Faith United Presbyterian Church Newsletter

November 28, 2013 

Phone:   734-5129           

Pastor Charles B. Cunningham (emergencies after hours) 309-221-8168

This Sunday - 1st Sunday of Advent

December 1, 2013

Isaiah 2:1-5                                                                     Psalm 122
Romans 13:11-14                                                                  Matthew 24:36-44   

 
Liturgist: Ann Phelps

Communion Servers: Armond Akey, Betsy Akey, Gary Distin, Mary Distin,

Jo Ellen Dollinger, Peggy Figle, Alice Lawson, Ed Melvin, John Turnbull,

Martha Whiteman, Ralph Whiteman, Vicki Briscoe

Ushers: Tim Phelps, Chuck Peirce, Tom Best, Will Best
Greeters:  Rose Trimble and Jeanne Freed

Upcoming Meetings/Events

The Church Office will be closed on Thursday, November 28 & Friday, November 29.   

Christmas Eve Pageant  

Nursery:  Contact Ann Phelps, Interim CE Director, if you are interested in helping in the Nursery. You would only work once every 6 or 8 weeks.

Tornado Damage in Washington, Pekin, and East Peoria

Update: 11/27/13                                                                                       

TORNADO UPDATE (from Presbytery of Great Rivers 11/25/13)

Thank you for all of your expressions of concern and the ways you have already stepped forward to help with recovery in East Peoria, Pekin, and Washington following the tornadoes of Sunday, November 17, 2013. There will be many occasions for you to help in the weeks and months to come. As our PDA volunteers reminded us this week, we are still really in what they call the heroic/honeymoon phase of the disaster. As I write this on Sunday, people are still desperately trying to get everything they can out of the ruin of their homes. In Washington they will not be allowed to go to them on Monday and perhaps Tuesday so that the city can clean up more debris. Following that phase, though, comes a crash from disillusionment down into the depths of working through the grief. Very soon it will be become all too real that no matter how hard they work or how many friends they have, it will take a long time to rebuild and to sort out all of the insurance and government and legal red tape that follows an event like this. On top of that, they will still be making car payments and mortgage payments on things that no longer exist. There is a long road ahead.

What can you do to help?

1.  If you live in Pekin or East Peoria or if you have friends that do, be sure to spread the word about the two Thanksgiving dinners and a community meal in Washington that will happen later.

2.  Donate money to help offset the cost of these dinners (and the one on which we are partnering with St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Washington.) The money should be designated as such and sent to the presbytery office. Any money collected over the cost of the dinners will be sent to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

3.  Go to prayer meetings at the Washington Presbyterian Church at 6:30 p.m. on the first three Tuesdays of December to support them and pray with them.

4.  Call the Americorps phone numbers set up for either individual volunteers or groups.

5.  Watch for requests through this medium for help with individuals. Five families from the Washington Church lost their homes and at least six church members have family members who lost their homes. Two families from First Federated in Peoria lost their homes. Those requests may come with very short notice, but you will be given a way to quickly respond.

6.  Be ready in the spring to come to the Peoria area with work groups when people are ready to receive them. You might think about both day trips and overnight trips. PDA will be working with us to find places that can accommodate overnight work trips.

7.  Continue to pray for the people who were affected by this--those who have lost everything; those who have taken in family members and friends who now find themselves living in cramped conditions; those who live nearby who are still afraid.

Rev. Sue Krummel

General Presbyter

Presbytery of Great Rivers

Watch the presbytery web page www.greatriverspby.org and Facebook page for the latest updates on how churches and church members can help. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Presbytery-of-Great-Rivers/159445010769873

 A Christmas Expedition - Friday, December 6, 2013
 

You can probably remember with fondness when Monmouth used to have the "Christmas Walk" and the "Living Windows," but you probably can also recall how cold the weather could be when walking outdoors from shop to shop.  "A Christmas Expedition" is something like the Christmas Walk, but it is held indoors at the 1st Street Armoury. This year it's from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. on Friday evening, December 6.  More details to come next week.

"All Aboard" at the Warren County History Museum - Dec. 7 & 8
 

Children's Program:  Saturday, December 7 - 1:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m.