February 23, 2012
Focus on Faith
Faith United Presbyterian Church
Bill
What Do You Think? "Basketball or Worship?"  
 
In 1965, Sandy Koufax, the renowned pitcher for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, chose not to pitch in the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur.  As some of you are aware, our family had a similar issue this week.  The Titans were to play in the regional basketball tournament on Ash Wednesday.  Would Will miss the game or would Will miss worship?

 

We were aware of the potential conflict for a couple of weeks.  If the Titans won on Tuesday, they would play on Ash Wednesday.  Throughout our family conversations, Will understood, and agreed with, the reality that he might have to miss the game.  Over the years, Will has missed a number of Sunday games, because they started too early on Sunday afternoon and we have never had an issue, with Will or his coaches.

 

However, this occasion was a little different.  Ash Wednesday is not the Lord's Day.  In fact, celebrating Ash Wednesday is a relatively recent event in the worship life of Presbyterians.  Those congregations that do, often have their services in the morning.  So, one of the questions we discussed was:  Should Will be punished because our service of worship happened to be at 6:30 p.m., and not some other time during the day?  What we decided was if Will could find another Ash Wednesday service to attend, then we would allow him to forgo ours.

 

Will looked into the Roman Catholic and Methodist services.  We looked into Monmouth College and the Lutheran services.  As it turned out, the Lutherans had an Ash Wednesday service at Noon, so, as I write, the plan is for Will to attend there.  Is this the best solution?  No.  I would prefer we lived in a culture that respected religious holidays, be they Christian, Jewish, or Muslim.  Particularly, our elementary, junior high, and high school families should not be forced into choosing between faith and life.  But this is not the world in which we live.  So, particularly since he was willing to miss the basketball game, allowing Will to worship elsewhere, on this occasion, seemed a satisfactory solution.

 

Why is this even an issue for our family?  It is one Ash Wednesday service of worship.  Why not simply allow him to miss worship now and then?  It's not like he hasn't had plenty of other opportunities to be in worship.

 

What it comes down to is that our family wants our life together to be shaped, not by the values of our culture, but by the values of our faith community.  As people of faith, Presbyterians believe that worship is the most important thing we can do with our lives.  To accommodate our worship life to other activities, such as sports schedules, shopping, family time, traveling, or just not feeling like going to worship, sends the wrong message.  In time, those activities become more important than our worship.

 

Does this mean there is never a time to miss worship?  No.  We have "at home" members who are no longer able to be with us, except in spirit.  We have others whose health, work, grief, etc., does not allow them to be with us for a time.  There are even those who need to take a season away from our life together.  For each of us, our worship life ultimately becomes a matter of conscience, but this in no way lessens the importance worship should have in our life together.  Why?  Why is worshipping together as a community of faith so important?

 

In discussing the practice of allowing our moods to dictate our religious practices, Dietrich Bonhoeffer offers an important insight with regard to the role of worship in shaping our relationship with God.  Dr. Bonhoeffer writes:

 

"Interaction with God must be practiced; otherwise we will not find the right tone, the right word, the right language, when he surprises us.  We must learn God's language, laboriously learn it.  And we must work at it, so that we will be able to talk with him.  Prayer must also be practiced - in earnest work.  It is a serious, fateful error when one confuses religion with mawkish sentimentality.  Religion is work and perhaps the most difficult and certainly holiest work that a person can do.  It is pitiful to satisfy oneself with the words, 'I'm not religiously inclined,' when there is a God who wants to be with us."

 

People of faith, as Sandy Koufax understood, it comes down to identity.  Either, we are God's people or we are something else.  There are many ways we learn to be God's people in addition to our corporate worship, but none more important.  Here, gathered with our sisters and brothers, in the presence of Christ, to hear God's Word proclaimed and to offer our lives in return, is where we come to know the fullness of God's love, the true purpose of life and who we were created to be.

See you in church!
 
Pastor Myers

 
February Birthdays 

 

2         Dee Long

5         Korey Fisher

           Betty McBride

7         Denise Turnbull
           Dick Griffiths

6         Emily Yard  

           John Marshall

9         Megan Lyle

11       Helen Redmond

12       Ralph Whiteman

13       Sandra Spainhour

            Buster Kellogg, Jr.

18       Jennifer Hedges

19       Will Myers

            Sharon Simpson

21       Gary Heaton

22       Ryan Cheek

            Bill Smallwood

23       Catrina Pullen

24        Jackie Andrews

            Ted Briscoe

25       Martha Whiteman

26       Carl Shaub

            Kathleen Fannin

            Helen Owens

27       Susan Trevor

28       Joyce Patterson

 

 

 
This Sunday...
 
"Why is Jesus with the Wild Beasts?"   

Genesis 9:8-17                                                                            1 Peter 3:18-22

Psalm 25:1-10                                                                                    Mark 1:9-15   

Lay Assistant:  Dee Ann Shuff

Communion Servers:  Ralph & Martha Whiteman, Gary & Mary Distin, George & Liz Nieman, Buster & Jane Kellogg, Craig Watson, Carolyn Meling, Armond & Betsy Akey

Beedle/Crucifer: Kaitlyn Fisher & Grace Young
Ushers: George Nieman, Carolyn Meling, Steve Johnson, Bob Green, and Dee Ann Shuff
Greeters: Bob & Jennifer Makiney and George & Sarah Haynes              

Children's Church: Ann Phelps      

Nursery: Margie & Will Myers   

Coffee Hour: Les & Jo Ellen Dollinger and Amy Gound              

 

 

View our  calendar.   

 

 

 
Sunday School - 9:15 a.m.

 

Sunday School for children ages 3-18 will begin meeting again this Sunday, January 8.  Pre-K - 6th grades meet upstairs above the Social Hall.  7th-12th grades meet in the red room of the Youth Wing. 

Faith & Life - This group will meet in the Social Hall.
February 26 - We will begin the Lenten Series  "The Devil and C.S. Lewis."  If you have a copy of the Screwtape Letters please dig it out.

March 4 - Dr. Heather Brady (Monmouth College) will complete our series on Immigration. 

March 11 - April 1 - Continue the series on "The Devil and C.S.Lewis."

 

Sunday Bible Study
Joyce Hagemann's class will not meet in February.  This class will resume on March 4 in the Bride's Room across from the chapel.  All adults are welcome to attend. The 12 week unit will cover God's Creative Word through John.  The first lesson is now available in the cabinet in the classroom.
 

 

The House Next Door

Friends, I wanted to bring you up to date on the house next door.  Many of you have noticed the trash, broken furniture, etc.  This morning (Wednesday), I spoke with the realtor and he assured me the homeowner, who no longer lives in Monmouth, is going to clean up the property.  As I write, this afternoon, I received a personal call from the homeowner.  He is ashamed of the way his tenants left the property and is making every effort to have someone come in and clean up the premises, as soon as possible.  He, himself, is unable to come until the middle of March.  However, he was most apologetic.  Knowing the situation, I would simply ask for patience and forbearance from our congregation, myself included.  If things are not rectified in the near future, I will follow up with the homeowner.
 
Pastor Myers
 

Lenten Devotionals

This year's devotionals come from the Presbyterian Church USA.  They are called "Living the Word" and are written in Korean as well.  Please pick up your devotional under the mirror at the parking lot door or in the narthex on Sunday.  There are a limited number, but, if we run out others are available from previous years.

 


Jamieson Center

Help us stock the food pantry at Jamieson!  You may bring anything non-perishable and place it under the sign outside the office.  To make it easier, you could go with a schedule such as this:

February 26 - noodles, sauce, and soups
March 4 - Hamburger and Tuna Helper
March 11 - cake mixes, frosting, and brownie mixes
March 18 - canned vegetables and canned meat
March 25 - pancake mix and syrup

Let's fill the boxes each week!  Thank you!



An Invitation to Read the Bible

Sunday - 1 Samuel 20:24-23:29, Monday - 1 Samuel 24:1-26:24, Tuesday - 1 Samuel 26:25-30:31, Wednesday - 1 Samuel 31:1 - 2 Samuel 3:13, Thursday - 2 Samuel 3:14-6:23, Friday - 2 Samuel 7:1-10:19, Saturday -
2 Samuel 11:1-13:38, Sunday (03/04/12) - 2 Samuel 13:39-15:37.     


Isabel Circle

Isabel Circle will meet at the home of Pam Youngblood at 341 South 8th Street in Monmouth tonight, February 23, at 7:00 p.m.  All members and friends of the church are welcome to join the group.

 

Crystal Sargent will be the facilitator for Lesson 5:  Greatly Honored Are Those Who Show Mercy! from the 2011-2012 Horizons Bible Study: Confessing the Beatitudes.  The Beatitudes are poetry that Jesus used to point us to those whom we should honor.  In the first four beatitudes spoken from the mountain, in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus describes for his disciples, and for us, a group of people whom we are called to honor.  This group includes those who are destitute, mourning and weeping, humbled, and famished for food and justice.  In Lesson 5, Jesus calls us to imitate God by showing mercy through emotion, action, and dedication.
 

2012 Ecumenical Lenten Lay Breakfast

 

The 37th Annual Lenten Lay Breakfast series will begin on Friday, February 24, and continue each Friday morning through Good Friday, April 6.  Strom Center will, again, be the host for the series.  Breakfast begins at 6:30 a.m. with the program from 7:15-7:45 a.m. The list of participating churches is as follows:

 

February 24    First Lutheran

March 2            Faith United Presbyterian

March 9            Fairview Center Methodist/Coldbrook Christian

March 16          Immaculate Conception

March 23          First United Methodist

March 30          Heritage Presbyterian

April 6               Immanuel Baptist/River of Life

 

The breakfast series is sponsored by the Warren County Ministerial Association.

 

Homemade Soup Meal

 

Little Cedar Presbyterian Church in Little York will have a soup meal on Sunday, February 26, from 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.  You will have your choice of soup, salad bar, dessert, and drink. Donation will be taken at the door.  There will also be a silent auction.

 

American Guild of Organists Recital

 

The Western Illinois University Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will present a recital of solo and ensemble music at 3 p.m., Sunday, February 26, at the First Presbyterian Church, 400 E. Carroll Street in Macomb. The public is invited to attend. Admission is free. 


Solo organ music to be performed includes J. S. Bach's "Fantasy in G major," César Franck's "Prelude, Fugue and Variation," Marcel Dupré's "How Fair and How Pleasant Art Thou," and Allegro Maestoso from Felix Mendelssohn's Sonata II. Also on the program are preludes on the familiar hymns "Come, thou Almighty King," "Jesus Calls Us," and "Beach Spring."

Ensemble music will include two organ/piano duets: "Amazing Grace: A Musical Portrait" by John Behnke, and "Lord of the Dance" by Joel Raney. The program will conclude with John Rutter's organ duet "Variations on an Easter Theme."

The WIU Chapter of the American Guild of Organists is comprised of organists, choral directors, teachers and students from west central Illinois. It is part of the 20,000-member national professional association which serves the organ and choral music fields. The purpose of the AGO is to promote the organ in its historic and evolving roles, to encourage excellence in the performance of organ and choral music, and to provide a forum of mutual support, inspiration, education, and certification of Guild members.

AGO members performing on this recital are Sheila Nollen, piano; Lynn Thompson, piano; and organists Linda Andrews, Mark Aska, Barbara Gossett, Maureen Nation, Anita Werling, and Cristina Werling. 

 


175th Anniversary


The First Presbyterian Church of 101 North Prairie Street in Galesburg, will be celebrating its 175th anniversary on Sunday, February 26, 2012.  Please join them at 3:00 p.m. for a service of celebration.

 


RSVP Volunteer Program


The RSVP volunteer program of Warren County and Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging (WIAAA) has partnered with OSF Holy Family to hold a Matter of Balance (MOB) class to area residents.  MOB, uses group discussion, problem-solving strategies, videos, and gentle physical exercise.  Older adults learn positive coping methods to reduce fear of falling and remain active and independent.  Classes begin Wednesday, February 29, 2012.  It is an 8 session class and will meet Wednesday and Friday's from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at OSF Holy Family.  There is a 12 person limit.  For more information or to sign-up, please call Amye Bean at 309-428-5841.   

 


Thai Circle


Thai Circle will meet on March 1, at 9:30 a.m. in the Social Hall.  Lesson 5 of this year's study guide will be discussed.   

 


World Day of Prayer


The Christian women of Malaysia invite all women to join them Friday, March 2, for World Day of Prayer 2012.  Our local worship service will be held at Cameron Christian Church at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 2.   

 


You Are Invited!


Jon and Sharon Graham of Biggsville, Illinois will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house hosted by their daughter and family at Faith United Presbyterian Church from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 3.  All friends and family are invited.  The couple has requested no gifts, please.

Jon Graham and Sharon Galley were married on March 4, 1962 at University Avenue Methodist Church in Peoria, Illinois.

They are the parents of one daughter, Lorella (Bill) McLaughlin and two granddaughters of Edwardsville, Illinois.   

 


Fillman Fellowship


Fillman Fellowship will meet on Thursday, March 8, at 9:30 a.m. in the church parking lot to go up to the Maple City Restaurant for coffee.  Anyone is welcome to join us.

 


Icebreakers

 

Mark your calendar! Save the date!

The Icebreakers present

for all members and friends of Faith United Presbyterian Church

The Icebreakers Revue

March 18, 2012, 6:00 p.m.

Dessert followed by songs, silliness, skits (some with a message, some not exactly), riddles, and miscellany for your entertainment by Icebreakers members, Junior Highs, Senior Highs, known  

and unknown talents.

To participate as a cast member, notify Gary or Mary Distin or Gene or Donna Larson.   We will be in (minimal) rehearsal soon.

To participate as an audience member, watch for sign ups to come.

 


2012 Presbytery Night at the Ballpark

 

The date has been set! Mark your calendars now and join us for the last Presbytery Night at the Ballpark on Friday, June 22, 2012 at 7:00pm. Ticket price is $8.00.  There will be a limited number of tickets this time, it will be first come first served.  If interested, contact Heather at 734-5129.

 

Thank You

Thank you to the Faith & Art Guild Committee for the lovely exhibit of wedding pictures of our Faith family of members and friends.  The children who attend Wednesday Night Live have enjoyed looking at them and asking different adults if there is a picture of them and listening to the adult's stories.  A caring, sharing fellowship among our congregation has evolved as stories that have been shared and treasured memories brought to life.

Thanks you...
Jon and Sharon Graham  
 
Please Keep the Following in Your Prayers:

Karna Foster, Darlene Peters (Sharon Graham's aunt), Janet Paris, and Al Kulczewski.