia Grace arrived last Monday! She was 6 lb 15 oz of beauty! Congrats to grandparents, Brian and Lori Fisher!

Bruce Smit is attending his son’s wedding in Dallas, Texas today. Best wishes to Andrew & Kailee!

Today kicks off National Nurses Week as America pauses to honor these healthcare workers for all they do. We have several nurses in our Revolution Church family.

Happy Birthday to Gene O’Brien on Saturday!

See you back again next Sunday!

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April 29, 2018:

Happy Monday, Friends!

Yesterday we were nearly at capacity for Communion Sunday and to hear Family Pastor Julian Sandoval speak on “Seeking God With Reckless Abandon”. Since this was also a Family Sunday when our children stayed in the service, he told several Bible stories what showed examples of people desperately going after the help of the Lord. Children were invited to the stage to help with visuals. Special thanks to Miriam Sandoval, Patti Fulmer, and Jason Hippenhammer for also helping make this an enjoyable and blessed message. Unfortunately, we had a video camera snafu which muted the audio, so for this reason, this service will not be available to see online. We apologize to Julian and our viewers, because this was a really inspiring message.

Thank you to the 20+ people who stayed after service to remove seats and haul in stacks of bins of clothing for “Sister’s Closet”. Today is the final day to drop off your items. Friday, May 4th 4-8 pm, you can come to the church and shop for women’s clothing for pennies on the dollar. $10 admission ticket permits the purchase of ten items of clothes and /or accessories! There will be designer items for $5! Volunteers will be busy setting up displays all week if you’d like to assist in this monumental effort. Pat@theRevolutionChurch.org can answer any questions.

Italian Potluck Dinner is at Durk and Linda Lee’s home in Frankfort on Friday, May 18th at 6 pm for seniors 55+ . There is a menu sign-up clipboard on the Welcome Table. Please come out and enjoy the fellowship!

May 25th 6:30 pm, newcomers are invited to the Knotts’ home in Manhattan for dessert and refreshments. There will be opportunity to meet some of the other staff members and ask questions you might have. Reserve your spot by signing up at the Connection Table.

Congratulations to Bruce Smit for having his story about bullying, grace, and forgiveness on the front page of the April 30th Daily Southtown newspaper and also on page 5 in the Chicago Tribune! Revolution Church and also Pastor Sandoval got plugged in this heartwarming story. If you have any extra copies, please save for Bruce.

Men, do you have decent medium shirts, pocket tees, medium sweatpants, or size 34/30 jeans to share? Also looking for some shoes between 9-10 ½. Brenda Hajek’s brother-in-law (Ron’s brother), arrived from Texas with only the clothes on his back. Straight from the plane he was admitted to the hospital for treatment of cancer in multiple sites in his body. It would be a blessing if we could help Danny through this rough patch. Message Brenda if you can share.

Kay Schmidt, we are missing you! We pray you are getting stronger every day after surgery, and hope to see you back with us soon!

Remember there is hot coffee, tea, water, and snacks at the hospitality table for you. Thank you to those good folk who volunteer to set up and clean up this area for us. Pastor Billy will return to the pulpit next week, so we hope to see you all back!

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April 22, 2018:

Pull up a chair, friends, and let’s catch up on what’s happening at church this week!

Pastor Billy continued with his series from the Gospel of John with a message about Jesus and Peter walking on the water. Text was taken from John 16:33, John 6:16 - 24, Mark 6:45 - 51, and Matthew 14: 22 - 33. You may enjoy this again on video Monday afternoon by going to our homepage and clicking “Watch”.

Wednesday’s Senior Ministry end of life planning and luncheon at the church was a success. Tables were beautifully decorated for springtime. Tom Wozny was busy in the kitchen baking the chicken, and others contributed sides and desserts to feed us a delicious meal. Pat Wozny was the speaker. Thank you to all who attended!

Wednesday evening the Priscilla Shirer Bible study kicked off with a living room full of ladies at Penny Knott’s home in Manhattan. It was good to see a successful first night in this 7-week study.

Ladies monthly “Time Out” will be at 6:30-8 pm at Williamson’s Restaurant in New Lenox. Let Michelle Grifford know if you are attending, so she can save enough seats together. Girlfriends are welcome to these events, so invite!

Thanks to all who have donated clothing for “Sister’s Closet” shopping event coming up on Friday, May 4th , 4-8 pm here at the church. $10 admission ticket allows you to carry home ten high quality items, so tell your women friends to join us for a fun evening of bargain shopping! Bring your items to the church Monday, Wednesday, Thursday afternoons, or leave them at church next Sunday. You will receive a donation letter. Pat@therevolutionchurch.org for more info.

Men, do you have decent medium shirts, pocket tees, medium sweatpants, or size 34/30 jeans to share? Also looking for some shoes between 9-10 ½. Brenda Hajek’s brother-in-law (Ron’s brother), arrived from Texas with only the clothes on his back. Straight from the plane he was admitted to the hospital, and will soon begin treatment for multiple cancers. It would be a blessing if we could share and help Danny through this rough patch. Message Brenda if you can share.

There is an Italian Potluck Dinner for Seniors 55+ on Friday, May 18, 6 pm at Durk and Linda Lee’s home in Frankfort. There is a menu sign-up at the connection table. Please join us! Senior guests are welcome.

Graybars Project prison ministry thanks the Hippenhammer family for their gracious donation of a large amount of assorted greeting cards for our inmates! What a blessing! If anybody else is feeling generous, the group can always use postage stamps.

Birthday Princess, Jocelyn Meskin, just turned three! Gary Ellinger just celebrated his 75th birthday! Happy 21st Birthday, Ethan Fosen! He is officially "legal".

We look forward to seeing everybody again next Sunday. Remember, you are invited to stick around for a church prayer meeting that begins 15-20 minutes after service April 29. Have a fantastic week and enjoy this sunshine while we have it! As crazy as this weather has been, we could be shoveling snow by this time tomorrow!

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April 15, 2018:

Hello, friends and church family!

If today was a “gift”, it would’ve been SOCKS, if we only judged by the weather. We appreciate all who swapped flannel lounge pants for “church clothes” and joined us on this cold and drizzly day. At least it was only rain and not more of that “devil’s dandruff” falling out of the sky. Repeat after me: “NO. MO. SNO.” Do it. “NO. MO. SNO.”

Did you like the new bluesy Crowder worship song, “All My Hope Is In Jesus”? We got lots of good feedback on that one after service. Other music today was “Unchanging”, “Doxology”, “The Table”, and “Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus”. All of those reminded us that God always provides enough of what we need. Pastor’s message was about the feeding of the 5,000 with text from John 6: 1-15. Three people accepted Jesus as savior at the end of the service!

Seniors Ministry Luncheon and End of Life Planning Event is Wednesday, April 18 at noon at the church. This is free, but the folks providing the meal would like to know you are coming. RSVP to Pat Wozny.

April 18 from 6p-8p “Discerning the Voice of God” women’s Wednesday, 7-week study begins in Manhattan. You will need a book for this class. Penny Knott can provide more information.

Who loves to bargain shop? You will NOT want to miss “Sister’s Closet” on Friday, May 4th 4-8 pm at the church. This building will be turned in a boutique like atmosphere where a $10 admission ticket buys ten “new to you” brand name clothing items and accessories! Clean the closet and help us have a successful community event. Good quality women’s clothing can be left at the church between now and April 30 on Sundays 9:30 am-11:30 am and Mon/Wed/Thurs 2-4:30 pm. You will receive a donation letter in exchange for your clothing. Invite! Invite! Invite!

Thirteen folks attended the adult connection event, “Fiddler On the Roof”, performed at Lincoln Way West High School Saturday evening. Feedback says it was excellent! More adult connection events are in the planning stages now. If you would like to host one at your home, tell Michelle Grifford ASAP.

Save the date for our annual CHURCH PICNIC: June 10th! More details will be coming, but mark your calendar NOW!

Listen up! There are changes to our “Time Out” gatherings for women. Effective now, ladies will meet the LAST WEDNESDAY of each month at WILLIAMSON’S RESTAURANT in NEW LENOX at 6:30 pm. Michelle Grifford wants to save enough seats, so be sure and RSVP if you are going. Watch for more info on Face Book as well as at church.

Looks like lots of celebration cake will be eaten at the Knotts’ house this week. Happy Birthday to Pastor Billy on Wednesday! We sure are thankful he was born! Happy 22nd birthday to daughter Noel, and Happy 20th birthday to daughter Jordan! Since birth, there were many times Nick Golden (Jan’s son) appeared to be “down for the count”, but God was good, and this young man with the million-dollar smile is turning 26!

Several took home the potted Easter lilies for replanting in your personal flower gardens. We want to be good stewards of the plants. Once the blooms are gone, replant as soon as the ground can be worked. Select a sunny site with well drained soil. Set the top of the bulb six inches below the soil surface. Sounds easy enough.

Ozinga was once again generous and donated several large print “Our Daily Bread” devotional booklets. These are found on the Connection Table if you want one.

We were pleased to have Donna Windberg back in church after her recent hospitalization. Kay Schmidt is also home from the hospital, and we hope to soon see her smiling face back with us, too. Harvey Ferguson (better known as “Brenda’s brother”) is in town from Memphis again, and we are always tickled to see him come through the doors. We never know how long he will stick around, so enjoy him while you can!

See you all back next Sunday!

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April 8, 2018:

Happy Sunday, folks!

Thanks for coming to worship at Revolution Church this morning. We are most definitely in a growth season, so the house was nearly full again today! See what happens when you invite friends? Many of them come!

Three cheers for all who contributed to the Moriah Project’s special offering on Easter Sunday. Nearly $7,000 was donated last week with an additional $1,400 a month pledged toward the purchase of land and a new building! We are on our way!

Pastor Billy continued his study of the Gospel of John with a message called, “Do You Want To Be Healed?”. Text was from John 5:1-15 This sermon can be viewed Monday afternoon by going to the Home Page and clicking "WATCH".

The Worship team led us in “Happy Day”, “Cannons”, and "Chainbreaker”. Since the USA is buzzing about the new heartwarming Mercy Me movie, we sang its theme song, “I Can Only Imagine”. (By the way, if you haven’t seen the movie, GO. After seeing it, you will appreciate the lyrics so much more.)

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is being performed at Lincoln Way West High School on Saturday, April 14th at 7 pm. Tickets are $10. Michelle Grifford can answer all questions for this Adult Connection event.

SENIOR MINISTRY 55+ is hosting a luncheon at the church April 18th to help our older members plan and prepare for carrying out end of life wishes. This is a time of fellowship and good food, and a time to voice your preferences and see how the church can best serve your family when your time on earth is up. Sign up at the Connection Table.

“Hope in the Lord” Bible study at the Lee’s home in Frankfort is cancelled for this week. It will resume next Tuesday at 6:30 pm. There is still room to sign up for this free course. There is no homework or book purchase required, and the snacks at this house are GOOD!

Penny Knott/Pat Wozny invite all women to Penny’s Manhattan home for a new Priscilla Shirer seven session Bible study called “Discerning the Voice of God” beginning Wed., April 18th. Books are $13 and can be purchased at the Connection Table beside the sign-up sheet.

Ladies, be going through your closets collecting clothes in excellent condition for “My Sister’s Closet” event on May 4th. $10 ticket will buy your entrance and ten items of clothing. Listen for more details coming soon!

Please check out the Connection Table clipboards for opportunities for small groups, Bible studies, mentoring, drug prevention, and social events. There is surely something there that will be of interest for you and your family.

Remember you can go on the Home Page and sign up to receive “Daily Scripture”, an online FREE devotional written by Eileen DeSando. Check it out!

Graybars Project card recipients thank everybody for taking time to scribble them happy birthday wishes. There was a lot of positive feedback from the Easter card mailout, too. Much appreciation to all who bring dignity and a bit of joy to this forgotten population of people. We still have a couple of inmates who would love to receive a friendly card or encouraging letter now and again since they have nobody. See piano player, Tammy, if you would like to become a Hebrews 13:3 encourager. You will receive training to help you become successful in this area of ministry.

Happy Birthday today to Administrative Assistant, Kathleen Milligan! Sara Moehle and Autumn Hensle both will be eating birthday cake this week, too!

We are thankful Donna Windberg is home from the hospital. Hopefully, she will be strong enough to return to church next Sunday. Diane Neakarse has been absent for weeks because of persistent illness. Roger Sandoval is still working hard in rehab to heal from hip surgery. Kay Schmidt has surgery this week, so let’s keep all four of these people supported with prayers and any kindnesses that will make recuperation easier.

Thank you to those who volunteer in the hospitality ministry. Look around at all the folks enjoying coffee and snacks before and after service and know that a volunteer made that possible. Larry DeSando can train you if you want to assist in this area of service.

We hope to see you back in service next week. Thanks for all you do to keep this ministry running smoothly!

----- Tammy

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April 1, 2018:

Happy Easter! Jesus is alive and well! God’s house was filled with joy and many people - several new- as we celebrated our Risen Savior! We appreciate you bringing your friends and family. The kids sure had a whoop-ti-do time in their own service today. Thanks to all our teachers and helpers who volunteered in that area this morning.

Worship team lead in songs all about what Jesus did for us on the cross: “Christ Arose”, “Hallelujah For The Cross”, “I Stand Amazed”, “In Christ Alone”, and “My Redeemer Lives”.

Pastor Billy’s Easter message was taken from Ezekiel 36:26-28, John 2:23-25, and John 3, the story of Nicodemus, or what Pastor jokingly dubbed “Nick at Night”. If you missed it, you can watch it online late Monday afternoon by going to the home page and clicking “watch”.

Special recognition to George Carroll for the intricate model of Herod’s Temple or “Temple on the Mount” that now sits inside the display case that holds a stone from that site. It took him weeks to complete, so be sure and check it out. We collected a special offering for the Moriah Project building fund today. You may leave your contributions in the slot of the display cabinet if you were unprepared to donate today.

Oh, what a moving Good Friday service! Weren’t you blessed for making the effort to come join us? The night consisted of video excerpts from Passion Of The Christ, shadow skits from the youth, Communion, candles, praise and worship, and then the hammering of our sins to the cross that was flanked by Centurians. Several were moved to tears, and we exited in silence.

Thank you to each person who worked hard, studied hard, shopped, decorated, cleaned, and rehearsed long hours so that night could be a blessing to our community. Special appreciation to Joey Meskin for portraying our crucified Jesus. Music for the night was: “Lead Me To The Cross”, “Sweetly Broken”, “Jesus Paid It All”, “Once Again”, “How Deep The Father’s Love”, “Were You There”, “Just As I Am”, “At The Cross”, and “There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood”.

Several of our ladies enjoyed a good meal and fellowship at the Patio in Orland Park Wednesday evening. Watch for “Time Out” invites to various restaurants in alternating communities each month.

Heather Graniczny McDonald has finished all requirements to earn her PhD in Nursing! She sure worked hard for a long time to earn this degree. Phil and Leslie are so proud!

Happy 46th Birthday, Chris Meskin! Happy birthday to Pastor Julian Sandoval! Sending a special Easter greeting to our brother, Roger Sandoval, who is convalescing from a nasty trip and a busted hip. We miss you, Roger. Que te sientas major pronto.

Happy Silver Anniversary to the Knotts! After service they were presented with an elegant basket of treats compiled by several in the congregation. We also shared in cake after service in honor of their 25th.

Please check out the Connection Table clipboards for opportunities for small groups, Bible studies, mentoring, drug prevention, April luncheon for seniors and the adult connection group trip to see “Fiddler On the Roof”. There is surely something there that will be of interest for you and your family.

Enjoy this most blessed holiday with the foods you like and the people you love. By this time next week, you should be out of your chocolate bunny/Cadbury egg sugar coma, so we will see you next Sunday!

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March 25, 2018:

Hi, Everybody! Thanks for stopping in to see what’s going on at Revolution Church this week! Aren’t the flower planters gorgeous at the front entrance? We thank Judy Fash and Pat Wozny for putting those together to usher in spring. Once again, we had a good-sized crowd, and it is exciting to see all this recent growth. Scoot over, and make room for our visitors.

Pastor Billy resumed his series in the Gospel of John with a message titled, “The Lamb of God”. Text was from Isaiah 40:3-5 and John 1:19-42. Since today was Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week, the worship team led us in songs that pointed us toward the cross: “Jesus Messiah”, “Hosanna”, “Lord, I Life Your Name On High”, “We Believe”, and “Nothing But the Blood’ during the time of Communion. After service we held our monthly prayer meeting for those who wished to stay.

The latest report from the Building Committee informed us we now have $7,600 towards the purchase of land. We were given two envelopes in our bulletins. One is for a pledge, if that is something that speaks to your heart. The other is for a love gift, as there will be a special offering received on Easter to officially begin the Moriah Project.

Tuesday night in Frankfort, Durk and Linda Lee’s new small group kicked off with a study, “Hope In the Lord”, taught by Blaine and Cynthia Petersen. This group is still open to anybody, and no book is required. 6:30 pm- 8ish.

Saturday morning’s Donuts and Devotional had 16 men in attendance, and the snow that was supposed to hit us hard, totally missed us. Thank you, Larry DeSando for being our speaker!

Ladies, this Wednesday, March 28th, 6:30 pm invite friends, and join us for our monthly “Time Out” at the Patio in Orland Park for food and fellowship. RSVP on Face Book or to Michelle Grifford so she can save you a seat.

“Fiddler on the Roof” is being performed at Lincoln Way West High School in New Lenox, and you are invited! This Adult Connection event is Saturday, April 14, 7 pm. Tickets are $10. Sign up at the Connection Table, or see Michelle Grifford for details.

Senior Ministry Luncheon is Wednesday, April 18 at noon at the church. Besides sharing good food, this is an end of life planning event that will make things easier for your family after your pass. We will have the opportunity to fill out a profile to determine how the church can best serve us.

Happy Birthday to our resident “Ninja” and head of security, George Carroll, on the 23rd! Kristen Hippenhammer celebrates on the 27th, and Chris Meskin turns 46 on Thursday. Pastor Julian’s birthday is next Sunday!

Congratulations to Tom Williamson who starts a new job Wednesday! He will be working as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant at St. Patrick's in Naperville. YAY!

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE is March 30, 7 pm. This is a reflective evening of quiet worship, praise and prayer with a brief message about the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. Encourage your friends to attend, as this is one of the most moving services of the year for us here at Revolution.

EASTER Sunday is April 1st! Let’s pack the house! There will be super fun stuff do to in Kid’s Ministry, too. You will not be disappointed! You were given invitation cards to both services, so share those ASAP before folks make other plans.

Thanks for all you do, and for all you give. If we can help you in any way during the week, get in touch. We want to be sure everybody feels well cared for here. See you Friday night!

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March 18, 2018:

Hello, friends!

We saw lots of wearin’ o’ the green on this St. Patrick’s Day Sunday morning. We hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend. It was good to see “Lenny the Therapy Dog” put in an appearance during announcements. It’s been a long while since we got to pet on him.

Evangelism Pastor, Bob Smith, delivered the message today with text from Matthew 13:1-9, the parable of “The Sower and the Seed”. He taught us how to prepare our hearts to be good and fertile “soil” to grow our faith. Reinforcing this idea, the worship team led us in “Open the Eyes of My Heart”, “Soul on Fire”, “The Stand”, and “Revelation Song”. Acoustic guitarist, John Nordsell, will be playing regularly with the band a couple times a month now. We are proud to welcome him aboard.

Darla Carroll, and Tom & Pat Wozny updated us on the progress of “The Moriah Project” building plan. There is currently $5,400 in the fund, and that is a good start. The big kick-off will be Easter Sunday. We were asked to pray about a special offering that will be collected that day. Envelopes will be at the Moriah stone display or in your bulletin next week.

“Hope in the Lord”, a new Bible Study in Frankfort, begins THIS TUESDAY at Durk and Linda Lee’s home at 6:30 pm. We will study promises and provision in scripture. Blaine and Cynthia Petersen are teaching.

Donuts and Devotional is Saturday, March 24th, 7 am at the church. All MEN are welcome. No sign up needed for this one.

LADIES, “Time Out” meets at the Patio Restaurant in Orland Park, March 28th at 6:30 pm. Relax, grab a bite to eat, and catch up with the girls. Feel free to bring female friends! RSVP on Face Book or to Michelle Grifford.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is being performed at Lincoln Way West High School on Saturday April 14th at 7 pm. Tickets are $10. Michelle Grifford can answer all questions for this ADULT CONNECTION event. There is a sign-up clipboard.

Penny Knott/Pat Wozny invite all WOMEN to Penny’s Manhattan home for a new Priscilla Shirer seven session Bible study called “Discerning the Voice of God” beginning Wed., April 18th. Books are $13 and can be purchased at the Connection Table beside the sign-up sheet.

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE is at the church Friday, March 30, 7 pm. This is a reflective evening of quiet worship, praise and prayer with a brief message about the crucifixion and burial of Christ. Encourage your friends to attend with us.

EASTER is April 1st! Let’s pack the house! There will be super fun stuff do to in Kid’s Ministry, too. You will not be disappointed!

Happy Birthday to Bob Brown yesterday! George Carroll turns 58 Friday!

We are sending a shout out to Roger Sandoval who is in Christ Hospital after hip replacement surgery. The operation went well, now comes rehab.

Browse the Connection Table to see opportunities for private mentoring and other opportunities for growth, fellowship, or lending a hand.

We want to see all of you again next Sunday as Pastor Billy will be back in the pulpit preaching from the Gospel of John. Remember, after service next week you are invited to stay for our monthly prayer meeting. Now that you’ve read what’s happening, shut down this computer, and go enjoy this beautiful spring weather. You are loved.

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March 11, 2018:

Happy Monday morning! Some of us are being pelted with rain, and others are seeing snow, but the weather was fine Sunday morning, and even though we all lost an hour of sleep for daylight savings time change, we still had a good crowd. Thanks for crawling out of those warm beds and being faithful to your church. We appreciate that. Free root beer floats were given after service to reward those who made the effort. Thanks to Darla and Penny for preparing those for us.

Pastor continued his March study in the Gospel of John with a message called “The Word Became Flesh” with text from John 1: 1-16. The worship team reinforced this scripture with “No Longer Slaves”, “Here I Am to Worship”, and good old Hank’s “I Saw the Light”.

Pat Wozny addressed the crowd regarding the Moriah Project building campaign now in progress. Watch for a special giving envelope in next week’s bulletin.

A new small group was introduced that begins March 20, 6:45 pm on Tuesdays at Durk and Linda Lee’s Frankfort home. “Hope In the Lord” will run for approximately 7-8 weeks with a different class to follow. No book purchase is required. Blaine and Cynthia Petersen will lead. Sign up at the Connection Table.

Winners and pieces of interest from the Graybars Project art and poetry contest were on display yesterday. Thank you for taking time to vote in the contest. It meant a lot to the participants. Much appreciation to the volunteers who worked hard getting all the Easter cards in the mail for the inmates.

This past weekend several young people accompanied Pastor Julian and Miriam to Orland Park for a Puppet Evangelism Conference. Everybody had fun and learned lots. The team will be introducing new puppets to us very soon. How exciting!

Senior Ministryfolks met for appetizers and fellowship Friday night at the Wozny’s home in Frankfort. Thanks to all who came out and brought snacks to share.

Thank you to the Fishes and Loaves team for providing meals for Diane Neakarse during her respiratory illness. If you enjoy cooking and would like to serve in this area, see leader, Dawn Gonda for more information.

Welcome to our newest members, J.C. and Sonia McHargue!

Men’s Donuts and Devotional is Saturday, March 24 at the church. Free!

Sunday, March 25th after service you are invited to stay for our monthly prayer meeting.

Women’s Time Out will be at The Patio in Orland Park Wednesday, March 28th, 6:30 pm. Friends are welcome, and everybody pays their own way at the restaurant. Michelle Grifford can answer your questions for this event.

John Nordsell is teaching free guitar lessons to veterans, and he is seeking donations of acoustic guitars for the classes. Spread the word! Lori Fisher needs a free or inexpensive crib for her home as she will be a proud grandma again real soon. Anybody have extras to share?

Happy 82nd Birthday to Linda Lee! Happy 68th birthday to Bob Hensle (better known as “Autumn’s grandpa”). Happy Birthday to Mr. G. who enjoys this online column from across the country!

Yesterday afternoon Pastor Julian’s brother suffered a heart attack, and a bit later his father, Roger Sandoval, fell and broke his hip. Out of the blue these good people were hit with a double whammy. Both men are in Christ hospital awaiting procedures. Let’s give lots of love and support during this stressful time.

Mark your calendar now for Good Friday service at 7 pm, March 30th as we look at the reason we celebrate Easter. Invite friends for this and for the April 1st EASTER SUNDAY celebration. There’s fun stuff planned for the kids that Sunday morning, so plan in advance to be here!

Check out the Connection Table for ongoing offerings of mentoring, classes, upcoming events, and how you can become involved in curbing the drug epidemic that is hitting our part of the state so hard. See you all next week!

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March 4, 2018:

Hi, again! Thanks for stopping by to see what’s happening here at Revolution Church. We had several visitors this morning, and it is always encouraging to see new growth. Welcome! Remember to take home your visitor goody bag from the Connection Table.

Pastor Billy kicked off March’s new sermon series with “I Follow Jesus”, a study in the Gospel of John with text from John 1:1-1:5 and 1:14. The worship team led in the classic, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” to reinforce his message. We welcomed John Nordsell on acoustic guitar.

Thanks to each person who took time to vote for your favorite inmate art, poems and crafts at Graybars Project’s annual contest. You can see the winning entries on the display table next Sunday. Non-winning entries will be sent home with pen-pals next week.

Pat Wozny announced a Thursday pm Bible study – “Basic Principles to Build On” - in her Frankfort home beginning March 8th. Sign up was TODAY ONLY.

Thanks to those who attended the lunch and bowling event after church at Laraway Lanes in New Lenox. Teardrop Café catered the food, if you would like to patronize their business.

Seniors 55+ are invited to appetizer night at Tom and Pat Wozny’s home at 6:30 pm on Friday, March 9th. Bring your favorite snack to share with friends.

Men will meet for “Donuts and Devotional” 7 am Saturday, March 24 at the church. This is FREE.

Mark your calendar now for Good Friday service as we look at the reason we celebrate Easter. 7 pm, Friday, March 30th. Invite friends for this and for the April 1st EASTER SUNDAY celebration. There’s fun stuff planned for the kids that Sunday morning, too, so plan in advance to be here!

Happy 14th Birthday to twins, Destiny and Diamond Torres! Happy Birthday to Tammy Smit on Friday.

Remember, next Sunday is time change, so set your clocks FORWARD Saturday night so you don’t arrive in time for the dismissal prayer. Immediately after service go to the hospitality table to get a free root beer float! See you soon!

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February 25, 2018:

Hello, friends!

We are growing! Let’s welcome the following new members: Joann Preston, John and Ann Nordsell, Brian and Lori Fischer, Taylor Moore, Lekeda Vaughn, Freda Wolfenden, Gary Ellinger, and Donna Windberg.

We celebrated Communion together with music reminding us of the reason we do this -- “The Table”, “Jesus Paid It All”, and “Here I Am To Worship”. Pastor Billy concluded his February series with “Samson and Delilah” with text from Hebrews 11:32-34 and the whole chapter of Judges 16. Next week we will begin a study in the Gospel of John.

Graybars Project 3rd Annual Inmate Creativity Contest kicked off today with 66 entries and more waiting at the post office. Did you vote for your favorites yet? Many of those inmates have prison jobs paying less than $1.00/hr, so they have done their best work in hope of winning cash prizes. One item was even purchased today. Check out the tables!

Friday evening’s Newcomers’ Dessert hosted at the Knott’s home had 25 new folks and staff in attendance. Who doesn’t like cheesecake and popcorn? Thank you to all who came out and made new friends. We are glad you are at Revolution.

Saturday’s men’s breakfast was a lot of fun. 18 attended. Pastor Bob Smith delivered the devotional. Thanks to Teardrop Café for giving us a great deal on the food! Eggs, hashbrowns, bacon, pancakes, biscuits and gravy. Mmmm-Mmmmm good! There will be another free “Donuts and Devotional” Saturday, March 24th at 7 am for men.

Remember next Sunday, March 4th, 1 pm, all those who pre-paid will go to Laraway Lanes in New Lenox for lunch and bowling! Michelle Grifford can answer questions about this outreach event.

Seniors 55+ are invited to an appetizer night at the Wozny’s Frankfort home on March 9th, 6:30 pm. Please SIGN UP at the Connection Table and bring your favorite snack to pass. Address is found with the sign-up sheet. Direct questions to Tom and Pat Wozny.

Root Beer Float Sunday is March 11 after the morning service. This is the day we “spring forward” with the clocks, too.

Mark your calendar now for Good Friday service on March 30th, 7 pm as we worship and look at the reason we celebrate Easter.

Congratulations to Joey Meskin for getting his driver’s license. Happy 9th wedding anniversary to Doug and Nichole Arnott reading this from across the miles! Happy 16th Birthday to our Calvin Petersen! Happy 33rd Birthday to drummer Justin Graniczny. Happy Birthday to Deacon Darren Rych!

Thank you for every dollar you give, and for every act of service you do to keep this church running smoothly. Special thanks to the volunteers in kids’ church and nursery who often miss the preaching. We love our volunteers! See you all back next week!

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February 18, 2018:

Hi, folks!

When the snow was piling up again Saturday afternoon, we didn’t know what to expect for attendance today, but we had a good crowd, and several first-time visitors! We have no jackhammer or flamethrower, so Larry DeSando and Pastor Billy showed up with a trusty sledgehammer and busted the thick ice from the entrance so we all could walk in safely this morning. What a tough job! Where’s Pete’s fire-breathing dragon when we need him?

“Vengeance on the Philistines” was today’s message in the Samson series. Pastor Billy used text from Hebrews 11:32-34 and the entire chapter of Judges 15. Next week he finishes with the story we are all waiting for: Samson and Delilah. Be sure and be here for that!

Americans just celebrated Valentine’s Day, so as a nod to Love Week, the worship team led us in “Your Love Never Fails”, “One Thing Remains”, and the 2000 throwback favorite, “Amazing Love”. In this day of divorce, lonely hearts clubs, and “somebody done somebody wrong songs”, it is comforting to remember that God’s love never fails, never gives up, and never runs out on us!

Immediately after service we witnessed our first baptizings of 2018. Hannah Rogers, Sara Moehle, Little Chris/Big Chris Meskin, and Joey Meskin were baptized at the end of the service! (Insert clapping and cheering here!)

Speaking of the Meskins, congratulations to Joey who earned a $17,000 scholarship to Lewis University in the fall! This young man is incredibly intelligent, and we expect great achievements.

Newcomer’s Dessert is at the Knott’s home Friday, Feb.23rd, 7 pm. Come meet your pastors and some of the church staff while you eat something sweet. Please RSVP!

Men’s FREE Breakfast and Devotional is THIS SATURDAY, 8 am, at the church. RSVP as a courtesy to those who are setting up tables and planning the food. Male friends are welcome!

Graybars Project reminds all pen-pals to have their inmate’s poems, art, and crafts at church before service begins as all items will be displayed for our 3rd annual contest which begins next Sunday. Everybody will be able to vote for favorites in four categories: Poetry, Homemade Cards, Art, and Crafts. Cash prizes will help the prisoners buy commissary items.

Looking for some fun? Sunday, March 4th, 1 pm, everybody is invited to Laraway Lanes in New Lenox for lunch and bowling! This is an outreach event, so you can bring buddies, but you MUST pre-pay at the Connection Table. Prices vary for age groups and are listed on the sign-up clipboard. See the Face Book post for more info.

Happy Birthday to “Hercules”…. Pardon me… Happy Birthday to JAKE Grifford! Thanks to all who signed the prison birthday card for “John” recently. He sent back a really gracious card saying it had made him cry.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and “happy trails” til we meet again!

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February 11, 2018:

Friends, if you are reading this, you survived the Snowpocalyspe! Wow, what a brutal weather weekend! We all woke to several more inches of fresh snow which made totals of more than a foot of "Devil's Dandruff" for some neighborhoods, but we were glad for the folks who hitched up their dog sleds and ventured out anyway.

Pastor Billy continued his February series with a message called “Samson’s Marriage” with text from Hebrews 11: 32-34 and Judges 14. In a nod to Valentine’s Day week when media is bombarding us with all things “LOVE”, the worship team led us in Lincoln Brewster’s “Love the Lord”. We thank Bruce Smit for stepping up to play bass with the team this morning.

Graybars Project pen-pals: Bring in your inmate’s art, crafts, creative writing and poetry they sent you over the last year for our annual contest! They can’t win if you don’t enter for them. Hurry, so they can get maximum votes! Leave items at the Graybars table this week and next so we can set up the exhibit. All items will be returned to you after judging.

Men’s Breakfast is Saturday, February 25th, 8 a.m. at the church. The guys doing the cooking and the setup need to know how many to prepare for, so be decent, and RSVP on the sign-up sheet at the Connection Table. FREE! Invite a guy friend or two to join you.

We are going bowling at Laraway Lanes at the corner of Laraway and Nelson, Sunday, 1 pm after the March 4th service! Ticket includes games, shoes, bottled water, salad, chicken and mostaccioli. Adults/Teens: $20, Youth 7-12 $15, 6 and younger $10. You must pay in advance at the Connection Table. Michelle Grifford can give you more info!

If you are new to Revolution, you are invited for dessert and to meet some of the other pastors and leaders on Friday evening, February 23rd at the Knotts’ Manhattan home. Sign up at the Connection Table for this fellowship event.

After service a dozen adults stayed for a membership class and a light lunch. Thank you, Penny, for preparing the food.

Remember that next Sunday we will be baptizing during the morning service. 9:30 a.m. Pastor Julian will be teaching a brief class in the children’s area explaining why and how we baptize here. Anybody is welcome to attend this. Contact Pastor Billy right away if you wish to be baptized.

Condolences to Mishel Rych on the loss of her precious grandmother yesterday.

Let’s be mindful to watch after each other during the deep snow and this nasty flu season. Several of our folks are ill or too timid to venture out on to the roads yet, so let’s do our part to make sure we all are well cared for and have what we need. Thanks to the kind people among us who have quietly helped others dig out their driveways. God keeps good records.

See you next Sunday!

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