The Means of Grace June 2019

CHURCH LEADERSHIP

Matthew J. Smith, Pastor

Office Phone: 815-868-2324

Cell: 815-821-2677

Email: 2tim116@gmail.com

Office Hours: Wed. 9-4:30 pm or

by appointment

Tim Mulhall, Office Admin.

Cell: 815-275-8388

Email: mcconnellumc@yahoo.com

Susan Coomber, Church Council

Cell: 815-985-3778

Ernest Stabenow II, Staff-Parish

Cell: 815-238-2472

Rita Schindler, Finance

Phone: 608-966-3432

Roger Thruman, Trustees

Phone: 815-868-2386

NEWLETTER & BULLETIN DEADLINES

Bulletin Info Due Weekly on Wednes-

day

Praising our Lord in Worship every Sunday at 10:30 am

Greeter: Pat Miller & Dorothy Montgomery

Litergists: Judy Rampenthal – June 2

Sandra Klontz – June 9

Sue Anderson - June 16

Tillie Coomber - June 23, 30

Children’s Time: Judy Rampenthal - June 2, 16

Cathy Stabenow - June 9, 23

PRAY FOR HEALING

Robert Mulhall Pam Becker

LuAnn Jordan Lance Thruman

Those suffering from illness and injury

OUR SHUT-INS

Bonnie Stubbe John Ammon

Clifford Reuber Jerry Hastings

Our family and friends in care facilities and hospital

Our loved ones in nursing homes and care facilities

Sunday, June 9

10:30 am

Help us celebrate

Pentecost by wearing

RED!

~Pastor Donna

My name is Donna Hoffman. I am a Licensed Local Pastor (LLP) in the Rockford District of the Northern Illinois

Conference. Over the past 8 years, I have served in two appointments: Apple River and Warren UMCs from

2011-2014 and Mt. Carroll UMC from 2014-2019 During these years, I was enrolled in seminary in the Course

of Study track. I began my education at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and completed my educa-

tion at St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas just last summer in 2018. Yes, it took seven years, but I have to

say that it was the most rewarding, challenging, and at times, very overwhelming experience of my life. I do

not regret it for a moment. I have grown spiritually, theologically, and have grown even more deeply in love

with God. While I still have much to learn (don’t we all) this education has enhanced my ability to be a Pastor

and to serve wherever God places me.

I have three grown children, all married with their own children. My oldest son, wife and their two children

live in Naples, Florida. My daughter lives in Lubbock, Texas with her family. My youngest son and his family

live on our family farm in South Wayne, Wisconsin.

One month after I began my first appointment, my husband of 28 years passed away from pancreatic cancer.

It was not exactly the way I planned to begin this journey, but God has been so very faithful. In my first year

in seminary, I met a woman in class and we became immediate friends. She was a cancer survivor and was in

remission at that time. Two years later, the cancer returned and she passed away in June of 2014. I had met

her husband during seminary a couple times and we chatted very briefly at her memorial service. As he (his

name is Chuck Wolbers) began to experience his own call to ministry, we reconnected, not intending or look-

ing for a romantic relationship. God had other plans. At Annual Conference 2015 we shared a meal and con-

versation together that led to more meals and conversations and on April 20, 2017 Chuck and I were mar-

ried! We feel so very blessed and so grateful for this newness of life. He now serves as pastor of Stockton:

Wesley and Willow/Kent UMCs.

My gifts for ministry include preaching and teaching God’s word. I come alive in the pulpit, not because I

think I’m “all that”, but I am passionate about discipleship and love the Lord deeply. I get excited when I see

the Holy Spirit at work in others’ lives and see them grow in their own faith. I love mission and outreach pro-

jects and doing hands-on ministry with others. I believe we are all ministers, called to life and ministry to-

gether. I am very outgoing by nature and am very comfortable meeting new people. I am looking so forward

to forming new relationships with and serving all of you! God’s peace be with you.

On behalf of Lisa, Lily and Alex, I write this note to all our friends

at McConnell UMC. We want you to know that we love you all

very much and we are beyond grateful for the ways that you have

loved and supported us during these past few years. While we

wish this day didn’t need to happen, we firmly believe that God is

leading us to a place where we can all be healed and made whole

again. We celebrate with you all that we have accomplished during

this time, ask for forgiveness for any way we may have uninten-

tionally caused harm, and pray for Pastor Donna and the ways in which she will help

take this congregation to even greater heights for God’s glory. Each and every one of

you will hold a special place in our hearts and the memories that we have had here will

be treasured and remembered. We wish all of you peace and happiness, and may God be

with you all now and forever.

Blessings,

Pastor Matt

BIRTHDAYS

9 - Rhonda Scheider 14 - Cindy Heid 26 - Pastor Matt Smith

9 - Sandy Shippy 15 - Susan Coomber

9 - Sue Scheider 21 - Jenny Bronkema ANNIVERSARIES

10 - Lonnie Klontz 23 - Todd Diffenderfer 1 - Brad & Jenny Milliken

10 - Derek Orr 24 - Steve Scheider 12 - Randy & Marilyn Diddens

11 - Rita Schindler 25 - Sheila Bawden

Pastor Matt’s Farewell Potluck

Saturday, June 15

10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Lena Lions Park

Bring a dish to pass

“Change For Life” Baby Bottle Campaign

Don’t forget to fill those baby bottles with your loose

change, bills, or checks for the

Freeport Pregnancy Center.

Your full bottles need to be returned to the church by

Father’s Day Sunday, June 16th

Pastor Matt’s June Schedule June 2nd - 4th– Annual Conference

June 17 - 29th - Vacation

June 2nd - Self-Control

June 9th - Joy (Pentecost Sunday)

June 16th - Faithfulness (Pastor Matt’s last full service)

June 24th - Ernie Stabenow guest preaching June 30th - Transition Service w/Pastor Donna

Church Council Meeting

Wednesday, June 19 7 pm All church members are encouraged to attend our meetings

VBS ROAR 2019

Sunday

July 21

Thursday

July 25

All Pre-K thru 6th Grade Children

6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

RSVP to Jenn @ 815-291-5869

Grace Free Methodist Church Downtown McConnell, Illinois

The Lake Le-Aqua-Na Park Ministry

At Hickory Hills Campgrounds

Saturday evenings at 6:30 pm (bring lawnchairs)

June 8 - Dave & Duska Ruter

June 15 - His Angels

June 22 - Red Bird Country

June 29 - Beloved Church Worship Team

July 6 - Tyger Johnson One-Man Band

July 13 - Professions of Faiith

July 20 - Warren UMC Praise Team

July 27 - Gone Fishin’

August 3 - Pilson Family

August 10– Alleluia Quartet

August 17 - Set Free

August 24 - Grace Free Methodist Praise Team

August 31 - Deb Leininger

211 N. Hulbert Rd. PO Box 97

McConnell, IL 61050

www.McConnellUMC.org

JOIN US IN WORSHIP:

Sunday Worship - 10:30 am

Youth Group - On Summer Recess

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED