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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NORMAL IL. | MARCH 2015
DEAR FRIENDS,
One of the questions the Daniel Plan has caused me to ponder is, “How does my way of eating affect
the rest of the world?” Misguided eating and consumption patterns have multiple impacts. They put a
strain on the health care system. They can create problems for our relatives who need us. Bad
slaughterhouse conditions harm animals and human workers, both locals and migrants. Semi-slave
labor is sometimes used to harvest vegetables and fruits. Packaging is often energy-intensive.
Wasted food deprives others and affects prices. Runoff, pesticides, herbicides, and hormone
injections have consequences directly on people’s health, and on aquifers, soils, rivers, and oceans.
Some products are grown in places around the world that should be used for food for the people who
live there. Chemical additives can cause disease. Lots of restaurant dining consumes energy and can
lead to unhealthful mounts of sugar, salt, and other substances in our bodies. The list goes on.
So yes, my food and eating choices have an impact. It’s a spiritual thing. Following Jesus in today’s
world includes thinking about what and how we eat, and making our personal choices wisely and
compassionately as best we can.
Grace and peace,
Larry
KIDS HOPE USA is the catalyst for an expanding network of church/school
partnerships. These partnerships take on the enormous challenge of kids at
risk — one child, one hour, one church and one school at a time — through
one-on-one mentoring relationships. Each Mentor-Child relationship is
supported by a Prayer Partner. Mentoring takes place at school using
suggestions from teachers regarding children’s individual needs.
First Pres’ Mission, Peacemaking, Compassion and Justice Committee
is exploring the Kids Hope program with a Unit 5 school, beginning Fall 2015.
If you have experience with mentoring, or an interest in beginning now, call Dave Eaton at (309)
244-5460 or email [email protected]
CARE AND SHARE FOOD DONATIONS Donations left at entry doors during the month of March will be
delivered by our own volunteers to Home Sweet Home
Ministries, 303 E. Oakland Ave., Bloomington. In the past,
recipients in their food pantry have received a prepackaged
box of food. They now operate as a co-op, allowing participants to choose the foods which they feed to
themselves and their families. The co-op model also calls on those receiving assistance to share the
work involved in running the food distribution program. They will, however, provide emergency food
assistance when necessary. HSH thanks us for our gifts and says “may God bless you for caring.”
The items most in need are posted at the collection areas in our entryways.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | NORMAL, IL
PAGE 2
Submitted by Lisa Ehlers, Youth Ministry Coordinator
The PARENTS NIGHT OUT (PNO) for March is
on the 13th. Please RSVP to Lisa Ehlers at
[email protected] before noon on
March 12. This program is for the parents of
children from infants through 5th grade. The
cost is $5.00 for one child, or $10 maximum per
family.
ATTENTION ALL JR. HIGH YOUTH: Jr. High LockIn will start on March 6th. Come to the church at
6pm! We will have pizza and play games. Bring
friends! Cost is 5.00 per youth to help offset the
cost of pizza and snacks. You will need a
sleeping bag/pillow etc. Please bring a great
attitude to have fun as a group! Please let Lisa
Ehlers know if planning to attend ASAP (for a
pizza count) but no later than noon, March 5th.
Parents must sign in with their Youth on the 6th.
Lock In ends on Saturday, March 7th. Pick up
time on the 7th is at 9:30am.
MISSION TRIP YOUTH AND PARENT MEETING:
March 15, at noon (or right after second
service) in the Great Hall. Sign forms, ensure
your deposit is made, and receive trip info!
UPCOMING JR./SR. HIGH YOUTH GROUP SCHEDULE: March 1: 5:30-7:30pm
March 8: 5:30-7:30pm
(No Jr. High Youth Group due to Lock-In on the
6th)
March 15: No Youth Group
(See note on First Pres Cafe, page 3)
March 22: No Youth Group
(Unit 5 and District 87 Spring Break)
March 29: 5:30-7:30pm
The Sr. High will be hosting an EASTER BREAKFAST,
April 5th between church services (a donation for
the meal) for their Mission Trip. Please contact Lisa
Ehlers for information to donate pastries for this
event or to help the youth set-up/clean-up.
Breakfast casseroles will be made by Leslie
Gaylord; we thank you, Leslie, for your generosity!
CHURCH CAMP is still currently scheduled to start
June 2 (for campers to arrive) and end June 5th.
That might changed due to snow days, but right
now, school will be OUT! More information will be
available in March. However, if you know that YOU
are interested in helping- please let Lisa Ehlers
know (anytime)!
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | NORMAL, IL
PAGE 3
MISSION, PEACEMAKING, COMPASSION & JUSTICE
Many Presbyterians these days, feel overwhelmed by the issues we face in this state, country and
world. Members of First Pres. Mission, Peacemaking, Compassion and Justice have decided it would be
helpful for us - and possibly other members of the congregation - to have one member of our committee
focus on one specific issue about which they feel particular concern. You
might want to be in contact with a member regarding any number of these
issues we face: Dave Eaton (womens’ rights, human trafficking); William
Schaup (childhood hunger); Dee Hunt (ecological justice); Joyce MoncelleKaye (human trafficking and mental health treatments), Marilea White
(prison ministry and many others); Jeanne Starnes (elder care for the
indigent and food pantries); Stan Heitz (gun control and racial
discrimination); and Bob Hunt (housing and homelessness).
Additionally, you might want to take a look online to see how these issues are being addressed by our
denomination: http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/compassion-peace-justice/
The 5TH ANNUAL WOMEN’S RETREAT will be held April 10-12 at Stronghold in Oregon, IL. Our
speaker is Deborah Finley, who will talk about “What Your Future Holds, and What You Can Do to
Change It”. Topics will include Living a Balanced Life, Forgiveness and Prayer, and Peace, joy and love.
Whether you’ve attended previously or haven’t yet been to one, plan on joining other women in the
church for this inspirational and rejuvenating weekend. Watch for the display in the narthex for more
information. Registration begins March 8th.
!
First Pres has talent!
If you have a talent you are willing to share, please
contact Lisa Ehlers. This is a fundraiser for the Sr.
High Mission Trip.
Children’s Easter Egg Hunt
April 5th We will be having an Easter Egg Hunt for children from infant-age
through 5th grade. This will be outside (from the Great Hall patio doors) if
weather is permitting. If weather isn’t permitting an outside hunt, then we will
still meet in the Great Hall and then go elsewhere (inside). Children are
asked to please bring your own basket. Please contact Lisa Ehlers with any
questions.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | NORMAL, IL
PAGE 4
First Pres has a long tradition of supporting
this Lent/Easter offering that goes back to
1949 with the support of many denominations.
Through OGHS we have given significant help
to Presbyterian Hunger Program, Presbyterian
Disaster Assistance, and Self-Development of
People which share equally in this One Great
Hour of Sharing offering.
Think of the joy when your gift changes
someone’s life – both the joy someone feels
as their burdens ease and the joy you will feel
knowing that your gift is creating change.
As Christians, we talk about God providing us
with blessings of all kinds in abundance, but
there are many in the world who live without
the basic necessities of life. Surely God calls us to share Christ’s abundance.
When you give to One Great Hour of Sharing, you are making a conscious decision to bring the joy
and love of Christ to some of the most vulnerable and desperate places and people around the world.
You can be a channel through which God satisfies the hungry, comforts the distressed, and brings
hope to the poor and oppressed with your generous gift.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | NORMAL, IL
This article appeared in Bickford Independent
& Assisted Living’s “Bloomington
Happenings” newsletter
Pat Laughlin and her son Rob have been
contented members of Bickford Society since
2013. She spent her growing years in
Pennsylvania, always aware of others, and now
has the passion to help each one enjoy life in our
house of Bickford. For example, each new
resident of our community is offered a calendar
hand-made by her, and via a simple request,
ladies receive a beautiful evening shawl. An
extremely talented woman, Pat enjoys making
these acts of kindness for our residents.
PAGE 5
evening flight! It is no wonder that Pat received a
Volunteer of the Year Award from the national
office of Pittsburgh Plate Glass company a few
years ago. - Glendene Altomari
Pat Loughlin’s specific idea for a most beautiful
quilt became a masterpiece. She copied the
likenesses of twenty birds, painted them as
though each was ready to sing, and then quilted
them all together. The result is one of the most
beautiful quilts I have ever seen. Some of the
birds’ wings have feathers so detailed, you
question if their entire flock will take off for an
APRIL
BIRTHDAYS
April 1
Becky Yamamoto, Trey Mortimer
April 16
Buelah Hensey, Dena Benscoter
April 2
Ginny Clarahan
April 17
Samuel Redd, Cole Brent
April 3
Michelle Pate, Kennedy Stombaugh
April 18
April 4
John Brue, Chloe McMorris
Ann Landis, Poonam McAllister, Sam
Leamer
April 5
Joel Aalberts, Mark Briggs, Brandon
Lacey, Rob Melchiorre
April 19
Maxine Donovan, John Blanks, London
Shaw
April 6
Dick Erzen, Jennifer Peterson
April 20
Jim Roderick
April 7
Katie Seyller, Matt Wiessemann,
Ryan Han
April 21
Sam Hensey, JoAnn Freeman, Ralph
Rodriguez, Matt Litwiller
April 8
Norm Larsen, Amanda Cryer, Braden
Kim
April 22
Elizabeth Smith
April 23
Mary Lou Kimball, Devan Bishop, Liliana
Frey
April 9
Mike Melzer, Sheila Melzer
April 10
Caitlin Tippy, Brigham Kruger
April 24
Rob Mentzer
April 11
Joyce Moncelle-Kaye, Morgan Bishop
April 26
Ali Fairchild
April 12
Thomas Huskisson, Alissa Briggs
April 28
Nathan Pokrzywinski
April 13
Sally Bailey, Nate Holland
April 29
David Theile, Hayden Hancock
April 14
Lindsay Stotler
April 30
Rob Laughlin, Jacque Hansing
April 15
Sherry Smith, Ginny Nappi