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Faith United Presbyterian Church Newsletter
Focus on Faith
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| Phone: (309) 734-5129 | April 11, 2013 |
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Dear (Contact First Name),
When looking at this beautiful photo of our sanctuary, I am reminded of the phrase "filled with blessings." Surely that is what God has brought to Faith Church in recent months. Instead of the anticipated darkness of the "in-between" time, our experience has been filled with light in a number of ways.
Our guest preachers have brought us joy and inspiration. The Ash Wednesday Service in Dahl Auditorium was a memorable partnership with Monmouth College, packed with students and local church members and graced with the music of our choir. The Maundy Thursday service at our church, with our brothers and sisters in Christ from Sugar Tree Grove, was deeply meaningful under the leadership of Pastors Teri and Dan Ott.
We had a great season of Wednesday Night Live, with many dedicated volunteers and excellent leadership. We've upgraded the wireless internet throughout the whole building.
Attendance is holding steady, pledged and unpledged income is right where it should be, and mission giving to the One Great Hour of Sharing this year surpassed the previous year by over 50 percent!
Lay leadership has been stepping up with their time & talents and the committees have been busy. We've reached out to help a family whose home was destroyed by fire and assisted a new arrival to Monmouth who needed help unloading her truck. Last Sunday we welcomed a new member. The Session has been working joyfully and diligently with the COM (Committee on Ministry) of Great Rivers Presbytery, building teamwork and growing in its faith. The Session has also been working hard to secure an interim pastor and is pleased to announce it has hired Rev. Charles Cunningham, who is set to begin his journey with us in mid-May. We ask you to stay faithful and keep on praying for Faith!
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Charles Cunningham, New Interim Pastor
The Session is pleased to announce that Charles B. Cunningham will be our new interim pastor. Charles was pastor for 23 years at Beulah Presbyterian in Orion, IL, and most recently has served as a temporary transitional supply for Broadway Presbyterian in Rock Island and First Federated Church in Peoria (Sue and Frosty Krummel's church). He has served for many years on the Committee on Ministry (COM) of Great Rivers Presbytery. Charles lives in Abingdon. He will join us in mid-May.
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Meet Our Newest Church Member
We are delighted to welcome our newest member of the Family of Faith, Ruby Pentsil-Bukari. Ruby was born in Tarkwa in the Western Region of Ghana, where her father was headmaster of the Methodist School. She met her husband James at the University of Cape Coast and they married in Accra in 1995, where they both lived and worked. In 1998 they both came to the United States where James earned a PhD at Purdue University. After finishing his PhD, James held the position of Visiting Assistant Professor at Monmouth College in the Department of Modern Foreign Languages. Ruby, who holds a Masters degree, joined the Monmouth College staff in 2006 as Director of Intercultural Life. (You may have spotted her on the cover of the Winter 2013 edition of the Monmouth College Magazine). James is currently working at the University of West Indies in St. Augustine, Trinidad. Ruby was baptized as an infant and confirmed at the age of 12 in the Methodist Church of Ghana and joins Faith Church by reaffirmation of faith. She and James have an 11-year-old son, Benant, who has been active in our Wednesday Night Live Program and Sunday School.
Ruby is fluent in French and enjoys cooking. She is already serving on the Outreach Committee. The Session welcomed her with a reception at the coffee hour last Sunday when she was received into membership. If you missed a chance to welcome her last Sunday, please introduce yourself and get acquainted.
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This Sunday - Third Sunday of Easter
"It Is Not Enough to Say 'I Love You" Once"
Acts 9: 1-6, 7-20 Psalm 30
Revelation 5: 11-14 John 21:1-19
Guest Preacher: Elder Gene Miller, CLP
Lay Assistant: Vicki Young Briscoe
Beedle & Crucifer: Elsie Wright, Choir
Ushers: Tim Phelps, Tom Best, Will Best, Chuck Peirce
Greeters: Carol & Bonnie Heflin and Dee Ann Shuff
Children's Church: Lorna Blackford
Nursery: Moschenross
Coffee Hour: Scott & Jill McClintock
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Christian Education
Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. for children. Jr Hi and Sr Hi are also meeting weekly in the Youth Room at 9:15 a.m. During the month of April the youth are working hard to plan their Youth Sunday service on April 28.
Adult Bible Study - Meets 9:15 a.m. on Sunday morning in the Bride's Room (across from the chapel). This class is led by Joyce Hagemann and uses the NIV Bible Study series. For the spring quarter the curriculum theme is "Undying Hope: Daniel, Luke, Acts, 1 & 2 Thessalonians and 1 & 2 Peter." Lessons 7, 8, and 9 finish out the unit on "Resurrection Hope" and are available in the cabinet in the classroom if you wish to prepare ahead of class, which is helpful. All adults are welcome to attend.
Faith & Life Class - Come and watch a PBS film about the history of American Abolitionism prior to the Civil War. Tom Best presents the film in a series of episodes and leads class discussion on the content. The class will particularly examine the role of Christian philosophy within the abolitionist movement. In order to provide more time for discussion, the schedule for this class has been extended throughout April and into May, concluding on May 19. The class meets each Sunday at 9:15 a.m. in the Social Hall.
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Trustees
Clean-Up Extravaganza Planned for April 17 - Come experience a church cleaning extravaganza! Everybody invited! Mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 17 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Supplies will be available unless you want to bring your own personal favorites. Cleaning should be comfortable, efficient, and fun, especially when done in the company of a cheerful crew of companions. The more the merrier, and with a good turn-out it may even be possible to finish early! Come help clean up the church and bring your friends and family.
Church Doors - Once again the Trustees would like to remind everybody to be mindful of security. If you have a key, please not only lock all outside doors, but test them as well to make sure they are fully closed and latched. And if you are leaving after the doors have been locked, just be sure they are shut all the way in order to stay locked. We do have a number of doors, and it only takes one to allow entry to vandals, thieves, or intruders. Careful attention to this practice will give us all greater peace of mind, including our insurance company. Next Trustees Meeting - 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 16
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Meetings
Thursday, April 11 - Fillman Fellowship 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 16 - Trustees 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 16 - Mission Committee 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 17 - All-Church Clean-Up 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
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Stewardship & Budget
Brothers and Sisters: Information is especially valuable in this in-between time and our treasurer has p0inted out a bit we wanted to convey to all of you. Pledged and unpledged giving are both meeting expectations during our first quarter. We've all noticed members stepping up to do the work of our church with their time and talents. Now we can see that we continue to support our church and our church's work with our monetary gifts as well. Stewardship and Budget Committee
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In the Community
Aprons -- Ties to the Past Warren County History Museum - April 20
Ellie Carlson of Chicago will present "The Intelligent Design of the Apron" at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at the Warren County History Museum. After the program, Almond Cake will be served, which is significant for reportedly being Abraham Lincoln's favorite. Tickets are $15. For tickets, contact Dixie Jenks (734-6346) or Jo Ellen Dollinger (734-8627). Proceeds go to benefit the Second Floor Exhibit Expansion at the Warren County History Museum.
The Hoppers Gospel Concert - Maple Leaf Concert Series tonight!
Tonight at 7:00 p.m. the well-known Gospel Group "The Hoppers" will be performing at the Dahl Chapel and Auditorium on the Monmouth College campus as part of the Maple Leaf Community Concert Series. Known as America's Favorite Family of Gospel Music, The Hoppers are favorites on the Gaither Homecoming series. Tickets are available for $25 from the Buchanan Center for the Arts. Please call the BCA at (309)-734-3033 to learn more or to place an order.
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April Birthdays
1 Kristina Gilliland Compton
2 Dalton Willett
3 Matthew Rickey
5 Janie Brill, Alex Green
6 Nancy Bersted
7 Brittany Liggett
10 Carol Tenold
11 Raj Ambrose
12 Laura Rickey
14 Bob Meling
15 Dominick Reading
16 Steve Johnson
18 Hannah Hottle, Kirstin Johnson
23 Samantha Agan
24 Isabel Marshall
25 Jacob Baber, Brooke Johnson
26 Linda Adair, Jim McCurdy
27 Alex Hardin
28 Saro Ambrose
30 Marjorie Butler, Cathy Abernathy, Eleanor Moschenross
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Lost & Found
A ladies' black & white scarf was found in the sanctuary after the April 7th service. Please see Vicki in the church office to claim it or call the office at 734-5129.
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Fillman Fellowship - Today at 11:30 a.m.
Fillman Fellowship is meeting in our Social Hall today at 11:30 a.m. Please bring a sack lunch. Coffee and tea will be provided. Join us for fellowship and bring your thoughts as we continue to plan our year.
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Upcoming Events at Faith
PW Annual Yard Sale - May 3 & 4
With the warm weather lately, the time to start spring cleaning and thinking about yard work is upon us. Need some tools, furniture, decorations, baskets? Need some space? The answer to all of these questions is waiting for you to discover at the PW Annual Yard Sale on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4, where you can find the things you need and donate the things you don't. Remember, May 3 & 4 is for the things you need, and May 1 & 2 is for the things you don't! And in the midst of all this busy commerce, please remember that you will be helping the Presbyterian Women raise the funds for their annual pledge which helps people around the world.
ZBT Pancake Supper Benefit - April 20
The men of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity of Monmouth College are sponsoring a Pancake Supper on Saturday, April 20, 2013, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Social Hall of Faith United Presbyterian Church. Proceeds will go to benefit the American Cancer Society. This has become an annual event. Come and enjoy pancakes, bacon, and lots of syrup!
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Memorial Service
A memorial service in celebration of the life of Sullivan Ogden, two-year-old son of Erin and Andrew Ogden, and grandson of Bob and Jennifer Makiney, will be held at Faith United Presbyterian Church at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2013. Visitation will precede the service from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Rev. Gabe Wanck from Fairview Center Methodist Church will officiate. Sullivan leaves behind his three-year-old brother, Emerson.
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Prayer Concerns
Carolyn Albert (daughter of Alice Lawson), Vern Mettler, Don Robeson, Mary Johnson, Tara Hanson, Sally McVey, Gary Youngblood, Lindsay Murdock, Jim and Janet Paris. Also, please keep in your prayers Cinda Stansbury who is now at Marigold Health Care Center in Galesburg.
With Sympathy
To Bob and Jenny Makiney and their family on the death of Bob and Jenny's grandson, Sullivan Ogden, aged 2, who passed away unexpectedly in Denver, Colorado on April 5, 2013.
To the family of Dottie Behnke, whose brother-in-law (Eugene's brother) passed away recently after a long illness.
To the family, friends, and current and former students of beloved Monmouth-Roseville High School teacher, Tracey Williams, who passed away on April 3. A scholarship fund in Tracey's name is being established to honor her memory.
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