The Chimes - Sterling Wesley United Methodist Church · 2019-01-21 · Chimes The Make a joyful noise unto the Lord Our congregation does a profoundly counter-cultural act each Sunday.

Chimes The

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord

Our congregation does a

profoundly counter-cultural act each

Sunday. We sing.

People don’t typically sing

anymore. We plug headphones into

their ears while we’re at work, or

out for a walk, or while we lie on

the beach, or commune with nature.

We might be listening to Mozart

or Metallica. Or I suppose, we could

be learning astronomy or calculus

from one of the Great Courses.

Sometimes our lips move but no

sounds come out.

People used to sing. They weren’t

ashamed of singing out loud. They

gathered around a piano in

someone’s living room. Even if the

piano player mangled the melodies,

they sang along. They brought

guitars and sang around campfires –

at home and at camp.

I love to sing and to enjoy the

rhythm and rests and harmony. But

even if I could do nothing but join in

the main melody, I would delight in

the sheer joy of singing.

Research suggests that singing

together also has physiological

effects. Singing the phrases is a

form of guided breathing. You

exhale on the phrases and breathe in

between the phrases. When you

exhale, the heart slows down.

Research seems to indicate that

singers' heart rates fall into a shared

rhythm influenced by the tempo of

the song.

We know already that breathing

affects heart rates. Yoga and

meditation both focus on breathing

patterns. Singers must match their

breathing to the demands of the

music. So it stands to reason that

their heart rates would be affected.

Perhaps that’s why ancient monks

felt uplifted while singing psalms in

the darkness before dawn. So when

a congregation rises to its feet to belt

out a rousing hymn, or repeats a

prayer in unison, we can discover a

sense of unity. Not just with our

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH NOVEMBER 2016

Church Events Nov. 5 - Parents' Night Out - 6-9 p.m.

Nov. 8 - Membership Care Team

meeting - 9:30 a.m.

Nov. 17 - Administrative Council

meeting - 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 10 - Greeting card ministry -

9:30 a.m.

Nov. 24 - Thanksgiving Day -

OFFICE CLOSED

Mondays, Wednesdays, Friday -

Wesley Women Walking - 8/8:30 a.m.

Mondays - Disciple Bible studies - 9

a.m. and 7 p.m.

Wednesdays - Choir rehearsal - 6

p.m.

Wednesdays - Handbell choir

rehearsal - 6 p.m.

Saturdays - Men's Bible study - 8

a.m.

Sundays - Intro. to United Methodism

- 3 p.m.

Sundays - Confirmation for Adults -

6:30 p.m.

Cont'd on Page 3

Parents' Night Out Wesley wants to give

parents a date night.

We will provide child

care from 6-9 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 5, in the

fellowship hall. Infants

through fifth-graders are

invited. Older siblings are

invited, if they want to be

helpers.

Children may wear their

pajamas and may bring a

sleeping bag or blanket.

Please give them dinner

beforehand, as only a light

snack will be provided.

We hope this will be a

quiet evening, with a

storyteller, craft, games,

and movie.

Please sign up on the

posterboard in the

fellowship hall or call

Janay Dalton at 815-677-

4671 or Gloria Grant at

815-625-3394.

We will lock the doors

at 6:15 p.m. You may

come back any time, but

please call Janay or Gloria

to let you in.

Thanksgiving offerings We are receiving donations to furnish

pumpkin pies for 1,000 Thanksgiving

baskets, given to needy families through

Sterling Township.

The pumpkin pies cost $2 apiece, so out

goal is to collect $2,000.

A Thanksgiving dinner is not complete

without dessert. Please give generously!

Also, our Thanksgiving offering will go

to the FISH Food Pantry.

The pantry served more than 2,300

families, or 7,000 people, in 2015. The

pantry gets most of its groceries from the

Sauk Valley Food Bank, where many items

are only 18 cents a pound or less than

grocery store prices.

Wesley has been a significant contributor

to the food pantry, and we are thankful for

this support. It takes a community to

support a food pantry, and Wesley is a part

of that community.

Thank you,

Beth Mathew

Thank You Thank you for all of the prayers, cards, and food following the

loss of my father.

Jamie Schwingle

Thank you for all of the cards and well-wishes I received after

my foot surgery. They were very much appreciated.

Sue Klock

To our precious Wesley family,

Our somewhat abrupt transition from caretaking to loving my

father well in his final earthly days was padded heavily with your

love, prayers, cards, notes, and presence in many unique and

caring ways. My family and I gratefully appreciate each and

every effort made on our behalf; your loving gestures carried

tired spirits through long days, offering hope and kindness that

will be forever remembered.

Hebrews 6:10-12: "For God is not unjust. He will not forget how

hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love

to him by caring for other believers, as you still do."

Thank you,

Nancy Pitsch

Jean and I would like to thank everyone for their prayers, cards,

visits, food, and gifts while I was in the hospital. A special thank

you to Pastor Wes, Sharon Siex, Gloria Grant, Rosemary Davis,

and everyone who furnished rides for Jean to come to the hospital

and back,

Joan Partridge

Proverbs 22:17

“A merry heart does

good like medicine”

Happy

Thanksgiving!

The office will be

closed Nov. 24,

so our staff may

celebrate with

their families.

Help haul out the holly It's that time of

year again! We will

meet at 9:30 a.m.

Friday, Nov. 18, to

get out the church

Christmas

decorations and

spruce them up.

Then, we'll meet

again after worship Sunday, Nov. 20, to hang wreaths, put

up trees, and set up the nativity. All are welcome!

Singing makes us one minds, but also with our bodies.

Merely listening to a sermon doesn’t evoke a common

response. Some will respond favorably to an idea; others

won’t. But singing, by its nature, encourages a common

response both mentally and physiologically. It’s not

WHAT people sing; it’s THAT they sing.

So “make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence

with singing.” (Psalm 100:1-2). For singing makes us

One.

Blessings,

Pastor Wesley

Upcoming worship

Cont'd from Page 1

Nov. 6-20: “Our Vow”

This is a season in which we are called to consider the ways

in which we are connected to our church. From All Saints to

Thanksgiving, we are specifically called to participate in an

examination of our commitment to God through our local

church. Be sure to connect with us this exciting month of

celebrations.

Nov. 6: “Prayers & Presence” based on James 5:7-16

(This also is a celebration of All Saints and the recep-

tion of new members.)

Nov. 13: “Gifts” based on Matthew 6:19-21, 24

Nov. 20: “Service & Witness” based on Mark 1:29-38

Nov. 27-Dec. 25: “Christmas According to…”

Each of the four Gospels tell the story of Christmas: the

way in which God comes to us in the person of Jesus the

Christ. The way they tell that story is different for each one.

During the season of Advent and into Christmas, we will be

examining the story of Jesus’ birth from each of the Gospels,

and considering the history of the authors who were inspired

to share these details. Come celebrate the joy of God’s incar-

nation during this beautiful season of love, hope, peace, and

joy.

Nov. 27: “Mark” based on Mark 1:1

Dec. 4: “Matthew” based on Matthew 1:18-25

Dec. 11: “Luke, Pt.1” based on Luke 1:26-38

Dec. 18: “Luke, Pt.2” based on Luke 2:1-20

Dec. 24: “John” based on John 1:1-14 (Christmas Even

services at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.)

Dec. 25: “The Christ Mass” based on Matthew 2:1-12

Mission Corner Wesley has always been a mission-minded church.

The purpose of this space is to keep the congregation

informed of our various mission efforts.

We currently are receiving:

Donations of bedding, small appliances, and other

household items to support Trinity UMC and the

VA Clinic/Valor Program, as they work to find

homes for local veterans. A list of needed items is

on the table in the fellowship hall.

Dish soap for the Trinity Pantry, Rock Falls UMC

Personal Care Pantry, and the FISH Food Pantry.

Travel-sized toiletries for the Trinity and FISH

pantries.

Items may be placed in the baskets and boxes on the

missions table outside the sanctuary.

Also, loose coins this month will support the FISH

Food Pantry.

Thank you for your generosity!

Save the Date

Sunday, Dec. 11

Caroling after the 10 a.m. service,

with lunch at Angelo's afterward

Servers for October - 8 a.m. Greeters Ushers Liturgist

Nov. 6 Marc and Cindy Melton Tracy DuRall, Roger Wait Seth Faber

Nov. 13 Marc and Cindy Melton Tracy DuRall, Roger Wait Sue Klock

Nov. 20 Juanita Nerstheimer, Amy Poci Tracy DuRall, Nancy Pitsch Katie Wetzell

Nov. 27 Juanita Nerstheimer, Amy Poci Tracy DuRall, Nancy Pitsch Katie Wetzell

Servers for October - 10 a.m. Greeters Ushers Liturgist

Nov. 6 JoAnn Lyon, Beth Mathew Warren Heuck, Kris Noble, Holly Vrhel

Elliot Noble, Janne Severson

Nov. 13 Andrea Mallhi, Bowen Mallhi Jean Moe

Nov. 20 Jeff and Jan Davey Carolyn Heuck

Nov. 27 Greenfield family Nick Ceruzzi

Coffee

Hosts Nov. 6 Fitzanko family

Nov. 13 Pitsch and

Wendelken families

Nov. 20 Carol Shaw,

Sally Unterzuber

Nov. 27 Michael Hen-

rekin, Katie Spangler

Acolytes

10 a.m. November Haley Ce-

ruzzi, Amber

Greenfield

December Jack Graves,

Elliot Noble

Birthdays Nov. 1 - Alyssa Cedro

Nov. 3 - Walter Lindsley

Nov. 8 - Marc Melton

Nov. 10 - Lyle Reed, Gloria

Rodriguez, Grace Wetzell

Nov. 11 - James Fitzanko,

Bill Parker

Nov. 13 - Jan Glover, James

Morris

Nov. 14 - Logan Ayala

Nov. 15 - Jamie Schwingle

Nov. 18 - Edd Rosser

Nov. 22 - Jean Partridge

Nov. 23 - Bill Abate,

Rosemary Davis

Nov. 25 - Mary Spitzer

Anniversaries Nov. 4 - Tim and Jamie

Schwingle

Nov. 11 - Steve and Kay

Bierman

Nov. 20 - Curt and Jaime

Greenfield

Nov. 22 - Bill and Sue Abate

Nov. 30 - John and Linda

Larson

Wesley United Methodist Church

2200 16th Ave.

Sterling, IL 61081

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Wesley United Methodist Church

Phone: (815) 625-1968

Website: www.sterlingwesley.org

Email: [email protected] Open Heart, Open Minds, Open Doors

[email protected] You are invited to join us for worship Sundays

at 8 and 10 a.m. with Sunday School

and fellowship at 9 a.m.

Flying south for the winter?

Please let the office know your departure date and

any address changes, so you continue to receive

mail from the church.