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 sanctuary service.

5:30 Wednesday Worship

at Lincoln Memorial Gardens

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

we will post a notice on our website and Facebook.

This Sunday at the 10:45 service we will have special music by Adam Miller, tenor.

Church Closed

The church will be closed on Monday, September 1st in observance of Labor Day.

Labor Day Weekend Events

We celebrate the value of everyone who works. We acknowledge the sacredness of Sabbath rest. This weekend, at least two public events are scheduled in town:

The Springfield Central IL Trades and Labor Council are ecstatic to expand our Labor Day celebration to include the entire Springfield community! Community leaders, elected officials, and labor activists will be speaking Saturday, 12-2:00 on the importance of the labor movement. The picnic will start promptly at noon at Duncan Park (500 N MacArthur) and will conclude with a live band (Nfinite Soul) at 6pm. Pastor Susan has been invited to speak.

Capital City Illinois Indivisible is hosting a Labor Day Rally on Monday, 12-2:00 at the Illinois State Capital in front of the Lincoln Statue. Several FPC members are organizers. Just showing up is meaningful. We also have multiple volunteer opportunities for those who want to be more actively involved. To volunteer, contact: Karen Broquet. CCII would also welcome your prayers for this country and the countless individuals who are trying to make a difference. 

Faith and Fellowship

Faith and Fellowship will meet Fri. Sept. 5 at 10 am at Barb Olson's home. Come join us for good conversation.

Clean Up Day September 6

Please mark your calendars for our September 6th cleanup day to pick up trash along Chatham Road. Meet at 7:55 a.m. at the SPARC parking lot (232 Bruns Lane in Springfield). Please email Jill Koester or text/call 217.971.0581 to let her know if you would like to participate.

No children under age 10 are allowed to participate.

Sharing Accessible, Functional, Beautiful Space

It was delightful to host the Stanza Stories Poetry Presentation and Awards Ceremony last night! Stanza Stories was a collaboration of the Garvey-Tubman Cultural Resource Center, Intricate Minds harm reduction, Springfield Area Arts Council, Unveiling Black Springfield, and First Presbyterian. This project was supported by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance funding for healing efforts following the death of Sonya Massey last summer. The poets had dinner in the Commons, then presented their original work in the basement. Folks used the elevator AND the lift! We set up for fifty and needed to bring down more chairs. What a blessing to share space with community partners!

Session Actions Taken in August

At its August 21 meeting the Session took the following actions:

1. Approved Mission and Outreach Committee’s request that the church sponsor Habitat for Humanity’s 2026 build.
2. Approved the request of the Finance Committee that Memorial Funds be used to buy chairs for the chapel and to pay for the labyrinth on the chapel floor.

Complete Session minutes and committee reports are available to church members at LincolnsChurch.org/calendar after they have been approved by the Session.

Do You Love Singing?

Join the choir! Singing has always been an important part of First Presbyterian Church's worship service. We are delighted to announce choir will begin again on September 14th. So, if you love singing and would like to get involved, join us Sunday mornings for rehearsal at 9:15 and singing at the 10:45 service starting September 14th. Email Becky Kemp for more information.

Renovation Update

Renovations are nearing completion which opens up more parking and multiple ways to enter and exit the building. 

Parking: the parking lot is available for use. The spaces marked "reserved" are available after business hours and on weekends. Also, during evenings and weekends, we may continue to park in the alley between the church and the federal building. Street parking is also an option.

Entering and Exiting the Building: 

In addition to using the garden door ramp or the big red doors on seventh street, we have a fully accessible entrance from the parking lot. On Sunday mornings, ushers will guide you to the sanctuary by the stairs or the elevator. Please note that shortly after the worship service begins the west entrance and the garden doors will be locked.

Devotional to Sancti Spiritus

by Mick Bernasek

Matthew 11:28-30

"Come to me and I will give you rest-all of you who have worked so hard beneath a heavy yoke. Wear my yoke-for its fits perfectly-and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls; for I will give you only light burdens"

These verses made me think of mental healing from various hardships that we encounter in daily life. Regardless of the negative stimuli, God gives us the power to heal mentally and convert such events into positive thoughts. In this manner we are then able to serve God's intention and to not waller in negative thoughts or actions. 

 Philippians 4:8

"And now brothers, as I close this letter let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad."

This verse reminded me of good intrinsic thinking about God and all of his creations. This type of thought pattern would take precedent over extrinsic thought that are many times the result of ugly or negative influences. Christ's life seemed to embody the intrinsic and philosophical good. He had little use for ugly or contrived ideas or thoughts from extrinsic influences.

Heartland Housed Welcome Home Baskets

The Mission Committee and Faith and Fellowship want to thank everyone for the overwhelming success of the Welcome Home Basket for Heartland Housed initiative. Welcome Home Baskets are given to previously unhoused clients who are now being housed and in need of basic household items. From the generous donations you all gave, we have successfully filled five baskets; November, January, March, May and July. The Mission Committee donates $100 to Heartland Housed for welcome baskets they put together on our off months. We are ready to collect items for a basket in September and only need the following: pots and pan set, two bowls, knife set, cooking utensils, can opener, shower curtain and plastic liner, and hand sweep/ broom. 



Because of space constraints, we do not have room to store things for future baskets and Heartland Housed only accepts complete basket donations. So please only donate what is requested. Don Ecklund will have a sheet in the Narthex after the worship service, where you can sign up for a September donation. We plan to continue to provide a basket every other month and would like to collect the items listed above for the next basket by the end of August. Thank you again for your generous response to this project.

Click here to sign up

2025 Environment and Spirituality Summit

Watch Party

Our congregation has been selected as the central Illinois church to host this Watch Party due to our strong environmental commitment fostered by our Earth Care Team. Faith in Place is sponsoring this event, and staff member, Aiden Meyer, will be present to coordinate the evening. There is no charge for this event but registration is required using the link below.  

Those who attend will have the opportunity to meet others over dinner, watch the keynote address interactively on our big screen TV, and discuss the topic afterwards.

The full agenda for the Annual Environment and Spirituality Summit is available through this link, including 3 other sessions which you may view independently on September 29 and September 30. Questions about the Watch Party may be addressed to Don Ecklund or Judy Bartels.  

Register Here

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.

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 August 26. 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.

Char F.

Matthew P.

Eddie C.

Abigail C.



All events are via Zoom unless otherwise specified.

September 1

Church closed for Labor Day

September 2

Joy of Movement 1:30 Commons

September 3

Family Night Service 5:30 at Lincoln Memorial Gardens

September 4

Joy of Movement 1:30 Commons

Deacons Meeting 6:30

September 5

Faith and Fellowship meeting 10:00 Home of Barb O.

September 7

Chaplain Tim Haworth to lead Service 9:00 Zoom

Chaplain Tim Haworth to lead Service 10:45 Sanctuary

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