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Franklin GroveUnited Methodist Church

223 W. Middle St.P.O. Box 348

Franklin Grove, IL 61 031

phone: 847-722-6357

www.franklingroveumc.com

Pastor Jin-Ho Hongemail : hjhj lm66@hotmail .com

Sunday School 9:00 a.m.Church Service 1 0:1 5 a.m.

F r a n k l i n G r o v e U n i t e dM e t h o d i s t C h u r c h

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Franklin Grove United

Methodist Church is

Gathering

Growing

Going

If your heart is where ours

is, come and join us!

Please let us

know your Bits

of News and

prayer requests

so we can keep

you in our

thoughts and

prayers.

The Cross and Flame

Happy New Year!I would l ike to deliver the greetings of peace

and hope to our Franklin Grove family at thebeginning day of 201 3. I eagerly wish the graceand blessings of Immanuel wil l cover your l ife andyour family during 201 3.

As always, the New Year has started. When wesee the old year out and the new year in, we alwayshave new determination and a life goal with new hope.“What kind of wish and purpose of l ife do you want toachieve for you and your family this year?” Undoubtedly,anyone wishes good health and peace of family.Individual ly, my goal this year is trying to practice thebasics of faithful Christian l iving. Paul said to usthrough 1 Thessalonians 5:1 6-1 8, “Be joyful always;pray continual ly; give thanks in al l circumstances, forthis is God’s wil l for you in Christ Jesus.” As youalready know, Paul exhorted the church members ofthe Thessalonians to practice the basics of Christiansl iving as true believers through the Word of God.

Paul experienced deeper the depths of despair,suffering, and hardships than anybody because of

January 201 3

The Cross and Flame

Happy New Year!I would l ike to deliver the greetings of peace

and hope to our Franklin Grove family at thebeginning day of 201 3. I eagerly wish the graceand blessings of Immanuel wil l cover your l ife andyour family during 201 3.

As always, the New Year has started. When wesee the old year out and the new year in, we alwayshave new determination and a life goal with new hope.“What kind of wish and purpose of l ife do you want toachieve for you and your family this year?” Undoubtedly,anyone wishes good health and peace of family.Individual ly, my goal this year is trying to practice thebasics of faithful Christian l iving. Paul said to usthrough 1 Thessalonians 5:1 6-1 8, “Be joyful always;pray continual ly; give thanks in al l circumstances, forthis is God’s wil l for you in Christ Jesus.” As youalready know, Paul exhorted the church members ofthe Thessalonians to practice the basics of Christiansl iving as true believers through the Word of God.

Paul experienced deeper the depths of despair,suffering, and hardships than anybody because of

Jesus Christ. He confessed in 2 Corinthians 1 1 :24-27 that “Five times Ireceived from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I wasbeaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, Ispent a night and a day in the open sea. I have been constantly on themove. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, indanger from my own countrymen, in danger from Genti les; in danger inthe city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger fromfalse brothers. I have labored and toi led and have often gone withoutsleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; Ihave been cold and naked.” Nevertheless, he did not abandon himself todespair. Rather, he had learned to be content whatever the circumstancesthrough those persecutions and hardships. Therefore, he could final lydel iver the essentials of Christian l iving to the flock of the Thessaloniansthrough his valuable experiences. I t is “Be joyful always, pray continual ly,give thanks in al l circumstances."

I f so, “How can we be joyful Christians always?” When we learnedto be content whatever the circumstances like Paul, we might be alwaysjoyful and thankful Christians in al l circumstances. For it, we ought tohave a deep spiritual relationship with God through a regular prayer. Inthe regular prayer, we should earnestly tel l our weakness, request God’shelp, and reflect our l ife as well as ourselves. When we repeat the basicsof Christian l iving in our daily l ife, we can be true Christians who seeksanctifying grace as United Methodists.

These days, we are l istening to America’s gloomy outlook ahead fromeconomists and politicians about the federal budget deficit (a Fiscal Cliff),inflation, cutting Jobs, and others. This year, we might experience differentresults from our rose-colored outlook and hope. Of course, we mightstruggle with difficult economic circumstances for this year. However, donot be disappointed because God of Immanuel wil lbe with us. The more we encounter difficultsituations, the more we ought to remember Paul’sadvice. I f you want to l ive in a successful year withGod’s blessings, please don’t forget the Word ofGod, “Be joyful always; pray continually;give thanks in all circumstances, for this isGod’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

InChrist,Pastor Jin-HoHong

We are all gifted with aunique set oftalents andabilities. With those, wecan make extra ordinarythings happen and as aresult change the life ofanother pesron. That iswhat Dennis Loescher hasdone for our churchmembers. With endlesshours ofpreparation for aramp at our church, hisact ofkindness has helpedothers by making theirarrival at church a littleeasier. Our thanks toDennis for makingsomeone else's life a littlebrighter. “Happinessdoesn't result from

what we get, but from

what we give.” †

“Giveyourselfentirelytothosearoundyou. Begenerouswithyourblessings.A kindgesturecanreachawoundthatonlycompassioncanheal.”

We are all gifted with aunique set oftalents andabilities. With those, wecan make extra ordinarythings happen and as aresult change the life ofanother pesron. That iswhat Dennis Loescher hasdone for our churchmembers. With endlesshours ofpreparation for aramp at our church, hisact ofkindness has helpedothers by making theirarrival at church a littleeasier. Our thanks toDennis for makingsomeone else's life a littlebrighter. “Happinessdoesn't result from

what we get, but from

what we give.” †

Unity service willbeWed., Jan

23rdat the Church ofthe

Brethren. A Potluckmealat 6

pmwith service at 7pm.

Please come join us foran

evening offellowship, aswell

as hearing the message ofGod's

love andhope forallofus! †

Community Church Council

Sycamore United Methodist Church160 Johnson AvenueSycamore, IL 60178815-895-9113

Cal l ing Al l Leaders of the Church Including:Church AdminsSPRC CommitteeLay LeaderWorship Leader

This workshop is for you. . .

Registration DeadlineJanuary 1, 2013

DeKalb DistrictLay Leadership Training

January 5, 2013

Event Location:

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LyndaBevanswillbe hosting a Bible study startingSunday, January 13, 2013. It willbe at herhousestarting at 6:30 pm. The studywillbe on Proverbs31 and"The ExcellentWife"byMarthaPeace. Formore information contact LyndaBevans at church orvia emailat lyndabevan@yahoo.com. Ifyou plan toattend, please let Lyndaknow so she can orderthecorrect numberofbooksforthe class.

Sycamore United Methodist Church160 Johnson AvenueSycamore, IL 60178815-895-9113

Cal l ing Al l Leaders of the Church Including:Church AdminsSPRC CommitteeLay LeaderWorship Leader

This workshop is for you. . .

Registration DeadlineJanuary 1, 2013

Join us for Third Sunday Lunch January 22nd for

soup and sandwiches. Free will offering to benefit the

Sunday School. Kids, stay after lunch to go to Nash

Recreation Center in Oregon for swimming. Cost $1. †

Upcoming Sunday

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Upcoming Sunday

The Sunday School wrapped up raising money forclean water. They raised $77.51. Next up, they willbe raising money for Heifer. Will they be able toget some chicks? a llama? or a water buffalo? Also,don't forget to bring in your Labels and Boxtops forEducation to benefit Red Bird Mission. †

School Activities

This simple idea ofgiving families a source

offood rather than short-term reliefcaught

on and has continued for more than 65 years.

"You are what you give!Be the best gift you've ever given."

Our sanctuarywas beautifullydecorated for theSeason ofAdventand Christmas. Aspecial thanks toall who helped. †

Fun and Fellowship

Christmas Walk

Fun and FellowshipChristmas Walk

OurbeautifulAnnie!!

A beautiful mild eveningbroughtmany people out forthe ChristmasWalk thisyear. FGUMCserved soupand brownies. I think thereal reason so many came tosee us was due to this cutelittle girl, Caroline! †

TheeveningendedwithChristmasmusicsungbytheDixonHighSchoolMadrigalChoir!

ChristmasProgram

Keep Christin

Hub Cluster Play

ChristmasProgram

Rachel Mary Near, Ruth V. Schiltz,Eloise Christina Eber Van Hise,Pauline Wiseman, Judi Johnson

and Wanda Marie Yocum

On Sunday, December 9th, aspecial service was held inremembrance of loved oneswho had passed away duringthe year 2012. †

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