THE MESSENGER - Wesley United Methodist Church
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THE MESSENGER
a publication of Wesley United Methodist Church April 2020
1070 South Street, Elgin, IL 60123 Issue 112
Dear Wesley family,
We are living in an uncommon and transforming time. The news and guidelines from our
President, governor, and health officials are unprecedented in our lifetime. There is a great sense of
uncertainty and nervousness throughout ALL the world--including our nation and our community.
I want to remind you that despite all of this, we are a people of faith, hope, and love! God’s
grace is sufficient for us--for our every need, (2 Corinthians 12:9). In everything we do, we act in
love, even as God has poured out his love into our lives and keeps stirring it up in us to do good
works by his Spirit (Galatians 5:22). If, during this time, fears or worries come into your mind,
please acknowledge them. Let your mind express what it feels, but do not let it control you. We
know that God has given us emotions to express our feelings, but we as Christians are then instructed
in the scripture to cast all of our anxiety on Jesus because he cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). His promise
says that when we pray about everything, we will experience the peace of God which surpasses all
understanding. “ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which passes all
understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 4:6-7).
As our Bishop Sally Dyck said, people of the UMC are starting our second week of “sheltering
in place.” She remarks, “Sheltering in place is for our own health and safety as well as for the health
and safety of others, but remember we have another shelter: the shelter that comes from God.”
Epworth UMC has already had two Sundays of only online worship through Facebook, which
some members of Wesley have joined. I want to let you know that for people in our congregation
who do not have a Facebook account, I will be sending emails with links for both the hymns and the
sermons that I will record at home. These can be watched at any time. They will also include the
Wednesday Bible studies and the Maundy Thursday Service. In this way, everyone can receive God’s
word.
Regarding the merging process with Epworth, we received on April 2nd a second version of
the proposed “Plan and Agreement of Merger.” The merger leaders will meet on Sunday to deal with
all the suggested corrections so the Special Charge Conference would be shorter, and the leader will
be able to get the Notice and Plan and Summary out to the membership right away.
Please bear in mind that while we will be able to worship together through this virtual connec-
tion, the real expenses of the church continue, and so we ask that you also continue to support the
church’s ministry through your offerings. These may be mailed to the church.
I am including with this letter a coronavirus response from our Bishop Sally Dick: https://
www.umcnic.org/news/coronavirus-response; and a message from our bishop about Easter Service:
https://www.umcnic.org/news/bishop-message-about-easter-services.
As your earthly pastor, I call you to be persistent in your prayers for the whole world. Like-
wise, I plead God to pour out His Holy Spirit upon each of you and your families, and to let you
know that The Almighty is with you always and will continue to hold you in the palm of His hands,
through Christ Jesus our Lord!
By His Grace,
Pastor Noemi Meza
Querida familia Wesley: Estamos viviendo en un tiempo poco común y transformador. Las noticias y directrices de nuestro presidente, gobernador y funcionarios de salud no tienen precedentes en nuestra vida. Hay una gran sensación de incertidumbre y nerviosismo en TODO el mundo, incluida nuestra nación y nues- tra comunidad. ¡Quiero recordarles que a pesar de todo esto, somos personas de fe, esperanza y amor! La gracia de Dios es suficiente para nosotros, para todas nuestras necesidades (2 Corintios 12.9). En todo lo que hacemos, actuamos con amor, incluso cuando Dios ha derramado su amor en nuestras vidas y sigue incitándonos a hacer buenas obras por su Espíritu (Gálatas 5:22). Si durante este tiempo te vienen a la mente temores o preocupaciones, por favor reconócelos. Deja que tu mente exprese lo que sien- te, pero no dejes que te controle. Sabemos que Dios nos ha dado emociones para expresar nuestros sentimientos, pero a nosotros cristianos, se nos instruye en las Escrituras para que toda nuestra an- siedad sea entregada a Jesús porque El cuida de nosotros (1 Pedro 5: 7). Su promesa dice que cuan- do oramos por todo, experimentaremos la paz de Dios que sobrepasa todo entendimiento. “No se inquieten por nada; más bien, en toda ocasión, con oración y ruego, presenten sus peticiones a Dios y denle gracias. Y la paz de Dios, que sobrepasa todo entendimiento, cuidará sus corazones y sus pensamientos en Cristo Jesús” (Filipenses 4: 6-7). Como dijo nuestro obispo Sally Dyck, la Iglesia Metodista Unida están comenzando su segunda se- mana de “refugiarse en el lugar”. Ella comenta: “El refugio en el lugar es para nuestra propia salud y seguridad, así como para la salud y seguridad de los demás, pero recuerde que tenemos otro refu- gio: el refugio que viene de Dios.” Epworth UMC ya ha tenido dos domingos de adoración en línea a través de Facebook, a los que se han unido algunos miembros de Wesley. Quiero hacerle saber que para las personas en nuestra congregación que no tienen una cuenta de Facebook, estoy enviando por correo electrónico enla- ces para los himnos y los sermones que grabo en casa. Estos se pueden ver en cualquier momento. También incluirán los estudios bíblicos de los miércoles y el servicio del Jueves Santo. De esta mane- ra, todos pueden recibir la palabra de Dios. Con respecto al proceso de fusión con Epworth, hoy Abril 2, recibimos una segunda versión del “Plan y Acuerdo de Fusión” propuesto. Los líderes de la fusión se reunirán el domingo para tratar con todas las correcciones propuestas para que la Conferencia de Cargo Especial sea más corta, y el líder podrá enviar el Aviso, el Plan y el Resumen a los miembros de inmediato. Tenga en cuenta que, si bien podremos adorar juntos a través de esta conexión virtual, los gastos reales de la iglesia continúan, por lo que le pedimos que también continúe apoyando el ministerio de la iglesia a través de sus ofrendas. Estos pueden ser enviados por correo a la iglesia. Incluyo con esta carta una respuesta de coronavirus de nuestro Obispo Sally Dick: https:// www.umcnic.org/news/coronavirus-response; y un mensaje de nuestro obispo sobre el Servicio de Pascua: https://www.umcnic.org/news/bishop-message-about-easter-services. Como su pastor terrenal, les invito a ser persistente en sus oraciones por el mundo entero; del mis- mo modo, le ruego a Dios que derrame Su Espíritu Santo sobre cada uno de ustedes y sus familias, y que les haga saber que El Todopoderoso está con ustedes siempre y continuará sosteniéndolos en la palma de sus manos, a través de Cristo Jesús nuestro Señor. Por la gracia de Dios, Pastor Noemí
It’s with sadness in our hearts that we had to say “goodbye” to our dear sister, Mary Peterson.
Yet, we know she is at home with our Lord and that we will see her again. She passed away on
Sunday, March 15, 2020. Because of the pandemic, only a small family funeral service was pro-
vided on March 20th. However, Glen her husband hopes that once the pandemic clears, we can
have a celebration service for her with all her church family and friends.
Easter will soon be here, and we remember that Jesus has arisen
from the dead. Let the hope of the resurrection be in our hearts,
and take comfort. We will see Mary and all our loved ones,
again. “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” — Jesus
Prayers for Family & Friends
Shirley Fletcher, Gwen Kleinschmidt, Gloria Smith, Jack Kramka, Irmgard Tausanovich, Christina
Freund, Cinda Bates, Lincoln Zick, John Smith, Esther Smith, Eric West, Jim & Pat McCusker, Cliff
Rot, Flora Breslich, and the family of Glen Peterson.
ONLINE SERVICES
April
Look for the Pastor Meza’s email coming to
your mailbox on how to easily connect to all Birthdays
the upcoming services: Sunday morning, the
Wednesday Lenten bible study, and the 10 Gloria Smith
Maundy Thursday service. These will be pre-
recorded and you can access them at anytime. 26 Bill Nelsen
No Facebook or Zoom account is needed. 26 Guadalupe Villarreal
There will also be a link for you to click to 29 Clemente Villarreal
listen to the hymns provided for the services.
FYI: Comparison of During the month of April, because of the pandemic, we
Proposals to General will not be meeting for our regularly scheduled outings:
Conference 2020
Ruth Circle, Steeple People and Vashti Circle.
Click this link:
General Conference 2020 Thank you for your prayers.
Card of appreciation received: To all Wesley people:
The United Voices of Children As Chair of the Staff Parish Relations Committee, I am pleased
(UNC) is deeply grateful for to inform the Wesley family of Pastor Noemi’s appointment
starting July 1, 2020 to the El Redentor del Calvario (The Re-
your congregation’s support of
deemer of Calvary) Church. It is located in Jefferson Park in the
our 5th Sunday appeal. This Chicago Northwest district. It also has a dual language congre-
effort makes a difference in the gation. I appreciate that many of you have expressed concern
Northern Illinois Conference about our pastor’s future in view of the current merger pro-
(NIC) and in the lives of our cess. We wish her all the best in her new adventures.
children and youth. To God be — Peace, Dan Gardner.
the Glory! — Lillye Hart
A note from Gary Newton:
We will be having our Church 1) As Chair of the Finance Committee, I would like to remind
Conference on May 10, 2020, people to continue to send in their pledges and tithes to cover
at Wesley UMC, and taking a our on-going church expenses. These can be mailed to Wesley.
very important church vote to 2) Please let us know if you have any thoughts concerning
approve the merger with Ep- Wesley’s investments in view of our upcoming merger. If you
worth UMC. All members are think we should share investment monies with the two other
encouraged to vote, UMC churches in town—First UMC and Cornerstone, please let
either in person or by proxy. the SPRC committee know any amounts you’d like to pledge to
More information is to come. them, as we should be in a position to do this in two months.
CHURCH CALENDAR
APRIL 2020
Wesley United Methodist Church
1070 South St. Elgin, IL 60123
Phone: 847-742-7256
Email: Wesleyumcelgin@gmail.com
SUNDAY . Tuesdays Wednesdays . Saturdays
MORNINGS: Hispanic Bells Practice
8:30 Choir Practice Vashti Circle
Bible Study 3:00 p.m.
9:30 Sunday Service 7:30 a.m.
Hope Practice
10:30 Fellowship 7:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
11:00 Sunday School
12:00 Spanish Service
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Palm Sunday Good Friday
Maundy
Thursday
Gloria Smith
“Happy B-Day!”
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Easter Sunday
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30
Bill Nelsen Clemente V.
“Happy B-
B-Day!” “Happy B-Day!”
Guadalupe V.
“Happy B-
B-day!”
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