Married couples will attend and participate together in sessions on Friday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30-3:30. Cost for this event is $29.95 for a Life Innovations online assessment and $15.00 for meals and supplies at the church. Childcare is available for an additional $15.00 per family. For registration information, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 309-467-2369. Registration deadline: February 26.

I cannot remember who borrowed the DVD “When Christians Get it Wrong.” If you have it, would you please let me know? No rush to get it back…just want to know where it went. Thanks!

Karen

Sunday, March 11, our church hosts the Lenten Series soup and salad supper at 5:00 p.m. Volunteers are needed for soup and salad donations and help with serving and clean up. A sign-up sheet is on the information desk. Thank you!

Joyce Mastronardi, Hospitality Chair

Sunday, February 26, our church is to provide desserts for the Lenten Series soup and salad supper at First Christian Church, Pekin. Please have desserts here by noon on Sunday, February 26 (please mark them Pekin Church); or take them to FCC, Pekin by 4:30 p.m. as the meal starts at 5:00. A sign-up sheet is on the information desk. Thank you!

Theme: “Words from the Cross”

There will be a “Soup & Salad” supper at 5:00 p.m. prior to each service. The service will follow at 6:00 p.m. The entire schedule is below:

• 2/22 Glen Oak Christian Church
  Ash Wednesday
  Speaker: Teresa Dulyea-Parker
  *FCC, Peoria provides music
• 2/26 First Christian Church, Pekin
  Speaker: Evan Williams
  *FCC, Peoria provides dessert
• 3/04 Mackinaw Christian Church
  Speaker: Bruce Dobyns
• 3/11 First Christian Church, Peoria
  Speaker: Mike DeTrempe
  *FCC, Peoria hosts supper
• 3/18 Eureka Christian Church
  Speaker: Dave Jassman
• 3/25 Sunnyland Christian Church
  Speaker: Ed Henry
• 4/01 First Christian, Creve Coeur
  Palm Sunday
  Speaker: Jennie Churchman

Copies of The Upper Room are available in the kiosk by the church office. Please pick one up.

Karen will be offering a six-week Lenten study using J. Ellsworth Kalas’ book, Faith from the Back Side: A Different Take on What It Means to Believe. “As the author says, we talk about faith every day. Indeed, we exercise it even in secular moments but struggle to find it in those moments when we need God the most. As believers, though, faith is always near—closer than we can imagine—and as real as the air we breathe.” (excerpted from back cover of book.)

Chapter headings include:

• Faith has an Attitud
• Faith has a History
• Faith is a Family Affair
• Faith has the Long View
• Faith Sees what Others Cannot

This study will be offered both Thursday mornings (9:30-11:00) and Thursday evenings (6:30-8:00) in the Lenten weeks of February 23 – March 29. Books have been purchased for $10.00 and are available now. As always, there is no charge…but if you are able to donate the cost of the book, it will be used for books for our next study.

Please sign up for Faith from the Back Side at the information desk.

Have you heard about the upcoming Disciples Men event set for next summer (July 13-15, 2012) at Bethany College, Bethany, West Virginia. Great speakers, great workshops, great worship, great mission work, great fellowship!  It's going to be an awesome weekend!

For more information and to make your plans now log on to www.gathering2012.org and get registered for this exciting Disciples Men event.  We look forward to seeing you there!   

Finding Spring Again is a free Educational Grief Seminar offered by Methodist Hospice Services to persons experiencing the loss of a loved one. The Seminar will take place Thursday, March 1, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Methodist Atrium Conference Room in Peoria. Please RSVP by February 24 to 309-672-5746.

When you are doing your Spring cleaning, save your used, but nice, items for the Garage Sale on May 18th and 19th. Bring your “stuff” to Room #109 as you clean out your closets, garages, cabinets, etc.

Also, please consider helping out at the garage sale. We want this to be our biggest! Proceeds will go to missions.

Please note date correction

The Membership/Nurture Ministry Teams invite you to attend the Peoria Players theater production of Big River Friday, March 16, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. Based on the Mark Twain novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Big River is propelled by an unforgettable score from Roger Miller, the king of country music. Big River won 7 Tony Awards. We will meet at the theater to enjoy this award winning musical. A sign-up sheet is on the information desk.

For more information, call the church office.

• Sunday Morning Prayer Gathering ~ Sunday mornings at 8:00 AM we will gather for prayer in Pastor Dobyns’ office when he is here and across the hall when he is not. Additional prayer partners are always welcome.
• Sunday Morning Prayer Gathering ~ Sunday
  mornings at 8:00 AM we will gather for prayer in
  Pastor Dobyns’ office. Additional prayer partners
  are always welcome.
  Support Local Food Pantries ~ The recipient for the month of February is the food pantry at Woodland Baptist Church.
• The Tuesday Experience ~ The “Experience” meets Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. at Panera Bread in the Westlake Shopping Center off of Sterling Avenue.  All are welcome.
• "Virtual" Prayer Wall ~ Check out and post your own requests on our Prayer Wall.
• Newcomers Class ~ This winter’s Newcomers Class is meeting in Pastor Dobyns’ office. We meet on Sundays during Sunday School from 9:00-10:00 a.m.
• Garage Sale – May 18 and 19 ~ Save your used, but nice, items for the garage sale. Bring your items to Room #109.

Childcare Worker

First Christian Church of Peoria is seeking a permanent childcare worker for up to 4 hours every Sunday morning. This person must have a love for and work well with children from newborn to 6 years of age. Duties include the following:

1. Welcome infants and children as they come to the nursery and request care instructions.
2. Care of infants, including feeding, changing, and entertaining as needed.
3. Care for 2-6-year-olds, including supervising play and occasionally changing during potty-training transition.
4. Maintain all toys, play, areas, beds and bedding as needed.
5. Inventory and inform proper department when supplies are needed.
6. Share the love of the Christ's church with the youngest members.

The childcare worker will have a permanent co-worker for two hours on Sunday mornings and at least one rotating volunteer from the Frist Christian's congregation.

Please send resume to:
First Christian Church
6400 N. University St.
Peoria, IL 61614
Attn: Rev. Dr. Bruce Dobyns

Applicants can expect a response after July 1, 2011. A background check will be required before final selection is made.

Organist

If you know of anyone who is looking for a church organist position, please pass along the following information.

First Christian Church, Peoria, IL is seeking a quality musician for the position of part-time organist. This position will also include choral/instrumental accompanying and playing for our contemporary praise band on the piano. Responsibilities will include Sunday morning services, weekly choir rehearsals, and special services. Send a letter of interest, resume, and three letters of reference to: Rev. Dr. Bruce Dobyns by July 15, 2011 at 2:30 p.m.

(Search Committee members are Jim Angles, Jake Cohen, Jerry Hornbacker, Laura Buckley, Alice Jury, Richard Duncan, Heather Woods, and Bruce Dobyns)