Focus on Faith

Faith United Presbyterian Church Newsletter

October 30, 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 - All Saints Sunday and Stewardship Commitment Sunday

November 2, 2014

10:30 a.m.

Daylight Savings Time ends! Set clocks back

1 hour on

Nov. 2

"Clap Along?"

2 Corinthians 9: 6-15

Liturgist: Craig Watson

Communion Servers: Armond Akey, Betsy Akey, Gary Distin, Mary Distin, Peg Figle, Jeanne Robeson, John Turnbull, Susan Van Kirk

Ushers: Julie Armstrong, Bob Wells, Jonalyn Heaton, Lolla Ballard, Betty McBride

Greeters: Sheila Wilson, Jon & Sharon Graham

Children's Church: Crystal Sargent

Nursery: Sharon Graham

Coffee Hour: Greg & Lynn Baber

CD Recording: Ted Briscoe

Upcoming Meetings/Events

Thursday, October 30 - Stated Session Meeting (rescheduled) - 7 p.m.

Sunday, November 2 - Crop Walk @ Huff Center - 2 p.m.

Sunday, November 2 - St. James AME Open House - 2 to 4 p.m.

Wednesday, November 5 - Focus e-news deadline - 12 noon

Wednesday, November 5 - Wednesday Night Live - 3:20 p.m.

Thursday, November 6 - Thai Circle - 9:30 a.m.

Friday, November 7 - Church Women United World Community Day @ FUPC - 12 p.m.

Nominating Committee Meeting - Sunday, November 2

There will be another meeting of the 2014 Nominating Committee after church this Sunday in the church library. Members include John Marshall, Deb Tomlin, Betty McBride, Deb Dingman, Gary Distin, Sharon Graham, Bonnie Heflin, Gene Larson.

Wednesday Night Live - Next Session November 5

November 5 - Parable of the Vineyard Laborers God is fair and gracious to everyone

Matthew 20: 1-15

Kitchen Team for November 5: Julie Blaesing, evelyn Carolson, Alice Lawson, Agatha Johnson

WNL is going well. We have 28 wonderful kids now! The 5th/6th graders have helped at Rainbow Riders and have gone to the Monsanto Pumpkin Patch. Now we are gearing up to make Thanksgiving cards for the Community Thanksgiving Dinner!

Debbie Dingman - WNL Director 2014-2015

Christian Education News

9:15 a.m. Sunday School for all ages:

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. This study is an 11-part series. November 2 - # 34 The Vineyard Workers. The reading is Matthew 20: 1-16

Wednesday Evening Discussion Group:

This group will continue meeting in November (topic TBA) and in December for an Advent study.

Youth Group - Getting ready for the Crop Walk on 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.

Children's Bibles

On behalf of the congregation of Faith United Presbyterian Church, the Christian Education Committee was pleased to present Bibles to the following children: Tralynn Mitchell, daughter of Lauren Eggan and granddaughter of Kris and Jim Brown and great granddaughter of Pat Brown; Jacob Sundvall great grandson of Peggy Figle; and Naomi Duke, daughter of Charity Duke. The following children will be presented their Bibles at Wednesday Nite Live: Elise Blaesing, daughter of Michael and Julie Blaesing; Lily Johnson, daughter of Lucas and Agatha Johnson; Collin Nuckles, son of Paula Nuckles; Sebastian Vasquez, son of Nick and Traci Vasquez; and Rhett Willett, son of Larry and Lisa Willett.

November Mission Focus - Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Crop Walk - November 2

For a third year "Crop Walk" is returning to Monmouth. On Sunday, November 2 at 2:00 p.m. walkers will meet at Monmouth College's Huff Center to begin their journey. If you are interested in walking, please see Stephanie Reading in the Social Hall after church. She will give you a fund-raising packet. If you are unable to walk but would like to donate, walkers will be taking your donations in the Social Hall over the next couple of weeks. Walkers of all ages are welcome!

Crockpot Cook-Off Entries

Yes, it's time again to hold our 5th Annual Crockpot Cook-off on November 9th, following worship.

The rules are simple: Select a recipe that is cooked only in your crock. This can include anything from breakfast dishes, to soups, main courses, or desserts. Basically, anything that you can cook in a crockpot.

Adults, youth, and children will then sample each one, voting on the yummiest dish. The person with the most votes will win a gift certificate to a local restaurant!

The entry fee is $5.00, and it would be helpful if it is submitted along with your name and what you'll be making to the office as soon as possible.

Taste-buds Needed!

Come to the Crockpot Cook-off

November 9, 2014

at 11:45 a.m. (following worship)

A free-will donation will let you...

sample from each crockery and give you the ability

to vote on your favorite one!

(Drinks will be provided.)

All proceeds will go toward the cost of our 2015 Youth missions.

Thank you always for your support!!!

CWU World Community Day - Friday, November 7

World Community Day sponsored by Church Women United of Monmouth and Vicinity will be celebrated on Friday, November 7, 2014, at Faith United Presbyterian Church. World Community Day is an ecumenical celebration that brings attention to ways that we can be the Body of Christ throughout the world. The 2014 theme is: We are in God's hands and we are God's Hands. This year we are learning about how we can bring healing to each other in our groups, our families, and in our communities. Rev. Dr. Kathy Stoner-Lasala will speak about healing prayer during the program which will start at 1:15 p.m. Marjorie Butler will be the musician during the program. Darlene Moffet and Sharon Graham are representatives from Faith United Presbyterian Church to the Church Women United Board.

A luncheon provided by Church Women United Board Members will be served at noon. No reservations are needed. Child care will be provided. Everyone is cordially invited to attend.

Reopening of St. James AME - November 2

St. James AME will have a reopening celebration on Sunday, November 2 at 2 p.m. They are not only celebrating getting back into their own church after five years, but they also want to give thanks to Community Care Days, the ecumenical volunteer group that completely renovated their sanctuary after it was damaged, causing the St. James congregation to seek an alternate worship space for the last five years. If you would like to attend the service, St. James is located at 900 S. 3rd Street in Monmouth.

Faith and Life Class

This is a Bible study on the Parables of Jesus, which meets in the Adult Lounge on Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m. 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. November 2 - # 34 The VineyardWorkers. Reading is Matthew 20: 1-16.

November 30 - December 21 - A four-part series on Advent.

Prayer Concerns

Gene & Donna Larson; Jan Speer (at OSF Holy Family); Bob Meling (at Cottage Hospital); Rev. John Irwin: Thomas Vaughn (at OSF St. Francis); 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.

Gene and Donna Larson have accepted an offer of a house to rent in Monmouth and will be moving in soon, probably the first of next week. Praise God!

With Sympathy

Our condolences to the family of K. Dale Smith, 87, father of member Candy Smith-Hiett, who passed away in Peoria on Saturday, October 25, 2014. He was born in Iowa Falls, Iowa in 1927. Memorial services will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 30, 2014 at Bethany Baptist Church in Peoria. Online condolences may be sent to the family at The Wilton Mortuary.

Giving through October 26, 2014

Receipts	Actual Giving	Budgeted Amount Needed
October 5	$3,107.50	$3,808
October 12	$2,143.36	$3,808
October 19	$1,425.50	$3,808
October 26	$1359.00	$3,808
October total thru Oct 26	$8,035.36	$15,232.00
Annual total thru Oct 26	$115,820.42	$163,744.00

Stewardship Commitment Sunday - November 2

Each fall the Stewardship Committee asks the congregation to make a financial commitment to the ministries of the church for the upcoming year. Commitment Sunday is preceded by a period in which the congregation is asked to reflect and pray about the use of their resources in the context of God's providing love. Letters and pledge cards were mailed out this week. The committee then compiles the response in order to assist the session in determining the scope of ministry that will be possible for the coming year. Join us on November 2, 2014 for our Stewardship Commitment Sunday.

Budget Requests - Due by November 2

The 2015 budget request forms have been distributed to all those responsible for expense line items in the church budget. Please return these to the church office with your 2015 estimates filled in. Amounts budgeted for 2014 and spent through October 16, 2014 have been filled in to assist you in making your 2015 estimates.

Completed requests may be placed in the yellow folder marked "2015 Budget Requests" on Vicki's desk in the church office. The Stewardship & Budget Committee needs these turned in by Sunday, November 2 or as soon as possible. They can also be mailed to the church at 200 South 8th Street, Monmouth, IL 61462. Thank you for your help!

Community Thanksgiving Dinner -

Thursday, November 27, 2014

A traditional Thanksgiving Dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls and pumpkin pie. Diabetic dinners are available upon request. There is no cost for the meal. Deliveries are available and can be arranged by calling 734-5129 through Wednesday. Delivery requests can be made the morning of by calling the American Legion 734-2976.

Serving from: 12 Noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Monmouth American Legion ~ 1110 North 11th Street, Monmouth, IL

(There's no cost for the dinner)

Krista Larson has set up a Facebook Event page:

Community Thanksgiving Dinner event page

Volunteers ~ HELP IS NEEDED the day before (Nov. 26th & the day of (Nov. 27th). If you have volunteered before, please help again. If you haven't volunteered before and need more details, call (309) 221-3227 or (309) 428-0620. WALK-IN HELP IS WELCOMED on Thursday, November 27th (11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.)

There is a sign-up sheet on the office door for donations of items such as paper plates, cups, postage stamps, cranberry sauce, foil roaster pans, etc. Specified quantities are needed.

Monetary donations to support the Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner may be made to "Community Thanksgiving Dinner" account at Security Savings Bank in Monmouth. Please make checks payable to "Community Thanksgiving Dinner." A sign-up list for some supply donations will be up soon.

Next planning meeting: Tuesday, November 11 at 6:30 p.m.

Sugar Tree Grove Annual Soup Luncheon

Sunday, November 2, 2014

11:00 a.m. -- 2:00 p.m.

There will be chicken noodle soup, vegetable beef, taco soup, and chili, along with salads and desserts served for a free will donation. The Sugar Tree church service will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. Sugar Tree Grove Church is located at 2210 M-A-M Trail.

Annual Chili and Oyster Stew Supper - Nov. 9

Where: First Lutheran Church 116 South B Street

When: Sunday, November 9, 2014 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

chili or oyster stew ~ veggies ~ dessert ~ drink

Free will donation. Proceeds go to Women of the ELCA projects

Birthdays

October 20 - Jane Laughead

October 21 - Taylor Turnquist

October 29 - Marie Inman

October 30 - Lynn Biggs, Amanda Bowman, Kathy Lewis

November 1 - Larry Inman

November 2 - Scott Gibson

November 6 - Dalton Hottle

November 7 - Tammi Hottle, Heather Turnquist

November 8 - Alice Lawson, Alison Clark, Susan Gilliland

November 9 - Lila Blum, Kylie Finnicum

November 10 - Jodi Cheek, Donna Lee

Anniversaries

October 18 - Barb & Larry Byrne (28th)

November 29 - Vernon & Norma Mettler (61st)

Candidate Suggestion Form - Ruling Elders, Deacons, and 2015 Nominating Committee from the Congregation

One of the tasks of the Nominating Committee is to place the names of qualified individuals before the Congregation as nominees for Elder, Deacon, and the Congregational Members of the 2015 Nominating Committee. The congregation must then vote to elect these persons. The Nominating Committee needs your help in determining who is qualified and able to serve, if nominated. Please give this form to any member of the Nominating Committee.

Candidate Name: __________________________ Office: _____________

The 2014 Nominating Committee is: John Marshall, Deb Tomlin, Betty McBride, Deb Dingman, Gary Distin, Sharon Graham, Bonnie Heflin, and Gene Larson.

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