Focus on Faith

Faith United Presbyterian Church Newsletter

December 19, 2013

Phone: 734-5129

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

Church Email: faithup@maplecity.com

This Sunday - 4th Sunday of Advent

December 22, 2013

Sermon Title: "Now the Birth of Jesus Took Place In This Way"

Matthew 1:18-25 Matthew 2:13-18

Matthew 2:19-23

Liturgist: Marjorie Butler

Ushers: George Nieman, Carolyn Meling, Steve Johnson,

Bob Green, Dee Ann Shuff
Greeters: Gary & Denise Pullen, Jane Warfield

Children's Church: Lorna Blackford

Nursery: Jim & Shari Glasgow

Coffee Hour: Lowell & Dee Long in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary

Advent Readers: The Justin & Meghan Wright Family

Special Music: Doug & Sarah Torrance

Upcoming Meetings/Events

Saturday, December 21 - Tornado Clean-Up Work Day in Washington, IL

Tuesday, December 24 - Run-Through for Children's Christmas Eve Pageant - 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, December 24 - Children's Christmas Eve Pageant - 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve Service of Lessons & Carols and Communion - 8 p.m.

Wednesday, December 25 - CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED

Thursday, December 26 - CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED

December 21 - January 1 - Teddy Bear Child Development Center Closed

Christmas Eve Pageant

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.

Many thanks to all the parents for getting their kids to practices. They'll be great on Christmas!

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
Adult Bible Class with Pastor Cunningham - 9:15 a.m.
Adult Wednesday Night Bible Class with Pastor Cunningham - Will not meet this week, December 25, or next week, January 1, 2014.

No Sunday School classes on December 29 - We will have the Christmastide Breakfast in the Social Hall at 9:15 a.m.

From the Presbytery of Great Rivers

Please note that the Washington, IL Work Day 12/21 has been

canceled due to weather.

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

Thank You

Dear Faith United Presbyterian,

Thank you for the finals week care package. It's really nice to know that people are thinking of us and the other students from Monmouth College during what tends to be a stressful time of the semester. We really appreciate your generosity. Thanks again!

Korri Crawford

Tanner Garey

Anne Begley

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17

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.

Christmas Joy Offering

This Sunday we will be collecting the Christmas Joy Offering. This is a denominational offering and our Mission Committee's focus for December, which helps fund opportunities for education to prepare students for Christian Leadership. It is shared equally by Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges and the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions. Please give generously for the future of the faith.

Birthdays

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 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.

Blaine Robinson will be transferred to the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Hospital in Minneapolis, MN on Monday, December 30, but it is not known exactly how long he will be staying there. Polytrauma Rehab is part of the Minneapolis VA System and is one of 5 facilities in the country designed to provide acute inpatient rehabilitative care to Veterans and Active Duty Service members (ADSM) who have experienced severe injuries.

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Pastor Charles is back to work and doing well. He appreciates all of your cards, thoughts, and prayers!

Christmas Flowers 2013 Were Given in Memory of:

Emory & Elizabeth Schroeder

By Evelyn Carlson

Jim Long, our son

Evelyn Youssi, Dee's Mom

By Lowell & Dee Long

Dan Adair, Irven & Vera Painter, Mildred Adair, David Lorton, Elvis Black, Dan Reeder, Randy Cooper, Marcia Damos

By Linda Adair

Donald Robeson

By Jeanne Robeson

Our parents, Donald & Janet Themanson

By Bobbi Themanson &

Kristin Sorenson

Our Grandparents

By Scott & Jill McClintock

Loved Ones

By Les & Jo Ellen Dollinger

Dr. James W. Marshall

Durbin, Betty, & Steve Ranney

By Their Family

Father, Merle Brown

By Jim & Kris Brown

Son, Brian Hendel

By Kris Brown

Loved Ones

By Sharon Simpson

Marilyn Roney

By Robert D. Roney

All Departed Loved ones

By Gene & Donna Larson

Carl Freed

By Jeanne Freed

Donovan Duke Vance

By Elizabeth L. Vance

David Carothers Allison

By The Allison Family

My son, Curtis Hicklin Smith

By Dee Ann Shuff

Jack & Josh

By Betty McBride & Family

David Moffet

By Darlene Moffet

Mildred & Ward Creswell

By Alis Chy

David Phelps

By Marjorie Phelps

C.P. & Beulah Patterson

By Joyce Patterson

Our Parents

By Bob & Dixie Wells

Our Parents, Bernadina and Everett Bowman

By Karen and Sally

Walt Wegener; Lyle, Lucy & David Dingman

By Debbie & Dale Dingman

Mr. & Mrs. Merle Melvin; Mr. & Mrs. Vernon Mettler, Sr.

By Vern & Norma Mettler

In Memory of our Parents,

By Jim & Carol McCurdy

In Memory of Merle Brown

By Patricia Brown & Family

Jim & Brian Armstrong

By Julie Armstrong

Our parents: Senlo & Mary Distin; Dale & Evva Galbraith

By Gary & Mary Distin

Dave & Ruth Turnbull

By The John Turnbull Family

Christmas Flowers 2013

Were given in Honor of:

Jan Lorton, Mary Walters, Carolyn Meling

By Linda Adair

Children & Grandchildren

By Jeanne Robeson

Our Grandparents & Parents

By Scott & Jill McClintock

Our Grandchildren

By Jim & Kris Brown

Patricia Brown

By Jim & Kris Brown

Kathy Thompson & Karen Roney

By Robert D. Roney

Carolbel Creswell Peters

By Alis Chy

Our Children

By Ralph & Martha Whiteman

My Family

By Marjorie Phelps

Our Church Family

By Tom Best

In Honor of our children & Grandchildren

By Jim & Carol McCurdy

Shirley Armstrong

By Julie Armstrong

Daughters & Grandchildren

By Kenneth & Phyllis Wilson

Christmas Flower Donations:

John & Mary Lyle

Ray & Geraldine Spicer

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.

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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