Community Care

The Next Mission Breakfast will be on Sunday, September 4th.

8:00am – 10:00am in the Lower Parlors to raise funds for Liberia

Monmouth 1st UMC Caller

September

221 E . B road w ay , M o nmo u th , I L 61462 (309 ) 734 - 9437

Mission Breakfast

The Community Cares Committee has designated

Friday & Saturday, September 16 & 17th, as the work days serving our community. The

committee is from several area churches. Mission statement: Living as children of God-joyful in worship, faithful in service. All are welcome to take part in the work days doing all sorts of

odd jobs such as yard work, painting(bring step & extension

ladders, scrapers, brushes, drop clothes if possible), small carpentry jobs, etc. Work days begin at 8:00 am both days; all day Friday and ending at noon on Saturday. If you are able,

your help will be greatly appreciated.

By all these lovely tokens September days are here, with summer’s best of weather and autumn’s best of cheer.

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September

This is a picture our granddaughter Anna Mae Saltsgaver, she just had her 8th Birthday this past week. The reason I have included her picture is because I happen to think (and I’m sure her Nana will agree) that she lives out the Golden Rule very well!

One of her presents this year was that her Mama took her out to lunch and then shopping where she was given a certain amount of money that she could spend on herself specifically to decorate her bedroom, which she just happens to share with her sister Lily. Anna is a little like her mother in that when we would give her mother (when she was a little girl) some money to spend she would agonize over having to spend her money. Anna thought and thought about it and then went about spending exactly half her money…on her sister! When she got home she had a wall decoration that reflected what her sister would want and one she wanted. She also had some other things for Lily to enjoy.

I was quite impressed with this as the expectation I had was that Anna would simply spend her money on herself. After all it was her gift. But to Anna she wanted to make her sister happy as well as herself and in the process decorate their room to their liking not just to Anna’s liking. It seems to me that this is the very essence of the Matthew 7:12 passage. How do you want others to treat you? Well simply go ahead and do that for them then!

In this election year, which is turning out to be one for the ages, we are seeing a lot of selfish behavior. It seems like everyone is asking the same question, “What is best for ME?” or “What will make my life better?” I wonder if a politician could ever get elected by saying, “This year we are going to go about trying to make those less fortunate than ourselves to have better lives. It will cost some of us increased taxes, and reduced benefits, but it will benefit those who live on the margins of our society.” Maybe it would be interesting simply for a political campaign to be run with Matthew 7:12 as a guiding principal! I wonder what that would look like? Maybe a campaign would refuse to belittle or attack another simply because it would not be the way he/she would want to be treated, and so that campaigner simply refuses to do it!

Our churches should be filled with folks who are trying very hard to live out the Golden Rule. We should all be asking ourselves…often…what is it that I would want for others to do for me…and then grab the initiative and do it for them! Now one of the risks of this is that not always will the good will be reciprocated. In fact, often, it will not be reciprocated.

Jon’s jottings

Matthew 7:12 The Message (MSG)

12 “Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.

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September

Rayven Petri won the candy bar drawing this month! Congrats, Rayven! Each child in Grace Place is memorizing the 23rd Psalm. When they are able to recite it to Miss Chris, they receive a BIG Hershey candy bar. So far, Rayven Petri, Drew Carlson, Libby Andrews, and Alexa Andrews have received their candy bars!! Way to Go!!!!! We made bracelets that remind us of the salvation message and that we each have a responsibility to tell everyone about Jesus. We have also been very busy at Grace Place preparing for Christian Education Sunday. (September 18) The children will be participating in both services. On Christian Ed Sunday all teachers will be recognized and all third graders will receive their Bibles. Libby Andrews, Daniel Edwards, and Drew Carlson will be receiving Bibles. If there are any other 3rd graders that should be receiving their Bibles, please contact LeAnn in the Church office. Children's Church (God's Light) will resume the Sunday after Christian Ed Sunday. (September 25). Blessings- Miss Chris and the Grace Place Gang

(Continued)

And that can leave us feeling like we were taken advantage of. But maybe, just maybe it should leave us feeling like we did just what Jesus wanted us to do.

Anna has a very sweet and loving spirit she can’t stand to see anything or anyone suffering. She is only 8 and she has a long way to go till she becomes an adult, but we in her family are very proud of her and her choosing to live out the Golden Rule so well.

May we all choose to live our lives with Matthew 7:12 as a guiding ideal and teaching.

Shalom,

Jon

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September

THE COMMUNION/PRAYER ROOM is open for use in various ways.

1. Every day it is open for prayer. 2. On the first Sunday of each month there will be someone from the

Healing Team present in the room after FIRST SERVICE. 3. On every Sunday except the first Sunday of the month you may

come to the room for private communion and prayer.

Joyce Clark, Ray Clark and Chris Moore are available for those who would like to experience Healing Touch. If you would like to volunteer for an HT session, call Clark’s for an appointment. 309-299-5682 Penny Vaughn is also a part of the Healing Ministry Team but has chosen to be available for anyone who may just prefer to have Healing Prayer, rather than an HT session. Call 309-371-3596 to request prayer. A Healing Promise The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. “Yes, ask anything in my name, and I will do it!” John 14:12 -14.

Healing each other in the name of Jesus was a way of life for the early Christians. They laid hands on another person, prayed and anointed. Because Jesus healed the whole person, they understood the need for healing the whole self; body, mind, emotions and spirit and that the Holy Spirit was the power that allowed this to occur.

The Holy Spirit, Divine Energy, was fresh and new in their lives. Many had experienced the Day of Pentecost. They knew first hand the infusion of Jesus Spirit which He promised would come to them after his death and resurrection.

They knew this gift of healing one another was a promise from Jesus who had told them that they would do the same works than He had done. They believed in Him and trusted that this was so.

Today we may find it hard to believe that healing can happen as it did in Jesus time. The Good News is that the Divine Energy is available to us just as it was centuries ago. The same techniques of laying on of hands, prayer and anointing are just as powerful as they ever were. Jesus promise that we can do similar and even greater works than He did is just as valid today.

We are more than dense physical beings. We have an energy system that responds to the energy and power of the Holy Spirit. It is possible for a person to allow the Divine Energy to flow through her/him into and through another in order to bring about better health and harmony. May we believe and trust that this is so.

Bev Crede invites you to experience Healing Touch, prayer and anointing.

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September

Announcements

Bell Choir rehearsals will begin Wednesday, Sept. 14th at 6pm

We can always use more people so if you have thought you might like to join us, this would be a god time. If you have any questions, please contact Candy Duncan or Pete Gebaur.

Remember to use Scrip cards for weddings, anniversaries or birthday gift giving. Cards on hand right now in the church office are iTunes, Dairy Queen, Subway, Pizza Hut, Exxon/Mobile & Bath & Body Works. Many other cards are also available by filling out a form in the office or online.

If you have a birthday in September and you’re not listed here, please give the church office a call.

2 Brian Helms 20 Jamey Cornell

3 Jill Munson Marlene Edwards

Benila Mouandza 21 Ray Miller

4 Melinda Todd 22 Mark Anderson

5 Bill Clayton Jon Ferguson

Jackie Lemley Will Brooks

7 Clarice Radmacher 24 Derek Bass

8 Mike Lee Alicia Pierce

Deb Moore 25 Liz Walker

Aidan Myers 26 Mary Jane Darrah

11 Dean Watkins 28 Sarah (Mrs. Steve) Hall

13 Jim Dice Hannah McVey

16 Jerry Marenholtz 29 Dottie Ray

19 Germain Mouandza Max Richardson

20 Bill Oaks

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September

A Record of our Faithfulness

1st UMC Ministry team Rev. Jon Sims, Directing pastor

LeAnn Murk, Secretary/ Financial Secretary Jan Gebauer, Treasurer Joyce Clark, Senior Ministries Coordinator Dan Marlin, Website Coordinator Missy Roberts, Music Director Elizabeth Walker, organist Joy Boostrom, Keyboard Chris Moore, Education Director Jeff Uddin, Certified Lay Servent Anita Anderson, certified lay Servant Sue Clark, Certified Lay Servant Doug Ray, Custodian