Little Things from LisaIt’s time, once again, for a history lesson about worship. One of the quieter traditions we have in worship is the lighting of the candles on the altar at the beginning and end of every worship service. Although it is aesthetically pleasing to have candles in worship, they do represent something significant in the order of worship. The lighting of the altar candles in the worship service is a symbol of Jesus’ coming into the presence of the worshiping community.

During the prelude, the acolyte presents the flame and the candle on the right is lit first and is the Epistle candle representing the letters written by Paul to the various churches. The candle on the left is lit second and is the Gospel candle representing the four Gospels.

At the close of worship, during the closing hymn, there is also significance to extinguishing the candles. Once the acolyte approaches the table, they are to light the candle lighter from the Gospel candle and extinguish it first, then the Epistle candle. This is for two reasons. The Gospel candle is never to burn alone. And secondly, we then carry the light of Christ or the word of the Gospel back out into the world.

Now what is that weird word I just used above….”acolyte?” The word acolyte is derived from the Greek word akolouthos, meaning companion, attendant, or helper. The Acolyte ministry has its roots in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible, where the prophet Samuel is seen assisting Eli, the Levite priest, and Elisha is seen assisting Elijah the Prophet.

The acolyte also has a few rules to follow in their service of worship. Before lighting the candles the acolyte is supposed to bow at the altar. Before the extinguishing of the last altar candles, the acolytes relight their "candle lighter" and then process out. This symbolizes that Jesus Christ is for all people everywhere. It also symbolizes the light of Jesus Christ going out into the world where believers are called to serve.

Acolytes will light the candles once Holly begins playing the prelude and before the bell is tolled.

This is a holy time in worship and should signal the time to be prepared to worship. (In other words, settling and quieting down.) The sanctuary doors should be closed once the acolyte completes their service.

Although we are not a highly liturgical church, this element of worship remains a staple because of what it represents. The next time you see the acolyte approach, pay attention to what is happening. See if it makes a difference to your worship!

Pastor Lisa

First Congregational

Community Church

Congregational TimesNovember 2018 Volume 18,

Issue 11

BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES2 Shirley Gray 19 Darlene Worley

15 Joshua and Shanda Richardson5 Stephanie Schmoker 25 Christina Wheeler

6 Dean Presley 27 Roy Olomon23 Oscar and Dean Presley

12 Bell Insko 27 Marilyn Moffitt12 Jordan Diehl 29 Nathan Richardson15 Judy Melton 30 Russell Mosher17 Gloria Marcum 30 John Trimble19 Reilly Mathieu

GREETERS LITURGISTS4 Karen Lewis Wendy Mathieu

11 Bob & Arlene Stultz Marcie Ball18 Noah & Johanna Melton Karen Gothard25 Stan McCord Joy McDonnell

FLOWERS4 TBD

11 Jim Matheson in memory of wife Cathy18 Darlene Worley25 TBD

PastorRev. Lisa M Abb

Music & OutreachHolly Richardson

CustodianBill Melton

ModeratorPaula PettersenAllan Mathieu

TreasurerStan McCord

Financial SecretaryDiane Wheeler

Church ClerkMarie Mathieu

Christian EducationChildren: Tracy Terry

Youth: Ethan & Jordan MengesAdult: Karen Gothard

DiaconateBill & Misty Melton

Brian & Diane WheelerStan McCord/Jayne Oakes

TrusteesJeff Ball

Cathy HendersonNoah Melton

Nominating CommitteeJudy Melton, Wendy Mathieu, Jeaneal Lantz

Memorial CommitteeJanet Lind, Dawn Lindsey, Lynne Nelson

Missions CommitteeKaren Gothard, Stan McCord, Marcie Ball,

Joy Aiello, Darlene Worley

Church Office: 815-623-2348

Items for Weekly Bulletin: email to firstconroscoe@gmail.com Please put “Bulletin” in the subject line

Items for Monthly Newsletter: email to klgothard@att.net

Our next meeting will be for our annual Fall dinner on Monday, November 19 th. We will be eating at Bravo in South Beloit and meeting at 6:30. EVERYONE IS WELCOME! Please look for the sign up sheet on the front railing of the church by the Choir.

We will be discussing the upcoming Craft Show in December and taking a collection for Rock House Kids for the holiday season. All women of the church are welcomed. It’s a great time to fellowship with each other.

Don’t forget the Women’s Evening Circle is still selling Rada knives. If you are interested, please see Judy Melton.

The mission trip opportunity to Minnesota is not available this year. The woman who coordinated the stateline effort is not participating this year. So we will have to find another opportunity for some mission work. My next attempt will be to put something together over Christmas Break. I realize this is your time to rest, but I believe we can still do a short trip nearby to truly celebrate the reason for the season! More information will be given once I acquire it!We are registered to take part in the 30 hour famine on February 22 & 23, 2019. Once we receive our information from World Vision, the details will be shared with the students.

Students are encouraged to attend worship each week with their parents. I want to incorporate more of our worship series into our youth’s programming. So please make the effort to come to worship!

VerticalFocus

Coming To The Pulpit

I can’t imagine why I thought preaching on obscure passages from the Bible would be easy. I have more study hours put in on these particular sermons than I have slept in the weeks I preached them! But while they are a challenge, they are important to understanding the overall scope of our faith. We will continue with these crazy stories until the middle of November. The remainder of November will be dedicated to stewardship, thanksgiving. And don’t blink, because then it will be the beginning of our Advent preparations.

The next meeting of the Women’s Afternoon Circle is scheduled for Wednesday, November 14th at 1:00 pm at the Church. Please join us – everyone welcome!!

Women’s Afternoon Circle

Music NotesWorship choir rehearsals -

Thursday’s – 6:30pmand/or

Sunday’s – 9amWarm – up before 10am service will continue to be at 9:30am.

All rehearsals will take place in the back Sunday school room upstairs.You are invited to come join this exuberantly fun group of folks, long term or short term,

whatever your schedule allows.

Please keep these folks in your prayers. If you have someone you would like to have listed here in the future, please notify the church office, Karen Gothard, or Pastor Lisa.

Marilyn Moffitt Mary GleasmanShirley & Shorty Carter Oscar & Dean Presley

Richard Earle Donna FlemingDustin Insko Cher Lane (Connie Leather’s daughter)Merry Dolter Noah (2 ½ yr grandson of Martha Darling)

Gloria Marcum Bud & Linda McAfeeJan Kamholz Beverly “Boots” Meyers (Karen G’s Aunt)

Our men’s luncheon will be on Wednesday, November 7th at 11:30 AM at Sophia’s Restaurant in Roscoe. Hope to see ya’ there!

Norm Iversen

Retiree’s and

John 1:1-18In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness has not overcome it.

We no sooner had our monthly meeting and gave praise that our list had shrunk, only to have the tides turn once again for many and our list increased again. As you make visits to others this autumn season, take the time to enjoy the journey. If you fill yourself with the wonder of God’s creation while driving to visit someone who is struggling, you can bring an extra measure of joy to them in your visit. Sometimes your sunshine is the only sunshine they will see.

Group Life and FellowshipReminder –

Coffee and goodies are available before and after service – Come on down and join the fun!

Want to help?Sign-up sheets are available on the table next to the coffee

Thingsto

Remember

Bible Studies Sunday’s -

8:45amMonday’s -

1pm

www.firstconroscoe.com

Check it out! Remember to check out our

website!!*For updates and

corrections, please contact Pastor Lisa or

Karen Gothard

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

SATURDAY, JANUARY 12TH

Many more details to come, but please mark your calendars

to join us for a 1-day Winter Retreat – we are going to have

a great time of learning and fellowship. Join us!!

“Just Older Youth”After four wonderful lunches plus bingo on the third Wednesday of each month from noon to 2, it is safe to say that the seniors who have participated have had a great time together. There seems to be a slow but steady increase in participation from community members who are not church members. Our last count was 24 happy people. So far, the food and prizes are donated by the church members but we have been delighted that some of the visitors have brought things out of the goodness of their hearts. The prayer box has been used by a visitor. Many of the participants have been delighted to take extra food home.

Help is always appreciated so that this special community outreach effort can continue. The following help is requested: Come and bring a friend (all ages welcome)Mention it to friends and neighborsCarry fliers around the community to be posted wherever possibleDonate small prize items including jelly and candyCook an item-see Sue, Holly, Lisa-or just bring your favorite items

The November JOY Fellowship is the day before Thanksgiving. There is an outside possibility that many lonely or needy people will come that day. We have no way of knowing. The menu will include casseroles, salads, deviled eggs, breads, and desserts. Extra food will be made for that day and will be frozen for upcoming Sunday youth meals (Vertical Focus) if not needed at the lunch. If interested, please feel free to be a part of this wonderful event. Warm food needs to be ready to eat by noon. Kitchen help is there by 11 or earlier if needed.

Thanks to the many, many people willing to just jump in because it's needed. Not surprising because of the generosity of church members but very, very appreciated.

Garden UpdateThe Garden Team has wrapped up the beds for the winter. This was a very successful garden

year with the usual glitches but nothing serious. We managed to provide food to the local Food Pantry from about April to the end of October. Lettuce, spinach, beets, carrots, radishes, chard, beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, and potatoes were donated to very grateful recipients.

During the Fall Festival, a table was set up with the purpose of highlighting fresh foods as well as generally greeting community members. Wonderful contacts and conversations made that

a very delightful two days.

Many thanks to the team for their valuable help; Joy, Jayne, Holly, Noah, Mark, Pat, Cathy, and Sue. Please consider helping next year with harvesting or other tasks. It's a big job but remains

a needed community mission.

We are approaching the end of another very successful year for our Missions efforts, thanks to each and every one of you that has supported us with your donations of time,

money, gifts and prayers. The committee is always amazed at the generosity of this amazing congregation! Thanks again for another great year spreading the love of Christ

to so many in our local, national, and international communities!

We hope you will all look forward to taking part in the following activities in the coming weeks…..

Sunday, November 11 th – SAVE THE DATE Our annual Packing Party for our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes! This is always a fun event as we make quick work of packing up 100 shoeboxes full of surprises and fun for kids around the world!

Walmart Gift Card collection for Rock House Kids – November 4 th and 11th We are collecting Walmart gift cards for the children of Rock House Kids. If you would like to donate a card or money to be used to purchase a card, look for the special gift card holders in the pews and simply put it in the offering plate. We will make sure to get the gift cards for delivery to the kids. We are collecting on both November 4th and November 11th.

Youth Page

Youth PageYouth Page

Monthly Church Events – November 2018Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

16:30 PM Choir Rehearsal

2Shirley Gray birthday

3

4

8:45 AM Bible Study9AM Choir Rehearsal10AM Worship Service

Fellowship Hour after service

4:00 Confirmation5:00 Straight Up Sundays / Vertical Focus

5

1:00 PM Bible Study

Stephanie Schmoker birthday

6

Dean Presley birthday

7

11:30 AM Retiree’s & WannaBe’s lunch at Sophia’s

8

6:30 PM Choir Rehearsal

9 10

11

8:45 AM Bible Study9AM Choir Rehearsal10AM Worship Service

Fellowship Hour after service

SHOEBOX PACKING PARTY

4:00 Confirmation5:00 Straight Up Sundays / Vertical Focus

12

1:00 PM Bible Study

7:00 PMChurch Council Meeting

Bell Insko birthday

Jordan Diehl birthday

13 14

1:00 PM Women’s Afternoon Circle

15

10:00 AMCFO’s Meeting

6:30 PM Choir Rehearsal

Judy Melton birthday

Joshua & Shanda Richardson anniversary

16 17

Gloria Marcum birthday

18

8:45 AM Bible Study9AM Choir Rehearsal10AM Worship Service

Fellowship Hour after service

4:00 Confirmation5:00 Straight Up Sundays / Vertical Focus

19

1:00 PM Bible Study

6:30 PM Women’s Evening Circle dinner at Bravo’s in South Beloit

Reilly Mathieu birthday

Darlene Worley birthday

20 21

12:00 – 2:00 PM

22

6:30 PM Choir Rehearsal

23

Oscar and Dean Presley anniversary

24

25

8:45 AM Bible Study9AM Choir Rehearsal10AM Worship Service

Fellowship Hour after service

4:00 Confirmation5:00 Straight Up Sundays / Vertical Focus

Christina Wheeler birthday

26

1:00 PM Bible Study

27

Roy Olomon birthday

Marilyn Moffitt birthday

28 29

6:30 PM Choir Rehearsal

Nathan Richardson birthday

30

Russell Mosher birthday

John Trimble birthday

First Congregational Community Church 10780 3rd Street – P. O. Box 66 Roscoe, IL 61073-0066 Phone: 815-623-2348

Rev. Lisa Abb firstconroscoe@gmail.com

web site: www.firstconroscoe.com

Every Sunday 8:45 A.M. Bible Study8:45 A.M. Coffee Fellowship Hour9:00 A.M. Choir Rehearsal10:00 A.M. Morning Worship Service11:00 A.M. Coffee Fellowship Hour5:00 P.M “Straight Up Sundays” Youth Programs

Join us for a Heart Warming FamilyWorship Service at 10:00 a.m. Nursery service is available for children 4 years of age and under.

Join us downstairs for coffee, dessert, and Fellowship after our Worship Services

Every Monday1:00 P.M. Bible Study

Every Thursday6:30 P.M. Choir Rehearsal