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LE ROY FIRST UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

309-962-5011 leroypresbyterian@gmail.com

Website: leroypresbyterian.info

Vol. XX No.1

Let Your GloryLet Your Glory Be Over all the EarthBe Over all the Earth Psalm 57:5Psalm 57:5

Be Exalted, Be Exalted,

O God, O God,

Above the HeavensAbove the Heavens

Pastor Tim

January, 2017

January is the month of hope. For some reason, we have come to associate the changing of the year with changing ourselves. Many of us make New Year resolutions. We look at ourselves in the mirror and resolve to lose some pounds; we get the results of a cholesterol test and resolve to eat more wisely and exercise; we look at our December gas bill and resolve to keep the thermostat lower and wear a sweater; we look at our bookshelf and resolve to buy less and read more. Resolve makes us feel virtuous and strong. But usually, at least in my experience, by February we have lapsed and feel bad about it. By March we have a vague recollection that we should be doing something different and an indefinable feeling of guilt, but it is hard to remember why. By April it’s gone. But it comes back on December 30 or 31 and we remember our failure and resolve to do better next year.

Self-improvement is a good thing, and a few people even manage to do it. But habit and routine and long established preferences are hard to change. The familiar feels right; the new makes us uneasy.

In biblical faith there are two principles at work which seem, at first glance, to be opposites. On the one hand we are urged to repent. Repentance involves acknowledging our sins and failures and turning to go in another direction, the direction of obedience and righteous-ness. It sounds a lot like a resolution to improve. On the other hand we are urged to have faith and rely on the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Acceptance of grace involves an acknowledgement that we are sinners incapable of becoming righteous by our own efforts. But, through God’s infinite mercy, he accepts us anyhow.

Repent and do better. Admit you can’t do better and throw yourself on the mercy of God. Which will it be? How can it be both? I think the key lies in the presence of God which we call the Holy Spirit. One of our confessions says that it is the Spirit who “justifies us by grace through faith” and at the same time empowers us “to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives.” It is God the Holy Spirit who accepts us as we are through grace and empowers us to change for the better.

I wish for all of you a happy New Year and the blessings of God on all of you.

The Annual Meeting of the Congregation is scheduled for January 29th. At this meeting there will be reports from the various boards and committees of the church as well as year end financial reports and the budget for 2017. Please plan to attend this important meeting.

OORDINATIONRDINATION ANDAND INSTALLATIONINSTALLATION

During worship on Sunday, January 8th, our new officers for the class of 2019 will be ordained and installed. This is a very significant event in the life of the church and in the lives of officers as they undertake ordained service as Presbyterian Elders or Deacons. Misty Hudson and Mary Ella Mennenga will be ordained and installed as Elders. Rick Kline, who has been previously ordained, will be installed for a new term of service on the Session. Leann Gaffney, Katie Taylor and Betty Garee will be ordained and installed as Deacons. In addition, Steve Myers will continue as Deacon for another term. Thanks to all new officers for their willingness to serve First United Presbyterian Church in this way. And thanks to our outgoing officers who have served faithfully for the past term: Elders Jarrett Cox, Dennis Mennenga and Eric Mennenga; and Deacons Beverly Burcham, Barbara Ready and Randy Sigler.

NNEWEW MEMBERSMEMBERS MEETINGMEETING If you have thought about becoming a member of FUPC, Pastor Tim would like to meet with you after worship on Sunday, January 8th. You will have an opportunity to learn about the membership process and ask questions about the meaning of membership in the Presbyterian Church. We will meet in the chapel during the Sunday School hour.

The Monday Morning Bible Study will not

meet on January 2nd. First study of the new

year will be on January 9th.

Library News Library News

1/12 Rick Kline & Mary Fairfield1/12 Rick Kline & Mary Fairfield

1/12 Janet Cormier1/12 Janet Cormier

1/17 Carol Bottles1/17 Carol Bottles

1/19 Lois Stevens1/19 Lois Stevens

1/20 Brett Hill1/20 Brett Hill

1/25 Mary Lou Rutledge1/25 Mary Lou Rutledge

1/29 Bruce Owens1/29 Bruce Owens

1/3 Blake Walker1/3 Blake Walker

1/5 Anita Norton1/5 Anita Norton

1/6 Kenzie Timm1/6 Kenzie Timm

1/12 Charlie Price1/12 Charlie Price

1/12 Tanner Holoch1/12 Tanner Holoch

Winter Weather Policy As winter weather quickly approaches, it is the perfect time to remind families of our worship cancellation policy. The decision to cancel will be made as early as possible by the Pastor and Session. Notification will be via broadcast on WJBC and by email to all for whom we have email addresses.

Also be aware that in the event of severe weather during the week, the church office may be closed without notification.

“Oh the weather outside is frightening……” But the books in the library are so inviting!!!!!!

Nothing is better on a cold winter night than curling up with a good book. Whether you like inspirational stories, devotionals, fiction or non-fiction our church library has it all! Children’s books? ...we have plenty! DVD’s for adults and youth are also available.

COME CHECK US OUT

GOODNESS GRACIOUS - A NEW YEAR’S EVE FAMILY EVENT

The Methodist Church is hosting a New Year’s Eve Celebration at LHS from 5-9 pm and ALL are welcome!! Dinner will be served from 5-6:30, games and activities 6:30-8:30, and a New Years 2017 Balloon Drop at 8:45 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the Methodist church M-F from 9am-1pm or contact Dennis Mennenga. Prices for tickets are 2 and under- Free, children (3-10) $8, Adult (11-59) $15, Senior (60+) $10, and Family (4) $40. ALL proceeds from this will go toward Brian and Jenny Bland’s ministry, Goodness Gracious Ministries.

The dinner served will be Italian Beef, potato casserole, salads, and desserts. Games and activities will include Euchre, Bunco, Mexican train domino's, children's games, and dancing.

The church office will be closed on January 2nd.

Phyllis Bruce would like to express her appreciation

for the poinsettia she received for Christmas from the

Deacons. She would also like to thank everyone who

sent cards and letters upon the death of her sister. Your

thoughts and prayers meant so very much to her.

Dear Church Family,

Thank you for spreading Christmas cheer through your poinsettia gift….

so appreciate the thoughtfulness. Marty and Elliott Dean

To our Church,

Thanks so much for remembering us at Christmas with the poinsettias. We

appreciate them so much. Sara, Dean and Mike Nichols

I would like to thank Kristin, Kerri and Mary, my always faithful wingmen, our

parents and FUPC boys and girls who made this year's Children's Christmas Eve

service so very amazing! It was the most perfect way to celebrate Christmas Eve

and the night of the Christ Child's birth! You kids were awesome!! This program

has been a tradition in our church for decades. Our older sons still talk about the

time Mrs. Tuchek had them all dress like bells and sang the most wonderful

songs!! It is our hope that the memories made each Christmas Eve fill your hearts

with joy in the years ahead. With much love, Jan

ENDLESS BUZZ Kerri Cordray

The ministry of children and teens has

been my spiritual calling for 15 years now

and I consider myself blessed through this

opportunity. My leadership entails spending

a lot of time with our Lord and discerning His path for training up young

disciples to love and follow Him. As a ministry leader, I felt the need to

take the next step in my leadership development and decided to enroll in a

100 hour training to receive an Advanced Certificate in Children’s Ministry.

My training began last January in Chattanooga, Tennessee and will

conclude after a conference time in Orlando, Florida on January 23-28.

Throughout the training, we have been introduced to writings and research

to enhance our church’s ministries. Different components of the training

have included: cognitive, moral and spiritual development of children,

understanding church culture, leadership development, technology in the

ministry and pastoral care of children. A large amount of time in the past

year has been spent on own personal spiritual formation and development.

I have a monthly spiritual focus given to encourage a deeper more enhanced

understanding of God’s Word and personal walk with our Lord.

The time spent in this program has been valuable and renewed my passion

for ministry! I have enjoyed spending time with other children’s ministry

leaders not only in the trainings but also in monthly online discussions. The

training has given me new resources to share with our children’s and youth

leaders with the goal of transforming young hearts and lives for Christ!

I give thanks for the support and prayers from our members of Session and

from all of you! May God blessings continue to be upon our church as we

enter this New Year!

A favorite verse of mine is “Let the PEACE of Christ rule in your hearts.”

(Colossians 3:15) I love this verse as I think about new opportunities ahead

in the New Year! As the weather outside continues to be frigid, I hope and

pray you will seek God’s PEACE and love to fill your hearts and guide you

in all you do!

In peace and love,

Kerri

JANUARY 4 Celebrating the New Year with Pancakes & PJs! 5:30 - 6:45 p.m. LOOP 7:00 - 8:15 p.m. LANDING

JANUARY 11 Movie Night “Vanished, Left Behind: Next Generation” (PG 13) 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. LOOP & LANDING "When a billion people around the world suddenly vanish, a headstrong 15 year-old Gabby is thrust into adulthood way too soon. The event forces Gabby, along with her younger sister Claire and the two teen boys vying for Gabby's affection, Josh and Flynn-to try to figure out what has happened and how they will fit into this dangerous new world." The movie is inspired by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins' NY Times best selling books. Following the movie the students will participate in a discussion and biblical view of the story.

JANUARY 18 Climbing New Heights in 2017 5:30 p.m. LOOP & LANDING Rock Climbing

LOOP & LANDING students are encouraged to join us for an awesome adventure at Upper Limits in Bloomington. We will meet at 5:30 pm and rock climb for 1.5 hours. Following our climbing we will head out for a pizza dinner and return to the church between 8:30-9 pm. All participants must have a waiver signed by a parent prior to participating and the cost for the evening is $20 per person, includes dinner. Please complete waiver and return to Kerri along with participation cost by January 11.

JANUARY 25 No Youth Activities

JANUARY 29 Community Youth Worship Service 5:00 p.m. at the LeRoy Methodist Church

2017 SUMMER CAMP PARENT

INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS January 8

4:00 p.m. The Great Escape/Green Lake, Wisconsin (for grades 6-8 fall 2017)

5:00 p.m. Group Mission Trip/Bullock Creek, Michigan (for grades 9-12 fall 2017)

(to be ordained

and installed)

Committee

CHURCH OFFICERS

Elders: Jason Smith Teresa Miller Mary Sigler Shirley Chancellor Steve Sinnott Rick Kline (to be installed) Misty Hudson (to be ordained/installed) Mary Ella Mennenga (to be ordained/installed) Naomi Chaplin

Session next meets on January 10th

Session Minutes are available, after approval, in the office.

Deacons: Deacon of the Month

Class of 2017 Cyndee Sinnott Janet Cormier Mary Neubauer Kim Myers Class of 2018 Brett Hill Renae Hardesty Barb Monical Angie Timm Class of 2019 Leann Gaffney Katie Taylor Betty Garee Steve Myers (to be installed)

It’s the new year and need volunteers to lead

Kidz Church in January … and beyond!

Lesson materials are furnished...please consider signing up for

a Sunday to help guide our youth.

LeRoy Manor Birthday Party January 20th at 2pm.

Please contact Bobbi Murfin at 309-826-4761 or at brready84@gmail.com if you would like to donate a cake.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO COME AND HELP THE RESIDENTS CELEBRATE!!

Committe

es not yet

assigned f

or 2017

Not yet a

ssigned

for 2017

9:00 a.m. WORSHIP

Jan 1

Jan 8

Jan 15

Jan 22

Jan 29

ACCOMPANIST Londa

Holoch Londa

Holoch Londa

Holoch

Londa Holoch

Mary Sigler

Londa Holoch

LAYREADER Naomi Chaplin

Amanda Hill

Naomi Chaplin

Amanda Hill

Emily Mennenga

USHER/GREETERS

John & Bobbi Murfin

Gary & Janet Brent

Dennis & Mary Ella

Mennenga

Barb

Monical

Danna Sanders

Ella & William

Mennenga

Sarah Hill

KIDZ CHURCH

Jan

Owens

NURSERY Brett Hill

Renae Hardesty

Danna Sanders

Mary Ella Mennenga

Nadia & Deven

Bollhorst

TECH BOOTH

Randy Sigler

Jacob Holoch

Brian Cordray

Mason Cordray

Tracey Holoch

Noah Stengel

Jacob Holoch

Nate Ross

Randy Sigler

Greg Ross

COMMUNION SERVERS

Beverly Burcham

Bobbi Murfin

Naomi Chaplin

LeROY MANOR WORSHIP

Dennis Mennenga

Amanda Hill

Called to Serve - January 2017

Saturday Night Prayer Services will be

discontinued during the winter months.

They will resume on April 1st.

FINANCIAL REPORT November YTD General Fund Income

Contributed Support $ 6,595.35 $106,066.93

Trust & Endowment 3,000.00 148,364.98

Interest/Dividends 515.86 3,776.39

$ 10,111.21 $ 258,208.30

Budgeted Expenses (21,001.81) (216,852.39)

Gain or Loss ($ 10,890.60) $ 41,355.91

Church Phone: (309) 962-5011 Website: leroypresbyterian.info

E-Mail: leroypresbyterian@gmail.com

CHURCH OFFICE Monday thru Thursday 8:30 - 3:00

Friday 8:30 - Noon

STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION

Pastor Tim Doty leroyinterim@gmail.com Kerri Cordray, Director of Student Ministries kcordray.fupc@gmail.com Jill Self & Rita Vollmer, Secretaries leroypresbyterian@gmail.com Rita Vollmer, Treasurer rmhvollmer@gmail.com Marty Dean, Nursery Coordinator martha900pine@yahoo.com Ashley Sigler, Little Learners Director/Teacher sigfam6@gmail.com

Sunday Dates Sat. 9:00 Total

December 4 5 137 142

December 11 12 95 107

December 18 Service

Cancelled 65 65

December 25 No Service 43 43

AVERAGES 9 85 89

Christmas Eve 168 (7 pm) 36 (10 pm) 204

DECEMBER ATTENDANCE

All are invited to worship together through a time of Connection and Reflection of our Lord Jesus.

The service is targeted for the youth but all are encouraged to join us at the Methodist Church on Sunday, January 29 at 5 pm.

LACE Ladies After Christ's Example Our Ladies Bible Study will begin in January and be held on the first and

third Thursdays of each month (January 5th & 19th) from 11:15 am-12:15 pm.

Together we will dive into the book of Numbers and discover, "More than

order, organization, calculations and camp formations, the book of Numbers

is about how unbelief can cripple our progress toward God's promises. We will

see how a lack of faith can leave us waiting in the wilderness." You are invited

to join us for this awesome faith-growing experience!

COMMUNITY WORSHIP SERVICE

Youth and adults, caring, serving and sharing

the true meaning of Christmas, caroled and

delivered socks to LeRoy Manor on Dec. 14th.

A group also traveled to Safe Harbor on

Dec. 23rd to serve a meal and share Christmas

carols with the residents.

LLL

EEE

AAA

PPP

Christmas Party!

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 9:00 AM Worship Service

(No Kidz Church or Sunday

School)

2 NO SCHOOL

No Bible Study

OFFICE CLOSED

3 NO SCHOOL

NO LEAP

4 5:30 PM LOOP 7:00 PM LANDING

(PJs & Pancakes)

5 11:15 AM LACE Bible Study

8:00 PM Serenity Circle (AA)

6 7 No Saturday Services

through March

8 CHURCH OFFICER

INSTALLATION/ORDINATION 9:00 AM Worship Service/

Kidz Church 10:00 AM Sunday School

4:00 PM Great Escape

Camp Meeting 5:00 PM Group Workcamp

Meeting

9 9:00 AM Bible Study

1:00 PM MISSION &

OUTREACH

6:30 PM LITTLE

LEARNERS BOARD

10 3:15 PM LEAP

6:00 PM WORSHIP &

MUSIC

7:00 PM SESSION

11 6:00 - 8:00 PM

LOOP & LANDING

(Movie Night)

12 8:00 PM Serenity Circle (AA)

13 NO SCHOOL

14

15 9:00 AM Worship Service/

Kidz Church

10:00 AM Sunday School

16 NO SCHOOL 9:00 AM Bible Study

6:00 PM CHRISTIAN

EDUCATION

6:30 PM DEACON'S

MEETING

17 3:15 PM LEAP

18 5:30 PM

LOOP & LANDING (Rock Climbing)

19

11:15 AM LACE Bible Study

8:00 PM Serenity Circle (AA)

20 2:00 PM LeRoy Manor

Birthday Party

21

22 9:00 AM Worship Service/

Kidz Church

10:00 AM Sunday School

23 9:00 AM Bible Study

24 3:15 PM LEAP

7:00 PM ADMINISTRATION

25 NO LOOP or LANDING

26 3:30 PM TLC

(Anita Norton's Home)

8:00 PM Serenity Circle (AA)

27 28

29 9:00 AM Worship Service/

Kidz Church

10:00 AM Annual

Congregational Meeting

10:00 AM Sunday School

5:00 PM Community Youth

Worship Service

30 9:00 AM Bible Study

31 3:15 PM LEAP

1

2

3 4

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 9:00 AM Worship Service

(No Kidz Church or Sunday

School)

2 NO SCHOOL

No Bible Study

OFFICE CLOSED

3 NO SCHOOL

NO LEAP

4 5:30 PM LOOP 7:00 PM LANDING

(PJs & Pancakes)

5 11:15 AM LACE Bible Study

8:00 PM Serenity Circle (AA)

6 7 No Saturday Services

through March

8 CHURCH OFFICER

INSTALLATION/ORDINATION 9:00 AM Worship Service/

Kidz Church 10:00 AM Sunday School

4:00 PM Great Escape

Camp Meeting 5:00 PM Group Workcamp

Meeting

9 9:00 AM Bible Study

1:00 PM MISSION &

OUTREACH

6:30 PM LITTLE

LEARNERS BOARD

10 3:15 PM LEAP

6:00 PM WORSHIP &

MUSIC

7:00 PM SESSION

11 6:00 - 8:00 PM

LOOP & LANDING

(Movie Night)

12 8:00 PM Serenity Circle (AA)

13 NO SCHOOL

14

15 9:00 AM Worship Service/

Kidz Church

10:00 AM Sunday School

16 NO SCHOOL 9:00 AM Bible Study

6:00 PM CHRISTIAN

EDUCATION

6:30 PM DEACON'S

MEETING

17 3:15 PM LEAP

18 5:30 PM

LOOP & LANDING (Rock Climbing)

19

11:15 AM LACE Bible Study

8:00 PM Serenity Circle (AA)

20 2:00 PM LeRoy Manor

Birthday Party

21

22 9:00 AM Worship Service/

Kidz Church

10:00 AM Sunday School

23 9:00 AM Bible Study

24 3:15 PM LEAP

7:00 PM ADMINISTRATION

25 NO LOOP or LANDING

26 3:30 PM TLC

(Anita Norton's Home)

8:00 PM Serenity Circle (AA)

27 28

29 9:00 AM Worship Service/

Kidz Church

10:00 AM Annual

Congregational Meeting

10:00 AM Sunday School

5:00 PM Community Youth

Worship Service

30 9:00 AM Bible Study

31 3:15 PM LEAP

1

2

3 4

Deacon of the Month

Brett Hill