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

Silence

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.”-Deuteronomy 6:4

We live in the loudest society in the history of the world. We are inundated with noise. We hear it in our cars, our homes, our businesses. We shop with background music, we watch sports in stereo surround. Some of us even sleep with the soft purr of white noise lulling us away into the night. We lead loud lives. Much of the time this is not a problem until we want to hear something else, another sound that can’t find its way through all the noise. In these moments we can feel like we are trying to have a conversation at a concert, straining to hear the words we so desperately want over the din of rock music and the lyrical whines of the singer. In short, the noise can drown out the most important things in our lives.

And this brings us to silence. For centuries it was simply understood that people of faith would experience silence. And in their silences, people of faith experienced great things. From monastics to peasants to kings, history is rich with stories of God’s voice penetrating the silence. And so it comes to us. If we want to know what God is really up to in our lives. If we want to understand where God wants us to go. If we hope to draw ourselves closer to God then we need to spend some time being quiet. We need to make room for the still, small voice of the Lord to enter our minds and thus shape our lives. Try it this week. Turn off the radio in the car. Turn off the TV after the kids go to bed. Turn down the radio while you work in the kitchen. Be quiet and listen. Hear, O people, the Lord is your God. To know it, you have to be able to hear it.

Prayer: God, help me to be silent, help me to listen for your voice in my world and in my life. I need your help. The noise has overcome me and I feel lost from you. I need silence and I need you. Amen.


Love Your Enemies

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”-Matthew 5:44

At first glance we Americans know little of persecution. Our children are not kidnapped in the middle of the night to serve in a rebel army as they are in Uganda. We do not fear for our lives when we go to the market as they do in Baghdad. We do not lose our job because we are Christian as they do in India. And yet we all know persecution? How? Because we know people. We all know someone who is our foil, our nemesis, our foe. They don’t like us. They go out of their way to challenge or attack us. Their mere presence unsettles us. And so we respond to them Sometimes we match their anger with our own; their yells with our screams. Sometimes we ignore them and lie low, hoping they will leave us alone. Sometimes we just fume in private and ponder opportunities for revenge.

But Jesus tells us these things just aren’t acceptable. He was not one for retribution and so he offers these words; love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Of all the things Jesus asks us to do I think this is the most difficult. It is very difficult to put aside our concerns and angers and hurts and to pray for those who persecute us. But Jesus teaches that prayer is the proper posture. And the nature of the prayer is important. Jesus is not telling us to pray that they will agree with us or be nicer to us, but instead our prayer should be one of selfless hope, that those who persecute us might find true joy and peace. That is a radical difference! So on this day I invite you to pause, think of those who torment and trouble you and say a loving prayer for them.

Prayer: God, please help me to pray for those who persecute me. Help me to see their humanity and their identity as your child. I offer this prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.


Rejoice!

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

If you are like me, you probably weren’t too glad on this day.  I woke up to subzero temperatures here in Lincoln, where they are supposed to remain all day.  Nothing to celebrate there.  My front door is frozen, my car is creaking and my floor is freezing cold.  I have to wear long underwear because of the cold so my skin is extra dry and itchy.  The large boots that keep my feet dry and warm are also heavy and cumbersome.  It is not a great day.  And yet the psalmist does not qualify his words.  He doesn’t say, “this is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad when it turns out well.”  No, he says the opposite.  He makes his claim universal.  Every day comes from the Lord and every single day is a gift.

This is an important reminder on the frosty days, the dark days, the sad days, the hard days.  Even when we find life challenging, even when we have suffered loss, or are afraid or even shivering under blankets, we are enjoying a day of God’s creation.  Each day there is reason to rejoice because the rising sun always bears with it he promise of God’s kingdom and a reminder that God is with you today.  So on this frigid midwinter day, I invite you to live this day with gladness and joy; gladness that the sun is shining and the trees are beautiful and joy that God is here, working in this world.  Every day is a gift from God.  I have a hunch that somewhere in those words is the key to life.

Prayer:  Holy God, thank your for this day.  Please help me to find joy and gladness today that I might be grateful for this gift.  I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.


ENOUGH!

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourself treasures in heaven… for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  (Matthew 6:21-22)

So, if it is true that orienting our lives on the pursuit of gathering earthly treasures is unwise, and orienting our lives on the pursuit of heavenly treasures is compellingly wise; of Jesus words are true, if He was the greatest teacher and philosopher of all time, then why are so many people living contrary to them?

Why do the world’s most energetic, creative, excited, and successful people seem to be throwing their lives away in the pursuit of wrong treasures?  Can all those smart people be wrong?  The answer is, “Yes!”

I was invited by a very successful businessman to lunch at an exclusive restaurant.  During that luncheon, person after person came by to say hello to my friend and then was introduced to me.  I met more multi-millionaires in one setting that most people will meet in a lifetime.  And in that environment it seems to me that it would be the height of arrogance for me, half their age, a quarter of their IQ, a microscopic portion of their net worth, to stand up in front of them and say, “Excuse me, but you’re doing life all wrong!”

Put yourself in my shoes and ask yourself if you would have said something or would you have asked for a job or loan?

And still, the words of Jesus ring through my mind.  He once said, “What would it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”  What Jesus is saying is that if a person gets on the average 70 years of life on this earth, what is 70 years compared to eternity?   And Jesus went on to teach that the decisions you make in that short period of time has dramatic and sometimes consequential impact on your “forever.”

So Jesus would say to us to make right choices.  Make wise choices!  No matter how hard the right choices are.  No matter how they may appear to your friends at work!  No matter how much they cost you.  No matter how they may make you look to your family!  If they position you favorably for eternity, make those choices wisely.  Because you will enjoy the payoff of those decisions “forever.”

“What would it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?”  Bad choice!  As one good old boy preacher once said so well, “Ron, you’re going to be dead a whole lot longer then you’ll ever be alive.” (A little backwards I know!)

The month of January will be a special series of messages and workbook that we will all use together to move our lives back to God’s financial plan.

You are about to embark one new chapter in your life that holds the potential to change you, your family, and your finances in ways you may not have felt were possible.  This is the day you join many in saying, ENOUGH!”

To help make this journey more meaningful, I invite you to open your Bibles and open a special workbook prepared by myself for the people of Lincoln Christian.  After reading God’s word and using the workbook, you will be asked, “What just went on between me and God?” And trust me, something is going to happen.

I’m thrilled to welcome you to the day of new discoveries.  Welcome to the day of living financially wise.  Welcome to the day you stopped orienting your life on the pursuits of wrong treasures.  Welcome to: “ENOUGH!”

Ron Otto, preaching minister, Lincoln Christian Church


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)


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


 

 

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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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