August, 2015 Christ United Methodist Church

Five years into their now 30-year marriage, Deanna “Dee” Mede and her husband, Eric, made a fairly rebel-lious decision. They chose to have their baby daughter, Jami, baptized. In a church. By a minister. Something even more rebellious lay ahead, though. “My parents were very anti-organized religion,” says Mede, who was appointed July 1 as an associate pastor at Christ United Methodist Church. “They did have me baptized, because they thought that was what parents were supposed to do. I did go to Sunday School for a year.” After a spat of some sort with their minister, however, her parents left the church. Every time they drove past the building afterward, her father would point and say, ‘That is everything that’s wrong with religion.” Nonetheless, something pulled Dee and Eric and their young daughters – Erica, the oldest, is now 27 and engaged, while Jami, 25, is wife to Curtis and mother to 4-year-old Derrick and 18-month-old Bobby – to the doors of Kingswood UMC in Buffalo Grove. “Eric and I walked in,” Mede says, “and it felt so right.” Mede soon began a life of service within her new church, first serving as director of Kingswood’s PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) outreach, where

members of the congregation serve meals to the homeless and provide a warm place to spend the night. She also volunteered at the church’s food pantry, traveled on mission trips and reported some big news to her family. “I announced to everyone that I was enrolling my girls in Sunday School so that they could make an educated deci-sion if they wanted to lead Christian lives,” she says. “My

parents were not happy. I became the black sheep.” When she took a Disciple I class, a different light illuminated – a light her parents also wouldn’t like. A light like the one that shined on Jonah, whom God kept calling whether Jonah want-ed to hear it or not. “It was a 32-week course that exam-ines every book of the Bible in a very in-depth way. You get into some seri-

ous discussions and reflect on what they mean to you,” Mede says. “I felt drawn into ministry.” Mede met with her pastor and began the formal process of moving toward her life’s true calling, which no longer was the physical therapy career she studied at Oakton Community College. The year was 1999. First, she needed to complete a bachelor’s degree, which she did at Roosevelt University in 2000, majoring in history with a minor in community development.

Go Your Own Way Pastor Dee brings bold spirit to Christ United Methodist Church

By Mark McGowan

The Flame

( Pastor Dee continued on Page 5)

Page 2

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul. “therefore I will hope in him” (Lamentations 3:22-24).

What renews you? Ever since my renewal leave from mid-June to early July, I’ve been asked many times how it was. The short an-swer is, my leave was wonderful. The next most common question is, “Were you really silent for five days? Seriously?” Clearly, the people who ask that second question have seen what a talker I can be (an observation confirmed by the fact that I get up and preach for 15-25 minutes most Sundays). In truth, I can be a very gregari-ous person. I love people and have many close relationships, but I also need a lot of time by myself. In particular, I need a lot of time alone to listen to the voice of God. So, for me, a silent retreat is heaven. For five days in June, I stayed at St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, MN (a monastery made popular by Kathleen Norris’ The Clois-ter Walk). The monks chant the psalms and share other prayers four times a day: at 7 a.m., noon, 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. I participated in this liturgy every day and absolute-ly loved it. There’s something powerful about sitting in a beautiful sanctuary, surrounded by monks, priests, and lay people, chanting together psalms that have now been chanted for centuries. When I wasn’t attending the pray-er services, I was reading, going for walks, eating lovely food, and sleeping (lots of sleeping). The weather in

A Word from the Senior Pastor

Minnesota was perfect (70s and clear), and I loved to sit outside to read or write in my journal. In the silence, I hear God’s voice more directly. I can reflect more deeply and rest at a deeper level as well. In a very busy, very talky life, times of silence feed my soul. Let me be clear: the fact that I love silence doesn’t mean I think it’s best for everyone. God works with each of us differently, and different temperaments are fed in differ-ent ways. Although I need silence and solitude, others need large group activities, with lots of talking and pro-cessing. In seminary, I studied a book called Prayer and Temperament, by Chester P. Michael and Marie C.

Morrisey. Using the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI), it offered suggestions for prayer forms most suitable for different tem-peraments. For example, certain social types will feel closest to God in group activities, such as group singing, work camps, or study groups with lots of discus-sion. Certain thinking types respond best to extended study of the Bible and devotional texts. Others need a lot of movement, and they find God in the solitude of a good, long run or a day of sailing.

The point of all this is that there’s no one way—or no RIGHT way—to be renewed in your spirit. What renews you? Let’s honor the practices and prayer forms that renew our own spirits, rather than trying to be something we’re not. I pray that you too are experiencing renewal this summer—renewal of body, mind and soul. Yours in Christ,

Jane

Journey with Jane

Alpine Center (MAILING ADDRESS FOR

BOTH CENTERS): 4509 Highcrest Road Rockford, Il 61107

Phone: 815-399-5910 Office Hours: Monday—Friday

8:30 a.m.—5:00 p.m.

Sunday Worship Services Blended Worship Services:

8:00 and 9:30 a.m. Celebration Service:

11:00 a.m.

Our Master’s Center 5973 Darlene Drive Rockford, Il 61109

Phone: (815)399-5910

Sunday Worship Service 9:30 a.m. Child care is available

Rev. Jane Eesley, Sr. Pastor jeesley@christumc.cc

Rev. Deanna Mede, Assoc. Pastor dmede@christumc.cc

Rev. Scott Himel, Assoc. Pastor shimel@christumc.cc

Welcome to Christ United Methodist Church!

Page 3

Christ UMC Mission Statement We will live out God’s vision as we

Gather: introduce people to Jesus Christ, Grow: move from believer to follower, and Go: make a Gospel impact beyond the church

The Flame is a monthly publication of Christ United Methodist Church, available by mail or online at www.christumc.cc. Editor—Linda Kuntz Features Writers—Don Black, Mark McGowan, Beth A. Palm Contributing Photographer— Joe Whinnery Director of Worship Arts and Communications—Jody Warren

John Mink Memorial Golf Outing

Saturday, August 8 at Aldeen Golf Club Lunch, 18 hole golf scramble, and dinner with silent auction at Giovanni’s

Individual and team rates. Dinner Only reservations also available.

Join us at the John Mink Memorial Golf Outing, honoring a dedicated CUMC member and Rockford community member who received a kidney transplant at UW Hospital and Clinics in Madison, one of the nation’s largest transplant programs. Funds raised will benefit kidney transplant patient assistance and donor awareness and edu-cation through UW Foundation. With more than 123,000 people in the U.S. awaiting organ transplant, the need is great. Please join us as we continue John’s legacy of helping those in need. Register online at http://johnmink.wix.com/golfouting or contact Barb Mink at 815-990-3590 or barb2817@gmail.com.

Page 4

CUMC Senior Fellowship Group Friday, August 21, at Noon Dining Room, Alpine Center

Come and join this group for those who are age 65 or better for a wonderful homemade lunch and fellowship with your friends. Watch for your postcard in the mail with up-to-date information about our August meeting. Call the church office at 815-399-5910 to make your reservation by Monday, August 17. Please join us!

WOWS Widows Or Widowers and Singles

Open to all single women age 65 and over

In August:

The WOWS will be going to the White Pines on Wednesday, August 19, to hear a musical tribute to George and Ira Gershwin. If you have not already signed up, please call Carol Letsinger at 815-399-1291 to make your reservation. The cost is $29. Please be at the Alpine parking lot by 10:20 am. We will be leaving at 10:30. Also, bring disposable razors for our donation.

In September: The WOWS will meet at Stone Eagle restaurant on E. State Street on Tuesday, September 15 for lunch at 12:30 pm. Please contact JoAnn Johnson at 815-633-8097 by Friday, September 11 if you plan on attending. Bring small travel size items such as toothpaste, deodor-ant, etc. or pocket Kleenex packs for donations.

In October: On Wednesday, October 21, the WOWS will have lunch at Nunzio’s. We will meet there at noon. For our personal care donation this month, please bring a travel/trial size item such as deodorant, toothpaste, bar soap, hair shampoo, etc. To make a reservation or if you have questions, call Sandi at 815-963-7634.

Scrapbooking/Stamping Saturday, August 15, 9:00 am—4:00 pm

Alpine Dining Room Stay for all day or just a half day - whatever fits your schedule. Stay for all day or just a half day—whatever fits your schedule. Not everyone in our group scrap-books. Some are stamping or working on other pro-jects so join us for a fun day of crafting! If children will be joining us, it's requested they be at least middle school age. Please bring money for a sandwich plus snack to share and your own beverage. Call Mary Hicks at 815-742-1136 with any questions.

Coins in August Coins contributed in August will go to the partnership our Annual Conference has with the Evangelical Meth-odist Church in Bolivia, which has more than 10,000 members. Global Ministries continue to collaborate with the ECMB through the work of the missionaries. Rural health care

Educational programs for children and youth

Improvement of drinking water systems

Ministry to older adults

Women’s leadership development

Adventure, sci fi, romance, comedy all in one

The Princess Bride

Movie night on Fri., Aug. 28 The Princess Bride (1987) is a fairytale told by a grand-father to entertain his sick grandson. It's a fantasy with humor, romance, and lots of adventure and bravery, rat-ed PG for adult situations and language. Rob Reiner directed the movie with Cary Elwes and Robin Wright Penn starring. Join us for good things to eat at the Al-pine Center Sacred Grounds Coffee House at 6:15 p.m., Friday, Aug. 28. The movie starts at 6:30. There's a discussion afterwards that will be over by 9:30. Join us for an evening out--all free.

Fellowship News; Rainbow Covenant

Page 5

Choir Director/Handbell Choir Director Christ United Methodist Church, is seeking a part-time director for an adult choir that sings two Sundays a month and a handbell choir that plays once a month during the school year. In addition, our second campus is seeking a part-time director for an adult choir that sings three times a month during the school year. Opportunities for directing summer choirs are available. Candidate must be able to work as part of a team, choose music from a variety of musical styles, recruit and challenge the choirs to make the music come alive within a positive and fun atmosphere.

Experience directing choirs and choosing worship music required. Candidates will be asked to prepare and teach music to the choirs as part of an audition. Preference will be given to candidates with piano proficiency. This position can be filled by one, two, or three people depending on skill level. Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter and any questions to humanresources@christumc.cc.

Three years later, she graduated from Garrett Evangeli-cal Theological Seminary with a master’s degree in Christian education. In June of 2003, she was ordained a deacon to Kingswood as minister of Youth, Adult Educa-tion and Missions. Her daughters were still young during this time, making the road a challenging one. “But I always felt like I was on the right track,” she says. “I don’t know why my call was so strong, but what kept me going was that God said, ‘Now that I have your at-tention, we’re going to keep going.’ My husband also felt like I was on the right track.” Deacons in the United Methodist Church can decide where they serve – they’re not moved at the discretion of the conference – and Mede initially believed that she had chosen wisely. Moreover, the job didn’t require her to deliver sermons. Good, Mede thought. “I was extremely nervous about preaching in front of people.” There was a problem, though: God had bigger plans, and Mede knew it. And so, in 2008, she returned to Garrett, this time to earn her master’s degree in divinity. She served as a stu-dent pastor in Neenah, Wis., in 2009 and, in 2011, was appointed to Zion UMC in Mendota, Ill., as a licensed local pastor. She embraced the new role fully, relinquishing her dea-con credentials to accept the itinerant life of United Methodist clergy.

( Pastor Dee continued from Page 1)

“The thing that I was terrified of before I now love. I love preaching,” Mede says. “I love being with people week in and week out on their faith journeys. I love bringing the love of the congregation with me when I visit someone in the hospital.” God smiled on Eric as well. A 30-year employee of Bernhard Woodwork in North-brook, where he’d climbed the ladder to supervisor, Eric left that job when the couple moved to rural LaSalle County. He soon was hired as a wood finisher at Cain Millwork in Rochelle – a town close to Mendota and, conveniently, Rockford as well. “Eric believes we are called together to do ministry,” Mede says. “When he first visited Cain, they said, ‘We’ve been waiting for you,’ and they gave him a job immediate-ly.” Meanwhile, Mede is happy to join a team of pastors with distinct voices, multiple points of view and lively discus-sions of scripture. “We have a wonderful bouncing of ideas,” she says. “The Holy Spirit works in that group.” Her role of lead pastor of the Our Master’s Center offers the best of both worlds. “It’s the love of a small congregation,” she says, “with all of the resources and support of a large church.”

Church News

Page 6

UMW Circle Schedule The United Methodist Women invite all women of the church to their circle meetings. Visitors are welcome and encouraged! To learn more about each circle, contact Carla White-Carpenter at 815-885-3425 Some circles do not meet in the summer.

Out to Lunch Bunch Thursday, August 27 at 12:30 pm

At Villa Di Roma, 915 S. Alpine (Across from Alpine Park/formerly Last Straw)

Italian, American & German Cuisine Sign up with Donna Kirk at 815-633-8068 or email at Jeffreyt_kirk_853@comcast.net.

Rebekah Circle It’s that time again! Our first meeting will be on Sept. 12 at 9:30 am in the Alpine Coffee House. Joy Hayag will be with us so we can become acquainted and learn more plans for the children’s ministry. We would welcome anyone to join us for a time of fellowship and renewal.

Martha Circle Martha Circle will once again meet on our regular day, Wednesday, September 9 at 12:30 pm. We will meet at Alpine Center in the Armstrong Lounge, with refresh-ments in Fellowship Hall. Our guest that day will be Rev. Deanna Mede, our new associate pastor. Please mark your calendar so we can give her a warm welcome. Please call Wilma at 815-877-3465 or Donna at 815-877-5381 with any questions.

UMW Greeting Cards at Alpine Center Greeting cards created by the UMW will be for sale on August 9 and 23. Please stop by our display and see what we have available. All proceeds go to missions.

Volunteer Opportunities for TLC There are many opportunities to volunteer and take part in a fun day at TLC on October 17. There are places to help in the craft sale, luncheon, bakery, or as a greeter. It is also a great way to meet some super people! If you would like to help or for more information, call Deb Laskey at 815-979-8555.

TLC Bake Sale We all like a homemade sweet treat and a popular place to purchase them is at the TLC Bake Sale. Last year the proceeds from the bake sale amounted to $1,305. We thank you for baking in the past and urge you to bake your favorite item again this year. Details to follow.

TLC Upscale Resale Booth We will once again have the upscale resale booth, which will feature women’s clothing and accessories in all sizes. Check through your fall and winter clothing and set aside your better, unwanted items. We will begin collecting them in September.

United Methodist Women News

Page 7

A Fresh Take...

The Youth Perspective By Cameron Geddes

People accuse westerners in general of being very small-minded when it comes to the global scale. While I don't necessarily agree with that assumption, I do think it's highly important for people of all ages and ethnicities to explore other parts of God's green earth. My 10 day trip to the People's Republic of China was eye-opening to say the least, and life changing to say the most. And, subsequently, it greatly affected my faith. China is not a God-fearing nation. They are officially an atheistic country, though most religions are accepted as long as they are within suitable parame-ters. To elaborate: It is alright to say that you are a Christian or that you have a particular set of views, but to try to implement your views into their faith can bring hostility. Their culture, in world history, was very sensitive to outside changes for thousands of years. To speak realistically, their culture and nation preceded Christ's birth. I actually set foot on places whose founda-tions were older than our coun-try. Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam only gained access to their country through sensitive mis-sionary efforts, efforts we should recognize and echo with our mis-sion today. It's an odd fact to rec-ognize that Christians are the odd ones out there. How-ever, we still should be careful in our efforts to spread God's love: An emphasis should be placed on under-standing them as both individuals and a culture, and respecting their past to bring Christ into their future. There are far more Buddhist shrines and tem-ples than churches in China (I think I saw perhaps one Judeo-Christian church in my whole time there, yet several temples): It's still a modern aspect of their life. In Shanghai (In Mandarin: "The city above the water") I witnessed modern monks offering incense to a mar-velous jade statue of the Buddha and praying for strength. And to be honest, it was a bit humbling: Can we judge them for their delicate, intricate, highly revered faith when we so often make our Christ the punch line of jokes and humor? Is being casual about our faith making it more approachable or diluting God's magnificence? While the word of God and the concept of discipleship to Christ were definitely not the most prominent thing publicly displayed there, I most

certainly caught very real glimpses of God during my tour. The rainy nights, the sunny days, the beautiful sights of the mountains and the simple chatter with the local people displayed a new side of God that I hadn't seen before: A God of exploration, and a God of majesty across boundaries. To try to explain it to you would be as fruitless as trying to grasp a star from earth: It simp-ly cannot be done unless you experience it yourself. There were 24 million people in two of the three cities I encountered. There were more sky rises in Shanghai than the entire American east coast combined. It wasn't unusual to see buildings that contained 1000-2000 people at a time. My point in saying these things? Instead of making jokes about "Made in China" or "Ching-Chong speak," we should respect the hundreds of years of work it took to make them an industrial su-perpower, and understand the deep roots built into

their pictogram based, highly evolved, historically important lan-guage. They're a people and a mas-sive country with a high respect for us, and whose kindness and com-passion graced me my entire trip: It hurts me now more than ever when people make unkind jokes about them. Our "Good Samaritan" attitude must extend beyond

oceans if we are to truly reflect Christ. As members of an American faith organization, our view of the world can be limited, even if we do our best to try to expand it. That's why we see such an out-pouring of curiosity and support for our international and cross country missionary trips such as Imagine No Malaria and Workcamp. These programs are a lens with which to see God's creation that's so outside of our daily lives. I would see it to be in our interest as a church to further examine our Abroad programs not only as a means of looking to share God's ministry as a way to reach others but as a way to let them, in turn, grow our faith and stabilize our foundations in Christ as well.

Note: Cameron went on a trip organized by the Chinese language teacher at Rockford Christian High School.

“...I most certainly caught very real glimpses of

God during my tour. The rainy nights, the sunny days, the beautiful sights of the mountains and the

simple chatter with the local people displayed a new side of God that I hadn't seen before:

A God of exploration, and a God of majesty across boundaries.”

Page 8

practices. If the choir sings at two Sunday services, then Mary Beth stays for both. As a child, Mary Beth’s first prosthesis was a “flower pot.” Her father explained that this allowed her to learn balance and to exercise. “I have the strongest abs in the world,” she said. “Instead of a 6-pack, I have a 12-pack.” At 9 months old she got her first set of mechanical arms, at Grand Rapids. She figures she’s had at least 50 sets over her 58 years, as she outgrew them and tried new ones. Her artificial legs are pretty much cosmetic, she ex-plained, although she can stand up on them, but not walk. However, the legs feel real. She weighs about 50 pounds. Her artificial arms on her shoulders look like football pads sticking up. She uses the right one to control a joy-stick on her power wheel chair and the other one to grasp objects. Mary Beth prefers the mechanical limbs instead of the more “high tech” ones which sometimes don’t work well. Mechanical prosthesis is more reliable and more accu-rate. At home her artificial arms and legs are removed and she is set into a molded “bucket,” which keeps her stable. She surfs the Internet with the help of a touch pad to her desktop computer. She controls the cursor with her chin. “It’s like Houston control in there,” Frank said about her room. From her chair she also controls a TV set, fan, telephone and two inter-coms. She enjoys playing games on the Internet, particularly Facebook. She enjoys “Spades Plus,” and “Call It.” But Mary Beth must be careful with her chin. “If I sneeze, it’ll click,” she said. She also reads online most of the time. Most of Mary Beth’s life has been in the Methodist Church. She explained that they came to Rockford in 1994, because her late brother got a job at Barber-

(Mary Beth Dyke continued from back page) Colman before he got sick. They attended Christ United Methodist Church at Pittsburgh, so when they saw the same name in Rockford, they had to check it out. They came and stayed. School wasn’t bad for Mary Beth while they lived in Michigan because all special education students were mainstreamed with regular classes, as in Rockford. When they moved to Pittsburgh, however, it was differ-ent. All of the special ed students were in one school. It was difficult, Mary Beth said, because some children were screaming or crying while she was trying to take a test. “It was like going backwards in time,” she said. Good times came in junior high school, when a special teacher brought in musicals. Mary Beth sang second so-prano. After graduating from high school in 1976, with a regu-lar diploma – not special education – Mary Beth took soci-ology, theater and speech classes at Alleghany Communi-ty College at West Mifflin, Pa. She loved improv theater. Today Mary Beth and her father tutor two fourth-graders at Marsh School, as a team. They are helping them to read English. She relies on her family 24/7. She can’t feed herself, go to the bathroom herself, or open the door, but she once had a dog that could. Her nephew Andrew, and Jenni, his wife, and their daughter, Alexandria “Lexi,” 4, live with them. That’s four generations. Many times when one sees Mary Beth, she has a sports bottle of water in front of her. Without limbs, she has less skin surface for perspiration to evaporate, so she sweats a lot, losing electrolytes. They frequently eat at Old Country Buffet, so they know the owner and meet a lot of people they know. “Everyone knows us at Woodman’s,” Frank explained, because they used to buy food there for the Wednesday Night Dinners. “It’s almost a social club.” “What I really need is more eyeballs,” Mary Beth quipped after the interview. Her father provided guidance for backing her wheelchair onto the lift and into their van because she can’t see much below or behind her.

Tender Loving Crafts Sale is October 17

Can you believe it? It’s only two months away! Are you working on your craft project? Saturday, October 17 will be the day for the 26th Annual Tender Loving Crafts Sale, sponsored by the United Methodist Women, with contribu-tions from all sectors of CUMC. The UMW booth will welcome items to include in their booth, so it is time to be thinking of what you could contribute. Need booth space? Please contact Diane Kirkland at 815-621-3118 for availabil-ity. Remember—all proceeds go to missions!

Page 9

Deena came to Christ UMC when her parents, Dayton and Susan Hunter moved to Rockford in 1966 when Rev. Sample was the pastor. Deena is the oldest child of the Hunter family. Three brothers share her Hunter family connections to Christ UMC. Deena married Dave Lantz at Christ Church in 1988 and they have three children: Alyssa, Jessie, and Andrew. Deena said she has wonderful memories of Sunday School when Gayle George was our Christian Education Director. She enjoyed her confirmation, UMYF, and the Youth Choir that performed cantatas in other churches with the leadership of Bill Kerr and Jim McKay. When asked about her favorite ways to live out her faith, Deena tells the stories of Workcamp. As a youth, she attended the first Workcamp the youth of our church attended in 1978 in South Carolina with Youth Director, Jim Mckay. They all took a train there. She said Doug and Ruth Yeager drove the tools down, meeting them there. They worked on porches and built outhouses. They had to go across the street to shower in their swimming suits with a hose outside the high school because they didn’t have showers to use. Deena has fun memories of working with the youth as a leader after she returned from college with Rev. Bob Atkins. She attended two Workcamps then with Group Ministries to West Virginia and North Carolina. She said later, “Patty started our family going to Work-camp by asking my dad (Dayton).” Pastor Patty Ander-son and Laura Widstrom created the Christ UMC

Deena Lantz

format of the Work-camp we now follow. Deena’s daughter Alyssa went to Workcamp in 2004. In 2006, Deena went as a leader to Broad-lands, Illinois and has gone every summer since. Deena explained that the strength of Christ UMC’s format for Workcamp is that the adult leaders make connections with the youth that come back home. She has had youth in her classes that she teaches at East High School who attended Workcamp. There is a special connection that comes from having spent that week together that makes a bond. She shared that when her dad Dayton turned 80 years-old, she published on Fa-cebook for people to share a message of “when you think of Dayton you…” She said so many Workcampers from all the years he spent at Workcamp sent him messages. Workcamp is church family making memories and bonds that last. Deena said, “One year — Workcamp 2008, Muskegon, MI — all 5 of us, Dayton, me, Dave, and all our children, Alyssa, Jessie, and Andrew were at camp together.” And then she said, “Oh, and my mom (Susan) had worked on the quilts, so she was there, too.” By Beth A. Palm

Your church family wants to keep in touch with you so that we can respond with prayer and visits by the pastors when you are in the hospital or have surgery scheduled. With the HIPAA privacy laws in place, hospitals don’t always let us know you’re a patient. So when you go into the hospital, please call us or have someone in your family call and let us know so a pastor can visit you. Often on Sunday mornings, people will mention things to the pastors or raise them during our sharing of prayers and concerns. It’s very difficult for the pastors to keep track of everything, remember everything in the rush and busyness of Sunday mornings. There are so many people talking to them, so many concerns to keep in mind. We want to make sure that nothing is overlooked and that your church family can be with you. You can call the church office at 815-399-5910 and talk to Linda Kuntz, Congregational Care Administrator, or email at lindakuntz@christumc.cc. We can then make sure that your needs are met, that we talk about the best way to address your issues, make sure the pastors are notified and arrange visits. WE are the church so let’s journey togeth-er in community.

“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”

Joachim Neander (1650-1680) Translated by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878)

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,

the King of creation!

O my soul, praise Him, for He is

thy health and salvation!

All ye who hear, now to His temple

draw near;

Join me in glad adoration!

Praise to the Lord, who o’er all

things so wondrously reigneth,

Shieldeth thee under His wings,

yea, so gently sustaineth!

Hast thou not seen how thy desires

e’er have been

Granted in what He ordaineth?

As a student in Bremen, Germany, Joa-chim Neander lived a godless life. Then, when Neander was twenty, a preacher named Under-Eyke came to Bremen and Neander was converted. Four years later he became headmaster of a school in Dusseldorf, and during his time there he wrote more than sixty hymns. Be-cause of his strong Christian views and his evangelistic activities, he displeased the au-thorities and was eventually removed from his position. Despite the tensions, he wrote many hymns of praise. He often wandered through the valleys and hills near Dusseldorf, com-muning with his Lord. After losing his posi-tion at the school, he lived for a time in a cave and continued to write hymns. He died very young at the age of thirty, but he left behind him a legacy of praise to God.

Taken with permission from The One Year Great Songs

of Faith,

Page 10

Praise to the Lord, who doth

prosper thy work and defend

thee;

Surely His goodness and mercy

here daily attend thee.

Ponder anew what the Almighty

can do.

If with His love He befriend

thee.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that

is in me adore Him!

All that hath life and breath,

come now with praises before

Him!

Let the amen sound from His

people again;

Gladly forever adore Him.

As you may recall, we had sign-ups last year which mapped your Schnucks cards to Christ United Methodist Church. This program was called E-Scrip. The finance committee is happy to inform you that we now have about $120.00 per month coming to us as a result of your shopping at Schnucks. Thank you! There is another program offered through E-Scrip where our church could receive 2.5% of your dining bill at partici-pating restaurants. Local restaurants participating in this program now are Pearl Bistro and Gene’s Place. There are some national chains that also participate, including Lone Star Steakhouse. Just visit http://escrip.rewardsnetwork.com/ to register your credit card and choose your charity…. Christ United Methodist Church. When you use the card, any earned rewards will be calculated. Pastor Jane has already earned some rewards for us. There is one more opportunity for you to shop and share with CUMC. Go to https://smile.amazon.com. It’s easy to find Christ United Methodist Church to choose as your charity. The church will receive 0.5% of the total amount you spend. You’ll log on to Smile.amazon.com each time you shop, but the rest of the experience will be just as it is for Amazon.com. None of these programs will cost you any more than you intended to spend, but Christ UMC will reap some reward. Please consider reviewing these income opportunities for Christ UMC.

Getting to Know Hymn

Thank you for taking CUMC shopping with you...

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Alpine Center Schedule 8:00 am Worship Hour No Sunday School - nursery child care is available in

the Nursery 9:30 a.m. Worship Hour

Infants and Toddlers: Nursery

All children begin in the Sanctuary and are dismissed after Children's Message (except on the first Sunday of the month)*

Pre-School(4)-5th Grade—Lower Level Sunday School Room 7.

Every first Sunday of the month* Kindergarten-5th grade children at the 9:30 am Alpine worship center will begin down-stairs. We will all come up together to take communion and then return to our Sunday School classrooms.

11:00 a.m. Worship Hour

Infants and Toddlers: Nursery

All children begin in Sanctuary and are dismissed after Children's Message.

Pre-School(4)-5th Grade—Lower Level Sunday School Room 7.

Note: Communion is every Sunday for the children and they will join their parents after communion time.

Our Master’s Center Schedule 9:30 a.m. Worship Hour

Infants: Nursery

Pre-School-Kindergarten: Nursery

1st-6th Grade: Begin in Sanctuary, dismissed downstairs for Sunday School following the Children’s Message

To ensure safety for our children, we ask that you please pick up your child from their Sunday School room.

Greetings! I hope you are all enjoying summertime. Some of you are probably on vacation or at camps and on road trips. I just wish you wonderful summer fun and great family time as well. Blessings to you all. Joy Hayag

Announcements for August Parents’ Sunday is being observed on August 9. We encourage you all to greet your parents and enjoy the day that the Lord has given to us as a family. Summer Sunday School is ongoing and we are still look-ing for Sunday School volunteers. Just email Joy Hayag at jhayag@christumc.cc. The dates will be from now until our regular Sunday School schedule begins on September 13. Sunday School coordinators will be having a meeting on Wednesday, August 12 at 2:00 pm at the Alpine Coffee House. If you want to be on the team, come and join us! To all Parents: There will be a Blessing of the Back Packs on Sunday, August 23 at all services in both Centers. Please bring your children and their back packs and both will be blessed for the upcoming school year.

Thank you again to our wonderful VBS 2015 staff!

Children’s Ministry News

August 1 Cliff Gray Carol Letsinger Danny McMullen Jerry Nagles Taylor Powell August 2 Evelyn Fox Jessica Flondro Sue McMillin August 3 Betty Fisher Greg Hansen Reed Schrank Sue Spitzer Mike Stroup Richard Wang Melissa Bielefeldt August 4 Alison Bockhop Luise Walter August 5 Jim Hellmich Alex Hornsby Mike Smith August 6 Amber Bennett Susan Hunter Alexis Roach August 7 Gracie Barkley Riley Flodin Kristin Frey Kim Jacobsen Diane Kirkland Matt Miner Dani Ogilby Jane Stuttler Genna Umenhofer August 8 Jacob Benner Chelsea Paraggua Erin Powell Jennie Shourek

August 9 Keith Carr Karlen Crane Vyen Hayag Colleen Hepfer Kay Leeson Elaina Murray August 10 Amanda Armstrong Anna Giacolone Steve Hudgin Ian Gustafson Eugene Lietz Sarah Varland Joan Wallem August 11 Dawn Truitt Rachael Williams Elizabeth Enderle August 12 Patty Armstrong Helen Englehart Elizabeth Freethy Bev Johannes Virginia O’Brien Debbi Thurston August 13 Jonah Barkley Julianna Edwards Bob Hicks Deb Price Jaci Riggins Eric Riha Scott Springer August 14 Richard Cooper Grace Jewell Martin Lurvey Kamryn Mattis Noah Reisetter Donna Simmons Nancy Villani August 15 Beckie Dzik Ralph Erickson Jane Gottlick Ken Harper Maurice Lin Ed Rounds August 16 Lawrence Kisseih Jordan Last Natalie Magnus Elena Saez-Gimeno

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August 17 Jaime Arreguin Hailey Hunter Shae Page Jeff Watts Carol Wehmeyer August 18 Becky Childs Jenny Hunter Lee Johnson Betty Mumma Madilyn Taylor August 19 Zoe Beard Dennis Gay Karen Hornsby Rebecca Mann Thatcher Muldowny Tom Schwalbach Randy Volz August 20 Dean Dion Deb Laskey Lori Umenhofer Marla Wainwright August 21 Josalynn Cooper Marla Raffety Houston Mahurin August 22 Doreen Bailey Emma Harper Joyce Reeves Linda Wyatt William Rodgers August 23 Wolfie Layng Lenore Lund Sue Pedersen Jack Schroeder August 24 Chris Gillette Michelle Hult Carter LaPour Elson Miller Betty Nelson Dennis Rinaldi August 25 Louis Cacciatore Jillian Eilers Debbie Gustafson Mary Padgett John Truitt

August 26 Nancy Watson Sheryl Masters Sue Tipton August 27 Sandy Aarvig Risë’ Barker Priscilla Carr Megan Gale Mark Lundvall Kailynn Poynor Teri Reynolds Paul Sackley Rich Schultz August 28 Chad Atkinson Vivian McKelvey Gretchen Poffinbarger August 29 Timothy Budden Rich Fisher Kyle Kneller Preston Mayberry Jeff Nevel Ella Prentice Jeanne Steinmetz Karen Weedman DJ Williams August 30 Joseph Bradel Jordan Kurth Carol Parker Susan Pomatto Dawn Russell Jason Woodard August 31 Emily Myers Becky Vitale

Birthdays

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August 1 Kyle and Deanna Murray Erik and Beth Palm Sandy and Marco Revoredo Amy and Paul Seiler Shelly and Tom Watson August 3 Kent and Terri Kobler Dennis and Susan Sweeney August 4 Steve and Jean Randel Tami and Dan Rezin August 5 Steve and Sherry Brandon August 6 Chad and Teresa Hageman Stefani and Jason Mays August 7 Jody and Mike Warren August 8 Lane and Sue Martin Barry and Nancy Smith August 9 Jeff and Susan Baldwin Mark and Angela Kneller Doug and Nancy Otwell August 10 Jessica and Brian Crombie Lenore Lund and John DeWaters August 11 Bill and Chelsea Collins Jerilyn Halpin and Don Schauer Kendel and Matthew Knudson August 12 Jane and Peter Gottlick Jan and Bob Noble Paul and Joan Wallem August 13 Morrie and Carol Earnest Phil and Sally Plath

The Church is People

Baptism: Austin James Riha, son of Adam and Aimee Riha, on July 12

Wedding: Congratulations to Alex Sarver and Ashlee Saxton, who were married on July 11

Sympathy to: Sandra Chhatpar on the death of her brother, Orloff Miller Nancy King, on the death of her mother, Virginia Way Dean and Doris Dion, on the death of their son, Daniel Barry and Nancy Smith, on the death of Nancy’s mother

August 14 Michael and Sherrill Muller August 15 Art and Fran Kneller Beth and Bill Lipton August 16 Penny and Bill Cacciatore Phil and Karen Grover Bonnie and Tom McLeod August 17 Caroline and Barry Mikels Paul and Michelle Myers Craig and Debbie Rogers Ed and Mary Anne Rounds Daniel and Lisa Sargent August 18 Jack and Connie Croffoot Ryan and Kari Cullen August 19 Lee and Sully Sullivan August 20 Dave and Cheri Carlson Norm and Pat Hagman Ray and Wilma Porter August 21 Ann and John Daniels Jack and Barb Hansen August 22 Jeff and Donna Kirk Jim and Sandy Welte August 23 Jane and Steve Kiley Deb and Bob Laskey Jerry and Meredith Nagles August 24 David and Sandy Aarvig Jennifer and Jeff Bockhop Jeff and Jean Kearney Dana and Brenda Kiley Rex and Carol Parker Tom and Britta Peterson

August 26 Roger and Jackie Dawson John and Tammy Schmitt James and Linda Wyatt August 27 Denise and Todd Eilers Margaret and Roger Newell Darcy and Michael Wilson Julia and Brad Zimmerman August 28 Don and Suzy Black Bruce and Gloria Lauher August 29 Brian Istad and Debbie Schaefer-Istad Amy and Mike Nelson Jim and Pat Vandiver August 30 Mike and Lynda Moser August 31 Terry and Gretchen Poffinbarger Erik and Charisse Stram

Anniversaries; The Church is People

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From Carol Fleming I would like to thank all the CUMC crafters, especially Emily Dilonardo who made a prayer shawl for me which was delivered by Dorothy Peters and Delores Anderson. My radiation treatments are done and all went well. Thanks to all who wished me well during this phase of treatment. I am very thankful that I will not have to have chemo.

Summer Feeding Program The summer feeding program at Our Master’s Center, which was featured on the cover of the June, 2015 issue of The Flame, has been cancelled due to lack of children and families who requested help through this program at this location. Many thanks to Linda Slife and others who vol-unteered to help with this program.

From Sandra Chhatpar Thank you for the outpouring of love and caring you have shown me upon the death of my brother, Orloff W. Miller. I am so thankful I have you as my church family.

From Bonnie Holmgaard I wish to thank you all for your prayers and concerns. It is the most wonderful feeling to know that there are so many wonderful people who care for others when there are troubling, worrisome things happen-ing in their lives. I am so thankful for this wonderful church family that I belong to. Thank you all so very much.

Bag It Sunday Through your generosity, Bag It Sunday was again a huge success. More than 908 pounds of non-perishable food was donated. This is more than 100 pounds above what was donated last year. Clients of both Christ the Carpenter’s food pantry and the Rock River Valley pantry benefited from your giving. On behalf of those experiencing a food crisis, both organ-izations expressed their extreme gratitude. Thank you for caring for those in need.

From Pastor Dee and Eric Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! We are blessed with all the necessities and treats that you “Pounded” us with. As you can see in the picture, our house is now nice-ly stocked. Eric and I feel loved and welcomed through your very generous gifts. We look forward to getting to know you better, and getting to know your names and faces. Thank you again for your warm welcome.

From Carol Risenhoover, Director of Satur-day Kids Club at Centennial UMC

I am pleased that you selected SKC for your Rainbow Covenant gift in July. I feel that Christ UMC is truly a partner with Centennial given all the support you give our SKC program. In addition to your financial support so many of Christ’s members volunteer their time to support the program. We are very grateful. SKC is an outreach program of Centennial UMC. We are in our 21st year. We serve about 25 to 30 kids each week. SKC is a multicultural program with Hispanic, African American, Caucasian children and children from Burma in attendance.

Thank You Notes

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Do you have a church key? If you have a key to any of the church buildings that you are not using, please turn them in to the church office by August 31 so we can complete our key inven-tory. Thank you for your help!

Congratulations to CUMC Members and Friends

Jacki Gommel was named Woman Business Owner of the year during the Rockford Chamber of Commerce’s annual Women in Business Expo and Luncheon. Jacki formed her own business, Gommel Design, in 1995. At the same luncheon, Connie Vitali, M.D., received the Woman Manager of the Year award. She serves as chair-man of the department of pathology and medical director of the lab at Rockford Memorial Hospital. Congratulations to Pam Wilson who is celebrating 35 years of service in microbiology at the lab at Rockford Memorial Hospital.

Katrina Reunion Information August 22 and 23

CUMC hosted several trips to help clean up in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. St. Paul UMC (CORE) in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, will be having a 10 year reunion for all those who helped with the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts at St. Paul on August 22 and 23, 2015.You can RSVP on the CORE Reunion web page http://www.stpaulos.org/katrina. If you need addi-tional information send an email to core@stpaulos.org.

Attention Snowbirds! If anyone is planning to spend the winter in another location and would still like to receive your mail from the church, please contact the church office with the following information: 1. The address where you will be staying 2. The starting and ending date that you wish to re-

ceive mail at the address. Contact the church office at 815-399-5910 or email Mowbrays@christumc.cc with this information. Thank you for your assistance!

Congratulations to Sam and Carol Parkinson

Sam and Carol have sold their home in Rockford and have moved to Wisconsin to be closer to their son and family. Sam’s role as Facility Manager at CUMC concluded on Tuesday, June 30. In the interim, Travis King will be working part time doing the mowing of CUMC properties, along with some light maintenance/repairs, until we are able to discern our facility manager needs moving into the future. We miss Sam on our staff and wish both Sam and Carol all the best in their new home.

Update on Pastor Lora Zink Pastor Lora’s home in Coal City, IL was destroyed in a tornado in late June. Since then she has been living with her twin sister in Minooka. She got everything out of her home that she could salvage and put the items in storage. Everything is now on hold while the insurance company processes her claim. It’s not clear when rebuilding will begin. In the meantime, she’s planning to rent a home in Minooka in September until her home is rebuilt. With 869 homes damaged or destroyed in the storm, she says she feels that she’s in a holding pattern and details are moving at a “turtle’s pace.” She appreciates all of the prayers from our congregation as she moves forward with plans for the future.

Photo Directory Update Some of the photographs taken for the upcoming church directory have been sent to the church office. These photographs can be picked up on Sunday morn-ings at church in the Alpine Fellowship Hall – located in the blue file box at the Connection Center. They can also be picked up in the church office Monday through Friday, between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm.

General News

Short-Term Classes and Groups

To sign-up for any of the short-term classes listed below and to order the book for your class, please contact Linda Kuntz via phone (815-399-5910) or e-mail (lindakuntz@christumc.cc). Alternatively, you can sign-up for any short-term classes at the Connection Center found in the narthex at both centers a few weeks before the start date of the course. You may also purchase and pick-up your class book from the Connection Center at that time.

Title: Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It By Adam Hamilton

Three class times available:

Teacher: Rev. Scott S. Himel Start Date: Wed., September 23rd Meeting Time: 3:00 to 4:30 PM Meeting Frequency: Weekly # of sessions: 6 Location: Alpine Dining Room Teacher: Rev. Jane Eesley Start Date: Wednesday, September 23rd Meeting Time: 6:00 to 7:30 PM Meeting Frequency: Weekly # of sessions: 6 Location: Alpine Dining Room Teacher: Rev. Deanna Mede and Don Stark Start Date: Thursday, September 24th Meeting Time: 9:30 to 11:00 AM Meeting Frequency: Weekly # of sessions: 6 Location: Coffee House/Conference Room @ Our Master’s Center Note: This is the on-going Thursday Our Master’s Group. After this six-week study concludes, they will continue reading other books

together.

Description: John Wesley’s message and his faith contin-ue to speak to 21st-century Christians—calling for a revival of our hearts and souls so that our world might be changed. Our church joins Adam Hamilton, author and Senior Pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, for a six-week journey as Hamilton takes us to England, following the life of John Wesley and exploring his defining characteristics of a Wesleyan Christian. Wesley’s story is our story. It defines our faith and it challenges us to rediscover our spiritual passion.

Title: Disciple Bible Study: Level II Co-Teachers: Krina Goss and Don Black Start Date: TBD Meeting Time: 6:00 to 8:30 PM (15 minute break at 7:15 PM) Meeting Frequency: Weekly # of sessions: 33 Location: Alpine Chapel Note: Disciple II is open to everyone; even if you have not completed Disciple I. Description: Have you ever wanted to learn more about Scripture? Do you want to be equipped to serve in new leadership roles in the church? Do you want to build lasting relationships with other church mem-bers? If any of these three questions pique your inter-est, then Disciple Bible Study is just for you! It should be stressed up-front that a commitment is required to participate in this course. It is expected that you will be able to attend at least 90% of the classes, and that you can commit 2½ hours of devotional time to your Bible and the DBS materials in-between each class session. Before you decide if DBS is right for you, please consider attending the orientation session a week before the first class from 6:00–7:00 PM in the Alpine Coffee House. During this time, Krina Goss and Don Black will outline all that DBS in-volves, and why it is such a transformative experience for many attendees!

Title: Advent Book Study Teacher: TBD Start Date: Wednesday, November 4th Meeting Time: 6:00 to 7:30 PM Meeting Frequency: Weekly # of sessions: 6 Note: Class will not meet November 25th due to Thanksgiving. It will end on December 16th. Location: Alpine Conference Room Description: Book information will be released later this fall.

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Title: Tuesday Book Group Teacher: Mary English Location: Alpine Trinity Building Start Date: January 6th Meeting Time: 6:30-8:00 PM Meeting frequency: Weekly. Break for summer. Description: This is a book club format. Books for the fall will be announced in the official fall 2015 Adult Education Brochure, which will be released near the end of August.

Title: Men’s Holy Club – Bible Study Class Two group times available: Facilitator: Don Stark Meeting Time: Wednesdays, 9:00–10:00 AM Meeting Frequency: Weekly Location: Alpine Conference Room Facilitator: Jeff Baldwin Meeting Time: Saturdays, 8:00–9:00 AM Meeting Frequency: Weekly Location: Alpine Coffee House Description: All welcomed! Group Study of the Bible. No homework, just come. The group reads the chapter of Scripture in class, then we discuss your questions or thoughts. The various opinions, and questions make this a special chance for everyone to grow in their understanding of Scripture.

Title: Thursday Our Master’s Group Facilitator: Don Stark Location: Coffee House/Conference Room @ Our Master’s Center Meeting Time: Thursdays from 9:30–11:-00 AM Meeting Frequency: Weekly Description: The group reads the passage for the day and discusses it. Usually reading/discussing various books, such as by authors Adam Hamilton, Max Lucado, etc. Good fellowship combined with learning opportunities. Come as often as you want.

Title: MOM Connection Facilitators: Megan Abbott & Alicia Arthur Meeting Time: 9:30 AM Meeting Frequency: 2nd/4th Fridays of every month. Location: Alpine Coffee House Description: Mom Connection is a place to relax and connect with other moms. Some weeks we have a pro-gram or speaker, and other weeks are just for fellowship. Childcare is always available.

Title: Senior Fellowship Facilitator: Linda Kuntz Meeting Time: Noon–2:00 PM Meeting Frequency: On the third Friday of each month. Location: Alpine Dining Room Description: A group open to seniors, age 65 or better. Meets on the third Friday of each month. We have a homemade lunch, fellowship, and a program to follow.

Title: Scrapbooking/Crafting Facilitator: Mary Hicks Meeting Time: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Meeting frequency: 3rd Saturday of every month Location: Alpine Dining Room Description: Scrapbooking, stamping, and crafting. Childcare will be provided from 9 a.m. to noon, if requested. If children participate it's requested they be at least middle school age. Everyone is to bring money for lunch, a snack to share, and their own drink.

Title: Sermon Discussion Group Teacher: TBD Meeting Time: Immediately following the Alpine 9:30 AM worship service Meeting Frequency: Weekly Location: Alpine Armstrong Lounge Description: The spiritual leading that began with a sermon probably would be enriched by sharing with another. Isn’t our faith experience worth taking it to that next level with another worshipper? Bring your Bible and let’s talk about what we heard and what it means to our faith journey.

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On-Going Classes and Groups

Christ United Methodist Church 4509 Highcrest Road

Rockford, Il 61107

Address Service Requested

Next Flame Deadline: August 20

Non-Profit Org. U.S Postage

PAID Permit #3336

ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS

Articles may be e-mailed to lindakuntz@christumc.cc or mailed/brought to the church office by the deadline date.

Getting to Know You: Mary Beth Dyke by Don Black

Check out our website:

www.christumc.cc

The congregation at Christ United Methodist Church has a few people who often are noticed at its services, but rarely seen. That is, their presence is noted but their individualism is not. One of those people is Mary Beth Dyke, who sits in her powered wheelchair – with artificial arms and legs – in the same spot each Sunday. It’s not that people don’t care, she believes. It’s mostly because they don’t know how to approach her. But Mary Beth knows how. “I say ‘Hi,’ ” she said during a recent interview. “I try to get them at ease.” Of course, she also has friends who chat with her each Sunday. A claim to fame is when she met Lady Bird Johnson, first lady of then President Lyndon B. Johnson. The family were tourists in Washington, D.C., when the First Lady’s limo pulled up and she saw Mary Beth. “Hello there,” Lady Bird said. A young Mary Beth re-plied – to the chagrin of her mother – “We’re Republi-cans.” “Honey, I was too, before I got married,” the First La-dy replied. She found where they were staying and sent VIP tickets and stuff. Most people know Mary Beth’s folks, Frank and Betty Dyke. They started the Wednesday Night dinners, after

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Mary Beth’s brother died in 1997 from a brain tumor. As Frank explained it, “It was a means of grief recovery. It demanded a lot of our atten-tion all week.” Betty was into singing and art, and raising a 3-year-old son at the time of Mary Beth’s birth. Frank was an industrial salesman at Westinghouse Electric Corp., for big motors, generators and transformers in Detroit. When carrying Mary Beth, Betty had German measles, which stopped the development of Mary Beth’s limbs, making her a congenital quadruple amputee. They lived in Westland, a small town between Detroit and Ann Arbor. Nine years later they moved to Pitts-burgh, Pennsylvania. Today children sometimes ask Mary Beth if she lost her arms. “I explain that I didn’t lose anything, because I nev-er had any,” Mary Beth said. The rest of her is normal. The Sanctuary Choir certainly knows Mary Beth. She’s become its mascot at Alpine Center. “But I don’t wear a costume,” she joked. She accompanies her father to choir