Our mission is to create disciples who nourish faith and work in ministering to the community.

Transcription

1 May 2016 VOL. 62 No. 5 Circuit Rider Our mission is to create disciples who nourish faith and work in ministering to the community. NEWSLETTER OF: CHANNAHON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PASTOR STEVE GOOD W. EAMES, CHANNAHON IL / The GOOD News Pastor Steve Good Since Channahon United Methodist Church was established in 1854, this congregation has had 44 of it s pastors trained for ministry at Garrett- Evangelical Theological Seminary. My wife Raney and I both received our education there to prepare us for our ministry paths. She became an ordained Deacon with an emphasis in Christian Education and I became an ordained elder, trained as a pastor. When we were students at the Evanston school 30 years ago, the cost of schooling was a big challenge, and the loan re-payments followed us into our early years of working in churches. Scholarships provided by Garrett-Evangelical were a big help to ease the burden of what would have been an even bigger debt-load. A seminary education is still an expensive endeavor today, but the school remains committed to provide enough support to help the students to graduate, without carrying an unmanageable debt load into their first years of serving churches. Garrett turns to churches like Channahon UMC to help this effort, recognizing that a majority of our pastors have been educated at that United Methodist seminary, and that many future pastors for this church will likely come from that same school on the shores of Lake Michigan. Continued on page 2 CUMC s New Look Have you seen the beautiful furniture that now lavishes our Narthex area? It is just wonderful to see such warmth and comfort that goes along with the beautiful flooring. It s so inviting! If you haven t see it yet, we encourage you to come see and give KUDOS to our Design Team - Georgia Johnson and Barbara Allen. They are doing a wonderful job. UPCOMINGevents May 1st Pancake Breakfast Benefit May 8 t Mother s Day Graduate Sunday May 13 th UMW Mother-Daughter Event May 14 th Men s Breakfast May 21 st Fusion Event May 22 nd International Cuisine Buffett Sunday School Celebration Teacher Recognition May 27 th Youth Group Celebration outing May 29 th Summer Worship Schedule Begins ~ One service at 9am May 30 th Memorial Day -. Church office closed

2 Good News continued... A scholarship fund has been established at seminary to help current and future students. As this fund grows, more students will be able to be helped. The Steve and Raney Good Endpwed Scholarship at Garrett-Evangelical is our May Mission of the Month. If you can contribute toward this ministry effort, please put your gift in the offering plate or send it to the church office, payable to Channahon UMC. You may designate your donation to the Good Scholarship Fund. Your Brother in Christ, Steve Truthful Teaching Living with a good conscience is the only way to walk with Christ in the spotlight of a watching world! Meet our Newest Members! Tom and Shirley Koscik are thrilled to join our church family at Channahon UMC, having taken their vows of membership in April. Tom and Shirley live at S. Ascot Ct. in Channahon (815) They are both retired. Tom enjoys model railroading, golf, and reading. Shirley likes to spend her time reading, being with their grandchildren, going on vacations, and volunteering for the Pink Heals organization. Tom comes from the Roman Catholic faith tradition, while Shirley comes from a United Methodist background, having grown up at Trinity Methodist in Joliet. Please be sure to introduce yourselves to Tom and Shirley and welcome them to our church family. Calling ALL Musicians! Summer Worship just wouldn't be complete without beautiful music to help us feel complete! If you are willing and able to provide special music for any service during the summer Singers & instrumentalists alike - If you would like to provide special music for any service during the summer, please contact Brittany Alcantar or call the church office. Want to perform a song and need additional help or musicians... that s fine too, we can work something out together! BALCANTAR05@YAHOO.COM 2 We will have just one service at 9am beginning with Sunday, May 29 th thru August Please be sure to mark your calendars to join us for our Summer 9am Worship! Monday, May 30 th The church office will be closed in observance of Memorial Day

3 Youth Group Reflection From Roger Beitzel God s Love is NOT Locked Away! It s a real song, it s a real story and it comes from a real place. For those who don t know, our dad was locked up for five years, so that s pretty much what inspired the song My mom would always go to the jail and visit him and she would take me and my brother with her It was such a touching story for us. Just looking at my mom and my dad like, wow, I love my momma for that and they re still together to this day We just felt like people would be able to connect with it on many different levels. This quote from R City s Timothy Thomas is about their song called Locked Away. To me, it brings even more meaning to an already meaningful song wouldn t you agree? I haven t met a person yet who doesn t at least get a bit misty-eyed when watching the video, because we really do connect with it on many different levels. If you don t know the song, here re some of the key lyrics: Now tell me would you really ride for me? Baby, tell me would you die for me? Would you spend your whole life with me? Would you be there to always hold me down? Tell me would you really cry for me? Baby, don't lie to me If I didn't have anything I wanna know, would you stick around? From Locked Away by R City These are questions everybody asks at some time, on some level. Because deep down we long for in fact, we crave security, belonging and unconditional love. But it is also common for us to be let down, betrayed and even abandoned right? So in many ways the questions being asked can never be answered yes 100% of the time, because time after time we fail in our attempts to stay faithful and true to the people we love, or the people we love let us down. When that happens, we can feel very Locked Away. We shut the door of our feelings and throw away the key. We sit in the dungeon of our disloyalties and dishonesties wondering if there will ever be anyone who would ride for us let alone die for us. If that s you, then I have fantastic news that can be life changing in so many ways God s love is not locked away! But don t take my word for it listen to the what the Bible says and let them be the key that opens the doors that keep you locked away: Psalm 36:5-7 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Psalm 52:8b I trust in God s unfailing love for ever and ever. Ephesians 3:17-19 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 3 3 Reflection continued.

4 .Reflection continued. And, my personal favorite, Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor any powers, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. And here s the thing God s unconditional love for you is never missing and never ending! You can face anything, because you have a relationship with our God and Savior and Friend that is a rock in any storm, and an unbreakable safety net in any situation. Did you know that when you go through the difficult days, God cries right along with you? So if you are feeling locked up and isolated from a love that is unconditional, re-read the verses above and let these words set you free. Remember, you never need to feel alone, because, honestly, God will always love you! Outstanding Children s Books Added to CUMC s Resource Library Finding the right book to help a child understand death is challenging enough. Finding books that explain death from a Christian perspective and refer to heaven is even more difficult. However, CUMC has recently purchased six books that do exactly that. Written by such noted authors as Leo Buscaglia and Beverly Lewis, these books are available for families to borrow when young ones ask questions about death or heaven. The titles are: Badger's Parting Gifts, The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages, God Gave Us Easter, The Next Place, Water Bugs & Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Children and What is Heaven Like? Another helpful title that was added is, When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death. This book was written by Marc Brown, the same author who brought us the Arthur series of books that inspired the TV show on PBS. This book is not written from a Christian perspective, but it is written in Brown s charming, straightforward style and does a delightful job of explaining death to children. You may borrow any or all of these titles by contacting Brittany Alcantar, Director of Christian Formation, or Roger Beitzel, Youth Leader. upcoming youth group dates May 4 Junior High Small Group 6 7:30 p.m. May 8 Graduate Recognition 9:00am Worship May 11 Junior High Small Group 6 7:30 p.m. May 21 Fusion Event Youth Fellowship Service Opportunity 8:00 a.m.-noon May 18 Junior High Small Group 6 7:30 p.m. May 25 Junior High Small Group 6 7:30 p.m. May 27 Youth Fellowship End of School Year Celebration 6:00 p.m.-midnight John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 4

5 From the desk of our Director of Christian Formation Brittany Alcantar The United Methodist Church s CHANGE THE WORLD WEEKEND With FUSION 2016 On Saturday, May 21 st 2016, CUMC will be joining forces with other churches and business in Channahon and Minooka for a coordinated effort to make improvements throughout the community. This is an all ages activity with a variety of projects being coordinated by the Channahon Park District. \\ CUMC will again be hosting the Registration and Kick- Off from 8a - 8:55am and preparing and serving lunch from 11:30 a.m. 1 p.m Volunteers are needed to help host the registration, check-in table and prepare/serve the lunch. If you are interested in serving as part of the CUMC Hospitality Team for the day, please add your name to the sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall. Registration is available in the Narthex Please contact the church office or Brittany Alcantar (balcantar05@yahoo.com) for more information. Special Recognition and Celebration Sundays May 8 th - the 9am service May 22 nd - Sunday School and Kidz Club 9am service Last day of Fall Sunday School Celebration with games, hot dogs and fellowship during Sunday School 10:30am - 11:30am Vacation Bible School JULY p-8:3pm Volunteer Sign up is on the information table in the Narthex Gearing up for an over-the-top underground adventure! Grounding kids in the rock-solid foundation of God s love a love that takes us through life s dark times while providing a Guiding Light With God s Word! At Cave Quest Vacation Bible School, kids experience God s Word in surprising and unforgettable ways! Summer Sunday School Leaders Needed!! If you are interested please contact Brittany Alcantar balcantar05@yahoo.com or sign-up in the Narthex at the Information Table. Do you have questions or unsure you have what it takes to lead our little ones? No fear, we are offering a mini training on Sunday, May 28th at 10AM. If you are not available that date, let Brittany know and she will be willing to train you one-on-one. Outdoor & Retreat Ministries A ministry of the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church info@niccamp.org Reynoldswood Christian Camp / Wesley Woods Retreat Center * Prayer Retreat - April (Reynoldswoods) * Confirmation Retreat - April (Wesley Woods) & April (Reynoldswoods) Summer Camp Details, Flyer & Registration is available online 621 Reynoldswood Road Dixon, IL info@reynoldswood.org / Stam Street Williams Bay, WI info@wesleywoodsretreats.org / Job postings are online: and 5

6 Church & Committee News Collecting RULERS and PENCIL SHARPENERS! The Sunday School and our congregation as a whole is asked to donate new rulers and pencil sharpeners through early June to add to supply school kits being assembled at Chatham s Midwest Mission Distribution Center. Collection boxes for the rulers and pencil sharpeners will be available in church. They will be brought to our Annual Conference in June and added to donations from churches throughout Northern Illinois. The rulers and pencil sharpeners will eventually be shipped to students in need in our country and overseas. Thank you for your help! Thanks to Lou McCoy for leading this effort among our Sunday School children. March/April Sunday School Missions ~ 176 pairs of socks were collected for our troops through the Operation Care Package Ministry. Thank You! May Shop Dates SPRING/ SUMMER INVENTORY Sunday May 1 st - 10a - 11a Monday May 2 nd - 6p - 8p Wednesday May 11 th - 11a - 1p Senior Luncheon Thursday May 12 th - 10a - 2p Monday May 16 th - 6p - 8p Thursday May 26 th - 10a - 2p Ruth Circle May 9 th ~ D. Sneed s Hannah Jessup No meeting In May UMW Circles Ladies Aid May 12 9a in Thrift Shop Rachel Circle May 10 th ~ C. Musser s Circle of Hope May 12 7:00pm TBA Ladies-Aid would like to invite anyone interested in volunteering with the Thrift Shop to see Lana Stafford, Susie Eaton or Donna Buckley for more information! The Thrift Shop will be open the 1 st Sunday of the month at 10am for shopping convenience to our church family and friends. All men are invited to join the Men of CUMC for Breakfast and fellowship. They meet the 2 nd Saturday of each 7:45am at Grandma s Pancake House Minooka Rd. ~ in Minooka. Join us on Sunday May 22 11:30am for our CUMC International Cuisine Buffet We will enjoy an internationally-themed meal in the Fellowship Hall, It will be a fundraiser for adult mission trip scholarships organized by our Outreach Committee. Please sign up in the Fellowship Hall to bring your favorite ethnic dish to share! The cost is $10 per plate - Meal served buffet style For more information contact Outreach chairperson - Jodi Landes at Jodi.landes@aol.com or or call the church office. 6

7 Benefit Sunday, May 1 st ~ 9am - 12n Donation per plate Adults - $8 Children - $5 (12 & under) Breakfast includes : 3 pancakes, 2 sausage patties, scrambled eggs and choice of beverage - coffee, juice or lemonade. Proceeds to benefit our church member Vearl Keeton for needed medication from a double-lung transplant in 2014 Tax deduction monetary donations can be made : NFT Illinois Transplant Fund 5350 Poplar Ave. - Suite 430 ~ Memphis TN Memo; in honor of Vearl Keeton Thank you in advance for your support! A Word from our Witness Committee: * We are working on a survey pew card for visitors and hopefully new members. * We delivered 52 containers of groceries to the Minooka Bible Church on Sunday April 17th. * Thank you CUMC congregation for your continued support to this mission. Donna Buckley, Witness Chair and In addition to our Prayer Blanket and Cancer Prayer Pillow Ministries, we now have a Baby Blanket Ministry! For the past year, Joan Waller, Wendy Hoffman and Lisa McMurtry have been making receiving blankets for new babies in our church. Pastor Steve takes one of the blankets to the hospital or home when he visits the parents of the newborn. Each blanket is labeled reminding families that the blanket was given in love from our CUMC Family. This is just one more ministry from our church that works so hard to support our own church family along with neighbors near and far. if anyone would like to be a substitute in the nursery on Sunday mornings, please contact Donna Szoke at dszoke@csd17.org or call the church office. The times in the nursery on Sunday mornings are 8:45am - 11:30am and the volunteer must be 13 yrs or older. Is wrapping up the season! The last meeting will be May 25 th Please have the kids dressed to be able to play outside as weather permits! Nurturing NEWS: The CUMC Joliet Slammers Baseball Game outing will be Friday June 17 th -7:05pm game With fireworks after the game! Tickets are $5 per person Sign up will begin in May in Fellowship Hall! 7 At Channahon UMC Wednesday April 13 11:30am Suggested Meal Donation is $4 per person Reservations are requested by calling the Channahon Township at before May 6 th (please just leave a message) May Menu: Meatballs in burgundy sauce w/ buttered noodles vegetables and fruit Delicious dessert prepared by the church ladies of Channahon UMC.

8 Pretty Flowers all in a Row All women and girls are invited to come celebrate May 13 th at 6pm in the Fellowship Hall UMW Event is being catered by Savarino's Pizza and Broasted Chicken. We are all daughters of God so don't be left out... Come join in fellowship with other daughters of our One TRUE King! Tickets : $ 11 Adult / $ 7 Child (11-4) / Free (3 and under) Tickets will be available until May 9 th on Sunday mornings in Fellowship Hall, or call the church office Coffee With Harry Part of our regular offerings are regularly sent to do the work of the United Methodist Church locally and beyond. One of the outreach efforts that we support through those Apportionment contributions is Justice For Our Neighbors, a network of legal clinics who provides immigration services at no cost to new Americans who need those services. As NIC staff Rev. Michael Mann explains it, Many who come to this country have already spent large sums on unqualified attorneys or those posing as attorneys, and they come to JFON (Justice for Our Neighbors) looking for someone they can trust to help them through the process. JFON uses volunteers to be that face of trust for its clients. We celebrate this ministry to new immigrants and our ability to help be the welcoming face of Christ to those in need. Back sometime ago in the 1970 s, a young man started attending Channahon United Methodist Church. Soon after that, he agreed to be in charge of Fellowship Time. Sunday mornings he would get the donuts, arrive at church early and cut the donuts into bite size pieces. That was the beginning of Harry Breens ministry to our church. Week after week, year after year, for more than 40 years, he has faithfully served us. His coffee tea time has grown and grown. He always has everyone's favorite treats and drinks. He starts out early on Sunday morning to pick up the donut holes and whatever else we need. He stays after we all leave making sure everything is cleaned up and put away. The Sundays that Harry will not be in church, he makes sure the donut holes will be picked up, coffee made, drinks and treats ready to be enjoyed. Children of all ages look forward to their weekly donut holes. Harry has always paid for everything out of his pocket. Fellowship time is and always will be Harry's ministry to our church. He gives from his heart. He is never without a smile and a good word for all. Donations of money or supplies have always been appreciated. Now that Harry has retired we really need to step up our donations so he can continue his ministry as he has been unselfishly doing for over 40 years. From the bottom of all our hearts, we give a big big big THANK YOU to Harry. Hoverboards are NOT allowed on Church property! 8 Our Mission of the Month in January was Grace Children's Hospital. Our congregation gave $191 through UMCOR to help prevent and cure disease and illness in Haitian boys and girls. No patient is ever turned away from Grace due to lack of funds, so the poorest of the poor are able to receive high quality care and the love of Christ through donations like ours. Thank you for caring!

9 Thank You The joy and comfort the beautiful prayer blanket gives me is such a blessing and your love and support of prayers I will remember always. Susan Limerman Thank you so much for the use of the Fellowship Hall for my daughters baby shower. The hall was just perfect and made our day even more special. Jayne VanMeter Thank you for the lovely prayer blanket and prayers. They are very much appreciated. Hope to be back soon. Linda Corp A Huge Thank You to all who helped clean up garbage along the I&M Canal Trail. On April 16th, 15 volunteers showed up to clean garbage along 1 1/2 mile stretch of the trail along Tryon Street in Channahon. Not only were we helping to beautify the trail for all those who use it, but we were also helping the park district. Without the volunteers they would have to send workers out to do the same task. Also, for every volunteer the park gets paid approximately $25 per hour by the Federal Government. That money is then used to help fund other areas of the park. If you were not able to help this year, watch for the signup next Spring! Happy Spring! Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Words cannot express my deepest appreciation in receiving such a beautiful, warm and cuddly prayer blanket. I use it everyday knowing that with each knot is a prayer said for me. I am forever grateful for your love. Terri Anderson Dear Nancy, Kris and all my other prayer warriors at CUMC. Thank you so much for the beautiful prayer blanket, it has brought me much strength and hope. Maria Kolniak John 7:37b-38 let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, Out of the believer s heart shall flow rivers of living water. With Deepest Sympathy Prayers for Dawn & Ray Brick and family on the death of Dawn s niece Lexi Barga. Prayers also for Jennifer, Lexi s mom. Prayers for Nancy Snow and her family on the death of her mother, Beverly Wright. Prayers for Nick & Cindy Pappas on the death of Nick s sister Judy Stramm. Prayers for the Stephenson Family on the death of their children s Grandfather and good family friend, Len Grote of Minooka. Prayers for Sandy Fletcher and family on the death of her niece Connie, in Appleton WI. CUMC Photo Gallery JOYS to Share Jean Lawrence - is a great aunt again - Madeline Vogel was born on April 15th to her parents Katie and JR. Donna Szoke - How beautiful the Narthex looks with its new makeover! Sergeant Family - Jack and Matthew raised $455 for cancer research to shave their heads for the Naperville St. Baldrick s event. Bob & Elaine Coen - We are glad to be home and back at CUMC!! Ray & Dawn Brick - what a joy it is to be part of such a wonderful congregation - our thanks to all of you who have kept Lexi and her family in your prayers for these past several years. Her services were just beautiful and very moving. Thank you. Pat Williams - My granddaughter was married this month. Rose Fields - Enjoyed seeing pelicans on the Good Friday H ike. Kris Hayden - is looking forward to the Women s Retreat at Cedar Lake! Our Living Cross- Easter Sunday Good Friday Hike - I&M Canal 9

10 May 2016 Sunday Service Volunteers Church Ambassador: Lou McCoy Counters: Randy Platt & Cindy Boyer 9am: 10:30am: May 1 st - Communion Servers Barb Powell, Lana Stafford, Janet Robb & Pixie Koenig Nancy Geldean, Tom Sweet, Mary Caher May 1 May 8 May 15 May 22 May 29 Greeters Liturgists 9am Liturgist 10:30am Francisco Family Hedgrens Lou McCoy & Donna Buckley Jackie Goggins Bob Coen Dottie Priddy Elena Warren Elaine Coen Ron Lehman Joi Walker Lisa McMurtry Diane Robinson Gwen Tunney Nancy Geldean A/V 9am Steve Olson & Mike Geldean Mark Linsdtrom & Steve Olson Mike & Amy Geldean Anita Young & Mark Lindstrom Tim & Adam Taylor A/V 10:30am Liam O Brien Brendan O Brien Connor McKay Liam O Brien God saves us one by one If you have access to ONE, that is YOUR mission field! May 1 May 3 May 4 May 5 May 6 May7 May8 May 9 May 10 May 12 May 13 May 15 John Cotter Aaron Greep Keta Lindstrom Jeff Walker Andrew Prokop Katie McSteen Lana Stafford Morgan McMurtry Sandy Yenrich Jodi Landes Alex Beitzel Presley Olson Hanna Pelkey Sophia Raymer Bonnie Eigenheer Elizabeth Gear Joyce Williams Grace Thelo Madalyn Hernandez Levi Ridenour May Birthdays May 16 May 17 May 18 May 20 May 21 May 24 May 27 May 28 May 29 May 30 Clayton Novak Austin Poore Mary Easton Ryan Knott Arvilla Smith Eric Pfeiffer Michelle Blazekovich Tenley Denton Emma McSteen Carl Bush Matthew Jones Travis McConnaughay Joe Ridenour David Traver Bailey Lyman Allison Lyman Ellery Olson Jim Arnold Michael Fletcher May 1 May 14 May 26 May 27 May 30 May 31 May Anniversaries Rick & Michelle Lyman Rick & Brenda VanAsdlen Chip & Joyce Williams Mark & Keta Lindstrom Jim & Nancy Allen Tom & Kathy Leatherwood If we have missed your birthday or anniversary and you would like it to be added to the weekly bulletin announcement and monthly Circuit Rider calendar, please contact the church or Office@channahonumc.org 10

11 Channahon United Methodist Church W. Eames (Rt. 6), Channahon, IL Pastor: Steve Good Youth Leader: Roger Beitzel Director of Christian Formation Brittany Alcantar Office Ministry Assistant: Kris Hayden Office Hours Mon. Fri.: 9:00am-1:00pm Phone: The CIRCUIT RIDER Volume 62, No. 5; May 2016 Editor: Kris Hayden CUMC reserves the right to edit all submitted materials. SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE Traditional Worship Contemporary Worship Coffee Fellowship Sunday School (all ages) 9:00am 10:30am 10:15-11:00am 10:30am Summer Worship Schedule : June - August One service - 9am With Children s Sunday School (following Children s time) Follow us on FACEBOOK at CHANNAHON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH W. Eames St. Channahon, IL We are especially grateful for: One who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, Luke 16:10a :