November 2010 Newsletter - First United Methodist Church of Sullivan

First United Methodist Church
The Messenger
Pastor’s Ponderings
As I sit in my office writing this article for the November newsletter, I can hear a great deal
of activity in the kitchen. Several have once again ventured in to prepare our Wednesday meal. In
a couple of hours, over 60 will make their way to the church, sit down, pray and eat together. Stories will be shared. Memories made. And hopefully lives enriched.
Culturally, November is a time of renewed thanksgiving. And I am so thankful for those who
wonderfully and faithfully seek to carry out the ministry of our congregation. Thank you to the
women (and men) who set up, tear down, and prepare our weekly fellowship meals. Thank you to
the teachers who lovingly prepare and willingly serve the children of the congregation. Thank you
to those who offer the gift of music—especially Nancy, the choir, and Lyn. Thank you to all those
who have regularly met, prayed, led, and served faithfully on the various committees throughout
the year!
A huge THANK YOU goes out to Kelly Austin & Nancy Schaljo for leading the Children’s
Church each Sunday. In October of ’09, we averaged 145.3 in worship (8 & 10:30). This October
with the 9, 10:30 and Children’s Church schedule we are averaging 180—a 23.8% increase or 34.7
more folks per week! Also, thank you to Cheryl Lehman for her continued work with Audience Of
One and to Cheryl and Lisa Shuman for so faithfully leading the Jr. High ministry!
I also want to thank all of you who intently prayed and sought God’s direction in your life
about how to be faithful in your stewardship and then responded so generously at our Consecration Celebration, thank you to those who go out in the name of Jesus and our congregation to administer communion to those who are unable to attend; and a very special thank you Darla who so
gracefully and masterfully represents our congregation week-in and week-out.
Lastly, I also want to thank those who filled out the green card a few weeks ago—answering
the question “What do I fear?’ I have been deeply touched and spent much time praying over
those cards. Below is our Advent Schedule:
Sunday, November 14—Intro . . . “All The Hopes & Fears”
Sunday, November 21—“Economic Fears” from Isaiah 7
Sunday, November 28—“Fear Of A Wasted Life” from Luke 2: 22-32
Sunday, December 5—Children’s Program . . . single service @ 9:45 a.m.
Sunday, December 12—“Fear Of The Unexpected” from Luke 2: 7-20
Sunday, December 19—Choir Cantata @ both services
Friday, December 24—“Fear Of Losing Control” from Luke 1: 26-38
Sunday, December 26—“Fear Of The Future” from Rev. 1: 9-11a, 12a, 17-19
Please be planning on participating and bringing others with you as we delve into our fears and
search for the hope of Christmas! And again, thank you!!
Pastor Renner
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
“Enter
into his gates with thanksgiving, and into
his courts with praise.”
A special Month of Thanksgiving
The officers of the United Methodist Women invite all women of the church and
any other visitors to a Thanksgiving Luncheon ,Wednesday November 3rd at
noon in the Fellowship Hall. Two officers from the Iroquois River District
United Methodist Women will be in attendance. Bobby Walker, our shepherdess,
and Judy Stoll, district President.
A World Thank Lesson will be given by Hyllis Rhoades.
OTHER NOVEMBER ACTIVITIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
COME AND JOIN US
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 21 AFTER LATE SERVICE WE WILL BE SERVING
OUR BEEF/CHICKEN NOODLE DINNER. EVERYONE IS WELCOME.
BRING A GUEST.
Tickets will be available November 3, 7, & 14.
Circle meetings are as follows:
MARY CIRCLE
Tuesday November 16, 1:30 p.m.
Hostess: Janet Freadhoff
(19 Kaskaskia Dr).
Lesson: Joyce Shellabarger
MARTHA CIRCLE
Monday November 15, 7:00 p.m.
Hostess Hyllis Rhoades
(25 Country Club Ests.)
Co-Hostess: Lola Horn
Devotions: Susan Connor
Lesson: Charlene Black
WISHING YOU A HAPPY THANKSGIVING
WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
Saturday November 6, 2010
Dinner @ 5 P.M. Auction to follow @ 6 P.M.
First United Methodist Church of Sullivan- Friendship Hall
Auction Items Include
Tandem Axle Steel ATV/UTV Dump Cart, Commercial Stainless Steel Push Spreader, Hand-made Oak
Plant Stand, Cherry Quilt Rack, Dining Room Table & Chairs, Amish Made Oak Swivel Bar Stool, Illini
Basketball Tickets, Illini Football Tickets, Cardinal Tickets, Civic Center membership, Bluebird House,
Cubs and Cardinal fleece blankets, Classic Bears Mirror, Cooler, and much more
All proceeds from the dinner/auction will go to support mission
efforts in La Ceibita, Honduras.
Ministry in La Ceibita
The neighborhood of La Ceibita, in which the Methodist Church is located, is a relatively new community.
It is primarily made up of people who had to rebuild after Hurricane Mitch in Nov. 1998. Most of the
homes in the community that surround the church were built by UMCOR funds (United Methodist
Committee on Relief) after Mitch. Because this area, called Colonia Metodista, is relatively new, it is not
found on older maps of Honduras. It is located 5 miles west of Tocoa.
A storage building that was built to hold construction materials and tools during construction of duplexes
with UMCOR funds following Hurricane Mitch is now used as a children’s feeding center. Children
receive one meal a day. They are feeding 200 kids/day. This is a ministry that
costs the church over $400/month.
Library Update
The following books have been donated or
purchased for our library:
Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom
Laugh Your Way to Grace by The
Reverend Susan Sparks
Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury
In the Company of Others: A Father Tim Novel by Jan Karon
These books are in the New Books section of the library on the
east wall. Please take any of the free books available on the table
next to the sofa. I hope all of you take advantage of our library, and
keep on reading!
Lois Shuman
Don’t forget to move your
clocks back one hour on
November 7.
“Our help is in the name of the Lord who made
heaven and earth” (Psalm 124:8)
May the Lord’s comfort and blessings be with the
family and friends who mourn the death of
Earletta Shain.
“Through
the Sacrament of Baptism we are initiated into
Christ’s holy Church. We are incorporated into God’s mighty
acts of salvation and given new birth through water and the
Spirit”
(The New United Methodist Hymnal)
We rejoice with those who have received the Sacrament of Baptism
10/17—Valentina Rose & Carmyn Willa Thurston
November 28 is the
First Sunday
of Advent.
We will be adorning our church with Christmas greens
on November 27 at 2pm.
Everyone is invited to come and help us.
This year Sullivan’s Community Thanksgiving worship
will be at Jonathon Creek Christian Church on Nov. 21
at 6pm. Grant Wade will be speaking. He is the children,
youth and young family pastor at the First Christian
Church.
The Yellow Bucket offering for November will go to
CEFS to purchase turkeys.
The Yellow Bucket offering for October was $141.00
and went to support DOVE.
The Church office will be closed
on Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26
for the Thanksgiving holiday.
The deadline for the December Newsletter is
Wednesday, November 17.
First United Methodist Church
216 W. Jefferson St.
Sullivan, IL 61951
Phone: (217) 728-4436
E-mail: jesusfirst33@hotmail.com
Office Hours
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Visit us on the web:
www.sullivanfirstumc.com