Chimes Bimonthly Newsletter of Wesley United Methodist Church

Special edition - January 2015

8:30 a.m. Jan. 18 Men's Club

breakfast

Jan. 24 DeKalb District

leadership training

6:30 p.m. Jan. 25 Financial Peace

University preview

6:30 p.m. Jan. 26 Administrative

Council meeting

9:30 a.m. Jan. 31 Church leadership

training

Mark Your Calendar

Health: Drink plenty of water. Eat more foods that grow on plants, less food that is

manufactured in plants. Make time to pray. Play more games. Read more books than you did in 2014. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Sleep at least 7 hours. Take a 10-30-minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile. Personality: Don't compare your life to others. Don't carry around negative thoughts or things you cannot

control. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. Don't waste your precious time and energy on gossip. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate

others. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present. Smile and laugh more. (Continued on page 2)

Things to Think About in 2015...

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The

Society: Call your family often. Forgive everyone for everything. Spend time with people older than 70 and

younger than 6. What other people think of you is none of

your business. Your job won't take care of you when you are

sick. Your friends will. Life: Do the right thing! GOD heals. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and

show up. When you awake alive in the morning, thank

GOD for it.

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Join the DeKalb District for an enlightening and insightful leadership event Saturday, Jan. 24, in Rochelle. Rev. Young-Mee Park will be the keynote speaker. Workshops include: Attracting Collaborative Children-Oriented Community/School

Partnerships (panel) Church Missions and Conference Connections Staff Parish Relations Issues and Guidelines Senior Social Connections Suicide Awareness and Prevention Prayer Practices Veterans and Military Children and Families Ministries There also will be a training for the statistical reports during the lunch break. The event is at Rochelle United Methodist Church, 709 Fourth Ave., Rochelle. Registration is due Monday, Jan. 19. Please call Elisa Gatz at 815-441-9514 if you are interested in attending. Elisa also will organize a carpool for those who are going to the event.

DeKalb District Leadership Training is Saturday, Jan. 24, in Rochelle

Our Theme: “Who is My Neighbor?”

Our Target:

For ALL (especially those new to church leadership)

who care about today’s church and its future!

Our Goal:

To worship, celebrate, inspire, equip, train, empower, connect,

share, and collaborate so Christ’s mission and ministry

flourishes among the laity and clergy of the DeKalb District of the

Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Pastor Wesley will host a leadership training from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. Jan. 31. It is designed to provide a morning of vision, direction, and expectations for the way in which our leadership will function in the year to come. Even if you are not planning to service in the leadership structure of our church next year, you still are invited to attend. Please RSVP to the church office by Friday. Jan. 23, so that we have enough food and materials. Make plans to attend this fun-filled and informative event!

Pastor Wesley to Host Church Leadership Training Event Jan. 31

This 4-week study is open to our entire church, designed as an interactive way to learn a lot about who we are as United Methodists – a little of our history, and a little about our doctrine, theology, and membership vows. In addition to learning more about who we are, this study also is designed for anyone who be interested in becoming a member of Wesley UMC. If you would like to join our church or if you would like to learn more about our denomination, please contact Pastor Wesley. Our next study will be at 4 p.m. Sundays, beginning March 1.

Financial Peace is a 9-week class with video lessons by Dave Ramsey that are packed with information, presented in a very practical and often humorous way. Each week is vital to build upon Ramsey's holistic plan for personal finance to equip families with the ability to simultaneously build savings, eliminate debt, and increase generosity. There will be a preview event at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 25, in the fellowship hall. It is a great time to receive an overview of the Financial Peace University experience and to ask any questions you might have about this opportunity. The first week of the class begins at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15. There are already a couple of families registered, so spread the word to those who might want to participate in this life-changing opportunity. More information is available at www.daveramsey.com/fpu/locations/org/27629/class/267869.

Financial Peace University Coming to Sterling Wesley

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Four-Week United Methodism Study Coming in March

The congregation will begin a series called "Our New Testament" on Jan. 18. The series is designed to deepen our knowledge of the New Testament -- especially the way in which the book is arranged, an overview of its content, and the distinctive ways in which we receive this book as canon today. The lineup is: Jan. 18 - A Quick Flyover, based on Jeremiah

31:31-34 Jan. 25 - The Gospels, based on Luke 1:1-4 Feb. 1 - Acts, based on Acts 2:42-47 Feb. 8 - The Epistles, based on James 1:19-27 Feb. 15 - The Revelation, based on Revelation

1:9-11 The congregation then will begin a Lenten series focusing on the humanity and the divinity of Jesus the Christ. Stay tuned for more details!

Deepen Your Knowledge of the New Testament with Us

Wesley needs volunteers to fulfill our duties at PADS Homeless Shelter. We have a shift from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Feb. 6. We also help with the free evening meal at 7 p.m. April 3. Please sign up on the clipboards on the bulletin board near the kitchen if you can help. Thank you!

Help Wanted at PADS Shelter!

Loaves and Fishes was selected as the recipient of the Sunday School Mission Giving Tree for Christmas and the giving was outstanding! Thank you so much! There were 19 packages of plates; 5 packages of bowls; 5 of cups; 3 of paper towels; 3 boxes of tissues; 8 packages of napkins; 2 of toilet paper; 11 packages of plastic utensils; 1 package of straws; 5 cans of fruit; 3 jars of jelly; 2 jars of coffee creamer; 13 boxes of cereal; 1 package of hot chocolate; 6 boxes of pancake mix; and 8 bottles of pancake syrup. Loaves and Fishes is funded only through donations, and these items will go a long way to help us provide a hot breakfast to those in need. In 2014, we served more than 24,000 meals, so the need continues.

–Sue Abate, corresponding secretary, Loaves and Fishes

Thank You for Your Donations!

We all have truly been blessed by the grace we have received from Kelsey Bentkowski. We offer our most sincere thanks for all of the ways she has made a difference at Wesley, and we wish her and her family (Baby Noelle was born Dec. 29!) the best in their new adventure! We welcome Kayla Heimerman as our new administrative assistant. Kayla is a former daily newspaper reporter (She covered education for Sauk Valley Media in 2012-13.). She is wife to Christopher, also a journalist; and mother to twin 17-month-old daughters, Anna and Elise, and Dexter, the family dog. She also is an avid runner, who is training for her second marathon in May, and a whiz in the kitchen. Stop by and introduce yourself!

New Administrative Assistant

This is to say goodbye. For many years, I have come to church in anticipation of your kind greetings, your hugs, your fellowship. We have worshipped together; we have shared our joys and sorrows; we have seen the years go by. Now, I ask God's blessing on each of you, and I will leave with many memories of my dear friends at Wesley.

–Barbara Frazer

Goodbye from Barbara Frazer

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We wish to extend our warmest thanks for the generous gifts that we received for Christmas. We feel so blessed to have the opportunity to serve here and are so grateful for the many kind expressions of love that we felt during this Holy Season. We are truly thankful!

–Wesley & Karen Dickson

With Deepest Thanks

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Liturgist Greeters Coffee Hosts Jan. 18 Marianne Rosser Bill & Nell Adams Denny & Alice Vetter Jan. 25 Sue Klock Renee Duncan Toby & Debbie Hodges Feb. 1 Elisa Gatz Jan Glover The Joe Gatz Family Feb. 8 Carolyn Heuck Amy Viering Bill & Sue Abate Feb. 15 Rene Morris The Tim Schwingle Janay Dalton, Cindy Melton Family Feb. 22 Jan Andersen Jean & Joan Denny & Alice Vetter Partridge Ushers Acolytes January Jeff Cedro, Randy Clodfelter, Ethan Cravatta, Elliot Noble Cal Jacobs, Dave Siex February Dave Abele, Nick Abele, Ashlei Behrens, Haleigh Freas Gene Klock, Al Rude

Serving at Wesley in January, February

Jan. 12 - Matthew Taylor Jan. 14 - Christie Freas and Michael Quick Jan. 15 - Carol Hubbard Jan. 16 - Toby Hodges Jan. 17 - Pastor Wesley Dickson Jan. 18 - Reid and Ryan Blackburn and Bowen Mallhi Jan. 20 - Randy Clodfelter Jan. 22 - Alice Williams and Mitchell Clodfelter Jan. 23 - Eileen McDonald Jan. 26 - Cal Jacobs and Kaitlyn Williams Jan. 27 - Tom Brown Jan. 31 - Wendy Fitzanko

January Birthdays

Jan. 19 - Gene and Sue Klock Jan. 24 - Rock and Sharon Gentry Jan. 28 - Edd and Marianne Rosser

January Anniversaries

A flower chart for 2015 now is hanging on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall. Feel free to sign up to honor or memorialize your loved ones! Flowers are $20 from County Market.

Flowers for the Altar

In January, we are collecting bar soap for the Rock Falls UMC Personal Care Pantry and the FISH Food Pantry. Make sure to add some to your shopping list! And thank you for supporting our neighbors in need!

Everyday Essentials

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD”

– Proverbs 19:17

Eileen McDonald celebrates her birthday Jan. 23. Cards may be sent to 4405 Eagle Creek Court, Elkton, FL 32033.

Birthday Cards for Eileen McDonald

Thank you to those who helped put up, take down, and pack away the Christmas decorations. The church looked beautiful in honor of the birth of our Lord. Thank you!

Thank You for Your Help at Christmas

Vacation Bible School at Wesley is set for June 7-13. Be on the lookout for more information as plans come together. Please call Janay Dalton at 815-677-4671 if you are interested in helping out.

Stay Tuned: VBS is June 7-13

Members of Wesley went caroling to several members after the service Dec. 14. They visited Frank and Charron Rausa, Alice Wiersema, Benny and Maxine Fenn, Jim and Marilyn Smith, Janet Perry, Betty Andreas, June Teachout, and Heritage Village. Those who went caroling were Sue Abate, Doug Brandau, Bill and Peg Burke, Susie Cedro, Alyssa Cedro, Carol Cravatta, Johanna and Ethan Cravatta, Janay Dalton, Pastor Wesley and Karen Dickson, Dave and Roberta Fredericks, Joe Gatz, Bryn Gatz, Gloria Grant, Carolyn Heuck, Sue Inks, Beth Mathew, Jean Moe, Mary Nelmes, and Marianne Rosser. Susie Cedro prepared bags of cookies for each recipient. We would like to plan on this again next year. Mark your calendar for the second Sunday in December! Several people also went caroling to Barb Frazer and shared conversation, laughter, and communion. Those who went were Bill and Peg Burke, Darlene Davis, Janay Dalton, Pastor Wesley Dickson, Gloria Grant, Carolyn Heuck, Sue Inks, Marianne Rosser, and Dave and Sharon Siex.

Caroling, Caroling, Now We Go!

The 6-week No Regrets men's Bible study is halfway complete. The group meets three more times, from 8-9:30 a.m. Jan. 10, Jan. 17, and Jan. 24. There will be a No Regrets conference Feb. 7, at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wis. Ten thousand men from 70 churches will convene to hear speakers and break into small groups. Please contact Andy Pitsch at 815-626-6896 if you are interested in attending.

No Regrets Men's Bible Study Wraps Up

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