Faith United Presbyterian Church of Tinley park

Faith UnitedKnow God, Grow In Faith, Serve OthersSunday Worship - 10:30am Sunday School - 9:30amPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH of Tinley Park

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KNOW US

Article 1

Welcome!Welcome to the Faith United Presbyterian Church website. We greet you with the love, peace, and welcome of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. Whether you have known the power and presence of the Spirit your whole life, are a newly saved seeker of Christ, or find yourself curiously in need of the divine compassion of a loving God, we have a place for you in our faith community. Please explore this site to learn more about our commitment to fulfill our Mission statement:Know God, Grow in Faith, Serve OthersPrayerfully, we commit ourselves to this mission statement in every aspect of our Church life. Through our worship and Bible studies we explore the abundance of Gods presence, searching for both innovative and traditional ways to know God as our Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. With our diverse ministry teams, we strive to become aware of room for growth of the Spirit in our hearts, minds, and souls. Working side by side as Christian sisters and brothers, we actively live out the mission of Jesus Christ to serve others out of a sense of love, peace, and compassion. Want to know more? Feel free to contact us, review our events calendar, or stop in for worship. May the grace of God be with you. May the peace of Jesus Christ surround you. May the movement of the Holy Spirit strengthen you. Amen.
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Article 2 An Invitation from Pastor Adam Malak"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God and everyone who loves the parent loves the child...For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith. " - I John 5:1-4This Scripture is important to my personal faith and public ministry. I believe that it is in, through, and by Christ Jesus we are bound to God and one another in love. We know in our hearts we are bound to God, but it is a little more difficult to love one another. Its not easy or even practical to always love all the children of God - especially when were not convinced they are children of God. Yet it is our faith that allows love to triumph: our faith in God to overcome the world; our faith in Jesus to teach us to love; and our faith in the Spirit to bind us together. Its this faith that gives us hope in Gods purpose and helps us in our struggles with a world that can be discouraging, fearful, even hopeless. This is the faith Jesus calls us to have in order to be "a city on a hill [that] cannot be hid" (Matthew 5:14). Not to display how holy and sanctified we are, but to be a welcoming beacon to all that are weary and need rest. In fact, it was our faith in God that led us to this community knowing we needed that beacon ourselves. I invite you to explore and engage our community of believers that feels their need for Christ's love, God's grace, and the Spirit's touch. Stop in to visit worship, join in our ministries, or phone in for a friend (email works too, but didnt sound as catchy).So, if you want to hear how a pastor raised in a working class, southwest Chicago suburban church and trained in a cross-cultural, urban, reformed seminary preaches, you can check that out on this website. But if you want to experience the loving community of a people seeking to know God in worship, grow in faith through the love of Jesus Christ, and serve others as the Holy Spirit calls, youve got to come in to Faith United and meet some of God's other children. Theres always room for one more. Peace.

Article 3

Faces of Faith: The Rev. Adam Malak BY ORIANO PAGNUCCI Correspondent

What does he do?

Adam Malak wanted to be a teacher but also thought he could be a preacher.

His teaching journey led him to ministry and since July he has been the pastor of Faith United Presbyterian Church at 6200 W. 167th St., Tinley Park.

How did he get into his job?

Malak, born in Evergreen Park, graduated from Lockport Township High School.

"As a high school student, hearing a preacher (preach), I thought this is something I could do," Malak said. "I had the heart of service for the Lord, doing volunteer work in high school and college."

"But (entering ministry) solidified for me when I was teaching Vacation Bible School in my 20s. It was the journey I was taking but not aware of since I wanted to be a teacher and wanted to inspire people."

"I wanted (to teach) on the secular level and was not hearing that God wanted me to do it on a faith-based level."

Malak ended up enrolling at Augustana College in Rock Island, where he earned his double major in English and history in 2000.

Sometime earlier, a pastor had suggested Malak look into ministry as a vocation, but it was not until after he experienced some personal hardships and had another

discussion with that pastor that he decided to pursue a religious calling.

"I had an epiphany moment and decided (ministry) was where I needed to be so I looked at (entering) the seminary," Malak said. "I was happy to do the work of Jesus, but to be a voice for him, I didnt think I was qualified."

"When God is calling its not a call God gives up lightly. He keeps calling until you answer."

So Malak answered the call and enrolled at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicagos Hyde Park and earned his master of divinity degree in 2010.

He was ordained in June and was installed as Faith Uniteds pastor in July.

Whats the best part of the job?

"The best part of the job is watching the Holy Spirit work in people, when someone comes with struggles and the Holy Spirit takes over and energizes them and fulfills them and makes them whole," Malak said.

"I love doing worship services. I also love the day-to-day when the most intimate heartfelt moments occur," he said.

"As the pastor I see myself as the shepherd but also one of the flock. I lead from the front, I lead in the midst ( of the congregation) and I lead when I follow where (the congregants) are leading me. I'm 33 and

The Rev. Adam Malak followed his teaching journey to Faith United Presbyterian Church in Tinley Park. Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

some of the congregants are older, so I take their wisdom very sincerely," he said.

Whats the worst part of the job?

"Not to sound naive, but theres no worst part. There arent enough hours in the day to do the things I want to do," Malak said.

What does he do for fun?

"My children bring me a tremendous amount of joy. I also love movies, and Ive been known occasionally to play rugby," he said.

Malak and his wife, Sarah, live across the street from the church and have two children: Christopher, 8, and Elizabeth, 2 months.

Know Us

Article 1
Article 2
Article 3

SESSION

Session Ministries

CLERK OF SESSION

The Property Ministry Team of Faith United Presbyterian Church maintains and enhances the worship and fellowship experience of all our members and guests. We maintain all church property including lawns, building upkeep, general repair, snow removal, fire protection systems, and safety and security issues. We also coordinate the use of our facilities by several community groups. Our technical team records our Sunday Worship Service, allowing us to provide worship to those unable to attend church.

We meet formally once a month and informally each Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. At these Tuesday Faith gatherings we perform the above repairs, services, and functions.

All are welcome to join us as we work on the maintenance and beautification of our church. We minister knowing we are contributing both to the present and future use of the church. As we seek to preserve our church for future generations, we take comfort in knowing all may Know God, Grow in Faith, and Serve Others in a clean, functional, safe, and beautiful environment.

PROPERTY TEAM

Property Ministry Team

We meet formally once a month and informally each Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. At these Tuesday Faith gatherings we perform the above repairs, services, and functions.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Christian Education

Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

Our goal is teach the word of God to children in a way that is relevant to them. And since it takes a village to raise a child, the entire church is dedicated to Christian Education. Rather than securing one teacher to teach a class for the entire Sunday School year (September through May), we have asked all members of the congregation to consider giving one Sunday a month to Christian Education.

SUNDAY MORNING SCHEDULE

9:00 - 10:00Adult Bible Study. Class meets in classrooms 3 through 5 in the midlevel. They are currently studying the book of Romans.

9:00 - 9:30Supervised time for kids. This is a pre-Sunday School time of fun--games, crafts, and music--for the kids. This event is held in the fellowship hall (basement of the church).

9:30 - 10:15Sunday School for kids from preschool through high school. We start with a short time of worship (attendance, music, prayer, etc.) in the fellowship hall. Classes then divide into the following groups:

Preschool/kindergarten class meets in the nursery.

The first through sixth grade class meets in the fellowship hall.

The junior/senior high school (7th through 12th grades) class meets in classroom 1 in the midlevel.

The preschool/kindergarten and first through sixth grade students are currently using the One Room Sunday School curriculum. For the fall of 2011, the material covers the Old Testament from Abraham through Joseph.

The junior/senior high students are studying a curriculum that has them looking at Gods plan as it relates to What Do I Want to Be When I Grow Up?

EVANGELISM COMMITTEE

Evangelism Ministry

We believe that evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs by spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ through Christianity. Faithful to this understanding of "Good News", we warmly welcome you to join us and become a part of the life of Faith United Presbyterian Church.

As part of the Great Commission, Jesus Christ calls us to "Go then to all peoples everywhere and make disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19, Todays English Version). In our evangelism we believe and practice this as part of our faith. However, we recognize we are all at different stages in our journey with God. Jesus also says, "There are other sheep which belong to me that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them, too; they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock with one shepherd" (John 10:16). Whether you are currently a Christian or seeking to know more about Jesus Christ, we invite you to become a part of our faith family by growing your faith through the Holy Spirit with us.

There are many parts of a persons faith journey and so our Evangelism is lived out in a variety of ministries. The ministry provided by the Evangelism members that is most evident is seen each worship service where they seek out visitors that want to know more about Faith United. But a complete list could be iterated this way:

1. Worship services to provide fellowship.

2. Bible Study in small groups on Wednesday evenings.

3. Identify and nurture new members.

4. Provide audio recordings to pick up at the church and at the website for those that want to hear the Word.

5. Invite the community through sharing our church, advertising in local newspapers, creating signs to draw

attention to our worship, and posting flyers throughout the area.

6. Support other active groups at the church like the Presbyterian Womens Organization (PWO), the Board of

Deacons, the Christian Education Ministry, and the Mission Ministry.

7. Integrating folks into fellowship whether as an opportunity to study the Bible or as an opportunity to lead the

study of the Living Word.

MISSION COMMITTEE Mission MinistryIn keeping with Faith United’s mission statement of “Know God, Grow in Faith, Serve Others”, the goal of the Mission Ministry team is to provide as many and varied opportunities as possible to serve our brothers and sisters in our local community and around the world. We attempt to complement the individual charitable initiatives that are near and dear to our congregants’ hearts with opportunities for mission projects that bring us together in fellowship. We are always reminded of Paul’s words in II Corinthians 9:7, which tell us that “"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" as we look for ways for the Faith United community to be cheerful givers - of both their time and monetary contributions. To that end, we have several special offerings throughout the year to support various causes. These include:• Christmas Joy Offering to supplement the earnings of retired church servants in times of need or emergency and to support higher education for minorities• One Great Hour of Sharing offering (Easter) to support Presbyterian Hunger, Disaster Assistance and Self Development of People programs• Local Hunger offering (World Communion Sunday) to support local organizations such as the Tinley Park Food Pantry, Together We Cope, Jones Center and Operation Blessing as they provide food and other services in our local communities• Foods Resource Bank (various times throughout the year) to support a variety of farming and other projects to enable brothers and sisters around the world to become self-sufficient. Last year a $2,000 donation from our church resulted in crops worth almost $8,000 being donated to FRB as a result of the efforts of our partner farmer near Polo, IllinoisAs circumstances around the world and here in the U.S. warrant, especially following natural disasters, special offerings are collected and sent to the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance fund to support those who have been impacted by these circumstances.Some of the mission projects where Faith United congregants have donated their time (and money as well) include: • An annual mission trip with other Presbyterian churches in the area to southeastern Kentucky to repair and rebuild houses, trailers, churches and buildings housing charitable organizations.• Mission trips to build housing and provide medical services in Honduras and Guatemala• The CROP walk sponsored by the Church World Service organization to support mission projects internationally and in our local community• Projects to clean and repair the building that houses the Jones Center, which serves the Chicago Heights area with programs and meals for children and adults, as well as supporting various programs operated by the Center.• Overnight shifts to support the PADS operation to provide shelter for the homeless in the southern suburbs of Chicago• The collection and distribution of food items to the Tinley Park Food Pantry, and other local organizations when called uponThe Mission Ministry team continually works with the Faith United congregation to identify carefully the opportunities for service that match our interests and abilities, to allow us enthusiastically to experience the fulfillment and joy that comes with serving others, and to seek humbly and prayerfully to glorify God in this ministry.

PERSONNEL-PLANNING-STRATEGY

COMING SOON

STEWARDSHIP-FINANCE

Stewardship and Finance Ministry

Responsibilities include:

•Review of resources for stewardship interpretation and education.

•Design of a stewardship campaign to inform the congregation about the church's mission and needs.

•Determining the date of the dedication of pledges subject to Session approval.

•Exploring ways to interpret good stewardship to the congregation throughout the year.

•Preparing an annual budget and presenting it to the congregation subject to Session approval.

•Reviewing expenses and receipts throughout the year to report and recommend to Session.

•Administer the memorial funds.

•Develop and implement an investment program for church funds.

•See that bills are paid which is done by the treasurer.

•Arrange for the annual audit.

•Present certain mission opportunities to the congregation.

The Stewardship and Finance Ministry reports to the Session.

Leading church members to a closer commitment to God through their financial and physical support of the church is both a responsibility and a reward of serving on the Stewardship and Finance Ministry.

Members of Faith United are welcome to attend our meetings and join the team..

WORSHIP Worship MinistryW Welcoming & inviting O Organ & piano music R Reflect & rejoice S Sermons biblically based that relate to today H Handicapped accessible sanctuary I Inspire P Pray & praise the Lord mightilyTo be a Worship Team Member, you need a love of the worship life of the church, a commitment to God, a desire to help others join in the worship life of the church and an understanding of people & their worship needs.Our ministry is dedicated to overseeing the worship service and making it meaningful. We follow the lectionary and use 2 different hymnals for singing, one being the Presbyterian hymnal, with the organ and/or piano. We, at times, sing praise songs also. We have a choir of nine people at present who sing an anthem each Sunday. We have a 5-10 minute children'’s time every Sunday. Children under 5 may then go to the nursery, if they desire, for the remaining part of the service. Communion is served the 1st Sunday of each month. Most of the time Communion is served to each pew, occasionally it is done by intinction.We have a soundproof cry room at the back of the sanctuary with a picture window so you can see the service and a speaker to hear the service.This ministry team is responsible for reviewing the order of the worship service, serving Communion along with the Deacons, selection and training of liturgist & ushers, securing pulpit supply and organist as necessary, and arranging children’'s time. We plan an outdoor worship service during the summertime with a picnic on the grounds following the worship service. We do any miscellaneous duties requested by the Pastor and/or Session.The reward for serving on the Worship Ministry team gives us great satisfaction in bringing people into a closer relationship with our Lord through corporate worship, a sense of joy in creating meaningful worship experiences, and guiding the community of faith through praise, prayer, and hearing & responding to the Lord’'s Word.

DEACON MINISTRY

Deacon Ministry

D Deacons

E Enthusiastically

A Administer

C Caretaking

O Organization

N Nurturing

S Spiritualization

Skills & knowledge needed to be a Deacon are: a gift of hospitality, compassion, empathy and people skills, a commitment of Gods word of helping and caring for others and a desire to participate and encourage others to join in the work of the church. We the Deacons of Faith United are people dedicated to serve the entire congregation of our church. We have a very strong belief in the power of prayer and the importance and impact that it has on our lives. Congregational Care Ministry is very important to us. We maintain congregational care groups, take Communion to shut-ins, maintain prayer chain and all church call lists, help with needed transportation, arrange meals for those who are ill, Island Members, etc. We also oversee the adult fellowship such as, coffee hour following worship, plan adult social events, host Clergy Assoc. & Mission Council 8 meetings, host funeral luncheons and wedding receptions when requested by members and miscellaneous duties requested by or assigned by the Pastor or Session. We also take care of the Fellowship Hall.

Reward for this: Showing Gods love by touching the lives of people through caring and hospitality. Providing opportunities (Social events) for people to get to know one another and have fun in the process. Knowing that the services we provide are necessary for the programs and work of the church to function properly and smoothly.

PRESBYTERIAN WOMENS ORGANIZATION

COMING SOON

CLERK OF SESSION
PROPERTY TEAM
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
EVANGELISM COMMITTEE
MISSION COMMITTEE
PERSONNEL-PLANNING-STRATEGY
STEWARDSHIP-FINANCE
WORSHIP
DEACON MINISTRY

CALENDAR

Page 1

Movie Night Jan. 27th _ 6pm

We will be watching The Ultimat Gift, snacks and drinks will be provided. This is an all ages family event.

Page 2

Mission Council 8 Leadership Training Jan.28th

8:30am Registration

9:00am Worship

9:45-11:30 Morning Session "Updating Child Protection" or "Creativity As A Spiritual Discipline"

11:30-12:30 Lunch (cost $5)

12:30-2:00 Afternoon Session "Theology Of Food" or "New FOG"

RSVP to Pastor Adam by Jan. 25th

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Youth Service Sunday

Worship will be led by the youth of the church. Come support the tomorrow of our church, today.

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Mission Council 8 Healing Service Feb. 11th

5pm worship will be followed by fellowship and open discussion. Hosted by Calvary United Protestant, Park Forest Illinois. Moderated by Rev. Eddie Knox.

Over the past few years there has been a great deal of hurt and fragmentation in our Mission COuncil. This event seeks to address that hurt and heal it with the peace of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit to bond us together as the one body of the Church. Please come and support one another as we grow together in love.