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Blood drives, 'Permission to Speak Freely' at First Presbyterian Church, Draw 4 Carroll, San Jose United Methodist Church fish fry and Nathan J. Graham make Close Up

By Mike Fak

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[March 15, 2011]  To help ensure an adequate blood supply for our region, the Central Illinois Community Blood Center is offering opportunities to donate blood in Logan County.

  • In Lincoln: Tuesday, March 22 -– Lincoln Christian University, Laughlin Center, 100 Campus View Drive; 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

  • In Atlanta: Thursday, March 24 -- St. Mary's Catholic Church, 805 Pearl St.; noon-6 p.m.

For your convenience, call toll-free 1-866-GIVE-BLD, ext. 136, to sign up, or schedule an appointment online at www.cicbc.org. Walk-ins are also welcome and truly appreciated.


In a string of public confessions, celebrities and politicians including David Letterman, Gov. Mark Sanford and Tiger Woods have revealed their innermost secrets before the glare of TV cameras. Yet the last place many people feel able to reveal their most painful secrets is the church.

"Why, of all places on earth, do we fear revealing our secret sin in the church?" asks Anne Jackson in "Permission to Speak Freely."

In her book, Jackson dives into her own story. She exposes the hurt, burnout and pain she suffered through years of a love-hate relationship with her church. Full of honesty and humility, Jackson's words radiate grace, forgiveness and truth.

This month Jackson has invited comedienne Susan Isaacs and award-winning singer-songwriter Solveig Leithaug to join her in creating a night of honest reflection. Their national "Permission to Speak Freely" tour comes to the First Presbyterian Church, 301 Pekin St. in Lincoln, on Friday, March 18. (You can sample the program on YouTube by searching for "Susan Isaacs.")

During their show, three women share secrets they held close -- porn addiction, alcoholism, eating disorders, divorce and abuse. When they speak up about these issues, they are able to find freedom. The show is a combination of readings, music, and storytelling set in an intimate environment.

"Permission to Speak Freely" starts at 7 p.m. Friday at the church. Tickets are $12.


The Draw 4 Carroll program will be a monthly drawing from April 2011 through

March 2012. Four prizes will be awarded each month: first prize, $500; second prize, $250; third prize, $150; and fourth prize, $100. Winning tickets will be re-entered for future drawings.

Tickets may be purchased for $25 securely by credit card at the Holy Family Church website, www.holyfamilylincoln.com. More information about Carroll Catholic School and this drawing may also be found on the website. Tickets may also be purchased at the parish office, Carroll Catholic School and various businesses. Winners and locations of future drawings can also be found on the website.

If you have further questions, please contact the parish office at 217-732-4019.


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The San Jose United Methodist Church, 600 S. First St. in San Jose, is having a fish fry on Friday, March 25, from 4-7 p.m.

A tasty meal of catfish, hash brown casserole, baked beans, coleslaw, homemade desserts and drinks will be served.

Chicken fingers will be available for children and non-fish eaters.

Tickets are available at the door or may be purchased from ticket chairwomen Sandy Shepherd, 247-3394, and Joyce Reed, 247-3396, and from church members.

You may dine in the handicapped-accessible Fellowship Hall or carry out for the same price.

Proceeds will benefit children and youth ministries. Last year proceeds of the fish fry helped children and youth of the church and community by providing scholarships to camp, buying materials for Vacation Bible School, helping fund the Bible Zone after-school ministry and meal, and enabling the chime choir to buy an additional octave of chimes.



Ed Jodlowski, Illini Central principal; Nathan Graham; and Bob Werner, executive vice president of 1st State Bank of Mason City.
(Click on picture for larger image.)

The 1st State Bank of Mason City and Illini Central High School are pleased to present Nathan J. Graham with the January Student of the Month Award. For demonstrating outstanding character, Nathan receives a $50 savings bond from 1st State Bank and a reference work appropriate to his course of study from the Illini Central High School faculty.

Nathan is the son of George and Jill Millette. His classes this year are Creative Writing, Resource Management, P.E., Accounting, Journalism, Chemistry and Physics.

In addition, Nathan keeps busy in several extracurricular activities. He is a part of the Rube Goldberg Competition, the Bradley Bridge Building Competition, the Real World Design Competition, Worldwide Youth of Science and Engineering, Illinois Society of Professional Engineers Bridge Competition, and Spanish Club. He is also a member of the track team.

Outside of school, Nathan participates in UGottaWanna Mixed Martial Arts in Petersburg.

Nathan plans to attend Lincoln College for his associate degree in general education; then he will major in medicine.


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