TUSCOLA CHRISTIAN IT S NOT TOO LATE TO PACK A SHOEBOX. Community Thanksgiving Service FOR OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD!

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1 TUSCOLA CHRISTIAN Publication of First Christian Church, Tuscola, Illinois IT S NOT TOO LATE TO PACK A SHOEBOX FOR OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD! OPC is a ministry of Samaritan s Purse delivering millions of shoeboxes :illed with small gifts and a lesson about the great love of Jesus for children the world over. A family, small group, or Sunday school class are great ways to :ill a box. At the display in the foyer you will :ind a list of suggested items that could be included or go to samaritanspurse.org. Questions, see Bruce or Lori Thompson. Pre- printed (decorated) boxes are available for anyone to use in the foyer. You can also wrap a regular shoebox with Christmas wrapping paper yourself. Bring :illed boxes to the church during the week of Nov Shoebox dedication Sunday will be November 20th. You can also donate money towards shipping the boxes if you aren t able to :ill one. Shipping cost for each box is $7. If you have more than one box, you can write one check and place it in the top box. Bruce & Lori will take all the boxes collected to the pickup center on Sunday, November 20th. We hope many from our church family will participate. Community Thanksgiving Service November 20th 6:00 pm Join us for a time of praise and worship at Eagle Mountain Assembly of God Church. Father Angel from Forty Martyrs Catholic Church will be speaking. Everyone is welcome! The annual community service is hosted by the Tuscola Area Ministerial Alliance (TAMA). All who trust in Him will praise Him. Psalm 63:11b November 2016, Vol. 56 1

2 Transitions and Challenges.... As many of you know by now the Lord has guided my wife and I to make a pivotal decision to resign as pastor here at First Christian and move to where the Lord would have us go next. I want to thank many of you for your supportive words and encouragement. I've been contemplating this move and this pivotal transition over the last several days. The passage of scripture that comes to mind is Joshua chapter 3. The Israelites were at a pivotal transition point in their history. They were about to cross the Jordan and the Lord gives them instructions. First of all he encourages the priests to step into the water which, needless to say, was a huge step of faith as the banks were overflowing at that time. And Joshua commands that the Ark of the covenant go first. The ark stood for God's presence among them. When God's presence is among us we know that things will turn out right. And when we allow him to take the lead and we faithfully follow we know that the path will be right. Amazingly the scripture records that God cut off the waters of the Jordan. And it says that the waters were cut off upstream a good distance away. Scholars debate exactly how far upstream God was doing this work. But it certainly was far enough that the Israelites could not see what God was doing. That's how it is with transitions; we don't always see what God is up to but we can trust that He's in control and He is doing a work. It is my belief that God is doing a work upstream both in my life and in the lives of all the people at First Christian Church. Undoubtedly, there will be some highs and lows, some challenges and victories in the new land and in the days ahead. But I know that God has guided First Christian for many many years. God has always guided me and my family in times past. I'm certain that our Heavenly Father will continue to do so for all of us into the future. UPDATE FROM THE TRANSITION ADVISORY TEAM During this time of change and challenges, the Transition Advisory Team is going to try and update the congregation after our biweekly meetings. The team is studying a book recommended by Bob and Ken of the 95 Network. The book, How My Church Family Works, is helping us get on the same page with terminology and possible issues. Next we formed 2 teams from our group: 1) the first to focus on finding an interim pastor; 2) the second to look into counseling options as we transition forward. We also discussed the role and involvement Ken Stewart from the 95 Network will have during our meetings going forward. Last, but definitely not least, we discussed Bob's schedule as he transitions out of his role here at FCC. The team continues to focus on the future and God s will here at First Christian Church. So, please continue to pray for the church and the team. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to reach out to myself or any of the team members. Our contact information is on the Welcome Center. Thanks, Chris Brown for the TA Team For we walk by faith not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 - Bob November 2016, Vol. 56 2

3 Prime Timers Wednesday, November 9th 11:30 am NOVEMBER SUNDAYS 9:15 am class each Sunday AM (Nov. 6th - FIT Team duties) HERE S WHAT IS HAPPENING IN NOVEMBER 6 - Youth Group- grades 7-12: 6:33 pm 13 -Youth Group- grades 7-12: 6:33 pm 17,18 - Teen Team to ICOM conference at Lexington, KY 20 - Help with the worship service at Carriage Crossing Home in Champaign, leave at 12 pm 20 - Youth Group to the Community Thanksgiving service, 6:00 pm 24,25 - church office closed 27 - No youth groups If you have questions, contact Lori Reed, ; lori@fcctuscola.com Our special program for November will be from the Aikman Wildlife Adventures (former Rockhome Gardens) near Arcola. Their mission is to provide the highest quality of life possible to all wildlife in need, while maintaining a family friendly environment through interaction, conservation, and by creating an experience of a lifetime. Come and hear in an interesting presentation about wildlife. The lunch on November 9th will be potluck. So bring a couple of dishes to share in the meal. Drinks and table service will be furnished. There will also be a signup sheet for our December Christmas program on Thursday, Dec. 15th at the Smith House. PRAYER CIRCLE We continue meeting to pray every Wednesday evening at 5:30 pm. You are welcome to join us as we pray for our church family, leadership, and our nation. Frances Ridley Havergal once said, Every year I live in fact, nearly every day I seem to see more clearly how all the peace, happiness, and power of the Christian life hinges on one thing. That one thing is taking God at His word, believing He really means exactly what He says, and accepting the very words that reveal His goodness and grace, without substituting other words or changing the precise moods and tenses He has seen fit to use. Remember to turn your clocks back next Sunday, November 6th. Take Christ s Word His promise and Christ s sacrifice His blood with you to the throne of grace through prayer, and not one of heaven s blessings can be denied you. - from Streams in the Desert Devotional Reading; copyright 1996; by Adam Clarke November 2016, Vol. 56 3

4 Psalm 100 Shout with joy to the Lord, O earth! Worship the Lord with gladness, Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. It has seemed to me fit and proper that the gifts of God should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelt in the heavens. - Abraham Lincoln November 2016, Vol. 56 4

5 Remember in Prayer Jerry Livingston, Josh s father Heather Dixon Derra Howard Eskridge, friend of Jeannine Fortney Connie Underwood Jim Bierman Judy Wright, aunt of Donnie & Iris Miller Mary Johnson Blake Bass, Donnie & Iris Miller's son Lane Tyler Foster, premie grandson of Ann Pollock Linda Moon Keyauni Kern, daughter of Riley & Leslie Smith Heather Poole Kara Kuhns, friend of Ron & Linda Schultz Kathy Hesch, cousin of M. Knight and B. McCumber Our Church Family Church Leaders November Election Government Leaders Missions We Support Abel Sairattanyu family (Thailand), Jack Swanson family (Chile), 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 Our Sympathy goes out to: Anna McGillen & Dan Meyer and their families in the passing of their father, Wayne Meyer. Please call or the church office to have someone added to the prayer list. Serving the Month of November FIT Team 6 Gale & Connie Underwood; Team 1 13 Robbie & Sandy Robinson; Team 2 20 Joyce Allison/Myron Gingerich; Team 3 27 ; Team 4 Communion Meditation 6 1st- H. Bossle 2nd- B. Thompson 13 1st- M. Knight 2nd- J. Harriss 20 1st- C. Harriss 2nd- C. Harriss 27 1st- C. Romine 2nd- S. Kerkhoff Serving Out Serving Leader - Nov. 6 A. Reeder 1st: G. Underwood 13 D. Dundas 2nd: 20 H. Bossle 27 M. Otto Communion Preparation Oct. 30 & Nov. 6 Jenni Boyd Nov. 13 & 20 Dennis & Doris Pickett Nov. 27 & Dec. 4 Shirley & Steve Quinn Communion Clean-Up Oct. 30 & Nov. 6 Chris & Cheryl Harris Nov. 13 & 20 Gary & Marney Foltz Nov. 27 & Dec. 4 Tim & Chris Johnson Attendance Worship Sun. School October October October October OCTOBER 10/2 10/9 10/16 10/23 General Fund (Missions is 10%) $ $ $ $ Benevolence Debt Reduction Other giving & Reimbursements TOTAL $11, $ $ $ November 2016, Vol. 56 5

6 100 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, Lori Reed NOVEMBER 2016 Sunday, November 4:00 pm Several of the area churches take turns providing the worship service at the nursing home each Sunday. You re welcome to come and share with the residents in music and devotions on November 27th. If you have any questions, contact the church office. Honor our Veterans on November 11th. Take a moment to thank the many men and women currently ser ving and who have served our country in the past. November 2016, Vol. 56 Church Calendar 6,13,20 - LTC 101; 9:15 am on Sundays 1,8,15 - LTC 101; 6:30-7:30 pm on Tuesdays 2,9,16,30 - God s Girls & Gathering of Brothers, 3:30 2,9,16,30 - Prayer circle on Wednesdays, 5:30 pm 6,13 - Youth Group (7th-12th), 6:33 pm 2 - Transition Advisory Team mtg, 7:00 pm 4,5 - Building use for wedding 4 - Quilting Group, 9:00 am 9 - Prime Timers, 11:30 am; potluck luncheon 16 - Transition Advisory Team mtg, 7:00 pm 17,18 - Teen Team to ICOM conference in Lexington 18 - Quilting Group, 9:00 am 20- Dedication Sunday for Shoeboxes - OPC 20 - Students (7-12 grds) to Carriage Crossing Home for worship service; leave at 12 noon 20 - Community Thanksgiving Service, 6:00 pm 23 - no evening church activities 24,25 - church office closed 27 - Nursing Home Worship Service, 4:00 pm 30 - Transition Advisory Team mtg, 7:00 pm Sunday Services: 8:00 am & 10:30 am; Sunday school at 9:15 am 6