March 31-8:15 & 11:00 a.m.

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1 The Karusograph A ministry of Volume 55 March 26, 2013 Issue 13 March 31-8:15 & 11:00 a.m. The adult choir will sing at both worship services: Hosanna! All Hail to the King and Lord of Life, which includes solos by Mark Behrends, Jim Coonce and Larry Roberts. Mark Whitted will once again close our services with He s Alive! Holy Week Worship Opportunities Thursday, 7:00 p.m. - Last Supper service at FCC in the sanctuary Friday, noon - FCC Good Friday service in the sanctuary Friday, 7:00 pm - Community Good Friday service at Nazarene Church This year s Easter offering will go to Lincoln Christian University to endow a scholarship in honor of Kent Hickerson.

2 The Gospel According to Greg Greg Taylor Sunday began what might be the eight most important days in the church calendar year a week referred to as Holy Week the last week of Jesus life on earth prior to his resurrection. Last Sunday was Palm Sunday the day Jesus was celebrated wildly as he entered into Jerusalem. Next Sunday is Resurrection Sunday the day Jesus overcame death once and for all and was raised from the dead supernaturally. Holy week includes what some refer to as Maundy Thursday the day when Jesus instituted the Lord s Supper and prayed with passion and priority in the Garden of Gethsemane. But we cannot think about Holy Week without focusing intensely on Good Friday the day the perfect one died the death of a criminal possibly the greatest tragedy of justice our world has ever witnessed. Consider the following facts and timeline we know about this Friday called good from the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John: 1:30am 7:30am six different trials before various leaders the first three trials were before Jewish religious leaders, the final three before Pilate and Herod. trial 1 before the former high priest Annas trial 2 before Caiaphas, the current high priest trial 3 before all the Jewish leaders trial 4 before Pilate trial 5 before Herod trial 6 before Pilate 8:30am Jesus taken from final trial before Pilate, where the mockery and torture at the hands of Pilate s Roman soldiers commences it was during this time that a crown of thorns was driven into his skull.

3 The Gospel According to Greg continued 9am Jesus carries his own cross toward Calvary and the actual crucifixion takes place during this hour (the third hour). As the nails are driven into his hands and feet and they begin the process of placing this huge piece of wood in the ground, a sign is placed above Jesus head THE KING OF THE JEWS. According to Luke, sometime before noon Jesus said Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. It was also during this first three hours on the cross that Jesus told one of the two criminals hanging with him I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise. 12:00 noon The final three hours on the cross begin around noon (the 6th hour) three hours of agonizing pain and suffering it is during this time according to Mark that darkness comes over the whole land for three hours in the middle of the day. It was during his time on the cross that Jesus shared with his mother Mary and his disciple John these words: Dear woman, here is your son... (John), here is your mother. 3pm At the ninth hour, Jesus was near death, and just prior to breathing his last breath, he uttered I am thirsty (John); my God, my God why have you forsaken me (Matthew); Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke) and finally, It is finished. (John) At the moment of His death, Matthew records the following: At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life... when the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and exclaimed surely he was the Son of God! Surely He was and IS the Son of God! Late afternoon and into the evening, Joseph of Arimathea and the Pharisee Nicodemus ask for the body of Jesus, and are given permission to bury Him. Jesus is buried in a new tomb where no one had ever been laid in a garden near the crucifixion sight. I pray Friday is a day of worship for you as you go through this day, remember the words of that beautiful hymn: Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain He washed it white as snow.

4 Our Witness Through Giving General Fund Giving this Week $14, M.A.P. Weekly Need $19, Shortage $ 4, Our Witness Through Attendance Worship: =575 ( 13 Ave. 600) Bible School: 281 ( 13 Ave. 267) Decisions for Christ & His Church This Week Yearly Totals Baptisms: 0 3 Transfers: 0 6 Total 9 Sunday, March 24, :15 am 11:00 am Distributing Bulletins Ruth Harvey Ann Marie Hubbell Louise Moore Linda Webb Genevieve Farnsworth Marvin Hubbell Information Center Attendants Bonnie Karr Denise Crutcher Connie Bundy Jan Griffin Audrey Sessions Danny Bundy Allan Bell Bryan Martin March 17, Facts & Figures Greeters Door Assistants Serving Outside Communion Shut-Ins: Kevin Peterson Hospital: Roger Dial Liberty Village: Marvin Hubbell Martha Deavers Phyllis Green Joe Alexander Information About the Church Greg Taylor Minister of Preaching & Teaching greg@clintonfcc.com (217) J. Kent Hickerson Minister of Pastoral Care (217) Adam Brucker Minister of High School, College Age & Technology adam@clintonfcc.com (309) Jim Coonce Minister of Worship jim@clintonfcc.com (217) Karen Rice Office Manager karen@clintonfcc.com Peggy Jones Ministerial Admin. Assistant peggy@clintonfcc.com Tom Tomlinson Financial Admin. Assistant tom@clintonfcc.com Office Phone (217) Office Fax (217) Office karen@clintonfcc.com or office@clintonfcc.com Office Hours 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday Lest We Forget Those We Love Memorials were given in memory of: Cecil Shaw

5 Young at Heart David Buck, Coordinator Impatience is the fruit of pride. A proud person cannot seem to wait for anything with the proper attitude. Patience is not the ability to wait, it is the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. We need to learn to enjoy where we are while we are on our way to where we are going. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. - James 5:7 (KJV) On the 3 rd of April, we will have entertaining us Phyllis Proctor and she ll be singing songs that she has written for the Lord. May 1 st we ll have a new group with us, the Lerch twins, Diane and Donna. We are looking forward to a fun day of fellowship and love. Don t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Matthew 6:34 NIV The day at Starved Rock was full of Irish and green. Our trip to White Pines State Park will be on the 11 th of May, and we ll enjoy comedian Johnny Counterfit. On the 16 th of May, we will be going to the riverboat and sail on the Illinois River with big band playing all the way. Then in June, we ll travel to Sullivan s Little Theater on the Square for a fine stage play. True humor springs not more from the head than from the heart. - Thomas Carlyle The truth is always revealed through the word; but sadly, people don t always accept it. It is a painful process to face our faults and deal with them. Generally speaking, people justify misbehavior. They allow their past and how they were raised to negatively affect the rest of their lives....neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. - John 8:11 (KJV) Kirsten Rogers will celebrate her 23rd birthday on April 17. She is stationed at Ft. Leonardwood, MO. She will graduate from there on April 25 as an MP. It would be very nice for her to receive birthday wishes from her church family in Clinton. Her address is: Pfc. Rogers, Kirsten N. A Co. 787th MP BN 1st Plt Iowa, Building 939 Fort Leonardwood, MO (You must put a #1 on the BACK of the envelope.) Thank you cards were received from Connie Prawl and the Family of Lester Thorp. They are on the bulletin board outside the office for you to read.

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 Hospital Prayer List Kindred Troy Lea St. Joseph s Steve Stapleton Nursing Home Updates To Manor Court/Liberty Village, Clinton: Lorine Cole, Ike Leisner, Mary Preston, Doris Thomas, Chuck Atten Our Christian Sympathy to the Family and Loved Ones of......tom Cooper, Clinton, IL, husband of Della Cooper, father of Debra (Randy) Waks, Deanne Cooper, Donna (Rich) Parker, Tom (Connie) Cooper and John (Marcia) Cooper...Colley Kitson, Decatur, IL, father of Hannah Emery and Michaela, Jason, Sarah and Levi Kitson....Mary Foster, Clinton, IL, mother of Glen (Barbara) Foster...Glen Reynolds, Flanagan, IL, cousin of Dennis (Angie) Reynolds Carl Anderson Nick Armstrong Reba Bateson Sadie Bell Linda Berry Craig Brock Garry Bryan Charles Buck Pat Butler Brad Campbell Edna Carter Mike Connelly Bill Cox Merle Cox Karen Daniels Lois DeJaynes Keith Dolly Patty Douglas Carol Duncan Candi Evans Grayson Fields (infant) Owen Fields Allen Follis Betty Fortune Patricia Foster Special Prayer Requests Ron Fulfer Tracy Gambrel Shelly Finfrock Gardner Sandy Gaston Brenda Griffin Elaine Hallick Doug Harris Cheryl Haynes Judy Hedrick Kyle Hendrix Jackie Hunt Jerrod Hurst Cooper Kennedy (infant) Florence Lane Mabel Larson Rachel Litherland Linda Mallehan Mark Martin Carl Bud Miller Deloris Miller Roger Miller Baiely Miracle Tammy Moore Charles Newman Nick Nosbisch * New Names Lynn Norris Robert Peters Connie Prawl Nancy Remmers Randy Roy Max Saylors Jean Schrieber Mary Shofner Ho-Ko Simmons James L. Smith Shirley Smith Bonnie Sprague Sheryl Swearingen Rebecca Tellefsen Emily Titus Jessica Torres Mike Turner Jill Monroe Utley Dave Ward Elbert Hank Watkins Chris Winebrinner Joyce Wissmiller Vernadine Witt

7 This N That Families at First - March 27 5:30 pm - light meal: Avanti s subs, chips and brownies & ice cream 6:15 pm - children s programming 6:30 pm - Bible study for the adults in Fellowship Hall Bloodmobile Thursday, April 4 th at St. John s Hall 11:30 am to 5:30 pm For an appointment call Pat at or Rosemary at Walk-ins are welcome. Bring your I.D. 6th Annual Intentional Church Conference Saturday, April 20 - First Christian Church - Decatur This year s conference will feature Gene Appel, senior pastor at Eastside Christian Church in Anaheim, CA. There are also a number of breakout sessions for you to attend. We will pay the registration fee for anyone interested in attending. The cost includes the conference and lunch. To sign up, call the church office and ask for Peggy. Transportation will be provided. Help - SOS! Help - Stock Our Shelves in March! Are you willing to spring into action? Next time you are out picking up supplies for your home, why don t you add a couple of the following items: cans of fruit or vegetables, spaghetti & spaghetti sauce or boxes of macaroni & cheese. The food pantry would love to stock our shelves with your help. Every item donated is so very much appreciated. Thank you in advance for your continuing support of this much needed service in our community. God bless each and every one of you! April Shut-In Birthdays 19 th Charles Coonce, 1790 S. Fairview Ave, Decatur, IL 62521

8 More This N That Recognizing April birthdays of FCC people who are 90 years of age or older April 21 April 30 Mildred Meeks, 92 years old, Hawthorne Inn/Liberty Village, 1 Park Lane, Clinton, IL Hazel Benz, 92 years old, Manor Court/Liberty Village, 1 Park Lane, Clinton, IL In His Hands Orphan Banquet with Matthew West In His Hands Orphans Outreach will be holding the 3rd annual Orphan Banquet on April 13 at 6:30 pm at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield. The fundraiser is an opportunity to find out what In His Hands is doing to help children in U.S. foster care and orphans around the world. You will also find out how you can get involved in changing the lives of orphans. Christian recording artist Matthew West will be performing at the event. For ticket information or to sponsor a table, please visit: info@inhishandsorphans.org or call (217) Fresh Brewed Life - Christian Women s Conference Wednesday, April 24, Lincoln Christian University Cost: $35 if registered before April 17; $40 after April 17 Mail registration to: Christian Women s Conference LCU 100 Campus View Dr., Lincoln, IL or register on line at Speakers: Nicole Johnson, Christian communicator Dr. Dinelle Frankland, speaker, musician & author The next Pray for our Children night will be Sunday, April 7 at 5:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. Praying for Missions Please pray for Shiloh Christian Children s Ranch in Shelbina, MO. Praying for Our Church Please pray for the Men s Ministry Team

9 Children s Ministry Happy Easter! There will be NO preschool and grade school youth groups this Sunday, March 31. They will resume on April 7. It will be an early youth group time: 12:00 noon. They will be going to the movie theater. Lunch will be provided. Cost is $5 not to exceed $10 per family. VBS Corner This week we will give you more details about the Bible lessons for VBS this year. As we mentioned before, they are designed to help our young people stand strong for God. How do they do this? On Monday, David writes about God s love, showing how a relationship with God gives them the desire and strength to do His will. Queen Esther s story on Tuesday is one of my favorites. How the beautiful queen saves her people from the evil villain. This lesson shows how family and friends help us stand strong. Prayer is a powerful tool to help kids stay tuned to God s purpose in their lives. Nehemiah s story makes this point. On Thursday, the kids will celebrate what it means to trust God, as even Jesus did, to help us stand strong. Then, on the last day, God s word, our Bible, is a source of answers for their everyday lives just as it was in the days of King Josiah. Now you know why we are excited about VBS. So spread the word. Let s be sure the church is overflowing with young people - June

10 Adventures with Adam Adam Brucker this Sunday, March 31 Attention high school students: you can start signing up for CIY. It is July The cost is $250 if signed up by April 30. Remedy Drive will be in concert on Saturday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the Cable Building. Make plans to be there! The High School Bible School class meets in the Cable Building each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. On Sunday, March 31 the topic will be: Easter

11 Everyday Worship More Than a Sacrifice Jim Coonce jim@clintonfcc.com This coming Sunday is Easter. Many Christians have chosen to aptly re-name this day as Resurrection Sunday. Honestly, I m fine with either title as this name is just a title! I am more concerned with what this day means for not just Christians, but for the entire world! We rightly place great emphasis on the true meaning of Christmas. The Christmas season has become a consumerism trap that tries to de-emphasize the spiritual ramifications of Christ s incarnation! However, if Christmas is important, then Easter is monumentally more important! This day celebrates the purpose of Christ s incarnation! From the time of the fall, God worked through the lives of his people through history in order to bring us back into a relationship with Him! Because of our sin, God established a sacrificial system to atone for our sin. However, this system of offering perfect lambs for sacrifice was only temporary. Hebrews 10 says, For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. God was in control and had a plan, though. He gave us Jesus, His only son to be the once and for all sacrifice for our sins! But when this priest (Jesus read the rest of Hebrews) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right and of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Heb. 10:12-14) As monumental as this once and for all sacrifice is, it would have been meaningless if it had only been a sacrifice. It was much, much more! It was sacrificial death and resurrection! I have long been baffled at believers who have accepted Jesus crucifixion, but have rejected the idea that he rose from the dead! With only death we have blood that has covered our sins, but no hope of anything beyond the grave. With the death, burial and resurrection we have forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life! Thanks be to God, the author and perfector of our faith! Matt Maher wrote a song a couple years ago, Christ Is Risen based on I Corinthians 15:55: Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? I love these words and the lyrics that Matt Maher wrote with them: Christ is risen from the dead, Trampling over death by death Come awake, come awake, Come and rise up from the dead! The power of the cross is not just that Christ died on it, but that he died for our sins and conquered death giving us forgiveness and eternal life! Looking forward to celebrating all of this on Sunday!

12 This Lord s Day March 31, :15 & 11:00 a.m.: Resurrection Sunday services at FCC. Bring a friend and hear about the Grace of God. 9:30 a.m.: Bible School classes for all ages throughout our building. 10:30 a.m.: Fellowship Time in the Family Life Center NO evening activities at FCC. First Christian Church THE KARUSOGRAPH (USPS ) is published weekly by Corner of W. Main & N. Jackson FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH, 100 N. Jackson St., Clinton, Illinois N. Jackson St. Periodicals postage paid at Clinton, IL. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Clinton, IL The Karusograph First Christian Church, 100 N. Jackson St., Clinton, IL 61727