Geneseo
Evangelical Free
Church
Volume 19 Issue 2 - FEBRUARY 2014
The elders and search team are pleased to
announce a candidating weekend February 14-16.
Focus group Question and Answer meetings
have been scheduled with the candidate. Please
note the schedule below and sign-up to attend
the meeting that corresponds with your area of
ministry. Sign-up is available at the Welcome
Center and ABF classes.
•
•
•
•
•
Find us online at www.gefc.org
Pastor
Candidate
Weekend
7-9 p.m., Friday, February 14 - Pastor
Stephen Palm will meet with ABF leaders,
small group leaders and hosts,
Administrative Council, and church staff.
Dessert will be served.
9-11 a.m., Saturday, February 15 Pastor Stephen will meet with children’s and
youth ministries leaders as well as worship
team members. Coffee and donuts will be served.
6:30-8:30 p.m., Saturday, February 15 - Pastor Palm will meet with
congregational members and attenders that don’t fit into an area listed above.
Dessert will be served.
8:15 a.m. & 10:45 a.m., Sunday, February 16 - Pastor Stephen Palm will preach
at both morning services.
7:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 18 - There will be a business meeting to vote on
calling Pastor Stephen Palm to Geneseo Evangelical Free Church.
February 1414-16
Childcare will be available for children age 6 wks. - 6 yrs. old for the focus groups and
the business meeting for those who RSVP no later than Tuesday, February 11.
Baby Shower
Ladies, the Blessed Expectation Ministry invites
you to a Baby Shower on Saturday, February 8
@ 10:00 a.m. to celebrate the birth of Irene Lily
Frank born January 10 to Josh & Alicia Frank.
Martha Countryman is collecting for a group gift
through February 2. Registration and group gift
giving is available in each ABF as well as at the
Welcome Center. Checks are payable to Martha
Countryman.
Photo above right: Irene Lily Frank was welcomed home by mom and dad,
Josh and Alicia, and big sisters, Alaina and Elodie.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
INTERIM
SR. PASTOR
• Dick VanDyke
ELDERS
• Jim Bos
• Scott Johnson (pending)
• Jim Mason
• Darrell Reiling
ADM. COUNCIL
• Kevin Dykstra - Missions
• Pat Hemminger - Care
• Trish Henkhaus - Youth
• Nick Henthorn Communications
• Mark Johnson - Treasurer
• Chris Kuster - Director
(pending)
• Debby Mason - Children
• Steve Rogers - Trustee
• Catherine Sommers Administrative Assistant
• Doug States - Worship
• Adult -
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
CHANGE : The Only
Thing That’s Constant
2
Who’s Who
3
Friends of the Food
4
Pantry
Donation Policy
4
Calendar
5
Finance Report
6
Child Arise Update
6
Page 2
2
CHANGE: The Only Thing
That’s Constant
by Pastor Dick VanDyke
Pastor Dick & Joan VanDyke
Over the almost seventeen months that I’ve had the privilege of being your interim senior
pastor, I’ve witnessed significant changes. Besides watching our attendance and giving grow,
I’ve seen new people come on the Administrative Council and the Elder Board, brought on
a part-time music director, participated in a process that significantly changed the
constitution and rejoiced in the growth of our ABFs and small groups.
But, Lord willing, there is more change on the horizon – a new elder, a new Administrative
Council Director and a new senior pastor with the potential of additional staff. With a new
senior pastor, changes will inevitably take place. He will be a different personality with
different experiences in his background and with dreams and visions for the future of
GEFC.
To B r a d C o x
and his family
as they mourn
the loss of his
f a t h e r, A r t
who passed
away on
D e c e m b e r 2 6,
2013
&
Nate Johnson
and his family
as they mourn
the loss of his
grandfather
who passed
away on
J a n u a r y 1 9,
2014
I think most of us, including yours truly, don’t necessarily like change unless we’re unusually
adventuresome or the change benefits us. Change is sometimes hard because it pushes us
out of our comfort zone and we resort to the famous seven last words of the church:
“We’ve never done it that way before.”
These habits and patterns that we’ve become comfortable with may be challenged and our
brain assumes that any change will naturally be for the worse or at least make us very
uncomfortable. We have a tendency to fear the unknown and to resist.
As I shared in an article in the September 2013 issue of the Free News: “Statistically
churches go through life cycles which start with the vision of a small group of people; the
setting of goals and structures; and effective ministries. It is at this point however, that a
church either plateaus and begins the downward side of the cycle (apathy, low morale,
death) or it casts new vision and creates that desire to dream again and renew and recast
effective ministries. I believe GEFC is at that place where it is already casting new vision,
reordering existing structures and ministries and beginning to dream again.”
Change is inevitable and how we respond to it will determine GEFC’s future. Business
leader Max DuPree stated, “We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we
are.” There are certain things that must not change – our confidence in the Bible as God’s
Word, salvation by grace through faith, the deity of Jesus Christ, and our dependence on
prayer just to name a few. While the message must never change, methods always will. As
long as the changes we make are always for God’s glory and the furtherance of his
Kingdom in Geneseo through GEFC, then we need to embrace change that new leadership
might bring. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:22 “I have become all things to all men so that by
all possible means I might save some.” May God help us to be willing to embrace any
change that will help GEFC fulfill its mission as given to us in Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Page 3
3
Who’s Who
by Catherine Sommers
Since it is still early in the New Year I
thought it might be helpful to remind you of
who’s who in regards to leadership at GEFC.
The day-to-day operations of the church are
split into 8 areas and each of these areas
oversees a segment of the individual
ministries of the church. If you have
questions about a particular ministry contact
either the ministry leader or the overseeing
coordinator.
Our pending Administrative Council
Director is Chris Kuster and he will
overseeing all 8 Ministry Coordinators as
well as the Treasurer of the church, the
Gifts & Memorials team and the
Administrative Assistant (as her work
pertains to the committee).
Our Adult Coordinator is vacant at the time
of printing but oversees:
• ABF’s - Carl Brinkmann
• Men’s Ministries - Scott Johnson
• Women’s Ministries - Jill Joyner
• Partners-in-Prayer - Debbie Rogers
• MOPS - Alli Stahl
• Small Groups - David Gilmore
Our Care Coordinator is Pat Hemminger
and she oversees the following ministry
leaders.
• Benevolence - Donna Westerlund
• Newcomers Baskets - Mercedes Bealer
• Blessed Expectations - Teresa Johnson
• Food Pantry and Christmas Gifts - Pam
Reiling
• Funeral Dinners - Gina Pearson
• Kitchen & Hostess Groups - Debbie
Rogers
• Meals - Lynn Bos
• Wellness - De Kosman
• Christmas Baskets - Annette
Kirschenmann
Our Children’s Coordinator is newly
appointed Debby Mason. She will oversee
the following ministry leaders:
• Awana - Eric Bos
• Nursery - Dayna Ford
• CAP - Marti Loucks & Dawn Rettig
• Children’s Church - Dona Carter
• Children’s Sunday School - Annie
Henthorn
• Vacation Bible School - Rebecca Daniels
Our Communications Coordinator is Nick
Henthorn and he oversees the following:
• Free News - Catherine Sommers
• Library - Catherine Sommers
• Website - Ron Hartman
Our Missions Coordinator is Kevin Dykstra
Our Trustee Coordinator is Steve Rogers
and he oversees our contracted custodian,
Sheilah Wigant-McGee.
Our Worship Coordinator is Doug States
and he oversees the following:
• Worship Teams - Nate Johnson
• Sound Tech - Doug States
• Ushers - Rick Gilson
• Greeters - John & Pat Hemminger
• Ordination Preparers - Roland & Pat
Eklof
Our Youth Coordinator is Trish Henkhaus
and she oversees:
• Jr. High Sunday School - Steve
Alexander
• Jr. High Youth Group - Lori Gilmore
• Sr. High Sunday School - Dan Pearson
• Sr. High Youth Group - Nate Johnson
Our Treasurer is Mark Johnson and he
oversees:
• Expense Secretary - Dan Leigh
• Income Secretary - David Jones
Jill Joyner oversees our Gifts and Memorials
and also reports to the Adm. Council Chair.
I N F A N T/ C H I L D
DEDICATION
There will be an Infant/
Child Dedication Service
on Sunday, February 9
during both services that
morning. If you have
never dedicated your
child(ren) and would like
to publically dedicate
them to the Lord, please
contact the church office
by February 2nd
and
indicate which service
you prefer.
BABY
BOTTLES
FOR LIFE
We have the privilege
again this year to
partner with Pregnancy
Resources
to
help
protect the lives of
unborn children. The
mission of Pregnancy
Resources
is
to
provide
life-affirming
Biblically-based
resources to encourage
inf or med
decisions
regarding
pregnancy
and premarital sexual
abstinence. Pregnancy
Resources ministers to
the hearts of women
considering
abortion
and their families with
truth and love. Join us in
an effort to support this
life-protecting ministry
by taking home a Baby
Bottle for Life and filling
it with a generous check
and then returning it to
the church by Sunday,
February 16th. (Specific
instructions
bottles.)
are
inside
the
Page 4
4
Friends of the Food Pantry
by Jolynn Kitterman
New
Donation
Policy
In December the Elder
Boar d
adopted
a
Donation Policy put
together
by
the
treasurers. The entire
policy was explained at
the Annual Business
Meeting and details will
be given in bulletin
inserts
in
early
February. The main
emphasis is that there
are only three accounts
that
will
accept
designated giving:
•
•
•
General Fund
Benevolence Fund
Building Fund
Giving to any budgeted
line item (for example
Youth, Awana, small
groups, etc.) will either
be returned to the giver
or will be deposited in
the general fund not the
budgeted line item. For
a copy of the policy
contact
the
church
office.
Our prayers are filled with thanks and gratitude for the many blessings that have come
from throughout the community during the past holiday season and all of 2013. Our clients
have had the opportunity to see God’s love at work through the donations of time,
clothing, toys, food, and money. This lesson is learned and remembered by many who are
helped. Geneseo is a giving and caring place, and we are lucky to experience the love for
others that is shared on a day-to-day basis.
Beginning February 3rd representatives from AARP will be at the Geneseo Public Library
to assist people with tax preparation. They will be available every Monday and Wednesday
afternoon from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. This service is provided free of charge.
In February and March we will continue our focus of encouraging clients to make wise
choices to stretch what little food dollars they may have. A representative from the
University of IL Extension Outreach Program is periodically available when clients come to
pick up food. She provides low cost recipe ideas using ingredients that the Food Pantry has
available. She also takes a minute to speak personally with each client. It is challenging to
consistently find low cost nutritional foods that all members of the family enjoy, and people
appreciate her help.
If your closets have too many clothes and not enough space, you might consider donating
outgrown or no longer needed clothing items to the Food Pantry. We especially need baby
and children’s clothing of all sizes. We also take household items. We have an ongoing
need for items such as kitchen utensils, pots and pans, plates, cups, silverware, etc. Your
help is appreciated!
Unemployment remains high in our area, and many people with jobs have had their hours
cut. These facts contribute to a steady increase in the number of people who need
assistance from the Food Pantry to feed their families. Monthly client numbers average
between 70-80 families and singles. Your prayers, support, and donations are helping us
keep up with the increased need and we appreciate the many ways in which you provide
assistance to those who need it.
Food needs for February are: sugar, flour, ketchup, mustard, mayo, and jelly.
Non-food needs are: toilet paper, laundry
detergent, baby wipes, band-aids, and Tylenol.
NOTE: Please place your donations in the
basket in the airlock and they will be delivered
to the Food Pantry. If you have any questions
concerning our local Food Pantry please contact
our representative Pam Reiling.
Page 5
5
FEBRUARY 2014
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
1
Dear Church Family,
Thank you so much for the thoughtful and beautiful cards sent to us for
our Anniversary. It warmed our hearts.
With love,
Dave & Ruth Windy
2
3
Communion
Homeschool
Group 1-4 p.m.
4
5
6
AWANA
6:15 p.m.
Reading
Connection
10 a.m.
REACH &
ELEVATE
4-6 p.m.
7
8
Frank’s Baby
Shower
9
10
11
12
13
14
Infant/Child
Dedication
Homeschool
Group 1-4 p.m.
Women’s Bible
Study 9 a.m.
MOPS 9am
Women’s Bible
Study 6:30 p.m.
REACH &
ELEVATE
4-6 p.m.
DEADLINE for
March
Free News
publication
Elders Meeting
7 p.m.
Pastoral
Candidate
Focus Group
7-9 p.m.
See front page
for more info.
15
Pastoral
Candidate
Focus Groups
9-11 a.m. &
7-9 p.m.
See front page
for more info.
16
NO YOUTH
GROUPS
17
18
19
20
21
22
Administrative
Council Mtg.
7 p.m.
Women’s Bible
Study 9 a.m.
AWANA
6:15 p.m.
Women’s Bible
Study
6:30 p.m.
MOPS
Play date
9:30 a.m.
26
27
28
AWANA
6:15 p.m.
Reading
Connection
10am
Pastoral
Candidate
preaching both
services
23
REACH &
ELEVATE
4-6 p.m.
AWANA
6:15 p.m.
Business
Meeting to vote
on candidate
24
25
Women’s Bible
Study 9 a.m.
MOPS
6:30 p.m.
Elders Meeting
7 p.m.
Women’s Bible
Study
6:30 p.m.
Child Arise Christmas Collection Update
6
Kenya Widows and Orphans Ministry
• 2 - 1 month gasoline to pump water for The Well
Dear Geneseo Evangelical Free Church,
An incredible effort was made by your church to
help “the least of these” in Mbooni Kenya through
Child Arise Kenya Widows and Orphans Ministry!
Together you raised an astounding $3,643 and every
penny of it will go to Kenya. Items you donated are:
• 2 - Sets of hand farming tools (watering can, hoe,
•
•
•
•
•
•
cultivator, machete) for 1 widow
1 - Maize seeds, fertilizer, insecticide for 1
windowed woman
1 - School uniform, cardigan, socks for 1 orphaned
child
2 - Meals for 4 orphaned children in feeding
program
5 - Lambs for widowed woman
2 - Paper, math set, school book for 1 orphaned
child
1 - Sugar, flour, rice, oil for 1 widowed woman to
take home
Treasurers Financial Report
of Life
• 1 - University classes for 1 bright orphaned boy
• 13 - Bibles
• 3 - Blankets for older/sick widowed women
• Plus many donations to be used wherever needed
Truly amazing!
In Luke 8:49-56, Jesus gives life to a little girl who
died. He takes her by the hand and tells her, “Child,
arise.” Through GEFC and Child Arise, it’s as though
Jesus is reaching out His hand to His children, saying,
“Child Arise” and assisting the poorest widowed
women and orphaned children to rise above their
circumstances by rpesenting the Gospel of Jesus
Christ while providing relational, emotional and
physical support. God will be blessing many thorugh
your generoisity!
Sincerely,
Dawn Brown
President, Child Arise
Geneseo Evangelical Free Church
914 N. Chicago St., Geneseo, IL 61254
Phone: 309/944-4667
Fax: 309/944-4668
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.gefc.org
December 31, 2013
Annual Budget:
$377,793.00
GF Contributions YTD:
$509,752.31
Expenses YTD:
$316,067.06
Interim Senior Pastor, Dick VanDyke
Worship Director, Nate Johnson
Administrative Assistant, Catherine Sommers
General Fund
$216,075.90
Sunday Worship Services
Emergency Fund
$100,000.00
Building Fund
$ 99,333.48
•
•
Capital Improvement
$ 81,500.00
Education for all ages - 9:30 a.m.
Designated Accounts
$ 13,921.54
TOTAL
$510,830.92
Traditional - 8:15 a.m.
Contemporary Service - 10:45 a.m.
The FREE NEWS
is published monthly by
Geneseo Evangelical Free Church