We have this hope as an anchor for the

soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner

sanctuary behind the curtain...

- Hebrews 6:19

ONGOING

Sunday

4pm: Small Groups

5:30pm: Prayer

6:00 pm: J r High & Sr . High UTH

6:00 pm Women’s Bible Study

Monday:

6:30 pm : Scouts

Tuesday

1 pm: Project Linus

7pm: Crafty Crafter s

Wednesday

12 pm Ponder w/ the Pastor

2:30 pm God’s Closet

3:30 pm K-5 UTH

4:30 pm Community Meals

6:00 pm Praise Band

7:00 pm Choir

Saturday:

7am Music lessons w/ Chr is K

Oct 1: First Sunday Lunch, First

Sunday Food Pantry &

Communion

- Jr High & Sr. High UTH begins!

Oct 5th: Church Council @

7pm

Oct 12: Church Conference

Oct. 10: PSALMS Study begins:

10am & 7pm

Oct. 19: Carrollton at the

Family Worship Center in

Mattoon

Oct 29: Women’s Bible Study:

Loving Well begins

ARTHUR UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Leonard Sweet tells this story.

In the early days of the Tennessee Valley Authority, a dilapidated log homestead had to be abandoned to make room for a lake behind the dam. A new home on the hillside had already been erected for the cabin’s poor Appalachian family, but they refused to move into their beautiful new split-level ranch.

The day of the flooding arrived, but still the family refused to move. As the bulldozers were brought in, the Appalachian family brought out their shotguns. No amount of legal brandishings of bulldozer menacings would budge this family from their cabin.

Then someone from the TVA decided to try one last-ditch effort to end the stalemate. They called a social worker to talk with the family and find out what their problem was.

The social worker pleaded, “Help me to explain to the authorities why you won’t move into your beautiful new home.”

“See that fire over there?” the man asked, pointing to a blazing fire in the primitive hearth of the log cottage. “My grandpa built that fire over a hundred years ago,” the man explained. “He never let it go out, for they had no matches and it was a long way to a neighbor’s. Then my pa tended the fire, and since he died, I’ve tended it. None of us ever let it die, and I ain’t a-goin’ to move away now and let grandpa’s fire go out!”

This gave the social worker an idea. She arranged for a large apple butter kettle to be delivered to the home. She explained to the family that they could scoop up the live coals from the fire and carry them to the new home where they would then be poured out and fresh kindling added. IN this way grandpa’s fire need never go out. Would that be acceptable?

This Appalachian family huddled, and then agreed to move from their shack in the hollow to the new home on the hillside. But they wouldn’t budge—until they could take with them the fire of their ancestors.

A funny story in a way, and if you are like me, you probably thought of several different solutions to their problem, which shouldn’t have been a problem at all (matches are now readily available after all). But I think the point is that they wouldn’t go without the fire of their ancestors.

We enter our future as a congregation with the fire of our ancestors. There is much new and wonderful that we are about to do. We start again some of our ministries that were fallow during the summer. Wonderful new things are ahead for us. But we go to these places with the fire of our ancestors.

We go, not just with the memory or appreciation or admiration of our ancestors in the faith, although we do bring these with us. We must also go with their fire! Not just a casual sense of the routine, or the stern call of duty, but with the fire of passion! Every day, every time we enter again into our ministries, we repeat the words of the song: “Don’t let my love grow cold; I’m calling out, light the fire again!”

Pastor Bruce Weiman

PAGE 2/ OCTOBER 2017

Look for the Arthur United Methodist Church on Facebook

Our page is Arthur United Methodist Church.

Website: www.arthurunitedmethodistchurch.org

Need to contact Bruce? Call his cell at 217-649-2678

or email him: bruceweiman@gmail.com

In His Service

Iris Ramsey

THE METHODIST MEMO

October is on its way. We have hopes of

getting organized in God’s Closet this

month.

More people are finding us in the

basement and we hope to soon have

storage shelves so we can help people

find what they need.

We are happy to accept small items for

the kitchen and bedding for the fall.

I’m happy to know the youth are coming

back to the basement with me. Let’s all

be more Heavenly-Minded....

Things continue to be busy in the pantry. In August we helped 17 families. We had exciting news in September. Dutch Valley Meats in Chesterville called to say they had venison to give us. This time it wasn't ground up but made into summer sausage, summer sausage with jalapeno & cheese, slim sticks, bologna, jerky, bacon, Italian sausage, bratwurst and polish sausage. They had 9 large cases. The boxes were so big I could only get half the cas-es in my car at one time. So over a period of two days I delivered a nice variety of items to 20 different families. The families were all thrilled and some even called my house to ask for more. Unfortunately I had already handed out all I was given. Because the pantry has been so busy my shelves are pretty empty. I could use help with jelly, ketchup, mustard, cereal, toilet tissue, paper towels, Kleenex, body soap, tooth paste and both men's and women's deodorant. As always thank you for supporting our outreach project.

In His Service,

Jill Strawn

THE METHODIST MEMO

OCTOBER USHERS

Oct 1 & 8th: Steve & Nancy Blucker

Lyle & Carol Petersheim

Oct 15 & 22: Green family

Counting Team

this Month

Ed Miller & Janice Likens

Rev. Bruce and the ladies of

the church,

Thank you for going above and

beyond to accommodate our

breakfast auction. We really appreciate you

allowing us to use your space.

- Douglas County CEO

.

A full time Sunday School teacher is

needed-full time preferably, but part

time can be worked around. If you

would like to teach Sunday School,

please contact Charity Oye:

217-218-9419.

Cheryl Hilgenberg will be honored as

one of Arcola High School's 2017

Distinguished Alumni on Saturday,

October 21st at

Kaskaskia Country Club.

Social hour begins at 5:00 p.m. and buffet

dinner at 6:00 p.m. If you would like to

attend this special recognition for Cheryl,

reservation forms are available on the alumni

website at www.arcolaalumni.org or you may

contact Sue Stout at 268-3190.

PAGE 3/ OCTOBER 2017

PAGE 4/ OCTOBER 2017 THE METHODIST MEMO

OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS

2 - Serena Honn 13 - Ellie Coller

4 - Beth Wilson Kinkelaer Jenna Platzbecker

5– Miles Coller 14 - Andi Clark

Shirley Stone 15 - Anna Herschberger

6 - Bill Singer 17 - Scott Gerichs

Kyra Yeakel 18 - Laura Strawn Sanders

7 - Kristin Clark Nall 19 - Colten Bartholomew

8 - Cynthia Salrin Flessner 20 - Brent Pownall

Darcy Singer 21 - Jynell Disher

Scott Paddock Ami Jurgens Flammini

9 - Jacob Dicke 22 - Larry Schoffstall

Beth Daily Wiley 27 - Steve Blucker

10 - Kate Petersheim Mike Nall

11 - Marty Yeakel 31 - Lorna Meyers

ANNIVERSARIES

8 - Travis & Beth Wilson 24 - Chad & Michele Price

22 - Larry & Carol Schoffstall 31 - Jim & Connie Winfield

PAGE 5/ OCTOBER 2017 THE METHODIST MEMO

FUN HOLIDAYS

Oct. 1: National Homem ade Cookies day

October 3: Techies Day

October 4: National Golf Day

October 5: W orld Teacher ’s

Day

October 6: W orld Smile Day

October 12: Old Farmer ’s Day

October 21: Sweetest Day

October 22: National Nut Day

Thursday, Oct 12

Sunday, Nov. 19th

The Bishop will be visiting

this day as well.

PAGE 6/ OCTOBER 2017 THE METHODIST MEMO

Carrollton , Hannah Kerr & special guest, Stephen Moore will be

at the Family Worship Center in Mattoon at 5475 Lerna Road on

October 19th at 6:00 p.m. A free-will offering will be taken.

General Admission seating.

October is Pastor Appreciation Month!

Be sure to let Pastor Bruce know how much you appreciate all that he does. Send him a note or card expressing your thanks.

Pastor Bruce’s email address is: bweiman1@gmail.com

Church’s mailing address: 128 E. Illinois St; Arthur, IL 61911

PAGE 7/ OCTOBER 2017 THE METHODIST MEMO

PAGE 8 / OCTOBER 2017 THE METHODIST MEMO

Let’s face it—some people are harder to love than others.

This 4-session Bible study encourages women to look to

the unconditional love they have experienced in their

relationships with God while extending love to others.

This study includes teaching videos on the different types

of people—those who are a joy to love, those who are

difficult to love, and those who are humanly impossible to

love. We will never be able to love others well until we

have been loved well, and only God can give us the love

we desperately need .

Sessions will start Sunday, October 29 and run every Sunday through Sunday, November 19. Study will meet in the lounge of the Arthur United Methodist Church

from 6 to 8 p.m. Each participant is invited to purchase a journal for this study. To order, please call the church at 217-543-3159

PAGE 9/ OCTOBER 2017 THE METHODIST MEMO

Mike Rayson was here on Sunday, September 10 and presented a concert to us.

Many got to enjoy his wonderful music and ministry. We also were visited by the

Barbershop Singers in their “Drive by Church” tour...

The United Methodist MEMO

The United Methodist Church

128 East Illinois St.

Arthur, IL 61911

Spirit of the Holidays

Friday, Nov. 10: @ 1:00 pm Come shop with us on Friday afternoon...

Saturday, Nov 11 @ 8:30 am

LUNCH : 11am– 1pm: Ham loaf, escalloped chicken,

vegetable, salad, bread, dessert, beverage

CRAFTS Made by the ladies of AUMC

Baked goods and candies in the Country Store. Homemade cookies on the Cookie Walk. Collecti-

bles in Granny’s Cupboard. Come and enjoy the Bazaar.