First United Methodist Church 127 N 4th St Vandalia, IL 62471

Pews News

Pastor: Terry Westerfield: tlwpastor@outlook.com Administrative Assistant: Casey Kistler: vandaliafumc@outlook.com Secretary: Sue Miller (Tues. & Fri.) Director of Music: Louise Weiss: gctheorygal@hotmail.com Childcare Provider: Amanda Milam Custodian: Nancy Myers Assistant Custodian: Andy Sidwell

Inside this issue:

Prayer Concerns Shut-ins

2

Operation Christmas Child Music News

3

Pastor Tom Goodell

4

From the Pastor’s Study

5

Thank You

6

Birthdays and Anniversaries

7

Contact us

M-W-TR: 8a—4p

T-F: 8a—12p

Phone: 618-283-3684

Email:

vandaliafumc@outlook.com

Website:

www.vandaliafirstumc.org

Church Staff

Heavenly Father, graduating seniors around the world had their last day of school and didn’t even know it was their last. Today, we ask You to comfort them during this hard time and wrap Your loving arms around

them. Fill them with the peace to accept their present circumstances, and the strength and determination to persevere for a brighter future. Lead them through this trying time, and show us how You can still use it for

good. Thank You for your goodness and unfailing love, even in the midst of heartbreak. They have worked all their lives for this day, the day they

hear, “Congratulations, you did it!,” in front of all the people they love, like they dreamed it would be. Please give these seniors peace in the midst of this trial and comfort them in this difficult season. Show them that You are what they need to lean on. Use them in a special way for Your honor and

glory, to spread Your love to others who are hurting. Give them the strength they need. I pray they will shine Your light on this troubled world.

Amen.

Vandalia First United Methodist Church sends our biggest congratulations to our graduating seniors:

Bradyn Kaiser Megan Kern

Lanee McNary Laura Miller

We also congratulate members of our Wednesday night IMPACT youth group that have been dedicated members for many years:

Matthew Hobler Brianna Swain

Connor Satterthwaite Matthew Wells

Cameron Withers

Patti Bohner (Don & Diane Adams’ daughter; mobility issues) Roger Clark (bladder cancer; additional tests) Mason Currier (6 year old grandson of Roger & Peg Clark; cancer treatments) Ella Ray DePew (Brandi Gathe’s niece; recuperating from heart surgery) Ricky Donaldson (Dannie & Patty’s nephew; completed radiation treatments for bone cancer) Gary Doolen (recuperating from lung surgery) Mason Feltner (Kelly Clark’s 9 year old nephew; chemotherapy for A.L.L. leukemia) Phil Freeman (recuperating from surgery to remove cancerous node) Allison Horn (Don & Diane Adams’ daughter; kidney concerns; home) Carson LaDage (Bill & Sharon’s grandson; brain stem tumor & cysts) Carol Lewis (friend of Gail DePaolo; chemotherapy for cancer) Wanda McCollum (lung cancer)

Michelle McNary (recuperating from knee surgery) Mark Miller II (recuperating from surgery for throat cancer) Mary Miller (treatment for lung cancer) Sue Miller (recuperating at home from gall bladder surgery) Roy Nichels (friend of Dannie Donaldson; cancer) Ginny Peckenpaugh Family (friend of Carole White) Heather Overlin (Larry Osborne’s daughter; showing improvement; undergoing more tests) TJ Pryor (Tony & Johanna Eckhardt’s nephew; recuperating from surgery for mass on his brain) Norman Rhoades (Kathryn Taylor’s father; Parkinson’s Disease) Sherry Schneider (hip surgery scheduled for July) Susann Schumacher (pulmonary fibrosis) Hannah Shroyer (lesion on brain) Lloyd Stanley (friend of Gene Schwarm; colon and liver cancer) Opal Rose Trimble (granddaughter of Joy Lawson; physical therapy for polio type illness) Jackson Wenrich (Dannie & Patty Donaldson’s nephew; deployed to Middle East)

Nursing Home Residents & Shut-ins: Brookstone (1607 W. Fillmore) Don & Diane Adams (Apt.15); Carlos Biellier (Apt. 2); Margaret Carroll (Apt. 10); Arlene Hoffman (Apt.4); Joyce Kidd; Iris Rademacher (Apt. 36); & Frank Roeder (Apt. 25) FCH/Long Term Care (650 West Taylor) Marian Miller, Priscilla Roeder, Eva Durbin Meramec Bluffs (50 Meramec Trail Dr., Ballwin, MO 63021) Mary Ann Rhoades (Rm 2012B)

Dolan Memory Care Homes (Dublin—11330 Dolan Way, St. Louis, MO 63146) Phyllis Rames Fair Havens Christian Village (1790 S Fairview Ave., Decatur, IL 62521) Alice Eakin Willowbrook (1124 Sunset Dr., Vandalia) Larry & Sandy Peyton Norman Rhoades Shut-Ins: Mike Beckett, 2625 W. Jefferson St, Vandalia

1, Drake Bland Ed Haas 2, Jill Tarkington 3, Kale Konrad 5, Sharon LaDage 6, Mary Crawford Alex Rademacher 7, Penelope Donaldson 10, Mike Black Mark Johnson Samantha Schwarm 11, Patti Craycroft Justin Donaldson 12, Caylee Zimmer

14, Olivia Dunn Sharon Lee 16, Retha Burnam 17, Kieara Hayes Will Metzger 20, Joyce Kidd Byron Sikma Donna Taylor Carole White 23, Audrey Fink 24, Drew Schneider Terese Sikma Charlotte Vieregge 25, John Burnam

Kim Schroeder Cole Yarbrough 26, Deb Endres Kathy Taylor Richie Well 27, Abby Guffey Caroline Moulton 28, Craig Freeman 29, Mark Hayes Padric McDowell Hudson Myers 30, Beth Emerick

3, Rick & Calista Eyman Brian & Beth Kern 5, JD & Amy Vieregge 6, Darrel & Susan Casey Bryce & Casey Kistler 7, David & Judy Roberts 9, Mark & Lori Johnson John & Whitney Campbell

11, Josh & Megan Moulton Jordan & Calista Dothager 12, Frank & Priscilla Roeder Cameron & Brittney White 14, Brent & Joyce Hunter 16, Mark & Molly Kirk 19, Ed & Donna Taylor 24, Max & Deb Durbin

26, Don & Diane Adams Rand & Patti Craycroft 28, Bob & Joy Kloster Drew & Jenna Schneider Chad & Amanda Bowers 29, Ed & Cindy Haas

“Elloise and I would like to thank Pastor Terry and everyone for their cards and Prayers while we were confined with the Virus. We could definitely feel the prayers that were lifted n our behalf. What a wonderful Church Family we have at Vandalia FUMC.” —Dean Black “Thank you for your prayers for me while I was in the hospital. You are a very special church family. God bless you all.” —Margaret Carroll

Please be sure to let the office know if any of your contact information has changed. During these unprecedented times, our best way of communication is through email and phone. You may email the church: vandaliafumc@outlook.com or call 618-283-3684 and leave a message at any time if your information has changed.

We look forward to being able to worship together soon!

Our Caring Continues

Operation Christmas Child exists because of the many people who are dedicated to spreading His word to the hurting children around the world through the means of a simple shoebox. It takes everyone working to-gether for this ministry to be a SUCCESS!

YOU ARE APPRECIATED! Many thanks to the ongoing work of volunteers within our church and by those connected to people in our church! During the stay home orders, people have been taking advantage of extra time and they have been working on items to include in our “extra” boxes. Peg Clark made totes, sock monkeys, prayer squares, pencil pouches, marble bags, and purses. Thank you Peg for using the gifts that God gave you and for blessing the children with such beautiful items. Deb Durbin, Lola Gehle, and Pam Yates finished making over 200 pouches to hold the soap! Thank you for your labor of love in making the pouches! They were a nice colorful addition to the boxes! Monetary Gifts: Thank you to members who donated money throughout the year for our “extra” boxes. To date, 261 boxes are packed and ready to go! Each box represents a “Gospel Opportunity” for an individual child. Thank you for allowing 261 children to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ! Jill Zimmer Every time I write for the newsletter, I hope we will be able to worship together before the month is over. No such luck so far, but I’m still hopeful. Tina Kaiser suggested we do a Zoom hymn-sing, so I am planning to set that up for June 7, at 7:00p. We will send out a Zoom meeting invitation (you’ll need to download the Zoom app on your device before the appointed time) and then simply click on the email link at the designated time. You can use the video or not, and type in to Tina what hymn you’d like to hear! Brayden and I will play your requests and you can sing along with us! Unfortunately, you’ll have to mute your mics as the internet delay won’t work for us to all sing along in real time. If you choose to have you face visible, we can watch everyone sing along! So look for an email for the date and time. I’m considering a Sunday morning or Sunday mid afternoon time maybe the first Sunday in June. Miss you all! In Christ’s service, Louise

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

On July 1st I will have the privilege of serving as your pastor. I can still vividly remember

the phone call from the Rev. Dr. Jim Bortell (now one of my mentors) in 1989 informing

me that I was appointed to be the pastor of two country churches (Cropsey and

Strawn). Sherry (my wife) and I drove down that night to look at the churches,

community and parsonage. It was several days later that the “significance” of this

phone call began to weigh on me. I still have the paper towel on which I recorded my

notes from that phone call. “I would be the pastor of these two churches!” I still

appreciate this responsibility more than 30 years later, and frankly hope I always will! I

anticipate serving as your pastor and pray for the guidance of the Spirit.

This will be my sixth appointment, I also served one year as the Director of the Wesley

Foundation at Eastern Illinois University. I have served in small, country churches, and

one large church (850 a Sunday in attendance - Crossroads near Washington, Illinois).

We have loved every church and community in which we have served but both Sherry

and I are “small town people”. We like knowing our neighbors, shopping locally and

supporting our community.

I still love serving as a pastor. I love crafting sermons, leading Bible study and providing

pastoral care. I still believe in the church, and the Wesleyan approach to Christianity

(focusing on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ and an engaged interaction with

our community). I still believe that the best days for the church (and Vandalia First) are

ahead of us!

To do this we will work at envisioning where God is calling the church to be in the world

and continuing to grow in our discipleship. Paul put this best, in his charge to his young

friend Timothy; “For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you

through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but

rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:6).

Sherry has worked with seniors for many years as a social worker and certified nursing

assistant. She is passionate about their care. We have two, grown sons. Andrew lives in

Peoria and is a social worker. Nick will be working towards a PhD at Vanderbilt University

in Nashville. We also have a crabby cat, Elizabeth, who will be living with us.

Sherry and I like to antique, garden and travel. We look forward to making Vandalia our

home.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tom Goodell

From the Pastor’s Lounger: Coming to a Fork in the Road

You may remember the sermon where I described my family’s journey through Springdale Cemetery in Peoria to find the graves of my grandmother’s parents. Dad was not a patient man; but with his mother in the back seat, I saw him display an amazing amount of constraint over his temper. Every time we came to a fork in the road, he would ask grandma which direction to go, and she would respond, “Go straight.” This happened numerous times as we wondered through the massive cemetery. Dad’s grip on the steering wheel tighten with each query. Somehow, someway, maybe only by the grace of God, and before Everett “blew,” we found the Jorgensen plot. That experience recalls the words of the great Yogi Berra, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” After thirty-five years in the ministry, I have come to a fork in the road, and it’s time to do something else. I’m not sure what that will be, but there is still a lot to do for God’s kingdom. I believe it was District Superintendent Cindy Jones who told me six years ago I was going to the best church in which to finish out my career as a pastor, and she was right. You have been warm, loving, generous, compassionate, and patient, very patient. Words cannot express my deep appreciation for the way you have welcomed me into your congregation. It feels good to know that Pastor Tom Goodell will be tending to your spiritual needs. He and his wife, Sherry, are wonderful people with hearts filled with love for the Lord. I am leaving you in very capable hands. I know you will care for them in the same way you have loved me. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your lives. May God’s love surround you and bless you in all your endeavors. Blessings, Terry

Pastor Terry, Thank you for all that you have done for Vandalia First United Methodist Church. We are blessed to have had you here for the past six years! We wish you a wonderful retirement with sincere appreciation for your faithful service, your friendship and the difference you have made in the lives of so many. You will always be remembered. Now, as you start the next chapter of your life, rejoice in your accomplishments with a future filled with blessings of good health and the contentment of a job well done!