A PUBLICATION OF THE
PROPHETSTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
PROPHETSTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 2025
JANUARY
NEWSLETTER
Pastors’ office hours
Contact information: Pastor Joey Cell Phone: 815-656-0362 E-mail: pastorjoeygarcea@gmail.com.
Hours for Leon UMC –Tuesday 1-3:30
Hours for Prophetstown UMC – Monday & Thursday 9-12, Wednesday 1-3:30 Church Office Phone: 815-537-2496
IF YOU HAVE PRAYER REQUESTS, OR WANT
TO TALK, PLEASE CONTACT PASTOR JOEY
WORSHIP
(Also on Facebook and website)Website: www.prophetstownunitedmethodist.org
What is Epiphany
It is a special date for many Christians as it’s when people celebrate how a star led the Magi – also known as the Three kings or the Wise Men – to visit the baby Jesus after he had been born. ‘Epiphany’ comes from the Greek word meaning ‘to reveal’, as it is when the baby Jesus was ‘revealed’ to the world.
Why is Epiphany 12 days after Christmas?
The 12 days starts when the Christmas Star was visible and guided the 3 wise men to baby Jesus. They did not magically appear the day he was born. So the 12 days symbolizes the time it took them to travel to baby Jesus and bring him gifts.
January Birthdays
4 – Angie Smith
5 – Larry Frederick
8 – Aaron Raser
10 – Sandy Behrens
17 – Karen Richey
23 – Helen Waldbusser
24 – Betty Glassburn
25 – Adam Carr
29 – Tiffany Garcea
31 – Hattie Jo Gravila
Communion:
5 – Teresa Shere
Liturgists:
5 – Larry Stewart
12 – Adam Carr
19 – Pat Crump
26 – Kim Smith
Ushers:
5 – Alan Posey & Pat Kasterke
12 – Garett Plumley & Frank Sebok
19 – Tammy Sandrock & Shelly Misch
26 – Doug & Diane Hull
Acolytes:
5 – Kasha Sebok & Owen Garcea
12 – Hadley Bebon & Porter Bebon
19 – Brayden Garcea & Tamber Rippy
26 – Mason Butts & Connor Butts
“EXPLANATION OF GOD”
Jana Oppendike gave me this article and I really liked it and decided to share it with all of you. It was written by an 8 year old,
Danny Button of Chula Visa, CA. for his third grade homework assignment.
One of God’s main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth.
He doesn’t make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way He doesn’t have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to Mothers and Fathers.
God’s second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn’t have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this.
Because He hears everything,
there must be a terrible lot of noise
in His ears, unless He has thought of a way to turn it off.
God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn’t go wasting His time by going over your Mom and Dad’s head asking for something they said you couldn’t have.
Atheists are people who don’t believe in God. I don’t think there are any in town. At least there aren’t any who come to our church.
Jesus is God’s Son. He used to do all the hard work like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn’t want to learn about God. They finally got tired of Him preaching to them and they Crucified Him. But He was good and kind, like His Father, and He told His Father that they didn’t know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said ok.
His Dad (God) appreciated everything that He had done and all His hard work on earth so He told Him He didn’t have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in Heaven. So He did. And now He helps His Dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which Ones He can take care of Himself without
Having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important.
These are the Sunday School kids practicing for the Christmas Program. The name of it is “A Night in Bethlehem. It is a traditional nativity scene with a comedic twist.
Our Sunday school kids had a great time practicing the songs and enjoying themselves.
The music was chosen by the children and Kim Smith, and the play was produced by Tara Miller.
We thank Kim, Tara, Larry F., Pastor, Caleb Wolf and Ella Miller for all their hard work. Excellent Job!
Matthew 19:13-15: Then children were being brought to him in order that He might lay His hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them, but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.
Don’t forget it’s PJ’s and movie Sunday on the 5th of January!
In Sunday School we have been learning and having fun with different lessons of the Bible. We stacked stones (pillows) at the River Jordon and we saw how tall Goliath was. Then we used pom poms as rocks to fight the giant too. We talked about being thankful and how to show our thanks to everyone for the many blessings we have.
January’s Little Thought
January 2025 – Can you believe another year has gone by? I hope our memories of 2024 are memories that but smiles on our faces and love in our hearts. I can across this prayer in my many treasures and would like to share it with you. It was written by W. R. Hunt.
A New Year’s Prayer
Dear Lord, please give me…
A few friends who understand me
and yet remain my friends
A work to do which has real value,
without which the world would
feel the poorer…
A mind unafraid to travel,
even though the trail be not blazed.
An understanding heart…
A sense of humor.
Time for quiet, silent medication.
A feeling of the presence of God.
And the patience to wait
for the coming of these things,
with the wisdom to know them when thy come.
Amen
May
The gift of LOVE
The gift of Peace
The gift of HOPE
The gift of HAPPINESS
Fill your year of 2025!
Connie
Dear Church Family,
We really appreciate your remembering us with your gifts at this time of year. Thank You, Thank You! Pastor Joey, Pat Crump, Angie Smith, Kim Glassburn and Jill Weidel
Message from Trustees on Boilers
As I write this message (12-18-24) one of our boilers just went down! We can operate a short time with the one remaining boiler but will put stress on the workload depending on the weather conditions. Our borrowed time has about been used up! The boilers are the same age and make as the Lutheran Churches, which were replaced about 5 years ago! A replacement fund of approximately $22,000 has been started with a donation from our women’s club of $500 to get started, thank you very much! If you would like to donate, it can be put in the collection plate or mailed to:
Prophetstown United Methodist Church
200 W 2nd St.
Prophetstown, IL 61277
Make sure to mark the memo section on your check BOILER FUND.
As our cold months approach, we appreciate all your concerns of helping us solve this situation. Thank you very much.
God Bless You All
The Trustees
Confirmation will resume on January 5th after church.
Bible Study will resume on January 8th at 1:00pm.
Ad Council is on Sunday, January 12th after church.
There will be a soup luncheon after church on Sunday, January 19th. We promise to have enough soup this time!+