Forget the Small Talk at Easter

“I always wondered what kind of savior would let bad things happen to good people … I guess now I know.” “Phatic” communion is the “Hello. How are you?” type of interchange. It is designed to be a flawless interaction used to greet each other. It doesn’t impart information, it just acknowledges the presence of the other. You’re not supposed to say how you really are. You’re simply supposed to respond with “Fine. How are you?” For some reason, though, I’ve always felt that anything I said has to be entertaining or interesting or both. So my mind races ahead and I anticipate what the other person will say so I can get my response ready. But people surprise me. I figure she’s going to say, “Thanks for shoveling my driveway,” and when she says “It’s a nice

Continued on page 2.

TheChimes

Just start with 'Christ is risen!'

7 p.m. April 2 Maundy Thursday service 7 p.m. April 3 Good Friday service 7 a.m. April 5 Easter sunrise service 8 a.m. April 5 Easter breakfast, Easter egg hunt 10 a.m. April 5 Easter Sunday service April 6 OFFICE CLOSED 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 2 LAST DAY for photo appointments

Calendar

April 2015 | Monthly Newsletter of Wesley United Methodist Church

Got a burning question for Pastor

Wesley? No question, no subject will be off-

limits in the new Ask-It Basket feature in our

monthly newsletter.

Here's how it works: You submit a

question, via email, the attendance pads, or a

note to the office (mention the Ask-It Basket),

and Pastor Wesley answers it in the next

Chimes.

Introducing the Ask-It Basket

day,” I blurt out, “You’re welcome,” as though I had some influence on the weather. If they say, “What’s up?” I say, “Fine” before I realize they changed the script. If they say, “It’s been wet lately,” I might say, “Thank you.” I take comfort in the fact that God doesn’t seem to be a phater. God doesn’t work the room before getting around to the important stuff, as in “Hey, ladies and gents, howyoualldoing?” “Anybody here from Nineveh?” “Seen any Acts of God lately?” No, God just says, “This is my son; listen to him.” Jesus said, “Let your 'yes' be 'yes' and your 'no' be 'no,'” not “Whaddayaknow? I just got in from walking on the water and boy, are my feet wet!” But Easter is coming. That’s a non-phater’s best time of year. You don’t bother with “How are you?” You just start out by saying, “Christ is Risen!” Blessings, Pastor Wesley

*This article inspired and partially plagiarized from The Rev. John McFarland

Continued from page 1.

We will be honoring our graduates,

from middle school, high school, and college.

Please contact the office to submit the name of

your graduate, so we may honor him or her

during a worship service in May.

Honoring our graduates

Eric Hoffman recently spoke about the

programs available at Camp Reynoldswood in

Dixon. There are opportunities available for

youth of all ages.

Pastor Wesley is a director of JOY

Camp, from June 21 to 27; it is open to youth

in fourth through 12th grade.

If you know a child who is interested in

attending, or would like more information,

please pick up a brochure in the fellowship

hall.

Scholarships are available!

Thinking about summer camp

Ministries | Cards and Prayer Shawls

Prayer Shawl Ministry Time to get out the crochet hooks, knitting needles, and looms! The Prayer Shawl Ministry will resume this month. The group meets from 1:30-3 p.m. the last Wednesday of the month from April through October, in the fireside room. Those who crochet or knit, of course, are encouraged to join, but those who wish to tag along for the fellowship are welcome to attend, too. Call Gloria Grant at 815-625-3394 for more information.

Greeting Card Ministry The Greeting Card Ministry meets at 9:30 a.m. the second Thursday of the month in the fellowship hall. The group gathers to make cards, write notes, and address envelopes. All supplies are provided, and no special skills are required. It's a great time for fellowship. Anyone who wishes to help is encouraged to join. Call Gloria Grant at 815-625-3394 for more information.

THANK YOU! A special thank you to those who gave of their time and talents to serving at the PADS Homeless Shelter from October through April. Those who offered a gift of time and/or a warm meal this season were: Sue Abate, Ed

and Jan Andersen, Doug Brandau, Bill and Peg Burke, Alyssa Cedro, Janay Dalton, Darrin, Amy, and Abby Driscoll, Renee Duncan, Joe and Elisa Gatz, Gloria Grant, Carolyn Heuck, Toby and Debbie Hodges, Gene and Sue Klock,

Sarah McNeill, Beth Mathew, Ka ren Pa lmer , Sha ron Prichard, Sharon Siex, and Sharon Wasson.

--Gloria Grant

Liturgist Greeters Coffee Hosts April 12 Sharon Wasson The Gatz family The Jeff Cedro family April 19 Alan Beggerow Cal and Pat Jacobs Janet Palmer April 26 Bruce Kramer Denver and Sharon Arnie and Jeanne Burch Wasson May 3 Rory Smith Jan Glover Lisa Lilly and daughters Ushers Acolytes April Jeff Cedro, Steve Michel, Amber Greenfield, Olivia Schwingle Dave Siex, Mark Taylor May Alyssa Cedro, Mitchell Clodfelter, Haley Ceruzzi, Tori Stutzke Dakota Hayes, Sierra Sotelo

April 1 - Beth Mathew April 3 - Olivia Schwingle April 4 - Gloria Grant April 5 - Jeffrey Spitzer April 8 - Frank Rausa, Mark Gatz April 9 - Joshua Rodriguez, Zachary Ramirez April 12 - Violet Windham, Susan Inks

April 16 - Peg Burke April 17 - Karen Palmer, Whitney Pitsch April 18 - Kayla Heimerman, Allison Ramirez April 19 - Austin Cedro April 25 - Nicholas Abele April 28 - Sarah Gabrielse

April 2 - Ron and Judy Bushman April 5 - Arnie and Jeanne Burch April 16 - Matt and Kari Hansen April 18 - Marc and Cindy Melton April 19 - Toby and Debbie Hodges

April 24 - Jeff and Jan Davey April 29 - Allen and Jessica Wade April 30 - Joe and Elisa Gatz April 30 - Denny and Alice Vetter

Servers | April, May

Birthdays | April

Anniversaries | April

Upcoming Events

Brunch in the Woods 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, April 12 Camp Reynoldswood, 621 Reynoldswood Road, Dixon Brunch is $12.50 for adults, $7.50 for children ages 4-11, and $10 for seniors 60 and older. Royal Neighbors will match 100 percent of funds up to $1,000, to be donated back to Camp Reynoldswood to allow local youth to attend summer overnight and day camp. Call 815-284-6979 to RSVP for groups of 8 or more.

School of Evangelism 2015 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 18 First United Methodist Church, 216 E. Highland, Elgin The theme of the workshop is "Connecting with the Disillusioned and Disconnected" and will feature a keynote address by Dr. Leonard Sweet, the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew Theological School at Drew University. Registration is $15 and includes lunch. Advance registration is highly recommended; space is limited. Go to www.umcnic.org/evangelism for more information and to register.

Wesley UMC is putting together a co-

ed softball team. Males and females

age 16 and older of all skill levels are

encouraged to join the team.

Practices will be once a week (day

and time yet to be determined) at

Sinnissippi Park in Sterling. Games

will be Tuesday and Thursday nights

at Centennial Park in Rock Falls.

Call Jeff Cedro at 815-535-1664 for

more information or to sign up.

Play Ball!