Circuit Rider August 2018

Pastor Rev. Dr. Solomon Sudhakar, PhD

Cell: 773.936.8979 pastor@rockfallsumc.org

Church Office Amber Winters Secretary

Phone: 815/625-0114 office@rockfallsumc.org

Director of Music Ministries Kevin O’Keefe

Organists Pat Simester

Lori Kyger Tom Luther

Pianist Lori Kyger

Director of Christian Education Jodi Perez

Director of Communications Janna Groharing

Custodian Craig Deem

02-Cindy Megli 07-Abby Workman 08-Craig Wolfe 09-JoEllen Wetzell 10-Ryan Weeks 14-Gerald Portner 14-Kasey Weeks 15-Jim Mertes 16-Doris Detweiler 17-Ralph Jacobs 17-Harlen Browning 17-Owen Laws

01-Jack & Daisy Linker 17-Ben & Cindy Megli 17-Harlen & Pansy Browning 23-Tom & Erika Workman

1st-12:00 PM Women’s Meeting 7th-10:30AM Heritage Meeting 9th-6PM Trustee’s Meeting 15th-4:30PM Finance Meeting 16th-6PM Church Council

17-Sandi Richmond 19-Marvin Pursell 20-Joanne Heckert 21-Barb Bays 23-Craig Deem 24-Gwen Mead 25-Anna Cuevas 25-Steve Wetzell 26-Jill Sosi 30-Russ Siefken 30-Sue Wolfe

70th Anniversary

Jack and Daisy Linker will celebrate their 70th wedding Anniversary on Aug 1, 2018.

Happy Anniversary From the RFUMC

Hello everyone! This is Nima, and I just want to say a big

thank you to all of you who have donated money towards the Junior High Sunday School project, Pura Vida (run by UMC Global Missions), which supports and allows children in

Guatemala to attend school. Due to the unfortunate economic situation and poverty status in Guatemala, the children go to work in coffee bean plantations each day in order to support

their families. Through our donations, these children receive the money necessary to get supplies and attend school- how every child should! The RFUMC and VBS children have

donated a total of $282.12 and that is an amazing testament! This was a great service project and learning experience for the Sunday school kids, but I also hope you all were inspired

by the change that we are helping create in these Guatemalan children’s lives!

Things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.

Psalm 78:3-4 (NIV)

Dear Friends: Greetings to you all in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ! Hope and believe that you all had a great month of July. There were countless number of events and

festivities in and around Rock Falls during this month. Some of you were on vacations and did so many exciting things. Our family too had a wonderful vacation, we visited New York City and were able to go to several important and fun places, such as the Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, and Maddame Tussauds Wax museum, Times Square and so on. The girls also got us to taste the famous NYC Joe’s pizza, YUM! One of my favorites was the Statue of ‘The Fearless Girl’ standing in front of the Charging Bull Statue near Wall Street. On our way back we visited a serene town called Foxburg, Pennsylvania with a population of 183 people, in the midst of hills and valleys along the Allegheny River. All in all, we had a great family time together before Nima went to college in few weeks.

At church, we had an awesome week of VBS. It was a great sight to see so many kids enjoying and

learning. Thanks to all the leaders and mentors and helpers for making this a blessing for the kids. We included a bunch of pictures from the week in this newsletter and also CD full of great pictures is available for families at the church office for 7 dollars. I am taking one! Please contact church office or Jodi Perez for more information.

Please pray for one another, especially all the elderly in our community. Also pray for all the children

who are getting ready for their new school year. Summer vacation is almost over! Pray for he sick and all those going through therapies and treatments. And finally continue to pray for our church, its ministries and all its needs.

As I mentioned earlier, we are also looking forward and preparing for our 150 years celebrations in 2019.

Very delighted that several of you took time to send a slogan for our celebrations. We are still accepting entries, please drop in as many as you are inspired. Also in the next few weeks we will call and form various committees related to the 150 year celebrations and I hope and pray you will come forward to make this a memorable event in the life of RF UMC. I want to remind you again and please mark your calendars’ for August 18th 2019 for our celebration Sunday service.

In this context, I like to look at Psalm 78, as quoted above. This is a psalm that re-visits Israel’s own

history and God’s faithfulness towards them. This also reminds them of their rebellious short-comings, sin and God’s redemption and forgiveness. Most importantly this psalm reminds of God’s unfailing love and covenant with his people. And the author of this psalm brings their history alive in front of them and calls to never forget all that God had done for their fathers and forefathers over the years. The legacy of this awesome relationship with God and his people is never to be forgotten or slipped from people’s memory. We too here at RF UMC are at a point of looking back at the past 150 years and remind ourselves God’s faithfulness and God’s presence with us over the years. Even as we re-collect the past, we prepare our young ones for the future, so that this church will continue to be a shining symbol in our community. Share the stories of old to your children and grandchildren. Encourage them to live faithfully and to live as channels of God’s love and mercy in this world. Share a word about our church and invite friends to visit our church. And most importantly you continue to be a part of the history and legacy of our Rock Falls United Methodist Church!

God Bless!

Pastor Solomon

Lectionary Calendar August 2018

05 AU G Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost 2018

2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a

Psalm 51:1-12

Ephesians 4:1-16

John 6:24-35

12 AU G Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost 2018

2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33

Psalm 130

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

John 6:35, 41-51

19 AU G Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost 2018

1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14

Psalm 111

Ephesians 5:15-20

John 6:51-58

26AU G Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost 2018

1 Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43

Psalm 84

Ephesians 6:10-20

John 6:56-69

VBS 2018 PHOTO ALBUM

2018 Make Fun Factory Bible School DVD sale

$7.00 Bible School went great this year and the kids all had a good time. We now have the PowerPoint presentation available for you to purchase for only $7.00. Now your family can enjoy all the pictures of the fun from Maker

Fun Factory VBS!!

Contact the church office at 815 625 0114 or see Jodi Perez to get your copy today!!

Coming in 2019 Rock Falls United Methodist Church’s Sesquicentennial

Celebrating……. 150 Years of our past- preparing for the next 150!

Logo/Slogan contest for the 150th Anniversary of the Rock Falls United Methodist Church.

Email office@rockfallsumc.org or

drop your ideas off to the church office.

All entries due by August 12th. Enter as many times as you’d like.

There will be a prize for the winning logo!

Ad Council Minutes, Thursday, July 19, 2018

Those present included Rod Brooks, Cliff Berge, Pastor Solomon, Jodi Perez, Donna

Brooks, Kevin Henson, Carol Siefken and Russ Siefken.

Devotion, Jodi Perez

Opening Prayer, Pastor Solomon

Finance – Have $2,460 in the bank and everything is paid. Have $25,280 in the Heritage Foundation.

Trustees – Checking out a leak in the Brandt room ceiling.

Church Women – August 1st meeting will be held at the YWCA beginning at 11 and then lunch. Program is Immigration 101 being presented by Elizabeth Schmelzel an Immigration Attorney visiting from DC. October 12, rummage sale, November 8, beef and noodle dinner and December 16 cookie sale.

150th Anniversary – Response has been great for trying to find a slogan for the event. Bishop has agreed to come August 18, 2019 for the celebration.

Christian Education – Very successful VBS. Preparing for confirmation for 6th, 7th and 8th graders.

Pastor’s report – On July 21st our church will be hosting our District Superintendent and the DeKalb District meeting.

Chair Report – Thanks to everyone for honoring their pledge this summer. Church can be run much better when we have funds available for our obligations.

Thanks to Jodi and everyone for the wonderful VBS. Thanks to Craig Wolfe for taking care of the yard and everyone else for helping around the church.

Next meeting will be held on Thursday August 16.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

12:15 Women’s Meeting 5:30PM Midweek Worship

2 3 4

5

9AM Worship

6 7

10:30 Heritage Meeting

8

5:30PM Midweek Worship

9

6PM Trustee’s Meeting

10 11

12

9AM Worship Bear Necessities Offering

13 14

10PM Bear Necessities Workday

15

4:30 Finance Meeting 5:30PM Midweek Worship

16

6PM Council Meeting

17 18

10AM-Noon Bear Necessities Pantry Open

19

9AM Worship Noisy Plate Offering

20 21 22

5:30PM Midweek Worship

23 24 25

26

9AM Worship

27 28 29

5:30PM Midweek Worship

30 31

August 2018

Non Profit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

Permit #48

Rock Falls, IL 61071

Rock Falls United Methodist Church 210 4th Avenue Rock Falls, IL 61071 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Office Hours Monday-Friday

9AM-12PM

Sunday Service 9AM Wednesday Service 5:30PM

Hope you have a wonderful And safe Summer