Groups for a Season - G4S - Tips of the Week

Helping the Needy Member

Healthy vs. Unhealthy Neediness
Groups exist to do life together, which includes helping one another during times of need. When members can lean into one another during seasons of need-engaging in the giving and receiving of care-the group is growing healthily. But sometimes, individuals exhibit unhealthy patterns of neediness.

Signs of Unhealthy Neediness
§ Taking up too much group time
§ Constant crises that never get resolved
§ Emotional dependency that the group can't meet
§ Inability to be comforted
§ Not taking group advice
§ Seeing the group as "not enough"

Tips for Helping the Needy Member
§ Encourage next steps. If a needy member is able to affirm the help your group is offering, but fails to follow through with suggestions, challenge her to set small goals of action, to be reported to the group the following week.

§ Provide a time limit. Sometimes a person in need cannot set aside their own pain to allow other group members to engage in group time. If a needy member is monopolizing your group, make a process statement ahead of time, to set expectations: "Gail, so that everyone will have an opportunity to both give and receive from group tonight, do I have your permission to let you know when it is time to let someone else share?"

§ When the need is too great. . . If you have a member whose life patterns or circumstances require more help than a group can provide, talk with your Community Leader or AP about how to best help this person without sacrificing the health of your group.

§ Warm up the cold group. Some people don't have a wealth of natural care-giving skills, making any needs-even reasonable ones-feel "needy" to them. When a legitimate need is expressed, affirm the validity of the need, then coach the other members to stretch their care-giving muscles by suggesting practical ways they can help meet that need.

Biblical Israel and the Church

The final module of 2009 Midweek Classes begins November 4. If you’re looking for a challenging class to finish off the year, join Dr. Bilezikian for Israel 101: Biblical Israel and the Church. Dr. B will present a biblical analysis of the call and mission of ancient Israel, the fulfillment of Israel’s destiny in Christ, and His new covenant community. Sign up for this and other Midweek Classes.

NOTE: Midweek Classes take a study break this Wednesday, October 28.

Mike Dierking - Algonquin - Passed Away

Mike Dierking of Algonquin passed away Thursday, October 22nd. Mike suffered from an aneurysm a couple months ago. Please continue to pray for his wife Linda, sons Brian and Adam.

Mike Dierking's Memorial Service and Celebration of Life:
Saturday Nov. 7th - 4pm
Willow Creek Church Chapel (Entrance B)
67 E. Algonquin Rd
Barrington, IL 60010
Reception to follow.

Cards to:
The Dierking Family
730 Timberwood Ln
Algonquin, IL 60102

No Midweek Classes this week.

Just Remember - No Classes Wednesday Oct. 28th as the Week Midweek classes take a study break.

The final module of Classes begins November 4

This Weekend's Service - Beyond Belief

This weekend, Senior Pastor Bill Hybels launches Beyond Belief, a new seven-week series on the book of Ephesians. Ephesians explores themes of predestination, salvation, love, family, and spiritual warfare. Throughout the series, each weekend message explores a vital section from a chapter of this “crown jewel” in the writings of the apostle Paul.

Group Life Conference

If you are a Community Leader, Group or Team Leader, or just want to learn more about leading! I would like to invite you to an exciting opportunity coming this fall. Get it on your calendar now. On Oct. 24 we will be partnering with the WCA and the CCN broadcast network to host a 1-day Group Life Conference. The theme is “This Changes Everything” and focuses on spiritual transformation in groups. This interactive conference experience will be hosted via satellite all over North America – but will be live here in our Lakeside Auditorium exclusively for our Willow leaders. You’ll hear from Henry Cloud, Andy Stanley, Heather Zempel, and others who will help you guide people toward greater growth in Christ. You’ll leave inspired and equipped to lead your group more effectively.

This FREE live experience is only available to Willow leaders – so sign up now and join leaders church wide for this can’t miss event!
Register Here:
http://community.willowcreek.org/event.aspx?eventid=967

A Wedding Story - Jim Korlesky & Pat Gile

Congrats to Jim and Pat of Carpentersville! What a great day of celebration. We wish them all the best in their marriage and life together. It was so great to see Richard Hirst, a neighbor and small group member, officate the wedding!




Way to go Pat & Jim!
Way to go Richard!

God blessed the whole day and event.

Chicago Marathon & World Vision - Dundee Crown Runners

Congrats to area runners in their participation in the Chicago Marathon.
We had a number of people raising support for World Vision.




Way to go team!!
Paul JVR
Doug Yonamine
Larry & Denise Stilwell
Rhonda Jenkins
Chris Mote

Shelby Bohlin

Follow updates for Shelby Bohlin at: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/shelbygrace

Thank you so much!
In His Love,
The family.

Baby Dedication - Devin John "Maxx" Posecion

Congrats to Rudy & Adona Posecion of Algonquin, on the dedication of their son Maxx, Sunday Oct. 4th 2009, at the "Wellington of Arlington" in Arlington Hts. It was a great celebration there was time to focus on what is really important in our lives, faith, friends, and family. There was wonderful food, singing, dancing and kid's games!

The Posecions are an extremely fun and talented family!

Blessings to them all!

All In - Weekend 34th Anniversary Willow Creek

Don't miss a chance to share in our 34th Annivesary as a church. Come and have some free food and fellowship with the entire Willow Creek family. Enjoy pizza after the 5:30 p.m. and 11:30 a.m. service or come early before the 9 a.m. for warm waffles, toppings, and sausage. You'll want to be All In! for this.

Shoji and I will be here Sunday at the 11:30am Service - hope to see you here.

Update on Mike Dierking - Algonquin

Mike Dierking (husband of Linda Dierking) was stricken with an aneurysm that caused a stroke just over a month ago. Following emergency surgery to remove the clot, Mike remained in ICU for weeks. He has been moved to Holy Family Hospital in Des Plaines - on the intersection of Rt 45 & Golf Rd. (847) 297-1800

He has had limited responses, but has shown improvement. Linda and Mike have lots of friends from church praying for Mike and the family.

Cards to:
Linda & Mike Dierking
730 Timberwood Drive
Algonquin, IL 60102
lindrking@sbcglobal.net

Note from Greg Hawkins - 34th Celebration

Our 34th Anniversary Weekend is 9 days away! I want to give you an update and ask for your help with at least one serving opportunity. First, the planning for the service itself is going well. It will have a very forward looking feel, versus being a trip down memory lane. We will feature the worship leaders and drummers from each campus in a cool opening number that will lead into an extended time of worship. We will show a video featuring all the campus pastors including Hector, highlighting the ministry done throughout our five campuses.

Bill will give a vision talk, providing a fresh way to think about our mission and inspiring us all to dream about what God has in store for our future. We will end the service with a powerful experience that I will keep secret for a bit longer.

Second, we will enjoy a time of fellowship around food. Throughout the Old Testament, the people of God gathered several times a year to celebrate together. Some of those festivals lasted for days and included lots of food. In Acts 2:46 it says of the first church, “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” When a family gathers, food is served. When people celebrate, food is served. We have a big family and we have a lot to celebrate. Our great God has been very good to us.

(edited down)
We will have Lou Malnati’s pizza and pasta (for the over 400 marathoners who plan on attending) for Saturday night; waffles, fruit, sausages, donuts for breakfast Sunday; and Lou’s pizza for Sunday afternoon. We have been blessed by a donation for the food. So we are able to offer this for free. Harvest will be open throughout if people want to purchase additional items like salad or dessert.

Third, in order to make it easier for the regional congregations to come all the way to South Barrington, we will be hosting a pre-party on Saturday afternoon for regional families. It is being themed as a fall festival with games for kids and light snacks. If it is a nice day, it will be held in the Fast Track Parking Lot. Our rain plan is to use the Lakeside Auditorium.

Ryan's note:
We are always in need of volunteers so if you'd like to volunteer just click on the link below to sign up. Feel free to sign up any family members or friends that might want to serve with you. This site will be open to all attenders who want to help out.

http://www2.willowcreek.org/volunteer/details.asp?F=1&S=4&Event=597&MinistrySum=WLINK

Thanks for all that you are doing.
Greg Hawkins for the 34th Anniversary Planning Team