The Christian Messenger April 2019

Grant’s Good News Rev. Grant Wade

April is a wonderful month. The air usually begins to warm, baseball is in full swing, and new life begins to emerge all around us. I hope that this new month brings fresh life to you as you engage God’s Word with me on Sunday mornings. I hope you will take a few minutes each week to read the passages as you prepare for worship. Over the next few weeks, we will be making our way toward Easter. Through this Lenten season, we continue our study in the book of Matthew. During this time, we will walk with Jesus and his disciples though the most trying and difficult days of Jesus’ ministry. This is a story that most of us have heard many times, yet my hope is that we would find fresh meaning as we engage the Scriptures together. Just a quick reminder that Resurrection Sunday is April 21. We don’t need to pressure anyone to join us in worship, but it’s always a good time to extend an invitation to someone in your life. Resurrection Sunday is what gives us hope – and it’s important that other people find the hope that we have in Jesus. Here’s the preaching schedule for April: April 7: Your Place in Eternity – Matthew 25:31-46 April 14: Triumphal Entry – Matthew 21:1-17 (Palm Sunday) April 21: Resurrection Sunday – Matthew 28:1-10 April 28: TBD – Betty Wilson Preaching

See you Sunday,

Pastor Grant

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Good Friday Prayer Vigil On Good Friday, April 19, from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm, the Sanctuary will be open for a Prayer Vigil – a watchful, awake time set apart for the purpose of prayer. A Prayer Vigil will ensure that the Sanctuary is not empty during those hours when Jesus suffered on the cross. When you come to the quiet Sanctuary, you can feel God’s presence without the distractions and interruptions of praying at home. A sign- up sheet is in the church office, and will be passed around on an upcoming Sunday. You may sign up for a 30-minute slot, or more than one if you desire. Resources will be available in the Sanctuary to help guide you during this time of reflection and prayer. Good Friday Community Service

Each year the Sullivan Ministerial Association hosts a Community Good Friday worship gathering. Solid Rock Chapel is hosting this year on Friday, April 19, at 6:00 pm. Vanessa Patient, pastor at Elim Springs Church of Jesus Christ, will be bringing the message.

Resurrection Sunday

One of the most joyous worship gatherings, Resurrection Sunday, is April 21. Worship will begin at 10:00 am, as usual. This is a great time for you to invite your family, friends, and neighbors to come with you to worship on this special Sunday. Most folks want to be in worship on Easter, so this is a great opportunity to reach out to those who don’t have a place where they worship regularly. Bring your friends, neighbors, children, grandchildren, and anyone else you can to church to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection! GriefShare FCC is again participating and hosting GriefShare, a weekly, non– denominational grief support group. This program features biblical concepts for healing from grief after the death of a spouse, child, family member, or friend. GriefShare meets here at FCC on Tuesday evenings from 6 pm–8 pm. We began on March 19 and will end on June 4. But no worry if you haven’t joined yet! You are welcome to begin attending the GriefShare group at any session. Each is “self-contained,” so you do not have to attend in sequence. You will find encouragement and help whenever you begin. You will be able to continue with GriefShare through the next 13-week cycle and view any of the videos you have not seen. The cost for this program is simply the purchase of the workbook, which is $20. Please don't let cost stand in your way — we have scholarships to help! Please contact Betty Wilson 728-2291, Deb Best 728-4289, Connie Dunscomb 433-0581, Dan Beard 205-4630, or Cheri Rich 728-7808 for more information. Learn more about GriefShare at www.griefshare.org. Everyone is welcome!

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1st Tuesday Lunch

Please join Pastor Grant and church friends for an enjoyable time of food, fellowship, and fun at the new restaurant out at the Country Club — Fairway Family Restaurant — for 1st Tuesday Lunch on Tuesday, April 2, at 11:30 am. This is a great chance to try out the new place to eat, get to know each other a little better, and share in each other’s lives outside of the church setting. You can RSVP to the church office or fill out the communication slip on Sunday, March 31. Everyone is welcome! Mending Hearts If you’ve suffered the loss of a loved one and are in need of support, our grief group, Mending Hearts, is here for you. They meet on the last Saturday of each month to share ideas and activities with one another that help with the process of learning to live with loss and grief. Everyone is welcome to join them on Saturday, April 27, at 10:00 am, here at FCC in the Parlor.

Vacation Bible School "Roar! Life is wild, God is good" is the theme for this year’s Vacation Bible School. It will be held each evening the week of July 15-19, from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. We are looking for key leaders and volunteers again this year to coordinate the program. If you would be interested in helping in this important ministry and community outreach, please see Pastor Grant for more information. Registration is already open, and you can register on our FCC website: https://vbspro.events/p/fccsullivan2019 Summer Camp Camp has a week of camp for everyone! Check out the schedule to see if there’s one that’s right for you. FCC will pay your registration fee, and register before May 15 to save $25! Registration closes two weeks before the beginning of each camp. Just let Pastor Grant know when you are going. CWS is owned and operated by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Illinois and Wisconsin. All denominations are welcome to use the facility throughout the year. CWS is available for youth and adult retreats during the week and weekends. Two log cabins, the retreat house, and the south side shower house, as well as the dining hall/activity center, are winterized. Cabin #1 has 8 bunks and 4 trundles, and Cabin #2 has 16 bunks. Both cabins have bathroom facilities with showers. Our newly renovated retreat house sleeps 16-22 persons in 4 sleeping rooms (bunks) and a host apartment with a double bed and a double hide-a-bed. Go to https://campwalterscott.org for more information and online registration.

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What Do We Believe?

“Congregational Yet Voluntarily Connectional” Something unique about Disciples is that we have complete control over our decisions, our property, finances, who we call as Pastor, etc. Other churches that are connected to a denomination have less control over some of these things. Some denominations own each church’s property, others require a certain yearly donation. Disciples give each local congregation authority over their life and ministries, and yet share resources freely with a connected church, our denomination, knowing that the mission of the church is not just local. Essentially, we have the best of both worlds! We are still able to maintain our independence and identity, yet we have a great support system and a wealth of resources for when we may need them.

DMF Congregational Giving

Summary of Our Congregational Giving — Special Offerings Year to Date as of 12-31-18 2018 2017 $ Change Disciples Mission Fund 9,240 9,240 0 Easter 1,109 1,027 82 Pentecost 900 590 310 Thanksgiving 847 813 34 Christmas 610 598 12 Designated Operating 3,960 3,960 0 Week of Compassion 970 1,080 (110) Reconciliation 495 1080 (585) Totals $17,801 $18,388 ($587)

Thank You Thank you to all of the people who donated shirts to be used for the Sullivan T-shirt quilt, which will be raffled off at our Holiday Market this fall. We received some unique shirts, and even a couple of “historic treasures.” Get ready to buy those raffle tickets! — Sharon White

LCU Women’s Conference Lincoln Christian University is hosting a one-day event, “Love Your Story…Embrace His Glory,” on Wednesday, April 24. This Christian Women’s Conference is for women of all ages who seek spiritual renewal and Christian fellowship. Be sure to check out the flier on the office bulletin board for more info or go to https://lincolnchristian.edu/news-events/annual-events/christian-womens-conference/.

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Scripture Readings for April

1 John 11:1-27 11 Luke 18:1-17 21 Luke 24:1-12 2 John 11:28-57 12 Luke 18:18-43 22 Luke 24:13-53 3 Luke 14:1-14 13 Luke 19:11-27 23 1 Peter 1:1-25 4 Luke 14:15-35 14 Luke 19:28-48 24 1 Peter 2:1-25 5 Luke 15:1-10 15 Luke 20:1-18 25 1 Peter 3:1-22 6 Luke 15:11-32 16 Luke 20:19-47 26 1 Peter 4:1-19 7 Luke 16:1-18 17 Luke 22:1-30 27 1 Peter 5:1-14 8 Luke 16:19-31 18 Luke 22:31-71 28 2 Peter 1:1-21 9 Luke 17:1-19 19 Luke 23:1-43 29 2 Peter 2:1-22 10 Luke 17:20-37 20 Luke 23:44-56 30 2 Peter 3:1-18 April Serving Schedule

Elders Deacons Cheri Burcham Check & Serve: Dan Beard Kathy Thomas Serve: Karen Beard Serve: Melissa Dolan Greeters Worship Leaders Prep & Serve: Beth Thompson April 7: Judy Sumner & Judy April 7: Cheri Burcham Featheringill April 14: Don Typer Tech Booth April 14: Erin Wade & Cheri Rich April 21: Dan Flannell Media: Mike Smith–7th April 21: Roger Glazebrook & April 28: Madison Atchison Madeline V.–14th, 21st , 28th Donna Ashinhurst & Skylar Nowlin Sound: Scott Neal April 28: Tyler & Megan Graven

CCIW / Local Church Prayer Calendar Mar 31–Apr 6: FCC Rock Falls, Second CC Rockford, Washington Park CC Rockford / First Baptist Church Apr 7–13: FCC Springfield, FCC Sterling, FCC Sullivan / First United Methodist Church Apr 14–20: 15th Ave CC Rock Island, Memorial CC Moline, FCC Rushville / Highway Church of Christ Apr 21–27: Easter, General Church Ministry & Rev. Terri Hord Owens, CCIW Disciple Women’s Ministry / Mason Point Chapel Apr 28–May 4: School for Ministry–Feed My Sheep! / Jonathan Creek Christian Church Prayer Requests Joys: Spring, Lynn Elder recovering, Brynna Sentel going to swimming Nationals, Kelly Sullivan is done with treatments, Krystin Best is out of ICU, Christian Behrend completed Air Force job & is home Concerns: Family of Gerald Nolen, Jan Dotson, Family of Margaret Schaade, Brenda Turner, Greg & Janet Dirks, Irvin York, Judy Featheringill’s finger surgery, Christians in Middle East, Jerry Dolan, Midge Mills, Krystin Best, Sondra Daily, Linda (Luse) Hood, Jack Crane, Continued good health for Megan Graven & child, Tim & Helen Cole

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Calendar Sundays — 9:00 am Small Groups, 9:30 am Coffee & Cookies, 10:00 am Worship, 10:15 am Kids’ Church Mondays — 1:00–2:00 pm Music Lessons in FH Classroom or Sanctuary Tuesdays — 5:00–6:00 pm Music Lessons in FH Classroom 6:00–8:00 pm GriefShare Grief Support Group in Parlor Thursdays — 9:00 am Weight Watchers in Fellowship Hall; 10:00 am Ladies of Faith @ 5 West Coffee Lounge

Monday, April 1 6:30 pm Prairie Winds Rehearsal in Fellowship Hall Tuesday, April 2 11:30 am 1st Tuesday Lunch at Fairway Family Restaurant Wednesday, April 3 7:00 pm Choir Practice Sunday, April 7 2:30 pm FCC Led Worship Service at Sullivan Rehab & Health Care Center Wednesday, April 10 10:00 am Coffee & Chat at Courtyard Estates 5:45 pm Elders’ Meeting in Parlor; 6:30–8:30 pm Fellowship Hall Reserved 7:00 pm Choir Practice Sunday, April 14 Palm Sunday Monday, April 15 12:00–4:00 pm Fellowship Hall Reserved Wednesday, April 17 7:00 pm Choir Practice Thursday, April 18 12:00 pm Board Reports Due Saturday, April 20 8:00 am AMEN Men’s Group in Parlor; 1:00–4:00 pm Fellowship Hall Reserved Sunday, April 21 Easter Sunday Monday, April 22 12:00 pm Newsletter Articles Due Wednesday, April 24 6:00 pm Board Meeting in Parlor; 7:00 pm Choir Practice Thursday, April 25 5:00–7:00 pm Head Start Meeting Saturday, April 27 10:00 am Mending Hearts Group in Parlor Sunday, April 28 10:00 am Worship ~ No Choir; 11:00 am–4:00 pm Fellowship Hall Reserved April Birthdays & Anniversaries

Birthdays Anniversaries 1 Martin Harbaugh 16 George Clayton 1 Bill & Madeline VanKeuren 2 David Horsman 21 Ron White 2 Ken & Deb Best Sarah Melvin 22 Levi Doehring 4 Bob & Julie McClain 5 Mike Bauman Lexi Finfrock 8 Scott & Djuana Neal Blake Doss Leona Reedy 9 Jerry & Norma Dolan Mike Lane 23 Kim Warren 12 Luke & Melanie Byers 8 Mack Farley 24 Connie England 14 Bob & Lilly Haverstock 9 Christina Farley Ronda Taylor Don Jesse 25 Joyce Edmonds 19 Steve & Marcia Epperson 10 Brett Cordell Tanner Typer 24 Glen & Jan Dust Margaret Dudley 27 Margi Gaither 12 Marilyn Rogers 29 Barry Featheringill 13 Lake Atchison Andrea Lane Brad Burcham LeRoy Seelhoefer 14 Audra Dust 30 Shannon McGregor Kathy Thomas

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Fun Stuff! Sudoku Puzzles

Easy Medium

The rules to play Sudoku are quite simple. Fill in the blanks so that each row, each column, and each of the nine 3x3 grids contains each of the numbers 1 through 9 once.

Hard

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First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 1357 CR 1200 E Sullivan, IL 61951 Return Service Requested

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Worship with us! Sunday Worship: 10:00 am Kids’ Church: 10:15 am

Contact us! Rev. Grant Wade, Pastor • [email protected] • 217.454.9090 Julie Ramsey, Administrative Assistant • [email protected] • 217.728.7351 Office Hours: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, 12:30 – 3:00 pm, Monday – Thursday; Closed Friday

Connect with us! Website: www.fccsullivan.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/fccsullivan

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