Volume 13, Issue 6

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Contents

3 Pastor’s Letter

4 Preparing to Dig

5 Warning

6 Merge

7 Reduce Speed

8 Calendar of Events

9 Servant Schedule

10 Contact Information

Morningstar UMC seeks to share the light and love of Jesus Christ to all we encounter. Morningstar will be a community where each person is offered opportunities and challenged to grow in his/her relationship with God throughout his/her life. As we grow in our love of God, we will increase our growth of healthy relationships by encouraging people of all ages through accountability, study, prayer, fellowship, and service. The more our congregation grows in these primary relationships (with God and our neighbors), we will see ourselves reaching out into the local community, region and world through acts of service – sharing the light of Jesus Christ in hands-on, meaningful ways, and inviting others to experience God’s love for themselves.

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Over the past year, I’ve gotten into a regular rhythm of driving on I-55 to go from Morningstar UMC to West Olive Faith UMC. It seems to be the fastest, most reliable way to travel from one side of town to the other. I have noticed, though, as I make that trek (sometimes more than once a week), that there always seems to be construction. There was construction on I-55 when I moved here four years ago. As soon as they took down the cones, they moved them to work on another lane. Several times this year, I thought everything was done on widening the road, only to see cones and blinking signs pop up overnight. Construction never seems to end. We, as Christians, are constantly under construction. Our faith is constantly being challenged, deconstructed, reconstructed, and outlined, only to be redone again.

We question, we doubt, we go through struggles, we sail smoothly through life; yet, God is always doing a new thing with us. Isaiah reminds us (chapter 43, verse 19) that God “…is doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it?” God continues to shape and hone each one of us. He is the potter, and we are clay in his hands. There’s much construction around the church these days, as annexation continues, building improvements are made, as we take the next faithful steps into God’s vision for our congregation, and as we engage in pray and study that transforms us by renewing our hearts and spirits. In the pages of this month’s edition of The Beacon, I hope you’re able to see the signs that God is doing a new thing among us. It will be worth it to wade through the construction with us, even with delays; God teaches us patience and keeps us moving forward toward the promised land. I will see you in worship! Grace and peace,

Map courtesy of www.google.com/maps

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Spring is in the air! In the spring comes Easter, a time of renewal and new life. It is about the renewing of construction activities that will bring new life in the form of city provided wa-ter that I'm writing about. The pre-construction activities are almost complete. The engi-neers have completed their work, leaving us with the proper means to solicit bids to perform the actual construction work. We are hoping that by the time next months news letter goes out, we will have dates for when the construction will occur, along with a better idea of our final costs for this construction phase. - Wayne Giermann

If you would like more information about the up-coming annexation project, please contact the members of the Trustee Committee. Wayne Giermann wayner59@aol.com Barb Engel gilbarbengel@yahoo.com Teri Peterson tpete704@comcast.net Mark Immke mimmke@comcast.net

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Deadlines are fast approaching! Have you registered for any of the following events? Music and Worship Arts Camp: for students in preschool through 5th grade. We will be looking at the Fruits of the Spirit for this summer’s theme. Students can sign up for the music track (choir and handbells) or the worship arts track (drama and visual art). Dates are June 11-15 from 6:00-8:00 pm. Instruction will take place Monday through Thursday evenings. We’ll have a rehearsal Friday evening at 6:00pm, and a family worship service at 7:00pm. You can contact the office to have a registration brochure sent to you, or you can register online at www.mymorningstar.org. We’re also looking for some adult volunteers who can help with snacks and assist with the different study tracks. Please contact the office at (309) 452-6255 if you can help. Registrations will be received until June 4. The summer leadership study is open to anyone at Morningstar UMC! We will be studying Invitation to Romans, from the Disciple Bible Study series. The class will meet on Sundays from July 8 through August 26 from 5:00-7:00pm. Childcare will be provided. The cost is $10 to cover materials. Please notify the church office by June 24 if you plan to participate. You can also register online at our website, www.mymorningstar.org. Interested in working this summer or fall with children and youth? We ask that all volunteers participate in the Safe Sanctuaries training. We had a training session on May 20, and another will be held on June 3, immediately following worship. If you cannot attend the June 3 session, please contact Pastor Jay to schedule an alternative time for training. The training lasts about 1/2 hour and explains MUMC’s policy, includes a video, and a time to fill out the application. Please contact the church office at (309) 452-6255 if you need more information.

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Interested in helping with a Wednesday night Vacation Bible School at West Olive Faith this summer? We are looking for people to help in lots of areas: music, nursery, serving food, and helping with crafts or stories. We’ll be meeting Wednesday evenings from 5:00 - 7:00 pm beginning July 11 through August 15. You can help as many or few evenings as you wish. Please contact Michelle Giermann, Pam Venter, or Eva DeVore if you are interested. Michelle Giermann mgiermann@yahoo.com Pam Venter pam_venter@yahoo.com Eva DeVore evadev4@yahoo.com

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Each year, we evaluate many of our ministries. This time period of evaluation helps us to know what we are doing well, as well as areas that need improvement. It is sometimes necessary for us to slow down and take a critical look at where God wants us to go next. Thank you to everyone who filled out surveys regarding Family Night. We are grateful for your responses to the questions posed, and we hope to implement some of the suggestions over this next year. We will also be evaluating our Sunday Christian Formation ministries. We would appreciate your feedback on the curriculum, kinds of classes, etc. Please contact a member of the Nurture, Outreach, and Witness team (NOW) to give your feedback by June 20. The team will be meeting that day to discuss any future changes. Team members are John Weter, Ricky Zamudio, Pam Venter, Georgia Griffith, Barb Engel, Andy Goveia, Eva DeVore, and Pastor Jay.

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June 2012 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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3

9:00am Christian Formation 10:10am Prayer Time 10:15am Worship 11:30am Safe Sanctuary Training 11:30am Youth Picnic

4 5 1:00pm Sit-N-Knit

6 9:00am Ladies’ Crafting (IGRC Annual Conference)

7 6:00pm Ladies’ Craft Night (IGRC Annual Conference)

8 (IGRC Annual Conference)

9 (IGRC Annual Conference)

10 9:00am Christian Formation 10:10am Prayer Time 10:15am Worship (Rev. Pogemiller) 11:30am Church Picnic 3:30pm Home Sweet Home Meal (Team #1)

11 6:00pm Music and Arts Camp

12 1:00pm Sit-N-Knit 6:00pm Music and Arts Camp

13 6:00pm Music and Arts Camp

14 6:00pm Ladies’ Craft Night 6:00pm Music and Arts Camp

15 6:00pm Music and Arts Camp

16 10:00am Praise Band Rehearsal

17 (Father’s Day)

9:00am Christian Formation 10:10am Prayer Time 10:15am Worship 1:00pm N.O.W. Meeting 2:00pm Church Council and Finance Meeting

18 19 1:00pm Sit-N-Knit

20 21 6:00pm Ladies’ Craft Night

22 23

24 9:00am Christian Formation 10:10am Prayer Time 10:15am Worship

25 26 1:00pm Sit-N-Knit

27 28 6:00pm Ladies’ Craft Night

29 30

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June 2012

June 03 June 10 June 17 June 24

Offertory Music Handbell Quartet Summer Choir Andy Goveia Handbell Duet

Liturgist Michelle Giermann Eva DeVore Mark Immke Regan Jimison

Children’s Message

Adam Drake Dave Venter Pastor Jay John Weter

Acolyte Riley Fleck Jordan Kao Laura Westpfahl Alaysia Peterson

Media Technicians

Dean Westpfahl John Weter Joe Kao Mark Immke

Ushers

Mark Immke (H) Josh Immke Tom Howe

Mike Schneider

Jim Snow (H) Sue Fetters

Georgia Griffith May Ann Altine

Dean Westpfahl (H) Kim Kao

Dave Wright Sharee Wright

Larry Haag (H) Betty Haag Tricia Todd

Tanner Todd

Greeters Kandi Schneider Tricia Todd Dave & Pam Venter Mary Ann Altine

Coffee Host Regan Jimison Lori Immke Joan Burger Eva DeVore

Offering Counters

Eva DeVore Tom Howe Georgia Griffith Ryan Jimison

Newcomer Callers

Michelle Giermann Georgia Griffith Bill & Ruthann

Sheets Michelle Giermann

Church Cleaning Dave & Pam Venter Teri Peterson John Weter Lori Immke

June 2012 Lawn Mowing Schedule

06/02/2012 06/09/2012 06/16/2012 06/23/2012 06/30/2012

David Helpingstine John Weter

Teri Peterson Jay Regennitter

Joe Kao Ryan Jimison

Wayne Goris Wayne Giermann

Hunter Wright Sharee Wright

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Morningstar United Methodist Church

Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9:00am -3:00pm

Office Telephone: (309) 452-6255

Website: www.mymorningstar.org

Worship with us on Sundays at 10:15 am

Contact Information

Rev. Jay Regennitter, Pastor pastor@mymorningstar.org

Pastor Stephanie Soon, Deacon & Pianist music@mymorningstar.org

Andrew Stange, Administrative Assistant office@mymorningstar.org

Adam Drake & Kimberlyn Cross, Nursery Ministry Staff nursery@mymorningstar.org