NEWS FROM the PEWS. God s blessings Pastor Randy

Transcription

1 NEWS FROM the PEWS O C T O B E R V o l u m e 2 1 I s s u e 1 0 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, The LORD has done great things for them. Psalm 126:2 (NIV) My first Smiles Day is in the books. Jackie and I had a great time. It seemed as if the whole world was smiling and happy. Joy was in abundance all over town. Jackie and I have been truly blessed by this congregation. You have become family to us. We have seen Christ in each and every one of you. We can sing songs of joy because of your love and care. As I sit here thinking and looking out the window, it strikes me that if on one day we can smile and have abundant joy, then we should be able to have that each and every day of our lives. How can we achieve this? We can achieve this goal by having Christ Jesus in our hearts. If we stand on God s promises our mouths will surely be filled with laughter and our tongues with songs of joy. And if we have this laughter and joy, it should be contagious to those around us. We need to share this important part of the body of Christ. Most folks think we Christians are so serious. But by showing them our laughter and joy how can they not want to be a part of the body of Christ? In a recent sermon, I gave the statistic that a child laughs 400 times per day on average, and an adult laughs only 18 times per day on average. As adults we should be trying to increase our average. Like children we need to splash this laughter and joy on all those around us, for the Lord, indeed, has done great things for us. God s blessings Pastor Randy Pastor s Office Hours: Mon.-Thur. 9 am Noon, Fri - off *Other times by appointment Pastor Randy s contact Info: Rmcgeehon@gmail.com Cell: WEEKLY WORSHIP SCHEDULE: Saturday Night Casual Service: 5:00 PM Sunday Morning Traditional Service: 8:30 AM Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Contemporary Service: 10:35 AM Rushville FUMC Youth Group Schedule: 4:30pm-5:00pm Music 5:00pm-5:30pm Group Lesson 5:30pm-6:00pm Dinner Senior High Youth 2nd & 4th Sundays-6:00pm World Communion Sunday: This will be celebrated Sunday, Oct. 7th at 11:30 a.m. in Central Park. Everyone is invited to attend. All Saints Day: All Saints Day will be celebrated the November 3rd and 4th. At this time, we will be honoring those who were members or regular attendees of the Rushville First United Methodist Church. We will be lighting candles in memory of our loved ones. Rushville First United Methodist Church Located on the corner of Congress & Jefferson PO Box West Jefferson Street Rushville, Illinois office@rushvillefumc.org Phone Fax

2 WORSHIP WARM-UP: This month s sermon scriptures Sunday School Servants In Training/Sunday Mornings at 9:30AM Room 205 Facilitator: Bob Walker Used by hundreds of UM churches worldwide, the Uniform Series based curriculum enables Christians across the globe to study the same Scriptures and topics on the same Sundays throughout the year. The quarterly and can be used in multiple settings. Adult Discussion Forum/Sunday Mornings at 9:30AM Room 101 Facilitators: Sarah Duncan & Crystal Bartlett Have you ever wanted to talk more about a sermon topic, explore the ideas a bit, or take it a little farther? Gather with others to build some relationships while digging deeper into each week s message. Children s Sunday School/Sunday Mornings at 9:30AM Room 202/203 Pre-K - 4th Grade Room 201 Middle School Dates Sermon Title Scripture Oct. 7th The Year of the Woman Genesis 2:18-24 Oct. 14th A Word to the Wealthy Mark 10:17-30 Oct. 21st Laity Sunday Crystal Bartlett, Guest Speaker Oct. 28th Playing Golf at Midnight Mark 10:46-52 Oct. 1st - New Church Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm Wednesday: 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, 12:30 to 5:00 pm *Closed Friday UMW: United Methodist Women All women of Rushville United Methodist Church are invited to join one of the following UMW circles for Bible study, mission lessons, and fellowship: UMW Circle Information Serendipity: Oct. 7:00 p.m. Teresa Boyd will host. Esther Daystar: Oct. 9:30 a.m. Deb & Di s Meeting Room New Beginnings: Oct. 5:00 p.m. in Room 101 Sunday Worship Volunteers October 7 Acolyte: Katie Acheson Liturgist: Sylvia Herr Greeters: Wilb & Marian Kindhart Acolyte: Jason Klitz Greeters: Leland & Barb Hardy, & Nancy Schisler October 14 Acolyte: Macon Kessler Liturgist: Tina Cox Greeters: Mary Sue Merritt & Phyllis Wenger Acolyte: Tyson Davidson Greeters: Bill & Debbie Worthington, & Donna Young October 21 Acolyte: Liturgist: Cathy Teel Greeters: Art & Wanieta Ament Acolyte: Owen Schoonover Greeters: April & Owen Schoonover, & Martha Walker October 28 Acolyte: Macon Kessler Liturgist: Sarah Duncan Greeters: Jim & Jody Worthington Acolyte: Elli Henninger Greeters: Mindy Newell & Whitley Cooper, & Mark Tyson Rushville First United Methodist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We seek to make a difference for Christ within the local and global community by waking to Christ, worshiping Christ, walking with Christ, working for Christ and witnessing for Christ.

3 Prayers for Healing and Recovery: Al Hamilton, Freddie Henninger, Jerry Curry, Joe Finney, Kenny Haines, John Hymes, Ruby Hess, Steve Bottorff, Jerry Bartell, Steve Ewing, Bob Phillips, Ace Thrash, Craig Edlin, Randy Little, Luan Phillips, Mary Jean Hertling, Harold Sargent, Terry Runyon, Eric Peacock, Tommy Pruitt, Emmett Garriott, Dena Diseron, Linda Shaw, Brian Days, Doug Fulks, Jim Stevenson, Dianna Crum, Phyllis Rutledge, Donna Chapmen, Pat Unger, Ruth Teel, David Jones, Allen Tippey, Virginia Stocker, Keith & Bonnie Vaughn, Carla Floyd, Edith Goldsborough, Larry Lashbrook, Bob Hood, Vera Royce, Carol Perrine, Ed Fegley, Wayne & Gloria Tomlinson, Marie Leonard, Hazel Gurnsey, Glenna Prather, Eloise Patton, Margie Tyson, Peggy Settles, John Walker, Bob & Nancy Stauffer, Kent Drawve, June Morrow, Jane Wendling, Betty Curl, Marilyn Taylor, Tanya Gaither, Red & Carolyn Ambrosius, Rose Rebman, Dick Etter, Lynn Kettering, Liz Wood, Vic Jackson, Rick Ashcraft, Jackie McGeehon, Mike Dean, Cherie Bryant, Troy Shirrell, John Peacock, Gene Burton, Kay Matthewson s family. Prayers of Joy: Congratulations to Billy & Mackenzie Malcomson on the birth of their daughter, Elliott Grace. Prayers for Churches and Pastors: Each week we lift up a different church or charge and pastoral team from our community in prayer. As we lift up our brothers and sisters in Christ and their work for the Lord, the ministry and message of Christ shall be strengthened. This month we will be praying for the following churches and their pastors: The week of Oct. 7th The week of Oct. 14th The week of Oct. 21st The week of Oct. 28th Doddsville United Methodist Church First Christian Church First Presbyterian Church First Southern Baptist Church September WORSHIP ATTENDANCE AND GIVING Weekend of Sat PM 8:30AM 10:35AM Offering Sept. 2nd $3497 Sept. 9th $4660 Sept $3848 Sept $3659 Sept. 30 To get connected with the Rushville First UMC Phone Tree, call the church office at to let us know what notices you would like to receive. If you would like to receive church messages by text, please text rushvillefumc to Will be shared next month Total $15,664 Did you Know. Online Offering at RushvilleFUMC.org - We have Online Offering available at RushvilleFUMC.org. 1.) You can click on Give in the menu, or click on the Online Offering button on the righthand side of the page. 2.) Fill out some simple information, and you ve invested in ministry! We re trying to make it even easier for you to make a difference for Jesus Christ! Thank you for your generosity! Published prayer requests are received over the past month through prayer cards and requests. In order to be conscientious concerning personal privacy, we will only print names of those who are family members or have been confirmed/requested by the person(s) named.

4 Open Arms Preschool is celebrating its 20 th anniversary this year! For twenty years now, this program has been supported by the congregation at FUMC Rushville and as a result, hundreds of preschool-aged children have enjoyed the benefit of a Christian preschool education to launch their careers as students. We are excited about this milestone and are planning some fun events this year to commemorate our anniversary. We are now entering into our fourth week of preschool for the school year and things are going great! We have an outstanding group of preschoolers this year and we are all really enjoying our time together. We have spent time during these first few weeks getting to know each other and establishing our new routine. We have been learning about the letters A and B and also the colors red and yellow. Our themes have been Back to School, Happy to Be Me, and My Home Town. Up next is our autumn theme. We are really pleased with the excellent progress our students are making already this early in the year! We read a bible story together every day at preschool and the students have so far learned about the first seven days, Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden, Noah s ark, the tower of Babel, Abraham, Isaac, Esau & Jacob. We had school pictures taken during our third week of school and have been able to take advantage of the sunshine and nice weather to play a bit almost every day on our awesome playground. We also ventured over to the parking lot to ride tricycles one day which is always a big hit with the preschoolers. Finally, plans are currently being made for our fall fundraiser. Information about that will be available soon. From the preschoolers and staff at Open Arms, God bless and have a safe, happy fall! The FUMC Youth Group News Please remember that parents need to come to the church basement to pick up children after Youth Group! Our High School Youth program will begin Sunday, October 14th and will meet on the second and fourth Sunday's from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in Pastor Randy's office. Please join us! Angel Chimes will start practice in January with Mary Sue Merritt as director. The chimes choir will be open to all youth who are in the second, third and fourth grades. Practice will be after school with a day and time TBD. Tentatively, we are looking at weekly Tuesday practices from 3:15 to 4:00 in the sanctuary. If you have a child in grades 2-4 and who can commit to an after school practice and who would like to play chimes please call the church office ( ) and give Tami their name and grade. Youth Group October 2018 Dessert Schedule: The Open Arms Preschool News October 3rd: Kay Matthewson October 10th: Barb Hardy October 17th: Wanieta Ament The United Methodist Women The UMW Annual Meeting Celebration will be held on October 6, 2018 at the First United Methodist Church in Normal, IL. The theme is Participating in God s mission: A Gift and a Responsibility. Fellowship is at 9:00 a.m. and the program will begin at 9:40 a.m. There is a $20 registration fee made payable to IGRC UMW. Rushville First United Methodist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We seek to make a difference for Christ within the local and global community by waking to Christ, worshiping Christ, walking with Christ, working for Christ and witnessing for Christ.

5 1 Bob Bottorff 2 Martha Walker 3 Alonna Davis Lyle Sargent 4 Frank Billingsley Betty Paisley Jackie McGeehon 6 Tom & Julie Davis 8 Barbara Hardy Ciara Icenogle 9 Conner Davidson 10 Jagger Bartlett Kay Fitzjarrald Doris Vincent Paisley Moore 11 Laura Winner Tom Eifert 12 Brenda Bottorff OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS Haylee Gossage 13 Bryan & Sara Fitzjarrald 14 Larry Paisley 15 Betty Johnson 17 Amy Ambrosius 18 Kara Henninger 19 Doug & Kara Henninger 20 Rod Schoonover 22 Sarah Edmiston Megan Quillen 23 Stacey Briney 24 Michel DeMoss 26 Eldon Akers Mykka Merrill 27 Myer Maxwell 28 Cheryl Utter Kreeden Allen Norma Atwater Eldon & Rita Akers 29 Jan Anderson Tom Acker 30 Rita Akers Judy Quillen TRUNK or TREAT October 31st, 3:30-5:00 p.m. This year we will again be participating in the Community Halloween Walk. We will have parking available in our parking lot and next to the church. Please join us in handing out treats to the trick-ortreaters who pass by. You are also invited decorate your cars and dress up in costumes yourself, if you choose. Birthday Celebration / Open House There will be an Open House held on Saturday, October 20th from 12:30-3:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall to celebrate Rod Schoonover s 80th birthday. Rod s family will be providing light sandwiches and potato salad, along with birthday cake. Please stop by and wish Rod a Happy Birthday! The family also requests no gifts. Your presence is present enough! (In a possibly unrelated event... Does anyone have a saddle on a sawhorse/stand or a Sombrero to be worn during a rendition of The Happy Birthday song? If so, please let us know if it would be available on Oct. 20th from 12:30-3 p.m. ) - Just kidding, Rod! Operation Christmas Child The collection dates for 2018 will be November We would like to have the boxes brought to the Sanctuary or church office so we can pray over them before we deliver to the drop off location (Hope Church, Free Methodist Church) on the 20th. The office does have a limited number of colorful Operation Christmas Child boxes that can be used. You also can use shoe boxes or shoe box sized plastic totes. Check List: 1) Fill your standard size shoe box with toys and other gifts. 2) Pray for the child who will receive your gift. 3) Include a $9 donation for shipping costs. 4) Bring your box to church or the drop off location between Nov. 13th-20th. *Do not include candy, toothpaste, gum, used or damaged items, war related items, seeds, food, liquids or lotion, medications, vitamins, breakable items, glass containers or aerosol cans.

6 Dear Church Family, Did you know 40% of pastors work 50-to-59 hours on average each week? According to 2013 Twitter Research Poll, this is the average workweek for most full time pastors. And, while this may be an average week, let s not forget that a pastor s job is unpredictable. Pastors are always on call for that emergency hospital visit in the middle of the night, or that request for counseling during a what-could-be life-changing argument. Let s not forget the times when they act as a wedding planner and funeral organizer. On top of all that, they are responsible for preparing for weekly church services, praying for their congregation and speaking truth (even when it might not be what some want to hear). October is Pastor Appreciation Month, and we asking that sometime during the month you please take a moment and express your appreciation for every time Pastor Randy ministered a comforting word to you, for every prayer he s ever prayed that you did or didn t know anything about, and for the privilege of receiving from one of God s great generals of this generation. Whether you send a card, or stop by the office for a visit, please let Pastor Randy know he is appreciated. May God continue to bless you, Pastor Parrish Relations Committee: Jody Worthington Christie Cox Doug Henninger Rob Bartlett Dianne Klitz Cathy Wilson Holly Acheson Tina Cox Alexis Murk United Methodist Women s Prayer Calendar 2018 October 1 Psalm 78: 1-4, October 2 Exodus 18:1-12 October 3 Exodus 18:13-27 October 4 Exodus 19:9b-25 October 5 Exodus 23:1-9 October 6 Exodus 23:14-19 October 7 Exodus 23:10-13 October 8 Psalm 19 October 9 Deuteronomy 5:1-21 October 10 Deuteronomy 5:22; 6:3 October 11 Deuteronomy 6:10-25 October 12 Exodus 24:1-8 October 13 Exodus 24:9-11 October 14 Exodus 24:12-18 October 15 Psalm 106:1-6, October 16 Exodus 32:15-35 October 17 Exodus 33:1-6 October 18 2 Kings 17:7-20 October 19 Exodus 33:7-11 October 20 Exodus 31:1-11 October 21 Exodus 39:32-43 October 22 Psalm 99 October 23 Exodus 40:34-38 October 24 Numbers 12:1-9 October 25 Numbers 13:1-2; 14:9 October 26 Deuteronomy 31:14-22 October 27 Deuteronomy 32:1-14,18 October 28 Deuteronomy 32:44-47 October 29 Psalm 90:1-6, October 30 Numbers 33:38-39 October 31 Exodus 34:29-35

7 Rushville First United Methodist Church Corner of Congress & Jefferson P.O. Box 208 NON-PROFIT ORG. NON U.S. POSTAGE PAID Rushville, IL PERMIT NO. 47 Change Service Requested Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. ~1 Chronicles 16:34 ~ Thank you so much for your cards and prayers. Bob was so touched that you would send a monthly card to him. Bob passed to be with the Lord on Aug. 25th. Thank you again for your thoughtfulness. You all are so appreciated. ~The Family of Bob Kessler~ We would like to say thank you very much to everyone who responded to our request for supplies. We received plenty of glue sticks, markers, crayons, and Clorox wipes. We are so grateful for your help and continued prayers. ~Open Arms Preschool Staff~ New Beginnings, Thank you so much for your very generous monetary donation towards our milk fund. It is so nice to have extra money available for students that are in financial need. Thanks again, ~Washington Staff~ Thank you to the following people who helped with Mobile Meals in September: Marge Parish, Sharon Gossage, Sharon Goldsborough, Judy Quillen, Teresa Boyd, Marian Kindhart, Mary Hughes, Martha Walker, Konnie Crane, Gene Kearby, Sheila Yates, Marilyn Sargent, Sylvia Herr, & Carol Fuller ~ Sally Poltawsky ~ CONTACT INFORMATION Please let us know if you have a change of contact information so we can update our records. This helps us stay in touch with you. Contact the church office with any updates. Phone: office@rushvillefumc.org OUR CHURCH STAFF: Pastor: Rev. Randy McGeehon Admin Assistant: Tami Zeeck Treasurer: Kathy Billingsley Music Director: Mark Ross