Union United Methodist Church May 7, 2015

Tidings FROM THE PASTOR

May is filled with all kinds of celebrations that enable us to THANK GOD for His many gifts.

May 10 – Mother’s Day. We will have the opportunity to thank God for those who gave us life, for those who reared us, and for those loving women in our lives who nurtured and sustained us. In addition to our mothers, we are grate-ful to step-mothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunts, teachers, Sunday school teachers, and so many more.

May 24 – Pentecost. For many years, this day was generally ignored by the Protestant churches. Yet in many ways, this is the birthday of the church. The Holy Spirit filled the early leaders . . . and three thousand were added to their number. Some think the Holy Spirit may have left the UMC – I don’t! Celebrate our “birthday” by worshipping.

May 25 –Memorial Day. This is a good day to give thanks for those who have gone on before . . . not just those who died protecting our freedoms, but our family members and friends who have received their eternal rewards. I am grateful for the many who have crossed the pathways of my life and impacted my faith and life. Let’s take a few moments on this day and give thanks to God.

May 31 ---This year, our confirmation class will be received on this Sunday. Pastor Jay has been working with our youth for months! They have covered the basics of the faith, major Bible stories, the history and structure of the church---and so much more. I hope the “church” will all be present to welcome them into full membership. This is an important step in their lives! Pray for them!

May God bless you and keep you,

Pastor Ed

Third Wednesdays United Methodist Men Krause Room 5:30 pm

Every Thursday

Ruth Circle Quilters Krause Room 9:00 am

Wednesday, May 13, 10:30

UMW Meeting in the Sanctuary

Tuesday, May 19, 7:00 pm Elizabeth Circle at the home of

Sandy Patrick Meet in the upper parking lot at

6:25 to carpool.

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Worship • UMW

Service • Greeters • Food Pantry

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Parish Nurse •

Children • Youth • MOPs/ MOMsNext

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New Athens UMC • Journey

8 Music Tidings

“Developing Followers of Jesus Christ to Serve the World”

Tidings Volume 59 Issue 9

Union United Methodist Church 721 East Main Street

Belleville, Illinois 62220 618-233-6375

sheri@unionumc.org

The Tidings is published bi-monthly. The copy deadline is generally on the

second and fourth Mondays, 10:00 am, with only one

issue printed in November. Contributors may attach copy to email

or place it in the editor’s mailbox in the church office.

laneclass@gmail.com

Zona Ludlum, Editor Rev. Ed Weston, Senior Pastor

DEAR WOMEN OF THE CHURCH, You are invited to the general meeting of the United Methodist Women on Wednesday, May 13 at 10:30 in the sanctuary. Our guest speaker will be Maria Festen, a Wycliffe Bible Translator who has been a missionary in Africa. Please come and learn more about not only being a missionary but being a mom and wife living in Africa. You do not have to be a UMW member to attend. Our luncheon, after the speaker, will be provided by Thel Lemons. with assistance from the Execu-tive Committee.

FINE ARTS SERIES Thank you to the Fine Arts Commit-tee for their excellent choices in a successful series! The programs were just super! Thanks for the great receptions, to the sound, video and lighting pro-fessionals, to the ushers and greet-ers, as well as to all the performers. I can't wait to see what is in store for the 2015- 2016 season!

Pastor Ed

The next time you are at the church building, take a few mo-ments to look at our landscaping-- the cross out front--and Stover Me-morial Gardens--enjoy their beauty and then give thanks that our Hor-ticulture Club works almost every Wednesday morning glorifying God by their hard work!

Pastor Ed

DON DEJARNETT ORGANIZES NEW PRAYER MINISTRY Pastor Ed mentioned in one of his sermons recently that he would like to have someone praying for him and the rest of the church. So we have been looking at ways to do this.

Starting now we will be receiving names of people in the congregation who would be willing to be in prayer once a month with another person to pray for about ten families of members or regular attendees. To do so we will need about eighty-four people to sign-up.

We ask that you not sign-up with a family member as it becomes too easy to “put it off.” We feel persons praying together who are not related will be more faithful to prayer time. It will be your decision as to the time to gather and pray. You will receive a list that will be the families that you pray for each month. However, we will meet during the year at times to work out any problems, pray together, and support each other in our ef-forts.

Please see or call Don DeJarnett (618) 407-5872 after 6:00 pm to sign-up or see him on Sunday Mornings.

We want every member and attendee to know that they are being re-membered in prayer each month. Help us by signing-up.

Don DeJarnett

A special thank you to all who sent cards and prayers after the unex-pected death of my sister, Judith Butler. The extra support from my church family has been a great comfort. A memorial service will be held in Springfield, IL on Satur-day, May 16. Blessings,

Sheri Hill

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REMEMBER THE DATE SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

Our annual trip to Midwest Distri-bution Center. We will leave at 7:00 am this time. Hope we have a good turn out. Let me know.

Fran Hager

UMCOR RESPONDING TO NEPAL RELIEF

We continue to be in prayer with the people in Nepal and all who are affected by the earthquake. Global Ministries has been in touch with all of our missionaries in the area and confirmed they are safe. UM-COR is preparing a response, work-ing through local and international partners. Donations to support the response to the earthquake in Nepal and other international disasters can be made through UMCOR Advance # 982450. Checks can be made out to Union UMC and write UMCOR Advance #982450 in the memo and put in the offering plate or mail to the church.

Pastor Ed

ELIZABETH CIRCLE . . . . . . will meet May 19 at 7:00 pm at the home of Sandy Patrick. We will car pool to Sandy’s home from the church’s upper paerking lot. Please meet there at 6:25 pm. Bring a friend.

UNION UMC GREETERS SCHEDULE FOR MAY Join us for coffee and fellowship after worship in McKinley Hall.

Date Narthex Welcome Center East Main

May 10 Robert and Shirley

Whitecotton

Dan and Laura

Nollman

Mike Engel

May 17 Susan McVety Gary and Marvina

Lee

Bob and Heidi Dee

May 24 Bonnie Holweck Ron and Kathy Hahn Tom and Betty

Sheeler

May 31 Carol and Tammi

Rasch

Jim and Thel Lemons Doug and Sharon

Dahm

FOOD PANTRY UPDATE Little behind in my Food Pantry updates! In Janu-ary we received monetary donations from Gerri Farmer, Ann Braun, Jerry Sauerwein, Sandra Kuehn, Linda Moyer, Geraldine Thomas, the

Inmans, the Heidenreichs, Eleanor Clarke, Hester Vessel and the Lehrs. In February, we received donations from the Belleville Masonic High 12 Club, Linda Moyer, Sandie Nobus, Ann Braun, Jerry Sauerwein, Joannn Ebel, Lindsey Lester-Brutscher, Muriel Brink, the Heidenreichs, the Inmans, Bar-bara Kern, Geraldine Thomas and Gary and Faith Lehr and a very generous donation from Mrs. Mary Louise McCabe! In March, UMW contributed the $481.00 from their Lenten dinner pro-ceeds and Sacrifices! We received donations from the Seekers Sunday School Class, Linda Meyer, the Barrons, Ann Braun, the Inmans, Barbara Kern, David Favreau, Virginia Voelkel, Jerry Sauerwein, the Heidenreichs, Gerri Farmer, Geraldine Thomas, Dori Guzman (You and Jusel will be missed!) and Lindsey Lester-Brutscher! Thank you for helping to fill the cof-fers so that Sarah Lanxon can shop for all our needed items! We received diapers from a past recipient of the Food Pantry. Always nice when people can turn around and pay it back! Thanks to Sandy Kuehn for two cases of canned corn! We ALWAYS need corn! Kelly and Mark McKe-own brought in three cases of small cans of peaches, nine cases of regular sized cans of peaches, three cases of mandarin oranges and four large jars of applesauce! Thanks! Whatever you bring in, we don’t have to carry! And then... the windfall....... Belleville District 118 and the sophomore civics class from Belleville East HS delivered two and a half bus loads of canned, boxed and bagged food and toiletries for the Food Pantry! Holy Cow (no, not Ellie, Mary Moo or any of those cows), the office was stacked from floor to ceiling with box after box of food! We got more than some of our food drives!! At this point, the food pantry is looking good! Thanks,

Kay MacIntire

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BOY SCOUT TROOP 53 HOLDING A YARD SALE

SATURDAY, MAY 30

Are you getting ready to do some spring cleaning or clearing out the garage? Please think about donating items to the Troop 53 yard sale! We will even come by and pick up or you can leave items downstairs in the Scouting area. Call Jim Maule @ 670-2565 or Rob Ambrow (Scoutmaster) @ 973-8524. Thanks to everyone who remem-

bered me when I had a stroke and spent ten days at Saint Elizabeth’s. Thanks for the flowers, visits, telephone calls,

all of the cards and the soup. I really appreciate all your thought-fulness.

Virginia Voelkel

HOME HEALTH CARE I have just been informed that St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is providing home care. If you are interested, call 234-2120 extension 1270 or 1-800-551-6566. 340 West Lincoln, Belleville, Il.

Carole

Your Parish Nurse

MOPS/MOMSNEXT MEETING MAY 20

(Mothers of Preschoolers, Infant through

Kindergarten) (Mothers of School Age - First

Grade—through Fourth Grade)

MOPS/MOMsNext meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 20 from 5:15 pm until 7:45 pm. Dinner with your children in McKinley Hall will be from 5:15 pm until 5:45. A pasta dinner will be served.

Mom time will start at 5:45 pm until 7:45 pm. The topic for May is “Courage to Be Resourceful, Make and Take Kid Bags.

We hope you can join us! Please contact Donna Shock at donna@unionumc.org or email unionumcmops@gmail.com for more information.

JUNIOR YOUTH SCHEDULE MAY 2015 UUMC JUNIOR YOUTH MEETS SUNDAY EVENINGS IN

MCKINLEY HALL 6:00 PM TO 7:30 PM Schedule subject to change.

Community Service Projects dates to be

added.

May 10 Discussion: Human tic tac toe

May 17 Game night; floor scrabble and kickball May 24 Discussion: Personal responsibility and Jesus and flashlight tag May 31 Game night: Popcorn and drinks provided

KIDS ON THE GO (First Grade through Fourth Grade)

KOTG movie night will be on Friday, May

15 from 6:00 pm until 8:30 .m.

Popcorn and drinks will be provided. Please RSVP to Donna at donna@unionumc.org

by Wednesday, May 13. Hope to see you all.

UNION UMC FIRST TIME VISITOR LIST FOR MAY/JUNE

Primary Team Alternate Team

May 10 Barb Edwards and Sue Davis Don and Connie Stein May 17 Kent and Susan McVety Jerry and Lisa Koerkenmeier May 24 Dan and Laura Nollman John and Linda Gray May 31 Dick Frette Barb Edwards and Sue Davis June 7 Mike and Julie Callaghan John and Linda Gray June 14 Don and Connie Stein Dick Frette

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Tabs for Ronald

McDonald House

Update Approximately two thousand

tabs were donated in April, with

one donation totaling six hun-

dred tabs for the Ronald

McDonald House.

Thanks for your continued sup-

port by collecting and donating

tabs. They help raise money

and provide a “home-away-from

-home” for families to stay close

to their hospitalized child at little

or no cost.

The collection is located on the

counter of the Welcome Center

and will be picked up on Sunday

mornings. If you have ques-

tions, contact Steve Smith at

539-5377. Thanks for your sup-

port and donations!

LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says it best, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." To sum it up, love is genuine and comes in one form - unconditional. No matter how chal-lenging obstacles may seem, love can triumph because true love will be there through the good and bad. There are no boundaries. Love will outlast life itself because it can be present in our hearts, souls and we carry it with us no matter where we go.

PARISH NURSE NOTES Hi family, As you know, we had blood pressure tests available on April 19. We generally do the congregation blood pressure tests on the third Sunday each month. I feel so blessed to have such

wonderful assistants to help me with this each month. It is important for you to have a good idea of what your normal blood pressure is. When it is high it is called hypertension. This is a major factor in cardiovascular dis-ease. Perhaps you already know that if it goes untreated, it can lead to a heart attack or a stroke. I find it surprising that once a person reaches the age of 55, he or she will eventually develop hypertension. Research studies indicate that 90% of the people do. You may think that you have little control over your blood pressure. How-ever, that isn’t true. You can do several things to decrease your blood pres-sure, including: A. Maintain a healthy weight (Even a 5% weight loss can decrease your

blood pressure. B. Exercise three times weekly. Common chores count, washing your car,

or windows, floors, vacuuming, raking leaves, shoveling snow, gardening and fun things like dancing, walking the dog, playing with children or grandchildren, swimming, cycling, etc.

C. Limit your alcohol consumption. Women can have one drink per day, and men two per day.

D. Limit your salt. If you use more spices in cooking, you can use less salt. Try to avoid eating processed foods like canned and boxed prepared foods. Keep in mind that cured foods and smoked foods have high salt content, foods such as bacon, ham, bologna, etc.

E. Some dieticians recommend that we eat 3500 mgs of potassium daily. That can be difficult at times. Eat bananas, 467 mgs. One cup acorn squash, 896 mgs. Potato, 952 mgs, one cup of spinach, 839 mgs, one cup milk, 407 mgs, one cup cantaloupe, 547 mgs.

F. Finally it is important to consume five fruits and vegetables per day and drink low fat dairy products.

These are some of the things that a friend of mine, a dietician, recommends for folks who wish to decrease their blood pressure. I agree that they are important for each of us to practice good health! As our weather warms, perhaps we can each try to get in sixty minutes of exercise (chore kind or play kind) per day, and consume more fruits and vegetables in our diets.

Enjoy the spring!

Carol

Your Parish Nurse

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**Movie night is post-poned until camera is fixed.

May 10-Mother's Day May 17-Admininstrative Board Meeting (after worship service) May 21-WMF Meeting-Summer vacation begins. (6:30 pm) CESNA Thrift Shop Work day (9:00 am until 3:00 pm) May 31-Service of Healing and Wholeness.

MAY GREETERS: May 3-Sandy Dickerson family May 10-Kim Hampton family May 17-Lonnie Routt family May 24-Jim and Juanita Ozier May 31-Cathy Oliver family

USHERS: Joe and Edith Graham

New

Athens

UMC

201 S. CLINTON ST NEW ATHENS, ILLINOIS 618-475-2000

DOUG STEWART, PASTOR

MOTHER'S DAY May 10, 2015 is Mother's Day. While you should honor your mother every day, this one day in May is the day that you do something to make your Mother feel extra special. Spend the day with her, buy her some flowers, candy and a card. I will be

taking some flowers to my Mom and I will be spending part of the day with her, and then my husband and I will take some flowers to the cemetery for his Mom. God bless all the Moms!

BABY SHOWER FOR THE WOMEN’S CRISIS CENTER Don't forget that the WMF will be holding a baby shower at their May 21,

2015 meeting for the Women's Crisis Center. Diapers, blan-kets, onesies or anything you think a new mother will need for a newborn bring on in. It's a great mission! Let's help these babies and new mom's get a great start!

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL IS JUNE June is Vacation Bible School month. So if you would like to help with the kids or with refreshments or would just like more information, please let Miss Reba Jones know. I will try to have more information for all of you in the next Tidings Issue. Until next time, may God's grace shine upon all of you!

Barb Marcus

As Mother’s Day comes around, it is fitting to express our gratitude and honorable esteem to the one who gave us birth and through whose sacrificial love we owe our place in the world. She it was who cheered us in our successes and consoled us in our defeats.

Perhaps one of the sweetest sentiments concerning motherhood is the sentence of Henry W. Longfellow: “Even as Christ died for us upon the cross, in the last hour in the unutterable agony of death, he was mindful of his mother, as if to teach us that this holy love should be our last worldly thought.”

“She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” Proverbs 31:26

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JOURNEY CHURCH PASTOR HOLLY WOOD

900 NORTH STATE STREET FREEBURG, ILLINOIS 618-971-7382

WWW.JOURNEYUMN.ORG

What's Happening in Freeburg

When JOY FM (the local adult contemporary Christian music station) has a pledge drive, I volunteer to answer the phones. Some of the callers’ stories last week have stuck with me and I would like to share them… A man called from a tiny town (in my family we call it a spot in the road). When it was time to give his credit card number, he told me he was stopping his tractor. You see, he was in the middle of planting corn. He was hoping to finish that day, but he had a flat tire that delayed him. My dad was a farmer, so I could relate to his circumstances. Farmers work when they can and don’t pause the process unless they have no choice. The flat tire had not left him in the best of moods, but JOY FM was there to encourage him and he wanted to take the time to give back. I took another call from an emotional child. I don’t know if it was a girl or a boy, but I guess the age to be a “tween” or young teen. This child explained that a pledge had already been called in by their family, but he or she wanted to express thanks to JOY FM. “I didn’t know how God could know what I’ve been going through, but then we got in the car Jeremy Camp came on [the radio] singing “He Knows.” I cried with and encouraged this child. Life is tough, and it’s especially tough on children. There was the woman who was embarrassed that all she could give was $20. It was the smallest pledge I took. She didn’t share her story, but I could tell that she was giving as much as she possibly could. I thanked her profusely and showered her with appreciation for stepping out in faith to give that gift. A man called to say that he and his wife were expecting their tax refund within the next week and they wanted to donate all of it, $1500, to JOY FM. I felt humbled. This was the largest pledge I took. I walked in Friday morning right after someone had given $30,000. Sandi Brown, the station manager, was so encouraged – not so much be-cause it was a large gift, but because it confirmed for her that God was in charge, in control, and taking care of it. You see, we had a huge deficit on this last day of the drive. And I believe I have this correct when I say that we took in more on that last day than has ever been accomplished in one day before. All of these people have something in common. Whether they gave $20 or $30,000 or some amount in between, they are all stepping out in faith and giving from their hearts. God’s call on your life right now may have nothing whatsoever to do with

money. But be assured – there is something He wants you to do. Talk to

him and then listen for his voice. Respond in faith with your whole heart. Whether you provide a small piece or a large one, you can be part of something great that God is doing. Notes: SAVE Project – if you’re handy or are just willing to work, talk with Dave Thurston to learn more about a volunteer opportunity at St Clair Associated Vocational Enterprises (www.save.org). The first project is to tear out and replace some floor-ing. LIKE us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JourneyChurchFreeburg to help us reach your friends.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR: May 24: Summer Sack Lunch Minis-try starts weekly lunch assembly May 26: Summer Sack Lunch Minis-try starts weekly lunch delivery May 31: Labor For Your Neighbor – come to church in your work clothes so you are ready to go in to the community to volunteer

Cathy O.

Every Sunday: 9:30 Worship

Gospel Project for Kids 10:45 Confirmation Class Adult class, “Recovering

Redemption” by Matt Chandler 6:30 Senior High Youth Group

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Non-Profit ORG/ PAID U.S. Postage Belleville, Illinois Permit #124

Union United Methodist Church 721 East Main Belleville, Illinois 62220 Return Service Requested

MUSIC TIDINGS “I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, among the peoples,

I will sing praises to thee among the nations. For thy steadfast love is great above the heavens,

thy faithfulness reaches to the clouds.” Psalms 108:3-4

Sunday, May 10 Mothers’ Day 9:00 am Sanctuary Choir Anthem: “Simple Praise” -Courtney

Rev. Weston’s sermon: “Deborah: Woman of Courage”

Judges 4:1-24 King’s Kids and Joyful Noise will sing.

10:15 am Rev. Krumeich in the Chapel with Natalie Gravois 11:15 am Crosswalk in the Sanctuary

Sunday, May 17 9:00 am Sanctuary Choir Anthem

“Holy, True and Faithful God” -McDonald Sermon: Rev. Doug Stewart

Youth choir will sing. 10:15 am

Pastor Jay Krumeich in the Chapel with Natalie Gravois 11:15 am Crosswalk in the Sanctuary

Our thanks to our Fine Arts committee and Friends

of the Fine Arts for another successful season! Co-chairs: Richard Hunsaker and David Philip; treasurer, Neal Fadden; Carole Anthony, Charles Botula, Susan Botula, Marcia Braswell, Carole

Eckert, Dick Frette, Gail Long, Carol Morey, William Morey, Laura Nollman.

SO LITTLE AND SO MUCH FOR MOTHERS AND OTHERS WHO

TEACH CHILDREN Mother, Mother! You remember the lunch I took today? Five little loaves and two dried fish? I gave it all away! They gave me back some bread He blessed, and some, too, of the fish. Mother, Mother, all five thousand ate all they could wish. Yes, and there were little children and their mothers, too. Oh, but they had all they wanted, I brought some back to you. No, no, Mother—I'm not crazy, they had naught to eat; One called Andrew told the Master, “Here are bread and meat.” In His strong, firm hands He took them, (How His face did shine!) Blessed and broke, and fed them all with MY food, Mother, MINE! I was frightened—all those people! Such a little bit! Mother, Mother, just suppose I HAD NOT GIVEN IT!

—Mrs. S. May Wyburn