On Sunday morning, February 7, “Super Bowl Sunday,” we will participate once again in the “Souper Bowl of Caring,” which helps provide food to those in need of it. On the day when so many will consume extra snacks and drinks while watching the game, we can also remember those who don’t have enough.
For those who attend worship that day: we will have one “soup pot” marked Chiefs and one marked Buccaneers, and you can put your donation in the pot of your choice, “voting” for the football team you think will win the Super Bowl, or you want to win.
If you won’t be present but can still participate: mail your check made out to the church so it arrives before February 7, indicate that it is for the Souper Bowl, and let us know which pot you want it put in, so we can count your vote too!
Our collection will go to the Edgar County Food Pantry.
~IN MEMORY~
Margaret Koehler
January 31, 2021
Tentative plans are for a memorial service in the Spring,
probably in Decatur.
Ash Wednesday, February 17 – The season of Lent begins with “Ash Wednesday” on February 17. We will need to begin this season of preparation for Holy Week a little differently from recent years, due to pandemic precautions. Tentative plans at this point are to omit the soup supper together, and gather for a shortened socially-distanced worship service at 7:00, including an introduction to the Season of Lent. It will feature the imposition of ashes, for those who would like to participate, but in a way that we do not need to stand in line close to one another.
Lent Devotionals – A variety of daily devotional booklets for the season of Lent will be made available again, as we get closer to the first day of the season, February 17. Another option: The Presbyterian Church USA has one available for your reading or for download at www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/today. Or you can let Rev. Rodger know if you would like him to forward the email with the links to you.
Wednesday Lent Services – Planning is underway for the annual Noon community thirty-minute music and short message services, held in our sanctuary, beginning February 24. We will not be able to serve lunch after the services this year.
In case your would like to send greetings:
Kenisha Davis
The Haven
1812 Western Ave.
Mattoon, IL 61938
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
February 1 Eric Bradham
3 Layla Sisneros
Vicki Mercer
6 Bruce Willis
Emric Blair
7 Ginni Bradshaw
Camille Foley
In the coming week, please pray for:
- Our church, Yourself,
- Laurie, Rev. Rodger,
- Our nation and her leaders,
- Alice Sprague, Betty Dahlin,
- Virginia Collier, Kathy and Ilse Smilie,
- Kenisha Davis, Camille Foley, Christie Russell,
- Jodi Thierl: cancer, Pam Brown: cancer,
- Healthcare workers and their families,
- Students, teachers, and parents,
- An end to the Coronavirus & healing for those affected
Please remember these with a text, call, card, or email.
An Announcement from Session, Regarding Our Annual Meeting
For this pandemic winter of 2020-21 only, we will ask the congregation to forgo the usual fourth Sunday of January after-worship luncheon and full-length congregational meeting. Instead, once a 2021 Budget has been prepared, we will call a brief sanctuary congregational meeting following a worship service, to conduct the following business:
- To vote yes or no to extend the terms of all current officers for one year.
- To vote on the proposed terms of call for the pastor for 2021.
Session will vote on the rest of the 2021 Budget, as always, and copies will be made available to the congregation. The usual financial reports from the Treasurer will also be made available, when ready. Any other church group who wishes to write up an annual report may do so, but with so many of our activities being limited this year, that is optional.
We are aware that this proposal is technically in violation of a couple phrases in our church Constitution/By-Laws, but feel that the emergency circumstances of this pandemic year make this the safest most responsible way to proceed.