9:00 Sunday - Online in Zoom

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Meeting ID: 856 7771 8426

10:45 Sunday - Sanctuary

Please join us for coffee fellowship following the service

5:30 Worship - onsite in the Commons

If for some reason the onsite services would need to be canceled,

we will post a notice on our website and Facebook.

Congregational Meeting- December 8th

The Session has called for a Congregational Meeting of First Presbyterian Church, Springfield for the purpose of electing deacons and elders and members of the Nominating Committee on Sunday, December 8th.

Nominations

Session (Elders) 2027 

Richard Amoako, JoAnne Durkee, John Handley, Sohail Aslam, Diana Harris 

Deacons 2026  

Jennie Claflin 

Deacons 2027 

Scott Doubet, Brian Pfeifer, Tamika Seymore, Jr, Becky McHenry, Denise Bockmier-Sommers 

Nominating Committee 2025 

2 Elders:  Mick Bernasek, Richard Amoako 

1 Deacon: Tom Doubet 

4 At-Large Members: Jeff Maras, Debra Larsen, Judy Bartels, Mike Orr 

Welcome New Members!

Please join us this Sunday as we joyfully celebrate the sacrament of baptism for Nathan Myers and the reception of new members Seth Ensign, Luke Leach, Laurie Myers and Steve Myers.

It's Not Too Late to Sign Up for Daily Devotions or Join Our Monday Study!

Again this Advent season we are offering daily thoughtful devotions written by Teri McDowell Ott. This year's title is Patterns of Divine Opportunity - An Advent Search. There are several ways you can participate.

• Receive an online or hard copy version of the full devotional book.
• Receive a daily devotion via email.
• Participate in a live discussion of the devotions with Chaplain Tim each Monday of Advent. We will meet at 6:30 on Zoom. Each study will last an hour.

Please click here to sign up for each of the opportunities.

Ordering Christmas Poinsettias

As we approach Christmas, we will honor and remember our loved ones, both living and deceased, with beautiful poinsettias. You can purchase a plant to enhance the beauty of the sanctuary with this lovely gift. There will be order forms in the bulletins or you can use the form below. Poinsettias will cost $12.00 each. Please place your order in the offering plate with your payment All orders must be received by December 9th.

You may take home your poinsettias after the Christmas Eve service.

Online Order Form

FREE Lunchtime concerts

Wednesdays during Advent

December 11

Vocal Trio: Nichol DelGiorno, Diane Dietz, Becky Kemp

December 18

Nichol DelGiorno, organist

Brown bag lunch available for $5.00

or bring your own lunch to enjoy.

Capital Campaign Orientation 

Thursday, Dec 12 in the Commons.

Details have been emailed.

If you would like to volunteer, please contact Pastor Susan at RevSusan@LincolnsChurch.org or 217.528.4311 x1020

Christmas Joy Offering

The Christmas Joy Offering reflects that God is with us, through the generous gifts that support church leaders among us, retired, present and future, who have pointed us to God. Even as we support our current and former church leaders through the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions, God is calling new leaders for our Church and world, through the ministry of Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color — offering students the means for a brighter future and enhanced opportunities to use their talents and skills to serve God, the Church and the world for years to come.

There are a couple ways to give:

 Donate online (be sure to specify Joy offering)

OR Use the envelopes in the pew and put in the offering plate

The faith communities of UNITED met this week at First Church of the Brethren. Information related to marriage, estate planning, ID's, and name changes was shared. Participants were also blessed by time together in small groups and as a community. Those who were unable to attend can click here to open up a Word document filled with friendly advice that was distributed Wednesday night. If you have any questions about the attached document please contact Chaplain Tim.

Ornament

If you don't already have an Our New Season - Building Community ornament please take one. They will be in the back of the sanctuary on the table.

Welcome Home Basket Thanks

Thanks to everyone who generously donated items for our first Heartland Housed Welcome Home Basket. Every item on the list was filled, with many additional items donated that can be used in future Welcome Home Baskets.  It is so gratifying to be a member of First Presbyterian Church, where members care so much about the unhoused in Springfield, including supporting this new initiative to make their transition into permanent housing more successful.  

Thanks!

Thank you to the Shared Values Foundation of Springfield for donating the beautiful tree and wreath that decorate the commons. We appreciate the creativity and generosity of Samra Aslam, Sohail Aslam and Farzana Pasha.

Thanks from the Joy of Movement

To our friends at First Presbyterian Church. Thank you for ALL you do for our community!

With love,

Eve

Renovation Update

Structure is taking shape!

You are invited to walk by the fence on the west side of the parking lot and see for yourself before they begin enclosing the new construction.

We are here for you

In a time when emotions are high, please know that our Pastor and Chaplain are here for you. Please contact either of them at:

Rev. Susan Phillips

217-528-4311 ext. 1020

RevSusan@LincolnsChurch.org

Chaplain Tim Haworth

217-528-4311 ext. 1030

Tim@LincolnsChurch.org

Hospital Notices

Please note that the hospitals no longer contact local churches to let them know when a member is admitted. We encourage members and friends of First Presbyterian to call the church office to let us know when you go to the hospital so Pastor Susan and Chaplain Tim can provide pastoral support if it blesses you. We do not share any information without permission.

Contacting Staff During Renovation

Even though some of us may not always be in the building you can reach us by phone at home.

Just dial 217-528-4311

and put in the extension of the person you are trying to reach.

Pastor Susan x1020

Chaplain Tim x1030

Bookkeeper (Tara) x1050

Church Office (Michelle) x4

Facilities Manager (Tom) x1040

Betsy C.

Susan A.

All events are via Zoom unless otherwise specified.

December

9

Building and Grounds Committee Meeting 4:00

10

Worship Committee Meeting 2:30

11

Brown Bag Concert 12:15 Sanctuary

Mission Committee Meeting 4:00 Home of Sally R.

Wednesday Worship 5:30 onsite

12

Capitol Campaign -Exec. Team Meeting 5:15 commons

Capitol Campaign -Lead Gifts Leaders Meeting 6:00 commons

Finance Meeting 6:00

Capitol Campaign -Campaign Leadership Meeting 7:00 commons

Capitol Campaign -Communication Leaders Meeting 8:00 commons

15

Reverend Susan Phillips to lead Zoom Service 9:00 Zoom

Reverend Susan Phillips to lead Service 10:45 Sanctuary

Family Christmas Activity following sanctuary 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.

Worship Attendance

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 #.

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:

1. Writing a check – Add the fund name in the memo section (Capital Campaign, Peacemaking, Samaritan Ministry, etc.)
2. Online portal – Select “Other Donations” when entering the amount then enter the name of the fund in the Notes section
3. 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)

Church Contact Information

Our church numbers reach us even while we are working remotely.

Pastor Susan Phillips

RevSusan@LincolnsChurch.org

217.528.4311 X 1020

Chaplain Tim Haworth

Tim@LincolnsChurch.org

217.528.4311 X 1030

Bookkeeper, Tara Kaeding

Bookkeeper@LincolnsChurch.org

217.528.4311 X 1050

Administrative Assistant, Michelle Hastings

Michelle@LincolnsChurch.org

217.528.4311 X 4

321 South Seventh Street • Springfield, IL •  217.528.4311

www.LincolnsChurch.org