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Focus on Faith

Faith United Presbyterian Church Newsletter

December 12, 2013 

Phone:   734-5129           

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

This Sunday - 3rd Sunday of Advent

December 15, 2013     

 

Isaiah 35:1-10                                                            Psalm 146:5-10

Matthew 11:2-11                                                     2 Samuel 7:7-14a

 
Guest Preacher:  Rev. Dr. Teri Ott

Liturgist: Scott McClintock

 Ushers: Carol Heflin, Bonnie Heflin, Ralph Whiteman,

Martha Whiteman, Norma Mettler
Greeters:  Jim & Shari Glasgow, Sheila Wilson

Children's Church:  Lisa Willett
Nursery:  Tammi Hottle, Dalton Hottle
Coffee Hour:  PW Cookie Extravaganza

Advent Readers: Tom and Will Best

 

Special Musicians:  Carolyn Kellert Griffiths, keyboard; Katelyn Lawrence, flute;

Mariela Shaker, violin

 

Upcoming Meetings/Events

 

Thursday, December 12 - Fillman Fellowship - 11:30 a.m.
                                                        
Friday, December 13 - REGISTRATION DEADLINE - MLK Weekend Mission & Ski Trip
  
Friday, December 13 - Teddy Bear Child Development Center Christmas Program - 7 p.m.
 
Saturday, December 14 - Buchanan Community Chorus Christmas Concert - 4 p.m.
 
Sunday, December 15 - PW Cookie Extravaganza during Coffee Hour
 
Sunday, December 15 - Deacons' Christmas Caroling - 4 p.m. 
 
Tuesday, December  17 - Rescheduled Joint Session & Deacons Meeting 
 
Wednesday, December 18 - Children's Christmas Pageant Rehearsal - 3:20 to 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 18 - CE Committee Meeting - 5 p.m.
 
Wednesday, December 18 - Bible Study with Pastor - 5 p.m.  Birth narratives in Matthew and Luke
 

Christmas Eve Pageant  

  

Rehearsal Dates:                                                                     
  • December 4
  • December 11 (preschoolers also)
  • December 18

There will be a run-through of the pageant at 4:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, December 24. Parents please bring your children then.  They will stay at church until the pageant is finished.

Christmas Eve Services  

Church Scene  

In addition to the Children's Christmas Eve Pageant at 5 p.m., there will also be a worship service at 8:00 p.m. This year we will be combining the Service of Lessons and Carols and the traditional late evening Candlelight service and celebration of the Lord's Supper in one service at 8:00 p.m.
Christian Education   
  • Children, Pre-K through 6th, meet upstairs in the movie theater for opening and then go to individual classrooms
  • Faith & Life Adult Class:  December 15 - What Do Presbyterians Believe about Stewardship?
  • The Adult Bible Class with Pastor Cunningham will not meet at 9:15 a.m. this Sunday. However, anyone who would like to may come at 9:15 and help make Chrismons for the Chrismon tree.
  • Adult Wednesday Night Bible Class with Pastor Cunningham:  Meet 5:00 p.m. in Pastor's office.  Birth Narratives in gospels of Matthew and Luke.

Youth Group - Registration Deadline tomorrow, December 13

 

Presbytery of Great Rivers Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service - January 19 & 20.  Please turn in your registration forms, permission slips, and $25 fee to Stephanie Reading or to the church office.  

Fillman Fellowship - TODAY - Thursday, December 12  
 

Fillman Fellowship will meet Thursday, Dec. 12 at 11:30 a.m. in our Social Hall.  Bring a sack lunch, and coffee and hot tea will be available.  At our November gathering we decided to donate instead of having a gift exchange.  This month we will decide where we wish this collection to go.  Invite a friend and join us for fellowship and support, as well as fun and laughter!

Community Thanksgiving Dinner Wrap-Up      

 

Ten of us met to go over what went right and what we might do a little differently, but overall the Community Thanksgiving Dinner was a very successful community project. Everybody had a lot of fun, and with a few minor adjustments to help make things go even more smoothly, we as a church are committed to doing it again next year.  

  

 From the Presbytery of Great Rivers

 

Work Day in Washington, IL - Saturday, December 21

 

The Presbytery is planning one work day in Washington following the tornadoes before the real winter weather settles in, Saturday, December 21. There will be two shifts for work because of the cold weather. The first shift will meet at the Washington Presbyterian Church, 105 S. Elm St. at 7:30 a.m. for a light breakfast and training. They will work for no more than three hours. They will be invited back to the church for a chili lunch at 11:30 or earlier if they need to get inside. The second shift will show up for the 11:30 lunch and training and will, again, work no more than three hours. They will be able to use the church as a staging/warming area throughout the afternoon as well.

 

If you would like to volunteer, please email Mike Claver at clavermike@gmail.com no later than December 19. But, read the information below before you make your decision.

 

For this work experience, we are only looking for people who are 16 years old and older. There will be opportunities in the spring for younger teens. Each volunteer should know when they had their last tetanus shot. You should dress in layers-SEVERAL LAYERS. You must wear hard- soled shoes and you will need safety glasses. Anyone who only has tennis shoes to wear that day will not be allowed to work. You should bring your own heavy work gloves. Masks will be provided--you need to wear them. People who are working in the debris are experiencing bronchitis-like symptoms. If you plan to use a chain saw, you will also be required to wear safety glasses--you should bring those along. When you email Mike, let him know if you have any special skills or special equipment. Otherwise, you should plan to bring garden rakes (not lawn rakes) and shovels. There are still tons of debris to be cleared. 

 

As you can see, this will not be easy work and, unlike after most tornadoes, it will not be warm. IF THE WINDCHILL IN WASHINGTON IS 10 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR LESS AT 8 AM THAT MORNING, THE WORK WILL NOT PROCEED. MIKE WILL EMAIL YOU BY 7 THAT MORNING IF THE WORK DAY IS CANCELLED.

 

Time for Annual Reports 
 
  
Session Committee Moderators and other group leaders -- as 2013 draws to a close, it will soon be time to publish our Annual Report to the congregation to be distributed at the next Annual Meeting. Let us know who was on your committee and what your committee did during the year to support the overall vision and mission of our church. Vicki will be sending out copies of the 2012 reports to help you get started.
  
In addition to keeping the congregation informed about church life, these reports are invaluable to new moderators coming on as they learn their responsibilities and also helps the PNC and pastoral candidates.
  
Reports from the following committees, boards, and groups have usually been included: Pastor, Session, Board of Trustees, Audit, Investment, Memorial, Board of Deacons, Stewardship & Budget, Worship, Personnel, Outreach, Washday Ministry, Fellowship, Sewing Circle, Mission, Thai Circle, Nominating Committee, Music, Christian Education, Wednesday Night Live, Youth Ministries, Fillman Fellowship, Presbyterian Women, Presbyterian Women Finances, Funeral Committee.  Added to the Annual Report will be the 2013 Profit & Loss Budget vs. Actual, Profit & Loss Budget Overview for 2014, and Pledges for 2014.  
  
DEADLINE:  December 29, 2013
PW Christmas Cookie Extravaganza - December 15 during the Coffee Hour  

 

Sunday, December 15, immediately following the worship service, come to the Christmas Cookie Extravaganza  to be held in the Social Hall!  There will be enough cookies for each family to sample & take home a dozen cookies of their choosing.  You can pick whichever cookies look good to you.  If you like to bake cookies, we will gladly accept donations, and if you don't bake, then come and take some home.  Those of you who could donate a batch of cookies, please sign up on the office door so we will know how many to plan for.  We will also be taking cookies to at-home members.  Isabel Circle is planning the event and will accept monetary donations  for our PW mission projects. So, come and enjoy the fellowship and take a plate of delicious cookies home with you on December 15. 

 

Donated cookies can be dropped off Saturday morning or brought on Sunday.

 

Deacons Caroling - December 15  4 PM

  There is a sign-up sheet on the office door.  The youth and Mother-to-Mother will be joining us. Soup & goodies afterwards in the

Social Hall!  Soup will be provided.

Please bring your favorite finger-food snacks and goodies to share.

 

 New Pastor Installation Service - Sunday, December 15

 

You are invited to attend the Installation Service of the Reverend Gary Elg at Scotland Trinity Presbyterian Church in Macomb at 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 15.  A reception will be held in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the Service of Installation. The church is located at 14950 N. 900th Road, Macomb, IL  61455. Phone:  309- 837-1918.

 

Thank You  

 

Dear Faith,

 

Thank you so much for allowing the Monmouth Roseville High School Madrigals to use the church's coffee pot for their dinner again this year. I saw many of you there supporting their hard work and hope you all enjoyed yourself.

 

Blessings,

Heather Fisher

 

2013 PW Thank Offering 

 

A total of $495 was collected from our congregation for this year's PW Thank Offering. This offering funds programs that relieve pain, provide clean water, alleviate homelessness, provide educational opportunities, promote health and improve the lives of women and children throughout the world. Thank you so much for your generosity in recognizing and in sharing the blessings that you have with others.

 

Housekeeping Matters

 

Please note that the new large blue wheeled bins are for recycling under the City's new contract, so please reserve these for paper, cans, aluminum foil, glass, plastics (rinse out milk bottles), and chipboard, which is the kind of cardboard in cereal boxes and other food packaging ONLY.** 

 

** DETAILS FROM CITY OF MONMOUTH WEBSITE:  Items that can be recycled at curbside include: aluminum, steel, glass (clear, brown, green), plastics (1 through 5 & 7) corrugated cardboard (including cereal and tissue boxes), magazines, newspapers, hardbound (and paperback) books, 3rd class (junk) mail, plastic bags, bubble wrap and office waste (colored and white paper).

 

Birthdays


December 1 - Andrea Spainhour

December 2 - Beverly Davis
December 5 - Rodney Lemon
December 6 - Gary Pullen, Karen Angotti  
December 11 - Jo Ellen Dollinger
December 12 - Stephanie Reading
December 13 - Noah Clark
December 15 - Mark McVey
December 16 - John Sorenson, Alexis Crosier
December 17 - Job Runge
December 18 - Dorothy Hutchisson, Jarrett Baber
December 19 - Jason Haynes, Evelyn Blackford
December 21 - William Allison
December 23 - Joyce Allison
December 25 - Robert Whiteman, George Nieman
December 26 - Samantha Fisher
December 27 - Kristin Sorenson
December 30 - Bette Vance
December 31 - Dawn Brown
  
Prayer Concerns

Pastor Charles, Andrew Gavin, the family of Marshall Dulen; the family of Genevieve Ball; the Makiney, and Heflin families and any others who have family members who sustained losses in the Washington, IL tornado;  Jessie James; Brittany Wilson; Joyce Hagemann; Bill Hoover; Blaine Robinson; Vern Mettler; Cathy Abernathy; Cinda Stansbury; Irvin Lipp; Mary Johnson; Tara Hanson; Gary Youngblood; Lindsay Murdock; and Jim Paris.    
  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
Pastor Charles is resting at home after an incident with a small blood clot in his brain Monday evening while visiting friends in the Quad Cities. His wife Janet was with him and got him to the hospital quickly where he was treated and admitted for tests.  MRI showed no appreciable brain damage and he is taking it easy for now. Please keep him in your prayers. Thanks be to God that our pastor appears to have dodged a very nasty bullet on this one!  Cards may be sent to 125 Knox Road 940 N, Galesburg, IL  61401-8701.

Genevieve Ball Obituary  

 

If you would like to read the obituary of Genevieve Ball published in the Daily Review Atlas, please click here.  Family and friends wishing to leave comments can find an online guest book on the Minneapolis Star-Tribune's website: legacy.com/obituaries.  Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel in Plymouth, MN is handling the arrangements.  They may be reached at 763-553-1411. A memorial service will be held at a later date  in Monmouth.

 

A Word from our Treasurer  

 

Anyone wanting to know the balance of their pledge for 2013 may contact Andrea Crum at acrum@monmouthcollege.edu  or cell phone number 309-371-8573.   She will need  to look it up at the church and then get back to you with the amount.  Thanks.

2014 Directory Information

 

It will soon be time for Vicki to publish the 2014 church membership directory for new church officers.  PLEASE, if you have changed your telephone number (perhaps you've dropped your landline) or have moved to a new address during 2013, call the church office or email at faithup@maplecity.com so that Vicki will have your most current information.  We'd like our directory to be as up to date and as useful as possible.

Maple Leaf Concert - TONIGHT December 12 at 7 p.m.
 
"Songs of the Season...with a Twist."  Maureen Christine rings in the holidays with favorite songs of the season, from "White Christmas," "Santa Clause is Comin' to Town," "Let It Snow," and "Winter Wonderland," to sacred selections such as "Silent Night," "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Oh Holy Night."  There's lots of fun in this holiday program with sing-a-longs, interesting narratives about the songs and their history, a surprise audience participation number and many wonderful melodies designed to put audiences in the holiday spirit.  The concert will be held in the Monmouth College Dahl Auditorium.  Single-event tickets are $25.   
Buchanan Singers Christmas Concert at Faith Church - 4 p.m. Saturday, December 14
 
The Buchanan Community Chorus will present "A Child is Born..."  on Saturday, December 14, 2013 at Faith United Presbyterian Church with Special Guest artists from the Monmouth-Roseville Choir Chimes. 
 
They will also have a Friday performance on December 13 at First Christian Church in Galesburg at 7 p.m. with special guest artists from United District Chamber Ensemble.  Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for students and are available from members of the Buchanan Chorus or at the door.   
  
The Buchanan Community Chorus was established over a quarter of a century ago under the auspices of the Buchanan Center for the Arts, and has continued to concertize regularly with a wide range of quality sacred and secular literature.  The Chorus is under the direction of Carolyn Kellert.
Galesburg Community Chorus - 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 14
 
The Galesburg Community Chorus invites you to join them in celebrating the Christmas season as they present a concert of Christmas Classics under the direction of Dr. Tim Pahel.  The concert will feature beloved holiday classics such as Bach's Cantata 140 and well-known carols.  Members of our congregation singing in this concert include Janice Cunningham. The concert will be held on Saturday, December 14th at First Presbyterian Church at the corner of Prairie and Ferris Streets in Galesburg. For more information, please call Tim Pahel at 309-457-2171. Tickets are available at the door:  Adults $12, Seniors 60+ $10, Students free.

Ecumenical Singers - Sunday, December 22.

 

The Ecumenical Singers, directed by Leo Ramer, will present their 34th annual Christmas Concert on Sun. Dec. 22nd, at 4:00 p.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Program will feature sacred & Classical Music of Christmas. There is no admission fee; a free-will offering will be taken. Public is invited!

Christmastide Breakfast - December 29 


 

Pack your sleigh with a warm casserole or other morning favorite, such as fruit, coffee cake, or donuts to share with the fellowship and your own table service.  Our longstanding tradition of the annual Christmastide Breakfast continues!  Mark your calendar for this potluck in the Social Hall at

9:15 a.m. on Sunday, December 29.  Choir members--remember that you don't have a rehearsal the morning of December 29, so you will be free to attend, if you wish.


 

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