July/August 2020

July/August DeMotte United Methodist Church Newsletter

It is Summer, there still is a pandemic going on, and we are not sure what school, and society,

and church for that matter will look like now and in the future. That is unsettling to put it

mildly. Still as we heard in worship the past few weeks: “Nothing can separate us from the

Love of God.” That is what I am holding on to and I hope you are too!

Liturgically we find ourselves in “Ordinary Time.” Meaning, there are no high holidays to

celebrate, but we have an opportunity each Sunday to gather and worship the God of love and

miracles.

In a worship series that will start on Sunday August 2, we will engage in a Gospel/Epistle tango

as we move between some of the more startling stories of Jesus and his earthly ministry and

Paul’s attempt to put a frame of possibility and understanding around the story of Jesus.

Sometimes guided by Matthew’s storytelling, other times led by the beautifully weighty prose

of the Epistle to the Romans, we dig down into the core of our lived-out faith. How do we live

into these miraculous moments in Jesus’ life in our world today? Are we called to be miracle

workers too? Or is there something else going on here? What if we are asking the wrong

question about the statements and actions of Jesus? What if it is not supposed to be a “how,” but

a “why?” What if it is not a behavior to emulate, but a motivation to live as followers of Jesus?

The title for our series is “God’s How Is Our Why.” Please watch the church Facebook and web

pages for updates on how you and your children can engage in this worship opportunity in

person and at home.

In conjunction with this worship series we will also start a 6 pm

Wednesday evening small group study opportunity via

Zoom. This small group will start on Wednesday

August 5 and will run through Wednesday September 2.

Information about how to join us via Zoom will be sent

to you via a separate email. Worship opportunities for August

August 2 - “You Give Them Something”

August 9 - “The Word is Near You”

August 16 - “To the Lost Sheep”

August 23 - “Who Do You Say?”

August 30 - “Holding Fast”

Thank You: You are a loving and kind congregation! You remembered my birthday! Thank you for the love you continue to show me! Grace and Peace, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Pastor Ed.

Love His neighbor by MASKING UP, of

course!!

July/August 2020

We also welcome

new students

Isabella and Cody

this year!

Preschool Enrollment 2020-2021

Are you excited for the start of preschool??

Adilynn says: “yes I get to go to new school and make

new friends.”

July/August 2020

With the 2020 Spring Fundraiser profits

DUMC preschool committee was able to

purchase a new dry erase board, safety

cones, a drying rack, and 5 LCD writing

tablets for our students.

Thank you for

supporting the

ministry of

our preschool!

Though summer is typically the time

DUMC makes updates to the

preschool wing, this year it’s received

major renovations with new paint,

curtains, LED lights, and deep carpet

cleaning! After a hard purge of

clutter-clearing we are left with an

un-needed microwave and small

fridge. These appliances are both in

working order and can be viewed in

the boiler room. Please contact the

church office if you would like one or

both in exchange for a donation of the

donor’s choice to the preschool.

July/August 2020

The two new banners hanging in the sanctuary today were recently gifted to the church. They are in

honor of the tireless dedication, and careful planning of our Pastor and congregants. We ARE

disciples. Pastor Ed remained steadfast in continued worship during the last 13 weeks. We honor him

with the lighthouse banner, Psalm 62:2, “He alone is my rock and my salvation.”

During the Indiana stay-at-home order, our congregation was the church. Jim manned the media booth;

Val was acting liturgist and graced us with her beautiful vocals; Nancy diligently cleaned our precious

church from top to bottom, literally cleaning every floor surface; Ann, Cindy, Michelle, Janeen, Elaine

and Pastor Ed made weekly calls to our parishioners, hand-delivered church materials and mailed cards

or notes of encouragement; Rebecca ran the office remotely; various committee meetings still took

place via Zoom; and our Facebook live worship videos were viewed several hundred times per week

far surpassing our usual attendance. In honor of our congregation, Psalm 107:1, “His love endures

forever.” We ARE disciples. In a time when we weren’t allowed to gather in our church building, we

WERE the church, we ARE the church.

We will CONTINUE

to be the church

because His love

endures forever. It

takes a village.

Thank you, again, to

Pastor Ed, Jim, Val

and all others for

figuring out how to

bring worship to our

living rooms every

Sunday while we

watched from home

(usually in our

pajamas). We

appreciate you

making it happen.

God Bless!

Announcement for Reopening June 21, 2020

July/August 2020

DUMC family has continued to maintain contact and care of each other, as well as financially

support the church structure itself. Since Coronavirus has not stopped the everyday demands of

payment for utilities, insurances and basic maintenance on the beloved building- (Mother

Nature has certainly not taken time off from her constant assault! Helllooo triple digit temps,

yikes!) this devoted care has been most crucial. Thank you for your faithfulness.

Unfortunately, offering envelopes and cash provide an

effective vehicle for transmitting this very hardy virus.

To make it easier to continue your financial stewardship, the

church has set up a PayPal account. Tithing may be made at

http://demotteunitedmethodist.org/give-online/

Is this secure and safe??

Yes. PayPal uses several security methods such as one-time

access via code verification, dual encryptions for sender and

receiver, and a 24-hour monitoring team.

Is there a charge for offerings sent this way?

The sender is not charged, but the receiver is. The church is charged 2.2% of your donation +

$0.30 per transaction.

Another way to tithe electronically is through personal online banking Bill-Pay.

Is there a fee for this? There is usually no fee to the sender (depends on your bank) or the

church with this method. Payments may be set up on a manual or automatic basis that can be

changed at any time.

You may also maintain your tithe by old-fashioned US postal mailing a check to the church.

Please do not mail cash, especially if you use a personal curbside mailbox! Your mailbox

The United Methodist Church response to the Coronavirus

We persevere We’ve been at this for months. It is difficult, frustrating and sometimes disheartening. Restrictions are lifted, then reinstated. We move ahead a phase, only to return days later. As the struggles last longer than we expected, we must continue to care for our neighbors, support our congregations, and check-in with one another. In this way, we “run with perseverance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

July/August 2020

flag notifying your postal carrier of a pick-up is just as easily seen by any unscrupulous

passersby.

Please be aware that anything snail mailed is currently taking approximately 2-3 weeks to be

received at the church and that deposits are not made until that week’s end. This could mean

your check will not clear your account for up to one month.

Maybe like much of the country you

are struggling financially and it’s

difficult for you to maintain your tithing.

Money is not the only way you can show

your faith. The weeds at the church

don’t care about Coronavirus and have

continued to grow zealously! The church

is open 9-1 weekdays and it is easy to

social distance during lawn care or

painting. ;)

Since many of our basic social interactions have changed so

dramatically and we grouse with all these new restrictions,

it is easy to overlook things to be thankful for.

What if we didn’t have technology? There would be no

online worship services.

There would be no phone calls reaching out to comfort and

pray with each other during these highly stressful times.

You couldn’t just order food or supplies delivered to you

via online or over the phone.

More infected people would perish through lack of advanced medical equipment and drugs.

We would feel so much more alone.

As we move forward through this confusing and scary fog of new social rules, at least we have

each other and faith to lean on.

If you are not comfortable physically attending church at this time do not feel pressured or

guilty! There are other ways you can stay connected:

Online worship services are held regularly. Check http://demotteunitedmethodist.org/ or

https://www.facebook.com/demotteunitedmethodistchurch/ for details on service times.

Not computer savvy or don’t have internet? No problem! The church can mail you a copy of the

sermon to watch on DVD.

Don’t have a DVD player? No problem! The church can mail you a copy of the weekly sermon

so you can at least read it and not feel isolated. Just contact the church office if you would like

to receive either of these.

The church now uses individual Communion packs that include a sealed

combo of grape juice and an unleavened wafer. (how cool is that??)

Contact the office if you would like to be mailed one to receive

Communion remotely.

July/August 2020

DUMC remains involved

in community outreach by

donating $500 to the

Annual Back2School Fair

DEMOTTE — The seventh

annual KV-area Back-to-School

Fair will take a turn this year,

so to speak. Like everything

else, the event has been

modified in this Covid-19

virus-modified era. Instead of

the hundreds of parents and students gathering together and going tent to tent and table to

table in Spencer park like the previous six incarnations of the fair; the event will be a

drive-thru only affair with limited interaction to help stem the possible spread of the

virus.

The fair will be held on Saturday, Aug. 1, and is tentatively scheduled to occur at the

Kankakee Valley Middle School parking lot, pending school board approval. Instead of

receiving supplies one at a time, pre-packed backpacks will be distributed, beginning at 9

a.m., and continuing to noon or until supplies are exhausted. Proof of residence within the

KVSC boundaries will be required and backpacks of supplies will only be distributed if

the student is present in the vehicle.

Members of the Kankakee Valley Teachers Association from throughout the district have

volunteered to not only distribute the backpacks on that Saturday but will meet on the

previous Friday to pack the satchels.

“We are doing everything we can to continue this event in a safe and healthy manner,”

said Janeen DeYoung, who is on the event committee.

The Back to School Fair exists to give

assistance to those families who need it

by distributing free school supplies

donated by local churches and

businesses. Area churches and

businesses, as always, have banded

together to provide this opportunity.

This year, also due to safety concerns,

cash donations were taken and the

supplies were purchased in bulk to cut

down on the number of hands that items

would pass through before distribution.

(Don’t panic! This pic is from last year’s fair.)

Supplies waiting to be packed for this year’s fair.

July/August 2020

Church numbers for the last

couple months: Received for July

General Budget:

$7,147.65

Total needed monthly for

budget: $13,345

I would like to thank Pastor

Emerson and Elaine for the help

they gave me. –Bonnie Gruchalski

July/August 2020

Aug 1- Jerry Taylor Aug 2- Amy Verburg

Aug 2- Barbara Johnson August 3- Rylin Dawson August 9- Elmer Liebbe August 12- Blaine Gross

August 19- Cindy Tassone August 19- Ashley Gross

August 24- Dan Swart

August 7- Randy and Michelle Thomas August 12- Bob and Betty Heid August 15- Joe and Cindy Tassone August 25- Bill and Georgia Myers August 27- Joseph and Jessica Tassone

July 1- Mary Ann Wallace July 1- Betty Bigbie July 4- Sue Schriefer July 4- Gerald Susnis July 5- Jessica Tassone July 9 - Pastor Ed July 12- Jeanette Odle July 19- Elizabeth Masten July 21- Camden Webster July 28- Valerie Eenigenburg July 28 - Tom Schiesser July 29- John VanKeppel July 30- Daniel Lang July 31- Duane Daugherty

July 9- Mike and Kay Masten July 11- Gerald and Nancy Susnis July 11- Aaron and Stephanie Webster July 17- John and Brenda Sterk July 17- Adam and Mary Dawson

You are not forgotten

July/August 2020

Our United Methodist Table It has been said that wherever two or more United Methodists gather, someone is bringing a casserole! Right now, we can't host in-person church meals, but we can still come together virtually using technology and through United Methodist Now. You can check out UMC.org/OurUMTable for more great vintage Methodist recipes like these. Also on Pinterest @ https://www.pinterest.com/umchurch/our-um-table/

Vintage Methodist Recipes: 1898 Potato Puffs

Generations of United Methodist families have shared their recipes in church cookbooks, often sold as church fundraisers. We asked our friends at the General Commission on Archives and History to name the oldest church cookbook in their collection. Archivists shared a worn copy of the Ware Cookbook, published in 1898 by the Ladies of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Ware, Massachusetts. In cookbooks of this vintage, the recipes tend to be simple, with few ingredients and cooked over the flames of a kitchen fire.

July/August 2020

God knows we can use some extra

laughs these days so here are more

comics than usual. ;)

July/August 2020

DeMotte United Methodist Church 227 N. Halleck St. DeMotte, IN 46310 Office: 219-987-3671 E-mail: demotteumc@yahoo.com www.demotteunitedmethodist.org Worship Services: Sundays 9 Sunday School – Ages Pre-K- 5thgrade Sundays 9:15 am (Sept-June)

Church Office Hours: Regular Office Hours Mon-Fri. 9am to 1pm

Church Staff Church Leadership Pastor: Ed van Wijk Ministers: People of DeMotte UMC Secretary: Rebecca Ream Church Council Chair: Lucas Miller 219-205-2008 Custodian: Nancy Susnis SPR Chair: Jenelle Ritchie 863-1203 Preschool Teacher: Delegate to AC: Jim Shinn 987-2464 Aide: Holly Bartholomew Lay Leader: Jim Shinn 987-2464

Trustee Chair: Dave Morrison 219-987-5619 Finance Chair: Scott Krueger 987-2775 Worship Chair: Cindy Andersen 987-3754 &

Ann Shinn 987-2464 Endowment Chair: Dan Swart Education Chair: Mission Chair: Nancy Susnis 219-863-2909

Preschool Chair: Michelle Thomas 219-742-9842 UMW President: Jeri Myers 956-4971 Church Council Secretary Carly Maple

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