2013 MUMC Summer Mustard Seed

Mustard Seed We are a community of compassionate fellowship . . .

Marengo United Methodist Church

Summer 2013

119 E. Washington St., Marengo, IL 60152

Changing Marengo 2013 May 18 & 19 For a second year, we are volunteering to change our world and community by joining forces to work on renovating our Park District. This year, however, we are joined by members of First Assembly of God, First Baptist and Zion Lutheran Churches.

Inside: New Director of Children and Youth Ministry!

After years of building our children and youth programs, we are finally ready for a director – Erick McKnight.

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Summer Sunday Schedule We have a summer filled with special Sunday events. Get out your calendars and turn to our calendar of Sunday events.

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Work will begin on Saturday, May 18th at 8:00 a.m. and continue into the late afternoon. There will be projects for people of all ages, shapes and sizes.

On Pentecost Sunday, we will begin by celebrating the founding of the church at a unified service at 10:00 a.m.. Everyone is then invited to meet over at the Park District for lunch and afternoon work projects. Members of other

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The Mustard Seed

Summer 2013

News for Families Youth & Children Welcome the McKnight family and Erick as our new Director of Youth and Children’s Ministry!

I want to join with you in welcoming Erick McKnight as our Director of Youth and Children’s Ministry. Erick and Meredith recently joined our congregation, and we look forward to celebrating the baptism of their daughter in the near future.

Prior to coming to Marengo, Erick served a number of United Methodist Churches. He has served as a congregational pastor and director of youth, children and family ministries. Erick was appointed as the pastor of United Methodist congregations in Capon, Chemung, Shirland and Owen Center. He has also directed children, youth and family ministries at Linn Presbyterian Church and First United Methodist Church in Palatine. Currently, he is a Unit Technician, managing a group of 14 adolescents through their recovery process, at the Rosecrance Griffin Williamson Campus.

Erick is a graduate of North Central College with a degree in psychology and has studied at 2

Duke Divinity School and Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.

He joins us at a particularly propitious moment in our congregational life. Due to the development of wonderful youth and children’s ministries, we have grown and are now in need of focused leadership, organizational development and volunteer collaboration. I believe that God has led Erick to us at a time when we need his gifts the most. With Erick’s guidance, I believe we can take the next step in our goal to be a community church, reaching out with the message and hope of Jesus Christ to people of all ages.

He will need, however, your help. Please help and pray for Erick, as he seeks to do God’s work among us. Join him in serving Christ by serving the needs of our children and youth.

Pastor Keck

Summer 2013 Ruth Circle Gift Acknowledgement: On behalf of the Trustees, I want to thank the members of Ruth Circle for their very generous donation of $720.00 to purchase the twelve new conference room chairs. We all have been enjoying their comfort during our time in church meetings. Each year Ruth Circle produces many interesting craft items which they sell to the community during their Annual Christmas Bazaar. In addition to supporting the work of UMW and their missions, Ruth Circle shares the fruits of their labor by donating funds to the church for various needed items. The new conference room chairs are a gift we will all appreciate in the coming years. Thank you so very much.

Marengo United Methodist Church “A huge thank you to everyone who donated clothes to the local orphanage that I have been associated with lately. Everyone's generosity by far surpassed my wildest expectations. The donations brought smiles to kid’s faces that usually have nothing to smile about. It was a great visit to the orphanage and the children couldn't be more appreciative.

Thank u again for all the support and the wonderful donations. Hopefully the attached photos show how much of an impact your contributions made.”

Isaiah Burnside

Richard Anderson, for the Board of Trustees

Thank You from Isaiah Burnside Over Christmastime, Pat Merritt’s grandson, Isaiah, who was serving our military overseas, had given a plea for long underwear and warm clothes for children in an orphanage he was volunteering at. Isaiah has passed along a thank you and some pictures of the children. (Some are wearing the hats made by MUMC’s Hat Ministry)

Annual “Sunday Driver” Motorcycle and Car Trip Sunday, July 28th 11:30 a.m.

Destination: Old World Wisconsin 3

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Summer 2013

Sunday Summer Schedule Change Marengo Sunday – May 19th @ 10:00 a.m.

Pentecost Sunday and last Sunday School Classes of the season.

Following the service, join us for a church picnic at the Park District.

Memorial Day Sunday – May 26th @ 10:00 a.m.

Join us as we dedicate our restored stain glass windows.

Graduation Sunday – June 2nd @ 8:30 & 10:00 a.m. services This Sunday we celebrate and honor our High School graduates.

First Life 101 class meets at 11:15 a.m.

Fathers’ Day Sunday – June 16th

Stain Glass Windows Done!

It has been on our “to do list” for many years. We have never had the financial resources to repair and protect our stained glass windows. Due to a generous gift from the Audrey Anderson Fund, we have been able to complete the work of repairing all our windows and installing protective glass.

Have you seen the results? They are quite amazing. The windows shine with a glory we have not seen for many years. With the protective glass, they will continue to shine for generations to come.

Join us as we re-dedicate our windows on Sunday, May 26th at our unified 10:00 a.m. services.

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Mission Dedication Sunday – June 30th Youth and Rosebud Mission Teams will be dedicated prior to their mission trips.

Summer Sunday Schedule Begins – July 7th @ 9:30 a.m.

Beginning this Sunday we move to one unified service. Services will be traditional or contemporary in worship style. We will continue with this summer schedule through Labor Day weekend.

Youth Mission Sunday – July 21st Share in the stories of our first youth mission trip to Keansburg, New Jersey.

“Sunday Driver” Sunday – July 28th Last year we took a motorcycle and car ride to Wisconsin to honor the memory of Ken Dennison. This year we continue the tradition with a Sunday ride to Old World Wisconsin.

Church Family Sunday – August 11th We will celebrate what it means to be a church family by traveling to Wesley Woods Retreat Center on Lake Geneva to enjoy lunch and the afternoon together.

Rockford Rescue Mission Sunday – August 25th Every year we volunteer to prepare lunches and feed the residents of the Rockford Rescue Mission. We also worship with them and share our love of Jesus Christ.

Rally Day – September 8th @ 8:30 and 10:00 a.m.

This is the Sunday that we return to two services and welcome back our choirs and Sunday School classes.

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Marengo churches will join us at lunch.

Our Rosebud Mission Team will be raising money for their trip by providing lunch. So, even if you cannot help on Sunday, have lunch at the Park District and support the Rosebud Team.

Also, since it is Pentecost Sunday, we are asking that you find something red to wear to church and at the picnic. Red is the traditional color for Pentecost, since it is remembered for the fire of the Holy Spirit that entered the church.

Below is a list of projects that we will undertake. Choose a couple and join us!

Pool Area Power wash inside of bath houses Paint Floors in both houses (Two-part epoxy paint) Paint pool floor Weed & prepare sand play areas (easier project) Weed and clean out landscaping Cut out dead trees & clean out west fence area Pond Repair drainage ditch, provide proper grading Building Parking Area, West Side Remove railroad ties and replace with stones Building Parking Area, East Side

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL REGISTER NOW $5 per child through May 26th ($10 after that) Information and Registration forms went out in the mail and there are also registration forms on the Welcome Center table.

SAVE THE DATES: August 5 –9 6:00-8:00 pm HEY EVERYBODY…..

You know you want to help…

Call Liz McGowan 815-568-0992

Clean up tree line Hiking Trail Clear out and widen where brush and trees are encroaching

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(Continued) 2. Loppers 3. Garden rake 4. Chain saw

Renwick Park Pick up trash and fill gopher holes Shelter #5 Power wash, scrape, prime & paint south side Tree Line along O’Connell Road Clean up debris after a 10 ft wide strip has been cut along the road. Clear out dead and downed trees.

Skateboard Area Remove growth in fence line Remove brush to the north Doral Park Move 5-7 cubic yards of black dirt Level dirt, seed, and add straw Donations We will need cash donations for the various supplies. Please make them to your particular church. Thanks!!

General Tool Recommendations A. for Outdoor work 1. work gloves 2. hat 3. sunscreen 4. insect repellant B. Interior cleaning and painting 1. Hat 2. Latex gloves C. For brush clearing 1. Work gloves 6

1. Pool Area A. Power wash* inside of bath houses 1. Power washer 2. Boots 3. Cleaning soap B. Paint floors in both houses (Two-part epoxy paint) 1. Paint mixer 2. Latex gloves 3. Rollers 4. Pans 5. Roller pads 6. Handle extensions C. Paint pool floor – same as above plus 1. hat 2. sunscreen D. Weed & prepare sand play areas (volleyball court and playground) 1. work gloves 2. hat 3. weeding tools 4. spade 5. garden rake E. weed & clean out landscaping 1. weeding tools 2. garden rake 3. shovel F. Cut out dead trees & clean out west fence area 1. “loppers” 2. pruning saw 3. garden rake 4. lawn rake 5. Chain saw 2.

Pond A. Repair drainage ditch 1. Shovels 2. Pry bars 3. Garden rakes

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Marengo United Methodist Church

(Continued) B. Provide proper grading – same as above 3. Building Parking Area, West Side A. Remove railroad ties & replace with stones 1. Pry bar 2. shovels

4. Building Parking Area, East Side A. Clean up tree line 1. “loppers” 2. pruning saw 3. garden rake 4. chain saw?

5. Hiking Trail A. Clear out and widen where brush & trees are encroaching 1. “loppers” 2. pruning saw 3. garden rake 4. chain saw?

6. Renwick Park A. Pick up trash and fill gopher holes 1. shovels 2. dirt?

3. garbage bags 7. Shelter #5 A. power wash*, scrape, prime & paint south side 1. power washer 2. scraper and wire brush 3. Paint brush 4. rollers and pans 5. step ladder(s)

has been cut along the road 1. “loppers” 2. garden rakes B. Clear out dead & downed trees 1. chain saw 9. Skateboard Area A. Remove growth in fence line 1. weeding tools 2. shovel B. Remove brush to the north 1. “loppers” 2. garden rake 3. chain saw?

10. Doral Park A. Move 5-7 cubic yards of black dirt 1. shovels 2. wheelbarrows B. Level dirt, seed, & add straw 1. garden rake 2. seed spreader 3. seed?

11. Woods A. Cut dead & down trees for firewood 1. chain saw 2. gas 3. chain oil 12. Concession Stand A. Clean concession stand 1. pails 2. sponges, rags 3. Pine Sol, Spic & Span, etc.

8. Tree Line along O’Connell Road A. Clean up debris after a 10 ft wide strip 7

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Summer 2013

The Story of Everett by Bob Rucker Allow me to share a brief story with you.

It was June of 2009; I was working in the Welcome Center at the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. This has been an annual mission trip I have been attending for the past 6 years. Most years I helped with painting, dry walling, and helping to build a wheelchair entrance, until 2009. You see the Welcome Center is a very easy, inside, low stress job, just right for me. That day my job was to stock shelves and I was very happy to help. I was working when a man came up to me asked if my name was Russ. Politely I said “no” and he then asked if I could help him.

He stated to me that his roof was leaking and all he wanted was a tarp to cover the hole. I told him I would see what I could do but he really needed to talk to Russ from the Tree of Life organization. At that crucial point he looked up at me and said if he couldn’t get any help that he had picked out his tree. When he finished that sentence I sat down in shock. You see that very morning, we had been told that this was a favorite saying of the Lakota. Translated it meant that if things got too bad they had their own tree picked out to end their life. I was trembling as I sat there thinking I am not a counselor, who can I find to help this man?

I sat there as Everett started his story. He told me how his car had died and because he had no

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At Equal Exchange, we believe there’s a better way to do business. We guarantee our farmers a fair and stable price, as well as a long-term relationship. The farmers are organized into co-ops, owned and run by the farmers themselves. By choosing Equal Exchange products, you help keep farming communities alive and keep rural cultures strong. And because our products are grown sustainable, you also get healthy foods that won’t harm the planet.

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We are proud to offer to you the opportunity to help these small farmers plus enjoy the taste of excellent coffee, tea, and chocolate bars. Stop in the narthex and place an order. Prices are on the order sheets. (Chocolate will be available again this fall). If you have any questions please contact Judy Andrews, 568-7746 or c.j.andrews7746@att.net.

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Marengo United Methodist Church

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transportation, he had lost his job in Rapid City.

With no job he couldn’t feed his family so his family went to Montana to another reservation to live. His house was in need of repairs, a new roof, doors, and windows. All he wanted was a tarp to keep the rain out. I continued sitting there listening, and he just continued talking about his life. He told me about walking 10 miles into town each day to have a hot meal, which was his only meal. Then he would walk home and do the same thing the next day again.

He told me about dancing in Pow Wows as a young man. Then he told me about dancing in many Sun Dances and participating in sweat lodges, which are very sacred to the Lakota.

While telling me about this, he started crying, and then continued to share his entire life’s history.

I sat there and listened to him for 2 hours as he got everything off of his chest. People would walk by, look at us and I just ignored them as this man sat there, pouring out his heart to me.

He never touched his food as he talked to me.

The longer he talked it was like a heavy weight was being lifted off of him. Finally he stated that he had bothered me long enough. I was stunned, a little speechless, but managed to convey that he was no bother, and I loved hearing the story of his life. I felt closer to him

than almost anyone else I had met on the Reservation.

I looked at the women in the kitchen preparing food, who were from my group and asked them to prepare him some new hot food. I had also asked the ladies to bag up what they had served him 2 hours ago so he could take it home. As he got his new meal we stood up and I started to shake his hand. To my surprise he hugged me and said thank you for listening to him. I looked at him and said thank you for sharing his life story with me. As I left to go back to work I said a prayer for Everett. Later when I found Russ, I told him Everett’s story and he said he would see how he could help.

I thought about and prayed for Everett for the entire year until I went back to Rosebud in 2010. The first thing I did was ask Russ about Everett. I cannot tell you the relief and joy in my heart when I found out about how his life had turned around. According to Russ, Everett had found a new job, had a car that was running, a new roof and food in the house and was in the planning stages of getting his family back from Montana.

Help Support this year’s Rosebud Mission Team on Sunday, May 19th Hot Dogs, Chips, Desserts & Drinks will be served at our picnic at the Park District.

Support them with your free will offerings!

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Marengo United Methodist Church

Wesley Woods Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013 A day of fun, family, fellowship, good food, and play.

Picnic lunch on the beach followed by fishing, swimming, boating, archery, volleyball, basketball, hiking, sunning, resting.

Costs: Lunch: Free for children 2 and under, $4 children 3-6, $8 age 7 and up Archery $2 per person for 1 hour session (in groups of up to 12) Kayak and Canoe usage $8—for whole afternoon—we can organize hourly usage if desired.

1 person per Kayak. Up to 3 in canoes. (2 adults, 1 child). Life jackets provided.

Sunfish Sailboats $10 per hour (experienced sailors)

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Pontoon Boat 1 hour cruise $5 per person

Summer 2013

Parent’s Day Out Update With the ever-evolving Parent’s Day Out Programs, it’s important to keep reminding our church family, as well as our community, about what we offer for our children. In the past four years, we have added a summer preschool program, an after school program, a before school program, and full time childcare at our childcare center. It’s hard to keep up with all these changes, even for me!

These changes have been brought about largely based on input from families in our programs as to what their needs are as their own families grow, change, and age. In the beginning, we served children between the ages of 12 months-5 years. We now offer programs from 15 months -12 years old! In the beginning, we offered programs from 9 AM to 1 PM during the months of September through May. We now offer programs year round, beginning from 6:30 AM and ending at 6:00 PM!

And, we are set to change once more! This summer, we are planning to offer a school age summer camp for children ages 5 years old-12 years old. Weekly themes, field trips, swimming at the pool, outdoor play, and academic reinforcement will be just some of the fun things that will be offered. Our hours will be from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM. We will serve breakfast, lunch, and two snacks during the day.

Registration for Preschool Summer and School Age Summer Program is open now. Registration

Marengo United Methodist Church for 2013-14 School Year for Preschool and Before & After School began March 18, 2013 and our Childcare Center has openings and is taking registrations now.

Please help us to continue to grow and serve our community and church families by spreading the news of all the wonderful opportunities we offer here at Marengo United Methodist Church!

God’s Blessings, Jennifer Haas PDO Director

Thanks for the Pretzels!

Pretzel Sunday was a huge success, I would like to thank everyone who helped with baking, assisting and game playing. The kids really enjoyed it; not only did they get to make pretzels, they also got to play twister and get all twisted up like pretzels. There were some stories about the History of the pretzel that were sent home for the kids. I hope you enjoy reading it to them or with them. They were all so tasty!

Thank you for the kind donations of pretzels that we can also share with our troops overseas.

Kathy Wojtas Sunday School Superintendent 11

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Summer 2013

Middle School Youth Group – What has been happening?

This year has been a lot of fun learning, playing and just being silly. The Middle School Youth group has had a very busy year.

We have found that the kids are very proficient in the kitchen! At our very first meeting for this year, the kids made dinner for Debbie Oakes and her family. The kids grouped up and worked so well together. Each group made one dish each: baked mostaciolli, homemade meatballs, green bean casserole, corn bread, and cake (which went to the Oakes residence un-frosted with a new can of frosting because the cake was still too hot to frost at the

January was low key after all the busy-ness of Christmas. The kids made encouragement cards for children in hospitals. They were distributed through a non-profit organization called, “Cards for Hospitalized Kids.” The young girl who started the foundation is in a wheel chair herself and has spent much time in and out of hospitals.

During some of her toughest challenges she found cheer through cards given to her from people she didn’t even know. So she created the non-profit and collects and distributes cards to kids all over the country in hospital care. Our kids made some really great cards for the kids.

Spring Cleaning at Christ Wilcox’s church!) It was really great to see the kids work together. The second trip to the kitchen was for our Christmas cupcake baking and pizza party in December. Many of you got to see the explosion of cupcakes from that baking fun. The kids grouped up again and each got many, many, many boxes of generously donated cake mixes. The kids followed instructions to and baked up about 300 or so cupcakes, I believe.

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February brought another fun meeting as we watched the video by Sanctus Real of their song, “The Face of God” and then discussed living our life to be the “Face of God”. Then it was downstairs to our Pajama Party! We kicked off the fun with a PJ’s Fashion Show. The girls voted for the boys winner and the boys for the girls.

Brody Coudal took first for the boys in a tight race with Jacob Vance and Anthony Gailloreto.

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Maddy Fitch took first for the girls.

when they look at us.”

In March we had an UNO tournament and learned about being “ONE” with God. We did a little “science-like” experiment where vinegar represented Jesus’ teaching. (His words, actions, love.)

Jesus showed his followers how to truly “Walk the talk” of Christianity by joining together with him.

1 Corinthians 6:17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

First we added the vinegar (Jesus’ teachings) to a teaspoon of powdered milk in a clear jar.

“Some people curdle like this powdered milk.

They complain about how hard it is to follow God and they never grow. They just turn into lumps of gunk.”

Then we added the vinegar (Jesus’ teachings) to a teaspoon of baking soda in a clear jar.

“Some Christians have lots of fizz when they first hear Jesus’ words, but very little followthrough.”

Then we added the vinegar (Jesus’ teachings) to a teaspoon of oil in a clear jar.

“Some people never learn how to mix Jesus’ words and teachings into their lives.”

Then we added the vinegar (Jesus’ teachings) to a teaspoon of clear water in a clear jar.

“What does the jar look like?” The kids answered, “water”. We passed the jar around to smell it and it smelled like “Jesus’ teachings”.

“The water has become part of the vinegar. In the same way, we need to be Christians who become so much like Jesus that people see Him

April took us on our first outing to the Glo-Bowl Fun Center. What an amazing time. 23 middle school-aged youth attended and had a blast.

What I really admired from our kids was the way they worked together to form teams at each lane. No one was left out. Then each of the “teams” all intermingled as they danced, sang and bowled all night. It was wonderful.

Finally, we had our May meeting at Ms. Chris Wilcox’ home where we celebrated her 90th birthday. Our youth worked to spring clean her yard and planted a few flowers. Ms. Chris made cookies and the kids all sat cozy in her living room talking to her and each other. The kids had the light of the Spirit in their eyes while they were learning and talking to Ms. Chris.

We keep it all very simple, and it turns out very meaningful. It is fun showing the kids that everything doesn’t have to be a giant production each time we get together, and just meeting together in His name is a lot of fun.

We plan to head to the Park District for our June meeting and will welcome our new 5th graders!!

From there we have plans to attend the Annual Conference Youth Session and hope to gather for a summer outing, possibly to an Aviator ballgame or to a Sycamore Stock-car Race.

Finally it will be back to business (and more fun and fellowship) in September with our monthly meetings on the first Friday of the month.

Dawn Hoffman Co-Middle School Youth Leader 13

Youth Mission Trip As the people of Keansburg, New Jersey continue to rebuild after hurricane Sandy, hundreds of youth and adults from around the country are preparing to arrive in July to aid them in their work.

Here in Marengo, we have been working on putting together a team of youth and adults that will leave the first week of July to travel to Keansburg. They will spend a week with over 400 other Christians working on homes that are in need of repair.

This Keansburg home, picture on the right, is an example of the efforts to repair homes that have been damaged and prepare them for the future. FEMA has required that some homes be rebuilt and elevated. While we will not elevate homes, we will help to rebuild homes for residents who cannot afford to do the work themselves.

Thank you for your support. Thank you for donating over $700 for Bonnie Voller’s baked goods. You are such a blessing to us.

www.MarengoUMC.org

Office: 815-568-7162

Marengo United Methodist Church 119 E. Washington Street Marengo, IL 60152

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