Faith United Presbyterian Church News

Focus on Faith

April 14, 2011

Greetings!

I never thought that doing laundry with someone would lead to an amazing connection and new relationship with a family in our community. Last Friday I was called upon to wash clothes with a gentleman through our Wash Day Ministry. He had several failed attempts in seeking employment here in Monmouth, so he was going to be traveling to Champaign to start a new job and needed clean clothes for his fresh start.

When he came he brought a friend with him to check out our Ministry and also translate a little. Both men are from the Congo, so they both speak French and Swahili, and since I speak neither one, I thought, "This is going to be interesting!" After getting the laundry started we went into the library where I realized that the friend he'd brought spoke a fair amount of English. I was very happy because I was very eager to learn about the Congo. After talking for awhile I learned that the friend he'd brought with him had a family. He and his wife have nine children. Six of the children are in school where two of them are in the same class with my children, Malik and Mariah. I quickly began to realize that I knew a little about this family after all. I had been trying to reach out to them through the Mother to Mother Ministry since the birth of their twins back in December, but was never able to make contact with the mother or father.

The family moved here late October of 2010. They came through a refugee organization to seek employment; however, he has been unable to find work here locally. He told me that he could have gone to a big city to find work, but the big city was not good for his family. He said Monmouth was good for his family if he could find a job. I was overcome with joy to hear him say that because he's right, Monmouth is a great place to raise my family.

When we were finished here at the church, I went up to the Mother to Mother office at the Armoury to make up a welcome basket of food and diapers to take over to this family, and also to invite them to a Mother to Mother bowling event this Friday. I told them that even if they (parents) couldn't come, that my family would love to take all of the kids with us to the event. How exciting is this, my family of five and seven of their children, ages 3 to15, along with all the other families involved with Mother to Mother bowling on a Friday night? Now, doesn't that sound fun and exciting? Well it does to me!

I told my husband, Dominick, that evening that if I do nothing else in my life, career wise, I would be more than happy just to be able to minister to those in need on a daily basis. I could help them do their laundry, get diapers, food, or even just giving them great resources that our community has to offer them and their families. I believe that when we give to others we honor God and Jesus Christ who gave his live for our salvation - a gift we can never repay! But, we can all express our gratitude by giving to others, what God loves, which is his purpose. When God meets the needs of another through us doing his work, we experience the excitement of being part of God's work in our world.

I have since been in contact with this family several times in the last week, including washing clothes with them last Monday, and each time I am truly humbled by my faith, love, and hope for this family. This is a beautiful family, as Mariah, my five-year-old, even pointed out, and I am thankful and very proud that my church, through the Wash Day Ministry, was able to give me this opportunity...the opportunity to do what we as Christians are taught and called to do. I was able to make this connection that opened a great experience and relationship that I now have with this family. Who would have ever thought all of these great things and connections would arise from a load of laundry? And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1Corinthians 13:13

Sincerely,

Stephanie Reading, Wash Day Ministry Volunteer

This Sunday...

"Praising God"

Psalm 118:1-2,19-29 John 19:28-40

Lay Assistant:

Joyce Patterson

Beedle/Crucifer:

Malik Reading and Dalton Hottle

Ushers:

Tim Phelps, Tom Best, Chuck Peirce, Will Myers

Greeters:

Les & Jo Ellen Dollinger

Ruth Carwile and Evelyn Carlson

Nursery:

Kathy Lewis and Megan Byrne

Children's Church:

Lisa Willett

Coffee Hour:

Sue Connell & Barb Byrne

Christian Education

No Sunday School classes on Easter Sunday!

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 - Led by Joyce Hagemann. This class will meet in the brides room at 9:15 a.m.

Faith & Life Class - Lent with Bonhoeffer

April 17 - Ted Briscoe will discuss the new book Bonhoeffer

Prayer Vigil

On Maundy Thursday, April 21, we will share the Lord's Supper as Jesus did with his disciples on the night in which he was betrayed and arrested. Following the service we will follow Jesus to the garden where he asked the disciples to keep watch while he prayed. Three times Jesus was distressed to find the disciples asleep. Faith United is offering you an opportunity to keep watch, to stay awake instead of sleeping, and to pray in the chapel of our church. You may sign up alone, as a couple, a pair, or as a family. Prayer materials and Bibles are supplied if you need guidance. There are 37 times available. Please make this a part of your Holy Week preparation.

Church Key

If you have checked out a key recently from the office and haven't turned it back in, please do so as soon as possible. Thank you!

Fillman Fellowship

Fillman Fellowship will meet this evening, April 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church. Please remember to bring a sandwich. This time of year it's still daylight when we end at 7 p.m. so plan to be with us.

Lenten Lay Breakfast at Strom Center

The 36^th Annual Lenten Lay Breakfast series has begun and will continue each Friday morning through Good Friday April 22, 2011.Strom Center will again be the host for the series.Breakfast begins at 6:30 a.m. with worship from 7:15-7:45 a.m. All are welcome.

April 15 Immanuel Baptist / River Of Life

April 22 First Lutheran

Community Emergency Response Team Training

Meet at Strom Center to get hands on instruction on:

Disaster Preparedness
Fire Safety
Disaster Medical Operations - Triage and Treating Life Threatening Injuries
Disaster Medical Operations - Assessment, Treatment, and Hygiene
Light Search and Rescue
Team Organization
Disaster Psychology
Final Exercise

Class size is limited, register by April 15 by contacting Barb Byrne at 309-368-4598 or 734-6779.

Sugar Tree Grove Church

Breakfast and Bake Sale

Saturday, April 16, 2011

7:00 - 10:00 a.m.

free will donation

Variety Show

Monmouth-Roseville Education Foundation presents: School Daze Variety Show on April 16, at 7:00 p.m.in the Monmouth-Roseville High School Auditorium. Tickets are $5.00 a piece and can be purchased in the office or through Ralph Whiteman.

Ecumenical Singers

The Ecumenical Singers, directed by Leo Ramer, will present their 31st Annual Easter Concert on Palm Sunday, Apr. 17, at 4:00 p.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Monmouth. Also appearing will be the ICS Children's and Youth Choirs, directed by Mrs. Alisa Ramer. A guest appearance by the MRHS Concert Choir will be included. No admission; free-will offering will be taken. This concert is partially funded by the local Buchanan Center for the Arts & the Illinois Arts Council, a state agy.

Icebreakers

The April meeting of Icebreakers will be held on the 17th at 5:00 p.m., meeting in the social hall of the church. The program will be given by Presiana Yorgakieva, a Monmouth College student entitled, Bulgaria - My Home and Country. A meal will be included at a cost of $5.00 each. Reservations can be made by calling Jo Ellen Dollinger at 734-8627, Donna Larson at 734-6103, or Darlene Moffet at 734-5537.

Holy Week

Maundy Thursday (Communion), April 21, at 7:00 p.m., Good Friday Tenebrae, April 22, at 7:00 p.m., and finally our Celebration of the Lord's Supper on Easter Sunday, April 24, at 10:30 a.m.

Easter-tide Breakfast

Join us Easter Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for our Annual Eastertide Breakfast. Enjoy breakfast casserole, coffee cakes, juice/milk.

The cost is $1.50 for children under 10 and $3.00 for adults. Choir will be served at 9:00 for those wanting to eat. Please sign up on the office door.

Coffee Cakes

Would you be willing to bring a coffee cake for our Easter-tide breakfast? If so, please sign up on the office door. Thank you!!!

An Invitation to Read the Bible

Your weekly Scripture readings are:

Sunday (4/17) -2 Chronicles 23:21-27:3

Monday - 2 Chronicles 27:4-30:26

Tuesday - 2 Chronicles 30:27-33:24

Wednesday - 2 Chronicles 33:25-36:22

Thursday - 2 Chronicles 36:23 thru Ezra 3:2

Friday - Ezra 3:3-7:11

Saturday - Ezra 7:12-10:17

Sunday (4/24) - Ezra 10:18 thru Nehemiah 3:31

Lost & Found

We have accumulated quite a bit of "lost and found" items over the course of many months. This Sunday in the social hall we will have these items available to be picked up. The items that are unclaimed will be taken to Strom Center. Thank you!

Cards to Military Personnel

The Deacons would like to send cards to those that are listed in our bulletin who serve in the military. If you could help them track down addresses, that would be greatly appreciated. Addresses can be given to Sally Bowman or Stephanie Reading, or you can drop them off in the office or email them to Heather at faithup@maplecity.com.

Jon Anderson, Frank Brower, Andy Diaz, Joe Bratcher,

Drew Lozier, Michael Fleming, Josh Gilliam, Gregg Haneman,

Luke Johnson, James & Jill Cheney, Adam Lawson,

David Cooper, Bill Gibbs, Gary Sjurset, Lucas Pedigo,

Nathan Frazer Moore, Tunde Scott, Jacob Altgilbers

The Buchanan Community Chorus

The Buchanan Community Chorus presents Nature at its Finest on Friday, April 29, 2011 at First United Methodist Church; Galesburg at 7:00 p.m. Special musical guest - District 205 Singing Streaks. Then, on Saturday, April 30, at the Monmouth College Dahl Auditorium at 4:00 p.m. The cost for adults is $5.00, students - $2.00 (17 and under are free).

A Heart for Kylie!

As you may have seen in our Prayer Concerns, Kylie Logsdon has been listed there for some time now. She is the cousin of Tammi Hottle who was diagnosed with Post-natal Cardiomyopathy in October.

There will be a benefit for her on April 30, 2011. If you'd like tickets, you can purchase them from Tammi. Click on the following link to view the flyer:

Kylie Logsdon Benefit.

Supporting Youth Ministry

May - TBA - Youth will eat, play games and talk about what they think youth ministry in our church should/could look like.

Thank You

Dear Friends,

There is no better way to bring cheer into a hospital room than to place a Deacon's red rose with baby's breath in a vase on the table.

Thank you for the beautiful red rose from the Deacons of Faith.

Helen Bersted

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Dear Church family,

It has been a real testimonial, belonging to a Church family, your caring with food, calls, cards and visits. It made this an easier recovery. The hard part comes now with physical therapy. Betty and I can sympathize with one another, no pain no gain.

Thanks for your prayers and thoughtfulness during our recovery.

Carolyn Meling

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Dear Deacons,

The red rose bud vase arrived to cheer my spirits. It's such a thoughtful way to let Church family know we care for each other.

Thanks for your support and prayers.

In His love,

Carolyn Meling

With Sympathy...

To Don and Marian Mills on the death of Don's brother, Harry Mills, who died on April 8, 2011.

To Larry and Tammy Inman and family, on the death of Tammy's father, James Stewart, who died on April 9, 2011.

To the family and friends of Reva Brower who died on April 11, 2011. Reva's memorial service will be held on Friday morning at Hoover Hall Chapel at 10:00 a.m.

Prayer Concerns

Please continue to keep in your prayers: Mick Miller, Colleen Hazen and family, Pat Brown, Helen Bersted, Eilleen Spoerl, Parker & Joan Steis, Mildred Lipp, Jim & Janet Paris, Val McManus, Chuck Byers, Kathy Yates, Kylie Logsdon, and Frank Sorensen.