Welcome to a newly-designed, interactive version of
The Messenger
,
your bi-weekly church newsletter! We hope you enjoy this new format,
and we welcome your thoughts and suggestions.
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- Sunday Traditional Worship 9:00 a.m. with Worship and Wonder for Children
- One and All Worship 10:15 a.m.
- Sunday School for Adults 10:15 a.m.
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Regional Assembly
Oc
tober 19-20 at The Chateau in Normal. Register by October 5. Our church will be well-represented, with Drexler Singers, Chancel Choir, and Children’s Choir all participating. Also, Marla McElroy will be installed as Moderator and Holly Irvin will be co-leading a workshop. If you can help set up for communion for the Friday, October 19, 7:30 p.m. worship service, please see Holly Irvin. Your help will be appreciated!
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Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop
October 13, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Conference Room. Centering Prayer is a simple method of quiet prayer to help you deepen your relationship with God. Rooted in scripture and ancient Christian insights, Centering Prayer invites us to open our minds and hearts to God as we consent to God’s presence and action within us. During the workshop you will have an opportunity to both learn and practice Centering Prayer.
Refreshments available. Good will offering accepted. We’ll also schedule follow-up sessions to support you as you begin your practice.
To register for the workshop:
- Text or call Anne Colloton 309-830-3231 or e-mail acolloto@gmail.com
- Call the church office at 309-829-9327
- Sign up at the Information Center
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Disciples Women's Ministries
The DWM group
group will meet October 4 to continue
their study of Spiritual Gifts. Chapter 8 will be discussed. Please join us!
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New Adult Sunday School Class
continues, meeting in room 129 after the 9:00 a.m. service. Come gather for topical studies and studies about books of the Bible. You will experience various study formats including DVDs and books.
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Listening to God
Update
Prayer Groups
include over 90 participants and
have begun meeting. Meetings will continue through part of November to share scripture, prayer, thoughts, and hopes with one another.
Visit the church website (click on the praying hands graphic on the home page) for examples of Lectio Divina and other prayer methods, and guidance for creating a spiritual autobiography.
Outlines for completed weeks’ sessions are also on the website page. If you are now able to join a group, email Becky White at
jobewhite99@aol.com.
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Brown Bag Bible Bunch
Jim Warren leads this weekly study group on Wednesdays 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in the Conference Room. We are studying Philemon. Come join us! All are welcome!
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Youth and Children's Choir
will practice at the beginning of Sunday School time on Sundays (10:15 a.m.). Holly Irvin will take them to their music room (#121) for the practice.
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Collections for Operation Santa
will take place through October 21.
Operation Santa is the largest stocking drive in the nation with volunteers from 50 states. L
ed at FCC by the Disciples Women's Ministries, you can be involved in any of these ways:
- Sew stockings (patterns will be available for anyone in the church to help. If you have lightweight decorated Christmas fabric you don’t want anymore, we can use it to make stockings. )
- Donate Black CREW socks
- Donate individually wrapped sticks of beef jerky
- Donate Christmas Cards (no glitter or need for envelopes) to be included in each stocking
There will be an easel at the Information Center documenting donation items for the stockings, as well as an envelope for donations for mailing expenses. If you have any questions about this project and making of stockings, please see Jan Dyer.
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Start Fresh
winter outerwear drive for men October 1 through February 1 at the Information Center. See the next
Beyond the Bricks
for details.
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Gifts for Another Table
Let’s finish September strong!
This month we are bringing items for Center for Hope Food Pantry. They do a super job for many people. Needed items include: rice & rice dinners, pasta of any kind, pasta sauce, Hamburger Helper, dinner meals, cereal, mashed/boxed potatoes, and canned vegetables. In October we will collect for the Salvation Army.
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Abundant Life Meal
will be served on October 21. See
Beyond the Bricks
for details. Contact Julie Robinson to help. Her email is
jerobinson21409@yahoo.com
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Fall Blood Drive
October 23 from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. The American Red Cross is in great need of donors. Please give if you can. Mark your calendar and sign up soon at the Information Center.
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Reconciliation Offering
will be taken September 30 and October 7.
The Special Offering is used to fund the Disciples of Christ’s mission imperative to become an pro-reconciling and anti-racist church utilizing experiential education, inclusive worship, and intentional dialogue.
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Youth Group
Youth Group on September 30th will be a Prayer Walk at Ewing Park II (1001 Ethel Parkway, Bloomington). Please meet at Ewing Park II at 5:00 p.m. (pick-up at the same place at 6:30 p.m.). Wear walking shoes.
Upcoming Dates:
- October 14 Youth Group with KFC: We will make prayer journals
- October 19-20 Regional Assembly Youth Activities: See Youth board or CCIW website for details
- October 28 Bonfire: Cook-out and Sardines
A new Youth Group Schedule can be seen
here
.
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Acolytes
A message from Jessica Davis: If you are interested in signing your child up to serve as acolyte during a 9:00 a.m. service, please sign up at the Information Center or at
www.SignUpGenius.com
(search for “Jessica@da5is.com”). For now, please sign up for just one date to show interest. If you have any questions, let me know at Jessica@da5is.com.
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For You!
Copies of two reports,
First Christian Church - Trustee-Held Property, Accounts, Debts
and
First Christian Church Endowment Fund
, presented to the Official Board on September 17, are available at the Information Center.
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Hurricane Florence
The best ways to help now are to:
- Pray for the affected communities and the trained first responders and relief workers who are providing immediate relief.
- Stay where you are for now—these communities will need outside volunteers for the long process of rebuilding, but in these early days, volunteers who are not specifically trained and directly invited are more of a hassle than a help for local communities. This is especially true in North Carolina, where flooding continues, some rivers are still rising, and many places are under restricted access. Mark your calendars to come as a volunteer 6 months or a year from now. Follow Week of Compassion and Disciples Volunteering on social media to stay up to date on future volunteer opportunities through Disciples. In the meantime, there are many communities recovering from other disasters who are in need of your help right now! Visit www.discipleshomemissions.org/servants-needed to find out more.
- Give monetary donations to Week of Compassion. It may feel less personal than sending items you’ve lovingly selected, but money is easy to transport and is very efficient! Community organizations can often purchase supplies in bulk and at specially negotiated rates, and they can buy exactly what they need when they need it. Cash doesn’t take up warehouse space, and it can meet a variety of needs. Your dollars could become a meal at a shelter today or a new roof on a damaged house in a few months.
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Please find find thank you notes from
Mike and Julie Robinson (sympathy) and Ministry & More (food pantry donations)
on the Centrum bulletin board.
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Let's Stay in Touch (Better)!
Please let the church office know if your phone number, address, or email address changes. Also, on email, please remember to check your SPAM or TRASH folder for church communications. You can help ensure you receive emails by adding church addresses to your contact list or address book. See contact list at the end of this newsletter.
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Visitors are VIPs at First Christian Church
It is the privilege and responsibility of each member of our church to create a welcoming atmosphere. There are many things people look for when visiting a church, and feeling respected and valued is at the top of the list. How can we help create this feeling? Take care of FCC as well as you do your home, love each other and take time to catch up with friends, and make a visitor
into
a new friend. Ask his or her name, and later use it in conversation. Introduce your new friend and show them around. Also, if you see someone being greeted, don’t assume the job is done… it can make a huge difference for a person to talk to four, six, or ten people! Let’s share God’s love and see our family grow!
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Interested in Being a Video or Sound Tech?
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Drop Jen Petri a note at
info@blmfcc.org
and she’ll answer your questions and get you additional information about this important ministry. There are varying degrees of difficulty in the roles available and we’ll match you with what you find comfortable. Thank you for considering serving in this way!
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Did you know… October is:
- Stewardship Month? Our theme will be I am the Church. We are the Church.
- Pastor Appreciation Month? It’s a great time to show appreciation to pastoral staff.
- the month we celebrate Heritage Sunday? We will honor those who have been members 50+ years (watch for details).
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Sunday, September 30
Acolytes:
- George Davis
- Vincent Pozo
Child Care:
- Trish Logan
- Kathie Chapman
Deacons:
- 9:00 Holly Rocke, Robyn Loftin
- 10:15 Matt Davis, Libby Nussbaum
Jr. Deacons:
Drivers:
- Rich Crusius
- Ralph Lehmann
Elders:
Homebound Elders:
- Art Taylor
- Camille Taylor
Fellowship Host:
Rita Fisher
Fill Candles:
Connie Rapp
Greeters:
- Art & Camille Taylor
- John & Kathy Dailey
Information Center:
Betty Steinlicht
Scripture:
Camille Taylor
Sound Tech:
Brian Metz
Time for Children:
Patty Thompson
Video Tech:
Austin Metz
Worship & Wonder Greeter:
Jessica Davis
Pulpit:
Jim Warren – Luke 24:13-35
“Listening to God: Sharing Our Story”
On the road to Emmaus two disciples encounter the risen Christ, whom they eventually recognize when they break bread together. The two disciples immediately began telling their story of meeting Christ. We are to be like those two disciples and share our stories with others.
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Sunday, October 7
Acolyte:
Jeremiah Hall
Child Care:
- Trish Logan
- Rich & Karen Crusius
Deacons:
- 9:00 Martin & Sue Ross
- 10:15 Holly Rocke, Robyn Loftin
Jr. Deacons:
- Bethany Warren
- Teagan Gramley
Drivers:
- Ryan Newton
- Frank Lipscomb
Elders:
- Nancy Trefzger
- John Hensley
Homebound Elders:
Fellowship Host:
Nancy Gramley
Fill Candles:
Ryan Newton
Greeters:
- Brian Metz, Austin Metz
- Mark & Michelle Gramley
Information Center:
Nancy Trefzger
Recycle:
Hank & Linda Sur
Scripture:
Tamara Shields
Sound Techs:
Time for Children:
Linda Lehmann
Video Tech:
James Nussbaum
Worship & Wonder Greeter:
Chip Jamerson
Pulpit:
Jim Warren – Luke 10:25-37
“Listening to God: Who is Our Neighbor?”
The parable of the Good Samaritan shows us who our neighbors are and calls on us to care for them.
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Contact Us
Senior Pastor:
James Warren
Minister Emeritus:
John Trefzger
Dir. Music, Dir. Music & Youth
Ministries:
Holly Irvin
Organ/Piano:
Lou Ann Fillingham
One and All Music Coordinator:
Bill West
Communications Coordinator:
Jenifer Petri
Office Receptionist:
Maggie Burton
Financial Secretary:
Deborah Stumm
Custodian:
Wally Calvert
Child Care Coordinator:
Trish Logan
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Witness of the Faithful
Attendance:
- 9/16/18: 150, 29
- 9/23/18: 156, 40
Offering:
$
10,637.46
Prayer Concerns
Advocate BroMenn:
Joe Violano
OSF St. Joseph:
- Sue Brumme
- Kaleigh Menken
- Cecil Mott
Hospice:
- Harold Goyen
- Virginia Warren
Awaiting Tests/Surgery:
Aftercare:
- Betty Beer
- Sherry Blessing-Varner
- Pat Bozarth
- Marcia Christensen
- Duff Knudsen
- Erma McDaniel
- Peggy O’Neal
- Mary Smart
- Hunter Trefzger
Treatment:
- Helen Joyce Barclay
- Mary Moran
Assisted Living:
- Mickey Armstrong (Luther Oaks),
- Alma Samuels (Taylors’ home)
Nursing Homes:
- Blm. Rehab – Marilyn Thompson
- Heritage, Blm. – Merle Murray, Virginia Warren
- Heritage, El Paso – Sonna West
- Heritage, Normal – Bob Corbett, Harold Goyen
- Liberty, Clinton – Corena Meyer
- Martin Health – Myrna Cable, Marlyn Mahannah, Lois Murray, Barbara Thatcher
- McLean County – Darlene Bethel
Military:
- Chris Kavanaugh (Marines, CA);
- Harley Scott (Phillis niece/Navy, VA)
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Office Phone
309 829-9327
Fax
309 829-2865
Address
401 W. Jefferson St. Bloomington, IL 61701
Hours
Of
fice hours
have changed. The office is open
Mondays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
, and
Tuesday through Friday 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m.
The office closes for lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m. every day. The best times to contact the church office are while Maggie is here, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
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