United Methodist Church of Libertyville Li ing Up Christ, Using Our Gi s, Ministering To All Volume 2015, Issue 4 February 18, 2015 Building on Our Dreams T he Building was authorized by the Ad Board in 2013 with the mission to address our Dreams in a brick-and-mortar construction project. In June of last year, we met in an All Church Conference to review the preliminary designs developed in response to the Dream Process. Since that time, the Building has been working diligently with our Architect to refine the designs for an improved Sanctuary, a new restroom on the second floor of the Education Wing and an inviting New Entrance and Welcoming Area in the East Room location. The scope of work in these three locations has been revised to stay within a reduced budget of between $2.0 and $2.25 Million. That new budget amount is based on a financial plan developed to reflect the building program pledges (nearly $1.4 Million to date), other available sources of funds within the church budget and potential funds from borrowing. A basic premise of the Building has always been to do the job right. That means building a project that meets the dreams of our church, providing the elements we want and the quality we expect at a cost that is within our budget. We do not want to do a job half-way and have to come back later to upgrade or replace parts of the work. You have told us in focus groups and open meetings that the Sanctuary improvements and the new second floor restroom are your highest priorities and improvements to the East Room Entrance and Welcoming Area are very desirable. Therefore, the final design focuses on providing the elements in the Sanctuary and the new restroom and, as budget allows, selected elements of the East Room Entrance and Welcoming Area. Since the completion of the capital campaign, the Building has worked with the Architect to reduce the scope of work to meet our reduced budget. This challenging process required difficult decisions including the elimination of less-essential elements in the Sanctuary and significant elements in the East Room Entrance and Welcoming Area. The latest design plans and budget estimate, the proposed financial plan, and the construction schedule and its impact on church operations will be presented at the March 1 All Church Conference for your review, comments and a vote to give final authorization for the project and construction. We urge you all to attend. On February 22 after each worship service, members of the Building will be available at the back of the sanctuary or worship area to show you the latest plans, listen to your feedback and attempt to answer your questions, so that you may come on March 1 with as much information as possible as we decide the future of our building program for the United Methodist Church of Libertyville. We look forward to sharing the wonderful designs created to carry our church into a bright future. The Building of the UMC of Libertyville ALL CHURCH CONFERENCE SUNDAY, MARCH 1ST AT 10:45 AM - ONE SERVICE AT 9:30 AM CHILDCARE WILL BE PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE CONFERENCE
Page 2 Announcements, Joys & Concerns MATTHEW MCCORMACK CIAGLO was born February 10, 2015 and JAXON WOLAVKA CIAGLO was born February 11, 2015 Congratulations to parents Kristy & David along with sister, Grace and brother, Aiden! Come join us on Saturday February 28th at Egg Harbor Café for our Mom s Morning Out! ALL Ladies are invited. We will meet at 8:00 AM to enjoy a nice relaxing breakfast with delicious food, laughter and conversation! RSVP to Becca Wheeler at r-wheeler@comcast.net. ENDOWMENT EDGE Don t forget, the Endowment is accepting applications for this year's funding opportunities. Church committees and church members may apply. Endowment Funding Application forms can be picked up in the Church office or downloaded from our website http://umcl.org/ endowment_application. The deadline is April 3, 2015; but please complete your request as soon as possible. Last year we funded requests from $300 to $2,500 and remain excited about this year's applicants. BIG THANKS to all that came out to our Souper Saturday event on January 31st. It was a fun afternoon with games, socializing & eating A LOT of soup! Congratulations to our Souper Bowl Winners: 3rd Place - Allen Family, 2nd Place - Velez Family & 1st Place with Creamy Chicken & Rice was the Hansen Family! Start testing out your soup recipes for next year! THANK YOU! The Children s Ministry would like to thank everyone that came out to our Dancing Through the Decades event on February 13! ALL ages had a great time shaking their tail feathers and getting brain freeze from ice cream sundaes! A big thanks to everyone that helped make the dance successful by decorating and cleaning up. WORSHIP SERVICE GREETERS play a vital role in making members, friends, and visitors feel welcome at church each Sunday morning. It is our belief that a "simple" greeting provides the necessary framework for each churchgoer to get their mind and heart stayed on Jesus and ready to accept the pastor s message during the service. Volunteers stand at the Sanctuary doors to meet and greet worshipers as they arrive for the traditional services (from 9:15-9:30 a.m.) Sunday mornings. Please sign up on our website www.umcl.org/ worship or contact Joyce Bedell (joyce.bedell@umcl.org) if you are interested. PRAYER CHAIN Please hold in prayer all those in our church family who are ill, hospitalized or recovering at home Also please pray for our pastors and committees as they work to discern and shape our future in ministry. If there are specific prayer requests you would like circulated through our prayer chain, please contact the church office (info@umcl.org), Mickey Donahue (missmickey2005@gmail.com), Karen Kuhlman (akkuhl@att.net) or Kathy Locke (klocke@ameritech.net). PASTORS: Rev. Dr. Stephen C. Williams Rev. Dr. Jamie Hanna Williams Children/Family Ministries: Amanda Seibert Youth Pastor: Ben Hallett Junior High Ministry: Sarah Mitchell Business/Operations Manager: Ruth Ross New Member/Ministries Coordinator: Joyce Bedell Director of Music: Jim Grace Director of Adult Choir & Contemporary Service: Jeff Brown Children s Choir Director: Blair Brockman Church Office/Administrative Secretary: Karla Bolkema Communications Secretary: Valerie Baker pastorscwilliams@umcl.org pastorjhwilliams@umcl.org Amanda.Seibert@umcl.org Ben.Hallett@umcl.org Sarah.Mitchell@umcl.org Ruth.Ross@umcl.org Joyce.Bedell@umcl.org Jim.Grace@umcl.org Jeff.Brown@umcl.org Blair.Brockman@umcl.org info@umcl.org Valerie.Baker@umcl.org
Volume 2015, Issue 4 The Holy Season of Lent Page 3 Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on the Saturday before Easter. Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten, which means spring. This season is a preparation for celebrating Easter. Historically, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by those who were becoming Christians and later it became a time of self-examination and penance by all Christians. It is a season when we remember Christ s forty days of fasting and prayer in the wilderness when he faced and overcame the challenges and temptations of the devil. The primary focus is on rededicating ourselves to the Christian life as a preparation for the Easter season to come. It is a time for introspection, for slowing down, for centering in on God. We invite you to begin the Lenten journey with us at an Ash Wednesday Service of meditation, music and prayer on February 18 at 7:30 pm. This service will provide a quiet and sacred space for you to reflect on your life and listen for the voice of God as you seek to draw closer to God and others. Childcare is provided. For devotional reading during this season, we invite you to pick up the Lenten Devotional Guide, A Wondrous Love by Henri Nouwen and C.S. Lewis. You can find these devotional booklets in the entry area of the church. 2015 US Adult Mission Trip The tornado which lashed across the city of Brookport, Illinois area on November 17, 2013 killing four and injuring many more, has still left its scars across east Massac and Pope Counties. The demolition stage and yard clean-up of the disaster relief is complete and the construction stage of rebuilding is well underway. Pastor Jeff Bealmear of the First UMC of Metropolis said We are calling for groups of volunteers, both skilled and unskilled, to come help in the reconstruction phase. Currently we have fourteen homes under roof or foundations are being prepared. It is our goal to build at least thirty new homes on previously destroyed properties. Volunteers of every skill level are needed in this vital ministry. This year s trip will take place from April 19th to April 25th, and we would hope you would consider being a part of this life-changing ministry experience. The volunteer participant fee is $250, which covers transportation, lodging, food, and supplies. We also have four scholarships available to cover this cost if you have desire but not the financial means. We will need your commitment as soon as possible and fee by April 5th. Email or call Jeff Welch with any questions at jpwelch5@gmail.com or 847-372-6835. Adult Choir Invitation to You! The adult choir would like to invite each and everyone of our church members to sing with the choir for Easter. It would be a short-term commitment. Please contact Jeff Brown at jeff.brown@umcl.org for more information and to sign up! Girl Scout Sunday March 8 Girls and adults who have or are participating in Girl Scouts are invited to show their colors by acting as a greeter, coffee host or scripture reader on Girl Scout Sunday, March 8th. Be sure to wear your badge, sash, vest or one of your pins/emblems so that others can see how many of us have been associated with Scouting. For additional information please contact Beth March (bethcmarch@aol.com or 847-367-5175) or Jennifer Johnson (jenj823@gmail.com or 847-680-7288).
Page 4 Christian Education PADS FAMILY MISSION NIGHT All members of the church are invited to volunteer on Saturday, March 7th, 4:00 6:00 PM. In support of our church s PADS mission, we will be making lunches, setting up Fellowship Hall, & cooking dinner. Please contact Amanda to donate supplies or attend this event at Amanda.Seibert@umcl.org Easter Party Children, birth through 5th grade, and their families, are invited to join in an Easter celebration! On Saturday, March 28th from 10:00AM to Noon we will take part in fun games, great stories, imaginative crafts and an exciting EGG HUNT Families must be registered by March 25th. Go online to: www.umcl.org/easter-party-registration Lunch will immediately follow in Fellowship Hall VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR EASTER PARTY! Adults and youth interested in volunteering for the Easter Party can sign-up online at www.umcl.org/ easter-party-registration or contact Amanda Seibert at Amanda.Seibert@umcl.org. FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN Come one, come all to this fun filled CHURCH FAMILY EVENT! Anyone, 5 or older, is invited to the Feed My Starving Children packing location in Libertyville on Saturday, April 25th from 8:45AM to 11:00AM. We will pack meals to help children in need, while having fun and bonding with one another. Sign up in the church office or online at www.umcl.org/fmsc. If you are not able to pack meals but want to help, visit the big room upstairs where our Sunday School kids are collecting donations for FMSC. SrHI STUDENTS Get out of town for the weekend with us for a spiritual ski retreat! Come revel in the beautiful hills of central Wisconsin while shredding the slopes at Cascade Mountain. We will be leaving UMCL at 7:30 AM on Saturday, February 28 and returning home by 7:30 PM on Sunday, March 1. We will be staying overnight at Portage UMC. Please contact Ben for lift & rental costs at ben.hallett@umcl.org. Second Mile Giving For February Will Support: 2 nd Mile Giving Stephen Ministry Minute HACES (Hispanic American Community Education and Services) Located in Waukegan, HACES serves the community with programs focusing on family unification, immigrant family resources, Affordable Care Act assistance, citizenship and naturalization, education, and access to resources, including assistance for children. Please see their website, www.haces.org, or call 847-244-0300 to see how you can help. Society of St. Andrew- This non-profit organization was formed in 1979 and strives to feed people throughout the USA using three main programs: Potato Project, Gleaning Network, and Harvest of Hope. Please go to www.endhunger.org or call their national office at 800-333-4597 to learn more about these programs and the other ministries they offer. Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile. If you would like to talk with a Stephen Minister, contact Kevin Garren (847-816-7340), Mary Spooner (847-548-3703) or the Pastors.
Volume 2015, Issue 4 Page 5 United Methodist Women RUTH CIRCLE We will meet on Wednesday evening, March 18th at Libertyville's Feed My Starving Children facility at 742 East Park Avenue. We should arrive at 5:45 pm so we are prepared to start at 6:00 pm and our shift will be over at 7:30 pm. We have reservations for 20 people, so call Mickey Donahue (847-367-4906) to get your name on the list. Since it is a quick trip across the street to Culvers, it is only natural that we should head there afterwards for a dinner or dessert!!! You are invited to come join us for a fun evening. BOOKS AND BRUNCH THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST FROM 8:30-11:00 AM Books and Brunch with reviews by local women (including Beth Bishop), UMW Reading Program Awards, Book Exchange AND donations of books for children and youth for North Chicago Schools. Come for food, books and fellowship with sign-in beginning at 8:30, Brunch at 9:00 AM. Contact MaryAnn Burson at bookwormburson@att.net or 847-270-0633 if you would like to attend. No charge but registration needed for food preparation. UMCOR 75th BIRTHDAY!!! Mark your calendar for March 15th. UMCOR (United Methodist on Relief) celebrates its 75th Birthday and you want to be a part of the celebration. Attend the Children s Choir Musical where tickets are a $.75 free will offering OR donate items for UMCOR health kits (goal is 75 kits see below) OR donate (individually or combining resources) an amount containing the number 75 (100 people giving $.75 = $75.00) and share info about UMCOR with others. Watch for UMCOR facts as we celebrate. 75th BIRTHDAY CHALLENGE FOR UMCOR!! We believe that our church can collect enough items for 75 health relief kits in honor of UMCOR s 75th Birthday Celebration on March 15th. A collection bin will be placed in the Narthex in front of the United Methodist Women s bulletin board beginning February 22nd. Items needed for each health kit are: 1 hand towel (15 x 25 inches to 17 x 27 inches kitchen, cleaning & microfiber towels NOT acceptable 1 washcloth 1 comb Comb needs to be sturdy and longer than 6 inches in length. No pocket combs or picks. Rattail combs & combs without handles are acceptable IF at least 6 inches of teeth. 1 metal nail file or nail clippers No emery boards, please 1 bath-size soap 3 oz. and larger size only. NO Ivory or Jergen s soap due to moisture content. Do not remove from original packaging. 1 toothbrush Adult size only. Do not remove from original packaging 6 adhesive bandages 3/4 to 1 inch size (Common household Band-aids). 1 plastic bag One-gallon size sealable bag only $1.00 to purchase toothpaste All items must be new. Do not wash any of the items as they will be considered used. Remove packaging, unless otherwise specified. Questions? bookwormburson@att.net or 847-270-0633
Page 6 Fellowship and Nurture PRIME TIME Prime Time Luncheon ($5 charge) will meet on Monday, March 2, 2015 at 12:00 PM. Cathy O Brien will share pictures & highlights of her tour in Thailand. Please sign-up at the church office or call no later than 10:00 AM Friday, February 27th Anyone is welcome to attend just the program at 1:00 PM Note: There will no longer be postcards mailed out. Be sure to watch for events in the bulletin and memos. LOOKING FOR AN IMPACTFUL LENTEN STUDY? JOIN US ON THE PILGRIM ROAD! In this small group Lenten study, we will accompany Benedictine Monk Albert Holtz on a fifteen-country pilgrimage journey. Father Holtz shares his gift of seeing the divine in the commonplace, with each reflection inviting us into deeper relationship with God. By applying Benedict s monastic wisdom to everyday concerns and aspirations of modern Christians, Pilgrim Road helps contemporary spiritual seekers walk through Lent as a positive, meaningful, and fruitful experience. This study will be offered weekly at four distinct times starting near Ash Wednesday (Feb 18): - Sunday morning at 8:00 am (Karen Kuhlman - leader, begins February 22) - Sunday morning at 10:30 am (Kathy Locke & Jim Stewart leaders, begins February 22) - Tuesday mornings at 9:30 am (Doreen Barton - leader, begins February 17) - Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm (Susie DiCello leader, begins February 17) If you are interested in participating or have additional questions, please contact one of the co-leaders - Jim Stewart (jstew0819@aol.com) or Kathy Locke (klocke@ameritech.net). Service Opportunities BABY CEREAL BABY WIPES CANNED POTATOES CANNED SARDINES CANNED SALMON DEODORANT KETCHUP MAYONNAISE LIBERTYVILLE TOWNSHIP FOOD PANTRY We are collecting the following items: Baby cereal, Baby wipes, Canned potatoes, Canned sardines or Canned Salmon, Deodorant, and Ketchup or Mayonnaise. Please return your donations of these items to the Food Pantry Boxes - located in the Foyer, Christian Education wing or Fellowship Hall until noon on Sunday, February 22. For more information, please contact Carol Sim-Campbell via e-mail at (simcampbell@comcast.net). PADS HELP NEEDED! We are called by Jesus to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless. Please consider serving with PADS! Volunteers are desperately needed for overnight shifts (11 PM 3 AM or 3-6:30 AM) or clean-up (5:30-7:15 AM). The PADS signup book is in Fellowship Hall during Coffee Time & in the foyer for third service or call Cathy O'Brien 847-367-8062. Thanks! GREEN LIVING FAIR Save the Date for March 14th 10 AM 2 PM for the annual Green Living Fair at Libertyville Civic Center. Please note: NO electronics recycling this year. DINNER BENEFIT FOR PADS Pizzeria DeVille in downtown Libertyville is hosting the last chef charity dinner event February 23. Information and menus for these events are available at www.pizzeriadeville.com/events. Proceeds from this benefit will be used in part to support the PADS food pantry.
Volume 2015, Issue 4 Calendar Deadlines for MEMOS articles: Friday, February 27; for Sunday Bulletins: the Wednesday before by 10:00 AM. Helping hands are always appreciated to help assemble MEMOS; we ll next meet at 9:00 AM, Wednesday, March 4, in Room 101!! MEMOS & BULLETIN PUBLISHING POLICY It is the policy for the MEMOS and Sunday bulletins to publish items related only to the United Methodist Church of Libertyville or the specific activities, programs, and missions it sponsors. Any items submitted to the MEMOS or Sunday bulletins will be subject to editing as available space may require. Likewise, the timing of publishing articles is an editorial decision. Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat February 22 February 23 February 24 February 25 February 26 February 27 February 28 7:00 PM 20 s Group @ Ben s 8:00 AM Adult Class 8:15 AM First Light Service 9:00 AM Coffee Time 9:00 AM Cherub Choir 9:15 AM Adult Class 9:30 AM Traditional Service 9:30 AM Sunday School for All Ages 10:30 AM Coffee Time 10:40 AM Joyful Noise & Choristers 10:30 AM Adult Class 11:00 AM Contemporary Service 11:00 AM Kids Own Worship 4:00 PM ALPHA 4:00 PM Confirmation 6:30 PM SrHI TIDE March 1 Combined Worship & All Church Conference 9:00 AM Cherub Choir 9:30 AM One Combined Worship Service 9:30 AM Sunday School for Children & Youth 10:30 AM Coffee Time 10:45 AM Special All Church Conference 4:00 PM Confirmation 4:00 PM Children s Choirs 4:00 PM ALPHA 6:30 PM SrHI TIDE 7:00 PM Cub Scout 7:30 PM SrHI Ski Trip Returns 7:00 PM Inquirers Study Group 7:00 PM Troop #72 March 2 12:00 PM Prime Time 7:00 PM Inquirers Study Group 7:00 PM Troop #72 Court of Honor 9:30 AM Pilgrim Road Study 12:00 & 7:30 PM Living Free / AA 1:00 PM Disciple 5 7:00 PM Building 7:00 PM Faithful Threads 7:00 PM Pilgrim Road Study March 3 9:30 AM Pilgrim Road Study 12:00 & 7:30 PM Living Free / AA 1:00 PM Disciple 5 7:00 PM Pilgrim Road Study 7:00 PM Lake Cty. Green Congregations 9:30 AM Staff Mtg. 9:45 AM Lectio Divina 1:00 PM Women s Bible Study 5:30 PM All Stars 7:00 PM JrHI TIDE 7:00 PM Heritage Bells March 4 9:00 AM MEMOS 9:30 AM Staff Mtg. 9:45 AM Lectio Divina 1:00 PM Women s Bible Study 7:00 PM JrHI TIDE 7:00 PM Heritage Bells 7:00 PM BSA District 12:00 PM Living Free / AA 6:30 PM Praise Band 7:00 PM Building 7:00 PM Intro. to New Testament 7:30 PM Adult Choir 7:30 PM Disciple 3 March 5 12:00 PM Living Free / AA 6:30 PM Praise Band 7:00 PM Intro. to New Testament 7:30 PM Adult Choir 7:30 PM Disciple 3 March 6 6:30 PM Young Couples 7:00 PM 20 s Group @ Ben s Page 7 7:30 AM SrHI Ski Trip Departs 8:00 AM Moms Morning Out (off site) 8:00 AM Men s Study 9:00 AM Building 9:00 AM United Methodist Men 11:00 AM Pack 60 PADS Lunches 4:30 PM PADS March 7 8:00 AM Men s Study 8:30 AM Ad Board 4:00 PM PADS Family Night 4:30 PM PADS SUNDAY SERVICES (Hearing Loop enabled at both 8:15 & 9:30 services) 8:15 AM First Light Service (Nursery care for ages 0-5 years) 9:30 AM Traditional Worship (Nursery care for ages 0-3 years) 11:00 AM Contemporary Worship (Nursery care for ages 0-3 years) 9:30 AM Sunday School Classes for all ages. (Children 4 years through 5th grade begin in sanctuary and leave for Sunday School after Children s Message.) 11:30 AM Kids Own Worship (Children 4-10 years begin in East Room and leave after Children s Message.) USHERS There is an opportunity for men, women and couples to serve at the 8:15 am or 9:30 am services. Ushering is a great way to meet, greet and share that welcoming smile with your fellow worshipers on Sunday morning. For those interested please contact the church office at (847)362-2112, info@umcl.org or John & Jane Aten at 847-367-6586, stockpic33@aol.com. Thank you! Call the church or go to our website (www.umcl.org/altar_flowers) to donate altar flowers. Altar flowers each Sunday are given in honor of, or in memory of, special people and events. Questions? Contact Joannie Foley at foleyszoo@aol.com.
Volume 2015, Issue 4 Page 8 JrHI TIDE IDENTIFY yourself in THE STORY Sunday - 9:30-10:30 AM Wednesday - 7:00-8:30 PM Coming up Ash Wednesday / Mardi Gras February 18 Crab Soccer February 25 SrHI TIDE NAVIGATE your setting & DISCOVER your character in THE STORY Sunday - 9:15-10:45 AM (Explore what the culture is saying about God) Sunday - 6:30-9:00 PM (Explore what God is saying about the culture) Coming Up Saturday - Sunday, February 28-March 1 - SrHI Weekend Ski-Retreat www.facebook.com/togetherness MEMOS is a bi-weekly publication of the United Methodist Church of Libertyville 429 Brainerd Ave., Libertyville, IL 60048-2198 PASTORS: Jamie Hanna Williams; Stephen C. Williams Worship Services: 8:15, 9:30 & 11:00 a.m. Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m. weekdays Phone: (847) 362-2112 Fax: (847) 362-8146 E-mail: info@umcl.org Return Service Requested A Stephen Ministry Congregation Website: www.umcl.org Twitter: @UMCLibertyville 8:15 9:00 am First Light Service 9:30 10:30 am Traditional Service 11:00 am 12:00 pm Contemporary Service