Sullivan UMC—J. Michael Smith

Lots of Important News Today

NEWS ITEM #1:  Kat (Kathleen) Pound Will Be Our New Administrative Executive

I am delighted to announce that Kat Pound has agreed to fill a long vacant administrative role for our church.   If you are trying to place her, she is the daughter-in-law of Joe Pound. Her husband is Clark. 

Kat will be setting up our new website and serve as our webmaster.  She will also be the strategist for all our social media.  She will write and send out a weekly newsletter, publish our worship bulletins, supervise the handling of all phone calls, emails, text messages, and old fashioned mail.  Kat will be the staff person to keep our programming on track and make sure our communication and organization works for everyone.

She is semi-retiring from VALTECH as the Client Engagement Director where she had oversight for a $16 million portfolio, with responsibilities for revenue growth, renewals, and multi-year planning.  She has a strong background in marketing, re-platforming, cross-functional leadership, and data driven decision making.  Digital technology is her specialty and she is eager to help First Church find new and exciting ways to connect with our surrounding community.  

She can also communicate the old school way with people who don’t mess with computers or the internet.

Kat joins Yvonne Workman and Esther Nelson to complete our administrative team.  Esther will continue to serve as our on-site receptionist (with some volunteer help) and Yvonne has an eclectic range of responsibilities that include financial and membership secretary, purchasing, slides for worship, signage, vendor records, and attendance records.  

This administrative team will work together and with the pastor and leaders and members of our church to streamline our management responsibilities so we can all focus on the main purpose of the church:  worship of God, sharing the gospel with each other and with our neighbors, loving one another, serving our neighbors, caring for our members, promoting fellowship and friendships, and growing in our Christian faith.

NEWS ITEM #2:  New worship times beginning April 12

Starting April 12, our worship in Friendship Hall will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the worship in the sanctuary will begin at 10:30.  We will have worship services at those times every Sunday, with the only exception (under my administration) being the single worship service at the park on Father’s Day (which will be 10:30, followed by a cookout.)

NEWS ITEM #3:  New Office Hours

In order to be fiscally responsible in our friendliness and hospitality—we are changing the hours that Esther Nelson (or a volunteer) will be at the church.  Our new hours will be Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Even though we are cutting back on the hours a receptionist is available, we will be working to enhance response time to phone messages, texts, and email.  Anyone who needs to be at the church for other times will be accommodated to be sure they can get in.

This change comes from the observation that the receptionist has quite a few “empty” hours—and a confidence that people can be accommodated in less costly ways.

NEWS ITEM #4:  Fellowship hour hosts needed:

Bonnie Scott reports that we still need hosts for the following Sundays:

May 3, July 5, August 2, and December 6.  Please add your name to the sign-up sheet on the kitchen counter or check with Bonnie.

NEWS ITEM #5:  Your pastor just made another mistake:

(Correction from yesterday’s post.  I will NOT be gone April 5—EASTER DAY, but rather April 12.)

NEWS ITEM #6:  I’ll Fly Away

But not in the manner of the old gospel hymn.  Jie and I are flying only flying to New Orleans (Monday).  We will be renting a car, checking out parts of New Orleans and Baton Rouge, driving to Houston (I’ve only ever been through the airport there), taking in museums and parks, staying in an Airbnb, then driving back to New Orleans, then flying back to Chicago—then both of us going back to work.  I’ll be in Sullivan the next day.  My next days in town will be April 17, 18, and 19.  I’m now taking appointments for those days…

No daily Pastor Posts until April 17.  But I can be reached for emergencies at 217-898-3148 and will send any urgent messages out—even while out of town—if necessary and urgent.

NEWS ITEM #7:  BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES FOR APRIL (that we know about):  Please notify Yvonne at the church office if we need additions or changes, etc.

Anniversaries:

4/1 – T.J. & Melinda Cowell 

4/4 – Bob & Julie McClain

4/8 – Beth & Jeff White

4/25 – Bruce & MaryAnn Hecht

4/29 – Tim & Paula Coffer

Birthdays:

4/2 – Mackenzie Hoss

4/6 – Amanda Sanner

4/7 – Karen Cole 

4/7 – Angie Reed

4/8 – Theresa Shaw

4/12 – Laura Elder

4/17 – Hunter Blakey

4/21 – Amber Crothers 

4/21 – Jack Scott

4/23 – Beau Fleming

AND NOW FOR THE REGULAR FRIDAY NEWS:

Worship this Sunday

Easter Day!  One worship service at 9 a.m. in the sanctuary

Scripture:  John 20:1-20

Sermon:  “Lost and Found”

Hymns:  Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, Up From the Grave He Arose

Praise Team:  Victory in Jesus, Glorious Day

Children:  TWO SPECIAL SONGS

Holy Communion

Special Music:  The Holy City

Calendar this Coming Week:

• Monday, April 6: 
  • no United Women of Faith meeting this day
  • Wings 5:30
  • AA 7
• Tuesday April 7
  • Walking with Jesus (men) 9 a.m.
  • Women of Faith 9 a.m.
  • Tuesday (everyone welcome) dinner out (see Ray)
• Wednesday April 8
  • Praise Team practice 5 p.m.
  • AA 7 p.m.
• Thursday April 9
  • Mary’s food bags noon
  • “One Book One Town” book discussion 5:15 p.m.
• Next Sunday:  different lay people will speak at the Sunday worship services about what this congregation means to them.