A Pilgrimage…..
Thank you for your prayers and support for my recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Bishop Keaton and our ordinands. It truly was a spiritual experience and renewing time. I have been blessed to travel to Israel twice before (in 1973 and in 1998) and each trip has been a wonderful journey. This trip truly was a pilgrimage---a group of Christians committed to sharing Christ and open to being transformed by our experiences together. The thirty four pilgrims were of several generations, clergy and laity, from different parts of our conference, born in different parts of the world. Some were long term friends, others I had never met. Together we “walked where Jesus walked”, felt the spray of a storm on the Sea of Galilee, stood together in silence in the desert where Jesus faced temptations, prayed in the Church of the Nativity, renewed our baptismal vows at the Jordan River, wept on the Via Delarosa, and shared communion at the Garden tomb. Being in such Holy places, where thousands of pilgrims before us have prayed and worshipped, is an overwhelming experience. The Bible does become even more alive and the invitation to know Jesus Christ the Nazarene more personal as your awareness of theplace and time are heightened by the sights and sounds and smells of these places. For to truly be on a pilgrimage is not just about historical facts but living relationships and being led by God’s abiding Spirit in this time and place.
As we all prepare for the season of Lent, may we do so not just with the remembering of a martyred Messiah of the past but also with an openness to the story of a Risen Lord who is present with us NOW! I pray that through our Bible studies, acts of mercy, worship, and daily living, we will all be on a pilgrimage to not only know the story of Jesus but live as those who are being transformed by the living story of Christ.
Grateful to serve with you,
Cindy
Need to get in touch with Rev. Cindy in the next few weeks?
As you know, this season is one that is filled with cabinet meetings (March 11-13, March 25-27, April 7-9)as we continue with the appointment process. I am also traveling to Florida to visit with my parents from March 4 -10. I will have my cell phone with me, but often the best way to contact me is to call the office (618) 242-2817 and leave a message with Carol during this season. Or you may e-mail her at
Thank you for your understanding.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
District meetings and events:
March
5th Ash Wednesday
11th District United Methodist Women celebration of Personal Growth & Spiritual Growth
at Boulder UMC
15thDistrict Committee on Ministry meeting at 9:00 am at Fairfield 1st UMC, Fairfield
17th District United Methodist Men’s Spring Rally at 6:00 pm at Epworth UMC, Mt. Vernon
29th Fruitful Congregations Workshop from 9:00 am–3:30 pm at Wesley UMC, Mt. Vernon
29th District Health Insurance Workshop at 9:30 am at Salem Grace UMC, Salem
29th District Christian Education meeting on VBS with Cokesburystarting at 10:00 am at West
Salem TrinityUMC, Mt. Vernon
31st – April 1st Clergy Retreat at Little Grassy
DISTRICT UNITED METHODIST WOMEN’S SPRING MEETING
SATURDAY – APRIL 12TH
PATOKA UMC
BEGINNING LAY SERVANT TRAINING
SATURDAY – APRIL 26TH
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
SATURDAY – MAY 3RD
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
SUNDAY – MAY 4TH
GRADUATION
DISTRICT MINISTRY TEAM MEETING
MONDAY – MAY 5TH
6:30 PM
ADVANCED LAY SERVANT TRAINING
SATURDAY – JUNE 14TH
8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
THURSDAY – FRIDAY
AUGUST 14TH – AUGUST 15TH
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Grapevine Cluster Lenten Service Schedule
Sunday, March 9, 20146:00 pmWest Salem TrinityMichael Hall
Sunday, March 16, 20146:00 pmWest Salem TrinityAnn Hinds
Sunday, March 23, 20146:00 pmWest Salem TrinityVictor Long
Sunday, March 30, 20146:00 pmWest Salem TrinityBud Storey
Sunday, April 6, 20146:00 pmWest Salem TrinityPhil Poe
Skillet Fork Cluster Lenten Service Schedule
Sunday, March 9, 20146:00 pmIuka UMCRev. King (Baptism & Temptation)
Sunday, March 16, 20146:00 pmPatoka UMCRev. Kerr (The Healing Ministry)
Sunday, March 23, 20146:00 pmKinmundy UMCRev. Slaatte (Proclaiming the Kingdom)
Sunday, March 30, 20146:00 pmLouisville UMCRev. Ebersohl (Calming the Storm) Sunday, April 6, 2014 6:00 pm Alma UMC Rev. Cindy Jones (Sinners, Outcasts and the Poor)
Sunday, April 13 (Palm Sunday)6:00 pmGrace UMC, SalemRev. Cheryl Cain (The Final Week)
Wayne County Cluster Lenten Service Schedule
Sunday, March 9, 20146:00 pmCisne UMCMike Buckman
Sunday, March 16, 20146:00 pmEnterprise UMCCindy Jones
Sunday, March 23, 20146:00 pmBethel UMCCharlie McDonald
Sunday, March 30, 20146:00 pmEllen Moore UMCNancy Myers
Sunday, April 6, 20146:00 pmFairfield First UMCMalcolm Jones
Wabash County Cluster Lenten Service Schedule
Sunday, March 9, 20146:00 pmTrinityDeeta Gaither
Sunday, March 16, 20146:00 pmAllendaleVaughn Courter
Sunday, March 23, 20146:00 pmSt. FrancisvilleEd Davis
Sunday, March 30, 20146:00 pmBellmontCindy Jones
Sunday, April 6, 20146:00 pmLancasterBill Bunnage
Sunday, April 13, 20146:00 pmEvangelicalTom Hanzel
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We all keep asking when this icy, snowy winter will end. Well, we have lots of activities for our Kaskaskia River District UNITED METHODIST WOMEN. On Tuesday, March 11, we will celebrate Personal Growth and Spiritual Growth at Boulder UMC, Boulder IL. (The church is about 6 miles north of US 50 at the Wedekemper corner between Sandoval and Carlyle. The Personal Growth study is "Raising Awareness of the Dangers of Prescription Drugs: A Call to Action" led by Joan Lawrence of Taylorville. She may be joined by an additional resource. The morning should be informative. The afternoon will be led by Nancy Buchanan of Flora. Her theme is "A Bead and A Prayer." Nancy makes jewelry and finds this a very therapeutic Ministry for home bound and nursing home patients. All in all the day will be a great day to get together with other UMW women, learn, and visit together. Contact Agnes Koehler at 618-367-3609 to join us. Lunch will be $7.00.
Our Spring District Meeting will be April 12 at Patoka UMC---north of US 50 on US 51. Much is being planned for you and your UMW members. Join us and see what we are up to.
The Executive Board chose a theme of MAKE IT HAPPEN, GET R DONEfor this year. Without you, we can't Make it Happen and Get R Done. Join us.
Jake Austin from Cokesbury will be at West Salem Trinity United Methodist Church on Saturday,March 29th, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm to talk about Vacation Bible School. This is an open house format. You may come and go as you please. Jake will give two 15 minute presentations---one at 10:30 am and one at 12:30 pm. Come and see what is available for your Vacation Bible School this summer!
KASKASKIA RIVER DISTRICT
UNITED METHODIST MEN
SPRING RALLY
Monday, March 17th, 2014
Gathering @ 6:00 pm
Dinner @ 6:30 pm
Program @ 7:15 pm
Jerry Ellis from Epworth UMC will share his experiences from his recent mission trip to Haiti. The Praise Band from West Salem Trinity UMC will provide music for the evening.
Epworth United Methodist Church
401 Main Street
Mt. Vernon, IL 62864
Please RSVP to Epworth UMC @ 618 242-5394
This will help us in planning for the meal!
CBOP HEALTH INSURANCE CHANGES:
With the proposed changes in the insurance, there are many questions. Rick Van Giesen will be leading a workshop for clergy and lay members to annual conference on the 2015 health insurance proposal. Our meeting date and time is Saturday, March 29th, at 9:30 am at Grace United Methodist Church in Salem. There will be “brunch” foods for you to feast on as Rick talks about insurance. Rick is trying to keep the meeting to about 90 minutes.
This is a busy time for all of us. If you are not able to attend the meeting at Grace UMC, please attend one of the meetings in the other districts. The schedule is:
Sunday, March 9 – 2:30 pm – Cache River District; Marion Aldersgate UMC
Sunday, March 16 – 3:00 pm – LaMoine River District – Griggsville UMC
Sunday, March 23 – 2:30 pm – Mississippi River District (tentative date)
Saturday, March 29 – 9:30 am – Kaskaskia River District
Saturday, March 29 – 2:30 pm – Iroquois River District
Sunday, March 30 – 2:30 pm – Embarras River District
Saturday, April 5 – 1:00 pm – Spoon River District – Galesburg First UMC
Sunday, April 6 – afternoon – Sangamon River District
Saturday, April 12 – 10:00 am – Vermilion River District -
Sunday, April 13 – 2:30 pm – Illinois River District
“Taste of the Spirit,
See the Quiet”
A Time Apart For
Kaskaskia River District Clergy
Little Grassy Camp
March 31-April 1, 2014 March 31-
The time together will begin on Monday,
March 31st at 3:00 pm. Lunch will be served
at 12:00 pm Tuesday, April 1st. You may stay
later or choose to be on your way after lunch.
This time is set aside during Lent to give
clergy an opportunity to rest and reflect.
The time together will be guided but not
demanding. Rev. Dr. Michael Mayfield and
Alice True will be guiding the study on one
of the six virtues that David A. deSilva
considers indispensable for Christian discipleship
in his book, Praying with John Wesley.
Rev. Cynthia A Jones
District Superintendent of Illinois Great Rivers Conference
Serving in Kaskaskia River District
1603 Salem Road , Mount Vernon,Ill 62864
Office 618-242-2817