1

April 2011

D ear friends in Christ, One of the things Shirley and I like most

about living in Illinois is that when spring is here, it is here to stay. We always look forward to that time when you awake in the morning, look out of the window, and zap, there this green grass is. It seems like it is an overnight kind of thing, brown one day and bright green the next.

Last winter, however, we had many more cold and snowy days than usual, records in snow in fact. We had very little rain. I remember we longed to find fresh green pushing its way through the drab wintered spears of dryness. But each day we saw, instead, the same dull color before us. When we looked closely, however, we could perceive little hints of new life and a slight changing in the color of the lawn. (Shirley was glued to the window!) We knew the green would come again, and eventually, it did return, but not until we had waited a long, long time for the right conditions for change and growth. This process of the earth's greening after a long winter reminds us of our spiritual "eastering," the inner transformation and rebirthing that comes after we've had a long winter spell of the spirit. The dead, brown grass is there. No amount of hurry, or push, or desire can make the green happen any sooner. You just have to wait until it is the right time. We think of people we know who are longing for an inner greening, and are yet in the throes of a spiritual winter: a person whose husband/wife recently died at a much too early age or at an unexpected time; grandparents who are struggling to raise children their children couldn’t raise; a unemployed person who is trying hard to find a job to provide for his family’s

(Continued on page 3)

2

Staff David Lagos-Fonseca Shirley Pulgar-Hughes Pastors Bethany Decker Christian Education Director Caren Hunter Preschool Director Dawn Ferree Office Coordinator Kathy Thompson Office Coordinator Vicki Oberlies Financial Secretary Kathleen Gentes Music Director Penny Libert Organist Holly Voss Wedding Coordinator Laura Prather Nursery Coordinator Sue Heizer Funeral Coordinator Sue Appleton Judy Sutliff Funeral Luncheon Coordinators Arturo Arreola Custodian Office Hours: Mon.—Thurs. 9:00 a.m. to noon; 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Friday 9:00 a.m. to noon Sunday Schedule: Worship 8:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Worship 11:00 a.m. Praise Service: 2nd/4th Sundays 11:00 a.m.

Newsletter Staff Editor

Tom Swider Silver News

Cheri Brockhoeft labeling

Office Staff mailing

Volunteers Newsletter Deadline

Articles are due the 20th of each month for the following month’s issue. It is best if your articles could be submitted via email to: swidertc@comcast.net. Please

Church E-mail Address Office caryumc@caryumc.org Preschool CMPreschool@yahoo.com Youth caryumcthewave@caryumc.org Christian Ed christianed@caryumc.org Website www.caryumc.org

PRAYER VIGIL FOR GOOD FRIDAY

April 22, noon to 6 p.m. – Sanctuary

P lease plan to participate in our annual prayer vigil on Good Friday. There is a sign-up

poster in the lobby, for half-hour time slots. You do not have to pray aloud or with others. This is a time for you to meditate and pray silently. Our pastors will provide meditation materials and suggested scripture passages. Many people find this a very meaningful part of the late Lenten season, in preparation for Easter. We hope to fill all the time slots so that prayer/meditation will be continuous for those 6 hours. More than one person can attend at any time. If you are uncertain about what time you can participate, feel free to stop in whenever you can.

— The Worship Committee

MARK YOUR CALENDARS !!!

W endel Werner, jazz pianist, and Alan Eleazer, tenor, plan to perform a concert

here at CUMC on Wednesday evening, June 15. Please mark your calendars now and save that date for a very special musical treat. If you have heard them before, you know what a wonderful opportunity this is. If you’ve not heard them, please come for a very enjoyable evening of music and laughter. We hope to hear Back Row of the Sanctuary Blues, Amazing Grace, Kindergarten Wall, and Jesus Loves Me, among others. More information will be forthcoming.

— Kathleen Gentes

Janice Prunier-King, director of the choir. Thanks.

PLEASE HELP US FIND THE LOST!

A ltar Choir is missing several copies of one of their songbooks. These are spiral-bound

books entitled Sing a Song of Scripture – 100 Scripture Songs for Kids. They were last seen in the choir room. If you see them anywhere, please see that they get to Kathleen’s or Penny’s mail-boxes in the mailroom, or give them directly to

3

needs; a man/woman who fell into deep, clinical depression and struggles to live through each day with meager energy; the old couple whose daughter wouldn’t be able to come for a visit over the holidays. They will be alone again; the friend who does not know how to face the pain and the suffering of living with cancer; a person who is brokenhearted and struggling with the loss and pain of separation and divorce; the child who is chronically ill; the youth struggling with uncharted uncertainties and fears as he/she searches for meaning in his/her life; the elderly person who lives alone and in abandonment; the single parent who is raising his/her children alone. Each one needs an "eastering," a bright greening, a new beginning and how they long for it to come soon.

But it may be a painstakingly slow process, a tiny bit of life gradually weaving through the pain and questions. Eastering isn't always a quick step out of the tomb. Sometimes rising from the dead takes a long, slowly-greening time. It can't be hurried. It can't be pushed. It can’t be forced. It is my hope for you this Easter season that you will trust the resurrection and rebirth of your spirit, believe that joy, hope and new life will come for you, even though it may not be there for you now. If you are one of the fortunate ones whose souls sings with happy alleluias this Easter, may you turn often to those around you who are still awaiting their greening and walk hopefully with them.

Grace and peace and blessings, Pastor David.

(Continued from page 1)

A Night Under the Stars is a Night to Remember

M usic and multicolored light streamed into the lobby and coat-

check station as a steady procession of Daddies escorted their little girls to the Spring’s most highly anticipated dance event. Dads and daughters alike were delighted by the transformation of CUMC’s Fellowship Hall into a classy, inviting star-strewn dance hall. Eyes sparkled all around, from the flash of the professional photographer posing princesses… to the floating stars festooning the hall… to the shimmering light show flooding the dance floor. The amateur paparazzi was out in force, as well-heeled Daddies and their gorgeous girls ducked between crowds at craft stations and ducked the throng gathered at well-stocked tables of sweets and snacks. Both daughters and Dads worked the dance floor for hours, gliding with grace through one song and straight-up rocking through the next. All too soon the last song echoed into stillness, the last cup of punch was finished, and the happy couples were leaving the building, bundled against the bracing evening air. The first CUMC Daddy-Daughter dance was a great success thanks to many hours of planning, volunteering and service. The dance was attended by nearly 100 people, including members of the CUMC congregation, families from the Cary United Methodist Preschool, and guests from our community. Next year, we look forward to your being a part of this fun ministry and important outreach!

— Brian McCarthy

March 6, 2010 ● Cary, Illinois

World Day of Prayer

W e were honored to host the ecumenical World Day of Prayer for our area. This is

observed each year the first Friday of March and the program is written by women of different countries. The theme for 2011 was “How Many Loaves Have You?” written by the women of Chile. Pastor Shirley was the special speaker and added her wonderful description of her home country, the narrow strip of land on the western coast of South America, and the joy of sharing

bread in their communities. There were about 75 in attendance from the surrounding communities. We served special Chilean treats of hot tea with “Breads and Spreads” the breads were baked by our women and the spreads of avocado, butter and manjar delighted all. Thank you Pastor Shirley and Thank you to all who helped welcoming the visitors to our church.

— Bonnie Floor

4

5

6

UMW Activities For

April

OPEN TO ALL WOMEN OF OUR CHURCH Please note contact person with each event CRAFT GROUP meets Wed. Mornings 9 AM- 12 PM Carolyn Swider (847) 540- 8478 BOOKS & BAGELS -Fri. Apr. 1, 7-9 PM FRG Panera - Dawn Ferree (847) 462-8016 & Bethany Decker (815) 979-5315 UMW MISSION TEAM – Tues. April 5 at 7 PM Judy Sutliff (847) 639-0276 KNIT AND CROCHET – Thurs. Apr. 7, 10 –11:30 AM Lois Voss (847) 639-7033 DORCAS CIRCLE – Wed. Apr. 13 - 12:00 PM Will meet with Pastor Shirley’s Lenten Study group. Lunch is served Penny Libert (847) 639-2708 CIRCLE OF FRIENDS – Fri. Apr 15, 7-9 PM Jennifer Boudart (847) 516-6236 Pam Jungman-Newman (847) 462-8498 PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY –Sun. Apr. 17-9:45 AM Prayer Shawls to be blessed at Worship Services Lois Voss (847) 639-7033 PRAYER BREAKFAST – Call Dorothy Fagerson for Information. (847) 639-8647 Mark Sun. May 15 on your calendars for the All-Daughter Spring Fling. This will be a fun time for all ladies and girls of our Church. (Please note the corrected date for this event ,it was incorrect in March’s calendar of events.)

CUMC's Stephen Ministry is our program of trained and organized lay people providing one-to-one Christian Care to hurting people in and around our congregation. We currently provide care to the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, isolated, divorced, unemployed, relocated and others facing a crisis or life challenge. Please contact Kristin Fell (847-462-1361) or Pastor Shirley if you or someone you know could use a Stephen Minister. In our new project we are training to become active with H.E.R.O.E.S. Care. HEROES Care is an affiliation of program partners working together to provide support to military families in the communities where they live. HEROES (Homefront Enabling Relationships, Opportunities, and Empowerment through Support) Care combines the power of national organizations dedicated to providing emergency financial aid, employment opportunities, and mental health care services through a network of specially trained care givers before, during and after deployment. The mission is to provide a nationwide and efficient support network available throughout the entire deployment process that is known to troops, families, commanders and the community. Currently Beth Krueger is a trained and certified Outpost Leader, Beth and Mike Vijuk are trained and certified Hometown Support Volunteer in the HEROES Care Program. Other active Stephen Ministers will be trained this year to become certified Hometown Support Volunteers. Books ‘n Bagels

Friday, May 6, 2011

7 – 9 PM Panera in Fox River Grove

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress

By: Rhoda Janzen Contact: Dawn Ferree or Bethany Decker

News from Stephen Ministry

7

Note from the Evangelism Committee

I n an effort to make the Narthex more appealing the name tag rack has been moved to the back wall. You can pick up your name tag there, and please remember to wear them.

Please take a minute and look at the rack on the south wall in the hallway. There are some pamphlets there on Methodist doctrine that you will find interesting and informative. There are also "Care Notes" little booklets of care and concern and love to help deal with difficult times such as depression, illness, death, stress, divorce, anger, etc. If you would like one for yourself, a family member, or a friend, please take one.

8

9

CUMC Collecting Diapers for the Blessing Barn to be given to the McHenry County

Diaper Bank

DIAPER DRIVE April 1-24

A donation box will be in the church lobby. Diaper Sizes 1-6

Generic or name brand.

Contact: Katrina Zentefis 847-516-0526

The Blessing Barn is gathering diapers for the Diaper Bank the month of April. Our goal is 10,000. The Mission Committee is asking CUMC to help meet this goal.

10

11

12

13

14

15

Kids

16