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Faith United Presbyterian Church
Focus on Faith |
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 What Do You Think? "Teach our Children. Tell Your Friends"
Quinby and I were out for our morning walk this morning (Tuesday), when we saw those words, "Tell Your Friends", on a realtor's sign on Sixth Street. I was surprised to see these words, only because I had never seen them on a realtor's sign before. However, I shouldn't have been surprised. Everyone knows, in every facet of life, the best form of advertising is word of mouth. "Tell Your Friends!" Jesus knew this, as well as anyone. This is why he called disciples, to make them "fishers of people", to send them out into the world, so they might "tell their friends" about the good news of God's love in Jesus Christ.
You have heard me say before, the future of Christ's church, including our congregation, depends upon our ability to tell our friends. Next to worship, evangelism may be the most important thing we do as people of faith. This was made clear to me, once again, as I read a recent NBC News article on religion in America - "1 in 5 Americans is Religiously Unaffiliated".
"One in five Americans - and one in three adults under 30 - is religiously unaffiliated, the highest percentage ever, according to a Pew Research Center study released Tuesday." This is about a five percent increase over the past five years. The news isn't good for Protestants either. For the first time in our nation's history, the percentage of Protestants in America dropped significantly below 50%, from 53% in 2007 to 48%.
We should not be surprised by these numbers. Public schools, even private, church-related, colleges, are no longer the "fount of living water" they once were for nurturing people of faith. Families, too, once the greatest influence on shaping the faith of younger generations are no longer what they once were. We should not be surprised by the decline revealed in the survey. We are reaping what we have sown the past forty-fifty years - "the largest mission field in the world." The question is: What can we do about it? The answer? "Teach your children. Tell your friends."
For years, I was beside myself as a pastor. I thought, "People know; if they want their children to learn math, they have to send them to school. They have to give them a math book. They have to help them with their homework. They have to teach them how to do math. People know; if they want their children to learn to play an instrument, they have to find a music teacher. They have to buy them an instructional book and an instrument. They have to make them practice. They have to teach them how to play an instrument. People know; if they want their children to be athletic, they have to give them a ball or sign them up for a team. They have to teach them how to play the sport. They have to teach them the rules. They have to get them to practice. They have to teach them how to play the sport." For years, I was beside myself as a pastor. In every facet of life, we understand the connection between the desire to do something and the discipline it take to do it well. Why do we not see this connection in the life of faith or in matters related to the church? If we want to be people of faith, it takes discipline. If we want a strong and vital church, it takes work.
Only when I began to see a decline in these other areas - sports, music, education - did I realized our focus needs to shift from discipline to desire. A few years ago, as I listened to coaches, teachers, and parents talk about their frustration with a growing lack of commitment demonstrated by many of their students, musicians, and athletes, I realized the problem is our lack of desire, rather than our lack of understanding the importance of discipline. From listening to coaches, teachers, and parents, I discovered most people, even children, understand that discipline is necessary to be good at anything. They hear this over and over. The problem is too many are losing the desire. In their minds, whatever activity we are talking about - sports, music, education - is not worth the effort. Rather than making a commitment to any of these things or even faith, too many, would rather be free to do whatever they want, whenever they want.
What can we do about this malaise that has infected so much of our culture? "Teach our children. Tell our friends." Those of us who have a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ must find compelling ways to share our experience of God's love with others that they might desire such a relationship for themselves.
See you in church!
Pastor Myers
revhaggis1@hotmail.com
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This Sunday...
"Let Go!"Job 23:1-9, 16-17 Psalm 22:1-15 Hebrews 4:12-16 Mark 10:17-31 Lay Assistant: Bob Meling
Beedle/Crucifer: Noah & Job Runge
Usher: Jim Brown, John Turnbull, Greg Baber, John Lyle, Jim & Shari Glasgow
Greeters: Ian & Sarah Moschenross & family and Dominick & Stephanie Reading & family
Children's Church: Erika Solberg
Nursery: Cindy Wilson
Coffee Hour: Gary & Jonalyn Heaton
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"A woman was asked by a coworker,
'What is it like to be a Christian?'
The coworker replied, 'It is like being a pumpkin.
God picks you from the patch, brings you in,
and washes all the dirt off of you.
Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.
He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed.
Then He carves you a new smiling face and
puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.'"
We hope you have a great season!
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Sunday School
Sunday school begins at 9:15 a.m. PreK (3+) and Kindergarten - meet in the upstairs theater. Your teachers are Mrs. Lyle and Ms. Simpson. 1, 2, 3th grade - meet in the upstairs theater. Your teacher will be Mrs. Myers and Crystal Sargent. 4, 5, 6th grade - meet in the upstairs theater. Your teachers are Mrs. Heaton, Mrs. Dingman, and Mr. Best. 7 & 8th grade - meet in the junior/senior high room above the nursery. Your teachers will be Dr. Sargent and Jill McClintock. Senior High - will meet for lunch on October 14, at 12:30 p.m., at Dew's Diner. Adult Sunday School Faith & Life: October 14, 21, 28 - A Sustainable Presbyterian Future will be led by Rev. Myers. The books for this class have been back-ordered. If you would like to receive an email (pdf) or hard copy of the first chapter, either call Heather or reply here. Bible Study: Will meet in the brides room across from the chapel just outside the social hall.
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An Invitation to Read the Bible
(10/14/12) Sunday - Acts 14:28-16:39, Monday - Acts 16:40-19:21, Tuesday - Acts 19:22-21:27, Wednesday - Acts 21:28-23:35, Thursday - Acts 24:1-26:32, Friday - Acts 27:1 - Romans 1:17, Saturday - Romans 1:18-3:31, (10/21/12) Sunday - Romans 4:1-7:25.
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Fillman Fellowship
The ladies of Fillman Fellowship will meet this morning, Thursday, October 11, at 10:00 a.m. at Dew's Diner here in Monmouth.
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Ordination and Installation
Please join us in prayers and presence for the ordination and installation of Rev. Hallie M. Hottle to  the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and as Associate Pastor at Miami Shores Presbyterian Church on October 14, 2012, at 4:00 p.m. To be present, watch online at www.mspc.net.
On behalf of your family here at Faith United Presbyterian Church, congratulations Hallie!
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For the first time in decades "Crop Walk" is returning to Monmouth. On Sunday, October 21, at 2:00 walkers will meet at Monmouth College's Huff Center to begin their journey. If you are interested in walking please see Stephanie Reading in the social hall after church. She will give you a fund raising packet. If you are unable to walk but would like to donate walkers will be taking your donations in the social hall over the next couple of weeks. All age of walkers are welcome! Read what one pastor wrote to encourage his congregation and ours to participate. "I walk because I hope to experience the change that Jesus brought forth as he walked from Galilee to Jerusalem transforming the lives of those he encountered. I walk to help others. I walk to change the lives of my children, and to change my life. Let's walk together in our communities' CROP Hunger Walks knowing that we do not walk alone. For just as Jesus walked with the poor, the lonely, the sinful and the hurting, Jesus walks with us. Let's make this the year when we challenge those around us who are looking for a way to be of service to participate in their local Walk. And let them know that they make a difference in the lives of others who are connected to them by our common heritage as the children of God." (Written by, The Reverend Jimmie R. Hawkins) |
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Icebreakers
The Icebreaker meeting for October will be on the 21st at 6:00 p.m. in the Social Hall. Tom Best will be our special guest and will speak on "Kansas City to San Antonio - a look at the south and west." Meal will be $5.00. Reservations can be made through Jo Ellen Dollinger at 734-8627, Donna Larson at 734-6103, and Darlene Moffet at 734-5537.
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New Orleans Mission Trip
The United Church of Oneida is planning on a mission trip to New Orleans from December 29 to January 5/6, 2013. If you are interested in joining us, please email Larry Lawson at llawson2@otelmail.com or call him at 309 368-0009. A planning meeting is planned for October 14 at 7:00 pm at the church in Oneida.
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Candidate Suggestion Form - Faith United Presbyterian Church
Elder - Deacon - Trustee
The task of the Nominating Committee is to place the names of qualifies individuals before the Congregation as nominees to fill positions on the church boards. The Congregation must then vote to elect these persons. The Nominating Committee needs your help in determining who is qualified and able to serve, if nominated. Please give this form to any member of the Nominating Committee. Candidate Name: ____________________________________________________ The 2012 Nominating Committee is: Gene Larson, Mary Distin, Crystal Sargent, Sally Bowman, Julie Armstrong, Debbie Dingman, Gary Distin, Buster Kellogg.
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October Birthdays
1 Dorothy Behnke 2 Lorna Blackford 5 Barb Byrne 6 Elizabeth Nieman 7 Micheal Crosier 11 Chloe Larson David Spoerl Paul Mason III 13 Megan Byrne 15 Don Mills Austin Johnson 17 Thomas Best 19 Mandy Lyle 20 Jane Laughead 21 Taylor Turnquist 29 Marie Inman 30 Lynn Biggs Amanda Bowman 30 Kathy Lewis |
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Prayers
For:
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Premraj Ambrose (Raj Ambrose's brother), Rose Trimble, Wayne Hasting (Betty Lee's brother), Jane Warfield, Mick Miller, Tracey Williams, Lindsay Murdock & family, Don Mills, Vern Carr, Don Robeson, Janet Themanson, Jim & Janet Paris.
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