The Link
First Presbyterian Church
October 2011
Life is Good
I get tired of all the bad news in the media. So let me give you some good
news about life at First Presbyterian Church. We are doing really, really well.
Here is some evidence:
-Our September worship attendance has been very strong.
-We have added 12 new members in 2011. This represents a nearly
8% growth in the size of our congregation.
-The September edition of the Open Table Concert Series shattered its
all time record, with 85 on hand to enjoy Sara Hickman.
-Sunday School and Wednesday evening children’s attendance has
been very good; averaging over 13 kids, aged 13 and under, per
event.
-Our cash flow is strong, and is enabling us to have both a robust mis-
sion and outreach budget and continue to improve our facility.
Ken Schweitzer
-Our worship service has been streamlined and upgraded to make it
Marlene Wilson
Martha Holland
Kenny Schwab
Keith Leesman
Brianna Eeten
Lori Beekman
Karen Graber
Diane Osborn
more accessible, and to further modernize its flow.
Sarah LeDonne, Children’s Director
Connie Boss
Pat Diersing
What does all this mean? That we are so great? No. That we can take a
Deacons
Jill Apel
break? No. It means that the Spirit is active here, and it means that we are
Debbie Schweitzer, Organist
going in the right direction. I hope you feel this as strongly as I do. In my
Janis Klockenga, Secretary
Diane Ham, Youth Director
Julie Kasa, Music Director
First Presbyterian Church
seven years in Lincoln, I have never been more pleased or excited about the
office@preslincoln.org
direction of this congregation than I am right now. And this is a testimony to
Roberta Logan, Sexton
Rev. Phillip Blackburn
Roger Boss, Organist
www.preslincoln.org
the greatness of the God we worship, and the dedication of the saints who call
Jeannine Pickering
Debbie Schweitzer
this place their home. Let’s keep up the hard work, and keep our eye on God,
Lincoln, IL 62656
and remember that any success we experience as a church is a testimony to
Kendall Martin
(217)732-6141
God’s greatness.
301 Pekin St.
Linda Zinser
Karen Davis
Garret Apel
Roger Boss
Judy Busby
Paul Kasa
Godspeed,
Elders
Staff
Phil
Mission
Coats for Kids Needs Volunteers
Volunteers are needed to help with the purchase, labeling,
and delivery of winter coats, hats and gloves for area school chil- October Birthdays
dren. This project does not require weeks and months of your
time. It’s just buy, label and deliver. Helping will make you feel 3 Gene Blue 11 Jonathon Graber
good and will make a difference in the lives of these children. Call 4 Calum Blackburn 12 Bev Brown
Marilyn Kasa at 735-2001 to volunteer. 5 Emory Gaffney 19 Jean Peters
5 Ken Schweitzer 22 Hope Graber
ALL SAINTS DAY 5 Marlene Wilson 23 Lori Beekman
6 Cince Bowns 24 Marilyn Kasa
8 Catherine Maciariello 26 Sue Dehner
9 Jill Aper 29 Donna Miller
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd
6:30 P.M. October Anniversaries
11 Mike & Bev Brown
IN HONOR OF ALL SAINTS 12 Stuart & Linda Churchill
15 Bi Shuwei & Ann Kvitle
Baptism
Lainey Elizabeth Cosby March 6, 2011
Ava Rae Eeten August 14, 2011
Women’s Coffee Hour
Deaths
Ruth Aldendifer 3-29-2011 In October, 2011
Evelyn Jenkins 4-5-2011
Children
Hello, families! This month, keep your eyes on our church’s website for new
family communication page which will feature updated notes and calendar events for
children’s ministries. Under the tab for Children & Youth, we are developing a new
parent page which will be the place to go to answer the questions you might have
Lunch at the Wild Hare
about your kids’ church activities, like: Who? What? Where? When? How? And
sometimes…. Why? Hope it’s helpful. in Elkhart, IL be sure to sign up.
DEACON NEWS
The Deacons had their regular scheduled meeting in Septem-
ber. Once again they discussed the needs of our congregational
members and ways that we can be of assistance. The Deacons are
pleased with the new members of our congregation and are going to
try to make every effort to make those members feel welcome and a
part of our church family.
Deacons also would like to remind everyone that juice should
not be taken into the Sanctuary on Sunday mornings. Parents,
please remind your children that they need to be careful with food in
the parlor too, as we don’t want to have stains on our newly recov-
ered furniture or carpet.
Spiritual Life
Food Pantry
The Food Pantry is not getting as much from the Food Bank as in October 1, Saturday morning coffee will instead be 11:30
earlier months. The selection and amounts have decreased significantly. lunch at Wild Hare Café in Elkhart. See back of church for sign up
Cost of food purchased locally has seen a big increase, by as much sheet or call Jeannine Pickering before Friday, September 30th, (&32
as 25% on some items. Minor changes have been made in amounts of food -6083)
given to each family. The annual wiener roast will be on Sunday, October 23, at
May through August 550 families per month were helped represent- Boss’s home so save this date on your calendar.
ing 1800 plus individuals. One Thursday in September 81 families were
The next “Communion after Communion” is scheduled on
served. 8 or 10 new sign-ups are registered each day the pantry is open.
Local produce has been later than usual but very much appreciated.
Sunday, November 6, when Ann Jackson will be with us.
Emphasis for October is Kleenex. Women’s Association
Women’s Association will meet for lunch on October 6th at
Cracker Barrel at 11:30 A.M.
CARE AND BENEVOLENCE
Please pray for: Garden News
Homebound: Emily McElhaney, Dorothy Trapp, Mary Wilson, Florence
Luebchow, Mildred Wickline, Mildred Anderson. Thanks to all of you who helped with the Community Garden
Illness: Nate Stuckey, Roberta Logan, Mildred Holland, Heather Alley, this summer. It would not have been successful without the many
Dick Logan (Uncle of Karen Graber), Barbara Sather (friend of Sue Bea- hands who helped. Even though we had struggles with the weather,
ver), Madi Allen( niece of a friend of Karen Graber), and Jim Ward we have been able to make vegetable deliveries to the food pantry
(friend of Ann Kvitle), Alicia Maxwell. twice a week for the past month. There’s still plenty to pick! If you
Military Service: Brennan Boss, Brad Boss, Michael Vander Wilt haven’t had a chance to help, feel free to join us! Until it frosts, we will
(nephew of Jill Apel), and Emily Ham & Elizabeth Kear (daughters of be working on Sundays from 4-5 P.M. and Wednesdays from 5-6
Clay & Diane Ham). P.M.
If you have questions about the prayer list please ask Phil.
Meet our Newest Members Choir News
The choir is back to their regular fall schedule. If you would
like to join us, we rehearse on Sunday mornings from 8:45-9:45. All
are welcome.
We also are looking for instrumental or vocal soloist to pro-
vide special music during the time of offering. If this is something
you would be interested in, please contact Julie.
Looking ahead, we will be singing a cantata on Sunday,
Dec. 18th during worship. The cantata will be a celebration of les-
sons and carols. It will include many familiar carols and several
original pieces. If you are interested in singing with the choir for the
cantata, please join us! There will be special cantata rehearsal on
November 1st from 4-6 in the sanctuary. After that, we will rehearse
Anthony & Sarah LeDonne on Sunday mornings. If you have questions contact Julie.
Beren, Nessa Bill Best
Catherine Maciariello Jody Alberts
Gerald & Susan Dehner Ryan Shershen
October 2011
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 Wild Hare Lunch
in Elkhart instead of
Women’s Coffee Hour
2 3 4 5 6 Women’s Association 7 8
meet at Cracker Barrel
World Communion Phil gone to Texas for
at 11;30 A.M. for Lunch
Sunday Continuing Education Kids 5:30 P.M. Saul Nache
Worship Adults 6:30 P.M. Chad’s Blind
Sunday School 7:00 P.M.
9 10 11 Phil Returns to 12 13 14 15
Worship with Clay Janis Vac office Janis Vac Janis Vac
Ham Deacons 5:00 P.M. Kids 5:30 P.M.
Sunday School Session 7:00 P.M Adults 6:30 P.M.
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Worship
Sunday School Kids 5:30 P.M.
Adults 6:30 P.M.
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Worship
Sunday School Kids 5:30 P.M. Christopher Williams
Annual Wiener Roast Meal at 6:00 P.M. Chad’s Blind 7:00
at Boss’s home Adults 6:30 P.M. P.M.
30 31
Worship
Sunday School
Reformation Sunday Happy Halloween
October 2011
October 2 October 9 October 16 October 23 October 30
Kenny Schwab Lori Beekman Karen Graber Martha Holland Kenny Schwab
Deacons Marlene Wilson Connie Boss Jill Apel Pat Diersing Karen Graber
Worship Gary Davis Cince Bowns Marsha Dallas Mel Anderson Diane Ham
Assistant
Flowers The Busbys Ted & Kendall Dorothy & Emory Paul & Sue Katherine Abbott
Martin Gaffney Beaver