First Presbyterian Church

Join us for Worship

Sunday, October 18, 2020-10:15 a.m.

We will return to in-person worship this Sunday. This will be a hybrid service so that those who wish to worship at home may continue to do so via Zoom, Facebook Live and YouTube. We are counting on everyone who decides to attend in-person worship to abide by our approved rules and to ensure that we have a safe worship service.

Services will now begin at 10:15AM, and we will conclude by 11:00AM. People should arrive at 10:00AM.
All those in attendance MUST wear a mask inside and outside the building and maintain social distancing of 6-8 feet inside and outside the building.
You should enter through the Pekin Street entrance only. When you enter, you will have your temperature taken, and anyone with a fever will not be admitted. PLEASE do not come if you are feeling ill in any way. The CE Building will not be open. Restrooms will be open for emergencies only.
You may sit in a pew that is not roped off. A distance of 6-8 feet MUST be maintained between individuals/families.
There will be no singing, recitation, group interaction, or normal passing of the peace during the service.
There will be no printed bulletins, Bibles or hymnals in the Sanctuary. If you come, please bring the enclosed bulletin and your own Bible if you wish.
Paul Kasa will take temperatures, maintain an attendance record for contact tracing if necessary, and help ensure that everyone follows the rules.

Preparing for Worship

“Wherever two or more are gathered in my name,” Jesus said, “there am I in the midst of them.” Whether you’re gathered around the breakfast table with your family, sitting in your favorite recliner, or taking a walk outside, we assemble Jesus’ name bearing witness to the Church’s identity and mission as Christ’s body in the world.

As you prepare for worship, light a candle. This simple act reminds us of God’s presence in this hour of worship and the entrance of Jesus Christ, the light of the world, into our midst. This candle will remind you of Christ’s light and love, and it will also be a symbol to signify our togetherness despite our separation, during this time. I invite you to share a picture of your candle and your “worship space.” Please also email me your picture at pastor@preslincoln.org; on Sunday afternoon, I will share images of our togetherness.

Please click on the image to the left, for your copy of the October 18 bulletin.

Announcements for Sunday, October 18, 2020:

Chris will be in the office on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. But please, feel free to email office@preslincoln.org or call 217-732-6141 at any time to leave a message. we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
TEA @ 2 P.M. continues this Tuesday. Click the Covid-19 Zoom-Hub link at the top of this page for login information.
Kirk Night study of Lamentations on Wednesday, at 7 p.m. in a hybrid format. That means you may join us in-person at the church or by Zoom. Join Zoom Meeting - https://zoom.us/j/3779437492?pwd=QUQxRlBZcTlPM1k5WEEyRmxReEZidz09. Meeting ID: 377 943 7492, Password: 03191985.
The Session voted to return to hybrid in-person worship beginning Sunday, October 18, 2020, at 10 .am. Next week you will receive instructions on what to expect when worshiping in person at First Presbyterian Church, including how you can make your reservation for worship. For those who do not wish to worship in person, we will continue our live streaming on both Facebook Live and Zoom for the time being.
Please continue to drop off items for the Food Pantry in the blue tub on the office porch. They continue to seek donations of dish soap, lotion/hand cream, body wash, paper towels, tissues, laundry and cleaning supplies, band aids, and bar soap, as well as, toothbrushes and toothpaste. No more plastic bags needed.
Thank you, for your faithful offerings to the church. Please click on the "GIVE" link at the top of the page to present your gifts online.

SUNDAY MORNINGS

We welcome one and all to worship God with us on Sunday morning. Come as you are! As Presbyterians we believe that in worship, the people of God acknowledge God present in the world and in our lives. Worship is the offering of our lives back to God in response to God's grace, which also equips us for God's service in the world.

We worship at 10:00 a.m. pm Sunday mornings. We offer coffee and donuts before worship beginning at 9:15a.m.

Children are welcome at our church and celebrated in our worship service. We do provide childcare but encourage parents to include their little ones in worship. From the youngest to the wisest in the congregation, all are needed to make up the body of Christ!

What can you expect?

As Presbyterians, our worship service praises and glorifies God through the fullness of music, prayers, scripture, and the preached Word. The talented Chancel Choir lifts its unified voice to God in anthems as the congregation joins them, together singing both time-honored and modern hymns. The sacrament of Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of every month.

Children's activity worship bags are available outside our main sanctuary doors. The bags include fun and educational Bible-based activities for kids to do while they participate in the worship services.

When the worship hour ends at 11:00 a.m., our fellowship continues in the church parlor. Newcomers are especially welcomed to be part of our worship and our fellowship. We hope to see you in church this Sunday!

SErmons

Faith is meant to be spoken, and sermons are for the speaking of it, in part. There are myriad other ways to speak our faith, too. Where sermons are concerned, they are meant to be heard and experienced, and not only read. Sermons always have a context — the context being the shared life of a congregation, the pastoral relationships that have developed, and the overall life of the city in which the church dwells. Thus, we write sermons to be preached and heard, and not read, for it is when they are preached and heard that they (hopefully) come alive. When reading a sermon, one misses inflections, gestures, voice modulations, and so much more that make a sermon a sermon.

That said, we know that we are among those who have been shaped by reading sermons, thus we offer these to you. Perhaps you were not (or generally are not) able to be with us in worship; perhaps you appreciate the discipline of study and review; perhaps you want to share a thought with another. In any case, you are welcome to these our humble expositions for what we - your pastor/preacher - believe God to be saying and singing in our midst.

See below for our most recent sermon!