Volume 15, Issue 3

Our mission is: We make disciples of Jesus Christ. Morningstar UMC seeks to share the light and love of Jesus Christ to all we encounter. Morningstar will be a community where each person is offered opportunities and challenged to grow in his/her relationship with God throughout his/her life. As we grow in our love of God, we will increase our growth of healthy relationships by encouraging people of all ages through accountability, study, prayer, fellowship, and service. The more our congregation grows in these primary relationships (with God and our neighbors), we will see ourselves reaching out into the local community, region and world through acts of service – sharing the light of Jesus Christ in hands-on, meaningful ways, and inviting others to experience God’s love for themselves.

Casual for Christ - Feel free to come as you are! Connect for Real - Make authentic relationships with those around you. Contribute Ourselves - God has given us gifts to use to for His Kingdom. Care for All - All are welcome to join us in worship and the journey of faith Christ Centered - Jesus is the light of the world, the center of all that we do!

Our Vision

Our Values

Our Mission

Ash Wednesday worship is on March 5 at 6:30 pm in the sanctuary.

Maundy Thursday worship is April 17 at 7:00 pm in the sanctuary.

Good Friday worship is April 18 at 7:00 pm at West Olive Faith UMC.

Please join us for one of these worship opportunities as you observe a Holy Lent.

From the Pastor’s Desk

Friends,

I hope you took time in February to pray – for yourself, your families, your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers, your brothers and sisters in Christ, and for your church and its ministries. Prayer is a fundamental part of being a part of a congregation; so is presence. Presence implies that you are here! Presence implies that you’re coming to worship regularly. Presence implies that you are involved in Christian formation ministries to grow deeper in your relationship with God and to understand God’s word. Presence implies that you engage with your neighbors and the world. But presence isn’t simply about showing up. You can sit in a chair and be physically present, and still not participate. Our phones are buzzing with texts, Snapchats, and the latest Facebook posting. We have paper, pencils, and games at our disposal. To be present is to be attentive and fully engaged. We make vows at our baptism that we will surround one another with a community of love and forgiveness, so that we can grow in service to others. We say that we will pray for one another so that we be come true disciples who walk in the ways of God. But how can we do that if you’re not here? How do we help your children grow in their faith if they come sporadically to a Christian formation opportunity? How do we truly nurture your faith if you only “attend” worship once a month? If you’re not regularly attending and participating in worship, start this month. March 5 begins the season of Lent, and it’s a great time to take on the spiritual discipline of worship. Bring your children to Sunday Christian formation or family night each week of this season. Commit to being present fully so that you can grow toward God and one another. Find an opportunity to be engaged in outreach or service outside our church for this season…and who knows? By the time we reach Easter, you may have developed a habit of being fully present! I’m praying that happens for you. Oh, and please remember to set your clocks forward for March 9, so you will be on time for worship!

I will see you in worship!

Grace and peace,

Ways to be Present WORSHIP

Be present on Sundays at 10:15am for our blended worship service, taking elements of

traditional and modern worship and combining them for an awesome experience

for the whole family.

We will also have several special worship opportunities during the liturgical season of

Lent on Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday

(see page 2 for more details).

We invite you to be present for all of our worship services.

LADIES BIBLE STUDY

The Women of Morningstar have two opportunities for women to be present in

learning and fellowship during their weekly Bible study on either Fridays at 10:00am or Tuesdays at 6:30pm. The same material is

covered in both studies.

The Women of Morningstar also invite you to be present for their other activities from their

annual women’s retreat to craft fairs to supporting a child in Guatemala through

Compassion International.

FAMILY NIGHT

Everyone is invited to be present on Wednesday nights for Family Night.

We begin with a meal at 5:30pm ($3/adult, $2/child, $10 cap per family) and move to a time of praise and worship at 6:30pm. At 7:00pm, classes are available for all ages.

We invite everyone to join in for any and all

parts of Family Night.

MEN’S GROUP

Our men’s group would love to have all men be present for their group that meets on

Mondays at 7:30pm at Gill Street Sports Bar and Grill.

This group is open to men of all ages. This is a great opportunity for male youth to receive mentoring from adults in the congregation.

at Morningstar UMC FAMILY VBS

This year we invite everyone to be present for

our first ever intergenerational family Vacation Bible School, “Wilderness Escape”.

This two-day VBS will be held June 20th from

5:30pm-8:00pm and June 21st from 9:00am-3:00pm.

We are looking for leaders to be present for this new ministry opportunity as well as for

eager participants!

MUSIC MINISTRY

We are always excited to welcome those who wish to be active in our music ministry. If you

are interested in singing in the choir, especially for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services, we invite you to be present

at rehearsals on Thursdays at 6:00pm.

Our handbell choir is open to ringers of all ages and experiences. This group rehearses

on Thursdays at 7:00pm.

Our praise band rehearses Sundays at 11:30am.

OUTREACH

There are many outreach ministries from Morningstar UMC that we would love to have more people be present for, from our monthly meal preparation at the Home Sweet Home mission to leading vespers services for the residents of the Meadows at Mercy Creek.

Youth and adults are also heading on a mission trip to Westmoreland, Tennessee

later this year. (Look for more details later.)

The Nurture, Outreach, Witness committee is also praying for some new ministry

opportunities that have come our way.

SUNDAY CHRISTIAN FORMATION

Sunday mornings at 9:00am we invite

children of all ages to be present for our Christian Formation classes. Our nursery

staff and adult volunteers provide an opportunity to learn more about the week’s scripture before we hear more in worship. Children and adults are welcome to dive

deep into the Word.

March 2014

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

*EverySunday 9:00 Christian

Formation 10:15 Worship 11:30 Band

Rehearsal

1 8:30 Women’s

Retreat

2* 11:30 Fellowship Lunch 1:00 Lay Leadership/

Finance 2:00 SPRC/

Trustees

3

7:30 Men’s Group

4 1:00 Sit-N-Knit 6:00 Disciple Bible Study 6:30 Ladies’ Bible Study

5 Ash Wednesday

Family Night 5:30 Meal 6:30 Worship 7:00 Classes

6 6:00 Chancel

Choir 7:00 Handbell

Choir

7 10:00 Ladies’

Bible Study

8

9* 4:00 Home

Sweet Home Meal (Team #1)

Daylight Savings

Time begins

10

7:30 Men’s Group

11 1:00 Sit-N-Knit 6:00 Disciple Bible Study 6:30 Ladies’

Bible Study

12 Family Night

5:30 Meal 6:30 Worship 7:00 Classes

13 6:00 Chancel

Choir 7:00 Handbell

Choir

14 10:00 Ladies’

Bible Study

15

Park Food

Pantry Donations Collected

16*

17

7:30 Men’s Group

18

1:00 Sit-N-Knit 6:00 Disciple Bible Study 6:30 Ladies’

Bible Study . April Newsletter

Articles Due!

19 Family Night

5:30 Meal 6:30 Worship 7:00 Classes

20 6:00 Chancel

Choir 7:00 Handbell

Choir

21 10:00 Ladies’

Bible Study

22

23*/30*

24/31 7:30 Men’s

Group

25 1:00 Sit-N-Knit 6:30 Ladies’

Bible Study No Disciple I

26 No Family Night

27 No Rehearsals

28 No Ladies’

Bible Study

Servant Schedule March 2014

March 02 March 09 March 16 March 23 March 30

Offertory Music

Chancel Choir Chancel Choir Praise Band Chancel Choir Handbell Choir

Liturgist Mark Immke Shelby Todd Wayne Giermann Dave Venter Betty Haag

Children’s Message

Pastor Jay Dave Venter Stephanie Soon Andy Goveia Pastor Jay

Acolyte Jordan Kao Lillian Wang Ellen Wang Joey Westpfahl Jordan Kao

Media Technician

Joe Kao Mark Immke Paul Venter Dean Westpfahl Joe Kao

Ushers

Dave Wright (H) Joan Burger

Georgia Griffith Mike Schneider

Dean Westpfahl (H) Sue Fetters Josh Immke

Joe Kao

Jim Snow (H) Kim Kao

Morgan Kao Tricia Todd

Mark Immke (H) Michelle Giermann

Bill Sheets Marisa Zamudio

Larry Haag (H) Mary Ann Altine

Joan Burger Jeannine McNemee

Greeters Andy Goveia The Venters Eva DeVore June Brown Larry & Betty Haag

Coffee Host

June Brown Janice Elsner

Lori Immke Wayne Giermann The Venters Eva DeVore

Offering Counter

Sue Fetters Ruthann Sheets Betty Bickerstaff Janice Elsner Kim Kao

Newcomer Caller

Georgia Griffith Ruthann Sheets Bill Sheets June Brown Georgia Griffith

Church Cleaning

June Brown Pastor Jay

The Venters

Morningstar United Methodist Church

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9:00am -3:00pm

Office Telephone: (309) 452-6255

Website: www.mymorningstar.org

Worship with us on Sundays at 10:15 am

Contact Information

Rev. Jay Regennitter, Pastor pastor@mymorningstar.org

Pastor Stephanie Soon, Deacon & Pianist music@mymorningstar.org

Alyssa Rathbun, Administrative Assistant office@mymorningstar.org

Sarah Uftring & Hailey Crozier, Nursery Ministry Staff nursery@mymorningstar.org