January
January 3: Epiphany
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Office Hours (suspended during this time of social distancing) are listed at the bottom of each Messenger issue.
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FCC Ministry Priorities and News
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Reach Out/Meet the Neighbors |
Meet the Neighbors — Beginning with existing relationships, take a deeper dive into who God has given us to love in this area – and how our lives might intersect
Gift bags for Seniors were delivered on November 27 to many of our Senior members. On Friday, December 11, poinsettias were delivered to many members who have been homebound during the pandemic. I had help from teachers at the Regional Alternative School to deliver (they are so appreciative of our partnership that they wanted to help). Also, a friend of mine saw my plea for drivers on Facebook and volunteered. I think this shows that we care about our community and folks see that.
Sweatshirts were purchased for the Regional Alternative School with the budgeted money we would have used for their conference dinner. Also, many hats, gloves, and Chapstick were delivered.
We will continue to collect for Bent School after the new year when we know more about the school situation.
We had a family referred to us that needed some help for Christmas, and they were very appreciative for what we were able to do.
Sincerely,
Julie Robinson 309-838-4335
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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 This weekly study group is taking a break while COVID-19 numbers are high in the area. When it resumes, the group meets Wednesdays from noon to 1:00 p.m. The topic is the scripture for the upcoming Sunday.
Small Groups Small groups continue to offer us another way to connect with one another. If you are interested in joining a group, contact Bill Robitske at bill.robitske.jr@gmail.com.
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Property Use – Help our property become a resource to the community and an entry point
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The Boys & Girls Club continues to use our building for their after school program when COVID restrictions allow. |
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Youth News
The 2021 Mid-Winter Retreat is being planned, and you can sign up now! CCIW Youth in grades 6 through 12 are invited to join us virtually for Midwinter 2021. Our annual event will be held online in order to promote health and safety during our ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Registration is free! However, you must register in order to attend!
Our theme will be “In Person” exploring the many ways in which we can be present through God, even while connecting distantly and through virtual means.
Register by December 31, 2020, to receive a free retreat packet in the mail including a Midwinter 2021 booklet, sticker, and pins (1 per youth participant; while quantities last). Midwinter will take place on Saturday January 16, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. CST. Internet connection and Zoom platform required.
We look forward to seeing you at Midwinter in January! Email questions or inquiries regarding Midwinter to Pastor Eli – eli@cciwdisciples.org
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A long obedience in the same direction…
I learned recently that it’s a tradition in some countries to open the doors at midnight on New Year’s Eve. The purpose is to allow the old year to get out, and welcome in the new year. One person commenting on this tradition said that this year we need to open our doors extra wide, to rid ourselves of 2020 and fill ourselves with 2021. I don’t think many of us will be sad to see 2020 go.
Do you remember what you were doing a year ago? We were on the threshold of 2020, and we were looking with hopeful anticipation to a new year. Some of us had plans for 2020 and were eager to get started on those plans. How did that work out for you? 2020 proved to be nothing like any of us could have imagined.
We’ll say goodbye to 2020 in just a couple of days, and many of us will add “good riddance.” We keep telling ourselves that 2021 can’t be any worse, but what will 2021 hold for us?
Unfortunately, 2021 doesn’t look like it will begin well. The predictions are that the next couple of months will see continued surges in the incidents of, and deaths from, COVID-19. It looks like this will be a long, difficult winter for us. And now a variant of the coronavirus has been discovered in several countries. This variant is more easily transmitted, which will lead to even more cases of the disease. We can hope and pray that the vaccine will be effective and will help us get this pandemic under control.
As we start to make progress against the coronavirus, we won’t return to a pre-COVID world. Many of the changes brought about by the pandemic will become part of a “new” normal. We’ve proven to ourselves that working from home is as productive and efficient as working in an office. Shopping over the internet is less germy than shopping in a store. And sometimes a Zoom meeting can be better than an in-person meeting. COVID-19 has affected all of us in big and small ways.
I wonder what this will mean for the church. Assuming the vaccine becomes widely available and effective, what will church look like when we resume in-person worship? I am convinced that church attendance will be significantly below what it was pre-COVID. How long will it take for the church to return to pre-COVID attendance numbers? Six months? A year? Never?
Another change for the church will be an increased emphasis on electronic worship via Facebook, YouTube, the website, or some other means. Virtual worship is here to stay, and some people have found that they prefer that over worshipping in person. In the future, I believe the church will direct more of its resources to presenting a high-quality virtual worship experience.
Because of lower in-person attendance and an increased emphasis on virtual worship, the church will have to enhance its efforts to make connections between individuals. The pandemic has fostered feelings of isolation and loneliness. The church needs to be reaching out to its members and friends, much like the church did when Julie Robinson organized the delivery of goody bags to older members.
Small groups will play an even more important role in connecting people. I belong to a small group that meets bi-weekly via the internet. We have a good time together, and I’ve come to know the people in my small group more personally than I otherwise would have. We have several groups like that at church. When the lock-down lifts and we’re able to be together in person, I hope we make a push toward including more people in small groups.
The pandemic has changed all of us, and it’s changed the church. I’ve outlined here some of the changes I see resulting from the coronavirus. How do you think we will change because of COVID-19?
Jim Warren
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Green Team Survey
Dear First Christian Church Family,
On behalf of First Christian Church, I have participated in a new Bloomington/Normal “Green Team” made up of members of 5-10 faith communities in Blo/No. Over the past year and a half, the team has discussed how faith/religion informs our views about creation care, the environment, and climate change. If anyone would like to join me on the Green Team, you are welcome. Contact Holly Irvin at hirvin@blmfcc.org.
Jim and I would like to invite you to participate in a religion, nature, and climate survey, The purpose is to help the Green Team and faith leaders determine what religiously informed discussion or faith formation is appropriate for our congregation. The short online survey helps the Team determine how best to serve congregations in developing their creation care ministry.
If you are unable to access the online survey, a paper copy can be mailed. Contact Holly Irvin at hirvin@blmfcc.org or by calling the church office.
Thank you for considering your participation!
Holly Irvin
Jim Warren
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Thank You Notes and Christmas Cards Received
The following wrote thank yous and/or Christmas cards to the church: Richard Malone, Leonard and Charlene Maupin, Pat Manahan, Dave and Brenda Phillis, Pregnancy Resource Center, Charles Ridenour, Mickey Armstrong, Glenn and Betty Metz, Jim and Deb Underhill, Peggy Gregg, Helen Fry, Frank and Lois Lipscomb, Dick and Marilyn Kuster, Gene and Joanne Ressler, Doris Thompson, Ron and Sharron Wright, Tom and Barb Dixon, Rita Fisher, Central Supply Company, Boys and Girls Club, Mary Ellen Gottselig, Ty Whitmer, and Jean Snyder.
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FCC Swag!
T-Shirts for Adults, Children, and Youth
FCC t-shirts have been designed and you can order yours now! There are three styles: adult, youth, and FCC kids. Click Here to see details and order on our website.
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Red FCC grocery bags are available for purchase for $5 for your use and for ministry projects. Contact Jen Petri at info@blmfcc.org to purchase a bag. |
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Red Cross Blood Drives
Please mark your calendars for blood drives we are hosting in the future. More information will follow about locations for each of these 2021 drives:
- April 20
- July 9
- October 19
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Worship at FCC is Live Streamed
While in-person worship continues to be suspended, we live stream Sunday Worship at 9:00 a.m. on Facebook and on our website. On our website, scroll down to the bottom of the homepage and see that the current or most recent broadcast is toward the top of the selections there. You can also watch older broadcasts. If you use Facebook, just go to our Facebook Page and see the broadcast start a few minutes before 9:00 a.m.
Are you in need of an audio recording on a CD? If so, contact Jen Petri at info@blmfcc.org. If you need a CD player, the church has a few extra and you may have one at no cost. Just email Holly Irvin at hirvin@blmfcc.org.
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Congratulations!
We wish all the best to one of our Drexler Singers, Moises Garcia, who has graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University, and has moved away to begin a new job. We are so grateful for your service to First Christian Church, Moises! Best wishes on all your future endeavors!
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Serving Schedule
We publish serving schedules in the Friday Email/FCC Connected when we are worshipping in person.
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Tech Team Volunteers Needed
When we once-again return to in-person worship, we could use volunteers! We typically have a three-person crew: a person who runs the computer PowerPoint presentation, another who works the sound board, and a third (and sometimes fourth) working the cameras. Interested? Contact Brian Metz at medzy65@gmail.com or James Nussbaum at masterbimmertech@gmail.com.
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Contact Us
Senior Pastor: James Warren
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
Office Receptionist: Maggie Burton
Financial Secretary:
Deborah Stumm
Child Care Coordinator: Trish Logan
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Witness of the Faithful
Note: Please mail any remaining 2020 contributions to FCC soon so they are postmarked by December 31, 2020.
Thank you!
November 29: $8,003.70
December 6: $33,142.18
December 13: $4,164.70
December 20: $9,743.30
December 27: $8,975.70
Prayer Concerns
Carle BroMenn:
- Betty Brandt
- Dorothy Sallee
Treatment: Jim Frizzell
COVID-19:
- Rob Blessing
- Rose Blessing
- Niola Daily
- Donnie Engel
- Chuck Smalley (home health care)
- Suzanne Summers
Aftercare:
- Helen Joyce Barclay (Martin Health Center)
- Penny Bland
- Carrie Chapman
- Maddie Chapman
- Gunner Cox
- Eddie Dill
- Kelly Geigner
- Susan Hinrichsen
- Duke Kopp
- Phyllis L. Miller (Heritage, Blm. Rehab)
- Brennon Reed
- Mary Smart
- Robin Wilt
Hospice: Marilyn Kopp
Military:
- Sean Montoya (Air Force, Belgium)
- Harley Scott (Phillis niece/Navy, VA)
Sympathy to:
- Dorthy Neal and family on the November 7 death of her sister, Ada Peasley
- Paula (Stan) Robb, Penny (Kenny) Bland, Amy (Dan) and Reed Naughton and family on the November 25 death of their mother/grandmother/great-grandmother, Velma “Opal” Foust
- the family and friends of Lois Mills on her December 1 death
- the family and friends of Bettie Schultz on her December 8 death
BIRTH: Helen Joyce Barclay has a new great-granddaughter. Jacob & Marcy Stukenberg are the parents of Audrey Hope Stukenberg, who was born November 21.
Please be in prayer for essential and emergency workers, of which our congregation has many.
Reminder: Please let the church office know if there’s someone who needs a call or is in the hospital. Email office@blmfcc.org.
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Hospital Patient Visitation Restrictions
Specific visitor restrictions took effect recently at Carle BroMenn and Carle Eureka. Other area hospitals have similar restrictions. In general, no visitors will be permitted with limited exceptions (contact hospital for specifics). No outside faith leaders are allowed to visit general inpatients, regardless of unit. If a faith leader is visiting an end of life patient, they would be considered one of the two support people allowed at the bedside at a time and would be allowed to enter.
All support persons must be over 18 (except in end of life situations or if the support person is a patient’s parent). All support persons must wear required PPE and will be provided a sticker.
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Deadlines for Publications
Please follow these deadlines for publications to ensure that your item is included!
The Messenger (mailed 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:
- January 22 deadline for January 27 mailing
- February 19 deadline for February 24 mailing
Beyond the Bricks (mailed two weeks after the Messenger, on Wednesday)
Deadline Sunday the week of mailing
FCC Connected/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 office is currently closed every day out of caution during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff members are working from home as needed. Normally, the office is open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. The office closes for lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m. The best times to contact the church office are while Maggie is there, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
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