sponsored by:

 

Catholic

Holy Family Parish
316 S. Logan St.
         217-732-4019

Pastor:
  Rev. Jeffrey G. Laible
Assistant:
 
Rev. John Huy Pham
Liturgy schedule:
  5PM Saturday
  8AM & 10AM Sunday

Website:
www.holyfamilylincoln.com
E-mail:
info@holyfamilylincoln.com

Christian

 

Elkhart Christian Church

113 S. Gillett St.

Elkhart, IL  62634-0229

217-947-2726

 


Jefferson Street Christian Church
1700 N. Jefferson St.
         217-732-9294

Preaching minister:
  Dustin Fulton

Worship:
  9AM & 10:45AM Sunday
Midweek activities:
  "Truth North": 6PM Wed.
Website: www.jeffstreet.org
E-mail: dustinf@jeffstreet.org

Lincoln Christian Church
Independent Christian Church
204 N. McLean St.
         217-732-7618

Preaching minister:
  Ron Otto

Worship:
  8:15, 9:30, 11AM & 6PM
  Sunday
Midweek activities:
(Beginning Sept. 12)
  Adult, Youth & Kids' Club:
 
6:30PM Wed.
Website: www.lincolnchristianchurch.org
E-mail: gtparmenter@insightbb.com


Prairieland Christian Church
P.O. Box 108, 1st St. Hartsburg, IL 62643
         217-642-0415

Minister:
 Vance Russell

Sunday School:  9:30AM
Worship: 10:30AM

Church of God

Lincoln Church of God
1415 Fourth St.
         217-732-8989

Pastor:
  Jacob Skelton

Sunday School:  9:30AM
Morning Worship:
  10:45AM
Evening Service: 6PM
Wednesday Family Hour:
  7PM
Website:
www.lincolnchurchofgod.com

Episcopal

Trinity Episcopal Church
402 Pekin St., Lincoln
         217-732-7609
Pastor:
 James Cravens
Worship:  

 7:30 & 9:45AM Sunday
 9:00AM Wednesday

Independent

Kingdom Life Ministries
2500 Woodlawn Road
         217-732-1466
Pastor: Joe Bennett
Worship:  
 10AM & 6:30PM Sunday


Lincoln Bible Church
2316 N. Kickapoo St., Lincoln
      
  217-735-5959
Pastor:

 Ron Denlinger
Worship: 10AM Sunday
Sunday School: 9AM
Website:
www.lincolnbiblechurch.org

Lutheran

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Association of Free Lutheran Congregations
1140 N. State St., Lincoln
         217-735-9320
Worship: 10AM Sunday
E-mail: gslc@ccaonline.com


Immanuel Lutheran Church  ELCA
1409 Pulaski St., Lincoln
         217-732-6777
Pastor: Andrew Nyren
Worship: 9AM Sunday
Sunday School: 10:15AM
Praise Service:
 5PM Saturday
Website: http://www.immanuellincoln.org
E-mail: immanuel_lincoln@verizon.net

Nondenominational

Open Arms Christian Fellowship
311 Broadway St., Lincoln
Pastors: Larry Crawford
, 309-830-0461
Kevin Wolf
, 309-838-8564
Worship: 10AM Sunday
Home Group:  Various dates and locations
(
please call for more information)
Website: http://comebackministries.com
E-mail: comeback7@msn.com

United Methodist

Chestnut United Methodist Church
313 N. Logan St.              Chestnut
         217-
796-3532


First United Methodist Church
302 Broadway St.,  Lincoln
         217-732-2204
Pastor: Jame Hahs

Asst. Pastor: Julie Azbell
Worship:  
 9AM Sunday
Sunday School: 10:15AM
Website: www.gbgm-umc.org/
lincoln1stumc/index.html


First United Methodist Church
303 E Jefferson,               Mt. Pulaski
         217-
792-3918


Latham United Methodist Church
241 N. Walnut St.             PO Box 246               Latham
         217-674-3749


New Holland United Methodist Church
201 N. Mason St.,  New Holland
         217-445-2485

Pentecostal

 

Presbyterian

First Presbyterian Church
301 Pekin St.,  Lincoln
         217-732-6141
Pastor: Rev. Phillip Blackburn

Worship:  
 10AM Sunday
Celebration: 6PM Wed.

Website: www.firstpreslincoln.com
E-mail:  office@firstpreslincoln.com


First Cumberland Presbyterian Church
110 Broadway St.,  Lincoln
         217-732-7568
Pastor: Dr. David West
Cell phone: 871-9940

Worship:  
 10:30 AM Sunday
Sunday School: 9:30AM
 

To inquire about listing your congregation's worship information, please e-mail us at ads@lincolndailynews.com or call us at 217-737-7418.

Church Activities & Announcements

The Christmas Envelope

One of my favorite Christmas stories is the story of a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of a Christmas tree.  It has peeked through the branches of the tree in that home for the past 15 years or so.

It all began because Mike hated Christmas—oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercialism and overspending; the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and bubble bath for Grandma; the gifts given in desperation because you could not think of anything else.

Knowing he felt this way, his wife decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth.  She reached for something special just for Mike.  The inspiration came in an unusual way.  Their young son Kevin was wrestling for the school he attended.  Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church, mostly African-American kids.  These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that the shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presenting a sharp contrast to Kevin’s team in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes.

As the match began, Kevin’s folks were alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a helmet designed to protect a wrestler’s ears.  It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford.  Well, the better-equipped team ended up walloping their poorer opponents in every weight class.

Mike shook his head sadly and said to his wife, “I wish just one of them could have won.  Losing like this could take the heart right out of them.”

Mike loved kids – all kids.  He had coached just about every sport for kids.  That is when the idea for his present came.  That afternoon, Mike’s wife went to the local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church.

On Christmas Eve, she placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what had been done and that this was his gift from her.  First there were tears.  Then the biggest smile Mike had ever worn.  Every year at Christmas Mike’s wife followed the tradition – one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a family whose home had burned to the ground, and on and on.  The envelope became the highlight of their Christmas.  It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and the children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents.  As the children grew, the envelope never lost its allure.  But there’s still more to the story.

You see, they lost Mike a couple of years ago – cancer.  When Christmas rolled around, his wife was still so wrapped in grief that she barely got the tree up.  But Christmas Eve found her placing on envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more.  Each of their sons, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad.  The tradition has grown as now grandchildren with wide-eyed anticipation watch as their fathers take down the envelope.

 “This is pure undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:27)


Focus on Advent

New International Version

Isaiah 49.1-16

1 Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name. 2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. 3 He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor." 4 But I said, "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the Lord's hand, and my reward is with my God." 5 And now the Lord says-- he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength-- 6 he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
7 This is what the Lord says-- the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel-- to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: "Kings will see you and rise up, princes will see and bow down, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you." 8 This is what the Lord says: "In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, 9 to say to the captives, 'Come out,' and to those in darkness, 'Be free!' "They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill. 10 They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water. 11 I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up. 12 See, they will come from afar-- some from the north, some from the west, some from the region of Aswan."
13 Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. 14 But Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me." 15 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! 16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.


How do you know whom to marry?

When we marry, we are saying, “I have found intimacy with this person.  This is the one I want to share my life with.”  Next to deciding to become a Christian, whom you will marry is the most serious decision that you will make, and its impact will last a life time.

So what are some guidelines that could help in making this most important decision?  I believe that there a few questions that could help us along the way.

How do you get along with your mom and dad?  It goes without question that the unfinished business that exists in your relationship with your parents you will bring into your marriage.  The person you are considering marrying probably has many qualities that are like your opposite sex parent.  The question is, can you identify those characteristics and are they positive or negative.  It is not uncommon for a daughter to seek after a man who is like her father in temperament, even if that temper is explosive, because that is what is normal for her.  She may not necessarily like that, but she is familiar with it and familiarity seems a lot safer then something different.

Another question from your family of origin is:  How did your parents resolve conflict?  Did you see them fight?  Did they come to a resolution that was agreeable to both, one, or was it ultimately ignored?  How does/did the parents of the perspective spouse deal with conflict?  If one family is highly vocal and the other deals with conflict very logically, it could cause a problem.  How do you and your fiancé resolve conflicts?

What about personality differences?  I give the Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis for personality traits during pre-marital counseling.  This examines nine personality traits.  The purpose of the test is to help the individual to see attitudes and behavioral tendencies which influence personal, marital, parental, family, scholastic, and vocational adjustment.

If you were to ask, “What are the three things that couples fight most about?” the answer would be MONEY, SEX and HOUSEWORK.  You might want to look at these issues.

Money; Who is going to make it, both the wife and the husband?  When children come along (assuming they do), will the wife continue to work?  Who will take care of the bills?  How do you spend money?  Will there be a budget?

Sex;  Yes, you will have it, but how often? Couples fight most about the frequency.  If there have been other lovers in the past, STDs and treatment need to be explored.  What type of birth control will be decided upon?  There are many other issues, but they will be addressed in another column.

Housework; Whose job is it?  Who is going to do what?  Again, looking back at what happened in your family of origin will help reveal what will happen in your own family. It’s true that just because a pattern was set in your own family doesn’t mean that it can’t be changed.  However, that change must be a conscious, constant, and considered effort.  Within Mark’s home he did the dishes a lot as a kid.  Today he still does the dishes.  (Hopefully this will never change).

Last, but certainly not least, the question must be posed:  Are we spiritually compatible?  In other words, is she/he a Christian?  In 2 Cor. 6:14-18 Paul commends that Christians not be yoked to unbelievers. I understand that this passage pertains to business partners, but how much more important that we have as our life partner someone whose fundamental basis (a world view) is the same as ours.  It is this basis from which all other decisions should be made. 

Marriage is a wonderful, God given gift.  That doesn’t mean it’s not a lot of hard work.  When we are more compatible with one another in background, personality and theology, then intimacy, the sense of oneness, is much easier to achieve.  The journey of life together can be an awesome adventure. 

Roberta Mangano, Counseling Minister, Lincoln Christian Church


Street Signs Point the Way to First Presbyterian Church

New street signs now direct travelers to The First Presbyterian Church at Pekin and Ottawa Streets. Founded in 1857, First Presbyterian Church has undergone at renaissance under the leadership of the Reverend Phillip Blackburn who came to Lincoln four years ago.

With previous service to churches in Scotland, Texas, Oklahoma and Indianapolis, Indiana, Phillip Blackburn brought new style of preaching to First Presbyterian Church. His sermons are delivered "away from the pulpit" and at the congregation's eye level. Blackburn's preaching style is relevant, direct and often filled with humor.

First Presbyterian Church's worship has been enlivened by the rebuilding of its historic pipe organ. The rebuilt organ complements the church's choir, which is led by Ms. Julie Kasa. Both organ and choir will have a central role in a special Christmas cantata that will be sung at 10 a.m. on Sunday, December 21.

Not content with its revitalized worship and preaching, First Presbyterian Church has also reached out the community through service to flood-battered western Illinois and to Lincoln through the recent "Together for Lincoln" project. First Presbyterian Church members helped new students move into Lincoln College and members are tutoring students at Washington-Monroe School again this year. The church will host dinners for the Lincoln Lady Railers basketball team and members are actively involved in the Pink Shutter and the Lincoln-Logan Food Bank.

One of the most exciting ventures at First Presbyterian Church is its "In Joy" and "Celebration" programs. People from through the community gather at 6 p.m. on Wednesday evenings in the church at 301 Pekin Street to worship in a contemporary service filled with skits and spirited music. Participants then enjoy a meal prepared by First Presbyterian members. The Celebration program builds relationships through interactive discussion of the parables of Jesus. Everyone is welcome to participate in the Wednesday night program


Jeff Hills has been hired as Vice-president of Development for Christian Homes, Inc.


Hills will oversee the Office of Development, which is responsible for raising funds for the ministry of Christian Homes.


After serving 19 years as vice-president of marketing and sales for Syst-A-Matic Tool and Design Company in Meadville, PA, Hills graduated from Lincoln Christian College and Seminary in 2007. While earning a degree in general ministries, Hills was selected as the LincUp honor student for the class of 2007.


“Hills comes to us at a crucial time,” noted CEO Tim Phillippe. “A growing number of older adults are unable to pay for the skilled nursing care they need. “We rely on gifts from our donors to assist our residents who can no longer pay for their care. Christian Homes is committed to allowing residents to remain in our skilled nursing facilities, regardless of their ability to pay.”


Christian Homes, headquartered in Lincoln, has been a leader in Christ-centered services to senior adults since 1962. The company employs a staff of 2,400 and provides independent and assisted living, rehabilitation therapy, dementia care and skilled nursing care to more than 2,500 older adults at 14 senior living communities in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Missouri.
 


 

 

Send your church announcements and articles to 

spirit@lincolndailynews.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recent Spiritual Life Articles

Thank you Lincoln and LoganCounty!

 

Thank you for being with us from the beginning and faithfullysharing a measure of your time, talents, and resources with theHarvest of Talents for World Hunger ministry that now celebrates itsSilver Anniversary!!
 

At Monday night’s City Council meeting, Harvest Founder, Pat Snyder,and Harvest Chairperson, Carolyn Neal, graciously accepted a specialProclamation from City of Lincoln Mayor Elizabeth Davis-Kavelmanthat officially proclaimed the fourth Saturday of October 2008 as‘Harvest Day’ in Lincoln. The Mayor commended the efforts of thoseinvolved with seeing the Harvest welcome its 25th anniversary
 

(Click Here for Full Article)


Do You Really Believe That What You BelieveIs Really Real?

 

As it has been throughout history, God continues to call ordinary people to make an eternal difference in our world. We invite you to be a part of this cultural change by participating in the live nation-wide Focus on the Family's Truth Project Simulcast Training Event. We believe this one-day eventrepresents the possibility for exponen1tial change within the body of Christ, as we expect that tens of thousands will be transformed by this curriculum.

 

(Click Here for Full Article)


New wave of higher education

 

Back-to-school is looming in the air for most people right now. From buying up crayons and pencils for the youngsters to packing up that college-bound youngster of yours for the first time. And when a lot of us take time to think about the hustle and bustle of preparing for school this time of year, those are the situations we normally think of first.

 

(Click Here for Full Article)


New Staff Member at Lincoln Christian Church

 

Lincoln Christian Church is thrilled announcing Don Kauffman as the unanimous recommendation of the elders to their congregation to serve as a Student Ministry Team Leader (Youth Minister).
Lincoln Christian Church is excited about the addition of Don to their staff team. They believe God has called him as their Student Minister and has uniquely prepared him for this time.


Reaching New Heights

 

So, what’s the point?  Many of us are trying to do too much on our own strength and ability.  We have failed to join ourselves with God and allow Him to take us higher than we could ever go on our own.

 

(Click Here for Full Article)


Lincoln Christian Church's VBS raises money for 'Together for Lincoln'


Lincoln Christian College welcomes new faculty for 2008-09 Academic Year

Lincoln Christian College is pleased to announce new additions to the faculty.

(Click Here for Full Article)


Don’t Preach to Me!

A preacher once asked comedian and actor George Burns for advice; “You’re so good with audiences, Mr. Burns, and you hold their attention so well. Do you have any advice for a preacher?” He answered, “My advice is to have a good beginning, and good ending, and then keep them as close together as you can.”

(Click Here for Full Article)


What is Together for Lincoln?

Together for Lincoln is a partnership consisting of over 15 area churches who are committed to work together to share the love of Jesus Christ by serving our community. Our first day of service will be on Sunday, September 28, 2008. On that day, we will send dozens of teams into the community to do everything from building wheelchair ramps for individuals to visiting members of our community who are in the nursing home. The day will conclude with a community worship gathering in the evening.

(Click Here for Full Article)


Praise God For What He Does

 

Ephesians 5:19-20 says we are to “speak to one another with songs, hymns and spiritual songs.  Sing and make melody in your hearts to the Lord, always giving things to God the father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  We praise God for His works.


(Click Here for Full Article)


Fire

There’s something about fire that mesmerizes us, attracts us, draws us in. Its raw power and energy has amazing potential to be used for good—to heat our homes, to give us light, to cook our food, create spaces where we tell stories and connect with each other—and also to destroy as it consumes whatever we throw into it. It’s untamed, we can’t understand it, and it carries the potential to break out into something so totally beyond us. It’s a thing of awe, a thing of terror, a thing of beauty and a thing that has often inspired worship.

 

(Click Here to Read Full Article)


Understanding where our uniqueness is from
 

We desire old, vintage, nostalgic things’ they’re things we want.  I love the look of old movie theaters, the smell of old books, the glimmer of classic cars, the design of old posters and the simplicity of a boy shooting his eye out in A Christmas Story.


(Click Here to Read Full Article)


Cleaning House

I
talked with a friend this week about an opportunity she had to help a guy clean his house.  It may not sound that monumental, except his house hadn’t been cleaned for SEVEN years.  Something had happened, and his life as he had known it ended.  Maybe something died, or shut down, but stuff started to pile up—garbage, dishes, papers, clothes—until it felt overwhelming.  His friends didn’t know how bad it had gotten, he hadn’t shown them, or maybe they just never stopped by.  My friend was the first in a long time.  They spent six hours cleaning, just so they could clear a path so the appraiser could walk through the house.  It’s not finished, and there’s a whole lot more to do, but it’s a start.

(Click Here to Read Full Article)
 


Do You Really Want To Know The Truth?

I had spoken at a family conference
and explained and illustrated Bible truths about how a parent can “turn around” a rebellious teen.
-- A man came up to me and said, “How did you discover such amazing truths?” I replied, “The Bible is the mind of man’s Creator revealed to man. In the Bible God gave to man every key truth man would need to live human life. Our difficulty is in receiving and believing ALL of those truths. But each truth we believe opens up another set of truths. And each one of those opens up another set, etc. etc.”

(Click Here to Read Full Article)


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