Lena United Methodist Church June Newsletter From the Desk of Pastor Brian LeBaron This past Sunday, May 24th, we had a dual celebration of Confirmation and Pentecost Sunday. Confirmation is the rite at which a baptized person, especially one baptized as an infant, affirms Christian belief and is admitted as a full member of the church. Rebecca Edler, Cole Gerber, Kendall Lobdell, and Jack and Kendra Setterstrom affirmed their baptismal vows and how they have put their faith and trust in Christ for salvation and endeavor to be disciples of Jesus. Pentecost is a Christian feast on the seventh Sunday after Easter commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and all believers. A special thanks to our Youth Director Christin Flucke and all these young people’s families for their nurture and support. Not only the confirmands, but many in the service testified to how the Holy Spirit is at work in their lives through brief handwritten responses given as a “Thank offering” during the passing of the offering plate. The result of these responses overwhelm me in a uplifting way to read about how God is working in the hearts and lives of our congregation. Here is just a sampling of what you had to share: “Thank you for your love and grace. Thanks for loving me, and our family.” “Blessed me with loving parents and siblings. A great life in the Lord so far.” “God shows me how important I am in his kingdom by bringing to my attention people in my neighborhood that need my help.” ‘The feeling I get when I help someone not expecting it. Pay back to next person.” “The Holy Spirit allows us to experience family within the church walls and beyond.” “Through sickness He taught me the truth about my weakness. Through healing me He taught me to love.” “I feel that the Holy Spirit has touched our lives by leading us to our house and a new, better life.” “He has given me the strength to lead a Bible study” “Answered prayer request to set aside worries and distractions in church so I can grow and worship.” “Love and support (concern) from church family. Food brought to the house many times.” “A thank you to all the people who helped and did things for me and my family during my sickness.” “After prayers we received our children that we since have adopted.” “The Holy Spirit has brought me through my life, always knowing its presence is with me and there is love and hope for me to receive and to give.” A word from our Parish Nurse………. What is Parish Nursing, or as we call it now Faith Community Nursing???? It is a good and complicated question. First it was started by a Lutheran Minister named Granger Westberg in Park Ridge, Illinois. He wanted to combine churches and medical clinics. He wanted clergy and doctors and nurses to work together providing holistic care to the members. Prayer centered care added in with science based care. Remember every church is different, and Lena UMC is unique and has needs unlike any other church. My plans are to collect data, which I did in the survey, then form a group to brainstorm health related programs. I want everyone associated with the Lena UMC to know that I am available for a call or visit anytime if you just have a concern or question. I can make an appointment to see you, but although the pastor has given me a file drawer in his office, I do not have a office of my own at church. My phone number is 815-541-4203. You can call for emotion support, physical needs or spiritual needs. I want to help anyway I can. I would visit with, or without, the pastor for hospital visits or postoperative visits. I am here for mental health or grief problems as I have experience in both areas of nursing. My history in nursing may be of interest to you. I graduated as an LPN in 1979 and worked at St Clare in Monroe orthopedics. Then went back to school and received my RN in 1985. I worked in Monroe Hospital in inpatient Psych for 4 years, Medical, Surgical for 6 years, and floated to the OB, Nursery, ICU, and ER, leaving in July 1998. I continued to work at the hospital on availability status but also went to outpatient mental health clinic in 1998 where I met your pastor. LOL, he worked there, too. In 2005, worked for the state of Wisconsin as a RN in a long term care center for the profoundly mentally disabled and handicapped, until 2013. Now I sub occasionally for the Freeport school district. I have found all my work rewarding. Please call for any needs you see for yourself or in the community. Thank you. Kathryn LeBaron RN Lena UMC Youth and Children’s Summer Ministry Happenings Gather in Community – Grow in Faith – Go to Serve Others Youth Worship Services Only offered on these special summer dates: June 7th, July 26th, August 23rd Open to all students Students will be dismissed part way through the Sunday morning worship service to attend a worship time geared more towards young people. Participate in music, activities, and discussions about faith with other kids your age! This summer we will only be holding these services once a month, and will be doing something unique at each one. For our June 7th service join us as we experience worship at a neighboring church and talk about the similarities and differences in the way that our brothers and sisters in Christ choose to worship God! Youth Mini Golfing Sunday, June 7th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm Open to students who will be going into grades 6-12 Kick off summer right as we celebrate some favorite Lena destinations. We’ll head to Lions Park for a round of mini golf, hang out in the park for some ultimate Frisbee or just be silly on the playground, and then grab some ice cream at the Lena Drive In! No charge, all are welcome! Please RSVP to Christin by Wednesday, June 3rd . Outdoor Worship, Brunch, and Pool Party Sunday, June 21st, 9:00 am – 11:00 am Open to all students, adults, and families!!! Join us on Sunday, June 21st for the 2nd annual outdoor worship service at Lion’s Park. Worship will be at the usual time of 9:00 am, but we’ll have the chance to worship God amidst His beautiful creation! Following worship there will be a congregational brunch and time for fellowship together. This is a fun, family-friendly event you are not going to want to miss! Corrections 1. We will be having children's worship on Sunday June 7th but will be staying at our church as normal for a service of games and trivia instead of traveling to a neighboring church as the newsletter states (we will save that trip for August) 2. At this point we are NOT planning to include a pool party as a part of the outdoor worship service on June 21st. Also stay tuned for more details about these other awesome events coming up later this summer… Tuesday, July 21st 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Youth Trip to Magic Waters Sunday, July 26th – Thursday, July 30th VBS with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Friday, August 7th – Sunday August, 9th Teens Encounter Christ Retreat Dinner served at 5:00, programming from 6:00 – 8:00 pm Sunday, August 16th 2:00 – 4:00 pm (tentative) Elementary Kids Wet and Wild Fun Day Have questions or want to get involved? Please do not hesitate to talk to me! Christin Flucke, Youth Ministry Director Phone: 920-273-5963 Email: [email protected] 2015 Youth Mission Trip Update What: Youth Mission Trip Who: 7 youth and 3 adults Where: Chicago, IL When: June 28th – July 3rd, 2015 Why: To grow in faith and in community with one another and to live out our Christian calling to love and serve others the way Jesus did It is so exciting to think that our youth mission trip is just a few short weeks away! A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has helped to support this trip over the last several months through our various fundraising efforts! We greatly appreciate your investment in our youth and in those we will have the opportunity to serve in Chicago. This trip would not be possible without you! Even though our fundraising for the trip has come to an end, we still invite you to journey with us through our final few weeks of preparation by continuing to lift our trip and all of the participants up in prayer. Pray that God will be present in our final team meetings and in our conversations with CSM (our coordinating organization) as we finalize all the details. Pray for those going on the trip and for all those that we will meet throughout our journey. Pray that hearts and minds would be open to the incredible experiences that are waiting for us in Chicago. And most of all, pray that not only during our mission trip week, but each and every day we would each find ways to answer the call to love and serve like Jesus! We also invite you to join us on Sunday, June 28th for a special blessing and sending of our team during the morning worship service. Following worship that day, our team will load up the vans and head to Chicago for what is sure to be an incredible week of learning and service. Also, we tentatively plan to have a special trip presentation for the congregation on Sunday July 26th, during which we will be able to share with you some pictures, video clips, and personal stories from the participants. It is our hope that, although we aren’t able to take you all along with us to Chicago, this will give you a glimpse of what we were able to experience thanks to your gifts of prayer and financial support. So please consider joining us in our journey through your prayers and attendance at both of these special services. Many thanks, The 2015 Youth Mission Trip Team Our condolences go to the family and friends of: TJ Gilley, Charlotte Snow, Glenn Rauschenberger, Scott Rider and Russell Eilders. Glenn’s son: Robert Rauschenberger 2636 S. Homer Lake Road Homer, IL 61849 Pray for Healing ... Anthony Welt, Espenanzia Williams, Ray Spielmann, Norma Streeb, Kevin Davis, Audrey Adleman, Bill & Kathy Dixon, Jerry & Joan Kempel, Ron Buchenau In treatment: Les Prince, Darlene Kossar, Marvin Kempel, Melissa LeBaron, Eleanor Flynn, Christine Dayton, Anna Hancock, Rhonda Hooker June Servants Liturgist 6/7 Roberta Rogers 6/14 Jackie Edler 6/21 Gary Rich 6/28 Sally Buchenau Greeters 6/7 David & Joanne Gruendler 6/14 Wayne & Olga Benson 6/21 Beulah Haeft & Pat Phillips 6/28 Beulah Haeft & LaVone Gabel Video Tech 6/7 Lisa Dascher 6/14 Elaine Williams 6/21 Marv Kempel 6/28 Cathy Rich Dial-a-Devotion 6/7 Elaine Williams 6/14 Kristie Flynn 6/21 Janet Lobdell 6/28 Jackie Edler Fellowship 6/7 Kathryn LeBaron & Tracey Williams 6/14 Bert Rogers & Cathy Rich 6/21 church in the park, with brunch following the service 6/28 Jackie Edler & Eleanor Holmes Text & Testimony 6/7 Elaine Williams 6/14 Kathy LeBaron 6/21 Randy Kryder & Tom Edler 6/28 Sally Buchenau Giving Update In an effort to keep our congregation better informed, about the financial affairs that support the mission and ministry of the church, we will be publishing ongoing summaries of our balance statement. We have detailed financial reports available and our Finance Committee can address any inquiries. Thus, we are starting with the publication of our first quarter actual income to projected budget income balance. Our budget was approved last fall at our Annual Church Conference. As we look forward to spring and summer, let us keep persevering and remain consistent and faithful in the giving of our tithes and offerings. Pastor Brian LeBaron Income to Budget YTD - January through May 17, 2015 $58,239 $66,000 ($7,761) Actual Income Budgeted Income Shortage Newsletter: For anyone wishing to receive his or her newsletter by email in the future, please send the email address that you would like the newsletter sent to, to the church at [email protected]. The office will save your email address and add you to the list of those receiving email newsletters. Thank you. June Birthdays 5 6 7 8 10 12 15 17 18 19 David Etnyre, Murry Lobdell Scott Heitkam, Kendra Setterstrom Kara Thomasson Nancy Etnyre, Michael Liphart, Dan Todd Sharon Schwartz Casey Roenneburg Nancy Price Eric Korte, Drew Rogers Sylvia Vehmeier Curt Goeke 21 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Betty Daws Gretchen Heitkam Jr. Dascher Gary Schwartz Susan Bussian, Mick Flynn, Kade Lobdell, Steve Rothschadl Harold Meeker Rory Schulz Joanne Snyder Bob Boyer, Andrea Hicks Anniversaries 1 2 3 7 9 Jim & Cheryl Hartney, Jeff & Connie Stamm Art & LaVone Gabel, Stephen & Jenica Roenneburg Kim & Nancy Lobdell Betty & Bruce Daws, Kim & Larry Nelson, Laverne & Marcia Pax Doug & Lori Robieson 14 15 16 24 25 27 28 30 Dick & Kara Thomasson Pete & Allie Brown Darin & Tammy Wybourn Doug & Connie Kempel Scott & Gretchen Heitkam Dean & Barb Gerbick Matt & Kathy Phillips Doug & Darlene Pauley, Gary & Aileen Schreiner Thank You’s On behalf of all of our staff and guests here at the Rockford Rescue Mission thank you for our recent donation. Your gifts help us care for hundreds of men, women and children who are homeless and struggling with some of life’s most difficult challenges. Many have come to us with little more than the clothes on their backs and must temporarily rely on the Mission for all their basic needs. Thank you again for your kindness and compassion. Your generosity is truly a blessing to our ministry, God bless you. Sherry Pitney Executive Director Thank you to Pat Phillips, Beulah Haeft, Donald and Elsie Lobdell for their help on this June newsletter! The entire congregation would like to extend a huge Thank You to Eleanor Holmes! We all love the ‘goodies’ and fellowship that we are offered after Sunday morning worship. But, without Eleanor, and the ladies who volunteer to bake (or shop), we would not be enjoying that time. Eleanor assures that there are volunteers each week to bring the goodies, AND she is here every Sunday making the coffee and cold drinks, or finding someone to fill in for her on the rare occasion that she is not here. The next time you see Eleanor, say thank you to her. In addition, the next Sunday you are enjoying a delicious sweet and a hot cup of coffee – remember that without Eleanor you would not be savoring that moment! What is a Grief Support Group? It is a group of persons who have each experienced an emotionally painful loss of a beloved person, place or thing. There is no judgment that one person’s grief is more significant than another person’s. So someone who has lost a pet or beloved collection of letters is given the same attention and support as a widow or widower. The opportunity to openly talk with people who understand the pain of grief is the best aid to learning how to live with grief. Grief does not go away over time because love never quits, and grief is frustrated love. The group is led by a trained and certified Grief Support Facilitator, who guides the group to stay focused on attentive listening to one another as well as openly sharing their personal story of grief. A signed agreement to keep everything said in the group strictly confidential is the only requirement for participation. Lena United Methodist Church offers an open Grief Support Group on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 P.M. A Greeter will be at the West entrance (across from the parking lot) to direct you to the meeting room. The next meeting will be on June 9th. Heal Grief Support Group through the Monroe Clinic HEAL grief and education group offers sessions open to anyone 18 yrs and older who has experienced the death of someone special. Six week sessions: June 3 through July 8 Wednesday s from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at: Monroe Clinic Hospice, St. Camillus Center 2101 Sixth Street, Monroe, WI 53566 There is no cost to attend. Space is limited, so please register by calling 608-324-1230 or 800-367-8406. More information is on their website www.monroeclinic.org. Strawberry Social St. Joseph’s annual Strawberry Social in Lena, IL. On June 10, 2015 from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the new St. Joseph’s Hall, 410 W Lena Street, Lena, IL. The menu consists of whole hog roast, BBQ, baked beans, potato salad, strawberry pie, Sundaes, and strawberry shortcake. Whole pies are available also for purchase. We hope you and your family can come for a good meal. Carry outs are welcome. Thank you! St. Joseph’s Parish Lena Living Center June Community activities Wed. June 3rd at 2:00 Afternoon Coffee Break at the Lena Mercantile Eatery. Enjoy a piece of pie/dessert and a beverage compliments of Lena Living Center. RSVP to 815.369.4561 Wed. June 17th from 5:00-6:00 pm. Community Supper. No cost or obligation—just good food and good fellowship. All ages welcome. Doll Apartment community Room. 1008 S. Logan, Lena, Il. Right next door to the Lena Living Center. Thursday, June 25th is Senior Bingo Day. Complimentary Lunch at 12:30 pm and Bingo with fun and prizes begins at 1:30 p.m. Both events held at the Doll Apartment Community Room, 1008 S. Logan, Lena, Il. Right next door to the Lena Living Center. Annual Rummage Sale WHEN: WHERE: TIME: Saturday $1 Bag JUNE 18, 19 & 20 First United Methodist Church 503 North Lily Creek Road Freeport, IL 61032 Thursday & Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 8am-Noon ************************************************************ Save the date for Vacation Bible School * * * Sunday, July 26th through Thursday, July 30th * * * * 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church * * 5:00 PM dinner served at Lena UMC * * Join your friends for Fun, Food, Learning and Music. * * A family Pool Party will be held on the last night at 8:oo PM * ************************************************************ United Methodist Women ROCKFORD DISTRICT SALAD SUPPER At First United Methodist Church 503 Lily Creek Road, Freeport, IL 61032 Wednesday, JUNE 24, 2015, TIME: 6:00 P.M. AWARDS AND CELEBRATIONS and SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT! Bring table service and one salad for every 2-3 attending. Beverage, rolls, and dessert will be furnished. Children and youth are welcome to attend! COME, ENJOY THE FELLOWSHIP WITH DISTRICT UMW FRIENDS Handicapped Accessible June 2015 Sunday Monday 1 8 PM - AA 7 9AM - Worship 9:15 AM - Youth Worship 10AM Fellowship 10:30 AM Adult SS 8 6:30 PM – Finance 8 PM - AA Tuesday 2 1 PM - Quilters 9 1 PM - Quilters 7 PM – Worship committee 7 PM – LUMC Grief Support Group 11 am - Youth Mission Trip Meeting 2-4 pm – Youth Mini Golfing 6 PM - Bible study @ Kryder’s 6:30 PM - Bible Study@Holmes 14 9AM – Worship Baptism of Audra Goecke 10AM Fellowship 10:30 AM Adult SS 15 8 PM – AA 21 Father’s Day 9AMWorship at Lion’s Park 10:30 AM Brunch in the park Pool party for Youth 22 7 PM Stagecoach Quilters 28 9AM Worship 10AM Fellowship 10:30 AM Adult SS 29 8 PM – AA 16 1 PM - Quilters July Newsletter deadline! 23 9:45 AM Hymn Sing Wednesday Thursday 3 2 pm – LLC Afternoon Coffee Break at the Lena Mercantile Eatery 6 PM – Monroe Clinic Grief Group Session 4 1-4 PM Lion’s Hearing Screening bus at LUMC – free hearing screenings 1 PM Elizabeth Circle 30 1 PM – Quilters 5 Saturday 6 8 AM – Men’s Breakfast 9:30 AM – UMW Lunch & Outing 10:30 am – 1:30 pm AJ’s Youth cook-out 10 11 10 AM - Bible Study @ Chapin’s 4:30 – 7 PM – St Joseph’s Strawberry Social 6 PM – Monroe Clinic Grief Group Session 6:30 – Hannah’s Helpers 12 13 17 5 -6 pm – LLC Community Supper 6 PM – UMW District Salad Supper 6 PM – Monroe Clinic Grief Group Session 18 6PM - Food & Fun Potluck 19 20 6:45 Am – Men’s Bible Study @ Flynn’s 8 am – 4 pm – First UMC rummage sale 8 am – 4 pm – First UMC rummage sale 24 1:00 PM – Bazaar committee 25 26 1:30 pm – LLC Senior Bingo day 1 PM – Quilters 8 PM - AA Friday 6 PM – Monroe Clinic Grief Group Session 1 6:30 PM – Bazaar Craft Workshop 2 3 Youth Mission Youth Mission Youth Mission Youth Mission Youth Mission Youth Mission Trip to Trip to Trip to Trip to Trip to Trip to Chicago Chicago Chicago Chicago Chicago Chicago 8 am – noon – First UMC rummage sale 27 UMW News: We had our Mother-Daughter-Sister-Friend luncheon on May 2nd. Lots of good food and desserts. We didn’t have any luck getting outside entertainment this year, so we entertained ourselves. (Thanks for the suggestion Christin.) We played some games: Left/Right game had us passing an envelope left and right as being read from a story. The winner at each table got the beautiful flower center pieces that were made by Sally Buchenau. Purse game had everyone emptying their purses of items mentioned until only one person had the last item mentioned. Then we played some games of memory sayings. Our last game was Barn Yard Bingo. You wrote down a farm animal and 4 numbers. When any of your numbers were called you made the sound of the farm animal you wrote down. When you got all 4 of your numbers you stood up and made your animal sound. We had some mighty strange sounding animals. Some were shy and some a little more boisterous. We gave the game winners Lena Money and note pads. I think everyone had a good time. We’re always telling our kids to go entertain themselves, so I think we proved that we can entertain ourselves too. Thank you to Pastor Brian, Larry & Ron Buchenau , Dwayne Robieson and Brad Moore for serving us and cleaning up. Our new group, Hannah’s Helpers started May 13th. Our first project was to decorate sugar cookies as a group for the Lena Blood Drive. I baked the cookies. Judy made the frosting. Then we had everyone else do the decorating. This is what life should be about, getting together with friends and doing fun things. Next meeting we will work on the heart pillow project for Hospice. If you know of a project that can be done for our community or around Stephenson County, let Judy Buchenau, Eleanor Holmes, Pat Edler, Tam Kryder or me know. We will certainly take the project under consideration. We are trying to encourage women who like to work on physical projects to join us. We have made a couple of changes to our UMW program booklet. We will be having a regular meeting on Aug. 3rd, instead of a “Mystery Outing”. We will still have our regular meeting on Sept. 5th also. We are going to try planning a Mystery Outing for Sept. 18th or 19th. Save those dates. The next UMW meeting is our Lunch & Outing on June 6th, 9:30. We will have a short meeting here at church and then we are going to Vince’s Italian Restaurant in Monroe. You can enjoy a day of shopping and exploring our Wisc. neighbor. So we can make reservations, please let one of us know if you will plan on going with us: Judy B. 815-369-4625 Cindy K. 815-369-5291 Maryanne 815-369-4827 Hope you’ll join us. Maryanne Gritzmaker, UMW president Council Meeting Tuesday May 12th, 2015, 6:30 p.m. Attendance: Pastor Brian, Judy Buchenau, Cathy Rich, Gary Rich, Larry Nelson, Vera Kempel, Cindy Kerchner, Pat Edler, Wayne Benson, Eleanor Holmes and Maryanne Gritzmaker Meeting opened with prayer by Pastor Brian. Pastor Brian: Told us about Rev. Vijaya Babu and his Love & Compassion Ministries. Gave us an article of the ministry. Gave the results of our Cure for the Common Church survey. We need to reach out to the community more. Endeavor to be a church of newness and except people no matter what their backgrounds are. Passed out an article on America’s changing religious landscape. Committee Reports: Eleanor - membership – reviewed visitor list. Starting a class for people who would like to join our church. Class will be on May 31st, 10:30 following our church service. See what they expect from the church. Also, invite spouses of members who are not members themselves. Church Growth Forum May 30th at Lena Community Center 9-11:00. Larry: • Van committee - talked to Barkau about a 2007 Chevy or Ford van. They said they could get us one anytime for around $11,000. • Carpet committee – Carpeting with ½”pad $2,776.31. UMW will pay $2,000 of it. Maybe the Knitters & Knotters would pay $350 and will ask Food & Fun to pay $350. Pat Edler motioned to purchase the Carpet and Gary Rich second it – motion passed. • It was suggested to buy a cart for the Clavanova for $200-400. Check with Lisa Stich about using money from the Finkenbinder Fund, which was given for music items. • Looking into using a Smart TV system for the pulpit, so people in that area can see what everyone else is seeing on the pull down screen. Talked about using the TV from the youth room upstairs while the room is being revamped to see how the project works before purchasing one. • Vacuum cleaners are in for repairs. Jennifer is using a Back Pack Vac that was donated. • Dwayne Robieson offered to assist with repairing the window casings in the small bathroom and the nursery. • Church could use a shop vacuum for bigger projects. • Got the estimate for landscaping the front of the church with Holland stone edgers and adding mulch. $850 to be paid for with money from Ham Loaf Supper. • Will be inventorying church properties – last audit was in 2010. Lavonne will audit the kitchen. • Checking on loose electrical socket and steeple light. • Move one (or both) of the old cabinets in the adult Sunday school room to the attic. • Remodel of bathroom – remove the stalls, install one lift toilet, new sink & cabinet, put in new stalls with outward swinging doors -$3000. Boiler repair $100. Elevator repair $700. Lawn treatment $268. Ackerman adding coolant to big refrigerator - $$$. Repair of lawnmower - $$$. Wayne – Staff parish meeting on May 19th annual review. Gary – Budget concerns – need wiser spending, put budget amounts in the bulletin weekly. Lena Lion’s asked to use our parking lot for their pork chop dinners at Fall Festival and to use our fellowship hall for serving the meals. A motion was made by Larry to allow them to use it, if that is what they decide to do. Motion was second by Wayne. Motion was passed. Meeting was ended with a prayer by Pastor Brian Next meeting is Tuesday, July 14th, 2015 at 6:30 Meeting adjourned with prayer at 9:00 p.m. Mary Anne Gritzmaker, secretary
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