THE KEYS ST. PETER S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST GRANT PARK, IL January 2019
From the Pastor We've made it! Another New Year is upon us. If you are like most people, the flip of the calendar is usually a time to reflect on accomplishments and events from the last 12 months. Some are good, some are not-so-good. It's also a time of "New Beginnings" for many people. People often use a New Year to try to jump out to a fresh start in life. New goals are set, new dreams begin, new ideas are forged. If we do this as individuals, why can't we as the "Church" do it? At least we should. I have some goals that I'd like to suggest to each of us here at St. Peter's. Take them as you will and adapt them the way you feel fit: 1. Make church attendance a priority - Scripture says to not neglect the assembly. There is a reason we do "church." One, we use our time together to encourage one another in various ways. You may not know just who needs to see your smile each Sunday. You don't know if your presence just may be the difference another person in the body of Christ may need that week. 2. Make time with your individual families a priority - The Bible talks often of the importance and roles of each part of the family nucleus. Read Ephesians 6:1-8!!! 3. Make time with God a priority - Whether it s silent time on your drive in or from work, time alone with God reading His Word and in prayer during the day, or singing songs of praise while gardening. We all worship in different ways, but we need to do this every moment we can. 2
4. Make giving to God a priority - I never understood churches that waited until the end of the year to try to catch up on the budget. The Bible says to give our "first fruits" to God. If we give what rightfully belongs to God first, He promises to take care of our other needs. In summary, you'll notice the word "priority" came in each of these suggestions. When you plan your weekly or monthly calendar, put God first. Then, stick to the plan. It's not my promise to you, but God's, that if you do these things you'll be blessed in ways you can only imagine. May your New Year meet all your expectations and goals! Pastor Kyle YOU RE INVITED FOR COFFEE BEFORE WORSHIP! Don t forget the coffee bar in the Sunday school entrance area each Sunday morning from 9:00 am 10:15 am. You re invited to have a cup of coffee before worship. Proceeds will go to the Board of Christian Education. 2019 OFFERING ENVELOPES The 2019 Offering envelopes can be picked up outside the church office. Please pick them up to Concerns The family and friends of Pamela Meyer, who passed away on Wednesday December 12, 2018. The family and friends of Charlotte Stricker, grandmother of Jaron and Austin Jacobson, who passed away on December 13, 2018. 3
ANNUAL MEETING SUNDAY JANUARY 27, 2019 The annual meeting of St. Peter s United Church of Christ will be held Sunday, January 27, 2019 immediately following the worship service. We encourage all church members to attend as we make decisions and vote on issues that will impact the coming year and years in the life of our church. Committee reports for the Annual Meeting Report are due Monday, January 7 th, 2019. Pack your travel bags! Pastor Kyle is planning on leading a trip to Israel in the Fall of 2019 (most likely November) and would like you to come along! See and experience the Holy Land and allow the Bible to come alive. Pastor Kyle has visited Israel in the past and is looking forward to leading his first trip. Anyone is welcome to travel with us (friends and family from out of state, etc.) but to get a better idea of who all is interested and to provide more information about the possible trip we will have a meeting sometime in early January at the church. Please stay tuned for more announcements as to the introductory meeting and any other pertinent information. 4
JANUARY MISSION GIVING Our Churches Wider Mission (OCWM) or Basic Support) Our contributions, sent to the Illinois Conference office, support God s mission in Illinois, nationally, and globally. 29% of our contribution goes to the national setting of the UCC to support ministry reaching from our church to people in need. Elmhurst College Elmhurst is a college of the United Church of Christ (UCC). The values and vision of the college are similar to those of the UCC. The college affirms the spiritual basis for living a meaningful and purposeful life. Elmhurst is one of 19 colleges and universities that have chosen to be listed with the UCC as a "full member" institution of higher learning. FOOD PANTRY The food pantry at St. Luke s UCC in Beecher is currently providing food for 20-25 families on average. If you are looking for suggestions canned fruit, sugar free items, canned pasta, paper products, and personal products like toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo are always needed. The pantry will be open on from 9:00-11:00, on the second Saturday of each month. Your donations are always appreciated! Thank You! CHRISTMAS CARD MAIL BOX You are invited to bring the Christmas cards you send to your friends at St. Peter s to the church and leave the cards by the mail box on the counter by the southeast sanctuary entrance. The cards will be sorted and placed alphabetically in the slotted mail box. If you d like, you may donate an amount equal to your normal postage costs in the can on top of the mail box. Be sure to check to see if you have mail! 5
IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS: We encourage you to keep the following people in your thoughts and prayers: Stanley Schneider prayers for comfort, Devyn (Dawn Schroeder s Niece) prayers for healing, Peggy Heusing prayers for comfort, Peggy Weybright prayers for healing, Ken Erickson prayers for healing, Gloria Frakes (Evelyn Bond s sister) prayers for healing Allison Ohm prayers for healing Chlora Hyrup (Kim Sherwood s Grandmother) prayers for healing CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND CHURCH ON A REGULAR BASIS Mrs. Mabel Phebus Mrs. Louise Sievers Mrs. Minnis Pfingsten 19101 State Line Rd 891 Exeter Turn, Unit C2 703 N East St Lowell, IN 46356 Bourbonnais, IL 60914 Hudson, IL 61748 Mrs. Doris Laking Mrs. Bonnie Hamann Mrs Pauline Mitchell Humme Home for 9811 N 8000E Rd Bickford Sr Living the Aging Grant Park, IL 60940 100 Jones Drive 604 S Webb Room 227 Wittenberg, WI 54499 Bourbonnais, IL60914 HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER? Has your house address, email address, or phone number changed? Please contact the Church Office to advise us of the change! ROASTERS & DISHES! Pans and dishes from the Turkey Supper and other events are waiting to go home. You can find them in the kitchen. Make sure they are home in time for the holidays. 6
JANUARY 2019 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 1 Happy New Year! 2 7:00 pm Adult Choir 6 9:00 am Sunday School 9:00 am 10:30 Worship Service 7 ANNUAL REPORTS DUE!!! 9 7:00 pm Adult Choir Dart - Peotone at GP 13 9:00 am Sunday School 10:30 am Worship Service/Take down the Greens 16 7:00 pm Adult Choir Dart GP at Peotone 20 9:00 am Sunday School 10:30 am Worship Service 22 7:00 pm Church Council Meeting 23 7:00 pm Adult Choir Dart Matteson at GP 27 9:00 am Sunday School 10:30 am Worship Service ANNUAL MEETING 30 7:00 pm Adult Choir 8:00 pm Dart GP at Matteson JANUARY BIRTHDAYS Julie Schneider 1 Donald Claussen 15 Karen Ekhoff 2 James Thompson 15 Andrew Bakhaus 3 Ian Hamann 16 Reyna Hammerlund 6 Kathy Buttle 18 Jennifer Thompson 8 Rhonda McKinstry 20 Shirley Koehn 8 Bonita Heldt 24 Kevin Langlois 8 Tony Brunello 24 Tyler Schroeder 8 Steven Jacobson 29 Karla Lehnert 9 Laurie Bakhaus 30 Kelly Toppen 11 Mildred Katz 30 Bob Chesterfield 11 Dianna Claussen 31 Betty Jones 11 Branden Lacer 31 Vicki Gawlinski 13 7
ST. PETER S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 310 N. MEADOW ST. P.O. BOX 220 GRANT PARK, IL 60940 Church Office (815) 465-6191 Parsonage (815) 466-4048 Cell Phone (567) 249-5130 Church Email Addresses: stpetersgp@sbcglobal.net Church Website: www.stpetersgp.org Facebook: St. Peters UCC Grant Park Church Office Hours: Tuesday Friday; 9:00 AM 1:00 PM STAFF Rev. Kyle Timmons - Pastor Marcia Langlois, Office Administrator Beverly Junker, Financial Secretary Ann Smith, Senior Choir Director Kathy Ekhoff, Junior Choir Director Judy Schneider and Shari Ohm, Organists Peg McCraw, Custodian Rhiannon Currier & Rhonda McKinstry Youth Advisors CHURCH COUNCIL Evelyn Bond, President Garry Vice President Vicki Gawlinski, Secretary Kaleb Frahm, Treasurer, Susan Williamson, Assistant Treasurer Karen Brunello, Jim Hamann, Ron Hamann & Bruce Heldt No Matter Who You Are or Where you Are on Life s Journey, You Are Welcome Here 8