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September 2017 - August 2018
United Methodist Church215 N. Court St.
Rockford, IL 61103Phone: (815) 962-6061 Fax: (815) 962-9754
www.courtstreetumc.org
About the painting, Growing Together In Love:I painted this impressionistic watercolor to remind myself of how close together flowers sometimes grow in many English gardens. They often seem to be planted in such close proximity to one another that they present themselves as a beautiful bouquet to be admired and enjoyed by all who pass by. Wouldn't it be wonderful if more people could live and grow together in love and peace and harmony like beautiful flowers in an English garden? Yes, this could happen if people knew that we are all beautiful flowers in God's garden that have been planted for the display of His splendor! ~ Hazel Holland
Table of Contents
Greetings from Pastor Cal.............................................................1-2
Rally Day - September 10, 2017.......................................................3
Worship & Christian Education.........................................................4
Special Worship Services 2017-18....................................................5
Small Group Studies.......................................................................6-7
Volunteer Opportunities..................................................................8
Sunday through Saturday @ CSUMC..........................................9-10
Ministry Teams.........................................................................11-12
Small Group Ministries..............................................................13-14
Music Ministries.............................................................................15
Fine Arts Ministries.........................................................................16
Worship Through the Arts..............................................................17
2018 Summer Camps.....................................................................18
Special Event Ministries............................................................19-26
Map of Church’s Lower Level..........................................................27
Map of Church’s First Floor.............................................................28
Map of Church’s Second Floor........................................................29
Map of Church’s Third Floor............................................................30
Our Parish Nurse.............................................................................31
Become Part of Our Church Family.................................................32
Ministry Staff at Court Street UMC................................................33
Greetings from Pastor Cal
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As this new church year begins, let us all give thanks for our part in the ministry of Jesus Christ. It is his church, his mis-sion and his salvation. As a United Methodist Denomination we have united ourselves around the mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” We also realize the local churches provide the most signifi-cant arena through which disciple-making occurs. Court Street United Methodist Church therefore is a welcoming, nurturing, and serving community of Christ. And it is out of that mission statement we carry-out disciple-making.
May 20, 2012, we celebrated our 160 years in ministry in downtown Rockford and our mantra was “Firm Foundation, Fantastic Future.” October 8, 2017, we are planning to celebrate 165 years of ministry in the spirit of Chautauqua. During our 2017-2018 ministry year plan-ning retreat we determined that beginning our ministry year on Sep-tember 10th Rally Day, would be the impetus for this year’s theme, “Alive with God & Growing in Love.” Thus we decided to acknowl-edge our journey with God and to be “Alive” in God’s love. Micah 6:8 states it this way: “He has told you, human one, what is good and what the LORD requires from you: to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.” I hope you will join us in this extraordi-nary work in partnership with God’s Holy Spirit!
Court Street United Methodist Church is a landmark in the center of the city of Rockford. We welcome people of all ages, races, and gen-ders. We actively address community needs in the spirit of generosity
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For pictures and more information on Court Street UMC,check out our website:
www.courtstreetumc.org
Like us on:
facebook.com/CourtStreetUMC
and love. Our partnership in ministry with many local and regional agencies, i.e. Jeremiah Development, MAYA’s House, Shelter Care, One Body Collaborative, Rockford Urban Ministries, and Rockford Rescue Mission, is witness to our commitment to ministry in Rockford.
We invite you to worship with us every Sunday at 10 a.m. as you are able and share in the many ministry experiences we offer for your spir-itual growth. Welcome!
Pastor Cal
Rally Day - September 10, 2017
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Lamplighters (Adult Sunday School)
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM: Worship - All AgesJoin the whole congregation in prayer and songas we open our program year in praise of God.
11:15 AM – 1:00 PM: Rally Day Drive-In Happy Days begin here - join us at our 50’s ‘drive-in’ lunch across the street in our parking lot for lots of fun & to kick off the new program year. The Youth Group will be hosting a lunch that will be served to your car drive-in style by our youth. Come enjoy a burger or hotdog cooked by our wonderful Methodist Men’s group! There will be music and games and a ton of fun! Bring your lawn chairs and sunglasses, and dress for the occasion!
You Are Invited!
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Worship & Christian EducationSundays are Happy Days!
9:00 - 9:50 a.m. September 10, 2017 - May 6, 2018: Youth Gathering: Through 5th grade - 1st Floor, Room 104/Nursery 6th through 12th grade - Sanctuary, Balcony West “Lamplighters” (Adult Sunday School) - 2nd Floor, Room 209
10:00 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary September 17, 2017 - May 6, 2018: 11:15-11:45 A. Youth Choir - Krysta and Robert B. Kids Choir - Ryanne
11:45-12:15-Small Groups- (Youth Sunday School) A. THE COURAGE TO BE YOURSELF High School - Balcony West - Ms. Ryanne B. ISSUES Middle School - Youth Lounge - Mr. Jim C. Elementary – Nursery - Ms. Diane
12:15-12:45 Lunch
12:45-1:15 A. Prayin’ and Praisin’ Puppet Project - Mr. Jim; Ms. Krysta B. The Amazing Bible Race - Ms. Ryanne C. Arts and Crafts - Ms. Diane D. Bible Bytes
1:15-1:45 A. Clowning - Mr. Jim B. Senior Sticks - Ms. Ryanne C. Junior Sticks - Ms. Krysta
1:45-2:00 - Family Devotions and Pick Up - Chapel
On the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month there will be Youth Group from 2 to 4. Youth group is for students in 6th to 12th
grades. Social and service projects will be held.
Sept. 10Sign up for theseyouth activiteson Rally Day!
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Special Worship Services 2017-18
ADVENT MID-WEEK SERVICES 2017 December 6, 13, 20 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. in the Chapel
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES - Sunday, December 24, 2017 4:00 p.m. Family Service in the Sanctuary 9:30 p.m. Music prelude in the Sanctuary 9:45 p.m. Candlelight Communion Service in the Sanctuary
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES - February 14, 2018 12:00 p.m. and 5: 30 p.m. Distribution of Ashes in the Chapel
LENTEN MID-WEEK SERVICES 2018February 21,28, March 7, 14, 21, 28
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. in the Chapel Lunch is offered following the service for a free-will donation with the following exceptions: March 7th is the UMW lunch & the cost is $7 to attend March 28th there will be no lunch as it is Holy Week
HOLY WEEK SERVICES 2018 MID-WEEK SERVICE - March 28, 12:00 p.m., Chapel MAUNDY THURSDAY DRAMATIZATION
March 29, 6:00 p.m., Sanctuary GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE - March 30, 12:00 p.m., Chapel EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE - April 1, 6:00 a.m., Chapel EASTER CELEBRATION - April 1, 10:00 a.m., Sanctuary
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Small Group Studies
Believe by Randy Frazee Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. 30 session study begins September 17, 2017
Back by popular demand, Believe is grounded in Scripture, and is a wonderful spiritual growth experience that helps Christians of all ages think, act, and be more like Jesus. It will help anchor every member in 30 big ideas found in the Bible: 10 Key Beliefs of the Christian Faith 10 Key Practices of a Jesus-follower 10 Key Virtues of a Person Who is Becoming More Like Jesus
Because of Bethlehem by Max Lucado Sunday 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 4-session study begins December 3, 2017
A remarkable gift can arrive in an unremarkable package. One did in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago. No one expected God to come the way he did. Yet the way he came was every bit as im-portant as the coming itself. The manger is the message. In this four-session video Bible study, Max Lucado explores how the One who made everything chose to make himself nothing for us. He ex-perienced hunger and thirst. He went through the stages of human development. He was taught to walk, stand, and wash his face. He was completely and genuinely human. Because of Bethlehem, we no longer have marks on our record. . . just grace. We have the promise that God is always near us, always for us, always within us--and that we have a friend and Savior in heaven. Long after the guests have left, the carolers have gone home, and the lights have come down, these promises endure.
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He Chose the Nails by Max Lucado Sunday 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 5- or 6-session study begins February 18, 2018
The wood. The thorns. The nails. Christ’s sacrifice has defined the very essence of mankind’s faith for the past 2000 years. And now, Max Lucado invites you to examine the cross, contemplate its pur-pose, and celebrate its significance with He Chose the Nails. With his warm, caring style, Max examines the symbols surrounding Christ’s crucifixion, revealing the claims of the cross and asserting that if they are true, then Christianity itself is true. The supporting evidence either makes the cross the single biggest hoax of all time, or the hope of all humanity.
Small Group Studies - continued
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Volunteer Opportunities for Sunday Morning: •Sunday school aide •Sunday school teacher •Nursery aide •Ushering •Singing in the choir •Sound technician •Video technician •Facetime by the Big Bell (Fellowship time) host •Liturgist - reader in worship service •Acolyte - light & extinguish the altar candles for worship
Opportunities for Other Ministries: •Pass out treats in front of church on Monday during the summer (see Methodist Monday p. 13) •Knit/crochet prayer shawls to be given to those experiencing joy or sorrow •Help prepare and/or serve the annual Thanksgiving Dinner •Pray for those in need •Prepare and/or serve a meal for Holy COW (Church On [the first] Wednesday) or for Youth Programming on Sundays •Participate in the Angel Tree ministry at Christmas •Participate in the Mitten Tree ministry at Christmas •Work in the Jeremiah Development garden (located 1 block north of church) during the summer •Prepare the monthly newsletter for mailing (collating, folding, & taping) •Usher for concerts
For information on any of these, please call the church office, (815) 962-6061, or email Lorelle Wandell, Church Co-Administrator: [email protected].
Sunday See pages 11 - 17 for descriptions of these activities.
EVERY SUNDAY of MONTHFood collection of nonperishable goods helps support the commu-nity Food Pantry. Items may be left in the narthex on the counter.Pennies for Rosecrance can be turned in to help support Rosecrance of Rockford. Rosecrance provides help, hope, and recovery from ad-dictions for children, youth, adults, and families. Simply put your pennies in a baggie marked “Rosecrance” and drop in the offering plate.Personal Products collections is a continual mission at Court Street UMC. The past several years we have collected small toiletries and delivered them to various agencies in our area. So far we have de-livered 187 grocery bags full of products to 18 different agencies. Please bring your articles to the narthex or office.
1st SUNDAY of MONTHHoly Communion is celebrated. Communion is also available to the homebound. Please inform the pastor if you are aware of anyone desiring communion or if you would like to be a server.
3rd SUNDAY of MONTH4:00 p.m. Book Club, except for the summer, see The Chimes for information on which books to read and where they are meeting.
4th SUNDAY of MONTH2:00 p.m. JFON (Justice for Our Neighbors) JFON provides free, professional legal services to immigrants in monthly clinics. This UMCOR program connects a national network of church-based, volunteer-led immigration clinics to asylum seekers and immigrants who need a helping hand to navigate the maze of rules and laws that affect their lives in the United States.
Monday Office Hours 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
2nd MONDAY of MONTH 11:00 a.m. Stewardship Committee (Church Library)
6:00 p.m. Worship Committee (Parlor)
3rd MONDAY of MONTH5:00 p.m. Finance Committee (Church Library)6:00 p.m. Administrative Council (Dining Room)
4th MONDAY of MONTH7:00 p.m. Lydia Circle (Perky Flynn-Heath & Kay Galloway, Co-chairs)
Sunday through Saturday @ CSUMC
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Tuesday Office Hours 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
EVERY TUESDAY of MONTH9:00 a.m. History & Archives (Room 201)9:00 a.m. Quilters (Room 206)6:00 p.m. JuBellation Handbell Rehearsal (Choir Room) Sept.-May7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room) Sept.-May
4th TUESDAY of MONTH6:15 p.m. Knitters (Jan Mace’s home, 4250 Ahlstrand Dr.)
Wednesday Office Hours 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
EVERY WEDNESDAY of MONTH6:00 p.m. Fellowship of Christian Men (Various homes)
1st WEDNESDAY of MONTH 10:30 a.m. United Methodist Women (UMW) - Mission Team (Room 209 or Kitchen) 12:00 p.m. UMW Luncheon & General Meeting (Dining Room) Held September, November, December, February, April, & June
3rd WEDNESDAY of MONTH9:30 a.m. Deborah Circle (Donna Dow & Nancy Doran, Co-chairs)
12:00 p.m. Dorcas Circle (Kay Pang & Alice Baird, Co-chairs)
Thursday Office Hours 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
2nd THURSDAY of MONTH6:00 p.m. Chatterbox Supper Group (Various restaurants)
4th THURSDAY of MONTH1:00 p.m. Chimes stuffing (Church Library)
Friday Office Hours 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday 2nd SATURDAY of MONTH
8:30 a.m. United Methodist Men Breakfast Meeting (Stockholm Inn, 2420 Charles St.)
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Ministry TeamsAdministrative Council Joan Tunnell, ChairMeets the 3rd Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. to plan and imple-ment a program of nurture, outreach, witness, and resources in the local church. Also envisions, plans, implements, and evaluates the mission and ministry of the church.
Christian Education Team Diane Lutmer, ChairThe primary task is to love people of all ages where they are, encourage them to develop their relationship with God, to provide opportunities for nurture and growth, and to challenge their response to God’s call to serve in their lives.
Endowment Mike Davis, ChairMaintains and manages foundation accounts and beneficent funds to en-sure the future of our church.
Finance Rev. Calvin Culpepper, ConvenerMeets the 3rd Monday of the month at 5:00 p.m. to monitor the monies acquired and spent by the church. It assists the church with the budget, monitors monthly reports, and advises the Administrative Council’s fiscal activity.
Hospitality Team Judy Mehren, ChairMeets as needed to coordinate, setup, and cleanup food for church fel-lowship as well as decorating areas of the church to make it more inviting and welcoming. This committee explores all the possibilities of the well-known Methodist tradition of eating and doing it in style!
Lay Leadership Team Pastor Calvin Culpepper & Geri Ryan, ConvenersMeets as needed to identify and fill leadership roles with the most quali-fied persons and to help members identify and use their gifts and talents in the church and in the world.
Local Missions Helen Gibbons, ChairMeets once a month developing a year-round program to educate the congregation of mission opportunities in our church and in our city and encourage the congregation to donate to various worthy organizations and people.
Membership/Newcomers Pastor Calvin Culpepper, ConvenerReaches out beyond our walls by encouraging and welcoming new people to our congregation.
Nursery Ministry Diane Lutmer & Ryanne Ludington, NurseryProvides our children with a Christian education, a warm and natural ex-perience with church, and helps our children become a viable and visi-ble part of the church family. We practice the United Methodist policy of
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“Safe Sanctuary”. Nursery available Sunday mornings, & on special events - call the church office to request or verify.
Nurture & Outreach Georgalee George, ChairWe nurture our own and do outreach to help others by doing short term missions and soliciting the congregation’s help. This past year we again made holiday bags for our fifty homebound members and asked the con-gregation to personally deliver the bags. We set up the volunteers for Methodist Monday--giving water and treats to our friends on the street. This year we also served hot chocolate during the winter. We have con-tinued our adoption of Haskell Academy. Each month the congregation is asked to donate a specific gift, for example, book bags, notebooks, socks and money for their soccer team shirts. The committee volunteered their help by cleaning up the garden beds and raking leaves at Haskell. The committee also coordinates “Fun, Food and Fellowship,” which is a once-a-month activity and lunch day for all. We helped with the reception of our new members. We hope to have a reception at Wesley Willows for all our members that live there this winter. We are always open to new members and new mission ideas.
Staff Parish Relations Dessie Voigt, ChairMeets as needed to handle all matters regarding staff, its nurture, and how staffing impacts the growth of the church.
Stewardship Jeanine Wang, ChairThe Stewardship Committee meets at 11am on the second Monday of each month, to plan activities for our church family, raising up God’s call for us to be good stewards. We encourage all to live our lives, under-standing that God has blessed us in so many ways, and in gratitude to God, we are called to pass God’s gifts forward in His ministries to meet the needs of others – locally and globally.
Trustees Geri Ryan, ChairMeets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. to oversee, maintain, and supervise the church properties and equipment.
Visitation Ministry Pastor Calvin Culpepper, ConvenerPersons interested in visiting the nursing homes or hospitals and homesof those who are ill.
Worship Joan Tunnell, ChairA committee committed to providing everyone who attends our services a meaningful experience praising the Lord. Using everyday objects, we engage the senses to create a worshipful atmosphere and a visual focus for worship, emphasizing the Scriptures or the theme of the day. We also prepare the Sanctuary, Chapel and surrounding areas for the various church seasons and important services. We are responsible for preparing the Table and recruiting the servers for monthly communion.
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Small Group & Volunteer Ministries Chatterbox Supper Group Usually meets 2nd Thursday of the month, 6:00 p.m., at a different restaurant each month. Open to all women; call Marie Lewis (815) 885-3916 for more information and reservations. Check The Chimes, our newsletter, for location.The Chimes Stuffing Usually meets 4th Thursday of the month, 1:00 p.m., in the Library to put together the church’s monthly newsletter, The Chimes. Anyone is welcome to come help -- it’s a great social time. Judy Mehren, (815) 397-0944, coordinates the volunteers.Court Street Book Club This group meets the third Sunday of the month, September through June, at 4:00 pm in members’ homes. We cover all kinds of literature from historical fiction to non-fiction, myster-ies, classics, biographies, devotional/inspirational, and timely issues. In November, books for the next year are selected from titles submitted by members. Watch the monthly Chimes to find out specifics about each month’s selection and meeting site.Fellowship of Christian Men meets every Wed. 6:00 p.m. (Various homes) Share devotions and study with other men as you walk your faith daily. A great way to gain support, encouragement, and understanding.Garden Bazaar Spearheaded by Sue Cram, for 3 days in the spring of the year, 1 day to receive and sort the plant delivery, 2 days for the actual ba-zaar. We need people to help sort & organize the pre-orders, to set up, to help sell, and to take down. Please contact Perky (815-654-2956) or Karen (815-877-0045) if you can help. We would love to have new volunteers as well as our “old faithfuls!!”History & Archives meets every Tues. 9:00 a.m. (Room 201)A group of dedicated workers meet each week to preserve the history of Court Street United Methodist Church. Anyone interested in the history of the church and its preservation is always welcome.Jeremiah Development A not-for-profit organization begun by 4 downtown churches: Court St. United Methodist, Emmanuel Episco-pal, First Presbyterian, and Second Congregational UCC, to promote the well-being of our neighborhood. Keep an eye out for announcements in your bulletin or newsletter as to how you can join with them on various activities to help our neighbors. Some of the activities are neighborhood cleanup, neighborhood gardening, and rehabbing a neighborhood house. For more information contact: Joan Tunnell, (815) 397-6280; or go to jer-emiahdevelopment.org.Knitters meet 4th Tuesday of the month 6:15 p.m. (Home of Jan Mace)Needles are clicking once a month. Fellowship, sharing ideas & patterns, showing work in progress, finished projects & teaching new knitters. Questions? Call Jan at (815) 654-0104.Methodist Mondays Every Monday during the summer, people sign
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up to give away a bottle of water, a miniature candy bar, or whatever they decide, to passersby sharing neighborly love with the community. You sign up, you purchase what you want to give away, you let Mainte-nance staff know when you need a table, chairs, and the outdoor sign, and then you come, smile, and greet our neighbors. Usual times are 7:30 - 8:30/9:00, 11:30- 12:30/1:00, or 4:00-5:00/5:30.Office Volunteers A much needed service to the church, the office uti-lizes volunteers to answer the phone, take care of people dropping in, sort the mail, proof publications, etc. so that the staff can do their work more efficiently. Contact the office if you are interested in volunteering.Quilters meet every Tuesday 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Room 206)Come and join us for fun, fellowship and FOOD. All ages are welcome. If you can handle a needle and thread, you can learn to quilt. The monies we earn from quilting are donated back to Court Street and local mis-sions.Thanksgiving Dinner Team Volunteer now to help with Thanksgiving Dinner for those who probably would not have a traditional Thanksgiving meal. You may work as much as you have time for, in lots of areas: plan-ning, advertising, food preparation, facility setup, dinner serving, facility cleanup, etc. Call the office or email [email protected] by September 30th if you are interested.United Methodist Women (UMW) is an organization open to all women of the church. We are dedicated to spreading the Word of God throughout the world. We help support many charities, including our own Court Street United Methodist Church. We have our General Meet-ing at noon on the 1st Wednesday of September, November, December, February, April, and June with luncheon and a program. We do funeral receptions from planning stage to clean up. Our small groups are called Circles, as follows: Deborah Circle - Meets 3rd Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Dorcas Circle - Meets 3rd Wednesday at noon (luncheon) Lydia Circle - Meets 4th Monday at 7:00 p.m.United Methodist Men (UMM) meets 2nd Saturday of the month at 8:30 a.m. (Stockholm Inn) All men are welcome to join this group that meets for breakfast and does many worthwhile projects around the church and in the community. Reservations are under Court St. United Methodist Church.Ushers Join a team or start your own with a group of friends. Currently, we have 4 teams, each team takes care of Sundays for 1 month and then it rotates to the next team so you usher every 4th month. To be efficient, each team needs to have a minimum of 5 people.
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Sundays 9:00 AM -- Chancel Choir pre-service Rehearsal and Prayer 11:15 AM – Kids Choir (Elementary) Youth Choir (Middle School/High School)
Tuesdays 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. JuBellation Choir (adults) 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Chancel Choir (ages 18 & up)
Court Street UMC’s sacred music ensembles are active fromSeptember through May
Chancel Choir is a sacred music ensemble for men and women ages 18 and up that sings for the Sunday 10 AM Worship Service. Anyone who can match a pitch or sing a melody line can join Chancel Choir. New voices are always welcome. Chancel Choir participates in the Sunday worship service by leading the congregational hymns and offering an anthem in response to the week’s scripture or sermon. Rehearsals are Tuesdays in the choir room from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM. The choir convenes Sunday mornings at 9 AM in the sanctuary to warm-up, rehearse, and pray before the service begins at 10 AM. In addition to singing the Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter services, major performance dates include the Four-Church Ser-vice (an annual joint church worship service bringing together the choirs and congregations of downtown Rockford), the Christmas Cantata, and a major work for Palm Sunday.
JuBellation is an adult handbell choir that performs in worship every 4-6 weeks. Unlike virtuosic instruments or ensembles, handbell ringing is a skill that anyone can learn. The many veteran ringers in JuBellation are very good about helping new members along as they learn to count and recognize notes and rhythms. JuBellation meets Tuesdays in the choir room from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Kids Choir & Youth Choir Rehearsals are Sundays, immediately following 10 AM Worship Service. Those who join either one of these groups re-ceive rudimentary training in singing and playing instruments.
Music Ministries
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Fine Arts Ministries
FASTThe Fine Arts Saturday Troupe (FAST) at Court Street United Methodist Church begins with auditions and sign up for an 11-week Saturday pro-gram, usually 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. each Saturday beginning Septem-ber 30, which will produce ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’.
AuditionsSaturday - September 23 - 10:00 a.m.
Performancesat Court Street United Methodist Church unless otherwise noted
Friday - December 8 - 7:00 p.m.Saturday - December 9 - 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.Sunday - December 10 - 10:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.
Saturday - December 16 - at Wesley Willows
The Penguin ProjectCourt Street United Methodist Church is pleased to announce the launch-ing of The Penguin Project at Court Street United Methodist Church in January 2018. The Penguin Project is a program that focuses on giving children with developmental disabilities the chance to experience mu-sical theatre in all its glory! The program holds many opportunities for children with and without special needs as they work together to produce a show they will be bringing back to life, ‘THE LION KING EXPIERENCE,’ the first week in June.
International Festival of Creative ArtsJuly 9-13, 2018
A unique 5-day event which celebrates the use of creative arts to spread the Gospel.
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Worship through the Arts Ministry
2017-2018 Performance SeriesAll performances in the
Court Street United Methodist Church Sanctuary
September 17, 2017 ~ 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.The Gospel of John
the light shines in the darknessA one woman spoken word presentationStarring Rockford Native, Kelsey Cratty
Presented by Unbroken Bones Theatre GroupFree-will Offering
February 11, 2018 ~ 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.An Afternoon of Inspirational Jazz
Harlan Jefferson, area known saxophonistFree-will Offering
March 23, 2018 ~ 7:30 p.m.March 24, 2018 ~ 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.March 25, 2018 ~ 2:00 p.m.
A Musical Production ofGodspell
A joyful exploration of the Parables in Matthew and LukeAdmission Charge
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Puppet Project ~ June 25-29, 2018Our Puppet Project is open to youth from 1st through 8th grade. To be held Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. Only $30.00 per person, this camp is designed to teach you how to use a pup-pet and more.
2018 Summer Camps
Performing Arts Camp ~ July 23 - August 3, 2018All youth from 1st through 8th grade are invited to participate in our Per-forming Arts Camp, for two weeks, from Monday through Friday each week, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. Only $75.00 per person, this camp will combine dance, theater, drawing, and more in a Christian set-ting.
Scholarships are available as neededPlease contact the church office: (815) 962-6061.
From 2017 Disney’s ‘The Lion King KIDS’ Performing Arts Camp
From 2017 Puppet Project
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2017 - 18 Special Events - subject to changeArt Events/Ministry & Worship Opportunities/Fellowship Times
All events are at Court Street United Methodist Churchunless otherwise noted.
September 10 ~ 9:00 a.m.Rally Day at Court Street UMC, kicking off the new season with Lamplighters (Adult Sunday School) resuming after the summer break at 9:00 a.m. in Room 209. Worship service in the Sanctuary follows at 10:00, with the ‘Good Ole Days Drive-In’ happening after worship in the parking lot across the street from church. A lunch will be served to your car drive-in style by our youth. Come enjoy a burger or hotdog cooked by our wonderful Methodist Men’s group! There will be music and games and a ton of fun! Bring your lawn chairs and sunglasses, and dress for the occasion! Youth will also sign up for the after-worship activities in the new program year - scheduled opportunities will be listed out for them to choose from (see page 6 in this booklet for a listing).
September 10Church Conference Reports for booklet distribution are due in the Church Office.
September 17 ~ 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.‘Believe’ Study begins. 30-week study grounded in Scripture and a wonderful spiritual growth experience (See page 6 for more details.) All are welcome to participate!
September 17 ~ 2:00 p.m.Worship through the Arts: The Gospel of John Performed by Unbroken Bones Theatre Troupe. Join us for a full-length, spoken word drama of the Gospel of John. Blending our training in theatre arts and our passion for the Gospel, we aim to entertain and inspire. This high-energy performance is an engaging way to experience the Scripture. One of the founders of Unbroken Bones, Kelsey Cratty, is from Rockford, IL. Free-will offering.
September 18 ~ 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.Life Line Screening will be here at Court Street United Method-ist Church offering safe, painless, non-invasive preventive health screenings that are typically not a part of a routine physical. To be more proactive about your health and to live longer for yourself, your family and your community, please register for these poten-tially life-saving tests today. Please refer to the attached flyer to get more info about how you can sign up while receiving $10 off any package priced above $139. For only $139 (regularly $149) you can learn your risk of having stroke or vascular disease.
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September 18 ~ 7:00 p.m.Court Street UMC Church Conference Attend the annual meet-ing of our church to hear from our District Superintendent and vote on various items. SPRC will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Library.
September 24 Rockford District Revival More details to come.
October 1 ~ 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.Pancakes & Praise begins monthly through May 2018. Join us for Pancakes, sausage, milk, coffee, & more in the Dining Room at 8:00 a.m. - all for a free-will donation. Then stay for 9:00 Praise in the Chapel. Geared especially for those who like a more modern flavor of worshiping God - open to all!
October 4 ~ 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.Holy COW! Blessing of Our Animals Bring your pets to a special outdoor worship service during which Pastor Cal will bless your fa-vorite pet (you may bring a picture of your pet, if that is easier). Rain site will be the Chapel narthex.
October 8 ~ 10:00 a.m.165 Chautauqua This involves Morning Worship and an after-wor-ship Celebration from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm. The Celebration will in-clude a light meal (sandwiches and salads) concurrent with a Variety Show consisting of puppets, music, recitation, art, history highlights, movement, and more. You are so strongly encouraged to save the date and plan on participating.
October 15 ~ 2:00 p.m.CROP Walk (Community Responding to Overcome Poverty) Rockford Area Hunger Walk. Riverfront Museum Park, 711 North Main Street. Registration at 1:00 p.m. and Step-Off at 2:00 p.m. Thewalk is 4 miles. For more information, to sponsor or walk, please call Verlette Gorman at (815) 636-0514 or Ryanne Ludington at (815) 985-4260.
October 22 ~ 10:00 a.m.Consecration Sunday and Potluck Lunch During worship we re-spond to God’s love by presenting our pledge of annual financial support to the church. We will then celebrate God’s bounty and gifts with a potluck lunch in the dining room following the morning wor-ship service.
October 29Youth Group Trunk-or-Treat Our youth collaborate with 2nd/1st youth. More details to come.
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November 1 ~ 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.Holy COW! Blessing of the Badges Come support our communi-ty’s public safety personnel in a special worship service during which Pastor Cal will bless each person, praying for their health and safety.
November 5 ~ Before you go to bed November 4th, turn your clocks back.Daylight savings time ends
November 5 ~ 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.Pancakes & Praise Join us for Pancakes, sausage, milk, coffee, & more in the Dining Room at 8:00 a.m. - all for a free-will donation. Then stay for 9:00 Praise in the Chapel. Geared especially for those who like a more modern flavor of worshiping God - open to all!
November 5 ~ 10:00 a.m.All Saints Celebration On this Sunday during worship we cele-brate those loved ones, members, family, and friends of our church, who have ceased life on this earth and passed on to new life with our God over the past year. We read each name and light a candle for each person, remembering and celebrating their lives.
November 12 ~ 11:15 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.Lunch, Turkey Bingo, & more Games Come & enjoy the fellow-ship of sharing a meal and having a good time playing games while benefiting our youth programs.
November 12 thru December 17 - dates subject to changeAngel Tree Ministry A Ministry of Prison Fellowship, Angel Tree is a program designed for children whose parent is in prison. This year we have 55 children. Many of these children live in our church neighborhood. We buy gifts for the children and give them on behalf of the parent who is in prison. Family members of the children will be contacted to determine needs. Each child will receive 2 gifts, one a toy and one a clothing item. You can help us by: 1) Volunteering to help distribute angel tags following any worship service. 2) Buying gifts for the children ($15-$25 each). Do not buy any gifts until you receive your angel. 3) Making a cash donation or a check payable toCourt Street United Methodist Church with Angel Tree Ministry on memo line and mailing to Barb or Gene Ferry at 1321 Camp Ave., Rockford, IL, 61103. 4) Shopping for gifts. 5) Organizing and deliv-ering gifts between December 17th and December 22nd. 6) Praying for the prisoners and their families. To receive your angel, please look for Barb or Gene Ferry or an Angel Tree representative follow-ing the service in the Narthex starting Nov. 12th. For questions, con-tact Barb or Gene at (815) 965-6518.
November 23 ~ 11:00 a.m.Thanksgiving Dinner Court Street UMC has been serving dinner to the Rockford community since 1984, serving over 1,200 people each
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year who otherwise probably would not have a traditional Thanks-giving meal. Being a member of the Thanksgiving Dinner Team is a great way to get acquainted with some new friends or to share long-standing friendships. Call the church office or email [email protected] in September to volunteer.
November 25 ~ 9:00 a.m.Hanging of the Greens Get in the Christmas spirit by decorating the church. We will be decorating both the Chapel and the Sanctu-ary while listening to Christmas music. All are welcome!
December 2 ~ 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.Puppet Show Melikin Puppets will perform ‘The Shoemaker and the Elves’ and ‘The Night Before Christmas.’ Our own Praisin’ & Pra-yin’ Puppets will perform also. Admission charge.
December 3 ~ 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.Pancakes & Praise Join us for Pancakes, sausage, milk, coffee, & more in the Dining Room at 8:00 a.m. - all for a free-will donation. Then stay for 9:00 Praise in the Chapel. Geared especially for those who like a more modern flavor of worshiping God - open to all!
December 3 ~ 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.‘Because of Bethlehem’ Study begins. 4-week study where we marvel and begin to understand how God experienced being human as Jesus Christ. (See page 6 for more details.) All are welcome to participate!
December 6, 13, 20 ~ Noon - 12:30 p.m.30 Minute Advent Worship Join us as we take a break from the hectic days of living in our world. Take a breath, calm your spirit, and reflect on peace and joy.
December 8 ~ 7:00 p.m.December 9 ~ 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.December 10 ~ 2:00 p.m.
‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ Presented by Court Street’s FAST (Fine Arts Saturday Troupe) and directed by James L. Crow. Admis-sion charge.
December 10 ~ 9:00 a.m.Brunch - Bakery - Bazaar It will take place just early enough to buy some decorations for your house decorating and some bazaar items for gift giving. There will be lots of homemade baked goodies and candies to set the holiday mood; and we all know how yummy the brunch is always. There will be time before church to peruse the bazaar, and bakery; then after worship service will be a brunch for a nominal fee of $6 each and more shopping. Proceeds will support
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the United Methodist Women’s Mission Fund.
December 10 ~ 10:00 a.m.‘A Charlie Brown Christmas,’ will be presented during the morn-ing worship service under the direction of James L. Crow, Director of Arts Ministries. The presentation is a product of the FAST, Fine Arts Saturday Troupe.
December 20 ~ 5:00 p.m.Blues Christmas Service Modern seasonal worship in the Chapel. Enjoy a relaxing hour as we sing/listen to some blues music genre and more.
December 24 ~ Christmas Eve4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Family Service in the Chapel9:30 p.m. Christmas Prelude A 15 minute musical prelude pre-sented by Chancel Choir, JuBellation, various string and brass musi-cians in the Sanctuary9:45 p.m. Service of Lessons and Carols in the Sanctuary
January ~ start date & times to be determinedPenguin Project “Once a year, a magical and touching celebra-tion of the human spirit unfolds at numerous theaters across the country. A group of children in a program called The Penguin Project take to the stage to perform a modified version of a well-known Broadway musical. These productions are unique, however, be-cause all the roles are filled by young artists with developmental disabilities including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, intel-lectual disabilities, learning disabilities visual impairment, hearing impairment, and other neurological disorders. They are joined on stage by a dedicated group of “peer mentors” – children the same age without disabilities who have volunteered to work side-by-side with them through 4 months of rehearsals and through the final performance. By providing access to community theater, The Pen-guin Project demonstrates that the special challenges of a disability should not handicap a child’s ability to participate in life’s experienc-es.” (http://penguinproject.org/) We hope to perform in May - stay tuned for more information!
January 6 ~ 9:00 a.m.De-green the Church Help make quick work of removing the Christmas decorations from the Chapel and the Sanctuary - the more hands, the faster it will go. All are welcome!
January 7 ~ 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.Pancakes & Praise Join us for Pancakes, sausage, milk, coffee, & more in the Dining Room at 8:00 a.m. - all for a free-will donation. Then stay for 9:00 Praise in the Chapel. Geared especially for those
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who like a more modern flavor of worshiping God - open to all!
January 27 Rockford District Leadership Training To help those newly elect-ed to our church committees learn their responsibilities, and edu-cate them on how to do a good job for the church family.
February 4 ~ 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.Pancakes & Praise Join us for Pancakes, sausage, milk, coffee, & more in the Dining Room at 8:00 a.m. - all for a free-will donation. Then stay for 9:00 Praise in the Chapel. Geared especially for those who like a more modern flavor of worshiping God - open to all!
February 4 ~ 11:15 a.m.Souper Bowl Subs Pick up your sub sandwich (that you pre-or-dered) made by our youth to raise funds for their activities.
February 11 ~ 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.Worship through the Arts: Inspirational Jazz An afternoon of music featuring Harlan Jefferson, an area-known saxophonist. Free-will offering.
February 13 ~ 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race & Supper Come on “Fat Tuesday” & enjoy a pancake supper with sausage & bacon before the “lean days” of Lent. A donation will support our youth as they prepare for their mission trip. If you cannot attend, please consider donating pancake mix, sausages, bacon, milk or juice.
February 14 ~ Noon and 5:30 p.m.Ash Wednesday Services - Held in the Chapel, Ash Wednesday is the start of the Lenten journey of 40 days that takes the church to the eve of Easter. The celebration of Ash Wednesday among United Methodists has changed dramatically during the past half-century. We enter. We pray. We read Scripture. We respond with the impo-sition of ashes. We are invited to the Table, confess our sins, and make peace with one another. We are sent forth to serve.
February 18 ~ 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.‘He Chose the Nails’ Study begins. By a favorite author, Max Lu-cado, this 5 to 6 week session (depending on what the group de-cides) will study the cross and just what Jesus did for us, especially when he was crucified. All are welcome to participate!
February 21, 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28 ~ Noon - 12:30 p.m.30 Minute Lenten Worship Join in this mid-week worship to pre-pare and search your heart and mind for the intense happenings of Holy Week. All are welcome.
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March 4 ~ 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.Pancakes & Praise Join us for Pancakes, sausage, milk, coffee, & more in the Dining Room at 8:00 a.m. - all for a free-will donation. Then stay for 9:00 Praise in the Chapel. Geared especially for those who like a more modern flavor of worshiping God - open to all!
March 11 ~ Before you go to bed on March 10th, turn your clocks ahead.Daylight savings time begins
March 23 ~ 7:30 p.m.March 24 ~ 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.March 25 ~ 2:00 p.m.
Worship through the Arts: Godspell A joyful exploration of the Parables in Matthew and Luke. Admission charge.
March 29 ~ 6:00 p.m.Maundy Thursday Dramatization Attend The Living Last Supper, by Ruth E. Schram, directed by James L. Crow. Hear the disciples tell their thoughts and feelings as the Lord’s Supper is reinacted. All will be able to share in the Lord’s Supper.
March 30 ~ 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. in the ChapelGood Friday Service A service of scripture and music, experience the deepening darkness as Jesus is crucified and dies for our sins sothat we may live eternally with God.
April 1 ~ 6:00 - 8:00 a.m.Easter Sunrise Service & Easter Breakfast The Good News ar-rives that Jesus is alive; out of the early morning darkness the sun rises and the light of Christ shines again. Come jump-start your Eas-ter with joy as our youth participate in this beautiful worship. Then stay for a delicious breakfast in the Dining Room. More information to follow.
April 1 ~ 10:00 a.m.Easter Sunday Service The joy continues as we celebrate our risen Lord and the grace that He alone can give us. Worship in the Sanctu-ary with music provided by organ, brass, and Chancel Choir.
April 15 ~ Immediately following Worship ServiceUnited Methodist Women Spring Fling Dinner EVERYONE is welcome. Come for a special lunch prepared by our United Method-ist Women as a special treat to everyone for a nominal fee.
April 21 ~ 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.Court Street Jesters Cabaret Help chase away the winter dol-drums by spending an entertaining evening with James L. Crow.
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May 6 ~ 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.Pancakes & Praise Join us for Pancakes, sausage, milk, coffee, & more in the Dining Room at 8:00 a.m. - all for a free-will donation. Then stay for 9:00 Praise in the Chapel. Geared especially for those who like a more modern flavor of worshiping God - open to all!
May 18 & 19Garden Bazaar Purchase all your garden plantings at a reasonable price and support our church while you’re at it. Find great bakery items for your family, friends and yourself as well! More informa-tion coming in The Chimes, our church newsletter.
May 20 ~10:00 a.m.Heritage Sunday This day calls us to celebrate those who have in-fluenced our faith and to remember with gratitude the heroes and heroines of our church, from the Wesleys to our current communi-ty. We will present 50-year pins to those members of Court Street UMC who celebrate 50 years of membership in 2018.
June 3 through June 52018 Northern Illinois Annual Conference The coming together of all the United Methodist churches in this conference to receive and act upon reports and to adopt rules and regulations not in con-flict with the Discipline of the United Methodist Church for its own government.
June 4Methodist Monday begins for the summer Every Monday during the summer, people sign up to give away a bottle of water and a small treat to a passerby sharing neighborly love with the community. You sign up, pick your time, purchase what you wish to give away, call the office so they can set up your sign and table and for about an hour enjoy greeting our neighbors.
June 25 through 29 ~ 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.Puppet Project Open to youth from 1st through 8th grade. Only $30.00 per person, scholarships available as needed. Pre-registra-tion is encouraged. See page 18 for more details.
July 9 through July 13International Festival of Creative Arts Bourbonnais, IL
July 23 through August 3 ~ 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.Performing Arts Camp All youth from 1st through 8th grade are invited to participate. Only $75.00 per person, scholarships avail-able as needed. Pre-registration is encouraged. See page 18 for more detail.
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Map of Lower Level
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Map of 1st Floor
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Map of 2nd Floor
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Map of 3rd Floor
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Our Parish Nurse
It is my pleasure to assist and serve the parishioners and their families here at Court Street United Methodist Church. I am an advocate to assist you with your medical, educational, emotional, or spiritual concerns.
I am also a Stephen Minister. I hold monthly blood pressure checks at the church before and after services. In the Chimes (the Church’s newsletter), look for a monthly update on medical infor-mation. I go to homes, nursing homes, and make hospital visits.
If I cannot answer your questions, I try to help you locate resources for your particular needs. Please do not hesitate to call me at the church or by email at [email protected] No concern or question is too small; I am here to serve.
Teresa Field, RN, Parish Nurse
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“The United Methodist Church is an 11-million-strong global church that opens hearts, opens doors and opens minds through active engage-ment with our world.
John Wesley and the early Methodists placed primary emphasis on Christian living, on putting faith and love into action. This emphasis on what Wesley referred to as “practical divinity” has continued to be a hallmark of United Methodism today.”
From www.umc.org
Find out more about the United Methodist Church in general andCourt Street United Methodist Church specifically by meetingwith our pastor, Calvin Culpepper. Most Sundays you will be ableto connect with him in the back of the Sanctuary right after wor-ship or by email: [email protected]. Or you may call the church office (815) 962-6061. If you have any questions or wish to meet with him later, he will be glad to help you.
If you decide to join our church family after you have met with the pastor, there will be a formal receiving of new members during worship service.
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Ministry Staff at Court Street
Rev. Calvin Culpepper.............................................................Pastorext. 220 [email protected]
Ryanne Ludington............................ Director of Christian Educationext. 213 [email protected]
James L. Crow...........................................Director of Arts Ministriesext. 209 [email protected]
Teresa Field....................................................................Parish Nurseext. 219 [email protected]
Verlette Gorman........................................Church Co-Administratorext. 202 [email protected]
Lorelle Wandell.........................................Church Co-Administratorext. 200 [email protected]
Diane Lutmer........................................................................Nursery
Derek Coffman..............................................Maintenance Engineerext. 295 [email protected]
Luke Kelsey-Powell............................................................Custodian
Ryan Welk.........................................................................Custodian
Court Street United Methodist Church215 N. Court St.
Rockford, IL 61103
PH: (815) 962-6061FAX: (815) 962-9754
www.courtstreetumc.org
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