"The summer skies are darkly blue, the days are still and bright, And Evening trails her robes of gold, Through the dim halls of Night" Sarah Helen Power Whitman
Summer Newsletter 2021
The 3rd of June, 2021
The Presbyterian (PCUSA) Churches of Murphysboro
and Pinckneyville, Illinois
Church Life During the Pandemic: How to Connect With The Churches Via Facebook And The Websites
Pinckneyville Website: http://1upcpville.com/index.html Pinckneyville Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firstunitedpresbyterianpinckneyville/
Murphysboro Website: http://fpcmurphysboro.org/ Murphysboro Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/First-Presbyterian-Church-1517609008538913/
The Facebook pages are where you will find the online services, which we simulcast on Facebook Live during in-person worship. Pinckneyville's service is at 9:00 a.m. and Murphysboro's is at 10:45 a.m.
Worship news: The sacrament of communion will be celebrated at Murphysboro on June 6 and July 4. Yes, July 4. The sacrament of communion will be celebrated at Pinckneyville on August 1.
A gift to the Pentecost Offering helps the church encourage, develop, and support its young people, and also address the needs of at-risk children. 40% of the Pentecost offering can be retained by individual congregations wanting to make an impact in the lives of young people within their own community. The remaining 60% is used to support children-at-risk, youth, and young adults through ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. Our churches will receive this offering on June 20. Gifts to this offering support efforts such as the Youth Triennium and the Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program.
The story of one such YAV worker is told below:
Ministry at the intersection of faith, race and justice
May 4, 2021 by Emily Enders Odom
As a student of social and health psychology at Presbyterian-related Davidson College, from which she graduated in 2019, Langley Hoyt knew her own mind best of all — not to mention her hands and feet.
It was those very feet that carried the lifelong Presbyterian beyond the college’s bucolic campus into the streets of West Charlotte, N.C., where the world’s injustices were all too apparent.
“For two summers during college, I worked and lived in a neighborhood in Charlotte where my neighbors, who were mostly Black and had low incomes, were very affected by systemic racism, over-policing and the housing crisis,” Hoyt said. “Because I wanted to keep engaging in these issues of justice while remaining deeply rooted both in faith and community, I was drawn after college to the Young Adult Volunteer program.”
Pastor's Column: "Come to Church"
Why do people attend church? There are a lot of reasons, some better than others.
But God, I suspect, does not really care too much why people attend, as long as they do.
Why do people NOT attend church? Well, there are many reasons for that as well. But it comes down to the fact that, whatever the case may be, they do not have a compelling reason to do so. O.k., I guess some people have a compellling reason to stay away as well. But the end result is the same: they don't attend.
To each his or her own, I guess. I know a lot of people have been hurt by churches or disappointed by them. Jesus knew there was going to a human factor to be dealt with when he founded the church. I guess he was o.k. with that.
If any of you have been hurt by one of the humans that go to one of our churches, especially if it was me, then I am very, very sorry. Please talk to me and let's work things out. Don't just give up, please.
And I know some people are still reluctant to return to church because of pandemic concerns. I get that and I wouldn't want anyone to engage in any activity that they thought might endanger their health.
But churches are God's institutions to propagate the Gospel and do good in the world. And churches, and the people who belong to them, do a lot of good.
However, churches could do a lot more if more people were engaged in the life of the church. And those who are currently not engaged would benefit as well. They'd have a fellowship of friends to fall back on in hard times. They would grow spiritually. They'd know the joy of being of service.
If you are currently attending either the Pinckneyville or Murphsyboro church, that's awesome. I hope you can testify to the benefits of church involvement that I've just mentioned. If you can be MORE involved, then, by all means, do so! Your church attendance will be even more meaningful to you then.
If you are not attending that much right now, come back! You are wanted, welcome, and loved. You will not be judged; you will just be accepted with open arms. Come back and let us love you. And let us get you involved. You matter to us. You can help us; we can help you. God wants you to fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ. You can be a part of our efforts to repair the world. And that's not too shabby a way to spend one's time.
PINCKNEYVILLE NEWS
The Deacons recently used some of their funds to help an immigrant who live in DuQuoin get his diabetes medicine. A blessing on you, Deacons.
Session revises COVID-19 guidelines:
1. Starting May 16 attendees who have been vaccinated are invited to remove their masks, if they feel comfortable doing so, when seated, if they are sitting alone or with their family unit. Masks should be worn until seated and when one gets up to leave the sanctuary. For attendees who have not been vaccinated, Session prefers they leave their masks on.
2. We will resume singing the Gloria Patri and the Doxology on June 6. The singing of hymns will resume at a later date.
There will be a called meeting of the congregation held on Sunday, June 13 at 8:30 a.m. The congregation will vote on the Session’s recommendation that the manse be demolished.
Herb Chapman has been moved to the Rehabilitation Institute of Saint Louis for therapy. If you would like to send Herb a card, his address is: Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis CWE, Room 301A, 4455 Duncan Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63011.
PRAYER CONCERNS: COVID-19 crisis in India
Barb Covert
Anne Tabing- Memorial Hospital of Carbondale
Palestinian-Israeli conflict
The family of Kent Peters-friend of Cathi Gerrish
Herb Chapman-recovering from spinal surgery
Mass fatality shooting at a workplace in San Jose
Mass shooting with fatalities in Miami
Seven killed in a Tennessee plane crash
Laura Weatherford- nursing home resident
Glen Hamilton- 24 hour care at home
SESSION MEMBERS - Gayl Pyatt, David Templeton, Herb Chapman, and Chuck Dobrinick
Financials: The weekly offering amount required to meet the budget is $1,218.00. Your contributions are needed now more than ever. The mail is being monitored on a regular basis, so, please, send your contributions to the church at 3811 State Highway 13/127, Pinckneyville, IL, 62901.
Pinckneyville Birthdays and Anniversaries-Sharon Higgerson, June 2; Chuck Dobrinick, June 7; Glenn McKinstry, June 7; Mary Ann Shillinger, June 21; Dick Tabing, June 30; Avery Higgerson, July 12; Jeff Ashauer, July 14; Wilma Templeton, August 2; Bailey Jo Lee, August 10; Casey Lee, August 26
Anniversaries- Ted and Cathy Cunningham, July 5; Jim and Mary Ann Shillinger, July 24; Casey and Bailey Jo Lee, July 29; Jeff and Bettie Ashauer, August 10; Lewis and Louise Schweizer, August 19
MURPHYSBORO NEWS- The Session has revised some of the church's COVID-19 guidelines.
Now, fully vaccinated individuals may remove their masks when seated for worship. Masks are still recommended, however, when not seated and interacting with others. For their own protection, non-vaccinated attendees are still strongly encouraged to wear masks at all times.
Singing of the Gloria Patri and the Doxology will resume on July 13. The singing of hymns will resume in the near future.
PRAYER CONCERNS-
Process of re-uniting immigrant children with their parents.
Cynthia York-Camden
Sonja Crain
COVID-19 crisis in India
Family of Leah Search
Palestinian-Israeli conflict
Mass fatality shooting at a workplace in San Jose
Seven killed in a Tennessee plane crash
Mass shooting with fatalities in Miami
SESSION MEMBERS – Lillian Crain, Dan Baker, Coralee Lawder, Sutton Decker, and Frank Puttman.
Financials: AMOUNTNEEDED WEEKLY TO MEET THE BUDGET: $1165.70. Your contributions are needed now more than ever. The mail is being monitoredon a regular basis, so you can send your contributions to the church at 51 Crescent Drive, Murphysboro, IL, 62966.
Murphysboro birthdays- Anne Williams, June 21; Byron York, July 3; Rodney Williamson, July 11; Janice Swearingen, July 12; Justin Doerr, July 22; Chuck Decker, July 23; Brenda Williamson, August 6; Daniel Baker, August 8; Max Doerr, August 13
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE YOKED CHURCHES
Contact information for Rev. Sam Foskey: Phone # 618-412-1188
Rev. Foskey’s e-mail is mboropvillepastor@gmail.com
Worship Services: Pinckneyville worships at 9:00 a.m. and Murphysboro at 10:45 a.m.
Murphysboro church contact information:
Phone: 618-684-3466; secretary’s email: firstpresmurphysboro@gmail.com
Church address: 51 Crescent Drive, Murphysboro, IL 62966
The secretary is Phyllis Neace. The secretary’s office hours are Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 12:30 - 4:00 p.m. and Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to noon.
The pastor's office hours are posted in the church bulletin and on the website each week.
Website: www.fpcmurphysboro.org.
Pinckneyville church contact information:
Phone: 618-357-8017; Secretary’s email: fupcpville@frontier.com.
Church address: 3811 State Highway 13/127 Pinckneyville, IL 62274
Newsletters can be found on the website.
Cathi Gerrish, the secretary, is in the office from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Mondays, 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Tuesdays, and 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Thursday.
The pastor’s hours are posted in the church bulletin and on the website each week.
Website: 1upcpville.com