April/May 2020 Newsletter

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

Easter Greetings! I pray you are doing well and doing the necessary things to promote well-being and safety. These are uncertain days. However, be encouraged in the Lord. God longs to give you peace beyond all understanding and He alone can do that. The Bible boldly declares at least 365 times that God does not want us to live in fear.  Here’s a promise to hold on to: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

Hillsboro United

Methodist Church

537 Rountree P.O. Box 26

Hillsboro, IL. 62049217-532-3734

God delights in courageous people who choose faith over fear. In fact, the opposite of fear is to have faith. Faith in a holy God who has called you and positioned you for this hour. The most often given commandment in the Bible is: “Fear not” and it’s often coupled with the most generous promise: “For I am with you.” What a wonderful message for the church to share with the world today.

The weeks and months ahead will undoubtedly provide opportunities to serve one another in new ways. It’s my prayer that we will each seek and seize opportunities to glorify God. How will we do this? For starters we will:

First – Encounter We will encounter God personally as we seek Him on our own each day. We will encounter God together for praise and prayer using our phones on conference calls.

Second – EngageWe will continue to provide online worship services as similar to the Sunday morning service as possible. Thanks to modern technology and many tech savvy leaders in our church family we are able to record music and the sermon for you. You can visit here for the service recorded for Sunday, March 29: https://www.hillsboroumchurch.org/3292020__worship_service__humcNote: This was part 1 of a 2 part message on what forgiveness is Part 2 should be available April 18 and we will learn what forgiveness is not. Audio of sermons from the last 12 months are also available on the Sermons page of HillsboroUMCChurch.org. Additionally, weekly connection phone calls are being made in an attempt to stay connected.

Third – EquipWe want to equip you with practical tools for your personal time of devotions and worship. For starters, 10 Children’s Bibles were mailed out last week and more are on order and will be mailed as soon as they arrive.

Nelma and I will especially miss gathering Resurrection Sunday with our church family to worship together. It seems we take so much for granted. We miss all our worship services together, but Easter Sunday is so very special. It will be all the more special when we can gather together to worship once againour living Savior! In the meantime, we need not be afraid no matter what may come. Remember 2 Timothy 1:7. We’re family and we’re here for you if you need anything. Please call or text 217-899-1570, or Email: MichaelDLawton@gmail.com.

Keeping you in prayer,

Pastor Mike

The Old Rugged CrossOn a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suff’ring and shame;And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

REFRAINSo I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,Till my trophies at last I lay down;I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it someday for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,Has a wondrous attraction for me;

For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above

To bear it to dark Calvary.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,Where His glory forever I’ll share.

Generosity In Giving and Receiving

If you’re struggling and need help financially please reach out to someone in the church and we’ll do our utmost to help you. We’re family and we’re here for one another. The early church provides a model for the role of the church and the fellowship of the believers. See Acts:2:42-47.

"The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." Your faithful giving makes possible the continued fulfillment of the ongoing ministry and mission. Thanks to your generous giving lives are being touched with the Gospel across the Illinois Great Rivers Conference and around the globe. In these challenging times if we all remain faithful in our giving responsibility to the Lord our church’s mission will thrive and not suffer. Until we meet together again you can continue to invest in and fund the mission and ministry of the church by mailing your tithes and offerings to:

Hillsboro UMCPO Box 26Hillsboro IL 62049

Does your bank offer a “BillPay” option? You can set up the church as a regular payment you make, and the bank generates an electronic check and sends it via USPS (United states Postal Service). There is not usually a charge for this, and it even covers the postage!

Church News: General Conference PostponedAbout General ConferenceGeneral Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church, which meets once every four years. The conference can revise church law, as well as adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues. It also approves plans and budgets for church-wide programs.

The UMC General Conference scheduled for May 5 – May 15, 2020 is postponed until 2021. More information will be available when the location and dates are confirmed. It’s hoped that it will be in Minneapolis as planned for 2020.

Wesley Covenant Association

The voting scheduled to take place on the decision of whether we would joining the Wesley Covenant Association or not is postponed and a date will be rescheduled once we begin meeting together again.

In the meantime, I encourage you to pray and study your Bible asking God to grant you wisdom and understanding for the decisions that General Conference will be addressing now in 2021. Check out the March/April 2020 issue of the Good News Magazine here: https://goodnewsmag.org for more information on the “Separation Plan” and other discussions.

Anniversaries:

On-Line Church Services

The Church is not the building, but those people in the building, and while we are not allowed to worship as a congregation in a building, we are still the people, still the church. Our way of worship is just a little different. We get to worship with one another on-line through our church website at hillsboroumchurch.org or Hillsboro United Methodist Church Facebook page. While this may not be what we want, it is what we can do through the use

April 4, 1964 Karen & Dave BallApril 10, 1976 Ralph & Anne McLaughlinApril 11, 1954 Roy & Laura SturmApril 27, 1957 Don & Nancy Harrell May 14, 2011 Mark & Missy BrownMay 18, 1980 Jim & Ruth Ann HeselovMay 23, 1992 Kyle & Tina FurnessMay 30, 2003 Brandon & Angelica Trader

and innovation of technology. Thanks to all those involved that help our services continue in this time of uncertainty. A time when we still need praise songs, hymns, our call to worship, and of course Pastor Mike’s sermons. We will also continue to accept offerings, which you may send to the church at P.O. Box 26, Hillsboro, IL. 62049.

Office Closure: At this time our office will be closed until April 13th and possibly longer. We will still be accepting phone calls M-F from 9am-1pm and we will be checking voice and emails. If you have an emergency please call 217-899-1570.

Needed now more then ever are donations for the weekend backpack program. The food donations are now being delivered daily with school being out due to the Govenors stay at home order. There are many children that rely on this food now just as they relied on it while at school. If you would like to help donations may be left by calling the church office at 217-532-3734 for further details.

Our voting to join the Wesleyan Covenant Association on March 29th has been cancelled due to the Govenor's "Stay at Home Order," we will inform everyone when we will be voting as soon as we can. Meanwhile, keep

praying and reasearching and asking questions. There is also information about the WCA at https://wesleyancovenant.org or find the Wesleyan Covenant Association on Facebook.

Christian Quotes on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ:

“The message of Easter is not that Jesus is alive, it is so much more. The message of Easter is that Jesus has risen.” (Colin Smith)

“The tomb of Christ is famous because of what it DOES NOT CONTAIN.” (Sam Morris)

“ Live in the awareness that Christ lives and that He lives in His people.” (Julien B. Weil)

“Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” (Martin Luther)

“The entire plan for the future has its key in the resurrection.” (Billy Graham)

Pancake & Sausage annual benefit

On Saturday, March 7th we held our annual Pancake and Sausage Fundraiser from 7am – 12pm. This year our donations went to the Pastor’s Benevolent Fund. We served 150 people and raised $1305. While this may not be as well as we have done in the past, we are still greatful for everyone that attended and we have the outmost love for our Church and our Community.

Praise God for the following joys received:Lori Bergbower wants to thank everyone for their prayers for Mike’s mother, Kathy England. While the doctors didn’t get to repair all her arteries, the work they have done has been successful and Kathy has been improving, although she still needs our prayers as she continues to recover. Sandy Morrison’s daughter, Reba, was promoted to Specialist, while at drill, and her fiance’ was there.Dennis Graden thanked everyone for their prayers after his fall and praised his angel, Irene, for everything she does for him. Thank the Lord for this wonderful couples’ commitment to God and one another. Thank God John Downs only had a short stay at the hospital to recover fron his pneumonia. Praise God that Bev Burton was able to return to church with her daughter, Cheryl Rowland, whom also shared a beautiful song with us. Melissa Wood reported that her medical procedures where all good, thanks to God and prayers. Peggy Cooper has updated us on her mom and husband’s great grandson, Brock, who has been fighting RSVP, Brock is now on the pediatric floor and will hopefully get to come home soon. Praise God!Scott Bregenzer has improved enough to be transferred to Carlinville Illinois Rehabilitation Center for rehabilitation. Please continue to pray for Scott as he improves and Lyssa who is by his side.

Laura Sturm received a phone call from Bev Burton asking her to tell the congregation how much she appreciates all the prayers, cards, phone calls, and other acts of kindness.Susie Galer reported her great niece, Cassidy, is out of the hospital and doing well but still needs prayers.Laura Sturm reported David Bigley is doing well, no blockage and bypasses look great, Praise the Lord!As we praise God for joys, we graciously ask him to hear our prayer request and lift us up:Sandy Morrison ask for continued prayers as she cancelled her specialist appointment and is now going to a chiropractor, who believes he can help her with her TMJ issues and pinched nerve. Kathry Reevs ask for conintueed prayer for Roger’s brother, Lamoine (Moine), who fell and broke his hip and had surgery in Springfield. Please pray for Brett Brown and family, in the unepextant loss if his father, Dean Brown, from a heart attack. Patsy Bourdoumis called with news that Julie (Edwards) Sanks of Athens, GA, daughter of the late Kenneth and Mary Edwards of Hillsboro, passed away Wednesday, February 12th. Please pray. Julee Satterlee ask for continued prayers for her sister, Jill Tippett, who suffered a severe heart attack and had 2 stints in. Please pray for Aaron Lovelace who is in his last few weeks of basic training. Lori Bergbower ask for prayers for her Aunt, Connie McComas, who is in the hospital with Influenza B, double pneumonia, and had a mild heart attack. Lucille Caulk, sister of Betty Rhodes, had a Nuclear Stress Test completed in February, please pray. Bill Fogle, son of Lucille Caulk and Nephew of Betty Rhodes needs continued prayer for a throat stretching procedure he had done on March 6th.Lucille’s granddaughter, Kimberly, also need prayer for kidney removal also on March 6th. Janet Ward’s cousin, Gwen, needs many prayers as she is starting chemo, after the loss of her husband, Gary, Please keep Gwen in prayer as she moves forward.Ralh Ward ask for prayers for Karen Ball who has been having test done. Patsy Bourdoumis’ cousin, Rev. Mike Bates, of Litchfield is in renal failure and needs our praayers.Bev Greenwood ask for prayers for John Walsh who has been in the hospital. Peggy Cooper ask for continued prayer for her niece, Isabella, who has had some setbacks this week. Bev Burton ask for prayers for her grandson, Brendan, who will be having further surgery. Sherri Gutierrez ask for prayers for her daughter, Britney, who has had medical issues.Patsy Bourdoumis ask for prayer for a friend of theirs, Beth (Terneus), Metemy who has breast cancer.Patty Niehaus ask for prayers for Mary Lou Fowler, who fell and broke her wrist and is in Treemont Ridge.

April Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2Brittney Chamberlain

3 4

5CommunionMatthew BeelerBrooke

6Nurture Group

7Emersyn BeelerMissy BrownBlair

8Terry Liebscher

9 10 11

RoemelinPalm Sunday

JarzynkaErica Wood

Maundy Thursday

Good Friday

12Roger Reeves

Easter

13 14

Erik Byers

15Rhonda Stogner

16

Donna Trader

17Kelcie Flowers

Isabella Jo McLaughlin

18

Michelle Browwn

19 20 21Rachel Olson

22Faris BaderDavid Booher

23 24Tammie ChristianNancy HarrellJenni Wallace

25

26Jean Andrews

Trish Roemelin

27 28 29 30Alex Cullison

Jerry Moler

Ushers: Lay Leaders: Carol Booher, Janet Ward, Peggy Cooper, Melissa WoodNursery: Susie Galer, Susie Galer, Kathy Reynolds, Samantha Reynolds

May Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2

3

Communion

Jamie Cooper

4 5 6

Irene Graden

7

Ann Sperry

8

David Becker

Tyler Cooper

9

10Trevor Guntren

11Sherri Gutierrez

Phillip McLaughlin

12

Jordan Flowers

13 14

Robert Morrison

15 16

17

Fred Blevins

Kyle Herschelman

18 19

Kathy Reynolds

20Nikki NorthcuttShirley O’BrianRandy Ward

21 22 23Heidi Christian

Owen Trader

24 25 26 27

Liz Holcomb

28Mary Herschelman

Irene Washburn

29Audrey Billington

30

UshersLay Leaders: Chris Gutierrez, Carol Booher, Janet Ward, Peggy Cooper, Melissa WoodNursery: Peggy Cooper, Anne McLaughlin, Ruth Ernst, Mary Herschelma, Nikki NorthcuttMissed Sunday Worship? Did you know if you miss a Sunday Worship or want to hear the message again you can visit HillsboroUMChurch.org/sermons.

Thank You to all the Volunteers, for all you have done!!!

31Mindi ArmbrusterAllison ErnstGreg Holcomb