SEPTEMBER 2014 November 2014 Thanksgiving POTLUCK All SAINTS SUNDAY Sunday, November 2 at 9:00 am Wednesday, November 19 At 5:30 in Fellowship Hall The FaithLINK Sunday School Class will provide the turkey, stuffing, gravy and drinks. Your potluck side dishes will complete our meal. The evening program will honor “The Arts” in our church, and our donations will be a special offering for Chaddock Children’s Home. Thanks for your generosity for this important mission. All Saints Sunday is a service to remember and honor members of our congregation who died this past year. Our guest preacher will be Dr. Lallene Rector, President of GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary and long-time friend of this congregation. Dr. Lallene Rector will also preach at our 10:30 am service. See the list of the saints we are honoring this day on Pg. 3 Hanging GREENS VBS.2—IT’S BACK! Saturday, November 8 from 9 am—3 pm PreSchool-5th grade / Nursery available for volunteers “Hey Parents Register your kids online by scanning the QR Code below, or fill out a paper registration form (available in Wesley Hall) and return to Jennifer or the office. We will learn Bible Stories through activities, games, and crafts. For our offering, send non-perishable food for the CANstruction Contest. Lunch will be provided, and we’ll each get to build-our-own Sundae after lunch!” DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS AT DOVE WOMEN’S SHELTER Sunday, November 30 @ 4 pm Would you like a great way to start off the Christmas season? On Sunday, November 30 a group from the church will be going to the Domestic Violence Shelter to help decorate for Christmas. The decorating and brief worship service will be at 4:00 p.m. We will meet at the church at 3:45 p.m. We will probably be back at the church around 5:00 or 5:30 p.m. Please let the church office know if you plan to be part of this. Also, we need donations of Christmas decorations. The shelter has none as of now. Let’s help make the season a little brighter for these women and children. Donations can be brought to the church 1 PASTOR’S NOTE I've read those words countless time and I'm sure you have as well. But I heard them differently on that night in our Bible Study As we held the story of Paul's hate-filled days in one hand and talked of his conversion and guidance for these young churches in the other hand, Ned Hawbecker said, "I can never understand how people can dismiss the Christian faith when they read these words -- of Paul being so full of hatred and disregard for human life and then his life dramatically changing so that he would one day write these words: Love is patient, love is kind . . . ." Ned's words stopped me in my tracks. I had never fully appreciated the radical change in Paul's life until Ned put it that way. Paul, filled with hatred and anger and meanness, is changed by the love of Christ. And not only did his heart change, his whole purpose in life changed. He made it his life's mission to share this love with others. A love that is patient, kind, never A note from Kent Have you ever had the experience where someone says something and their words keep coming back to you, over and over and over again? Has someone ever said something that felt like an "ah-ha" moment for you? It happened a few weeks ago for me in our Wednesday evening Bible Study. Here's what led up to this moment. Our topic on this particular night was the life and letters of Paul. We looked at Acts 7 & 8, reading where Saul (Paul's birth name) had no regard for human life, was part of the stoning of Stephen and on his campaign to stamp out the early Christian movement. Then we looked at Acts 9, reading the story of Paul's conversion, Christ coming to him on the Road to Damascus, and his life changing radically. There's no doubt that Paul's change of heart was dramatic and amazing. He went from being mean and cruel to those who threatened his beliefs to one of the greatest leaders of this movement he had tried to squelch. It’s really quite amazing when I think about it. Most of the books in the New Testament are a result of his work and leadership. Visiting communities through-out modern-day Turkey & Greece, Paul made connections with church leaders and then stayed connected with them through letters filled with encouragement and challenge. One such letter was written to the church in Corinth, Greece. And what has now become probably the most familiar passage in the Bible, Paul wrote these words to the people in the Corinth church to remind them of what love really looks like: “ 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” When you stop to think about it . . . these words are amazing. These words came out of the mouth of one who earlier in his life was filled with hate. envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. When we encounter others who are unkind or hate-filled, or when we ourselves choose that path, let’s remember that who we are seeing in those moments isn’t necessarily the final word. Let’s remember that God can and does change lives. Let’s remember that God can take even the hardest of hearts and soften them, transform them and fill them with love. That is the amazing message of the Christian faith. We have been given a powerful, lifechanging gift. May we share it with others. Pastor Kathy Community Thanksgiving Service Sunday, November 30 4:00 pm at St. John’s Episcopal Church 130 E. Eldorado Street (church is handicap accessible) The offering that’s taken during worship will be given to the Good Samaritan Inn. 2 All Saints Sunday November 2, at 9:00 am Remembering those who dies this past year: Christine Brewer March to the Manger Sunday, December 21 at 4:00 We have confirmed that world-renowned Opera singer, Christine Brewer, will sing at our March to the Manger service on Sunday afternoon, December 21st. Several from our congregation saw her at the Lyric Opera last May as she played the role of the Mother Superior in the Sound of Music. When not travelling, Christine lives in Lebanon, IL with her husband and makes sure to spend lots of time with her daughter and one-year-old grandson. She is a member of the Lebanon UMC. You can learn more about her career online at www.christinebrewer.com Consecration Brunch Sunday, November 16 at 11:15 am Please RSVP to join us to celebrate our church and its ministries by calling the church office at: 423-9711 or email [email protected] 3 Barbara Faulkner Edwin Doane Judith Gibbons Camilla McKinney Emogene Robinson Oliver Mauzy Marilyn Bankson Dorothy Sherden Judith Oyler Louise Bolerjack Harold Gidel Patricia Smith Shirley Williams Wilma Redman Advent DEVOTIONS Would you like to receive the Advent Devotionals daily by email? Call the church office to sign up for this service (423-9711) or email Barbi ([email protected]) and you will receive your daily Advent devotional by email early every morning starting December 1st. We will also offer hard copies that will be available for you pick up at the church a couple of weeks before Advent begins. NEW SERVICE •••••••••••••••••••••••• Come! Give the new second service a try on Sunday November 9 at 10:30am! A professional jazz combo led by Dr. Randall Reyman, coordinator of the jazz program at Millikin, will provide music to enhance our our less-formal, interactive, yet equally inspirational worship. The group will include Terry Brennan, piano; Andy Heise, bass; Steve Schepper, drums; and Sally Schepper, vocals. Mark your calendars and plan to join us! Many hands make light work! If you need help with yard work during this Fall, the youth group is available on Saturday mornings/ afternoons for a donation! Box City 2014 Friday, November 14 @ 5 pm thru Saturday, November 15 @ 10:30 am Ever wonder what it was like to be homeless and live in a box? Well now you have the chance! November 14th from 5pm to 10:30 am the next day on Millikin’s campus will feature an overnight box city! We will be going together as a group as we learn more about what it is like to be homeless and hear from a few people who used to find themselves in that situation. There will be plenty of games and activities as well. All you need is your box, a flashlight, sleeping gear and 45 or so different layers to stay warm! Adults: 9:00 FaithLINKS II Class 10:30 Covenant Class FaithLINKS I Class Contemporary Christianity Class Latecomers Class 11:15 Birthdays & Anniversaries Please know that the Birthday/Anniversary list is STILL available for you. There are 3 ways to receive it: Seekers Class Youth: 9:00 1. Sunday School & Fellowship Time 2. Stop by the office any time during the week or on Sunday mornings, and pick up a copy. Children: 10:00 10:30 Call the office to sign-up to have it mailed to you monthly. 3. Email Barbi ([email protected]) to sign up to have it emailed to you monthly. Kid’s Fellowship Time Sunday School for: • Pre K • K-1st Grade • 2nd - 3rd • 4th - 5th — the Church Office Staff 4 THANK YOU To the Staff and congregation of FUMC, Thank you again for the generous scholarshiop for my college education. I am now a Junior at Millikin University, studying Biology-Pre Medicine. This will be a busy year for me, as I begin to think about medical schools and take the MCAT in the Spring. I appreciate the support, financially and emotionally, that I receive from my church family. Here’s to another great year! Thank you for the lovely service on UMW Sunday. Mother (Helen Binkley) enjoyed it so much, and said the pin was very lovely. She put it on as soon as she got back to the pew. Annie Bruckner In Christ, Olivia Waszczuk A heap of thanks to all our wonderful bakers and another heap to our skilled sales ladies: Helen Binkley, Virginia Brehm, Esther Carlson, Eileen Guenther, Adair Huss, Merilyn Jayne and Valerie Keith. With all this help we had our best Bake Sale EVER! CHADDOCK NEWS www.chaddock.org It’s time to plan for Christmas gifts for Chaddock Children. We are asking for donations of: WalMart Gift cards ITunes Gift cards Legos We’re also collecting personal items such as: Dove Body Wash Chapstick Hand Sanitizer Kleenex Toothbrushes Toothpaste Socks There’s a box in the church office marked “Chaddock” for your donations. November 30th is the last day to bring items in. Thanks for all your help in preparing a Happy Christmas for many children at Chaddock Chaddock Ambassadors Judy & John Rasche Kathy Leavitt & Tim Lee Sybil Foster, Chairman Thanks to both FaithLINK classes and all the Youth who created over 400 Dinner Downtown Christmas Placemats! We also appreciate all those who donated recycled Christmas cards. Thanks for all your assistance and support. Kathy Leavitt & Tim Lee To my church family, Thanks for your prayers and concerns for my daughter, Susan. The surgeries are over and she will be starting therapy soon. Love to all of you, Merilyn Jayne Dear FUMC, Thanks for the Bible. I like to read it before I go to bed. Also thank you for considering me to be an acolyte. I enjoy going to church and learning about God and Jesus. Love, Ella Redden We would like to thank you all so much for all the prayers, cards, calls and visits from everyone in our wonderful church family during the trying times we have recently been through. Pastor Kent and Kathy King-Nobles, Pastor Miley Palmer, Judy McCleery and everyone in the Covenant Class who offered to help and came to visit. It is such a blessing to know people care and it helps us to recover from our illnesses. November MEETINGS Monday, November 17 at 7:00 pm Faith Formation Team (Children & Youth) • Faith Formation Team (Adult) • Fellowship Team • Finance Team • Missions Team • SPRC • Trustees Love, Ron & Kay Clanton Tuesday, November 18 at 1:30 pm Membership Care Team • Outreach & Communications • Worship Committee 5 Green CHURCH The styrofoam cups that don't make it to the landfill often end up in the ocean. Ever heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? It's estimated to be twice the size of Texas and is deadly to numerous aquatic species. You'll never guess what buoyant material makes up a significant part of it. If my research has not convinced you yet I encourage you to embark on some of your own. The good news is that some of you probably won't ever experience much of the long-term effects of our styrofoam use. But for my generation, and the generations to come after, this will be a very real problem. Earth and its landfills will continue to grow overpopulated. The beauty that God has blessed nature with will continue to be compromised as styrofoam and plastic, rather than seashells, wash up on sandy California beaches. And yet even if we ended all styrofoam use right here and now, the destruction of our planet would certainly continue (albeit at a slower rate) through other means. Switching from styrofoam cups to reusable mugs is only the start. More selfishly, think of how this will benefit the church. If nothing else, mugs take up less money than buying new cups every week, money that we could certainly use for more worthy pursuits. In the Bible I read about the days when the church placed itself boldly on the frontier of social change. What ever happened to that? I fear we have become too unwilling not only to accept change, but to initiate it ourselves. I imagine a church that is the vehicle for positive social change, where changing from styrofoam cups to reusable mugs is just a small part in our active agenda. I believe this is the kind of church young people are looking for, being one myself. And I believe that this is the kind of church God calls us to be. Haven King-Nobles As many of you have no doubt been wondering, what's the big deal about using styrofoam cups? Styrofoam doesn't seem like a particularly terrible thing, and, especially in light of all the other dreadful events occurring throughout the world today, changing our methods of drinking seems so trivial to be of no real importance. Trivial it may be, but that does not by any means lessen its importance. Styrofoam is a manmade petroleum-based substance that does not naturally break down. From its manufacturing to its time after it has been discarded, styrofoam is a detriment to God's Earth. The manufacture of styrofoam produces gaseous byproducts that pollute the air and damage the ozone layer (contributing to climate change) and also liquid and solid byproducts that require disposal. The petroleum used to manufacture styrofoam is a finite, non-renewable resource (as those of you who have had the misfortune to have to fill your tanks with $4 gas can atest to). Some research has even suggested that styrofoam also causes adverse health effects. And yet styrofoam's worst effects occur after its consumption. The cups we throw away Sunday morning and Wednesday evening generally end up taking up space in a landfill, where they sit and wait for the Cubs to finally win the pennant. Our landfills are only getting larger, as is our population. In short we are running out of space, and cups that theoretically last forever only exacerbate the problem. Remarkable Friends Playdate Fridays 10-11 Children under age 5 and their parents can enjoy some free-play in our nursery and pre-school classrooms. Bring your friends and come play! 6 UMW Women at Decatur First United Methodist Church exemplify the purpose of UMW: To know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; To develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and To expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church. Working on Trash & Treasure provided opportunities for supportive fellowship while earning money for UMW’s various missions. UMW gratefully accepted help from the many people who worked to make it successful! Decatur First UMW welcomes all women to participate in one of our monthly circles where we learn about missions and other topics while enjoying fellowship. Circle 8 Lydia decided that a day meeting time would be more convenient for some members. When it could not agree on a day meeting time, it decided to disband at the end of 2014. The remaining three circles will welcome members to join them. They meet at the church in the library at these times: Circle Circle Circle Circle I Miriam, first Monday, 9:30 a.m. II Hope, fourth Tuesday, 7 p.m. IV Mary & Martha, 2nd Friday, 1:15 VII Lydia, 4th Tuesday, 7 p.m. UMW Dates Saturday, November 1, Personal & Spiritual Growth Retreat at Douglas Ave UMC, 501 S. Douglas Ave., Springfield 62704; 9 – 3; officer training, missions, and Advent program. Car pools will be organized. Friday, November 7, Church Women United World Communion Day celebration, 1 pm; TBA. Wednesday, November 12, 1:30 p.m., UMW Executive Board; last one for 2014. Monday, December 8, Church Women United Annual Meeting; Luncheon, 12 noon; TBA. Thursday, December 11, 1 p.m., UMW’s annual Christmas Tea and general meeting. Installation of officers; Christmas music by Linda Schepper and her family! Hostesses are Miriam Circle 1 and Mary & Martha Circle IV. This is a wonderful time to celebrate the Christmas music and enjoy fellowship. This would be a good time to bring guests! 7 United Methodist Women Honor Two Women on UMW Sunday, October 19, 2014 UMW presented Mission Recognition pins to Helen Binkley and Helen Brown at the annual UMW Sunday service. In addition, UMW contributed a gift to mission in each woman’s name. The recipients’ names are not revealed until the presentation. Both women are members of UMW Circle I Miriam. Helen and George Binkley joined First United Methodist Church in 1947, the year of their marriage. They helped with their son’s Scout troop. Helen Binkley served on many committees and boards in the church, taught Sunday School, worked with the UMW reading program, served as a devotional chair, contributed her quilting skills by working with the UMW quilters’ group, worked with Trash and Treasure, and contributed many baked goods for the annual sale. Helen Binkley, who retired from teaching reading at Macon Grade School, is a past president of the Macon County Reading Council and worked at the state level with the Illinois Reading Council. Helen and Howard Brown joined First United Methodist Church in 1968, when they moved to Decatur. They joined the Merrily Marrieds Sunday School class. As the class evolved, Helen and Joyce Reeves became responsible for the programs. Helen Brown served on many committees in the church. Helen Brown used her creative quilting skills to make at least 11 banners for our church. She also makes crib quilts for each baby baptized in this church and also for those babies baptized in the church they attended during winters in Florida. Helen Brown, who retired from teaching reading at the Macon Junior, is a past president of the Macon County Reading Council. She continues to support educational projects through her membership in P.E.O. Chapter CX and advocacy for Richland Community College. FINANCIAL PICTURE Service SQUAD.2 Saturday, November 8 Just when you thought you would have to wait for next Summer, Service Squad is back for one day only from 9am -3pm on November 8th. We are excited to be serving DOVE Women’s shelter this time. We will shop for “Birthday Bag” items, assemble the bags, have lunch at the church and then have the opportunity to serve at DOVE in the afternoon. These birthday bags will be distributed to children who have their birthdays while at the shelter. There will also be plenty of fun and games mixed into the day as well! With 75% of the year gone by as of September 30, 2014, we have received 65.6% of our anticipated pledges and offerings for the full year, and we have incurred 69.8 % of our planned expenses. We continue to be grateful for the faithfulness and generosity of our members. Any extra-mile giving to help cover some of the unanticipated expenditures for the year (such as higher than normal heating bills and repairs) will be greatly appreciated. Leah Brown & Jerry Hinkle October 17, 2014 Gracelynn May Lowe October 20, 2014 Parents: Aaron & Amanda Lowe Big Brother: Nate Big Sister: Vivienne Young Adult Christmas Party December 20th at the Motter’s 782 W. Forsyth Pkwy Forsyth, IL 62535 Wear your ugliest sweatshirt, and bring that “great gift” you received last Christmas for our White Elephant Gift Exchange! There will be plenty of games and toys for the little ones to do at this event as well! Average Worship Attendance this month 229 8 AROUND the CHURCH Small Groups Tuesday Mornings at 9 am in Rm. 104 Aspiring Mary’s Bible Study Debbie Vandermyde, Leader Wednesday Mornings at 11:30 in Room 301 Adult Bible Study Dick Dechert, Leader Wednesday Mornings at 10 am in Room 301 Young Women’s Bible Study Childcare provided Pastor Kathy King-Nobles, Leader Thursday Mornings at 11 am in Room 306 The Gospel of Mark Pastor Kent King-Nobles, Leader 1st Thursday at Noon - at Perkins Sojourner’s Group Fellowship & Discussion based on Sojourners Magazine (Faith in Action for Social Justice) Next meeting will be November 6 2nd Friday at 6 pm - Library Great Dates Explore common, yet impractical, expectations in relationships and explore strategies to avoid these misconceptions. (Childcare provided) Matt & Marilyn Stevens, Leaders Next meeting will be November 14 2 ways to be included in this Study … During the week: Tuesday Mornings at 9:30 The Aspiring Marys will be reading and discussing The Women of Christmas by Liz Curtis Higgs during Advent. We will experience Christmas through the stories of Mary, Elizabeth and Anna, as well as some men. If you want to join the Aspiring Marys for this study, please contact Debbie Vandermyde at [email protected] or 875-2230. This study begins the end of November. 2nd Monday at 6 pm - Lana Horton’s House Scraps & Prayers A time of prayer and scrapbooking! Lana Horton, Leader Next meeting will be November 10 4th Thursday at 10:30 am - S. W. Room First Friends For retirees - They meet monthly for a time of friendship, fun and learning new things. Next meeting will be November 27 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 9 am - Rm. 304 Prayer Shawl Group Next meetings are November 11 & 25 9 On Sunday Morning during Advent: Rev. Ned Hawbecker will lead special Advent sessions, for all four Sundays in Advent. (Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14 and 21) This is an open invitation for those who would like to attend these special classes in the chapel from 10:30—11:30. Come join us. You will be glad you did. Sponsor--Former CQ/Christopher Class Looking ahead to Advent ... Below is a list of our December ministries to help prepare us for Christmas. How about inviting someone new to join you as you prepare for Christmas? Nov 30 1st Sunday of Advent Saturday, December 6th Hanging of the Greens at DOVE Women’s Shelter 9:00 am - 12:00 pm 4:00 pm Help bring the message of Christmas to this home for those who will be living there in December. What is the Children’s Christmas Shoppe? It’s a fun morning for families to sing Christmas songs, make crafts, enjoy Christmas goodies, and an opportunity for children to shop for Christmas gifts and learn why we celebrate Christmas. Every gift is the same price ($2), so children can choose with their hearts, all the while making friends with our shopping and wrapping elves. Dec 6 Christmas Shoppe (See column to right for more information) Dec 7 2nd Sunday of Advent Light up our Neighborhood 11:30 – We’ll begin with a light lunch at the church. And then bundle up, divide into groups, and visit our neighborhood around the church to give lights (battery-operated candles) to our neighbors. Volunteers are needed for Shopping and Wrapping Elves. If you would like to donate new gifts for the shopping area, we could really use flashlights, small tools, kitchen towel sets, water bottles, and pencil boxes. Donations of new gifts, and large shopping bags (from department stores) are greatly appreciated, and can be dropped off at Jennifer’s office. Thank you to those who have already donated wrapping paper and to/from tags. Thanks to you, we have enough! :) Merry Christmas! Dec 14 3rd Sunday of Advent Church Street Walk 1:00 – 4:00 We have invited the several churches on Church Street to open up their sanctuaries for an Open House on this day. The beautiful sanctuaries enhanced with Christmas music will be a witness to many. Community Meals in December Dec 21 4th Sunday of Advent March to the Manger As we have in recent years, we will host community meals on the following days: 4:00 – Note New Time This has traditionally been during the morning worship service, but we moved it to the afternoon in order to encourage more neighbors and friends from the community to participate. The Christmas story will be told through scripture and music and we will receive our Christmas offering. 1. December 25 (Christmas Dinner) 2. December 27 (Dinner Downtown) 3. January 1 (New Year’s Day Dinner) All dinners are being served from 11:45-1:00. Dec 24 Christmas Eve 4:00 - Family Service If you’d like to volunteer, contact Cheryl in the church office at [email protected] or you may call her 423-9711. (childcare will be available) 10:30 - Festival of Lessons & Carols 10 FOOD DRIVE FOR THE VBS.2 on Saturday, November 8 from 9-3 pm During VBS.2, we will work in teams to build amazing CANstructions. What is a CANstruction??? A team works together using multiples of the same brand of donated cans & boxes to build a 3D structure. After the CANstruction Contest, all food will be donated to Northeast Community Fund. How can you help? By donating food, several of the same brand, by Friday November 7th. Call a few friends, and coordinate which food item you would like to donate as a group. For example: a CANstruction might use 30 cans of green beans, 50 Cup-o-Noodles, 15 boxes of the same-brand corn flakes, and 25 jars of the same-brand of peanut butter. Another team’s CANstruction might use 30 boxes of burger-helper, 20 cans of store-brand pineapple, 18 cans of tomato juice, and 12 boxes of graham crackers. Volunteer to be part of a CANstruction team on Saturday afternoon (Nov 8th). Here’s what your church staff did with the food they donated to the cause! Can you guess what it is? Assist with taking the food donations to Northeast Community Fund on Saturday afternoon (Nov 8th). All food donations should be brought to room 306 by Friday, November 7th. 11 First United Methodist Church 201 W. North Street Decatur, IL 62522 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid DECATUR, IL Permit No. 43 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Volune 36 Number 11 November 2014 Published monthly First United Methodist Church 201 West North Street., Decatur, IL 62522-2221 Phone: (217) 423-9711; FAX: 423-5025 www.decaturfirstumc.org Prayer Chain .................................. [email protected] Revs. Kent & Kathy King-Nobles ...................... Directing Pastors Rev. Miley Palmer .......................................Older Adult Ministries Dr. Hadi Gibbons ............................................... Director of Music Dr. Bruce Gibbons .......................................................... Organist Jennifer Horton-Motter ..................... Children & Family Ministries Kyle Shaughnessy .................... Youth & Young Adults Ministries Mike Claver ....................................... Director of Children’s Music Barbi Gardiner........................................ Administrative Secretary Judy Ragan .................................................... Financial Secretary Cheryl Lehman .......................................................... Receptionist Jim & Susie Pope ........................................................Custodians Judy McCleery ......................................................... Parish Nurse Joanne Forrest ............................................. Building Coordinator Shane Hartman .................................. MAX Program Coordinator Warm Neighbors / Cool Friends 12 Light up the Neighborhood Coming on December 7th Wouldn’t it be wonderful if during the cold, dark days of December, there were candles lighting up the homes and streets? We can help make this happen. Would you, as you are shopping, pick up some new battery-operated candles (about 6-8 inches in height) to donate to Light Up the Neighborhood? On December 7th, early that afternoon, we’ll divide into groups and give candles to our neighbors around the church and invite them to light up the neighborhood. Candle donations can be brought to the church office.
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