Little Things from LisaWe’ve spent all of June and July studying the doctrine of discipleship. Saying we are a disciple of Jesus Christ means we not only accept the Word of Jesus Christ into our hearts; but we also promise to share that Word with the world. Discipleship is our journey of growth along with other Christians in Jesus Christ. When we accept Jesus into our hearts, we identify as a Disciple.

My hope and prayer is that you have been encouraged during this series to see the vast array of ways that we are called by God to be disciples for Jesus Christ every day. Not everyone is called to leave everything and follow Jesus. But everyone is called to be obedient to the individual call Jesus does make on our life. When He sends you, do you go?

As I mentioned in church, pay attention for just one single day to the number of people you pass. Notice them, be aware of them. Pray for them. Ask God if they need you. Live in the spirit of Phillip who immediately went when God called to meet the Ethiopian and share the gospel. Live in the Spirit of Peter, who crossed cultural boundaries and taboos to share the gospel. Live in the spirit of Samuel, who as only a child, dedicated his life to discipleship. Samuel spoke the difficult words others were afraid to say. Perhaps you can be a voice for someone too!

Every day our time is not our own…it belongs to God. He does not demand our time, nor does He need it. Instead He invites us into ministry with Him in order to bless us and so we can be a blessing to others. So give God your all and pay attention to where and when He calls. Be ready to respond. God Bless.

First Congregational

Community Church

Congregational TimesAugust 2018 Volume 18,

Issue 8

BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES1 Dawn Lindsey 4 John & Cindy Trimble3 Jan Smith 13 Merle & Mary Lou Sprague

12 Gina McLaren 16 John & Sandra Brinkman16 Jayne Oakes 26 Jon & Darlene Worley20 Lily Henderson20 Owen Mathieu21 Marcie Ueck23 Misty Melton26 Pastor Lisa Abb

8:00 GREETERS 10:00 GREETERS5 Leah & Logan Ball Jayne Oakes

12 Duane & Marilyn Lillie John & Sandra Brinkman19 Cindy Trimble Jim Matheson26 Jeff & Marcie Ball Jan Smith

LITURGISTS FLOWERS5 Jayne Oakes TBD

12 Stan McCord Mary Lou Sprague19 Jarl Pettersen Jim Matheson26 Jordan Menges TBD

PastorRev. Lisa M Abb

Music & OutreachHolly Richardson

CustodianBill Melton

ModeratorPaula PettersenAllan Mathieu

TreasurerStan McCord

Financial SecretaryDiane Wheeler

Church ClerkMarie Mathieu

Christian EducationChildren: Tracy Terry

Youth: Ethan & Jordan MengesAdult: Karen Gothard

DiaconateBill & Misty Melton

Brian & Diane WheelerStan McCord/Jayne Oakes

TrusteesJeff Ball

Cathy HendersonNoah Melton

Nominating CommitteeJudy Melton, Wendy Mathieu, Jeaneal Lantz

Memorial CommitteeJanet Lind, Dawn Lindsey, Lynne Nelson

Missions CommitteeKaren Gothard, Stan McCord, Marcie Ball,

Joy Aiello, Darlene Worley

Church Office: 815-623-2348

Items for Weekly Bulletin: email to firstconroscoe@gmail.com Please put “Bulletin” in the subject line

Items for Monthly Newsletter: email to klgothard@att.net

Our next meeting will be Monday, August 20 at 7pm. All women of the church are welcomed. It’s a great time to fellowship with each other.

Don’t forget about our Painting Party on Saturday, August 18th at 10am at the church. The cost is $25.00 per person for an 11x14 canvas. We will be painting a pumpkin scene. Please see Misty Melton to sign up. You have until Sunday, August 12. Payment is due at the time of sign up. All are welcomed.

Don’t forget the Women’s Evening Circle is still selling Rada knifes. If you are interested, please see Judy Melton..

Women’s Evening Circle

We had an awesome time painting boards at Erica’s Board Creations! There is an artist inside each one of us just waiting to come out! And we saw some awesome works come out of our class.

Also, I saw that many of you helped out with the Lock In murder mystery and once again, thank you for mentoring the younger ones. You are such a blessing when you share your time with them.

We will try to sneak in a couple more fun outings before you head back to school! (BOO!) Just so you know, this is the first fall in 8 years that I don’t have to go back to school! Whoo hoo! But my heart will be with yours.

Just a thought as you all prepare to return to school. Last year, school shootings were rampant and frightening. As all of the adults around you disagreed as to how to respond, many posted that kids should just befriend the outcasts and then they won’t turn to violence. I’m not convinced it is that easy. Mental health is serious business. But that being said, please do be aware of the loners, the geeks, the misfits. If you truly want to walk in discipleship, don’t let them feel alone. They are God’s child too and perhaps you would be the only one to be kind to them. Who knows?!?

Whatever you do, be kind, be careful, and be Christ-like! Peace!

VerticalFocus

Coming To The Pulpit

August is a brand-new month and it is time for a brand-new series! We have been focusing on our individual journey’s as disciples for Jesus Christ. Well along each of our journeys we encounter temptations, crossroads, and traps. This is called spiritual warfare. And it happens to all of us. Evil is everywhere, and nothing makes Satan happier than when we succumb to his trickery.

But scripture does not leave us defenseless. We have been equipped by God to withstand the evil in this world. So we will turn to Ephesians 6:10-20 to discuss the armor of God and how He has provided ways for us to clear our path of discipleship through arming ourselves with God’s blessings.

Please join us throughout August to learn how to equip and arm yourself against the spiritual warfare that exists in our lives.

The garden is fully planted and thriving. Numerous bags of spring greens have been delivered to the Rockton Food Pantry which has been very glad for this bounty. The summer plants are growing rapidly; cucumbers, tomatoes, beans,

chard, and potatoes. It will soon be time for that harvest.

We can always use volunteers. Please contact any garden team member if you are available. We need people to weed, harvest, hand water the side garden in dry weather, and fill in food delivery.

Please consider adding to our fresh veggie delivery by bringing your own garden items. Veggies are delivered early every Thursday morning. If you have fresh fruits or veggies, please place them into the back refrigerator or the small shelf

against the back wall in the kitchen.

Also, the veggies are offered to anyone wishing fresh, delicious veggies. Please take home what you would enjoy eating at home. There are extra bags in the blue storage box if needed.

The Garden Team thanks the church for its continued support: Jayne, Joy, Cathy, Holly, Karen (tech support), Noah (builder), & Sue

Please keep these folks in your prayers. If you have someone you would like to have listed here in the future, please notify the church office, Karen Gothard, or Pastor Lisa.

Shirley Putman Shirley & Shorty CarterLaVeda Stout Oscar PresleyMike White Jeaneal LantzSid Hensel Don Aiello

Our men’s luncheon will be on Wednesday, August 1st at 11:30 AM at Sophia’s Restaurant in Roscoe. Hope to see ya’ there!

Norm Iversen

Retiree’s and

God is good (all the time.) And all the time, (God is good.) In James 5:14 – 15a, James says, “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.” Can I get an AMEN! We have seen it with our own eyes. Heard it with our own hears. The healing power of prayer! It is not that God doesn’t listen or does not care for someone unless we lift up their infirmity in prayer. Conversely, God is in prayer for all who are sick and hurting. Our prayers of love join up with the powerful love of God and then we see amazing results for those who are able to heal. Keep on praying. Keep on loving. And keep on encouraging one another in His name.

GARDEN COMMITTEE UPDATE

Help is needed to work the Garden/Outreach table at the Fall Festival on 9/8 and 9/9Please see any Garden Team member listed above. Thanks!

Monday Afternoon Bible Study

“Just Older Youth”Month two had even more participants than our first time! Once again, thank you to those from our own fellowship who came and socialized or even brought guests! It was a wonderful mix of our folks and folks from the community. Each time we learn a little bit more about how to do this better!

Our August gathering will be on August 15th at 12:00 noon. Please put it on your calendar and be sure to invite as many others as you can!

The writer of Hebrews reminds us in 10:23-25, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

It is our hope and prayer to provide a place to come together to encourage, enjoy, and embrace one another. If you know of anyone who would like to join us, please pass on the information. We hope to grow this to be quite a dynamic senior outreach for our community. Please add JOY to your prayers.

JOY fellowship is looking to “stock up” on some prizes that we give away during our monthly

gathering.

If you have small gifts, items, or trinkets you have received, but really have no use for,

please consider donating them to JOY.

Just put them in the office with a note that says JOY on them and we thank you!!

We’re diggin’ in deep!Mondays at 1pm

Fireside RmAll are Welcome!

We hope you will all look forward to taking part in the following activities in the coming weeks…..

Saturday, August 11 th – SAVE THE DATE! We will be hosting a church wide Work Day to get the church all freshened up and sparkling for our 175th Anniversary Open House that we will be holding in September.

The workday will run from 8:00 am until Noon, but please feel free to join us for whatever portion of that time that you can! All help is appreciated!

A list/sign-up sheet is available on which you can write down ideas of things that need to be fixed and/or spruced up before the Open House and sign up to help.

Roscoe Fall Festival Community Outreach Event – SAVE THE DATE!

Community Outreach EventRoscoe’s Annual Fall Festival is right around the corner – Sept. 7 – 9, and once again we will offer activities for the community to enjoy. There are sign-up sheets available on the railing in the front of the church for those who are interested in helping. Part of signing-up is letting us know when you are available to help. The folks listed after each event would be exuberantly happy to answer any questions you might have regarding the event you are interested in helping with. Thank you so much for serving our community.

Community Garden Information & Goodies – Sue RichardsYouth Activities – Tracy TerryClothing Give-away – Holly Richardson

Youth Page

Youth Page

Monthly Church Events – August 2018Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

111:30 AM Retirees & Wannabes

Dawn Lindsey birthday

2 3Jan Smith birthday

4John & Cindy Trimble anniversary

58AM & 10AMWorship Services

9:15 AM CHOIR REHEARSAL

Fellowship Hour between services

61:00 PMMonday Afternoon Bible Study

7:00 PMChurch Council Meeting *NOTE the diffferent date this month*

7 8 9 10 11

Church “WORK DAY” to prep for 175th Anniversary Open House 8:00 AM til NOON

Come for whatever portion of time that you can!

12

8AM & 10AMWorship Services

9:15 AM CHOIR REHEARSAL

Fellowship Hour between services

Gina McLaren birthday

13

1:00 PMMonday Afternoon Bible Study

Merle & Mary Lou Sprague anniversary

CHURCH DIRECTORY PHOTOS

14

CHURCH DIRECTORY PHOTOS

15

JOY “Just Older Youth” Fellowship at Noon

CHURCH DIRECTORY PHOTOS

16

10:00 AMCFO’s Meeting

Jayne Oakes birthday

John & Sandra Brinkman anniversary

17 18

Women’s Evening Circle painting party at the church – 10:00 AM

EVERYONE WELCOME

19

8AM & 10AMWorship Services

9:15 AM CHOIR REHEARSAL

Fellowship Hour between services

201:00 PMMonday Afternoon Bible Study

7:00 Women’s Evening Circle

Lily Henderson birthday

Owen Mathieu birthday

21

Marcie Ueck birthday

22 23

Misty Melton birthday

24 25

268AM & 10AMWorship Services

9:15 AM CHOIR REHEARSAL

Fellowship Hour between services

Pastor Lisa birthday

Jon & Darlene Worley anniversary

27

1:00 PMMonday Afternoon Bible Study

28 29 30 31

First Congregational Community Church 10780 3rd Street – P. O. Box 66 Roscoe, IL 61073-0066 Phone: 815-623-2348

Rev. Lisa Abb firstconroscoe@gmail.com

web site: www.firstconroscoe.com

Every Sunday8:00 A.M. Morning Worship Service 8:45 A.M. Bible Study8:45 A.M. Coffee Fellowship Hour9:15 A.M. Choir Rehearsal10:00 A.M. Morning Worship Service11:00 A.M. Coffee Fellowship Hour5:00 P.M “Straight Up Sundays” Youth Programs

Join us for a Heart Warming FamilyWorship Service at 8:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. Nursery service is available for children 4 years of age and under.

Join us downstairs for coffee, dessert, and Fellowship in between Worship Services.

Every Monday1:00 P.M. Bible Study

Every Wednesday6:30 P.M. Bible Study