FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH JANUARY 2015 Happy New Year! This is what everyone says to everyone else, but we are Christians and it means something more to us Jesus is the author of second chances and new beginnings. I know some of you have lost loved ones. From now on each day will be different. It will, however, be a new beginning. Please, do not give up hope. Just as your life was a great adventure before, there lies before you another. New beginnings mean new callings. Here are some promises you can claim: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Malachi 3:16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Revelation 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. God will bless each and every one of you in this New Year. Of this I am confident. Pastor Brian
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH JANUARY 2015 Please keep our members and friends at home & retirement communities in your thoughts & prayers! The Jr. and Sr. High School class wants to thank everyone who participated in our food drive for the Pantry. We believe almost everyone brought food from A to Z!! We appreciate your help in our project and know many will have the food needed for their family. ~ Hailey, Luke, Mary Jeanne, Alexandra and Tyler Happy Birthday! Beth Schultz Jim Cochran Diane Seidel Karlie Schultz Deb Schultz 15th 21st 25th 25th 29th Those at home: Coyla Harris, Norma DeRose, and Marjorie Hall Those at Retirement Communities: Greenfield: Marilyn Pryor Veteran s Home: Roy McKune Asta Care Center: Alice Pohanka Here are the ladies that sent salads to the Our Table gathering on December 15: Thank you goes to Chanda Bohnsack, Pam Cochran, Connie Espel, Carolyn Workman, Lora Corban (double!), Susan Barlow, and Mary Michel. The number of people served is still increasing. Thanks for providing to this community mission. [New sign-up sheets for January, February, and March are on the narthex bulletin board.] Our Church has once again received a donation to the Worship Committee from the Clinton Knowles family from Colorado in memory of Anne Knowles s parents and grandmother, Alfred and Dorothy Haake, Jr. and Gertrude Skinner. The committee will purchase something that will beautify our church. In the past we have used the money to purchase a silk Christmas centerpiece found on the grand piano, two pulpit silk flower arrangements for the winter season, silk arrangements for the pulpit flowers for the Pentecost and spring season, Activity Bag items for children during church service, and Lenten banners. Thank you to the Knowles family for remembering the Presbyterian Church in Princeton.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH JANUARY 2015 "Our Table" Mondays 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. United Methodist Church Our Table is a communityoutreach meal served by the church for people who may be facing tough financial times or who may simply be lonely and wanting to eat a meal with others. There is absolutely no cost and no suggested donations for the meal. The meal will be served from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Presbyterian Church provides salads for "Our Table" every 3rd Monday of each month. Contact Pam Cochran for more information. JUST IN CASE! If the weather looks hazardous, please check the following for news of church service cancellations: WZOE radio, the church web site, and your e-mail. Any decision to cancel church will be made and posted Saturday evening or at latest first thing Sunday morning. PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN The Presbyterian Women met December 2nd at the church for our Christmas meeting. We began the study of Living a Life of Balance by Marilyn Meberg. A Christmas gift of $115.00 was collected and given to Freedom House, to be used for Christmas gifts. We made cookies for the Children s Christmas program December 14th, and will make 30 dozen cookies for the January 8th Blood Mobile. Five members traveled to Waltham Presbyterian Church for their annual Christmas Tea. There will not be a circle meeting in January. Our February 3rd meeting will be held at the church. Chanda Bohnsack will be the hostess and Carolyn Workman will lead the lesson. If you would like to know more about Presbyterian Women and our circle meetings, please ask Pam, Carolyn or Barbara. Everyone is invited to attend and is welcome. Barbara Brumbaugh Moderator
The Architect Behind First Presbyterian Church's Design We recently received an information request from Chuck Brand, the grandson of architect Herb Brand, who was employed by First Presbyterian after the church was destroyed by fire on March 5, 1936. Len and Barbara Brumbaugh sent Chuck a copy of the book "First Presbyterian Church: 1837-150 Years - 1987" which includes a mention of Herb Brand. Chuck was very appreciative for the book, and in an email he gave even more details about his grandfather's life and impressive career: "(Herb) was born in Danville, IL in 1885, and graduated from University of Illinois with a degree in architecture and structural engineering in 1908. Herb lived in Oak Park, IL and married Esther Hoover in 1921. They moved to Western Springs, IL in 1924 where they raised their family. Herb died in 1972. The book states he was from River Forest, IL which is not correct. Architect Herb Brand (Photos supplied by Chuck Brand) He did design 3 buildings for Concordia College in River Forest but his office was in Chicago. Most of his designs were English Gothic, with a few colonial. Of the 150 or so churches and educational buildings he designed from 1923 to 1959, there are a few in your area you may know of: Zion Lutheran - LaMoille, 1954 First Baptist Church - LaMoille, 1948 First Baptist Church - Mendota, 1949 First Evangelical Church - Ottawa, 1930 In 1938 Herb designed an English Gothic church, St. Johns Lutheran, in Sycamore, IL. It burned to the ground in 2004 due to an electric short in the organ, which sounds similar to your 1936 fire. First Methodist in Streator burned in 1934 to be replaced with an entirely new structure. I have attached a few pictures you may find interesting." (See photos below) First Methodist, Streator First Evangelical, Ottawa, 1930 St Johns Lutheran, Sycamore 1938 Warrenville Baptist, 1937
Notes from the Session The Session met on November 11th for a regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting opened with prayer and the minutes of the last meeting were approved as corrected and the treasurer's report was approved as written. Pastor Brian and Pam Cochran went to Presbytery today and took 32 school kits to be distributed to needy children. Minimum terms of call for the pastor have gone up 5% for new pastors in new churches. The 2015 per capita amount will be $35.62. Lora Corban has said she will be our church treasurer and the congregation will vote on this at the annual meeting which will be held on December 7th immediately after the church service. They will also vote for new church officers for 2015 and the 2015 terms of call for Pastor Brian. The 2015 terms of call for Pastor Brian were discussed and were agreed upon by the session and Brian. The 2015 budget was presented and reviewed. It was voted to accept the budget with some minor changes. Rev. Windmiller will preach on Sunday, November 16th. The church will go Christmas caroling to member and friends of the church who are shut in or living in nursing homes. The annual Christmas Eve Service will be held on December 24th at 5:00 pm. A church rental policy has been developed and with some changes made will be voted on at the next session meeting. The Committee on Ministry of Blackhawk Presbytery will send two members to visit the session on December 16th. This will be a time for the session to express joys and concerns about the church. The meeting adjourned with all reciting the Lord's Prayer. CONTACT US: www.1stpresprinceton.com 320 Park Ave East Princeton, IL 61356 Ph. 815-875-1306 Email: fpcpton@frontier.com
ANNUAL MEETING NOTES: First Presbyterian Church Annual Meeting December 7, 2014 The 2014 annual meeting of the First Presbyterian Church in Princeton was held on December 7, 2014 after the church service for the purpose of reviewing the 2015 church budget, to vote on the report of the nominating committee and to vote on the pastor's terms of call. Pastor Brian opened the meeting with prayer. Kenn Corban of the Administrative Committee presented the the prepared budget and took questions from the floor. There has been concern that the church's income does not cover the expenses. Kenn said that with the amount of investments the church has, we have not taken any principle to pay for expenses for three years. Investment income has been good for the last several years, but it might not always be that good. There was also a concern about what major projects for the care of the church building might be coming up. The chairman of the Buildings and Grounds committee addressed the question by listing a number of upcoming projects: 1. masonry work on the church 2. window repairs in the 2nd floor of the church 3. plaster cracks in the sanctuary and library 4. church wiring is old and outdated It was MSP to have Kenn Corban be the moderator during the discussion of the 2015 Terms of Call for Pastor Brian. Kenn mentioned that this year's terms are identical to last year's except for a change in how the pastor's insurance is funded. The church will absorb this extra amount. It was MSP to accept the terms of call as printed. It was suggested to Kenn that the stewardship drive begin immediately. Cliff Cartwright presented names for church officers for 2015. It was MSP to accept the officers as presented. Elders elected for 2015-2018 are Dave Larson, Chuck Stiles, and Carolyn Workman. Deacons elected for 2015-2018 are Barb Brumbaugh and Wanda Stenzel. Treasurer for one year is Lora Corban and Clerk of the Session for one year is Carolyn Workman. The 2015 Nominating Committee is to include two of the three retiring members (Pam Cochran, June Larson or Mark Schultz). From the Deacons representing is Bob Oaks and from Presbyterian Women is Barb Brumbaugh. The at-large representatives are Bill Cass, Roland Gibson and Beth Schultz. Pastor Brian thanked all the officers who are retiring for their years of service. Jim Cochran was also thanked for his 20 years of service as the treasurer of the church. It was MSP to adjourn the meeting and as a closing prayer, all recited the Lord's Prayer. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn Workman Clerk of the Session
Deacon: Kathy Cartwright THOSE SERVING IN JANUARY: Head Ushers: 4 & 18 Bill Cass & Janet Naaktgeboren 11 & 25 Chuck & Margaret Stiles Lay Leaders: 4 Carolyn Workman 11 Chuck Stiles 18 Pam Cochran Communion: 4th Elena Hilmes* (set up) Chuck Stiles Barb Wiggins Susan Barlow SUNDAY MO NDAY TUES DAY WEDNESDAY THURS DAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 Communion Installation of Officers 11 5 12 New Year's Day Office closed 6 7 8 Church Women United / Blood Mobile Canteen 13 14 Mission Meeting 5:30pm 9 10 15 16 17 18 19 Our Table Salads 20 Session 7p 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Church Women United Annual Meeting @ Evangelical Covenant Church