I recently returned from a trip to Abu Dhabi. It was amazing! While there were many wonderful sights to see, the best part of the trip was seeing our son, Stephen, and his wife, Sarah, who are teaching there. While I am grateful for the technology that connects us – Skype, email, WhatsApp, etc. – there is nothing quite like face-to-face communication. To share conversation across the dinner table, to laugh together, to discuss simple and everyday things, was priceless.

We often have hectic schedules and interminable “to-do” lists. It’s hard to find time to gather with others – even around the family dinner table. Yet, our United Methodist faith was built on a foundation of group life. Early members met in covenant groups, often answering the question, “How is it with your soul?” John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, said, “‘Holy Solitaires’ is a phrase no more consistent with the Gospel than ‘Holy Adulterers.’ The Gospel of Christ knows no religion, but social; no holiness, but social holiness.”

During Lent 2017, we invite you to claim our heritage and grow in faith by participating in a small group. Rather than giving something up for this season, you are encouraged to take a positive step in strengthening your spirit. FUMCAH is utilizing a resource entitled, “Grab, Gather, Grow.” Grab some friends and/or family members, gather once a week during Lent, and grow in faith. Anyone can start a group; anyone can participate in a group. The study is entitled “Living the Five,” and will be our worship theme as well as our study theme. See page 2 of the newsletter for a list of current groups.

Won’t you accept the challenge of leadership, too? Your staff and the Adult Faith Formation Committee think this is an important step in developing a culture of small groups at FUMCAH and an important way of growing as a congregation.

If you would like to lead a group, participate in a new group, or would just like more information, please contact Pastor Lynn. Groups will also be listed on the church website.

MARCH 2017

Worship Schedule, 9:30am

March 5: “You Can’t Do Life Alone” 1 Samuel 20:12-17

March 12: “Growing People Change” Philippians 3:4-8

March 19: “Saved People Serve People” Acts 18:24-28

March 26: “Found People Find People” Acts 8:26-35

New Sermon Series, Living the Five...

Pastor Lynn Mikels

Ash Wednesday Worship & Simple SupperAsh Wednesday Worship will take place on March 1 at 7:30 pm.

You are also invited to join us for a simple soup supper before worship. Soup suppers are a traditional meal during Lent: a time to receive the blessing of simplicity, experience meal fellowship, and to anticipate the Lenten experience ahead.

The meal will be served at 6:15 pm in Fellowship Hall. Please contact the church office or visit fumcah.com/whats-new to register. Reservations are appreciated but are not required.

For more information, please contact the church office at 847-255-5112.1 1

“Living the Five” Small Groups for Lent

Commit to growing in faith during Lent with others from our church and community. In worship and small groups, we’ll explore five basic aspects of faithful living. (1) Community is crucial, (2) people change when they grow, (3) people are created for service, (4) people of faith share their faith, and (5) worship is more than gathering in the sanctuary - it’s the lives we lead. Small groups will meet for five weeks beginning the week of March 5.

March Mission: Justice for our Neighbors Imagine...Hope. Justice for our Neighbors (JFON) offers hope to immigrants by providing low, or no cost legal services, advocating and providing education to their neighbors. JFON is a United Methodist Church ministry. This month we feature JFON. Visit their website to learn more about this vital ministry (www.njfon.org). Please choose to give a donation and to volunteer.

These “Living the Five” groups are already scheduled:

Virtual Prayer WalkJoin us during Holy Week for a prayer “walk” from the comfort of your computer. Various virtual prayer stations, setup on our website, will lead you to encounter Jesus in faithful ways. More details to come!

Palm Sunday PerformanceJoin us in worship on April 9 to hear the Chancel Choir perform “Come to the Cross and Remember”. This performance is filled with images of Christ’s sacrificial love for us: the Palms, the Cup and the Bread, the Nails, the Crown of Thorns, and more.

• Sunday evenings, 5:00-7:00 pm, at church, beginning March 5. A light supper will be served. Childcare is available; please bring a sack supper for your child(ren). Pastor Ouk-Yean will be this group’s facilitator.

• Tuesday mornings, 9:30-10:45 am, at church, beginning March 7. Join facilitator Mike Mikels in the Wesley Room.

• Tuesday afternoons, 1:00 pm, beginning March 7. This small group is going to meet Tuesdays at 1:00 pm. The first meeting will be at Carolyn Conlee’s - 363 S Kensington Ct in Palatine, phone, 847-202-0804. Kathy Pollard and Mary Stitt will be co-facilitators.

• Sunday morning “Faith and Politics” small group. Liz Evans and Lynn Mikels are leading this new group which will focus on responding to political developments from a faith perspective. How can we support one another personally and in community? This group will meet on the upper level of the church in Room 203, 10:45-11:45 am, beginning on March 5.

One of the goals of the staff and Adult Faith Formation committee is to grow and strengthen small groups at FUMCAH. You are invited and encouraged to begin your own small group – with your family, in your neighborhood, with your book club, etc. The opportunities are endless. All materials are provided and can be picked up at church. Questions? Contact Pastor Lynn (l.mikels@fumcah.com).

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FaithLink: Where Faith and Headlines MeetIn March, FaithLink will continue to focus on the intersection of current events and our lives as faithful

Christians. This Sunday morning adult class is designed for discussion of very recent developments. Meetings take place in Room 31 on the second and fourth Sundays after worship. All

are welcome. Nursery care and Celebration Station are available for children at this time. New participants are always welcome.

Kaleidoscope for Lent

Rev. Paul Palmer returns to FUMCAH to lead Kaleidoscope for Lent. Our topic for this series is “Medieval and Renaissance Faith: Western Christianity from the Middle Ages to the Reformation.” It is sure to be an engaging topic, especially as we approach the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

What was the Church like a thousand years ago? What did Christians back in those days believe and do? It’s a picture of the era we hope to reconstruct during this seminar. Stories of Medieval times feature some of the most amazing (sometimes wonderful, often troubling) accounts of Christian life in an almost hidden millennium of church history.

Christianity was a long time in developing and working out its creeds and liturgies. By the 7th century, however, the Church was ready for an expanded presence across Europe. Gothic churches became the rage, monasteries grew wealthy, budding universities saw the rise of scholasticism, and crusades were called to drive “heathens” out of the Holy Land. Roman prelates leveraged power that was both ecclesiastical and civil – although civility was not always a part of their behavior. Corruption soon brought the church to its knees, causing despair among reformers, some of whom were burned at the stake for their efforts. Reformation was needed, but what should be discarded and what should be retained? Join us each Sunday in the Wesley Room after worship.

Small Groups at FUMCAHIn addition to our new groups for Lent, we have several ongoing small groups at FUMCAH.

Progressive Pilgrims are currently reading and discussing Marcus Borg’s book, The God We Never Knew: Beyond Dogmatic Religion To A More Authentic Contemporary Faith, published by Harper Collins. This group meets on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in the Wesley Room.

Sisters in Faith are currently reflecting on C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters, published by Harper Collins. Meetings take place at 7:15 pm in the Parlor.

All groups are always open to new participants.

Easter Flower OrdersOrders for Easter flowers are due on March 27. Lilies, Daffodils, Tulips, Hydrangeas, and Hyacinths will be available to purchase in memory of or in honor of your loved ones. Flowers will be displayed on the chancel on Easter Sunday before you take them home. Online orders and payments can be made by visiting fumcah.com/whats-new. You can pick up a paper order form at the church office, or find one in the Sunday bulletin on March 12, 19, and 26. Forms can be dropped in the offering plate or turned into the church office.

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Letter From Student Ministry

If there’s one thing that is not a secret about me, it’s that I love games. Honestly, if you’ve talked to me for more than just a couple seconds, then you know that I’ve got a knack for anything that has some fun component to it. But it’s more than just having a good time. I utilize games for what they have the potential to do. What can they do, you ask?

Games give the opportunity for people who wouldn’t normally interact to hang out. In a student ministry, forcing people to get along never works out. But, if you’re able to convince people to communicate by giving them the framework, then relationship dynamics change. A game provides that framework. Suddenly, you have two people talking to each other just because some system has given them a reason to and… boom, they start to get to know each other. Maybe, they even find out that they actually can tolerate each other, even though they thought they wouldn’t be able to be in the same room much longer. Games also have the potential to allow you to see the personalities of some people, getting them to loosen up as they start to have more fun.

Games are a means to an end in student ministry. It does not matter what game we are playing, just that it gives the opportunity for others to relate to each other and have a good time. Speaking of which, why don’t you join us for a game night on March 12th? We’re going to raise money for ASP, so come on out to play some games and eat with us. Your donations will go to fund the trip, as we continue to prepare for our journey to Kentucky. Hope to see you there!

Anthony Livoti,Director of Student Ministry

Save the Date VBS 2017: July 10 - 18

This year Vacation Bible Study will take kids on awesome adventures alongside

some of their favorite Bible heroes as they discover the qualities that make us truly heroic in God.

ASP Game Night Fundraiser

Join us in Fellowship Hall for games, food, and fundraising! Student Ministry is hosting a game night on March 12, from 4:00-6:30 pm. You are welcome to invite your family and friends. Donations

will help support the Appalachia Service Project. Please contact Anthony Livoti (a.livoti@fumcah.com) for additional information.

Save the Date! 9th Annual FUMCAH Golf & Dinner EventThe 9th Annual FUMCAH Golf & Dinner Event will take place Saturday, September 9, at 11:00 am at Rob Roy Golf Course in Prospect Heights.

Art & Spirituality Workshops: New Dates!Thom Frerk and Pastor Lynn will host two workshops combining scripture and creative art projects. Classes will be held on Saturday mornings, March 4 and 11, from 11:00 am-12:30 pm. The fee is $8.00 per class or both for $15.00. All materials are included. Contact the church office or email Pastor Lynn (l.mikels@fumcah.com) for more information.

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Midwest Mission Distribution Center Mission Trip Midwest Mission Distribution Center (MMDC), located in Chatham, Illinois, assembles and distributes disaster relief, humanitarian aid, medical, and educational goods to people in need all over the world. In 2015, over 50,000 kits were assembled and shipped to various locations worldwide. MMDC depends on volunteers like us for their operations.

Last year, FUMCAH sent a team of 14 people. We are looking for volunteers for our 2017 mission trip taking place April 19 thought April 21. Volunteers pack kits, sort

items, sew school bags, hospital gowns, and blankets, and box goods for shipment. There are a wide variety of tasks including tasks that do not require standing. If you have a special talent or interest, we will ask MMDC if they can find a special project for you. Children 11 years or over are welcome.

Volunteers will leave FUMCAH early the morning of Wednesday, April 19. We will work at the Center that afternoon, Thursday all day, and Friday morning. We will return to FUMCAH in the afternoon on Friday, April 21.

The cost to participate is $50 per person. This donation to MMDC will buy material and supplies, as well as cover costs for transportation, lodging, and meals. We encourage our participants to car pool and will assist you in finding a ride (500 miles round trip). We will stay in a local, inexpensive hotel (about $60 per night per room) and enjoy fellowship by going out as a group in the evening to local restaurants ($25 per meal). Please contact Naoki Nakamura for more information (847-650-3608, naokin33@gmail.com).

Meals On WheelsFUMCAH has again volunteered to deliver Meals on Wheels for Wheeling Township during the month of April. This program aids the disabled, homebound, and the economically challenged of our community. The meals are picked up at the Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights and are delivered between 11:00am and 1:00pm Monday through Friday. Deliveries are made in Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove and Palatine. If you can assist with this project, please call the Guilfords at 847-392-5512.

Job Opportunity:Director of FUMCAH Preschool & We-e Care Programs

We are seeking a leader who will join a group of dedicated, friendly Preschool staff and collaborate with the church’s Family Ministries.  The First United Methodist

Preschool and We-e Care Programs formed as a ministry to the community in 1973, and 1974, respectively, providing a nurturing, safe and trustworthy environment, one in which each child could grow and develop to his or her own potential.  Please call the Preschool office at 847-255-5119 or visit our website http://www.fumcah.com/preschool for a complete job description and details on how to apply.

Refugee One Donations The Missions Committee is collecting donations to benefit Refugee One, an organization that helps settle refugee families here in the Chicago area. Refugee One currently has a wait-list for volunteers, but they are still

in need of items for the families they serve. Throughout the month of March, we will be collecting the following items for Refugee One:

Box Fans • Rice Cookers • Mixing Bowl Sets Baking Pan Sets • Pots and Pans Sets

Donations can be placed in our big blue donation bin which will be near the Parlor area or brought to the church office. Contact JacquelineRaitano@yahoo.com.

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2017 Spring Rummage Sale: Save the Date!

The Annual United Methodist Women’s Spring Rummage Sale takes place May 6 and 7. Donation drop-off begins April 25. Please contact Jacqueline Raitano (847-749-3233 or JacquelineRaitano@yahoo.com) with questions.

Next Chapter Gathering & White Elephant ExchangeIt’s time to get together, celebrate friendship, get rid of those unwanted gifts from Christmas or birthdays past. Next Chapter is hosting a gathering on Saturday, March 11, at 6:30 pm, in Fellowship Hall. Please bring a casserole, salad, or dessert, and a beverage of your choice. Plates, cutlery, napkins and cups will be provided.

Also, for each person attending, bring a wrapped white elephant gift, the funnier the better. That means if a couple comes, they should bring two gifts. Please RSVP, if you can make it, to Mary Ann Laforet (847-870-8344 or boesels4@me.com).

Join Us for Coffee & Conversation!

Have you wondered who United Methodist Women are and what their purpose is?

Please join the United Methodist Women for an informal coffee on Sunday, March 12, outside the church parlor, immediately following the worship service. Learn more about our small groups (circles), monthly programs (gatherings) and our two fabulous fundraisers (fellowship in mission).

We look forward to meeting you! For more information, please contact Judy Standefer at mstandefer@sbcglobal.net or 847-259-7788.

United Methodist Women GatheringTuesday, March 21, 9:30 am at FUMCAH. Join us to hear Roger Curless, Study Leader for Mission U, speak on the topic of “Latin American: People and Faith”. All are welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be served. Childcare reservations can be made at shunter26@hotmail.com.

Thank You From United Methodist Women

Did you know that the fall Recycled Christmas Sale and Bake Sale made a profit of over $3000? Thanks to your donations, support, baking and shopping we fulfilled our pledge to the Elgin District United Methodist Women and more!

We also were able to send extra gifts of $500 each to ChildServ, PADS, Faith Community Homes and WINGS. These agencies empower and serve women and children in our immediate communities and we are honored to support them.

This is the 6th Christmas we have sponsored families served by Faith Community Homes. We shopped, wrapped and delivered a trunk load of gifts, hopefully making their Christmas a little brighter!

United Methodist Women thank you for all you do throughout the year to help us help others. We welcome you to any and all of our events/activities and wish you a beautiful year.

Fannie May FundraiserSpringtime and Easter are right around the corner, which means it’s time for the FUMCAH Preschool’s annual Fannie May fundraiser! Please stop by our table in Fellowship Hall on Sunday, March 5, to view our catalog and order your chocolate bunnies and eggs (among other treats!).

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Financial Report Through January 2017

January Revenue: $87,311 January Expense: $56,213

We have paid a monthly apportionment (denominational support) of $7,560. Our 2017 total apportionment is $90,720.

Consider Electronic Funds Transfer – no need to worry that you don’t have your checkbook or cash with you! And, it’s easy to set it up and manage with our church database, Access ACS, or through the ChurchLife app on a cell phone. Contact Melinda in the church office with any financial questions or concerns, including ways to set up Electronic Funds Transfer. Thank you very much for your good stewardship in 2017!

Congregation News

Baptism

Building Committee Update

The Building Committee is currently working on updating the design and scope of the new Welcome Center. The design updates are based on the results of the congregational survey that we completed at the end of last year, and the results of a congregational study that was completed by the Generosity Group. The biggest takeaway was that interest and desire for the Welcome Center is present, but the congregation wanted the Building Committee to investigate what could be done to reduce the overall cost of the project. There were a few other design changes that were mentioned, but cost was the greatest concern brought to our attention.

Given this, members of the Building Committee have met with our architectural firm, Jaeger Nickola Kuhlman & Associates, to discuss the design changes and ways to reduce cost. Once these changes are made to the drawings, and the Building Committee feels comfortable that the project can be completed within our budgetary guidelines, we will present the entire project to the congregation.

In the meantime, if you have any questions about the project, please feel free to contact Tom Herr or one of the other Building Committee members.

Building Committee Chair

2017 Stewardship Campaign Results

We are wrapping up the 2017 pledge campaign and would like to share the results with you. We had 173 pledges, so far, of which 45% were increased. The average pledge also rose by over $300, for a total pledged of $578,097. While the pledge total is down from 2016, we receive a significant amount from those who don’t pledge. In 2016,

that amount was over $96,000, and we wound up 2016 in the black after paying all our bills and all our apportionments to the Northern Illinois Conference. We are blessed to continue to be on a solid financial footing, maintaining the many ministries at FUMCAH, in our community, and around the world. Thank you all for your continued commitment to the life of our church and the work that God has put before us. May God bless us as we press forward with that mission.

Your Stewardship Committee

Listen to Sermons Online

Missed worship? Visit the new podcast section on our website (www.fumcah.com/podcasts) to listen to previous sermons.

Connor Duggan Chandler - February 26. Son of Jason and Lori Chandler, and the brother of Shannon, Erin, and Ryan.

DeathMarilyn Jones - January 30.

A memorial service was held on February 4.

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or current resident

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