Volume 13, Issue 9

“...all the ministries that help us grow in faith outside of weekly worship, such as bible studies, Sunday School classes, support groups, and prayer teams. Congregations who practice Intentional Faith Development offer opportunities for people to learn in community for people at all stages of faith.” - Bishop Robert Schnase, pg. 6

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Contents

3 Pastor’s Letter

4 How Can I Connect With God?

5 Stewardship Is Discipleship

6 Five Practices

7 Ladies’ Bible Study

8 Calendar of Events

9 Servant Schedule

9 Lawn Mowing 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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For a number of years, it has been a practice of mine to get up early in the morning, before anyone else was awake. I

would make a pot of coffee, and after pouring the first mug, settle into a place (the couch, a chair, the floor) to read my Bible and have a time of prayer. I find it difficult at times, depending on the circumstances in my life, to always engage in this practice, but I know that there is something different about my day if I don’t do it. I don’t feel centered in God. What is your practice? In a number of churches, Christians are “spectators” – they come to worship and that’s it. They make very little investment in their faith beyond attending worship, and sometimes that attendance is sporadic. Do you know anyone like that? Maybe, just maybe, I’ve described you.

Studies tell us that vital churches have intentional faith development. We, as Methodists, should know this. John Wesley was systematic in his approach to faith, and he expected the people in his societies to intentionally develop their faith. Everyone was enrolled in classes or bands, small groups for accountability in faith. You couldn’t get by in faith on the bare minimum – worship attendance. Wesley expected people to have intentional faith development. To do so, he developed a set of spiritual disciplines that Christians ought to engage in on a regular basis. The disciplines of piety included worship, searching the Scriptures, receiving the sacraments (baptism and communion), being in a group for accountability and Christian conversation, fasting and tithing, among others. The disciplines of mercy included healing the sick, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the imprisoned – and much more. Each of us needs to be intentional about developing our faith, no matter what our age. Included in the pages of this edition are opportunities for you to grow in disciplines of piety, but there are also a few opportunities to grow in works of mercy, including a few opportunities for teaching and assisting others in their Christian formation. This fall, I challenge each of you to be actively engaged in intentional faith development for yourself and your family by practicing a work of piety AND a work of mercy. What would our church look like if everyone practiced intentional faith development? I will see you in worship! Grace and peace, Pastor Jay

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Sunday Mornings Christian formation classes are offered for all ages at 9:00am. Each week, the classes study the Scripture used in worship. The study and discussion provides background information about the Scripture, as well as ways that we can apply it to our lives. Preschool students have free play at 9:00am, and have their lesson in the nursery following the children’s moment in worship. Monday Nights Men’s group meets at Gill Street Sports Bar and Grill on Monday nights at 7:00pm. Each week, there is some study and Christian conversation, as well as a time for games and Monday Night football. Tuesday Nights Beginning September 11, there will be a second section of Ladies’ Bible study, which meets at the church. The study will take place from 6:30-8:00pm each week. The topic of the study is women of the Old and New Testaments. Study books are available for a small fee, for those who can make a contribution. Wednesday Nights Our Family nights kick of September 12 at 5:30pm with dinner ($3 for adults, $2 for children, and a $10 family cap), followed by praise and worship at 6:30pm. Classes for all ages occur at 7:00pm. The preschool class studies the Live BIG curriculum; elementary students will be studying parables, the armor of God, and the Lord’s Prayer; our youth will focus on discipleship, and the adult class will cover various topical/Bible studies. Also on family nights, youth (6-12) have the opportunity to be in youth choir and youth handbells. Thursday Nights Young adults have the opportunity to participate in an online Bible study at 9:00pm. Whether you are away at college, going to school locally, or at home just after your young ones fall asleep, this is a great opportunity to study and connect. Participants need to have a valid Gmail email address, as the study is facilitated through Google Chat. Friday Mornings Ladies’ Bible study begins again on September 7, meeting at the church. The study takes place from 10:30am to noon each week. The session will be identical to the Tuesday night study, but is offered at a different time.

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Have you picked up your copy of “Stewardship Is Discipleship?” This pamphlet is our congregation’s devotional material for this month’s stewardship campaign. We are digging deeper into our spiritual development to better understand how we can give of ourselves. If you are unable to pick up a paper copy from the church, please visit http://issuu.com/mymorningstar.org/docs/2012_september_stewardship_devotional?mode=window&backgroundColor=%23222222 to view a digital copy.

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Description from http://fivepractices.org/intentional-faith-development/

Want to know more about Extravagant Generosity? Check out Rev. Robert Schnase’s book, The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. The Congregational Practice of Intentional Faith Development Intentional Faith Development refers to all the ministries that help us grow in faith outside of weekly worship, such as bible studies, Sunday School classes, support groups, and prayer teams. Congregations who practice Intentional Faith Development offer opportunities for people to learn in community for people at all stages of faith. They offer ministries that help people grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of God. Intentional refers to deliberate effort, purposeful action, and high priority. The Personal Practice of Intentional Faith Development Through the personal practice of Intentional Faith Development, we do the soul work that connects us to others, immerses us in God’s Word, and positions us to grow in grace and mature in Christ. We place ourselves in the most advantageous circumstances to learn and grow in our following of Christ. We cooperate with the Holy Spirit in our own spiritual maturation. We learn in community.

Interested in receiving our weekly email of church events and information? Join our mailing list at

http://eepurl.com/jd4Ln

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Beginning September 07 at 10:00am and September 11 at

6:30pm, Morningstar UMC will offer a women’s Bible study

focusing on the Women of the Old Testament. Books are

$10. For more information, please contact Eva DeVore at

(309) 452-4534 or evadev4@yahoo.com, or Pam Venter at

(309) 825-1603.

The Morningstar UMC database has been updated to the best of our knowledge. If you would like a copy of the church directory for your personal use, please contact the church office at (309) 452-6255 or office@mymorningstar.org to obtain a copy. We would be happy to print a copy for you, or email you a pdf.

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September 2012

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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10:10am Prayer Time 10:15am Worship (Shepard Park)

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1:00pm Sit-N-Knit 6:30pm Ladies’ Bible Study

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6:00pm Chancel Choir 7:00pm Handbell Choir 9:00pm Online Bible Study

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10:00am Ladies’ Bible Study

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9:00am Christian Formation 10:10am Prayer Time 10:15am Worship 11:30am Praise Band Rehearsal 3:30pm Home Sweet

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7:00pm Boy Scouts 7:30pm Men’s Group

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1:00pm Sit-N-Knit 6:30pm Ladies’ Bible Study

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5:30pm Meal 6:15pm Clean-up 7:00pm Christian Formation 7:00pm Children’s Handbells and Choir

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6:00pm Chancel Choir 7:00pm Handbell Choir 9:00pm Online Bible Study

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10:00am Ladies’ Bible Study

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9:00am Christian Formation 10:10am Prayer Time 10:15am Worship 11:30am Praise Band Rehearsal 1:00pm N.O.W. Meeting 2:00pm Church Council Meeting

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7:00pm Boy Scouts 7:30pm Men’s Group

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1:00pm Sit-N-Knit 6:30pm Ladies’ Bible Study

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5:30pm Meal 6:15pm Clean-up 7:00pm Christian Formation 7:00pm Children’s Handbells and Choir

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6:00pm Chancel Choir 7:00pm Handbell Choir 9:00pm Online Bible Study

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10:00am Ladies’ Bible Study

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9:00am Christian Formation 10:10am Prayer Time 10:15am Worship 11:30am Praise Band Rehearsal

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7:00pm Boy Scouts 7:30pm Men’s Group

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1:00pm Sit-N-Knit 6:30pm Ladies’ Bible Study

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5:30pm Meal 6:15pm Clean-up 7:00pm Christian Formation 7:00pm Children’s Handbells and Choir

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6:00pm Chancel Choir 7:00pm Handbell Choir 9:00pm Online Bible Study

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10:00am Ladies’ Bible Study

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10:00am Praise Band Rehearsal

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9:00am Christian Formation 10:10am Prayer Time 10:15am Worship 11:30am Praise Band

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September 2012 Lawn Mowing Schedule

September 01 September 08 September 15 September 22 September 29

Adam Drake Kimberlyn Cross

Larry & Betty Haag Gill & Barb Engel

David Helpingstine John Weter

Wayne Goris Wayne Giermann

Joe Kao Ryan Jimison

September 02 September 09 September 16 September 23 September 30

Offertory Music

Worship in the Park

Adult Handbells Chancel Choir Chancel Choir Youth Choir

Liturgist Tom Howe Jim Snow Dave Venter Betty Haag Regan Jimison

Children’s Message

Stephanie Soon Andy Goveia Tom Howe Adam Drake John Weter

Acolyte Alaysia

Peterson Jordan Kao Lillian Wang

Hannah Schneider

Media Technicians

John Weter Joe Kao Joe Kao Dean

Westpfahl Mark Immke

Ushers

Sharee Wright (H) Dave Wright

Dean Westpfahl Jim Snow

Wayne Goris (H) Michelle Giermann

Sue Fetters Mary Ann Altine

John Weter (H) Tanner Todd

Mike Schneider Bill Sheets

Mark Immke (H) Josh Immke

Regan Jimison Jeannine McNemee

Kim Kao (H) Joe Kao

Georgia Griffith Andrew Immke

Greeters Ruthann Sheets Andy Goveia Michelle

Giermann Regan Jimison

Dave & Pam Venter

Coffee Host Lori Immke Teri Peterson Eva DeVore Regan Jimison Dave & Pam

Venter

Offering Counters

Betty Bickerstaff

Ryan Jimison Tricia Todd Mary Ann

Altine Eva DeVore

Newcomer Callers

Georgia Griffith Bill Sheets Ruthann Sheets

Georgia Griffith Bill Sheets

Church Cleaning

Teri Peterson Dave & Pam

Venter John Weter Lori Immke Teri Peterson

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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