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This Sunday...
December 4, 2011
"The Peculiar Good News of Jesus Christ"
Isaiah 40:1-11 2 Peter 3:8-15a Mark 1:1-8 Advent Family:
Lay Assistant: Karen Angotti Ushers: Gary Distin, Jon Graham, Bill Hoover, Dick Speer, Larry Willett Greeters: Jim & Lolla Ballard and Buster & Jane Kellogg Beedle/Crucifer: Malik Reading & Emily Fisher Children's Church: Stephanie Reading Nursery: Bonnie Heflin & Emily Fisher Coffee Hour: George & Elizabeth Nieman View our calendar.
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Sunday School
Children 3yrs - 6th Grade: meet in the Theater upstairs. Parents are welcome.
Youth 7th - 12th Grade: meet in the senior high room in the Youth Wing. Faith & Life: meet in the Social Hall
The Advent Series will be lead by Pastor Myers from the book, " God is in the Manger: Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Reflection on Advent and Christmas." Copies of the material will be available in the Social Hall on November 20. Reading for this class is not necessary in order to enjoy the class.
December 4 - Mystery
December 11 - Redemption
December 18 - Incarnation
Bible Study Class: meet in the Brides' Room.
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An Invitation to Read the Bible
Sunday Hebrews 2:18 - 7:13
Monday Hebrews 7:14 - 10:38
Tuesday Hebrews 10:39 - 12:29
Wednesday Hebrews 13:1 - James 3:17
Thursday James 3:18 - 1 Peter 1:21
Friday 1 Peter 2:25 - 2 Peter 1:21
Saturday 2 Peter 2:1 - 1 John 2:29
Sunday 1 John 3:1 - 3 John 1:14
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Advent Devotions
You may pick one up under the mirror outside the office or in the Narthex. This year's devotional is called "The Unfolding Journey" and comes from Presbyterian Today.
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Isabel Circle
Members and friends of Isabel Circle will meet at the rural home of Crystal Sargent at 7:00 p.m. on December 1, 2011. Anyone wanting to carpool should meet at the church parking lot at 6:30 p.m. All women of the church are welcome to attend.
Sharon Graham will facilitate Lesson Three: Greatly Honored Are the Humbled! from the 2011-2012 Horizon's Bible Study. For those who have time, please read the Accra Confession, paragraphs 24-30, on pages 81-82. Copies of Part Two of our continuing group confession will be available at the meeting. We will learn how Jesus renews God's promise to those whom society humbles, a promise that they shall inherit the earth as we encounter Matthew 5:5.
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Mitten Tree
Our mitten tree did not get put up this year, but Isabel Circle members would still like to donate to the Jamieson Center Christmas store so will accept your donations of money or mittens this week-end. With the money we collect, we will buy mittens, to be given to Jamieson Center next week. You can put mittens in a basket in the Narthex this Sunday or give donations to any Isabel Circle member. Thanks for you donations.
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Youth Entry
Emily Fisher, Cheyenne Carver, Will Best, Dalton Willett, Kayla Carver, Malik Reading, and Caleb Duke from the Jr. and Sr. High Youth Group are proud to be submitting their Gingerbread Church in The Gingerbread House Contest. This delicious church will be on display at the Warren County History Museum as a part of their Gingerbread Old Fashioned Christmas open house this Saturday, December 3, and Sunday, December 4, from 1 - 4:00 p.m.
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The Buchanan Community Chorus
The Buchanan Community Chorus presents The Music of Christmas, on December 2, at First United Methodist Church in Galesburg at 7:00 p.m. Special musical guest will include District 205 Singing Streaks, and on December 3, at First United Methodist Church in Monmouth at 4:00 p.m. with musical guest "The Dancers". Cost is $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for students (under 17 - free). This concert is partially funded by a grant from the Buchanan Center for the Arts and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
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College Care Packages
We would like to thank the many Monmouth College students who participate in the life of our congregation by giving them a care package of goodies during their finals. We need your help.
Please sign up on the office door if you can donate a homemade baked good, microwave popcorn, candy, hot chocolate, or fresh fruit. Please bring it to the church by Sunday morning, December 4, at 9:00 a.m. Care packages will be assembled and delivered on that day.
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Fillman Fellowship
On Thursday, December 8, Fillman Fellowship will meet at 10:00 a.m. until 12 noon for coffee, rolls, and fellowship at Stewart House, located at 1015 East Euclid Ave. Be sure and park in the rear which you enter from North 9th Street. Those who have not contributed to our annual Christmas Collection may still do so at this gathering.
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Deacon Christmas Caroling
The Deacon Christmas Caroling will be held Sunday evening, December 18, 2011, at 4:30 p.m.
We will meet at the church at 4:30 p.m. and return to the church for soup, drink, and finger food. Soup and drink will be furnished and each one attending should bring a finger food to share.
Mother to Mother and Faith's Youth Group will be joining us. Everyone is invited to attend.
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An Invitation to Read the Bible
Dec. 4 1 John 3:1 - 3 John 1;14
Dec. 5 Jude 1:1 - Revelations 3:21
Dec. 6 Revelations 3:22 - 8:13
Dec. 7 Revelations 9:1 - 13:18
Dec. 8 Revelations 14:1 - 18:21
Dec. 9 Revelations 18:22 - 22:21
That concludes our readings for the year. If you'd like to begin again or would like to participate this time, please read on to catch up from 1st Advent that began on November 27...
Nov. 27 Genesis 1:1 - 3:24
Nov. 28 Genesis 4:1 - 6:22
Nov. 29 Genesis 7:1 - 10:31
Nov. 30 Genesis 10:32 - 13:18
Dec. 1 Genesis 14:1 - 17:27
Dec. 2 Genesis 18:1 - 20:17
Dec. 3 Genesis 20:18 - 23:20
Dec. 4 Genesis 24:1 - 25:33
Dec. 5 Genesis 25:34 - 27:45
Dec. 6 Genesis 27:46 - 30:21
Dec. 7 Genesis 30:22 - 31:55
Dec. 8 Genesis 32:1 - 34:31
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Prayer Concerns
Eilleen Spoerl, Premraj Ambrose, Lauren Hendel, Al Kulczewski, Janet Paris, and Kylie Logsdon.
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December Birthdays
1 Andrea Spainhour
2 Beverly Davis
5 Rodney Lemon
6 Gary Pullen
Karen Angotti
11 Jo Ellen Dollinger
12 Stephanie Reading
13 Noah Clark
15 Mark McVey
16 John Sorensen
Alexis Crosier
17 Job Runge
18 Dorothy Hutchisson
Jarrett Baber
19 Jason Haynes
Evelyn Blackford
21 William Allison
23 Joyce Allison
25 Robert Whiteman
George Nieman
26 Samantha Fisher
27 Kristin Sorensen
30 Merle Brown
Bette Vance
31 Charles Hallam
Dawn Brown
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What Do You Think?
Should "Ought" and "Should" Be Part of Our Vocabulary?
Early on in our ministry together, I devoted some of my attention to trying to change our vocabulary. Particularly the thought, "I ought to go to church" or "we should go to church". My intent was to shift our thinking about worship, from an obligation to a desire. As a pastor, my hope is that people will want to be in worship on the Lord's Day and not simply feel obligated to be there, or guilty if they are not. While I still hold to this belief, I realized on Sunday afternoon that maybe there is still a place for "ought" and "should". A few weeks ago, our family had been invited to attend an Eagle Scout Ceremony. At the time, I wanted to go and made a note to be there in order to share in the celebration of the young man's accomplishment. However, when Sunday arrived, I was feeling less inclined. After worship, we had taken bread to three of our first time visitors and then I made a hospital visit. By the time I was home, it was after three and I had missed lunch. As I knew Will would be in attendance to represent our family, I thought about staying home. But after a brief conversation with myself, I thought, "No, I really ought to go." So I did. I am glad I did. Not only was this a momentous occasion for this young man and his family, which deserved to be celebrated, it also proved beneficial for me. The keynote speaker offered some provocative comments about our culture, which affirmed some of my own concerns. He also helped me appreciate, that though the Boy Scouts, like the church, do not always fulfill the ideals for which they strive, it is important for our culture to have such institutions, who, at the risk of their own hypocrisy, call us and lead us to higher ground. I see this so clearly in my own life.You have heard the litany before. Like many children, I grew up believing one "ought" to go to church on Sunday mornings. For a time, I rebelled against this and didn't go to church. In college, at least my freshman year, church attendance became a source of misguided pride, even hubris, an indulgence, of sorts, for my sins the night before. As an adult, I returned to the ways of my childhood. Sunday mornings, if not an obligation put upon me, were dutifully spent in church.Somewhere along the way things changed. I realized that on Sunday morning, as I was saying "Good-bye" to Elizabeth and Margie. Though they would be driving for almost twelve hours, on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, in heavy traffic, much of the time in darkness and rain, we were in worship together, as a family, not because we had to be, but because we wanted to be. While their drive would have been much easier, had they left a few hours earlier, our lives were richer, because they stayed to worship.As I think about how worship has become such an important part of our family's life, I realize we are better for it. Not necessarily better than other families, who may not share our appreciation for worship, but better than the family we would be, if worship was not our heart's desire. People of faith, as we enter into this season of Advent, I pray each of us will grow in our desire to worship God, not only on the Lord's Day, but each and every day.See you in church!
Pastor Myers
revhaggis1@hotmail.com
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