Pastor’s Notes

ARTHUR UNITED METHODIST CHURCH June 2016

The Methodist Memo

June 5

Communion

First Sunday Lunch

First Sunday Food Pantry

Building Committee after lunch.

June 15

1-6pm. Arthur Ministerial &

Arthur Lions Club Blood Drive

June 26

Family Fun Day @Overlook

Adventure Mini Golf Course

Ongoing

Monday

9:00-12:30 pm: Summer Meals

Program

2:15 pm: Moms in prayer

6:30 pm: Scouts

Tuesday

9:00-12:30 pm: Summer Meals

Program

1-3 pm: Linus Project

7-9 pm: Crafty Crafter s

Wednesday

9:00-12:30pm: Summer Meals

Program

2:30-5:00 pm: God’s Closet

4:30 pm: Community Meals

8:00 pm: Praise Band

Thursday

9:00-12:30 pm: Summer Meals

Program

Friday

9:00-12:30 pm: Summer Meals

Program

Saturday

7:00 am: Music lessons with

Chris Keniley

SCRIPTURE OF THE

MONTH

“I can do all this through

Him who gives me

strength.”

Philippians 4:13

It was just about a year ago that I moved here to begin serving as your appointed pastor. A whole lot has happened since then! On the one hand, it hardly seems that long, as there have been so many things to do and ways to share the desire of God to call his people home. On the other hand, it seems like much longer because of all the things we have accomplished, and how wonderfully you have made Debbie and me feel at home and welcome. It seems I have known you for decades, not just a year.

I have had the opportunity so many times to share with you my observations, and the first that I share is that you are not a typical United Methodist Church. You offer services and ministries that even big churches would be hard pressed to provide. You open your doors to people of the community for any number of reasons, not being self-ish with your time or space. You take risks, and sometimes are taken advantage of, but still don’t hesitate to stretch, to sparkle, every day, all the way.

You people don’t stop, and that’s the way church is supposed to be. You see a need or an opportunity, and more often than not, find a way to take care of it without any fuss or fanfare. You keep putting your energy into being church, not hoping it will somehow continue to serve God’s precious children, but making it so. You know that being church takes effort and energy, and are willing to invest yourself into it.

This is what it is to be church. We are far from perfect, and there are things we can do better. There are ways we can invite others into this marvelous journey home that we have not yet embraced. There are still ways we can grow, not just in our service to others, but in our own spiritual depth and passion. And we are doing that! I see spiritual depth all around, that is longing to stretch out and touch lives, not just in their physical needs but their spiritual needs as well.

If all this has happened in just one year, I can’t wait to see what this next year of ministry brings!

Pastor Bruce Weiman

P a g e 2 /J u n e The Methodist Memo

Family Fun Day

Subs & Eberhart Park

Food Pantry: Jill Strawn

The food pantry continues to be busy. We have been averaging 17 families a month. Thank you for all your donations of cereal. They were very much appreciated. Now I'm low on hygiene items such as toothpaste, shampoo & conditioner, men's & women's deodorant and body soap. As always thanks for supporting this outreach project.

In His Service, Jill Strawn

Thanks to all who have donated clothing over the past month. We received a case of Baby Formula! What a gift from Heaven! It was delivered the day it arrived! We delivered 3 large bags of clothing for the trip to Red Bird Mission.

Donations of children’s clothing are very welcome as well as diapers & laundry soap.

In His Service, Iris Ramsey

“Let us be humble & kind!”

Sharing News…..

What a joy! Howard & Iris Ramsey are proud to be great grandparents again! Little Mason Becker McIlvane was born Monday, May 23, 2016 to Matthew & Megan McIlvane in Joilet, IL. His weight was 6 lbs and 8 oz. Diana & Mark McIlvane of Naperville, IL are also proud grandparents!

God’s Closet: Iris Ramsey

The Methodist Memo P a g e 3

UPDATE ON JAMES BEAN

James is home after having one spinal surgery at Shriners and two spinal surgeries at the Children's Hospital in St Louis. Since being home he has improved a great deal on his mobility. He still is experiencing problems with numbness. He is having pain in his leg and foot. However, his mother explained to me that some pain is a good thing because it shows he is slowly gaining feeling where before he had only numbness. James has returned to the Children’s Hospital and had his stitches removed. He is doing his therapy in Charleston at the Carle Clinic. James enjoyed receiving the get well card that many church members signed for him. He also likes his patriotic quilt that the ladies of the church made for him. He appreciates everyone's concern and prayers.

Cub Scout Pack 74 News

Members of Cub Scout Pack 74 went fishing and had a cookout

at Wyman Park on May 15th.

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES (Although we are trying to get these lists updated as best we can, we always seem to miss somebody.

Please be sure to contact the office with any information you might have. Thanks! –Ariana)

Pa ge 4 T he M eth od ist Me mo

Look for the Arthur United Methodist Church on Facebook

Our page is Arthur United Methodist Church.

Need to contact Bruce? Call his cell at 217-649-2678

or email him: bruceweiman@gmail.com

JUNE BIRTHDAYS

1 - Carol Schoffstall 20 - Bradley Miller

3 – Ron Daily Jason Yeakel

4 - Amy Dicks 21 - Merlin Yoder

Bill Krummel 22 - Kim Daily

5 - Jim Elder Donna Jurgens

Kyle David Platzbecker Jack Singer

8 - Joe Platzbecker 23 - Mike Rosenbaum

9 - Monica Green 24 - Shane Chady

Kristy Oliver Jones 26 - Reilly Allison

11 - Timothy Wilson Lynette Miller

28- Ariana Cherry

12 - Brittany Downs Yoder 29 - Keith Grant

13 - Matthew Snoddy Beau Michael Green

16 - Alec Daily Ed Miller

Isaac Kitchen 30 - Evan James Sanders

ANNIVERSARIES

2 - Gary & Norma Krummel 19 - Len & Judy Beachy

5 - Tom & Janice Wilson Ed & Cameron Coller

Bruce & Debbie Weiman

6 - Dan & CynD Lindsey 20 - Bill & Valerie Coleman

9 - Jack & Charity Oye 25 - Mike & Ivy Disher

10 - Leroy & Marilyn Allison Lyman & Lorna Meyers

13 - Justin & Monica Green 27 - Mike & Cheryl Hilgenberg

17 - Adam & Kristy Jones 30 - Lawrence & Arlene Aschermann

18 - Robert & Nancy Snoddy Jason & Tiffany Yeakel

M eth odi st M emo P ag e 5

Sunday School

Classes/9:00—9:45

Ages 3—K Room on Balcony Level

Grades 1-3 3rd Floor

Grades 4-6 3rd Floor

Junior High 3rd Floor

High School 3rd Floor

Adult Sunday School: Meet in church

Nursery: There is a schedule on the nursery room door and volunteers are still needed. Please consider helping out; only involves one or two Sundays a year.

High School: “The Wired Word”

Call Monica at 621-3107 or call the office, 543-3159 if you can help in any area.

Youth is over for the summer. Their last meetings were held in May.

Senior Youth’s last gathering for the season

Page 6/June The Methodist Memo

Recognizing the class of 2016

A breakfast was given in honor of our 2016 graduates on May 22, 2016

C

O

N

G

R

A

T

U

L

A

T

I

O

N

S

P a g e 7/ J u n e Th e Met h o dist Mem o

Arthur Mennonite Church

Fellowship Hall

710 E Park Street

Arthur, IL 61911

Wednesday, June 16, 2016: 1:00-6:00 p.m.

For an appointment, please call the church at 217-543-2781

Arthur Ministerial &

Arthur Lion’s Club

Blood Drive

Ages 4 through Junior High. There is no fee to participate. Class will be 9:00-11:30am each day.

Register online at: http://www.arthurvbs.org/register/.

P a g e 8 / J u n e Th e Met h o dist Mem o

Thursday, May 26, 2016. AUMC CHURCH COUNCIL

Present: Pastor Bruce W eim an, Steffanie Seegm iller , Monica Green, Janice Likens, Bruce Oye, Iris Ramsey, Jill Strawn, Charity Oye and Ariana Cherry (recording secretary).

Pastor Bruce opened with prayer and devotion. He read from the scriptures of Isaiah 43. “But now, this is what the Lord says: he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine….”

Food Pantry: Jill Straw n reported on the food pantry. She had a unique request from a fam ily w ho needed help purchasing head lice medicine. From January-April, she had received $950 in donations that had come from individuals, Lions Club, Zion United Church of Christ and bag credit from IGA. The food pantry also received $140 from Parade of Palms. Food pantry visits were a little down in April- as there were only 15 who requested assis-tance- where in March, 20 families had needed help.

God’s Closet: An individual had com e to Ir is Ram sey and asked her to pray for her . The individual said she had known a co-worker who had recently had a baby, then the mother passed away from a heart attack and the family was in need. About the same day that this story was shared with Iris, she had received a donation of baby formula, and she was able to donate it to the family in need. A young man came in requesting a dress shirt for graduation, and Iris was able to give him one.

Pastor Parish: Janice Likens reported that a m eeting w ill be held June 2 to star t the discussion on finding a pianist.

Nurture: Pastor Bruce stated that the church continues to be inviting and w elcom ing to the community. When coming to church, he requested that members don’t forget their name tag, check into the church page on Facebook (if they are on Facebook) and for visitors to sign the guestbook. He also commented to make sure that nobody sits alone – be sure that all visitors have someone to sit with. Ushers can help assist with this when they see a guest enter the door.

Name tags: Monica Green presented a new nam e tag option. They are m agnetic - which would mean no pin sticking through clothes. If 250 name tags are ordered, they can be purchased at $1.85 each. Names will need to be printed on the inside area of the tag. The name-tag will work for both members and visitors. Members names will be typed and there will be blank ones for visitors who can write theirs. Monica made a motion to buy 250 magnetic name tags from Nametags.com. The motion was carried and passed.

Pastor Vac: Pastor Bruce com m ented that he w ouldn ’t be here Sunday, May 29-June 1st, as he would be in Wisconsin. The following week he will be at conference. Although he would be away through the week, Bruce said he will still be here on Sunday.

Community Meals: Steffanie Seegm iller inform ed that things are looking up for Com m unity Meals. “We are watching our pennies and things are much better than they were three to four months ago.” The Summer Meals program starts June 1st. The kitchen has set aside storage space for it. Steffanie stated that the health department said about 40 kids were signed up and the goal was 50. The program is open to anyone under 18.

Piano: After several discussions on the type of piano to purchase dur ing the last couple of m eetings, a decision was reached to purchase the 5’3” Trans Acoustic Grand at $25,349.12. It is two instruments in one as it can play both acoustically and electronically. It may have additional expenses because a humidifier will need to be pur-chased with it and will need watered weekly-depending on how dry the environment is. Janice made a motion to pur-chase the Trans Acoustic Grand and it was carried and passed. It will be purchased with memorial funds.

Membership Software: Pastor Bruce asked Ariana Cherry (adm in aide) to research som e church membership software to help organize all of the church members easier. She researched a few different ones and pre-sented two different ones for the council to review. Both types of software are used on the internet and are in a secure environment. They allow users to put in church members, record attendance, allow church members to “check in” when they are in church and contributions can also be kept track of. Also through the software, mass texts & emails can be sent at once, which makes communication both easier and more streamlined within the church. There was also discussion of offering online giving through a form or button on the church website. The church council will review the options and information provided and make a decision later on.

Steffanie Seegmiller ended the meeting with prayer. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 2 at 7:00 p.m.

T he M eth od ist Me mo Pa ge 9 /J une

BUILDING COMMITTEE UPDATE (May 12, 2016)

In attendance: Leroy Allison, Bruce Oye, Ed Miller , Sharon Daily, John Daily, Tod Brewer, Jakob Brewer, Monica Miller, engineer/architects .

Agenda: Review and question/answers on the architect’s drawings before final is ready for bid-ding of the general contractors

We started with a decision on the east exterior wall of the fellowship hall/kitchen being brick or sided. It was decided that because the saving would only be $3,000.00 to use siding instead of brick to match the rest of the building, it should be brick. The second discussion was on the northwest entrance to the fellowship hall. At the last meeting we discussed the option to enclose an additional space that is in the plans as part covered be the roof. Concern was the cost. Estimated to be an extra $14,000.00 due to two sets of double doors and a large window put into the entrance room, as well as the AV cabinet. On the initial plans the door out of the fellowship hall was a simple egress door. With the updated plans the area really becomes a north entrance from the north parking lot. It was decided that this was a good idea to go with. Discussion followed with the need for a coat rack in the entrance as well as on the west wall of the fellowship hall. We determined that we could wait to decide the on the need for the coat rack in the fellowship hall but that we would get great use out of the one in the northwest entrance. There was a large discussion over having a concrete slab or crawl space. Pros to a crawl space, fu-ture flexibility, and warmer floors. Cons to a crawl space, space has to be split in two rooms for code, and the floor has to be insulated. Also indicated that there needs to be a 42” footer under each wall and all interior support points. Pros to the concrete slab, fewer codes, will cost less, even with multiple back fill loads (only need to raise grade 18”). Cons to the concrete slab, is not very flexible for future changes. All HV/AC, electrical and plumbing will have to be carefully place and considered permanent. Extra conduit can be run with the thought of future changes. The final vote was to go with the concrete slab. At church this morning, Bruce O realized that we had not set another meeting to discuss the kitch-en. We will set a meeting for this Thursday, 5/19/16 at 5:00 p.m. and hope to not go beyond an hour in length.

There was a lot of information and several decisions made to continue the move forward with this project in this meeting. For those of you at the meeting, if I missed something please let me know. For those of you who had to miss please fire away with any questions.

Blessing

Tod Brewer

The United Methodist MEMO

The United Methodist Church

128 East Illinois St.

Arthur, IL 61911

PLAN AHEAD!

FAMILY FUN DAY

June 26th Overlook Adventure

Mini Golf Course

Prices & times coming soon!