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October 2016

Grace Notes News from Grace United Methodist Church

Carbondale, Illinois 618-457-8785

Web site: www.carbondalegrace.org

E-mail: carbondalegraceinfo@gmail.com

October 2 World Communion Sunday Scripture: Genesis 18:1-8

Sermon: “From Hostility to Hospitality”

The first Sunday is sharing Sunday. You are encouraged to bring

canned food for the food pantry. You may also leave an offering

for the benevolence ministry to the community.

October 9 United Methodist Women’s Sunday

Guest Preacher: Rev. Deborah Pollex,

Chaplin & Spiritual Life Coordinator of the

United Methodist Children’s Home in Mt. Vernon

October 16 Stewardship Sunday

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

Sermon: “Extreme Make-Over”

Service Commitment Sheet will be given.

October 23 Stewardship Sunday

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-16

Sermon: “The Widow’s Jar”

Financial Commitment Card will be given.

October 30 Combined Service at 10:30 a.m.

Followed by pot-luck lunch and the program on

“The Holy Land Travel”

Scripture: Matthew 7: 24-27

Sermon: “A House on the Rock”

You are encouraged to invite family and friends to our worship

services and Sunday School!

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Dear Friends,

We will celebrate two Sundays of October as Steward-

ship Sundays. On the third Sunday we will focus on how to

use our talents, time and our lives for the glory of God. The

Service Commitment Sheet will be given. On the fourth

Sunday we will focus on our giving of money and a financial

commitment card will be given to you. Let’s take prayerful

time to reflect on what God has given to us and how we re-

spond to His immeasurable gifts.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodist Church, was very inten-

tional to teach on stewardship and giving as one of spiritual disciplines

and discipleship. He saw wealth and giving as an empowering tool to

do God’s life changing ministry and mission. At the same time, he con-

sidered wealth and the failure to give could be a threat to the Methodist

Movement and Christian life. He taught the three rules to be God’s

faithful stewards:

The first rule is “Earn all you can.” He did not mean destructive

ways of earning money by hurting oneself and by exploiting others.

Rather we should be mindful and responsible to use God-given talents

and time to work and to earn money.

The second rule is “Save all you can.” Wesley encouraged us to

simplify our life-style, so that others may simply live. It is a very diffi-

cult challenge to many of us today, when we use credit cards. Many

people get into trouble by spending the money that they don’t have, to

buy the things they don’t need, in order to impress other people whom

they don’t know.

The third rule is “Give all you can.” Giving is the essence of

Christian life to reflect the nature of God who is self-giving love. God

has given all the good gifts to us and gave Himself in Jesus Christ who

sacrificed His own life. Giving is our joyful response to God’s self-

giving love for the sake of others. We as a church can do greater things

together more than we as individuals can do. We rejoice as we give be-

cause we know that lives are changed, and communities and the world

have been transformed.

Let’s try to practice the three rules that John Wesley taught with

his example.

In Christ,

In-Sook Hwang

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Circle of Friends Potluck Tuesday– October 11- Noon

Bring a dish and join the fellowship.

Grace United Methodist

Women Service

October 9, 2016

9 AM and 11:15 AM Services

Scripture- Isaiah 65:17-25 “For I

am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former

things shall not be remembered or come to mind.”

Our guest speaker for UMW Sunday is Rev. Deborah Pollex, who

serves as the Mt. Vernon United Methodist Children’s Home

Chaplain and Spiritual Life Coordinator. She faithfully serves to

encourage the youth of UMCH in their spiritual journey—

connecting them to God’s love and helping to integrate spiritual

aspects into their daily lives.

Rev. Pollex is a pastor with the United Methodist Church and has

been ministering to adults, youth and children for over 20 years.

Before being appointed to Mt. Vernon United Methodist Chil-

dren’s Home, she served as the Marion First United Methodist

Church Associate Pastor and Youth Minister for nine years. Hav-

ing received her first degree in Forestry, she worked with the US

Forestry Service in the Shawnee National Forest before starting a

family and responding to God’s call to do ministry as a pastor.

She and her husband of 40 years reside in Stonefort, IL. She has

two grown children.

We are pleased to have Rev. Pollex to be with us to share infor-

mation about the ministry and services of the United Methodist

Children’s Home in Mt. Vernon, which offers hope, help and

healing to those who need it most.

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Please have articles for the November 2016

Grace Notes to the church office by October 24.

October is

Pastor Appreciation Month

During the month of October we

would like to express our appreciation

to Pastor In-Sook for her devotion and

spiritual leadership to our Christian congregation and commu-

nity! How can we express our gratitude for the blessing of God

through In-Sook? Throughout the month, please consider some

of these ideas (or better ones of which you may think): Send her

a card, stop by her office to give her a smile and wish her a

blessed day, send her a personal gift or token of appreciation,

offer to share a meal with her, write her a note, etc. THANK

YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO GOD AND GRACE UMC,

PASTOR IN-SOOK!

Church Conference

Saturday, October 8, 10:00 a.m.

at Our Church

There will be several reports on church ministries such as the

church council report, finance report, trustees report, a pastoral

report and parsonage report. And, there are action items which

are: recommendation for lay servants/lay speakers, the pastor’s

compensation, church official roll for 2017 and selling the par-

sonage. Selling the parsonage is a special action item this year.

All church members are voting members for Church Confer-

ence while non-members are still invited to attend. Everyone is

invited to celebrate what God has done through us and to look

forward for the future of God.

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Shirley Booker passed away September 9, 2016.

Our heartfelt sympathy is given to her family and

friends.

Visitors' Loaves, Minus the Fishes!

About six months ago, the Nurture Ministry

asked for contributions of small tea bread

loaves to be given with our church information

to visitors at Sunday worship services. A spe-

cial thank you is due to Betty Lee Smith, who contributed to our

first supply of yummy tea breads! Happily, we have now de-

pleted our supply of small loaves.

Please volunteer to bake a loaf or two if you are able. All va-

rieties are welcome: apple bread, banana bread, nut bread,

etc. The small loaves are wrapped securely, labeled, and placed

in the small freezer above the refrigerator in the children's

kitchen.

You can also help by making a point to locate and greet visi-

tors or new families and let us know that they are in the building

so that we can give them these small gifts to take home and re-

member our church.

Please contact Kay Eckiss or leave a note in the children's

area kitchen if you are willing to help. Thank you for sharing

your love to others!

October 30 Combined Worship at

10:30 a.m. Followed by a Potluck Dinner and

Holy Land Presentation

Everyone Invited

Angie Kay, pastor of Elkville and Vergennes Wesley UMC’s,

completed a life changing study trip to Israel in May. She now

loves doing presentations to share this experience with others.

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Youth Group

Highlights

Questions? Comments? Want to stay

connected or be more involved with the

youth? Contact Jaci Arthur

at carbondalegraceyouth@gmail.com.

Upcoming Events & Announcements:

~ Evolv - Senior high youth group is every Thursday night from

6-8p. Games and open gym are available from 6-6:30 p.m. and

7-8:00 p.m. Devotion 6:30-7:00 p.m. We will drop a Pokemon

lure after the devotion.

~ October 1st - Volunteer at St. Francis 1-3:00 p.m.

~ October 7th - Youth Night Out - costume party

~ Do you have any suggestions for discussions, Youth Night

Out activities, service projects, or anything else? Let Jaci

know!

Senior High Sunday School: We will work through the stewardship series video, "Wired for

Greatness," in October. In November, we will resume our study

of the sermon on the mount, starting with Matthew 7.

Our Community Youth Bell Choir

is here!

All 6th-12th graders are welcome to join. We meet

every Wednesday from 5:00 -6:00 p.m.

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October Birthdays

(by date)

1 - Dorothy Unruh

2 - Bill Crain

3 - Virgie Parrish

4 - Joann Holcomb

7 - Karen Downey

7 - Rachel Satterwhite

20 - Orville Hake

20 - Donna Stoodley

21 - Larry Gilbert

22 - Matthew Kunkel

22 - James Pease

25 - Juanita Hartman

26 - Benjamin Borah

27 - Roger Smith

27- Clara Bowie

27 - Ludine Chamness

29 - Mark Pease

31 - Steve Arthur

31 - Elizabeth Schultz

10/14 Brian and Trisha Adams

Grace UMC Mission Statement

"Love God, love people, make disciples of Jesus Christ."

Early November

Birthdays

11/1 Jacob Williams

11/3 Cathy Biggs

11/4 Audrey Meador

Grace United Methodist Church

9:00 a.m. Praise and Worship

10:10 a.m. Sunday School

11:15 a.m. Traditional Worship

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New Church Members

We were blessed to receive

eight new church members

on September 11, 2016.

They are: Jieun Shin,

Myunghee Kim, Sunhee

Park, Lee McNealy, Meung-

guk Park, Moonchan Bae,

and Soojin Lee.

Grace Fest 2016

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Church Directory Pages

Our church secretary, Debbie Ditch, has graciously

agreed to print out more current listings of names and

contact information for people attending Grace

Church. Up-to-date names, addresses, phone or email

addresses will be made available to each family. Please

call the church office or leave a message if you do NOT

wish your name and contact information to be distrib-

uted. We will be printing the paper directories on the

second week of October.

Thank you!

Mission Meal Update

An Ad Hoc committee has been meeting

with the charge to make a recommendation

as to how to continue with the mission meal

program. We are happy to announce that

we have located an individual whose pas-

sion is cooking for people and is eager to assist us in this en-

deavor. We are very pleased to welcome Aur Beck as our "chief

cook”. He has a food handler’s license and is no stranger to

cooking for large groups.

Our plan is to revive this mission and serve meals twice a

month November - January. At that point we will evaluate the

mission and determine what changes may need to be imple-

mented. We are also looking into the possibility of inviting

other groups (church and community) to partner with us.

We are excited that we are able to continue this much needed

ministry. Information as to how you can help will be forthcom-

ing.

Handbells

Everyone age 10+ is welcome to join the Handbell

Choir. We meet every Wednesday from 6pm-7pm. For

questions about the choir or to participate in smaller ensem-

bles, please contact Jaci Arthur at jacimcdole@gmail.com.

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The Story of Fasa

Fasa is a medical missionary in Indonesia. As a

young lad he lived on the island of Nias. He had a

strong desire to learn, and when an opportunity came

up, he walked 7 miles to the coast and traveled 90

miles by boat to Sumatra . He swept streets with very

little pay and usually slept where he worked. He learned about

Wesley Methodist Church in Medan and of classes in English

being offered. Later, he worked at a hospital. Because of severe

typhoid fever, he was evicted and brought to Wesley

Church. After recovering, he was given a job at the church and

stayed in a small room there.

Grace and Ed Werner were sent to Wesley Church (in Indo-

nesia) by the UMC as missionaries. They met Fasa and saw a

very special young man with great promise. A miracle be-

gan. The Werner’s helped Fasa with pre-entrance exams given

at the Methodist Medical School, and promised to raise the

needed money to send him to medical school. The Werner’s and

their family paid his tuition. As they returned to the states, they

told everyone about God's mission at Wesley and especially

about this young Christian man in medical school. This is how

GUMC became involved with Fasa. He received his degree in

January, 2001. He and his wife operate from a small clinic on

the island.

Over the years Grace Church has continued to support Fasa

in the needs of his clinic and family. Once a year we send a bank

wire to Fasa with the collected funds.

Fasa—Medical Missionary

At the end of October we will be wiring money

to Dr. Fasa for his use as a medical missionary. If

you want to add to this fund, please put your check

in the offering by Octboer 30. Be sure to write “Fasa” on the

memo line.

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Congratulations!

Katie Kim, the 19-year old daughter of Yang

and Myunghee Kim, won the state gold medal

in the 25 meter backstroke at the Illinois State

Special Olympics in swimming. Her 100 meter

relay team also medaled. DuQuoin Evening

Call says, “Only a very dedicated and caring

family could take their daughter to such a spectacular level of

athleticism and commitment in the Special Olympics program.”

Katie’s mother Myunghee Kim has been attending our church

since the fall of 2015 and joined the church this fall. She has

been a greeter for the early worship service.

To My Church Family,

I want to thank all of you for food,

cards, phone calls and visits over the past 5

months. This is the first time I have been

on the other side for help.

I will be coming back gradually. I appreciate each and every

one of you!

Ludine Chamness

Trunk or Treat 2016

Watch the bulletin for information about Trunk or Treat 2016.

We will publicize details after Carbondale’s Trick or Treat date

and hours are announced.

If anyone is interested in working on stage or behind

the scenes with the Grace Players, please contact

Jaci Arthur at GUMC.Grace.Players@gmail.com.