Focus on Faith

Faith United Presbyterian Church Newsletter

May 15, 2014

Phone: 734-5129 Hours: M-F 8 AM - Noon and 1 -4 PM

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

Church Email: faithup@maplecity.com Website: www.faithpresmonmouth.org

SUMMER WORSHIP
will be at 9:30 a.m. June 1 through August 31, 2014.

This Sunday - 5th Sunday of Easter

May 18, 2014

Sermon Title: "If Indeed You Have Tasted that the Lord is Good"

Acts 7:55-60 Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

1 Peter 2:2-10 John 14:1-14

Liturgist: Ann Phelps

Ushers: Julie Armstrong, Bob Wells, Tim Phelps, Lolla Ballard,

Betty McBride

Greeters: Alice Lawson and Dee Long
Children's Church: Lorna Blackford

Nursery: Jim & Shari Glasgow

Coffee Hour: Sally Bowman & Karen Angotti

CD Recording: Ted Briscoe

Upcoming Meetings/Events

Thursday, May 15 - Confirmation Class - 3:45 p.m.

Friday, May 16 - Teddy Bear CDC Spring Program & Graduation - 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 17 - Monmouth College Baccalaureate Service - 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 18 - Monmouth College Commencement - noon

Tuesday, May 20 - Washday Ministry Client - 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, May 20 - Mission Committee Meeting - 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 21 - Bible Study (Acts) with Pastor - 5:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 22 - Isabel Circle -
7:00 p.m. @ Sharon Graham's. Car pool meets in church parking lot at 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 25 - Monmouth-Roseville Graduation - 1 p.m. @Huff Center

College Care Packages - Thank You

Thank you very much to all those who contributed so generously to the college care gift bags for our friends at Monmouth College as they take their finals. This is a really important way to show that our church cares about them. We were able to provide 25 treat bags, thanks to you!

Thank You

Thank you for my generous college care package. The treats came in handy during finals week. Thanks again.

Beth Dingman

Thank You From Teddy Bear CDC

We can't thank the congregation enough for all your support during our recent pie selling fundraiser and our Blaine Robinson week. We raised $769 from pie orders and $184 for Blaine Robinson and his family. We also put together a photo book and had it printed for Blaine.

Save the Date! - June 14, 2014

We are very excited to invite everyone to Teddy Bear CDC's 25th
anniversary dinner & dance fundraiser on Saturday, June 14 at 5 p.m. at the VFW in Monmouth. We are having a dinner, silent auction, and dance to follow featuring DJ Craig Anderson (a former Teddy Bear parent), 50/50 drawing, and bake sale. We are a non-profit United Way organization and we are raising money to purchase child-safe, playground-quality mulch; outdated classroom equipment; flooring & shelving. Tickets are $10 per person and children under 12 eat free! Tickets will be available here at the church, from Teddy Bear parents, & at the door that night. Gary has also made a Facebook event for this fundraiser. Click Here

Please plan to join us and pass the word that this is a community event and is open to the public!

We may also need volunteers the night of the fundraiser if anyone is interested in helping!

Thank you so much!! We are very excited to finally be able to hold this fundraiser and celebrate 25 years of watching children learn & grow! We feel very blessed to have been given the opportunity by Faith Church to teach, love and nurture children for the last twenty-five years. We also feel blessed to be a part of this family of Faith.

Gary, Denise & Catrina

Birthdays

May 13 - Bill Hoover

May 14 - Bonnie Heflin, Mike Fisher

May 16 - Winifred Weeks

May 19 - Beth Dingman, Keith Brown

May 22 - Courtney Fisher, Kara Fisher, Julie McVey

May 23 - Grady Clark

May 24 - Debbie Dingman, John Turnquist

May 25 - Denise Pullen, Tim Phelps

May 26 - Toby Turnquist

May 28 - Lindsay Murdock

May 30 - Dennis Simpson, Jan Speer, Erma Smallwood

May 31 - Mary Johnson (106th birthday)

Wedding Anniversaries

May 1 - Roberta & Jack Hasten (48th)

May 19 - Doug & Sara Torrance (2nd)

Fifty Years Ago This Month...

1964 - 2014

SPECIAL SESSION MEETING - MAY 15, 1964 (condensed)

A special Session meeting was held at 7:00 p.m. on May 15, 1964 in the Faith Church building for the purpose of examining and receiving the communicants' class.

Elders Present: Marshall, Allison, Rhea, Armstrong, Mrs. White, Ebersole, Thompson, Mrs. Beveridge, Manley, Hallam, and Wells. Also present were the Rev. H. D. Finley, Moderator and the Rev. Wm. Phillippe, stated Supply Pastor. Absent were: Elders Connell, Lipes, Keating, Patterson, Simpson, Rankin, Royer, Wallace, Carlson, Jewell, Kritzer, Morrill, and Parsons.

Following the examination of the class by the Rev. Mr. Phillippe and the elders the meeting was convened with prayer by the Moderator. The Constitutional questions were asked the class by Mr. Phillippe.

Whereupon it was moved by Wells, second by Manley, and the motion was duly carried by the Session that the following persons be received into full communicant membership of Faith Church:

Douglas Delevan Hardin, Deborah Ann Hoover, Eugene Arthur Kayser, Melinda Ann Manley, Jane Marshall, Gregory Kent McClintock, Sara Ann Merillat, Belinda Del Ohren, Stephen Marshall Ranney, Nancy Kay Shaub, Janice Lynn Swails, Nancy Marie Tomlin, John David Turnbull, Julia Christine Wells, Ronald Christopher Wells, and James Albert Huff, subject to his baptism set for Sunday, May 17, 1964 during morning worship.

Save the Date - July 27, 2014

The Deacons are busy planning a special birthday party on Sunday, July 27, during the coffee hour immediately following worship, to honor our wisest and most experienced members 85+ years young.

Please mark your calendars and stay tuned for further information.

Isabel Circle - Thursday, May 22, 2014

Isabel Circle will meet at the home of Sharon Graham at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, 2014. Members wanting to carpool will meet at the church parking lot at 6:30 p.m. Crystal Sargent will facilitate Lesson Eight: Temptations along the Way from An Abiding Hope: The Presence of God in Exodus and Deuteronomy from the 2013-2014 Horizons Bible Study by Janice Catron.

The background scripture is Exodus 32:1--34:10 and Deuteronomy 6:10-25. The key idea is that the story of the golden calf shows how quickly anxiety and fear can lead us to turn from God. The story also shows the infinite measure of God's grace, mercy, and steadfast love. Participants will also discover ways in which we are very much like the Israelites.

Presbyterian Women - Synod of Lincoln Trails Triennium - June 6-7-8, 2014 Registration due May 31, 2014

Make plans now! This year is the PW Synod Triennium on June 6, 7, and 8 at Geneva Center in Rochester, IN. Rev. Janice Catron will be the keynote speaker and Triennium spiritual leader. She has authored three of our
Horizons Bible Studies, most recently our current study,

An

Abiding Hope: The Presence of God in Exodus and Deuteronomy.

Registration forms are available in our church office. Deadline is May 31, 2014. Registration fee is $155.00 (double occupancy) or $200 (single occupancy). For questions contact Sharon Graham or Vicki Briscoe.

Mission Focus for May - Strom Center

Strom Center is a nonprofit, community service organization located at 211 South A Street in Monmouth, Illinois. The organization provides geriatric, health, and social services for the senior population. The building serves as a congregate meal site and provides delicious, nutritious meals at noon on weekdays. A variety of programs covering topics as diverse as jewelry-making classes, fall prevention workshops, and seminars about area scams are examples of recent activities that address the needs and interests of area residents. To learn more about Strom Center, attend this week's worship service to hear the Minute For Mission and read next week's Focus On Faith.

Horizons Bible Study Workshop - Tuesday, June 3, 2014

~ Reservations due May 30 ~

Just a reminder to save the date if you would like to attend the Bible Study Workshop on next year's Horizons study. It will be held at United Presbyterian Church at 4th Avenue & Walnut in New Windsor, IL. The 2014-2015 study is

Reconciling Paul: A Contemporary Study of

2 Corinthians by Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty.

Registration is at 9 a.m. and the workshop begins at 9:30 a.m. Lunch reservations (non-refundable) must be made in advance by May 30 and the cost is
$6.00. Checks may be made payable to Presbyterian Women. Please designate "Bible Study Workshop" on the memo line and send to:

Jean Peterson, P.O. Box 96, New Windsor 61465. 309-667-2551.

Deadline: Friday, May 30, 2014. Click here for a reservation form in the Currents newsletter, or stop by the church office and ask Vicki for a registration form.

If you would like to have a study book in advance of the Workshop and are not a Horizons subscriber

, they are available through the Presbyterian Distribution Center by calling 1-800-524-2612. Order ASAP.

VBS 2014 June 29 - July 3

Registration is underway for the 2014 Vacation Bible School for children ages 3 through 6th grade. We are also taking volunteer sign-ups. There is a VBS Workshop of Wonders Information Center set up in the Social Hall.

Service for Jack Horner - Friday, May 16, 2014

A graveside committal of ashes for Jack H. Horner will be held on Friday, May 16, 2014 at 10:30 am at Monmouth Cemetery, Monmouth, Illinois. Phil Cooper will conduct the service. Military Honors will be given by the J. W. Clendenin Post #2301 V.F.W. and the Marion B. Fletcher Post #136 American Legion. Jack Horner is the father of Jayme Horner and grandfather of Onnalee Horner. Jack passed away on February 24, 2014.

Community Care Days - Home Improvement Applications

Five churches, including Faith UP, Fairview center, Lutheran, Sugar Tree Grove and First Methodist Church are all involved to work together on this project.

There is no cost for the work to be done & members & their families will be our first priority.

Applications can be picked up from the church office, Ralph Whiteman or myself (Bob Wells). Work includes but is not restricted to: hand rails, deck, painting, yard work, etc.
We would like to have applications from each church before

May 20th.

The next meeting is June 3rd at 7:00 pm at Security Savings.

Heifer International

Heifer International is 70 years old! What started as war relief after the Spanish Civil War has grown to help thousands of families worldwide lift themselves out of poverty. When the organization started, it shipped heifers overseas by boat to places such as Germany after WWII. Now local animals are used, which helps to support the local economy as well as the individuals who receive the animals. Families are required to pass on off spring of their animal to others in need, helping others in their village.

I have heard of Heifer International for most of 50 years. One of my Father's best friends, Don Snavely, worked for Heifer Project as it was known then. Having raised cows, sheep, pigs and chickens, Dad supported giving others the chance to make their lives better with livestock. Faith Church has supported Heifer International for many years. Sunday School, VBS and other groups have given hundreds of dollars over the years. If you are interested in reading more about the history of Heifer International, the magazine, "World Ark", is available on the library table in the Narthex.

Ann Phelps

Prayer Concerns

Will Wetzel (Youth Director at First Church, Macomb); Ed & Lois Strickler; Bobbi Cady (Sarah Torrance's mother); violence in the Ukraine; Bill Smallwood; Cathy Abernathy; Jim McCurdy; Greg Haning; Bill Hoover; Blaine Robinson; Vern Mettler; Cinda Stansbury; Irvin Lipp; Mary Johnson; Lindsay Murdock; and Jim Paris.

Irv Lipp's latest post (April 26) on CaringBridge.org says that "tough times are coming in his fight to survive and he would like all the prayers you can muster." His home address is 22 White Oak Lane, West Hampton Beach, NY 11978

Blaine Robinson's new address is:

Blaine Robinson

Winning Wheels, Rm C-4

701 E. 3rd Avenue

Prophetstown, IL 61277

The 5K event in Blaine's honor raised over $11,000. There was a front-page article in the Tuesday, April 29
Review Atlas. Click here to read.

Congratulations - It's a Boy!

Jackson Abel Blackford was born Saturday, May 10 at 11:51 p.m. He weighed 8 lb 5 oz. Parents are Bryce and Natalee Blackford. Grandparents are Robert and Lorna Blackford. Congratulations are also in order to Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Matthew!

Card of Thanks

A big thank you Faith Church friends for all your support, cards, prayers, the Easter lily, etc. I received while recovering from my right knee replacement. Therapy is going well and I am so appreciative of my faith family.

Deb Dingman

You Are Invited!

You are invited to a Graduation Open House for Dalton Hottle on Sunday, May 18, 2014 from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the

Monmouth Country Club.

You Are Invited!

The congregation is cordially invited to please join us as we celebrate the MRHS 2014 graduation of Natalie Baber, daughter of Greg and Lynn Baber, Kylie Finnicum, daughter of Chris and Deena McLaughlin, and Chloe Larson, daughter of Brad and Krista Larson. Their open house is Saturday, May 24, 2014 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the American Legion 1110 North 11th Street. We would love to see you there!

Monmouth College Baccalaureate Speaker - May 17, 2014 at 3 p.m.

One of our nation's finest preachers, The Rev. Dr. John M. Buchanan is the Pastor Emeritus of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, where he was pastor for 26 years. He has held a variety of leadership positions in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and is editor/publisher of The Christian Century

magazine. He served as moderator of the 208th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 1996-1997 and has represented the Presbyterian Church as a member of the Governing Board of the National Council of Churches. Rev. Buchanan has written three books, held several board memberships, and received numerous doctorates and honors.

The Baccalaureate Service is led by members of the senior class, and is the traditional worship service celebrating completion of the college journey and continuation of the life journey. It will take place a 3:00 p.m. in the Dahl Chapel and Auditorium on the Monmouth College campus.

Buchanan Chorus - Friday, May 16 & Saturday, May 17

The Buchanan Community Chorus will present "Spring is Here!" on Friday, May 16, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Galesburg and on Saturday, May 17 at 4:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Monmouth. Special guest artists on Friday are the solo/ensemble members from the Monmouth-Roseville and United School Districts, and on Saturday the Jazz Bands from Monmouth-Roseville and United School Districts.

There are a few free tickets on the table under the mirror if you are certain that you will use them. Otherwise tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for students 17 and under. This program is provided in part by a grant from the Buchanan Center for the Arts and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Gareth Cordery - Solo Piano Recital Saturday, May 31

Everyone is invited to Gareth Cordery's solo piano recital at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 31st in the Dahl Auditorium at Monmouth College. He will be playing major works by Bach, Beethoven, Mendelsohn, and Ginastera in this concert, which should last approximately 75 minutes. Gareth is a sophomore at Monmouth-Roseville high school. Please come and bring a friend!

Choral Dynamics Presents Big Band Blitz - May 30 & 31 and June 1

Directed by Alisa Ramer, the Choral Dynamics presents their Big Band Blitz featuring the Rootabaga Jammers at the Orpheum Theatre. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 30 & Saturday, May 31 and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 1. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7.50 for youth. Kids 12 & under free with paid adult. Proceeds benefit the ROWVA Public Schools Foundation. Contact 309-342-2299 or theOrpheum.org
for further information.

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