Franklin GroveUnited Methodist Church

223 W. Middle St.

P.O. Box 348

Franklin Grove, IL 61 031

phone: 847-722-6357

www.franklingroveumc.com

Pastor Jin-Ho Hong

email : hjhj lm66@hotmail .com

Sunday School 9:00 a.m.

Church Service 1 0:1 5 a.m.

Page 1

Franklin Grove United

Methodist Church is

Gathering

Growing

Going

If your heart is where ours

is, come and join us!

Please let us

know your Bits

of News and

prayer requests

so we can keep

you in our

thoughts and

prayers.

The Cross & FlameF r a n k l i n G r o v e U n i t e d

M e t h o d i s t C h u r c hApril 2012

Please join us this year for the

Easter Egg Hunt we are

sponsoring on Saturday, April

7th at 10:00 am. The hunt

will be held at the FranklinGrove United MethodistChurch. It is for childrenranging from toddlers to 10

years old. IT'S ALL FREE!

Hope to see you there. †

ItwasatEastertimenearlytwothousandyearsagoThatamangavehis lifetosaveothermen'ssoulsForGodsolovedtheworldHegaveHisonlybegottenSonSothatHisspiritwoulddwellwithintheheartsofeveryone

ItwasatEastertimethattheycrucifiedourLordTheyplacedHisbodyinatomb andthenclosedthedoorAfterthreedaysfromthedeadHedidriseAndascendedtoHeavenup inthesky

ItwasatEastertimethatHisearthlymissionwasfulfilledHeshowedushowweshouldliveandthelifeweshouldbuildHepaidforoursinssothatwemightbesetfreeHedidthisforusandforalltheworldtosee

ItisatEastertimethatwerememberthesegiftsHegaveHowwonderfullifewouldbe ifwerecalledthemeverydayOurburdenswouldbelighterandourworrieswouldbefewIfthethoughtsofEasterwouldlastthewholeyearthrough

Easter Timeby

Ellen Bailey

A Letter from the PastorGreetings in the Name of Our Lord!

How have you been during this Lenten

season? Have you sought God? Have you

experienced the unconditional grace and

love from God in your l ife?

I wish for our l ife to be ful l of Jesus’

unl imited love and amazing grace

regardless of our weakness, insufficiency,

and sin. At this time of every year, we

have had a time of self-reflection through

Jesus’ suffering, death, and hope of

resurrection. Especial ly, during holy week,

we try to meditate on the way of the cross

of Jesus Christ. These days, I have

meditated on Peter’s l i fe as wel l as Jesus’

l i fe. We know Peter wel l . He was the best

disciple of Jesus, but at the same time he

was the disciple who gave a deep wound of

betrayal to Jesus who went to the cross

through the way of lonel iness and pain.

Jesus experienced betrayal , torture, and

humil iation from the Jews, his beloved

disciples, the Roman soldiers, and Pi late for

his last 2 4 hours. However, the most

miserable suffering Jesus experienced

might be the betrayal of Peter, who was the

best disciple of Jesus. Have you ever

betrayed your beloved one? Have you

been in the depth of misery due to the

betrayal of a trusted one? If we experience

betrayal , our heart might be ful l of severe

anger, hatred, and curse. Even though we understood Peter’s condition in

the social , rel ig ious background of Jesus’ time with our rational viewpoint,

Peter’s betrayal made a huge mental shock and a deep hurt to Jesus as

wel l as himself. In Luke 2 2 : 54-62 , when Peter denied Jesus three times in

the courtyard of the high priest, the rooster crowed the second time. At

that moment, Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken to him, broke

down, and wept bitterly.

Let us imagine together. When Peter disowned Jesus three times, if

he did not experience Jesus’ look of love and forgiveness, he may

l ive with a gui lty conscience for his whole l ife. Maybe, when the

rooster crowed every morning, he recal led his betrayal and

underwent mental affl iction. Also, it became a chain of sin and

death that gave him severe mental pain and the pang of

conscience in his l i fe. However, Peter experienced the

unconditional love and grace of Jesus Christ through Jesus’ look of

love and forgiveness at the spot of betrayal . Then, he met with the

risen Jesus Christ at Gal i lee, and he experienced the Holy Spirit in

an attic with Mark. Through those meetings with Jesus Christ, Peter

experienced sacrificia l love, amazing grace, and a miracle of

resurrection. Therefore, he could be a messenger who proclaimed

the Gospel of Jesus and dedicated his l i fe to God. According to

tradition, Peter died on the cross crucified upside down for his

faith.

We know our weakness and sin. Sometimes, we denied Jesus in

our l ife and felt shame and a gui lty feel ing. Also, those feel ings

lead us into the depths of despair and the val ley of the shadow of

death. Nevertheless, the reason we l ive as chi ldren of God is that

Jesus Christ gave us new l ife through the hope and power of

resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the amazing grace

and power of God which broke the power of death. Do you want to

experience the hope and power of resurrection this coming Easter

Sunday? If so, you must meet Jesus Christ at the val ley of death

and hopelessness l ike Peter. I pray that the Holy Spirit, who gives

us hope, glory, and the power of resurrection, wi l l be within you. †

Holy Friday Service

Friday, April 6th,

at Franklin GroveUnited MethodistChurch, 7 pm,

please join us for

our Holy Friday

church service.

We will celebrate

Holy Comuunion

that evening

during the

service. †

Issue 1

Lutheran Sunrise serviceApril8, 6:30 am

Breakfast to follow †Holy Friday Service

anger, hatred, and curse. Even though we understood Peter’s condition in

the social , rel ig ious background of Jesus’ time with our rational viewpoint,

Peter’s betrayal made a huge mental shock and a deep hurt to Jesus as

wel l as himself. In Luke 2 2 : 54-62 , when Peter denied Jesus three times in

the courtyard of the high priest, the rooster crowed the second time. At

that moment, Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken to him, broke

down, and wept bitterly.

Let us imagine together. When Peter disowned Jesus three times, if

he did not experience Jesus’ look of love and forgiveness, he may

l ive with a gui lty conscience for his whole l ife. Maybe, when the

rooster crowed every morning, he recal led his betrayal and

underwent mental affl iction. Also, it became a chain of sin and

death that gave him severe mental pain and the pang of

conscience in his l i fe. However, Peter experienced the

unconditional love and grace of Jesus Christ through Jesus’ look of

love and forgiveness at the spot of betrayal . Then, he met with the

risen Jesus Christ at Gal i lee, and he experienced the Holy Spirit in

an attic with Mark. Through those meetings with Jesus Christ, Peter

experienced sacrificia l love, amazing grace, and a miracle of

resurrection. Therefore, he could be a messenger who proclaimed

the Gospel of Jesus and dedicated his l i fe to God. According to

tradition, Peter died on the cross crucified upside down for his

faith.

We know our weakness and sin. Sometimes, we denied Jesus in

our l ife and felt shame and a gui lty feel ing. Also, those feel ings

lead us into the depths of despair and the val ley of the shadow of

death. Nevertheless, the reason we l ive as chi ldren of God is that

Jesus Christ gave us new l ife through the hope and power of

resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the amazing grace

and power of God which broke the power of death. Do you want to

experience the hope and power of resurrection this coming Easter

Sunday? If so, you must meet Jesus Christ at the val ley of death

and hopelessness l ike Peter. I pray that the Holy Spirit, who gives

us hope, glory, and the power of resurrection, wi l l be within you. †

Discover God's love this Easter at theFranklin Grove United Methodistchurch service, April 8, at 10:15 am. Join usin the celebration of Christ's resurrection andthe affirmation of our own hopes as well. †

Pastor Hongandhis familywill be visitingSouthKorea fromApril 9th - May 8th. Pleasekeep them in your prayers for safe travel aswellas quality oftimewith their loved oneswhile inSouthKorea.

While Pastor Hong is on vacation, emergencycontact information has been provided below:Rev. KimChapman(Chana/LightHouseUMC)andRev. Cindy S. Marino (RochelleUMC) willcover his pastroal roles; a hospital visit forsurgery patients, funeral service, and otheremergency situations.

Rev. KimChapman (Cell:779-245-0060,Church: 815-732-7683) will cover the times:April 9th ~ April 19th.Rev. Cindy S. Marino (Church 815-562-2164)will cover the rest: April 20th ~ May 8th.

Looking forward to your return home! †

Emergency Contact Information

Issue 1

Help Changethe World!

Once again we will begin the

preparation of Max's garden. The

garden will be available to

anyone and everyone within the

community. So please inform

people of the many lovely items

we have available for them to

come pick and enjoy.

Susie Arnolts will be at the

church garden everyWednesday

evening from 6 to dark, starting

the week after Easter until

further notice. All input and

labor will be welcome. †

Community Church Garden

As you know, Irecently returned from UMCOR-Sagar Brown in

Louisiana. This is where the largest depot is for United

Methodist Committee On Relief. Iserved for a few days and

packed kits, that is health kits. What would you do without a

toothbrush or bar ofsoap or a a comb? We also packed book

bags (crayons, paper, pencils) and layettes (things for new

babies). These go all over the world, wherever there is a need.

The saying is "When the earth rocks-UMCOR rolls."

This is my report on my trip. Ifonyone would like to go on

a mission, there are trips closer to home. Let me know. My next

one is down by Springfield. We could even go for a day there. It

is so rewarding. † Your Mission Chairman

Mary Spangler

Some ofour Operation Christmas

Child boxes went to Ukraine as

well as Albania.

Currently, the Sunday School kids

are raising money and collecting

"Boxtops for Education" and

"Labels for Education" for Red

BirdMission. †

Fundraising Update

The Sunday School Class has been collecting anoffering each Sunday to contribute to the Heifer project.With their charitable gift, they will provide animals andtraining to help families, as well as, their communityhave a better future. A total of $92.98 was raisedand presented to the project. †

Help Change the World!

Fundraising Update

Some ofour Operation Christmas

Child boxes went to Ukraine as

well as Albania.

Currently, the Sunday School kids

are raising money and collecting

"Boxtops for Education" and

"Labels for Education" for Red

BirdMission. †

Issue 1

The Sunday School Class has been collecting anoffering each Sunday to contribute to the Heifer project.With their charitable gift, they will provide animals andtraining to help families, as well as, their communityhave a better future. A total of $92.98 was raisedand presented to the project. †

Save the Date

June will be here before you know it and wehave another week ofVacation Bible School beingplanned for the children. This year bible schoolwill be at the Presbyterian Church, in FranklinGrove. It will be from June 11 - 15th and is forchildren ofall agaes. The theme this year isNational Parks. Adults or teens who would liketo help out should contact Bev Gilbert Bartmasor the Presbyterian Church. Please watch forfurther information. †

Elsie Henrietta Viallwas baptized onFebruary 26th, 2012

May our HeavenlyFather Always keepyou in His care.

Elsie Henrietta Viallwas baptized onFebruary 26th, 2012 Cecilia Berdene Stewart

Feb 6th, 2012. 1:14 pm

7 lb. 10 oz.

20.5 in. long

Congratulations to Kelli and Brad on the arrival of their new

daughter, Cecelia. Big brothers, Vincent and Joel, welcomed

their baby sister home. Proud grandparents are Dave and

Dawn Summers, Vincent Ruggiero and Craig and Diane Stewart.

Cecelia is the first granddaughter on this side of the family. †

Our sympathy and prayers

go out to the family of

Rachel Near. Rachel

passed away February 9,

2012. She was a long

time member of the

Franklin Grove United

Methodist Church where

her son Bill attended

services with her. She will

be missed greatly by her

family members, as well as,

her church family. †

While mourning the loss

ofEloise Van Hise, who

joined our Savior on March 14th, 2012

our love and sympathy goes out to

her daughter, Martha, as well as

Eloise's family. Although it is

difficult today to see beyond the

sorrow, may looking back in memory

be ofcomfort to you tomorrow.

Know you are in our hearts and

thoughts through this difficult time. †

Our Sincere Sympathy

In Our Thoughts

and Prayers

It is with bothsadness and joy thatwe celebrate the lifeof Ruth Schiltz.Ruth was 100 yearsold when she wassent home to bewith our Saviour.Please keep herfamily in your prayerswith the loss of theirloved one. †