Fall FestivalFall FestivalFall FestivalFall Festival October 28th is the date of our 5th annual F a l l F e s t i v a l ! Activities will be from 630-730 after our Wednesday night meal and in place of our usual Wednesday Programming. We’ll have games and other events spread through the church building.

This is a great event for all ages and will include the following activities:

• Costume Contest*—Prizes will be given for the Cutest Costume and the Most Creative Costume in the following age categories: nursery; preschool; buds; sprouts

• Crafts and Games • “Trunk” or Treat

Bring your friends and their families! We hope to see you all there!

* Our goal is to celebrate fun, creativity and fellowship for all ages. No scary costumes please.

Daylight Savings TimeDaylight Savings TimeDaylight Savings TimeDaylight Savings Time Don’t forget to set your clocks back on November 1st at 2am. Better yet, just set them back before you go to bed on Saturday evening, October 31st!

Potato BakePotato BakePotato BakePotato Bake This year’s Potato Bake for Missions will take place on October 16th. The Fellowship Hall will be open from 11am-1pm for those who would like to eat here or carry-out. Delivery is also available for individuals or groups! Tickets are $8 and can be purchased in advance from a 10:10 Sunday School Class Member or through the church office. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for dine-in only. So, what is included? A baked potato, ham, cole slaw, rolls, choice of chocolate or vanilla pudding, and a brownie! Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to help support our local missions!

Charge ConferenceCharge ConferenceCharge ConferenceCharge Conference

This year’s charge conference will be held here on October 24th at 9am. Our District Superintendent (DS), Rev. Rose Booker-Jones has asked to have individual Charge Conferences again this year, so it will not include other local churches. If you are a member of Covenant Council, please plan to be there as you will represent the church with your votes. All members of the church are encouraged to attend as well to be a part of this annual meeting with the DS to “review and evaluate the total mission and ministry of the church, receive reports, and adopt objectives and goals.”

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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

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October Sermon Series: October Sermon Series: October Sermon Series: October Sermon Series: Charles WesleyCharles WesleyCharles WesleyCharles Wesley

Charles is too often the forgotten brother of John Wesley. Typically John receives the greater spotlight, in part, due to the fact that he was the organizer of the people called Methodist. Yet Charles influence should not be overlooked. Charles was the founder of the Holy Club at Oxford University. Both Charles and John were missionaries to America. Charles conversion experience preceded John’s when they returned to England. Like John, Charles also traveled thousand on miles on horseback for over a decade preaching throughout England. Charles’ own estimate was that he had preached to at least 149,000 people in just his first five years. And most significantly, Charles wrote thousands of hymns which stirred the hearts of those being transformed by the Spirit of God through the Methodist revival. The turning point in their personal spiritual journey began when Charles and John and were commissioned in 1735 as missionaries to the colonies in America by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. On the brothers' ship were also 26 German Christians called Moravians. Both John and Charles were greatly inspired by their hymn singing, realizing for the first time that hymn singing could be a means to knowing God in a richer and deeper way. (The metrical psalm was the chief form of music in the Church of England prior to influence of Charles Wesley and Isaac Watts). After returning to England, Charles taught English to the German Moravian Peter Böhler, who in turn served as a spiritual guide to Charles. During May 1738, Charles began reading Martin Luther's volume on Galatians while ill. He wrote in his diary, "I labored, waited, and prayed to know the One “who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Charles refers to May 19, 1738 as “My Day of Pentecost” after finding himself “at peace with God and rejoicing in the hope of loving Christ.” On that same day, Charles opened his Bible and read Psalm 40:3 which says, “God has put a new song in my mouth.” Two days later Charles began writing his first hymn, celebrating his conversion. He entitled it, “And

Can It Be?” The lyrics include these two: “My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.” Over his lifetime, Charles wrote over 6,500 hymns, including such well known hymns as “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, “And Are We Yet Alive”, “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”, and “A Charge to Keep I Have” and “Love Divine, All Love Excelling”. Charles composed an average of three hymns per week. Hymns serve as a means of experiencing God’s love and presence, and expressing one’s thanksgiving and worship to God. But like Martin Luther, Charles Wesley also believed hymns were a means of teaching theology. Thus Charles based his hymns strongly on scripture and the Common Book of Prayer. His hymns covered major areas of Christian thought, and the seasons of the liturgical year. Thus, Charles hymns can also be read as a daily devotional. One could easily argue that there would have been no Wesleyan revival without Charles’ gift of hymn writing. We will be exploring his contribution in the month of October.

~ Pastor JohnPastor JohnPastor JohnPastor John

October Sermon Series:October Sermon Series:October Sermon Series:October Sermon Series: Methodism thru Charles Wesley HymnsMethodism thru Charles Wesley HymnsMethodism thru Charles Wesley HymnsMethodism thru Charles Wesley Hymns • Pursuit of God • Jesus Emmanuel • Love’s Outreach • Transformation by the Holy Spirit

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CONNECT, GROW, GO! . . . take hold of the life that really is life (I Timothy 6:18-19)

Poured Out 2015Poured Out 2015Poured Out 2015Poured Out 2015

A church in mission is a sign of God’s presence in the world.

The weekend of Aug 29 & 30 was a celebration of God’s presence as we partnered with American Lutheran, First Christian and First Presbyterian in pouring out God’s love in practical ways! Their first year of participation greatly enriched our third annual experience.

So many servant hearts took part in a wide variety of hands-on ministry: baking cookies, bagging groceries, washing windshields, visiting shut-ins, sharing music at the nursing homes, praying for the schools, collecting/sorting/delivering food pantry donations, assembling hygiene kits, sprucing up church and Annex landscaping, and more.

We celebrate that Poured Out Church was highlighted as a feature article in the GC Courier. The story was then picked up by The Pantagraph, The News-Gazette and The IL Great Rivers Conference’s The Current.

Be sure to check out an extensive collection of fun photos from the day HERE.

As we reflect on Poured Out Church, we’d love to hear from you: • What ways did you see God at work through this

event? • Are there any specific God moments you’d like to

share? • What suggestions / ideas do you have for Poured

Out Church for next year?

Upper Room Classes OnlineUpper Room Classes OnlineUpper Room Classes OnlineUpper Room Classes Online A great new resource has debuted this fall as The Upper Room has launched an online ‘school’ with an array of courses for one’s choosing. Their goal is to offer spiritual formation resources that are accessible anytime, anywhere. Log in on a desk top, laptop, tablet or smart phone to engage with others and enrich your spiritual life. The online courses are designed to be entirely self-paced to add to their convenience. Designed for individual participation, these courses can also be experienced with members of our church, friends, or family. A sampling of current courses includes: • Caregiving from the Heart • The God We Can Know: Exploring the I Am

Sayings of Jesus • Facing Financial Struggle • Questions God Asks Us • The Cycle of Grace: Living in Sacred Balance

There are nominal fees for each course, with the Upper Room’s offer of a full refund within 30 days if one is not satisfied with a purchase. Courses will be added regularly so be sure to check http://urelearning. upperroom.org often to see what’s new!

Community Resources RoundtableCommunity Resources RoundtableCommunity Resources RoundtableCommunity Resources Roundtable The next Community Resources Roundtable will meet Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 1:00 in the Moyer Library community room. All interested are welcome to attend. The roundtable facilitates awareness and connection of social service resources with community needs.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”

By Barb Horsch, Director of Education & Missions

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Kyle Knerr 1 Abby McNutt 1 Don Douglas 2 Cooper Whitehouse 2 Janet Davis 5 Connor Main 5 Carl Reum 5 Ty Royal 5 Delmar Bedel 6 Tom Barnes 8 Tammy Moody 8 Antje Strebeck 8 Danielle Eckerty 9 Matthew Ertel 9 Linda Lindelof 9 Jack Willoby 9 Herb Green 10 Doug Maxey 10 Matt Bell 11 Parker Chase 11 Phillip Littell 13 Angie Davis 13 Wayne Apperson 14

Joann Hildenbrand 14 William Dewey 15 Molly Ertel 15 Scott Moody 15 Ryan Strebeck 15 Adam Rosendahl 17 Audrey Boss-Maxey 18 Kenna McCall 21 Evelyn Patton 21 Timothy Young 21 Donna Eckerty 22 Andy Young 22 Timothy Littell 22 Amia Bennett 23 Hannah Pruitt 23 Ian Rotramel 23 Isaac Rotramel 23 Carly Wilson 23 Neil Blissard 25 Rhonda Eckerty 25 Mary Ann Hood 26 Jillian Nagle 26 Leigh Ann Sharp 26 Angela Poe 27 Danielle Tipsord 27 Jacob Embry 28 Linda Goltz 28 Nelda Jordan 29 Mick Kingsley 29 Alex Ward 29 Dwain Parker 29

Nursing Home Residents

Manor Marian Boog Ruth Fisher Judy Peters Shirley Butler Dolly Samet

Annex Mary Rosebraugh Ronald Bowen Evelyn Hoover Robert Peeken Edith Stoltz Cecil Paul Davis

Health Concerns Marian Boog Mildred Davis Bill Dueringer Ruth Fisher George Frashier Ruth Harris Jane Hastings Barb Murrell Norma Patterson Servicemen and women PFC Colton Young AB Cody McCoy

Weekend Sat 5:30

Sun 8:45

Sun 11:00

August 29th & 30th 13

September 5th & 6th 15 99 32

September 12th & 13th 20 104 30

September 19th & 20th 12 121 21

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

Jan—Aug 2015 Offering for Budget $193,988.09

Jan—Aug 2015 Operating Expenses $201,557.46

Difference -$7,569.37

The offering for budget goes first to meet our operating expenses before being used for missions or other needs.

Day Years Cameron & Tracy Richardson 1 Kolin & Jenna Vogel 4 1 David and Laura Hazen 7 15 Lonnie and Michelle Engel 12 19 Jason and Sarah Peterson 20 8 Bill and Sarah Tubbs 21 59 Russell and Diana Ehlers 26 19 Carey & Angie Davis 30 James and Christine Hazen 31 51

Thank YouThank YouThank YouThank You I would like to thank my church family for their prayers and cards during my surgery and after returning home. Wayne Apperson

Please keep Don & Janet Jensen in your prayers as they lost their grandson Christopher Lee on September 15th.

Please also keep the Cowell family in your prayers due to the passing of John on September 9th.

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Learning in CommunityLearning in CommunityLearning in CommunityLearning in Community A lot of learning took place during the summer! Members of our Connection Team, Judy Eckhoff & Marsha Riddle, attended the “Reaching New People” workshop in Peoria, hosted by our Conference’s Office of Congregational Development. More info will be shared in the coming months on thoughts shared by the leaders and participants of the event. There are many great learning opportunities at the national level offered by our church as Discipleship Ministries webinars. One that Director of Education & Missions Barb Horsch recently enjoyed was, “Children’s Ministry - Bead and a Prayer.” This one-hour webinar provided the history of Christian prayer beads and ideas for use in children’s ministries, led by author Kristen Vincent. You can check out the large selection of upcoming and archived Discipleship Ministries webinars at umcdiscipleship.org. They are free and very easy to view online. Susan Schultz recently completed two seminary courses: Basic Christian Doctrine and Church History One. “Doctrine” presented the many different views of current Christian thinking on an array of subjects such as the meanings of: Jesus’ death, baptism, creation, and salvation. “History” covered the theology and history-making events of Christianity from approximately 100 CE through The Enlightenment Period. Information from both of these courses help to inform us about the belief systems in place today. We invite you to speak with these participants about their experiences, and to search out learning opportunities available to you that enrich your spiritual growth and ministry. Happy learning!

Wesleyana CircleWesleyana CircleWesleyana CircleWesleyana Circle Wesleyana Circle will meet on October 13 at 1:30 at the home of Chris Hazen.

Children’s MinistriesChildren’s MinistriesChildren’s MinistriesChildren’s Ministries The Sunday School Kick-off Carnival was held on Sunday, September 13th and was a fun and exciting time for all who attended. The children enjoyed games, popcorn and getting their faces painted by the Zoo Lady. Check out our page on Facebook for pictures! For the first two months, our rotations will be about Abraham and Sarah then Isaac and Rebekah. Looking forward to a great Sunday School year! Our Wednesday Night God’s Treehouse group had our kick-off on Wednesday, September 23rd from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. We had a bounce house, the kids participated in a game of 9-square and got their faces painted by the Zoo Lady. There was lemonade and

snacks available for the children to enjoy throughout the night. If anyone would like to volunteer to help out either during Sunday School or on Wednesday Nights (crowd control, be a substitute teacher, bring snacks, etc.) please contact Megan Whitehouse or any of the Children Ministries Committee members.

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Fun on the NEW Swings!

The slingshot is always a favorite!

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Home Communion Available AgainHome Communion Available AgainHome Communion Available AgainHome Communion Available Again The Connection Team, with Pastor John's strong support, has a goal of establishing a Caring Ministry to recognize the needs of our congregation and provide

care and support to our members. One need that has been identified is the delivery of Holy Communion to our shut-ins,which had been done in previous years. We would like to begin this ministry the first Sunday in October. Please let the church office know by Sunday, September 27: • If you know members who would appreciate this

service, • If you would appreciate this service yourself, or • If you are interested in being a part of this renewed

communion ministry. Questions may be directed to Judy Eckhoff, Janet Utterback, or Cathy Steidinger.

Come Home for ChristmasCome Home for ChristmasCome Home for ChristmasCome Home for Christmas Several years ago some of our church members displayed Come Home For Christmas yard signs during the Advent season. The Worship Committee in our church is interested in doing so again this year. Many of our church members may still have their signs in their basement or garage. We would like everyone to bring them out at the start of Advent. If you do not have a sign and would like to display one, please let Kathy Eagleson know by October 30 and she will order them from Kearfott Graphix. The cost will be $10.00 each.

Join in Restorative JusticeJoin in Restorative JusticeJoin in Restorative JusticeJoin in Restorative Justice

When juveniles and young adults get in trouble with the law and cause harm in community, there is a way to bring accountability and healing. Restorative justice is an approach that holds young offenders accountable for their actions, reduces re-offending, increases victim healing, restores community safety, and is cost effective. And you can play an important role in all of this!

The Ford County Probation Office is seeking community members for two roles - facilitators are needed to help lead accountability conferences and volunteers are needed to participate in these conferences. Facilitators receive 20 hours of valuable training, at no cost, to learn how to lead small groups in repairing and rebuilding relationships. Accountability conference volunteers require no training, but offer their gift of time and presence for a particular conference. A four-day training session for facilitators is being offered in Paxton on the Tuesdays & Wednesdays of Oct 6, 7, 13 & 14. The four sessions run from 4:30-9pm with a light meal being served each day. Participants must attend all four sessions. Talk to Barb Horsch if interested or call the Ford Co Probation office at 217-379-9450.

October Mission SocksOctober Mission SocksOctober Mission SocksOctober Mission Socks Our October Mission Sock Money will go to PACT (Parents And Children/Community Together). When we provide funds to PACT we are helping to resource several important programs of connection in our GCMS school district including Red Ribbon Week, parent and grandparent lunches, mentor appreciation, special speakers and more.

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2015201520152015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 6:30 PM Bible Study

2 3 Communion 5:30 PM Saturday Night Light Worship

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

5 9:00 AM Prayers

6 9:00AM Bible Study (Holly Brook) 1:00 PM Communion Manor/Annex 7:00 PM Trustees

7 Wednesday Night Fellowship 8:30 AM Bible Study

8 6:30 PM Bible Study 7:00 PM Finance

9 10 5:30 PM Saturday Night Light Worship

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

12 9:00 AM Prayers 5:30 PM SPRC 7:00 PM Covenant Council

13 9:00AM Bible Study (Holly Brook) 1:30PM Wesleyana Circle

14 Wednesday Night Fellowship 8:30 AM Bible Study 7:00 PM Pie Night/Manor

15 6:30 PM Bible Study

16 11:00 AM Potato Bake

17 Mission Socks 5:30 PM Saturday Night Light Worship

18 Mission Socks 8:45AM Traditional Worship 10:00 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Contemporary Worship

19 9:00 AM Prayers

20 Newsletter Articles Due 9:00AM Bible Study (Holly Brook)

21 Wednesday Night Fellowship 8:30 AM Bible Study

22 6:30 PM Bible Study

23 24 9:00 AM Charge Conference Meeting 5:30 PM Saturday Night Light Worship

25 8:45AM Traditional Worship 10:00 AM Sunday School/Congregation Meeting 11:00 AM Contemporary Worship

26 9:00 AM Prayers

27 9:00AM Bible Study (Holly Brook)

28 Wednesday Night Fellowship 8:30 AM Bible Study 9:00 AM Newsletter Prep

29 6:30 PM Bible Study

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2014/2015 Wednesday Night Fellowship Schedule 5:30 PM—Fellowship Dinner 6:30 PM—God’s Treehouse (Pre-K through 5th Grade) 6:30 PM—Middle School Youth Group 6:30 PM—High School Youth Group 7:30 PM—Sanctuary Choir 7:30 PM—Music Lessons with Gabe

OctoberOctoberOctoberOctober

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Liturgist Greeters

(West, South, North) Acolytes

Sound Room (8:45)

Projector (8:45)

Projector (11:00)

Oct 4 Amy Hood Mick & Janet Utterback

Craig & Karen Kummerow Lynn & Gail Anliker

Keegan Frashier & Wrigley Maxey

Jon Clark Taylor Engel

Katie Steidinger

Oct 11 Rhonda Eckerty

Mick & Janet Utterback Craig & Karen Kummerow

Lynn & Gail Anliker

Kyah Lee & Martise Evans

Lonnie Engel

Zander Wier

Jeremy Steidinger

Oct 18 Lisa Farmer Don & Donna Douglas

Eckerty Family Carey & Angie Davie

Dillon Hoffman & Payton Bennett

Steve Hawthorne

Erin Arsenault

Katie Quinley

Oct 25 Mick

Kingsley

Don & Donna Douglas Eckerty Family

Carey & Angie Davie Olivia Hawthorne Jon Clark

Dani Eckerty

Rachel Quinley

Head Usher for October is .

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

OOOOCTOBERCTOBERCTOBERCTOBER SSSSERVICEERVICEERVICEERVICE SSSSCHEDULECHEDULECHEDULECHEDULE

Pastor—John Tennyson cell 217-249-5453 email: pastorgcumc@sbcglobal.net Director Education/Missions—Barb Horsch cell 217-781-8048 email: mgf@leapstream.net Administrative Assistant—April Rotramel office 217-784-5452 email: gcumc@sbcglobal.net

Church Custodian—Jeremy Rotramel Organist—Beverly Nagle Choir Director—Ruth Davis

Nursery Attendants—Melissa Jamison Susan Schultz, Volunteer

OUR STAFF