The Means of Grace March 2019

CHURCH LEADERSHIP

Matthew J. Smith, Pastor

Office Phone: 815-868-2324

Cell: 815-821-2677

Email: 2tim116@gmail.com

Office Hours: Wed 7 am 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

NEWLETTER & BULLETIN DEADLINES

Bulletin Info Due Weekly on Wednesday

Newsletter Info Due the 20th monthly

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

Greeter: Brian & Molly Lang

Litergists: Judy Rampenthal – March 3

Sandra Klontz – March 10

Sue Anderson - March 17

Tillie Coomber - March 24, 31

Children’s Time: Judy Rampenthal -March3,17,31

Cathy Stabenow - March 10, 24

Acolytes are picked by the pastor or greeters weekly.

Please find another person to fill in for you on Sundays you will be unable to attend.

PRAY FOR HEALING

Robert Mulhall Tammy Kryder

Greg Shippee Steve Bartelt

Sue Anderson

Those suffering from illness and injury

PRAY FOR UNITY

The future of The United Methodist Church

OUR SHUT-INS Bonnie Stubbe John Ammon

Clifford Reuber Jerry Hastings

Our family and friends in care facilities and hospital

As I write this to you today, delegates from all across the world are meeting in St.

Louis to determine the future of our denomination. It’s a big mess and no one knows

what will happen afterwards. The same is true of the quagmire that is our federal

government right now. There is anxiety and trepidation as to what is going to happen,

and how it may impact us.

Here’s the thing. I woke up this morning and drove to McConnell UMC, to work on

behalf of this congregation and this community. It is true, we do not know what will

happen to The United Methodist Church in the coming days, weeks and months...but

this church, this congregation will still be here. We will still worship together, we will

still gather in fellowship with one another, and we will still seek to do our best for the

people of this community.

So instead of worrying about “What’s Next?”, maybe we should instead focus on

“What’s Now?” What is the purpose of this congregation, not necessarily this United

Methodist congregation, just simply this congregation. What is our purpose in the here

and now? Who in our community needs us to be Jesus for them? Who in our communi-

ty is struggling in ways that our combined skills and resources could help alleviate?

What is the purpose of this church BEYOND just a group of people who fellowship

together on Sunday mornings? What is Christ calling us to be for the people right out-

side our doors?

And then, a tougher question, what is Christ calling YOU to do to make this a viable

and essential member of our community for the next 50 years?

Blessings, Pastor Matt

BIRTHDAYS

3/1—Brian Kleckler 3/17 - Clifford Reuber 3/26 - Tammy Daughenbaugh

3/4 - Alex Daughenbaugh 3/17 - Coweina Travis 3/27 - Ernie Stabenow III

3/5 - Terri Rose 3/20 - Dayne Anderson 3/30 - Michelle Bawden

3/6 - McKayla Riemer 3/22 - Nicole Heid

3/7 - Shelvan Heid 3/22 - Luke Stabenow

3/8 - Asher Becke 3/22 - Odin Stabenow

3/11 - Lily Becke 3/23-Pam Shippee

3/14 - Jered Diddens 3/23 - Pat Daughenbaugh

3/16 - Gary Montgomery 3/23 - Mackenzie Leverton

3/16 - Gary Montgomery 3/24 - Dan Riemer

ANNIVERSARY

3/28 - Brad & Peggy Leverson

Soup & Sandwich Lunch Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who helped make this years lunch a great suc-

cess! Whether you donated money, groceries, supplies, baked desserts,

helped prep., make sandwiches, set up, tear down, wash dishes, serve, etc.

just know you all made this event the success it was! It is really enjoyable

knowing that people feel relaxed and take their time and visit with others

while at our Soup and Sandwich lunch. I must thank the youth many of the parents who pitched in and

many others who just stepped in and rolled up their sleeves. God bless you all!

JOIN US FOR LENTEN LUNCHEON

ASH WEDNESDAY MARCH 6 12 pm @ Lena UMC

potato soup, egg salad sandwiches, lesson Hosted by McConnell Churches

Pastor Matt’s March Schedule 3/26 — Out of the Office, 3/28-3/30 - Vacation

March 3rd & 10th - Conclude Case for Christ

March 17th - Drama: Simon and His Lord

March 24th - Drama: Caiaphas and the Christ

March 31st: Drama: Pilate and the King

April 7th - Drama: The Father and Jesus

Ash Wednesday

March 6th

Easter Sunday

April 21st

Church Council Meeting

Wednesday, March 20

7:00 pm

Having a Blast at Youth Group!

Thursday March 7 & 21

5:30 - 7:30 pm

Youth Group is BACK after the bad weather. We played

with the parachute, made a valentines craft, ate spaghetti,

sang praise songs and learned about God;s Love

(John 3:16)

LE-WIN MINISTERIAL

LENTEN LUNCHEONS Each Wednesday, during Lent, the Churches of the Le-Win Ministerial Association

will be hosting a Lenten Luncheon with soup, sandwich, and devotion. Each church will take their turn hosting a luncheon at their church with a few exceptions because

of distance. Please note the schedule:

Our theme this year is: “Love Casts Out Fear”

DATE PLACE SERVERS SPEAKER

3/6 Lena UMC McConnell UMC & Grace Free Matt Smith/Rich Broberg

3/13 Good Shepherd Good Shepherd Miho Yasukawa

3/20 Lena Ev. Free Lena Ev. Free Jim Erb

3/27 St. Joseph Catholic St. Joseph Catholic Andrew Skrobutt

4/3 St. John’s Lutheran St. John’s Rick Bader

4/10 Lena UMC Lena UMC Keri Rainsberger

4/17 Lena UMC Salem UCC/Beloved Randy Nicholas

Lunch begins at 12:00 Noon with devotion about 12:25 pm.

We will conclude by 12:45 pm.

211 N. Hulbert Rd. PO Box 97

McConnell, IL 61050

www.McConnellUMC.org

JOIN US IN WORSHIP:

Sunday Worship - 10:30 am

Youth Group - 1st & 3rd Thurs. 5:30 pm

Pastor: Matthew J. Smith

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

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Popcorn & Drinks Available

FREE 6:00 PM