Circuit Rider January 2018

Pastor Rev. Dr. Solomon Sudhakar, PhD

Cell: 773.936.8979 pastor@rockfallsumc.org

Church Office Phone: 815/625-0114

office@rockfallsumc.org

Director of Music Ministries

Kevin O’Keefe

Organists Pat Simester

Lori Kyger Tom Luther

Pianist Lori Kyger

Director of Christian Education Jodi Perez

Director of Communications

Janna Groharing

Custodian Craig Deem

Welcome! We have a new church secretary! Amber (Winters) Hille has come onboard as our new secretary. The church office hours will continue to be Monday through Friday from 9 AM until Noon. Amber is a lifelong resident of the Sterling/Rock Falls area, and has 2 daughters, Tiara (15) and Joslynn (12). She is happy to be a part of the team here at RFUMC. Please stop in and make her feel welcome.

Updates needed…. As I have been trying to locate information to prepare the monthly newsletters, and the weekly Informer, and as we have been preparing for the coming of a new church secretary, we have come across at great deal of outdated information - birthday & anniversary lists that have not been kept current, monthly ushering schedules, etc. Over the next few Sundays we will be circulating sheets through the pews in order to gather these updates. We seem to be missing a number of birthdays and anniversaries. Robyn Meinen has been working on updating the monthly usher schedule, and additional volunteers are needed. We will also be looking at transitioning to the electronic delivery of the monthly newsletter, and to better utilize electronic communications to keep our members informed. Don’t worry, the paper copy of the newsletter won’t be going away entirely. They will continue to be mailed to our shut-ins, and copies will be available for pick up in the narthex at the beginning of each month for those who do not have email. This will allow for cost savings in postage, paper and wear & tear on our copy machine. It will also allow for more timely delivery of the newsletter to any and all members of your household who provide their email address, and in full color! The newsletter will continue to be posted to our church website, www.rockfallsumc.org, with a link to it also being shared on the church’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/RockFallsUMC. An email update sheet will be circulated on Sunday mornings for the next few weeks so we may gather updated information. We hope to make the leap to online delivery this spring (March/April). You may also send a quick email to the church’s new email address: office@rockfallsumc.org, so we can be sure we’ve got you in the system. Please contact me with any questions! Call/Text 815-6225-1248 or email j.groharing@comcast.net Thanks!

Janna Groharing Communications

Dear Friends in Christ, Greetings! At the outset, let me Wish you all a Blessed and A Happy New Year 2018! Hope you all had a great Christmas time with family and friends. At church we had a wonderful season of Advent and Christmas. We had a beautiful worship experience during our Christmas Eve Service. Thanks to our Choir and specially Director Kevin O’Keefe. The kids of our church were adorable during their Christmas program. Thanks to all our wonderful Sunday school teachers and Christian Ed. Director Ms. Jodi Perez. Again thanks goes to Christa Moeller and her team for beautifully decorating the sanctuary. Thanks also goes to Janelle and Janna for all the help during this transition of finding a new Church Secretary. We got news from the SPRC that they have selected one and she will be joining us the first week of January. During this Christmas time, we remember all our elderly folks who are in nursing homes or are sick. We pray for God’s healing and blessings for them. Several of our friends were sick and some of them are getting ready for different procedures, I ask the church to join me in praying for them. Some of our families missed having a loved one this Christmas, God’s peace and comfort to you all. May the Prince of Peace, Immanuel – LORD with us, Jesus Christ fill your hearts and lives with peace and joy all through the coming year. As we enter the New Year 2018, I want to bring your attention to this familiar yet profound hymn, “O God, our help in ages past, our hopes for years to come..”. In this hymn Isaac Watts reminds us that our God has been our help and shelter, defending us from all perils of this world. God’s faithfulness is evident and is present for us from everlasting to everlasting. And God is our guide and hope all the days of our lives. Such beautiful words of assurance and blessings cannot be ignored as enter into this New Year with new hopes and challenges. It is my prayer for you and for our church that our God will guide us through the year. As we start 2018 our church, our nation and world, and also our own selves face several challenges - financial, economic, political, health related so on and so forth. And I hope that this year, God gives us greater awareness of the challenges and of all life situations. I hope that God will help us stand as faithful witnesses and channels of God’s peace and hope to all who comes across our paths. May our God lead us in all our individual practices of faith and witness and May our God continue to help and lead us in our community and social activities. I also request you to continue to pray, participate and support the mission and work of our church. Continue to make your presence felt at church and continue to be a blessing for others both inside and outside church. And finally, may the Christmas story – the birth of Christ, that is told and retold countless times in countless forms all our lives, continue to inspire us in new and refreshing ways. God Bless! Prayer: LORD, lead us and guide all through the year 2018. Give us wisdom and enthusiasm to start anew, and to espouse new ways of living for your glory. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.

Pastor Solomon

O God, Our Help in Ages Past Psalm 90; text by Isaac Watts, 1719 O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home! Under the shadow of thy throne, still may we dwell secure; Sufficient is thine arm alone, and our defense is sure. Before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame, From everlasting, thou art God, to endless years the same. A thousand ages, in thy sight, are like an evening gone; Short as the watch that ends the night, before the rising sun. Time, like an ever rolling stream, bears all who breathe

away; They fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day. O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come; Be thou our guide while life shall last, and our

eternal home.

Coffee Time Volunteers Needed! Please see sign up sheet in Narthex.

January Ushers Volunteers needed,

please see Robyn Meinen

01 – Beto Perez 02 - Naomia Harrison 03 – Jack Spencer 06 – Cheryl Simester 09 – Ben Megli 10 – Jacob Mertes 12 – Sami Royer 15 – Jackie Wasson 22 – Reid Akerman 23 – Greg Pratt 24 – Carol Martin 25 – Mary Jo Wagner 26 – Josh Howard 27 – Mabel Conklin 31 – Baylee Weeks

16 – Beto & Jodi Perez

Looking for a good book to read?

Check out our new Lending Library located in the Brandt Room.

Sign out a book you’d like to read and return it when you’re finished!

Calling for All Laity and Clergy District Leadership Training Saturday, January 27, 9:00am – 2:30 pm First UMC of Dixon

District Shepherding Team cordially invites all followers of Jesus Christ to a spirit-filled time of worship, fellowship, and learning and growing together as God’s blessed people! Workshop themes will include: Spiritual Gifts and Revitalization, Small Group Ministries, Prayer and Strategic Planning, Rule of Christ, Staff-Parish Relations Committee Work, Communications, Children/Youth Ministries Best Practices, Advance Directives as an Act of Faith, Church Property & Casualty Program and Claim Reporting. Please mark your calendars and watch out for more information to register!

Scenes from

Christmas

at RFUMC

Have you considered the Heritage Foundation as a part of your church

giving... I have included the Heritage Foundation in My will, trust or other

estate plans.

I would consider including the Heritage Foundation in my plans.

I would like information about Beneficiary Designation of Life

Insurance Policy

For more information, please contact any of the Heritage Foundation

Board members, Rod Brooks at 815-625-7843, or leave a message with

the Church office and we will contact you.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

Office Closed

Happy New Year!

2 3 12:15 UMW 5:30 Midweek Worship 6:15 Bells 7:00 Choir

4 5 6

7

9A Worship 10A Sunday School

8 9

6P Sesquicentennial Committee

10 5:30 Midweek Worship 6:15 Bells 7:00 Choir

11

6P Trustees 6P Church Council

12 13

14 9A Worship 10A Sunday School

15

Office Closed Martin Luther King Jr Day

16

10A Bear Necessities Work Day

17 5:30 Midweek Worship 6:15 Bells 7:00 Choir

18 19 20

10A-Noon Bear Necessities Pantry Open

21 9A Worship 10A Sunday School

22 23 24 5:30 Midweek Worship 6:15 Bells 7:00 Choir

25 6P Church Council

26 27

9A-2:30P District Leadership Training (Dixon)

28 9A Worship 10A Sunday School

29 30 31 5:30 Midweek Worship 6:15 Bells 7:00 Choir

January 2018

Non Profit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

Permit #48

Rock Falls, IL 61071

Rock Falls United Methodist Church 210 4th Avenue Rock Falls, IL 61071 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED