Focus on Faith

Faith United Presbyterian Church Newsletter

October 2, 2014 

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

   

Pastor:  Rev. Dr. Kathy Stoner-Lasala

revkathysl@gmail.com  (609) 319-4030

 

     Church Email: faithup@maplecity.com      

Website: www.faithpresmonmouth.org

This Sunday - World Communion Sunday

Season of Peace 

 October 5, 2014 

   10:30 a.m. 

 

Sermon Title: "Construction Zone" 

Ephesians 2: 11-22                              Romans 12:18                               

         Liturgist: Gary Pullen
Communion Servers:   (Not available at time of publication)
Ushers:  George Nieman, Carolyn Meling, Steve Johnson, Bob Green, 
Dee Ann Shuff
Greeters:  Alice Lawson; Craig, Peggy, and Jordan Watson
Children's Church:  Sarah Torrance
Nursery:  Lolla Ballard
Coffee Hour:  Armond & Betsy Akey
CD Recording:  Ted Briscoe

Upcoming Meetings/Events 

 

Today, Thursday, October 2 - Thai Circle - 9:30 a.m. 

Saturday, October 4 - MC Homecoming Parade Staging in FUPC parking lot - 10 to 11 a.m. 

Saturday, October 4 - Higbee-Orne Wedding in Chapel - 2:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 5 - World Communion Sunday & Peacemaking Offering

Monday, October 6 - Friday, October 10  - Administrative Assistant on vacation

Monday, October 6 - Outreach Committee Meeting - 6:30 p.m. 

Tuesday, October 7 - Presbytery Assembly @ Five Points Conference Center in Washington, IL - 9:30 - 3:00 p.m. 

Wednesday, October 8 - Wednesday Night Live - 3:20 to 6:00 p.m. 

Wednesday, October 8 - Acts of Faith Discussion Class - 6:00 p.m. 

Thursday, October 9 - Fillman Fellowship - 11:30 a.m. 

October 15 - 25 - Pastor Stoner-Lasala on vacation and study leave
Peacemaking Offering - This Sunday, October 5

 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  John 14:27 

This Sunday is World Communion Sunday when we traditionally take the Peacemaking Offering, which is one of our four denominational offerings each year. The General Assembly has recently changed it to the Peace & Global Witness Offering in order to allow churches greater flexibility in supporting causes that they are passionate about, including international mission.  Mid councils and congregations will still retain 25 percent of the Offering receipts, which can be used for any missional work falling under Peace & Global Witness, including projects churches already support outside of the Mission Agency.  Presbyteries and synods use 25 percent to support projects focused on peace.  The Presbyterian Mission Agency dedicates the remaining 50 percent to the Presbyterian peacemaking Program. 

for more information or to give online. 

There will be envelopes in the pews for those who wish to make cash donations. If you would like to write a check, please make it payable to Faith United Presbterian Church and designate "Peacemaking Offering" on the memo line. Andrea will then send all collected funds in one check to the PC(USA).  Thank you for considering this mission opportunity. 

 

Wednesday Night Live  - Next Session October 8    

 

October 1 - 15   Parable of the Talents

God wants us to do our best with the talents 

He gives us.  Matthew 25:14-30

 

Kitchen Team for October 8:  Alice Lawson, Agatha Johnson, Julie Blaesing, Evelyn Carlson

 

Registration forms have been sent in the mail and are also available in the church office and in the Social Hall after church on Sundays.  Click here for a 2014-2015 WNL Registration Form that you can print and fill out (be sure to fill out both pages, including the photography consent form). 

 

Reminder to Parents: Please remember to turn in your registration and pay your child's fees.  Cost is $20 for the first child for one semester or $40 for the year.  If you have two children, it's $35 for the semester and $70 for the year. 

 

We can also use monetary donations for scholarships or supplies used at WNL. Finally, we need your weekly prayers for the success of this program.

 

Please let me know if you have any questions or know of someone who hasn't come before so I can get them the information.  Thank You! 

 

Debbie Dingman - WNL Director 2014-2015  

Would You Like a Free Subscription to Presbyterians Today Magazine?
                           
There is a free subscription offer from the publishers of 
Presbyterians Today.  This is a one-year print copy subscription available to new subscribers only.  If you are interested and not already a subscriber, please let Vicki know so that she can sign you up as a gift subscription recipient. I will need your name and address. There is no limit to the number of subscriptions, but this offer expires on October 31, 2014 and must be submitted by that date.  After the free one-year subscription, you can decide whether or not you want to continue the subscription at regular rates. 
Administrative Assistant on Vacation October 6 - 10
                           
Vicki will be out on vacation next week from Monday, October 6 through Friday, October 10.  She is doing the October 5 and 12 bulletins before she leaves, as well as the October 2 and October 9 e-newsletters.  If you need to check out a key or have any other special requests, please see her prior to her departure.  Thank you. 
Fillman Fellowship - Thursday, October 9
                             

It's time to mark Thursday, October 9 on your calendar and join us that day for Fillman Fellowship.  We gather at 11:30 in the Social Hall.  Remember to bring your sack lunch.  See you the 9th! 


Presbyterian Youth Day at Monmouth College - October 25

Monmouth College will present "Making All Things New" Presbyterian Youth Day at Monmouth College on Saturday, October 25th, 2014 for Senior High Youth.  The day will start out at 9 a.m. with worship, energizers, keynote, and small groups in Dahl Chapel, followed by lunch in the college dining hall at noon.  Then there's the football game at 1 p.m.   It's a great chance to check out a Presbyterian Church-related college.  

Cost is $10 and includes the lunch and a t-shirt. Faith Church will cover the registration fee for those who register through Stephanie Reading. Registration deadline is coming up soon on October 10,  so if you are interested please do let Stephanie Reading know by email at youth@maplecity.com or call her at 309-368-0457 so that she can include you in the group registration.                 
Path of Peace Daily Reflections

Each Sunday we pass the Peace of Christ in church and many of us yearn for more peace in the world.  During "A Season of Peace," (September 7 - October 5), if you would like to have more peace in your life and better understand its dimensions, you can subscribe to Path of Peace Daily Reflections 
 (for free) by clicking here 

Discover a Season of Peace


A 
Season of Peace 
is a four-week pilgrimage spanning five Sundays developed by the PCUSA which is designed to deepen the pursuit of peace for congregations, small groups, families, and individuals. Through daily peace reflections, family activities such as peace cards, Bible studies, and other online resources, you are invited to define and deepen your calling as a peacemaker.  This Season is a time of encouragement, challenge, inspiration, and education. 

All of these resources are designed to culminate in the Peacemaking Offering, traditionally received on World Communion Sunday, the first Sunday in October.  The Offering gives us a concrete way to contribute locally and nationally to the work of peace enabling the Presbyterian peacemaking Program to:
  • Inspire new approaches to active peacemaking;
  • Equip God's people to be compassionate, prophetic peacemakers; and 
  • Connect communities of peace in accompaniment, mutual learning and shared action for the transformation of the world. 
What are the opportunities Faith Church is offering for you to participate in this pilgrimage?  
  •  Providing a link to subscribe to Path of Peace Daily Devotions for this four-week period. The 2014 Path of Peace Daily Devotions were authored by Presbyterians who traveled to Israel and Palestine in April/May of 2014 for the Peacemaking Program conference, Mosaic of Peace. Conference participants reflected on scripture readings from The Biblical Witness to Peacemaking and were guided by stories and experiences shared by our Israeli and Palestinian church partners, who live with military occupation as the backdrop of church life.  To receive these daily devotions go to http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/peacemaking/path-of-peace-daily-reflections/.  You can subscribe by email or by RSS.  As an alternative to receiving one per day by email, you can also download a copy of the entire set of 2014 Path of Peace Daily Devotions as one document to read through at your leisure.
  • Incorporating parts of the five-session Bible study that helps us in recognizing peace, finding peace, practicing peace, extending peace, and living peace. We have already looked at Recognizing Peace, Finding Peace, Practicing Peace and Extending Peace. This Sunday we will look at Living Peace.  "So that you can do what others claim cannot be done."  Peace within, peace with God and peace with others all require forgiveness and a life which seeks to restore relationships.  This study will focus on 2 Chronicles 6:13-40, Matthew 5:23-24 and Romans 12:18.
  • Use of a special hymn that was written by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette to support the work of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and its annual special offering called "O God, the Things That Make for Peace." The hymn is based on the Bible study mentioned above. 
  • A special interfaith "Prayer for Peace" 
    event honoring the International Day of Peace was held on Wednesday, September 17, in conjunction with Monmouth College and included the civic and campus community joining in prayer on the side lawn of the Intercultural House. Following this half-hour service, all were invited to a Group Soup Meal in the Social Hall at Faith Church. The congregation brought a vegetable, vegetable stock, beans, tomato juice, or crackers/ bread to church on September 14, the Sunday before. These offerings were laid on the Church World Service blanket on the communion table to represent peace efforts in the form of humanitarian aid to our brothers and sisters in the world who are in need of comfort and support.  
  • Beginning on Wednesday, September 24, Pastor Stoner-Lasala is leading a weekly series of discussion groups on Eboo Patel's book Acts of Faith on Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m.  Dr. Patel will be speaking at Monmouth College on October 28. His topic will be "Interfaith Leadership in a Time of Global Religious Conflict." The book is available for sale ($10) in the church office. More copies will be ordered if needed.  For October 8 please read Chapter 5.  
  • Denominational bulletin inserts on Anti-bullying and International Peacemaking on September 28 and October 5.
  • A Season of Peace 
    will culminate in World Communion Sunday and the
    Peacemaking 
    on October 5.  The 2014 General Assembly is transforming the Peacemaking Offering into the Peace & Global Witness Offering. 
    This new Offering will have a greater global reach, make a more significant impact, and empower participating congregations to use 25% of the money they raise on local and worldwide ministries of their choice.  We will share information about this exciting new Offering with our congregation!
Christian Education News 
 
September 14 - 9:15 a.m.  Sunday School Begins!

Preschool children & parents - meet the teacher upstairs in the Noah's Ark room.  Use the East Hallway to get to the stairs and go upstairs. 

Elementary children - meet at 9:15 a.m. in the theatre upstairs for opening. 

Youth grades 7-9 - meet upstairs in the Youth Room of the Youth Wing at the NW corner of the church building.  Use the West Hallway to get to the stairs and go upstairs. 

Adults - Bible study on the Parables of Jesus.  Meet in the Adult Lounge.  Directions:  Use the West Hallway to get to the stairs and go upstairs. It's the  room on the far left. There is a chair lift available for those who have difficulty climbing stairs.  This study is an 11-part series.  October 5 - # 40 Invitation to Wedding Banquet & # 27 The Great Banquet. Readings: Matthew 22:2-14 /Luke 14: 16-24.

Starting Wednesday, September 24, Rev. Kathy will be leading a discussion class for adults on Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m. on the book 
Acts of Faith
by Eboo Patel. Reading for October 8 - Chapter 5.

Youth Group - will kick off in early September. Lunch together once a month, Corn Maze in October, with the Crop Walk November 2 and the Crockpot cook-off on November 9.

Nursery will be available from 10:30 through the end of the worship service. 

Children's Church meets after the Children's Time in the service.  Children's Church helps children to learn to worship God and to understand what happens during worship.  Children 5 years old to 3rd grade are encouraged to attend Children's Church. 

Book Discussion Group  

Beginning on Wednesday, September 24, Pastor Stoner-Lasala will be leading a five-week book discussion group at 6 p.m. in preparation for the arrival of guest lecturer Eboo Patel on the Monmouth College campus on October 28.  

Sponsored by the Lux Center for Church and Religious Leadership, Dr. Patel will be speaking on "Interfaith Leadership in a Time of Global Religious Conflict."  He is the author of Acts of Faith:  The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation 
-- the book we will be discussing.

Eboo Patel's core belief is that religion is a bridge of cooperation rather than a barrier of division.  Copies of the book are available in the office for $10.  
Faith and Life Class  

This is a Bible study on the Parables of Jesus, which meets in the Adult Lounge. The study is an 11-part series and has been led by Jeanne Robeson, Hallie Lemon, and Tom Best.  In the coming weeks these three, plus Lolla Ballard, Tim Phelps, Rod Lemon, and Marge Phelps will alternate in teaching the class.  October 5 - # 40 Invitation to Wedding Banquet & # 27 The Great Banquet. Readings: Matthew 22:2-14 /Luke 14: 16-24.
Jamieson Center

Faith Church received a gracious letter from Nancy Mowen at the Jamieson Center thanking us for our recent donation of $475.00.  In addition to Senior Nutrition, their programs include summer meals for children, a food pantry, emergency bill assistance, and the Christmas store/food baskets.  They also provide gently used clothing and household goods at affordable prices through the thrift store.  In the month of August, the Senior Nutrition Program served 414 meals at three congregate sites and 1,383 home-delivered meals. The summer feeding program for youth served 508 lunches.  The pantry served a total household size of 972 people in Warren County.  As you can see, it's loaves & fishes and thank you so much for your generosity as a congregation!

There is a flu shot clinic coming up TODAY on October 2 from 1-3 p.m. for the uninsured and underinsured.  Registration is encouraged. Call 734-4251.  Jamieson Center is located at 1025 South 2nd Street in Monmouth. 

If you would like to explore the programs at Jamieson Center on your own, they have a new website which is  www.jamiesoncommunitycenter.org.  Also, if you are interested in finding your niche as a volunteer, on the table under the mirror near the office are some information sheets on the different types of volunteer opportunities with the center.

October Mission Focus - Backpack Program
Prayer Concerns

Thomas Vaughn; Jim Keefe; Tamene Bekele;  Jim Andrews;  Bobbi Cady (Sarah Torrance's mother); Bob McClintock; Robert Cooper (Bonnie Heflin's cousin); Louise Roos; Bill Smallwood;  Etta Jane Pullen;  Ed Strickler; Cathy Abernathy; Greg &  Joy Haning; Bill Hoover; Blaine Robinson; Vern Mettler; Cinda Stansbury; Mary Johnson; Lindsay Murdock; and Jim Paris. 

Retired mission co-worker Carolyn Weber asks our prayers for Tamene Bekele, one of her former students, who is in the second year of his master's degree studies in Ethiopia.  Tamene is battling prostate cancer after a surgery that was not successful.  He begins radiation treatments this week. 


Larry Byrne is home and doing well after hip replacement surgery on September 22.  He is going to outpatient physical therapy.

Thomas Vaughn was recently in the hospital having tests at OSF St. Francis in Peoria, but as of October 1 has been discharged. 

Update on Jim Andrews - Good news!  He has been upgraded from ICU to Intermediate Care.  He is still on oxygen and dialysis and can speak through his tracheostomy, but does not have the use of his arms & legs yet. His family is looking into acute long-term care facilities. 

Jim Andrews
8JCP, Room 8332 UIHC
200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242

Carolyn Stevenson, former resident of Monmouth and member of Faith Church, will be celebrating her 80th birthday on Saturday, October 11.  If you would like to send her a card, please use this address:

Carolyn Stevenson
c/o Cynthia Stevenson 
5939 SW Quiet Creek
Corvalis, OR  97333
In Sympathy

Irene Reynolds, age 92, passed away at 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1, 2014 at Monmouth Nursing Home. To honor her wishes, a graveside funeral service is planned for Friday, October 3 at 1:30 p.m. at the Monmouth Cemetery, with Pastor Stoner-Lasala officiating. Turnbull Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Her family has established memorials for Warren Achievement Industries and the Monmouth Nursing Home. 
Raise the Roof for Rainbow Riders - Saturday, October 18

Please join us for this boot-stomping adult event as we kick off our capital campaign to raise money to build a mini covered arena!  Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center serves individuals with special needs.
  • Saturday, October 18
  • American Legion Hall in Monmouth
  • Doors open at 5:30 p.m. 
  • Dinner served from 6 - 7 p.m. (Eddie B's BBQ!)
  • Live band featuring ETERNITY ROAD from 7 - 10 p.m. 
  • $10 per person
  • cash bar available
  • 50/50 raffle and silent auction
Fifty Years Ago This Month...   
1964 - 2014
  
REGULAR SESSION MEETING - October 21, 1964

The regular meeting of the Session of Faith United Presbyterian Church, Monmouth, Illinois was held at 8 o'clock p.m., October 21, 1964 in the former First Church building.

Present were Elders Wallace, Jewell, Kritzer, Hallam, White, Royer, Beveridge, Allison, Keating, Connell, Manley, Marshall, Armstrong, Wells, Thompson, Simpson and Ebersole and the moderator, the Rev. G. Robert Buttrick. Also present was David Moffet, chairman of the Board of Trustees. 

The meeting was opened with devotions led by Elder Manley.

Minutes of Session meetings of September 24 and 30, 1964 were approved with additions noted. 

Moved, seconded and carried that associate memberships for Monmouth College students be made available and that college students be encouraged to so affiliate themselves with Faith Church during their college years.
 
Request noted from the St. James A.M.E. Church for use of the facilities of the Ninth Avenue center for services on November 1st and 8th and for the serving of their annual turkey dinner on the evening of November 19th. Duly moved, seconded and carried that any rules to the contrary be set aside and that this specific request in this instance be granted. 

Moved, seconded and carried that the sanctuary of the former Grace Church be closed and that the policy of having this sanctuary open at all times for meditation and prayer be rescinded because of the fact this this building is no longer in any use by the Faith congregation. 

REPORT FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES - Report made that a committee met with a committee from the Trinity Episcopal Church and that a proposal that Trinity Church be permitted to use the facilities of the former Grace Church for a period of two years with the option to purchase this building at the end of this time for $50,000. Following discussion it was duly moved, seconded and carried that this matter be referred to a joint committee of three from the Session and three from the Trustees, to be appointed by Mr. Buttrick, such committee to consider this proposal and, in consultation with Trinity Church, bring in a more specific proposal for presentation to the Session at a special meeting prior to the next meeting of Monmouth Presbytery and that the Session go on record as approving some suitable lease with option of the Grace Church facilities to the Trinity Church. 

Following discussion it was moved, seconded and carried that a statement be formulated by the pastor to the congregation as to why two manses are being sold and why a different manse is in the process of being purchased. 

Request noted for permission to hold a Thank Offering, including a food table and money offering, at the Ninth Avenue Center on November 15th. Moved, seconded and carried that this request be granted. 

There being no further business to come before the Session it was moved, seconded and carried that the meeting adjourn. Adjournment followed prayer by Elder Connell. 

Rev. G. Robert Buttrick, Moderator
David M. Hallam, Clerk

Giving through September 28, 2014

Receipts
Actual Giving
Budgeted Amount Needed
September 7
$3,426,00
$3,808.42
September 14
$2,491.00$3,808.42
September 21
$ 693.00
$3,808.42
September 28
$1,023.00
$3,808.42
Sept Total thru Sept 28
$7,633.00
 $15,232.00(rounded)
Annual Total thru Sept 28
$107,785.06 $148,512.00 (rounded)

Birthdays

 

October 1       - Dorothy Behnke

October 2      - Lorna Blackford
October 5      - Barb Byrne
October 6      - Liz Nieman 
October 7      - Michael Crosier
October 11    - Chloe Larson, David Spoerl, Paul Mason III
October 12   -  Benant Bukari
October 13   -  Megan Byrne
October 15   -  Don Mills, Austin Johnson
October 17   -  Tom Best
October 19   -  Mandy Lyle
October 20  -  Jane Laughead
October 21   -  Taylor Turnquist
October 29  -  Marie Inman
October 30  - Lynn Biggs, Amanda Bowman, Kathy Lewis
 

Wedding Anniversaries


 So far, no one has notified us of any October wedding anniversaries.  Does anyone have an October anniversary?