Le Roy First United Presbyterian Church 101 East Pine Street P. O. Box 88 Le Roy, Illinois 61752-0088 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Organization Bulk Rate U. S. Postage Paid Le Roy, IL 61752 Permit No. 5 If you do not currently receive our newsletter and would like to be added to our mailing list, please email your name and address to [email protected]LE ROY FIRST UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 309-962-5011 [email protected]Website: leroypresbyterian.info Vol. XVIII No. 4
“AN EASTER START” (Written by Philip Yancy as printed in “Our Daily Bread”)
One detail in the Easter story has always intrigued me. Why did Jesus keep the scars from His crucifixion? Presumably He could have had any resurrected body He wanted, and yet He chose one identifiable mainly by scars that could be seen and touched. Why?
I believe the story of Easter would be incomplete without those scars on the hands, the feet, and the side of Jesus. (John 20:27). Human beings dream of pearly straight teeth and wrinkle-free skin and ideal body shapes. We dream of an unnatural state: the perfect body. But for Jesus, being confined in a skeleton and human skin was the unnatural state. The scars are a permanent reminder of His days of confinement and suffering on our planet.
From the perspective of heaven, those scars represent the most horrible event that has ever happened in the history of the universe. Even that event, though, turned into a memory. Because of Easter, we can hope that the tears we shed, the struggles we endure, the emotional pain, the heartache over lost friends and loved ones, all these will become memories, like Jesus’ scars. Scars never completely go away, but neither do they hurt any longer. Someday we will have re-created bodies, and a re-created heaven and earth (Rev. 21:4).
We will have a new start, an EASTER START.
Pastor Ed delivered his final sermon for us on March 22nd. He will no doubt be filling some of his days enjoying Leah, his new granddaughter, and hopefully also some wonderful weather!
An interim pastor is being sought for us by Presbytery and our church elders, deacons and committee members will be filling in where needed until we can welcome a new full-time pastor. Please be patient and prayerful during this time of transition.
A Note from Pastor Ed: Thank you all for making my departure easy (that does not mean not a little sad). I thoroughly enjoyed myself at Jacks--the cake with the Yankees logo and all. I have safely arrived in Pearl River and am surrounded by a sea of boxes. I wish you all well and pray that it is so.
COMING SOON TO OUR CHURCH
HOST HOMES NEEDED
The Ugandan Kids Choir, a group of ten children, will perform traditional Ugandan Songs and Dances on August 23rd during our 9:00 a.m. church service. The children have been given hope through Childcare Worldwide’s Sponsorship Program and now they will be here to spread that hope to audi-ences all across the United States. The choir has performed nationwide at churches, schools, at Disneyland, and on the steps of the White House.
The Ugandan Kids Choir is a ministry of Childcare Worldwide, which has been dedicated to empowering children in the developing world since 1981. Through child sponsorship, Childcare Worldwide brings hope to children in need by providing them with an education that will set them up for future employment and break the cycle of poverty in their lives.
We will enjoy traditional African song and dance, as well as help children in need all around the world. Don’t miss this unique and authentic performance by the children of the Ugandan Kids Choir.
Four host homes will be needed for the nights of August 20, 21 and 22 –
please see Londa Holoch for details if you are interested.
During our time of transition we will be relying on a
variety of pastors – some will be ordained and some
will not. Beginning in May, in order to help with
pulpit supply scheduling, an ordained pastor will only
be secured on the first Sunday of each month.
Since communion must be administered by an ordained pastor, it will
only be offered on the first Sunday of each month. Saturday evening
worshippers are encouraged to attend the appropriate Sunday service to
receive communion. Deacons will be serving communion to shut-ins
using the blessed sacraments from the past Sunday’s service.
Learning, Building,
Growing !
Anniversary Wishes
4/05 Sara & Dean Nichols
4/16 Betty Garee & Mike Wills
04/06 Pat Born
04/06 Henry Sigler
04/14 Eddy Allen
04/15 Mary Sigler
04/15 Jim Welander
04/16 Mary Fairfield
04/16 Jordan Cox
04/17 Beverly Burcham
04/19 Jan Owens
04/19 Janeen Juvinall
04/19 Mara Walker
04/21 Garrett Hudson
04/22 Steve Crumbaugh
04/22 Sadee Owens
04/23 Martha Dean
04/24 Dean Nichols
04/27 Monica Stengel
04/28 Naomi Chaplin
04/28 Buddy Price
Happy Birthday !
This summer our junior high youth are heading to Green Lake WI to
participate in “The Great Escape” and our high school students will be
attending Student Life Camp at Lee University in Cleveland, TN. We
hope you will consider helping our students reach their fundraising
goals for these trips!
Butter Braid Pastries, Cookie Dough and Pizza Sales
The kids are selling these delicious products through April 7th
(Sign up sheet in church hallway or call church office to order)
Orders will be here at the church for pick up starting April 15th
Butter Braids cost $13 (our group profit, $5.20 per order)
Cookie Dough cost $16 (our group profit, $6.40 per order)
Pizzas cost $18 (our group profit, $7.20 per order)
Schwan’s Products
Although the initial sales campaign is over, our group will continue
to receive 5% of all orders made for the rest of 2015!
Order by phone (855-870-7208) or order on-line at Schwans Cares.com
using our campaign ID 18613 and our Fundraising ID 46084
Encourage family, friends and neighbors who use Schwan’s products to
order through our fundraiser!
PORK CHOP LUNCH/BAKE SALE Saturday, April 25, 10:30 - 1:30 p.m. at the IGA
Come out and support our youth attending summer camps this year.
Pork chop sandwiches and meal deals will be offered.
And also don’t forget to pick up some yummy baked
goods at the Bake Sale!(To donate baked goods, please
contact Kerri or the church office.
Church Phone: (309) 962-5011 Website: leroypresbyterian.info
our library to share their thoughts about the book or
video with other readers. There are many books in
our library for a wide range of ages and interests.
GIFTED HANDS: THE BEN CARSON STORY
Our library has recently received two new books and a DVD regarding
Ben Carson (Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story by Ben Carson, Gifted
Hands – Revised Kid’s Edition). I recently read the book and couldn’t stop
talking to my family about it. When I began this book I honestly had no
idea who Ben Carson was. He grew up in inner-city Detroit and was
raised by a single mom with a third grade education. She instilled in Ben
and his brother the drive to excel, no matter their circumstances, along
with a strong faith in God. Ben tells the story of being at the bottom of his
class when he was in fifth grade - two things happened to make a pro-
found difference in his life – eye glasses and his mother’s persistence for
him to do “better”. By age 33 Ben Carson became the director of pediatric
neurosurgery at John Hopkins Medical Institution. Today he is a professor
of neurosurgery, plastic surgery, oncology and pediatrics. He has written
many books and he travels extensively sharing his values and faith with
teenagers. This was an amazing story of inspiration for young and old
alike.
Submitted by Londa Holoch
Registration now open!
Applications can be picked up from the church office, downloaded
from our website (leroypresbyterian.info) or obtained from Director
Kristin Smith. Registration is now open to everyone on a first come,
first served basis.
If you, or someone you know would be interested in having their
child attend our faith-based preschool, please contact us for more
information!
Committee Administration Administration Administration Mission & Outreach Christian Education Worship & Music Worship & Music Special Events Clerk of Session
December June
January 2016 August
October
February 2016 July April
March May
CHURCH OFFICERS
Elders:
Dennis Mennenga Jarrett Cox Jason Smith Eric Mennenga Miranda Walker Londa Holoch Mary Sigler Betty Garee Naomi Chaplin
Session meets on April 8th Session Minutes are available, after approval, in the office.
Deacons: Deacon of the Month
Class of 2015 Brian Cordray Bonnie Crumbaugh Mary Ella Mennenga Terri Caldwell Class of 2016 Bobbi Ready Beverly Burcham Steve Myers Randy Sigler Class of 2017 Cyndee Sinnott Janet Cormier
LeROY ALL-CLASS REUNION Saturday, June 27th
1 - 5 p.m. - LeRoy High School
Cookies and punch will be served in the cafetorium
with special tours of the school offered and a special
recognition at 4 p.m. in the gym. Many weekend
activities are being planned…make your voice heard which ones you would
be mostly likely to attend when registering! YOU make this event a success,
so please plan to set aside this date and contact your classmates as well!
To confirm your attendance please submit your reservation and a $5 per
person fee by June 1st to: “The LeRoy Alumni Assn., 801 E. Elm St.,
LeRoy,. (Registration forms available on church bulletin board or contact
have actively been learning what the BIG word evangelism means and
how we are called to be “fishers for people”. They have memorized
through active motions Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe with your heart God has raised Him from the dead you will be saved. Our motto for evangelism is “nothing beats
filling up the empty seats”. I give thanks for the Christ-filled leaders
who are passionate about sharing God’s love with many children each
Tuesday-may God bless you!
Our older teens have been busy sharing Christ’s love also! These
awesome groups of students filled plastic Easter eggs (11 eggs with
candy treats and 1 empty egg) and then were given instructions to find
a neighbor, family member or friend to leave the eggs and this note in
their yard: YOU HAVE BEEN EGGED! There are 12 eggs in your yard! Enjoy the Hunt, but don’t be discouraged when you find the empty egg. It is a simple reminder of Jesus’ empty tomb-for He is Risen!
Our LOOP and LANDING students recently traveled to Bloomington
for a very unique and exciting experience called, Escape Bloomington.
We had 25 students and 4 adults gather into three rooms, each with
its own theme, to solve puzzles, search for clues and communicate
closely in a team atmosphere to “escape” the challenge. This opportu-
nity allowed our students to not only encourage and support their
teammates, but it stretched their minds to full capacity and developed
a “we” not “me” environment. Not only did they have a blast with this
activity but it allowed our group to bond closer together in Christian
friendships, and for this I give thanks!
Easter will soon be here and our students have been reading in their
daily devotionals for the 20-30-40 Challenge (20 students, reading 30
daily devotions during the 40 days of Lent). I believe we will exceed
our goal of 20 students participating in the Challenge. This is not only
awesome because students are reading and studying the Word, but it i
creating a healthy spiritual habit which will hopefully continue. In the
near future we will be celebrating our Challenge with a “Late Night”
evening.
I pray as we will soon be celebrating with shouts of Easter morning
Alleluias, you will experience the joy that only He can bring!
MAY CHRIST RECEIVE THE GLORY - AMEN.
LEAP 2015-2016
&
VBS - Backstage with the Bible
Registration forms will soon be available for next fall’s LEAP program and this summer’s exciting VBS “Backstage with the Bible” ! Watch for more information in the bulletin and on the church’s website, leroypresbyterian.info
Vacation Bible School will be held mornings on June 8 - 12. “Backstage” T-shirts will be available for purchase (optional) for $10 each.
This year’s final LEAP will be on April 29th. Registration forms will be made available for next fall’s program to current and future students at the beginning of April. LEAP shirts will also be available for purchase at the time of registration.
Watch for information on a youth late night event.
COMING IN APRIL !
YOUTH
Would you be interested in taking a training course in CPR and operating the AED? If the answer is yes, please contact the church office. If there is enough interest, a class instructed by Jason Smith will be offered this summer. There would be no charge for this class.
We Escaped!
We Escaped!
We Escaped!
A GREAT time had by all as 28 youth put their heads
together and ESCAPED in a team building experience!
