Pastor's Perspective 

February 2021

February always reminds me of one of my favorite celebrations: Valentine’s Day. I fondly remember creating boxes made of tissue paper in many colors in elementary school to receive our valentines. What a beautiful way to think of the church of the different colors: celebrating the different people we are, coming together in unity to serve God. 

 

In the church, every day should be Valentine’s Day, a day of showing our love for one another. My favorite Scripture highlights what agape-love includes in 1 Corinthians 13: 

^“4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice in wrong-doing, but rejoices in the truth. ⁷ It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ⁸ Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. ⁹ For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; ¹⁰ but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. 

¹³ And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”

Love is not always easy. Love does not mean the absence of conflict but means treating the other respectfully especially when we disagree. Love is not only a feeling but an action word of commitment. I am committed toward continuing to encourage this church to be healthy, unified and inclusive. 

As your pastor, I love each of you deeply in Christ. I lift our church daily in prayer and ask God’s blessings for us. I only have 9 more Sundays with you after Jan 31st but I will always carry you in my heart no matter where God calls me. 

Thank you for your prayers that God will lead Larry and I to a community where we can authentically share who we are and where our spiritual gifts are most needed. 

May each of you know God’s healing Love through Christ’s way of Love and the Holy Spirit’s comforting Love...Amen.  --

            Blessings & Peace, 

          Pastor Jeanette Larson

 

 

Board Meeting… NEXT Month March 14th @ 11am     TBD Online or In-Person The Annual Board Meeting has been postponed, until everyone can attend in person.   Drive by Ashes February 17th, 9-5pm  Call the Church Office to secure your appointment! Pastor Jeanette will be here that day to give you your Ashes  and a personal Devotional.

Coming Soon… “In-Person” Church Services- Stay tuned!!

Special Requests    ·         Rev. Dave Beebe has been suffering Dementia and Cataract issues. Karen is asking for prayers and would love it if you would send him card or letter & she can read them to him.  Their address is:  814 11th Street  Silvis, IL 61282

 

 

Food Pantry

 2020 has been a difficult year for many of us, including the food pantry.

The totals served in 2020 follows…Remember we were open the first three months and closed several weeks and reopened the end April one day a week.

The 2020 Count was:

                    Families:    548.

                    Members:  1506. 

                    Produce:    374. 

In January, we served 16 families, 40 members and 15 produce.

At times as I do paper work, I will see names who have not been here a couple years.

In 2 weeks, will be the Super bowl football game.  In the past 5 or 6 years, we have been doing “Souper Bowl” for Caring, where we would ask for cans of soup for the food pantry.  

Since we have been closed we did not do it this year.  

This a national project.  If anyone would like to donate soup, this would be welcome. 

We have talked also about laundry soap since this a necessary item.

We continue with the same volunteers.  

Thank you for the work you do!

This continues to be a needed ministry and a way we can share God's love and caring.

                   -Edythe

What We Do Here at FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH!!!

                       

• Our FOOD PANTRY!

We are operating a curbside service.

Appointments are scheduled for Mondays, 

between 1:00-3:00pm

Please call the church office, at 815-626-2271 

BEFORE 12 NOON, weekdays, to schedule a time slot. 

Food Pantry Curbside Pick up:

• By appointment only
• One box of Food, per month (includes produce) 
• 1 box of Produce each week

Michelle & Sue

 Our Food Pantry is funded 100% by donations from our members and others who care about the hungry; we receive no government funds.
Thank you to all who help to make this possible!

•  FCC participates in the "Feed the Children" Program each Summer

• Our church holds a number of Bazaars and Special Dinners each year

• This is the set up for our Maundy Thursday service which is very meaningful and surreal.

It is a quiet "upper room" experience.

• The Fellowship Hall (with kitchen) can be rented.

We also have meeting areas downstairs.

The Fellowship Hall also serves as the Hospitality table on Food Pantry days with Pastor Rick's fellowship and wisdom

• We are also actively involved in the Sterling/Rock Falls 

"Love Your Neighbor Campaign"

There are some other services which are still in planning stage and we are always interested in expanding our ministry to meet  the needs of our neighbors and our community.

Christian Church

(Disciples of Christ)

First Christian Church is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a denomination of almost one million members, who profess faith in Jesus Christ and seek, in every aspect of life together, to follow Him in paths of love, justice, and service.

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) traces its roots to the American frontier in the early 1800's. Our founders - Thomas Campbell and his son Alexander Campbell, Barton Stone, and Walter Scott - were troubled by the divided state of Christendom, and sought a restoration of the New Testament church. The founding principles of the movement were freedom of interpretation with regard to scripture, and a focus on the unity of Christ's church.

Our Vision

is to be a faithful, growing church that demonstrates true community, deep Christian spirituality and a passion for justice (Micah 6:8).

Our Mission

is to be and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving, and serving from our doorsteps "to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Coming Events:

Worship service Sundays 10 a.m. 

on Facebook LIVE 

with Pastor Jeanette Larson

Due to the rising numbers in Covid cases, here in Whiteside County, First Christian Church in Rock Falls, will be suspending Sunday's "In Person"  service attendance.

We want everyone to be safe and stay healthy. 

This suspension will go on until there is a significant reduction in case numbers.

Pastor Jeanette and the designated weekly, worship leader, will attend Sunday services alone.

Sunday service will be cast on Facebook Live at 10 am, each week.

Thank you all for the continued Prayers and support.

Continue to lift each other up in prayer.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the church office, at 815-626-2271.

*These activities have been suspended until further notice

Every Tuesday
*OA: Overeaters Anonymous @ NOON

Every Thursday
*The Wired Word bible study
1:00
@ Flipside Coffee Cafe'

Serving Schedule

If you are unable to serve when assigned please remember to find someone to fill your place and call the church office to notify the church secretary.

Services have been resumed

OCTOBER 18

Greeters:  Dick & Sandy

Worship Leader: Edythe Geiger

Deacons: Sue

Elders:  Sharon

Elders-on-Call: Kathy Siperly (815) 400-9043

 

 

OCTOBER 25

Greeters: Pat H & Kathy S

Worship Leader: Carl Boehm

Deacons: Larry & Karen

Elders: Kathy Siperly

Elders-on-Call: Carl Boehm (815) 622-9194