July / August 2010 EditionChrist United Methodist Church Newsletter

339 Frank Scott Parkway EastFairview Heights, IL 62208618.277.4659mail@mychristchurch.comwww.mychristchurch.com

Our God has many names. He is our Redeemer, our King, our

Deliverer, and our Healer. We call out to our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. His is the name above all names.

Like some of you, I grew up going to church on Sundays. As a

child though, I never understood the connection between attending church on Sunday and my life every other day of the week. I certainly didn’t comprehend what it meant to have a personal relationship with God through the person of Jesus Christ. That concept simply wasn’t taught in the church of my youth. When I became a teenager,

I walked away from the church and, more significantly, I walked away from God. Many years passed before I came to understand how much God loved me and, subsequently, accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior.

One important discovery I’ve realized in my Christian walk is that our God

is a personal God who yearns for us to seek His face through worship and prayer. When we spend time with God, we learn to listen to His voice, open our eyes to His activity in our lives, and discern His will for us. When we worship and pray, God fills us with His spirit, gives us renewed strength and energy, and empowers us to be the disciples He created us to

be. Most importantly, when we abide in God’s presence, we build a relationship with Him! What a joy and privilege that we live in a democratic nation where we are free to worship our Father without fear of persecution. Thank you Lord!

Roni McDaniels

SEEKING GODTHROUGH WORSHIP

2010 Worship Team Summer Express Lane Auditions/InterviewsSunday, August 15, 1-4 p.m.Tuesday, August 17, 6-9 p.m.Sign up at the Worship Team info table on Sunday, August 8 or 15.

The worship team will be holding au-ditions/interviews for all areas of mu-sic and production for worship. The Express Lane is intended to provide a convenient on-ramp to ministries of the Worship Team. People joining the team will be asked to commit from September 2010 – February 2011. Don’t let the word audition scare you away – we just need to get an idea of what talents God has blessed you with so we can then plug you into a ministry where you can bless others. We have opportunities to serve in all of the fol-lowing areas:

MusicVocals (male and female) - Vocal Team - Choir

Band - Electric guitar - Bass guitar - Acoustic guitar - Drums, percussion - Keyboards

Orchestra - Brass - Wind - Strings

Worship ProductionVideo- Sunday Morning services live camera for screens and record for website

- Special events recorded for archive- Original Field-Productions Shooting Capturing Editing Lighting, Set Design and Construction - Board operation for weekly services and special events (take the light cues)

- Lighting design and focus (set chang-es, about every 2 months)

- Set/scenic design, construction (about every 2 months)

- Focusing lights weekly/Programming cues for services

- Special events setup (Christmas, Easter, conferences) CG- Operating the computer that runs song lyrics and videos on the main screens

Audio / Staging - Set up band and microphones, etc., on stage

- Mix audio in sanctuary (requires ex-perience, or training which we can pro-vide over time)

- Mix chapel events (requires far less experience)

- Assist the audio team during events (adjusting microphones, troubleshoot-ing, etc.)

- Post-production audio for video, web ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE DONE WITH A TEAM. Experience is not re-quired except where noted, and you will start by working with someone who knows how to do these things. We train everyone in-house so they can learn the skills that interest them. I can explain anything that sounds interest-ing to you, and help you find areas that fit your availability.

Contact for more info:

Vocals or Orchestra: Don Frazuredon@connectingwithchrist.com

Band: Jeff Allenjeffallen@connectingwithchrist.com

Production:Nathan Tobin nathan@connectingwithchrist.com

2010 Worship Team Summer Express Lane

Christ Church softball teams do not put the name of the players

on the back of our uniforms. We put the name of our savior on the front!

I am a St. Louis Cardinal fan. It is not mandatory that I do not like the

Yankees (as juxtaposed with our signed covenant to hate the Cubs); but I somewhat resent the Yankees. They have an infinite amount of money to spend in the building of their team and the Cardinals have to do it on a budget. It is like a guy who works in a factory being expected to own a home in the same neighborhood as the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. The Cardinals defeated the Yankees in the 1964 World Series (thanks Bob Gibson) and I hope they never have to play them again. Sometimes you should quit while you are ahead. The only thing I like about the New York Yankees is that they don’t put the players name on the back of the

uniform. If Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio didn’t get their name on their backs, these modern players don’t either. If just being a part of the most successful baseball franchise in history and wearing the pinstripes isn’t enough for you…that is just too bad. I like that. If I owned a pro sports team, the first thing I would do is rip the names off the backs of the uniforms.

It is of interest to me that our Christ Church softball teams do

not put the name of the players on the back of our uniforms. We put the name of our savior on the front! There is surely some responsibility that comes from wearing His uniform. When we asked Jesus Christ to come into our lives as savior and Lord, we became part of the most dynamic team in history; the Church of Jesus Christ. The church was founded at Pentecost

and is empowered by the Holy Spirit to be the most powerful force on the planet. If I played for the Cardinals, I would be jazzed to put on the same uniform worn by the Gashouse Gang, Stan Musial, Ken Boyer, Lou Brock and Albert Pujols. It would be enough to wear the “birds on the bat” across my chest…I wouldn’t need my name on the back. Christ Church, do you realize we put on the same uniform worn by Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist, Paul, Augustine, John Calvin, John Wesley, Mother Teresa and Billy Graham? If they didn’t get their names on their uniforms…it isn’t looking good for us either. It is enough just to wear the uniform that displays the mighty name of Jesus!

The newest member on the staff at Christ Church is a familiar face-

Larry Weber. Larry and his family have been members at Christ Church since August of 2002 when Carolyn Wylie suggested they check out Christ Church. They moved to the area so Larry could become Principal at Wolf Branch School where Carolyn was on the school board. Larry went from there to Germantown as Superintendent the past five years leading up to his retirement this summer.

He and his wife, Nancy, are South Dakota farm kids; Larry bought

and hauled grain from Nancy’s father at Hartford Grain Elevator where Nancy often helped keep the books for her father while she was a high school

student. Nancy and Larry became friends, high school sweethearts, were ultimately engaged while in college and married in 1970. They have seven children between the ages of 22 and 37 scattered from Columbus, Ohio to Reno, Nevada and points between. The oldest grandchild is 13 and they are about to have their sixth grandchild. They recently purchased a house in Belleville on Cardinal Lane which is only fitting as they are big Cardinal fans.

Larry’s title at Christ Church is Director of Ministries, a senior staff position.

He has responsibility for the education area from birth to adult education, with the very capable assistance of the Director of Education, Liz Reed; the Director

Christ Church Welcomes

New Director of Ministries

of Student Ministries, Nick Turner; the Director of Children’s Ministries, Rachel Frazure; and the Assistant Director of Children’s Ministry, Leslie Damann and many others. The welcoming ministries of Christ Church including CEPIM have also become his responsibility with the retirement of Diane Kruger.

If you have not yet met Larry, look for the great big guy giving out hugs

on Sunday at the worship services. Join him and others as they pray through the church at 7:00 a.m. each Sunday, or join his Sunday School class, PB by J2 in the Chapel at 10:45 a.m. He will be excited to meet you.

Larry WeberDirector of Ministries

Disciple ClassesDisciple classes are bible studies that last the length of the school year. You must start at Disciple 1. The only cost is the price of the book which is normally about $30. Each week has daily readings out of the bible or your study manual and a 2 ½ hour class.

Disciple 1 - Sunday (am) | Tuesday (pm)Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study is the foundation of the Disciple Bible Study program. This class is 34 weeks.

Disciple 2 - Thursday (pm)Into The Word Into The WorldA thirty-two-week study, selects specific portions of Scripture and delves deeper into them.

Disciple 3 - Monday (pm)Remember Who You AreA thirty-two-week study where participants will read the major and minor Old Testa-ment prophets, with the exception of Dan-iel, and will read the thirteen letters tradi-tionally attributed to Paul.

Disciple 4 - Sunday (pm)Under The Tree Of LifeA thirty-two-week study which concen-trates on the writings in the Old Testament and New Testament.

Times and dates are subject to change. Sign up in August. Orientation will be Aug 29 – Sept. 2.

Come join us in God’s Word. It will change your life as you better understand the God we serve and His message for us.

for more information contact:Jim Oppedaloppedal@wisperhome.com

Events & AnnouncementsChrist Church

Fairview HeightsFoodPantrySUMMERTIME IS BUSY…please don’t forget the Food Pantry. The needs are there year round, and our contributions to the Pantry are so appreciated.

Anything your family uses is perfect for the Pantry. One suggestion: smaller rather than larger packages of items such as dried beans, pasta, coffee, etc., are better for the Pantry’s distribution. If the pack-ages are too large, they have to be opened and divided into smaller containers.

Place your items in the designated bin in the vending machine room for delivery. Thanks for your ongoing outreach to those in need!

Please call Mary Pierce at (618) 223-8535 if you are donating a large quantity of food items.

United Methodist Women

The United Methodist Women will meet Tuesday, August 24 at 9:30 a.m. Our speaker will be a representative of the Cunningham Children’s Home - one of the Methodist institutions the UMW supports on an annual basis through the spring and fall rummage sales.

Join us and find how you can be a part of the fellowship and service the UMW offers.

Blessings,Marge Oppedal, President

Save the date!Christ Church Fall FestivalSaturday, September 1110:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Children’s activities, food, fun and music.All ministries are encouraged to partici-pate.For more information, contact: Donna Harrisondonna@connectingwithchrist.comorAlan Prassalan@connectingwithchrist.com

Upcoming Fellowship ActivitiesSunday evening, July 18 Ice Cream Social

Sunday evening, August 22Pie SocialEnjoy fantastic preaching and fellowship.

Things You Should Know

K4C Fun in the Sunday, August 1 and Au-gust 8, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Pavilion/Gym. For Kids and Parents. Parents are welcome to attend or can attend evening worship.

Veggies Tales Movie Night – GIRLS ONLY – “Sweetpea Beauty – A Girl after God’s Own Heart”, August 20, 6:00 p.m., Cre-ation Corner – for all girls and their Moms or another lady close to their hearts!

Sunday School Promotion Sunday, 3 years old through 5th Grade, August 22.

AWANA begins on Sunday nights! Sep-tember 12 and every Sunday during the school year, 6:00-7:30 p.m. – AWANA is for ages 3 through 9th grade.

K4C Summer Volunteers!

Consider being a volunteer during the sum-mer in Children’s Ministry! While many of our current K4C volunteers take summer vacations, that gives new volunteers an excellent opportunity to get their feet wet in Children’s Ministry! If you would like to try out a new ministry or if your Connec-tion Class or Small Group wants to take advantage of an excellent service opportu-nity, then K4C (Kids for Christ) is the place for you. Children’s Ministry is trying out a lot of exciting things this summer – get in on the fun!

For more information on how you can serve, please contact Rachel Frazure, Director of Children’s Ministry, rachel@connectingwithchrist.com

Thanks! Rachel

K i d s F o r C h r i s t

Events & AnnouncementsChrist Church

HEALTHEVENTSCongregation Care Emergency? Call Us!Jeri Lyn Horowitz RN, Parish Nurse Coordinator

If you have a congregational care emer-gency and would like for someone to call or visit you, please contact the church office during the day. At night, on the weekend, or on holidays, call the church office and select Rev. Allen Miller or Jeri Horowitz and leave us a message. Your call will alert our cell phones and we will be able to call you back.

If you, a loved one, or a friend are in the hospital and would like for us to know, the most efficient way to contact us is to call us! Hospitals in Illinois and Missouri are not allowed to call or notify us because of the Privacy Act. When you are admitted to the hospital, please tell them that you are a member of Christ United Methodist Church and this will also help us to locate you.

We want to be available to you and your family when there is an emergency or you are facing a surgery or hospitalization. Please help us by using the prayer/atten-dance cards in the bulletin or by calling the church office.

The Parish Nurse is In!If you are new to Christ Church and weren’t aware, there is a Parish Nurse Ministry here! There are 18 nurses, led by Coor-dinator Jeri Horowitz, RN, to help you and your family in a variety of ways. The roles of the Parish Nurse in a congregation are to be a health educator, an integrator of faith and health, a referral advisor, a health advocate, and a provider of congregational care. The Parish Nurse office is located in the office complex in the “old library.” The office number is 277.4659 ext 1881. We have several health-related brochures and information available, as well as resources to help you find whatever you are look-ing for in the community. Parish Nurses do not provide direct patient care (give medications, change dressings, or provide therapy); however, we can help find these services and where they are available.

Parish Nurses provide free blood pressure screenings each month as well as arrange for flu shots, blood drives, educational presentations on health-related topics, and various screenings. If you have any questions, please call Jeri Horowitz at the church.

Blood Pressure Checks First Saturday of each month in the Coffee Café from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Second and fourth Sundays of each month in the Office Complex from 9:30-11:00 a.m.

Christ Church Blood Drive!We will be hosting our second blood drive this year on Monday, August 2, 2010. The American Red Cross will be here from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the gym.

By donating one unit, you can save up to 3 lives.

GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE

Sandwiches will be served!

The “Backpack Attack” is in support of the kids at the Christian Activity Center in East St. Louis. July 17-31 we’ll be collecting backpacks with school sup-plies and uniforms. Please bring your items to scripture hall.

Christian Activity CenterSchool Supply List

Spiral notebooksPencilsColored pencilsMarkersCrayonsLoose-leaf paperComposition notebooks3-ring bindersGlue sticksPencil sharpenersErasers

Uniforms: Pale blue, white collared shirts, long and short sleeve, and navy or black pants in sizes 6-18

Please bring your donations to Christ Church the week of July 17-31.Thank you and God Bless.

CAC is a nonprofit, faith-based ministry in East St. Louis. Each week students attend various fine art classes, fed nu-tritious meals, play sports, attend bible study, tutored and learn computer skills. CAC is a center where kids are mentored in a safe environment after school.

It is our hope you’ll participate and we can collect 500 backpacks full of sup-plies and uniforms! Please be part of this campaign!

When I first heard the choir perform, the scripture that immediately came to my mind was “... and the glory of the Lord shone round about them” which I attributed to the extremely talented lighting team. However, after join-ing this incredibly gifted group a few months ago, I now realize that the radiance emanating from these dear people is truly the joy of the Lord as they make their joyful noise. The ca-maraderie of this caring community is also a huge plus. It’s been my obser-vation that practice usually begins with lots of laughter, tears, hugs, you name it, followed by singing with even more laughter! I especially look forward to our share and prayer times at the end of each practice because it’s here that I know I’ve been singing with the angels.

Intimidated at first? You betcha’, es-pecially since I can’t even begin to interpret those circles with sticks on them that go up and down on those lines and spaces which I’m told is the direction my voice is “supposed” to take. (Thank you, Jesus, for the prac-tice CDs Don gives us!) How do I feel now? Accepted, loved, and sincerely blessed to have my choir experience. When an extremely talented director with credentials up one arm and down the other looks at his choir and says that he is blessed and overwhelmed with joy to direct them, there is no other way I can possibly feel.

I plan to make my joyful noise as long as I can; then I will lip-synch after that just so I can continue to sing with my angels. – Pati Church – Christ Church Choir Member

The Christ Church Choir and Orchestra will begin their new

season on Thursday, August 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the rehearsal room (backstage of the Sanctuary). Our first performance is on Sunday, September 12, and will be at all three services (8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.).

The choir and orchestra are scheduled to lead at least one Sunday a month.

The performance Sunday and the three or four rehearsals leading up to it are called a Program Cycle. There is usually a 1 week break between cycles. Some people participate all season, while others jump in and out depending on their work and other commitments.

The choir is not just about the music; it is also about a group of

believers that want to worship together and share their joys and prayers with one another. The choir/orchestra is for EVERYONE, so if you would like to join with us as we sing and play for the glory of God, please contact me at

don@connectingwithchrist.com,or you can sign up via the connections link on the Church Website -www.mychristchurch.com

2010 Fall Schedule(Summer Hiatus – No rehearsals from July 1 – August 12)

Program Cycle #10 August 19 – September 12 (Fall Kick-off Sunday)

Rehearsals: August 19, 26; September 2, 9 (dress rehearsal)

Performance: Sunday, September 12 (All services)

Break: September 16 – No rehearsals

Program Cycle #11 September 23 – October 17

Rehearsals: September 23, 30; October 7, 14 (dress rehearsal)

Performance: Sunday, October 17 (All services)

Break: October 21 – No rehearsals

Program Cycle #12 October 28 – November 21

Rehearsals: October 28; November 4, 11, 18 (dress rehearsal)

Performance: Sunday, November 21 (All Services – Thanksgiving Theme)

Break: November 25 – No rehearsal (Thanksgiving Day)

Program Cycle #13 December 2 – 19 (God Coming Down)

Rehearsals: December 2, 9, 15 (Wednesday) and 16.

Performance: Sunday, December 19 (All services)

Break: December 23 and 30 – No Rehearsals

Watch Us Grow!

AttendanceJune Worship = 1227

June Connection Classes = 191

Year Avg. Worship

Year Avg. Connection Classes

= 1332

= 357

General BudgetYTD Giving$847,249.66

YTD Expenses$854,821.82

Annual Budget$1,680,054.00Finances

as of July 9, 2010

Change The WorldGifts to Date$1,691,961.46

Pledge Goal to Date$1,753,749.60

Worship Opportunities:Saturday: 5:00 PM - 5:45 PM

Sunday: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM Worship & Sunday School10:00 - 10:30 AMFamily Fellowship in Christ Church Café

Sunday Evening:

6:00 PM - 6:30 PM Praise & Worship

MayCarie BradshawJay Bradshaw

JuneNoah BurnerLouis J. LoepkerDonna F. LoepkerElaine BelcherChristine Elizabeth FiedlerJames Douglas FiedlerBrian James SchneiderChristina Lyn SchneiderRobert E. Toepfer, Jr.Elizabeth A. ToepferKevin T. BarnettSara H. Barnett

New Members BaptismsMayLouis J. LoepkerBrian James Schneider JuneKendal GrahamCarla BrownEden ChaneyJonquesha GageKrateesha GageCatherine Kelly-Ann CosimiEvan Cruz Pugeda

MarriagesAmber Mitchell & Brian Campbell

Nikki Kay Worms & Samuel Thomas Gentes

Jeffrey W. Allen & Brittani R. Jackson

Flame Deadline for Sep / Oct EditionAugust 19Please submit to Donna Harrison atdonna@connectingwithchrist.com

I feel closest to God when I am in serene natural settings. He is most present

during an early walk along a stream on a crisp morning as the occasional leaf travels by on its adventure to somewhere unknown. I sense His touch in a refreshing cool ocean wave washing sand from my feet as I enjoy a noble sunset. Viewing His creation from a high position brings me great pleasure as I glimpse life’s colors from the Lord’s own palette. For me, in these, and countless other ways, I feel His presence through

All To Your Nameby Michael Harrison

Your love, my LordYour grace, my peace

Your face I seekYour touch I need

O fill my soulO lift my head

O quench my thirstO give me bread

All Life in YouAll mercy, Fame

All greatness, truthAll to Your NameAll to Your Name

He Signed His Nameby: Michael Harrison

His handiwork...His signature, if you like; His Name written for me to enjoy.

God created the heavens and the earth and left His signature,

saying, “It is good!” We can enjoy His omnipresent love if we become willing to slow ourselves a moment and greet Him there. God has written His Name all around us to remind us that He loves us enough to surround us with His personal mark, drawn where it is, as His way of leaving living proof that He is here and

has approved of what He has designed.

There is a Name...a Name above all other names. Written

all around us as a reminder that He is here and that He loves us.

We are always searching. It’s not such a bad thing to search

for something. It can be exciting, exhilarating, an adventure! In John 3, there’s a meeting between a man named Nicodemus and Jesus. Nicodemus is a seeker. Like Nicodemus, we’re also on a search. We can search for all kinds of different things before we search for Jesus. We like what we have, but we’re also interested in what else we can have. As one of my favorite bands puts it, “we’re searching for substance.”

In clergy gatherings Rev. Shane and I are told that we’re on a journey, other

times we’re told we’re on an adventure. Life in the church can be an adventure, and filled with searching for all kinds of things, including Jesus. Our searches take us into interesting places, including the world of game shows. Game shows have been a somewhat cheesy staple of our American culture for decades. We find ourselves rooting for the contestants as if we were in their shoes.

Back in my childhood, “The Price is Right” was the game show.

Contestants stood before Bob Barker waiting to guess the price of a desk lamp, a set of cookware, oven cleaner, or a refrigerator. Everyone guesses the price of the item up for bids. Then Bob Barker announces, “the actual retail price is...” Both excitement and suspense hung in the air.

Nicodemus’ search takes him to what he lacks: Jesus of Nazareth. He’s

heard the stories about Jesus: how Jesus has become quite the upstart in the region, how Jesus audaciously and blatantly challenged mighty Jewish authority. Nicodemus heard a lot about Jesus. Now he wants to see Jesus for himself. Throughout his life Nicodemus has repeatedly guessed at the price of faith, until Jesus reveals “the actual retail price” of the Christian faith: Jesus Christ. This is not a game: it’s a matter of eternal life. Like all the contestants on game shows, we spend plenty of time guessing at the price of our faith. In Scripture, Nicodemus’ and Jesus’ conversation builds to a climax. “The Actual Retail Price” of our faith is revealed, and undeniable: “For God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but may have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:16-17) God sends His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to save the world. The call for rebirth is sounded, receive eternal life. It’s easy to be timid like Nicodemus before Jesus. Jesus is demanding. In the beginning, we are “spoon-fed” by Him. But the spoon feeding ends and Jesus expects discipleship (trust) from all of us. Commitment, resolve, a growing faith, all expected whether it’s an inch at

a time or miles every day. God through Jesus Christ looks for our growth. God looks for our response. Count on it. If we have book knowledge about Jesus Christ, we give others book knowledge about Jesus. If we have had a personal experience of Jesus in our lives, we never forget it. We can share it with others. On September 29, 2001, I had a powerful experience of Jesus Christ in my life. Jesus spoke to me in a profound way. I’ll share it with you as you wish. I can tell you about it. Even better, I wrote it down. Far a-field from popular game shows from ages past, the actual retail price of our Christian lives is faith and trust in Jesus Christ. May we each turn to Him! Jesus will change your life.