Feed My Starving Children - Celebration of Hope!!

This year during Willow Creek Church's Celebration of Hope: Hunger and Thirst, we are seeking 18,000 volunteers to pack 4 million meals for Feed My Starving Children--enough to feed 16,000 children in Zimbabwe for an entire school year.

We will need over 900 volunteers packing 210,000 meals at our Dundee Crown Area packing site (hosted at Eastview School in Algonquin).

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Volunteering is easy, and anyone age 5 or older can help (children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian). Simply click on the link below to find the Dundee Crown area serving times and sign up. Your two-hour shift begins with training and then dives right in to packing meals that will save the lives of thousands of children.

http://www.willowcreek.org/coh/volunteer/

Willow Creek - Seeds Bookstore Promotion

New Promotion: 20% off of all purchases made at Seeds bookstore (above the atrium at Willow Creek).

Just stop by to signup and get a perferred customer card and you will get 20% off all purchases in Seeds!

I got mine.

seeds@willowcreek.org for questions

Feed My Starving Children - Is coming Back!! May 2 & 3

Feed My Starving Children Serving (FMSC) is coming back to the Dundee Crown area! Last year we had over 800 volunteers and packed over 207,000 meals for children in Africa.

Keep May 2 & 3 open for this family friendly event!

More to come in about a week, so keep checking here for updates and how to signup.

Urgent Need at Salvation Army

March has roared in like a lion for The Salvation Army’s efforts to keep the unemployed housed, clothed and fed. In the first two weeks, The Elgin/Carpentersville Salvation Army has helped 487 (1444 individuals) families with food, clothing, utility and rent assistance. This compares to 581 (1743 individuals) families for the whole month of February.

The number one emergency request from the unemployed continues to be food. 333 families requested food the first two weeks of March.

"The numbers are increasing and we find ourselves having to give a weekly five day supply of food instead of a three day supply.” said Major Ken Nicolai, of the Elgin/Carpentersville Salvation Army units. “We have $ 10,000.00 left that is designated for food and an almost empty food pantry. We have some limited additional funds coming in the summer, but at this point we need to get to June.”

Residents may help by donating food to both Salvation Army locations listed below. “We are also in need of plastic shopping bags. It would save us money toward the purchase of food if we can get those donated.” said Nicolai.

Volunteers are needed on Friday’s from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM to sort, bag and distribute groceries. Contact the Salvation Army units below to volunteer.

The Salvation Army - S. Kennedy Dr. (Suite 8B)

Meadowdale Mall

Carpentersville, IL. 60110

(847) 428-5138

My Egypt Mission Trip - Mar. 31st - Apr. 8th

Shoji and I have been so blessed and challenged by our church to grow and become more like Christ. We know God has a heart to reconcile with the world; with people of all nations in his Kingdom. Sometimes there are people who just seem so different from us! We wonder how we can possibly navigate the racial, religious, and cultural waters that often seem so daunting, in order to build great, lasting relationships.

We have been invited to join a small Willow Creek team to go to Egypt next month. We are looking forward to meeting people from another culture and get to know their stories!
Egypt has a rich history and culture that will make this trip challenging and stretching in many ways.

We would love to have you partner with us and share in this journey. Please keep us in your prayers and keep checking here as we hope to capture our trip on video or even stream some coverage over the internet of our time there! Watch for it here on the Blog!

Ghetto to Gold Coast - Sat. April 4th

Saturday, April 4th, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

So you think you know Chicago? Maybe...but there might be a few sides of the city you haven't seen. Join us for a full day's bus tour narrated by two leaders with more than 40 years of Chicago experience . From the failed social experiments of low-income public housing to the relentless advance of development and gentrification, you'll learn facts, hear stories, and grow in your understanding of complex issues that are shaping the trajectory of our city.

Cost: $20; bring additional money for lunch at Navy Pier's food court. Age: Recommended for children 14 and up, accompanied by parent or responsible adult.

Location: Meet at Willow's South Barrington campus in Room B205-207 for orientation.

Signup at:
www.willowcreek.org/extension/

Mom's Group - Carpentersville/West Dundee Area

If you have an interest in joining with other moms, who have children 2 years and under, in the West Dundee/Carpentersville area and have a play dates once a week on Monday afternoons (3:15-4:45pm) contact Laura Rayman at laurarayman@sbcglobal.net or call at 847.844.8292

Joyful Noise - Nursing Home Ministry

If you have a passion to connect with and honor our elders this is a great opportunity for you and your children at Eastgate Manor in Algonquin.

Joyful Noise is a sing-a-long at Eastgate that will be last Sunday of the month from 3-4pm.
Eastgate Manor is located at 101 Eastgate Ct. in Algonquin, one half mile East of Route 31 just off Algonquin Rd (right by the MacDonalds).

If you would like more info or to participate contact Tanya Hill at: tnthill@comcast.net or 847-212-0897c

Bravehearts - Women

Bravehearts adventures for Women is a great way for women to connect and have fun. They do monthly events like hiking, biking, fishing and canoeing. Summer is coming or at least wishful thinking makes it seem that way!

see http://www.willowcreek.org/bravehearts.asp
(the link is also under our "Groups" section on the left).

Or email Karen at: kblair@willowcreek.org for any questions

Baby Dedication - The Sundstedt Family

Congratulations to Matt & Casey Sundstedt on the Dedication of their daughter Addison!
Matt & Casey live in Algonquin and Matt is on staff at Willow Creek.