Betty Davis

Long time member Betty Davis passed away Saturday, August 5.   Click here for the full obituary.

Contribution Statements for first six Months

The contribution statements for the first half of 2017 should be ready for pick up on Sunday, August 20th. They will be in the office before and after both services.  Please look over them carefully and let the office know if you have any questions. 

Online Bible Study Begins

A weekly online Bible Study (on the Sermon on the Mount) is now ready for any members who would like to participate. Contact the church office or Pastor Mike if you would like to join.  New lessons are posted each Monday morning. Participants can post comments (privately, only other group members will see them.)

Church Council Approves New Committee Structure

The August 10 Church Council approved a new board and committee structure for our church, starting in 2018.  The new structure is in compliance with the United Methodist Book of Discipline.  

It also gives more emphasis in our church to growth, children's ministries, care of members, and stewardship.

Click Here to see a copy of it.

Endowment Committee Gives Report

You can click here for a report of the endowment committee, including some policy changes adopted by the Church Council at the August 10 meeting.

Child/Parent Group meets at Library

Choir rehearsals begin August 23

Rehearsal for Joyful Singers and Chancel Choirs will begin on Wednesday, August 23.  Joyful Singers will begin at 5:45 p.m. and Chancel at 6:00 p.m.  

If you are interested in joining either choir, please see Allen Webner.

Church Directory

We would like to clarify that the church directory is being produced through our new Power Church program.  They will be available to our church members with limited information. Once the directories are printed, we will make them available.  It is NOT too late to send in a picture or have one taken by our hospitality team members.  You may send pictures (one per family please) to [email protected] or call the office, 235-5676, if you have questions.

Closer to the end of the year, we may do a professional directory.  

"First Things First" Project

Our call for revitalizing our congregation starts with deepening our own faith and relationship to God. 

Consider participating in one of our "First Things First" projects.  So far, 37 people have signed up to be a part of one more of the following:  1) Bible Study, 2) Prayer and Fasting, 3) covenant dyads, and 4) workshops on witnessing.

The online Bible study has started and you can join at any time.  

Our church-wide day of fasting is Thursday.  Call the office or talk to one of the pastors for information or to be a part of the group practicing this ancient spiritual discipline.

For more background information on this project,  CLICK HERE

"Thank You!"

We would like to say "Thank you"  to our Church Family for their prayers and support during Mike's knee surgery and the passing of Debbie's mother.  

Mike & Debbie Albin

Sermon Series for August

The sermon series in August is:  "Four Things Jesus Wants Us to Do." The series comes from Matthew 10:8 and includes the following commands Jesus gives his disciples: heal the sick, cleanse the leper, exorcise the demons, raise the dead.  Each week will focus on a different command.

You may hear the sermons on our website (they are usually posted by the Tuesday after.)   Click Here for the sermon page.

Keeping Up With Jordan and Mike

Pastor Mike conducted the funeral for long time member, Betty Davis. He took the day off Friday to help Jie with a Chinese ministry project, taking 25 Chinese scholars to the State Fair. He also has been supervising the committee restructuring (see earlier article) and getting finance reports updated.

Jordan has been working on the children's ministry plan for the fall.  On Friday, he takes the youth group to a ballgame and a day in St. Louis.

  

Click Here to contact Pastor J. Michael Smith

Click Here to contact Youth Pastor Jordan Thomas

Click Here for Pastor Mike's website

Volunteer & Community Opportunities

In the Community:

Volunteer your time or donate to the Salvation Army

Click here  for more information.

In the Church:

Faith In Action-Cooks and serves lunch on the 4th Sunday           every other month, 11:00 a.m., see Dave Schilling for             information

Children's programs

Youth Group

Backpack program

Mattoon Area PADS; a group from our church serves dinner          the 4th Friday  every month; cook at 6:00 p.m., serve at          7:00 p.m., see Susie Beaumont for more information

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Special Events

2nd Wind/Historic Bishop Hill, August 19, 7:00 a.m.-7:00         p.m.

Promotion Sunday, August 20, Both Services

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Next Meeting Dates

Ad Council,  August 10, 7:00 p.m.

Communications Task Force,  September 14, 7:00 p.m.

Education, TBD

Endowment, October 12, 6 p.m.

Faith In Action/Mission, September 21 , 2:00 p.m.

Finance, TBD

Hospitality , September 7, 6:00 p.m.

Pastor Parish Relations , August 28, 6:00 p.m.

Stewardship,  TBD

Strategy and Innovation, TBD

Traditional Worship , September 19, 4:00 p.m.

Trustees, August 21 , 6:00 p.m.

UMW Executive Board, September 5, 1:30 p.m.

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Regular Events

Sundays

Traditional Worship         8:15 a.m.

Sunday School               9:30 a.m.

Contemporary worship  10:45 a.m.

Middle School Youth      5:00-7:00 p.m.

Sr. High Youth                6:00-8:00 p.m. 

Mondays

Mary Circle, second Mondays, 1:30 p.m. (August's is 5:30 p.m.)

Mary Mini Circle, fourth Monday of the month,  2 p.m.

Rebecca Circle, second Mondays, 7:00 p.m. (August's meeting will be at 6:00 p.m. at Marcia Parker's home)

Tuesdays    

Pastor's Bible Study    10:00 a.m.

Tammie's Book Study  6:00 p.m. 

Wednesdays .  

Joyful Singers   5:15 p.m.(Aug-May), begins August 23

Chancel Choir  6:00  p.m. (Aug-May), begins August 23

Thursdays

Women's Bible Study-"Pursuit of Holiness", 6:3 0 a.m.          at Pagliacci's     

Contemporary Worship Practice  6:00 p.m.

Saturdays

Men's Breakfast, second Saturday of the month,       

       Downtown Diner, 7:00 a.m.

Office Hours:

Monday-Friday    9 a.m.-12 Noon; 1:00-3:00 p.m. 

Click Here for our online calendar, covering all church events.

Praying Together This Week

People in our church family:

Statistics

Aug 6 attendance:

   8:15 am:   79  

   10:45 am: 48

Finance Report: 

   

General Fund: $  10,384   received  this week                  

                        $245,300   YTD

   (our general fund budget is $401,000 for the year)

   

Renovation Fund:   

Revised cost of project: $434,766

Starting funds:                 107,142

2016 receipts                     57,646

2017 receipts                   108,036

Still Needed:                  $161,642