FAITH EVANGELICAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH APRIL 2018

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1 Creating Connections Through Extending Christ s Love FAITH EVANGELICAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH APRIL 2018 From the Pastor s Desk Dear Friends and Members of Faith: Greetings in the name of our Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. Celebrating this year s Easter with you here at Faith is a sheer joy and a blessing for me and my family. Let me summarize what I truly believe in my heart. The one and the only essential message of Easter is that the death has been swallowed up in victory. Christ is alive. In the Gospel account of St. Mark, there are three women mentioned -- Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James and Salome. They brought spices that they might anoint the body of their close friend, a man who has been crucified on the preceding Friday on the cross of Calvary. Now two days have passed, but their hearts are still very heavy with unspeakable grief. As they come closer to his tomb they wonder, Who shall roll away the heavy stone? The very large stone was sealed by the Romans and would not give way easily. But to their amazement the stone was already rolled away. Entering the tomb they discovered a young man dressed all in white. They were frightened. The young man said to them, DO NOT BE AFRAID. YOU SEEK JESUS OF NAZARETH, WHO WAS CRUCIFIED. HE IS RISEN. HE IS NOT HERE. GO TELL HIS DISCIPLES AND PETER THAT HE GOES BEFORE YOU TO GALILEE. THERE SHALL YOU SEE HIM, AS HE SAID UNTO YOU. Thus was Isaiah s prophecy was fulfilled: HE SHALL SWALLOW UP DEATH IN VICTORY; AND THE LORD GOD WILL WIPE AWAY TEARS FROM ALL FACES.Isaiah 25:8 As you and I may celebrate Easter this year, we may realize that the message of Christ s victory over death probably does not have the same emotional impact on us that it did on the women St. Mark mentions in his gospel and yes, also upon our ancestors in faith. For them death was real and the resurrection of Jesus Christ was a fresh breeze of hope for humanity. Today we are experts at both denying and delaying our mortality. Children born today might be able to live over a hundred years! With recent developments such as the Human Genome Project, one hundred years may be a conservative estimate. Now if we would just solve the problem of aging! It remains and someone might say, that s a good question! However, considering everything happening in our modern scientific world, here is something about Easter that makes our hearts beat faster. No it is, definitely not, an avoidance of the reality of death at all. It is because Easter represents eternal hope, yes, renewed hope not only for us as we deal with death but also as we deal with our everyday living. God shares Easter with us through our faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. Because Christ lives.we can live!! This is the great good news for us. It keeps our excitement on a high scale!! So go ahead, celebrate Easter even when it arrives this year on April Fools Day. God bless you and your family. Happy Easter!! Your servant in Christ, Dr. George E. David, Interim-Pastor

2 EASTER SUNDAY Sunday, April 1, a.m. Easter Monologues: Organized by Joanna Leonor & Hannah Leonor 8 a.m. A Continental Breakfast will follow. 10 a.m. Worship Service Scripture: John 20:1 19 Message: The Most Amazing Celebration FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER Sunday, April 8, a.m. Worship Service Scripture: John 20:19 31 Message: Easter Continues.. ZEROES INTO HEROES The Story of Gideon Based on Judges 6 & 7 Come meet Uncle Ezra, Jesse, Meesha and Martha as the exciting story of Gideon unfolds before your very eyes! Israel has once again strayed from Yahweh and the Midianites have taken over their land, forcing the Israelites to hide in fear. If God's Chosen People turn their eyes and their hearts back to Him, will He save them from their enemy? Is it possible that a poor farmer's son with little faith could be used to lead a rag-tag army to victory? Come find out as the Children's Choirs present ZEROES INTO HEROES Sunday, May 6, :30 P.M. Our eighteen choristers have been working hard and are excited to present this musical to you and your friends! We hope you will mark your calendars and plan to attend! Page 2

3 Educational & Service Opportunities Next Book Discussion Group on April 16, at 7:30 p.m. "Ghost Boy" by Martin Pistorius We postponed our discussion from last month so come join us for the next book discussion. We will be discussing, Ghost Boy by Martin Pistorius. The back of the book describes the book as a "hopeful story of a discarded life awakening from passivity to action, despair to hope, captivity to freedom." All are welcome to come and join the discussion on Monday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m. The location is to be determined. If you have any questions or would like to come and join the group, please Hannah Leonor at hannahwagle@gmail.com or Jane Ahrens at janelaine3@comcast.net What s New in the Church Library? A number of new fiction books are available on the Library Table in the Fellowship Hall. There are many great nonfiction Christian books on our shelves as well. Topics include prayer, Christian living, missions and biographies to name a few. If you have any questions about the Church Library or are looking for a specific book, please contact Jane janelaine3@comcast.net. Happy Reading! - Small Group meeting Wednesdays April 4 & 7 p.m. at the home of Rod and Mae Kingzette, 5921, Electric Avenue, Berkeley. For more information, please contact Rod or Mae at rodnmae@comcast.net or Travel To Israel with Pastor George and Myra David Sunday, April 29, following a potluck dinner at 11:30 a.m. Don t miss this trip to see the wonders of Israel as presented by Pastor George and Myra as they share their trip to the Holy Land. Come to see the pictures of where Jesus walked and taught. The program will be held on Sunday, April 29, after the worship service and preceded by a potluck dinner. Please bring a dish or two to share for the dinner following the worship service. Immediately following the meal, the Trip to the Holy Land will begin. Invite a friend to come and share in this time of fellowship, food and inspiration. - The Women s Bible Study group will conclude their study of the Gospel of Luke on Wednesday, April 25. Many thanks to Alice Dvorak who opened up her home for the group to meet during our heating crisis at the church. The group will resume again in the fall. Page 3

4 Mission and Outreach News Easter Tithe This year ten percent of our Easter offering will be donated to the Red Bird Mission. This organization is based in southeastern Kentucky and empowers individuals and advocates justice by providing educational, health and community outreach ministries to low-income residents in their Appalachian Mountain region. Please visit their website at for additional information on their ministries. 5th Sunday Offering on April 29 to Go to The Equal Justice Initiative The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society. Founded in 1989 by Bryan Stevenson, a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer and bestselling author of Just Mercy, EJI is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons. The group challenges the death penalty and excessive punishment and provides re-entry assistance to formerly incarcerated people. EJI works with communities that have been marginalized by poverty and discouraged by unequal treatment. They are committed to changing the narrative about race in America. EJI produces groundbreaking reports, an award-winning wall calendar, and short films that explore our nation s history of racial injustice, and recently launched an ambitious national effort to create new spaces, markers, and memorials that address the legacy of slavery, lynching, and racial segregation, which shapes many issues today. EJI provides research and recommendations to assist advocates and policymakers in the critically important work of criminal justice reform. They publish reports, discussion guides, and other educational materials, and staff conduct educational tours and presentations for thousands of students, teachers, faith leaders, professional associations, community groups, and international visitors every year. Our Book Group read the book Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson and were moved by the book and the work EJI is doing. Please be generous in giving to this worthwhile organization. Many thanks to Sonia Lecce and Mary Legge who shared their Volunteers in Mission trip to Panama during our worship service on March 18. They shared pictures and items from their work with the Cienaguita Ngobe people in Panama. It was encouraging and inspiring to hear about the United Methodist Church at work in Panama. Why we need Easter No one is exempt from tragedy or disappointment even God was not exempt. Jesus offered no immunity, no way out of the unfairness, but rather a way through it to the other side. Just as Good Friday demolished the instinctive belief that this life is supposed to be fair, Easter Sunday followed with its startling clue to the riddle of the universe. Out of the darkness, a bright light shone. The cross of Christ may have overcome evil, but it did not overcome unfairness. For that, Easter is required, a bright clue that someday God will restore all physical reality to its proper place. Philip Yancey, Disappointment With God Page 4

5 APRIL 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Easter 7 am Sunrise Service 8 am Breakfast 10 am worship 2 3 Board of Trustees 4 11 am Bible Study 7 pm Small Group 8:08 pm AA Group 5 5:30 pm Cherub Choir FG Choir 6 7 8:30 9:30 am ONE Prayer Group 8 9am Adult Study 10 am Worship 2:15 pm Extended Care Worship am Bible Study 8:08 pm AA Group 12 5:30 pm Cherub Choir FG Choir am Adult Study 10 am Worship Coffee Fellowship 22 9am Adult Study 10 am Worship 29 9am Adult Study 10 am Worship 11:30 am Potluck Dinner & Israel Program 16 7:30 pm Book Group am Bible Study 1:15 pm HHW 7 pm Small Group 8:08 pm AA Group am Bible Study 30 8:08 pm AA Group 19 5:30 pm Cherub Choir FG Choir 26 5:30 pm Cherub Choir FG Choir :30 9:30 am ONE Prayer Group Children s Choirs 10 am to 12:30 pm Page 5

6 FINANCIAL UPDATE 2018 Giving Statistics Weekly INCOME BUDGET Date Income TO DATE TO DATE Income is $2868 behind Expenses through February 25-Feb Mar Mar Mar Income $14, Expenses $17, Net Income - 2, Update on the Boiler Situation Thank you for all of your prayers during our present crisis with our heating system. Cindy Wagle, Chair of the Board of Trustees and Rod Kingzette, Chair of the Church Council, and many others have been busy getting quotes and looking at all of the possibilities to correct our current heating problem. Rich Shafer, Chair of the Finance Committee, has been looking into the possibility of getting a loan in the event we do not have the needed donations to do the work. At the present time we do have one quote which is approximately $71,000 for removing the old boiler and installing a new system. In getting additional quotes, it is hoped that we may find a quote for a lesser amount to do the work or to possibly fix the boiler (which would only be a temporary solution). About $27,500 has been raised so far to do the work. Thank you to all who have gone above and beyond your regular giving to give to the Boiler Fund. If you would like to make a donation, please make any checks out to Faith Evangelical United Methodist Church with Boiler Fund in the memo line. Please continue to pray for this situation, that the church can find a reasonable quote to do the work; wisdom for the church council as they weigh all of the options; and for the church to continue to meet its ongoing expenses while raising additional money for this project. Thank you again for your prayers and financial support! Page 6

7 FAITH FAMILY NEWS Happy Heart Warmers BIRTHDAYS 7 SUNNY KURIAN 9 NANCY CICHY ELIZABETH MILLEN 11 REBECCA HITCHCOCK 12 CINDY BENNISH 18 LOLA MAGEE 19 JOANNA LEONOR 20 ROD KINGZETTE JOSEPH KURIAN 23 SCOTT GOSS 24 DONNA LARSON JOHN AHRENS 29 ROSIE RUELO ANNIVERSARY 18 JAMES & LEE WASHINGTON Happy Heart Warmers will meet on April 18, at 1:15 p.m. at the home of Jane Ahrens. This group crochets and knits afghans for missions and ministries. All are welcome to come to learn to crochet, crochet and knit with the group, or just come for fellowship. Donations of yarn are always welcome. If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Bennish at or swcks6@yahoo.com We no longer will be ordering altar flowers from Amlings. If you sign up for altar flowers, please bring your own flowers. For Easter Sunday, the worship committee is asking that people bring potted spring flowers to display on the altar on Easter Sunday. You may bring the flowers on Easter morning 15 minutes prior to the service or anytime during Holy Week prior to Sunday. If you have any questions, please contact Mae Kingzette. ONE Prayer Meetings Join us as we pray together as ONE at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, on Saturdays, April 7 and 21 from 8:30 9:30 a.m. Coffee Fellowship will be on Sunday, April 15, following our worship service. Our Hosts will be Nancy Cerny, Nancy Schielke and any others who wish to help out. Guest Speakers in April Pastor George will be on vacation from April 9 through April 23. On Sunday, April 15, our guest speaker will be Charles H. Saint-Vil who heads up the Light Up Our Youth Foundation in Haiti. On Sunday, April 22, Cyril Zacharias, nephew of Sheila Kurian, will be our guest speaker. Page 7

8 Sunday 10 a.m. Page 8 Faith Evangelical United Methodist Church Creating Connections through Extending Christ s Love 111 W. North Avenue Elmhurst, IL faithelm@gmail.com web page - www. feumc.org Rev. George David, Pastor Jane Ahrens, Church Office Manager Christian Education Hour 9:00 a.m. Worship Service 10:00 a.m. Office Hours 8 AM - Noon Tuesday through Thursday April 2018