Cambridge United Methodist Church Loving God, Loving Others, Serving Both

SEPTEMBER 2018

NEWSLETTER 120 West Exchange Street, Cambridge, IL 61238 Phone

309-937-2018

School Days, for Everyone

Today, Tuesday August 14th I was running around town asking God what I am going to write

about for the September newsletter, and then I ran past the Cambridge schools, and God

answered my prayer.

As we prepare our children for school I suggest that we pray for them, pray hard.

Pray that they are protected from bullying, and that if bullying occurs, which it will, that our children

have been so fortified with love that they will know that the barbs and bricks thrown their way are not

true.

Pray that they have the patience and the endurance to learn something new. Pray that they give

themselves the time to learn new skills, and to not give up.

Pray that the teachers have patience with our children

Pray that all children, of all colors, and sizes, and backgrounds will become friends. This could be the

answer to our first prayer.

Here is another prayer that I have, that we all become children again, headed off to school. There is nothing like

the challenge of learning something new. Reading something new, or rereading something old that we have read

before. Being older, we will see things in a new light.

New things should not intimidate us, new things should excite us, and inspire us. We should always try to learn

more and be more, using all of the gifts, and abilities that God has given to us.

Now some of you may be asking, “Where do I start?”, or “I don’t know what I want to learn?”

There are a few places that we can begin,

When you completed your SHAPE analysis did it reveal that you had a Spiritual Gift that you don’t feel

equipped to use? Does your Spiritual Gift not match up with your God given abilities that we discussed

on Sunday August 26th (reprinted in this newsletter)? Then start there, learn more about the skills that

you will need to begin using your God given Spiritual Gifts, then start using your Spiritual Gifts.

If you didn’t complete your SHAPE analysis yet, start there!

Start with a need. Look back at the HEART Questions that we reviewed on Sunday August 19th

(reprinted in this newsletter).

o Cambridge needs AWANA teachers and helpers, volunteer there.

o We need greeters at church, volunteer there.

o Like people, we are starting a visitation ministry, volunteer there.

o See a need in church or in Cambridge, volunteer there.

Ever wished that you had time to read the Bible. Call me 309-507-2641, or e-mail me

j.aniol@peopleneedjesus.org

Ever wished that you could find a Bible study group for people that don’t, or haven’t ever read the

Bible? Call me 309-507-2641, or e-mail me j.aniol@peopleneedjesus.org

Sometimes we do not try to learn something new because we are intimidated by the enormity of the task, or

because someone is better at it then we are. This is no reason to not start, remember Paul’s words to Timothy (2

Timothy 1:7 NIV) – “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-

discipline”.

Do you know what intimidates me? The “F” chord on the guitar. I CAN’T DO IT!!!

My hand doesn’t twist this way! You have to lay your index finger across the first two

strings, and then twist your second and third fingers on the third and fourth strings, just like

the picture on the left shows you.

I CAN’T DO IT!!!

But I am committed to learn how to do this and to work on my chord transitions, because

my Uncle Joe also liked to say “If you haven’t learned something new today, you must be dead”. I’m not dead

yet, so I will learn this.

Since the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, I am challenging all of us to do the

following during the month of September.

Pray continuously for our school children. Pray every waking hour, pray without ceasing for their safety,

their learning and their salvation. If you have never prayed without ceasing, it’s easy. Whenever a

thought or person pops into your head, pray for that thing or that person.

Learn, to do something new during the month of September

The challenge comes not in learning something new, we can always learn something new, the challenge is that I

encourage all of us to share the new thing that we have learned during the month of September during 10:30

worship on October 7th. To encourage participation, I will lead off by playing the “F” chord on Uncle Joe’s

guitar on the platform. Steve will play the chord first so you all can hear what the “F” chord is supposed to

sound like, and then I will attempt it.

Personally I NEED to learn how to play the “F” chord because it is in one of my favorite songs, George

Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, right now, the way I play the “F” chord, my guitar and everyone

that hears me play weeps, sometimes not gently.

My God continue to abundantly bless you today, tomorrow and throughout the

month, and may He bless your new learning in September.

Pastor Jim

Pastor Jim’s Schedule Cell phone 309-507-2641 Office 309-937-2018

Monday & Tuesday – Church Office 9am - 12pm Thursday - Church Office 9am - 12pm

Wednesday - Clergy meeting Grace UMC 8:45am – 9:45am Friday - Sabbath

Church Office 10:15am – 12pm Saturday - On call 1pm – 4pm

Rotary 12pm – 1pm

Sunday - Worship

Please feel free to stop in anytime I am in the office. Do not hesitate

to call to setup a private meeting.

Greetings Men of God!

BASE CAMP MEN’S BREAKFAST The monthly men’s breakfast will be Sunday, September 9th at 7 AM in the fellowship Café. All women are invited to come have breakfast, enjoy fellowship and pray for the men.

BASE CAMP MEN’S DINNER The monthly men’s meeting &

dinner will be held on Tuesday, September 11th at 6 PM – At the

Cambridge United Methodist Church.

PASTOR PRAYER PARTNERS MEETING will be Saturday, September 8 at 7 AM at Cambridge UMC

Sept. 20th Wesleyan Group 7 PM at the church

Hostess- Barb Wigant, Lesson – Mary Alice Lindburg

Sept. 18th Priscilla Group 2 PM at the church

Hostess – Sally Vincent, Lesson – Pat Atkinson

FOOT

CARE CLINIC SEPTEMBER 4TH Foot Clinics are held each month on the first Tuesday from 9 – 12 the cost is $32.

There was a cost increase due to the cost of travel to Clinic Sites. This includes getting

your feet soaked, toenails trimmed and feet, ankles and calves lotioned.

LADIES – if you bring your polish they will paint your toes also!

UPCOMING CLINICS: October 2ND ,

November 6th , and December 4th

Food Pantry News The Cambridge Food Pantry will be open at the following times

Sunday, September 16th from 3 - 5 PM Monday, September 17th

from 9 -10 AM. Cambridge Lutheran Church will be in charge this month.

Preaching Calendar for September 2018 September 2nd - Luke 10:38-42 P = Personality, it takes all types to make a church

September 9th – Romans 8:26-39 E = Experiences that we have been through are

used by God to shape us.

September 16th – Ephesians 5:15-20 Now that we know our spiritual gifts what do we

do?

September 23rd – Vacation

September 30th - Romans 12:1-8 – All in for Jesus

September Birthdays

1 - Amy Stromquist, Jeanette

Ross, Rick Franck

7 - Jace Swanson

8 - Brett Underwood

12 - Pam Ahring

13 - Dave Anderson

16 - Heather Underwood

17 - Tracie Coziahr

18 – Marilyn Brown

19 - Joanne Boggs,

Cheryl Evert

21 - Dick Borg, Lexi Edmund

22 – Allison Lawrence

25 - Clayton Carr

26 - Pat Sorenson

27 - Heather Pine

30 – Alec Vinavich

ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL

GOD’S NATURE CORNER

September means migrating birds and monarch butterflies begin taking flight to warmer regions. Other critters are

also migrating.

Also relying on milkweeds as they migrate are large milkweed bugs (the orange and black bugs found on

milkweed plants). They cannot survive winter cold and return to southern locations in autumn.

Wandering gliders are champions of migration. They hitch rides on global plankton. They fly north from the tropics

in spring, reaching the United States and southern Canada over several generations, and then move south in the

Fall.

If your birthday or anniversary is not

on this list or is incorrect please

contact the office. Thank you.

September Anniversaries

1 - Gale & Diana Allen

2 - Jay & Dee Hofer

5 - John & Carla Witter

6 – Robert & Sarah Nodine

7 – Leroy & Loreen Borkhart

11 - Kyle & Amy Stromquist

21 – Terry & Janifer Roesner

The common buckeye butterflies migrate north throughout the United States. By late summer and autumn, they

head back south. The painted lady butterfly has similar migration patterns covering several generations as true of

all these critters.

I am closing with this quote…

Be silent - then you can hear Him everywhere: in the closing of a door, in the person who needs you, in the

birds that sing, in the flowers, the animals, in the silence which is wonder and praise. Why? Because God

is everywhere, and you can see and hear Him.

Where there is Love, there is God. Mother Theresa God’s Bless You, Abigail Possum

SEPTEMBER 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

Holy Communion 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 AM ADULT EDUC. HOUR

10:30 AM WORSHIP

OFFICE CLOSED FOR LABOR DAY

6:30 PM Women’s Bible

Study

9 AM Exercise 10 AM Prayer Grp 7 PM Confirmation

8:30 AM Cookie Baking

7 AM Pastor Prayer Partners Cambridge

9 7AM Men’s Bkfast

9 AM EDUCATION HOUR

10:30 AM WORSHIP

10

9 AM Fall Review

Crew 6:30 PM Missions Meeting

11 9 AM Exercise

9-12 Foot Clinic 6 PM Forge Dinner/mtg Cambridge

12 6:30 PM Women’s Bible

Study

13 9 AM Exercise 10 AM Prayer Grp 7 PM Confirmation

14 8:30 AM Cookie Baking

15

16 9 AM

EDUCATION HOUR 10:30 AM WORSHIP

3-5 PM

Food Pantry

17 9 AM

Fall Review Crew

9-10 AM

Food Pantry

18 9 AM Exercise

2 PM Priscilla Group at the church

19

20 9 AM Exercise 10 AM Prayer Grp 7 PM Confirmation

7PM Wesleyan At the church

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

21 8:30 AM Cookie Baking

22

23

Noisy Offering 9 AM

EDUCATION HOUR 10:30 AM WORSHIP

24 9 AM

Fall Review Crew

25 9 AM Exercise

26

27 9 AM Exercise 10 AM Prayer Grp 7 PM Confirmation

28 8:30 AM Cookie Baking

29

OUR SUNDAY SCHEDULE

8:45 – 10:45 AM FRIENDSHIP CAFÉ

OPEN

9 AM EDUCATION HOUR

10:30 AM WORSHIP

WELCOME BACK TO SUNDAY SCHOOL!

CHILDREN’S SUNDAY SCHOOL WILL

BEGIN

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 AT 9 AM

Greetings to the wonderful family at Cambridge United Methodist Church. Becky and I have been wanting to bring you up to date on our move to Florida. We are going to try to include a few pictures also. We have moved into a very nice three bedroom house in Cranes Landing in Groveland, FL. Our address is 1481 Whooping Drive, Groveland, FL 34736. I imagine that the street is named after whooping cranes. Our church is located in Clermont which is just down the road about 5 miles. We have joined a fitness club and Les and I have our very own trainer. We are now working on our health. We are now considered Floridians!! We have Florida license plates and Florida driver’s license. Natalie got a bike for her birthday and is going to ride the many bike trails we have around us. The most difficult thing about this move is what we had to leave behind. We had to leave a church family that is a true family of God. The Lord blessed us with 7 months with the most loving and supportive people we have ever experienced. There are so many wonderful memories of things that could only happen in a church of people like you all are. For instance, Becky often thinks about how you allowed her to praise God on Sunday mornings. And you even let me sing to you occasionally on Sunday mornings. The coffee and donut times when we could seriously socialize with each other were special. And I will never forget the moments that I was able to share with each of you following the service. I get emotional sometimes when I think about those times. The love and respect that you continually showed for 7 months was truly appreciated. Pastor Jim, you are very blessed to be part of this family.

However, I also feel that the church family is blessed to have your family with them. I truly believe that God planned that 7 months to prepare us for what He is going to do through you. If any of you would feel like writing or texting just to say Hi, we would love to say Hi back to you. Love to all

Les, Becky, and Natalie

Here are some College Addresses:

Elizabeth C. Aniol, Augustana College, Box 151 639 38th Street, Rock Island, IL 61201-2296

30 9 AM

EDUCATION HOUR 10:30 AM WORSHIP

South Tower, Sierra Brown 107 Monroe, 319 S. Fell Ave. Normal, IL 61761-2898

Ramsey Spanton (3360) 84 Alfred Road Great Barrington, MA 01230

Fall Review 2018

October 13

Upcoming Fall Review Dates

Preparations are gearing up for our 29th Annual Fall Review.

This is a large event that takes place at the church and the community hall. Over 600 people attend

each year. We serve breakfast and lunch, and the lower level Sunday School room becomes the

Gourmet Shop where we sell a wide variety of jellies, jams, mustards, pickles, noodles, mixes, candy,

and much more, as well as frozen foods! These products have been made and beautifully decorated

by a dedicated group of women. The Gourmet Shop and the Bakery, which sells homemade goodies

are a highlight of the show. A craft show is also part of the event with vendors selling their handmade

crafts. This event takes many hands to be successful – from set-up Thursday night to helping in

different areas the day of the show to tear-down late Saturday afternoon.

Please prayerfully consider how you can help when you are contacted by our calling

committee. If you have not been contacted by the end of August - it may be that we do not have your

phone number, please contact the church office at 309-937-2018

By late August, we will have posters and flyers available for distribution. Be thinking of places

to put posters and distribute flyers. The more publicity we have, the better our show will be.

Proceeds from the Fall Review help us spread God’s love through missions locally and outside our

area. Thanks in advance for your help!

OTHER DATES TO REMEMBER….

DOOR PRIZES NEEDED BY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11th. We are getting an early start for requesting door prizes for the 29th Annual Fall Review. Please if you would consider donating a new or very gently used items (especially seasonal items) for our door prize table it would be very much appreciated. Over the last few years I have tried to increase the number of prizes so many of our guests can feel special because they "won" a prize. I even try to make sure the guests who don't win a prize take away a little gift like note pads or even just a candy kiss. Donations may be brought to the church and put in the storage room next to the nursery or you may call me and I will be glad to pick up your item.

Thank you in advance for your support. Loreen Borkhart - 309-230-1487 PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY ITEMS IN ON FRIDAY OR SATURDAY!

GOURMET SHOP ITEMS NEEDED BY SEPTEMBER 17.

Anyone making products at home – please have all items to the church before September 17

so that the decoration committee can get them finished.

COOKIE BAKING FRIDAY MORNINGS IN SEPTEMBER.

We will be baking cookies for the Fall Review each Friday morning in September, beginning at

8:30 AM. If you are interested in helping, please call Judy Anderson at 309-945-8628. Thank you!

Please prayerfully consider

how you can help!

2018 YTD Finances (through July)

Checking/General Budget:

Average monthly income remains steady at $12,900 which is the same trend as 2017.

Average monthly expense through June was $10,200 and increased to $12,500 in July. This compares to

$13,700/month for 2017. We were blessed to have Les fill in as interim pastor and he did so at a lower salary

for the first six months of 2018. No salary expense for youth group and just a few month’s salary paid for the

Ignite program resulted in the decreased monthly expense we saw the first half of 2018. Our cash balance in

the checking/general budget is $26,000 the end of July compared to $2,700 in 2017. If you recall in 2017 we

used funds from savings in order to pay bills beginning in August so we are in much better financial shape for

2018.

July is the first month of seeing increased expense with Jim as full-time pastor. Even though we show a healthy

cash balance we remain cautious as this is our first full-time pastor in eight years and we’ll want to make sure

income keeps pace with expenses before utilizing that balance for any new long-term financial commitments.

All of this will be considered during the 2019 budget planning process.

Savings/Reserve Funds:

Renovations to the parsonage were $6,572 with almost $1,200 funded by donations from the congregation.

We also paid moving expenses of $4,200. Both of these came from Trustee funds.

Because the general budget was unable to fund any of our youth or children’s programs these programs were

moved from the budget into savings/reserve funds a few years ago. A big thank you to our Fall Review team

who has kept these programs funded for us.

Youth balance $2,100

Awana (formerly Ignite) $4,990

Sunday School/VBS/Children $3,300

Missions started out with $9,000 to give away ($8,200 from Fall Review) and currently has $3,750 left to

distribute with $430 set aside for the Thanksgiving meal.

Trustees ($37,525 available)

$16,025 Lift Project/Handicap Access

$5,000 Boiler fund

$11,000 Memorial fund

$5,500 Building fund for remaining parsonage costs and new projects

Backpack Blessings $15,600

Fall Review $15,290

myTEAM TRIUMPH Fundraising

One of the missions closest to my heart is myTEAM

TRIUMPH (mTT). mTT is an athletic ride-along program

created for differently-abled children, teens, adults, and veterans

with disabilities, who would normally not be able to experience

endurance events such as triathlons or road races without

assistance. In mTT these folks are called our Captains, because

they are in charge, and the race is for their benefit. The runners are their Angels who provide

the propulsion via their legs.

mTT uses specially designed strollers in races, and these strollers cost anywhere from $1,200 to

$3,000. I have applied for a grant from the Illinois Great Rivers Conference for a $3,000 chair,

but while the grant is in process our team is without a chair, and we cannot race. I do not like

not being able to serve all of God’s children, especially those that are at a disadvantage, such as

our differently-abled children. When I was discussing this at our first small group meeting

Jeane Downing reminded me that “You do not have, because you do not ask” (James 4:2).

When Jeane said this, I was cut to the heart.

So now I am asking, if any of you can spare any funds what so ever to go towards purchasing a

running stroller, I would appreciate it greatly. Since myTEAM TRIUMPH is a 501(c)(3) IRS

qualified charity, all of your contributions are tax deductible, and you will receive a receipt for

your taxes. Any checks for your myTEAM TRIUMPH contributions would be made out to

Cambridge UMC with the note myTEAM TRIUMPH Chair in the memo section. Any cash

donations should be in an envelope with the note myTEAM TRIUMPH Chair written in the

envelope. All contributions may be put in the collection basket during Sunday worship, or

dropped off at the church office.

Thank you all for all that you do for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and God bless you.

Pastor Jim