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The Bethany Beacon
January / February
From Pastor’s Pen…
Welcome 2012 with a
thankful heart for each other and our God!
I would like to
thank the United Methodist Women for their surprising and generous
Christmas gift. I
received your gift when I was thinking of canceling my annual Advent
prayer retreat at the Wesley Woods Conference Center in Williams
Bay, WI, due to my financial struggles. However, because of your
gift, I was able to have this precious time with God, myself, and
God’s beautiful nature.
I would like to
give my thanks to Louis and Barbara Vorgias for their Christmas gift
as well. During this holiday season, there are so many people who
cannot celebrate the birth of Jesus due to their difficult life
situations. Among them, there are homeless people living on the cold
streets of the city.
For the last four
years, the people of Glenbrook Korean UMC have been serving our
brothers and sisters on the streets with food, music, clothes,
cookies, and Christmas presents on Christmas Eve. Last year, Paul
Shanyfelt collected winter clothes and donated them to Glenbrook
Korean UMC and the Salvation Army.
This year, I
decided to make a donation in order to help them buy the frozen
vegetables for 130 meals, but I was wondered how I could make the
money. Our generous Bethany Church members have already been
involved in lots of Christmas programs and events, which help people
in need, so I was thinking of not helping the Christmas Eve Event at
Humboldt Park Homeless Center this year. However, God surprised me
again by sending me the right amount of money through the beautiful
hearts and minds of the Vorgias family.
I also give my
thanks to all of our church families and friends who have donated
their monetary contributions to the church for its mission. Due to
your generous financial support, Bethany has kept its door open in
2011. Even though I cannot name all of them in this letter, I
believe that God remembers all of you and your love for the church.
I am not sure what will happen to us in the future, but I am sure
that our God will continue to take care of our church in the coming
year, 2012.
At most, I give my
heartfelt gratitude to our loving God for having been with us
through good and bad times in 2011. People have come and gone
according to their own needs and reasons, but God has never left us
and God’s everlasting goodness has never forsaken us! What else do
we need in order to be happy and thankful, if we truly know and
believe that God was with us in the past, God is with us in the
present, and God will be with us in the future? Do you believe in
God, the Immanuel?
In the coming year, 2012, and also in the years to come, I pray that you may keep your faith in
God and God’s goodness and focus on the reasons why God has called
you to be a church here in Itasca!
Happy New Year to
you all!
Your spiritual companion,
Pastor Kwang Sung Lim
Please Pray For…
...
those living in retirement settings: Inge Eggert, Romayne Lau,
Dories Neis, Elaine Teller, Joyce Usher, Martin Vaagen, and LaVerne
Volbrecht.
...
those who are ill, recovering, or confined to their homes: Donna
Baehne, Alice Beine,
Diane Callfas, David Cammarata (brother of Phil Cammarata), Elsie
Doering, Marge Evensen, Betty Fridlund (John Fridlund’s sister),
Lauretta Huenink (Katie Debus’ mother), Audrey Mensching, Doris
Moore, Linda Modrich Moore, and Ray Nolte.
Itasca Food Pantry
Thank you to everyone who purchased gifts for those who use
the Itasca Food Pantry. The two Saturdays when we distributed the
gifts were busy and happy occasions. There were many tears of joy as
moms and dads saw their children’s Christmas wishes come true. SO
many of them wanted to extend their gratitude and thanks for all you
have done for them all year long.
Don’t forget that the
1st Sunday each month is Food Pantry Sunday. The
number of families being served at the pantry continues to grow each
week. The following is a list of non-perishable items we desperately
need:
¨
Paper towels
¨
Toilet tissue
¨
Facial tissues
¨
Cleaning products
¨
Personal care items
¨
Women’s hygiene
products
¨
Incontinence
products
¨
Regular coffee
¨
Dry/canned dog and
cat food
¨
Cat litter
¨
Over-the-counter
medications, e.g., cold, flu, cough, aspirin, ibuprofen, Tylenol,
etc.
¨
Canned tuna
¨
Regular rice
Bring your non-perishable items and place these in front of
the lectern in the Sanctuary. Myrtle or Bea will make sure your
donations get to the pantry. If you forget your items, please bring
them whenever you can and let Myrtle or Bea know so they can get the
items to the pantry. The Itasca Food Pantry is now serving more than
80 families.
Anyone who would like to make a monetary donation can write a
check and give it to Bea Dreyer. Please make your check payable to
the: Itasca Food Pantry.
Any amount is greatly appreciated.
Itasca Walk-In Ministry
Bethany is also a part of the Itasca Walk-In Ministry (IWIM).
The IWIM shares the building with the Itasca Food Pantry and is open
twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00
a.m.
The IWIM serves individuals and families in need of help with
the following:
·
Rent/Mortgage;
·
Utilities;
·
Car repairs;
·
Gas; and
·
A host of other services.
Volunteers are always needed and financial
contributions are also welcome. Due to the poor economy, both the
Itasca Walk-In Ministry and Food Pantry are hurting financially. Any
donation is appreciated and every dollar goes to helping those in
need.
There are no paid employees for either the Itasca
Walk-In Ministry or the Food Pantry. Both are run by caring
volunteers from the community.
United Methodist Men’s Breakfasts
The United Methodist Men will continue meeting for breakfast
at Davi’s Restaurant, 609
W. Irving Park Rd., in Roselle across from the train station on
Saturday, January 7th
and February 4th
at 8:00 a.m. You can contact John Fridlund for additional
information.
Communion Sundays
Communion will be served on
January 1st and
February 5th.
United Methodist Women
The UMW meets the third Tuesday of each month.
·
Tuesday, January 17th
@ Noon ~ This will be a planning meeting for the year. Remember to
bring your “white elephant” so we can have a silent auction. Bring a
sack lunch. Beverages and dessert will be furnished.
·
Tuesday, February
21st – This is the day before Lent begins. We will have a
group Bible study to prepare our hearts for Lent and Easter. Bring a
sack lunch. Beverages and dessert will be furnished.
Please mark your calendars so you don’t miss an event you’re
interested in attending.
Thank You
Alice Beine extends her thanks to everyone for the cards,
prayers, visits, and calls she received following her hip
replacement surgery and subsequent recuperation.
The UMW thanks everyone who brought items for Marcy-Newberry,
which will be used for Christmas gifts and throughout the year.
Thanks to Conrad and Bea Dreyer for delivering the items to the
association.
Thanks to everyone who took part in Bethany’s Annual Young
Christian’s Christmas Program. The cast did a wonderful job! Our
thanks to all the parents for your support and making sure everyone
learned their lines and were at the church for all the rehearsals.
Upper Room Available
The January/February devotional booklets,
The Upper Room, are
available in the Narthex at the rear of the church. Please stop and
pick one up on your way downstairs.
Pick Up Your 2012 Offering Envelopes
If you haven’t picked up your 2012 offering envelopes, please
do it as soon as possible. These envelopes can be found in the
narthex and are in alphabetical order. If you see a box addressed to
a neighbor, please take it and deliver it to your neighbor. This is
an excellent opportunity for a short visit. This also saves Bethany
mailing costs.
Fellowship Hour Hosts Needed
As this New Year
begins, we are in need of individuals to provide refreshments for
Fellowship Hour following Worship. A signup sheet will be available
on the refreshment table. Keep the refreshments simple and consider
sharing the responsibility with another family/individual. Consider
being a host for this important part of Bethany’s outreach and
fellowship.
Church Council
The Administrative Council will take place on
Monday, January 9th @ 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
All members are welcome to take part in this important
meeting about Bethany Church.
Missions Brunch
Thanks to everyone who brought things for the Annual Missions
Brunch The free-will offering raised $350 for the Itasca Food Pantry
and Walk-In Ministry.
Fifth Sunday Pot Luck
Our fifth Sunday
Pot Luck Lunch will take place on Sunday, January 29th
following worship. Please bring a dish to share. Beverages and place
settings will be furnished. There will be warming ovens and
refrigeration available in the Fellowship Hall.
January Birthdays
January 1st –
James Vicicondi
January 6th -
Denise Larsen
January 10th
– Brian Stinton
Rebecca Shrader
January 11th -
Ron Burgos
January 12th
Kayla Thomsen
Caron Thomsen
January 16th
Kent Beine
January 18th
Julie Cooke
Elaina Asimor
January 19th
Phillip Cammarata
January 22nd
Michael Shrader
January 23rd
Jessica Lipski
January 26th
Megan Debus
Laurie Claypool
January 27th
Rich Teller
February Birthdays
February 1st
Judy Teller
February 6th
Conrad Dreyer
Patti Fridlund
February 7th
Lacy Smith
February 9th
Kristi Przybylla
February 11th Tom Fesser
February 12th Marge Modrich
February 13th
Carrie Pigott
February 14th
Robert Rompala
February 18th Tinley Smith
February 23rd
- Keith Beine
Paul Shanyfelt
February 25th
- Marty Pawlicki
Gary Larsen
February 27th
- Bea Dreyer
Valerie Fridlund
February Anniversaries
February 20th
Conrad and Bea Dreyer
Poinsettia Plants
Given in Memory of…
Our Parents: Louis
& Adeline Vorgias and Chester & Margaret Hopps From: Louis and
Barbara Vorgias, Jr.
Elizabeth Shanyfelt and Jack Shanyfelt, and Norma Brown From:
Paul Shanyfelt
John Fridlund, Jr.
From: John and C’Dale Fridlund
Howard & Virginia
Sounhein From: Linda and Christina Hall
Lyla Callfas, Ginger Callfas, Anna Heyn, and Tom Sinclair
From: Diane Callfas
Wesley Usher and
Hazel Hart From:
Brian Usher
Our Beloved Family
Members From: Eddy and Promila Lal
Given in Honor of…
Our Grandchildren: Carrie, Bonnie, & Brian Pigott From: Keith
and Alice Beine
Joyce Usher From: Brian Usher
My Grandchildren From: Myrtle Klauer
People of Bethany
From: Everett and Doris Clark
Our Family:
Nichole, Mike, Alexander, & Elaina and Louis, III, & Deanna From:
Louis and Barbara Vorgias, Jr.
Special Lenten Programs and Services:
Ash Wednesday Service
will take place on February 22, 2012, at 7:30 p.m.
Lectio Divina Prayer
Meetings
on Wednesdays, beginning on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 and
continuing through Wednesday, April 4, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. and 7:30
p.m.in the Fireside room.
Holy Maundy Thursday
Service
with the Passover Meal on April 5, 2012 beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Upcoming Events and Programs:
The 2012 Youth Mission
Trip:
Our Mission Trip to Downtown Chicago with DOOR (Discovering
Opportunities For Outreach and Reflection) will take place beginning
on June 10, 2012 through June 15, 2012. If you would like to
participate in this mission trip, please contact Pastor Sung.
Seven Weeks of Spring
Small Group Meetings:
Our Small Group Meetings will begin in March. We will study
the book, What Is So Amazing
about Grace? This book is written by Philip Yancy. If you would
be willing to host one of the small group meetings, please let
Pastor Sung or Myrtle Klauer know. All you need is a television and
DVD player. Refreshments should be simple – glasses of water are
fine.
Laity Convocation:
Everyone is invited to register for
the Laity Convocation on
Saturday, February 4, 2012
beginning at
8:30 a.m. and
ending at 3:00 p.m. This will take place at First UMC in Elgin. The
cost is $15 per person when you register before January 28, 2012.
After this date the cost will be $20 per person.
The day includes a continental breakfast and lunch. For more
information and a registration form, contact Pastor Sung.
Please Take a Bow:
Thanks to the wonderful cast of Young Christians and others,
who presented the Annual Christmas Program entitled,
Was it a Star? We’re very thankful for many of Loretta’s friends who
have participated and been supported by their parents for the third
year. Please say “thank you” to the following cast of characters and
their parents:
Asterous (The Queen) Kelsey
Mizar and Alcor (Pages to the Queen)
Morgan and Danielle
Rigel (Queen’s Minister) Pastor Sung
Geminii and Geminee (Twin Stars)
Natalie and Loretta
Marco (Star) Nicole
Flasher and Dimmer (Imperfect Stars)
Faith and Joe
Four Perfect Stars Hannah, Larissa,
Megan, and Jack
Narrator
Don
630-773-0094