Forum - January 2005

The Hartke Family

Reflections and Prayer

UMCOR Tsunami Relief

Ski Trip

Update Your Information

January Birthdays and Anniversaries

January Activities

Getting to Know Our Church Family— The Hartke Family

By Karen Knight

If you have wondered who the handsome dark-haired fellow that attracts our attention at the 10:30 worship service is, his name is Phillip Hartke, 6 ½ months old. About four years ago, his parents, Jessica and Ted started attending Grace. They had visited several churches in the area and appreciated Grace’s close-knit, family environment. According to Ted, “We are at Grace because of the people.”

While both are farm kids, they grew up in different areas of Illinois. Ted is from Teutopolis, and Jessica is from Collison. Ted was raised Catholic, and Jessica attended the United Methodist Church in Collison. The Hartkes met while undergraduates at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. After graduation, they were married on June 26, 1999, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Champaign with both a priest and UMC minister officiating. Jessica is currently working toward a doctorate in nutritional sciences at the University of Illinois. Ted is a civil engineer with Daily & Associates. He is also a licensed land surveyor.

Ted is a church trustee. He helped with the corn project and worked on the Habitat for Humanity house last year. He has also helped with church projects such as re-roofing the church garage and parsonage. Jessica is a member of United Methodist Women and is involved in the Helping Hands Meal Ministry. Both of the Hartkes have helped with the annual garage sale. They are also part of the Adult Children and Aging Parents group.

For fun, Jessica enjoys baking and gardening. She also plays the piano and was church pianist at her home church in Collison. Ted likes woodworking, provides the brawn for the garden work, and, like most engineers, is a “Mr. Fix-It”. They both enjoy the new role of parenting Phillip.

REFLECTIONS AND PRAYER FOR JANUARY, 2005

Gary Ricketts

Another year has passed and a new year is at hand. What will 2005 hold for us? What lies ahead for our families, our church, our community, our country, and our world? We don't know for sure, but we can play a positive role in shaping the future if we let God play a greater role in our lives. The future is uncertain, but a loving and caring God will help us through it.

We often hear people talk about making New Year’s resolutions. Why do we wait until January 1 to make changes in our lives? Every day is a new day created by God: the first day of the rest of our lives. Each new day provides the opportunity for change and new direction.

Have we really opened our hearts and let Jesus Christ become the Lord of our lives? Each of us must answer this question on our own. How we answer the question is vital, because it has a major impact on our commitment to God, ourselves, our family, our church, our country, and our world.

Prayer has a powerful impact on both the one being prayed for and the one praying. We must never forget that God still answers prayer, but in his way, and in his time.

Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, we thank you for the many blessings of this past year. We also thank you for the blessings that will come in 2005.

We pray for peace of heart and mind, which is the first step to peace throughout the world. We pray for your guidance and direction in the life of our church and in our own lives. Mold us and shape us in your divine way, Lord. Give us spiritual eyes to see the needs of others, spiritual ears to hear the cries of others, and a spiritual heart to reach out in compassion and love.

We lift up the joys and concerns of our families and our church. Through Jesus Christ we pray,

This Indian child lives with his family in a camp several miles from the beach. Their home was destroyed by a tsunami on December 26, 2004. Hege Opseth NCA/ACT International 2005

“I have come into the deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me…Yet God’s steadfast love is good.”—Psalm 69:2b, 16

UMCOR is assisting survivors of tidal waves set off by a powerful 9.0 earthquake. Tens of thousands died. About 5 million people lack basic essentials

Half a dozen countries in South Asia and Southeastern Asia will receive United Methodist aid. Gifts will help feed and shelter 50,000 families in India alone. In addition to India, United Methodist gifts will be at work in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.

· Coordinated response is most effective. UMCOR will work through its international faith-based partners to provide food, clean water, and shelter. Its partners Action by Churches Together and Churches Auxiliary for Social Action already have relief workers at hard hit locations.

· Sanitation and fresh water have been compromised. So aid workers will restore sanitation facilities and provide fresh water to families.

· Food supplies have been cut off. Disaster workers are distributing food to the most vulnerable.

$100.00 Underwrite relief items such as cooking utensils, sleeping mats, blankets, and tarps for a family.

$1,000.00 Invest in long-term reconstruction—buy roofing, shingles, and other building materials to restore a family’s house. As is its practice in all projects UMCOR seeks to work with key partners such as local religious leaders. This ensures a holistic and integrated response, true to Christ’s mandate to serve heart,

Your contributions to South Asia Emergency, UMCOR Advance #274305 will help continue to deliver relief to affected areas. Write the # and name of the project on your offering envelope and in the memo line of your check.

Plans are being made for the annual Grace Church Ski Trip, Jan. 21-23, coordinated by Richard King. For fifteen years, members and friends of Grace Church have enjoyed a weekend at the Verlea Ewing-Camp Milan Retreat Center, located in a beautiful wooded area at Milan, IL. The weekend can be spent skiing, eagle watching, and having a relaxing time with good fellowship and fun. First United Methodist Church of Rock Island maintains the retreat center.

Skiing is done at nearby Ski SnowStar Winter Sports Park in Andalusia. This is a very family-friendly ski area where children can ski by themselves. It is also a great place to learn how to ski. There are ten to twelve different runs, from a bunny hill to more advanced skiing, 3-4 chair lifts, and a rope lift. Tubing is also available. Because of the close proximity to the Mississippi River and the dam at the Quad Cities, there is also the possibility of seeing eagles.

Participants from past trips who do not ski said they particularly enjoyed watching others ski and the fellowship of the group.

The retreat center facilities include very nice showers, a large kitchen, and a lodge with a fireplace where participants spend the evening relaxing by the fire and playing games. There is a recreation room on the lower level. Sleeping accommodations are dorm-style. Food is prepared by the group and everyone helps with preparation and clean up. Participants take their own bedding, towels, and toiletries.

The cost is $90 per person, which covers transportation, meals, lodging, lift tickets, and ski rentals. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy the weekend at Camp Milan Retreat Center. If you are interested, please contact Richard King as soon as possible at raking@prairienet.org.

We our beginning a new year and to insure that we have all our files correct, we would like your cooperation in completing the form below. Please drop the form in the offering plate, bring to the office, or mail it to us. Thank you for your help.