Special Weekends in MaySpecial Weekends in MaySpecial Weekends in MaySpecial Weekends in May

May 3May 3May 3May 3————Confirmation SundayConfirmation SundayConfirmation SundayConfirmation Sunday Please join us in honoring our Confirmation Students. Students will be confirmed the 8:45 service on Sunday morning. There will be a cake reception following the 8:45am service on Sunday morning. This year 5 will be confirmed: Erin Arsenault, Emily Clinton, Danielle Eckerty, Dalton Heavilin, and Megan Moody.

Students will read statements of personal belief at all services, with the rite of confirmation taking place at the 8:45 service. We will remember our own baptisms and commission at all three services as well. May 9/10May 9/10May 9/10May 9/10————Mother’s DayMother’s DayMother’s DayMother’s Day There will be opportunity to honor and remember the

mothers in our lives. Donations to Cunningham Children’s Home in Urbana and the Gibson City Food Pantry at Shepherd’s Closet can be given in honor/memory by contacting the office or using the slips in the bulletins the last

weekend in April and the first weekend in May. May 9/10May 9/10May 9/10May 9/10————Recognition of Youth Recognition of Youth Recognition of Youth Recognition of Youth Programming VolunteersProgramming VolunteersProgramming VolunteersProgramming Volunteers We will be recognizing all of the volunteers who have helped with our youth programming this year at the 8:45 worship service on Sunday May 10th. So many have volunteered their time during the past school year to help plant the seeds of God’s love in not only the youth of our church, but the youth in this community. We would like to thank you for your passion and dedication to the kids of all ages.

May 17May 17May 17May 17————Graduation SundayGraduation SundayGraduation SundayGraduation Sunday Please join us at both worship services on Sunday to honor our graduates. There will be a brief reception following the 8:45 service.

May 23/24May 23/24May 23/24May 23/24————Memorial Day Memorial Day Memorial Day Memorial Day WeekendWeekendWeekendWeekend Please join us in worship this weekend. Patriotic music will be shared.

May Sermon SeriesMay Sermon SeriesMay Sermon SeriesMay Sermon Series————PotpourriPotpourriPotpourriPotpourri We have a busy month in May with a variety of speakers including youth and young adults. May 2/3—Pastor Megan Thompson and Confirmands May 9/10—Barb Horsch & Morgan Hazen May 16– Pastor Megan May 17—Jess Davenport, Campus Minister ISU May 23/24—John Tennyson

Cookout for Missions Cookout for Missions Cookout for Missions Cookout for Missions

Our Memorial Day cookout for missions will be on Saturday, May 23rd from 10am-2pm at County Market. Invite your friends and family! Grillers, servers, eaters and dessert makers will all be needed for this fun event. It’s a great opportunity to share smiles and good food in service to our community. Watch for a sign up sheet (for workers and dessert donations) in the hallway outside the office. Hope to see you there!

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Visit us at gcumc3.org or Find us on Facebook: “Gibson City UMC”

Pastors—John Tennyson Megan Thompson Church Phone 217-784-5452 Church Email gcumc@sbcglobal.net

Saturday • 5:30pm—Casual Worship Sunday • 8:45am—Traditional Worship

Sunday • 11:00am—Contemporary Worship

Sunday School—10:00am

Invite, Connect, Train, SendInvite, Connect, Train, SendInvite, Connect, Train, SendInvite, Connect, Train, Send

There are four words I would like each of us to memorize. Each Christian is responsible for these four ministries. Jesus’ Great Commission to make disciples is fulfilled through these four words: Invite, Connect, Train, Send.

For generations the church was sustained by new births in church families. Family church did not have to do much inviting; new families just came to us. Family church didn’t feel compelled to be sent out because “church” occurred inside the walls, not outside.

All that has changed… drastically. Sons and daughters move hundreds of miles away to different states and even different countries. Therefore, church membership and attendance cannot be sustained by new births in families.

The Ministry of Invitation requires us to be intentional about inviting Friends, Relatives, Acquaintances, Neighbors, Co-workers, and Everyone else.

The Ministry of Connection requires us to be intentional about offering our time, attention, and friendship. People come to church to make friends: with God and with people.

We each need to ask ourselves: have we invited the new guest sitting beside in worship to join us in our Sunday School class, our Bible study, or the next mission event? Have we invited them into our homes and to special events in the community? We need to recognize that it takes months for a new person to truly feel connected with their new church family.

The Ministry of Training prepares us for leadership in church life: both in the ministry of the church which takes place inside the building, but also for ministry outside the church walls.

The Ministry of being Sent Out emphasizes that “church” takes place outside the church walls in the marketplace, gathering places, and homes of one’s community. We are called to be a witness through our voice, heart, and hands to the world searching for the heart of God; which needs to be modeled in the life of Christians who are trying to look, act, and love like Jesus.

~ Pastor John

Happy Easter!Happy Easter!Happy Easter!Happy Easter!

We might be a few weeks after the calendar date of Easter, but we are right in the middle of the Easter season, the season we are reminded of the power of what Christ did and why it was so unexpected.

Unfortunately, there are a whole lot of people who don’t get what that power is, especially in our current Zombie-obsessed culture.

Unfortunately, there’s many people who are living a kind of Zombie life—wake up, go to work/school, go home, watch TV, go to bed, repeat.

Unfortunately, those people? Might just be ourselves. We’re the kind of people who don’t see the value in a risen Lord, maybe because it’s a story we’ve heard to many times or because it’s never been demonstrated to us in a way that stuck. Maybe we’ve never taken the time to think about it beyond liking the brass at Easter service or the way a certain member sings out with gusto, “Up from the grave he arose” on Easter Sunday.

But we are just the kind of people that Christ came for, to give us new life and the way to live it abundantly. In order to get that new life, though, we have to be willing and able to make changes, to break out of the tombs we surround ourselves in, no matter how comfortable they may be.

I think the best way to practice that new kind of life, a resurrection kind of life, a life that matters to those around you, is to be intentional with the choices we make: Do we make time to find God in the busy-ness of our lives? Do we put others first or focus solely ourselves? When was the last time we were curious about how the world worked and sought out answers? What opportunities are right there for us to take up if we showed a little hustle to take advantage of it?

How would you answer those questions? How might God answer those questions about you?

In this season of Eastertide, may joyous peace fill you as new life, and opportunities for new life, are abundant.

Peace,

~ Pastor Megan

WWWWORDSORDSORDSORDS FFFFROMROMROMROM OOOOURURURUR PPPPASTORSASTORSASTORSASTORS

Phone Volunteers NeededPhone Volunteers NeededPhone Volunteers NeededPhone Volunteers Needed The new Gibson Area Food Pantry (GAFP) at the hospital is committed to enhanced accessibility and service to seniors. To that end, a Senior Grocery Message Line has been established. It is #217-771-4100. Callers are automatically directed to a voice mail, hosted by Gibson Area Hospital and Health Services. The GAFP is responsible for checking for messages and answering questions, and they are seeking volunteers to help with this task. This can be done from the convenience of one’s home, and the goal is to have each volunteer be responsible for one week on a rotating schedule. Interested? Need more information? Please contact Barb Horsch at 784-5452 or 781-8048.

Community Resources RoundtableCommunity Resources RoundtableCommunity Resources RoundtableCommunity Resources Roundtable

The next Roundtable discussion will take place Wednesday, May 20, 1:00 at Moyer Library’s Community Room. A main topic of discussion for this roundtable will be Gibson Welfare - status and next steps. The Community Resources Roundtable serves to help connect social service resources with needs in the community. Meetings are open to all interested. For more information, contact Jennifer Fortenberry at Shepherd's Closet, or Barb Horsch.

CONNECT, GROW, GO! . . . take hold of the life that really is life (I Timothy 6:18-19)

GC UMC - Faith in Action at MMDC on April 8

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Mission Socks will be collected on May 17th

and 18th and will benefit Annual Conference Special Offerings.

Courtney Troyer 1 Shane May 1 Avery Schlickmann 1 Sharalyn Borchers 2 Janet Jensen 2 Janet Utterback 2 Mike Utterback 3 Eric Gee 4 Sam Horsch 4 Scott Copher 5 Shelbie Kearfott 6

Jesse Boma 7 Michelle Engel 8 Brady Cox 8 Micah Moody 8 Darrell Messmore 10 Rachael Bingham 10 Olivia Hawthorne 10 Meredith Fornero 12 Julie Steinman 12 Donald Jensen 13 Kelli Pruitt 14 Shawn Schlickmann 14 Kelsey Whitehouse 14 Tammy Cowell 16 Craig Sharp 17 Joe Kearfott 19 Candice Hawthorne 20 John Davis 22 Bob Davis 22

Jerry Holsten 24 Frank Titus 24 Chris Hazen 25 Connie Tennyson 25 Mark Spangler 26 Hunter Hansen 26 Beverly Crow 27 Austin Seneca 27 Mackenzie Seneca 27 Uyen Littell 28 Stephanie Kietzman 29 Phil Whitehouse 29 Mikayla Woodward 29 Phil VanSwol 30 Matt Lindelof 31 Marsha Moody 31

Day Years Gene & Terri Moore 2 27 Scott & Teresa Boma 7 19 Jeremy & April Rotramel 7 10 Bud & Carolyn Ryan 7 48 Bill & Susie Dueringer 11 12 Derek & Stephanie Kietzman 15 16 Ron & Wanda Baird 18 40 Jason & Heather Murphy 22 10 Scott & Marsha Moody 23 15 Wes & Karen Leenerman 27 48 Bob & Jane Hill 28 59 Jerry & Karen Wright 29 48 George & Lori Frashier 30 22

Health Concerns Marian Boog Mildred Davis Bill Dueringer Ruth Fisher Ruth Harris Jane Hastings Anita Romine

Nursing Home Residents

Manor Marian Boog Ruth Fisher Judy Peters Shirley Butler Dolly Samet Servicemen and women AIC Zachary E Mohn PFC Colton Young AB Cody McCoy

Jan-Mar 2015 Offering for Budget $70,870.30

Jan-Mar 2015 Budget $71,739.43

Weekend Sat 5:30

Sun 8:45

Sun 11:00

Sunday School

March 28th & 29th 18 158 33 93

April 4th & 5th 16 260 39 82

April 11th & 12th 16 133 32 85

April 18th & 19th 19 130 33

PPPPRAYERSRAYERSRAYERSRAYERS, B, B, B, BIRTHDAYSIRTHDAYSIRTHDAYSIRTHDAYS, A, A, A, ANNIVERSARIESNNIVERSARIESNNIVERSARIESNNIVERSARIES

This year, those offerings will benefit:

• John Kofi Asmah School, Liberia

• Africa University

• Ordinands’ Holy Pilgrimage

• Tom Brown Scholarship (Wiley College)

Kid’s CrossingKid’s CrossingKid’s CrossingKid’s Crossing

God’s TreehouseGod’s TreehouseGod’s TreehouseGod’s Treehouse Our 2014 – 2015 God’s Treehouse Wednesday Night program concluded on April 29th with an End of the Year program followed by an ice cream sundae social. We have been completely blessed in the number of youth who were able to attend every Wednesday night as well as the number of volunteers who helped make God’s Treehouse possible.

God’s Treehouse activities will resume in September 2015.

Sunday SchoolSunday SchoolSunday SchoolSunday School During the month of May, our children will hear the story of Fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:16-26. They will activate their faith through an Art, Games, Cooking and Music rotation. Wonderful, Watery, WednesdaysWonderful, Watery, WednesdaysWonderful, Watery, WednesdaysWonderful, Watery, Wednesdays

This summer, youth programming will again take a squelchy splash! Join us on the evenings of June 19th

(at the Gibson City Pool), July 1 & 15, 29 and August 12th. The kick-off pool party will begin at 7pm. Every other week, please come to the church at 5:30. Each week there will be a Bible based lesson and a time of fellowship for children 3 years old through upper elementary. If you have Middle School or High School youth interested, please have them come and help out! Look for more details to come in bulletins and through emails. Mission TripMission TripMission TripMission Trip———— Monkey BreadMonkey BreadMonkey BreadMonkey Bread May 9th and 10th, our Mission Trip Team will be selling monkey bread to help fund their trip in July. Wesleyana CircleWesleyana CircleWesleyana CircleWesleyana Circle The Wesleyana Circle will meet on May 12th at 1:30pm at Sarah Tubb’s home.

MMDC Collections for Annual MMDC Collections for Annual MMDC Collections for Annual MMDC Collections for Annual ConferenceConferenceConferenceConference

Pastor John will be taking our churches donations of school supplies to Annual Conference for the Midwest Mission Distribution Center. Please donate the following items by Monday June 8th:

• Spiral notebooks (8x10.5)–70-80 pages–single subject

• Stick style pens (blue or black) – no advertising

• Box of 24 Crayolas

• Pair of blunt school scissors (rounded tip)

Welcome To Our Newest MembersWelcome To Our Newest MembersWelcome To Our Newest MembersWelcome To Our Newest Members

Please help us in welcoming the newest members to our congregation. Dave & Lezli Merrit

Carey, Dondra,

Cayley and Carter Wilson

Jeremiah, Angela, Hunter and Carter

Brandon

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Parade of Palms OfferingParade of Palms OfferingParade of Palms OfferingParade of Palms Offering

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Parade of Palms offering this year. We collected $4,959.71, enough to pay 1/3 of our yearly pledge to each of our missionaries. Who are our missionaries?

Margaret FarnsworthMargaret FarnsworthMargaret FarnsworthMargaret Farnsworth Margaret is currently serving in Kenya as the field treasurer for World Gospel Mission. She also connects with Mission Society missionaries and ministry partners who are working in that country. She participates in local Bible studies and Africa Gospel Church ministries. Margaret began her years of missionary service in Kenya back in 1988. Margaret is originally from East Central IL and received her BS and MS in Business Education from Eastern IL University. Margaret asks that we pray for peace in Kenya and around the world.

Mark & Rebecca SmallwoodMark & Rebecca SmallwoodMark & Rebecca SmallwoodMark & Rebecca Smallwood The Smallwoods have served with Red Bird Mission, in the heart of Appalachia, since 1988. Mark directs vocal & instrumental music at Red Bird Mission School while Rebecca teaches elementary classes. We enjoyed the fruit of our mission support two years ago as Red Bird’s Cardinal Choir, under Mark’s direction, led worship at our church as part of their 2013 Spring Tour.

Doug & Cindy TankersleyDoug & Cindy TankersleyDoug & Cindy TankersleyDoug & Cindy Tankersley Doug & Cindy are currently residing in San Jose, Costa Rica. They have been engaged in several months of language training in preparation for their next assignment in Columbia. They will be “serving the Lord as Missionaries to Latin America with One Mission Society. Our future field of service has changed, but our call to serve is the same. We continue to be very passionate about sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with the lost and coming alongside national workers, helping them in their obedience to do what God has called them to do." They will be finishing language school in San José and traveling back to the US briefly on April 25. Their departure date for Medellin, Colombia is May 20, and summer short-term evangelism teams are scheduled to arrive in July.

Robb & Sheila WarfieldRobb & Sheila WarfieldRobb & Sheila WarfieldRobb & Sheila Warfield Robb & Sheila Warfield and their 3 children (Avery, Avalyn, and Hayden) have been Global Outreach missionaries in Uganda, serving and living at Good Shepherd’s Fold (GSF) Orphanage. However, in July they will move to Dakar, Senegal, where Robb will assume responsibilities as High School Principal at Dakar Academy, a school primarily for missionary kids. They will be in the states briefly for parts of May and June in preparation for the transition. Please hold the family in prayer for they enter this new chapter in their lives.

Learning in CommunityLearning in CommunityLearning in CommunityLearning in Community Susan Schultz attended “Deacon Dialogue”, a 3-day conference hosted by Garret-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL. The conference featured leaders within the United Methodist Church as well as deaconess of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and a deacon of the Catholic Church! Focusing on the deacon’s call to leading others in the areas of Compassion and Justice, participants contemplated what the ministry looks like in the world and how their role prepares others to finding their own call to service. The event was attended by deacons of our conference, other states, and even one from Norway. June 10-13 is Annual Conference. Look for more information about it in June’s newsletter.

There are not enough special words to express our thanks for Megan, the organist and for the meal following the services. Your Truly, Chuck Rankin and the Family of Lila Rankin

Thank you very much for allowing us to borrow costumes for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat! GCMS Joseph Cast Thank you for the wonderful meal you served after Dad’s funeral. It gave our family a chance to visit and have lunch together. Everything was wonderful and we appreciate having our family from the church serving! The Family of Robert Main

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 Communion

5:30 PM Saturday Night Light Worship

3 Communion Confirmation Sunday

7:00AM Men’s Breakfast

8:45 AM Traditional Worship

10:00 AM Sunday School

11:00 AM Contemporary Worship

4 9:00 AM Prayers

5 5:00 PM Praise Team 7:00 PM Trustees

6 5:30 PM Missions

7 7:00 PM Finance

8 9 Mother’s Day Weekend 5:30 PM Saturday Night Light Worship

10 Mother’s Day

Recognition of Youth Programming Volunteers

8:45 AM Traditional Worship

10:00 AM Sunday School

11:00 AM Contemporary Worship

11 9:00 AM Prayers 5:30 PM SPRC 7:00 PM Covenant Council

12 1:30 PM Wesleyana Circle 5:00 PM Praise Team

13

14

15 16 Mission Socks 5:30 PM Saturday Night Light Worship

17 Mission Socks

Graduation Sunday

8:45 AM Traditional Worship

10:00 AM Sunday School

11:00 AM Contemporary Worship

18 9:00 AM Prayers 6:45 PM Children’s Ministries

19 Newsletter Articles Due 5:00 PM Praise Team

20 21 22

23 10:00 AM Mission’s Cookout—County Market 5:30 PM Saturday Night Light Worship

24 8:45 AM Traditional Worship

10:00 AM Sunday School

11:00 AM Contemporary Worship

25 9:00 AM Prayers

26 5:00 PM Praise Team

27 9:00 AM Newsletter Prep

28 29 30 5:30 PM Saturday Night Light Worship

31 8:45 AM Traditional Worship

10:00 AM Sunday School

11:00 AM Contemporary Worship

May 2015May 2015May 2015May 2015

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO 13 Gibson City, IL 60936

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Gibson City United Methodist Church 206 East 10th Street Gibson City, IL 60936

MMMMAYAYAYAY SSSSERVICEERVICEERVICEERVICE SSSSCHEDULECHEDULECHEDULECHEDULE

Pastor—John Tennyson cell 217-249-5453 email: pastorgcumc@sbcglobal.net Associate Pastor—Megan Thompson cell 217-418-8354 email: gcumcassoc3@sbcglobal.net Connection Coordinator—Barb Horsch cell 217-781-8048 email: mgf@leapstream.net Administrative Assistant—April Rotramel office 217-784-5452 email: gcumc@sbcglobal.net

Church Custodian—Jeremy Rotramel Organist—Beverly Nagle Choir Director—Ruth Davis

Nursery Attendants—Melissa Jamison Susan Schultz, Volunteer

OUR STAFF

Liturgist Greeters

(West, South, North) Acolytes

Sound Room (8:45)

Projector (8:45)

Projector (11:00)

May 3 Tom Borton Phil & Jean Noellsch

Ashley & Patrick Morris Bettie Main & Connie Tennyson

Kyah Lee Lonnie Engel

Taylor Engel

Jeremy Steidinger

May 10 Angie

Woodward

Phil & Jean Noellsch Ashley & Patrick Morris

Bettie Main & Connie Tennyson Payton Bennett

Steve Hawthorne

Blythe Borton

Hannah Pruitt

May 17 Kathy

Eagleson

James & Carol Steinman Ryan & Kara Snyder

Link & Angie Woodward Wrigley Maxey Jon Clark

Dani Eckerty

Katie Quinley

May 24 Doug

Eckerty

James & Carol Steinman Ryan & Kara Snyder

Link & Angie Woodward Dillon Hoffman

Brandon Clark

Erin Arsenault

Rachel Quinley

May 31 Kent

Bielfeldt

Joe & Zach Wier Merle & Krista McCallister

Audrey Apperson & Margaret Farmer Jacob Rutledge

Lonnie Engel

Taylor Engel

Katie Steidinger

Head usher for May is Brandon Clark.