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Faith United Presbyterian Church
Focus on Faith |
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 What Do You Think?
Having a Happy New Year
"How can I be happy?" The question seems to be a regular segment on the morning talk shows. Usually, someone has written a book or a new study has come out. However, it always strikes me that even though "so and so" has just written the book that answers this question for all time, or this new study has uncovered the source of all unhappiness, a couple weeks later, the question is being asked again, because someone else has a book to sell or another new study, contradicting the first, has been released. In general, the "system for happiness" they are selling takes one of two forms: Narcissistic ("Your happiness is all about you") or Relational ("Your happiness will be found in others").
Perhaps because it is this time of year, January 2, 2013, was no different. The Today Show ran a feature on being happy. I don't remember who Matt Lauer was visiting with, but, as so many others, the person began outlining their system for happiness. Hers was the relational version. What I find interesting, and vexing, was it was entirely faith based - without the faith.
"Don't spend time thinking about what you don't have." "Be grateful for what you do have." "Address the aspects of your life that may be causing you guilt or pain." These were but a few. I hope you see the connections. The first would be God's command not to covet. The second would be the spiritual fruit of gratitude. The third would be God's gift of repentance. As with so many "self help" guides to happiness, she has taken the virtues of faith and repackaged them.
"But Pastor Myers, if the virtues are the same, what difference does it make that she has taken faith out of it?" Because the virtues themselves are not the source of our happiness. The source of our happiness is our relationship with God, our faith.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer knew this as well as anyone. As we enter into this new year, I would like to share with you his poem "Surrounded By Good Powers", which concludes the daily devotional, "I want to Live These Days with You."
Surrounded by good powers, faithful and still,
wonderfully protected and comforted -
in this way I want to live these days with you
and go with you into a new year.
The old year still wants to torment our hearts;
the heavy burden of evil days still holds us down.
O Lord, give our frightened souls
the salvation for which you created us.
And if you hand us the heavy cup, the bitter one,
of sorrow, filled to the highest brim,
then we take it thankfully, without trembling,
from your good and loving hand.
Yet, if you want to give us joy once again
in this world and its sun's bright light,
then we want to remember what has passed,
and then our life belongs fully to you.
Today, let the candles glow warm and bright
That you brought into our darkness,
and if it can be, bring us together again!
We know your light shines in the night.
When now the profound stillness spreads round us,
let us hear that full sound of the world
that widens invisibly all around us,
the high hymn of praise of all your children.
Wonderfully secured by good powers,
we confidently await what may come.
God is with us in the evening and the morning,
and most certainly in each new day.
People of faith, in this new year, come what may, each and every day, may you live these days with God.
See you in church!
Pastor Myers
revhaggis1@hotmail.com
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This Sunday
"In What Light Do You See Christ?"
Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:1-12
Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 Matthew 2:1-12
Lay Assistant: Deb Tomlin
Beedle/Crucifer: Dalton Willett and Larry Willett
Usher: Robert Blackford, Bill Lee, Dominick Reading, Malik Reading, Ed Melvin
Greeters:
Nursery: Cindy Wilson
Children's Church: Stephanie Reading
Coffee Hour: Les and Jo Ellen Dollinger and Jim and Kris Brown
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End of the Year Reports
This year has come to an end, so I am busily compiling our 2012 Annual Report to the Congregation. If you are the moderator of a committee, and have not yet turned one in, please email your report, or bring it to the office, as soon as possible. So far, I have received reports from the Pastor, Session, Trustees, Audit, Investment, Stewardship & Budget, Outreach, Wash Day Ministry, Sewing Circle, Music, Christian Ed, Wednesday Night Live, Icebreakers, Fillman, Presbyterian Women, Presbyterian Women's Treasurer's report, and the Funeral Committee. If this is your first year and you are needing help, please call the church office or stop in to see Vicki. It is especially important this year to represent each committee or group in the report, so that new personnel and a new interim pastor can see all that our church does.
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Time for Refreshment
A Time for Refreshment (Reflection)series with the departing Myers as special guests is being sponsored by eight TFR regulars. The series will be held on three Thursdays in January (10th, 17th, 24th) at the Whiteman home, 1405 East 2nd Avenue from 4:30 until 5:30 pm. Light refreshments will be provided by the committee including the Gene Larsons, the McCurdys, the Briscoes, and the Whitemans. All members of the church are invited.
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Congregational Meeting - THIS SUNDAY - January 6, 2013
Session has called a special Congregational Meeting for 10:30 a.m. Sunday, January 6, 2013, at the start of worship, for the purpose of considering the election of Deb Tomlin, the nominee for a ruling elder seat on session. She would be elected for a two-year term with the class of 2014, due to a vacancy.
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Officer Installation/Ordination & Orientation
Installation and ordination for new Deacons, Trustees, and Session will be on Sunday, January 6, 2013 during worship. From 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. the new officer orientation will be in the Social Hall.
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2013 Elder Training
Saturday
8:30 - 3:00
Rev. Dick Johnson Date Place RSVP by
January 26 Lewistown - First January 11 (March 2 snow date)
February 2 Woodhull - United January 19
February 9 Bloomington - St. Luke January 26
February 16 Springfield - Third February 2
February 23 Peoria - First Federated February 9 Mark your calendar for the upcoming 2013 Elder Training! To register elders in your church, please email (pattiparrish@greatriverspby.org) (or call 800-537-8592) Patti Parrish at the presbytery office. You will need the name, address, phone number and email address for all who plan to attend.
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Potato Bake
Please save the date, January 20, following worship for our annual Youth Potato Bake. We have traditionally held this event following our Annual Congregational Meeting! More details to follow.
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Godspeed Send-Off
Join with us on January 27, following worship for Pastor Myers' Godspeed Send-off! This will be the last day Pastor Myers preaches and the last day his family will be worshiping with us. Hope you can all make it! You should have received a letter in December from the Godspeed Committee with further information.
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Christian Education
The CE Committee will meet on Thursday, January 10, at 6:30 p.m.
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Thank you, Heather
The staff will be hosting the coffee hour on January 13 in honor of Heather Fisher -- our church secretary for the past 9-1/2 years. While Heather is not leaving our church family, we want to thank her and wish her well in her new position in the Office of Student Affairs at Monmouth College. Please join us.
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January Birthdays
2 Rose Trimble
Carol Heflin
Mitch McVey
6 John Turnbull
7 Ann Phelps
Eddie Solberg-Hale
10 Bob Roney
Sheila Wilson
Darlene Moffet
11 Noah Sorensen
13 Jill McClintock
14 Jacob McLaughlin
Alis Chy
15 Natalie Baber
Matthew Blackford
18 Peggy Figle
Steve Distin
20 Ann Lal
Jim Lewis
25 Molly Inman
26 Heather Fisher
27 Dawn Fleming
28 Barb Gossett
29 Nisha Spangler
30 Ron Murdock
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Thank you
Prayers
For
| Thank you to those who sent cards, gifts, and gave treats to me and my family this Christmas season!
Much love to you all!!!
Heather Fisher
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Thank you so much to all who brought us fudge, cookies, breads, jams & jellies, and other goodies. Not only does Santa appreciate the variety of cookies on Christmas Eve but so do we! Your generosity is so very appreciated.
Happy New Year,
Bill, Margie, Elizabeth, & Will
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Esther White, Sally McVey, Gary Youngblood, Evelyn Carlson, Dorothy Hutchisson, Vernon Mettler, Don Tomlin, Jane Warfield, Mick Miller, Lindsay Murdock & family, Vern Carr, Janet Themanson, Jim & Janet Paris. |
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