The Chicago Tribune reported that former William Blair & Co. Managing Partner Edward “Ed” McCormick Blair, 95, died at his home in Lake Bluff on Dec. 22. Blair was the son of William McCormick Blair, founder of William Blair & Co., a Chicago-based investment firm, and the great grandnephew of Cyrus McCormick, inventor of the McCormick reaper. Please visit the Trib’s “Chicago Breaking Business” website for the full story.

You can find more information about William Blair & Co and Edward McCormick Blair on the web–here are some links:

William Blair Co. home page: https://www.williamblair.com/Pages/index.asp
William Blair & Co.–history of the firm: https://www.williamblair.com/Pages/index.asp

There are a lot of links on the following website, but it’s worth noting that the person or people behind the website don’t identify themselves: www.smokershistory.com

http://www.smokershistory.com/WmBlair.htm

Christmas traditionally brings wayward sheep back into the fold. And what about the Sunday after Christmas? A lot of sheep took one look at the foot of snow in the meadow on Dec. 26 … and pulled the fleece blanket over their head and went back to sleep. So here’s something for those of you who missed church, as well as for those who never go to church: It’s a new feature that GazeboNews is experimenting with called “Sunday Sermons.”

The idea is to post the first paragraph of recent sermons from local places of worship, and also include a link to the church websites for those people who want to read (and sometimes hear) more. Our goal is to include any house of worship that would like to be included, so please contact adrienne@gazebonews.com if you would like to see your community represented here. Some of the sermons are from the most recent Sunday, others are from the previous week or two.

Union Church of Lake Bluff

“Love Incarnate”
1 John 4:7-12
December 26, 2010

Pastor Mark Hindman

Welcome to worship on the Sunday after Christmas which this year happens to be the very day after Christmas! Next to having Christmas day fall on a Sunday (which is what happens next year) this is a red letter, low attendance Sunday! This is the day when an awful lot of faithful members and friends think to themselves, “Wasn’t I just at church?” This is also the day when most pastors have thought ahead and wondered, “Who can I get to preach?” I’m here, though. So are you! I’m really glad you’re here! (Just promise you won’t tell the folks who aren’t here this morning about the free I-pad give away!)

Click here to read the sermon on the Union Church of Lake Bluff’s website

Christ Church, Lake Forest
“The Big Question”
Pastor Mike Woodruff
Dec. 24, 2010

It’s remarkable to believe that God once arrived in a package this small. It’s remarkable to believe that we were all once this small. (baby crying) It’s remarkable to believe that we thought having a live baby was the right way to go. (laughter)

If you are not happy with me, I was going to point out that it’s also remarkable when we see a baby and we’re filled with wonder, to think of all the different things that we actually ought to wonder about. And what I would like you to wonder about and marvel about is that the creator God of heaven and earth would be willing to become as helpless and as vulnerable as an infant, and come down giving up the glory of heaven and the safety of heaven in order to come down on a rescue mission for us.

Click here to listen to an audio recording of this sermon from Christ Church

The Church of the Holy Spirit, Lake Forest

By the Rev. Wendy DeFoe Lane for 4 Advent
Dec. 19, 2010
Year A: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80: 1-7, 16-18; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25

Each year for the past five years or so, on the first Tuesday of Advent, the women of our parish are invited to gather and to participate in Advent by Candlelight, a dessert party and prayer service which opens the observance of Advent, this holy season of hope and anticipation about the coming of our Savior. To me, it is a celebration of a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all creation might be reconciled and find God’s perfect peace. This year we had the gift of a poem, created and read by Lynne Atherton, a faithful member of this parish. I would like to share it with you this morning. The title, Would I be Afraid?

What if You really came, I mean, what if You really came again…….this month! You, Lord Jesus………………..fairest shepherd of the sheep, our sacrificial lamb whom we now await as tender babe, helpless as we. Would I be afraid? Would I stand at the door and say, “I’d invite you in but my house is a mess”?

To read the rest of this CHS sermon, please click on the following: CHS 4 Advent – Year A – December 19, 2010

Click here to read previous sermons at the CHS website

First Presbyterian Church, Lake Forest
“Reversed Fortunes” by Reverend Erik Dailey
Luke 1: 46-55
December 12, 2010: The 3rd Sunday of Advent

So here we are right in the thick of the Advent Season, where we anxiously await the birth of Christ. Of course, outside the doors of the church you don’t hear the term “advent” very often. Outside the church we are of
course in the middle of the “Christmas season,” and with this season comes lots and lots of Christmas music. There are radio stations dedicated to playing only Christmas music until the nd of December. If you really want to burn yourself out on the Christmas season and succumb to a “bah-humbug” demeanor, keep your radio tuned at all times to one of those stations. Your brain will eventually shut itself off for protection.

Click here for a PDF of this First Pres sermon
Click here for the sermon lineup at the First Pres website

Click here for an audio of the Lessons & Carols from Dec. 19, 2010

St. James Lutheran, Lake Forest

December 12, 2010
Advent 3
Senior Pastor Richard Holmer

First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10
Second Reading: James 5:7-10
Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11

“Changes on the Way”
Have you ever thought of Jesus as a thunderstorm? Like one of those amazing storms that blow in during springtime, where the thunderheads pile up to 50,000 feet or more, the sky turns unusual shades of purple and green, tempestuous winds blow, lightning bolts stretch across the sky – - and before the rain even begins to fall, you can smell it in the air. Such cloudbursts are powerful, awe-inspiring – - impossible to ignore. Some experience thunderstorms as wonderfully invigorating. Others find them a bit intimidating. Well, Jesus is all that and more. Christ comes down to the earth like the rain:
o renewing and restoring life,
o washing away dirt and grime,
o causing significant transformation.

Click here to read the St. James Lutheran sermon from 12-12-10 and also to hear an audio tape of the service.

One of the best ways to keep up with what’s going on with the kids at our local schools is to read the newspapers that are written by the students themselves. Here are links to newspaper websites or pdf files of newspapers from several local schools. This is a starter list–some schools are working on new editions and will be included at a later date; and some schools either don’t have a newspaper or don’t post it online.

Lake Forest College: The Stentor.com

Lake Forest Academy: The Spectator

Lake Bluff Elementary School:
– LBES News issue #3 Dec.

– Lbes Issue #2 nov small

Submitted by the Lake County Health Department

Winter is a great time of year for outdoor sports or sipping hot chocolate in front of a warm fire. But, winter can also be a time of illness and injury if people fail to take appropriate health and safety precautions. Following are some tips from the Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center on how to avoid some of winter’s woes.

Colds
Colds are the world’s most common illness. More than 100 viruses can cause colds. While there is no vaccine to protect you, there are ways to lessen your chances of coming down with the illness. Keep the humidity up in your home (between 30 and 40%) since dry air dries out the mucous membranes in your nose and throat and causes them to crack, creating a place where cold viruses can enter your body. Wash your hands frequently and avoid contact with people who have colds. Build up your natural resistance by eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep.

The Flu
Influenza is an upper respiratory infection that can make persons of any age ill. Symptoms include fever, chills, cough and soreness, and aching in the back, arms and legs. Abdominal cramps, vomiting or diarrhea are not flu symptoms, although they can be present with flu because of a coincidental condition. In protecting yourself and your family, remember that hand washing is the first line of defense against the flu. Other good habits to help prevent the spread of any respiratory illnesses are to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, stay home when you are sick, and get a flu shot.

Hypothermia
Hypothermia can be fatal if not detected promptly and treated properly. It occurs when the body temperature drops to 95 degrees or below. A 3.6 degree drop from a normal body temperature of 98.6 degrees may seem trivial, but it’s drastic for vital organs. The most common victims are older persons who have difficulty keeping themselves or their homes warm in cold weather. Senior citizens should take caution that they don’t turn their thermostats down too low to save money. Infants less than 1 year of age are also at risk because they lose body heat more easily than adults, and cannot make enough body heat by shivering. The condition can develop over a period of time. Even cool indoor temperatures of 60 degrees can eventually trigger hypothermia. Symptoms include shivering, drowsiness, slurred speech, hallucinations and slow and shallow breathing. If you notice these symptoms in a person, take his or her temperature. If it is 95 degrees or below, call a doctor or ambulance, or take the victim directly to the hospital.

Those who have inadequate heating at home should visit malls or other public places to
stay warm. As always, check on neighbors who live alone and never leave infants or pets alone in cold cars. When outdoors, be aware of the added effect of wind chill. For example, 20-degree air temperature combined with a 20 miles per hour wind, has the effect of 10 degrees below zero on the human body.

Frostbite
When spending long periods of time outdoors during cold weather, be alert for signs of frostbite. It initially occurs in the nose, ears, fingers and toes, and can happen at any temperature below 32 degrees. Frostbitten skin is whitish, and stiff and feels numb rather than painful. Children are especially susceptible to frostbite because they can become so engrossed in their play that they overlook discomfort. To prevent frostbite, wear hats that cover the ears, scarves or masks to cover the face, and several layers of clothing to trap body heat. Mittens are better than gloves. To treat frostbitten skin, do not rub the area, since friction can cause further skin damage. Seek medical attention immediately. Warm the affected parts of the body with warm water for 20 to 40 minutes. Wrap the frostbitten area in blankets, sweaters, etc.

Snow Shoveling
You should avoid shoveling snow unless you are in good physical condition. If you become breathless, stop, go indoors and warm up before continuing. Overexertion can cause heart attacks and lifting heavy snow can cause back ailments.

Winter Sports Safety
Lake County’s numerous inland lakes are frequently used for skating and snowmobiling
during winter. If you skate on a lake or a pond, take safety precautions. Do not skate unless the ice has a uniform thickness of at least 4 inches. Have rescue devises, such as a rope, ladder and blankets on hand. Do not skate alone. If you are snowmobiling, do not travel on lakes or rivers without knowing the ice conditions. To be safe, there should be 8 inches of clear ice. While snowmobiling, also be aware that heavy or drifting snow can obscure fences, tree stumps and uneven ground. Also, be especially careful if a child is your passenger.