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Focus on Faith

Faith United Presbyterian Church Newsletter

November 13, 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 - 23nd Sunday after Pentecost

 November 16, 2014 

   10:30 a.m. 

  

            "The Audit"   
           
       Psalm 90       Matthew 25: 14-30       

Guest Preacher: TBA
Liturgist:  Kathy Stoner-Lasala
Ushers:  Gary Distin, Jon Graham, Ted Briscoe, Larry Willett, 
Bryce Willett
Greeters:  Dee Long, Les & JoEllen Dollinger
Children's Church:  Ann Phelps
Nursery:  Krista Larson
Coffee Hour:  Tim Phelps
CD Recording:  Ted Briscoe 

Upcoming Meetings/Events 

 

Thursday, November 13 - Deacons' Meeting - 7 p.m.

Thursday, November 13 - International Luncheon @ MC - noon (includes Dr. Dan Ott and other faculty & students who traveled to Cuba this past summer).  If you would like to purchase the optional meal, please make reservations to 457-2253 by Friday, November 7)

Thursday, November 13 - Fillman Fellowship - 11:30 a.m. 

Saturday, November 15 - Sarah Torrance Flute Recital @ FUPC - 7 p.m.

Sunday, November 16 - Nominating Committee Meeting - after worship

Sunday, November 16 - Tammi Hottle will be setting photo appointments for the new Church Directory in Social Hall - after worship.

Tuesday, November 18 - Mission Committee - 7 p.m.

Wednesday, November 19 - Last Wednesday Night Live for semester - 3:20 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  (Bingo Night)

Thursday, November 20 & Friday, November 21 - Portrait sittings for 50th Birthday pictorial church directory @ Portraits by Buff Studio - all day

Thursday, November 20 - Monmouth Associates Shuttle Parking - 12 noon

Saturday, November 22 - Brown Family Birthday Party @ Social Hall - morning to 1 p.m.                                                                                                                                                          
Sunday, November 23 - New Member Class - 12:30 p.m. following Thanksgiving Potluck

Tuesday, November 25 - Session Meeting - 7 p.m. 

Wednesday, November 26 - Teddy Bear Thanksgiving Breakfast - 9:30 a.m.

Sunday, November 30 - Congregational Meeting - 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday Night Live  - Next Session November 19

     

November 19 - Parable of the Unmerciful Servant.  God wants us to show mercy to others.  Matthew 18: 21-35 

 

Kitchen Team for November 19: Tom Best, Paula Nuckles, Melissa Putnam, Sheila Wilson

 

This will be the last session for the 1st semester of WNL.  We'll be making it special with Bingo Night and pumpkin pie for dessert. 

 

Good news!  Onnalee Horner was at WNL October 29th and will be returning full time in January.  That brings our WNL count up to 29!

 

Letters will go home soon about Christmas Pageant participation.  Those interested should sign up soon.  Practice will be after school December 3, 10, and 17th.  Carpools provided.  Practice ends at 5 p.m.  

 

We are continuing to work on Thanksgiving cards for the Community Thanksgiving Dinner at the American Legion Hall on Nov. 27th 


 

Debbie Dingman - WNL Director 2014-2015  

Fillman Fellowship - TODAY, November 13 - 11:30 a.m.

     

 

Fillman Fellowship will meet at 11:30 on Thursday, November 13, in our Social Hall.  Remember to bring your sack lunch 

and  coffee and hot tea will be provided.  This is the month we will continue to collect for our monetary gift donation. 

     

Guests are always welcome.  Join us for fellowship, fun, and laughter! 

Nominating Committee Meeting - Sunday, November 16

 

There will be a short meeting of the Nominating Committee in the library after worship this Sunday, November 16. 
Congregational Meeting - Sunday, November 30, 2014

     

There will be a Special Called Congregational Meeting to Elect Officers on Sunday, November 30, 2014 following worship.  We will be electing four elders to Session Class of 2017, one elder to fill a vacancy in the Class of 2016, five deacons to the Class of 2017, and five members to represent the congregation on the 2015 Nominating Committee. Per our by-laws, these five congregational members should not be anyone serving on Session or Deacons in 2015 or on the staff in 2015.  The intention is that they have no other ties and can solely represent the interests of the congregation.  

 

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

 

The Congregational Meeting will be held in the Fellowship Hall.  There will also be an open forum on possible changes to the Order of Worship. 

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 16 - # 46 The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats Separated.  Reading:  Matthew 25: 31-46

Wednesday Evening Discussion Group:

This group will continue meeting in the Adult Lounge during November to discuss Reformed Presbyterian Theology of the Afterlife.  Pastor Kathy will supply the readings.  No meeting the evening before Thanksgiving. 

Youth Group - The Crop Walk raised $545 to fight hunger in the world. The winner of the Crockpot Cook-Off was Larry Byrne with his entry of Orange Chicken. 

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. 

    November Mission Focus - Community Thanksgiving Dinner 
crock pot
Crockpot Cook-Off Winners

Larry Byrne was the winner of the Crockpot Cook-off with his entry of Orange Chicken. Ray Spicer placed second with his ham and beans "in memory of Gerry." The 1st place winner was awarded a gift certificate to Petey's. Thanks to all who prepared crock recipes and to all who stayed to sample!  Funds raised from entry fees and donations given by samplers will go toward the 2015 youth missions. 
Thank Offering 


 

Presbyterian women have been making grants to creative ministries through the Thank Offering since 1888 when Eliza Clokey of Springfield, Ohio, urged each woman to give one dollar over and above her usual contribution to the Women's General Missionary Society of the United Presbyterian Church of North America as a "thank offering to her Lord."  That first offering was credited with saving the world-wide missionary movement of the church. 

 

This special offering now funds proposals for new ministries that improve the lives of women and children throughout the world by relieving pain, providing clean water, alleviating homelessness, providing educational opportunities, and promoting health.  In February 2014 the Creative Ministries Offering Committee of Presbyterian Women met to review applications for grants from last year's Thank Offering.  Seventeen of the thirty projects receiving support serve people in need in the United States.  For example, a $20,000 grant to MentorKids USA will provide a one-year reading program for 50 south-Phoenix youths with the goal of helping each student read at or above grade level within 12 months.  The full list of 2014 recipients is posted next to our church bulletin board. 


 

I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:19


 

This year's Thank Offering will be collected Sunday, November 23. 

Thanksgiving Potluck - Sunday, November 23


Our annual thanksgiving gathering as a church family will be Sunday, November 23 in Fellowship Hall following the church service. Please bring a dish to share and your own table service.  

Inquirers' Class - Sunday, November 23


Those interested in becoming members or affiliate members of Faith United Presbyterian Church are invited to attend a class on Sunday, November 23 following the potluck.  If you are interested or have any questions, please call the church office at 734-5129 or send us an email at faithup@maplecity.com.  New members are always welcome!

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 16 - # 46 The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats Separated.  Reading is Matthew 25: 31-46. 

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

Dick & Jan Speer and all of the family of Emily Speer;  Jack Stoner (Kathy's father); Gene & Donna Larson; Jan Speer (at Monmouth Nursing Home); Bob Meling (now at home); Rev. John Irwin: Thomas Vaughn (now at OSF Holy Family); 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 around November 15.  Praise God!

 

Louise Roos took a tumble and is recuperating. Please keep her in your prayers. She is staying at Friendship Manor in the Quad Cities. 

 

Gary Youngblood is home and doing well following placement of a pacemaker/defibrillator on Thursday, November 6.  Your prayers were much appreciated. 

With Sympathy

Our deepest condolences to Dick and Jan Speer who lost their 18-year-old granddaughter, Emily Speer, in a fatal auto accident near her home in Indiana on Saturday, November 8, 2014.  A visitation and sharing of memories was held at the Funeral Chapel of Powell & Deckard in Bloomington, Indiana on November 12.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 22 in Monmouth, with Pastor Stoner-Lasala officiating.  Details regarding location are pending. Interment will be private.  To read the obituary or to leave online condolences please click  here .
Fifty Years Ago This Month...
1964 - 2014

REGULAR SESSION MEETING - NOVEMBER 18, 1964 (part 1)

The regular meeting of the Session of Faith United Presbyterian Church, Monmouth, Illinois was held at 8 p.m. November 18, 1964 in the former First Church building with the following elders present: Manley, Rhea, Ebersole, Carlson, Parsons, Royer, Connell, Lipes, Jewell, Simpson, Wallace, White, Beveridge, Thompson, Hallam, Armstrong, Wells, and Marshall and the Rev. G. Robert Buttrick, moderator and the Rev. Chester O'Neal. Also present was David Moffet, chairman of the Board of Trustees. Elders absent were Allison, Keating, Rankin and Kritzer.

The meeting was opened with devotions and the convening prayer conducted by Wallace.

Excused were Elders Allison, Rankin and Kritzer, by motion, seconded, and carried.

Minutes of meetings held October 21 and November 9, 1964 were approved on motion duly made, seconded and carried.

The clerk presented the following requests for dismissal to other churches: Mr/Mrs. Gerald Rhea, Miss Cynthia Rhea, Mr/Mrs. Russell White, Mr/Mrs. William Maney to West Side United Presbyterian Church, Monmouth, IL and Mr/Mrs. Richard Farrington to First Presbyterian Church, Springfield, IL. Moved, second and carried that the requests be granted.

Report from the Ninth Avenue Sub-Committee:

In connection with this report it was moved, seconded and carried that a Study and Tutor program be set up two evenings each week in the Ninth Avenue center with the program to be for grade school students from 4 to 5 p.m. and for junior and senior high students from 7 to 9 p.m. and also that donations of books be requested and lighting facilities be improved a soon as possible.

On motion duly made, seconded and carried the reactivating of a Youth Club was approved with such club to function one day each week for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade children from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and for Junior High age children from 7 to 9 p.m. Emphasis at this Youth Club to be away from worship and toward a community center plan with the serving of refreshments to be a part of the program and some forms of elective instruction to be available.

The matter of a clothing distribution center was then considered whereupon it was duly moved, seconded and carried that unless a more suitable location nearer the Ninth Avenue center were to be found soon, this clothing distribution center is to be set up in the basement of the former First Church building with Mrs. Mildred Newberry in charge. It was further moved, seconded and carried that the Session recommend to the Trustees that necessary expenses to put into effect the foregoing program be approved by the Trustees.

(part 2 of the November 18, 1964 minutes will be published in next week's newsletter)
Budget Requests Due Now for 2015     moneybag_graphic.jpg

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  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  -   Thanksgiving  
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:

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 in-kind donations of items such as paper plates, cups, postage stamps, cranberry sauce, foil roaster pans, etc. Specified quantities are needed. 

*   There is a second sign-up sheet on the office door for delivery drivers on Thanksgiving Day. 

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.

New Information:  Volunteers needed to set up tables at the American Legion at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, November 25 and Wednesday, November 26.   
Book Discussion - Wednesday, November 19

Sherryanne Robertson, will be the speaker on November 19 for the Henderson County Public Library's monthly "Cookies, Conversation, and More" book discussion.  Sherryanne will talk about her experiences working with the National Geographic team as they traveled to Iceland, Greenland, and the Northwest Passage. Sherry interviewed the townfolk at each stop along the way.  Time:  10:00 - 11:30 a.m.  Address:  110 Hill Crest Drive, Biggsville. For further information, please contact Sharon Graham at sjgraham6227@yahoo.com  

Also, on December 17, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., the group will host guest speaker Susan Van Kirk, author of the recently published Three May Keep a Secret.  She will be available to sign copies of the book at the Henderson Public Library. 
Christmas Bonanza - Thursday, November 20

The OSF Holy Family Medical Center Auxiliary presents their annual Christmas Bonanza on Thursday, November 20  from 8:00 - 3:00 p.m. in the OSF Holy Family West Hallway. The event features "Books Are Fun" -- a book fair with over 250 titles at unbelievable prices, ranging from children's story books to New York Times best sellers, Stationery & Scrapbooking, and cookbooks + lots more. 

A Bake Sale and Nut Shop will offer homemade pies, breads, cakes, cookies, candies and more, as well as Mammoth Pecan Halves and Pecan Pieces perfect for baking and simply delicious.  Come and select some wonderful Christmas gifts and help the hospital at the same time. 

Sarah Torrance Flute Recital - Saturday, Nov. 15

Sarah Torrance is giving a flute recital and you're all invited!  The recital will take place at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, November 15 in the sanctuary of Faith United Presbyterian Church, 200 S. 8th Street.  Dr. Ian Moschenross will be her piano accompanist. Admission is free, with donations accepted.  

Birthdays

 

November 1 - Larry Inman

November 2 - Scott Gibson
November 6 - Dalton Hottle
November 7 - Tammi Hottle
November 8 - Alice Lawson, Alison Clark, Susan Gilliland
November 9 - Lila Blum, Kylie Finnicum
November 10 - Jodi Cheek, Donna Lee
November 11 - Megan Brown, Brenda Runge
November 13 - George Haynes
November 14 - Dixie Wells
November 16 - Deborah Stanton, Jamie Youngblood
November 21 - Mia Logsdon
November 26 - Carolyn Simpson
November 27 - Cindy Wilson, Krista Larson
November 29 - Bill Lee
November 30 - Carolyn Meling

Anniversaries
 
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 note that per our By-Laws, those members of the Nominating Committee elected as CONGREGATIONAL MEMBERS ONLY cannot be serving on either the Session or the Deacons and may not be members of staff in the same year that they are serving on the Nominating Committee representing the congregation. 

 

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.