Willow Creek Fishing Derby

I plan to be at the special friend's fishing derby at the Willow Creek pond. I am bring my two kids and we are going to help some folks catch a big fish!

Also, rumor has it professional fisherman - Chris Hurta from the prayer room and Discover Willow will be there too.

Come bring your knot tying and worm hooking skills and join us, I plan to set up shop near the staff center - building A.

8am-11:30am - with lunch at the Willow pond.

Willow Creek Baptism - June 28th

Baptism is coming up and I know we have lots of people from the Dundee Crown Area that are considering this big step!

If you have made a commitment to follow Christ as your savior and the leader of your life, then Scripture demonstrates that Baptism is a vital next step for you. Celebrate your relationship with Christ in the company of your friends, family, and others who have decided to declare what Christ has done for them and what he means to you.

Register at: http://willowcreek.org/baptism

Willow Creek - Article in Daily Herald - Celebration of Hope

Here is a very cool article in the Daily Herald...

Despite the uncertain economy, an annual Willow Creek Community Church fundraising campaign benefiting starving African children managed to bring in $1.3 million more this year than in 2008.

...church said they've raised $2 million for the Feed My Starving Children, a Minnesota-based charity which provides meals and sends them to countries including Sudan and Zimbabwe. Last year the same campaign raised around $700,000.

See the entire article here:
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=294065

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Blitz Build - Home rehab in Carpentersville

We had a great turn out for our Pizza Party/Info meeting at Village Pizza on Randall road. We had over 100 people come and learn how to get involved with Blitz Build! About 350 volunteers are needed so tell your friends, neighbors and co-workers to get involved.

From June 20 through 28, in the Dundee Crown Area we are looking to do a rehab project on 1528 Plymouth Circle in Carpenterville and need your help. Blitz Build isn't just for those of you who are good with a hammer. People of all construction skill levels, families, neighbors, and local businesses all have an opportunity to lend their unique blend of gifts to the work that will be happening.

To find out more go to http://www.blitzbuild.org/Willow.shtml

Area Open Men's Group

I just wanted to let you know that we have open chairs at a Monday morning men's small group that meets in East Dundee. If you would like to explore joining us, I would like to hear from you!

For the next 3 months, we are embarking on a book review and study of "Good to Great in God's Eyes ... 10 Practices Great Christians Have in Common." Written by Chip Ingram, the title is borrowed from the business classic with a similar name by Jim Collins. While it is an easy read, G2G is packed with content and real-world applicability.

The purpose of the group is to foster local Christian friendships as we discuss a chapter every week or so, looking for take-aways and challenge for growth in our spiritual lives.

We meet at Benedict's Restaurant, 8 S. River Street in East Dundee from 6:45 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. on Monday mornings.

If you would like to discuss this opportunity, please give me a call and I will provide more details. (I am also open to adding a Friday morning group as the need arises.)

Contact: Jack Gallaway (630) 980-6245 or jack.simply@gmail.com

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Egypt Pictures

Opportunity to help serve Communion at Willow

If you can serve communion the weekend of June 6/7 please email: communion@willowcreek.org and indicate which service you are available to serve at. Also, please indicate where you normally sit so we can try and assign you a position in that section or near by-we will do the best we can and will also look at prior months to see what positions you have done in the past & try to put you in that position again.

A couple of days before the service you will receive an email with specific instructions and a link to your position. As far as the time commitment for this serve, you will need to plan to check in with the Guest Ministry Section Coordinator of the section you are serving in 15 minutes before the start of service. You can then take your seat and at the appropriate cue will gather your trays, serve the elements and then return to your seat for the remainder of the service-its quick and simple and an awesome way to honor God and our many guests.

Blessings,
communion@willowcreek.org

Summer at the Creek - Summer Serve

Just FYI... I am signed up to serve in Promiseland 4-5 year olds at 11:15 service on June 14th and July 26th.

Feel free to join me and sign up! It will be fun.
http://www.willowcreek.org/summer/volunteer/

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Summer at the Creek - Summer Serve

We also have a terrific opportunity to get to know each other a little better. Throughout the summer, our communities will have the unique opportunity to fill various roles throughout the church, from caring for little ones in Promiseland to showing off your technical skills in Seeds, and everything in between.

For two weekend services, June 13/14 and July 25/26, our community will partner with other communities in the Northwest quadrant of Willow and be a part of making “Summer at the Creek” the place to be.

Best of all, you’ll be serving alongside people who live near you. Using the link below, please sign up for one serving opportunity on each of those weekends, which means you’ll serve for only two services during the entire summer. Of course, you’re welcome to do more! And if you’re not available on our designated weekends, we encourage you to choose two others that work for your summer schedule.

This won’t be announced at church until May 30/31, so by signing up now you can be assured of the widest range of serving options. I know the Dundee Crown Area has some of the friendliest people at Willow, and I can’t wait to serve with you this summer.

Refuel. Re-engage. Recreate. It’s going to be a great summer! http://www.willowcreek.org/summer/volunteer/

~Ryan

Summer at the Creek - Guest Speakers and Opportunities

We’ve got some exciting things planned at Willow this summer, and I want to give you a sneak preview so you can be ahead of the game! “Summer at the Creek” will be a time to refuel, re-engage, and recreate. Among the many opportunities to celebrate and be refreshed are:

*Dadfest on June 20/21 (Father’s Day weekend)

*Outdoor Baptism on Sunday, June 28—a chance for us all to celebrate the power of Jesus
Christ to transform lives.

*Dynamic guest teachers including Catherine Rohr, Wayne Cordeiro, John Maxwell, and
Henry Cloud. You may not recognize all of their names, but you’ll never forget their
messages!

* Dozens of new learning opportunities through Willow Classes
* Development opportunities at the Leadership Summit and Arts Conference
* A family-friendly drive-in movie night
* An all-worship celebration

~Ryan

Catalyst

From the desk of Bill Hybels:

This weekend Lee Strobel is coming home to Willow to help me with the services. As most of you know, Lee, a former atheist, became a Christ follower at our church back in the movie theater days. He has since become a best-selling author of more than 20 books. His book "Case for Christ" has sold over 2 million copies. This weekend Lee will give a message called "The Case for the Real Jesus." This is a perfect opportunity to challenge exploring (or even cynical) family and friends to join you as you come to any of our campuses. In addition, Lee will be speaking at a breakfast for 500 Creekers Saturday morning at the South Barrington campus. This is for anyone who is eager to be trained to help point their yet to be redeemed family and friends to faith in Christ. We can still add more tables at the breakfast if you sign up at:

www.willowcreek.org/catalyst.

Joyful Noise - Nursing Home Ministry

Joyful Noise is a sing-a-long at Eastgate that will be this Sunday May 17th 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