March 22, 2012
Focus on Faith
Faith United Presbyterian Church
Bill
What Do You Think? "Should We Blow Them Out?"  
 
When Margie and I were planning our wedding, her father, who was one of the pastors officiating, made the point of saying, "and after you light the unity candle, don't extinguish the other two."  He was referring to the two candles, representing Margie and me, we would use to light the unity candle.  His point was that even though we were becoming one in marriage, it was important to remember our respective individuality.  We should not lose ourselves in the process of becoming one.
 
Having always respected his pastoral ability, (he would remind many of you of Dr. Weeks, a colleague and friend of Margie's family for many years, even before the Weeks' came to Monmouth), I have repeated his counsel more times than I can remember. When we were married, the fear was that, while the ceremony suggested two were becoming one, it was, generally, the woman giving up her identity.  While this is still a risk in our time, as I consider the words of Jesus and the state of marriage in our culture (e.g., the high divorce rate, so called "open" marriages and the number of couples who forego marriage altogether), I have to wonder, do we need to shift the focus from the individuals to the relationship?
 
We live in an entitlement culture where self-actualization reigns supreme. Anything that keeps us from realizing our full potential is "bad".  Sacrifice or doing without are signs of failure.  Apple has become a very rich company by taking advantage of this cultural tendency and releasing the "new and improved" I-product before most of us have learned how to use the old ones.  Sometimes, it seems we treat marriage the same way.
 
Too often, in our attempts to "be all we can be" and "enjoy life to the fullest", we find ourselves consuming life, or, perhaps better, being consumed by life, rather than enjoying it.  Our appetite for consumption extends to our relationships.  If we are not being "fed" in a relationship, rather than doing the necessary work to make the relationship satisfying and enjoyable for all concerned, we simply move on to "greener" pastures, whether that is seeking a divorce or inviting an "other" into our relationship.
 
A child of divorce, I understand there are times when there is no other choice.  I know that for many, when it comes time to make this decision, it is heart wrenching.  I also know that healing may come to a relationship, even after betrayal, so divorce is not inevitable.  Without making a judgment on any particular divorce, my point is simply to ask, with our culture's emphasis on the self-gratification of the individual, rather than the joy of the marital relationship, are we placing self-gratification over true Joy?
 
In speaking of marriage, Jesus says, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave unto his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."  Pretty strong language, but I think he means it.
See you in church!
 
Pastor Myers

 
March Birthdays 

 

1          Genevieve Ball

3          Deena Fisher

4          David Distin

5          Mary Baker

            Joyce Hagemann

7          Rhett Willett

8          Sally McVey

9          Matt Lewis

10        Jessica Wilson

11        Kristie Murdock

            Ruth Carwile

            Julie Armstrong

12        Ron Tenold

19        James Connell

            Samantha Cheek

18        Shanae Glasgow

19        Dale Dingman

23        Jonalyn Heaton

            Kathy Rickey

            Bob Wells

26        Barbara Solberg-Hale

27        Harlow Blum

28        Phyllis Wheeler

29        Vernon Mettler

30        Jim Hallstrom

31        Gentry Sorensen

            Lisa Willett


 

 

 
This Sunday...
 
"The Life Born of Death"   

   

Jeremiah 31:31-34                                                                      Hebrews 5:5-10

Psalm 119:9-16                                                                                 John 12:20-33

 

Lay Assistant:  Martha Whiteman

Beedle/Crucifer:  Jessica Wilson and Will Best
Ushers:  Gary Distin, Jon Graham, Dick Speer, Larry Willett, Bill Hoover 
Greeters:  Nancy Dowell and TBA                  

Children's Church:  Alison Clark          

Nursery:  Cindy Erickson & Landen Crosier        

Coffee Hour:  Larry & Lisa Willett   

 

 

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.

The Devil & C.S. Lewis

Our series begins in earnest this week as we study the Screwtape Letters.  The book has fairly short chapters, therefore we will study a grouping each week.  Screwtape Letters is written as a set of letters from an elder devil to his nephew devil as they are trying to convert a young Christian man to follow their ways.  It will make you stop and think about your own strength of faith.  Copies are available in the office.  We will meet either in the social hall or in the library.

March 25  - Chapters 17 - 24

April 1       - Chapters 25 - 31

 

Sunday Bible Study - This group will meet in the classroom across from the Chapel. 

 

 

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.

 


An Invitation to Read the Bible

Sunday - 2 Kings 21:26-24:20, Monday - 2 Kings 25:1 - 1 Chronicles 1:54, Tuesday - 1 Chronicles 2:1-3:24, Wednesday - 1 Chronicles 4:1-6:26, Thursday - 6:27-7:39, Friday - 1 Chronicles 7:40-9:43, Saturday -
1 Chronicles 9:44-12:16, Sunday (04/01/12) - 1 Chronicles 12:17-15:29.     


2012 Ecumenical Lenten Lay Breakfast

 

The 37th Annual Lenten Lay Breakfast series began 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:

 

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.

 

Easter-tide Breakfast

Join us Easter Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for our Annual Easter-tide breakfast.  Enjoy breakfast casserole, coffee cakes, and juice or 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!!!

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:

March 25 - pancake mix and syrup
April 1 - cereal and oatmeal
April 8 - macaroni and cheese, canned lunch meals
April 15 - Tuna and Hamburger Helper and canned tuna
April 22 - rice, pasta, and beans
April 29 - canned vegetables

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



Isabel Circle

Isabel Circle will meet at the home of Margie Myers at 1021 E. Detroit Avenue in Monmouth this evening (3/22), at 7:00 p.m.  All members and friends of the church are welcome to join the group.

 

Jonalyn Heaton will facilitate Lesson Six, Greatly Honored Are the Pure in Heart, from Confessing the Beatitudes from the 2011-2012 Horizons Bible Study.  The sixth beatitude from Matthew 5:8 contains the promise of seeing God.  This lesson helps the reader explore what that means.  When we see God, we become aware of our sinfulness, but we are transformed and given  a new identity.  The question is whether our actions bear witness to that new identity.
 

 


Doug Campbell Memorial St. Jude Gospel Sing
                                          
                                             Saturday, March 31, 2012
5:00 p.m. 
Held at 
Bushnell Christian Community Center 
355 North Main St., Bushnell, IL 
featuring 
One Accord; N Harmony; All For Agape; Bob Miller; Kourtney Heikes; Hillard Gipson; Linden Beard; The Campbells, and more! 
No Admission - Freewill Offering 
All proceeds to  
St. Jude Children's Hospital 
 
Homemade Soup Supper at 5:00 p.m. 
Silent Auction 
For more information, call George or Sandy Campbell @ 309-426-2240 
  

 

 

Presbyterian Women Spring Gathering
                                           
Presbyterian Women of Great Rivers Presbytery will hold their Spring Gathering at our church on April 21st.   The Rev. Dr. Terri Ott will be the keynote speaker on the topic, "The Power of Words".  The day starts at 9:00 A.M. with closing at 2:30 P.M.  A lunch will be served at a cost of $8.00. Please plan to attend.  Reservations may be made by calling the church office or emailing Heather (faithup@maplecity.com) and need to be received by April 13.   Please advise Heather if you will need child care.   

 

 

Church Rummage Sale
                                          
It has been soooo beautiful outside hasn't it?  I'm sure this nice weather has put you in the "cleaning" mode...so, just in case it has, please remember us for our Annual Church Rummage Sale that will be held on May 11 and 12.   
   

 
Thank You

Thank you to my Faith Church family for the lovely red rose delivered by Deacon, Ruth Wright, just after my stay in the hospital.

Thanks to all of you for cards and prayers.  A special thanks to Fillman Fellowship for remembering me.

Love,
Marjorie Phelps 
 

 

Sympathy

To David and Eilleen Spoerl, on the death of David's step-father, Walter Faule, who died on March 20, 2012.
 
Please Keep the Following in Your Prayers

Cathy Abernathy, Mary Distin (mother of Gary Distin), Galvin Halpin, Karna Foster, Darlene Peters, Jim & Janet Paris, and Al Kulczewski.
 
Easter Flowers

Members are invited to make donations for our Easter flowers.  Each year we intersperse spring flowers with the traditional lilies.  Members are given the choice to either pick up a lily following the Easter service or to donate a lily for a homebound member.  Please turn in your order before April 1, 2012.  Thank you!

 

_____I would like to order _____ lilies at $7.00 each to be picked up after the Easter Service.

 

_____or please deliver_ after the service to a homebound member.

 

_____I would like to donate $7.00 for spring flowers to be planted in the courtyard or south side of the church after Easter.

 

to be given in memory of:_________________________________________________________

 

to be given in honor of:___________________________________________________________

 

given by:________________________________________________________________________