November Highlights

Sunday Morning Services

Feel free to invite people to worship with us. Join us at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Masks and social distancing required for 8 a.m. Mask-optional services at 9:30 and 11 with no registration or social distancing needed. Livestream broadcast is at 9:30 with a rebroadcast at 11. You can watch it at college-church.org/livestream

• October 31 A Better Future Hebrews 11:39-40 with Pastor Baxter Helm and Communion

• November 7 A Better Future Hebrews 12:1-2 with Pastor Dan Hiben

• November 14 A Better Future Hebrews 12:3-11 with Senior Pastor Josh Moody

• November 21 A Better Future Hebrews 12:12-17 with Senior Pastor Josh Moody

• November 28 A Better Future Hebrews 12:18-29 with Senior Pastor Josh Moody

• December 5 A Better Future Hebrews 13:1-6 with Senior Pastor Josh Moody

• December 12 A Better Future Hebrews 13:7-25 with Senior Pastor Josh Moody

Adult Communities

Meet during the 9:30 hour, except for Credo, which meets at 11 a.m.

ALL NATIONS in C101Jim Tebbe teaching the Book of RuthFocus: Developing globally minded Christians through teaching, discussion and fellowship for the purpose of gospel impact.

CREDO in the old gym (301) - 11 a.m.Dan Godoy teaching the Heidelberg Catechism

FORUM 15 in CL01 Bruce Main teaching the Book of Judges

GREEK CLASS in the Board Room Jon Laansma (knowledge of Greek is not required for this class.)

Focus: People of any age and background coming together to listen faithfully to God's Word through discussion of the original Greek wording.

JOINT HEIRS in Commons GymMichael Walker teaching the Sermon on the Mount

LOGOS in Commons HallDan Haase teaching the Psalms of Jesus

Focus: Strengthening knowledge of and relationship with God through interactive Bible teaching. Strong emphasis on building fellowship through weekly share and prayer time and social events.

LIVING WORD in Commons HallDoug Moo teaching the Book of HebrewsYoung parents welcome!

VERITAS in Commons HallNeil Wright teaching the Book of Revelation

Are you new to College Church? If so, come to a casual lunch in the Narthex (the Sanctuary Lobby) catered by Jason’s Deli on Sunday, November 14, at noon. Lunch is on us! Come and meet pastors and staff, learn about College Church and find out how you can get involved. Help us plan by checking the box on the online connect panel, or by emailing welcome@college-church.org.

Sunday Evening Service

5 p.m. services in the Sanctuary or Commons as indicated week by week.

• November 7 Exodus 21-24 Community Celebration in the Sanctuary

• November 14 Exodus 25-31 in Commons Hall

• November 21 Exodus 32-34 in Commons Hall

• November 28 No Evening Service

Grounds Days—Call for Volunteers

November 20

We will get outside and serve together, side-by-side. The morning begins at 7:30 a.m. with light refreshments in the Commons and by 8 a.m., we’ll be ready to help Howard Kern and his team with a fall clean-up around the church grounds. Bring a pair of gloves and a servant’s heart; tools provided. Once we get these projects knocked out, we’ll conclude with a sub sandwich lunch. This is a great chance to get to know others while serving together. You won’t want to miss this!Please register at: college-church.org/events

Grace Groups

Mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety and other problems with mood stability are real and need compassionate support. Living Grace and Family Grace are support groups that will meet approximately twice a month on Monday nights from 7-8:30 p.m. Living Grace is meant for the person who is living with the pain of difficult mental and emotional issues; Family Grace is for the person who has a loved one who struggles with these issues. For the schedule and more information, check the appropriate box on the online connect panel, or email gracegroups@college-church.org.

Thanksgiving Eve Service

7 p.m. in the Sanctuary followed by Sweet Time

Stay after the Thanksgiving Eve Service and head over to Commons Hall for Sweet Time. Enjoy pies, cakes, cookies, brookies, brownies, shortbreads, shortcakes or any other sweet our College Church bakers wish to share with us on Thanksgiving Eve. Chocolate-covered, yes. Cinnamon-drenched, for sure. Caramel-drizzled, hope so. Nuts, absolutely not. As good as this all sounds, the sweetest part is just being together.

Sign up to share on the Sweet Time sign-up form link. https://college-church.formstack.com/ forms/sweet_treat_signup

Surviving the Holidays

Has the loss of a loved one left you wondering how you will survive the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas? Come and be encouraged about dealing with loss during the holiday season. This special GriefShare seminar will be held Monday, November 15, from 7-8:30 p.m. in Commons Hall. For more info, contact Christy at ext. 175 or griefshare@college-church.org.

55+ Keenagers

in the Commons

Join Keenagers as we meet on Friday, November 19, at 5:30 p.m. for punch and fellowship, followed by a delicious meal at 6 p.m. Then, we enjoy an outstanding musical program (in the Sanctuary) presented by Redekopp & Edwards, as they dazzle us with their piano and organ artistry—not to be missed! Evening cost is $10 per person. Please make reservations (or cancel) no later than Tuesday, November 16, by emailing Keenagers@college-church.org or calling (630) 668-0878.

International Thanksgiving Celebration

Saturday, November 13, 3-6 p.m. in the Commons

Christianity Explored

Starbucks in the COD Resource Center

Discover what our faith is all about on Tuesdays at 2 p.m.

Women’s Ministries

MONTHLY GATHERING

Saturday, November 13 in Welsh Hall from 9 to10:30 a.m.

MOM2MOM

• November 1, 9:30 a.m. Large Group Gathering in Commons Hall, Topic: The Best Story Ever Told, childcare provided

• November 8, 9:30 a.m. Triangle Park, Wheaton

• November 15, 7 p.m. Book Discussion in the Fireside Area

• November 22, 9:30 a.m. Gym Play Date at College Church

BIBLE STUDY

The Storyline of the Bible.Wednesday mornings: 9:30-11 a.m.Wednesday evenings: 6:45-8:15 p.m.

It's not too late! Are you interested in joining Women's Bible Study this semester, or adding your children to our childcare wait list? Please email us at women@college-church.org or reach out to Mary DeMoss at (630) 668-0878.

APPLES OF GOLD—A Seven-Week Nurturing Program for Women

Thursday evenings—January 13-February 24, 2022. 6-9:15 p.m. at a home nearby. Women, if you are a newlywed, a not-so-new mom or somewhere in between, come to

• study biblical topics from Titus 2:3-5 for personal growth as a Christian woman.

• watch cooking demonstrations to learn new recipes and techniques, with lots of inspiration and laughter along the way.

• enjoy adult conversations over sit-down meals as you meet new friends in a warm, caring environment."A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver."Proverbs 25:11

Cost is $20, space is limited.

Contact Mary Gieser for further information: maryegieser@ gmail.com or (630) 668-5773

Men’s Ministries

BIBLE STUDY

Join us Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. in the Commons (C002A-B) as we dive into 1 Peter

• November 3 1 Peter 2:11–17

• November 10 1 Civil Authority and the Question of Christian Compliance

• November 17 1 Peter 2:18–25

• November 24 Thanksgiving Break – no meeting

• December 1 1 Peter 3:1–7

• December 8 1 Peter 3:8–12

Can’t make it in person? Join for a Zoom discussion group here: Join Zoom Meeting https://bit.ly/3EdxMsZ Meeting ID: 832 4290 7599, Passcode: 530315

MEN’S GATHERING

Saturday, December 4, at 7:30 a.m. in Commons Hall.

Enjoy breakfast, hear encouraging testimonies and cultivate a greater hunger for God as we sit under teaching from Psalm 146. We look forward to seeing you!

Children’s Ministries

SUNDAYS

• Nursery (0-2) at 9:30 and 11 a.m.

• Bible School (preschool-5th grade) at 9:30 a.m.

• Wonders of Worship “WOW” (K-third grade) during second half of 11 a.m. service

• Children’s Church (preschool) at 11 a.m.

• Preschool at 5 pm.

• God’s Children Sing and Children’s Choirs at 5 p.m.

WEDNESDAYS

Wednesday club programs at 6:45 p.m.

Middle School (KMs)

SUNDAYS

Foundations (CL02) 9:30-10:30 a.m.

WEDNESDAYS

Large-group gathering (CL02) 6:45-8:15 p.m.

SPECIAL EVENTS

• KM Girls Night, November 12, 7-9 p.m.

• Thanksgiving Lunch, November 22, 12-1:30 p.m. in Commons Hall

High School (HYACKS)

SUNDAYS

At the Crossings for Rhythms on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m.

• November 7 no Sunday Rhythms or Slam (retreat)

• November 14 Slam Groups

• November 21 Sunday Slam meet in the Gym

• November 28 no Sunday Slam

WEDNESDAYS

Bridge Fellowship on Wednesday nights at 7:30 p.m. at the Crossings.

SPECIAL EVENT

• Fall Retreat November 5-7 at Dickson Valley

College Group

SUNDAY MORNINGS

in the Commons at 10:45 a.m.

Grow in community and hear college-geared teaching that shapes biblical convictions for a lifetime of serving Christ.

COLLEGE CONNECT

Sundays: November 7 and December 12 in Commons at 10:45 a.m. Come for breakfast and fellowship with other students after the 9:30 worship service.

HOME GROUPS

Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, 7 p.m. locations vary

STARS

SUNDAYS

• Teen Stars at 9:30 a.m.

• Young Adult/Adult Stars at 9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m.

• Inclusion Classes at 9:30 & 11 a.m.

• Stars Choir at 5-6:15 p.m. Teens and adults with special needs learn to praise God through singing, drama and signing.

DURING THE WEEK

• Praise in Action—Teens and adults with special needs enhance their musical abilities and praise God through drums and hand chimes on Wednesdays, 6:45–8:15 p.m.

• Friday Night Fun—An evening of fun, friendship, recreation and worship for teens and adults with special needs on Friday, November 19, 6:30–9 p.m.

• Buddy Break—For young STARS and their siblings under 15 on Friday, November 19, 6:30–9 p.m.

From the Editor

Wil Triggs

This Issue’s Bounty

The first Sunday in November is both Orphan Sunday and the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. What a great way to start the month that ends with Thanksgiving and the start of Advent. We should be on the lookout all the time for how we can help people in need. Even in horrendous times of division and suffering, we need to keep our hearts open, and an open place at our tables for people in need.

Food for thought. Wallace Alcorn’s “Making Sense in a Senseless World” (page 8) tackles how God can allow all that’s going on these days. It gives us all something to think about in a way that might help us should we find ourselves in that kind of a discussion over Thanksgiving.

An almost full table. Welcoming a guest to the dinner table has never been more precariously delightful than in Virginia Hughes’s “A Smashing Table” (page 13).

Bread from heaven. Judy Blumhofer’s “Let the Little Children Come” gives us all an honest account (page 16) of how she got where she is today in relation to foster and orphan care in Honduras. It is a feast of godly care for the least of these. Her story reminds me in a good way that God takes us places we never would imagine apart from him.

Prayer and action on behalf of those in need runs through many of our pages this month:

• Helping local families in need celebrate Christmas through our partnership with the Christmas Store of Outreach Community Ministries

• Providing training for Christian communicators worldwide

• Providing care and forever families for children orphaned by COVID-19

• Reaching out to Afghan refugees coming into Chicagoland

• Praying for persecuted Christians and churches around the world

Thankful for the growing number of artists and writers helping fill this issue with life. Thank you, Yousaf, for your article on persecution and prayer (page 6). Thanks, Liita, for your cover art. I’m hoping this issue will help you give thanks to God not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every single day.