Community Lenten Services

This year we’re going to have a soup supper starting at 5:30 pm and our worship services will start at 6:30 pm. Please plan to join us as we gather together as a worshiping community this Lent.

  • Tuesday, February 28th – Community of Christ
  • Tuesday, March 6th – 1st Presbyterian
  • Tuesday, March 13th  – 1st Christian
  • Tuesday, March 20th  – Zion United Church of Christ
  • Tuesday, March 27th  – Our Redeemer Lutheran
  • April 6th Good Friday – 1st United Methodist

Christmastide Schedule

We’re pulled in many different ways during the Christmas season. The end of the year, the Christmas Treekids are out of school, family is coming or we are going, and all sorts of events are happening. We invite you to take some time out to be with us in worship as we celebrate the season as a community of faith.

  • Our children told us the story of Christ’s birth in worship on December 11th.
  • Our choir helped us to prepare for the coming of Christ with the Advent cantata on December 18th.
  • We’ll go caroling on Wednesday, December 21st. We’ll gather at the church for a light meal at 4:15 pm and then go to several of our shut-ins, caroling all the way. We should be back in time to…
  • Gather for our Longest Night Service on December 21st at 7 pm. This service is a recognition that the nights are longer and it isn’t always easy to see the light that is coming into the world, often because of the darkness that has entered our own lives. Come and worship and share Christ’s table on this night if you resonate with a Blue Christmas.
  • We will begin our celebration of Christ’s birth Christmas Eve at 7 PM with our Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion service. Please join us for this service of lessons and carols.
  • On Christmas Morning we will gather at 10:30 am for worship (Just worship, no Sunday School). Please come ready to sing, as we will sing, and hear the story one more time. Come casual, come as you are, come in the Christmas Spirit.

Introducing Lynn Neal

Starting October 1, we welcome Lynn Neal to our staff as an intern in the Commissioned Ruling Elder training program. Lynn is an elder at First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Vernon, and is in training to be a commissioned ruling elder. While with us she will be involved in all aspects of ministry, working about 20 hours a month. She will lead worship, provide pastoral care, and work with our committees and ministries. Please make Lynn welcome among us, and help her find her gifts for ministry, and help her use her gifts in ministry among us.

Come Hear about Mission work in Lithuania

PC(USA) mission worker to Lithuania, Jane Holslag, will be in the Southeastern Illinois area from September 23 – 30, 2011 and she has a wonderful story to tell. She is will speak at our church Monday night at 6:30, Sept. 26 and Tuesday morning at 9:30, Sept. 27.  This is an excellent opportunity to hear her witness as to how your mission funds are essential throughout the world. Jane’s bio can be read here.

Please try and be with us at one of these meetings we will be so glad to have you  and I know we will all be blessed.

Bible 101

Starting Sunday, October 2nd, Wade will be teaching Bible 101 in Sunday School and again on Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm. We will cover some true basics – what do we know about the Bible, how do we know it, and what role does the Bible play in our faith, as well as how to pick a Bible for personal use. Then we’ll move into the fine art of Biblical interpretation, learning how we each interpret Scripture and then do some hands on Biblical interpretation. Join us if you’d like to know more about the Bible and truly start to study your Bible.