First Presbyterian Church of Fairbury Vol. 25, No. 3 March 2019 We
Pastor s Office Communion Holy Communion will be served by Intinction on Sunday, March 3 rd. Pastor Dan s standard office hours are Monday-Wednesday from 9am to noon and Thursday 9am to 10:30am. Check the weekly calendar for any changes. He can be reached at 815-692-2963 or dlrober@sbcglobal.net. MAR Flowers Greeters Liturgists 3 Taken Sam & Sherrie Schmidgall Pat Small 10 Todd & Becky Webster Chad & Blake Bazzell Connie Rich 17 Pat Small Wednesday Morning Bible Study Pat Small 24 Volunteer Needed Pat Small Volunteer Needed 31 Volunteer Needed 1st-3rd Grade & Robin Buchenau Volunteer Needed Prayer Concerns Kathy Adams, Keith Artz, Jonathan Becker, Brian Bounds, Maradele Bowers, Molly Brown, Esther Brucker, Sara Casson, Jean Cooper, Muriel Dawson, Brent Edelman, John & Bev Enderli, Mary Ellen Goold, Colton Herr, Dave Jeffries, Janine Johnston, Dick Kafer, Karl Messer, Ruth Moore, Jessica Rathbun, Evan Rich, Chuck & Goldia Sasse, Deanna Stewart, Mark Teske, Phyllis Tipton, Daelin Tolan, Ray Umble. Food Pantry Sunday The Deacons have designated the second Sunday of every month as Food Pantry Sunday. Please help us fill the food pantry box with Hamburger Helper & Mac & Cheese this month. Deacons Calling 3/3: Pam Teske & Jeanette Franklin 3/10: Phyllis Nussbaum & Kayl Hoffman 3/17: Donna Roman & J.D. Buchenau 3/24: Kay Fugate & Pearle Jeffries 3/31: Rob & Liz Hobart Stay Informed! Do you want to receive the newsletter in your email inbox every month? Just send us an email at fairburypresbyterian@route24.net, and you ll be added to the list! Also, our newsletter and the most upto-date version of the church calendar are always available for viewing on our website, www.firstpresfairbury.orgwww.firstpresfairbury.org.
Brothers & Sisters, Here is the church. Here is the steeple. Open the door and here are the people. This verse of memory from our childhood of clasping our hands with our index fingers making the steeple and then opening them to see our fingers (people) is really a parallel to the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering. We are a church with a steeple and with people. But nothing really happens until we open up our hands and serve our family, our community and our world. The One Great Hour of Sharing is a special opportunity for all of us and millions of other Christians to share God s love with people experiencing need. Your gifts to OGHS will support ministries of disaster response, refugee response and resettlement, and community development that helps people find safe refuge, start new lives and work together to strengthen families and communities. Please remember to open your sharing hands as you share your gifts to the One Great Hour of Sharing during Lent. There are special OGHS envelopes in the pews. Please ID your checks with OGHS. A thank you from Presbyterian Missions for our recent gifts from the Gertrude Bartlett Mission Fund: We give thanks to you for your support of Special Offerings, our collective witness to the love of Jesus Christ. By participating in Special Offerings, your congregation joins other churches to change lives around the world through ministries of compassion, advocacy, development, peacemaking, Christian formation, education, and witness. Thank you for the following support to Special Offerings: On December 24, 2018, we received $582.50 for the Presbyterian Giving Catalog Winter heating fuel for refugees, and $582.51 for the Presbyterian Giving Catalog Garden well. Your congregation s gift, when combined with that of others, will share the love of Christ with those in need. I am excited to share with you the opportunities we have to learn and grow closer to God as we approach this Lenten season. On Ash Wednesday, March 6, we will be offering the only (to my knowledge!) placing of Ashes during the morning. The Sanctuary will be open from 7:00am to 9:00am for people to drop in on their way to work, school, or as they start their day. Upon arriving there will be a handout with some information on Ash Wednesday, a prayer, and I will be here to place crosses out of ash on the forehead. It is a meaningful worship experience as we begin our Lenten journey. I hope to see you here! We will also be kicking off our Lenten Lunches the week after, on Wednesday, March 13 beginning at noon. We will be joined in worship with Faith Fellowship Ministries, First Baptist Church, First United Methodist Church, and Trinity Lutheran Church. A brief worship service focusing on Lent will be followed by a free lunch hosted by each of the churches. I hope to see you here then, too! Blessings in Christ ~ Pastor Dan The Fairbury Boys and Girls Club is a part of the Livingston County Boys and Girls Club with a mission of enabling all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. We have sent them a $350 donation which comes from the Mile of Dollars portion of our 2019 Church Budget. The Club is a safe place where young people can come to enjoy themselves and their friends and have fun. Club members have the opportunity to learn, grow, give back to the community, discover their needs, set goals, and meet new friends. From simple games to leadership opportunities, the Club offers a wide range of activities.
Sunday Morning Adult Class 9:00 10:00 am in the Library Family Wisdom 3/3 The Stories of the Lost 1st Pres Youth Group 7th 12th grade youth are welcome to join us! Watch for dates and time to be posted, or ask your church friend for the date of the next opportunity for fun, food, and fellowship. 3/10 The Forgiving Father 3/17 The Two Debtors 3/24 The Last Supper 3/31 In the Garden Koinonia κοινωνία 6:30 pm Friday, March 1 at the home of John and Connie Rich. Women s Study Meets the second Thursday of each month. March 14 th 6:30 pm John 3:16 This is a couples with children group that meets once a month for fellowship and study. Free childcare is provided. March 29 @ 6pm Wednesday Bible Study This group meets from 10 11am on Wednesday mornings in the Library or Friendship Room. Matt & Jenna Kilgus Residence
Happenings. 1. Next meeting is 6:30pm at the church on March 5 th 2. March 12 th Pork Loin Supper Presbyterian Women would love to have you join them! Anyone interested in PW is welcome to attend an upcoming meeting. Please contact one of the members of the PW coordinating team if you would like to attend! PW Coordinating Team Officers Ann Lage, Moderator (309-531-0234) Michelle Clemons, Vice Moderator (815-692-0622) Lisa Kilgus, Secretary (815-692-3956) Donna Roman, Treasurer (815-692-1212) Together in Service Committee (Mission Opportunities) Katie Travis, Jill Krieger, Tiffany Ray March Kitchen Duties: Connie Rich Search Committee Sandy Dawson, Alma Augsburger, Sara Robertson Pork Loin Dinner First Presbyterian Church Tuesday, March 12 serving from 4:30-7:00pm Eat In meal includes grilled pork loin, smashed potatoes, green beans, assorted salads, dessert and beverage. Carry-outs include apple sauce in lieu of assorted salads. Advance tickets may be obtained from the Presbyterian Women or the church office @ 815.692.2963 Limited to 500 available tickets The Pork Loin Dinner is a fundraiser for PW Mission Projects Suggested Donations: $12.00 adults in advance $15.00 adults at the door $6.00 Children 4-10 Free Children under 4
TREASURER'S REPORT 1 Month Thru January 31, 2019 Income Actual Budget Pledges 11,560 12,823 Non-Pledged 716 1,982 Per Capita 177 0 Interest on Checking 18 2 Use of Church 0 13 Special Reserve Fund Interest 0 0 Bequest/Memorial Funds 5,345 1,796 Total Income 17,816 16,616 Expenses 20,216 20,933 Excess (Shortage) (2,400) (4,317) 3 Michelle Clemons 6 Isabel Barnes 8 Shirley Mitchell 9 Marisa Teske 10 Quinn Kilgus 12 Jennifer Stuckey 18 Emily Heiser 24 Calynn Chavez 26 Shirley Metz If your birthday or anniversary has been omitted, please contact the church office! 2018 2019 103.5 91.5 Average February Attendance The March newsletter deadline is Wednesday, March 20. February Session Highlights We opened with a devotion and shared our hopes and dreams for ministry Communion in April will be on Maundy Thursday, during the Lenten Lunch on April 10, and Easter on April 21, Communion will not be served on April 7 We prayerfully considered the direction of Congregational Meetings and discussed opportunities to receive additional input from the congregation when planning for the year ahead We are preparing for the Pork Loin Dinner on March 12 We will be hosting the Lenten Lunches again this year, beginning March 13 We are currently planning in Buildings & Grounds for church projects in 2019 A giant thank you to everyone who supported the Potato Bar Youth Fundraiser we raised over $1,000 We are planning to participate in the 30 Hour Famine on March 22-23
24 March 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Potato Bar Youth Fundraiser 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Organ Dedication and Concert 3 Communion 1:00 PM Youth Group 10 Food Pantry Sunday 17 1:00 PM Youth Group 24 31 11:30 AM Fifth Sunday Potluck 25 4 11 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM Office 18 25 1 26 7:00 PM Session 5 6:30 PM PW Coordinating Team meeting 12 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM Pork Loin Dinner 19 26 6:30 PM Worship & Sacraments Committee Meeting 7:00 PM Session 2 6:30 PM PW Coordinating Team meeting 27 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM Office 6 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM Office 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM Placing of Repentance Ashes 6:00 PM Evangelism Committee Meeting 13 12:05 PM - 1:05 PM Lenton Lunch by Faith Fellowship 20 Newsletter Deadline Session Reports Due 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM Office 12:05 PM - 1:05 PM Lenten Lunch by 1st UMC 6:00 PM Cong. Life Committee Meeting 6:30 PM Deacons Meeting 7:30 PM Ministry & Administration Committee Meeting 27 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM Office 12:05 PM - 1:05 PM Lenten Lunch by Trinity Lutheran 3 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM Office 12:05 PM - 1:05 PM Lenten Lunch by 1st Baptist 6:00 PM Evangelism Committee Meeting 28 7 10:30 AM Communion at Fairview Haven 7:30 PM International Relations Study Group 14 6:30 PM Women's Study 21 10:30 AM Communion at The Pointe at Pontiac 28 4 10:30 AM Communion at Fairview Haven 7:30 PM International Relations Study Group 1 6:30 PM Koinonia 2 8 9 15 6:30 PM Youth Group 16 22 23 29 6:00 PM John 3:16 5 6:30 PM Koinonia 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Marilyn Wells' 95th Birthday Party 6:30 PM Youth Group 30 6
First Presbyterian Church 101 East Elm Street Fairbury, IL 61739 815-692-2963 www.firstpresfairbury.org Return Service Requested