E-Connections Newsletter - April 2008
In this Issue:
Growing Together in Love Thank you (Egg Hunt) Power Lab (VBS) Featured Interview Connecting at LEFC Looking For ???	GROWING TOGETHER IN LOVE by Bill Dempsey An Opportunity and a Challenge SUNDAY MAY 4TH AT 6 PM Is there anything more important for a church family than to grow and develop in love together? In Jude verses 20 and 21, we learn the importance of keeping ourselves in the love of God. John tells us in 1st John, that God is love and he that abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. The mission and purpose of our church and for us as individuals is to dynamically engage in a process of growing in God's love. Living out God's command is holistic and comprehensive. It touches every facet of our lives and it needs to be intricately woven into the very fabric of our lives. When we focus on this we fulfill God's mission for our local body and realize the full potential that God has placed in each of us. A church dinner has been scheduled for Sunday May 4th at 6 PM to come together as a body and focus on what we can do individually and collectively to fulfill God's vision for our church to grow in love; that is in our ability to love God, our ability to love and support each other, and our ability to reach a hurting world with the love of the Gospel.
A few key points for the evening are: The dinner will take place on Sunday, May 4th at 6 PM in the lower level of the church. Child care will be provided There will be a children's presentation about the power of God's love. Steve will share about the vision and our opportunity to grow in love. An outstanding dinner will be catered by Bottaio There is no charge for the evening. We need people to sign up in advance so we have an accurate count for catering. Sign up sheets are at the Special Events Center in the church foyer. Please don't miss this opportunity to participate in taking the high ground, the loving ground for the Lord. SAVE THE DATE: MAY 4 T H

Thank you so very much to everyone who participated in the Community egg hunt event. It was a gloomy day, but the kids had the opportunity to go outside and have fun by gathering eggs with their friends. We had a big and enthusiastic gathering of people from our church but also a big crowd of friends and neighbors.	The younger kids loved to find themselves lost in a plethora of colorful eggs in the gym.  We had four stations of fun and educational crafts, coffee and sweets for the parents and a good “get to know each other better” time. I think God blessed us through our little ones: their enthusiasm, and eagerness to learn, their curious questions and their big excited eyes ready to follow and mimic what we did. I thank, one more time, all the volunteers and greeters for your smiles, love and commitment in all you do. God bless all of you and let’s together give Glory to our Savior. Irene Kalantzis and Kristin Swanson Children's Ministries
POWER LAB: Discovering Jesus' Miraculous Power by Kristin Swanson We are very excited about this theme for VBS this year.  We will be learning five different ways that Jesus gives us power; the power to be thankful, to help others, to be brave, to live forever, and the power, through Jesus, to tell others about God.  Our Bible lessons will come from the books of Luke, Matthew, John and Acts where we will look at a few of the amazing miracles that Jesus performed.  Each day we will have fun with some science experiments and take  a daily challenge to put our faith to work.  Each child will bring an exciting science devotion activity home to teach their families!  We will also be participating in a Kid-to-Kid Mission project.  We will be sponsoring the purchase of soccer balls to be sent to South Africa.  Please see our bulletin board at church and the information on our website (under Children's Ministries) for more details.  Each soccer ball costs $8.99 and anyone can sponsor a ball!  During the week of VBS, the kids will be able to autograph the balls and pray for the children who will be receiving them.  Each ball has special colors on it that tell the story of God's great love and each is accompanied with a book for each child that connects soccer techniques with the message of God's amazing love.	In order to make this week (July 14-18) happen, we need some awesome volunteers. For our Preschool classes (contact Irene Kalantzis): 4 station leaders 6-7 crew leaders 4 Nursery volunteers For our elementary kids (contact Kristin Swanson): 5 station leaders (crafts, missions, bible lesson, games, drama) 12-14 crew leaders Tech team Kitchen crew to put together some incredible test tube treats! To join this amazing team, you need to sign up now.  Spots are limited and you don't want to miss the fun. Let's make the corner of Austin and Garfield shine for Jesus and share his amazing and miraculous power with the children and families of our community.  Come on - We Can Do It!
Featured Interview: We asked our new Director of Early Childhood Ministries, Irene Kalantzis, a few questions.  Here's what she answered:   How and where did you meet your spouse?  We've never met! We always knew each other from very young. We grew up in the same church and the same Sunday school. I was joking with my mother-in-law, when I found a kids' story-book among George's things with the title: "George and Irene" with our Greek names of course, he had all the letters that look like backward 3's circled. He was learning how to read at that time. I tell her that we were predestined to be together, and she laughs. What do you do for relaxation? I paint and I listen to music. I love soft contemporary music, some classical music (the kind that doesn't make you sleep!) and piano When you eat out, where do you like to go? I like to go to restaurants that do not have loud music and have a nice romantic atmosphere What is your favorite snack food?  My favorite snack food is chocolate ice-cream! Actually anything with chocolate, or just chocolate will do. Name someone that makes you laugh. My brother in-law makes me laugh when George and I are on the computer, on iChat, and talk to my sister and her husband (also called George) and make faces and jokes about one another.	Do you have a pet? (what kind, name)? We have a female rabbit named Pepper whom we adore and an orange canary named Tweety. What is the most interesting thing that has happened to you as a Christian? When my father died, I felt as if the power of his prayers was lifted from me. My father was a prayer warrior all his life. I would see him pray for my sister and me even in the middle of the night. I know he was praying for George and me constantly when we left Greece and came here. Some days after he died I really felt his prayers being lifted. I don't know how to explain it but I felt it very strongly. I felt that something wasn't there any more. I was empty, and at the same time this thought came to me: "You are not covered by your father's prayers anymore; now you are by yourself." This is what I felt, this is what I heard. This brought me closer to my God and made me take things more seriously. What do you like best about LEFC? Right now, my job. Being so close to the children and the parents and at the same time being responsible for their spiritual understanding and growth. I also like decorating their rooms and buying toys for them! What was you favorite year and why?   Many come to my mind. When I was accepted at the School of Fine Arts, which is a big deal in Greece; when I got married; the first time we flew coming to America, with all our hopes and dreams; the birth of my three kids and the death of my father. Apostolos' graduation day was also a very special one as was the realization that he is a grown boy now-even though his father doesn't think so.
Connecting at LEFC: If you missed the announcement concerning the Pastor of Adult Ministries position, please read this letter from Pastor Steve Mathewson. Saturday, April 12th is the Men's Ministry Breakfast at 8:00 a.m. Invite your neighbors and friends to the Gateway Talent Show, Saturday, April 19th at 6:30 p.m.  The admission is $5.00 and the proceeds will go to the Gateway Summer Mission Trip.   Looking For ??? Service Opportunities: Our ministries can use your help.  Please check out the Service Opportunities at http://www.lefc.com/churchservice.asp Prayer Opportunities: You are invited to share your prayer needs, and praises, with the church family. Call or email the church office (847)362-8155; church.office@lefc.com) or speak to any staff member to have your need added to the weekly list of prayer concerns. If you wish to be in prayer for the needs of our church family, the weekly list is available in the church office. Women’s Prayer Time: Fridays in the Prayer Room, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Contact Dee Stateler GIFT Prayer Meeting, 4:30 p.m., April 13th Fresh Encounter:  prayer-based worship, 6:30 p.m., April 9th   Directions: Be sure the stop by the Welcome Center for more information about our Sunday morning schedules and directions. Be sure to log on to our church website at  www.lefc.com on a regular basis. To add something to the Web site, contact the Church Office. Our Church Calendar can be found on the website.   If you would like to subscribe OR unsubscribe, please send an email to Church.Office@lefc.com and give the email address you want added or removed. Your email address is for the church use only and will not be distributed to anyone. If you have an article or info you would like to submit for E-Connections, or if you have questions about E-Connections, please contact Church.Office@lefc.com.