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Founded in 1878To the Glory of GodOctober 1, 2018Newsletter No. 10-18925 West Walnut StreetMetamora, Illinois, 61548Telephone (309) 367-4603www.christianunionchurch.comChurch Office: mcuc@mtco.comPastorGary Salm: pstrgary@mtco.comYouth PastorBrandon Bogue: brandonbogue1@mtco.comIf you would prefer not to receive this newsletter,Please email us and write ‘unsubscribe’ in the bodyof your message.Thank you for your interest in the Christian UnionChurch Family, and God Bless You.

Reading and learning about Jewish holidays has been a lot offun and revealing in how God’s people through the years celebratethe seasons. Each celebration almost always relates to God’sprovision in some way or another. Our dependence/trust in Godcan often use a gentle reminder through the year that we can’t live fulfilled liveswithout help. Our Fall Festival is a great time in the life of our church to extend ablessing to our community of faith and the community of Metamora. The simplemessage that “God is good” with no strings attached. The world attaches allkinds of strings to things it seemingly offers for free. We call it bait and switch.God is not a “bait and switch” kind of God. Let’s bless our community with agreat day, with no agenda, except to bless.This year our annual Fall Festival will be on Sunday October 28th from 2pmto 5pm for all ages. This year we are looking to add a few events and attractionsto the schedule of events. Once again we are asking for 12-15 families to prepare a trunk or treat. You can decorate in a theme or just have fun using whatever works best to hand out candy. We will also be having some fun games inthe fellowship hall including “Name that Tune” this year. Free food and somenew entertainment options will compliment a great day. We will be setting upon Saturday October 27th from 9AM to 12 PM and would gladly accept help.We will be setting up tents, fire pits and some games. Invite a friend, a neighborand have a great time.We will be receiving new members on October 14th. If you would like totalk to Pastor Gary about what is needed or just want to clarify anything, pleasecall the office and set up an appointment. We will also be introducing JennyBrace that day. Jenny has recently transitioned into Heidi’s role as well ascontinuing her role as bookkeeper. Jenny has gotten to know many of youalready and we look forward to getting to know her better.You never know who or what is going tobe a guest. This picture is of the friendlyand well behaved goat that worshipedwith us at both services on September 9.Carmel had a wonderful time visiting us!

Continue to pray for Becky Jones, of Metamora, the daughter of ShirleyLindsay. She was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and has manytests to endure to determine a treatment plan. May God wrap her andher family with love, patience, and strength.Also, please pray for Grahm and his family. He is a one-month oldbaby boy that has been diagnosed with Krabbe. This disease has noknown cures and a life expectancy of less than two years. May God show love, grace,and mercy to this little boy, his family, and his friends.Please pray God’s protection and strength for Andrew Dahl, stationed in Italy, and forLevi Heathcoat, stationed in Fort Lewis, WA. We continually lift up all the faithful menand women in uniform serving throughout the world.Continue to pray for Geneva Troyer, Ed Evans, Tia & Aaron Dye, Cherie Farley, ElaineLauffenburger, Bob Mason, Ruth Salm, Carol Larue, Sue Zobrist, Kim Morris, MargieHahn, Ian Wallace, Kyle Wood, Karen Day, Dona Parks, Elaine & Gil Kimberly, MonaSmock, Lois Strickfaden, Donna Miller, Larry & Marty Mullins, Carolyn Rauh, MaryDexter, Shirley Lindsay, Hazel Dyar, Leona McClary, Mitch Williams, DonnaSchifeling, Pastor George & Faye Hines as they deal with on-going health issues.Our Partners in Mission:Open Arms Food PantryMartin Smith, InterVarsity Christian FellowshipGermantown Hills Baptist ChurchSummer Reading Program.Binding UpI would like to thank everyone forall the prayers while going throughopen heart surgery. So appreciatedby myself and my family. Specialthank you to Pastor Gary and BobHarper for taking the time to comeand see me at Mayo Clinic.God Bless you all,Ron Veatch and familyWe had another successful Summer ReadingProgram! This year we had 9 readers that read atotal of 38,152 pages. Our winner this year is JeanLong, who read a total of 11,426 pages. Thanks toeveryone for their participation!Readers – June Ahrens, Deb Houch, Cherie Farley, Greg Farley, Mary Armstrong, Margie Hahn,Jean Long and Joan Robison.Sponsors – Denny & Margie Hahn, Greg Farley,Deb Houch, Jim & Jan Swartz, June Ahrens, Doug& Jean Long, Jane Kramer and Helen Cheek.We ask that sponsors submit their donations to thechurch office during the next several weeks. Wewould like to thank all of our sponsors for their generosity. Because of you, we are able to offer awide variety of Christian reading material andDVD’s to our church family. We invite everyone touse our church library!Thank you! Deb Houch & Margie Hahn3

New Member Sunday!We look forward to receiving new members onSunday, October 14. If you would like toaffiliate with Christian Union Church, pleasetalk with Pastor Gary (call or text 309 6783872). Members will be welcomed in eachservice.Adult Sunday School will be starting Sunday,October 7. Jeff Jones will be leading the studyon the book James. It will be a six week journeygoing word by word and sentence by sentenceuntil time runs out, with us proceeding onlyas fast as needed. Maybe we will get throughthe whole book. Maybe we will only get throughthe first chapter. Regardless of how far we get,we will all come away with a betterunderstanding of God's Word.Dining Outwill be atMoms in Prayer6 Cherry Tree Shopping Center, Washington ILThursday, October 11thMarlene Margherio helps lead a group ofpraying women who meet here at the churchtwice a month on Thursday mornings at 8:30am. Everyone is welcome to join them inpraying for our teachers, children, their families and schools. They will meet in Octoberon the 11th. If you would like a schedule ofall their meetings, one is available in theoffice.Meet at the restaurant at 6:00 PM.Please make your reservation on the sheetoutside the office by Mon., 10/8.For more information contact Sue Devine.Morning Joe October 29th is a 5th Monday!That means Morning Joe is goingto Busy Corner in Goodfield.We will meet there around 8:30 am. Bring afriend! Let us know by Thursday, Oct. 25, thatyou’re coming. Sign up on the sheet outsidethe office so we can reserve enough tables.ExodusFor the rest of usPastor Gary’s bible studywill continue in Octoberon the 16, 23, & 30 at6:30pm. the book of Exodus is beingstudied. Please bring yourself anda bible.Pastor Appreciation Month October is Pastor Appreciation Monthand you are all encouraged to express yourthanks and appreciation to Pastor Gary &Lori, and Brandon & Mandi.We are so blessed to have these devoted,passionate men (and their families) servingour congregation. Let’s be very creative andgenerous in showing them how much theyare loved and appreciated.5

Thank you!We would like to thank each & every one ofyou who took time out of their day to comeout to the Harvest Hoedown! We hopeeveryone had a great time. We had a greattime putting it on. Thank you to Darlene,Donna, Elaine, Gloria, Jean, Jill, and Nicolefor organizing the event. We look forwardto planning and having the Ladies ChristmasLuncheon.Fellowship CommitteeThe Wheels on the Bus go ‘Round and ‘RoundDo you enjoy serving others? Have you alwayssecretly wanted to drive a bus? If so, the Snyder BusTeam has openings. Snyder Village will provide thetraining, and you’ll need to get aJ-05 or J-06 certification. Want tolearn more? Contact Judy Winklerat 309-264-3302.2WANTED:T w e l v e trunks that aredecorated and have candyto pass out.When:Sunday, October 28between 2 and 5At the Fall FestivalInterested:Please write your nameand the number of trunksyou will decorate on thesign-up sheet outside theoffice.

We are preparing for the holiday season and have decided to arrange choir ensembles to provide special music. We are looking for children and adults to join in the funand celebration. Any child from age 5-12 is welcome to participate. Reading skills arehelpful but not required.The kids would be performing on December 16 during both services, and wewould like as many as there can be to also be a part of a combined adult/children'schoir special at the Christmas Eve 5:00 p.m. service. We would like the children torehearse in the chapel between services, from 10:15-10:40. If you would like your childto participate, please have them come to the chapel at 10:15, while you enjoy somefellowship time in the fellowship hall.Rehearsals are as follows: Sun. Oct. 2110:15 Sun. Oct. 2810:15 Sun. Nov. 410:15 Sun. Nov. 1110:15 Sun. Nov. 1810:15 Sun. Nov. 25 10:15 Wed. Dec. 56:30 with Adult choir in Sanctuary Sun. Dec.910:15 Sun. Dec. 16performance at both services Wed. Dec. 19 6:30 pm with Adult choir in Sanctuary Mon. Dec. 24 Christmas Eve 5:00 p.m. performancePlease see Dawn Clark or Lori Salm to ensure your child(ren)’s participation .ANNOUNCEMENTSPhilathea — will meet Tuesday, October 9 at 7:00 pm in Fellowship Hall. Sherrie Harperwill lead devotions.Women’s Guild — will meet on Tuesday, October 23 at 12:00 noon for the Harvest PotluckLunch at Peggy Nieschlag’s home. Joan Robison will lead devotions.Fall Mission Project — During the month of October, our Fall Mission Project donationswill go to the Metamora Community Holiday Baskets. The Jr. Women’s Club and severalarea churches work together to provide much needed food and staples to more than 100local families every year. It’s a tremendous outreach to under-resourced families and helpsto meet great needs. You can donate by using the Fall Project envelope in your givingpacket, or by marking a pew envelope ‘Holiday Baskets.’ You can also take donationsdirectly to Commerce Bank and tell them it is for the Community Holiday Baskets. Thankyou for generously giving to the neediest people right here in Metamora.4

Save the date:October 28thFor theFall FestivalGames, Food, Candy, and Prizes for children AND ADULTS!Jr. High ForgeOctober 26-27th,Lincoln Christian UniversityCost is 20, signupby October 7thSee Brandon for moreInformation.Thank you somuch toeveryone whoparticipated inand donated tothe GreatFlamingoFundraiser!Thanks to all of you we wereable to make a donation to CampDavid of the Ozarks AND put anice amount in our youth fund!Thank you for your continuedsupport of our youth group!There is noElevate October28 due to theFall Festival6