The Means of Grace March 2019
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
Matthew J. Smith, Pastor
Office Phone: 815-868-2324
Cell: 815-821-2677
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: Wed 7 am or
by appointment
Tim Mulhall, Office Admin.
Cell: 815-275-8388
Email: [email protected]
Susan Coomber, Church Council
Cell: 815-985-3778
Ernest Stabenow II, Staff-Parish
Cell: 815-238-2472
Rita Schindler, Finance
Phone: 608-966-3432
NEWLETTER & BULLETIN DEADLINES
Bulletin Info Due Weekly on Wednesday
Newsletter Info Due the 20th monthly
Praising our Lord in Worship every Sunday at 10:30 am
Greeter: Brian & Molly Lang
Litergists: Judy Rampenthal – March 3
Sandra Klontz – March 10
Sue Anderson - March 17
Tillie Coomber - March 24, 31
Children’s Time: Judy Rampenthal -March3,17,31
Cathy Stabenow - March 10, 24
Acolytes are picked by the pastor or greeters weekly.
Please find another person to fill in for you on Sundays you will be unable to attend.
PRAY FOR HEALING
Robert Mulhall Tammy Kryder
Greg Shippee Steve Bartelt
Sue Anderson
Those suffering from illness and injury
PRAY FOR UNITY
The future of The United Methodist Church
OUR SHUT-INS Bonnie Stubbe John Ammon
Clifford Reuber Jerry Hastings
Our family and friends in care facilities and hospital
As I write this to you today, delegates from all across the world are meeting in St.
Louis to determine the future of our denomination. It’s a big mess and no one knows
what will happen afterwards. The same is true of the quagmire that is our federal
government right now. There is anxiety and trepidation as to what is going to happen,
and how it may impact us.
Here’s the thing. I woke up this morning and drove to McConnell UMC, to work on
behalf of this congregation and this community. It is true, we do not know what will
happen to The United Methodist Church in the coming days, weeks and months...but
this church, this congregation will still be here. We will still worship together, we will
still gather in fellowship with one another, and we will still seek to do our best for the
people of this community.
So instead of worrying about “What’s Next?”, maybe we should instead focus on
“What’s Now?” What is the purpose of this congregation, not necessarily this United
Methodist congregation, just simply this congregation. What is our purpose in the here
and now? Who in our community needs us to be Jesus for them? Who in our communi-
ty is struggling in ways that our combined skills and resources could help alleviate?
What is the purpose of this church BEYOND just a group of people who fellowship
together on Sunday mornings? What is Christ calling us to be for the people right out-
side our doors?
And then, a tougher question, what is Christ calling YOU to do to make this a viable
and essential member of our community for the next 50 years?
Blessings, Pastor Matt
BIRTHDAYS
3/1—Brian Kleckler 3/17 - Clifford Reuber 3/26 - Tammy Daughenbaugh
3/4 - Alex Daughenbaugh 3/17 - Coweina Travis 3/27 - Ernie Stabenow III
3/5 - Terri Rose 3/20 - Dayne Anderson 3/30 - Michelle Bawden
3/6 - McKayla Riemer 3/22 - Nicole Heid
3/7 - Shelvan Heid 3/22 - Luke Stabenow
3/8 - Asher Becke 3/22 - Odin Stabenow
3/11 - Lily Becke 3/23-Pam Shippee
3/14 - Jered Diddens 3/23 - Pat Daughenbaugh
3/16 - Gary Montgomery 3/23 - Mackenzie Leverton
3/16 - Gary Montgomery 3/24 - Dan Riemer
ANNIVERSARY
3/28 - Brad & Peggy Leverson
Soup & Sandwich Lunch Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who helped make this years lunch a great suc-
cess! Whether you donated money, groceries, supplies, baked desserts,
helped prep., make sandwiches, set up, tear down, wash dishes, serve, etc.
just know you all made this event the success it was! It is really enjoyable
knowing that people feel relaxed and take their time and visit with others
while at our Soup and Sandwich lunch. I must thank the youth many of the parents who pitched in and
many others who just stepped in and rolled up their sleeves. God bless you all!
JOIN US FOR LENTEN LUNCHEON
ASH WEDNESDAY MARCH 6 12 pm @ Lena UMC
potato soup, egg salad sandwiches, lesson Hosted by McConnell Churches
Pastor Matt’s March Schedule 3/26 — Out of the Office, 3/28-3/30 - Vacation
March 3rd & 10th - Conclude Case for Christ
March 17th - Drama: Simon and His Lord
March 24th - Drama: Caiaphas and the Christ
March 31st: Drama: Pilate and the King
April 7th - Drama: The Father and Jesus
Ash Wednesday
March 6th
Easter Sunday
April 21st
Church Council Meeting
Wednesday, March 20
7:00 pm
Having a Blast at Youth Group!
Thursday March 7 & 21
5:30 - 7:30 pm
Youth Group is BACK after the bad weather. We played
with the parachute, made a valentines craft, ate spaghetti,
sang praise songs and learned about God;s Love
(John 3:16)
LE-WIN MINISTERIAL
LENTEN LUNCHEONS Each Wednesday, during Lent, the Churches of the Le-Win Ministerial Association
will be hosting a Lenten Luncheon with soup, sandwich, and devotion. Each church will take their turn hosting a luncheon at their church with a few exceptions because
of distance. Please note the schedule:
Our theme this year is: “Love Casts Out Fear”
DATE PLACE SERVERS SPEAKER
3/6 Lena UMC McConnell UMC & Grace Free Matt Smith/Rich Broberg
3/13 Good Shepherd Good Shepherd Miho Yasukawa
3/20 Lena Ev. Free Lena Ev. Free Jim Erb
3/27 St. Joseph Catholic St. Joseph Catholic Andrew Skrobutt
4/3 St. John’s Lutheran St. John’s Rick Bader
4/10 Lena UMC Lena UMC Keri Rainsberger
4/17 Lena UMC Salem UCC/Beloved Randy Nicholas
Lunch begins at 12:00 Noon with devotion about 12:25 pm.
We will conclude by 12:45 pm.
211 N. Hulbert Rd. PO Box 97
McConnell, IL 61050
www.McConnellUMC.org
JOIN US IN WORSHIP:
Sunday Worship - 10:30 am
Youth Group - 1st & 3rd Thurs. 5:30 pm
Pastor: Matthew J. Smith
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
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Popcorn & Drinks Available
FREE 6:00 PM