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Tower Notes (USPS 634720) is published
Weekly, except week of Christmas, 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]
********************************************************************************************************************* VOLUME 47 May 20, 2015 NUMBER 19 ********************************************************************************************************************* May 24, 2015 8:00 a.m. Worship Service – Chapel PENTECOST SUNDAY 9:00 a.m. Christian Education Hour 9:15 a.m. NewSong Worship Service – Chapel 10:15 a.m. Chapel Class 10:30 a.m. Worship Service – Sanctuary; Children’s Church School – LL May 25, 2015 Memorial Day – office closed
First Presbyterian Vision and Mission Statements VISION: As faithful followers of Jesus Christ, we seek to be an open, caring, compassionate congregation,
and to bring about positive changes in our community and world. MISSION: We celebrate, explore, and demonstrate our Christian faith in loving service. STRATEGIC PRIORITIES: 1) Continue to be an active community-oriented congregation; 2) Develop a passion for discipleship and advocacy; 3) Celebrate unity of purpose with diversity in action.
Frugal Froggie and the Finance Committee
have been busy looking for frugal budgeting avenues for First Pres. We are making progress, but we do need your input, please! Look for an easel in the Gathering Room and a drop box for you to submit your creative thoughts regarding First Pres finances to us. Of course, phone calls are welcome also!! Chug-a-rum, Frugal Froggie
SUNDAY
Wear
RED
We celebrate Pentecost May 24, a day that calls us to be thankful for the birth of Christ’s church and to be confident that even now God’s Spirit renews and empowers us. Join the tradition and wear red to worship this Sunday as a symbol of the color of the tongues of fire that represent the Holy Spirit. The Pentecost Offering will be taken to support programs for children and youth and to provide opportunities for young people to develop connections to God and the church. 40% of the Pentecost Offering will stay in our congregation to support local programs to benefit children-at-risk. Please give generously.
Walk and Conversation... A Fellowship of First
Presbyterian Pathfinders
Please join us for a walk at 4:00 p.m. held each
Wednesday now through June 24 in the
front church parking lot. The walks are 45 minutes in length
and held in the heart of the city. We look forward to connecting with our downtown
community and prayerfully acknowledging the people and places along its path
(weather permitting). For more information, contact Connie May
@ 433-2781 or Kathy Beube @ 620-7563.
The First Pres String Band will play period
music at the Civil War Round Table Memorial
Day Service on Thursday, May 21, 2015 from
5:30-6:30 p.m. at Fairview Park’s Civil War
Memorial (near the tennis courts).
Tower Notes
Notes
OUR CHURCH FAMILY
PRAYER CONCERNS: Kelly Tohill Pat Watts' two daughters and granddaughter have serious health issues. James Nevitt is at Decatur Memorial, rm. 4408. Festus Paul is moving to a nursing home. Carole Tobias broke her arm. Our sympathy is extended to the family of Betty Ann Davidson whose daughter-in-law, and son Scott’s wife, died May 14, 2015.
In Memoriam
Debra Ann Davidson November 20, 1952 – May 14, 2015
Uphold us now, O Lord, as we entrust her to your
boundless love and eternal care.
THANK YOU Dear Members of the Congregation,
Thank you all for the many donations and contributions that you have recently given to Stand Up For Grace. I am so grateful for all the generosity, prayers and encouragement you have given me and the children of By Grace Orphanage through the years.
The quality of life for these children has improved through the years and all of you have helped to achieve this. I am headed to Kenya for my 21st trip and am very excited to be with the children again. Thanks for all your continued support!
Pixie Fennessey
President of Stand Up for Grace
Remember the chapel pews If you are interested in acquiring an original First Pres pew from the old chapel (It is the longer one), you may call 429-9550 to see it.
ALL ARE INVITED On Sunday, May 31st at 3:00 p.m. at the Community United Church of Christ in Champaign (805 S. 6th St.), Cyndy Ash will preach and then the church’s Ecclesial Council will vote on her eligibility for ordination. The service will be in the lower level. Guests may stay for the vote, although they cannot vote.
You are cordially invited to
Caroline Williams’ 90th Birthday Celebration
May 31, 2015 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. 6665 Sherry Court – Long Creek
36 E, turn R on Long Creek Rd., turn R on Sherry Ct. Given by daughter Carol Peters
Questions, 972-4092 Well wishes and cards only
VERY GOOD
May 24 SUNDAY GREETERS
Before Service #1 Volunteer #4 Sue Weinstein #2 Yvonne Lewis #5 Bob Bullock #3 Volunteer Computer Tech Jackie Evans Web Team Media Tech Theresa Boes Jackie Evans Andy Rauff May Church School Teacher Nadine Wimmer
Music Department’s Spring Picnic
Sunday, May 31, 4:30-7:00 pm
Home of Sue Grieve
519 Park Place Ct., Forsyth
Sandwiches and drinks provided.
Questions? 972-1390
JUNE SOUNDS OF MUSIC
The Sanctuary Choir will host a luncheon after the 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday, June 7, in the dining room. Entertainment will include a few Oldies
but Goodies and songs from the popular musical Sound of Music presented by the Sanctuary Choir. Also on the program will be selections by the Belles ‘A Ringing trio and a piano duet. A box lunch, including drink, will be $5.00. Please make reservations by contacting the church office [email protected] or calling 429-4195. Guests are welcome.
Are you a
MAC user? Please contact Phyllis McPherron, 428-6466 or email [email protected]. A friend of hers would like some instruction in using Skype to see her children, now living in another country. Thank you for your knowledge.
WOMEN’S NIGHT OUT Beach House, Rte. 36E
Thurs., May 28, 2015, 5:30 p.m. Be sure to RSVP! 429-4195
E-mail concerns to: [email protected]
WORSHIP SERVICES
May 24, 2015 PENTECOST SUNDAY
Rev. John S. Kay, preaching Judy Batson, 8:00 a.m. lay leader
Pam Neeley, 9:15 a.m. service leader
Phyllis McPherron, 10:30 a.m. lay leader
Sermon “The Gift”
Scripture
Acts 2:1-8, 12-21
Flowers The flowers this Sunday are in loving
memory of Joseph Nicholson, from the Nicholson family.
May Ushers
Myung Kim, captain Dan Austin Bob Bullock
Joli Cirks Jim May
Eric Nevitt-sub Charlie Platt-sub Pat Smallwood David Williams
Mike Zia-sub
Worship Aids Children’s bulletins, large-print Bibles, and
hearing amplifiers are available for use during worship. Ask any usher.
AVAILABLE FLOWER DATE: July 12
Purchase Sunday flowers in memory of
your loved ones- 429-4195 or
MEN’S BIBLE STUDY – NEW MEMBERS WELCOMED
We are using a study guide, “The Present Word” and applying it to our modern lives. We meet from 7 to 8 each Thursday morning at church. Come, try us on for size! Questions? Contact Dick Fiala, René Corcoran, Paul Rosenberger, George Batson or Ray Landon.
PROMOTE KINDNESS TO ALL
The past two Sunday mornings, Craig Mandernach led the Everyday Issues class with a discussion on the book WONDER by R. J. Palacio. This book is about a fifth grade boy who was born with a facial deformity which prevented him from going to a mainstream school till now. Although it is a juvenile fiction it's a great read for children and ADULTS! The church school class was impressed by the themes of kindness, compassion and even anti-bullying. In fact, a national movement called 'Choose Kindness' has been traveling the country with entire schools and cities having book study groups discussing the possibilities of 'being kinder than necessary' in their own communities. This book would be great to use in our schools, reading circles or any organizations you know who are working on improving our own community. Please consider reading and sharing this book with others and let Craig, Cathy or Phyllis know of any ways this book can be a springboard toward promoting kindness. Cathy Force- Lay Ministry Coordinator ([email protected])
CHURCH SCHOOL HOUR May 24, 2014
9:00 Everyday Issues: Dining Room – Come hear about the recent Mission trip to Haiti with additional history of Haiti, led by Phyllis McPherron, Connie Requarth and Fred Spannaus.
9:00 Youth Class: LL Youth Room – Junior- and Senior-high class is led by Chris Lawton.
10:15 a.m. Chapel Conversation Class: This is a discussion group about the day’s scriptures and sermon in the chapel. Cindy Wene is discussion leader.
10:30 a.m. Children’s Church School: Sanctuary then Lower Level
Interfaith Worship &
Open House May 31
We received a generous invitation to attend an Open House on May 31,
from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m., sponsored by our friends at the Greater
Decatur Islamic Center. Inspired by their generosity, we have invited
them to join us for worship at the 10:30 service, when we will have an
emphasis on Peace with Justice.
The Open House will be held at their new location, Masjid Wali Hasan,
1635 Huston Drive, one block north of East Pershing Road, where we
will be introduced to the members of the Greater Decatur Islamic
Society, tour their worship center and be treated to an array of
refreshments.
If you would like to attend the Open House, please RSVP by May 26,
2015 to the church office, 429-4195, e-mail
[email protected] or sign up in the church office or Gathering Room
on Sunday.
We will not have an 8:00 nor 9:15 NewSong service so that all may
participate in the interfaith gathering at 10:30 a.m.
RSVP FOR OPEN HOUSE Yes, I/we plan to attend the Open House at the Greater Decatur Islamic Center on May 31, 2015 at 1635 Huston Drive. Name: ____________________________________ Number_______ Car pool or use church van, if possible: Yes: ____ No: _____
WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS
We recently received four new members: Carolyn Allin, Kelly Tohill, Lori Shimizu and Richard Virgin. We’re so glad you are here!
Carolyn Allin returned to First Pres Decatur after her husband Ronn completed
17 different interim pastoral positions around the country. She and her oldest daughter, Kelly Tohill, reaffirmed their faith and joined the church Sunday, May 17th. Kelly has two sisters, Gena and Tava, and enjoys music. Carolyn likes travel and is always ‘ready to go’. They both love baking and generously donated desserts for our Lenten soup suppers.
Lori Shimizu and her husband Brian moved to Decatur last July transferring from Bethany Presbyterian Church in Sacramento, California. She is beginning a new job as a teaching assistant at Richland’s Adele P. Glenn
Early Childhood Education Center. Brian, a native of Chicago, works at ADM. Lori loves movies, reading and travelling.
Richard (Dick) Virgin is also returning to First Presbyterian Church after a long absence. Dick was the principal of Oak Grove Elementary School from 1978-1982 before moving to Connecticut. He has six children and seven
grandkids. Cooking, gardening, camping, kayaking and bicycling are his many interests. Dick and Judy Steele will soon move to a new home on S. Woodale.
Carolyn Allin & Kelly Tohill 377 S. Delmar Decatur, Il 62522 847-226-0480 [email protected] Lori Shimizu 5272 E. Melwood Ct. Decatur, Il 62521 815-341-4110 [email protected] Richard (Dick) Virgin 288 Redwood Moving soon to 203 S. Woodale Decatur, Il 62522 860-861-3136 [email protected]
OH, MY ACHING BACK!!
More than 80% of us deal with low back pain at some time. With gardening, yard work, outdoor sports, and Spring house cleaning, low back pain can be a common result this
time of year. Most acute onset of back pain is caused by muscle spasms and resolves in a few days or weeks. Research suggests that an over-the-counter pain medication really can help relieve the discomfort. This would include acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), or naproxen (Aleve). If you have heart disease, stomach ulcers or gastritis, acetaminophen would be the best choice. Recovery is faster if you stay as active as possible and resume normal activities within a few days. Walking is a good way to restart an exercise program. Wait 2-3 weeks before a gym workout. Applying heat is found to be more helpful than ice, but sometimes alternating them gives you the most relief. Patches, creams and back-support braces have not shown to provide much pain relief. If your pain is so bad that you can’t walk up and down stairs, drive, have weakness, tingling or loss of feeling in your leg, call your health care provider for further assessment. Remember, there are 33 vertebrae in the spine, 120 muscles, 220 ligaments and 100 joints. Give your back a break… I mean a rest. Take care of it. Think prevention. Phyllis, Parish Nurse
First FRIENDS THURSDAY • MAY 28 • 10:30 AM
First Pres Lunch Bunchers are invited to join First Friends on Thursday, May 28, at 10:30 a.m. in the Susanna Wesley Room of First United Methodist Church. Their speaker will be Jennifer Daum, accompanied by one - or perhaps even more – special helpers. Mrs. Daum and her husband were part of a disaster response team working in a small Illinois town after a tornado when they first met a team of “comfort dogs. They were intrigued and started their own “comfort dog” business in Decatur. Their operation, Pawprint Ministries, has been used in various places, including schools and nursing homes.
PRIVATE VIOLENCE May 21, 2015, 7:00 p.m. Avon Theater screening and panel discussion Free tickets obtained at Dove, 302 S. Union St. Presented by Dove and Ed Bachrach
