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Focus on Faith

Faith United Presbyterian Church Newsletter

January 15, 2015 

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 - 2nd Sunday after Epiphany
January 18, 2015
  10:30 a.m. 

 "The Last Sermon"

 

Lectionary: Psalm 139, 1 Samuel 3: 1-10, Mark 10: 35-45
 
Liturgist:  TBA
Ushers:  Carol Heflin, Bonnie Heflin, Ralph Whiteman, Martha Whiteman, 
Norma Mettler
Greeters: Pat Brown, Gary & Jonalyn Heaton
Children's Church:  Doug Torrance
Nursery:  Sharon Graham
  Coffee Hour:  Brad & Krista Larson
CD Recording:  
Janice Cunningham 

Ordination & Installation of Deacons and Ruling Elders

Upcoming Meetings/Events 

 

Sunday, January 18 - Ordination & Installation of Officers

Sunday, January 18 - PW Board Meeting - 11:45 a.m. in library

Wednesday, January 21 - Wednesday Night Live - 3:20 to 6 p.m. 

Thursday, January 22 - Isabel Circle - 7:00 p.m. 

Sunday, January 25 - Annual Congregational Meeting

Sunday, January 25 - Youth Potato Bake - 11:45 a.m. 

Sunday, January 25 - Finance Committee Meeting - after church

Tuesday, January 27 - Lions Club Soup Sampler Supper @ FUPC - 5 to 7 p.m.
Congregational Meeting - Sunday, January 25, 2015

There will be a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, January 25, 2015 following worship for the purpose of (1) receiving the budget, (2) voting on church by-law changes, and (3) electing remaining officers.  The by-law changes are mainly minor in nature, and copies of the by-laws with the proposed changes will be available in the office well in advance of the meeting. 
Wednesday Night Live  -  January 21, 2015
     

January 21 - Parable of the Sower.  God wants to grow the seeds of faith planted in us.  

Mark 4: 1-20

 

Kitchen Team for January 21: Alice Lawson, Agatha Johnson, Julie Blaesing, Charity Duke

 

The Skating Party will be February 4th at the Freedom Roller Rink. Children should bring their permission slips and $3.00 fee to WNL by January 28th. 

 

Debbie Dingman - WNL Director 2014-2015 

 

Youth Potato Bake - January 25

 

On Sunday, January 25, the youth will have their annual Potato Bake following the Congregational Annual Meeting.  A free-will donation will be received where the proceeds will go toward youth missions. If you are able to help with a salad or dessert, please sign up on the office door.  Thank you!     

 

 

Finance Committee Meeting

The Finance Committee will meet after church with coffee the fourth Sunday of each month.  

Isabel Circle - Thursday, January 22, 2015

Isabel Circle will meet at the home of Lolla Ballard at 119 South 7th Street at 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, January 22, 2015. Deb Dingman will facilitate the Bible study which will be followed by the business meeting and fellowship.  Bible Study Guides are available for $9.00 in the church office. All interested people are welcome to attend.  

Lesson Four from the 2014-2015 Horizons Bible Study, Reconciling Paul: A Contemporary Study of 2 Corinthians by Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty, is titled, Carrying In Our Bodies Jesus' Acts Of Healing, Reconciliation, and Love.   The Biblical Focus Text is 2 Corinthians 4:7 - 5:10. Lesson Three explored the meaning of Paul's reference to "old" and "new" covenants in 2 Corinthians and considered how these ideas relate to our contemporary understanding of Christian relationships with people of different 
faith traditions.  Lesson Four focuses on Paul's understanding of how the community of faith, the "body of believers," carries Jesus' death within it by continuing acts of healing, reconciliation, and love.
Sewing Circle - No January meeting
It's a Boy!!

George & Liz Nieman are the proud great-grandparents of Henry Richard Poppen. This young man was born on December 30, 2014 to parents Tyler & Katie Poppen in Aberdeen, SD.  Older brother is 2-year-old Dean.  Katie is the daughter of Robert Nieman. 
How to Reach Our Pastor

Want to know how to reach our Pastor?  Kathy's open door office hours are Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and Thursdays 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. To make an appointment at another time, you can call or text Kathy's cell phone at 609-319-4030, or email her at revkathysl@gmail.com. Kathy reserves Fridays for visiting homebound members; her day off is Monday; and if her sermon isn't finished by Thursday, she may be deep in prayer and study on Thursday mornings!
Attention Gmail Users!

If you receive the Focus via a Gmail account, please be sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom, where you may see [Message clipped] View entire message.  Please be sure to click "View entire message" -- otherwise you may be missing out on viewing a major portion of your newsletter!  
Nursery
Available from 10:30 through the end of the service on Sunday mornings. 

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. 

Adult Ed.
Stay tuned for Faith & Life classes resuming later in January.

Elementary and Junior High Sunday School
Regular classes January - May
Time for Annual Reports 
 
  
Session Committee Moderators and other group leaders -- as 2014 draws to a close, it will soon be time for Vicki to publish our Annual Report to the congregation to be distributed at the Annual Meeting on January 25. 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. 
  
In addition to keeping the congregation informed about church life, these reports are invaluable to new moderators coming on as they learn their responsibilities.
  
Reports from the following committees, boards, and groups have usually been included: Pastor, Clerk of Session, Finance & Stewardship Committee (includes Audit, Investments, Budget, Memorials), Board of Deacons,  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, Bereavement Committee.  Added to the Annual Report will be the 2014 Profit & Loss Budget vs. Actual, Profit & Loss Budget Overview for 2015, and Pledges for 2015.  

Update:  So far, reports have been submitted by the Deacons, Mission Committee, Music, Christian Education, Wednesday Night Live, Presbyterian Women, and Presbyterian Women Financial Highlights.  Thanks for working so hard.  

If you have questions about what to cover in your report, there are some copies of last year's Annual Report in the office.
  
DEADLINE:  January 15, 2015 
Thank You

A big thank you to all who participated or helped with the Christmas Eve pageant this year. Our cast did an amazing job with role and costume changes. Almost all the children had at least two roles. All the adults who helped were great as well, especially when I could not come to the last practice and you all covered. Illness did take its toll this year, in addition to myself, Sawyer Tatman, who was scheduled to play Jesus, and his sister, Kenna, both came down with the flu right before Christmas.  

Again thank you to all who participated and to the congregation for supporting the children in the pageant.

Ann Phelps, Christian Ed Director

January Mission Focus - Jamieson Center

The Focus on Mission this month of January is Jamieson Community Center (JCC). Our Family of Faith has a long history of commitment to this mission project. Jamieson Community Center's mission is to coordinate programs addressing the needs of all ages, provide services which extend widely into the community and surrounding area, and work in cooperation with the social service agencies in the region. It is a non-profit
center that strives to provide social services to Monmouth and the surrounding area. It was founded in 1965 following the merging of four area churches which resulted in the establishment of Faith United Presbyterian Church. JCC is named after Rev. Jamieson who was responsible for the vision of JCC and was one of the early founders.

Your generous monetary support will help carry out the mission of Jamieson Community Center. 

To learn more about the Jamieson Center, click here for a link to their website. 
2015 Directory Information  


 It will soon be time  to publish the 2015 church membership directory (white book) 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 2014, 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.  The only reliable way to get this information is for you to tell us! 


 

We want to have the new directories available for all of our church officers at the beginning of January. (NOTE:  This is not to be confused with the pictorial directory coming out in April or May.)  Even if you have given the Hottles your new information for the pictorial directory, the church office will not have access to that in time for the January 2015 directories, so please let the office know your most current information.   

Prayer Concerns

Cathy Abernathy (recovering at home following surgery); family & friends of Jim Halcomb;  Gabe Torrance; Fred Stanton; Etta Jane Pullen;  Esther Mercatoris (Kathy's aunt); Sarah Torrance; Louise Roos; Jack Stoner (Kathy's father); Jan Speer (at Monmouth Nursing Home); Rev. John Irwin;  Tamene Bekele; Jim Andrews; Bobbi Cady (Sarah Torrance's mother); Robert Cooper (Bonnie Heflin's cousin); Bill Smallwood;  Ed Strickler; Greg &  Joy Haning; Bill Hoover; Blaine Robinson; Vern Mettler; Cinda Stansbury; Mary Johnson; Lindsay Murdock. 

Jim Andrews has moved to Quality Living, Inc. in Omaha - mailing address:

Jim Andrews
QLI, House 2
6315 N. 70th Plaza
Omaha, NE  68104
New Officer Training  

Are you a new Deacon or Ruling Elder on Session?  In addition to the Officer Training & Examination of Officers on Sunday, January 4, 2015 at our church, the Presbytery also offers training sessions for new Deacons & Elders on your choice of one of five Saturdays, each held from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. with lunch served at noon. The training is taught by Rev. Richard Johnson, Pastor of the Biggsville United Presbyterian Church.  

WHAT IS TAUGHT? 

During each training event participants will 
  1. Examine and explore the significance of their personal faith to their call to ministry. 
  2. Examine the core beliefs of the PCUSA through the confessions of the church.
  3. Look at each part of the Book of Order and how each applies to their work, and spend some time learning just how amendments and overtures, creeds and confessions become part of the Constitution.
  4. In addition, attendees will tiptoe through the minefield of decision-making and the various ways decisions can be made
  5. Give special attention to addressing controversial issues and conflicts when they arise within the life of the congregation.
  6. Time will be given to help both ruling elders and deacons understand the ministry and role deacons play in the life of the church as well as consider the breadth of the deacons' ministry
  7. Ruling elders will be introduced to the many facets of their office as they seek to lead their congregations and shape their ministries. 
DATES

January 31    -  First Federated Church, 3601 N. Sheridan Road, Peoria, IL  61604

February 7    -  Third Presbyterian Church, 1030 N. 7th Street, Springfield, IL 62702

February 21 -  First Presbyterian Church, 400 E. Carroll Street, Macomb, IL  61455

February 28 -  First Presbyterian Church, 2000 E. College Ave., Normal, IL  61761

March 7 - United Church, 150 W. Third Street, Woodhull, IL  61490

RSVP to Patti Parrish at pparrish@greatriverspby.org or phone 800-537-8592. Be sure to include your name, home and/or cell phone number, and email address in case you need to be contacted about cancellation due to weather. 
Canned Food Month ~ During Month of February

In honor of Canned Food Month, Courtyard Estates & Legacy Estates of Monmouth are holding a canned food drive through the whole month of February. The food will be collected and then donated to the First Christian Church of Monmouth's Food Pantry.  Collection drop-offs through the month of February are at Courtyard Estates, One Courtyard Blvd, Monmouth (309.734.9355) and Legacy Estates 1200 W. Broadway of Monmouth (309.734.0909).  

Birthdays

 

January 2  -    Rose Trimble, Carol Heflin, Mitch McVey

January 5  -    Tralynn Mitchell
January 6  -   John Turnbull
January 7  -    Ann Phelps
January 9 -    Sheila Wilson
January 10 -  Bob Roney, Darlene Moffet
January 11 -   Noah Sorensen
January 13 -   Jill McClintock
January 14 -   Jacob McLaughlin, Alis Chy, Kenna Tatman
January 15 -   Natalie Baber, Matthew Blackford
January 18 -   Peggy Figle, Steve Distin
January 20 -   Jim Lewis
January 25 -   Molly Inman
January 26 -   Heather Fisher
January 27 -   Dawn Fleming
January 28 -   Barb Gossett
January 29 -   Nisha Hager Spangler
January 30 -   Ron Murdock

Anniversaries
 
December 28 -  George & Liz Nieman (54th)
February 28    -  Greg & Lynn Baber (28th)

No January anniversaries so far!