TUSCOLA CHRISTIAN Publication of First Christian Church, Tuscola, Illinois

Transcription

1 TUSCOLA CHRISTIAN Publication of First Christian Church, Tuscola, Illinois FAMILY FUN & MOVIE NIGHT!! Friday, August Ervin Park What is Family Fun & Movie Night? It s a night of fun designed for children and their families. There will be Tropical Snow, Cotton Candy, and Popcorn to enjoy along with games and inflatables for children of all ages. Plus, there will be a showing of a family friendly movie (Lego movie!). So bring blankets to sit on and invite your friends! Why are We Doing this? To provide families the opportunity to be together. What s the Time? On Friday, August 14th, the fun begins at 6:30 p.m. with the movie starting at 8:30 p.m. In Case of Rain? We will be doing the movie night at FCC in case of rain. Don t miss this wonderful opportunity to be together as a family before school begins! August 2015, Vol. 55 1

2 How often do you think about your toes? Seriously, how many seconds, minutes or hours do you spend out of your day contemplating that unusual little part of your body called a toe? If my guess is correct, probably not much time at all! Well, the other day I crushed my fragile middle toe (right foot). I accidentally dropped a 150 pound pointed steel object directly on top of that toe. Believe me that little, easily overlooked, part of the body got some immediate attention. It turned 5 shades of purple. I did not realize, until I was forced to, just how much affect that small toe was to my whole body. I am going to ask you to be an active partner in our vision process. Vision is critical to everything we do in life, even when we do not realize it. We hurry through life without really taking the time to contemplate what our vision for life really is. We do that individually, and we can do that corporately as a church family. And yet, our vision can and will determine every facet of how we live and do life! With that I am encouraged to report that our Vision Teams (Place, People, Passion) are beginning to hit the ground running. They are actively pursuing their various tasks, which will greatly aid us in determining our vision and mission as a church. You will be hearing more and more of this in the coming weeks. 1. Pray - for our vision team leaders, our staff, our elders, our ministry teams, our church as a whole. Pray that we find the direction that God wants to lead us to. 2. Share - your ideas & input. We will do some surveys and interviews along the way. We want and need your thoughts. This is your church family. And we can only accomplish the mission together. 3. Roll up your sleeves - and get ready to get to work accomplishing the mission that God lays out before us! Your Pastor & Friend, Bob August 2015, Vol. 55 2

3 AUGUST SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:15 am each Sunday morning (August 16-FIT Team duties) HERE S WHAT IS HAPPENING! Parenting: A Time to Reflect - parent classes continue through August 9 at 9:15 am. > Sunday, August 9 at 3:00 pm - JR HI & SR HI to Pleasant Meadows for the Worship Service. Bus leaves at 3 pm; service at 4 pm. Stopping at Frost Top for ice cream on the way back! > Friday, August 21 FALL KICKOFF (Dodgeball) JR HI from 6-7:30 pm; SR HI from 7-9 pm. > Sunday, August 23 at 11:45 pm - JR HI & SR HI students and adopters who mentor a student - get together for study & lunch. > Saturday, August 29 Sangamon River Valley Music Fest at Mahomet. Bus leaves at 9:30 am; Concert at 11:00 am. Free entry but bring money for food! JR HI & SR HI. > Sunday, August 30 YOUTH GROUP Orientation - Student Ministry. Both Junior & Senior High meet at 6:33 pm. If you have questions, contact Lori Reed, Remember in Prayer Mission Trip participants - Beth Romine, Tim & Mackenzie Seip, Lori & Amelia Reed, Amy, Kim & Tim Summerville, Colin Gilles, Josh Haste, Luke Johnson, Ray Kerkhoff, JJ Wells, and Andy Salmon Cathy Wallace & family in the loss of her mother, Carolyn Fleming Rex Davis, Jennifer Woodard s father Scott McCumber Jessica Martin Landon Shiu, grandson of Sharon Shiu Beth Carner, John s niece Eunice, John Carner s mother Richard Kagel, family relation of Amanda Rennert Boyd Hawkins Delbert Allen, Kim Martin s dad Eli Tillis, son of Eric & Emily Nancy, sister of Kay Calim, Richard Eiche s sister Wilma Keigley Dorothy Whittington Libby Graber Darlene Sylvester, Debbie Graber s sister-in-law Katie Burnett, friend of Lori Reed Dawn Skaggs Gary Hoel Heather Poole Bob Vukelich Missions We Support Abel Sairattanyu family (Thailand), Jack Swanson family (Chile), Les & Sarah Evans (Japan), Little Galilee Christian Camp, Christian Campus House EIU, Lincoln Christian University (LCU), Illini Christian Ministries, Stadia Church Planting, Roseland Good News Daycare (Ms. Pearl), Operation Christmas Child Please call or the church office to have someone added to the prayer list. NURSING HOME WORSHIP SERVICE Sunday, August 4:00 pm It is our privilege to provide the Sunday worship service for the residents of Tuscola Healthcare Center on Sunday, August 30th at 4:00 pm. You are invited to come and join with us. If you have any questions, contact the church office. August 2015, Vol. 55 3

4 ! But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father. (Luke 9:42b) In Luke 9 we learn about a damaged relationship between a boy and his father. We know that the relationship was in need of repair by the words of the boy s own father who shouted to Jesus from the crowd, Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. A spirit seizes him.it scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. (Luke 9:38-9). This situation must have been painful for the father who longed to talk with his own son, to instruct him, to observe him learn and grow, to hear his laugh, to celebrate the good times of life and help him through the challenging times. Yet none of this was possible due to the evil spirit that seized the boy over and over again. The boy was simply and unequivocally unable to be in a right relationship with his own dad. This being the case, the father went to the disciples of Jesus in hopes that they had a solution to the problem. The disciples, however, could not heal the boy. I m sure the father was terribly disappointed, but the father did not give up. No, the father knew about Jesus and sought Him out. Upon finding Jesus, the father called out to Jesus and was heard. Jesus then took action. He went to the boy, cured him, and gave him back to his father. It took Jesus and His authority over that which is evil to heal the boy and restore the boy to his father. Because of the work Jesus did, it was possible for the father and the son to be in a right relationship. I believe an important connection can be made here regarding what Jesus did for the boy and what Jesus does for you and me. Like the boy, we are in need of healing. When we go our own way and choose sin, then our relationship with our heavenly Father becomes damaged. Such a broken relationship is something we cannot repair. And no one else can repair it either. We cannot be in a right relationship with God through the work of our parents, our friend, our pastor, or anybody else. We can t buy it, and our good deeds fall short too. Rather, we must seek out Jesus who is the only one able to repair what has been damaged. The good news is Jesus has ALREADY done the work of healing us and restoring us to God. Jesus did what was needed by His death on the cross. The Bible says, we have now been justified by his blood. (Romans 5:9) In other words, Jesus has already brought us into a right relationship with God our Father. As a result, when we turn to Jesus in faith, wanting Him to heal us and restore us to our heavenly Father, then all that Jesus already accomplished for us on the cross becomes ours. It s similar to receiving a gift. Someone can give us a gift, but the gift is not something we will experience unless we reach out and accept the gift from the giver. Have you experienced the gift of forgiveness and restoration that God has given you in Jesus? Are you in a right relationship with God our Father? If not, then look to Jesus. Seek Him, trust Him, and receive the gift of forgiveness. Once you do, you will experience the life that God has already made possible for you to have. - Jason August 2015, Vol. 55 4

5 ! Summer Splash Report Wow! What a joy it was to be a part of Summer Splash this summer. Summer Splash was a children s program that we held at Ervin Park in Tuscola every Wednesday morning in July. We advertised as VBS at the Park. We had many different children come to the program. Some were from First Christian, some from other churches, and some had no church congregation to whom they belonged. Some highlights of what was accomplished: 1) Children learned five Bible stories: Joseph s Sticky Situations (Genesis 37-45), David Defeats Goliath (1 Samuel 17), Elijah Prays To God (1 Kings 18:16-39), Jesus Does What God Wants (Luke 4:1-13), and Jesus Pays For Our Sin Debt (Luke 23-24). 2) Children learned five Bible points: God gives me courage to do what He wants, Trusting God will Result in Courage, Prayer to God Gives You Courage, and Knowing Jesus Loves You Gives You Courage! 3) We had lots of volunteers and many children attend. We had volunteers who led games, snacks, crafts, Bible teaching, registration, song time, and some who just helped wherever needed. 4) Children made marshmallow shooters during craft time to connect with the David and Goliath theme. 5) Children witnessed a pile of sticks light on fire after being drenched in water! This visual helped children understand better the great miracle that God performed after Elijah prayed to God in 1 Kings 18. Thanks for all your support! Sunday Mornings in August 9:15 a.m. Sunday School for pre-school 6 th grade 10:30 a.m. Classes for children nursery 4 th grade Note: August 23 is Family Sunday. Children ages 3 and up will sit with their families. New Babies! Eli Tillis was born to Eric & Emily on July 8th. Eli weighed 6 lbs 13 oz and was 20 inches long. He was welcomed home by his big brother Elliott. Rowan Jeffrey Beals was born to Elizabeth (Otto) and A J Beals on July 11th. He weighed 7 lbs 14 oz and was 20 inches long. Proud grandparents are Mike & Lacrecia Otto. August 2015, Vol. 55 5

6 New Members Jordan Hallett was baptized at the conclusion of camp on June 26th. Jordan and his wife Emily live at 405 Sunset Drive, Tuscola. Jordan is a teacher. Congratulations! Heather Hudson was baptized at camp on July 10th. Heather, her parents John & Stephanie, and brother Hayden live at 490 CR 0 N, Sadorus. Heather is a student at East Prairie. Congratulations! Be sure to encourage and support them as they grow in Christ! (Exodus Article continued ) Moses, who led thousands of people out of Egypt, was but a picture of the Great Deliverer (the Lord Jesus Christ), who was yet to come! In Luke 9:28-36, we read of the Transfiguration, where Jesus Christ is talking to Moses and Elijah. The topic of their conversation was Jesus departure (Luke 9:31). The Greek word here is exodus. The greatest exodus ever to be experienced was about to be accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ. It s one thing to take the Lord s people out of Egypt to Palestine; it s quite another to take the Lord s people from earth to Heaven! The word exodus means, a way out of. Why were Moses and Elijah chosen to discuss Jesus exodus? It was Moses who led God s people out of Egypt and it was Elijah who was taken up in a chariot of fire from the earth to Heaven (2 Kings 2:1:11). Both of these men knew about the exodus experience. And Jesus Christ was talking to these men about the great escape, that was soon to be accomplished by our Savior. All this was going to be made possible because of the cross, where Jesus Christ was to give His life a ransom for so many (Mark 10:45)! It s one thing to take God s people out of Egypt; it s quite another to take Egypt out of God s people! The word translated Church in Matthew 16:18, means to call out of. God is working in each of us, calling us out of the way we used to behave and think, to a different way of living (1 Cor. 6:9-11). In doing this, God is preparing us to take part in the exodus that Jesus was about to provide (Luke 9:31). Let s allow God to work fully in our lives (an exodus of things that should not be in our lives) so that we will be ready for that Exodus that Moses and Elijah were talking about with Jesus Christ in Luke 9. In Heb. 6:20, the Lord Jesus Christ is called a forerunner. This word means, one who goes before, to prepare the way, so that others may follow. Jesus Christ has made it possible for us to follow Him into Heaven. What an amazing opportunity! May we be willing to read the Bible, asking the Lord Jesus Christ to teach us what it means, for His will to be done in our lives, for Him to change us, and to tell others of our greater Moses and our wonderful Savior, who has provided the greatest exodus in the history of the world. - Cecil Smith August 2015, Vol. 55 6

7 Serving the Month of August FIT Team 2 Carson Alexander/Emily Hallett; Team 3 9 Dave & Val Morgan ; Team 4 16 Robbie & Sandy Robinson; Team 1 23 Joyce Allison/Myron Gingerich; Team 2 30 Ron & Linda Schultz; Team 3 Communion Meditation 2 1st- J. Fortney 2nd- S. Kerkhoff 9 1st- T. Johnson 2nd- D. Foltz 16 1st- B. Thompson 2nd- B. Thompson 23 1st- C. Harriss 2nd- C. Harriss 30 1st- C. Romine 2nd - J. Harriss Serving Out Serving Leader- August 2 M. Otto 1st: J. Martin 9 A. Reeder 2nd: D. Rudder 16 D. Dundas 23 H. Bossle 30 M. Otto Communion Prep July 26/Aug 2 Gale & Connie Underwood Aug 9 & 16 Terry Hornaday Aug 23 & 30 Calendar for August 1-7 Mission Trip to Jackson, Tennessee 9- Student Ministry to Pleasant Meadows for Worship service at 4:00 pm 14 - Family Fun & Movie Night at Ervin Park, 6:30 pm 21 - Student Ministry Kick off (JR HI 6-7:30 pm; SR HI 7-9 pm) 23 - Adopt-a-Student Lunch, 11:45 am 24 - Elders, Trustees, Staff meeting, 6:00 pm 29 - Student Ministry to Sangamon River Valley Music Fest in Mahomet; leave 9:30 am 29 - Building Use, foyer, 1-4 pm 30 - Nursing Home Worship Service, 4:00 pm 30 - Youth Group Orientation - Student Ministry, 6:33 pm, both JR & SR High Communion Clean-Up July 26/Aug 2 Rachel Haste Aug 9 & 16 Chris & Denise Brown Aug 23 & 30 Attendance Worship Sun. School July July July July Thank you for the generous contributions to the Mission Trip to Tennessee. $1300 was given from the Taco Lunch Fundraiser Meal. Please keep the group going in your prayers this week as they work and serve the church in Tennessee. JULY 7/05 7/12 7/19 7/26 General Fund (Missions is 10%) $ $ $ $ Benevolence Debt Reduction Other giving & Reimbursements TOTAL $8, $8, $7, $9, August 2015, Vol. 55 7

8 100 E Church Street Tuscola IL Phone: Fax: office@fcctuscola.com Sunday Worship Services 8:00 & 10:30 am Sunday School Classes 9:15 am for all ages Office Hours: 8 am - 4 pm Mon-Fri Ministers: Bob Williams, Jason Rennert, Lori Reed August 2015 The book of Exodus is about a great deliverer and a great deliverance, all showing us who the Lord Jesus Christ is and what He came to do. Exodus tells us of Israel being delivered from Egypt, the house of bondage (Ex. 13:3). The plagues mentioned in Exodus show how much Satan hates to let go of God s people. The blood applied to the doorposts (Ex. 12:7) is but a picture of the coming day when the Lord Jesus Christ will shed His blood on the cross for all mankind (Heb. 11:22), so that the Destroyer cannot do his work of death, especially in our homes! The crossing of the Red Sea (Ex. 14) shows us how an impossible and impassable obstacle can become the way of escape, once God touches the situation. God worked all that night (Ex. 14:21) to make a path on dry land through the Red Sea for His people. You and I may not be able at times to see God working, but He is working to make a path through our impossible situation. (Article continued inside on page 6 ) August 2015, Vol. 55 8