The Edgebrook Messenger
Edgebrook Evangelical Covenant Church
6355 N. Spokane Avenue
Chicago, IL  60646
Phone:  773-763-4230
Fax:  763-2306
Website:  www.edgebrookcovenantchurch.org

“Our Utmost for His Highest” -- Our 2008 All Church Theme
Pastor Greg’s Message for January, 2008

I am honored to introduce to you our church wide emphasis and theme for 2008:  “OUR UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST”.  Many of you will recognize the almost identical wording to the title of Oswald Chambers’ devotional classic, My Utmost for His Highest.  That’s intentional, because my deep desire is that together in 2008, we will all experience significant growth in our devotion to Christ.  My sincere hope and prayer is that we will grow deeper in our joy, in our practice of prayer, in our service to Christ and in our knowledge of God and His will for our world and our lives.

I am so pleased that this is a shared hope with our Deacon Board, who are committed to the spiritual vitality and renewal of our congregation.  They prayerfully discussed what resource would be most helpful in bringing this to past and decided that Oswald Chambers’ book would both encourage and challenge us to go deeper with Christ.  The Deacons are providing a complimentary copy of this book to every household.  These will be available on Sunday, December 30th and together we will begin the journey of giving “OUR UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST” on Tuesday, January 1, 2008.  

Our church’s vision is to “develop fully devoted followers of Christ who are grounded in the Word, vibrant in worship, connected to one another, using individual gifts and reaching the world.”  Reading and meditating on Oswald Chambers’ devotional writings will be a tremendous help in further developing us into “fully devoted followers of Christ”.

So, I urge you to read this devotional daily!  My Utmost for His Highest has been in continuous publication since 1927 and remains one of the top ten religious bestsellers ever. You will receive your special updated edition in today’s language on Sunday, December 30th.  

As a further encouragement in your reading, I will be drawing many of my sermons from the themes or verses Chambers wrote upon.  So, for instance, my sermon on Sunday January 6, 2008 will touch on themes or verses in the readings from Chambers for January 1 thru January 6.  My preaching will follow that pattern for many of the Sundays in 2008.  

I urge you to allow these readings to help support and inform your prayer life!  Beginning Sunday, January 6th through Saturday, January 12th, we will join with Covenanters across North America in our week long Annual Prayer Week.  A special edition of our weekly prayer sheet and an accompanying devotional pamphlet will be given out on Sunday, January 6th.  Be watching your bulletin for announcements of special prayer gatherings the week of January 6th thru January 12th.  

“OUR UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST” represents a significant spiritual challenge and opportunity for each of us, and one that will enrich our lives together.  In 2008, I urge you to step up to the challenge and reach for God’s highest in your life!  

Are You Coming to The Feast?
It’s less than six months away… the Covenant’s triennial festival of prayer, worship, fellowship and recreation, THE FEAST 2008!  The Feast is a wonderful, spiritually enriching, fun and celebrative intergenerational gathering for the whole Covenant family held once every three years.  This year, the dates are Saturday, June 21 – through Tuesday, June 24, 2008 and the location is the beautiful Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake, WI (187 miles northwest of Chicago).  

NOW is the time to make your plans for THE FEAST 2008.  Housing at the Green Lake Conference Center will begin filling up rapidly early in the new year.  Hotel rooms and suites (each with private bath and air conditioning) range in price from $76 to $129 per night.  Cabins that sleep four to eight people are available for $75 to $115 per night.  Campsites (from primitive to full hookups) range in price from $25 to $40 per night.  

IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON ATTENDING THE FEAST, MAKE YOUR HOUSING ARRANGEMENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!  Reservations are made directly with the Green Lake Conference Center.  Contact them at 920-294-3323.  You can view the housing options for THE FEAST 2008 by visiting the Green Lake Conference Center website at www.glcc.org.  

Reserve your housing first and then register for THE FEAST 2008.  Registration fees for THE FEAST 2008 include the program expense and all your meals.  It does not include your housing.  

Complete information on THE FEAST 2008 is available by going to www.covchurch.org and clicking on the feast tab on the left hand side of the page.  On Sunday, January 6th we will distribute brochures with all the information and registration forms for THE FEAST 2008 in our morning’s worship.  

Now, to further encourage your participation in this outstanding event, let me share two more things:  We have some scholarship monies available to help offset some of the cost of attending THE FEAST 2008.  If you are interested in this, please see Pastor Greg.  

Finally, we’re putting together a group that will bike up to THE FEAST 2008 from Edgebrook!  We will leave early Friday morning, June 20th and bike half way to Whitewater, WI.  We’ll stay overnight in private homes on Whitewater Lake and then continue our journey to Green Lake Conference Center beginning early Saturday morning, June 21st.  We will bike approximately 100 miles each day.  Group size will be limited to around 15 bikers and you need to be able to average 14 to 17 miles per hour on back-to-back 100 mile rides.  Cost will be minimal, but registration will be necessary, which will include a commitment to do a limited number of group training rides in preparation for the trip!  Be watching your church bulletin for updates on this!

When you’ve made your decision to attend THE FEAST 2008 please let Pastor Greg know, so we can all see who will be feasting together in Green Lake, WI this year!

Of Salmon and Citizenship and Other Mission Marvels!
This has been an exciting season for our church and its connection and involvement with missions and our missionaries!  First, we were delighted to welcome back for a visit Edgebrook Covenanter Nick Bruckner in early November.  Nick was in the Chicagoland area sharing about the ministry of Covenant Youth of Alaska (CYAK).  Nick is serving as a short term missionary with CYAK and it was wonderful to have him back here.  

Nick was traveling with another CYAK staffer and together they hosted a wonderful authentic Alaskan salmon dinner in our Fellowship Hall on Thursday, November 8.  They brought and cooked delicious Alaskan wild salmon, which was supplemented by dishes prepared by our Missions & Evangelism committee, resulting in a full course dinner being served.  Covenanters from Ravenswood, Grace and North Park Covenant churches helped fill out our Fellowship Hall with about 80 satisfied diners.  

Following the dinner, we heard about the ministry of CYAK; about Nick’s particular responsibilities; and about how we could be involved with the work God is doing through CYAK.  A freewill offering was taken and $2,295.00 was raised for the work of Covenant Youth of Alaska!  

Then about a month later, we celebrated a wonderful answer to prayer as Covenant missionary and “adopted Edgebrook Covenanter” Eugenio Restrepo took the oath of U.S. citizenship at the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago on December 4!  This was a culmination of many, many prayers for the Restrepos as the journey to U.S. citizenship has been a long and arduous one for Eugenio (Eugenio’s wife Pia had received her U.S. citizenship over a year ago).  Pastor Greg and Ann-Helen Anderson shared with Eugenio the joy of that event.
 
Eugenio returned to Spain on December 11, where he serves with his wife Pia as Covenant missionaries in the Spanish city of Malaga.  Their son Efy lives with them and their daughter Paulina resides here in the States where she is a student at North Park University.  However, all four Restrepos are enjoying Christmas together in Spain this year!

A final answer to prayer for the Restrepos:  Eugenio had to leave for Spain without having sold the car he had purchased to use during his home assignment here.  Missions and Evangelism Committee Chairman Keith Bakken stepped in and said he would help Eugenio find a buyer for the car.  Within two weeks, the car was sold and needs provided as a result!

Another day of celebration was the dedication of all the Crafty Angel items that took place on Sunday, December .  This day also featured the sale of Crafty Angel knitted wares that anxious Edgebrook Covenanters snatched up for their Christmas gift giving!  

Be sure to check out the updated Missions bulletin board by Pastor Greg’s study to read recent updates and goings on with all our missionaries.  The Missions and Evangelism committee encourages you to stay in touch with our missionaries.  Use the addresses below (including email addresses) to do just that!  

Nick Bruckner
c/o Covenant Youth of Alaska
5201 Mayflower Lane
Wasilla, AK
email:  nbruckner@gmail.com
(Short term missionary in Alaska.)

Nils & Erika Clauson
PMB #147
1001 S. 10th St., Suite G
Email: enclauson@hotmail.com
McAllen, TX  78501
(Serving in Monterrey, Mexico)

Carl & Karen Groot
P.O. Box 36
Central City, Bangna
Bangkok, 10264 THAILAND
email:  groot@loxinfo.co.th

Jerry & Vicky Love
5717 NE Skidmore #C2
Portland, OR  97218
email:  jlove@covmex.org
(Retired from service in Mexico on 10/07).

Erin Neises
c/o The Restrepos
Apartado # 50
9720 La Cala del Moral
Malaga, SPAIN
email:  e_neises@hotmail.com
(Short term missionary serving with the Restrepos)

The Restrepos
(Eugenio, Pia, Effy, Paulina)
Apartado # 50
9720 La Cala del Moral
Malaga, SPAIN
email:  epirestrepo@terra.es

Steve & Barbara Swanson
Verwijcklaan 297
2180 Ekeren, BELGIUM
e-mail:  barboca@juno.com

Bobbie Rose Zerfas
e-mail:  bobbierose.zerfas@gmail.com
(Bobbie is serving with the Peace Corps)

Postage cost for a 1 oz first class mailing to Africa, Europe or Thailand is 90 cents.
You Were Right Here With Me!!!
Though your passport may not be physically stamped for having made a visit to Belgium on November 26, 2007, you were right here with me at the Opvangcentrum voor azielzoekers (that’s the official name for a refugee center) in Ekeren, Belgium.  A mere 2 kilometers (that’s 1.2 miles) from my house, and we could have biked there except that I had so much stuff that I needed to bring along for the afternoon.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, BARB???
It’s truly the answer to 1-1/2 years of praying for the right moment to restart a women’s group in a local refugee center.  I was literally trembling 2 weeks ago when I first visited the center….trembling with excitement for what we might be able to do here as we share the compassion of Jesus, and trembling with a bit of fear because I was determined that all of my conversation and work here needs to happen in Dutch (ah yes, that harsh new language that I’m learning).  God is always so good to me, and I really sensed that in my nervous tremblings.  The first person I should meet at the front desk, Peggy was a familiar face from when our church had a group going here 2 years ago.  I was greeted with great enthusiasm, and told that the women have often wondered why no volunteers were coming any longer.

We have really bathed this ministry in prayer:  praying in the parking lot with Letha Kerl, Covenant missionary colleague, when she was recently here on a visit, praying at AIPC for the right time and right team to go in to meet with the ladies, praying that, though we are limited in what we can say about God while at the center, the love and compassion of Jesus Christ would speak louder than our deeds and actions.

So, pray with me….
1.  For the new ministry happening with women on Monday afternoons (that’s your Monday morning if you want to wake up and start with a prayer for us!) in Ekeren.
2.  For the continuing ministry that happens with women on Thursday afternoons (that would be a Thursday morning prayer for you all in the US) in Kapellen.
3.  For conversations and follow up appointments with families that express interest in discussing spiritual matters.
4.  For 2 Belgian colleagues who work at the center who are really seeking for “something” in life.  I just know that “something” is Jesus and I find great joy in regularly discussing God and what He is doing in our world.  

It’s a busy time of year, and it’s no different here in Belgium.  The traditions are a bit different….perhaps I can explain.  Sinterklaas is celebrated on December 6th in Belgium.  He is the good saint that cares for children, and leaves coal and carrots in their shoes and gifts for children who have been good.  It’s a huge day of celebration here, and AIPC has a history of participating in the celebration by providing a party with gifts and joy to the refugee center children.  Our party this year happens on Sunday, December 2.  We’ve collected 154 gift bags for the kids, from the smallest baby to the 17 year old teenager who is here all by himself/herself.  The women in our women’s group made cookies together a week ago….what floured fun we had in the resident’s kitchen as we hung out together and talked about traditions from our homelands, which that day represented Kosovo, Albania, Serbia, India, Russia, Kazychstan, Belgium and the US.   Back at AIPC, before we handed out the names for the gift bags, our kids prayed over the tags, that the children who received the gifts might feel the love and joy we are hoping to express.  We also prayed that the families would all one day know Jesus and the reason why we have so much to celebrate at Christmas.   This year we’re taking the party one step further and are including small crafts made by the children of Naperville Covenant Church which say “heb elkaar lief” which is the Dutch way of saying “love one another”.   We’re so excited about the opportunities to share gifts and love and pray for opportunities to witness to parents and the teenagers as we enjoy cookies, coke and coffee together.

Just so you know, Steve and I continue to thrive in our marriage and in ministry here.  We recently celebrated 3 years in Belgium, 3 years of marriage and are excited about what the future holds even as we so trust the One who holds our future.
Steve continues in full time pastoral ministry at the Antwerp International Protestant Church (AIPC) and in mentoring some of the refugee men.  He is doing a Dutch course again this season, and is enjoying the opportunity to meet people from literally all around the world.  We are amazed at the ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious diversity in this small land of 10.5 million people.  We are so thankful for your partnership in ministry, in prayer, in financial support, in sharing with your kids to the children that we minister to here in Antwerp.  Truly we feel like we are an extension of the Covenant in the heart of Europe.

In anticipation of what God is going to do here among immigrants in Belgium.
Barbara Swanson
Covenant missionary/Mosaics project
Veltwijcklaan 297, 2180 Ekeren, Belgium
barboca@juno.com

WINTER NEWCOMERS / NEW MEMBERS / INQUIRERS CLASS COMING IN JANUARY, 2008!

For anyone wanting to learn more about the basics of the Christian faith, about the Evangelical Covenant Church or about Edgebrook Covenant Church in particular, January, 2008 is your month!  On Friday, January 18th and Saturday, January 19th Pastor Greg will be teaching an Inquirers Class in the Anderson Room here at the church.  In addition to what you will learn and the fellowship with others you’ll enjoy, this class prepares you for church membership in our fellowship.  

On Friday, January 18th the class will meet from 7 PM to 9:30 PM.  On Saturday, January 19th, we will meet from 8:30 AM to 1 PM.  Taking part in the class does not obligate you to join our church, but it will help you make an informed decision regarding that opportunity.  

If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Pastor Greg at 773-763-4230 (church) or 773-774-9803 (home), or via e-mail at:  edgebrookgreg@sbcglobal.net.  Or just come on Friday, January 18th… it will be great to have you join us!

Thank You
Dear Pastor Greg, Keith and all my Edgebrook family,

It was a tremendous blessing to be with you a few weeks back.  The encouragement of warm hugs, words, prayers and financial support for the ministry were all a great blessing to us.  We remember you as we continue our work here.

I am excited to be with you again soon, but Crystal hopes to see you again sometime in the next few years.  We will be in touch and keep newsletters coming!
Quyana (thanks) and blessings!   Nick Bruckner & Crystal Johnson

2008 All-Church Devotional
Join us on a new adventure in 2008—working our way through “My Utmost for His Highest”   together as a church family!  This classic Christian devotional, written by Oswald Chambers more than 50 years ago, is the best-selling Christian devotional in the world.  Every family in our church will receive their own copy (updated in today’s language, available at church starting Sunday, December 30) —a New Year’s gift from the Deacon Board, and we’ll start reading together on January 1!   Pastor Greg will be drawing many of his  sermons in 2008 from the verses discussed in it.

Oswald Chambers was gifted with extracting the essence of biblical principles and condensing them into potent, thought-provoking, and life-changing devotions. They don't take a lot of time to read, but they can infuse you with the timeless truths of the Bible.

Compiled from lectures given at the Bible Training College in London, to nightly talks in an Egyptian YMCA during World War I, My Utmost for His Highest will lend a powerful spiritual dimension to your walk with God.

Even if you’ve read “My Utmost For His Highest” before, join us to rediscover God’s truths in a completely new way, as we start on a new path in our journey with the Lord!

Join Our Sports-Themed Sunday School Class!
Are you interested in sports?  Ever  wonder how God fits in—especially with some of the sports news lately?  Come join Tony Senatore beginning Sunday, January 6 for an adult Sunday School class entitled “God in Sports: Does He Care, Do We Care, Should We Care?”  Everyone is welcome, and the class will begin at 11:20 AM on Sunday mornings in the Anderson Room.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Tony at 847-673-3329.  This discussion promises to be very interesting — and very timely.  You won’t want to miss it!

An Angelic Thank You!
God has done amazing things through the Crafty Angels in 2007 and to help you understand the scope of the work God led Angels to do, here are some numbers with you:

80 women (15 of whom were new) from 42 cities in 7 states made over 4,300 items using over $18,000 worth of donated yarn and uncountable hours of work which either have gone to a variety of places, locally,nationally, and internationally, including:

Chicago:  Jesus People Covenant Church’s Cornerstone Community Outreach’s homeless shelters; soup kitchen; Friendly Towers – their housing project for needy seniors; Leland House – their home for moms and their children; and Naomi’s House - their home for single women.  And Swedish Covenant Hospital – through their maternity ward serving very low income mothers and their    newborns.  Many of these families had nothing to take their babies home in, and now each family has a lovingly made blanket to wrap their baby up in.

Across the United States:  through The Red Scarf Project - the Orphan Foundation of  America’s outreach to former foster kids now in college and training programs, providing  encouragement and love.
 
Afghanistan:  Afghans for Afghans – an international effort to collect warm blankets and hats for children and mothers in war-torn Afghanistan.  Our items were distributed in November through hospitals and relief stations.

Africa: through Caps for the Capitol – Save the Children’s effort to provide warm hats to newborns across Africa to help them survive the first months of life.  Our hats were distributed by relief workers in February and March.

AND Mongolia:  through Project Dulaan – Flagstaff International Relief Effort’s program to reach very needy children and their families across Mongolia.  Our items were distributed by relief workers in November.

By our most conservative estimate, over 5,000 lives were touched by the Angels in 2007.  Some people say “It’s just a hat or scarf” – but who knows how God can use a hat, scarf, or baby blanket to change someone’s life – and maybe bring someone to Christ.

The Crafty Angels would like to thank everyone who turned out for their fundraiser on December 2 for the seniors served by Friendly Towers.  Thanks to your purchases of “Angel-wear” we raised a total of $1,664!  A special thank you also goes to Eric Janken, for so quickly getting us a check to send to     Cornerstone Community Outreach, so we could be sure they would get the money for the seniors in time for Christmas. Thank you, everyone!

Church Family Birthdays
We wish “Happy Birthday” in January to:
1 – Tracey Current
7 – Jennifer Hughes
9 – Nancy Edison, Alma Wamsley, Nicole Arroyo
10 – Judy Whipple
11 – Doris Ahlstedt
12 – Ana Hohenstein
15 – Barbara Kay Santrella
17 – Timothy Anderson, Scott Shepherd
20 – Muareen Pankow
23 – Michelle Suastegui
27 – Nathanael Putnum
31 – Raymond Johnson

Church Family Anniversaries
We wish “Happy Anniversary” in January to:
4 – Andrea and Chris Baer
30 – Jeannine and Darrell Patt