the karusograph a ministry of · february 8th at 6:30pm fcc family life center please bring your...
TRANSCRIPT
The Karusograph
Volume 58 February 2016 Issue 2Volume 58 February 2016 Issue 2Volume 58 February 2016 Issue 2Volume 58 February 2016 Issue 2
clintonfcc.comclintonfcc.comclintonfcc.comclintonfcc.com
A ministry of
Take a look at what ’s happening at FCC in February:
IF: Clinton GatheringIF: Clinton GatheringIF: Clinton GatheringIF: Clinton Gathering In Clinton, on February 5th & 6th, we are coming together with women all over the world to see what could happen IF we all lived like Jesus. We’re building a simple + pure experience in Clinton, with the goal of seeing women gathered, equipped and unleashed to live out God’s calling on their lives. Do you picture yourself being a part of this 2 day simulcast? We hope so!! Please call Mandi in the church office for more details or to register.
Wild Game Potluck Feast
February 8th at 6:30pm
FCC Family Life Center
Please bring your favorite wild game dish to share. If you can’t bring a wild game dish, please bring a side dish or dessert. We hope you will join us for this fun event! If you have any questions, please contact the church office.
Journey to Easter Prayer
Gathering
Please join us for an all church prayer night to kick off the Easter season. This 45 minute prayer gathering will begin at 5:30pm in the sanctuary on February 10th. You won’t want to miss it!
TheGospelAccordingtoGreg GregTaylor
We are smack dab in the middle of winter – the cold, the snow and the wind! Sometimes it is easy to get discouraged and complacent when the weather outside is frightful. With that in mind, let me share with you several opportunities we have to shake the winter blues and connect with others in the name of Christ:
• FantheFlameIX – Sunday, January 31 @ 5:30pm (pre-concert at 5pm) Featuring Carrollton and the Prodigal Worship band from LCU (Samuel’s group), why not spend the last night of January worshipping and praising in FCC’s sanctuary? Tickets are just $10, all seats are general admission and all money raised will support FCA!
• IFGathering – Friday and Saturday, February 5 & 6 Ladies – don’t miss this great opportunity to grow in your faith with other women! ALL are welcome! See Mandi Ries, Trina Brucker or Leanne Sosaman for more info.
• WildGamePotluck – Monday, February 8 @ 6:30pm Raccoon! Deer! Goose! Duck! Elk! Walleye! YUM! Join us for the 10th annual Wild Game Feed – bring a dish to pass!
• EasterSeasonPrayerKick-off – Wednesday, February 10 @ 5:30pm. Whynotstartthe6½weeksoftheEasterseasonoff
rightbyjoiningusfora45minuteprayergatheringinthe
Sanctuary?
• MOBILEFoodPantry–SaturdayFebruary20
Helpusgiveawayatruck-loadoffoodfromtheEasternIllinois
FoodBank–weneedanarmyofvolunteersfrom9amtonoon
onthe20th!
WearecurrentlyinthemidstofasermonseriesonCurrentIssuesand
BiblicalAnswersthatwilltakeusthroughthemonthofFebruary.
AmongtheissuesstudiedonSundaymorningswillbe:Politics,
Abortion,Immigration,Homelessness/Poverty,Sports,Marriage,
EducationandSocialMedia.Iwouldlovetoheartestimonies
TheGospelAccordingtoGreg
Continued
relatedtoanyoftheseissuesandyourlifeasabeliever!Thenin
March,wewilllookatthewordsofJesusatCalvary–fourweeks
lookingat“CrossWords.”Makethemostoftheseopportunities.Otherdatestokeeponthecalendaraswemovetowardspring:
• SaturdayMarch12–PancakeandSausageBreakfast
Fundraiser
• SundayMarch27–EasterSunday
• April8-10–SpiritualDisciplinesretreatatLittleGalilee
• April23–IntentionalChurchConferenceinDecatur
• May21-5Ktoraise5KraceatFCC
• June6-10–VBS
Haveagreatday–seeyouSundayatFCC!GT
Financial Secretary Position
The personnel committee is seeking qualified applicants for a part-time (approximately 20
hours week) financial secretary. Ideal candidates should have strong PC skills, and be task oriented with attention to detail. For applications and a full job description please stop in the office. If you have questions you can contact John Rodgers, chairman of the personnel committee.
Our Proverbs 31 ministry is in need of new leaders. Holly Goldsmith, Dana Karcz & Teri Schaefer have been doing the planning & preparation for cooking for over 10 years and are ready to move on to other things. Proverbs 31 cooks 6 times a year, preparing meals for the freezer, to individuals or families that are in need due to an illness, hospital stay, or loss. When someone needs a meal or 2, the food just needs to be warned up & a delicious meal is ready to eat. Maybe your small group, Sunday school class, or a few individuals would be willing to take over the planning & implementation of this ministry. Please contact Greg Taylor or Karen Rice, 935-3139, if you might be interested in helping with this ministry
Kent’sCorner
KentHickerson
We would love to have you join others from our church as they travel to the Christian Village in Lincoln, IL. We fold laundry, clean tables or just talk with the many residents who reside at the Christian Village. We will leave at 8:30 am on Thursday, February 18th & return between 2:30 - 3 pm.
“An excellent way to size up a religion”, writes Dr. Kenneth Scott, “is to look at it’s response toward human suffering and need.”
The Buddist says of suffering, “Forget it. These problems exist only in your mind. Pay no attention to them.”
The Hindu says, “You deserve it. It’s what’s coming to you. You should try harder in the next reincarnation.”
The Muslim says, “It’s Allah’s will. Suffering is inevitable. Don’t resist it.”
The Christian response, Scott rightly observes, has to be different. The Christian says, “God loves you and I do too. Let me do what I can to help you.” He does this remembering the words of His Lord: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” -Matthew 25:40
As caring communities, we have a very specific responsibility to serve others. Paul tells the Christians scattered throughout Galatia that they were not to become “weary of doing good”, but rather “as you have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers” - Galatians 6:9-10
RELOAD
Men of All Ages: On February 2nd and 16th, the men’s ministry group, Reload, will meet from 6am – 7am at the Cable Building. Please come and bring a friend! Any questions, contact Adam Brucker.
This n That
February Shut - In Birthdays
1st Dorene Smith 91 years 817 E Johnson St Clinton, IL 61727
19th Norma Reilly 95 years Manor Ct/Liberty Village 1 Park Lane
Send a card to help celebrate their birthdays or send a note to others on the nursing home list. You will make their day!
12th Mildred Horn 92 years 615 N Quincy St Clinton, IL 61727
14th Margaret Long 92 years 1043 Kleeman Dr
Clinton, IL 61727
20th Faye Ogg 91 years 700 N Madison, Apt 1B
Clinton, IL 61727
26th Fayetta Isaac 96 years Manor Ct/Liberty Village 1 Park Lane Clinton, IL 61727
We rejoice with & congratulate:
Gayle & Jhon Barnes, 22 Beech Dr , Clinton, IL, on the bir th of their son, Kolton Gail Barnes, born January 5th, 2016. Proud grandparents are Karen & Bob Rice.
Jennifer and Jeffrey Moore, 613 N Elizabeth, Clinton, IL, on the birth of their son, Mason Jeffrey Moore, born January 4th, 2016. Proud grandparents are Marvin and Nancy Hubbell
“Donotbeanxiousaboutanything,butineverything,byprayerandpetition,
withthanksgiving,presentyourrequeststoGod.”Philippians4:6
Manor Court/Liberty Village 1 Park Lane, Clinton, IL 61727
Theda Adams Donna Arnold Thomas E. Bray Mildred Burns Betty Burris
Larry Chapman Helen Dorrell Delbert Fields Nancy Hubbell Fayetta Isaac Marie Jackson Gene Jones Betty Kyle Dave Lewis Henry Martin Ray Martin
Wilma Mestinsek David Mosley Lura Murphy
Margaret Murphy Dora Neal Al Perring Don Polen Dena Polen Helen Polley Norma Reilly Louise Smith
Georgia Sobolewski Virginia Stein Kathy Strange Treva Torbert Juanita Turney
Shirley Utterback Allan Webb
Aspen Ridge Care Center
2530 N. Monroe, Decatur, IL 62526
Shirley Thompson
Hawthorne Inn/Liberty Village (Supportive Living)
1 Park Lane, Clinton, IL 61727
Good Samaritan 20705 W 151st St. Room 106
Olathe, KS 66061
June Cheatham
Evenglow Lodge
215 E Washington
Pontiac, IL 61764
Bob Adcock
Brookdale North Phoenix
4050 E Bluefield Ave.
Room 122
Phoenix, AZ 85032
Colleen Stephens
Woodside at Friendship Village 1390 N Drake Rd
Kalamazoo, MI 49006
Dody Thomason
members&relativesofthoseatFirstChristianChurch,Clinton
Updated01-25-16
Mary Burton Audrey Fields
Norma Hollibaugh Ike Leisner
Mildred Meeks
Helen Shelton Ernest Thorp Helen Thorp
Dorothy Yedtman
YoungatHeart
DavidBuck,Coordinator
“Learn to enjoy life more. Relax, remembering God is with you. I cra ed you
with enormous capacity to know Me and enjoy My presence. When people
wear sour faces and walk through their lives with resigned rigidity, I am
displeased. When you walk through the day with childlike delight, savoring
every blessing, you proclaim your trust in Me, your ever present Shepherd,
the more you can enjoy life. Glorify Me through your pleasure in Me. Thus
you proclaim My presence to the watching world.” Taken from Jesus Calling
by Sarah Young. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life
for the sheep.” John 10:11 KJV
The programs are kind of up in the air the next couple of months. We
certainly had a good response to the Hymn Sing on January 17th. We really
enjoyed the event and plan on doing one again next year. March 2nd, we will
have our regular potluck and program. We’ll try to line up some special
programs for you. “God’s fingers can touch nothing but to mold it into
loveliness.” - George MacDonald
Our first trip of the year is to Starved Rock State Park Dinner Theater for the
show, “Love Songs” on February 23rd. We will be leaving at 8:30am. . We
will have more wonderful trips as the year goes on so keep your calendar
open! “You are as young as you feel a er trying to prove it.” - Lou Erickson
When problems arise, deal with it an unemo<onal, ra<onal way. Refuse to
give it anymore power than it deserves. Imagine that problem to be a drop
of rain hi=ng your windshield. Turn your wipers on, and watch it disappear!
“When God is involved, anything can happen….be open. Stay that way. God
has a beau<ful way of bringing good vibra<ons out of broken chords.” -
Charles Swindoll
Area Men’s Fellowship
When: Tuesday, February 2nd at 7pm
Where: Heyworth Chr istian Church
Who: Jer ry Dusenber ry, HCC Senior Minister
Menu: Ham loaf, scalloped potatoes, peas and carrots, slaw, rolls, and dessert
Next Steps Update
NEXT STEPS SET TO TAKE IT’S “NEXT STEPS”
These continue to be exciting times at First Christian Church!! God is good and we are blessed.
In May of 2013 our church stepped out in faith and launched our “Next Steps” program. Next Steps is a four step plan to renovate and upgrade our building to better protect our children, attract new people to our church and to enhance our ministries. The stepped approach allows us the opportunity to continue our ministries while the renovations take place, and also it will allow us to complete the work debt free and we will complete each step as we have the funds available.
To God’s glory, and with your faithful over and above giving, we were able to complete, this past year, the five hundred thousand dollar renovation of the First Kids and Edge spaces. This is ministry space for our elementary and junior high youth. When this renovation was complete, the Next Steps fund was depleted and the leadership prayed for His blessings and wisdom on how to proceed. Malachi 3:10 states …Test me in this, “says the Lord Almighty, “and
see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much
blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
We are excited to announce that God has thrown open the floodgates of heaven in a very obvious and tangible way! Our church, along with six other not-for-profit organizations, have been blessed with gifts from the Kenneth Wayne Smith estate. Mr. Smith was a retired Amtrak engineer who also had a strong interest in farming and passed away April 25, 2015. Our portion of his estate totals $2.2 million and we had no knowledge of being named as a beneficiary in his will, until notified by the attorney last summer. Even then we didn’t know the amount that we would receive. Mr. Smith attended our church for a period of time in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, and for a long period of time since, has had no contact with our body of believers.
The leadership is committed to continue to pray about being the best stewards of this gift and being transparent with the congregation on its use. In June of 2013, soon after the launch of Next Steps, the leadership voted to deposit all undesignated estate and memorial gifts into the Next Steps fund with 10% of
any gift over $1,000.00 going to missions. This was consistent with past uses
Next Steps Update cont.
Spiritual Disciplines
April 8-10
At Little Galilee Christian Camp
Come and join us for a weekend of spiritual growth as we learn how to make time in our lives to get silent before God using spiritual disciplines to guide us. This retreat is open to
both men and women
*brochures are available at the information desk or church office
of estate and memorial gifts and seemed appropriate considering the fundraising need. Our missions committee has started to pray about their $220,000.00 blessing and how it can effectively and prudently bless others. These funds are in addition to their budgeted MAP funds. The balance of the estate gift has been deposited in the Next Steps fund.
Currently, there is a Next Steps design development committee meeting is working with our architect to design the main floor adult education and office suite and the lower level pre-kindergarten suite. Along with the lower level kitchen remodel and new accessible toilet rooms, we hope to have construction complete on these areas by this fall. Conceptual drawings of the newly designed areas will be available for your viewing.
While the intent and purpose of Next Steps has not changed the scope of the project, it has expanded slightly beyond the original building master plan to include some necessary major building maintenance, and also to update and improve our twenty year old sanctuary technology to enhance our worship experience. The leadership has prioritized the projects and will complete only those that funds are available for. It is important to stress that none of this estate gift is being deposited into the general fund and your continued faithful giving is very important to maintaining our ministries. Also, this estate gift will not complete the Next Steps renovations. Your prayerful over and above giving to Next Steps will be necessary to complete the fourth and final step.
We close by praising God for His faithfulness! 2 Corinthians 9:8 states, And
God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having
all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Creating Space – Part 2
Last month we talked about creating space for God, specifically in the area of solitude and silence in the form of some kind of weekly, monthly or yearly retreats. If you’re interested in this, I would encourage you to look into going to the next Spiritual Disciplines retreat at Little Galilee on April 8-10. If you’d like details, talk to me or call the church office. This month we tackle the idea of creating space in our everyday lives for Jesus and for what he has for us. Let’s be honest with ourselves for a second and admit that we are all busy. We get pulled in twenty different directions every day: by our bodies, our thoughts, our feelings, our families, our hobbies, our emergencies, our desires, our obligations, our work, our friends and our responsibilities. The only way to truly rest in the peace of God is to make space for Him. This means sacrifice. Matthew 10:39 says, “Whoever
finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find
it.” We must choose to give up things that may be important to us for the sake of the Kingdom of God here on earth, and more specifically for the sake of our own relationship with our creator and King. In these moments of sacrifice, we find true life. I dare you to believe this truth. Jesus says similar things in Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24, Luke 17:33, John 12:25 and Matthew 16:26. Anything Jesus says so often we should take to heart and relentlessly pursue living out of its truth. It is difficult, but it is simple. Where does your life lay? Is your worth and value found in the things you do, the roles you play and the relationships you have? Or is it in the One who died for you? You and I may say this is true, that Jesus is Lord of our lives… but do our daily lives reflect this? Are we making our relationship with Jesus the only thing that matters? I promise… no, Jesus promises that if you do, all of these things will be added to you as well (Matthew 6:33), and in the mystery of the Gospel, all of our busyness, responsibilities and relationships become subject to the gracious, loving, and wise rule and reign of King Jesus where they find true significance, value and life.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine,
neither can you, unless you abide in me. – John 15:4 (ESV) –
Worship
Samuel Green
We are now in the middle of the spring semester and there is A LOT
happening! Prepara<ons for 2016 mission trips are now underway,
and along with that are several things happening in both JHM and
HSM. February 7th is Super Bowl Sunday which means we will have
several different Super Bowl par<es put on by our small
groups. Contact your student's small group leader to get a loca�on and
�me!
Below is specific informa<on to take note of for each student ministry.
JH Ministry
February 14 | Sign ups begin for CIY Believe. Parents...if your student
signs up by March 6 the cost is $40. A er March 6th it goes up to $80.
We are doing a new sponsorship ini<a<ve called "Take A Stake" that
allows us to keep the cost of this awesome mid-year trip as cheap as
possible. This is also "Friend Sunday!" If we get at least 25 students to
join us at JHM at10:45am, I will be doing something crazy for the
students! Not sure exactly what that is...LOL, kinda nervous saying
that, but hey!...let's do it! "Friend Sunday" it is!
February 21 | What JH student doesn't like pizza? Oh wait...I mean
pizza for breakfast. Yep! We will be having pizza during JHM. Come join
us at 10:45a.m. in The Cable Building!
February 28 | No JHM, but JHM Sunday School Classes and Small
Groups will be having a Small Group XP. Contact your
student's Sunday School teacher or Small Group leader to get details.
TheDunkin’Pick-Me-UpWithCody CodyMonkman
Junior High
JHM meets on Sunday in the cable building from 10:45am - 11:45am
JH Sunday School meets from 9:30am - 10:30am in the Cable Building JH Community Groups meet on Sundays from 5:30pm - 7pm in The Edge CIY Believe is Apr il 1st & 2nd. Mark your calendars for these dates! Fan the Flame is Jan 31st. Students may attend for free with their small group. Please meet at the Cable Building at 4:30pm to get a ticket Mission trip sign up deadline is January 31st. If you have questions, see Cody.
High School
HS Winter Retreat will be Feb 26th - 28th. Sign ups are going on now. Students must sign up through the Reveal website. Deadline to sign up is Jan 31st. HS Reveal meets on Sundays from 5:30pm - 7pm in the Cable Building. Fan the Flame is Jan 31st. Students may attend for free with their small group. Please meet at the Cable Building at 4:30pm to get a ticket. Mission Trip sign up deadline is January 31st. If you have questions, see Cody.
Visit www.revealstumin.com to stay up-to-date on student events.
HS Ministry
February 19 | "That Friday Night Thing" from 7pm-10pm in the Cable
Building. Pizza, snacks, movies, games and a co-ed dodgeball
tournament. Come join us! Invite a friend.
February 26-28 | Winter Retreat 2016. You don't want to miss this!
Cost is $90. Hope you can join us! Invite a friend to join you.
February 28 | There is no Sunday Night ac<vi<es for HSM since we will
be gone on Winter Retreat.
So much is happening. Brace yourself! BB King sang it so
perfectly..."Let the good <mes roll!"
With Dunkin' Love,
Cody
Callingall4thand5thgraders!
Ifyouholdtomyteaching,youarereallymydisciples.Thenyouwill
knowthetruthandthetruthwillsetyoufree.
John8:31-32
MarkyourcalendarsforFriday,March11th,becausewearegoing
toSUPERSTART!!!!!Belowisanoverviewofthisyear’stheme
anddirectionfortheweekend:
“Preteensarepartofagenerationwhereinformationismore
readilyavailablethananyothergenerationbeforethem.They
spendtheirdaysinclassroomslisteningtoteachersandpeers.
Theyspendtheirafternoonspracticingskillsthroughsportsand
academicclubs.Theyspendtheireveningswiththeirfamilies
aroundmealsandtelevisionsets.Andinterwoventhroughallof
thisisaconstantconnectiontotheInternetandsocialmedia.The
onlytimepreteensaren'tdownloadinginformationisthefew
shorthourswhenthey’reasleep.They’reessentiallybombarded
withdata,facts,opinionsandallothertypesofknowledge.Asa
result,theyKindthemselvesinthenever-endingprocessofsorting
throughwhattheybelievetoberightorwrong,realorunreal,
trueorfalse.AsChristianleadersofthisagegroupweknowhow
importantitisthattheyhearGod’struth.Hehascreatedan
amazinglifefortheminHim,andunderstandingHistruthshelps
keepusallinvolvedinthatamazinglife.FindingandowningGod’s
truthsinthemidstoftheworld’sfalseteachingcanbealotlike
solvingamystery.ThisyearatSuperStart!ourgoalistohelpyour
studentsunderstandthatalltruthcanbefoundinChrist.By
lookingatJohn8:31-32,we’llgivethemthetoolstheyneedtoKind
truthinHimandchallengethemtosharetruthwiththeworld
aroundthem.“
Continued
&
Herearesomeearlydetails: 1. The event is from FridayeveningtoSaturdayafternoon, in Bloomington at Eastview Christian Church. Tentatively, we will leave Clinton around 5pm Friday and return by 4pm Saturday. Students will need to eat supper before they come! A detailed agenda will be published as we get closer to the event date. 2. The cost for the event is $50payableinadvance. This includes the ticket to SuperStart! as well as breakfast and lunch on Saturday. *If your child wants a souvenir, please send additional money. 3. We are going to have a lock-in at the church Friday night after we get back from the evening activities so please send a sleeping bag and pillow. Also,beonthelookoutforsign-upstobringsnacksanddrinksforournightatthechurch. 4. Finally, and more importantly you will need to register before the event. There will be forms at the Welcome Center in the foyer, at check-In in First Kids and in the ofKice. The deadline to sign up is February21st,2016 so don’t wait! Forms and payment should be turned into the MainOf8ice or to Allison.
If you have questions or would like to volunteer to help with this event, please contract Allison by phone (309-531-8495) or email ([email protected]) Online registration is now open. Visit http://clintonfcc.com/youth/super-start to sign up today!
First Christia
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N. Jackson FIRST CHR
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CH, 10
0 N. Jackson St., Clinton, Illinois
6172
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100 N. Jackson St.
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dicals
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Send add
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The Karusograph First Christia
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Information About First Christian Church
Greg Taylor Minister of Preaching & Teaching
217-853-3196
J. Kent Hickerson Minister of Pastoral Care
217-871-3139
Adam Brucker Associate Minister [email protected]
309-532-2326
Cody Monkman Student Minister [email protected]
217-871-2003
Samuel Green Worship Minister & College Age
217-971-1010
Cassandra Benton Children’s Ministry Administrator [email protected]
217-201-9236
Allison Hitchings Children’s Ministry Program Director [email protected]
309-531-8495
Karen Rice Office Manager [email protected]
Mandi Ries Administrative Assistant [email protected]
Office Phone (217) 935-3139
Office Fax (217) 935-3130
Office E-mail [email protected]
Office Hours
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday