December
December 5 Music Sunday and Tasting Party
December 12 Youth Christmas Scavenger Hunt for Grades K-12
December 24 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service/Spontaneous Nativity Pageant
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Office Hours are listed at the bottom of each Messenger issue.
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A Message from Hank Anderson, Transitional Interim Minister at FCC
My friends,
The Journey is underway! The response to this year's church-wide Advent focus has been truly wonderful. We have had to order additional books twice in addition to what we thought was a large initial order. More than 70 people are participating in one of the small groups and there are others who are reading the book on their own. And the response to Adam Hamilton's book and video has been very positive. Thanks to everyone who is participating. And while the regular small groups are pretty much full at this time, there is always room in the Sunday morning group that meets after worship and the Wednesday Brown Bag group. Both groups meet in the upstairs conference room.
Whether you are participating in one of the small groups, studying on your own, or joining us for worship on Sunday morning (either in person or online), I pray that your journey towards Christmas is filled with a strong sense of the love God has shown to us through Jesus Christ. For everyone, I pray that this Advent season will be a special time as we reflect on the reality of Emmanuel, God with us. And may this Christmas be a true holy day for you and for your family and friends.
Merry Christmas and God bless!
Hank
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Christmas Eve at FCC
On December 24, we will have only one worship service and it will appeal to all ages. The service will begin at 5:00 p.m. and, in addition to traditional music, we’ll have a Spontaneous Nativity Pageant. We invite anyone and everyone to participate in our second Spontaneous Christmas Pageant! The ‘costumes’ (mostly just a headband or a drape with a rope) are clean and ready! All you have to do is volunteer during the program and you can be a part of the pageant. We invite children, youth, and adults to help make this a great production!
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Peoria Area Festival of Nativities
Join us in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ by viewing nativity displays from around the world and enjoying musical performances from local talent. Members from different churches have come together to create this unique and complimentary interfaith nativity exhibit with one simple hope in mind: to provide a peaceful place for individuals and families to reflect upon Christ’s sacred birth as they usher in the Christmas season. Visit 3700 West Reservoir Boulevard Peoria, IL December 2-5. Hours vary and admission is free. More info: www.communityfestivalofnativities.com
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A Message from the Reopening Team
Please continue to mask at all times at FCC. Keep apprised of ongoing, updated, and on-the-horizon policies related to COVID-19 safety by reading the Friday Email and Messenger regularly. We are continuing the safety measures outlined in the previous Messenger and recent Friday Emails and we continue to monitor the situation. Learn more about COVID-19 numbers anytime at https://health.mcleancountyil.gov/708/CORONAVIRUS-COVID-19
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Youth News
The November 21 Youth Game Night was
well-attended! Games were played and
snacks were eaten, and a great time was
had by all!
Upcoming:
Youth Christmas Scavenger Hunt Sunday, December 12, starting at 4:00 p.m. at Kosier home (204 Beacon Cir., Bloomington), and ending at the Cox’s home (59 Fedor Cir., Bloomington) at 6:15 p.m. For Grades K-12. We will go in teams to do the Scavenger Hunt, and finish with food at the Coxes! Please R.S.V.P. on the Facebook page by December 8th!
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Sunday Mornings at FCC
For Youth/Children
Worship & Wonder
Room 128
New Sunday School Rooms
Youth 109
Children 129
Please mask at all times!
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Get Involved!
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Tech Team Volunteers Are Needed It is more than just advancing slides! The tech team is blessed to be used by God to bring the worship experience to a broad audience. Now that we have returned to in-person worship, we would like to add volunteers! There are opportunities to run the MediaShout presentation, work the sound board, or work the cameras. Interested? Contact Brian Metz at medzy65@gmail.com or James Nussbaum at masterbimmertech@gmail.com.
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A Bottled Water Replenishment Volunteer is Needed In order to have water on-hand for purchase, FCC needs a person to purchase the bottled water and stock the Fellowship Hall refrigerator regularly. Please contact the office for more information about the task and how to be reimbursed for the purchase.
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FCC Ministry Priorities and News
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Spiritual Growth/
Small Groups
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Small Groups — Build on what we’ve learned and do more of these
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Brown Bag Bible Bunch On December 1, the group will begin “The Journey,” an Advent Study that many small groups are doing this year. The group meets at noon on Wednesdays, and you can join in-person in the church’s upstairs (main) Conference Room or online by way of Zoom. If you would like to join by Zoom, please email Hank for the link. If you want to join in-person, you are welcome to simply come to the church. Either way, the group is open to everyone. Contact Hank for further information.
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Property Use – Help our property become a resource to the community and an entry point
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Groups using the building include The Boys & Girls Club, Fibers of Love, Bridge, Narcotics Anonymous, Seedling Theatre, and at least one small group.
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Reach Out/
Meet the Neighbors
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Reach Out/Meet the Neighbors — take a deeper dive into who God has given us to love in this area – and how our lives might intersect
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Collection for Parkside Elementary Every weekend hundreds of Bloomington-Normal children go home on Friday afternoons to empty cupboards at home. The office staff and social worker at each school try to help meet the needs of these families but operate with limited resources. Various area churches help support these efforts with food drives. FCC has begun partnering with Parkside Elementary in Normal in collecting specific items that will be given to the families in need. The list for November items includes disposable child size masks, fruit cups, peanut butter and jelly, single serve mac & cheese, nutrition bars, single serve peanut butter or Nutella, Pop Tarts, single serve cereal or oatmeal, Chef Boyardee single serve meals, Cuties, single serve snacks like chips, cookies, crackers, trail mix, fruit snacks, etc. Please donate as you are able. A table for donations is in the Centrum.
Collection for Bent School For those times "accidents happen," needed are new underwear for both girls and boys in youth sizes from 5 to 14, as well as sweatpants, jeans, regular long pants, and shorts (in warmer weather) for both girls and boys. Tops that match are also helpful. Please see more details in the Friday Email. Find a bin in the Centrum near the Info Desk for donations.
Compassion Closet, run by Carle BroMenn, makes sure individuals can leave the hospital with dignity when their own clothes have been discarded. FCC, led by Vicki Hall, is collecting new comfy clothing for those patients. A tub is available near the Info Desk for donations. Note this will be an ongoing ministry. Items need to be new. The greatest need is for larger sizes (see chart below).
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Brrrr....
The Polycarps small group has organized a “scarf/mitten/glove/hat tree” drive for the month of November, beginning November 7. Please donate new items for children grades K-12. There will be an artificial Christmas tree in the Centrum (look for this sign!) where you can learn more and where donations can be left. The donations will go to children in need at our local schools. The drive will continue through December 5.
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Thank You!
- Thank you so much for your donations to the clothing closet at Bent School. They have truly been a blessing and very much appreciated! --Bent School and Nurse Sue
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We would like to thank the congregation for the many expressions of support during Clergy Appreciation Month. There were many, many expressions and each one is deeply appreciated. We are blessed to serve a caring and supportive congregation. --Holly Irvin and Hank Anderson
- Thank you for supporting the GFPD! Tee It Up! For The GFPD 2021 raised an astounding total of over $165,000! Please save the date for next year May 19-20, 2022 --With sincerest gratitude, The Chapman Family
- Thanks so much for your thoughtfulness. We appreciated all the cards, thoughts, and prayers during our recent bout and self-isolation period. We are certain they hastened our recovery and kept us sane during isolation. --Ron & Nancy Gramley
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A Great Christmas Gift Idea...
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Worship at FCC is Live Streamed
We live stream Sunday Worship at 9:00 a.m. on Facebook and on our website, whether we are meeting in person or not. On our website, www.blmfcc.org, click "Watch Now" and find the service at the top of listed services, or scroll down the homepage and find the broadcast there.
You can also watch older broadcasts on the "Watch Now" page. If you use Facebook, go to our page and see the broadcast start a few minutes before 9:00 a.m.
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Serving Schedule
We publish weekly serving schedules in the Friday Email.
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Contact Us
Transitional Interim Minister:
Hank Anderson
- 309-863-5126
- handerson@blmfcc.org
Minister Emeritus: John Trefzger
Dir. Music & Youth Ministries:
Holly Irvin
Organ/Piano: Lou Ann Fillingham
One and All Music Coordinator:
Bill West
Communications Coordinator:
Jenifer Petri
Financial Secretary:
Deborah Stumm
Child Care Coordinator: Trish Logan
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Witness of the Faithful
November 7: $12,287.77
November 14: $6,855
November 21: $16,020
November 28: $3,659
Board Minutes and Financial Reports are available on request. Please contact Deborah Stumm at dstumm@blmfcc.org or call the church office.
Prayer Concerns
Awaiting Tests: Deb Underhill
Treatment:
- Frank Lipscomb
- John Schultz
Aftercare:
- Bill Chaney
- Chuck Smalley
- Dick Wey
- Mary Smart
Hospice:
- Marilyn Kopp
- Dorothy Sallee
Military:
- Sean Montoya (Marilyn Cope's grandson/Air Force, Belgium)
- Harley Scott (Phillis niece/Navy, VA)
Wedding: Katie Pugh and Austin Brinkman were married at FCC on November 13. Katie’s parents are Tom and Michele Pugh and her grandmother is Pat Manahan.
Sympathy to:
- family and friends of Rita Bell on her November 2 death
- family and friends of Hazel Kuhn on her November 17 death
- Peggy Penn and family and friends on the November 25 death of her son, Michael Matlock, of CA
Please be in prayer for essential and emergency workers, of which our congregation has many.
Reminder: Please let the church office know (email dstumm@blmfcc.org) if there’s someone who needs a call or is in the hospital. We are not always able to find out who is in the hospital directly from the hospital.
Note a prayer concerns list is found as a linked document in each Friday Email so you can always have a fresh list.
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Deadlines for Publications
Please follow these deadlines for publications to ensure that your item is included!
The Messenger (mailed the last Wednesday of the month with some exceptions)
Deadline Friday at noon before mailing date as a general rule (verify with church calendar on FCC website or in previous issue of The Messenger)
Upcoming Messengers:
- December 24 deadline for December 29 mailing
- January 21 for January 26 mailing
Beyond the Bricks (mailed two weeks after the Messenger, on Wednesday)
Deadline Sunday the week of mailing
Friday Email
Deadline Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.
Announcements/Prayer Concerns
Deadline Thursday noon, unless it is an emergent prayer concern
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Office Phone 309-829-9327 Fax 309 829-2865
Address 401 W. Jefferson St. Bloomington, IL 61701
Hours The church office is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please call ahead if you plan to visit the office.
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Poinsettias If you would like to provide a poinsettia for the sanctuary during Advent, please provide the following information to the church office, or place this form in the offering basket, with $14.
Name: ________________________________________
Given in memory of or in honor of (circle choice):
______________________________________________
___ In lieu of a poinsettia, I would like my donation to be given to the Christmas offering
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