IMMANUEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. Ash Wednesday. Did you know Ash Wednesday dates all the way back to the first century?

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1 March, 2017 IMMANUEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Ash Wednesday Did you know Ash Wednesday dates all the way back to the first century? Father Iraneus, of Lyons initiated the thought of repentance and recognition of an attitude of surrender and self-examination. The earliest observance of Lent lasted only 3 days. It was at the Council of Nicea (325) that the Lenten Season became 40 days, observing the 40 days that Jesus lived in the wilderness. Ash Wednesday is celebrated 46 days before Easter. The Sabbath days are not counted in the 40 day time of repentance. Sabbath days are considered to be days of celebration and worship to God. These are the technicalities of Ash Wednesday and a bit of history. But I have much more to say about Ash Wednesday! It is my favorite day of the Christian year. I love Christmas because I love Jesus! I love Easter because I love Jesus. But I love Ash Wednesday because it provides a time that is set-apart that I remember to tell Jesus that I love Him! You see, Ash Wednesday is not wrapped in glittery paper! Ash Wednesday is not stuffed in an egg! Ash Wednesday is quietly, reverently, intentionally observed by mere smudges that remind us of our inadequacies, our sinful ways, our exclusive practices, our deep need for Jesus. And as silly as it may sound, sometimes I forget I need Jesus. I get busy with my to-do lists, my calendar of events, people that need to hear that Jesus loves them, and I forget that without Jesus in my heart, living through my life, I am a big fat glob of nothing melted into a puddle on the dirtiest of floors! So, I invite In This Season, May I be reborn, Washed clean, Made new, Forgiven, each of us to approach a And quiet altar, respect a quiet Spectacularly loved! melody, kneel in a quiet place and receive smudges on our foreheads as we step into the Lenten Season on Ash Wednesday. Holy Communion will be served every Sunday during Lent at the early worship service.

2 Page 2 Daylight Savings Time Begins Sunday, March 12, :00 am Set your clocks AHEAD one hour on Saturday 2) Kid s Night Out All children age 3 through those in 5th grade are invited to join us for Kid s Night Out on Friday, March 17th from 5:30-8:30 pm. The children enjoy dinner, games, crafts, other activities, and watching a movie with their friends. There is no cost to attend. Please RSVP to the church office, (618) Fellowship On March 19th our 55+ group will be meeting at 6 pm in the Journey s Inn Room for a pot-luck meal. Those attending are asked to please bring a vegetable or salad and dessert. Baked ham will be provided as well as drinks and tableware. Come and share an evening of good food, fellowship and a few laughs. If you have any Spring Tips for the yard, garden or the home please bring them and share with the group. Please bring items for our local Pantry such as canned food, laundry soap, dish soap, and personal hygiene items. Always a nice Sunday evening with friends. Everyone is welcome. Any questions? Call Sharon

3 Page 3 United Methodist Men Quoting Rick Vance, Feb. 6, 2017 UMM Newsletter: Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) Where there is no vision, the people perish. John Wesley s third General rule was to Stay in love with God. To do this Wesley offered the following list: The public worship of God Family and private prayer Fasting or abstinence The Supper of the Lord Searching the Scriptures Ministry of the Word By doing this, Wesley felt one s ministry and life would be centered in God s will. Once we have made a relationship with God a priority, then we are ready to look at the vision and mission God has for us as an individual and a United Methodist Man. May I suggest as Immanuel s Men s group we begin with an intentional move to draw close to God through Prayer and Scripture, through small group Bible study. By this we will be moving to see what God is doing rather than telling God what we are going to do. All men are members of Immanuel s Men s group. Our meetings are open to any man whether he attends Immanuel or any other church. I would love hearing from you if you are interested in being a part of a Bible Study group. My phone number is and my address is floydfisher@att.net. Acolyte Training Young people who are in Grade 3 and older are invited to participate in our Acolyte Ministry. The acolyte has a very important role in worship to God the acolyte is the trained person who lights the candles. Candles in the church are important because they symbolize the light of God in our midst. Therefore, the acolyte is the one who brings the light of God into the sanctuary to show that God is with us during worship. An acolyte training session will be held on Sunday, March 12th at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary. Acolytes will be assigned a certain Sunday of the month and are used only in the 10:45 am worship service. We re excited to welcome you to our Acolyte Ministry!

4 MARCH, 2017 Page 4 Life Line Screening Life Line Screening will be conducting screenings at Immanuel on Monday, May 22, Ultrasound screenings to identify risk factors for Cardiovascular disease include: Carotid artery (plaque buildup a leading cause of stroke), Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (an enlargement or weak area in the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body), Peripheral Arterial Disease (hardening of the arteries in the legs), a Heart Rhythm Screening (an EKG to detect Atrial Fibrillation irregular heartbeat) and an Osteoporosis Risk Assessment for men and women. Being proactive about your health by knowing your risks help you and your doctor address problems early. Watch for more info! Ageless Grace Resumes On Monday, March 13th, at 6:00 pm Ageless Grace will resume meeting in our Journey s Inn Room. Ageless Grace is a fitness and wellness program consisting of 21 simple exercise tools designed for all ages and abilities. These exercises, based on everyday movements that are natural and organic, focus on the healthy longevity of the body and mind. The movements are designed to be performed seated in a chair, yet they can be done on a bed, standing near or behind a chair, down on the floor, or standing. Almost anyone can do them, regardless of most physical conditions. Yoga Beginner/Intermediate Please join us on Sunday afternoons for some relaxation and refreshment. We are using breathing and assorted yoga poses to strengthen our minds and bodies, and rejuvenating ourselves for the week ahead. This class is appropriate for beginner to intermediate yoga students. Please bring a yoga mat to the Fellowship Hall Sundays at 3 pm.

5 Page 5 Youth Group Fundraiser On Sunday, March 12, 2017, the Immanuel United Methodist Youth group will be offering an All-You-Care-to-Eat Fried Chicken Dinner from 11 am until 3 pm. This will be held at the Edwardsville Moose Lodge #1561, 7371 Marine Road, Edwardsville. Dinner includes: Fried Chicken Mashed Potatoes & Gravy Corn and Green Beans Green Salad Coffee, Tea, Water Cost: Adults $9.00 Children (Age 5-12) $4.00 Desserts will be sold separately, and carry outs will be available. Tickets are available from the youth, or you may purchase them that day at the door. Proceeds will benefit the youth mission trip to New York in July, Donations of nice cakes, pies, cookies or brownies to sell are needed. There is a sign-up sheet in the Hospitality Room. Some additional workers are also needed, and there is also a sign-up sheet for workers. Thank you for your support of our youth!

6 Page 6 OASIS WOMEN S CENTER Studio Gaia is teaming up with Action for a Better Tomorrow s Metro East Chapter to support Oasis Women s Center in Alton. We are honored to offer our space as a drop-off point for donations. Anything you can bring is greatly appreciated, but here is a list of specific items Oasis has requested: Blankets (twin & full) Oasis requests white only Shampoo/conditioner Body wash Dove/Ivory bar soap Combs/brushes African American hair products Body lotion Tampons/sanitary napkins Band Aids Specific to children: Sleepwear Baby blankets Teething rings/pacifiers Baby wipes Diapers Bottles Barrettes You may place your donations in the box located in our Hospitality Room. Thank you!

7 Page 7 Souper Bowl of Caring Our youth group collected $ on Super Bowl Sunday that will be donated to the Glen-Ed Food Pantry. $ was given for the Falcons, and $41.82 was given for the Patriots. Seems the Falcons didn t get the message that Immanuel was behind them!! Thanks to everyone who donated to this great cause. Restore Décor Mission Needs for Restore Décor include: Volunteers on Tuesday and Thursday nights to drop in and paint from 6:30-8:30 pm Volunteers to do heavy lifting on Monday and Thursday nights Saturday store help 2 shifts are available A sign-up genius has been created for volunteers to use: You can copy this website and paste it into your web browser. Immanuel is sending volunteers every third Saturday of the month to work from 11 am to 1 pm. Meet at the church at 10:45. Questions? Speak to Kendall Smith or any youth group member.

8 Page 8 World Day of Prayer World Day of Prayer is a worldwide ecumenical movement of women of many faith traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year on the first Friday in March. Each year a different country serves as the writer of the World Day of Prayer worship service. The 2017 World Day of Prayer service will begin at the first sunrise on March 3, 2017, in the Pacific region and, following the Earth s orbit, will spread around the world. For 2017, the women of the Philippines invite us to consider these words: Am I being unfair to you? They share their stories of intergenerational wisdom, traditions and experiences of God s profound love and acceptance. We will learn of a cultural practice called dagyaw, which is a communal way of laboring on neighbors farms and sharing the harvest among all. It is a way to build and sustain a community The theme for 2017 is taken from Matthew 20:1-16, the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. While Jesus sees nothing wrong in giving generously, the workers react differently and feel entitled to receive more. As we listen to the women of the Philippines throughout the worship service, we are called to confess, to take responsibility, and to answer God s call for justice. World Day of Prayer March 3, 2017, is being held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Glen Carbon, Illinois, beginning at 9:15 am. They will be receiving paper goods and personal care items for the Glen-Ed Food Pantry. One Great Hour of Sharing On Sunday, March 26th we will receive the One Great Hour of Sharing special offering. Your gift will celebrate 75 years of UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) being with those in crisis. Your gift helps cover the operating expenses of UMCOR and allows 100% of your designated donations to get to those who need them most. Your gift provides immediate assistance in the wake of conflict like the one in Syria, and supports ongoing ministries of food, shelter, health and peace. Giving to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering ensures that UMCOR can respond anywhere in the world.

9 Page 9 A Change of Cans! Even though Kans for Kids did not generate enough money to donate to the Africa Vision of Hope, we plan to continue to collect aluminum cans at our church, with the proceeds being donated to the Glen-Ed Pantry. Please bring in your clean aluminum cans and place them in the collection barrel in the Fellowship Hall. Scrip Fundraiser We have a great fundraising program in place at Immanuel called Scrip. You purchase gift cards to hundreds of local merchants which you use when you visit their locations. The gift cards are also a great gift or thank-you to a special person. You pay the face value of the card, but Immanuel receives a percentage of what you spend. The various merchants give different percentages back between 2% and up to 16%!! You can pick up an informational packet in the Hospitality Room, along with an order form. Orders are collected the last Sunday of each month. Thanks for using Scrip for your purchases! Spring Book Sale If you come across unneeded books while doing your Spring Cleaning, bring them to Immanuel! We are accepting donations of gently used books for the Spring Book Sale. All kinds of books are accepted: fiction, non-fiction, cook books, children s books, travel, history, sports, etc. You may place them in the Youth Room in the Lower Level. Thanks!

10 MARCH, 2017 Page 10 Relive the Week that Changed Human History Palm Sunday April 9, :45 am Contemporary Worship led by Immanuel s Praise Team 9:45 am Adult Education/Children s Program Practice 10:45 am Traditional Worship with Easter Cantata One Sacrifice Maundy Thursday April 13, :00 pm An Evening of Remembrance with Holy Communion served Easter Sunday April 16, :30 am Sunrise Service in Prayer Garden 8:45 am Worship led by Praise Community Fellowship 9:15 am Children s Program Rehearsal 10:15 am Worship led by Immanuel United Methodist Church with Children s Easter Celebration 11:15 am Easter Egg Hunt

11 Page 11 Prayer Ministry (+ Indicates weeks call office to continue) The family of Ethel Witschie, who passed away on February 15th Dale Brueggemann, father of Joanie Green, health issues Eloise Allen, recovering from knee surgery on Thursday Joanie Green, recovering from surgery Hope Krieger, now in rehab at Eden Village in Glen Carbon The family of Collin Rives, 14-year old grandson of Bill & Judy Daubenspeck Deloris Fisher, now recovering at home following heart surgery Alexis Tharp, now home following surgery for an aneurism on her brain Mary Knapp, health issues Change of Address Former members Red and Gloria Gusewelle have moved to Meridian Village. Their new address is Meridian Village, 27 Auerbach Place, Room 425, Glen Carbon, Illinois, They love having company, especially from their many dear friends at Immanuel Contribution Statements You may pick up your 2016 Contribution Statement from the table in the Hospitality Room. Thank you for your support of the ministries of Immanuel in 2016! Pantry Sundays in March Thank you to everyone who donated laundry soap, dishwashing soap or peanut butter and jelly for the Glen-Ed Food Pantry. Your response has been tremendous 486 pounds of detergent and dishwashing soap, plus 145 pounds of peanut butter and jelly was donated! We will again have a special focus on needed items during March. March 5 and 12, we are asking for donations of Paper Products especially toilet tissue and paper towels. On March 19 & 26, we are asking for personal care items: deodorants, shampoo, razors, shaving cream, toothpaste, etc. The Food Pantry remains in need of donations of all kinds, but we are putting a special focus on just a few of the needed items. Thanks!

12 MARCH, 2017 Page 12 of Trustees News Board of Trustees News As the New Year of 2017 is beginning for our Board of Trustees, we are looking forward to a few projects that are long overdue and very much needed to help make our church even more beautiful than it is now. Immanuel hasn t done much in the way of plastering and painting repair for quite a few years. In March the Hospitality Room will be getting some plastering repair work on several walls, the upper Altar wall around the beautiful Rose Window, and on the upper wall on the back stairway leading to the Fellowship Hall. These areas have damage due to outside moisture. Also, the front narthex ceiling tiles are falling, and we need to put up a different ceiling. These projects will be starting soon. We hope this work will not inconvenience any activities at the church. If you have any questions about these projects, contact a Board of Trustees member. If you would like to make a donation to help with these projects, contact the church office, a board member, or make a notation on the bottom of your check plaster or ceiling project. Thank You from the Board of Trustees Sharon Koenig/Tim Moline, co-chairpersons Bill Kreutzberg Cindy Cameron Dustin Franke* Gary Koenig Dave Kriege** Grace Havis Leonard Land** Matt Lewis Mike Portell Norman Schoettle Trevor Page* * In Training ** Emeritus Members Basic CPR Basic CPR training will be offered at Immanuel to anyone that may be interested. Immanuel wants to get our Free Lunch Friday cooks and servers, our children s class instructors and youth to become knowledgeable in CPR. This is an important concern and we would like to know how many people might want to be part of this class. A session is about one hour in length, is taught by an Edwardsville Fire Department EMT at no cost at Immanuel church, and can hold up to 30 persons. A participation card will be given upon completion of class.

13 The Old Church with the New Attitude IMMANUEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 800 N Main Street Edwardsville, IL Phone: Fax: anita@immanuelonmain.org OUR MISSION STATEMENT: We seek to be God s people in attitude and action as we: Experience and Share God s grace joyfully, Live and Teach God s Word faithfully, Accept and Serve God s people lovingly. You are invited to join us in this mission... CONTACT US! Office: (618) Fax: (618) Web Site: Church anita@immanuelonmain.org Pastor s pastorjackie@immanuelonmain.org Look us up on Facebook Reverend Jackie Havis-Shear Cell Phone: (618) Maurice Butch Mestemacher Instrument Director David Bryant Choral Director Jordan Grammer Contemporary Worship Leader Director of Congregational Development WORSHIP SCHEDULE Joint Contemporary Service 8:45 a.m. In Sanctuary Common Time 9:45 a.m. Includes: Sunday School Middle School Study Wired Word Discussions Seekers Class Coffee + More Choir Rehearsal Traditional Service 10:45 a.m. In Sanctuary 5th Sunday Schedule: 9:00 am Common Time 10:00 am Blended Worship Nursery Available All Morning