Community Lenten ServicesCommunity Lenten ServicesCommunity Lenten ServicesCommunity Lenten Services At each location, there will be a soup and bread meal at 6:00pm with a worship service beginning at 7:00pm. This year’s theme is “Finding God in Uncommon Places.

4/3 New Beginnings 4/10 GCUMC 4/17 1st Christian

Holy WeekHoly WeekHoly WeekHoly Week 4/14 Parade of Palms (also at SNL on the 13th) 4/17 Stations of the Cross (see article on page 2) 4/19 Good Friday Service (Lutheran Church—7pm)

Easter SundayEaster SundayEaster SundayEaster Sunday April 21stApril 21stApril 21stApril 21st On Easter Sunday we will have our regular worship services at 8:45am and 11:00am and Sunday School at 10:00am. The Saturday Night Light Service will be held at 5:30pm on April 20th.

Easter Sunday SchoolEaster Sunday SchoolEaster Sunday SchoolEaster Sunday School We will have an Easter Celebration for the kids (ages 3 - 5th grade) at 10:00am on Easter Sunday. Your kids will participate in an Easter Egg Hunt, play Easter themed games, and hear the story of Easter in a fun way! Hope to see you then!

Wesleyana CircleWesleyana CircleWesleyana CircleWesleyana Circle The Wesleyana Circle will meet on April 10th at 1:30pm at the Villas of Holly Brook.

MMDC Spring MMDC Spring MMDC Spring MMDC Spring TripTripTripTrip Our church is scheduled to work at the Midwest Mission Distribution Center on Friday, April 5th. This is a great opportunity to follow Christ’s call to serve our neighbors—locall, national and global. Let’s join together to keep up the strong work in 2018! Please contact the office if you are interested in going on the trip.

Generations…..Love, Lace and LaughterGenerations…..Love, Lace and LaughterGenerations…..Love, Lace and LaughterGenerations…..Love, Lace and Laughter Ladies of all ages, (littles, tweens, teens and adults), You are cordially invited to attend “Generations… Love, Lace and Laughter” Sunday , April 7, 2019 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. in

Fellowship Hall. Please extend an invitation to daughters, mothers, nieces, grandmothers, aunts and friends. A light meal will be served. RSVP appreciated. A sign-up sheet is located in the Narthex (hallway outside of the sanctuary) or contact a member of the Connection Team. (Susan Hawthorne, Cathy Walker-Steidinger, Judy Eckhoff, Bonnie Clark, Danielle Brown, Kathy Eagleson, Carol Steinman, Gail Anliker or Linda Goltz)

TTTTTTTTTTTTHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE MMMMMMMMMMMMESSENGERESSENGERESSENGERESSENGERESSENGERESSENGERESSENGERESSENGERESSENGERESSENGERESSENGERESSENGER

AAAAAAAAAAAAPRILPRILPRILPRILPRILPRILPRILPRILPRILPRILPRILPRIL 201920192019201920192019201920192019201920192019

Visit us at gcumc3.org or Find us on Facebook: “Gibson City UMC”

Pastor—John Tennyson Church Phone 217-784-5452 Church Email gcumc@sbcglobal.net

Saturday • 5:30pm—Casual Worship Sunday • 8:45am—Traditional Worship

Sunday • 11:00am—Contemporary Worship

Sunday School—10:00am

Easter: The Hope of SpringEaster: The Hope of SpringEaster: The Hope of SpringEaster: The Hope of Spring

A long, bone chilling winter solicits a deep yearning in our souls for the warmth and radiant days of spring; when new life emerges from cold grey into greens and majestic colors.

Surprising to many, the word “Lent” means “Spring”. The season of Lent begins in winter, and ends in spring. Likewise, the theme and focus of Lent begins in Jesus’ wilderness in the desert, and yet ends in His victorious rebirth in resurrection.

Life brings its share of wildernesses and deserts. Rejection, betrayal, and death were painful, emotional wildernesses that Jesus experienced in his life on earth. To that list we can add trauma such as the loss of health, friends, or income.

Grief and loss are not easy days; and the journey thru the emotional pain and wilderness of grief cannot be hurried. Often times, we feel alone. Yet there is hope; the hope of spring; the hope of God’s faithfulness. Natalie Sleeth wrote both the music and the lyrics to Hymn of Promise. Here are a few of her lyrics:

In the cold and snow of winter There’s a spring that waits to be.

There’s a dawn in every darkness, Bringing hope to you and me.

From the past will come the future; What it holds, a mystery,

Unrevealed until its season, Something God alone can see.

Often unrecognizable to our feelings is the truth that we are never alone. Jesus reaffirms us that He is with us always. The Apostle Paul reassures you and me that neither hardship, nor distress, nor persecution, nor famine, nor nakedness, nor peril, nor sword, nor even death can separate us from the love of God.

We are not people of perpetual winter. In Christ, we belong to the hope and assurance of Spring. When we are weak, God is strong. When our strength fails, God’s love remains faithful and steadfast. Spring is resurrection of bold new majestic colors of something God alone can see in winter, but revealed to us in Spring.

~ Pastor John

Stations of the CrossStations of the CrossStations of the CrossStations of the Cross Wednesday, April 17th • 6:30Wednesday, April 17th • 6:30Wednesday, April 17th • 6:30Wednesday, April 17th • 6:30----8:00pm8:00pm8:00pm8:00pm Please join us on April 17th and walk through the Stations of the Cross. The artwork and devotions come from the lessons that our Wednesday Night Growing in God K-5 children have been participating in since the start of Lent. The church will be open from 6:30-8pm and the guided walk-through should take anywhere from 15-20 minutes. You will have the opportunity to walk through the stages as a family and each room will provide devotions for both children and adults. We will have guides on hand to walk groups through the stations.

There is an old legend that says, after the death and resurrection of Jesus, his mother Mary would often walk the way her son had walked on his journey to the cross, pausing here and there to recall something that had happened at that spot. From these walks grew the early Christian of walking the Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross, in Jerusalem, a tradition that continues to this day.

When they returned home, those early pilgrims to Jerusalem talked about their experience, and soon many people began erecting “Stations’ of the cross on the walls and ground of their own churches so worshippers could make the journey whenever they wished. The number of stations ranged from as few as seven to as many as thirty. We will have 15 stations this year.

Jesus’ own journey to the cross did not take place down some sacred street. Rather, his journey is what made each step, each cobblestone, sacred and filled with the Divine. At first glance, kids’ coloring posters and classrooms might not seem like the most obvious place to meditate these final hours of Jesus’ life. But it is our hope that, by seeing them and talking about them outside of our traditional “sacred spaces”, we can recognize that every place is an opportunity for an encounter with Christ along our own journey of faith.

Fellowship DinnerFellowship DinnerFellowship DinnerFellowship Dinner Everyone is invited to a special fellowship dinner on April 17th. Subway will be served in the Fellowship Hall from 5:30-7:00pm. You can stop and eat with family and friends before or after walking through the stations.

WWWWORDSORDSORDSORDS FFFFROMROMROMROM OOOOURURURUR PPPPASTORASTORASTORASTOR

Parade of Palms Parade of Palms Parade of Palms Parade of Palms April 13th & 14thApril 13th & 14thApril 13th & 14thApril 13th & 14th Our annual special Parade of Palms offering for mission will be taken on Palm Sunday, April 14th and also during the Saturday Night Light Service on April 13th. All money given will go directly towards our missionaries: Margaret Farnsworth, Mark & Rebecca Smallwood, Doug & Cindy Tankersley, and Melanie Warfield. Children of all ages are invited to participate in the waving of palm branches and sharing their music in worship at the beginning of each church service on Palm Sunday. Children will meet downstairs in the Fellowship Hall at 8:30am to participate in the 8:45 service. Those who will be helping with the 11:00 service will meet in the Fellowship Hall following Sunday School.

Special MusicSpecial MusicSpecial MusicSpecial Music Summer 2019Summer 2019Summer 2019Summer 2019 If you are interested in sharing your gift of music during a traditional worship service this summer, please contact the office. The worship committee is currently looking for individuals and groups to share music during the months of June, July and August. Music can be vocal or instrumental.

Easter Lilies and TulipsEaster Lilies and TulipsEaster Lilies and TulipsEaster Lilies and Tulips We will again be displaying Easter Lilies and Tulips for the Easter weekend. Lilies and Tulips can be purchased from the florist of your choice. Flowers should be delivered to the church no later than noon on Friday, April 19th. As in previous years, we will have a memorial/honorarium for those flowers. Slips will be in the bulletins starting April 7th. They will need to be turned into the office no later than Wednesday, April 17th.

15th Annual Festival of Quilts15th Annual Festival of Quilts15th Annual Festival of Quilts15th Annual Festival of Quilts

Cunningham Children’s Home will host the 15th Annual Festival of Quilts on Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the Spiritual Life Center on the Cunningham campus in Urbana. The Festival is Cunningham’s signature fundraiser and honors the tradition of the United Methodist Women, and the quilts they, and quilters from across Illinois, have donated for our kids for more than 123 years.

Wednesday Night Fellowship and Wednesday Night Fellowship and Wednesday Night Fellowship and Wednesday Night Fellowship and Growing in GodGrowing in GodGrowing in GodGrowing in God

The last night for the 5:30pm Wednesday Night Fellowship Meal will be April 10th.

The 17th will be a special Lenten Service night (see article on page 2).

The 24th there will be no meal, but Growing in God will have their final meeting at 6:30pm and will be celebrating Easter with a Resurrection (End of the Year) Party!

NEWSNEWSNEWSNEWS

Audrey Apperson 2 Jarad Cox 2 Jeremy Rotramel 3 Lance Minard 3 Kenneth Farmer 4 Bailey Grider 6 Sheila Bennett 8 Ima Jean Ping 8 Jeff Glascock 9 Katie Spangler 9

Helen Dueringer 10 Kent Bielfeldt 11 Ann Young 12 Becky Young 14 Kyah Lee 14 Carol Steinman 15 Karen Leenerman 15 Lisa Lange 15 Ann Spangler 15 Kate Main 15 Betty VanSwol 16 Meaghan Sharp 17 Bonnie Farmer 18 Virgil Rosendale 18 April Rotramel 18 Blaine Ehler 20 Oleta Lantz 22

Mike McCall 22 Payton Baillie 22 Maysen Frashier 22 Miles Lindelof 23 Lisa Farmer 24 Carolee Cook 24 Malinda Lutz 24 Mick Horsch 24 Emily Young 24 Audrey Glascock 25 Josh Woodcock 26 Connor Engel 28 Tracy Richardson 28 Jon Clark 29 Glenn Kummerow 30

Day Years Greg & Sharon Pool 3 37 Dean & Lisa Farmer 8 40 Terry & Cindy Bell 10 Todd & Amy McNutt 11 27 David & Elizabeth Sheppard 16 3 Jeff & Audrey Glascock 19 39 Josh & Sarah Chase 20 17 Corey & Elizabeth Cope 29 2

Nursing Home

Residents

Manor

Delores Brown Ruth Fisher Edna Goembel Carol Hari Jane Hill Alfred Landau Phil Lutz Judith Peters Ima Jean Ping Annex

Mary Rosebraugh Doug Hager Marie Schneck

Joan Longmire Evelyn Wachstetter Janet McKinty Wayne Apperson Paxton Health Care

Bill Dueringer

Health Concerns

Delmar Bedel Edith Christensen Nancy Davis Gabe Fairchild Ruth Fisher Phil Lutz

Servicemen and women

SSG Colton Young AB Cody McCoy PFC Glenn Mehl III & Taylor Mehl

Jan-Feb 2019 Offering for Budget $44,880.80

Jan-Feb 2019 Budgeted Expenses $51,468.17

Weekend Sat

5:30

Sun

8:45

Sun

11:00

February 23rd & 24th 16 71 26

March 2nd & 3rd 18 112 24

March 9th & 10th 13 83 30

March 16th & 17th 18 107 30

March 23rd & 24th 12 91 27

PPPPRAYERSRAYERSRAYERSRAYERS, B, B, B, BIRTHDAYSIRTHDAYSIRTHDAYSIRTHDAYS, A, A, A, ANNIVERSARIESNNIVERSARIESNNIVERSARIESNNIVERSARIES

Mission Socks will be collected on April 20th & 21st and will benefit the

emergency food pantry at Shepherd’s Closet.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 9:00 AM Prayers

2 1:00 PM Communion @ Manor/Annex

3 WEDNESDAY NIGHT FELLOWSHIP 1:30 PM Connection Team

4 6:00 PM Worship Committee 6:30 PM Planning Meeting 7:00 PM Finance

5 MMDC Trip

6 Communion 5:30 PM Saturday Night Light Worship

7 Communion 7:00 AM Men’s Breakfast 8:45 AM Traditional Worship 10:00 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Contemporary Worship

8 9:00 AM Prayers 7:00 PM Covenant Council

9 1:30 PM Wesleyana Circle @ Holly Brook

10 WEDNESDAY NIGHT FELLOWSHIP

11 12 13 Parade of Palms Trustee Clean Up Day 5:30 PM Saturday Night Light Worship

14 Parade of Palms 8:45 AM Traditional Worship 10:00 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Contemporary Worship

15 9:00 AM Prayers

16 Newsletter Articles Due

17 5:30 PM Special Fellowship Meal 6:30-8:00 PM Stations of the Cross Walk-Through

18

19 7:00 PM Good Friday Service American Lutheran Church

20 5:30 PM Saturday Night Light Worship

21 8:45 AM Traditional Worship 10:00 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Contemporary Worship

22 9:00 AM Prayers

23 24 9:00 AM Newsletter Prep 6:30 PM Growing in God/Youth Groups 7:30 PM Sanctuary Choir

25

26 27 5:30 PM Saturday Night Light Worship

28 8:45 AM Traditional Worship 10:00 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Contemporary Worship

29 9:00 AM Prayers

30 10:00 AM Communion @ Holly Brook

WEDNESDAY NIGHT FELLOWSHIP 5:30 pm—Fellowship Meal 6:30 pm—Growing In God (PreK-5th Grade) 6:30 pm—MS/HS Youth Group 7:30 pm—Sanctuary Choir 8:30 pm—Jake’s Boys

APRIL 2019APRIL 2019APRIL 2019APRIL 2019

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO 13 Gibson City, IL 60936

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Gibson City United Methodist Church 206 East 10th Street Gibson City, IL 60936

AAAAPRILPRILPRILPRIL SSSSERVICEERVICEERVICEERVICE SSSSCHEDULECHEDULECHEDULECHEDULE

Pastor—John Tennyson cell 217-249-5453 email: pastorgcumc@sbcglobal.net Children/Youth Coordinator - April Rotramel cell 217-778-6728 email: gcumcyouth@att.net Administrative Assistant—April Rotramel office 217-784-5452 email: gcumc@sbcglobal.net

Church Custodian—Dave Merritt Organist—Beverly Nagle Choir Director—Ruth Davis

Nursery Attendants—Melissa Jamison Susan Schultz, Volunteer

OUR STAFF

Liturgist Greeters

(West, South, North) Acolytes

Sound

Room

(8:45)

Projector

(8:45)

Projector

(11:00)

April 7 Lisa Farmer Jim Collison & Kim Fisher

Jim & Amy Hood Linda Goltz & Sue Shields

Demi McCullough Lonnie Engel

Connor Engel

Phillip Littell

April 14 Rhonda Eckerty

Jim Collison & Kim Fisher Jim & Amy Hood

Linda Goltz & Sue Shields

Maysen Frashier & Grace Steidinger

Steve Hawthorne

Zander Wier

Kearfott Family

April 21 Phil

Noellsch

Glenn & Marsha Riddle Rick & Becky Young Kent & Jean Bielfeldt

Zoe Wier & Mace Lindelof

Jon Clark Erin

Arsenault Katie

Steidinger

April 28 Sharon Pool Glenn & Marsha Riddle Rick & Becky Young

Linda Goltz & Sue Shields Maddox Lindelof

Lonnie Engel

Quinley Family

Phillip Littell

Head Usher for April is Dave Merritt