Messenger Newsletter

                       

A Word from Our Pastor         

 

 

The First United Methodist Church 668 Graceland Av. Des Plaines, IL 60016   Phone: 847-827-5561 FAX: 847-827-1162 Web Page: www.fumcdp.org Email: fumcdp@sbcglobal.net   * * * Our Staff   Rev. SungJa Lee Moon, Sr. Pastor sungjamoon@sbcglobal.net   Charlene Stenstrom-Secretary cstenstrom@sbcglobal.net   Anne Holmberg-Director Education anneholmberg@sbcglobal.net   Maureen Ladd-Caring Ministry 847-824-7596   Loryn Ankeny-Music Ministry ankenyld@yahoo.com   Paula Gliot-Organist/Accompanist paulagliot@yahoo.com   Terrence Sutton-Sexton Glassonion22000@yahoo.com   * * * A LOOK INSIDE   Feb. Birthdays                         Page 2 Chancel Choir                          Page 2 Caring Ministry                      Page 3 Worship Volunteers              Page 4 Dir. Of Education                   Page 4 Youth News                             Page 5 Missions                                   Page 5 Feb Scripture Readings         Page 5 Lent 2012                                 Page 6 Feb. Calendar                           Page 7           MARCH 2012 NEWSLETTER DEADLINE FEBRUARY 15, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

The Communion Table will be ready in the Sanctuary on every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. - noon and 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Please stop by the church for your private or family communion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2: Eric Serna, Tyler Serna, Daniel Christadoss

8: Christina Tomsic

12: Betty Fluegge

13: June Blue

14: Edward Urbanio

17: Donald Schuster

18: Alexis Fountain

19: Radu Popescu

21: Renee Grundeman

22: Jean Jaderborg

24: Laura Menger-Allen, Mike Fitzgerald, Zach Danegger

 

 

Do you enjoy our worship services each Sunday morning? Our choir could use your God given talent to sing His praises and where you are comfortable singing –

There is also a robe waiting for you that is just your size!

 

 

Thursdays – 7:30 – 9:00 P.M.

2^nd floor Choir room for rehearsal

 

Sunday mornings we meet to warm our

voices In the sanctuary.

9:15 – 9:45 A.M.

 

Easter is just around the corner.

Come and help us fill our church with joyful music.

 

On Sunday, January 15, our 2011 Youth Mission Team hosted Libby & Mike Flowers from Spirit Lake, where they worked for their 2011 Youth Mission Trip last summer. Here is a little about Libby and Mike.

 

“Libby and I have been the Missionaries for the Spirit Lake Ministry Center for almost six years. I retired from the Air Force in Nov. of 1994. Libby and I came to be the Missionaries from retail. We had been away from the church for many years and God called us back. We have lived in North Dakota for 26 years but are originally from Louisiana. God has blessed us with two grown children, a son-in-law and a beautiful Granddaughter and have a Grandson on the way.

 

Mission: The Spirit Lake Ministry Center has been in existence for 7 years but the Ministry has been alive for over 10 years. The children’s programming and the Construction Ministry was combined when we took over six years ago. Our Ministry serves the peoples of the Spirit Lake Nation. During the summer months we perform construction on elder housing and provide a Bible School experience for the children in the local communities. Our construction ministry focuses on building wheel chair ramps, painting and roofing houses and other minor construction needs of the elders of the Tribe. Our Bible School Ministry focuses on sharing the love of Jesus Christ with the children of the Tribe. We focus on Loving God and Loving Neighbor. Our mission is not to make United Methodists of everyone on the reservation, but to show through our actions that God loves them and they too can have a close relationship with our Loving God. During this Christmas season we provided 4,652 Shoebox Christmas Gifts to children on five reservations in the Dakotas. Shoebox Christmas Gifts has been a project for us for the last eight years. This is a full time Ministry for us and we are busy all year with many other projects here and in the Dakotas.”

 

 

 

 

 

While sorting thru documents in our safety deposit box, we came across an old forgotten deed for five gravesites in Ridgewood Cemetery in Des Plaines. My mother, father and oldest brother occupy three, but what should we do with the other two gravesites??

 

Alice will be buried with her family in Michigan, and I plan to be cremated and scattered in four ancestral places in Ireland, but again, “what should we do with the other two gravesites?”

 

Hey! Alice and I belong to a small United Methodist Church in a little town near Green Bay, Wisconsin! Perhaps the United Methodist Church in Des Plaines would accept the gravesites as a donation?? E-mail was sent to the Church describing the offer.

 

Great! The response from the Church was affirmative! So, we went to the Cemetery in Des Plaines where we initiated the property transfer. And, after several e-mails and phone calls back and forth, it was set that we would all meet at the Church where the final papers would be signed and the transfer completed on 27 December 2011.

 

We will visit the Church again in the near future, as we travel between Green Bay and Indianapolis. A special thank you to the Church Trustees and Cemetery Rep for their assistance in completion of the transfer.

 

Christian Friends –

When Jim and I visited your church on Dec. 27 to sign the final papers to transfer the ownership of two cemetery lots to the church, little did I realize I would leave with gifts. It was a delight to get the Church Cook Book, as recipes from that type of cookbook come from members favorites. I will enjoy the coffee mug and shopping bag. I was over-whelmed by the gift of the Prayer Shawl. It is going to my brother-in-law who has been in a coma since Dec. 12. On January 2 he started to respond to single commands, respond to touches on his arm and chest and squeeze his nurse’s hand when responding to questions. God is good and we are thankful for small baby steps in healing.

 

Jim and I will long remember the FUMC in Des Plaines as a special place with special people. God Bless you and your Ministry – Alice Byrnes.

 

 

Ben Aluzas, Peggy Argento, Gladys Covey, June Griessmer, Laura Menger-Allen, Mary Mott, Ric Pofahl, June Sievers, and Judy Stettner.* * *

 

 

 

This fund is specifically to aid members of our church in time of financial need with an amount not to exceed $500.00 in a 12-month period. The grant is available to any member at the discretion of the Senior Pastor and the elected members of the Outreach Committee. Please note: ONLY the Senior Pastor and the chair of the Outreach Committee will know the name of the applicant. All information is kept private and confidential.

First of all, Congratulations to Matthew Edmondson who received his 3^rd grade Bible in January. I apologize to Matthew and his family, I thought he was only a 2^nd grader!!

 

A heart-felt thank you to all of the volunteers who once again created a special, fun-filled Advent for our children and hopefully the whole church I also need to thank Karen Boesche for once again coming up with a great decoration scheme and to all of the people who contributed to our “pot-luck” lunch. I would like to say I created a beautiful gingerbread house, but well, I didn’t, but you should see Pastor SungJa’s.

 

We would like suggestions on how to get word of our puppet club, dance classes, and other children’s activities out to the community. I have sign-up sheets available if you have anyone interested or would like to volunteer. Puppet club is on-going but we need at least 6 people to commit before we can restart the dance club. Our goal is to provide a nurturing fun filled opportunity for kids and their parents to get to know the church family and feel the welcome we offer.

 

Some of you have noticed the activity in the resource room upstairs. We have been cataloguing, listing and storing materials in a more user friendly manner. The things used only rarely or yearly is in the attic, weekly and ad hoc supplies are in the resource room as always. These supplies are in labeled boxes or crates. A list is on the back of the door into the room. All groups are welcome to use supplies as needed, just let us know if a product needs to be replenished. Also please put it back where you found it. For new products that need to be logged and put away, I will do that part if you just leave the material on the rolling cart.

 

The Education Commission is discussing ways to make the multi-purpose room more appealing to the kids, so watch for changes in that area too. If you have ideas or suggestions please let us know. The children are our future. Remember Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

 

Starting in February, the Contemporary Worship Service will be at 9:00 a.m. for a 45 minute service. We feel this will help folks to see one another as we pass during services. This will also help for kids who are waiting to attend Sunday school. Please come and join us any Sunday morning, in the Chapel at 9:00 a.m.!

 

Liturgists: Hailey Miller, Anne Cowin, Jackie Pofahl, Brenda Murphy and our Youth

 

Sound: Don Ankeny

 

Greeters: Lynn Duncan, Harolyn Thogersen, The Lay Family and the Kincheloe Family

 

Ushers: Kathleen Barnes, Audrey Nankervis

 

 

Liturgists: Richard Ludwig, Sherry Scheffers, Adina Fountain and Jackie Pofahl

 

Sound: Don Ankeny

 

Greeters: Jan & Bob Weber, The Kincheloe Family, Martha Lindberg, Logan, Clark, Monroe, Kristen and Edgar Lay

 

Ushers: Kathleen Barnes, Donna Catlett and Audrey & John Nankervis

 

February 2012: Staff Parish Relations

Bill Knopf, chair

 

Offerings       $248,104     $217,612        $(30,492)

Expenses       216,940      207,422             9,518

Apportionment 31,164         31,164                  -

 

 

Offerings       $20,675       $24,996          $ 4,321

Expenses       18,078        18,212               (134)

Apport.             2,597          2,597                  -

5:            No Youth Meeting – Superbowl!

 

                5:30 – 9ish p.m. Tickets are $11 for adults, $9 for teens and $7 for 11 and under.

 

 

Mission Commission had a very important decision – Who should be the recipient of our church’s missionary funds collected during the November dinner and silent auction. The retirement of Dr. Lahi and Yena Luhahi whom we have had a covenant relationship for many years meant that we would have the responsibility of selecting another person for these funds. After prayerful consideration we have chosen Clara Midrula Biswas who works in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from the list provided from General Board of Global Ministries. Ms. Biswas works in the streets with the ‘poorest of the poor’. She assists children in education programs and also health programs that refer them to hospitals and local organizations. We are happy to be able to send $1000 to this mission and look forward to corresponding with Ms. Biswas and finding out more about her work there.

 

 

The Church still has 2 cemetery lots for sale at Memory Gardens in Arlington Heights. Recently we have acquired 2 more lots in Ridgewood Memorial Garden in Des Plaines. If you are interested in purchasing any of these lots, please contact Marion Pugh.

 

The First United Methodist Church of Des Plaines Trustee Scholarship Program is an educational service providing scholarships to help supplement the financial needs of today’s students. Scholarships are awarded on an academic year basis. A student is eligible to receive only one FUMC scholarship. Funding for the scholarship is provided through designated gifts and memorials. Applications are reviewed by members of the Board of Trustees. The number of scholarships awarded depends on the money available. The amount of each scholarship is $500.

 

*Applicants must be an active, full member of the First United Methodist Church of Des Plaines for at least two years. Membership is determined by the date the applicant was confirmed or took membership vows with FUMC of Des Plaines.

 

*Applicants must be admitted to or pursuing a degree program in an accredited college/university/vocational school.

 

*Applicants are required to be full-time students according to their school’s standards for the program for which they are enrolled/admitted.

 

Submit a scholarship application and essay to the Board of Trustees by May 2, 2012.

 

Isaiah 40: 21-31; Psalm 147:1-11, 20c (UMH 859); 1 Corinthians 9: 16-23; Mark 1: 29-39

2 Kings 5: 1-14; Psalm 30 (UMH 762); 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27; Mark 1: 40-45

 

Sunday, February 19: Last Sunday after the Epiphany : 2 Kings 2: 1-12; Psalm 50: 1-6 (UMH 783); 2 Corinthians 4: 3-6;Mark 9: 2-9

 

Joel 2: 1-2, 12-17; Psalm 51: 1-17 (UMH 785); 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-21

 

Genesis 9: 8-17; Psalm 25: 1-10 (UMH 756); 1 Peter 3: 18-22; Mark 1: 9-15

 

 

 

Wed. 2/22      7:30 p.m.

 

9:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service

9:15 a.m. Adult Sunday School

10:00 a.m. Traditional Worship Service

10:15 a.m. Sunday School

 

Prayer and Communion offered in our sanctuary

every Wednesday from

1- a.m. – Noon

7 – 9 p.m.

 

Lenten Study, “Easter Experience”

In the Church Parlor

7 – 8:30 p.m.

 

Sun. Apr. 1:   PALM SUNDAY WORSHIP

9:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship

9:15 Adult Sunday School

10:00 a.m. Traditional Worship Service

10:15 a.m. Sunday School

 

Thurs. Apr. 5: MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE

7:30 p.m. – Sanctuary

 

Fri. Apr. 6: GOOD FRIDAY COMMUNITY SERVICE

(TBD)

 

Sat. Apr. 2: Children’s Easter Party

9:30 – 11 a.m. (preschool – 5^th grade)

 

Sun. Apr. 8: EASTER SUNDAY

8:30 a.m. Easter Breakfast

10 a.m. Combined Worship Service

10:15 a.m. Sunday School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, after much concern and reluctance, I made a trip to “home” as a part of a tour through some of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and St. Petersburg. My last time in Riga, Latvia was in September 1944 as we fled the capital even as the Russians had already unofficially occupied it. The visit was a time of recollections and contentment.

 

Prior to the trip I read “The Northern Crusades” by Eric Christiansen – a history of some of the changes taking place in Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages. After my return, I read with interest “The Power of Babel” by John McWhorter – a study of human language. That reading was supplemented by an 18 CD course by the same author on “The Story of Human Language”. Yes, Lithuanian and Latvian are unique languages.

 

Early fall, my colleague and friend from Illinois, who visits every year, instead of our doing daily trips to Ohio points of interest, we spent several days “exploring” Columbus.

My major activities:

*American Chemical Society’s Chemistry and Public Affairs Committee

*Ohio Northern University’s Advisory Board, College of Arts and Sciences

*Bluffton Public Libiary, Trustee (this year concludes my term – I cease to like evening meetings especially during the winter months)

*Volunteer at Ten Thousand Villages, the store in Bluffton that provides vital, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicrafts in North America (this too I am concluding after 7 years for the same reasons as above).