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[SEPT. 30, 2006]  Lincoln Christian Church has announced the calling of Ron Otto as preaching minister and Marcia Wells as children's minister.

Ron Otto

Ron Otto and his family join the staff at an exciting time as the church is experiencing tremendous growth. The new minister's first Sunday in the pulpit will be Oct. 15. He is a dynamic communicator with the ability to connect with the entire congregation.

This fall he will teach about the life of Jesus in a series titled "An Offer You Can't Refuse." The church invites you to come and be re-amazed with the person of Jesus.

The Otto family comes to Lincoln from Lansing, Mich., where Ron has been the senior minister for the last 13 years at South Lansing Christian Church. When he began there, it was a landlocked downtown church and the attendance averaged 175. As it began to grow under his leadership, the church was soon out of room, with no way to expand. In 1997 he led the congregation to purchase 16 acres of new property for future growth. Today, the attendance is nearly 600 in a community that has been hit hard by numerous plant closings associated with the auto industry.

Lincoln Christian Church has four worship services on Sunday mornings, two at 8:30 a.m. and two at 11 a.m., and a complete slate of Bible classes at 9:45 a.m.

Marcia Wells

Marcia Wells and her husband, Barney, have ministered for the last 25 years at Walnut Grove Christian Church in Arcola, with Barney as senior minister and Marcia as children's minister since 2001. They have two daughters; Christi is a student at Lincoln Christian Seminary and Sarah is a student at Southern Illinois University.

Marcia has a wealth of experience in working with children. She has worked with Head Start; Eastern Illinois Area of Special Education; Early Childhood at-Risk Program; interned under Eleanor Daniel, dean of First Chance Camp at Little Galilee; implemented S.W.A.T., Students with a Testimony, at Arcola High School; taught preschool and in the Arcola elementary school system. She has attended CIY with high school youth, led Girl Scouts and 4-H, and served on short-term missions trips to Germany and Zimbabwe, Africa.

She is also in demand as a speaker for various women's groups, Christian education workshops at the North American Christian Convention, EQUIP Ministries, Rural Home Mission Association and Christian Outreach to Southern Africa.

She will join the staff at Lincoln Christian Church on Oct. 1.

[Lincoln Christian Church news releases]

[SEPT. 30, 2006]  EMDEN -- Pastor David L. Hofer of St. Peter Lutheran Church will lead an adult class, "Lutheran Spirituality: Prayer," beginning Oct 12 at the church. Identical classes will be offered on Thursday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30 and Thursday evenings from 7 to 8.

Spirituality is a common term today, but what does it mean? Many people claim to be "spiritual" but do not know Jesus. To find the right answer, "Lutheran Spirituality" directs adult Bible study participants to God's Word. The class explores the Bible, Luther's Small Catechism and the Lutheran hymnal as integral resources for living out our faith in a spiritually confused -- and sometimes confusing -- world.

In his Word, the Lord teaches his believers to pray. It is through prayer and his grace, that we can approach his throne with our praise, confessions, fears... everything.

This study encourages participants to rejoice in prayer as a great privilege, to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit as they pray, to approach God the Father in prayer with faith in Jesus as their Intercessor, to join with the congregation in praying for the world, and much more.

Class sessions:

• Oct. 12 -- "Our Secret Vocation"

• Oct. 19 -- "The Intercession of Jesus"

• Oct. 26 -- "The Gift of Prayer"

• Nov. 2 -- "Praying with Jesus"

• Nov. 9 -- "Complaining"

• Nov. 16 -- "Congregational Prayer"

To register for the class or for more information, contact the church office at 217-376-3137 or e-mail SPeterLutheran1@aol.com. Everyone is welcome to participate.

[News release]

[SEPT. 30, 2006]  EMDEN -- St. Peter Lutheran Church, 120 Market St., has scheduled the following activities for October. For more information, call 217-376-3101.

Oct. 1

• 8 and 10:30 a.m. -- Worship with Communion
  Sermon: "Living the Christian Life"
  Text: Mark 9:38-50

• 9:15 -- Sunday school

Oct. 2

• 8:30 a.m. -- Lutheran World Relief quilting

• 7 p.m. -- WELCA board

• 7 p.m. -- Worship, music

Oct. 3

• 7 p.m. -- Outreach

Oct. 4

• 7 p.m. -- Bell Choir

• Junior and Senior Choir will resume at a later date

Oct. 5

• 8:30 a.m. -- Quilting

Oct. 6

• 6 a.m. -- Kogudus men

Oct. 8

• 10:30 a.m. -- Worship
  Sermon: "Revolutionized Relationships"
  Text: Mark 10:2-16
  Blanket Sunday

• 9:15 a.m. -- Sunday school

• LYO -- Corn maze

Oct. 9

• 7:30 p.m. -- Board of Parish Education

Oct. 10

• 3:30 p.m. -- Girl Scouts

Oct. 11

• 1:30 p.m. -- Good Samaritan Circle

• 7 p.m. -- Bell Choir

Oct. 12

• 8:30 a.m. -- Quilting

• 10:30 a.m. -- Class: "Lutheran Spirituality: Prayer"
  [Related article]

• 1:30 p.m. -- Ladies Aid

• 7 p.m. -- Class: "Lutheran Spirituality: Prayer"

Oct. 14

• 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. -- Northern Conference Sonshine Brunch at St. Peter

Oct. 15

• 10:30 a.m. -- Worship, mission festival
  Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Joseph Bleakley
  Text: Mark 10:17-31

• 9:15 a.m. -- Sunday school

• 11:30 a.m. -- Potluck dinner

• 6 p.m. -- Pete's Pairs

Oct. 16

• 7:30 p.m. -- Church council

Oct. 17

• 7:30 p.m. -- Brotherhood

Oct. 18

• 7 p.m. -- Bell Choir

Oct. 19

• 8:30 a.m. -- Quilting

• 10:30 a.m. -- Class: "Lutheran Spirituality: Prayer"
  [Related article]

• 7 p.m. -- Class: "Lutheran Spirituality: Prayer"

• 7 p.m. -- Cross and Crown Circle

Oct. 20

• SHARE food pickup

Oct. 22

• 10:30 -- Worship
  Sermon: LLM John Cross
  Text: Mark 10:35-45

• 9:15 a.m. -- Sunday school

• 5 p.m. -- LYO wiener roast

Oct. 25

• 7 p.m. -- Bell Choir

Oct. 26

• Last day for Lutheran World Relief items

• 8:30 a.m. -- Quilting

• 10:30 a.m. -- Class: "Lutheran Spirituality: Prayer"
  [Related article]

• 7 p.m. -- Class: "Lutheran Spirituality: Prayer"

Oct. 29, Reformation Sunday

• 10:30 a.m. -- Worship
  Sermon: "A Day to Celebrate!"
  Text: John 8:31-36

• 9:15 a.m. -- Sunday school

[News release]