Liz Curtis Higgs •You Can Be a Major Sponsor (Starting at $1,000 Senior Pastor We Are Excited to Welcome Liz Curtis Higgs Back to St

Annual Golf Outing & Silent Auction This year’s tournament is on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at the

NON-PROFIT Orchards Golf Course in Belleville. This fundraiser helps our ORG. senior ministry. You can help in several ways. U.S. POSTAGE •You can register to play! Get a foursome together PAID BELLEVILLE, IL for this shotgun scramble. The cost is $85 / person. 1200 Moreland Drive PERMIT#293 There are prizes for the winners, closest to the pin, Belleville, Illinois 62223 longest drive and skins. (618) 397-5994 Return Service Requested •You can donate prizes and silent auction items like www.stmatthewumc.org tickets, gift cards, baskets, packages, etc. •You can become a hole sponsor (starting at $100 donation). St Matthew Pastors James Slone Liz Curtis Higgs •You can be a major sponsor (starting at $1,000 Senior Pastor We are excited to welcome Liz Curtis Higgs back to St. Matthew donation). Jon Carrell on May 12 and 13! Liz is a highly sought after speaker and Pick up a golf outing brochure at the Welcome Center. Associate Pastor author of many popular books including Bad Girls of the Bible. Larry Patton Maker Fun Factory VBS Pastor of Congregational Care Come hear her profound Biblical messages and wonderful sense of humor. The conference is Friday, May 12 from 7:00 pm - 9:00 Vacation Bible School is June 5 - 9 from 9 Next Issue pm (Men and Women). Saturday, May 13 is from 9:00 am - am - 12 pm for 3 year olds - finishing 6th Submission Deadline: 12:00 pm (Women Only). The Great Romance will lead worship grade and it’s FREE! Check out the child Friday, March 10th both days. There is still time to get your tickets (it’s a great way and volunteer sign up table in the foyer for to spend the weekend with mom or some friends). Tickets in more info. Join us on this adventure as we advance are $15 a day ($30 for the whole conference). Tickets at learn that we are created by God and built for a purpose. the door will be $20 per day ($40 for the whole conference). Get Important VBS Dates: Volunteer training May 24 OR June yours today! 4 (6 - 7 pm), Work Days May 30 - June 1 (10 am - 4 pm), Shriners Parade June 2 (5:30 pm), Decorate June 3 (10 am) Instruments of Praise and June 4 (3 pm). Please sign up at the VBS table if you Instruments of Praise, formerly know as can volunteer for any of these dates, We need your help! “Ring Praise”, will feature the Wesley Treasure Island - Kids Spring Musical Ringers and the St. Matthew Orchestra in the Treasure Island will be presented by our children’s choirs Sanctuary on Sunday, May 7 at 7:00 pm. on Wednesday, May 10 at 6:30 pm. Join us on our journey The evening will include a special recognition as we search for riches in the kingdom of God. Dress of Ron Mitchell who was a founding member rehearsal is Tuesday, May 9 from 6 – 7:30 pm. Aaargh or the orchestra in 1987 and has lead it for the matey, it’s going to be a good time praising Jesus! last 30 years. Admission is free and a love offering will be taken. Beulah Camp Save-The-Dates Beulah Youth Institute, June 18 - 24 (Grades 8 - 13) Beulah Bible Camp, June 26 - 29 (Grades 7 - 5) Beulah: The Beginning, June 30 - July 1 (Grades 2 - 4) Beulah Holiness Camp Meeting, July 28 - Aug 4 (Adult & Family)

National Day Of Prayer Join us on Thursday, May 4 on the steps of the St. Clair Her children arise and call her blessed; her County Courthouse at noon as we pray for our government, husband also, and he praises her: Proverbs 31:28 church, military, family, education, media and business. The theme this year is “For Your Great Name’s Sake! Hear us …Forgive us …Heal us!” “O Lord, Listen! O Lord, Forgive! O Lord, Hear and Act! For Your Sake, O My God…” Daniel 9:19 Home Bible Study Pastor Jon, Stephanie, and Marissa will be hosting a Home Bible Study at their home at 1008 Blue Ridge Dr. (the 2nd house west of the church) this summer on Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. beginning on May 17th. We will be studying the book of Philippians. Everyone is invited, including children. Spring Training 2017 St. Matthew Jubilee April 2017 Weekly Worship Ministry News Applying Bible Principles In the years prior to his assumption of power in Germany, Adolph Hitler was a master of deception. He made free use of the Sunday Children’s Ministry: Lindsay Vollmar - 618-660-7552 - [email protected] Christian vocabulary and talked about the blessing of Almighty God and the Christian confessions of faith which would become the KIDCHECK IS LIVE! This is our new child check-in system and parent paging system. pillars of his new state. He assumed the earnestness of a man who is utterly weighed down by historic responsibility. He handed out Morning: 8:00 am, 9:17 am, 10:45 am Parents & guardians, please make sure you have created an account as you will need this to pious stories to the press, especially to the church papers. He showed his tattered Bible to many church leaders and declared that he drew Sunday School: 9:15 am & 10:45 am check your kids into our nurseries and classes (www.go.kidcheck.com) the strength for his great work from the Word of God. According to one pastor, "He was actually able to introduce a pietistic timbre into Cornerstone Deaf Church: 6:00 pm BACK TO THE CROSS will be presented by our New Creation Puppeteers on Sunday, April 30 his voice which caused many religious people to welcome him as a man sent from God." Evening: 6:30 pm (Worship/Bible Study) at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. Join us on an adventure through time, meet new friends and find As the world learned to its horror in later years, Hitler was an impostor. He had only used these things to mask his real what it means to truly love God. An evening for all ages, so load up the DeLorean and head intentions and to fool people. He was what could be accurately labeled the "master hypocrite." He said one thing while actually doing to church. Snacks in the Vine Café following the musical. exactly the opposite. BEULAH CAMP FORMS are available at the Welcome Center! Early registration ends April 5 When it comes to hypocrisy, Adolph Hitler was in a league by himself. None of us desires to be — or should ever be — Pastor Jon Carrell’s Sermon: and we only have a certain number of bunk beds available. Please turn your forms in as soon compared to him or his despicable actions. However, when it comes to the Christian life, sometimes we, too, say one thing and do as possible. Male sponsors needed! another. We pretend to be great students of the Bible, when we actually seldom look at the Book. We give the impression that we spend May 7: Predestined to Be Adopted MAKE SURE YOU JOIN the “St. Matthew Children’s Ministry” Facebook page to stay hours in prayer, when we very seldom engage in prayer except when at church. We pretend to love other Christians, when, in reality, we Ephesians 1:3 - 5 updated on the latest information, events and pictures from our kids! can't stand some of them. MARK YOUR 2017 CALENDARS Treasure Island (May 10), Maker Fun Factory V.B.S. (June Hypocrisy. The very word is the blight of the church and the Christian faith. But hypocrisy is not possible when it comes to James Slone’s Sermons for Sunday 5-9), Beulah Bible Camp (June 26-29), Beulah Beginner Camp (June 30 & July 1) and Mega giving. That's right — it is impossible to say one thing and then to do another when it comes to giving. Our checkbook gives us away. If Mornings in May: Sports Camp (July 17 -21). we are trying to say one thing and do another concerning our giving, our checkbook will reveal our false claims of being "great givers" to be empty and superficial. Or as one person said it so well, "It is possible to fake some things in the Christian life, but it is not possible to fake giving." May 14: Deborah: A Mother in Israel The Apostle Paul summed up this matter of saying one thing and then of doing what we say with this statement: the testimony Judges 5:7 of our conscience should be " . . . that we have conducted ourselves in the world . . . in the holiness and sincerity that are from God" (2 Senior Adults Ministry: Jeanie Lively - 618-979-7434 - [email protected] Cor. 1:12). In other words, by walking in holiness and sincerity that God provides in response to our obedience, what we do will match May 21: They Had a Testimony OUR NEW LIFE CLUB MEETING will be May 18, 2017 at noon in the Vine Cafe. Our what we say, including in the area of giving.Think about it: If your checkbook could talk, what would it say about you and about your Psalm 66:16 program will be presented by Jim Corbitt, Retired Pastor/Chaplain, entitled "The Effect Life giving to the work of the Lord at St. Matthew United Methodist Church? Would it testify that you are walking in "holiness and sincerity" Experiences Have On Our Beliefs." We will be having a Carry In/ Pot Blessing this month. in your giving, or would it have a different story to tell? © Kenneth L. Williams May 28: The Sovereignty of Christ Members please bring one dish of the following: A-F Salad, G-L Potato (mashed, scalloped, John 13:3 pasta,etc.), M-R Vegetable, S-Z Dessert. Meat, rolls and drink will be provided. Seniors of all faiths are welcome. No reservations required. Members please remember to bring your used News & Events Titles are subject to change when glasses for our Medical Mission team to take to Paraguay this summer. We are also gathering something more intriguing comes along. children's over the counter medications for this purpose. We hope to see you there. Cardinals Tickets Paraguay Medical Mission OUR NEW MINISTRY “BLESSING BONNETS” is stocked up with beautiful head coverings. In a spirit of Christian cooperation, St. Matthew is helping the The Medical Mission Team will be in Paraguay These gorgeous hand knitted hats are for folks going through chemotherapy as well as folks from July 7 - 15. They need our support to spread in nursing homes. If you know someone who would benefit from these, please contact me or Union United Methodist Church Youth Mission raise support drop by my office. They are free to anyone who needs them. What a "Blessing!" by selling Cardinal tickets. Tickets are available in our church God’s Word and to mend bodies and souls. You can Wednesday ST. MATTHEW GOLF TOURNAMENT please bring your contributions to my office for the office for the Wednesday, July 5, 7:15 pm game versus the help in several ways: Prayer, Praise & Preaching Worship Annual Silent Auction at the St. Matthew Golf Tournament which will be held May 20 at The • Make a monetary donation to this mission. Please Orchards. Our Senior Ministry greatly benefits from this outing. Florida Marlins. Tickets are $20 each (regular ticket price of Service 6:30 pm, Chapel. Nursery $61) and are for section 132 (lower right field box). Great seats make sure you mark “Paraguay” on your check or envelope. available at all Worship Services THE NEW LIFE CLUB CHOIR meets Wednesday evenings at 5:30 pm in the Park Room. This month we sing at the Wednesday Prayer, Praise and Preaching 6:30 pm service in the chapel at a great price for a great cause! The deadline to get yours is • Purchase medical supplies for the team to take with them. on May 3 and May 24. We finish our nursing home season by singing on May 4 at the June 18. Make checks payable to Union UMC. There will be a donation bin in the foyer beginning the first Freeburg Care Center, having lunch at Eckert's and singing at Grand Manor in Swansea. After Sunday in May. our May outings we will be off for the summer until August. We have had a wonderful time Blood Drive A list of suggested medical items... Special Events Calendar sharing the gospel through the music of our Lord. Think about joining us in August. You will have the opportunity to give the life-saving gift "Redeemed AGAIN,THE THRIFT SHOP OF ST. MATTHEW” appreciates your summer Infant Tylenol Drops, Infant Vitamin Drops, Children’s May 2 Trustees Meeting clothing donations and table items for the home. They are true blessings to our customers. of blood on Wednesday, May 3rd from 3:30 - 6:30 pm. Multivitamins, Tylenol Chewables, Children’s Ibuprofen May 3 Blood Drive SR. TRAVEL - EVEN IF YOU HAVEN’T TRAVELED WITH US - WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE The “blood mobile” will be parked outside the kitchen Liquid, Adult Multivitamins, Triple Antibiotic Ointment, entrance. So come a little earlier than usual for the May 4 National Day of Prayer TO GO? Give me a call, give me some literature, send me an e mail, etc. I'm always looking Prenatal Vitamins, Hydrocortisone Cream & Excedrin for new ideas! family meal and donate! Migraine. May 10 Kids Spring Musical • Celtic Woman - St. Louis Fox Theatre - June 16. Pray! Pray for the team, pray for safe travel, pray for the May 12 Liz Curtis Higgs • United States Air Force Museum And Henry Ford Museum Tours - May 15-20. Balance Women of Worth • due now work to be done and pray for those who will be served. May 13 Liz Curtis Higgs The next Women of Worth meeting is on Saturday, May 6 at • NEW TRIP - “9 - 5” At Stages - St. Louis - August 10. the Abbey at 8:30am. Women of all ages are invited to a study Medical Mission team members… NEW TRIP - Jonah From Sight & Sound At Ronnie’s Cine - One Showing - May 2. May 14 Mother’s Day • on Philippians. Dean Alberts, Hailee Anglin. Ashish Bhandari, Keith, Karen & May 15 Endowment Committee • NEW TRIP - St. Louis Cardinals At Miller Park - Milwaukee, WI - August 3 - 4. Leia Breithaupt, Dr. Blake Hocott, Linda Kilhoffer, Dr. Kim • NEW TRIP - Fabulous Wurlitzer Organ at The Fox - August 13. Joy of Easter Praise Meeting NEW TRIP - Solar Eclipse- Little Grassy Methodist Camp - August 21. Littlefield, Miranda Lonski, Lynn Mitchell, Hank & Wanda • What a wonderful 28th year of the Joy Of Easter! Attendance May 16 Finance Committee Meeting • THE BEST OF A BRANSON CHRISTMAS - November 3-7, 2017. Oplinger, Daniel Petrus, Gina Porter, Tom & Suk Quinn, was a little under 3,000 and we had 12 people pray to receive May 18 New Life Club Meeting NEW TRIPS are introduced at the New Life Club meetings the third Thursday of each month. Virginia & Tori Shelton and Amanda Wegner. COMPLETE TRIP DESCRIPTIONS are available at the Welcome Desk and/or call me. Check Christ as their savior! Thank you to the cast, crew, choir, May 18 Administrative Board Meeting our church website at www.stmatthewumc.org for up to date information. orchestra and countless other volunteers (stage, make-up, Graduation Congratulation! May 20 Community Meal costumes, kitchen, etc) that make this production possible. Do you have a graduate in the family this year? If you, your May 27 Wesley Men’s Breakfast children or grandchildren are graduating from 8th grade, high Young Adults school or college this spring let us know! Send their name, May 29 Memorial Day - Church Office A Young Adult Group meets on Sunday evenings at 5:00 pm in what grade they are graduating from and what school they are Closed Student Ministry: Brian Caringer - 618-402-0165 - [email protected] YOUTH GROUP: meets Sunday from 5:00 - 7:00 in the Youth Room. the Library. All young adults are welcome to attend! graduating from to [email protected]. We will have WEDNESDAY NIGHT YOUTH BAND: from 5:30 - 6:30 pm in the Youth Room. House For Rent a special graduate bulletin insert on Sunday, June 4. The WEDNESDAY NIGHT DISCIPLESHIP: from 6:30 - 7:30 pm in the Youth Room. deadline to submit your graduate is May 31. The property the church purchased at 1001 Shepherd Drive is This Month’s BEULAH: Beulah Youth Institute is June 18 - 24. Cost is now $150. Register on-line at Community Meal now available for rent. If you would like more information igrc.org/camping but don’t pay on-line. Get your newsletter via e-mail! Send your request, with “e- is Saturday, May please contact Glenn Todd in the church office at MISSION TRIP: July 9 - 15 in Melbourne, Florida. Cost is now $250. newsletter” as the subject to: [email protected]. 20 at 11:00 am. WE ARE LOOKING FOR ADULT SPONSORS: If you are interested see Brian Caringer. 618-397-5994.