Good News

November 16, 2025

Troy Kemp 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 - Sanctuary

Please join us for coffee fellowship in the Gallery space upstairs following the sanctuary service.

5:30 Wednesday Worship in the Chapel

Reverend Lonna Lee Leading

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

we will post a notice on our website and Facebook.

November is Transgender Awareness Month

November is Transgender Awareness Month, a time to honor, celebrate, and advocate for our transgender and gender diverse community. The month culminates with the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20th.

Q+ COMMUNITY LUNCH

Last Saturday the Q+ Community at FPC gathered for lunch and fun at Bella Milano. 17 Q+ folks and allies enjoyed a wonderful meal and time together. We are looking forward to more fun activities. Plan on joining us for future events. All are welcome!

Garden clean-up – Monday, November 17

Volunteers are needed to help clean-up the garden on Monday, November 17 starting at 9 a.m. No experience required! Bring gloves, rakes, weed-eaters, and garden clippers if you have them. This will go quickly and you’ll have a good time too. If the weather is bad, give Judy Bartels a call at 217/303-1646 to confirm the event.

Faith and Fellowship

Faith and Fellowship will meet at 10:00 for good conversation and more on the third Friday of this month, November 21st in Cook/Diller lounge. All are welcome and parking is available behind the Church.

Who Likes Decorating?

Hanging of the Greens November 23rd

If you like decorating we could use your help! Hanging of the Greens will be November 23rd after the sanctuary service. Please let Frank Schultz know if you are able to help decorate for the holiday season.

Sign Up Now for Daily Advent Devotionals

Again this Advent season we are offering daily thoughtful devotions written by Teri McDowell Ott. This year's title is Draw Near, Lighting the Advent Path with Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. There are a couple of ways you can participate.

Receive an online or hard copy version of the full devotional book.
Receive a daily devotion via email.

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

Micropantry

We are excited to announce that our micropantry has been restored, installed and is once again open for business! Thanks to Don, Arthur, Dan, Garry, Greg and Tom for their help. It was constructed with all recycled lumber and is much stronger than the first one, but also has some creative (some might say strange or imperfect) characteristics as a result.

Caroline Cunningham along with Sally Jones brought some initial food to stock the pantry so it is now officially open. Next week we will publish a list of items appropriate for donating. Thanks to everyone who makes this ministry happen.

Nursery

The nursery is now available for parents to use with their little ones. You are free to use the nursery on Sunday mornings and during church events. Child care is not provided at this time so you will need to stay with your child while there.

Grace Food Pantry Notes

October was the fifth straight month it served more than 1,000 households.

It has had over 100 visits every day for three weeks (417 last week).

In October it served 1,284 visitors representing 3,329 people; it is anticipated that November numbers will be higher. In 2024 it served 10,000 households and 25,000 individuals; this year the numbers are 12,000 households and 30,000 individuals.

Organizations which have made donations this year include: United Way of Sangamon County, food drives by at least six groups, First Church of the Nazarene, the Beta Club at Franklin School, Camping World, a department at SIU, Kings Daughters, Bunn Gourmet, Central Illinois Food Bank, Grace Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian Church, and others.

Numbers furnished by Doug McFarlan, director, on November 8, 2025.

Do you like to read liturgy?

We are looking for volunteers for liturgists for 2026. If you would like to sign up to be a liturgist (for sanctuary, zoom or both) or responsive reader please email Michelle.

Church Directory

If you have any changes to your information or want to update your photo in the church directory please let Michelle know.

Christmas Tree

Do you have a gently used artificial Christmas tree that you no longer want? If so, please contact Michelle.

Contact Linda Johnson for more information.

Kids Activity Page

Click on this link for a fun 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.

We are here for you

Please know that our Pastor and Chaplain are here for you. You may contact 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.

Coffee Fellowship

Thank you to all who have provided goodies and made coffee so that we can fellowship together after service.

We are always grateful for coffee fellowship hosts. If you would like to volunteer please sign up in the commons. If you are interested in hosting but don't want to do it by yourself please let Michelle know and we can find a partner for you.

Shelter Meal Volunteers

Jesus says: "For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in."

~Matthew 25:35

If it blesses you to help feed our neighbors, please join us on November 25. You can assist with the preparation of the meals, serving, visiting or all of the above. If you are interested or have questions, please see Denise Bockmier-Sommers, Linda Johnson, Keith Dhom, or Frank Schultz.

Vicki B.

Karen A.

William R.

Everett B.

David A.

James P.

Bill E.

Wilma H.

Noah N.

Simon L.

All events are via Zoom unless otherwise specified.

November 18

Joy of Movement 1:30 Commons

November 19

Wednesday Worship 5:30 Chapel

November 20

Joy of Movement 1:30 Commons

November 22

Capital City Contra Dances 6:00 Performance Space

November 23

Harvey Stephens to lead Service 9:00 Zoom

Harvey Stephens to lead Service 10:45 Sanctuary

Hanging of the Greens following church 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

Oct. 2025	Zoom = 8377	Sanct. = 274	Wed. = 66	Total = 417
Oct. 2024	Zoom = 85	Sanct. = 246	Wed. = 46	Total = 377
Last Week	Zoom = 24	Sanct. = 65	Wed. = 15	Total = 104

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:

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)