March Newsletter 2018
Prospect United Methodist Church
Our Hope; Our Inheritance; Our Power
As our Tuesday and Wednesday congregational Bible studies dig into Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, we’re being reminded of some powerful truths.
Paul reminds us that we are an Easter people, and that God’s “incomparably great power” raised Jesus from the grave, lifted Him into Heaven, placed Him on the throne, and placed all authority over heaven and earth under His feet. Amongst all the world’s broken and imperfect leaders, isn’t it wonderful to know that Jesus, ultimately, is in charge? It’s a great thing to give thanks for each morning!
Paul also reminds us that, while the struggles in this world are quite real, we have a glorious inheritance waiting for us as a people ‘marked in Jesus with the promised Holy Spirit.’ While most of us associate “inheritance” with something received after a loved one passes away, Paul points out that we are given a measure of this glorious inheritance in this life every time we receive a blessing from the Father. The eternal inheritance we receive after death will, indeed, be beyond our human conception, but God’s blessings and power are available to us every day.
And Paul reminds us of the hope we have in Jesus. Pastor JD Greear notes that worldly hope is based on a desire for something undeserved to somehow become a reality (as in, “I had hoped that the Illini, ranked 13th in a 14 team conference bracket, would somehow win 5 straight games to qualify for the NCAA tournament.” …it didn’t happen!). As Christians, however, “hope” is defined as “waiting confidently for something we are very sure about, but have not yet experienced.” We’ve been given a look at the end of The Story…and God wins! And we who walk with Jesus in this life have the confidence that we will get to taste victory, too!
In Christ, we have been adopted into God’s family. And as God’s adopted children, our Father in heaven wants to share everything he has with each of us (that means YOU!). And that same Jesus…He is the One praying from the throne of heaven for you, and for Prospect, today! So let’s get ready for another amazing Easter at Prospect, but let’s not wait until April 1st to begin the celebration!
<><, Pastor Steve
MARCH 2018 CALENDAR
ANNUAL CHICKEN AND NOODLE DINNER-THIS SUNDAY!!!
Inside Prospect Meeting
Sunday, March 11th
Interested in learning more about Prospect? Ready to meet some of our ministry leaders with an eye towards getting more involved? Whether you have been connected with Prospect for several months or just a few weeks, we would love to have you join us for “Inside Prospect” after worship on Sunday, March 11th. We will gather in the church lounge (across from Pastor Steve’s office) for some snacks and discussion. You’ll get to meet other newcomers to Prospect along with several of our ministry team leaders.
Holy Week Schedule
Palm Sunday “Walk through Holy Week” March 25th at 9:00am
Maundy Thursday, March 29th at 7:00pm
Good Friday, March 30th at 7:00pm
Easter Sunday April 1st:
Sunrise Service at 7:30am
Easter Breakfast following 7:30am Worship (8:30-9:45am)
Easter Egg Hunt at 9:15am
Easter Service at 10:00am (pre-service music starting at 9:45am)
UMCOR SUNDAY
UMCOR SUNDAY: March 11, 2018
TOGETHER, WE REACH CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED DEVASTATION IN THE WAKE OF DISASTER.
When You Give You Equip Christ’s Body to Serve in His Name
That’s because your generous giving to UMCOR is what allows UMCOR to act as the arms and legs of Christ’s church, moving toward the most vulnerable in their darkest days. Convinced that all people have God-given worth and dignity—without regard to race, religion or gender—together we are assisting those impacted by crisis or chronic need.
UMCOR will be able to offer aid in Jesus’ name to those who suffer
because United Methodists give through UMCOR. In fact, it’s your
generous giving that allows us to respond when disaster strikes.
Click the link below to learn more about UMCOR Sunday.
PASS THE PIG
"Pass the Pig to Buy some Ham!"
We'll pass the pig (piggy banks) through the pews during worship on Sunday, March 18th. Your loose change will help us purchase the hams for our annual Easter basket mission. Feed the pig = buy some ham!!!
If you will be out of town on the 18th and would still like to donate, you can turn in your donation early by either sending your payment to the church office or leaving it in the offering on any upcoming Sunday, properly labeled. THANK YOU!
FOOD PANTRY NEWS
The Food Pantry is in need of: JUICE, PEANUT BUTTER, JELLY, KETCHUP, CEREAL, CANNED PASTAS, PAPER TOWELS.
Thank you, Gloria & Nancy
Red Cross Platelet Drive
PUMC is partnering with the Red Cross to bring a Mobile Apheresis Program to the Fellowship Hall on a monthly basis. Platelet donations are in high demand as they only have a lifespan of 5 days. If you are a regular blood donor, you can continue to donate whole blood and, in between your 56 days, donate Platelet Apheresis.
Our next drive will be on March 26th. To make an appointment you can contact our Red Cross coordinator, Sue, directly at 636-4407. If you would like more information on platelet donation, please feel free to contact the office for additional brochures. Please make your appointment soon! Every person makes a difference!
Parade of Palms and Gifts
Lent has begun and Palm Sunday is March 25th. Of course, the Christian faith celebrates Palm Sunday as the beginning of Holy Week-the week of intense passion. On this day of worship, palms will be waved and displayed to remind all of us of the journey that arrived in Jerusalem with great fanfare. As post-New Testament people, we know the account, the participants, and the results. Today we are called to follow Jesus in the servant role he revealed on the first Palm Sunday. Our servant role calls us to remember His sacrifice as we determine what we are able to sacrificially give to help and assist others.
At our worship service you will be invited to bring an envelope with your sacrificial offering of money to be left at the altar. The total of these gifts will complete the remaining half of our 2018 Mission Budget at Prospect. Holy Week is all about “passion” - the deepest feelings God chose to share with all of us. May the depth of our care for others demonstrate our passion for God’s people.
EASTER LILY SIGN-UP
An Easter Lily Sign-up sheet will be available to you beginning March 4th located on the table in the Gathering Area. Lilies are $10 each. The last chance to sign-up will be Sunday, March 25th! You may call to place your order with Dani in the church office at 243-7300.
Worship News
MUSIC NEWS
We are down two players in the handbell choir so if anyone has experience playing any kind of musical instrument, you should join us! Handbells are not difficult to learn and it is a short term commitment because we only play for about a month each semester.
Contact Kirsten Jones at 309-361-5200 if you are interested in playing. High school students welcome as well! And the yearly cantata will take place on Palm Sunday, March 25. Invite your neighbors and extended family to come see a musical production!
Our kids aren’t (or shouldn’t be) the only ones still in school. As a church that wants to help you grow deep in Jesus so that we can reach wide for Jesus, we believe that Bible study and small groups are essential for our individual and corporate lives. You can join at any time, there is always room for you!
KYLE SMALL GROUP at PUMC, 6:00PM every other Monday, open invitation, CO-ED
*March 12th and March 26th
CAMILLA SMALL GROUP, Wednesday evenings @ 7:00 PM - Camilla’s house, women's group
*March 7, 14, 21 and 28
ADULT GROUP 10:15(-ish) Sunday mornings - Conference room, open invitation
LENT BIBLE STUDIES: Christ and Coffee
Tuesday mornings from 8:30-9:30
Wednesday evenings from 6:00-7:00 (more details below)
(Feel free to contact the church if you're interested in starting/hosting a group at another time and/or location.)
LENTEN BIBLE STUDIES
Join Pastor Steve on Tuesday mornings from 8:30-9:30 for Breakfast with Jesus!
It’s not too late to join! We'll continue to meet each Tuesday in Lent (March 6, 13, 20 and 27) for a journey through the Book of Ephesians. A 2nd helping of Coffee with Christ is offered on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-7:00.
Scroll down to Congregational Care for more details!
METHODIST MEN
The United Methodist Men will gather again on Monday, March 5th at 6:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. A light meal will be served.
Thanks to Jerry C. And Al S. for a good meal. Thank you to Al Cornish for telling us about habitat.
Come join us for a light meal and another speaker telling about what they do.
All are welcome-young and old!!! Enjoy the good food & company! If there are questions, let Perry Camp know @ 309-678-5767 or pcamp1960@yahoo.com.
MARY MARTHA
Next Meeting: Monday, March 26th.
We chose the name Mary-Martha after we remembered the story in Luke 10: 38-42. Some of us in the group feel we’re like Martha moving from task to task. But we aim to be like Mary too, able to be still and learn from Jesus.
We give to Crittenten, Lessie Bates Neighborhood House East St. Louis, Cunningham Children's home, Silent Auction, Chaddock Christmas Child, 100% of our funds are given to mission.
Join us on Thursday, March 15th at 3:30 PM. We will be rolling bandages for Global Health Ministries!
PROSPECT BOOK DISCUSSIONS
Everyone is welcome to join us as we talk about the PUMC book of the month. You don’t have to say anything if you’d rather not. You don’t even have to read the book!
Our next meeting will be Thursday, March 22, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. We will discuss the 2018 Peoria Reads Book, Station Eleven, a novel by Emily St. John Mandel.
Questions? Suggestions for books to discuss? Contact Nancy Varness at 274-8124 or
Breakfast with the Bible
Join Pastor Steve on Tuesday mornings during lent from 8:30 AM- 9:30 AM (starts 2/20/18) for a light breakfast and bible study on Ephesians. Mary Pietreniak will be the chef so no worries about liking the food or not :) Each week we will gather in the fellowship hall, watch a 10-15 minute video featuring Pastor JD Greear while breaking bread, and then dig into an in-depth group study of that week's scripture reading from Ephesians.
This is not just another bible study but a true invitation to break bread with others whom you might not see each Sunday morning. I've been reading the book "Dinner church" by Verlon Fosner and the importance of mealtime and the act of breaking bread being so much more than just a normal act of day to day life.
" A meal that is served as a Christian expression is different from a group of people eating together.When studying through church history, the closer we get to the first church, the more we find the idea that having a meal with Christian purpose was to have a meal with Christ." It goes on to state "the power of a Christ meal to open up a portal between heaven and earth is immense and important for us to meditate on. In the light of the rich history of God showing up at mealtime, we have the ability to actually create a Great Commission environment that brings Savior and sinners to the same table to share life together."
Please join us and feel free to invite others to participate in this typically overlooked daily act and blessing. Invites to purple panda parents/grandparents as well as food pantry patrons will be distributed.
Easter breakfast
Speaking of sharing a meal with others, the annual Easter breakfast will take place on Easter morning as in years past except this year we will have breakfast available for a longer period of time. Breakfast is scheduled to be from 8:30 AM-9:45 AM in the fellowship hall. This is no joke despite Easter falling on April 1st!
Next congregational care meeting is scheduled for 5/6/17 @ 10:15 am in preparation for graduation brunch. Tentative date for DHS graduation brunch will be Friday May 11,2018.
As always if you have any questions, concerns, or needs please let Camilla or Mary Pietreniak know. Have a wonderful March with much excitement that Spring is right around the corner!
Youth News
FUEL News
Thanks and God Bless! Evan Penn
YOUTH SCHEDULE
March 4th - 6:00-8:45pm FUEL Combined Jr/Sr High
March 10th - Loaves and Fish
March 11th - 6:00pm - WyldLife, 7:45-9:45pm Senior High
March 18th - 6:00pm - WyldLife, 7:45-9:45pm Senior High
March 25th - 6:00-8:45pm FUEL Combined Jr/Sr High
CONFIRMATION REATREAT
Loaves and Fish
Looking for a way to serve others this weekend?!
Join us on Saturday, March 10th from 9:30-1:30 @ Peoria First UMC!
Loaves and Fish is a weekly feeding ministry providing a free hot meal, food pantry, worship service, educational assistance, clothing room and medical clinic to those in need each Saturday. Begun in 1994, Loaves & Fish serves from 250 - 375 guests weekly.
This is a great ministry to involve your entire family! We would also love to see our youth involved! Let Evan, Pastor Steve or Dani know if you would like to come along.
Saturday, Mar 10, 2018, 09:30 AM
First United Methodist Church, 116 Northeast Perry Avenue, Peoria, IL, USA
Youth Bible Study
Sunday Mornings
9:45-10:45am
Confirmation Classes
Confirmation Sunday
Children's Ministry NEWS
Happy March! There are lots of exciting things happening for our children at Prospect. On March 11, the Children’s Choir will be singing during the 9:00 service. Miss Pam and Miss Amy would love to have all kids join them to practice on Sunday morning following the sermon and join them in singing on March 11. We will celebrate Palm Sunday in March 25 with the Parade of Palms. The kids will be waving palms while marching into the sanctuary during the Chancel Choir cantata. Then on Easter Sunday, we will celebrate with our annual Easter Egg Hunt at 9:15 a.m. All are welcome and invited!!! And don’t forget our Kingdom Quest Sunday School classes at 10:15 following the service on Sunday mornings.
If you have any comments, questions, concerns, or good ideas you would like to share, please contact Pat Campbell at 309-253-3979 or by email at mpcr4@yahoo.com.
Walk through Holy Week
THE LIGHTS KIDS CONFERENCE
The Light Kids Conference – Washington Crossroads UMC
March 3 @ 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
The Light Kids Conference is a one day event designed for children in grades 1-5. The purpose of the Light Kids Conference is to get kids excited about the faith and the walk with Jesus.
Entertainment: Juggling Jeff | Music: Harvest Band
Stay tuned for more details! Click the link below to learn more!
Purple Panda Preschool & After Care
Purple Panda Preschool is excited about spring! Our preschool students will spend March studying Dr. Seuss books and doing crafts and activities that go along with some of his most famous books, and theme days including a pajama day celebrating Wacky Wednesday! Registration is currently underway for the 2018-19 school year, we still have some openings for three year olds in our 2 day (Th-Fri) program (child must be potty trained). Pre-K is completely full but we will potentially be adding a four day afternoon Pre-K class if there is enough interest. I am currently taking names for our waiting list for Pre-K and for 3 day three year olds.
Prospect After School Care students are enjoying the recent warm weather with lots of outdoor play time! The children continue to enjoy movies on Fridays, playing the Nintendo and Wii U, arts and crafts, board games, building toys and designated study time. Formal registration for the upcoming school year will begin in early May.
Please contact me through Dani in the Church Office at 243-7300 or e-mail me at pollard724@comcast.net if you have any questions or you would like a tour or if you are interested in enrolling a child in preschool.
Nikki Pollard—Director, Purple Panda Preschool & Prospect After School Care
Monthly Wrap-Up
THANK YOU'S
Thank you so much for all the prayers, cards, notes, emails, texts, and offers of support and help in these weeks since my unexpected surgery. Knowing others care is one of the best kinds of medicine. -Nancy Varness
March Birthdays
SPRING FORWARD!!!
Sunday,March 11th--Daylight Savings Time Begins
DONT FORGET TO CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS ON MARCH 10th!!!!
Right Now Ministry (online small group and devotional resources)
Prospect subscribes to the RightNowMinistry (“the Netflix of Christian Bible study”) resource, which provides all of our members with access to 1000’s of video led curriculums including offerings specifically geared towards books of the Bible, Parenting, Marriage, Single Living, Men, Women, Teens, Children, Leadership and Finances from a Christian perspective, and more.
Contact Pastor Steve if you do not have access to the rightnowmedia.org site (or have forgotten your log-in).
BIBLE ONE YEAR READING PLAN
Click the link below to download the 52-week Bible reading plan!
Prospect UMC
Email: dani.pumc@gmail.com
Website: www.pumcdunlap.org
Location: 300 E Ash St, Dunlap, IL, United States
Phone: 3092437300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DunlapProspectUMC/