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Oakford United Methodist Church – Church service @ 8:30 am
Bath United Methodist Church – Church service @ 9:40 am
Fairview United Methodist Church – Sunday school @ 10:00 am – Church service @ 10:50 am
www.prairiemission.org
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217-635-5750
Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prairie-Mission-Parish/192441671419
Parish Office Address: PO Box 227, Oakford, IL 62273
Holy Week and Easter Schedule
Holy Week is the last week of the Season of Lent-- the 40 days prior to
Easter Sunday (not counting Sundays). "The Great Three Days...from
sunset Holy Thursday through sunset Easter Day are the climax of Lent
(and of the whole Christian year) and a bridge into the Easter Season.
These days proclaim the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ's passion, death,
and resurrection. During these days, the community journeys with Jesus from the upper room, to the
cross, to the tomb, and to the garden. They should be seen as a great unified service beginning with a
service of Holy Communion on Holy Thursday and concluding with the services of Easter Day." (United
Methodist Book of Worship)
Palm/Passion Sunday, which is the first day of Holy Week, is on March
29 this year. Each church in our parish will have a special service at their
regular worship times. (Oakford- 8:30 am, Bath- 9:40 am, Fairview10:50 am) We will celebrate Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem as he
rode in on a donkey and his followers waved palm branches. At Oakford
the children and youth will do their "palm parade" to begin the service.
Pastor Judy will be at all three churches.
Holy Thursday, often called Maundy Thursday, is on April 2. Before beginning the "The Great Three
Days" (as mentioned above) the Oakford church has a tradition of telling the Passover story with a Seder
Supper. This tradition began several years ago when Rev. Jean Martin
consulted with Rabbi Michael Datz. At Oakford the youth do the
"haggadah" (storytelling). The Seder Supper at Oakford begins at 6:00
p.m. Following that event, we begin our "Great Three Days" with Holy
Communion in the sanctuary at Oakford at 7:00 p.m. as we remember
the Lord's last supper with his disciples.
Good Friday (April 3) is such an important day to observe as we
remember the suffering of Jesus Christ. Please find a service somewhere to attend. Our parish has one at
6:00 p.m. at the Bath church. We extinguish candles one by one as we remember the last words of Jesus.
It is a very meaningful service. Petersburg UMC usually has a service at noon which is a brief
contemplative meditation on the stations of the cross.
Holy Saturday (April 4) is observed in some churches; however, our parish does not have a service
planned for that day. It is a day of waiting between crucifixion and resurrection.
The Oakford Community Easter Egg Hunt is on April 4th this year at 10:00 a.m.
(Rain date is April 11)
EASTER Sunday! Our highest holy day of the Christian year! Please join us in
worship on Sunday, April 5. Pastor Judy will be at all three churches, and we will
have Holy Communion. Services are at regular times with the addition of a "sunrise"
service at the Oakford Cemetery at 7 a.m. led by the Parish Youth. Breakfast is
served at Oakford church at 7:30 a.m.
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The goods & services auction for the 2015 mission trip to Dallas with
the Petersburg UMC is on March 29 at 3:00 p.m. Maria & Adrienne Brauer would
gladly accept your donations of items or services. PUMC will not accept electronic
items such as TVs or computer monitors. Examples of items typically donated to
the auction are: gift cards, craft items, homemade candy or baked goods,
certificates good for a service such as lawn mowing or babysitting. They prefer new
items; used items must be like-new. Please contact Maria at
[email protected] or Adrienne at [email protected] or bring your items to church
on March 22.
Parish-Wide Bible Study - Making Sense of the Bible
The Tuesday night Bible group continues its study of "Making Sense of the Bible"
by Adam Hamilton. We are using both his book and his videos in this series. Each
Tuesday the meal begins at 6:00 pm, followed by video or presentation and
discussion. We are usually finished by 7:30.
The group will not meet the Tuesdays before and after Easter Sunday-- March 31
and April 7, due to Pastor Judy's schedule with Holy Week and some vacation days
after Easter.
The Fourth Annual Bishop's Open
will be Friday, May 15, at
the Edgewood Golf Club, 16497
Kennedy Road, Auburn, IL. For the
past three years The Bishop's Open
has been a benefit event for Imagine
No Malaria. This year the proceeds
will go for scholarships at Africa University (a United Methodist-Related Institution). Bishop Keaton has
set a goal for our conference to raise $1,000,000 for the scholarship fund by Annual Conference of 2016.
On the day of the open, registration begins at 9:30 a.m. Shotgun start at 11 a.m. with a best ball
scramble format. Limited space is available so register early to ensure your place. Outing will be limited
to 144 golfers and will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign up online at https://igrcreg.brtapp.com/bishopsopen2015
Edgewood features tree-lined bentgrass fairways, easy to walk for any player. It has a unique
layout, that is varied and exciting for all players, from champions down to rookies.
Interested in reading The Current, the Illinois Great Rivers
Conference publication?
Go to http://www.igrc.org/current to see the most recent issue and archived issues.
The purpose of The Current is to "report significant news, events, programs,
ministries, and decisions of The United Methodist Church that occur within the
bounds of or are of particular interest to the annual conference, and to publish national
and global news of the church. Its focus shall center on the interests, needs, opinions,
and concerns of United Methodists." The Current is published monthly, on the last
Friday of the month. For a one year subscription to the printed version, email Michele
Willson, and/or send your full address and $15 to: The Current, PO Box 19207,
Springfield, IL 62794-9207.
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Oakford Community Easter Egg Hunt
The annual Easter egg hunt will be Saturday, April 4, at 10 a.m. at the
park and the church parking lot. (Gather at the park first for
instructions.) Rain date will be the following Saturday, April 11, at 10
a.m. Julie Cook is in charge of the event, so if you have questions or
would like to help, please contact Julie. As in the past, children will
be divided into age groups to hunt in their assigned areas.
We are so grateful to the community businesses and
individuals who donate to this children's event, as well as those from
the church who donate and help out. When you refer to the egg hunt,
please call it the Oakford Community Easter Egg Hunt, not the
Oakford Church egg hunt. In keeping with our church's mission statement, this is a great opportunity to
connect with our community, and referring to it as a community event is more accurate anyway.
You can make a candy or cash donation at church. If you donate candy, make sure it is
individually wrapped candy. If you want to donate cash outside of church, please give it to Julie Cook or
to one of our Children's Co-Coordinators: Maria Brauer and Carmen Jackson. Maria & Carmen will pass
it on to Julie for you.
Diaper Pantry in Petersburg
There is now a diaper pantry at the Menard County Housing Authority
for both baby and adult diapers. Any size, brand or generic are accepted.
Bring your donations to the Oakford church and put them in front of the
table where we put our food pantry donations by the front entrance.
Someone will get them to Petersburg for you. Anne Smith tells us there
is a great need for the diaper pantry. Anne is great at assessing the needs
of all she serves. We are fortunate to have her in Menard County.
Remember Menard County Food Pantry
Each month there will featured items to bring to church for the county food
pantry. Items brought to Oakford church go to the food pantry in
Petersburg; items brought to Fairview or Bath churches go to the food
pantry in Havana for Mason Co. For the month of March, please bring
the following items: toilet paper, laundry detergent, dish soap, and
hand soap.
Give & Take Shop is now taking donated items again. We accept clothing & household
items that are gently used and clean. We do not take furniture, TVs, computers, bikes or
bed linens.
Oakford parking: Please fill up the parking lot before parking in front of the fire station.
Yes, that strip of land does belong to the church, but when possible we should use other
parking spaces first.
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May Day Celebration
Given the challenges of winter, it’s common to find ourselves in need
of motivation to keep moving forward. Friday, May 1, is May Day. Like
many festivals and holidays, May Day began as an ancient pagan festival
held to celebrate the return of warmth to the earth and the beginning of the
growing season. The tradition of placing a basket filled with flowers and
treats on the door handle of friends and neighbors came along later in the
evolution of May Day celebrations. The old-fashioned tradition has been
nearly forgotten
So this year at Bath, we are bringing back May Day! You are invited to attend a special May
Day supper at the church on Friday, May 1, at 6:00 p.m. Your home church would like to treat you
to a special meal, a time to visit with one another and celebrate the coming of spring! You will be
getting a special invitation in the mail when the date gets closer. Please RSVP as instructed in the
invitation to let us know if you are coming or not. We can't wait to see you at our May Day celebration!
B.A.S.S. Kids News (Bath after School Special)
Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. Ash Wednesday marks the
first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are
not included in the count).
Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting,
repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus
Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection.
Here in BASS kids we will look into stories telling us about what Jesus went through for us.
Lesson Plan for B.A.S.S. Kids
4-Mar-15
11-Mar-15
18-Mar-15
25-Mar-15
Joyce
Easter
Mona
Easter
Joyce
Easter
Mona
Easter
70. Two Disciples Fail Jesus* - John 18:1-27
71. Jesus Dies on the Cross* - John 19:1-30
72. Jesus is Buried* - John 19:31-42
73. Jesus Rises From the Dead* - John 20:1-18
March 20 the first day of spring by Ramona Pfeiffer
Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and
become like him. Colossians 3:10 (NLT) I always like to think of spring as a time of start over.
Just like God plans to restart the spring season-- flowers bloom, the trees are budding and
the grass comes back to life. With Easter coming around the corner and Jesus coming back
to life, we too can be renewed. He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had
done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new
life through the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5 (NLT)
Philippians 2:1-4 NLT
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any
fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? 2
Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other,
loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. 3 Don't
be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble,
thinking of others as better than yourself. 4 Don't think only about your own
affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.
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Remember Mason County Food Pantry
Each month there will featured items to bring to church for the county food
pantry. Items brought to Fairview or Bath churches go to the food pantry in
Havana; items brought to Oakford church go to the food pantry in Petersburg.
For the month of March, please bring the following items: toilet paper,
laundry detergent, dish soap, and hand soap.
Mission Drives and Special Offerings to Be Collected at Annual Conference
A special offering for Africa University’s
Making Dreams Possible scholarship campaign
will be collected at the opening worship services
Wednesday night. IGRC congregations have been
asked by their District Superintendents to make a
pledge toward the $1 million campaign which will
culminate in 2016.
The Midwest Mission Distribution Center
will also be collecting items for their book bags.
Churches are encouraged to collect the following
items and drop them off at the MMDC truck
which will be parked at the Civic Center during
Annual Conference:
•
Spiral notebooks (8 by 10 ½”) – single
subject – 70 to 80 pages
• Stick style pens (blue or black) – no
advertising
• Box of 24 Crayons
• Pair of blunt school scissors (rounded tip)
Offerings will also be taken on Friday evening
during the Service of Ordination for the
ordinands’ pilgrimage to the Holy Land and on
Saturday morning for the Tom Brown Scholarship
at Wiley College as part of the Black College
Fund presentation.
Assurance of God's Love
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Can anything ever separate us from
Christ’s love? Does it mean he no
longer loves us if we have trouble
or calamity, or are persecuted, or
hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or
threatened with death? 36 (As the
Scriptures say, “For your sake we are
killed every day; we are being
slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No,
despite all these things, overwhelming
victory is ours through Christ, who
loved us.
38
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death
nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about
tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in
the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to
separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:35-39 - NLT)
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March – Birthdays
Tyler Edge, Allen Thomas, Geoff Atterberry, Mike Williamson, Kelsey Taylor, Carol Dawson, Logan
Cowin, Lloyd Lounsberry, David Conway, Holly Duncheon, Gordon Watkins, Larry Lynn, Cathie Smith,
Becky Duncheon, Bret Claussen, Dorothy Milstead, Howard Johnson, Melanie Duncheon, Maggie
Atterberry, Aaron Smith, Scott Smith, Kristin Sidwell, Simon Brauer, Robin Woolsey, Nancy Brooks
March – Anniversaries
Dick & Barb Moss, Morris & Doris Bell, Bryce & Roszeta Monroe, Rusty & Brenda Pratt,
George & Julie Atterberry
Congratulations to Dalton & Lindsey Whitley on the
birth of their first child, a daughter. Weslyn Marie
arrived on Monday, March 2, 2015 at 9:58 pm,
weighing in at 7lbs 9oz and 21 inches long. Fraternal
grandparents are Bill & Debbie Whitley. Lindsey's
parents live in Altamont, IL.
Ways to contact Pastor Judy
Call or text my cell phone at 309-714-0073. Please leave a message if I am unable to take your call.
Feel free to call me any time, except on Fridays. Call only if it is an emergency on Fridays because that
day is my Sabbath (day of rest). Email address is [email protected]
Prayers and Sympthies to the families of…
Connell "Lee" Robinson (died 2/24/15) Tom Robinson's brother
Leonard Drnec (10/10/25 - 2/24/15) Susan Brauer's father
Ellen Jurgens (4/8/20 - 3/4/15) Connie Lounsberry's mother
Prayer Concerns: MaKaymah UMC (Liberia)
Oakford: Kathleen Bailey, Ruth Brauer, Donny Bryant, John Chalmers,
Jodie Coffey, Lee Garfat, Robert Houghton, Trisha Jones, Connie
Lounsberry, Donna Lynn, Christen McGinnes, Sarah McGinnes, Carol &
Harold McHenry, Joe & Amy Miller, Steve Miller, Terri Pillsbury, Raymond
Poe, Michelle Pratt, Ron Shoemaker, Katie Schimm, Roberta Simpsom,
Dennis Smith, Mary Jane Smith and her great-granddaughter, Scott Smith,
Roberta Stroh, Brenda Wilkey, Chelsea Wilt
Bath: John Bailey, Dottie Blair, Steve Blair, Lovina Miller, Candy Rhodes,
Sharon Richardson
Fairview: Doris Bell, Hannah & Eva Blair, Donna Fox, Robert Landau,
Barbara Lemons, Sharon Nance, Dean Wright
Military: Samantha Brown, Lynn Caulkins, Clayton Hurley, Trey Irwin, John Leady, April Robinson,
Megan Smith
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WEEKLY EVENTS:
Sunday Worship: Oakford @ 8:30 am, Bath @ 9:40 am, Fairview @ 10:50 am
Sunday school: Fairview @ 10:00 am
Tuesdays: Parish-wide “Dinner and a Movie” Bible study at Bath 6 p.m.
Wednesdays: BASS Kids after school until 5 p.m.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Mar 1 @ 6:30-8 pm – Parish Youth group at Oakford
Mar 4 @ 6:30 pm - Parish Board at Oakford
Mar 8 - Daylight Savings Time begins
Mar 8 @ 10 am - 2 pm - Give & Take Shop open
Mar 11 @ 5 pm - Bath Church Board meeting
Mar 15 @ 9:30 am - Oakford Trustees meeting, following worship
Trustees Members - Mike Williamson and Ronda Brown (co-chairs), Jerry Brooks,
Steve Brown, Matt and Lora Puckett, Lisa Taylor, Gordon Watkins
Mar 15 @ 6:30-8 pm - Parish Youth Group at Oakford
Mar 25 @ 7 pm - Oakford Church Board meeting (note date change)
Mar 29 - Palm/Passion Sunday
Mar 31 - NO Bible study
Apr 2 - Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday)
Apr 2 @ 6 pm - Seder Supper at Oakford
Apr 2 # 7 pm - Holy Communion at Oakford
Apr 3 - Good Friday
Apr 3 @ 6 pm - Good Friday worship at Bath
Apr 4 - Holy Saturday
Apr 4 @ 10 am - Oakford Community Easter Egg Hunt
Apr 5 - EASTER Sunday! (Holy Communion at all three churches)
7 am - Easter "sunrise" service at Oakford Cemetery
7:30 am - Easter breakfast at Oakford Church
8:30 am - Easter worship celebration at Oakford
9:40 am - Easter worship celebration at Bath
10:50 am - Easter worship celebration at Fairview
Apr 6-9 - Pastor on vacation
Apr 7 - NO Bible study
Don't miss worship on Palm/Passion
Sunday (March 29) and Easter Sunday
(April 5) because these are exciting
days in our Christian calendar. The
mystery and drama draws us into the
story of Jesus. The youth and children
in our parish help lead us in worship
during Holy Week, especially on Palm
Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Easter
Sunday.
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