The MESSENGER
Wanted:
52 people who will commit to praying for the work of this congregation each day
for one week in 2009. See Luella Mahannah or email her at luellapk@verizon.net.
2008:27 Come share your ideas at our contemporary
service brainstorming sessions scheduled for Sunday, January 11, at 5:00 p.m. and Monday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Blood Pressure Checks will be available on the
first Sunday of each month beginning in January. If you need to be checked at another time, just ask one of the Wholistic Health Council members.
Wednesday Supper Club’s next gathering will
be January 14, 5:30 p.m., at Ming’s Restaurant (407 N. Hershey, Blm.). All are welcome! Please make a reservation on a Sunday attendance pad or call the church office.
Do you know the best way to meet your FCC
family? The answer is by being a Greeter before
the early or late church services. In the past we have asked people to sign up, but unfortunately we were not getting the volunteers we needed to fill this valuable role. Recently, we mailed out a schedule to members who have previously been Greeters, along with some new additions. If you are interested in meeting your church family, please let Darrell Arvik know and he can add you to the Greeter’s Schedule. You can call him at 829-9495 or email at dtarvik@comcast.net. Thank you!
Logos Camp Reunion will be held on January
16 & 17 at Camp Walter Scott for all 3rd thru 12th graders. Cost is $15. Please see Greg to sign up by Wednesday, January 7.
CYF Winter Retreat for all high school
students! It will be held Jan. 17-19 (after Logos
Reunion) at First Christian Church, Pontiac. Cost is $10. See Greg to sign up.
Boy’s TEC Weekend! A full 3-day youth retreat
that includes friends, fun, food and faith. It will be January 17-19 for 16-20 year olds. For applications or additional information go to www.bntec.org or call Mike Marvin at 829-7196.
Friendship-Serendipity Women’s Group will
meet at noon on Thursday, January 8, at May Jackson’s (208 Fairway, Blm.). Please bring a sandwich, and May will serve a salad and drinks. The lesson will be given by Shirley Wotherspoon. Visitors are welcome! Beginning in February, Friendship/Serendipity will adopt a new schedule for the next 6 months. This change involves the meeting day, place, and time. The new day will be the first Thursday of the month, the new place will be at the church, and the time will be 12:00 noon. Those attending should bring a sandwich of your choice. The hostess will serve a salad and drinks. It is our hope the new daytime schedule and place will be more convenient. If you are looking for a fellowship group, you are welcome to visit and see if this one meets your needs for study, worship, and fellowship. The February meeting will be Thursday, February 5, 12:00 noon, at FCC with Faith Pitman as hostess and Charlene Maupin leading the lesson.
Free Swing/Two-Step/Waltz Classes will be
offered in Fellowship Hall for 10 weeks beginning Sunday, January 18, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Dance Instructor Wayne Shoultz of Centennial Christian Church is donating his time and talents. All are welcome! Bring your friends! Partners are needed, but singles are invited to come and pair up.
Upcoming Event for Christian Singles:
January 30 at Richwoods Christian Church (8115 N. Knoxville, Peoria). Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Volunteer opportunities are available. For details, call Cache' Connections at 309-550-5580 or see: http://www.cacheconnections.com/singleevent/peoria .
The next Cursillo Ultreya worship service will
be at our church on Saturday, January 10, at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments will follow.
FCC’s third annual Women’s Retreat will be
Saturday, February 7 (February 21 alternate inclement weather date). Watch for details!
Two new Sunday morning adult studies
begin January 11 at 8:45 & 10:15: (1) Great
tips to foster responsible, cooperative, and respectful children of all ages based on the ―Love and Logic‖ approach from author Jim Fay. Becky White and Ryan Newton, facilitators. (2) Examining some of the primary and secondary dimensions of diversity and how these things play an integral part in the lives of Christians. Camille Taylor, facilitator.
Needed: volunteers to cook/serve food for our
Jesus House 3 Sunday lunch program. Sign up under ―Reach Out‖ Ministry on the bulletin board in the Centrum. Questions? Ask Luella Mahannah.
rd
Needed: bubblewrap -- for Women’s Ministry to
pack college/military valentine care Please bring it to the church office. packages.
New Member Highlight: Carolyn Fowler
First Christian welcomes Carolyn Fowler, who joined our congregation in November. Carolyn is a long-time employee of Verizon and has two daughters, Megan and Sarah (ages 23 and 21). Carolyn loves movies and goes often with friends. She also enjoys scrapbooking.
Attendance: Dec. 21 – 183, 48 Dec. 24 – 252, 83 Dec. 28 – 119, 75 Offering: General Fund 24,453.75 Capital Campaign 20,280.00 Other 4,561.84 Total 49,295.59
Witness of the Faithful
Prayer Concerns
Serving Sunday, January 4
Child Care: Betty Steinlicht, Stephanie Reed, Emily Schultz Crib Room: Stacey Erickson, Kathie Chapman Greeters: 8:45 Darrell, Teri, Gary, and Sam Arvik 10:15 Ted & Trish Logan, Patty McBroom, Phyllis M. Miller Elders: 8:45 Matt Chapman, Fay Bailiff 10:15 Mike Robinson, Fay Bailiff Elders Homebound: John Dailey, Debbie Carter Wholistic Health Volunteer: Matt Kosier Deacons: 8:45 Connie Trefzger, Gregg Kiesewetter 10:15 Susan Hinrichsen, Jack & Fay Haas, Julie Camp Jr. Deacons: 8:45 Melissa Summers, Carly Hamilton Time for Children: 8:45 Jean Harper Acolyte: 8:45 Aleea Cleaver Sunday Driver: Ralph Lehmann Fill Candles: Jenifer Metz Sound Tech: 8:45 Ben Dungan 10:15 Dave Phillis Welcome Center: 8:45 Susie Murray 10:15 Bill & Barbara Thatcher Lights & Doors: Gary Rapp Pulpit: Jim Warren; John 1:1-18; ―In the Beginning‖
Serving Sunday, January 11
Child Care: Betty Steinlicht, Kelly Rippy, Katherine Warren Crib Room: Stacey Erickson, Heather Damery Greeters: 8:45 Kim & Lauren Osterbrock, Mark & Caroline Johnson 10:15 Merle & Donna Murray Elders: 8:45 Marianne & Don Dungan 10:15 Matt Chapman, Camille Taylor Elders Homebound: John Schultz, Fay Bailiff Deacons: 8:45 Nate Damery, Doug Reed 10:15 Laura Faith, Sharron Wright, Richard Malone, Brian Metz Jr. Deacons: 8:45 Michael Sallee, Allie Schulze Time for Children: 8:45 Naomi Kosier Acolyte: 8:45 Jaden Eft Sunday Driver: Jack Haas Fill Candles: Jenifer Metz Sound Tech: 8:45 Brian Metz 10:15 Nathan Cavanaugh Welcome Center: 8:45 Penny Bland 10:15 Jewel & Elsie Schalk Lights & Doors: Gary Rapp Pulpit: Jim Warren
Awaiting Tests/Surgery: Patty Schultz, Evelyn Belgrave, Earl Schumm, Marilyn Cope Aftercare/Other: Roy Anderson, Bill Bethel, Judy Blessing, Julie Camp, Dwight Drexler, Judy Fisher, Helen Garner, Lori Hamilton, Myrtle Hensley, Eugene Hunter, Arvon Jacobssen, Caroline Johnson, Alice Lind, Frank Lipscomb, Dorthy Neal, Shirley Schumm, Mary Smart, Kay Smith, Madison Stranglen, Bill & Barbara Thatcher, Marilyn Thompson, Wayne Walden Nursing Homes: Nellie Loos, Dorothy Mahan, Clayton Jackson (Heartland); Esther Brock (Evenglow, Pontiac); Mildred Broughton, Virginia Guy, Bev Sutter (Heritage, Nrm.); Robbie Dungan (Martin Health); Thelma Schnars, Cloyd Cary, George Broughton, Irine Campbell, Hazel Hutson (Heritage, Blm.); Jane Martin (McLean Co.) Homebound: Edna Schnittker Military: Andrew Erickson (Army), Gene Gerber & Jeff Meyer (Camp’s nephews), Adam Jacobs (Army), John Kaufman, Glenn Kiesewetter (Kiesewetters’ nephew), Will McNutt (Dungans’ nephew/Air Force), Michael Shaver (Phyllis M. Miller’s grandson/Navy), Simon Shelton (Sacrys’ son/Air Force), Jeremy Street (B. Koehler’s fiancé), Weylin Williams (Randy & Linda Williams’ son), Adam Sheppelman (Wrights’ grandsons) Sympathy to: Dwight (Gene) Fowler and family at the December 29 death of his sister, Vivian Van Winkle, of Oregon Birth: a daughter, Issaria Kalani Jacobs, was born December 16 to Adam & Dianna Jacobs. Grandparents are Jim & Deb Underhill. Congratulations to ISU Grads: Matt Chapman (masters), and Maximes Bekofe
… have been received from the following persons and placed on the tree in the Centrum: Ann & Lucky Brown, Martha Hunter, Carrie Finson, Chaney family, Commerce Bank, Dorothy Neal, Reed family, Elaine Ludy, Christian Church Foundation, Alice Lind, StarNet Publishing, Art & Camille Taylor, Church Management Systems, Mary Scheets, BroMenn, Crill family, Chapman family, Jim & Deb Underhill, Dave & Brenda Phillis, Ellen Carpenter, Lake Williamson Christian Center, Quinn Shell, Disciples Divinity House, Habitat for Humanity, Faith in Action.
Christmas Greetings
… posted on the Centrum bulletin board has been received from Betty Steinlicht (aunt’s death)
A Thank You Note
A long obedience in the same direction… New Year’s Resolutions
I’m not much for New Year’s resolutions. I have occasionally made resolutions and started out keeping them with great enthusiasm, but by the end of January, if not sooner, I’ve tossed the resolutions aside and gone back to my old ways. This year, however, I’m feeling differently toward resolutions. Maybe I’ll even make some, for a change. I find myself taking stock of the past year and looking ahead to the coming year more intentionally and systematically than usual. One of the reasons I’m doing this is that this month (December 2008) marks my tenth anniversary at First Christian. Can you believe it’s been ten years since my family and I moved here? I can’t! We’ve added five children to our family in that time! Much has happened in these ten years for both of us, hasn’t it? This is not the same church that it was ten years ago, nor am I the same pastor I was in 1998. We’ve both grown and changed. I think about the new members who’ve joined in the last ten years, and about those who’ve died, moved, or, for whatever reason, left. I reflect on the challenges facing our church, and how those have changed — and not changed — during my tenure. To help me focus on where we have been and where we are going together, I spent a couple of days in November with Cynthia Lindner in Chicago. Cynthia is the Director of Ministerial Studies at the University of Chicago Divinity School, a licensed therapist, and a Disciples of Christ pastor who served in a local church for a number of years. I had a marvelous time with her, and she helped me gain some clarity about where God is leading my ministry. One of the books Cynthia suggested I read was Acedia & me: A Marriage, Monks, and A Writer’s Life by Kathleen Norris. Acedia is an ancient Greek word meaning the absence or lack of care. Christian writers have used the term since at least the fourth century to describe ―the noonday demon‖ that brings heedlessness, spiritual torpor, apathy, sloth, melancholia, carelessness, and laziness. Having read the book and having recognized my own battles with this pernicious ―noonday demon,‖ I am pondering how I may be able to address acedia in my life in 2009, so this is another reason why the New Year holds a special significance for me.
A couple of ―milestone‖ anniversaries will take place in 2009, and that also makes this New Year an important one. Within a week of each other this summer I will celebrate both my 50th birthday and the 25 th anniversary of my ordination. Since my last birthday I’ve come to view my next birthday as an opportunity to mull over where my life has been and where it’s going. With more days behind me than before me, I wonder what directions my life will take in the time I have remaining. th Similarly, as I approach the 25 anniversary of my ordination I seek to discern where God may be leading me. I want to be faithful to God’s call to be the best pastor I can be in this place at this time, so I ask, ―What does God expect of me? What does God want me to do? What gifts have I neglected that God is now asking me to use more fully in my ministry?‖ All these questions ramble around for me as I anticipate the silver anniversary of my ordination. For these reasons, anniversaries of my ordination and my coming here, a birthday, and my recent reading, I sense that 2009 will be an important year for me, and for us together. ―Where is God pulling and pushing us and me?‖ I wonder. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll go so far as to formulate some New Year’s resolutions. And, who knows, maybe I’ll even try to keep them! -- Jim Warren PS: Thank you for the many cards I received for my 10th anniversary. It’s been a great ten years for me! And as we conclude ten years of ministry together and begin our 11th, I want you to know I plan to follow in a First Christian Church tradition by preaching my 10 th Anniversary Sermon, which I will do January 25, 2009. The last pastor to do so was John Trefzger in January 1967, forty-two years ago. He served our church from 1957 to 1973. Only three other pastors before John served our church for more than 10 years, and they were James Gilliland (1888-1902), Edgar DeWitt Jones (1906-1920), and Chester B. Grubb (19241951). I am humbled to be included among these august and faithful pastors.
Sunday Worship Services….……8:45 a.m. Contemporary 10:15 a.m. Traditional Sunday School …………………….……… 8:45 & 10:15 a.m. Office Phone………………………………….(309) 829-9327 401 W. Jefferson, Bloomington, IL 61701 FAX……………………………………………………829-2865 Email…………………………………….….office@blmfcc.org Website………………………………………www.blmfcc.com
The church’s website address is www.blmfcc.com. The church calendar is posted on the website.
Mailed December 31, 2008
Senior Pastor James Warren…………829-8798 ……………………212-6873 (cell) jwarren@blmfcc.org Associate Pastor Cynthia McBride ..706-1193 (cell) revmcbride@blmfcc.org Minister Emeritus John Trefzger Director Youth Ministries Greg Summers….530-7443 (cell) gsummers@blmfcc.org Music Michael Fitch ….. 826-1865 (cell) William West…………..663-8285 Beckie Linn Gregory … 1-815-674-1492 Lou Ann Fillingham, organist Dave Sigler, guitarist Membership Coordinator Marilyn Thompson…….452-1369 Financial Secretary & Editor Deborah Stumm Administrative Secretary Barb Dixon Child Care Coordinators Betty Steinlicht, Stacey Erickson