Chatham Presbyterian
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May 1, 2013 Newsletter

 
Issue 14
Greetings!

mother's Day

As I think back over the past months,
I can boldly say I have really seen God working at CPC. I've seen new faces in the services, and it's been great to see folks come back who've been away. I feel we have moved into a deeper sense of worship and getting into God's word. We've had new people join the church and several more indicating they are ready. The finances have taken a steady upward drive, and more people have volunteered to serve at the church. These are all positive steps in the right direction!

P.N.C. (Pastor Nominating Committee)

The team is working diligently to identify characteristics the church needs in the next pastor. I encourage you to participate in one of focus group hosted by the PNC. These groups allow you to have a say in the future direction for a new CPC senior pastor.

Summer Interns for Student Ministry

You will soon be seeing two new faces around our student ministry. We will be having Nick Bifano and Alicia Alexander here for the summer to provide assistance in our student ministry area. They will both be on the ground running by the end of May.

Summer Plans

As you make your summer plans, I really encourage you to do a couple things for the well-being of CPC. We have two issues that are critical for our continued momentum forward:

  1. We need you to pray for God's direction on where you will volunteer to serve your church. Whether it is with lawn care, VBS, greeting, Frontline, the office - or wherever! -  we have so many areas you can serve, and we need everyone on board. 
  2. As you travel this summer, please remember to tithe and contribute your offerings. As we move closer to calling a pastor, we cannot afford for giving to drop off in the summer months this year. Remember, all ministries continue during the summer as normal and all bills keep coming in. Would you please make a commitment to drop your tithe off at the church office or mail it in during the times you plan to travel? Thanks so much in advance for your continued support of your church.

It is a blessing to serve this wonderful church!

In His Grip,

Ken Macken  


IT'S COLLEGE "CARE PACKAGE" TIME!

We know college students love mail, so we have been sending plenty! Last fall, we let them know we were excited to see them overcollegecare Thanksgiving. In December, they received a care package with the exam essentials: food, candy and gift cards. Valentines and popcorn were mailed in February. Easter was celebrated by sending them Amy Bifano's famous peanut butter chocolate eggs. Now it's finals time again, and care packages will be mailed soon. Thank you for donating to this project! We couldn't do it without you! If you'd like to help with the COLLEGE CARE PACKAGE PROJECT, monetary donations are now being accepted. Contact Diane Hobson at 483-2305 or [email protected].


Good Grief Camp
Crossroads Counseling Center along with the Staab Family of Springfield present the second annual Kids Good Grief Camp on Sunday afternoon, May 5, from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.

This is designed for kids between the ages of 6 - 12 who are dealing with loss of a loved one.  Information & registration form can be found here. 

CEBalloonlogo
THE CLUBHOUSE:
FRIENDS, FAMILY, FUN!
May Theme: Balloon Fest - Holy Spirit 
  • May 5thThe Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost. From Acts 2:1-12. The Holy Spirit is God at work in us.      
  • May 12th: Peter and the Apostles Get Out of Jail. From Acts 5:17-39. The Holy Spirit helps us follow Jesus.
  • May 19th: Paul Teaches About the Fruit of the Spirit. From Galatians 5:22-23. The Holy Spirit helps us be like Jesus.
  • May 26th: Seven Men are Chosen to Serve. From Acts 6:1-7. God gives us gifts to serve others.
LoveGod Sneak Peek at June: Music Camp (Worship)
Would you like to be blessed by being a blessing?  We have wonderful ministry opportunities available right now! For more information, contact our volunteer Children's Ministries coordinator Laura Van Proyen at 494-0503 or

vbs Vacation Bible School is Coming!  

Chatham Presbyterian Church will host VBS from July 8-12 in the evenings this year!   

We would love your help! There are two teams related to 2013 VBS. If you want to help with the program itself, contact: Judy Woerner at [email protected] or phone 725-2675.  Also, contact Sara Metzger at [email protected] or phone 430-7374. There is also a team working specifically on Community Outreach and Follow-Up with visitors. To help in this area, please contact: Sarah Peterman [email protected] (phone 622-7236) or Rebecca Prost  [email protected] (phone 679-1201).


  
Don't miss out on some GREAT events for the month of May as we wind down the calendar year!  Effective May 5th, we will merge Middle School with the High School program on Sunday nights for the summer. We're doing it a few Sundays earlier as we have some awesome things going on that we don't want them to miss out on.   
  • May 5th: Join us for Olsen's Cafe at 5:45 p.m. and then at 6:30 p.m. Senior High Mosaic will welcome the students from First Presbyterian Jacksonville for worship and fellowship!  It will be a great night to get to know others and worship together.  Don't miss out!
  • May 12th:Olsen's Cafe at 5:45 p.m. and then Senior High Mosaic at 6:30 p.m.  Join us as we rock the "Warehouse," with the ministry band from Greenville, College.  Remember Nick and his friends were here a couple of months ago on a Sunday night, and it was awesome! Our very own Michael Page will be speaking.  Bring your friends and be recharged for a brand new week!
  • May 19th:Olsen's Cafe at 5:45 p.m. and then SeniorNick High Mosaic at 6:30 p.m. This will be Durbin's last Sunday leading Frontline.  We're excited to welcome back Hope Hall and Nick Bifano this night to usher in the presence of Jesus!
  • May 26th:*No Student Ministries due to Memorial Day weekend.  Enjoy the time with your family.

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM DURBIN

 Durbin If you haven't heard the word on the street yet, I turned my official resignation into Pastor Ken last month.  My last day officially on CPC staff will be May 30th.  This decision has been bathed in prayer and even though it was difficult, it was also the right one for myself and my family at this season in our lives.  

When I was called to be the student ministry director in September 2010, I believed that God wasn't finished yet with me in regards to student ministry.  During the past few years, I've been truly blessed to minister to your sons and daughters.  We have some impressive students who call Frontline their ministry home.  The church has been and continues to be extremely supportive of the student ministry.  For all of this, I'm extremely grateful.

Janice and nursery In the past few months, I've taken on more responsibility at my vocational job; Jenni is working on her Master's Degree; and of course, we have five kids. To say that life is never boring at the Durbin household is correct.   

However, I've come to realize that I want to ensure I don't live my life with regrets.  I know the time I have with my kids is short, and I want to make sure I'm not an absent father.  Also, during this time, I've felt my season of student ministry is coming to an end.

We still plan on making CPC our church home for our family.  We love you all and have been blessed by your encouragement, love and support.  I will share with you that I do miss the country pulpit that I last left, and if God ever opens a door in that arena, I would seriously consider it.  Student ministry is time consuming, and I regret none of the time spent investing in the lives of our students.

May God's blessings continue to be on CPC as we find our new pastor and eventually new student minister.  Wouldn't it be great to be in a place where we could eventually have a full-time student pastor?  I believe that may seem insurmountable now, but God's leading will eventually take us that direction.

Love you all,

"Durbin" and Family

Monday mornings at 7:45 a.m. at Chatham McDonald's: Senior High breakfast.

twobabies
Joys! 

Birth of Wesley Lawrence Niemeyer to Cara & Tim Niemeyer. Grandparents are Cheryl & Gary Niemeyer.

Birth of Charlotte Ann Rakauskas to Heather & Mick Rakauskas. Grandmother is Barbara Olson.

New Members: Dan and Becca Prost and Denise Koester.   

Cookie Sunday - a delicious time of fellowship and friends!

Visitors, new families and returning friends attending CPC.

Prayer Concerns

childpraying

 

Prayers and sympathy of the CPC congregation to Dick Blalock and the family of Audrey Blalock, who passed away 4/27 at age 84.

Thom Farah: prayers for God's presence with him in Colorado, his medical team and his family as he faces a serious medical challenge. Because Thom does not have health insurance, help with expenses is welcomed at a website created by his friends at A Ball For Thom Farah or http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/a-ball-for-thom-farah/55234.

Todd Marvel: Todd's mom, Sally Trawick, has finished radiation treatments, and will meet with her doctors May 16. Safe travels for Todd as he joins her in Georgia when she undergoes testing and scans.

Karen Sutton: Upcoming knee replacement surgery on May 10th.

Drew Correll: Grandson of Jack & Billie Teaters who is living in volatile South Korea.

Sharon Reynolds: health issues related to a broken hip. 

Military Members 
Aled Fain, Eric Anderson, Margaret Siemer, Brad Miller, Seth Baker, Gary Kirchner, Clay Kuetemeyer, Josh Yakle.
Shut-Ins 
Mary Aidich, Villa East, Sherman
Twila Juraska
Maxine McCoy,  Lewis Memorial
Boosters: For those in need of extra prayer and/or support:Clifford, Dave, Corrina &  Isaac Dahl; Pastor Bob Hanson, Irma Gobleman, Dwight Elliott, Mary Jane Elliott, Mae Marie Koster, Lois Siemer,
Paul Spindler, Bill and Carolyn Templeton, Cynthia Wilson, Susan McCann, Chuck Hendricks. 

Please email us your praises and prayer requests. 

girl reading
NEW BIBLES
Thanks to the donation of Family Christian Bookstore perk points from Cherry Hills Baptist as well as a generous donation from a CPC member, we are happy to have 96 new Bibles available in the sanctuary. If you do not have your own Bible, please feel free to take a Bible for your personal study and reflection. We want to make sure Bibles are available to all.
 

 
 KIOSK REMINDER
Please remember the kiosk is no longer available for making contributions. Please feel free to utilize our ACH checking account withdrawal program. Please contact Jack Carder for help in setting up the ACH  deductions for making your offerings.

flowering tree
PASTOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE

The PNC has held a number of focus group sessions to gather input from CPC members regarding the pastor search. If you have not had an opportunity to participate in these sessions, please feel free to contact any member of the PNC Committee. They will gladly meet with you.

The PNC members are:
Stuart Byers

Evelyn Carder

Jason Dockter

Eileen Hanson

Todd Marvel

Sara Metzger

Cheryl Niemeyer

Lisa Rigoni


Mayor's Prayer Breakfast May 2nd 7:00 a.m. at CPC 

The public is invited to this annual event being held at CPC this year. Kevin Elliott with Fellowship of Christian Athletes will be the keynote speaker. 



From Ball Chatham Food Pantry 
A drive is now underway for peanut butter, and canned fruits and vegetables. Any and all contributions are greatly needed and appreciated!
You are welcome to bring donations Monday thru Friday during church office hours, 9:00 a.m. to noon or call in advance, and we can arrange to have a food pantry volunteer meet you.

Thank you for your continued support of this vital ministry.

  giving

Financial Update
April Offering 
was $23,089    
Projected offering for April 2013 was $26,000.

pink spring 
 Small Groups
Regular Meeting Times    

Firm Foundations
Adult Sunday School Class 
Study God's word verse by verse in this friendly group that meets Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m.
Julie Kaiser
483-5909 

Senior Moments
Wednesday,
May 15th  
12:00 p.m. "Abe's" restaurant on S. 6th.   
 
Zumba Exercise Group
Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:15 a.m.
Olsen Hall, CPC

First Place 4 Health   

Mondays,
6:00-7:30 p.m. 
CPC, Parlor
Lisa Rigoni, 553-6781

Grow Monday
Studying Grace by Max Lucado
7:00-8:30 p.m.
1029 Oakbrook
Sara Metzger, 430-7374

Stay Strong
With God:
 
Tuesday nights  
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Philippians Study Guide
by Matt Chandler
Phil Woerner's home
 
238 Heatherstone 
Thornton Woerner,
725-5646

N.U.T.S. Small Group
 
Tuesdays 7:00 p.m.
 Bob & Sandy Steimel's home 124 Manor Hill
Barbara Olson, 529-5171 

Special Thanks to May Newsletter Editor

Debbie Biel

Copy Editor: Julie Kaiser

 

Session Contact Information
CPC building   
The Session welcomes your questions, comments or concerns.
 
Pam Bruzan:
[email protected]
Dave Dahl:
[email protected]
 

Dorothy Doetsch:
[email protected]
Patrick Hansen: [email protected]
Julie Kaiser: [email protected]
Debbie Lounsberry: [email protected]
Todd Marvel:
[email protected]
Cheryl Niemeyer:
[email protected]

Barbara Olson: [email protected]
Bob Speicher:
[email protected]
 
Bernie Stoddard:
[email protected]  


1835 East Walnut, Chatham, IL 62629
Phone: 217-483-4204