January 2016

Monthly Newsletter of A

Community of Faith

From the Pastor’s Pen January is not a time to take a deep breath, sigh, and relax because the busy Christmas holiday season is over. It is a time to “press on” toward the future that offers something new every day. God places people, opportunities, commitments, and responsibilities in our lives as we travel through our lives daily. Some days and weeks can be exhausting for some as they try to squeeze too much into an already event-filled day or week. In our “pressing on” we need to remember the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians, “Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”(Philippians 3:12-14). In his letter Paul is speaking of the prize of eternal life.

Continued on page 2...

Faithnews

1.4

Bible Study -7pm

1.6

Federated Board Mtg

7pm

1.11

Bible Study- 7pm

1.18

Bible Study- 7pm

1.24

Presbytery Mtg after

worship

1.25

Bible Study- 7pm

Mark Your Calendar

Bible Study to Resume The Monday night Bible study will resume on Monday, January 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the conference room. We are studying the book of James using the resource from RightNow Media. Francis Chan is our DVD teacher. Following his brief presentation of several passages we discuss questions from a resource guide. Feel free to join our group to learn what the book of James has to teach us.

Volunteers Needed to Un-decorate the Church – Sunday, January 3

We need help to pack away the Christmas decorations immediately following the worship service. If able and available your help will be appreciated. A Community of Faith Church Leadership Retreat – Saturday, January 16 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon All elected officers, committee members, and staff are encouraged to attend the church leadership retreat on Saturday, January 16. We will meet in the fellowship hall from 9 a.m. -12 noon. Members of the Federated Board will examine the Presbyterian Elders who will begin their first of three years serving on the Federated Board. We will then meet in small groups and set ob-tainable goals for 2016 in the following areas: worship, education, mission, outreach, and buildings/maintenance. If you wish to bring snacks and bever-ages to share please do so. Presbyterian Officers Installation/United Methodist Officers Recognized – January 17 Newly elected Elders and Deacons of the United Pres-byterian Church of Raymond and the elected officers of the Administrative Council of the Raymond United Methodist Church will installed/recognized on Sunday, January 17 during the worship service.

E each day or week we have the opportunity to “press on” by studying the Bible, reading a daily devotional, praying, volunteering, attending church school classes, and worship. By doing these things we actually take a breather from the hustle and bustle of daily living to enjoy some time preparing for what lies ahead. Blessing from your pastor, Larry

The Congregation Welcomes Our New Accompanist Martha Ruppert has been hired as the church’s accompanist. She lives in Hills-boro and has supplied us with this brief biography: I have been a musician in-volved in worship since I was 13 years old. I graduated from Concordia Univer-sity, River Forest IL in 1974. My degree is in Elementary Education and Humanities and the Performing Arts. I taught school for 2 years, and then raised my family. (Our tenth grandchild was born on De-cember 11). I am teaching again, at Zion Lutheran School in Litchfield. Martha will be playing two Sundays each month. Judy Weitekamp will be playing other Sundays when available on a temporary basis.

Continued from page 1

United Methodist Church Leadership Training - Sunday, January 24 Pastor Larry encourages all church leaders both United Methodist and Presbyterian to attend the Lay Leadership Training presented by the Sangamon River District. See Pastor Larry for a registration form. Registration forms must be returned to the church office by January 6. The church will pay for the training. We will carpool from A Community of Faith at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday, January 24. The Lay Leadership Training will be held at the Decatur First UMC from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Registration will begin at 2:00 pm. The training workshops will begin at 2:30 p.m. It is hoped that all officers and new committee members will attend, and in particular all Staff/Pastor-Parish Relation Committees members attend. Sessions to be offered are:

What is an Effective Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee? - Rev. Terry P. Harter Small Group Ministry Today - Rev. Mike Whitaker Extravagant Generosity - Rev. Ted Frost Growing Your Church Through Creative Worship - Rev. Ted Hartley How to be a Church Financial Officer and NOT go to Jail! - Rev. Richard Van Giesen The Journey of 10 X 10 - Increasing Spiritual Vitality - Peggy Hisey Discipleship Ministries- Rev. Beth Fender

Annual Congregational Meeting of the First United Presbyterian Church The meeting will be held on Sunday, January 24 immediately following the worship service. Minutes of the November 22, 2015 congregational meeting will be presented for approval. Reports will be given by the audit committee, the Clerk of Session, and the pastor. It is an illusion to think that more

Comfort means more happiness.

Happiness comes of the capacity

to feel deeply,

to enjoy simply,

to think freely,

to risk life,

to be needed.

Storm Jameson

Preaching Passages & Topics Listed below are the passages and topics I will be preaching on during January. You can read the pas-sages and come prepared for worship. Pastor Larry Date The Passages The Message January 3 Isaiah 60:1-6 The Light That Overcomes Matthew 2:1-12 Darkness January 10 Isaiah 43:1-7 Kicking the Worry Habit Guest speaker Acts 8:14-17 Rev. Joanne Hinds January 17 Psalm 40:1-11 The Rock John 1:29-42 January 24 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 Spiritual Body Parts January 31 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Love Is A Verb

In Our Prayers:,

Mary Lee Reineke, Betty Goby, Pat Moslener (sister-in-law of Larry & Pat’s),

Bill & Donna Fosten (friends of Larry & Pat Moslener), Millie Comley,

Norma Graham, Rev. Ken Bryant (pastor of the Greenville Presbyterian Church),

Paula Williams (friend of Larry & Pat Moslener), Brian Satterlee (Pat Johnson’s nephew), Janet

Held, Craig Dickey, Victoria Glover Cline, Virginia Elmore, Pat Johnson, Anna Watkins Glenn

Painter’s sister), Robert Gottshall (Barbara Cannedy’s brother), Greta Bredehoft (Becky Cloney’s

daughter’s sister-in-law), Mary Ann Hitchings, Grace Herschelman, Dale Musser(Cathy Jackson’s

brother-in-law), Joe Carriker, Terry Todt, Janet Hough, Lucas Rudy, Kelly Murphy (friend of Cathy

Graham Allen), Bobby Grundy (Terri Pope’s brother-in-law), Maynard Graham, Amanda and Alex

Hampton, Jan Smith, Norma Hampton, Carla Mitts, Jon Mitts family, Travis Myers, Don Bettis.

Communion for January Brenda Arter

Communion for February

Joan Graham

Flowers for January Vanessa Mulch

Flowers for February

Vanessa Mulch

Liturgist

January 3 Judy Weitekamp

10 Pat Ziegler

17 Pat Moslener

24 Debbie McCallum

31 Harry Jackson

January Birthdays

13 David Falter

14 Sue Rossi

Alexis Walch

18 Fred Roach

29 Cathy Jackson

January Anniversaries

27 Byron & Wanda Land

November Church Offerings & Attendance 11/01 $ 1,601.50 44 11/08 1,398.00 62 11/15 1,153.00 57 11/22 1,268.00 59 11/29 1,214.00 63 Total $ 6,634.50

November Sunday School Offerings & Attendance 11/01 $15.00 27 11/08 27.65 28 11/15 23.00 23 11/22 20.00 34 11/29 18.10 28 Total $103.75

Year to date Teacher Fund $650.00

The Fellowship Team is implementing for 2016 a monthly pot-

luck lunch on the first Sunday of each month. We feel this will

give our Community of Faith greater opportunity to grow in our

faith and relationships. And to have some fun with each other!!

There will be a theme for the lunch each month in addition to

celebrating those people whose birthday or anniversary is during

that month. We hope you will put these dates on your calendars

and try to attend as many through the year as possible.

The first one for 2016 is January 3rd. The theme is “HAPPY

NEW YEAR”!! Those people who have a birthday or anniver-

sary that month will be recognized. We ask that everyone bring a

meat, vegetable or salad dish to share. Table ware, dessert and

beverages will be provided. If you have any questions, please

speak to one of the members of the Fellowship Team: Brenda

Arter, Cathy Rockwell, Pat Moslener, Sue Rossi, Pat Zeigler

February 7th July 3rd

March 6th August 7th

April 3rd September 4th

May 1st October 2nd

June 5th November 6th

December 4th