the beacon - november 2013

Volume 14, Issue 11

Give thanks in

all circumstances;

Rejoice always,

Pray without ceasing,

For this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus for you.

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Morningstar UMC seeks to share the light and love of Jesus Christ to all we encounter. Morningstar will be a community where each person is offered opportunities and challenged to grow in his/her relationship with God throughout his/her life. As we grow in our love of God, we will increase our growth of healthy relationships by encouraging people of all ages through accountability, study, prayer, fellowship, and service. The more our congregation grows in these primary relationships (with God and our neighbors), we will see ourselves reaching out into the local community, region and world through acts of service – sharing the light of Jesus Christ in hands-on, meaningful ways, and inviting others to experience God’s love for themselves.

Casual for Christ - Feel free to come as you are! Connect for Real - Make authentic relationships with those around you. Contribute Ourselves - God has given us gifts to use to for His Kingdom. Care for All - All are welcome to join us in worship and the journey of faith Christ Centered - Jesus is the light of the world, the center of all that we do!

Our Vision

Our Values

Have you heard of all of the amazing ministry opportunities that the Women of Morningstar

have been blessed with this autumn? God has given us so much and we want to share all that we are thankful for with you!

We are thankful for the opportunity to learn more about our Lord through Bible studies on Friday mornings and Tuesday evenings. We are watching “The Bible” miniseries and discussing afterwards. All women are welcome to join in this great educational experience.

God has also blessed us with the opportunity to sell our crafts at the Pumpkin Patch and two upcoming local craft shows (see calendar). With the money we raise from craft sales, we are thankful to be able to participate in a number of outreach ministries such as our annual women’s retreat (look for more information on our 2014 retreat coming soon), the Immanuel Bible Foundation’s Women’s Christmas Celebration, Operation Christmas Child, and the Samaritan’s Purse “after the shoebox” program called “The Greatest Journey” where children who have received a shoebox can learn more about Jesus and give their hearts to Him.

Finally, God has put it on our hearts to sponsor a 4-year old girl from Guatemala through Compassion International, a Christian child advocacy ministry. Praise God for all of the blessings He has bestowed upon us!

An Update From the Women of Morningstar

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From the Pastor’s Desk

Those of you who are on Facebook may have noticed that I’ve been posting the joys I see

each day. I can’t speak for everyone, but I think it’s very easy for us to become discouraged when we see and hear about bad things consistently. We read about it in the news, see it on social media, and even hear it come from one another’s mouths. However, Paul reminds the church at Ephesus that one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy (Ephesians 5:22-23). Here we are, already in the month of November, and we are approaching a national holiday set aside for giving thanks. I wonder sometimes if we’ve relegated giving thanks to this one day, or this one month. How often do we count our blessings? How often do we give God thanks for what we have received, for what God has done, for what God continues to do? Christians have, from time to time, what we call spiritual amnesia. We forget to give thanks and take what is a gift from God for granted.

So I want to challenge you! In the pages of this newsletter, you’ll see articles that tell what God has been doing, the ways that the Spirit has been at work, and thanking God and thanking people. I hope it spurns your desire to give thanks. I hope it causes you to pray a prayer of thanks to God every day this month. I hope it inspires you to thank those who serve, those who have passed on faith to you, and those who are making a difference. I hope you write notes, make telephone calls, and send e-mails to share your attitude of gratitude. I hope you’ll make Facebook postings, keep a daily journal or make a video to post to YouTube. I hope you sing songs of praise, giving thanks to God in all times and in all circumstances. The words of hymnwriter Martin Rinkart say it best: “Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices, who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices;” - Now Thank We All Our God, UMH #102 I will see you in worship! Grace and peace, Pastor Jay

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For Christian

Formation Teachers For our Confirmation Class, Alaysia, Rachel, and

Laura

For Family Night Leaders For Small Group

Leaders

For everyone who sent cards, notes,

and condolences on the loss of my

mother, Betty Ruth. - Betty and John

Bickerstaff

For our Chancel Choir

For our Home Sweet Home

Mission Teams

We Give

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For our Handbell Choir For all who serve in

worship and

on Sundays

For our

Mowing Crew For our Praise Band

For everyone who has helped out with the

Pumpkin Patch– unloaders, bakers,

crafters, workers, and our leadership team.

-Michelle Giermann

For our Confirmation Mentors,

Diana, Stephanie, and Sharee

For our Leaders

Thanks...

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November 2013

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

*EverySunday 9:00 Christian

Formation 10:15 Worship 11:30 Band

Rehearsal

1

10:00 Ladies’ Bible Study

11:30 Friday Fellow-ship

2 9:00 Women of

Morning-star at BHS Craft Show

3* 11:30 Fellowship Meal 1:00 Church

Conference 2:30 Trustees

4

7:30 Men’s Group

5 1:00 Sit-N-Knit 6:00 Disciple Bible Study 6:30 Ladies’

Bible Study

6 Family Night

5:30 Meal 6:30 Worship 7:00 Classes

7 6:00 Chancel

Choir 7:00 Handbell

Choir

8 10:00 Ladies’

Bible Study

9

10* 1:00 Finance 2:00 SPRC 3:30 Home

Sweet Home Meal (Team #3)

11

7:30 Men’s Group


Bible Study

13 Family Night


14 6:00 Chancel

Choir 7:00 Handbell

Choir

15 10:00 Ladies’

Bible Study

16 9:00 Women of

Morning-star at NCWHS Craft Show

Park Food

Pantry Donations Collected

17*

18

7:30 Men’s Group

19

1:00 Sit-N-Knit 6:00 Disciple Bible Study 6:30 Ladies’

Bible Study

December Newsletter

Articles Due!

20 Family Night


21 6:00 Chancel

Choir 7:00 Handbell

Choir

22 10:00 Ladies’

Bible Study

23

24* Thanksgiving Dinner at 5PM

25 7:30 Men’s

Group


Bible Study

27 No Family Night!

28 No Rehearsals!

29 10:00 Ladies’

Bible Study

30

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Nov. 03 Nov. 10 Nov. 17 Nov. 24

Offertory Music Handbell Choir Praise Band Chancel Choir Handbell Choir

Liturgist Dave Venter Shelby Todd Betty Haag Jim Snow

Children’s Message Andy Goveia Pastor Jay Dave Venter Stephanie Soon

Acolyte Joey Westpfahl Jordan Kao Ellen Wang Lillian Wang

Media Technician Dean Westpfahl Joe Kao Andy Goveia Mark Immke

Ushers

Mark Immke (H) Sue Fetters

Michelle Giermann Bill Sheets

Jim Snow (H) Kim Kao

Morgan Kao Tricia Todd

Larry Haag (H) Georgia Griffith

Josh Immke Regan Jimison

Dave Wright (H) Mary Ann Altine

Joan Burger Jeannine McNemee

Greeters Georgia Griffith June Brown Bill & Ruthann Sheets Lillian Wang (helping)

Janice Elsner Ellen Wang (helping)

Coffee Host Lori Immke Regan Jimison Dave & Pam Venter Wayne Giermann

Offering Counter Eva DeVore Ruthann Sheets Sue Fetters Kim Kao

Newcomer Caller June Brown Georgia Griffith Ruthann Sheets Bill Sheets

Church Cleaning Mark & Lori Immke June Brown Pastor Jay

Janice Elsner Dave & Pam Venter

Servant Schedule November 2013

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Morningstar United Methodist Church

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9:00am -3:00pm

Office Telephone: (309) 452-6255

Website: www.mymorningstar.org

Worship with us on Sundays at 10:15 am

Contact Information

Rev. Jay Regennitter, Pastor [email protected]

Pastor Stephanie Soon, Deacon & Pianist [email protected]

Alyssa Rathbun, Administrative Assistant [email protected]

Sarah Uftring & Hailey Crozier, Nursery Ministry Staff [email protected]

the beacon - november 2013

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