Announcements

All the new elders and deacons were approved last Sunday; Chris Cowan, Micah Wakeman, Tim Bacus, Tracy Dyer, Nathan Fricke, and Marilyn Wilham.

The congregation is invited to come out for snacks and to watch the Super Bowl in the F.L.C. NEXT Sunday, February 5, at 4:00 p.m.  Each family is asked to bring an appetizer or dessert AND a 2 liter bottle of soda to share.  Fellowship will provide lemonade.  We need 2-4 volunteers to set-up from 3-4:00 p.m. and 2-4 volunteers to clean-up for approximately one hour after the game.  Contact Jana McClellan 217-671-2521 to volunteer.

Winter coats are being handed out at the Logan County Food Pantry by volunteers from Zion Lutheran School, in Lincoln.  We are in need of more new or used coats, hats, mittens, and scarfs for fulfill the need.  If you can help, please place coats in the bins located outside of both sanctuaries, McEntire's Appliances takes care of making sure they are cleaned and ready for wear.  We appreciate your help.

The Senior Adults & Friends of MPCC would like to invite all adults to join  us on Thursday, February 16, for an evening of entertainment with Tammy Renee' Harris.  Please invite your friends and neighbors to join us as Tammy shares songs of inspiration and encouraging words with us for the new year.  Tammy sings a variety of songs and is sure to please everyone with her talent.  Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with a Dessert Buffet followed by the concert at 7:00 p.m.  A Love Offering will be taken.  If you may be interested in bringing a dessert to share, please contact Teresa in the office at 217-792-5417.

During the month of February, we will have Dr. Bob Kurka from Lincoln Christian University with us during the Sunday school hour to talk about Islam.  Dr. Kurka has done extensive study on the Muslim world and he will help our understanding of this growing influence.  Most of our adult Sunday school classes will be canceling so we can attend this 4-week series:

February 5: "Who is Muhammad...and Who is his God?"

February 12: "How Does One Know the God of Muhammad?" (The Qur'an)

February 19: "How Does One Serve the God of Muhammad?" (Muslim Beliefs and Practice)

February 26: "Introducing Followers of Muhammad to the Father of Jesus" (Evangelizing Muslims) 

February 18, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Lincoln Christian University.  Cost to attend is $30 by February 11 ($35 after February 11).  Please register online, by phone, or mail your registration form to LCU.  Registration forms and detailed information are available on the bulletin board by the church office.

The last weekend of February, the 23-26, there will be a walk to Emmaus event for Men at Lake Springfield Christian Assembly.  There will be an Emmaus event for women March 8-11.  If you are interested in more information about these retreats, please contact the church office.

The conference is coming to Springfield, Saturday, March 24, 2012.  If you may be interested in attending or would like information regarding the conference please contact Kris Davis.

The church will be providing a new option to members for your weekly general fund offering and for your building fund offering.  You will soon be able to initiate a request for a direct electronic fund transfer (EFT) for your bank to the Church bank accounts.  The forms will be available next week to fill out and turn in to the church office.  As with all giving, only the treasure and financial secretary will see these forms.  You may stop this transfer process at any time and you may also increase or decrease the amount of the automatic deduction at any time.  Some of the benefits of this new option are: 

1. You will no longer have to write a check each week for your weekly offerings.
2. Your donations will still be tracked for tax purposes and a yearly giving statement will continue to be provided to you at the end of the year.
3. For those Sundays that you are not able to attend, your offering will continue to be given in your absence.
4. This process keeps a more level weekly offering that allows the Finance Team to better manage the church's monthly budget.

Please see Trustees Greg Maus, Dennis Wilham, Wally Kauz, or Tom Stephens for detailed information.

Due to maintenance and administrative costs, we will be charging a minimal fee of $25.00 for groups of 50 or less for the use of facilities for private events.

During the month of February, I will be preaching a series entitled "Designer Sex".  We live in a culture with competing and confusing messages about sex, so we will be looking at what the Designer (God) wants us to know about our sexuality.  If you would like to give me feedback on what issues you believe need to be addressed, I would love to hear from you.  You may write a message on your communication card or hand me a note with your thoughts.  I believe this will be good for our young people to hear, too, but if you are uncomfortable with their presence during this series, you may want to have them attend children's worship.

Rhonda Mattern will be performing Blood Pressure Screenings on the first Sunday of each month in the Prayer Room located off of the foyer.  She will be in the Prayer Room following both the 1st and 2nd services.  Rhonda is a part of the Parish Nurse Community of Central Illinois bringing health care home to our communities.