Greetings in the name of Christ! Jesus said, "You're absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it's not possible to see what I'm pointing to—to God's kingdom." (John 3.3) It takes two births to live. Our bodies are conceived, carried in our Mother's womb, and birthed. Our spirits remain unborn until we invite Jesus into our hearts and we are born from above. The first birth is flesh. The second is spirit. With the first, we are expelled from the womb. With the second, we invite the Spirit of God in. The first allows us to do things for the body–eat, sleep, work, play. The second allows us to receive things of the spirit–love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, self-control. It is the second birth that brings joy to living. To receive the second birth, pray: Lord, Jesus, come into my heart. In Christ, Pastor Jame (This is one of my daily scripture devotions. If you would like to receive my daily scripture devotions, email me at [email protected]) The Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference will be meeting at the Peoria Civic Center, June 8-10. Our church will be well represented. In addition to our members Lynn Coots, Cathy Reavley and Pastor Jame, the District has appointed Desiray Meyer and Sophia Reavley as youth delegates. Our church is providing the food for the June 19 community blood drive at First Baptist Church. See Cathy Reavley to help. First United Methodist Church Havana, Illinois June 2017 Vol. 54 No. 6 At Annual Conference, we will celebrate the retirement of our current District Superintendent, Rev. Doug Rorex. We will welcome Rev. Nicholas Showalter as our new District Superintendent. Showalter, currently the pastor of the Maroa UMC in the Sangamon River District, has 30 years of pastoral experience in the former Central Illinois and now, Illinois Great Rivers Conference. “Bishop Beard said Showalter was ‘a great choice’ to serve as superintendent of the LaMoine River District. ‘He is a gifted administrator with a solid, steady track record of effective ministry,’ he said. ‘He is a quiet, unassuming leader, a trusted colleague and he is committed to the IGRC. He is known throughout the district and is highly respected.’” (from the Conference Newspaper, The Current). New District Superintendent, Rev. Nicholas Showalter, will be installed on July 29, 2017 at the Pittsfield UMC at 3:00p.m. There will be a cake and punch reception following the service. Please come and offer a warm welcome to our district's new District Superintendent. The Messenger A Note from the Pastor By Rev. Dr. Jame Hahs The Messenger The Messenger Confirmation Sunday Our Confirmation Class will be invited to join our church on Pentecost Sunday, June 4. We have had seven youth attend our Confirmation Class. Receive the Holy Spirit! Condolences Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Dorothy Kreiling Swaar who entered eternal life on Tuesday, April 25th; with the family of Sue Caldwell (sister-in-law of Marlene Izard) who entered eternal life on Wednesday, May 3rd; with the family and friends of Eileen France who entered eternal life on Sunday, May 14th; Vacation Bible School will be July 2327 (Sunday through Thursday) from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Our VBS program is SonSpark Labs with a science theme. If you would like to help, contact Cathy Reavley. Thank you! Sharing Our Blessings with Others for April Children’s Mission: Back Pack: $387.37 Adult Mission: UM Native Americans: $25.00 We have raised $2,596.32 toward our $4,000 pledge to the Children’s Home in Mt. Vernon. Total Mission Offering for April: $643.19 F.A.T.H.E.R.S. “F” aithful “A” lways there “T” rustworthy “H” onoring “E” ver-loving “R” ighteous “S” upportive 2 The Lunch Bunch for June will be hosted by Bev Steele. Following worship on Sunday, June 25th, they are going to Babes Restaurant. If you are planning to attend, please let Bev or the church office know by Thursday, June 22nd. Thank you! Senior Citizens Our church will prepare the meal for Sr. Citizens on Thursday, June 22nd. Cathy Reavley will be in charge of preparing the meal If you would like to help or donate in any way, please let Cathy or the church office know. Thank you! The Black Dot One day, a professor entered the classroom and asked his students to prepare for a surprise test. They all waited anxiously at their desks for the exam to begin. The professor handed out the exams with the text facing down, as usual. Once he handed them all out, he asked the students to turn over the papers. To everyone’s surprise, there were no questions—just a black dot in the center of the sheet of paper. The professor, seeing the expression on everyone’s faces, told them the following: “I want you to write about what you see there”. The Messenger Lunch Bunch The students, confused, got started on the inexplicable task. At the end of the class, the professor took all the exams, and started reading each one of them out loud, in front of all the students. All of them, with no exception, defined the black dot, trying to explain its position in the center of the sheet. After all had been read, the classroom silent, the professor started to explain: “I’m not going to grade you on this, I just wanted to give you something to think about. No one wrote about the white part of the paper. Everyone focused on the black dot—and the same happens in our lives. We have a white piece of paper to observe and enjoy, but we always focus on the dark spots. Our life is a gift given to us by God, with love and care, and we always have reasons to celebrate—nature renewing itself everyday, our friends around us, the job that provides our livelihood, the miracles we see every day...However, we insist on focusing only on the dark spot—the health issues that bother us, the lack of money, the complicated relatioinship with a family member, the disappointment with a friend. The dark spots are very small when compared to everything we have in our lives, but they’re the ones that pollute our mind. Take your eyes away from the black dots in your life. Enjoy each one of your blessings, each moment that life gives you. Be happy and live a life filled with love! Submitted by Don Izard 3 The Messenger The Messenger 4 The United Methodist Women will meet in Fellowship Hall on Wednesday, June 7th at 1:30 p.m. Linda Vaughn will introduce our guest speaker, Becky Sisson from the Fulton/Mason Crisis Center. Refreshments will be served by Kris Darling and Bev Steele. All women in the church and their friends are invited to join them. “Helping men to grow in Christ, so others can know Christ” The United Methodist Men meet the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month (6/14 & 6/28) at 5:00 p.m. for a meal and fellowship. All men in the church and their friends are invited to join them. In June, our special offering will support United Methodist Peace with Justice. Your contribution encourages living a gospel of peace. The United Methodist Peace with Justice Sunday offering makes a difference through ministries in the United States and around the world. Children’s Mission Offering The children’s mission offering this month will help support the Mission of Hope Back to School Program by purchasing school supplies for the 2017-18 school year. They help supply Kindergarten through college students with backpacks, pens, pencils, notebooks, etc. Summer Lunch Program The Summer Lunch Program began on Tuesday, May 23rd and will continue through August 11th. A meal will be served to school age children and their families at 11:30, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, in our Fellowship Hall. Last year we fed over 1200 children and their families estimating cost of $450 per week. Donations are welcome and may be sent to our church, attention: Pastor Jame. Our Community Friendship meal will be on Saturday, June 24th. The menu will consist of pork chops, baked beans, applesauce and cake with strawberries. Everyone is invited to come eat with us and enjoy the warmth of good fellowship with each other. Community Food Pantry Item of the Month: Macaroni and Cheese Box Dinners Our community Food Pantry (located in the basement of Central Christian Church) relies on your donations to help the needy people in our community. This month we are asking for Macaroni and Cheese box dinners. Please help us re-supply our Food Pantry by donating the above product. The After School Reading Program held 96 sessions over 32 weeks. Books were read by students to adults three afternoons a week. There was a cumulative attendance of 507 children with a daily average of 5 to 6. The reading program has joined with the Summer Lunch Program in an effort to maintain the reading levels of the children over the summer months. The Messenger Missions 5 The Messenger The Messenger Birthdays Weekly Calendar of Events Day Sun. Time 9:15 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Mon. 4:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Tues. 7:00 a.m. Weekly Event - Sunday School - Worship - UMY - Bible Study/Hardees - Boy Scouts - Womens Bible Study/Hardees Wed. 7:00 a.m. - Men Bible St./Hardees 9:00 a.m. - Hearts at Home Sat. 5:30 p.m. - Saturday Eve Worship This Month Date Time - Events 6/4 10:30 a.m. - Confirmation Sunday (Reception following) 6/5 6:30 p.m. - Missions Meeting 6/6 4:00 p.m. - Daisies 6/7 1:30 p.m. - UM Women 6/12 6:00 p.m. - Venturer Crew 6/13 7:00 p.m. - Finance Meeting 6/14 5:00 p.m. - UM Men 6/18 11:45 a.m. - 25th Anniversary Celebration for Pastor Jame and Donna 6/19 7:00 p.m. - PPRC Meeting 6/20 4:00 p.m. - Daisies 6/22 12 noon. - Serve Sr. Citizens 6/24 11:30 a.m. - Friendship Meal 6/25 12 noon. - Lunch Bunch at Babes 6/26 6:00 p.m. - Venturer Crew 6/27 7:00 p.m. - Trustee’s Meeting 6/28 5:00 p.m. - UM Men 6 . Jun 1 Jun 1 Jun 1 Jun 2 Jun 3 Jun 3 Jun 4 Jun 4 Jun 6 Jun 7 Jun 7 Jun 9 Jun 10 Jun 10 Jun 10 Jun 10 Jun 10 Jun 10 Jun 10 Jun 12 Jun 12 Jun 12 Jun 13 Jun 13 Jun 14 Jun 14 Jun 15 Jun 15 Jun 16 Jun 16 Jun 17 Jun 17 Jun 18 Jun 19 Jun 19 Jun 20 Jun 20 Jun 23 Jun 23 Jun 23 Jun 24 Jun 28 Jun 28 Eli Olson Luke Smith Justin Crum Lexy Meyer Amy Kruse Mary Layton Kelsie Eakle Bob Gleasenkamp Nicole Grube Claire Hofreiter Maggie Stephens Joyce Thomas Sydney Marshall Emily (Morgan) Panich Eric Morr Mike Pedigo Josh Yetter Peter Michael Fleming Zachary C. Fleming Michael Herrman Scott Hofreiter Donald Izard Heather (Daniel) Wilcoxen Sandy Ludwig Daniel Ray Taylor Adkins Ann Funkenbusch Mary Ann Walker David Alan Badger Brenda Stadsholt Rhonda Eakle Don Willett Kris Skaggs Brylee Richardson Brystol Richardson Crystal Bohm Beverly Steele Marlene Izard Richard Walker Rachel Williams Robert Turk Kevin Meyer Eleyna Hood Anniversaries 06/02/2007 06/06/2009 06/07/1958 06/14/1992 06/18/1955 06/18/1998 Ben & Lindsay Showalter Ron & Jennifer Brooks Larry & Carol Lippert Jame & Donna Hahs Robert & Helen Sarff Scott & Polly Hofreiter Ushers: Cathy Reavley Tad Yetter Debbie Yetter Havana Health Care 609 N. Harpham St., Havana Jean Blessman Lois Francisco Riverview Estates 200 N. Schrader, Havana Ruth Hoff Shirley Lynn Curly Yetter Communion Steward: Annette Brown In Our Prayers Room 14 Room 30 Room 23 Heartland Health Care 2081 N. Main St., Canton, Il 61520 Kathleen Mowder Room 400 Phone 309-338-3231 Heritage Manor 555 E. Clay, El Paso, IL 61728 Vauna Morris Room 213a Roseville Rehab and Health Care 145 S. Chamberlain St., Roseville, IL 61473 Ruth Swartzbaugh At Home Betty Curry 543-6964 800 N. Promenade, Apt. D-4, Havana Miles Davenport 543-2512 18590 Quiver Beach Rd., Havana Bob Sarff 543-3964 316 N. Pearl, Havana (Anniversaries Continued) 06/18/1960 Richard & Shirley Lounsberry 06/20/1987 Rod & Mary Yetter 06/21/2004 Chad & Summer Brown 06/21/2008 Tyler & Tiffany Southwood 06/21/1970 Ken & Ruth Anne Beaty 06/21/1997 James & Allison Lozano 06/25/1988 Mark & Cindy Caggiano 06/26/1993 Rick & Leann Bonnett 06/28/1969 Robert & Camille Turk 06/29/1970 Kent & Carolyn Johnson 06/30/2001 Nate & Aimee Turner Sara Williams; Loni Engledow; Mary Ellen Simpson; Katie Procarione; Luana Butler; Bev Steele; Kay Curtis; Kathleen Mowder; Bob Sarff; Jim Ludwig; Kathleen Brumbaugh; Bob Sinnock; Billie Garman; Todd Turner; Melvin & Darlene Bohnsack; Sara Klaus; Bailey Kruse; Joanne Garlisch; Keith Becker; Theresa Santini; Tom Taylor; Lindsay Knopp; Cody Krulac; Lacey Terrell; Wanda Neely; Vicki Hume; Richard Bickhaus; Jim and Pam Thomas; Linda Bumgarner; Billy & Elouise Hahs; Joe Hahs; Mif Sarff; Joshua Procarione; Tim (from Chaddock); Bud McGrew; Clayton Minor; Paul Tarvin; Barry Beck; Russell Hamm; Gary Hamm; Gary Flairty; Angie Vorties; Henery Adamic; Danielle Walker; Debbie Morgan; Sue Cunningham; all those serving in the military; the Christians & others who are being persecuted and executed by ISIS and… The Messenger Worship Assistants Remember Our Shut-Ins Weekly Prayer Topics June 4 Thank you for your many gifts to us, help us to focus on our potential. June 11 God, everyone needs a blessing, show us how to bless others. June 18 Holy Spirit, change us from proud individuals into humble servants of God and man. June 25 Father, let us understand and accept your forgiveness so that the sacrifice of your son was not in vain. 7 The Messenger The Messenger First United Methodist Church 101 S. Broadway St. Havana, IL 62644 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Havana, IL 62644 Permit #4 (Put Address Label Here!) The Messenger Published by: First United Methodist Church 101 S. Broadway St., Havana IL 62644 Church phone: (309) 543-4725 E-mail: [email protected] Rev. Dr. Jame Hahs - Pastor Linda Vaughn - Secretary Published to keep the members and friends of Havana First United Methodist Church informed about its ministry within the world community. Deadline for article submission is the 20th of each month. Please consider "sponsoring" a particular month by covering the mailing cost for that month. Sponsorship is $60 per month. 8 This month’s newsletter is sponsored by Bev Steele In Memory of her Father Herbert Haslam Herb Haslam 6/4/1894-5/5/1980
© Copyright 2026 Paperzz