PROVIDENCE: Looking at God in the Rear View Mirror Rev. Dr. John Cole The Puritans who founded our nation were great believers in a spiritual discipline they called meditating on God s Providence. It provided an opportunity to look back on the Spirit s handiwork, to see how God has carefully woven a tapestry of care, direction, and sending in our lives. We Presbyterians often speak of God s sovereignty, which tends to evoke images of God as big, powerful, and distant. But the theologian H. Richard Niebuhr pointed out that God s sovereignty is also to be found in the morning by morning faithfulness of God, the One who knows the number of hairs on your head or the number of tears that fall down your cheeks. Outdoor Sunday, June 17 10:30 a.m. We will have worship service on the front lawn with a potluck afterward on Sunday, June 17. Deacons will supply the meat, table service, drinks and ice cream. Please bring a dish to pass. Rev. David Barnes from Hampshire Colony Church will be serving as summer pulpit supply beginning June 3 through August. Lately, I have been exceptionally aware of God s Providence in my life. After enduring what has been a difficult year, I was not really sure what God was going to call me to do next, and it was at about that low point that I received a call from Daniel DeBeers, telling me about a church in Princeton, IL, in need of some transitional leadership. Honestly, I had no idea where Princeton was, and only Daniel s assurance that it was a great place to serve. It seemed like an ideal way for me to be present among God s people while we both engaged in the process of discernment and imagined where God might be calling us next. So, I decided not to look any further than Princeton, to hear God s call, and to go. In just three short months, I am awed by what God and the people of FPC have done to impact my life. Here in Princeton, I have experienced a time of healing, joy, and re-energizing of my sense of purpose, so that when I got the call from Florida State University for a teaching fellowship, I was able to step away from twenty years of parish ministry and answer a call to teaching, writing, and mentoring young men and women who will be wrestling with the ultimate questions of life. What a wonderful church! It has been such a privilege to serve among you, to help you imagine the church you believe God is calling you to be, and to discern where God is leading you. I believe, with all my heart, that you are in a great place to welcome your new pastor and continue on your journey into a promising future together. Of course, I have known from the beginning that I was not called to remain at FPC. Interim pastors are called for a particular purpose, and not for the long term. Unfortunately, it still does not make it any easier when the time comes for me to say goodbye. Still, even here, God has been so good. As a wise pastor once told me when I was sad to leave a call, the challenge for each of us as we are sent to new challenges is to take a part of what we have loved from the community we are leaving, and let that light shine at my next destination. Thank you for shining that light so brightly at a critical time in my life. May God bless you in this new chapter on your journey with Christ. WORSHIP HOURS Summer Worship services will be held at 9 a.m. beginning June 3rd. This time change will run through August. IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE: p. 2 Notes from March Session, Those Serving in June, Thinking of the Homebound p. 3 Notes from April Session, Our Table thank you, Join Adult Sunday School p. 4 June calendar p. 5-7 Upcoming events
The March meeting of the session of the First Presbyterian Church took place on the 20th with an opening prayer by Rev. John Cole. The minutes of the previous meeting and the Treasurer's report were accepted as written. The number of communicants on the first Sunday in March was 22. The church and Church Education building were recently rewired and new fluorescent lighting was installed in both buildings. A grant was received to offset some of the expenses. The Deacons will be asked if they would like to have the annual church picnic on the front lawn of the church. The annual meeting of Blackhawk Presbyterian Women s Association will be held at the church on April 27 th. Planning by the our Women s Association members has begun. The Investments of our church will soon be managed by professional managers. A potluck lunch will be held on a Sunday in April to introduce Rev. Cole and his family to our congregation. The date will be announced soon. The church s copier is not going to last much longer. It was decided to purchase a laser printer which will do all the tasks needed at the church. This will cost ¼ the price of a new copier. Session members will be contacted when the a vote to purchase the laser printer is needed. A one day bible school will be held this summer and one of our church partners is in charge. Wendell Nelson will play the organ on Easter Sunday. There will be no Good Friday services at church. Rev. Cole signed a contract to become our interim minister on a month by month basis. The Session approved the Clerk s Annual Report to the Presbytery. The meeting ended with all reciting the Lord s Prayer. THOSE SERVING IN JUNE Deacon: Barbara Brumbaugh Lay Leaders: 3 - Karl Schultz 10 - Lisa Bettner 24 - Mark Schultz Head Ushers: 3 - Becky May, Tyler Mercer 17 - Becky May, Pam Cochran 10 & 24 - Nancy Sims & Carolyn Workman Communion: 3 - Lora & Kenn Corban Members & Friends at Retirement Communities: Greenfield Home: Ann Mickow, Harold & Jeanne Hutchinson Millcreek Care Center: Marilyn Pryor Liberty Village: Lil Johnson, Helene Gleason, Diane Seidel, Ruth Davis
The April meeting of the Session of the First Presbyterian Church took place on the 17th with an opening prayer by Rev. John Cole. The minutes of the previous meeting and the Treasurer's report were accepted as written. The number of communicants on the first Sunday in April was 55. Rev. Cole thanked the session for the enjoyable potluck that was held to introduce his family to the congregation. The deacons have decided to hold the Annual Church and Picnic in Zearing Park in June on the front lawn of the church instead of the park. Our Women s Association will hold the Blackhawk Presbytery s annual meeting here at the church on Friday, April 27 th. The organization is making plans for the event. Bible school will be held on July 16 th at our church, but the planning group is from Princeton Christian Church. Compassion Sunday will take place on April 29 th and the Sunday School students will talk about the program and be a major part of the service. The PNC committee has updated the Session regarded their work on securing a new minister. The Quilter s Guild that was meeting at the church on one day a month has decided to move to another building since they did not like using the stairs. The meeting ended with all reciting the Lord s Prayer. Our Table SALAD MAKERS! Here are the salad makers that took salads to the Our Table gathering on February 19, March 19, April 16, and May 21. Thank you goes to: Chanda Bohnsack, Pam Cochran, Connie Espel, Lora Corban, Becky May, Barb Brumbaugh, Mary Michel, Mary Andrei, Carolyn Workman, Nancy Sims, and Susan Barlow. [Sign-up sheets for June, July, and August are on the narthex bulletin board.] YOUR HELP WITH THIS MISSION IS MUCH APPRECIATED! JOIN ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL THIS FALL! The Christian Education Committee will soon be ordering and paying for study materials for the Adult Sunday School class. The new materials include a highly-rated, easy to follow book and workbook for "Twelve Ordinary Men" by John MacArthur. We encourage all who are interested in attending Adult Sunday School in September to please let Pam know by July 1st.
His mercies are new every morning... Great is Thy Faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 Communion 9:00 a.m. Rev. David Barnes 4 5 6 7 8 9 Alexandra Powelson! 10 9:00 a.m. Al Longman! 11 12 13 Brad Powelson! 14 Happy Anniversary Chuck & Margaret Stiles! 15 16 17 Outdoor Worship on the front lawn & Potluck 10:30 a.m. 18 "Our Table" @ UMC Dana Schultz! 19 SESSION 7 p.m. June Larson! 20 Ann Mickow! 21 Happy Anniversary Len & Barbara Brumbaugh! 22 23 24 9:00 a.m. 25 26 27 28 29 Mary Jeanne Brown! 30
Christmas in July Celebration Day Camp will be on July 16, 2018 from 8:30am to 3:00pm. Join us for a free day of fun, games, music, food, and stories. All children K- 5th grade are welcome to participate. FREE 1-Day Camp!!! With Breakfast, Lunch & Snacks Science Music Crafts Games Make Snow, Go Caroling. Do a Giving Tree shoes Mission Service Project Enjoy Fun, Stories & Zumba! AGE 5 to entering 5th GRADE Sign Up Today! (Walk-ins Welcome) https://goo.gl/forms/mt1cr5e7qrvi2mbj2 Or call 815-879-0961
COME SUPPORT OUR 4-H MEMBERS: ALEXANDRA, BRENNA, KARLIE AND LUKE!