ON-LINEMANTENO CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE

698 N. Locust – P.O. Box 698, Manteno, IL 60950-0698 Phone: (815) 468-8946 – Fax: (815) 468-9420E-Mail Address – mkrueger@mantenonazarene.org Published Monthly – Volume Sixteen – Issue Number 7 – July1, 2010

From the Pastor’s Keyboard

Several weeks ago I challenged the church in a sermon to do something specific to touch the life of a child and then to report back to me. I wanted to share a couple of those reports.

Laura Knol drives a school bus for the Manteno school system. Well that was quite an assignment you gave me Sunday. I deal with over 100 children on a daily basis and I like to think I treat them with compassion and respect. All week I was looking for a tangible way to show love and it finally came this morning in a small way.

One of my special needs boys got on the bus all upset and angry. This was very different for him. He continued to huff and groan on our ride. I had an opportunity to stop and speak with him alone for a minute and I asked if he was having a bad day. He said, yes, that he hated the shoes he was wearing because he couldn’t tie them tight to keep them on. So I offered to tighten and double tie them for him which he gladly accepted. It completely changed his attitude and he got off the bus at school a happy camper. Yes, a small thing to me, but a major one to his morning. Thanks for the challenge. I will continue to watch for those opportunities to show love…even in a small way.

Here is another response I received. Dear Pastor Jack, I was at work one night and a young girl came into the shop asking for a haircut, she was telling me about how no one seems to listen to her. She wanted all her hair pulled forward and cut around her face, I wanted to hear her, you have to part the hair somewhere to cut it (even your hair has a part in it though it’s so thick, I’m not sure it is technically called hair, ha ha). Anyway, she also talked about other stylists, how they complain about her hair, how she was killing it with bleaching it at home. It was damaged but that’s not the message I wanted to send her home with. You want to encourage them to condition and use hair masks. Then she blew my mind when she asked if I had ever done any pole dancers’ hair, and if I knew any strippers. She said that she was considering that as a career, that her step-father said she looked like she had a body for it when she was in her bikini. That scared me. I tried to explain to her that was not a good job, that it was a hopeless place to be, her reply… “Oh, I wouldn’t go any further.” I tried to explain that she might be surprised how things can easily lead to others. I told her that I could use her for a hair model for a show that our shop was putting on. She was excited. She is a great girl. That Sunday you challenged us to reach out to kids. Her house is on the way to church and, as I drove past it on Wednesday, the Lord challenged me to stop and ask her to come with me. So, on the spur of the moment, I went to her house and asked if she would like to go to youth group. Like a faithful follower even at the glimpse of Jesus she walked out the door and came with us. Praise God!

With VBS this month, every one of us has a beautiful opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child. Have you signed up to make a difference? Are you still watching for opportunities to touch a child and change a life for eternity?

Pastor

ON-LINE

MANTENO CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE

Sunday School Ministries - Marian Pollard, S.S. Director

   Freedom, Glorious Freedom!!!!!!! Thank you to all men and women who

have fought to keep our country free.  May God bless each and everyone who serve in our Armed Forces, for the sacrifices each have made, or are making today, in order that I may enjoy a freedom that I treasure.  However, I enjoy another freedom that comes ONLY through Jesus Christ, my Lord. How can I ever thank Him enough for dying on the cross for me a sinner!

This morning, I was pulling weeds!  The Lord always teaches me a lesson while I am pulling weeds! Those pesky little weeds and sometimes BIG weeds grow no matter whether it is hot, dry, or very wet!  They are always there! We received a rain shower this morning so it was a little easier to pull those varmints! Some of the weeds did not have much of a root system. So those pulled out very quickly and easily.  However, some of the weeds I had missed the last time.  Needless to say, the root system went much deeper on these weeds.  As I was pulling, it was as though the Lord was saying to me, “Marian, these weeds are just like your sins.”  If you will come to me each day asking for my forgiveness for ALL of your sins, it is not so difficult to seek my forgiveness." The cleansing and freedom that He gives me when I seek His forgiveness is glorious!  However, if I leave certain areas of my life in my hands, knowing full well that I need to ask for His forgiveness, it gets a little harder for me to come before the Lord asking for His mercy and forgiveness.  Sometimes, I know full well that there is an area in my life that I need to let the Lord cleanse.  No one can see that part but I know and most importantly the Lord knows exactly what is going on in my heart!  There's nothing like being before the Lord on your knees allowing Him to do the cleaning out of ALL the sins! Each day, I need to allow the Lord to work in my life cleansing and making me into who He wants me to be for Him.  I need to spend time with the Lord each day taking care of business so that I can be used by Him.  My prayer life, reading and studying His Word, and just being quiet before Him must happen on a daily basis.  If not, then I have bigger issues to deal with than I want.   My desire is to be more like Him and to be a reflection of His Love.  So, pulling weeds this morning was a GOOD THING!!!!!!!! Once again, He speaks showing me how to draw closer to Him and how to become who He wants me to be!  If you want to learn more about the wonderful freedom found in Jesus Christ, please join us on Sunday mornings for Sunday School, at 10:00 a.m.  We have classes for all ages.  May the chorus from the song, "Glorious Freedom" ring in your heart today and every day: "Glorious freedom! Wonderful freedom!No more in chains of sin I repine!Jesus, the glorious Emancipator-Now and forever He shall be mine!" Loving you through Jesus,Marian

Special Recognition – Shane Ferris: Illinois Principals Association - Bourbonnais Upper Grade Center

Shane Ferris is recognized as one of our Compassionate Student Award winners. Shane has one of the kindest hearts of almost any students I have come across. He always has a smile on his face and is never lacking for a kind word to others. Shane is always respectful of others and especially in the classroom with his teachers. His grades are excellent and his work ethic is unmatchable. Congratulations, Shane!

NAZARENE MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL (NMI)

JULY EMPHASIS – International Ministry – Bible Schools & SeminariesNazarene Higher Education is Changing the World for Jesus Christ. The strength of the future Church lies in the hands of the thousands of new pastors and those institutions of higher education set up to train them. The Church of the Nazarene has Bible Schools and Seminaries around the world, training pastors and church workers. Our Faith Promise budget includes an amount to support the Seminary and Bible College in the United States

Missionary Speakers – Wednesday, July 21, 7 p.m.

Bernie and Rhonda Slingerland and their two daughters, Hannah and Abigail, are Career Assignment missionaries for the Church of the Nazarene serving in the Mexico Central America (MAC) Regional Office in San Jose, Costa Rica. They have served in missionary assignments in Venezuela in the South America Region, and then in the seven countries of the MAC Region, including 6 years living in Guatemala. They have been missionaries since 1995.

Hannah Elizabeth was born May 12, 1995, and Abigail Ruth was born December 3, 1997.  They just completed their school year in Costa

Rica.

FAITH PROMISE WEEKEND – September 18 - 19The Heap’s from South America will be with us.

NEW LINKS MISSIONARIES We are responsible for the missionaries below for the next 2 years.Active Missionary: Tim and Lydia Kim are from Korea and are missionaries in the Philippines.Retired Missionaries: Robert and Peggy Perry served in Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa.

PRAYER REQUESTPray for those who direct the ministry at Campamento Jiraquito and a situation related to the property. Pray that the issue will be resolved in God’s perfect timing and will. Campamento Jiraquito is a Nazarene campground in Venezuela.Pray for the Faith Promise Convention.

Our new reading books and CD’s will be available soon. Please pick up a book/CD from the Basket on the NMI table. Please sign your name on the card inside the book and leave the card in the file box on the table. Please return the book/CD as soon as you have read/listened to it. We get points for each book read. We need your help. Children’s and Youth books are available. Please see our Children and Youth Pastors for the books. Help us by returning the books that you may have misplaced at home. The books will be recycled to churches that cannot afford to buy them.

Crisis Care KitsThere is a severe shortage of Crisis Care Kits. Please bring in supplies as you are able to help on this project. The items that we need the most now are: toothbrushes, band aids, nail clippers, sturdy combs, hand towels, and tissue packets.

Janice Carlson – NMI President

3 Melody Grimm 12 Dan Olson 24 Nancy Boyer

4 Laurie Dollens 12 Caleb Sowles 24 Nicholas Campe 4 Brittany Spangler 13 Diane VanPelt 25 Ashley Nogoda 5 Sarah Blanton 15 Jamie Matthews 26 Helen Zurcher 6 Joshua Scott 18 Bonnie Austell 27 Nick Minnich 6 Camille Fletcher 18 Julie Cullotta 28 Ken Baldauff 7 Jeff Campe 19 Bill Harders 28 Marci Reynolds 8 Vickie Wade 20 LeAnn McCormick 29 Dan Ferris 9 Ricia Harders 20 Lexie Rieder 29 Emily Taylor 9 Debby Kooy 20 Marjean Fisher 29 Ben McCrary10 Pam Wheeler 21 Carl Fletcher 30 Warren Moses Knox12 Margaret Bjorklund 23 Jason Paarlberg 30 Tim Jakresky

31 Bethany Baldwin

6 – Fred and Lynnette Yantes 16 – Bill and Ricia Harders

6 – Scott and Susan Armstrong 22 – Cliff and Marnie Davis 8 – David and Connie Skinner 25 – Carl and Camille Fletcher10 – Berry and Jane Minnich 30 – Jack and LeAnn

McCormick11 – Dale and Margaret Bjorklund 31 – Chuck and Sue Bishir

All “GIRLS” entering 5th and 6th grade, along with their mothers, are invited to attend the 2010 metamorphosis class. We, as women, will discover together all the changes occurring within us as well as around us. This class will be led by Sue Toepper and be held in the upstairs children’s wing on the following dates:

Sunday, July 25th - 6-7:30 Sunday, August 1st - 6 -7:30Sunday, August 8th - 6-7:30

Sunday, August 15th - 6-7:30 Sunday, August 22nd - 6-8:00

Sign up on the sheet on the FLC hallway bulletin board

METAMORPHOSIS CLASS

Any questions call Sue @ 815-476-9306

July 11 – 15, 6-8:30 p.m. Get ready for our High Seas Expedition, where you’ll explore the might love of God!

You’ll have a swashbuckling adventure through God’s Word, and discover that God shows his powerful love throughout Scripture. Kids entering grades 1-6 will experience Bible Adventures, Games, Snacks, Crafts and of course Chadder’s Theatre! Do not miss out on this great opportunity! Tell your friends, neighbors and teammates to come and join the fun, there is plenty for everyone. If you have any questions, please call Michelle McCleary 815.933.6848. We are so excited about having you at our High Seas Expedition!

Register online at www.mantenonazarene.orgHere is what our VBS offering will be going to this year:Dear Parents, The offering your children bring to Vacation Bible School this week will go toward the 2010 Kids Reaching Kids Mission Offering, The Hope Project.Millions of kids throughout the world find themselves surviving or living on the streets. Many of them struggle each day for the basic needs of life—food, clothing and shelter.As children give their nickels, dimes, quarters, and dollars for The Hope Project, children on the streets will have many of these basic holistic needs of life met. In addition, many of them for the first time will also hear and learn how Jesus Christ can make a difference in their lives. They will experience the depths of Jesus’ love.The Hope Project will provide funds for street children in each of the seven would regions of the Church of the Nazarene. This includes Africa, Asia-Pacific, Caribbean, Eurasia, Mexico and Central America, North America, and South America.Working with the regional coordinators for Connecting a New Generation, The Hope Project will help to fund holistic efforts for children around the globe. In addition, the funds will help these regional coordinators train and equip new workers to reach these children on the streets.“But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish”. Psalm 9:18, NIV

Children on the streets will know they have not been forgotten, they will feel the hope that comes from Jesus Christ, and they will have access to the basic needs of live. Thank you for your generous gifts to this offering.

Michelle McCleary, VBS Director

Continued on next page…Vacation Bible School Continued.

We are also taking online donations to support this year’s VBS. Please click the Donate tab located on the left lower corner of the link above to find out how you can support our VBS project. You can find out more about the project at the following link.

http://fundraising.group.com/site/highseas/The_Hope_Project

Church of the Nazarene VBS offering will be used to support “The Hope Project”.

New Children’s Pastor

We are so excited to announce that we have hired Bekah Bowman as our new children’s pastor. Bekah, her husband Danny and Titus

their new son will be moving here the end of July. Bekah attended Northwest Nazarene University and graduated in 2006 with a BA in psychology and a minor in children’s ministry. (Titus)The highlights in college were playing soccer for the school and meeting Danny. She and Danny got married in October of 2005. They moved to Idaho Falls to serve together as youth and children’s pastors at the Idaho Falls First Church of the Nazarene in 2007. Since being there she has worked in the mental health field and as a kindergarten teacher, along with her position at the church. Their family also includes a wonderful black and white cat named Lillie. Bakah stated “I have worked with kids all my life and am very excited to come to Manteno to continue doing what I know the Lord has called me to do!” (My husband, Danny)

For the beautiful music on Sunday mornings, For your dedication in attending rehearsals, For inspiring us to lift our hearts, minds and voices in singing praises to our Lord, Choir, we thank you!

One Worship

ServiceJuly 4th, 10:00 a.m.

On this Sunday, we will have a combined worship service in the church sanctuary. Following this service we will have a time of fellowship in the Family Life Center. We will furnish coffee, juice and donuts. Our church office will be closed on Monday, July 5th.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3

4 5Church Office Closed

Jr./Sr. High Camp

6

Ch. Bd. Mtg. 7:30p

7 8 9 10

9a – 1pVBS

Decorating

11Communion

VBS 6-8:30p

12Nothstine Mission 10a

13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

2010

Mission Service 7p

25Blacklock/Spangler wedding shower 2p

Metamorphosis class 6-8p

26 27Kid’s Camp

28 29 30 31

Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

Sunday Services: 8:30a – Traditional; 10-10:45a – Sunday School; 11a – Contemporary

Wednesday Services: 7p – Bible Study; 7p – Youth

July