Reflecting the Love of Christ to the World

Philo Presbyterian , 105 e. Jefferson St. , Philo, IL 61864 | 217-684-2317 | www.philopres.com

PHILO PRES NEWSJanuary 2011

I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the year's. ~Henry Moore

Let’s start the New Year right!

A BUSY JANUARY AWAITS

NEW PICTURE DIRECTORY Dates for family photos will be taken the weekends of January 22 and 23. Jim Evans, Tim Hartin, Janice Moore, Andrew Lauchner and Pete Friedemann are heading up this effort and we want to include EVERYONE in and around Philo Pres, as well as reach out to the community. A free family picture is our gift for participating in this project. Say “cheese”!!!

ANNUAL MEETINGThe church’s annual meeting will be held Jan 23, following worship. This is our opportunity to see reports of ministry teams and committees and the budget, as well as the important business of electing new officers and leaders. Please put it on your calendar and plan to join us! Lunch follows the meeting.

PASTOR’S NEW JOBPastor Cindy has been elected to serve as the chair of the Committee on Ministry for our Presbytery. This will involve some time and travel, but is a great opportunity for her and our church to be of service to our sister ongregations. Please pray for the COM.

We are going to offer free family

photos to anyone who wants one.

Spread the word!

apple.com/iwork

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Bob and Barb pose for a family photo for the new directory

Lunch follows the Annual Meeting, Jan 16 Meetings in Effingham for Cindy

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CHRISTMAS PAGEANT “STARS” KIDSMary Simon and her staff of Sunday School teachers once again pulled together a wonderful pageant for the kids to perform and the congregation and God to enjoy. They used the Advent theme “The Stars Tell the Story” and narrated the reasons and the season of the Christ Child’s birth. The kids were helped out this year by Dale Silver and his betrothed, Andrea Brubach, who played Joseph and Mary. Shepherds, Angels, Wise Women(!) and evil King Herod rounded out the cast. All of them are shining stars!

FUNERAL MEALSThe week before Christmas, our church hosted two funeral “meals” for families who lost loved ones. This is a true ministry of compassion. The chance to come to the church after the commital service or funeral itself, relax, eat and share stories in a soothing atmosphere is very important and healing for those who are grieving. I’m very proud that the tradition of serving in th i s way i s ma in ta ined by Ph i l o Presbyterian.

It used to be that the “ladies” of the church did all of the cooking and serving. That’s no longer true, but it is true that organizing and handling arrangements is still primarily the work of some of our experienced “church ladies.” They invite anyone who is able to contribute food to do that, and line up the set up and clean up help. If you’d like to take part in this way of serving, let Betty Lauchner or Marlene Evans know. And let’s hope that we do not have to have another funeral meal for a long, long, time!

THANKS TO OUR SNOW REMOVAL TEAM!We had a very snowy December, but members and friends were able to get attend church safely because of the dedicated work of Tim Hartin, Sean Hartin, Dirk Rice and Greg Burr. We thank them, especially for their work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when they, like all of us, had lots of things to do.

Continued on Page 6

Our cast of stars! King Herod - Clay Patton

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Congratulations to Barbara Burlew on the birth of her new granddaughter, Frances Indira Burles. Parents Katie and Matt live near Atlanta.

Congrats also to Christian Reed, who passed his first (of three) set of exams for his Ph.D. at UCLA. Way to go!

Jillanna and AJ announced that Rose will become a big sister in the New Year. Yeah!

A TIME TO MOURN

December saw three deaths among our church family:

Jeff Burlew’s mother, Ruth, died Dec. 15, one month after Jeff ’s passing. Leo Lafenhagen died the 17th. His services were held on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at Freese

Funeral Home in Sidney. Please keep his daughter Lynn, son Francis and their families in your prayers.Mark Lovingfoss died the 20th, and he’s funeral was held the 2 3 r d , a t Re n n e r -Wikoff. Our Christian sympathy is extended to Mark ’s mother, Virginia, as well as his extended family.

A TIME TO DANCE

Many families welcomed home loved ones over the holidays. Tom Siders visited from Boston, MA. Sue and Bob Boucek had California and Virginia kids home for the holidays. Arthur Baker took a break from the nice weather in Florida, as did Bob and Barb Silver.

Stars of Gloryshine more brightly . . .

The banner that was made during our communion service Dec. 5is complete.

It will hang in the sanctuary during Christmastide.

Friends and Family

Pastor Cindy shows off the banner to her

lectionary group

Frances Indira Burlew’s first song.

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Sunday School for kids starts January 16th. Supt. Mary Simon and her staff are excited about their plans for continuing our Workshop Rotation Model of learning the stories of the Bible. Each week, the Sunday School students will enter a story through arts and crafts, drama and theater, cooking, music and games. It’s a great way for people with various learning styles to encounter God’s word.

W e d n e s d a y After-School Sunday School will resume beginning on January 5. Pastor Cindy, Michael Trout, Terry Pratt and others invite all 1-5th graders to join in the fun and fellowship and learning.

We have several “non-churched” kids in our group, and welcome more. Invite your kids’ friends to be a part of this mid-week program.

P h i l o - To l o n o Youth Group is our high school group, which reaches out to kids from the area who are interested in fun, mission and learning about how God’s word can impact their lives.

Mary Simon, Bonnie Woolard and Susie Fisher are the hard working sponsors of this group. They look forward to our 6th annual Summer Mission Trip in July.

Sunday School and Youth Group NewsA NEW YEAR OF LEARNING, GROWING AND SHARING BEGINS

Hannah, Madeline, Amanda, Clay, Skye, Tori and Samantha Devon and Adam

JANUARY 2011

SUN MON TUES WED THUR FRI SAT

1H a p p y

New Year!

2Worship &

h o l y c o m mu n i o n , 10 am

3S e s s i o n

Meeting, 7 pm

4m e n ’ s

group, 9 am

5W e d .

A f t e r s c h o o l S u n d a y School, 3-4:30

6Comm. on

M i n i s t r y i n Effingham

7 8

WorshipDeacon’s

Meeting

10 11m e n ’ s

group, 9 amC h o i r ,

6:30

W e d . A f t e r s c h o o l S u n d a y School, 3-4:30

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S u n d a y S c h o o l & Worship

A n n u a l Meeting

17 18m e n ’ s

group, 9 amC h o i r .

6:30

W e d . A f t e r s c h o o l S u n d a y School, 3-4:30

20Presbytery

G e n e r a l Council Meets in Effingham

21 22F a m i l y

P i c t u r e s i n Fellowship Hall

S u n d a y School &

WorshipF a m i l y

P i c t u r e s i n Fellowship Hall

Worship at Parkview Apt., 2 pm

24 25m e n ’ s

group, 9 amC h o i r ,

6:30

W e d . A f t e r s c h o o l S u n d a y School, 3-4:30

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S u n d a y S c h o o l & Worship

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