'Why Church?'

Area churches to deliver joint sermons in September

By Ron Otto

[August 28, 2012]  At first, it sounds like the beginning of a bad joke: "What do a Baptist, a Lutheran, a Pentecostal and an Episcopal minister all have in common?"

Well, this is no joke. In September, what these ministers have in common will be their sermons.

In a most unprecedented approach, pastors of several area churches will join in presenting a series of sermons titled "Why Church?" The pastors are meeting weekly and sharing in the writing and planning of each sermon.

I question if any community can ever remember a time when preachers from different denominations and backgrounds worked together on their sermons to preach a series of joint-effort messages. These sermons will not be "Why MY church?" but "Why THE church?"

"Why Church?" is being presented due to the ever-growing attack on the Christian church. The mudslinging that has taken place over the last few years against the church demands a response from its leaders as to why the church is important. We’re going to answer that question together.

We will be inviting the entire community to find their way into one of the churches presenting the series and to give us a sincere and open ear as to why the church is needed in Lincoln, Ill. Over the next month, you will be hearing from many church and civic leaders as to why they appreciate the church in Lincoln.

To help in ringing the bell, these churches will hand out bookmark invitations. For the entire month, the people from these congregations will wear bracelets and fly yard signs that read "Why Church?"

Residents will also be able to get pertinent information on a newly created website: www.whychurch.net.

There is still time for other churches to join. Just contact one of the ministers already involved.

Why not accept one of these invitations and try a church in the month of September? You just might hear what your heart has been longing for.

Church; minister; worship times; address; phone; website:

• Abundant Life House of Praise; Robert Long; 10 a.m.; 1422 Pekin St., Lincoln; 217-732-4662; www.upci.org

• Church of the Nazarene; Greg Wooten; 11 a.m.; 2501 Woodlawn Road, Lincoln; 217-732-8362

• Immanuel Lutheran; Andrew Nyren; 9 a.m. (5 p.m. on Saturdays); 1409 Pulaski St., Lincoln; 217-732-6777; www.immanuellincoln.org

• Jefferson Street Christian Church; Dustin Fulton; 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m.; 1700 N. Jefferson St., Lincoln; 217-732-9294; www.jeffstreet.org

• Lincoln Christian Church; Ron Otto; 8:15 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m.; 204 N. McLean St., Lincoln; 217-732-7618; www.lincolnchristianchurch.org

• Mount Pulaski Christian Church; Mark Weber; 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m.; 115 N. Washington, Mount Pulaski; 217-792-5417; www.mtpulaskicc.org

• Open Arms Christian Fellowship; Larry Crawford; 9 a.m., 11 a.m.; 311 Broadway, Lincoln; 217-732-4800; www.oacflincoln.org

• Second Baptist; Glenn Shelton; 10:45 a.m.; 1728 Tremont St., Lincoln; 217-732-9292

• The Christian Village; Ryan Edgecombe; 10 a.m., nursing home; 11 a.m., senior apartment building; 1507 Seventh St., Lincoln; 217-732-2189; www.christianhomes.org

• Trinity Episcopal Church; Mark Evans; 7:30 a.m., 9:45 a.m.; 402 Pekin St., Lincoln; 217-732-7609

[By RON OTTO]