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Focus on Faith

Faith United Presbyterian Church Newsletter

February 5, 2015 

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

   

Pastor:  Rev. Dr. Kathy Stoner-Lasala

revkathysl@gmail.com  (609) 319-4030

 

     Church Email: faithup@maplecity.com      

Website: www.faithpresmonmouth.org
This Sunday - 5th Sunday after Epiphany
February 8, 2015
  10:30 a.m. 

 "A Family Story"

 

Lectionary:  Isaiah 40: 28-31, Psalm 147: 1-11, Mark 1: 29-39
 
Liturgist:  Lorna Blackford
Ushers:  Jim Brown, John Turnbull, Greg Baber, Jim Glasgow, Shari Glasgow
Greeters: Norma Mettler, Bonnie and Carol Heflin
Children's Church:  Sarah and Doug Torrance
Nursery:  Bonnie Heflin
  Coffee Hour:  PW 9th Annual Valentine Luncheon
CD Recording:  
Janice Cunningham 

Upcoming Meetings/Events 


Sunday, February 8 - Souper Bowl of Caring 

Monday, February 9 - PEO-E luncheon

Tuesday, February 10 - Deacons' Meeting - 7 p.m. 
 
Wednesday, February 11 - Focus e-news deadline - noon

Wednesday, February 11 - Wednesday Night Live 3:20 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 11 - First Session! Wednesday Evening Adult Discussion Group -
Widening the Welcome of Your Church:  Biblical Hospitality & the Vital Congregation  Books are available in the office for $10. - 6:15 p.m.

Thursday, February 12 - Fillman Fellowship 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday Night Live  -  February 11, 2015
     

 

February 11: The Parable of the Feast that the Invited Guests Refused to Attend

"God wants us in heaven with him." Luke 18: 1-8

 

 

 

Kitchen Team for February 11 - Lolla Ballard, Paula Nuckles, Melissa Putnam, Sheila Wilson

 

Ash Wednesday Soup Supper at 5:30 p.m. on February 18. Join the WNL kids and their families for a soup supper. Please sign up on the office door so we can have enough soup. :) Or let Deb Dingman know. Ash Wednesday Service-6:30 pm  

 

Wish List for March 18:

  • $ for prizes for Carnival
  • Cookies for 25th Anniversary/Closing Program
  • Help for Carnival and for Reception
  • Favorite Memories of WNL over the years. 
See Deb Dingman with ideas, help, donations, etc. as she is planning the March 18th Celebration. 
Finance Committee Meeting

The Finance Committee will meet after church with coffee the fourth Sunday of each month starting with February 22.

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!  
Fillman Fellowship - Thursday, February 12

Fillman Fellowship will again meet on Thursday, February 12, weather permitting!  We gather in the Social Hall at 11:30.  Please bring your own sack lunch.  Coffee and tea will be provided.  Our faith is our foundation and our mission is to be supportive and provide friendship, fellowship and a fun time together!  Be sure to invite a friend!

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.
At 9:15 a.m. this Sunday, February 8, Pastor Kathy will be facilitating a Lectionary/Sermon study on Sunday morning. The second class will focus on Mark 9: 2-9 and the sermon will be on that text the following Sunday. 

Also, starting on Wednesday, February 11, Pastor Kathy will be facilitating a six-week Wednesday Evening Study at 6 p.m. on "Widening the Welcome of Your Church: Biblical Hospitality and the Vital Congregation" by Fred Bernard and Steve Clapp. This study was meant to start Wednesday, February 4, but was cancelled due to weather.

Elementary and Junior High Sunday School
Regular classes January - May 
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9th Annual 
Valentine Soup Luncheon ~
Sunday, February 8 

Congregational members and friends of the church are cordially invited to attend the ninth annual Valentine Soup Luncheon on Sunday, February 8, 2015, following the worship service. The meal will include vegetable and broccoli cheese soups, egg salad, ham salad, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and Jello cake for dessert. Music and entertainment will be provided after lunch.  Families with children will be the first to go through the serving line.  Donations will be accepted the day of the luncheon to offset expenses.  Carry out meals will be available.  Excess proceeds will be given to missions supported by Faith United Presbyterian Church.  This fellowship event is sponsored by Presbyterian Women.  Bring your appetites and lift your soup spoons as we celebrate our Family of Faith. 

February Mission Focus - Kandithankulam
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Thank you to the staff of Faith Church for surprising me with a beautiful floral arrangement and gift certificate to Petey's. I hope that in some way the fragrance and beauty of the flowers will embody the way that my work will be remembered, as I poured my heart into my job and always tried to do my best, with good intentions. Most of all I hope that my service was pleasing to God. 

Thank you once again so much for your very gracious gesture and for warming my heart. It's been a pleasure working with you.

Vicki
Souper Bowl of Caring - Sunday, February 8

This Sunday, after worship and during Coffee Hour, the Sunday School children will be holding soup pots for your donations to the Souper Bowl of Caring.  All of the money we collect at church will go to support the food pantry at Jamieson Center.  We ask that you consider a donation of $1.  We hope to collect over $100.

"Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat."  
Prayer Concerns

Rose Trimble (broken ankle); Cathy Abernathy; 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 11, 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. - 12:30
p.m. with lunch served at noon. The training is taught by Rev. Richard Johnson, Pastor of the Biggsville United Presbyterian Church.  Classes registering fewer than 10 will be cancelled. 

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

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.  Also, classes registering fewer than 10 people will be cancelled, so be sure to include contact information.
Little Cedar Homemade Soup Lunch - Sunday, February 22

Little Cedar Community Church in Little York is sponsoring a homemade soup meal on Sunday, February 22, 2015 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Soup choices are vegetable beef, chili, turkey noodle, or broccoli cheese.  Homemade salads, cookies, and a drink will be offered. Donations will be accepted at the door. Proceeds will go for church mission projects. 
Kirkwood Presbyterian Church - Melt Away Winter Taco Dinner

The Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, 200 E Cedar, presents their 'Melt Away the Winter' taco dinner, plus salads and desserts. February 15, 11:30am until 1:00pm. Goodwill donations accepted.
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 25 -   Molly Inman

January 26 -   Heather Fisher
January 27 -   Dawn Fleming
January 28 -   Barb Gossett
January 29 -   Nisha Hager Spangler
January 30 -   Ron Murdock

February 2 -   Dee Long
February 5 -   Korey Fisher, Betty McBride
February 7 -    Denise Turnbull, Dick Griffiths
February 8 -   Emily Yard, John Marshall
February 9 -   Megan Lyle, Dorothy Woodall
February 11 -  Helen Redmond
February 12 -  Ralph Whiteman
February 13  - Sandra Spainhour, Buster Kellogg, Jr. , Lynn                                   Baber
February 15 -  Scott McClintock
February 17 -  Preslie Fisher


Anniversaries
 
February 28    -  Greg & Lynn Baber (28th)