1. Art and Diseño

The Messenger
February 2015
St. Mark United Methodist Church
News & Musings from Pastor Dalene
Mark Your
Calendar
2.2 7:30pm Julia Circle
2.3
9:30am Dorothy Minor Circle
2.5
7:00pm SPPRC Meeting
2.8
9:45am UMW Bake Sale
2.12 7:00pm Trustees Meeting
2.18
9:30am Prayer Shawl
2.19
7:00pm Finance Meeting
2.23
7:00pm UMW Board Meeting
2.26
7:00pm Admin Council
Dear Friends,
We didn't have a January newsletter, so I haven't
written anything to you since mid-November. As fast as
time does seem to fly, it will be spring before we know it!
In November, our Bible Olympics event was a
blessing to young and old alike. Thanksgiving Eve we had
a small but meaningful communion service to remember our
many blessings in Christ with one another.
December was a busy season in the life of our
church as we prepared for Emmanuel - God's coming to us
in Jesus. A Youth Invitational for Jr. and Sr. High youth was
held early in the month. A number of families participated
in our Sunday morning Advent Wreath readings (even
dealing with obstinate candles and candle lighters!) And
many volunteers and worshippers made our Christmas Eve
worship celebration beautiful and meaningful.
January came with subzer o temper atur es, year end reports to complete, and the beginning of our new
Confirmation Class. We are meeting on Sunday mornings
and afternoons, so this is a big commitment for our youth
and their families. Please join us on the journey with your
prayers, and whatever ways you are able to be involved.
There is additional information in this newsletter for other
opportunities.
Continued on page 2...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
02-01 Irene Keller
02-16 James Sparenberg
02-02 Roby Howard
02-19 Erich Schmidt
02-07 Sharon Boudreau 02-21 Inez Kunde
02-07 Kari Foster
02-21 Danielle Menzel
02-08 Carlson Cox
02-24 Margaret Stevenson
02-08 Rhonda Davis
02-24 Mary Smith
02-10 Bridget Collins
02-26 Rick Nelson
02-11 Lana Withoft
02-27 Terry Brinkman
02-12 Eric Milkereit
02-27 Kory Mann
02-13 Dennis Sparenberg 02-28 Daniel Jaskula
02-15 Kirma Varness
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
02-20 Irma Jean & Virgil Sancken
THANK YOU, YOU'VE BEEN A BLESSING!
Many thanks to Larry and Mardene Hinton and Bob and
Joan Grams for donating desks for our Parish Nurse and
Choir offices!
Pastor Dalene, Thank you so much for all the prayers and
visits while I was in the hospital and recuperating at
home. It really meant so much to me. I also want to
thank my church family for their prayers, visits and
calls. I feel that I am almost back to my “old self”!
God bless you. Sincerely, Audrey Weil
Your sympathy and thoughtfulness will always be gratefully
remembered and deeply appreciated. Also, thank you
for all the food that was served at the luncheon. It was
very good and much appreciated. Reed Lehnus family
Pastor Dalene and St. Mark Church, This has been a journey. I started last April with treatment and finished in
December. I had surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
Your thoughts and prayers were so important to me and
I know they helped me get through this. I appreciated
every card! Thanks for your support!
Love, Mike and Kitty Bossert
St Mark UMC, Please accept this Love offering in honor of
Trudy Dickinson and Jean Thomas for their Lifetime
Achievement Award. Ted and Patty Thurston family
After whining about it for many months, I finally
submitted my written work for ordination to the Board of
Ministry on January 9th. The next step will be an interview
with members of the Board of Ministry, who will then make
their recommendations to the rest of the Board. If approved,
I am looking forward to being ordained as an Elder in the
United Methodist at our Annual Conference in Peoria in
June. It’s been over a 20-year process, so no one can accuse
me of jumping into this impulsively!
On February 7, we will be holding a Leadership and
Visioning Gathering here at Saint Mark from 9 am to noon
for all our committee members and ministry teams. It will be
an opportunity for fellowship, hearing reports from those
who attended the January 28th Leadership Training at Asbury
UMC, and plan for the coming year by setting goals for our
ministries and missions based on the Five Practices of
Fruitful Congregations. I'm looking forward to another new
year with you at Saint Mark, and am excited about what God
has planned and prepared for us!
Our Ash Wednesday Service will be February 18 at 7
pm. This year, Saint Mark will be holding our own Ash
Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services so
that our Confirmation Youth have a chance to be personally
involved. Please join us so that we might share in these
informative and formative faith experiences as community.
There is so much for all of us here at Saint Mark to
be thankful for – people of all ages are growing and sharing
and stepping up to serve God and others in numerous and
exciting ways. We have welcomed back old friends and
made new friends. We’ve also said good-bye to beloved
friends and family members here at Saint Mark. Reed
Lehnus and Eldon Hertz have gone before us to our eternal
home. Although I knew them for what seemed such a short
time, I grew to love and appreciate them both deeply: Reed
seriously pondering the mysteries of the world and life, while
Eldon saw the joy in each day and shared it through his
humor. They both enjoyed a good game of cards. I can
easily imagine them playing together around the heavenly
card table, bringing their unique personalities to the game
and bringing out the best in one another just as they did for
our lives and fellowship. May we continue to do the same.
Until we meet again, God be with you all.
Pastor Dalene
CONFIRMATION CLASS
STAYING IN TOUCH WITH
We are excited to welcome eight students on our Journey
with Jesus: Elizabeth Atkinson (7th grade), Andrea Cooper (10th
grade), Josh Cooper (9th grade), Charlie Jensen (7th grade), Makenzie
Jensen (8th grade), Jake Klossing (8th grade), Allison Moody (7th
grade) and Evan Moody (10th grade).
OUR MEMBERS
We are looking for volunteers to help out in a variety of
ways. First of all, please pray for the youth that this will be a
formative time in their faith experience with Christ.
Can you provide snacks for our Sunday afternoon sessions or
help with set-up and clean-up? Or come tell us about yourself and
your experience at Saint Mark? If so, please sign-up on the
Confirmation table in the hallway. You’ll also find more info there.
If you would like to help purchase a new study Bible for the
youth at $35 each, please designate "Confirmation Bibles" on your
check or offering envelope. Whatever amount you can give is
greatly appreciated.
Join us on the Journey with Jesus - add your footsteps to our
pathway in the hall. Extras “feet” are available on the table for you
to add your name and design.
Together, may we all continue to grow in faith and life,
learning from one another and discovering together all that God has
planned and provided for us in Jesus!
WORSHIP FEEDBACK
Worship should connect us with God and one another in meaningful,
life-supporting, life-transforming ways. What connects with one
person, is not always the same for another. Please help us grow and
improve our worship experiences by taking time to complete one of
the green Worship Feedback forms available on the entrance and
hallway tables:
What did I like best? Why?
What did I like least? Why?
What did I learn?
What question(s) do I have?
You may drop them in the offering plate, place in the baskets on the
hallway tables, or stick in the “Pastor’s” mailbox across from the
church office. Thank you!
Would you be able to help stay in touch and
fellowship with our shut-ins, home-bound,
and independent living members by visiting
and /or taking communion to them once a
month? You could do this individually, or
together with other volunteers. Please see
Pastor Dalene if you are interested or have
questions.
2015 VISIONING AND PLANNING
On Saturday, February 7, from 9am to
noon, Pastor Dalene will be holding a
visioning and planning meeting in Becker’s
Hall with the following committee
members and ministry teams:
Administrative Council, Board of Trustees,
Committee on Finance, SPRC, Parish
Nurse Program, Praise Band, Choir, Youth
Group, Sunday School, Nursery, Hospitality
Committee, UMW, Stephen Ministers,
Ushers (If you are involved in a ministry
that was unintentionally omitted, please
join us anyway!)
We will be setting goals for each group
based on the Five Practices of Fruitful
Congregations:
Radical Hospitality
Passionate Worship
Intentional Faith-Development
Risk-Taking Mission and Ministry
Extravagant Generosity
If you have not already done so, please
RSVP as soon as possible to Pastor Dalene
so she can plan space and refreshments.
Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things
-1Corinthians 13:7
ASH WEDNESDAY
Lent is a season of reflection and preparation that begins on Ash
Wednesday and takes us on a 40-day journey to Easter Sunday. It is a time that
invites us to pause from the busyness and distractions of our day-to-day lives to
reflect on the state of our souls, and relationships with God and one another.
Lent bids us to let go of destructive or meaningless habits, and take on new
practices that will help us grow in spiritual, relational, emotional and physical
health and well-being.
This year, Saint Mark is holding our own Ash Wednesday service on
February 18 at 7 pm in Becker’s Hall. We are doing this rather than joining
with other area United Methodist churches so that our Confirmation youth and
families might have the opportunity to participate more fully. Please join us.
SUNDAY EVENING LENTEN SERVICES
Once again, we will be sharing Sunday evening Lenten services with
our United Methodist Cluster churches. Please join us. (Not all dates/speakers
have been confirmed at this time. Please check the bulletin for any changes.)
Date/Time
Location
Preaching
Sun., Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m.
Gaither, Manteno UMC
Bradley Wesley
Rev. Harvey
Sun., Mar 1, 6:30 p.m.
Ringerberg
Manteno UMC
Rev. Jan
Sun., Mar 8, 6:30 p.m.
St. Mark UMC
Angel Rosales
Sun., Mar. 15, 6:30 p.m.
Bourbonnais
Momence UMC
Rev. Mary Brady,
Grace UMC
Sun., Mar. 22, 6:30 p.m.
Retired
Trinity UMC
Rev. Tim Rhodes,
Sun., Mar. 29, 6:30 p.m.
Caldwell Chapel AME
Rev. Scott Henley
*Refreshments will be offered by the host churches.
IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends
of Reed Lehnus who passed away on Dec. 2, 2014, and
Eldon Hertz who passed away on Jan. 13, 2015. Both
Reed and Eldon were long-time members of Saint Mark.
We give thanks to God for their time and service among
us, and for God’s never-ending love that welcomed
them home, and holds us on our journey.
.
You shall love your neighbor
as yourself. There is no greater
commandment than this.
Mark 12:31
WELCOME!
We extend a heartfelt welcome to Bill and Shirley Floyd
have recently transferred their membership to Saint
Mark from Bourbonnais Grace UMC. We look forward
to sharing God’s good gifts and growing together in life
and faith with you in Christ.
TIS THE SEASON
If Sunday morning worship has to be cancelled due to
weather, we will announce the closing on the St. Mark
Facebook page, the office answering machine, WVLI,
WFAV, WIVR or WYUR
SUMMER CAMPING OPPORTUNITIES
There are summer church camp opportunities for
many ages (child through adult); at a variety of United
Methodist campgrounds (located in Hudson, Louisville,
Timewell, Makanda and Lewistown); offered at a
variety of times (June through August); with more
themes than can be listed here (horseback, water sports,
family camps, sailing, girls only, grandparents, ropes
and trees, father-son and mother daughter to name a
few).
Summer 2015 Camping Guides are available
on the table outside the church office. There are early
bird discount rates for registering by Feb. 15 and April
15.
Please see Pastor Dalene if you’d like to learn
more about camp, would like to learn what scholarships
are available, or would like to financially support a
camper or campers.
Let’s send a camper (or two or three) to church
camp this year!
CARETAKERS OF GOD’S GOOD EARTH
The book of Genesis tells us that God created the
heavens and the earth, and pronounced it good. God
then entrusted the care of the earth and its creatures to
humankind. We can care for the earth by:
Watching how we contribute to its pollution - use
lawn chemicals carefully, consider less toxic ways
to care for our yard and home.
Reducing our consumption of goods. Use r eusable
dishes instead of disposables. Use cloth shopping
bags instead of paper or plastic. There are red cloth
shopping bags on the table across from the lounge
leftover from the Imagine No Malaria campaign.
Help yourself. Take some. Use them. Bags like that
probably cost about a dollar in the store. If you're
able to make a donation, write "Imagine No
Malaria" on your check or offering envelope. Help
save the earth and a child.
Recycle. And do it r esponsibly. Don't thr ow
hazardous materials into our landfills with the
potential of polluting our groundwater. We are so
fortunate to have curbside recycling. Recycle at
home. Recycle here at church. We have recycle
containers with blue bags throughout the church - in
the lounge, in the kitchen, and by the parking lot
door. Recycle all your paper goods, glass and
plastic bottles, cans, and even your Styrofoam
coffee cups and paper plates.
There are few things we truly have to leave our
children, grandchildren and future generations. Let
us leave them good memories, the treasures of
heaven, and a safe and healthy world to live in.
IN OUR PRAYERS
Our Service Members- Tony Chellson; Bob Matthews; Jessy Meyer; Al & Jerrica
(Kuebler) Hightower-Germany.
Nursing Home & Assisted Living: Geor ge Winter
Bickford Bourbonnais House – Esther Kirchner
Butterfield Court - Bob & Doris James
Harvest View, Herscher- Geneva Diefenbach
Miller Nursing Home - Dorothy Beasley, Eleanor Vining, Treva Watson,
Jean Sancken, Esther Meier, Martha Wilhoyt
Prairie View, Danforth - JoAnn Jaenicke, Eileen Burkey
River North of Bradley - Shirley Outly
Independent Living:
Westwood Oaks - Hiram & Millie (Exner) Varness, #221;
Virgil & Jean Sancken, #230
Other Needs and Concerns: Alisa Blanchette, Dor othy J ansen, Sandy Monfer dini,
Diana Braisher, John Snider, Suzanne Bally, Larry Smith, Jeff Raab, Colleen Morris, Jerry
Warner, George Bracken, Jeanette Fritz, Shirley Floyd, Cheryl Fozzard, Alice Moody.
Please contact the Church Office to have names added or removed from our Prayer List.
Out of respect for privacy and confidentiality concerns, please ask permission before
placing others on the prayer chain or prayer list.
MINISTRY UPDATES
Staff/Parish Due to the weather Staff Par ish didn't meet in J anuar y our next meeting is set for Thur sday,
February 5th. The Staff Parish would like to congratulate Pastor Dalene for completing and submitting her
paperwork for her ordination. We are very proud of her! The Staff Parish and the congregation look forward to
celebrating with her after she gets back from Charge Conference in the summer.
Trustees New officers for 2015- Chair-Ron Lipperini, Vice Chair- Jim Davis, Secretary- Ryan Nelson.
Boiler certificate has been updated, good until January of 2016.
Finance The 2015 church budget was prepared. The total budget is $198,044 which is a 2.7% increase over the 2014
budget. Expenses for 2014 were $195,457 vs a budgeted $192,692.
New computers were purchased and installed and the programs were updated or re-written to enable processing of
treasurer’s reports and Morgan Stanley reports. Phyllis Milkereit is a new counter with Della Ziller. Lori Weedon is
now a substitute.
UMW Star t the year off r ight and join the United Methodist Women Or ganization. The meetings ar e:
Monday, February 2 for J ulia Cir cle at 7:30pm in the lounge. Dor othy Miner February 3 at 9:30am in Becker
Fellowship Hall. Both circles will be observing Prayer and Self Denial. There will be a Bake Sale on Sunday,
February 8 between services. Please support the UMW mission projects.
St. Mark United Methodist Church
1200 W Calista Street
Kankakee, IL 60901
Non-Profit Org
U.S. Postage
PAID
Kankakee, IL
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-12pm
Rev. Dalene Kuebler
Sheri Cavender: Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
[email protected]
217-898-5286
Weekly Schedule
Sunday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
8:30am Contemporary Worship
9:45am Sunday Morning MAGIC
11:00am Traditional Worship
2:00pm Nueva Jerusalem
6:30pm Boy Scouts
7:00pm Youth Group
9:30am Prayer Shawl (1st & 3rd)
6:30pm Choir
7:30pm Praise Team
9:00am TOPS
Our Attendance & Giving
8:30am
11:00am
Offerings
12/07
43
57
$ 5,204.98
12/14
37
57
$ 13,602.00
12/21
31
74
$ 1,621.00
12/28
30
47
$ 5,898.00
01/04
35
58
$ 7,258.00
01/11
38
70
$ 3,997.09