Remembering Our Deliverance: A Worship Experience Telling the Story of God s Saving Presence in Our Lives

Transcription

1 The Karusograph A ministry of Volume 55 March 12, 2013 Issue 11 Remembering Our Deliverance: A Worship Experience Telling the Story of God s Saving Presence in Our Lives Led by Jim Coonce and the Creative Arts Team Music and Drama Spoken Word Congregational Singing In this worship experience, we will explore how God was present as our Deliverer throughout the Bible and in our lives today! He delivered Noah from the destruction of the world; he delivered Isaac from death by providing a ram in the bush; he delivered the nation of Israel from slavery in Egypt; and he continues to deliver us today! Join us this Sunday and bring a friend. This will be an excellent opportunity to invite your friends who wish to learn how God can deliver them from broken lives and heartache!

2 The Gospel According to Greg Greg Taylor Sunday was time change Sunday we lost an hour of sleep during the night, and we had 100 less people in church for worship services than the previous week two not-so-good happenings. However, we did wrap up our nine week look at the I Am statements of Jesus from the book of John with I am the Vine, you are the branches from John 15. It was a reminder of the importance of remaining or abiding in Christ no matter the circumstance or situation. Set up camp in Jesus Christ, the Great I Am! This week, Jim Coonce and his creative arts team will be leading both the 8:15 and 11am services, combining worship, drama and scripture in a very special service. Thanks go out to the members of this team Melanie Cheatham, Marcia Wise, Allison Hitchings, Barb Cline and Stephanie Coonce - for their commitment to make our worship ministry as strong as possible. I m really looking forward to this week at FCC! I shared previously about Celebrate Recovery, the new ministry coming to Clinton, IL in the months ahead. I m so thankful for those who have stepped up and shown an interest in getting CR up and running in our community, but many more volunteers are needed. New FCC members James and Brenda Phelps are spearheading this effort and many thanks go out to them! If you would like more information about this excellent Christian-based ministry, check out: or contact the church office and ask for Peggy she will get information sent out to you.

3 The Gospel According to Greg continued Finally this week, I wanted to share some thoughts about the new History Channel docudrama entitled The Bible. This ten part series is being shown throughout the month of March with new episodes airing on Sunday evenings at 7pm on the History Channel. It is certainly not a perfect portrayal of scripture, but I m so thankful that Roma Downey and Mark Burnett undertook this project, and look forward to the weeks ahead. Here are four reasons I like The Bible, and encourage you to have a positive perspective on it as well: #1 Millions of people around the world are now spending their Sunday evenings viewing The Bible, a video portrayal of God s Word, instead of shows like Desperate Housewives or Duck Dynasty. It is estimated that 50 million will view at least one episode this month. #2 While not everything I viewed through the first four episodes is what I would consider an exact reenactment of the Biblical text, I ve yet to view a scene that appears to intentionally contradict the truth of scripture (unlike the Last Temptation of Christ and other works of Hollywood). Four hours in and I would say the spirit of God s Word has not been compromised. #3 Each time I have reclined on my couch to watch The Bible, I end up pausing the docudrama and opening my Bible to see how close to scripture the episode actually is. Again, I m not watching The Journey or Alaska State Troopers or Fox News, I m watching and reading scripture and that is a good thing! #4 Finally, I think this series gives every Christ Follower an opportunity to share with others the truth of God s Word. Last Monday morning as I arrived at the Y for my Body Pump class, the first question I was asked was about this series. I had an opportunity to talk about the Bible in front of about 15 people at the Y. Many who don t follow after Jesus Christ will view episodes of this series and it might just give YOU an opportunity to share about your faith in Christ because someone s antenna is open spiritually. That s all folks have a great week! GT

4 Our Witness Through Giving General Fund Giving this Week $18, M.A.P. Weekly Need $19, Shortage $ 1, Our Witness Through Attendance Worship: =568 ( 13 Ave. 599) Bible School: 259 ( 13 Ave. 266) Decisions for Christ & His Church This Week Yearly Totals Baptisms: 0 3 Transfers: 0 6 Total 9 Sunday, March 17, :15 am 11:00 am Distributing Bulletins Eathel Roberts Angie Roberts Susan Earl Jerry & Charlotte Milton Genevieve Farnsworth Information Center Attendants Connie Hantla Denise Crutcher Doris Lonbom Greeters Bob & Dolores Primmer Danny Bundy Allan Bell Bryan Martin March 10, Facts & Figures Tom & Alia Burton Door Assistants Bryan & Cathy Hickman Serving Outside Communion Shut-Ins: Dave Donnelly Hospital: James Phelps Liberty Village: Jim Taylor 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: Linda Robinson & Lester Thorp

5 Young at Heart David Buck, Coordinator Get a new mindset. Believe that with God all things are possible; with man some things may be impossible, but we serve a God who created everything we see out of nothing. Give Him your nothingness and watch Him go to work. All He needs is your faith in Him. He needs for you to believe, and He will do the rest. And He said, the things which are impossible with men are possible with God. Luke 18:27 (KJV) April 3 rd we ll have Phyllis Proctor with us singing songs that she has written and we re sure looking forward to her performance. Our May meeting we ll be host to Dr. Stephanie Culver, from Clinton Chiropractic. The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. - Helen Keller Our trip to Starved Rock needs travelers. Please call to get a seat. On the trip April 11 th we ll travel to White Pines State Park for some comedy and jokes by Johnny Counterfeit and it should be a fun time. Classic oldies will be the venue for the celebration cruise on the 16 th of May. We ll have food galore and be entertained on the cruise. Sullivan s Little Theater is our stop for June and will be a fun place to go in the summer. When friends meet, hearts warm. - John Ray People who must always have someone else pushing them will never really do anything great. Those who only do what is right when someone is looking won t get very far either. We must be motivated from within, not from without. We must live our lives before God, knowing that He sees all and that our reward will come from Him if we persist in doing what He has ask us to do. for many be called, but few are chosen. Matthew 20:16 (KJV) Am Vets Post 14 & American Legion Crang Bennett Post 103 will host a pork dinner on Thursday, March 21 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. American Legion Hall N. Elizabeth St., Clinton $10.00 per person - $5.00 under age 12 Proceeds will go towards the Veterans Point Annex/Lakeview Hill fishing pier project at Weldon Springs State Park, which is dedicated to the late Dave Herzog, retired site superintendent. Tickets are available in the church office or from Kevin Peterson.

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 John Warner Connie Hantla Kindred (Peoria) Troy Lea Bromenn Kim Kane Released from the Hospital Merle Cox Ben Houska Praying for Missions Please pray for Brent Foulke and STADIA missions Praying for Our Church Please pray for our sound system and tech teams: Mark Kane, Marcia Wise, Daryl Cline, Kiel Gwozdz, Dana Korneman, Ben Dial, Barb Cline, Marc Cline, and Allison Montgomery. 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 Patty Douglas Carol Duncan Candi Evans Grayson Fields (infant) Owen Fields Allen Follis Betty Fortune Patricia Foster Ron Fulfer Special Prayer Requests 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 Jimmy Moore Tammy Moore Charles Newman Nick Nosbisch Lynn Norris * New Names 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 Jerry Wesley Chris Winebrinner Joyce Wissmiller Vernadine Witt The Proverbs 31 ministry will be preparing meals in the lower kitchen on Tuesday, March 19 at 6 p.m. If you are interested in helping cook, you are invited to join them.

7 This N That Families at First - March 13 5:30 pm - light meal: soup, sub sandwiches & pie 6:15 pm - children s programming 6:30 pm - Bible study for the adults in Fellowship Hall We have a vision for having one person PRAYING during our Sunday morning services in the PRAYER ROOM for the whole service. Watch for opportunities to sign up for a Sunday in upcoming months. Questions or suggestions? Call Becky Glenn New Life Pregnancy Center s - Change for Life - Baby Bottle Campaign continues. Please fill a baby bottle with your pocket change and return it to the church by March 17. 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. Winter Jam - March 23 We have secured a charter bus and want to fill it up with adults, teens, kids and all of your friends for this annual Christian music tour. Artists featured: Toby Mac, Matthew West, Jamie Grace, Sidewalk Prophets and many more. The best part? The cost is only $10, no advanced tickets and you don t have to worry about finding a parking space! Mark your calendars and invite your friends. This show is for the entire family.

8 More This N That PROM (Promising Roots of Marriage) April 13 at Little Galilee Christian Camp Whether you re newlyweds or have been married for years, PROM is designed for you to spend the evening focusing on your spouse and your marriage. There will be dinner, fellowship and some dancing. Kendra Smiley will be the featured speaker for the evening. You can sign-up to attend PROM on Sunday mornings in the foyer. The cost for the evening is $50 per couple. If you have any questions or want more information, call Alia Burton at or - blondeburton@ymail.com 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 I would like to donate Easter flowers in memory or honor of my loved ones. (Please mark whether it is memory or honor.) Fill out this form and enclose it, along with $15 per plant, in an envelope and either put it in the offering or mail it to the church. All forms must be received by Monday, March memory or honor 2. memory or honor 3. memory or honor Given by:

9 Children s Ministry VBS Corner We want to make you aware of some changes that we have found necessary to make this year. First, for the past few years we have been able to have all three year old children attend VBS. This year the only ones who may attend VBS are the children of people who are working in VBS that week. A child must be four years old by the week of VBS, June 17-21, to attend if a parent or caretaker is not helping. This year we will no longer provide door-to-door pick up bus service. We will be picking up the children with the buses and vans, but it will be by designated spots in each neighborhood. You will still need to indicate on the registration paper that your child needs transportation because we do want to be sure that every child is able to attend. Then, for example, you will receive a letter indicating that the bus will stop at Douglas School at approximately 8:45 each morning. We will also publish a list of all the bus stops and times. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we make these changes. Children s Activities for Sunday, March 17 8:15 a.m. Junior Church (3 years - 5th grade) 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. 3-year old church, Beginner church, Junior Church 5:30 p.m. Preschool & grade school youth groups

10 Adventures with Adam Adam Brucker Sunday, March 17 EARLY START TIME: 5:00 p.m. Special concert and worship time led by for those in the 6th - 8th grades The conference is April in Anderson, IN. Cost: $65.00 You must register and pay the $65 by this Wednesday, March 13. The High School Bible School class meets in the Cable Building each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. On Sunday, March 17 the topic will be: Self-Control

11 Everyday Worship The Blood of Christ I recently read this article and thought that it would be a great reflection for us as we come close to the time we remember and celebrate Christ s death, burial and resurrection. His blood makes us white as snow!...not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. - Hebrews 9:12 This winter, it snowed for ten consecutive days. We woke to freshly fallen snow every morning, and it seemed as if the night hours birthed the world new again. The grime and gray slush that accumulated throughout the day lay beneath a covering of pure white by sunrise. I anticipated this blanket of beauty each morning, and its renewing effect on a world streaked with grease and muck. But, I also knew this cleansing wouldn t last as we went about our business and left our mark on the land. We sing a hymn about the blood of Jesus in church. We say it washes us white as snow, and each time I hear this line, I think of the purity of a new snowfall. I think, too, of the sludgy mess that accompanies it, how we leave footprints and tire treads and corrosive salt in our wake. Our activity makes a wreck of its beauty, staining the snow until we wish for a fresh white coating to hide our tracks. Today s scripture reminds us that we don t need to wait expectantly each morning for a fresh covering of the blood of Jesus. It is given but once, for the benefit of all. It covers all of us who believe, all of the sin and grime we accumulate, for all of eternity. The blood is a constant, ever-present flow, and it leaves no trace of the mess we create as we walk through life with our imperfect and fallen feet. Jesus blood leaves behind a trail of grace, a covering so thick, God sees nothing else but the Son and His sacrifice. As we take part in this season of Lent, let us remember that our acts of sacrifice are a symbol, not a substitution for Christ s, and let us celebrate the cleansing power of his blood. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Do you try to earn your way to heaven by attempting to add to Christ s work on the cross? How do you view yourself and your sin under the new covenant Christ established? How do you respond to his gift of grace? By Kimberly Coyle Jim Coonce jim@clintonfcc.com

12 This Lord s Day March 17, :15 & 11:00 a.m.: Remembering our Deliverance: A Worship Experience telling the story of God s savings presence in our lives will be lead by Jim Coonce and his creative arts team. 9:30 a.m.: Bible School classes for all ages throughout our building. 10:30 a.m.: Fellowship Time in the Family Life Center 5:30-6:30 p.m.: Beginner, Primary & Junior Youth Groups 5:00-7:00 p.m.: Jr. High & Sr. High Reveal 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