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What Do You Think?
How is Your Church Doing?
Last Saturday night, Margie and I were invited to a Burns' Dinner in Peoria. Sue Krummel, our General Presbyter, and her husband Frosty, a pastor in Peoria, had invited us to be their guests. We had a lovely time. Almost immediately, after we arrived, Frosty asked, "So how are things at Faith?" I said, "That's a good question." It is a good question, so, I am asking you. In 2010, we had one of our best years financially. Our income was over $300,000 for the first time, I believe, in history. Even without a generous bequest we received, we would have been around the $250,000 mark. Yet, going into 2011, we are $20,000 behind last year's pledged amount. Our worship attendance last year, though still higher than when I came, was the lowest it has been in my tenure. Yet, I have had more conversations, this year, with people about their reading of the Bible than I had in all the previous years put together. We brought in no new members, but we have a good number of new families becoming active in the ministry of our congregation. Our congregation has been blessed to grow evermore diverse. Not to mention, I have watched the lives of a handful of folks change dramatically, for the better, over this past year because of our ministry. In sharing these observations with Frosty, as well as other colleagues and lay folks, in our congregation and outside, I have encountered some interesting responses. For many reasons, there are those who don't like the direction we are heading. Some are concerned about our finances and our membership. Some miss old friends and mourn the loss of our prestige from days gone by. I am not being critical by mentioning their concerns. I am only trying to acknowledge them. Others, on the other hand, see the promise of new growth. They liken our losses to pruning. They see, perhaps even clearer than I, the new fruit of the Spirit that is being produced. Again, I mention their comments, not to say they are in the right about what is happening, but to share with you what has been said to me. For myself, I would simply offer that I believe we are at a poignant time in our life together. There are some wonderful things happening, by God's grace. Lives are being changed. If you are not seeing this, I would love to visit with you. However, I am also mindful how much more there is to do, if we are to become the people God is calling us to be. I would love the opportunity to visit with you about this, as well. Most of all, I pray the pruning is about over and each of you, in the coming months, will discover new opportunities to bear fruit for the sake of Jesus Christ, and his ministry, through our life together. See you in church!
Pastor Myers revhaggis1@hotmail.com
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| This Sunday...
"Children of Light are not Afraid of the Dark"
"Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee (the very land where John was arrested). He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled. 'Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles - the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region
and shadow of death light has dawned."
Matthew 4:12-16
Isaiah 9:1-4 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Psalm 27:1, 4-9 Matthew 4:12-23
Lay Assistant:
Ann Phelps
Beedle/Crucifer:
Dalton Hottle & Natalie Baber
Ushers:
Julie Armstrong, Tom Giddings, John Lyle,
Nancy Dowell, Tim Phelps
Greeters:
Jon & Sharon Graham
Helen Redmond & Alis Chy
Coffee Hour:
Potato Bake
Nursery:
Lolla Ballard & Chloe Larson
Children's Church:
Lorna Blackford
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Christian Education
Sunday school for PreK - 6th meet up stairs and Jr. & Sr. Highs meet in the Youth Wing at 9:15 a.m.
Sunday Morning Bible Study Class
This class will not meet in the months of January or February. Please join the Faith & Life class in the social hall for their 9:15 class.
Faith & Life Class
Bullying - It's Many Forms and Solutions
January 23 -Lorena Johnson-Miles, Michael Carioto and Mary Bohlander, students at Monmouth College and members of -SOUP - Students Organized to Unite People
January 30 - Cyber bullying -Dr. Ericka Buhring (Educ. Studies at MC)
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Wash Day Ministry to Begin
A big thank-you to Isabel Circle for providing the dinner at the Wash Day Ministry Training Session on January 5. We had a great turn-out from our volunteers and from the participating organizations. We will now start accepting referrals and start providing laundry services to those referred to us. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Heather. If you have questions, please contact Erika Solberg at 734-5145 or esolberg@monmouthcollege.edu. Thank you for your support as we begin our ministry!
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"An Invitation to Read the Bible"
Your weekly Scripture readings are:
Sunday (1/23) - Numbers 31:22-32:42
Monday - Numbers 33:1-35:11
Tuesday - Numbers 35:12-Deuteronomy 1:46
Wednesday - Deuteronomy 2:1-4:23
Thursday - Deuteronomy 4:24-6:25
Friday - Deuteronomy 7:1-10:21
Saturday - Deuteronomy 10:22-13:17
Sunday (1/30) - Numbers 31:22-32:42
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Fill the Box for Jamieson Center's Food Bank!
Jan. 23 - Pancake mix & Syrup
Jan. 30 - Spaghetti Sauce & noodles
Feb. 6 - Raman noodles & soups
Feb. 13 - Anything pink, red or white
Feb. 20 - Rice & beans
Feb. 27 - Peanut Butter & Jelly
Mar. 6 - Hamburger or Tuna Helper& tuna or Macaroni & Cheese
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Icebreakers
Icebreakers will not be meeting in the months of January and February due to unpredictable weather. Their next meeting is scheduled for March 20th. More information will be listed in Focus on Faith at a later date.
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Congregational Meeting
On Sunday, January 23, the annual meeting of Faith United Presbyterian Church will be held immediately following worship. This is an important meeting in which the budget will be presented and the congregation will approve the annual report. |
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Potato Bake
On Sunday, January 23, the youth will have their annual Potato Bake. A free will donation will be received where the proceeds will go toward their mission trip this summer. |
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Isabel Circle
Isabel Circle will meet at the home of Pam Youngblood at 341 South 8th Street at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 27th. Jonalyn Heaton will facilitate Lesson Four from the 2010-2011 Horizons Bible Study: Journey Through Revelation Apocalyptic Hope for Today.
Revelation unfolds like a drama. In order to reach hope at the end of the journey, we must first experience great conflict and judgement. Seven seals are followed in quick succession by seven trumpets, each visiting calamities upon the earth. They function as an urgent wake-up call to the churches being addressed. They are not meant as predictions, but rather as prophetic judgment. These visions deliver God's word of diagnosis about the evils of the Roman Empire, along with divine assurance that the empire's reign of violence will soon come to an end. These visions speak to us today, helping to unveil toxic aspects of our own culture. The good news is that the witness of God's people truly makes a difference. God hears the cries of all victims who suffer, and God answers them.
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Engaging Evangelism
Presbytery of Great Rivers has been called to an evangelical challenge at Transitions of Western Illinois, Conference Center, 631 North 48th Street, Quincy, Illinois 62301on February 11 & 12th. The leader of this one day event is Rev. Ray Jones, Coordinator of Evangelism for the General Assembly of the PC (USA). The focus is an exploration of how our churches can serve in a changing world, how we share our story and our faith, and how we use Scripture to guide our lives. They will examine: Engaging - Our Culture, Engaging - The Gospel, Engaging - The Community, Engaging - Discipleship.
For questions or to R.S.V.P., please contact Annette Smith via e-mail: ansmit53@yahoo.com or by calling 217-222-5992 no later than February 5, 2011.
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Thank You
Thank you for your expressions of sympathy, love, and friendship for the goodness of my mother's life at the time of her death. Your prayers and thoughts have been a great source of comfort to our family. We greatly appreciate your attendance at the visitation and celebration of her life and the memorial gifts to the Children's Home at Peoria, Illinois and to the United Methodist Church at West Burlington, Iowa. Thank you to each and every one of you. May God's blessings be with you. In Christ's Love ... Sharon and Jon Graham
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Dear Faith Church,
Thanks for the care package. My roommate and I enjoyed munching on it all week. It provided a great break from studying. Thanks again for thinking of me during finals week!
Love, Beth Dingman
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Prayer Concerns:
Please continue to keep in your prayers: Peggy Watson, Helen Bersted, Marjorie Phelps, Louise Roos, Val McManus, Phil Painter, Chuck Byers, Kathy Yates, Kylie Logsdon, Joan Steis, and Frank Sorensen.
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January Birthdays
2 - Rose Trimble
Carol Heflin
Mitch McVey
6 - John Turnbull
Jack McBride
7 - Ann Phelps
Eddie Solberg-Hale
10 - Bob Roney Sheila Wilson
Darlene Moffet
11 - Noah Sorensen
13 - Jill McClintock
14 - Jack McLaughlin
Alis Chy
15 - Natalie Baber
Matthew Blackford
18 - Peggy Figle
Steve Distin
20 - Ann Kellogg
Jim Lewis
25 - Molly Inman
26 - Heather Fisher
27 - Dawn Fleming
28 - Barb Gossett
30 - Ron Murdock
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