The Joy Is In The Giving And Being Together! - Minooka United Methodist Church
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Volume 52 April 2021
MUSTARD SEED
Issue 4
The Joy Is In The Giving
Our church family offers us many ways to learn
And Being Together! and grow together in ministry. Thank you to
everyone who has given of their time and
talents!
“Set Apart” Bible Study
Youth Game Night
UPCOMING EVENTS
~Friday, March 26th @ 6:00 PM - Virtual Fellowship
~Saturday, March 27th @ 3:45 PM - Lenten Bible Study (In-person)
~Monday, March 29th @ 6 PM - Lenten Bible Study (Zoom)
~Wednesday, March 31st @ 6:30 PM - Lenten Bible Study (In-person)
~Thursday, April 1st @ 7 PM - Maundy Thursday Zoom Fellowship
~Friday, April 2nd @ 7 PM - Good Friday Service
~Saturday, April 3rd @ 5 PM - Easter Service
~Sunday, April 4th @ 6:30 Am - Sunrise Easter Service (Sanctuary)
~Sunday, April 4th @ 9:30 AM - Easter Service
*Please note there will not be online devotion 3/31 or 4/7.
2
Pastor’s Page - April 2021
“25 Neither before nor after Josiah was there a
king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—
with all his heart and with all his soul and with
all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of
Moses. (2 Kings 23:25)”
Jesus is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
Happy Easter, friends. May the power of resurrection fill your life and family with joy. There is a special energy
whenever I shared the traditional Easter greeting. It’s an opportunity to declare that life is victorious and death is
defeated – not only in the past and present but future. As Easter people, I pray that you feel the same gratitude as
we share in the Easter celebration.
After the long and dark tunnel of the global pandemic, we can see hope ahead. Businesses and schools are reopen-
ing. Churches and houses of worship are resuming in-person worship services. These are all reflections of new
life. Closer to home, we are preparing for the Ridge Road Ground Breaking Ceremony on May 1st. We have so
much to celebrate!
Jesus taught us to live every day with Easter hope. Consider Jesus’ words in John 12:24, “Very truly I tell you,
unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many
seeds.” Looking back, MUMC members have poured out their time, energy, and sacrifice to help us prepare for
the future. As we prepare to actualize their Ridge Road dreams, we honor their sacrifices. We recognize that their
prayers and hopes are now blooming and bearing fruit. I am thankful to be part of MUMC as we make dreams a
reality.
I want to offer a big shout-out to everyone who attended Lenten Small Groups for the last six weeks. The picture
(above) was taken from one of the Monday night studies. I want to express my gratitude for our amazing small
group leaders – Chris Vause, Karen Gaba, & Marlin Hartman (Gail Girard for substituting for one Wednesday).
Thank you for your love and care. Even after this series concludes, may we continue to practice holy habits that
draw us closer to the Lord.
As we witness the power of spring around us, let’s celebrate our ministry with children and youth. The Youth
Game Night (March 20) offered a snapshot of Easter hope. Seeing our youth and their families having fun togeth-
er was a reminder of the life we look forward to resuming. Thank you to the Youth Council for hosting this fun
event. Another highlight is that we resumed in-person Sunday School (for PreK – 5th gr) on March 21. With clear
safety guidelines in place for teachers, volunteers, and students, we are able to nurture the faith of the next genera-
tion.
As I write this article, my heart is heavy because of the senseless shootings in Atlanta and Boulder. I encourage all
of us to action today so we can reduce these acts of gun violence tomorrow. Some of us can contact local, state,
national leaders regarding gun laws and regulations. Others of us can serve as advocates for those suffering from
mental illness, bullying, and addictions. Others of us can study issues around race, gender, culture, and religion.
None of us can do everything, but all of us can do something. So, let’s not standstill. Let’s be faithful in running
the race and pass on the baton of faith, justice and mercy to our next generation.
In her poem, “The Hill We Climb,” Amanda Gorman writes, “We know our inaction and inertia will be the inher-
itance of the next generation… Our blunders become their burdens.” May we be active agents of God’s peace,
justice, and grace.
Sisters and brothers, the challenges we face are great, but our God is greater. The obstacles facing our families
and larger society are formidable, but we are Easter people. Because of the resurrection, we can live each day de-
claring that love conquers hate. Because of the empty tomb, we can declare that hate and evil do not have the last
word. God’s love is the last word. As a community of faith, let’s stand firmly on the promises of Jesus Christ, in
whom we find our hope and life. May all of us be the holy seeds of God’s vision of peace, hope, and mercy.
Pastor Sarah
3
Minooka United Methodist Saturday 5:00 p.m.
In-person Worship
Church
205 West Church Street Sunday 9:30 a.m.
Online & In-person Worship
Minooka, IL 60447 Please keep us informed of members
815-467-2322 who are critically ill or in the hospital: Wednesday 5 p.m.
minookaumc.com Office 815-467-2322 Online Devotion
Pastor Sarah 815-212-5166
Facebook: Minooka United Methodist To be on our Prayer Chain, please call
Church the Church Office.
Saturday Worship
5:00 p.m.
In-person
Happy Easter and Spring!
Sunday Worship Schedule This is a time of renewal and new beginnings! That is what is happening at
9:30 a.m. the pantry. The volunteers and clients are getting our vaccinations, enjoying
Online & In-person the warmer, snowless days, and returning to our “old normal” ways more and
more. We are looking forward.
Blended Worship Service
There is not much news to report. Our numbers remained the same, but we
Online Devotion have had to be flexible with our schedule times. Our scheduled days remain
the same, but with people returning to work, we have changed their times to
Wednesday @ 5:00 p.m. meet their schedules. Since Easter does not match our scheduled days, we
gave out two types of meats last month. Five people took our turkeys, which
depletes our supply. Yea!
Church Office Hours:
Wednesday & Friday That is the most exciting news from last month. But after this past year, it is
9 AM - 2 PM welcome news.
Generous people continue to donate. Soups, sugar, coffee, cooking oil, break-
Administrative Assistant fast bars, and crackers are always popular items.
Katie Wojcieszak As always, we thank you for your support. Enjoy a blessed and healthy East-
Church Phone: 815-467-2322 er.
Church e-mail:
Jean Jun, Virginia Guertin, and the Pantry Team
admin@minookaumc.com
Pastor Sarah Hong
815-212-5166
pastor@minookaumc.com
Music Director “In Every Season”
Jill Kohler
jlager97@gmail.com When I see the first signs of Spring, my thoughts are about Easter. I am
thankful with all my heart that Jesus died on the Cross to save us from our
sins. In every season, the Holy Spirit empowers us to be God’s person and to
fulfill the calling God sets before us. “There is a time for everything, and a
season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) The writer of
Ecclesiastes reminds us that seasons come and seasons go.
Children grow from infancy to adulthood, doors of opportunity open and
close, companies and organizations adapt or close their doors. Life and leader-
ship hold times of growth, times of hardship, and times of satisfaction. God is
always present. He is there when personal and family needs press to the fore-
front and require all our attention. He is there when it is time to leave what
has been in His hands and move on to what is yet to be. Lord, open our eyes
throughout the seasons of our life.
Easter Blessings,
Pearl Lindley, Certified Lay Servant
4
2020-21 Class Information
IN-PERSON CLASSES RESUME!
Preschool-5th Grade in-person classes have resumed. Join
us at 9:45 AM in Fellowship Hall immediately following
Children’s Time during the 9:30 AM service.
Date Preschool - 5th Grade Lessons
4/4 No class—Happy Easter!
4/11 Easter Lesson (In-person Class)
4/18 Disciples - Fishers of Men (In-person Class)
4/25 Road to Emmaus (In-person Class)
Jr. High will resume in-person classes on April 11th at
10:45 AM in the basement.
Date 6th through 8th Grade Lessons
4/4 No class—Happy Easter!
4/11 Jesus Sets an example (John 13:1-15)
In-Person Class begin
*All students attending in-person classes must register
4/18 Encounter with a Stranger (Luke 24:13-35) even if you completed a form in the fall. Please
register on our website or complete a registration form
4/25 Jesus Brings Peace (Luke 24:36-53) at the church.
APPALACHIA SERVICE
PROJECT
April Class Schedule ASP 2021 is scheduled for June 12th - 19th
~Sunday, April 4th - No class - Happy Easter! in beautiful Kentucky. MUMC is look-
~Sunday, April 11th - Class 11:30 AM (Zoom) ing forward to helping those in need this
~Sunday, April 18th - Class 11:00 AM (Zoom) summer. Please contact Marlin Hartman
~Sunday, April 25th - Class 10:45 AM (in-person) or the Church with your interest in complet-
ing our 2021 ASP Mission trip.
Please pray for our Confirmands and their mentors.
Zachary Beitler (Marlin Hartman) We are looking for youth who have graduat-
Mason Smith (Gordon McCoy)
ed 8th Grade and are still in High
School. Attendees can be your child, grand-
Ava Staley (Cindy White) child, a neighbor, or just a good kid you
know. Besides the age qualification, they
only need a good heart. There will be a
$200 deposit per youth required within the
next couple of months. Scholarships
are available if necessary.
Informational meeting
Sunday, March 28th at 10:45 AM
Marlin Hartman 815-405-2978
5
SPECIAL DAYS SPECIAL PE0PLE April
1 Collin McComas 17 Ethan Staley
1 Jack McComas 18 Cyndi Campbell
2 Ruth Casagrande 19 Donna Sabo
2 Don Casagrande 22 Lauren Bivens
3 Hailey Allgaeuer 23 Julie Geyer
25 Rae Cichon
3 Valerie Gunderson 25 Piper Gunderson
6 Abigail Hong 22 Jay & Tiffany Giacomi
25 Eli Bivens 23 Brad & Val Gunderson
8 LaVerne Spencer 25 Brendon McGrath
10 Christy Hiser 24 Dick & Teri Parrish
28 Westin Dailey
10 Seth Satorius 24 Laverne & Johanna
11 Owen Ratulowski Spencer
13 Matthew McComas 24 John & Stacy Taylor
15 Bob Stelling 29 Wayne & Shelley Dailey
16 Alex Nolan 29 Alex & Katrina Nolan
17 Ruth Hanna 29 Bob & Ruth Pesack
17 Levi Nischke
April 2021
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 Easter
8:15 AM Sr 7:00 PM Saturday
Exercise Good Friday 9:00 AM Food
9:30 AM Sr. Service Pantry
Exercise 5:00 PM Wor-
7:00 PM ship
Maundy
Thursday
4 Easter Sunday 5 6 7 8 9 10
6:30 AM Sunrise Service 6:00 PM AA 8:15 AM Sr Exercise 5:00 PM Prayer Part- 8:15 AM Sr 5:00 PM Wor-
9:30 AM Easter Service Meeting 9:30 AM Sr. Exercise ners Exercise ship
6:00 PM Worship & 9:30 AM Sr.
Outreach Mtg. Exercise
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
9:30 AM Online & In-person 6:00 PM AA 8:15 AM Sr Exercise 9:45 AM Food Pantry 8:15 AM Sr 5:00 PM Wor-
Worship Meeting 9:30 AM Sr. Exercise 5:00 PM Food Pantry Exercise ship
9:45 AM Pre-k-5 Sunday 10:00 AM Food 5:00 PM Online Devo- 9:30 AM Sr.
School Pantry tion Exercise
10:45 AM Jr. & Senior High 5:00 PM Prayer Part-
Sunday School ners
11:00 Am Confirmation
(Zoom)
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
9:30 AM Online & In-person 6:00 PM AA 8:15 AM Sr Exercise 5:00 PM Online Devo- 8:15 AM Sr 5:00 PM Wor-
Worship Meeting 9:30 AM Sr. Exercise tion Exercise ship
9:45 AM Pre-k-5 Sunday 7:00 PM Finance 5:00 PM Prayer Part- 9:30 AM Sr.
School ners Exercise
10:45 AM Jr. & Senior High
Sunday School
11:00 AM Confirmation
(Zoom)
25 26 27 28 29 30
9:30 AM Online & In-person 6:00 PM AA 8:15 AM Sr Exercise 5:00 PM Online Devo- 8:15 AM Sr
Worship Meeting 9:30 AM Sr. Exercise tion Exercise
9:45 AM Pre-k-5 Sunday 7:00 PM Book 7:00 PM Church 5:00 PM Prayer Part- 9:30 AM Sr.
School Study Council ners Exercise
10:45 AM Jr. & Senior High
Sunday School
10:45 AM Confirmation (In-
person)
6
Finance Committee
MUMC Finance Committee Highlights
Thank you for your continued financial support. Your gen-
erous offerings allow us to continue our important mis-
~ Maundy Thursday sions here at MUMC. As we are returning to in person
worship, the offering plate will remain at the back of the
April 1st @ 7 PM (Zoom Fellowship) Sanctuary. If you are not attending in person worship,
please continue mailing in your offering or use the online e-
~Good Friday Worship Service offering.
April 2nd @ 7 PM (In-Person & Online) Please make your checks payable to MUMC. If you would
like to designate a special fund or project, please put that
~Easter Saturday Service information in the memo section or include a note with
your check. (The bank will not honor checks if they have
April 3rd @ 5:00 PM (In-person & Online) anything other than MUMC or Minooka UMC in the
“Pay to the order of” line.)
~Easter Sunrise Service
Shari Millard
April 4th @ 6:30 AM - Join us in the sanctuary. (Finance Chair)
(In-person & Online)
Good day, everyone,
~Easter Sunday Service
April 4th @ 9:30 AM (In-person & Online) I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce my role as Lay
Leader here at MUMC. As part of being the Lay Leader, it is
part of my role to speak for all of you on issues that concern
the spiritual health of MUMC. I also am your representative
on various committees, although all committee meetings
except SPRC are open for anyone to attend. I would like to
take this opportunity to share my contact information. My
cell phone is 815-409-5599 and my email is chris-
vause25@gmail.com. At this time, when many of us have
received stimulus checks from the government, we are
thankful and praise God for this income for those of us who
have suffered cut backs or loss of income related to the im-
pact of COVID-19. For others of us, these stimulus checks
may be used by us to stimulate the economy by spending the
money or saving it for a rainy day. If you are in the financial
situation to give or tithe a portion to MUMC for the general
fund or a specific fund, this would be a way to thank God for
the blessings we have received and to continue all of our
ministries of MUMC. We continue to pray for all those who
affected by the pandemic and to reach out to those in need.
Thank you
- Chris Vause
Mark Your Calendar!
Ground Breaking Ceremony & Home-
Mark your calendar for Wild Wild West VBS! coming Celebration on Ridge Rd. on
Saturday, May 1st.
Come and celebrate a milestone in
VBS will be in-person with portions live- MUMC history. Invite all of our former
streamed MUMC members and those who have
August 9th-13th from 6-8 p.m. not been to church for awhile! This will
be a meaningful and fun event. More
Theme: Wild West Adventure – decorations information will be shared with you
needed. soon. Big thanks to the Building and
Trustee Committees for making great
progress.
Contact Ashley Grygienc if you can help VBS!
7
April 9:30 a.m. SERVICE VOLUNTEERS GROUPS/BOOK STUDY
April 4th Communion Book Club
LAY READER Kim Nave Book Club will meet on
____________________________ ______________________
April 26th at 7:00 PM (Zoom).
April 11th
LAY READER Shari Millard The next book selection is
_________________________________________________ "Born a Crime: Stories from a
April 18th South African Childhood" by
LAY READER Shari Millard Trevor Noah.
_____________________________ _____________________
April 25th All are encouraged to join!
LAY READER Kim Nave
Communion April 3rd & 4th
Pre-filled Communion Cups will be available for in-person
Mark Your Calendar for April 23rd at 6:00 PM.
worship in April.
The Zoom meeting link will be sent in email blast in
advance.
Outreach Committee Monthly Recipe
Merichka’s Salad Dressing Stay safe and well.
– Marlin & Adrienne Hartman.
~1/2 C. ketchup Mix & blend well. (Double the recipe,
~1/2 c. salad oil mix in blender, and refrigerate to have
~1/4 c. sugar on hand.) “World Religion” Group Study
~1/2 tsp. black Do you have 1 hour a week to expand or modify
pepper your knowledge about other religions?
~1/8 c. vinegar We have a wonderful opportunity for you to join a
~1/8 c. water group study with Marlin Hartman.
~1/2 tsp. salt
~1/2 tsp. garlic No preparation or materials are needed. We will
powder watch a video lesson and discuss it together.
Offering Envelopes This group will resume soon. Stay tuned to the
2021 Offering envelopes are now in use. If
you previously had envelopes and haven’t got- Happenings for more information.
ten them yet, please check your mailbox in
Fellowship Hall. If you would like enve-
lopes, contact Mary Ray at 815-467-4101 Do you need a prayer partner?
or maryray1107yahoo.com. Please make Karen Gaba (Co-lay reader of
any checks payable to “MUMC” or “Minooka United Methodist MUMC) will be available to
Church”. For electronic giving options, see instructions for My E-
Offering prayer with you and stand in
agreement with you for your
Don’t forget to use My E-offering to donate on-line or set up concerns and needs. We meet
recurring giving! Go to www.minookaumc.com and click on in the sanctuary every
the red “Give” button on the top of the webpage. Wednesday at 5 PM.
Senior Exercise
You can visit our website at minookaumc.com to find the These classes are free to attend
monthly calendar. The Mustard Seed, Happenings, and and registration is not
bulletins can be found under our Resources on the website as required.
well.
Classes are held at:
May 2021 news is due into the office no later
than Monday, April 19th. 8:15 & 9:30 on
If you have any questions or articles you would Tuesdays & Thursdays
like in our next issue, please contact the office in the annex.
at 815.467.2322 or mumc2322@gmail.com.
8
Prayer Needs Healing & Recovery: Prayer Needs Healing & Recovery: All Military - Church Family
Alicia Tianna Juley Troy Herath
(Jill Kohler) Jerry Knudson Joe Ingraham
Don Brown Will Kohler Aleks Jones-LeDuc
(Becky Brown) Mary Charles Loverude
Carol (Kim Nave)
(Tammie Patterson) Tom Morris Matthew Kasmer
Chuck (Dennis Morris) Dutch Nave
(Claude & Karen Crawshaw) Mike Noonan Bret Nemitz
Erlene Crater (Laura Wagner) Kyle Platz
Denny & Michael Bob Stelling Brian Riegler
(Marlin & Adrienne Hartman) Ed & Debbie Thompson Duane Schmitke
Gus DeGuzman Julie Thompson
Diane Tom Ethan Staley
(Adrienne Hartman) (Gerry Pubentz) Scott Tomlinson
Danny Harvey Trudi
Martha Ann Harvey (Vicki D. Allen)
Holly Becki Wagnon
(Cyndi Campbell) (Gail Girard)
Johnny Joan Yunker
(Claude Crawshaw) (Kim Nave)
Joy
(Jody Moorman)
*Please let the office know when name(s) can be taken off the list.
Sympathies to:
Prayer request:
Andy and Nancy Anderson on the loss of For the families of the victims
Andy’s cousin, Jeannette M.
of the Atlanta, GA shooting.
Kerrianne Nischke on the loss of her grandfa-
ther, Thomas in February. For the families of the victims
of the Boulder, CO shooting.
Pearl Lindley and family on the passing of
Ray.
Thank you to Pastor Sarah and everyone at Minooka United Methodist Church for all of your prayers
for our family. The cards of thinking of you, sympathy, gifts in Ray’s memory, and many acts of
kindness. Thank you also for coming to the wake and funeral service.
Thanks to Karen Pubentz and Ruth Satorius for organizing snacks for the wake and funeral. Thank
you to all of those that donated the snacks and the many people that helped organize everything for
the funeral service at the church.
Your thoughtfulness and kindness for our whole family is appreciated. Ray is at peace and with our
Lord and Savior. Blessed be Ray’s memory.
Love In Christ,
Pearl, Eric, Suzy, Ben, Morgan, Adam, Nina, Emma & Grant Lindley
Minooka United Methodist Church
205 West Church Street
Minooka, IL 60447
815-467-2322
Www.minookaumc.com
Facebook: Minooka United Methodist Church
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