Lost and Found
‘He was lost and is found!’ Luke 15:24
Stop and think about the course of the last year. Some of us have lost loved ones. Others have lost work or opportunity. It doesn’t take long to come up with a list of things lost. My prayer is that, as everything else feels as if it is slipping away, you don’t lose heart. As we meet for our Annual Meeting, you will hear many stories that will encourage and inspire your heart.
At the center of faith is a heart filled with hope. In the famous story of the prodigal son, the youngest brother believes that his hope will come with his freedom. He asks for inheritance as if his father has died. The young man leaves his family behind and travels far and wide. But it doesn’t take long before he is lost.
Suddenly the small and simple gifts of home come into focus with value. So he returns home. Both he and his brother perceive the departure and return in transactional terms. But the father in Jesus’ parable speaks and acts from the perspective of love. What once was lost is found. Grace always makes a new start.
In the season of Lent this year, we are looking for small markers of grace to carry us through our challenges. On any given day during times of pandemic, we all are prone to feeling lost. But look for the small markers of God’s grace. There is always a glimmer of grace to offer us a new start.
Take those gifts to heart. We each take up our cross to follow the man who went to the cross for us. But examine the cross on top of our steeple and you will see it is empty. Take heart, dear friends. The world may hand us its worst, but God always is waiting with the best. Let God’s love find you with grace and carry us all toward resurrection hope!
Pastor Brian Paulson
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Worship on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021
Join us on Sunday at 10 a.m. for online worship. The Rev. Dr. Brian R. Paulson is preaching. The video will premiere on YouTube. You may also access the link on our website. Please sign the Fellowship Pad so we know you've joined us in worship and join us on Zoom at 11 a.m. for our Annual Meeting.
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Annual Meeting on Sunday
The annual meeting of the congregation will be held on Zoom at 11 a.m. this Sunday, February 21. Copies of the Annual Report were emailed to all church members. The Zoom link will be emailed to all church members on Saturday, Feb. 20. The Zoom link will also be shared in our private Facebook group on Sunday morning before the meeting begins. If you're having problems accessing the Annual Report or the Zoom link, please email the church at [email protected] and we will be happy to help.
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Email Devotions during Lent
Each day includes a reading from Scripture, an image, a short reflection, and a prayer. As you read your devotion each day, we invite you to reflect on it in light of the larger theme of the Beloved Community. How is God calling our congregation to become a Beloved Community in this season of Lent?
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Sign up for our online Lent Bible Study
The season of Lent is upon us and the Faith Formation committee in conjunction with FIDE, our Presbyterian Faith Formation Collective, is bringing you a class that will be the focus of all five churches: Savior, What the Bible Says About the Cross.
Using the book written by Magrey deVega, we will explore why the cross is the central symbol of the Christian faith. What exactly did Jesus do to save us from our sins? Why was the cross necessary, and what does it mean for us today? The Bible uses many images to understand the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and deVega guides us through these images to achieve a richer understanding of the Christian faith.
Each week will be led by a different church. You can participate on Sundays from 8:30-9:45 a.m. or Wednesdays from 7:00-8:15 p.m. The class runs six weeks beginning on Sunday, February 21. Below are the links for you to sign up. We look forward to this wonderful class!
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In-Person Worship Begins on Sunday, Feb. 28
We will resume in-person worship starting next Sunday, Feb. 28, using the same registration process, capacity limits and format that were established in fall 2020. Due to the capacity limits, registration is required.
This in-person worship service is being offered in addition to our regular online worship, which will continue to premiere each Sunday at 10 a.m. on YouTube.
Registration for Sunday, Feb. 28 will open at 12 p.m. on Feb. 21 and close at noon on Saturday, Feb. 27
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“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will be bursting with wine.” Proverbs 3: 9-10
Your Giving Matters!
Please know that your giving truly matters to further the mission and ministry of FPC Libertyville. Thank you for your continued support of God’s work. If you have not yet submitted a 2021 Giving Estimate, please click here to visit our Stewardship page or contact the church office at 847-362-2174.
Remember to Update Your Giving Info in Realm!
Thank you to all who have established a recurring donation through Realm. With the start of the new year, please remember to log into your Realm account to update your recurring gift to reflect your 2021 giving intentions and pay your annual per capita fee of $36 per member. Please contact Cynthia Churchwell at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Taking "Stock" in FPC Libertyville!
With the stock market at an all-time high, have you considered the advantages of gifting stocks or mutual funds to the church? A gift of appreciated securities provides meaningful support for FPC Libertyville and may offer certain tax benefits. Please contact Cynthia Churchwell at [email protected] for details.
God Has Included You in His Will…Have You Included God in Yours?
The FPC Libertyville Endowment Program is here to help. Please contact Bill Chapman at 847-456-8647 or [email protected] to get started.
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Virtual Trivia Night registration opens on Monday
Gather a virtual team of 2-10 people and join us online on Friday, March 12 for a fun night of trivia with our own Trivia Masters, Mark Friese and Adam Gohr.
The cost is $20 per person and proceeds will go to support Lake County nonprofit organizations, such as Career Resource Center, Feed My Starving Children, Fit Team Moms, Habitat for Humanity, Lake County Haven, Love Inc., Northern Illinois Food Bank, PADS Lake County, SmaraCare Counseling Center, Waukegan 2 College, Waukegan Soup Kitchen, Youth & Family Counseling, and more!
Look for the Virtual Trivia Night registration link on our church website and on social media starting Monday.
Moment for Mission
Cl ick here to learn about the work of the Northern Illinois Food Bank one of the amazing organizations that your Trivia Night dollars help support.
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Check your email for your 2020 Giving Statement
Your 2020 Giving Statement has been emailed to the email address we have on file for you. Please check your inbox, as well as your spam folder, for an email from First Presbyterian Church with the subject line "Your giving statement from First Presbyterian Church." You may also access your Giving Statement by logging into your Realm account and clicking on the "Giving" tab on the left side of the page.
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Sunday School: Faith at Home Together
Each week, we're providing a short, simple, interactive lesson that will help you engage your kids in meaningful conversations and activities that connect to our faith. The links are posted in our Facebook group and sent to families via email. Contact Mrs. Boyce to sign up.
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Gather Round
Calling all Kindergartners - 2nd graders (or anyone who likes a good story). Mrs. Boyce will be reading bedtime stories on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Sign up for the Children and Family Newsletter to receive the Zoom links.
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Tunes & Tales
Join us Thursdays at 9 a.m. for Tunes & Tales. This program is appropriate for young children between the ages of 3 and 5. Older children are welcome as well. Sign up for the Children & Family Newsletter to receive the Zoom links.
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Pizza for PADS
Tuesday is Charity Pie Day at Pizzeria DeVille in Libertyville and for the month of February your Tuesday Pie purchase will support PADS Lake County.
Food Collection
PADS Lake County is collecting non-perishable food items that can be distributed to clients on a weekly basis. Please bring your donations to the First Pres sanctuary doors on Douglas Ave. on Tuesday afternoons between 3-5 p.m. Email [email protected] to let the volunteers know you are coming.
Examples of items that are needed include: Peanut butter, Easy Mac, oatmeal packets, microwavable meals, canned chicken/tuna, Chef Boyardee (pop top cans), soup (pop top cans), granola Bars, and $5-$10 fast food gift cards,
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Libertyville Senior Center Newsletter
The Libertyville Senior Center offers a number of programs and services for seniors in our community. You may access their monthly newsletter online or by clicking the blue button below.
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How to contact the pastors and staff at First Pres
Phone: Call 847-362-2174 and leave a message. Your call will be returned between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Email: [email protected] (emails go to a member of the administrative team and will be forwarded to the appropriate person).
Pastoral Emergencies: Please call 847-367-6460 if you are church member and need to reach a pastor in an emergency. Leave a message and a pastor will return your call as soon as they are able.
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