TUSCOLA CHRISTIAN Publication of First Christian Church, Tuscola, Illinois FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY Free Preview session, January 11th More than 1.5 million families have attended Financial Peace University with amazing results. On average, these families paid off $5,300 in debt and saved $2,700 in just the first 90 days We have a class starting January 18th with a free preview on January 11th. The class meets at the church on Sunday evenings from 6-8 pm for 10 weeks. If you have any questions, please contact Chris Brown at 217-855-0923. January 2015, Vol.55 1
God s Providence By the time you read this article Christmas will be past. Presents opened. Size 9 exchanged for size 11. Egg Nog disappears from the shelf. Candy canes reduced 50%. But the mystery and message of Christmas continues on. In Matthew 1:18 the Bible records, This is how the birth of Jesus the messiah came about The birth of Jesus came about through the providence of God. Where God Guides He Provides God intervened By sending the angel Gabriel By preparing Joseph in a dream By the timing of the census By the supernatural conception through Mary By protecting the baby from Herod All along the way, God s providence plays out Against the odds & against the physical laws of nature, God s plan comes about Where God guides He provides. His will reigns supreme. His providence is playing out in our lives and all around us. What a great message and mystery for us to remember not just at Christmas time but all throughout the year. - Bob Worship Service At Tuscola Healthcare Center We will be leading the worship service at the nursing home on Sunday, January 25th at 4:00 pm. It is great to be able to share in worship with the residents. If you have any questions, contact the church office. Sewing Day Join us for a morning of sewing dresses for Haiti and Thailand on Saturday, January 10th from 9-12 pm. We would like all dresses turned in by Sunday, 25th to get them ready to pack. Thank you to everyone who has been sewing this winter New Picture Directory We are planning a new church directory in the spring. Each family (person) photographed will receive a printed, color directory and a free 8x10. The company will be Lifetouch. Our first set of photography dates will be February 18, 19, 20, 21. Details on how to sign up for a specific time will be coming soon. We hope that everyone will be able to participate. The new directory will be a very useful tool for our church family. January 2015, Vol.55 2
Got Peace? Worry and anxiety were ever present in my life just before the writing of this article. I had received some disturbing news one day and could not shake it. The next day I went to work and then to the local >itness center to get some exercise. The worry was still present, kinda like a nagging pain that just won t go away. While riding on an exercise bike, I decided to read Colossians. The Lord really spoke to me as I read through the letter to the Colossians, and verse 2-3 in chapter 3 were particularly key. Here are the words in those verses: 1- Since, then, you have been raised with Christ set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2- Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3- For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. I understand these Scriptures to teach us that followers of Jesus have been raised with Christ and have died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. In other words, when a person surrenders their life to Jesus, that person has been cruci>ied with Christ and no longer lives. They are dead and it is Christ who now lives in them and through them. (see also Galatians 2:20) That being the case, the attacks of evil, any disturbing news, the challenges of life need not cause me to worry. If I am dead and Christ is living in me, then the challenges are His. They are not mine. I need only to follow Him as He leads. This is good news This is freeing I need only to trust in Him as a lowly sheep trusts in its good shepherd. And as I do, He will lead me to the engagement of signi>icant battles, battles against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Eph. 6:12) He will do the >ighting and I certainly do not need to worry about it. The only time I should worry is when I turn away from Him and take on the challenges in my own strength. Yikes I ve tried it a number of times, and it never ends the way God would want it to. If you >ind yourself up against a particular struggle, a challenge, then look to Jesus and His Words. He can bring peace into your life. Peace with other believers and peace within yourself. For Paul wrote in Colossians 3:15, Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Blessings, Jason January 2015, Vol.55 3
Important Children s Ministry Dates Sunday, January 4 - Jump Volunteers Planning Session: 3 pm at FCC Wednesday, January 7 - Gathering of Brothers, a 5th-6th grade boys only after school program, AND God s Girls, a 5th-6th grade girls only after school program kick-off (3:30 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.) Church bus will pick up students from East Prairie immediately after school and transport to FCC. Wednesday, January 14 - JUMP 3:16 (K-5th grade Wednesday Night Program) kicks-offs the Spring Semester at 6:00 pm Sunday Mornings 9:15 a.m. Programming for ages 0 6 th grd 10:30 a.m. Programming for ages 0 4 th grd What s Happening in Children s Church (grades 1-4) on Sunday Mornings Jan 4 Simeon Meets the Baby Jesus (Luke 2:25-35) Jan 11 King Herod Does Not Meet Jesus (Matthew 2:1-18) Jan 18 The Wise Men Seek Jesus (Matthew 2:1-18 continued) Jan 25 Family Sunday (Children sit with their Family) Congratulations to Ronnie & Linda Schultz who united with our church body on December 15th. They make their home at 844 County Road 0 N, Tuscola. Welcome to the family. JANUARY SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:15 am each Sunday morning (* 4th- FIT team) HERE S WHAT IS HAPPENING Jan. 4 JR HI Youth grp, 4-5:30 pm SR HI Youth grp, 6-8 pm Jan. 9 Dodgeball for SR High after the basketball game Jan. 11 Student Ministry Family meeting after 2nd service. Lunch provided. JR & SR High students and families Jan. 17-19 JR High Winter Retreat at Little Galilee. Cost is $40 for the weekend. (Might include ice skating). Please sign up by Wed. Jan. 14th. Bring friends, warm clothes, bedding and toiletries. If you have questions, contact Lori Reed, 259-2433. Thank You Words cannot begin to express our appreciation for the outpouring of love with your prayers, visits at the funeral home, church and home, the cards, flowers, memorials to both the church and to Muscular Dystrophy. Indeed each of you hold a very special place in our hearts. Our thanks for remembering Michael. Lamentations 3:22-23 Your mercies are new every morning: Great is your faithfulness. The Family of Michael Allison, Bob & Jan Seed January 2015, Vol.55 4
Remember in Prayer Daniel Cisney, son of Scott & Paige Addysen Rudder, daughter of Rachel Rudder Sonya Maurer Jim Clarkson Mike Otto Jim Bierman Sabra Gregor Lori Lansky Kelly Burns, granddaughter of Dale/Martha Burns Chrissy Casteel, niece of Chuck/Lynn Appleby Eldon Foltz, Gary s father Julie Weemer, friend of Ronnie & Linda Schultz Nikki Hausmann Shirley Reed Ashley Manzella Kenny Taylor, uncle of A. Cravens/S. Taylor Virginia Ward, sister of Linda Schultz Gayla Taylor, mom of A. Cravens/S. Taylor Cindy Lewis, Rob Boyd s sister Vickie Fifield, Brian Alcorn s aunt Jean Bender Our Sympathy to Bobby & Erin Beck in the loss of their baby daughter, Ainsley Drew; Della Mae Frahm & family in the loss of her husband Willis. Missions We Support Abel Sairattanyu family (Thailand), Jack Swanson family (Chile), Les & Sarah Evans (Japan), Little Galilee Christian Camp, Christian Campus House EIU, Illini Christian Ministries, Stadia Church Planting, Roseland Good News Daycare (Ms. Pearl), Operation Christmas Child Please call or email the church office to have someone added to the prayer list. Be sure to have the person s permission to put his or her name on the prayer list. Remember to keep the office updated if one of our church family is in the hospital or planning to go to the hospital. Serving for January FIT Team 4 Robbie & Sandy Robinson; Team 1 11 Joyce Allison/Myron Gingerich; Team 2 18 Ron & Linda Schultz; Team 3 25 Joe Harris/Alison Bowen; Team 4 Communion Meditation 4 1st- C. Romine 2nd- S. Kerkhoff 11 1st- C. Harriss 2nd- C. Harriss 18 1st- H. Bossle 2nd- B. Thompson 25 1st- T. Johnson 2nd- T. Johnson Serving Out Serving Leader- January 4 H. Bossle 1st: D. Alexander 11 M. Otto 2nd: B. Dean 18 D. Dundas 25 A. Reeder Communion Prep Dec. 28/January 4 Hank & Denise Groves Jan. 11 & 18 Howard & Susan Bossle Jan. 25/Feb. 1 Gale & Connie Underwood Communion Clean-Up Dec. 28/January 4 Andrea Rotramel Jan. 11 & 18 Mike & Tami Moyer Jan. 25/Feb. 1 Dean & Michelle Sutherlin Attendance Worship Sun Sch December 7 279 66 December 14 264 64 December 21 302 62 December 28 225 40 December 12/7 12/14 12/21 12/28 General Fund (Missions is 10%) $10,714.32 $8368.00 $10,978.42 $16,019.7 Benevolence 450.00 210.00 617.00 540.00 Debt Reduction - 20.00 20.00 3020.00 Other funds & Reimbursements 589.50 245.35 161.30 4225.22 TOTAL $11,753.82 $8,843.35 $11,775.72 $23,804.92 January 2015, Vol.55 5
100 E Church Street Tuscola IL 69153 Phone: 217-253-2394 Fax: 217-253-3869 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, Deb Williams January 2015 7- Quilting Group, 9:00 am Calendar 7- God s Girls & G.O.B. resume after school, 3:30 9- SR High Dodgeball after ballgame 10- Sewing Day for Thailand & Haiti, 9-12 pm 11- Student Ministry Family meeting, 12 noon 11 - Financial Peace Class, free preview, 6:00 pm 12 - Leadership meeting 6:00 pm 14 - Jump 3:16 resumes at 6:00 pm 17-19 - JR HI Winter Retreat @ Little Galilee 18 - Financial Peace Class begins, 6:00 pm 25 - Family Sunday 25 - Nursing Home Worship Service, 4:00 pm 25 - God Is Not Dead movie, 6 pm 25 - Deadline for Dresses for Thailand & Haiti 26 - Elders, Trustees, Staff meeting, 6:00 pm Elders: Gary Foltz, Clayton Harriss, Mike Otto, Don Rudder, Bruce Thompson Trustees: Jeff Davis, Jeff Martin, Dan Meyer, Joe Stanfield Ministry Deacons: Benevolence- Chris Brown Caring- Clayton Harriss Children s Ministry Pre-School- Leslie Smith Missions Ministry- Craig Romine Stewardship- Dan Wakefield Treasurer- Alison Gilles Asst. Treasurer- Kent McGillen January 2015, Vol.55 6