The Bethany Beacon
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From Pastor’s Pen… God is Good all the Time! The other day, during the 2009 busy Christmas season, I made a phone call to my cell phone company in order to deal with a questionable bill. A representative, whose name happened to be the same as my younger daughter, Hannah, picked up my call, and asked the usual question, “What can I do for you today?” I knew it was just a formal way of dealing with lots of customers’ complaints! I knew that she did not expect anything different from me. However, I felt some connection with her in a mysterious way. Instead of attacking her with the problem, first I greeted her saying, “It is a beautiful day! Merry Christmas to you! How are you doing?” It seemed to me that she was surprised by my unusual greeting. She said to me, “Merry Christmas to you, too! Thanks for asking me that! I am fine! How are you?” Our conversation continued while she was dealing with the problem. As our conversation went deeper, I felt the Spirit of God was at work in our conversation. After discovering that I am a pastor, she shared that her father used to be a pastor for a small church and that she has been sensing God’s calling to the ministry. She has been hesitating to answer the calling because of her bad experiences in the church and the way the church treated her father and family. According to her, her father retired from the ministry due to heart problems. Since she used to be a PK (pastor’s kid), she knew what pastors go through. With deep compassion and curiosity, she asked me how pastors could do their ministry without going insane. Of course, I did not have time to answer her question. I felt sorry because I had to end the phone call without answering her question! After hanging up, there emerged lots of thoughts from deep in my heart, which I wish I could have shared with her and her question lingered in my head for days – “How could pastors do ministry without going insane?” If I could have a chance to talk with her again, I would answer her question by saying that it is because of faith in the goodness of God who never leaves me alone and abandons me. Most importantly, it is because of the unforgettable, inexplicable, incomparable, and ineffable taste of what God gives me from time to time in a mysterious way through people like her. It is the joy, peace, love, hope, contentment, and freedom that those who are unaware of God’s presence, and have not lived for God, others, and God’s kingdom will never taste. Once you taste them, nothing on earth will replace them! I certainly don’t want to give up these godly blessings due to what is happening around me and to me. In this Lenten season, I pray that all of you, the people of Bethany UMC, may taste the presence of God and what only God can give you, so that all of you may continue to make a joyful commitment to the church and the kingdom of God in the midst of seemly unfair and harsh life situations. Thank you for being my spiritual companions in Christ! Your spiritual companion, Kwang Sung Lim Please Pray For… …those living in retirement settings: Donna Baehne, Inge Eggert, Romayne Lau, Dories Neis, Joyce Usher, and Laverne Volbrecht. …those who are ill, recovering, or confined to their homes: Alice Beine, Diane Callfas, Prio Dutt, Marge Evensen, Vicki Gilmore, Chuck Hodgin, Merle and Loretta Huenink (Katie Debus’ parents), Audrey Mensching, Doris Moore, Martin Vaagen, and Lynda Wade. In Sympathy We give our heartfelt condolences to the family of Sharon Thomsen who passed away on Saturday, February 6th. May God comfort the broken hearts and minds of her family and give our sister in Christ, Sharon Thomson, everlasting rest in his arms. March is Itasca Food Pantry Month Twice a year the members of Bethany are responsible for serving at the Itasca Food Pantry. We need lots of hands to help those in need during these difficult economic times. The first Saturday in March is also the Small Group Institute, which will be held at Bethany. This means several of our volunteers will be attending this class and we’ll need someone to take their places on March 6th. Plan to arrive around 8:30 a.m. to help get everything organized before the clients arrive. We need someone to check the clients in; people to help stock the shelves; and a few people to help hand out meat, produce, and other perishables. The work is not hard and the rewards are great! Voices in the Wind Join us in the Sanctuary at 7:00 p.m. each Tuesday (unless otherwise noted). The music is simple and easy to learn. You don’t have to read music or be a great singer to participate. We are currently rehearsing music for Lent and Easter and could use a few more voices. Memorial Day Parade Once again Bethany will have an entry in the Itasca Memorial Day Parade. If you are willing to act as the coordinator or are able to offer assistance of any kind, please get in touch with Don Claypool or Debbie Lipski. We need your fresh ideas and helping hands. Anyone wanting to march in the parade should let Don or Debbie know as soon as possible. Children can ride bikes or scooters. Itasca Food Pantry Please remember that the 1st Sunday each month is Food Pantry Sunday. Bring your non-perishable food and place it in front of the lectern in the sanctuary on March 7th and April 4th. Bea Dreyer will make sure that your donations get to the Itasca Food Pantry.
2010 Mission Trip to Mark your calendars for Monday, July 5th - Saturday, July 10th. On Monday, March 29th, Pastor Sung and Loretta Lim will walk 26 miles at Lake Geneva to raise funds for the 2010 Mission Trip. There are at least three ways in which you can participate in this event. First, you can pray for it. Secondly, you can walk together. Third, you can donate one dollar per mile (it means total of $26 for 26 miles). If you want to participate in this event, contact Pastor Sung. The signup sheet for pledges can be found in the Narthex. United Methodist Men’s Breakfast The United Methodist Men meet for breakfast at Bentley’s in Wood Dale on Saturday, March 6th and April 3rd at 8:00 a.m. You can contact John Fridlund for additional information. Small Group Institute The sessions will continue to be held at Bethany on Saturdays, from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. There are five sessions remaining. The next one will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2010 so mark your calendars and don’t miss it! The cost is $10 per session. This includes all the materials and lunch. To register for the Institute, or for more information, contact Natarsha Gardner at the Northern Illinois Conference’s Program Office, or by e-mail: ngardner@umcnic.org. It’s not too late to participate. Each session focuses on one subject. You can sign up for any number of sessions and pay as you go. See Pastor Sung if you have questions or need additional information. Small Group Institute Schedule Session 2: 03/06/10 @ Bethany UMC “Spiritual Formation and Small Groups” led by Jerry Haas, Dir. of the Academy for Spiritual Formation - Upper Room, Nashville
Session 3:
03/20/10 @ Sycamore UMC “The Role of Small Group Leaders” led by Jean Bush, Dir. of Leadership & Program Dev, Northern Illinois Conference
Session 4:
04/24/10 @ Sycamore UMC “Ways to Work Together in Small Groups” led by the Kaleidoscope Institute
Session 5:
07/17/10 @ Sycamore UMC “The Nuts and Bolts of Small Group Ministry” Starting a new group, keeping the group alive and growing, how much communication is enough? Building trust among group members” led by staff of Resurrection UMC, Oletha, KS Session 6: 09/11/10 @ Sycamore UMC only. “Going Beyond Our Small Group to the Community and the World” Following the training, there will be a graduation and celebration luncheon. Confirmation Class Schedule The confirmation classes for March and April will meet at 9:30 a.m. in the Fireside Room on the following Sundays: March 14th & March 28th and April 11th & 18th. Bible Study Bible study is held at noon in the Fellowship Hall. Please join this enlightening group. Shirley Ketter leads the class and shares her knowledge and insites. Communion Scheduled Join us for Communion on Sunday, March 7th, Maundy Thursday, April 1st, Good Friday, April 2nd, and Easter Sunday, April 4th. If you would like Pastor Sung to bring Holy Communion to you at home, please call the church office. Beacon Articles Due Please make sure to get your articles for the May/June Beacon to Myrtle Klauer, in writing by Sunday, April 18th or e-mail the article to: mklauer@nursinghome.org. Vacation Bible School Mark your 2010 calendar for Vacation Bible School at Bethany. The dates will be June 14th to 18th. The theme will be Galactic Blast so don’t miss the blast off! We are looking for helpers and teachers to help develop the theme and share it with the youth in Itasca. Please let Pastor Sung know as soon as possible, if you will be able to help. Family Game Night Join us for an evening of fun and games on Friday, March 5th at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Bring your favorite board game or game of cards. We’ll select some to play during the evening and have a great time. There will NOT be a Game Night in April due to Good Friday. We will view a movie and have Holy Communion together as we prepare for Easter Sunday. Important Information
Church Office Phone:
Web site:
Office Hours: Pastor’s Blog: limksl.blogspot.com
Church Council The meeting of the Church Council will take place on Monday, April 12th @ 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. All are invited to attend these meetings to help shape the future of our congregation. Although the Illinois legislature said that communities would have the option of banning video poker within their boundaries, there has been an about face as more and more communities opted out. Now the House of Representatives has introduced two bills to force these communities into accepting video gambling. House Bill 5438 changes the rules by saying that the areas not accepting video gambling will not get capitol funding for bridges and roads. HB 5313 imposes a surcharge on the communities that ban video gambling! Senate Bill 2816 also places a surcharge on communities not accepting video gambling. These are our legislators, but not listening to their constituents. Please contact your legisla-tors and let them know we DO NOT want video gambling or the surcharges that are proposed. Most members of Bethany are represented by the following: Dennis Rebolette: Carole Pankow: Lenten Special Services Palm Sunday Service will be held on March 28th at 10:30 a.m. The children will enter the church with palms and shouts of Hosanna! Maundy Thursday Service will be held on April 1st, at 7:00 p.m., with a Seder Meal (Passover Dinner) following in the Fellowship Hall Good Friday, April 2nd, at 6:30 p.m. In place of Game Night, we will view the 2008 movie, Gran Torino, and discuss its meaning and have communion together. Easter Schedule: A simple continental breakfast will be served beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. A free will donation benefitting Vacation Bible School will be collected. At 10:30 a.m. we will enter the sanctuary for Easter Sunday Worship with Communion. Daylight Savings Time Begins On Saturday, March 13th, remember to set your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed or you’ll be late for worship on Sunday, March 14th!! Youth Activity All Bethany youth are invited to participate in an Inter-Religious Field Trip to the Bahia Temple in Wilmette and a University Tour to North Western University in Evanston on April 24th at 3:00 pm. Everyone is welcome! We hope you’ll plan on attending. Eight-Week Spring Small Groups will start on April 8th through May 27th Title: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality The eight-week study of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality will take you to a life with God that goes beyond the "tip of the iceberg spirituality." During the eight-weeks you will study: Week 1: The Problem with Emotionally Unhealthy Spirituality Week 2: Know Yourself that You May Know God Week 3: Going Back in Order to Go Forward Week 4: Journey Through the Wall Week 5: Enlarge Your Soul Through Grief and Loss Week 6: Discover the Rhythm of the Daily Office and Sabbath Week 7: Grow into an Emotionally Mature Adult Week 8: Go the Next Step to Develop a "Rule of Life" Contact Pastor Sung if you want to host one of the eight week small group meetings at your home.
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