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SUNDAY 8:00 a.m. Worship Service – Chapel
SERVICES 9:00 a.m. Christian Education Hour – Everyday Issues Class – Dining Room
(Regular Schedule) 9:00 a.m. Teen Church School – Adult Classroom 9:15 a.m. New Song Worship Service – Chapel 10:15 a.m. Chapel Class – Chapel 10:30 a.m. Worship Service – Sanctuary and Children’s Church School
Tower Notes (USPS 634720) is published Semimonthly, by First Presbyterian Church, 204 W. Prairie Ave., Decatur, IL 62523. Periodical postage paid at Decatur, IL. Postmaster: Send address changes to Tower Notes, 204 W. Prairie Ave., Decatur IL 62523 (217)429-4195; (217)429-4712 FAX www.firstpresdecatur.org or email: [email protected]
December 14, 2016 Volume 48 Number 23 Ann Elder, Compilation; Rick Koetje, Editor
WOLLENBERGS
Get in Touch…
Drop a Line
Bob & Jean -twopastors@hot mail.com
Bob
[email protected] or 217-330-2478
Jean
jeanswoll@gmail. com or 217-420-0466
Sunday, December 18 at 10:30 a.m.
Annual Christmas Music Service:
“Portraits of the Christmas Story” Choir, organ, piano, handbells, flute, clarinet & cello
Narration written by Rick Koetje
This will be the only service on December 18.
CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING RECEIVED ON DECEMBER 18
GROWING THE GIFT OF FAITH -- During this Advent and Christmas season, we reflect on the birth of Jesus as God’s greatest gift, given to all of us. Giving to the Christmas Joy Offering is one way we can celebrate and honor that gift, by faithfully supporting church workers in times of need and the development of the future racial ethnic leadership of our church. PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY.
VISIT 8 DOWNTOWN CHURCHES
A Free Event Hop on the trolley to visit eight beautifully decorated sanctuaries in the Church Street area. There will be music, some history and light refreshments. See you this Sunday, December 18 from 1:30-4:00 p.m. Your starting point may be at any of the participating churches.
Deadline for the next issue is Monday, January 2 at noon
Tower Notes
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Coming Events … … Wednesday, December 14
Prayer Shawl Group, 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, December 15 Men’s Bible Study, 7:00 a.m.
Come share the Bible at the home
of Paul Rosenberger. Call Paul at 877-4789 by the
evening before to ensure that the group is
meeting.
Saturday, December 17
Christmas Choir Practice, 9:00-Noon
4th Sunday of Advent, December 18 Everyday Issues, 9:00 a.m.,
Dining Room Christmas stories with Matthew and Luke
Do you know where the story of the little drummer boy is found in the Bible? Do you know how many wise men there were? Do you know what time of year Jesus was born? Bill Keagle wraps up answers on Sunday.
Teen Church School, 9:00 a.m., Youth Area
Christmas Music Program, 10:30 a.m.
Christmas Joy Offering will be received.
Children’s Church School, 10:30 a.m., Sanctuary
Church Street Christmas Walk, 1:30-4:00p.m.
Choir Christmas Party, 6:00 p.m. Music Department holiday party will be at the home of Will and Carol Sudduth.
Monday, December 19 Session Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Dining Room
Thursday, December 22
Men’s Bible Study, 7:00 a.m. Call Paul at 877-4789 by the evening
before to ensure that the group is meeting.
Friday, December 23 Office closes at Noon
Saturday, December 24 Christmas Eve Service, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 25 One Worship Service, 10:30 p.m.
Childcare is Available.
Monday & Tuesday, December 26 &27
Office is closed.
Looking Forward … Thursday, December 29
Men’s Bible Study, 7:00 a.m. Call Paul Rosenberger at 877-4789 by the evening
before to ensure that the group is meeting.
Saturday, December 31
Feed the Hungry - First United Methodist needs donations of desserts to feed the hungry for lunch at noon on this Saturday. You can deliver pies (no cream), cakes or cookies from 9:30-11:30 to 201 W. North St., or help serve from 11:30-1:00 p.m.
Communion Sunday, January 1 On the first Sunday of the month, share your blessings with the needy as you bring your food donations to all services for Northeast Community Fund. You may also bring food or monetary donations on Monday morning.
Also, on the first Sunday of the month, the Peacemaking committee will sell olive oil and Equal Exchange coffee, tea and cocoa in the Gathering Room. Thank you for your support.
Worship Services, 8:00, 9:15 and 10:30 a.m. No Church School, but Nursery is Available.
Monday, January 2
Office is Closed
Wednesday, January 4 Taizé Worship Service, 6:15 p.m., chapel
Thursday, January 5 Men’s Bible Study, 7:00 a.m. Volunteers at Good Samaritan Inn
First Presbyterian Church prepares and serves at Good Sam. Hours are from 9:00-1:00 p.m. If you are free to volunteer, come to 920 N. Union Street.
Saturday, January 7, 9:30-1:00
Officer Retreat and Luncheon Baptism of the Lord, Sunday, January 8
Worship Services, 8:00, 9:15 and 10:30 a.m. Officers will be installed during worship services.
Everyday Issues, 9:00 a.m., see pg. 3 Teen Church School, 9:00 a.m. Adult Classroom Children’s Church School, 10:30 a.m.,
sanctuary Hiding the Greens & Soup, 4:00 p.m., see pg. 4 Just Flicks’ film, Brassed Off, 6:00 p.m., Central
Christian Church, 650 W. William St.
Saturday, January 14
MLK EVENT Nationally syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts, Jr. will speak in Decatur at the Martin
Luther King Luncheon, Saturday, January 14, 2017 at the Decatur Club at noon. Tickets are $30 each. This event is sponsored by the Decatur Human Relations Commission. Reserved tickets are in the church office.
PRAYER CONCERNS
Christl Smalley’s brother Gary Pat Nevitt is undergoing treatments. Rick Koetje’s father Carl in hospice may
not make it through this week. Naomi Davis is at Hickory Point Christian Village
for rehab, room 207, and is expected to be there for another week.
Mike Lowe moved to Hickory Point Christian Village for rehab for 2-3 weeks.
John and Jane Oaster’s niece Maggie had brain surgery on November 29. She was discharged home on December 4 and doing well.
Marty Grohne is in St. Mary’s Hospital, rm. 625, after suffering a stroke on December 11.
Phyllis McPherron’s grandson Robbie McPherron is scheduled for surgery to remove a throat abscess.
Christine Foster’s brother, Bill Wolfe, has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer.
Our sympathy is extended to Alice and Doug Nicholson and their family. Doug Nicholson's aunt, Dorothy Stewart of Newton, IL, and sister to his mother Alice, died November 29, 2016.
Session accepted the resignation of Jim Lycan as
Facilities Assistant effective November 16, 2016.
Blessing Mix Needed
Our church will be participating in the
Church Street Christmas Tour on
December 18 from 1:30-4:00 p.m.
We will be serving a small snack to
those who visit First Pres. We are
asking for donations of the following items: Bugles
Corn Snacks, mini pretzels, sunflower seeds, dried
cranberries, Christmas M & Ms (no peanut) and
Christmas Hershey kisses or hugs (any flavor). Please
bring any donations to the church by Wednesday,
December 14, before the event.
Thanks for your help. The Deacons
HATS-SCARVES-AND-MITTENS
Our Prayer Shawl Ministry is encouraging
anyone who wishes to knit hats or scarves for our
Christmas Mitten Tree to check with Cathy or the
church office if they want to
use yarn from our donated
supply. These finished
projects will be given to
children at DOVE and Muffley
School—our One Church/One
School partner. The tree is
located in the Gathering
room! Donations will be given out December 16.
Pecan Sale continues until gone…
Pecans are in so stop by to pick them up, or order
more. Call 429-4195 or email [email protected].
JANUARY 8 OPENS WITH
NEW EVERYDAY ISSUES CLASS
What do you do when everything falls apart? In
586 BC, the Babylonians invaded Judea, destroyed
Jerusalem and the temple, and attempted to
destroy the culture and the faith of the Jews. Ten
to fifteen percent of them were forcibly resettled
in Babylon. They were in despair. But a young
prophet named Isaiah presented a message of
hope: God has not abandoned you or failed you;
God is at work among you creating a new world
out of the wreckage of the old. Bill Keagle will be
leading a study of Isaiah chapters 40-66 on Sunday
mornings at 9:00, January 8, 15, 22, and 29. Does
this message of hope still resonate with us?
STAND UP FOR GRACE
Stand Up for Grace will be collecting toothbrushes,
brand new pencils and pens, Band-Aids, antibiotic
lotion, sterile gauze and medical gloves for By Grace
Orphanage. There will be a collection box in the library
until December 13th. If you want to send any letters to
any of the children at By Grace, please put them in the
collection box also.
Sponsored by the Peacemaking committee
"The stockings were hung by the
chimney with care"...To provide a
Christmas gift of warm "stockings" to those doing without this basic need, the Mission committee is sponsoring a collection of new men's, women's and children's socks. Please put donations in the designated bin in the Donation Center in the Library by December 18. We thank you.
Annual Stewardship
Campaign Update
Through December 6, we have received 102 pledges
totaling $367,254 toward the goal of $454,751.
If you have not made your pledge as yet, please do so
as soon as possible. We will then be able to finalize our
Annual Budget for the coming year.
Thank you very much.
WE MUST RECEIVE YOUR EMAIL FOR
TOWER NOTES
Tower Notes will be published in an 8 ½ x 11 format
beginning in January. Distribution will be primarily by
email but the new format will make it easy for you to
print them for your own use. If the church does not have
your email, please get that to Christl to continue receiving
our church news. If you do not have email, you may
receive them by mail but the office must be notified.
Tower Notes are always available on our church website,
www.firstpresdecatur.org
Baker Needed
Like to bake? We are in need of someone to
share the duties of baking 3 loaves of bread every
other month for Communion. We can even provide
you with three bread pans! If you’re willing, contact
Susan Moore at 620-0504 or [email protected].
HAVE TOO MANY?
The Worship and Music Committee is in need of large, plastic bins with lids for Advent decoration storage. Any
donations may be brought to church by December 22. Contact Susan Moore at [email protected]
Hiding of the Greens – January 8
We will be taking down
the greens on Sunday,
January 8, at 4:00 pm. All
are invited to share in this
activity. We’ll enjoy some
soup and fellowship in the
dining room when we’re
finished. Please sign up in
the Gathering Room or call the church office by
January 4. You may also email Susan Moore at
The First Pres Staff wishes you a
Alternative Christmas Gifts
Make a donation in honor of a loved one. Rating by Charity Navigator.org - (4 stars highest)
4 - Native American Rights Fund
http://www.narf.org/ 4 - United States Fund for UNICEF
http://www.unicefusa.org/help/shop 3 - Oxfam America
https://www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com/ 3 - Southern Poverty Law Center
https://www.splcenter.org/ 3 - Children’s Defense Fund
http://www.childrensdefense.org/ 2 - Heifer Project International
http://www.heifer.org/gift-catalog/index.html Not rated - Marion Medical Mission
http://www.mmmwater.org/ Not rated-American Friends Service Committee
https://www.afsc.org/ Not rated - Presbyterian Mission Agency
https://presbyteriangifts.org/
Christmas Basket Needs
How amazing would it be to make your plans now for how you would be able to help out for the DOVE and Northeast Community Fund Christmas Baskets Drive?
About 350 families have been helped each year in the past, with food for a Christmas Dinner and more; toys for children in the family; stockings filled with needed items, and hats and gloves for all. Here is a sampling of a few items for which they still have a great need: full-sized bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothpaste, and toothbrushes, as well as boxes of gallon-size Ziploc bags. Volunteers are needed the week of basket packing at First United Methodist, 201 W. North St., on the mornings of December 15-17 and December 19-20, from 8:30-5:30p.m. Help is also needed the morning of Thursday, December 22 for delivering these baskets.
“A Missing Peace”
If we get enough youth and adult advisors for the
Montreat Youth Conference, we will be registering at
Montreat for Week 5 (July 23-29). The group will leave
Decatur on Saturday, July 22, and arrive July 23. Cost
will include transportation, hotel, conference fee,
housing and meals at Montreat. Call or text Brenda
Aymer at 217-791-0493 for cost and details.
