Good News - Labyrinth, Brown Bag Concerts, Easter Flowers

March 19, 2023

Chaplain Tim Haworth, leading

9:00 Sunday - Online in Zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85677718426

One tap mobile +13126266799,,85677718426#

Or Call +1 312 626 6799 and use

Meeting ID: 856 7771 8426

10:45 Sunday - Onsite in the Sanctuary

6:00 Wednesday Worship

5:30 Worship Service

MASKS

We encourage those who might be vulnerable to wear masks

and anyone with symptoms to join worship via Zoom.

Invitations to Walk the Labyrinth

On Sunday mornings in March you are invited to experience the ancient prayer practice of walking a labyrinth before the service at 10:00 or after the service in the Commons. Instructions and guidance will be provided. Additionally, a labyrinth meditation walk can be done with the Unitarian Universalists on Friday, March 17 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.

more information

Caring for Creation

Some of our members and friends met last month with Aiden Meyer of Faith in Place to learn about creating a Green Team. With enthusiastic response, we are planning another gathering to dream about what we might do to care for creation as individuals and as a congregation. We imagine being PEACE: Presbyterian Environmentalists Acting to Care for the Earth.

So, we are inviting anyone interested to join us at the El Dorado Mexican Restaurant at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday March 25. All are welcome as we brainstorm ideas and dream dreams about how our church can better care for its environment and encourage community efforts. The restaurant is located at 1374 Toronto Rd, Springfield, and dinners range from $10-$17.

We need a headcount for our gathering, so please text Judy Bartels at 217/303-1646 or email Judy no later than Thursday, March 23 with your reservation. Hope you are able to attend.

For more than 70 years, One Great Hour of Sharing

has connected us in God’s healing, tending and growing to create a world where all needs are met.

In the Season of Lent, we follow Jesus’ example; walking alongside the most vulnerable to partner in repairing harms inflicted upon them. We are the Church, Together; and we are there with those who need us. Each gift to One Great Hour of Sharing helps improve the lives of the suffering and the vulnerable through three life-saving programs ~

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Presbyterian Hunger Program
Self-Development of People

You can donate at LincolnsChurch.org/sharing. Please put One Great Hour of Sharing in the notes.

Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton Shared Her Message of Hope

We were honored to have Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton deliver the sermon on the last Sunday of Black History Month, the week of Presidents' Day, and on the eve of Women's History Month in March. Thank you very much for sharing your message of hope. Watch the video of her message.

Church Directory Updates Needed

We have begun working on the 2023 church directory. If you have information to update or want to update your photo please contact Michelle by March 20th.

Coffee Fellowship

Make plans to stay after worship for coffee fellowship.

We love visiting with old friends and making new ones. If you would like to host a coffee fellowship please sign up in the Narthex or contact Michelle Hastings.

Brown Bag Concerts

Join us Wednesdays in Lent for free concerts at lunch time starting March 22nd through April 5th from 12:15 to 12:45.

Our next concert will feature

Matthew Nall, piano

Click here for all performances

Lenten Soup Supper and Fellowship Wednesday, March 22nd after 5:30 Worship

Please join us at 5:30 for worship service on March 22nd and stay afterwards for soup and fellowship.

Easter Flowers

Easter is fast approaching and with it is your opportunity to help decorate the sanctuary for the Easter morning service. Potted flowers will be available for $10.00 each and can be dedicated “in honor or memory of” a loved one. These honorariums will be included in the Easter morning bulletin. The flowers will be available after the service for the donors to take home and enjoy. The bulbs can also be planted for future enjoyment.

Please fill out an order form no later than March 31st.

Tell Us About Our Graduates

We are planning to celebrate our students who are graduating. If you know anyone who is going to be graduating from high school, college or any degree or certificate program please let Michelle know by May 1st.

Hearts of Love

Faith Fiber and Fellowship wants you to know there are Hearts of Love in the basket again. We will try to keep it filled.

There will be no meeting April 7, 2023. See you April 21, 2023.

Cuba Partnership

Donations for Sancti Spiritus

On April 12th, a group from First Presbyterian will be traveling to our sister church in Sancti Spiritus. Click the link below to see medical and school supplies needed. If you would like to donate any of these items there will be a donation box in the Narthex starting Sunday March 12, or you can contact Jan Sorenson.

Click here for a list of items to be donated

Prayer from Cuba

"Prayer for Tomorrow"

God, we are to stand up. Stand up to life. Stand up in order to always continue in order to live.

Thank you in order to arise from the darkness of sadness and preoccupations. Today is a new beginning necessary to strive with you for our well being.

Pray for peace.

Call President Biden to remove Cuba

from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism

In the waning days of the previous administration, the State Department added Cuba to the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism. This unfair designation has led to great suffering among the Cuban people. Banks, financial institutions and international businesses have stopped both regular trade and humanitarian assistance to Cuba.

Long-term relationships with partners make it possible to ‘stand in solidarity’ with those in crisis

by Darla Carter | Presbyterian News Service

Amid news of a devastating earthquake in Syria and Turkey, the Presbyterian Mission Agency has reached out to offer assistance to partners in the area, where thousands have died, and is asking Presbyterians to pray for those impacted by the quake and its aftershocks.

Devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria have killed at least 3,400 people and injured thousands more. (Photo courtesy of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance)

Volunteers Needed for 2023

Worship Readers

We are in need of responsive readers for our Zoom service and liturgists for our sanctuary service. If you are interested please email Michelle Hastings.

Kids Activity Page

Click on this link for a fun activity page. Check back each week for a new activity page.

Share your work with us! We would love to see and display your creativity and talent. Send us your colored pictures (scan, email, regular mail) and we will share them on Sunday mornings and maybe also on our Facebook page.

Tuesday Night Bible Study Continues Its Focus on the Cross

On Tuesday night's we will continue to study the crucifixion of Jesus through the eyes of those who bore witness. We are guided by Amy-Jill Levine's book Witness at the Cross. You can jump into our study at any point in the series. Join us Tuesday night at 6:00 on Zoom.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85299765041

Meeting ID: 852 9976 5041

One tap mobile +13126266799,,85299765041#

Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US

Charles N.

JoAnne D.

Clark O.

Nancy S.

Chris F.

Barbara O.

All events are via Zoom unless otherwise specified.

March

Chaplain Tim Haworth to lead Service 9:00 Zoom

Labyrinth Walk 10:00 Commons

Labyrinth Walk 10:45 Commons

Chaplain Tim Haworth to lead Service 10:45 Sanctuary

Fellowship to follow service

Worship Committee Meeting 5:30

Tuesday Night Study 6:30

Brown Bag Concert 12:15 Sanctuary

Wednesday Worship 5:30 Cook/Diller Lounge

Lenten Soup Supper 6:00 Commons

Reverend Susan Phillips to lead Service 9:00 Zoom

Labyrinth Walk 10:00 Commons

Labyrinth Walk 10:45 Commons

Reverend Susan Phillips to lead Service 10:45 Sanctuary

Fellowship to follow service

NOTE: Links to all events are attached to items on the church calendar .

If you click on the Zoom link in the calendar the invitation will open.

How to Join a Zoom Meeting

From your computer, cell phone or tablet:

Click the link provided.

To join a Zoom meeting via telephone:

Dial number given for the meeting. You will be prompted to enter the meeting ID provided followed by #.

Sunday Attendance

Last Week	Zoom = 26	Sanct. =50	Wed. = 24	Total =100
Feb. 2023	Zoom = 137	Sanct. = 252	Wed. = 58	Total = 447
Feb. 2022	Zoom = 309	Sanct. = 0	Wed.= 37	Total = 346

Different Ways to Give

Thank you to everyone that shares in the Joy of Generosity at First Presbyterian! There are several ways to support our ministries and many ministries to support. In order to ensure your gift is credited to the correct fund, please take a moment to include the following information when making a donation:

Writing a check – Add the fund name in the memo section (Capital Campaign, Peacemaking, Samaritan Ministry, etc.)
Online portal – Select “Other Donations” when entering the amount then enter the name of the fund in the Notes section
Text giving – Text “$10 CC” to 217-284-2546, this example is a $10 donation for the Capitol Campaign fund. Other commonly used text codes are: Pledge, SM (Samaritan Ministries), Donate (Non-pledge), Peace, Joy, OGHS, Pentecost and BB (Brown Bag)