THE MESSENGER. The United Methodist Church of Antioch. THE PASTOR PONDERS: What is Rally Day?

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1 The United Methodist Church of Antioch THE MESSENGER The mission of the United Methodist Church of Antioch is to grow in faith, worship God following the teachings of Jesus Christ, and be instruments of God s love, through the Hol Spirit, as we reach out to our communit and the world. THE PASTOR PONDERS: What is Rall Da? September 2018 Volume 2 Issue 9 Train children in the wa the should go, and when the are old, the will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 In man Protestant churches, Rall Da marks the beginning of the church programming ear. It is the da to rall, regroup, or reassemble after a summer filled with vacations, sports activities, visits with relatives, and other events which take folks awa from regular attendance at worship. Church School, Choir, and meetings. Some churches call it Welcome Back Sunda, Fall Kick-Off or Friendship Sunda. Here at the United Methodist Church of Antioch, Rall Da signals the beginning of the Church School Year for toddlers through adults, the resumption of choir practice and presentation during worship, a return to worship at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m., and a host of other activities. RALLY DAY 2018 will be on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 with onl one service at 9:30 a.m. We will worship together. There will be activities for the children. We will share a light lunch. During Rall Da worship, Church School teachers will be introduced, a few words will be said about activities planned from September December, and teachers and students will be praed for. This is a time to remind ourselves that Christian Education is a ministr of our church, that we are all called to learn and grow in our faith, and that nurturing our faith is a partnership pf parents, teachers, students, and the congregation. It is a celebration of those who teach and those who learn. Sunda Church School is not the onl educational opportunit at UMCA. Bible Stud occurs at 1:30 p.m. on Mondas and 10 a.m. on Wednesdas. Short-term studies are offered frequentl throughout the ear. And Parents Da Out the Best Preschool Under the Son offers a qualit program for kids 2-4 on Tuesda and Thursdas. Praer and the teaching of Christian values are an important part of the programming. Speaking of Parents Da Out the Best Preschool Under the Son...an editorial appearing in the August 14, 2018 edition of the Chicago Tribune reported that a large number of students are entering Kindergarten unprepared. The lack social skills, and are behind in language and math skills that are expected from students at this level. As we learned back in April, earl childhood education is vital to helping our children succeed in their learning and growth in the classroom, in the communit, and in their faith. Time spent in a qualit preschool can help a child to be read for the challenges the will face later on. As of this writing, our Tuesda-Thursda PDO program is almost filled to capacit and we are looking to initiate a Monda-Wednesda program as well. Praise God! From time to time, there a few students whose families are unable to full cover the PDO tuition. The PDO Board felt that offering our kids a qualit education is a missional priorit and so the are setting up a scholarship fund. Donations are appreciated. Whether we are ver oung, elementar aged, outh, oung adults, middle aged, or in our golden ears. there is alwas more to learn about God s grace, the love of Christ, and the practice of our faith. Albert Einstein said, once ou stop learning, ou start ding. Please keep our Christian Education program in praer and consider participating in some wa. Please join me in saing, I want to live (and learn) so God can use me. Blessings, Pastor Char

2 SUNDAY SCHOOL BEGINS SEPTEMBER 16 Time for another ear of Sunda School! Classes will begin at 9:15 a.m. on Sunda, September 16. Join us for Bible lessons, music and activities. BACKPACK FOR KIDS PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED This program, in association with Open Arms Mission and the Northern Illinois Food Bank, is looking for volunteers to give 25 minutes of their time at 9:00 a.m. on their chosen Fridas delivering backpack food to children at AES and W.C. Pett who signed up, that add to an nutritional gaps in their weekend food suppl. Please contact Anne Dickson, Scheduler, if ou have an questions and are considering helping with this important communit ministr, or GRIEF SHARE...On Thursda, September 13, we will be starting to meet on Grief Share. It is a 13-week program that includes a video, a booklet and group sharing and discussions. We will meet from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the All Saints Room of the United Methodist Church. Ken Graesser and Jud Degand will be the leaders with Gloria Stevens and the Pastors of the Methodist Church and Lutheran Church providing guidance. We are having the program as we are aware of people that would like to be part of a support group. Anone in the communit is welcome to attend. The onl cost is the booklet which is $20 and if this is a burden, scholarships are available. We don t want anone left out of this ministr. For more information please contact Ken Graesser at If ou are aware of someone who is grieving and might be helped contact Ken. 2 WESLEY AFTERNOON CIRCLE On Thursda, September 20, 2018, Wesle Afternoon Circle will be holding its first fall meeting at 2:00 p.m. in the All Saints Room. There will be devotions, a sharing and refreshments. Please join us to welcome in the Wesle Circle s 71st ear of serving missions, fellowship and celebrating the jos of being a famil part of the United Methodist communit. anned386@hotmail.com. PDO Scholarship Fund...Parents Da Out Christian Preschool (the Best Preschool Under the Son) will be starting a scholarship fund this ear. Donations to this fund will help support the children/families of the preschool. Donations will be accepted at an time. Please mark our envelope Preschool Scholarship Fund. As alwas, thanks for our support. Kim Dodd, PDO Director Newsletter deadline is the 15th of the month. We are also interested in an photos ou might have of church activities. Submit articles and/or photos to Barbara Goetzelman: or bgoetzelman@comcast.net Files should be in a PDF format or included in the bod of the . Please note that articles submitted should be for

3 CHANCEL CHOIR DIRECTOR Staff Parish Relations Committee is happ to announce that we have a new choir director: Nicole Hel-Horst. We are ver excited to have Nicole begin sharing her gifts with the choir and other vocal ministries in our church! Please read Nicole s letter and biographical information below and join us in welcoming her to our church famil. A man should hear a little music, read a little poetr, and see a fine picture everda of his life in order that worldl cares ma not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul. This lovel quote b Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe trul embodies m view on the ministr of music. God implanted His beaut and love into our souls and His gift of art is such a wonderful wa to be reminded of that love. I feel honored, humbled, and blessed to have been called to this new adventure. I am so excited to work along with the members of the choir to bring the grace and beaut of God s love to our communit through song. I invite anone who feels that God has called them to use their voice to spread His glorious message to join us on our first rehearsal on September 9th. This rehearsal will take place from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m., due to this being a one service Sunda. We will meet at our regular scheduled time of 9:15 a.m. the following week. Some Clef Notes about Me...I have a vast background in vocal coaching, directing and vocal performance. I began private vocal lessons at 10 ears old and continued to stud voice through research, hands on experience, workshops and other educational opportunities over the last 16 ears. M degree is in education and I enjo teaching Pre-K here in the PDO program of the United Methodist Church of Antioch. I also teach earl childhood music through Music-in-the-Box and provide vocal coaching for church worship teams. Most of m recent musical experiences come from the communit theater world. I have worked with man theater companies throughout Northwest Indiana, Lake Count, Illinois, and Southeastern Wisconsin. Some recent credits include vocal directing for PM&L Theatre s productions of Secret Garden, Songs for a New World, and Man of La Mancha. I also enjo performing and appeared on the PM&L stage in this season s production of Compan. Additionall, I perform and choreograph for the Riverport Chorus, chapter of Sweet Adelines, and am a vocal coach for the Diva Quest Scholarship Program. NURSERY HELP NEEDED! Adult and outh supervisors are needed in the Church Nurser at the 10:00/10:30 a.m. service. This commitment would amount to once ever 3 months. Please contact Heather Menzer, heather.a.menzer@gmail.com, if ou would like to join this important ministr. UMCA IS ON FACEBOOK Yes ou can now find up-to-the-minute information while surfing our Facebook feed. Like the page at United Methodist Church of Antioch. Please be patient with us this is a new page and we are busil tring to make it a great one!

4 CHRISTIAN WELLNESS MINISTRY (CWM) AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES are offering the following sessions in September. Look for flers in Wesle Hall as well as the hall outside of Diane s office (when available). *September 12th, Senior Health Insurance Programs A presentation on open enrollment and benefits that are available for eligible seniors (Medicare Savings Plan, Medicaid, SNAP, BAA and Extra Help) 10 a.m. at St. Stephen s Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall. *September 18th, Crime Prevention A Lake Count Sheriff s Officer will be present to answer an questions, 1 p.m. at St. Ignatius Episcopal Church, Fellowship Hall. CWM is working with Walgreen s Pharmac to provide flu shots, minimal cost. The date is not fixed et but likel earl October. Sta tuned or call Carol Frazier RN at GRATITUDE We often ask where does the mone go that we give as gifts to the church. There are man ministries that are supported. During the last few weeks there was VBS, Vacation Bible School. A new approach was taken this ear b having it four Tuesda nights and then a wrap-up on Sunda, August 19, with a potluck picnic. This ear there was a outh part and an adult part and each Tuesda night it started with a meal. It involved man people from the church and the communit. What a great event that so man people could get involved and hear and share stories about Jesus Christ. Our ministries are successful because of people with time, talent and treasurers provided to them b God, who are willing to share. Churches are sustained b the good works and generosit of people. Without this giving, there would be no resources for ministries to get things done. Indeed, at the ver heart of a church s existence are its members resources that sustain activities. This generosit is imperative for an church just to survive, let alone thrive. We wish all people would give of their time, talent and be generous with their treasurers for the church to fulfill its mission. We hope everone is having a great summer and are looking forward to the fall and the starting of school The Gratitude Committee, Ken Graesser Church Council to meet on Tuesda, September 11, 6:30 p.m. Contact Joe Nance if ou are interested in attending the Men s Spiritual Congress to be held at Williams Ba, Wisconsin in September. The Lincoln Railwa Car will be in Antioch from August 24 September 9th. Our Church has been asked to share the beaut of our historical windows with those visiting the car during this period. If ou would be able to be a church host please contact Sallie Stoner. There will be a brochure available for our visitors with information about our church and the windows. Our sidewalk railing is 73% funded it looks like we will be able to have it installed before the slipper winter weather sets in. To make a donation please mark our envelope or check Railing Fund.

5 PARENTS DAY OUT (THE BEST PRESCHOOL UNDER THE SON) The first da of Preschool is right around the corner. I am happ to report that enrollment continues to go up. Our two and three -ear-old rooms are full and we have a few spaces available in our four-ear-old room. I would like to thank Jim Menzer and Jim Holmes for putting up new blinds in the preschool. The blind gus have also been ver instrumental in the ridding of bees from our sandbox, and the removal of weeds from the plaground. With the help of m friend, Marv K., the preschool now has a few new bulletin boards. Everone is welcome to visit the preschool and see all the children s artwork that will be displaed on the new boards. Kim Dodd, PDO Director Thanks to all who participated in Rolling River Rampage. Special appreciation to Suz Kibbler, who coordinated the program, and to Bert, Spence, and Paige for all their support. Thanks to all the teachers, outh leaders, cooks, greeters, students, parents, safet officers/greeters, and the one who brought Romper to life. Heartfelt praise, worship and thanksgiving to God who created us, gifted us, loves us, and sent us on this fantastic adventure! Some children s books have been given to our church. Tom & Robin Kessell have gotten a bookcase and put it in the sitting room area off of Wesle Hall. There are books for all ages, including a bunch of Chicken Soup books. Please check it out. The books ma be taken out we are still figuring out the logistics so watch for a sign to be posted. Rall Da, Sunda, September 9 one service onl at 9:30 a.m. Light lunch will be provided. Fall Schedule resumes September 16. Worship at 8:00 and 10:30. Church School (including adults) at 9:15. Chancel Choir rehearsal at 9:15.

6 PASTOR CHAR HOFFMANN The United Methodist Church of Antioch 848 Main St. Antioch, IL Phone Website: umcantioch.org Regular Worship Schedule Resumes September 16: Worship 8 & 10:00 a.m. Church School 9:15 a.m. Chancel Choir 9:15 a.m. Check us out on Facebook: Like us at United Methodist Church of Antioch Become part of our praer chain or make a praer request b contacting Barbara Goetzelman, bgoetzelman@comcast.net A NOTE FROM OUR LAY LEADER I don t know about an of ou reading this, but at no time in lifetime have I been so overwhelmed b newscasts and printed news. We accumulate information for its own sake but most of all, I think, we re looking for things to get better. Most of the local news TV networks, CBS, NBC, ABC, and WGN, have segments where the will cover someone who is making a difference. Mabe in the greater scheme of things it ma seem like an its-bits difference, but a difference is still a difference none the less. The theme, as ou ma well know, of this ear s Annual Conference was Navigating Uncharted Waters. Our Bishop, Sall Dck, in her Episcopal Address emphasized that trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope from Romans 5:3b-4. Haven t the difference makers we know or hear about been in unfamiliar territor? When we find ourselves in uncharted waters, Bishop Dck went on to sa, a focus on our mission if making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world will guide us through. Michael DeBenedetto, La Leader