News: Holy Week
News: Vigil Dinner
News: Easter Lilies
News: 40 Days of Lent
Keeping Up With Jordan and Mike in Israel
Volunteer & Community Opportunities
Calendar
Joys and Concerns
Praying Together This Week
Statistics
People News
Cartoon
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Holy week begins March 25 (a week from this Sunday) and lasts through Easter Sunday (April 1.) It is the highest holy season of the year for Christians. Here are the events at our church to observe this holy time. All are welcomed AND ENCOURAGED to participate in them.
Palm/Passion Sunday (March 25) Both worship services will include the stories of Jesus that happened on Sunday through Friday of the week he was crucified. The events of that week included his joyful entry into the city of Jerusalem, his anger at how corrupt the temple (institutional religion) had become, his defiance of the Roman empire's oppression of his people, his last supper with the disciples, his prayers at the Garden of Gethsemane, his arrest, and his execution. Everyone in worship that day will be given a palm branch, and we will hear the scriptures that tell of of his experiences that week. Worship at 8:15 and 10:45 a.m.
Maundy Thursday (March 29) Our focus will be on the Passover meal Jesus had with his disciples. It was his last supper with them. He washed their feet. He also commanded them to love one another. (The word "Maundy" comes from the Latin word for "command.") Worship at 7 p.m.
Good Friday (March 30) This was the day that Jesus was tried and executed. We will meditate on his love and his sacrifice in a joint worship service that day with our neighboring church, First Christian. Worship at noon in our sanctuary.
Easter Dinner and Vigil (March 31) We will gather in the fellowship hall at 5:30 for a fish dinner prepared by our hospitality committee. At 7 p.m., we will go to the church yard (the little strip of grass along 16th street) and light the Christ candle at a campfire. After processing inside, we will be engaged with ancient liturgies, Bible stories, and songs that are designed to help us renew our faith and experience the powerful impact of Jesus' resurrection. The evening will conclude with dessert in the fellowship hall.
Easter Sunday (April 1) We will have ONE WORSHIP service for Easter Day, our entire congregation worshipping together at 9 a.m. This worship will include the beauty of Easter music, flowers, decorations...and above all...the joyful reading of the Easter story.
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The
Hospitality Team will be serving 3 types of fish and many types of salads for o
ur Easter Vigil Dinner! If you would be interested in bringing a Potato, Pasta or Lettuce salad for the Easter Vigil Dinner, please sign up at the Welcome Desk and bring them in on Friday, March 30 from 1-4:30 p.m. or Saturday, March 31 from 3-5:30 p.m.
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EASTER LILIES 
Lilies will once again be put on the Altar for Easter Sunday. If you would like to bring one or have it delivered to honor or in memory of a loved one, please do so on Good Friday, March 30. The office will be open 9 a.m.-12 Noon and 1-4:30 p.m. Please make arrangements to pick them up right after service or on Monday, April 2. We will put the names of those you wish to honor in the April 1st bulletin.
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40 DAYS OF LENT
Week
6-- If you've been giving up and/or giving away during this season, take time to reflect on what Jesus gave up during His ministry on earth. Think about His ultimate sacrifice for our sake.
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Keeping up with Mike and Jordan 
Jordan and Mike are leading 14 people on a pilgrimage to Alabama this week and will be back on Saturday. The group includes 9 people from the Mattoon church and four Chinese scholars from the University of Illinois.
This picture is of the group enjoying a meal together at Monnel's in Nashville.
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Volunteer & Community Opportunities 
In the Community:
Pray for, volunteer your time or donate to the Girl Scouts.
Click here
for more information.
In the Church:
~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
40 Days of Lent, February 14-April 1
Maundy Thursday Service, March 29, 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday Service, March 30, 12 Noon, Sanctuary
Easter Lilies for Easter, March 30, by 4:30 p.m.
Easter Vigil Dinner, Saturday, March 31, 5:30 p.m.
Easter Vigil, Saturday, March 31, 7:00 p.m.
Easter Worship, Sunday, April 1, 9:00 a.m.
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Next Meeting Dates
Admin Council, April 2, 7:00 p.m.
Children's Council, Wednesday, April 18, 7:00 p.m.
Communications Task Force, April 10, 6:00 p.m.
Education, TBD
Endowment
, April 19, 4:00 p.m.
Finance, March 28, 6:00 p.m.
Hospitality
, April 12, 6:00 p.m.
Missions, Thursday, March 29, 5:45 p.m.
Pastor Parish Relations
, TBD
Trustees, March 26
, 6:00 p.m.
UMW Executive Board, April 3, 1:30 p.m.
Worship, April 12, 7:00 p.m.
Youth Committee, Sunday, April 22, 12 Noon
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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.
Mary Mini Circle, fourth Monday of the month, 2:00 p.m.
Rebecca Circle, second Mondays, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesdays
Pastor's Bible Study 10:00 a.m.
(not meeting 3/20)
UMW Executive Board 1:30 p.m., first Tuesday of the month
Women's Bible Study of Romans 6:00 p.m.
Wednesdays
.
Cross Training Prayer 6:30 a.m. at the Dickinson's
Downtown Kids 5:30-7:00 p.m., every Wednesday night from Sept-Apr
(there will be no DTK on March 21 & 28)
Chancel Choir 5:45 p.m.
Thursdays
Women's Bible Study, 6:3
0 a.m.
at Pagliacci's- studying "When Christians Get It Wrong"
Contemporary Worship Practice 6:00 p.m. (no practice 3/22)
Saturdays
Men's Breakfast, second Saturday of the month,
Denny's, 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.
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Joys and Concerns
(including Sunday's blue cards
Barb Seaton-full time temp job
Tammy's friend's daughter is recovering quicker than expected
Concerns
Cheri Pierce, physical
Doris Grass, ill this past week
Peace for Sheehan family
Melissa Shaffer-prayer for continued health problems
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Praying Together This Week 
People in our church family:
Pat Campbell
Sara, Greg and Nate Carter
David Champion
Maxine Chapin
Bill & Mary Clark
Missions Team
World Council of Churches Prayer Calendar:
Pray this week for the people of Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia.
Click here for information about the WCC prayer calendar.
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Statistics
March 18 attendance:
8:15 a.m. 85
10:45 a.m. 67
Finance Report:
General Fund: $ 5,832 received this week
(our general fund budget is $408,000 for the year)
Renovation Fund:
Cost of project: $434,766
Starting funds: 107,142
2016 receipts 57,646
2017 receipts 127,587
2018 receipts 5,720
Still Needed: $136,626
The amount received for 2018 includes receipts
last week of: $1,175
The renovation work (heating, air conditioning, and tuckpointing) was organized in three phases. The first two phases (completed in 2016 and 2017) are PAID FOR! Due to funds on hand and the generosity of our members, we did not have to borrow any money for the first two phases.
In addition to the money received for the general fund, contributions were made last week to the following causes:
Backpack: $50
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People News 
Birthdays from
3/20-3/29
3/20 Steve Parker
3/21 Cheryl McDowell
3/23 Mariah Beltran
3/23 Charlotte Upton
3/27 Alice Nelson
3/28 Morgan Hampton
3/28 Dan Bullock
3/29 Michelle Hastings
In Nursing Homes and Assisted Living:
Brookstone North:
Norma Edwards
Brookstone South:
Dorothy Shepard
Virginia Beasley
Mary Sheppard
Mattoon Healthcare:
Dorothy Gullion
John Zachow
Oddfellow Rebekah:
Fran Whitley
Doris Grass
Betty Eisner
Douglas Rehabilitation:
Pauline Andrews
Joan Beals
Mason Point:
Ruby and Gerald Lowry
Titus Manor-Sullivan
Marilyn Doty
Copper Creek
Betty Hoots
Carroll Livesay
Maxine Chapin
Lowell Davis
Ed Behm
Palm Terrace
Ione Hill
Logan Street Apts.
Butch Ratts
Attending College:
Zach Armstrong
Austin Sherman
Carley Leitch
Riley Leitch
Andie Antonik
Luke Collings
Luke Young
Kaylee Beals
Derek Pierce
Abbie Sherman
Sophie Collings
Morgan Hampton
DeVante White
Kelly Pierce
Angelica Beltran |
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Please let us know if we have missed anyone!!
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Dear (Contact First Name),
