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Stewardship Overview of Committees: What Do They Do?     

Evangelism Committee 

By Barb Mazarakos      

There are so many groups and committees that are instrumental in keeping Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church going and growing. Over the next number of issues we will continue exploring what began with the Trustees and last month featured Stewardship, looking at just “what” these committees do and how your God-given gifts may fit into His bigger picture.

As time and the world around us changes, it’s not unusual to see some of those adjustments make their way into the church. Contemporary music has been added to some of our services, programs that had been traditionally done on a certain day of the year have been moved to encourage higher participation, and offerings can be made electronically as well as through our offering envelopes. But while some things may have changed, one thing has remained constant as Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church strives to be a place that not only welcomes but encourages family participation.
Leading the way by coordinating many of the activities we enjoy is the Evangelism Committee, currently co-chaired by Karen Delcourt and Diane Linkowski. Along with a team that includes their newest members, Judy Venkus and Judy Ross, the Evangelism Committee puts on events such as the CHOICE Pie Bake in November and Cookie Bake in February, both used as fundraisers to help those in need (and Karen’s favorite events as she enjoys the fellowship of different generations working together for the same cause); Girl Scout-Boy Scout Sunday; New Member Cake Reception; and their newest family event, Pumpkin Palooza, which was first held in 2016. This event is Diane’s favorite, as she really enjoyed watching the children decorate the pumpkins they picked and the interaction among the families (the food was pretty good, too!)
Next up for the Evangelism Committee is perhaps the event they are most known for- the Easter Eggstravaganza (held each year on the Saturday before Palm Sunday, which this year falls on Saturday, April 8). Children from all over can gather together to hear a story and songs by Sweet Wine from Valparaiso University before heading out to collect their eggs. This is always a great way to prepare for Holy Week and the miracle that is the resurrection of our Lord, so make sure you mark your calendar and tell your friends about this fun event!
The Evangelism Committee is always open to new ideas and new members. If you have any questions or have a heart for outreach and would like to be part of the team, you can contact Karen Delcourt at karendelcourt@aol.com or (708) 785-7247. They would love to have you aboard!