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Welcome to our very first issue of Connecting Points
Connecting Points is our new quarterly newsletter designed to give you a brief overview of some of the developments underway in the First Church family. Our goal is to provide you with short articles that are informative and give you a glimpse into areas of ministry that you might not normally be involved with. Please feel free to email or call me anytime with questions or feedback. We look forward to this becoming another way in which we connect with each other and share the wonderful works done at First Church.
Colby Smith
Director of Communications
[email protected]
815.459.0785 ext 23
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Is A Church By Any Other Name Just The Same?
Why did we start to refer to ourselves as First Church?"
Who made the decision?
Does that mean we are no longer United Methodists?
Click here for the inside scoop!
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A Comprehensive Spiritual Development Plan
How does First Church serve to help individuals become fully-devoted followers of Jesus Christ? In what ways will we be partners with the Holy Spirit in making disciples of Christ? This is the Great Commission and, while we may believe it is important, we haven't implemented a comprehensive plan through which we can help one another grow in our faith. |
Overcoming Distrust And Promoting Clear Communications
The Leadership Council has charged our Director of Communications, Colby Smith, to form a short-term team to review ways our congregational communications can be improved so that distrust, misunderstanding, and lack of information can be overcome.
Read more >>
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Worship Development Plan The Leadership Council, after acknowledging the statistics that our members and worship attendance has declined 25% and 30% respectively during the past 10 years even while we continue the same worship service schedule, format, and styles, has taken the step of initiating a review of our corporate worship life with a view toward recommending steps toward development of a strong ministry of worship going forward.
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Church Organizational Structure
The Leadership Council, through a task force composed of Rick Dunn, Greg Alexander, Heather Kinsley, Kathy Anderson, and Pastor Scott, has been involved in a process of re-working our congregational organizational structure to better achieve the following, among other, dynamics of our life together. |
Summer Renovation And Construction
There are a number of renovations going on at First Church. The cost of these will top $200,000. The Fiscal Team is working out details to fund this through cash on hand, special gifts, and a line of credit/loan. |
Midweek At First Church Is Coming In September!
Music and drama groups, Middle School Youth Group, amped up children's programming, adult study and discussion groups, choirs, some special themed nights and did we mention DINNER?
Read more >>
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Your regular and generous financial support allows us to move beyond word into faithful service.
The renovation projects planned for the summer represent major expenses that can no longer be delayed or deferred. Our current budget has planned for these expenditures, but the need to complete them during the summer when our financial resources are historically at their lowest presents a unique challenge.
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Electronic Orchestra
First Church Electronic Orchestra is a new group designed to praise God through music played on electronic devices. No experience with music is required and the group is open to all ages. Tablets, smart phones, drum machines, keyboards all will combine in interesting ways to perform unique arrangements of classical music or modern songs.
Read more >>
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With the conclusion of the preschool year, we also announce a change in the Director of the Preschool. Jan O'Brien, our Director since last summer, will not be returning. The Preschool Advisory Committee is working in collaboration with the Staff-Parish Relations Committee through the search and hiring process for a new Preschool Director. Please pray for God's leading as we seek the right leader for this outstanding outreach to children and their families.
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Student Ministries
I am never more aware of the love and capabilities of our students than when we are on a mission trip. Taking time away, time to serve and time to invest in our relationships is wholly sacred, wholly necessary. Each summer we have the opportunity to serve amongst 25,000 students and adult leaders across the country with Group Mission Trips. This summer, our team will travel to Costa Rica with Lifetree Adventures, Group's international trips division.
Read more >>
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Ever wonder what happens down in Wesley Hall on a Sunday morning during Sunday school? If you visited just a few weeks ago, we had a visit from John the Baptist - who told us what it was like living in the desert and told us about the locusts he loved to eat. We were even offered some of John's locusts.
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First Church
(a united methodist congregation)
236 W. Crystal Lake Ave. Crystal Lake, IL 80098
815.459.0785
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Devoted to Christ. Connected to Others. Sent to Serve. |
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