First United Methodist Church in Mattoon

Weekly Update
May 4, 2018

Dear (Contact First Name),

Sunday's worship service will focus on the theme, "Conquering the World," from I John 5: 1-5.  When we find ourselves struggling against the "world," how can our faith help us overcome.

Click here to see the Sunday, May 6 bulletin!

Contents in this                   Issue:

2018 Graduates

Event Changes

Community Food Center

Downtown Kids

Keeping Up With Jordan and Mike

Volunteer & Community Opportunities

Calendar

Joys and Concerns

Praying Together This Week

Statistics

People News

Cartoon

Click Here for the church website


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Revitalization Decisions

The church council will meet on Monday night (7 p.m.) to vote on whether or not to have a trial run of a Sunday morning schedule that would include 3 worship services, multiple Sunday School times and opportunities, and two alternatives for fellowship .  

Approximately 60 people have filled out surveys expressing their personal preferences.  And about 75 different people have attended meetings (including four open congregational meetings) to talk with one another and share ideas.  

Some people have offered their own alternatives for how we can change (or not change) Sunday morning activities at our church.  Those alternatives are also under consideration by members of the church council.

Packets are available at the church on Sunday for those who want to see survey results and alternative proposals.

By rule of the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, Church Council members are the ones authorized to vote on changes such as this.  But the council asked Pastor Mike (at its February meeting) to organize a process in which everyone from the congregation would have a chance to let their opinions be known.  Our council wanted to hear from the congregation before they made a decision.  

The meeting is open on Monday night to any member of the church, and all present will have a chance to offer thoughts before the church council members will vote.  The 2018 members of the council are:

Paul Schabbing (chair)

Steve Ferguson (lay leader, communication, nominations, men)

Dave Ropiequet (finance, endowment, member to Ann. Conf.)

Shelley Ashby (pastor parish relations rep)

Mona Buckley (Member care, trustees rep, UMW)

Kathy Beals (treasurer)

 Justin Florey (young adult, stewardship)

Katie Arthur (youth)

Susie Beaumont (mission)

Mike Albin (education)

Jane Orman (at large)

Guy Loucks (strategy)

J. Michael Smith (pastor)

Jordan Thomas (youth pastor)



2018 Graduates

We are preparing to put the names of graduates in the May 20th bulletin.  If you have a family member that you would like in the insert, please email the office or get an information sheet off of the Welcome Desk.  If you have a picture, please add that also.  Information will be needed by May 16.  Please include name, school, relationship to you and plans for the future.  

Kaylee Beals has invited everyone to join her on May 12, from 2-5 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall, as she is graduating from Lakeview School of Nursing.

Event Changes for the Summer

We have several activities that will be taking a break over the summer months.  

-Cross Training Prayer on Wednesday mornings will not meet again until August or September.
-The Chancel Choir will have their last practice on May 16 and will resume in August.
-Downtown Kids' last get together is May 16.  They will start back up in September.


Community Food Center 

If anyone would be interested in helping with the Pre-Pack on Tuesday, May 8th, please let Larry Dennis know!  The Food Center is at the corner of 6th and Moultrie.

Downtown Kids Overview   

This year, for our Wednesday night kids program, we have made some changes. Such changes included changing the name of our program, changing our service format, and bringing in new volunteers! We experienced growth, new energy, and a fun new way to do kids church! Below are the attendance numbers for our elementary students  on Wednesday nights!

           Elementary Numbers
2016-2017                       2017-2018
Low: 7                              Low: 14
Average: 14                     Average: 23
High: 21                           High: 33

Keeping up with Mike and Jordan

Jordan has moved the youth meetings to the youth parsonage and is including young adults and their families in the lessons and activities.  He is also organizing the softball team for this summer.  The first games are coming up this week (Tuesday.)  See him if you would like to play.

Mike's work this past week has involved meetings, Bible studies, personal conversations, counseling, hospital visits, sermon preparations, etc.

To contact Mike Smith, click here
To contact Jordan Thomas, click here

Volunteer & Community Opportunities

In the Community:
Pray for, volunteer your time or donate to the Mattoon Public Library. Click here  for more information.

In the Church:
~Children's programs
~Youth Group
~Backpack program
~Mattoon Area PADS; a group from our church serves dinner the 4th Friday  every month; cook at 6:00 p.m., serve at 7:00 p.m., see Susie Beaumont for more information

******************************************************

Special Events

Community Food Center Pre-Pack, Tuesday, May 8, 
                                                            5:30 p.m.
Brass Wave, Wednesday, May 9 & 16th, 7:00 p.m.
2nd Wind-Missouri Botanical Gardens, Saturday, May 19, 
                                                                    8 a.m. departure
Memorial Day, Monday, May 28- Office Closed
Youth Camping Trip, Tues & Wed, May 30-31

________________________________ __


Next Meeting Dates

Admin Council, Monday, May 7, 7:00 p.m.
Children's Council,  Wednesday, May 9, 7:00 p.m.
Communications Task Force, Tuesday, June 5, 6:00 p.m.
Education,  Wednesday, June 13, 6:30 p.m.
Endowment , Monday, May 21, 4 p.m.
Finance, Wednesday, May 16, 6:00 p.m.
Hospitality , Thursday, May 10, 6:00 p.m.
Missions, Thursday, May 17, 4:30 p.m.
Pastor Parish Relations , Thursday, May 3, 6:00 p.m.
Stewardship, Thursday, June 7, 6:00 p.m.
Trustees, Monday, May 21 , 6:00 p.m.
UMW Executive Board, Tuesday, June 5, 1:30 p.m.
Worship, Thursday May 17, 7:00 p.m.
Youth Committee, Sunday, TBD

____________________________________

Regular Events

Sundays
Traditional Worship         8:15 a.m.
Sunday School               9:30 a.m.
Contemporary worship  10:45 a.m.
Middle School Youth      5:00-7:00 p.m. *
Sr. High Youth                6:00-8:00 p.m.*  
*(beginning April 22,  Middle & Sr High will combine for the summer 
and meet at Jordan's from 6-8 p.m.)
Mondays
Mary Circle, second Mondays, 1:30 p.m.
Mary Mini Circle, fourth Monday of the month,  2:00 p.m.
Rebecca Circle, second Mondays, 7:00 p.m. 
Tuesdays    
Pastor's Bible Study    10:00 a.m. 
UMW Executive Board   1:30 p.m., first Tuesday of the           month  
Women's Bible Study of Romans  6:00 p.m.
Wednesdays
Cross Training Prayer  6:30 a.m. (Will meet again in the fall)
Downtown Kids  5:30-7:00 p.m., every Wednesday night         from Sept-May 16 
Chancel Choir  5:45 p.m., from Sept-May 16
Men of God  6:45 p.m., May 2 & 9
Thursdays
Women's Bible Study, 6:3 0 a.m.  at Pagliacci's-                                         studying "When Christians Get It Wrong" 
Contemporary Worship Practice  6:00 p.m. 
Saturdays
Men's Breakfast, second Saturday of the month,       
       Denny's, 7:00 a.m.


Office Hours:
Monday-Friday    9 a.m.-12 Noon; 1:00-3:00 p.m. 


Click Here for our online calendar, covering all church events.

Joys and Concerns  
(including Sunday's blue cards
)

Joys
-Safe return of family from a trip
-Barb's new job
-Celebrating 5 week old William             Martin Moore; grandson of Cathy      & Kerry Minor, great grandson of Ed Behm
-Help with behavior problems
-Krista's grandparents celebrating their upcoming 70th                Wedding Anniversary

Concerns
-Russ Barber-chemo/liver cancer
-Lois Eisner, heart surgery May 9th
-Kayla- diagnosed with lung cancer
-Continued healing of Adam's hands
-Mariann Savlor-health
-Concerns for a family member's decision making
-Prayers for a home loan decision
-Cheri Pierce, health

Praying Together This Week

People in our church family:
Barry & Michelle Hastings
Richard Henna 
Alan & Renee' Hildebrand
Lela Holderfield

Book and Bible Studies


World Council of Churches Prayer Calendar:
Pray this week for the people of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

  Click here for information about the WCC prayer calendar.

Statistics

Sunday Worship attendance: April 29
    Traditional Service:  90
    Contemporary Service:  72


Finance Report:
   
General Fund: $    4,817   received  this week                  
                        $141,953    YTD
   (our general fund budget is $408,000 for the year)
   

Renovation Fund:   
Cost of project:              $434,766
Still Needed:                  $135,596

The fund received $10 last week.

In addition to the money received for the funds listed above, contributions were made last week to the following causes:
    
Backpack:  $50

People News

Birthdays from  5/4-5/10
5/7   Mary Clark
5/8   Cheryl Armstrong
5/9   Nadine Boyer
5/9   Connie Lotts
5/10 Betty Colclasure


Anniversaries from 
4/26-5/3
 

No Anniversaries


In Nursing Homes and Assisted Living:
Brookstone North:
   Norma Edwards

Brookstone South:
   Dorothy Shepard
   Virginia Beasley 
   Mary Sheppard

Mattoon Healthcare:

   Dorothy Gullion
   John Zachow
   Pauline Andrews
   Joan Beals

Oddfellow Rebekah:
   Fran Whitley
   Doris Grass
   Betty Eisner

Mason Point:
   Ruby and Gerald Lowry

Titus Manor-Sullivan
   Marilyn Doty

Copper Creek
   Betty Hoots
   Carroll Livesay
   Maxine Chapin
   Lowell Davis
   Ed Behm

Palm Terrace
    Ione Hill

Logan Street Apts.
    Butch Ratts


Attending College:
   Zach Armstrong
   Carley Leitch
   Riley Leitch
   Andie Antonik
   Luke Collings
   Luke Young
   Kaylee Beals
   Derek Pierce
   Abbie Sherman
   Sophie Collings
   Morgan Hampton
   DeVante White
   Kelly Pierce
   Angelica Beltran

Please let us know if we have missed anyone!!