HO_061319

16 | June 13, 2019 | the homer horizon faith
homerhorizon.com
Pastor Column
Inspired by Pentecost to take faith beyond the church walls
Pastor Dana O’Brien
Cross of Glory Lutheran Church
This last Sunday,
many congregations
celebrated Pentecost,
traditionally understood
as the day the Holy
Spirit was poured out on
Jesus’ followers and the
birthday of the church. If
you were in worship last
Sunday, you may have
celebrated by wearing red,
singing songs in a foreign
language, hearing the Pentecost
story read in many
languages simultaneously
or maybe even eating
some birthday cake.
You also would have
heard how, on that first
Pentecost, Jesus’ followers
were together in a house
in Jerusalem, while the
city outside was full of pilgrims
from throughout the
Roman Empire — people
of different languages, cultures,
ethnicities, beliefs,
etc. And then, as told in
Acts 2, accompanied by
fire and noise like a violent
wind, the Spirit of God
moved through that house,
sending Jesus’ followers
outside and miraculously
empowering them to speak
in the languages of the
foreigners gathered there,
so that everyone could
understand Peter when he
shared God’s good news
for all people.
This year, as I read that
story once again, I began
to wonder — what if
another Pentecost occurs
today? What if Jesus’
followers today are again
so powerfully filled with
God’s Spirit that we all
leave the perceived safety
of our church buildings
and go out into our communities
and neighborhoods
and cities?
What if, as on that very
first Pentecost, we step out
of our comfort zones and
begin doing all we can to
speak and act in ways that
connect with people who
may not know the God of
love and grace we have
experienced? What if we
work to bridge the many
differences that seem so
prominent in our communities
today?
On that first Pentecost,
God’s Spirit moved Jesus’
followers out into the community
filled with all sorts
of diverse people. And
God powerfully evidenced
God’s desire to do whatever
was necessary to communicate
the good news of
God’s love for all people,
and to break down barriers
not only between God and
the people God loves, but
also between people of
different languages and
cultures. We are called
to continue that outward
movement today — to love
and serve the neighbors
around us, to build bridges
and connect with people
who are different from us.
What would another
Pentecost today look like
in your congregation? For
us at Cross of Glory, a
first step is to actually get
out of the church building.
So, this coming Sunday,
June 16, we’ll have our
regular 9:30 a.m. worship,
but it will take place in
the beer tent at Old Canal
Days. You are all invited. I
can’t promise any foreign
languages or fire. But I
can promise a hearty welcome,
some good music
and a whole lot of God’s
bridge-building presence.
The opinions of this column
are that of the writer. They do
not necessarily reflect those
of The Homer Horizon.
FAITH BRIEFS
In Memoriam
Betty Hoffman
Betty A. Hoffman, 93, of Homer
Glen, died on June 5. She was a member
of Grace Baptist Church, Lockport
and First Baptist Church of Sun City
West, Arizona. Betty loved bowling,
coaching bowling, following the stock
market and watching Christian television,
but most of all cherished spending
time with her family. She is survived
by her three children, Connie (Robert)
Hursey, Vicki (Wally) Gruenwald and
Jeff (Chris) Mielke; her seven grandchildren;
her six great-grandchildren
and one great-great grandchild; her
brother, Lawrence (Beverly) Brunke;
her sisters, Joyce (Harold) Wooten and
Marilyn Schultz; her very best friend,
Jayne Prodehl; and her numerous other
family members and friends. Visitation
was held June 7 in the O’Neil Funeral
Home Chapel in Lockport. Following
services, cremation rites were respectfully
addressed. Inurnment was June
10 at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery
in Elwood. In lieu of flowers,
memorials to Palos Hospice Palliative
Care greatly appreciated.
Cross of Glory Lutheran Church
(14719 W. 163rd St., Homer Glen)
Worship at Canal Days
9:30 a.m. Sunday, June 16,
do not come to the Church to
worship. There will be worship
outdoors at the beer tent (no
beer sales at this time) at Canal
Days in downtown Lockport
with songs, sermon and communion.
Celebrate all the men
for Father’s Day.
Bible Study
7:30 p.m. Wednesdays
Open to anyone ready to discuss
the Bible.
Christian Life Church
(15609 W. 159th St., Homer Glen)
Sunday Service
10 a.m.
EDGE Youth Service
7:30-9:30 p.m. Thursdays.
Our Mother of Good Counsel Parish
(16043 S. Bell Road, Homer Glen)
Daily Mass
8 a.m. Monday-Saturday
Weekend Mass
5 p.m. Saturday
8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. Sunday
Confessions
4-4:45 p.m. Saturdays; 9:30-
10:15 a.m. Sundays; 8:30 a.m.
every first Friday
Council of Catholic Women
7 p.m. Second Tuesday of
the month.
Women of the parish meet
to discuss its needs. The group
also hosts a monthly charity
bake sale.
Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church
(14610 S. Will Cook Road, Homer Glen)
Sunday Services
8:15 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m.
Divine Liturgy; 10 a.m. Sunday
School. For more information,
call (708) 645-0652.
Adult Bible Study
9-9:45 a.m., first and third
Sundays of the month
New Life Community Church - Homer Glen
(14832 W. 163rd St., Homer Glen)
Weekly Worship Services
10 a.m. Sundays; for more
information, call (815) 838-
1416.
Kids Zone Ministry
10 a.m. Sundays.
Children up to fifth grade
can participate in games, singing,
take part in interactive
Bible teaching and participate
in hands-on crafts. Participants
should arrive 5-10 minutes
prior to the service to sign
children up for the group. For
more information, call (815)
838-1416.
Women’s Ministry
9:30 a.m. Fridays. Bible
study for women of all ages.
Prayer Meeting
10 a.m. Tuesdays.
Parkview Christian Church - Homer Glen
(14367 W. 159th St., Homer Glen)
Senior Connections
10:45 a.m.-1 p.m.. Orland
Park Campus, 11110 Orland
Parkway, Orland Park. Second
Friday of the month, chili
lunch and program. The cost
is $10, and Pastor Chaz will
speak. To RSVP, call (708)
478-7477 ext. 272 or email
merry-o@att.net.
Sunday Services
8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11:30
a.m.
First United Methodist Church of Lockport
(1000 S. Washington St., Lockport)
Circle of Love
9 a.m. Wednesdays. Circle of
Love provides diapers, feminine
and incontinence products
to clients who are qualified to
use the local FISH Food Pantry.
For more information, call
(815) 838-1017.
Lemont United Methodist Church
(25 W. Custer St., Lemont)
Sunday Services
8:30 a.m. Communion Worship
Service
9:30 a.m. Sunday School
10:45 a.m. Contemporary
Worship Service (nursery
available)
Have something for Faith
Briefs? Contact Assistant Editor
Alex Ivanisevic at a.ivanisevic
@22ndcenturymedia.com or call
(708) 326-9170 ext. 15. Information
is due by noon Thursday one
week prior to publication.
Have someone’s life you’d like to honor?
Email a.ivanisevic@22ndcenturymedia.com
with information about a loved one who was
a part of the Homer Glen community.