OCTOBER 2015 / Volume 49 / Issue 10

It’s almost here. After months of Launch Team training, technology updates, and trial run services, our new 9:00am contemporary service is set to launch Sunday, October 25! As you may know, 20 years ago in 1995, we began worship services at this location in what was then affectionately called “the gymsuary.” On October 25th, we’ll return to that space and invite hundreds of new people to a service with a coffee house feel. In addition to a number of chairs, there will be some tall round tables and chairs to accommodate the warm hospitality and family-friendly atmosphere. There will also be a cool new video projection system that will give a true “Wow” factor. Like all of our services, it will be compassion-driven, seeking to care for the needs of our community and world in a Christ-like way. This new service aligns beautifully with our mission of making new and deeper disciples of Jesus who can transform our world. Here are some ways that will happen. • Attract new people Our world is geared to options. With two contemporary worship options on Sunday morning, we can attract young families whose children like to nap at 10:30 or those who have sports activities or other commitments starting around mid-day. • Grow our KidLife and StudentLife ministries Through this service, our KidLife and StudentLife ministries would grow by attracting more young families at that hour. • Expand our KidLife volunteer base A significant challenge of our growing KidLife ministry is finding volunteers to greet families, check-in kids, teach, and serve as small group leaders. Most people that serve in our KidLife ministry at 10:30AM find themselves having to choose between worshiping or serving. A new contemporary service at 9:00AM would allow them to do both. Since February we have been praying for 100 people to participate in our 9:00AM Launch Team. These people commit to actively serve and make the 9:00AM service their home for a year, so it can get legs and breathe its own air. After that, they can return to the service of their choice. At this point, we have 86 people on the team. Perhaps you could help us reach 100. More recently, we’ve been asking God for 300 people to join us at the first service on Oct. 25. Thousands of invitations will go out in the next few weeks, but the most important invites will come from you! Over 80% of people who try a church and ultimately stay come on the elbow of a friend or family member. These are exciting times at Springfield First! Thank you for the ways you are praying, serving, and inviting to transform lives and families with the love of Jesus Christ.

Can’t wait to see what God will do!

PHONE 217.793.9760WWW.SPRINGFIELDFIRST.ORG

PASTORAL STAFF

Dr. Roger Ross | Lead Pastor

Rev. Mike Whitaker | Pastor

Rev. Nicole Cox | Pastor

MINISTRY STAFF

Carli Burton | Director of Adult Education & Senior Ministries

Chantel Corrie | Director of Connections

Chase Carlisle | Director of Contemporary Music Ministries

Elyssa Carlisle | Director of Youth Choir & Handbells Ministries

Garrett West | Director of Worship Tech

Lana Salomonson | Executive Director

Matt Cleveland | Director of StudentLife

Nancy Angulo | Director of KidLife Ministry

Dr. See Tsai Chan | Director of New Life Choir & Handbells Ministries

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Aaron Havard | Information Technology

Brennan Pappas | Printshop

Holly Taylor | Accountant

Jenny Hutcherson | Admin. Assistant

Pam Long | Financial Secretary

Sharon Sweeney | Dr. Ross’ Assistant

CUSTODIAL STAFF

David Rodriguez

James “J” Dunlap

STAFF emails:First initial and Last name@springfieldfirst.org

Your church staff is here to help you live as disciples of Jesus Christ that transform the world. Feel free to contact them.

2 Good T i d ings / OCTOBER 2015

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Christ. Community. Coffee.

Abingdon Press has just released a new book called Meet The Goodpeople: Wesley’s 7 Ways to Share Faith by someone we know.

The book brings to light all the good people around us who are disconnected from God—our next door neighbor, our co-worker, our brother-in-law, maybe our best friend at school. These are bright, funny, articulate people who have a deep down longing to connect with something bigger than themselves, but don’t know how and are not even sure if it’s possible. How will these people ever come to know God?

Drawing on the genius of John Wesley, the book describes Wesley’s seven ways to share faith that ignited a revival in the 18th century and updates them to help us connect people to God in our time.

Meet The Goodpeople is available in the church office for $12. In response to many requests, there will be a brief time for book signing after each of the services on October 17-18.

OCTOBER 2015 3

M E S S A G E S E R I E S

OCTOBER 3/4: VISION FOR THE PUREMIKE WHITAKER SPEAKING

OCTOBER 10/11: IDENTITY FOR THE PEACEFULNICOLE COX SPEAKING

OCTOBER 17/18: A HEAVEN FOR THE PERSECUTEDROGER ROSS SPEAKING

HOT OFF THE PRESS!

Invite everyone you know to come out

and enjoy a time of Fall fun! There will

be lots of activities for people of all ages:

bounces houses, hay rides, food, candy,

caramel apples, a pumpkin patch,

carnival row, hot cocoa, and lots more!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, AT 2:00-4:00PM

GREAT OCTOBER DAYS

4 Good T id ings / OCTOBER 2015

CONTACT MINISTRIES FALL FUNDRAISER CONCERT

OCTOBER 15 AT 6:30pmSpringfield First is coordinating with Contact Ministries to host the Christian music group Sanctus Real. This group of singer-songwriters released their 7th album, The Dream, last year. Sanctus Real has been nominated for two Grammy awards. Originally from Toledo, Ohio, they are known for songs like, “Forgiven” and “Lead Me.” Their new song, “Lay It Down,” demonstrates their gift for bringing audiences closer to God.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. All proceeds from this concert will go to Contact Ministries, a faith-based, human and social service organization focused on helping poverty-level families and individuals here in Springfield.

OCTOBER 2015 5

Help us to spread joy to kids across the world with Operation Christmas Child! Last year, Springfield First collected over 300 shoeboxes to send to children who otherwise wouldn’t have a Christmas gift. Join us again for this awesome missions opportunity. You can start now by collecting small items that will fit in a shoebox. We’ll have packing boxes and details on our website by mid-October.

For more information, contact Nancy Angulo at nangulo@springfieldfirst.org or 793-9760 x227.

Christmas Cantata ~ Singers Wanted!The New Life Adult Choir and Youth Choir will present a Christmas Cantata, The Wonderful Child, accompanied by a full symphony orchestra on Sunday, December 20, at the 9:00am traditional service. We will be singing beautiful anthems and hymn arrangements by John Rutter, Craig Courtney, Dan Forrest, and Jay Rouse. There will be a lot of congregational singing, and we need a big choir to lead the worship! If you are interested in singing, come and join us!

Rehearsals will take place on Thursdays at 7:00pm in Room 22. You only need to attend the first portion of the weekly rehearsal, which will take about half an hour. As we get closer to the performance, we will devote more rehearsal time to the Christmas Cantata. No auditions required.

For more information, contact See Tsai Chan at schan@springfieldfirst.org.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD | COLLECTION WEEK: NOVEMBER 16-23

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Please be a part of our new faith community

Sign-up is open! Make your appointment today!

Online www.springfieldfirst.org

In the Atrium during worship

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6 Good T i d ings / OCTOBER 2015

OCTOBER 2015 7

Connections Team Volunteers Needed!The mission of our Connections team is to ensure that our guests and those who regularly attend feel God’s love and are connected to the faith community of Springfield First through a warm welcome, an “extra mile” attitude, and a desire to make a sincere connection. We are looking for volunteers to serve in the following areas:

• Greeters – provide a warm welcome and a friendly face as people enter our building for worship services.

• Ushers – hand out bulletins, walk guests to their

seats, collect the offering at worship services.

• Welcome Center – answer questions, help guests get connected to our faith community.

• Sunday Refreshments – serve coffee and refreshments on Sunday mornings.

• Phone Calls – call our new guests to thank them for visiting our church.

• Guest Ambassadors – guide new guests where they need to go.

CONNECTIONS OPPORTUNITIESContact: Chantel Corrie · Director of Connectionsccorrie@springfieldfirst.org or 793-9760 x126

Starting Point Sunday, November 1, at 10:30-11:30am | Atrium 1New to Springfield First? Or wondering how to get more involved? Learn more about this community of faith by attending Starting Point. Talk with a pastor, tour the building, and receive helpful information about this family of faith. Meet others who are new or looking to get more involved at Springfield First. Sign up in the Atrium.

New Members Luncheon • Please note the date has changed! •Sunday, October 4, at 11:30am-1:00pm | Atrium 2/3New members, the time has come for your official welcome to the family! Meals are a huge part of bonding and memories with any family, and the Springfield First faith family is no different. All new members and their families are invited to have lunch with the pastors and our staff. Everything will be provided including childcare. There is no charge - this is your celebration! RSVP to Chantel Corrie at ccorrie@springfieldfirst.org or 793-9760 x126.

Save the Date · New Members Class Wednesday, November 18, at 6:00-7:30pm | Atrium 4Meet others who are new to the church family and have the opportunity to ask questions of the pastors to understand the meaning of membership at Springfield First. This is a casual class where you will learn more about the mission, vision, and core values of this faith community. This class is open to individuals who have completed G6 and are wanting to take the next step into membership at Springfield First.

Sunday Morning RefreshmentsThe quickest way to the heart is through the stomach. Be a part of pouring out love on our congregation and new guests. We want to have great food that will bring people together in the Atrium on Sunday mornings to share in life and in Christ. The commitment is small but significant. Just sign up to bring 2 dozen store-bought or homemade treats any week of your choice. Bring them with you Sunday or drop them off during the week. Sign-up is in the Atrium.

8 Good T i d ings / OCTOBER 2015

Join us for the start of our new midweek program, CONNECT, with opportunities for all ages. On Wednesdays from October 7 to November 18, we will offer dinner in the Community Life Center at 5:45-6:30pm for a small cost, followed by options for children, students, and adults beginning at 6:30pm.

CHILDREN/YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES

KIDLIFE Children in preschool through 5th grade will learn what it means to live their faith from the inside out. They will take part in active Bible learning with high-energy activities to help them learn and build different types of skills. The program will be at 6:30-7:45pm, with childcare and activities offered at 7:45-8:00pm.

Contact: Nancy Angulo at 793-9760 x227 or nangulo@springfieldfirst.org

STUDENTLIFEStudents will have the opportunity to serve and invest in the children of our KidLife ministry while working alongside our great team of adult volunteers!

Contact: Matt Cleveland at 793-9760 x124 or mcleveland@springfieldfirst.org

ADULT OPPORTUNITIESThese will take place at 6:30-8:00pm.

G6 CLASS | ATRIUM 4Ever wonder what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? Well, our “G6” class will describe exactly what that looks like here at Springfield First. We will go through six characteristics of a deeply devoted disciple of Jesus Christ, all beginning with the letter “G.”

Glory – worshiping GodGrace – imparting Christ’s loveGrowth – celebrating spiritual disciplinesGroup – doing life togetherGiftedness – serving othersGenerosity – sharing compassionately

Contact: Sharon Sweeney at 793-9760 x131or ssweeney@springfieldfirst.org

Note – G6 is now a pre-requisite for becoming a Member at Springfield First.

INVITATION TO ROMANS: A SHORT-TERM DISCIPLE BIBLE STUDY | Room 2Led by John Marsaglia, this 9-week in-depth study will provide historical background and an understanding of Paul and his message of God’s love for all people. Cost of book is $15.

Contact: Carli Burton at 793-9760 x121 or cburton@springfieldfirst.org

LAUGHING ON PURPOSE | Choir RoomComedian Michael Jr. teaches us that “comedy makes us laugh and purpose gives us joy” in this hilarious DVD series.

Contact: Jenny Hutcherson at 793-9760 x231 or jhutcherson@springfieldfirst.org

MOM2MOM SMALL GROUP | Room 1This evening small group, designed to equip women in motherhood and faith, will be another option for mothers on Wednesday evenings.

Contact: Becki Andrew at bec61210@yahoo.com

OUR NEW MIDWEEK PROGRAMTo register online, please visit www.springfieldfirst.org.

OCTOBER 2015 9

October 11, 1:30-5:00pmThis is an opportunity for solitude, to calm your spirit and satisfy your soul. There are no special qualifications or minimum age required, only the desire to have a conversation with God. You may want to walk the beautiful grounds or sit quietly in a peaceful setting. If you’ve been trying to hear from God about a topic in your life, this just might be the opportunity you need. We will gather for a brief orientation at 1:30pm and come together again for a quick recap before 5:00pm. There is no cost. A free will offering will be received. The Chiara Center is located at 4875 LaVerna Road on the northeast side of Springfield. For more information, contact Sharon Sweeney at ssweeney@springfieldfirst.org or 793-9760 x131.

C L A S S O P P O R T U N I T YRETIREMENT PEACE UNIVERSITY (Formerly known as Retirement Smart 360˚)

This 4-session, interactive workshop is designed for those nearing or in retirement. Attendees will review over 40 critical financial decisions that shape the success or failureof retirement. (Pick up the hand-out in our Atrium next to the sign-up for this class).Becoming prepared to make wise choices now guards against running out of money later.

• Class size is limited to 20.• Cost: $199.00 per couple or for 2 friends with a money-back guarantee (regularly $399). Bring a friend or couple who does not attend Springfield First, and they are free as your guests.

When: October 20, 22, 27 & 29Time: 6:00–8:30pm

Where: Atrium 4

PRESCHOOL · HELLO, FIRST LOOK FRIENDS! It’s Super Kids month! This month, we are going to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS because God is always with us. Each of our stories this month is about a person in the Bible who God helped to be brave. We start the month with Gideon who trusted that God knew everything and followed His directions going into battle with only torches, jars, and trumpets. Then we will learn about Moses’ sister, Miriam, who was strong and courageous as she stood in the reeds watching over her brother and then walked right up to the princess to offer the best solution of all! We will also learn about Hezekiah and take part in building some walls to learn about how God sent an angel to defend the city! Finally, we will learn about how brave Daniel was to do the right thing even though he had a BIG problem! In all of these lessons, we will learn about how God is mighty and powerful and will help us to be Super Kids as we learn to trust in Him no matter what!

B E C O M E PA R T O F T H E P O W E R U P V O L U N T E E R T E A M !STEP 1: TAKE A LOOKFind out the many ways that you can make a differencein a child’s life! There are volunteer opportunities during scheduled programs and administrative tasks that can be completed throughout the week! Contact Nancy Angulo at nangulo@springfieldfirst.org or 793-9760 x227 to learn about these opportunities!

STEP 2: SIGN UPFill out a volunteer application form and complete a background check form. You can obtain these in the main office or the KidLife office!

STEP 3: POWER UPMeet with the Director of KidLife for training and get ready to put your gifts to use so that you can help build up the faith of children in our KidLife programs!

God is one-of-a-kind with no beginning and no end. And everything God has created is unique and one-of-a-kind. God made each person one-of-a-kind – even identical twins have unique fingerprints! Every person that ever was or ever will be is an original, including the kids that come to our KidLife ministry each week!That’s why the KidLife team will focus on teaching kids how to find out who God made them to be. We will help them discover how to tap into their God-given potential and find their purpose NOW so they’ll grow up knowing the even greater potential God has for them in the future. They will learn about individuality.Individuality is discovering who you are meant to be so you can make a difference. In the Bible, Timothy is a perfect example of a young individual who had incredible potential. He made a tremendous impact on the growth of the early church because he had adults in his life, like the apostle Paul, who recognized what was in his box of potential and helped him open it. Throughout the month of October, kids will learn from the life of Timothy so that they can discover their own individual potential and establish a pattern that will carry them throughout life.

10 Good T id ings / OCTOBER 2015

OCTOBER 2015 11

Fusion Sunday Nights6:00 - 8:00pm • STARTING OCTOBER 11: WIREDHow many hours are you technologically connected on a normal day? If you were to add up your hours online, your glances at text messages, your streaming music, your perusing social media, your Netflix addiction, how many hours could you count? It’s probably a lot. Our culture is obsessed with technology – and with good reason. Technology keeps us connected to each other and to the world around us. Nearly every device we own transmits signals to something else, somewhere else. Why? Because that’s how they’re wired to function. Our phones, tablets, smart watches, gaming systems – they all are wired to connect to something outside them. And the same is true for us. We are wired for connection. It’s in our design. As we take a closer look at what Jesus called “the greatest commandment,” we discover that we were wired to have three vital relationships: with God, with ourselves, and with others. And when those connections are made, everything else begins to function as it was designed. OCTOBER 11: WIRELESS / OCTOBER 18: WEIRD / OCTOBER 25: WIRES CROSSED

Fall is underway! We had a great kick-off and have so much planned for the coming year of ministry! Here are a few of the things going on in StudentLife this month:

ATTENTION ALL CONFIRMATION STUDENTS:

This month, starting October 7, Springfield First’s Wednesday

Connect nights begin! So at 5:45pm you can show up for a meal for you and your entire family at a

small cost per person. Then our class will resume at the usual time,

6:30-7:45pm in Room 89. Be sure and let others in your family

know there will be things going on that night for them too!

ONETHING SERVICE PROJECTSSaturday, October 3, 11:00am-3:00pmStudentLife has been working hard to build partnerships within our community! Last month, we served at Hope Institute during their Fall Kick-Off selling raffle tickets and mums (to help raise funds for the Institute), organizing games and activities, and spending some quality time with their awesome students! It was a great serve day! This month we have another OneThing serve day for you to be a part of on October 3! Like last month, we’ll reveal the project when students show up ready to serve at 11:00am here at Springfield First.

Parents, please contact Matt Cleveland at mcleveland@springfieldfirst.org to receive updates about StudentLife events.

Senior Ministries’ EventsFor more information regarding any Senior Ministries events or trips, or if you and/or a loved one are moving to a care facility, please contact Carli Burton at cburton@springfieldfirst.org or 793-9760 x121.

12 Good T id ings / OCTOBER 2015

AROUND THE TABLE ADVENTURE: SENIOR FELLOWSHIPDate: Thursday, October 8 | Time: 9:30am–12:30pm

Where: Rooms 5/6 | Why: Fellowship, Fun, Food (and games, card games, board games, and dominoes)Host and Hostesses: Bill & Helen Winberg and Joan RulisonMeal: BBQ chicken, cheesy potatoes, and sides. Dessert and morning treats will be provided by our host and hostesses.(Suggested donation of $6.00 for all you can eat or until it is gone meal).

TRIPSSUNDAY, OCTOBER 18St. Norbert’s Homemade Sunday Dinner/Grafton Fall FestivalDay trip to Hardin, IL, where we will enjoy a dinner of fried chicken, roast beef, dumplings, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, green beans, drinks, and pies (and other extras)! We will depart from the church parking lot at 11:20am. Following our dinner we will stop at the Grafton Fall Festival. Cost for the meal and luxury travel is $32.00.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6Tanner’s Orchard Christmas Open House in Speer/Stover’s Candy Outlet in LincolnDepart time is 8:30am, and return time is around 3:30pm. We will find a large assortment of gifts and food items in their Farm Market and Apple Bin Bakery and be treated to numerous and varied samples. We will enjoy a wonderful lunch at their food counter and then head to Lincoln to be “sweetened up” at Russell Stover’s Candy Outlet. Cost is $25.00 for luxury travel.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3A Christmas to Remember at the Barn II Dinner TheatreThe Barn II Dinner Theatre is celebrating 40 years and will be bringing us their “greatest hits” from Christmases past. It will include their version of the Gaither Vocal Band to hilarious acts from It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol, and more. Whether you are a first-time guest at The Barn or a regular, it will be a “Christmas to Remember”! Cost for a prime rib dinner, fried chicken, and all the sides, drinks, dessert, gratuity, show, and luxury travel is $52.00. We will depart at 4:15pm from the church parking lot. 

ANNUAL SENIOR GALAWe are happy to announce our Senior Gala for 2015 is on Friday, October 16, at 6:00pm in our Community Life Center (formerly known as the Gym). Sponsored by our Senior Ministries’ Council, we will enjoy a sit-down dinner followed by our entertainment. Elvis Himselvis, performed by Rick Dunham and his band, will be featured. Elvis will be performing his hits as well as some patriotic and religious numbers. Tickets will be on sale the two week-ends prior to the event, October 3/4 and 10/11. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Senior Ministries’ EventsFor more information regarding any Senior Ministries events or trips, or if you and/or a loved one are moving to a care facility, please contact Carli Burton at cburton@springfieldfirst.org or 793-9760 x121.

OCTOBER 2015 13

S C H E D U L E O F E V E N T S Friday, October 2

Board Meeting/October Surprise Luncheon10:00/Noon – Room 14/Community Life Center

Saturday, October 3Conference Fall Event

Normal United Methodist Church

Friday, October 16Lydia Circle

9:30am - Rooms 5/6

Wednesday, October 21Rachel Circle

7:00pm - Atrium 1

Saturday, November 7Personal/Spiritual GrowthArgenta Methodist Church

UNITED METHODIST WOMENAn invitation is always open to all women of the church to come for any activity, luncheon, meeting, or event. As members of the church, all women are naturally United Methodist Women and we encourage any level of involvement. We believe in John Wesley’s idea: “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” Our group is involved in supporting many missions of our church, in our community, and around the world.

LUNCHEON – OCTOBER 2The luncheon will be at noon in the Community Life Center. We will have an October Surprise program which we hope you will all enjoy, so bring someone new! Suggested donation for lunch is $7.00. New guests are treated to their first lunch. Call Alice Post at 787-0094 or Shirley Major at 544-5253 if you plan to attend.

NUTS, NUTS, NUTS – FALL FUNDRAISERJust in time for fall and holiday baking, the United Methodist Women will be selling all kinds of nuts this year straight from those Georgia trees. We will continue to have the variety that we had last year: pecans, black walnuts, English Walnuts, cashews, and almonds. Pre-orders will be taken this year during the weekends of November 7/8 and December 12/13. This is our main fundraiser which is used for many mission projects, so plan in advance how many bags you’ll need. They will also be available to purchase when they come in.

TWO CIRCLES – LYDIA AND RACHEL Lydia Circle meets on the third Friday of each month at 9:30am. Rachel Circle meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm.

14 Good T id ings / OCTOBER 2015

CUSTODIAN DENNIS FORS RETIRES

Always ready to share a cup of coffee

and a story with people, Dennis Fors

has been a custodian at Springfield

First for nearly 14 years, most recently

on the weekends. He recently decided

to retire and asked not to have a

going away celebration of any kind.

We thank him for his servant heart

and his dedication to our church all

of these years. He will be missed!

Dear Church Family,I am not good at goodbyes, but pretty good at moving chairs and tables around! I’ve met lots of people here in nearly 14 years of service. Some have affected me very deeply. Some are no longer with us except in a spiritual way.

Time marches on, faces change, and FUMC keeps evolving. So I will just say “so long” for now.

Thanks, Dennis

CHARGE CONFERENCE – NOVEMBER 9Our annual Charge Conference will be held in Room 7 on Monday, November 9, at 7:00pm. Our District Superintendent, Rev. Terry Harter, will preside as we confirm our church leadership for 2015-2016, take stock of our ministry over the past year, and look forward to

God’s leading in the year to come. All are invited to attend.

SARI SALEIn loving memory of a long time member of Springfield First, Anna Daniel, a sari sale will be held on Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, in the Atrium. Anna was a native of India and always wore a sari. After her “homecoming,” her saris were given to share with her many church friends. Each sari is 45 inches wide and 6 yards long and most are silk. They will be available for a donation to the Momentum Fund to help with the building debt. For further information, contact Jean Webster at webster.charles@comcast.net or 217-787-1714.

WEEKEND CHURCH CUSTODIAN NEEDED We are looking for a custodian to work in the church each Saturday and Sunday during the day. Duties will include cleaning of restrooms, classrooms, and worship areas, complete room set-up and teardown, vacuuming and shampooing carpets, and other duties. Must be pleasant and professional and able to lift 50 pounds. Must also be able to spend most of the time standing or walking. If you are interested, please contact Lana Salomonson, Executive Director, at 793-9760 or lsalomonson@springfieldfirst.org.

CONTEMPORARY CHOIR DIRECTOR OPENING We are in need of a part-time contemporary choir director. Duties would include song selection, overseeing the growth of our choir, holding rehearsals and performing at least one Sunday a month throughout the school year. If you have a passion for contemporary music and are an effective music leader, please contact Executive Director Lana Salomonson at lsalomonson@springfieldfirst.org or call her at 217-793-9760.

Is Jesus in your wil l? Our time in this world doesn’t last forever, but our influence can. As you plan for the future, prayerfully consider tithing 10% of your estate to the church for which Jesus gave his life.

J O B O P E N I N G S

OCTOBER 2015 15

Financial Giving Updates First United Methodist Church

In an effort to more effectively serve the church body we are posting our financial report at the following web

address. This will permit the church to update our financial information in a more timely manner and provide more

immediate access when desired. The financial information can be found at the following address:

https://goo.gl/a1CDjQ

OcTOBER REAL ScripturesEzra and Nehemiah

October 1 – Ezra 1:1-11October 2 – Ezra 2:1-35October 3 – Ezra 2:36-70October 4 – Ezra 3:1-6October 5 – Ezra 3:7-13October 6 – Ezra 4:1-10October 7 – Ezra 4:11-24October 8 – Ezra 5:1-6October 9 – Ezra 5:7-17October 10 – Ezra 6:1-7October 11 – Ezra 6:8-12October 12 – Ezra 6:13-22October 13 – Ezra 7:1-10October 14 – Ezra 7:11-20October 15 – Ezra 7:21-28

October 16 – Ezra 8:1-14October 17 – Ezra 8:15-27 October 18 – Ezra 8:28-36October 19 – Ezra 9:1-9October 20 – Ezra 9:10-15October 21 – Ezra 10:1-11October 22 – Ezra 10:12-22October 23 – Ezra 10:23-44October 24 – Nehemiah 1:1-11October 25 – Nehemiah 2:1-10October 26 – Nehemiah 2:11-20October 27 – Nehemiah 3:1-12October 28 – Nehemiah 3:13-21October 29 – Nehemiah 3:22-32October 30 – Nehemiah 4:1-11

B a p t i s m sWelcome to God’s family:

Clayton Wayne Miller

D E A T H SPlease hold in prayer the families

of these precious people:

Gwen Borah David Grimm

Woody HersemannCathryn HurleyGuy JohnstonJohn KimballDoris Kraft

Murrell StephensRoger Ward

To receive Tidings via mail OR email, contact the main office.Connect with us online at www.springfieldfirst.org for more resources.

Upcoming Events

OCTOBER 4 — New Members Luncheon

7 — Connect midweek program begins

7 — G6, Invitation to Romans, and Laughing on Purpose begins

11 — Prayer Retreat (Chiara Center)

15 — Contact Ministries concert, Sanctus Real

16 — Annual Senior Gala

25 — New 9:00am Contemporary Service begins

in Community Life Center

31 — Great October Days Fall Funfest

NOVEMBER 1 — Starting Point

9 — Charge Conference

18 — New Members Class

WEEKEND WORSHIP EXPERIENCESSaturday / 5:30pm Sunday / 9:00 & 10:30am

Stay up on ALL future events of Springfield First · visit our website www.springfieldfirst.org

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2941 South Koke Mill Road · Springfield, IL 62711