Press play to hear Pastor Craig’s message about Let Light Shine!
The beauty of our stained glass windows, though dimmed, adds to the richness of our worship life together. We have grown accustomed to the dimming of the light, but we are now ready to Let Light Shine, unobstructed and brilliant.
“Squeezy” Wes Miller accordion music, magicians, FREE BOUNCE HOUSE.
Volunteers Needed!
Help share the fun-loving joy of our congregation with our neighbors by helping to host the party (32 volunteers needed to fill 2 hour shifts) or contribute to support this important outreach to our community. Click the button below!
With winter already hard upon us, Red Cross is looking for churches to serve as warming shelters in case of emergency. We can offer our Fellowship Hall as an emergency warming shelter, with Red Cross providing all the people and equipment and needed, if we can find four members to be on call to answer the emergency call and meet the workers when they arrive to set-up.
To be one of the four volunteers, call or email the office (309-782-0787; office@fccmoline.org).
Red and white poinsettias will adorn our sanctuary during the month of December. If you would like to give a flower in memory of a loved one, please fill the form below or fill out a slip (found in the back of your pew or in the office) and place in an offering envelope with your donation.
A $15 donation is requested. Donate online HERE or drop off a check with poinsettia in the memo line.
Sunday November 10th 11am Pumpkin Pie $15 Pecan Pie $20 Made from scratch crust $5
Its that time of year again…Youth Group pie sales! This weekend the Youth Group is working hard, baking 40 pumpkin and pecan pies, to sell and raise funds for their holiday mission project. Please plan to support this youth project, and enjoy a delicious made from scratch holiday pie! You’ll find youth selling pies in the sanctuary narthex and in fellowship hall….
This year, the youth holiday mission will focus on two Congolese families, brought to us through World Relief. The Confirmation class recently met with and developed quick friendship, we so look forward to more chances to spend time with our new friends.
This Sunday November 10th, First Congregational Church will present Bibles to children in our third grade class. Please join us and show your love for our church children as they grow in faith.
Do you have a special bible to share, given to you by a church or by someone you love? A story to tell of the good people who nurtured you in faith?
Bring your special bible to church this Sunday, when we give bibles to our 3rd Graders and pray the Holy Spirit will bless them as they learn the story of faith.
In January 2018, the congregation voted to withdraw $177,500 annually for 5 years to pay for necessary maintenance and upgrades around the church. It has been almost two years, and the Building and Finance Board would like to provide a progress update.
In 2018, we replaced the roof on the Education wing, upgraded the cooling/ventilation system, remodeled the men’s bathroom including installing a nearby shower, and repaired some areas of the ceiling due to leaks. This cost a total of $157,662.
So far in 2019, we have repaired and have scheduled replacement of the chiller (most of the air conditioning) for the building in November for $68,881. We are also looking at upgrading the lighting in all areas except for the sanctuary to LEDs. This project will reduce our annual operating expenditures and should be done sooner rather than later.
Building & Finance Board has not withdrawn the full, allocated, annual amount for 2019 as we are intending to reserve much of it for a future expenditure. We are planning on replacing the boiler as much of the equipment it feeds is past its useful life, and steam heating is less efficient than hot water. This necessary conversion will cost a bit more than two years worth of endowment disbursements. In the meantime, we are prioritizing projects that reduce operating costs or prevent damages and loss of services, while leaving the remainder in the endowment to grow until our withdrawal authority matches the cost of the boiler upgrade.
The endowment totaled $2,974,000 at the beginning of 2018 and currently rests at $2,735,000.
There have been a number of other repairs and maintenance projects we have completed and a huge thanks goes out to all of the people that have put in their time and energy overseeing the projects. We truly appreciate it.
One final project we are expecting in 2019 not funded by endowment funds is the installation of a solar array on the education wing. The installation is expected to begin in the next couple of weeks and should reduce our operating costs for the next 25+ years. This project will be funded in partnership with Blue Sky Solar, state awarded funding through the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) of Illinois, and through the savings we accrue in the first 6-7 years.
If anyone has deeper questions about how the projects are coming along, please don’t hesitate to contact the Building & Finance Board as we continue to preserve and upgrade our church for our use in the next 175 years.
Press play to hear Desiree’s invitation to join us for Trivia Night!
Want to test your wits, arcane knowledge, and spend time with friends and family? All for a good cause? Gather 7 other people, of differing ages and experiences, and sign up! You’ll play 10 rounds of 10 questions, 10 topics total. You earn 10 points for each correct answer, with a “Mulligan” available for each round, that enables you to “Skip” one question per round. You also get a “round doubler” to maximize your points on that round where your team is hitting on all cylinders.
Doors open at 6:00 pm, the game starts promptly at 6:30 pm, and we’ll have you on your way home around 10 pm. WVIK radio host Dave Garner will MC the event. Feel free to bring your own snacks. We’ll have water, soda, beer and wine available for purchase.
All purchases and admission fees will support First Congregational Church’s “Thanksgiving Essentials Baskets.” These baskets of laundry detergent, toothpaste, wash cloths, and other essentials not covered by food assistance programs help local families in need have a happy, healthy holiday season. All are welcome at FCC. Please join us! Cost is $100 for a table of 8 or $12.50 for an individual. Each table registration includes 1 mulligan/round and 1 round doubler. Grand prize will be $200. Runner up will receive $100 visa gift card. To sign up click the button below or call the church office 309-762-0787. Or sign up at the door.
Interested in volunteering for Trivia Night?
We are planning for a fun night! Click below to sign up to volunteer!
Sunday October 27th, 2019 | 3:00 pm First Congregational UCC
Mark you calendars and make sure to join us for a concert featuring Augustana Choral Artists and Augustana Choir. Featuring highlights from the Verdi Requiem and other beautiful, varied choral selections. No admission fee; all are welcome!
What an exciting fall at First Congregational! We were able to serve over 100 families at the Mobile Food Pantry and more than 200 children enjoyed our Trunk or Treat event. Let’s keep the positive momentum going as we head into the season of Thanksgiving and our Essential Baskets mission.
In years past, First Congregational Church prepared food baskets for distribution at Thanksgiving for many years. We began something different in November 2017.
“The concern for our neighbors remains the same,” says Sara Wynn, chairperson of the Outreach and Missions Committee of the church. “The way we are showing it is different; by doing Essential Baskets.”
The Essential Baskets will be made up of household items like detergent and paper products and personal hygiene items. The advantage of the essential supplies is that they are not perishable and are harder to come by for those needing assistance.
“SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) funds will not cover dish soap or disposable diapers,” says Sara Wynn.
Church folks have noticed that there are many groups supplying food at the holidays, and that not every family can use a whole turkey or a gallon of milk.
The Essentials Baskets will be assembled on Sunday, November 17, at 9:00 am in the church basement by teams of children, youth and adults. Then in the next day or two the supplies will be delivered by church families to mission partner agencies.
“We want to help the children and youth see the connection of the work we are doing and our mission partners,” says Becca Peterson, Director of Family Ministry for the church.
We were able to distribute 120 baskets in 2018 and this year our goal is 150. We will be serving two new organizations, World Relief, Moline and DeLaCerda House, Rock Island. We will continue to serve the following organizations: Christian Care of Rock Island; Bethany Children & Families, Moline; Healthy Families (Child Abuse Council), Moline; Family Resources, Davenport; Help at Home, Moline; Salvation Army, Moline; Winnie’s Place, Bettendorf; Robert Young Community Support Program, Rock Island County, and St Joseph the Worker House, Rock Island.
This mission is not possible without your generosity in contributing towards these baskets. To date, we have raised $ 4,028 toward our goal $7,500. Essentials baskets cost $60 per basket. Please join us in providing essential hygienic needs to those who have to choose between buying food or laundry soap. Contribute by check designated to Essentials Baskets online by clicking below.
Press play to hear Desiree’s invitation to join us for Trivia Night!
Times: Doors open at 6:00 pm. Trivia starts at 6:30 pm with MC Dave Garner (WVIK.)
Cost: Each table registration includes 1 mulligan/round and 1 round doubler. Grand prize will be $200. Runner up will receive $100 visa gift card.
$100 for a table of 8
$12.50 for an individual
To sign up fill out the form below or call the church office 309-762-0787.
Or you can also register at the door.
Funds raised from Trivia Night will support the church’s Thanksgiving Essentials Baskets and other church ministries. Providing essentials like personal hygiene, cleaning and other household products to be distributed to those in most need through social service agencies throughout the holidays.
Interested in volunteering for Trivia Night?
We are planning for a fun night! Click below to sign up to volunteer!
When in Southern California in 2005 our family visited the Getty Museum and saw a travelling exhibit, “Painted Prayers,” which was a collection of Books of Hours from the Pierpont Morgan Library in New York. Books of Hours were hand painted manuscripts to guide prayers of devotion to the Virgin Mary. These books were for use by laypeople, for personal domestic prayers.
This illustration is taken from a Dutch book of hours made for Catherine of Cleves, in about 1440. In this miniature Catherine is at the foot of the cross, praying to the Virgin Mary, who in turn is imploring her Son on the Cross. Catherine’s devotion of seeing herself in the picture of the women at the foot of the cross reminded me of the spiritual; – “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” – which is sung on Good Friday.
Many Christians identify themselves/ourselves in Bible stories. I think Mrs. Butterworth saw herself and her family in the beautiful windows, and we are offered an opportunity to see our efforts in the restoration of the windows.
What stood out to me were the seals in the border surrounding the illustration. They reminded me of quilt patterns. When I got back to Rock Island I consulted with the quilting group at the church. One woman, Charlene, immediately identified “crazy blocks.” And stars as well.
I got a little tingle at the back of my neck at the continuity of women’s domestic devotion to God that has spanned at least 600 years of continuity from Utrecht to Rock Island. Books of Hours were used by women in the home. And part of devotion is ‘the work of our hands.’
Let Light Shine!
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Posted on October 3, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Press play to hear Pastor Craig’s message about Let Light Shine!
The beauty of our stained glass windows, though dimmed, adds to the richness of our worship life together. We have grown accustomed to the dimming of the light, but we are now ready to Let Light Shine, unobstructed and brilliant.
Capital Appeal Committee
Let Light Shine Capital Appeal Brochure
Let Light Shine Capital Appeal Letter
Ways To Contribute
Let Light Shine Capital Appeal Updates
Bovard Studio
Article in the Dispatch-Argus
Oktoberfest
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Posted on September 5, 2019 by amberfccmoline
September 28th | 4 pm – 8 pm
Join us for our first ever Oktoberfest.
Press play to hear Co-chair Joshua Dyer’s invitation to join us for Oktoberfest!
Volunteers Needed!
Help share the fun-loving joy of our congregation with our neighbors by helping to host the party (32 volunteers needed to fill 2 hour shifts) or contribute to support this important outreach to our community. Click the button below!
Leave a Comment
Posted on November 14, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Red Cross Warming Shelter
Our Church Can Be A Red Cross Warming Shelter
With winter already hard upon us, Red Cross is looking for churches to serve as warming shelters in case of emergency. We can offer our Fellowship Hall as an emergency warming shelter, with Red Cross providing all the people and equipment and needed, if we can find four members to be on call to answer the emergency call and meet the workers when they arrive to set-up.
To be one of the four volunteers, call or email the office
(309-782-0787; office@fccmoline.org).
Christmas Poinsettias 2019
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Posted on November 13, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Christmas Poinsettias 2019
Red and white poinsettias will adorn our sanctuary during the month of December. If you would like to give a flower in memory of a loved one, please fill the form below or fill out a slip (found in the back of your pew or in the office) and place in an offering envelope with your donation.
A $15 donation is requested. Donate online HERE or drop off a check with poinsettia in the memo line.
The church will order the poinsettias.
Youth Group Pie Sales
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Posted on November 7, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Sunday November 10th 11am
Pumpkin Pie $15
Pecan Pie $20
Made from scratch crust $5
Its that time of year again…Youth Group pie sales! This weekend the Youth Group is working hard, baking 40 pumpkin and pecan pies, to sell and raise funds for their holiday mission project. Please plan to support this youth project, and enjoy a delicious made from scratch holiday pie! You’ll find youth selling pies in the sanctuary narthex and in fellowship hall….
This year, the youth holiday mission will focus on two Congolese families, brought to us through World Relief. The Confirmation class recently met with and developed quick friendship, we so look forward to more chances to spend time with our new friends.
Bible Sharing Sunday
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Posted on November 6, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Third Grade Bible Presentation
This Sunday November 10th, First Congregational Church will present Bibles to children in our third grade class. Please join us and show your love for our church children as they grow in faith.
Olivia Waletzko | Payden Meers | Kristinia Deem | Tyson Stickell
Bring your Bible to Church!
Do you have a special bible to share, given to you by a church or by someone you love? A story to tell of the good people who nurtured you in faith?
Bring your special bible to church this Sunday, when we give bibles to our 3rd Graders and pray the Holy Spirit will bless them as they learn the story of faith.
Congregational Update: 5-Year Building Plan
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Posted on October 29, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Dear FCC Congregation:
In January 2018, the congregation voted to withdraw $177,500 annually for 5 years to pay for necessary maintenance and upgrades around the church. It has been almost two years, and the Building and Finance Board would like to provide a progress update.
In 2018, we replaced the roof on the Education wing, upgraded the cooling/ventilation system, remodeled the men’s bathroom including installing a nearby shower, and repaired some areas of the ceiling due to leaks. This cost a total of $157,662.
So far in 2019, we have repaired and have scheduled replacement of the chiller (most of the air conditioning) for the building in November for $68,881. We are also looking at upgrading the lighting in all areas except for the sanctuary to LEDs. This project will reduce our annual operating expenditures and should be done sooner rather than later.
Building & Finance Board has not withdrawn the full, allocated, annual amount for 2019 as we are intending to reserve much of it for a future expenditure. We are planning on replacing the boiler as much of the equipment it feeds is past its useful life, and steam heating is less efficient than hot water. This necessary conversion will cost a bit more than two years worth of endowment disbursements. In the meantime, we are prioritizing projects that reduce operating costs or prevent damages and loss of services, while leaving the remainder in the endowment to grow until our withdrawal authority matches the cost of the boiler upgrade.
The endowment totaled $2,974,000 at the beginning of 2018 and currently rests at $2,735,000.
There have been a number of other repairs and maintenance projects we have completed and a huge thanks goes out to all of the people that have put in their time and energy overseeing the projects. We truly appreciate it.
One final project we are expecting in 2019 not funded by endowment funds is the installation of a solar array on the education wing. The installation is expected to begin in the next couple of weeks and should reduce our operating costs for the next 25+ years. This project will be funded in partnership with Blue Sky Solar, state awarded funding through the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) of Illinois, and through the savings we accrue in the first 6-7 years.
If anyone has deeper questions about how the projects are coming along, please don’t hesitate to contact the Building & Finance Board as we continue to preserve and upgrade our church for our use in the next 175 years.
Joshua Dyer
Chair, Building & Finance Board
Trivia Night 2019 Tower
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Posted on October 24, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Trivia Nights are Tons of Fun!
November 22nd | 6:30 pm
Press play to hear Desiree’s invitation to join us for Trivia Night!
Want to test your wits, arcane knowledge, and spend time with friends and family? All for a good cause? Gather 7 other people, of differing ages and experiences, and sign up! You’ll play 10 rounds of 10 questions, 10 topics total. You earn 10 points for each correct answer, with a “Mulligan” available for each round, that enables you to “Skip” one question per round. You also get a “round doubler” to maximize your points on that round where your team is hitting on all cylinders.
Doors open at 6:00 pm, the game starts promptly at 6:30 pm, and we’ll have you on your way home around 10 pm. WVIK radio host Dave Garner will MC the event. Feel free to bring your own snacks. We’ll have water, soda, beer and wine available for purchase.
All purchases and admission fees will support First Congregational Church’s “Thanksgiving Essentials Baskets.” These baskets of laundry detergent, toothpaste, wash cloths, and other essentials not covered by food assistance programs help local families in need have a happy, healthy holiday season. All are welcome at FCC. Please join us!
Cost is $100 for a table of 8 or $12.50 for an individual. Each table registration includes 1 mulligan/round and 1 round doubler. Grand prize will be $200. Runner up will receive $100 visa gift card. To sign up click the button below or call the church office 309-762-0787. Or sign up at the door.
Interested in volunteering for Trivia Night?
We are planning for a fun night! Click below to sign up to volunteer!
Augustana Choir & Augustana Choral Artists Concert
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Posted on October 24, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Sunday October 27th, 2019 | 3:00 pm
First Congregational UCC
Mark you calendars and make sure to join us for a concert featuring Augustana Choral Artists and Augustana Choir. Featuring highlights from the Verdi Requiem and other beautiful, varied choral selections. No admission fee; all are welcome!
The concert will also be streamed live on Facebook!
Click here to visit our Facebook page.
Click play to hear a special invitation from Music Director Maureen Holmes!
Essential Baskets 2019
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Posted on October 21, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Essentials Basket | Sunday November 17th | 9 am
Click play to hear a message from Sara Wynn!
What an exciting fall at First Congregational! We were able to serve over 100 families at the Mobile Food Pantry and more than 200 children enjoyed our Trunk or Treat event. Let’s keep the positive momentum going as we head into the season of Thanksgiving and our Essential Baskets mission.
In years past, First Congregational Church prepared food baskets for distribution at Thanksgiving for many years. We began something different in November 2017.
“The concern for our neighbors remains the same,” says Sara Wynn, chairperson of the Outreach and Missions Committee of the church. “The way we are showing it is different; by doing Essential Baskets.”
The Essential Baskets will be made up of household items like detergent and paper products and personal hygiene items. The advantage of the essential supplies is that they are not perishable and are harder to come by for those needing assistance.
“SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) funds will not cover dish soap or disposable diapers,” says Sara Wynn.
Church folks have noticed that there are many groups supplying food at the holidays, and that not every family can use a whole turkey or a gallon of milk.
The Essentials Baskets will be assembled on Sunday, November 17, at 9:00 am in the church basement by teams of children, youth and adults. Then in the next day or two the supplies will be delivered by church families to mission partner agencies.
“We want to help the children and youth see the connection of the work we are doing and our mission partners,” says Becca Peterson, Director of Family Ministry for the church.
We were able to distribute 120 baskets in 2018 and this year our goal is 150. We will be serving two new organizations, World Relief, Moline and DeLaCerda House, Rock Island. We will continue to serve the following organizations: Christian Care of Rock Island; Bethany Children & Families, Moline; Healthy Families (Child Abuse Council), Moline; Family Resources, Davenport; Help at Home, Moline; Salvation Army, Moline; Winnie’s Place, Bettendorf; Robert Young Community Support Program, Rock Island County, and St Joseph the Worker House, Rock Island.
This mission is not possible without your generosity in contributing towards these baskets. To date, we have raised $ 4,028 toward our goal $7,500. Essentials baskets cost $60 per basket. Please join us in providing essential hygienic needs to those who have to choose between buying food or laundry soap. Contribute by check designated to Essentials Baskets online by clicking below.
Trivia Night
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Posted on October 15, 2019 by amberfccmoline
November 22nd| 6:30 pm
Join us for an evening of Trivia!
Press play to hear Desiree’s invitation to join us for Trivia Night!
Times: Doors open at 6:00 pm. Trivia starts at 6:30 pm with MC Dave Garner (WVIK.)
Cost: Each table registration includes 1 mulligan/round and 1 round doubler.
Grand prize will be $200. Runner up will receive $100 visa gift card.
To sign up fill out the form below or call the church office 309-762-0787.
Or you can also register at the door.
Funds raised from Trivia Night will support the church’s Thanksgiving Essentials Baskets and other church ministries. Providing essentials like personal hygiene, cleaning and other household products to be distributed to those in most need through social service agencies throughout the holidays.
Interested in volunteering for Trivia Night?
We are planning for a fun night! Click below to sign up to volunteer!
Were You There?
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Posted on October 9, 2019 by amberfccmoline
When in Southern California in 2005 our family visited the Getty Museum and saw a travelling exhibit, “Painted Prayers,” which was a collection of Books of Hours from the Pierpont Morgan Library in New York. Books of Hours were hand painted manuscripts to guide prayers of devotion to the Virgin Mary. These books were for use by laypeople, for personal domestic prayers.
This illustration is taken from a Dutch book of hours made for Catherine of Cleves, in about 1440. In this miniature Catherine is at the foot of the cross, praying to the Virgin Mary, who in turn is imploring her Son on the Cross. Catherine’s devotion of seeing herself in the picture of the women at the foot of the cross reminded me of the spiritual; – “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” – which is sung on Good Friday.
Many Christians identify themselves/ourselves in Bible stories. I think Mrs. Butterworth saw herself and her family in the beautiful windows, and we are offered an opportunity to see our efforts in the restoration of the windows.
What stood out to me were the seals in the border surrounding the illustration. They reminded me of quilt patterns. When I got back to Rock Island I consulted with the quilting group at the church. One woman, Charlene, immediately identified “crazy blocks.” And stars as well.
I got a little tingle at the back of my neck at the continuity of women’s domestic devotion to God that has spanned at least 600 years of continuity from Utrecht to Rock Island. Books of Hours were used by women in the home. And part of devotion is ‘the work of our hands.’
Rev. Michael Swartz
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