Well…VBS is a wrap!! What an awesome week celebrating God’s Goodness! Ninety-six registered campers spent time last week at FCC playing, learning, singing and dancing. We have discovered ninety-five campers is the maximum our spaces can hold and our volunteer resources can manage, but how could we possibly turn down any child who wants to worship and learn during VBS week! I will continue to find ways to ensure FCC offers a fabulous VBS experience to all who want to attend, and what a great challenge to have…God is Good!
Thank you to all who sponsored-a-camper this year! Thirty-two campers and $1600 were raised.
As usual, I am most proud of our teen helpers, who give their time, patience, and care to children at VBS.
Junior Counselors 2019
A BIG thank you to all of those who serve with VBS! Without your time and care, VBS would not be possible:
Christine Nelson, Dawn Ramos, Annika Tunberg, DeAnna Wennekamp, Amanda Peterson and Red Wagon teachers, Kristi Bailey, Dixie Duckett, Jan Parsons, Ginny Larsen, Lois Wadsworth, Lucy Manis, Heather Carlson, Mary Newcomb, Ann Millman, Carolin Hohensee, Cliff Carlson, Bill Johnson, Rachel Sommers, Jeff Griffith, Mike Bealer, Lauren Fulscher, Amanda Beck, Angie Suman, Alex Wandrey, Kelly Powell, Lauren Powell, Tami Cady, Steve Schippers, Kim Fuller, Aubrey Meers, Sara Wynn, Emilia Deem, Tiffany Denys, Audra Bailey, Wes Lewellyn, Angie Suman
Life is Wild, God is Good! Becca Peterson Director of Family Ministry
Shortly before Easter, we suspended Live@FCC to allow us time to resolve copyright and privacy concerns.
We have secured copyright licenses without increase to our music budget. We can now live stream congregational singing, choir anthems, and special music.
Resolving privacy issues was a more complex matter, but we believe our three-part plan will honor the wishes of parents who do not want their children to be seen online without sacrificing our mission of sharing our worship services:
Serving in Worship: Those who lead us in worship, serving as Liturgists and Lectors, singing and ringing bells in our choirs, participate in a public ministry. These public ministries will be live streamed and posted to our church webpage. The public nature of this ministry will be included in the process we use to invite our members to serve in this capacity.
Children’s Time: During Children’s Time and when our Cherub Choir sings, we will continue to live stream and audio, but our video cameras will focus on the architectural beauty of our building such as our stained glass windows. We hope this approach will allow us to share the life and joy of our children, which is such a vital part of our worship, while also honoring privacy concerns.
Congregation: To honor privacy concerns and to invite the congregation to actively participate in this outreach opportunity, we have removed one pew to create a private area in our sanctuary. This change offers the additional benefit of extending the side aisle on both seating sections. Our members, and especially our guests, may sit behind the side aisle, and we will invite those who wish to support the outreach potential of Live@FCC to sit in front of the side aisle.
We see Live@FCC as a developing ministry, recognizing that further changes may be required as we move forward. We are grateful for those who shared their privacy concerns with us, and also for those who told us Live@FCC allows them to feel connected though they are physically or geographically unable to be with us in worship. We pray that our plan to honor privacy concerns, neither sacrificing the needs of our shut-ins and snowbirds nor the outreach potential of this ministry, will help us to grow into the future God promises us.
Beginning on June 16th, until Kick-off Sunday on September 8th, our worship services will begin at 9:00am.
We hope this change reflects the way we live our lives in the Summer, enjoying time gardening and golfing and bicycling and attending our children’s summer sporting events. With the long harsh winter finally over and the cold, wet Spring at last ending, we are all looking forward to making the most of summertime. We hope our 9:00am Summer Worship time will be blessing to you and your family.
“Beginning Tuesday, May 28, weather permitting, the Illinois Department of Transportation will close 6th Avenue between 19th Street and 21st Street. The closure is need to allow contractors to reconstruct the roadway. The closure is anticipated to take place through September. Motorists will be detoured from 6th Avenue to southbound 16th Street to eastbound 7th Avenue to northbound 23rd Street to eastbound 6th Avenue.”
Until construction is completed, weekday access to our parking lot will be via 22nd Street (see map).
Adult Forum is one of the regular opportunities for adults during the 9:00 a.m. hour on Sunday mornings; it meets on the lower level and it parallels the schedule of the Sunday School for children. The Adult Forum concluded this year on Sunday, May 12th. Another opportunity is the adult Bible Study that meets in the parlor on Sundays.
Throughout the year there are a variety of speakers who share. This past year included presentations by some of our own church members sharing their interests and expertise, guests came and shared about interesting things going on in the wider community and church leadership presented about church developments and business as well. (Those organizations with an asterisk * partner with our church through the Outreach and Missions Board.)
Looking back over the year it is an impressive and rich list of offerings made to the attenders of the church. Average attendance was 12.
Thank you to all who shared and participated this past season!
We want to hear from you!! Help us start preparing for next season’s Adult Forum. Please fill out the form below or click here to share what you enjoyed from Adult Forum 18/19 Season and ideas and topics you would like to hear more about! Or you can email Pastor Michael here with your suggestions.
Your church Council wants to inform you of a change our pastor’s schedule. Pastor Michael is working a ten-month rather than a twelve-month contract.
There are many reasons for this; Mainly it enables Pastor Michael the opportunity to spend more time with his wife, Nancy who has a ten-month schedule. Pastor Michael will have the months of June and July off. This serves as a good time from the church’s standpoint since activities tend to slow down a bit over the summer. “When we were talking about budget last fall I thought of this as a win-win proposal. We get more family time together, and the church can reduce the budget,” says Pastor Michael
Pastor Michael and Nancy are off to Greece in June and early July, and then they are off to California. If an emergency need arises and he is in town, he can be called upon if his schedule permits. Nevertheless, that is a pretty small window.
Your Council is happy for Pastor Michael and his family and feel this arrangement has far more positives than not.
Thank you, Mary Newcomb, Moderator Wes Llewellyn, Vice-moderator
Similar to the Commandment which calls for us to “Remember the Sabbath and Keep it Holy,” churches have established sabbaticals as a time for Pastors to take extended time away from church duties for a period of spiritual study and renewal. Call Agreements for settled pastors typically include an opportunity for sabbatical after a set period of service. Our agreement with Pastor Craig is no exception. His Call Agreement provides for a three month sabbatical after five years of service, which began October 2014. The Agreement also specifies a one year planning period prior to sabbatical and a minimum of one year of service after sabbatical.
On March 12, your Church Council approved a sabbatical for
Pastor Craig. It is tentatively
scheduled for the Summer of 2020.
A sabbatical committee will develop a plan to provide Pastor
Craig with sabbatical time and assure ongoing pastoral care for our church. If you are interested in serving on this
committee, please contact Mary Newcomb.
Church Council
Mary Newcomb, Moderator; Wes Llewellyn Vice-Moderator; Heather Carlson, Church Clerk; Audra Bailey; Desiree Grace; Sara Wynn, Outreach and Mission; Nancy Lackey, Spiritual Engagement; Amanda Beck, Christian Education; Josh Dyer, Building and Finance
Please consider sponsoring a VBS camper at $50/camper.
This summer 100 children and youth will gather at FCC for an entire week of VBS programming and we are asking your help to make VBS a success once more!! Sponsoring a VBS camper means that the supplies, curriculum, and other building costs are covered for a whole week of fun! With a cost of $50 per camper, meeting the need of so many campers comes with quite a cost. You can contribute in any number of ways…
The Sunday offering plate (write VBS in memo line)
FCC campers and friends have done a wonderful job of creating a unique and faith filled week of VBS, but as always, we can do better! This year, we will focus efforts to invite our neighbors to enjoy faith and fun for the week, but we need to be prepared for these neighbors! Pray for our VBS outreach missions to be successful, lend a hand with the crazy chaotic amazing week of vbs, and Sponsor a camper!
Please consider sponsoring a VBS camper at $50/camper.
This summer 100 children and youth will gather at FCC for an entire week of VBS programming and we are asking your help to make VBS a success once more!! Sponsoring a VBS camper means that the supplies, curriculum, and other building costs are covered for a whole week of fun! With a cost of $50 per camper, meeting the need of so many campers comes with quite a cost. You can contribute in any number of ways…
The Sunday offering plate (write VBS in memo line)
FCC campers and friends have done a wonderful job of creating a unique and faith filled week of VBS, but as always, we can do better! This year, we will focus efforts to invite our neighbors to enjoy faith and fun for the week, but we need to be prepared for these neighbors! Pray for our VBS outreach missions to be successful, lend a hand with the crazy chaotic amazing week of vbs, and Sponsor a camper!
9am-Noon: School Age Kids (Kindergarten-6th grade)
9am-11am: Preschool Kids (3-5y/o)
Lucky you…next week you will be at ROAR! Vacation Bible School at First Congregational Church in Moline, June 10th-14th for a Wild adventure!
A few reminders:
Wear sneakers, there is lots of movement on our wild adventures!
Friday is Water day
To enter the church please use the 7th Avenue entrance (gate will be open by 8:00am) or you can enter by 22nd Street (see map). 6th Ave. is closed due to construction.
Please enter the building at the North Door
If you have loved our vbs in the past, help to keep it amazing each year! At a cost of $50/camper, FCC will continue to lead Wild adventures for each camper! Follow this link to contribute online, or contribute by check, designating VBS on the memo line.
Thank you for your generous support for our VBS ministry!
Interested in sponsoring a VBS camper? $50 wills sponsor a camper for the full week of vacation Bible school! To contribute click the button below or checks may be designated to “VBS Camper.”
VBS Wrap Up
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Posted on June 20, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Vacation Bible School 2019
Well…VBS is a wrap!! What an awesome week celebrating God’s Goodness! Ninety-six registered campers spent time last week at FCC playing, learning, singing and dancing. We have discovered ninety-five campers is the maximum our spaces can hold and our volunteer resources can manage, but how could we possibly turn down any child who wants to worship and learn during VBS week! I will continue to find ways to ensure FCC offers a fabulous VBS experience to all who want to attend, and what a great challenge to have…God is Good!
Thank you to all who sponsored-a-camper this year! Thirty-two campers and $1600 were raised.
As usual, I am most proud of our teen helpers, who give their time, patience, and care to children at VBS.
A BIG thank you to all of those who serve with VBS! Without your time and care, VBS would not be possible:
Christine Nelson, Dawn Ramos, Annika Tunberg, DeAnna Wennekamp, Amanda Peterson and Red Wagon teachers, Kristi Bailey, Dixie Duckett, Jan Parsons, Ginny Larsen, Lois Wadsworth, Lucy Manis, Heather Carlson, Mary Newcomb, Ann Millman, Carolin Hohensee, Cliff Carlson, Bill Johnson, Rachel Sommers, Jeff Griffith, Mike Bealer, Lauren Fulscher, Amanda Beck, Angie Suman, Alex Wandrey, Kelly Powell, Lauren Powell, Tami Cady, Steve Schippers, Kim Fuller, Aubrey Meers, Sara Wynn, Emilia Deem, Tiffany Denys, Audra Bailey, Wes Lewellyn, Angie Suman
Life is Wild, God is Good!
Becca Peterson
Director of Family Ministry
Live@FCC
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Posted on June 19, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Our Live@FCC ministry is making a new start.
Shortly before Easter, we suspended Live@FCC to allow us time to resolve copyright and privacy concerns.
We have secured copyright licenses without increase to our music budget. We can now live stream congregational singing, choir anthems, and special music.
Resolving privacy issues was a more complex matter, but we believe our three-part plan will honor the wishes of parents who do not want their children to be seen online without sacrificing our mission of sharing our worship services:
We see Live@FCC as a developing ministry, recognizing that further changes may be required as we move forward. We are grateful for those who shared their privacy concerns with us, and also for those who told us Live@FCC allows them to feel connected though they are physically or geographically unable to be with us in worship. We pray that our plan to honor privacy concerns, neither sacrificing the needs of our shut-ins and snowbirds nor the outreach potential of this ministry, will help us to grow into the future God promises us.
9 am Summer Worship
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Posted on June 10, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Summer Worship
June 16th – September 1st
Beginning on June 16th, until Kick-off Sunday on September 8th, our worship services will begin at 9:00am.
We hope this change reflects the way we live our lives in the Summer, enjoying time gardening and golfing and bicycling and attending our children’s summer sporting events. With the long harsh winter finally over and the cold, wet Spring at last ending, we are all looking forward to making the most of summertime. We hope our 9:00am Summer Worship time will be blessing to you and your family.
Summer Parking Lot Update
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Posted on May 23, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Summer Parking Lot Update
6th Avenue Closure & Summer Gate Schedule
“Beginning Tuesday, May 28, weather permitting, the Illinois Department of Transportation will close 6th Avenue between 19th Street and 21st Street. The closure is need to allow contractors to reconstruct the roadway. The closure is anticipated to take place through September. Motorists will be detoured from 6th Avenue to southbound 16th Street to eastbound 7th Avenue to northbound 23rd Street to eastbound 6th Avenue.”
Until construction is completed, weekday access to our parking lot will be via 22nd Street (see map).
Gate Schedule:
The Gate will be open as follows:
The Tower: Adult Forum Recap
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Posted on May 21, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Adult Forum Recap 2018/2019
Adult Forum is one of the regular opportunities for adults during the 9:00 a.m. hour on Sunday mornings; it meets on the lower level and it parallels the schedule of the Sunday School for children. The Adult Forum concluded this year on Sunday, May 12th. Another opportunity is the adult Bible Study that meets in the parlor on Sundays.
Throughout the year there are a variety of speakers who share. This past year included presentations by some of our own church members sharing their interests and expertise, guests came and shared about interesting things going on in the wider community and church leadership presented about church developments and business as well. (Those organizations with an asterisk * partner with our church through the Outreach and Missions Board.)
Looking back over the year it is an impressive and rich list of offerings made to the attenders of the church. Average attendance was 12.
Thank you to all who shared and participated this past season!
We want to hear from you!! Help us start preparing for next season’s Adult Forum. Please fill out the form below or click here to share what you enjoyed from Adult Forum 18/19 Season and ideas and topics you would like to hear more about! Or you can email Pastor Michael here with your suggestions.
Council: Congregational Update Pastor’s Schedule
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Posted on May 7, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Greetings friends and members:
Your church Council wants to inform you of a change our pastor’s schedule. Pastor Michael is working a ten-month rather than a twelve-month contract.
There are many reasons for this; Mainly it enables Pastor Michael the opportunity to spend more time with his wife, Nancy who has a ten-month schedule. Pastor Michael will have the months of June and July off. This serves as a good time from the church’s standpoint since activities tend to slow down a bit over the summer. “When we were talking about budget last fall I thought of this as a win-win proposal. We get more family time together, and the church can reduce the budget,” says Pastor Michael
Pastor Michael and Nancy are off to Greece in June and early July, and then they are off to California. If an emergency need arises and he is in town, he can be called upon if his schedule permits. Nevertheless, that is a pretty small window.
Your Council is happy for Pastor Michael and his family and feel this arrangement has far more positives than not.
Thank you,
Mary Newcomb, Moderator
Wes Llewellyn, Vice-moderator
Leave a Comment
Posted on April 30, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Council: Congregational Update
Similar to the Commandment which calls for us to “Remember the Sabbath and Keep it Holy,” churches have established sabbaticals as a time for Pastors to take extended time away from church duties for a period of spiritual study and renewal. Call Agreements for settled pastors typically include an opportunity for sabbatical after a set period of service. Our agreement with Pastor Craig is no exception. His Call Agreement provides for a three month sabbatical after five years of service, which began October 2014. The Agreement also specifies a one year planning period prior to sabbatical and a minimum of one year of service after sabbatical.
On March 12, your Church Council approved a sabbatical for Pastor Craig. It is tentatively scheduled for the Summer of 2020.
A sabbatical committee will develop a plan to provide Pastor Craig with sabbatical time and assure ongoing pastoral care for our church. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact Mary Newcomb.
Church Council
Mary Newcomb, Moderator; Wes Llewellyn Vice-Moderator; Heather Carlson, Church Clerk; Audra Bailey; Desiree Grace; Sara Wynn, Outreach and Mission; Nancy Lackey, Spiritual Engagement; Amanda Beck, Christian Education; Josh Dyer, Building and Finance
VBS Sponsor A Camper 2019
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Posted on April 25, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Sponsor a camper: Vacation Bible School 2019
Please consider sponsoring a VBS camper at $50/camper.
This summer 100 children and youth will gather at FCC for an entire week of VBS programming and we are asking your help to make VBS a success once more!! Sponsoring a VBS camper means that the supplies, curriculum, and other building costs are covered for a whole week of fun! With a cost of $50 per camper, meeting the need of so many campers comes with quite a cost. You can contribute in any number of ways…
FCC campers and friends have done a wonderful job of creating a unique and faith filled week of VBS, but as always, we can do better! This year, we will focus efforts to invite our neighbors to enjoy faith and fun for the week, but we need to be prepared for these neighbors! Pray for our VBS outreach missions to be successful, lend a hand with the crazy chaotic amazing week of vbs, and Sponsor a camper!
The Tower: VBS Sponsor A Camper 2019
Leave a Comment
Posted on April 25, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Sponsor a camper: Vacation Bible School 2019
Please consider sponsoring a VBS camper at $50/camper.
This summer 100 children and youth will gather at FCC for an entire week of VBS programming and we are asking your help to make VBS a success once more!! Sponsoring a VBS camper means that the supplies, curriculum, and other building costs are covered for a whole week of fun! With a cost of $50 per camper, meeting the need of so many campers comes with quite a cost. You can contribute in any number of ways…
FCC campers and friends have done a wonderful job of creating a unique and faith filled week of VBS, but as always, we can do better! This year, we will focus efforts to invite our neighbors to enjoy faith and fun for the week, but we need to be prepared for these neighbors! Pray for our VBS outreach missions to be successful, lend a hand with the crazy chaotic amazing week of vbs, and Sponsor a camper!
The Tower: VBS 2019
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Posted on April 25, 2019 by amberfccmoline
Vacation Bible School
June 10th – 14th, 2019
Still need to register?
Fill out the form by clicking here to launch form in a new window.
Pre-K Class is full! Email becca@fccmoline.org for details.
Vacation Bible School Reminders
9am-Noon: School Age Kids (Kindergarten-6th grade)
9am-11am: Preschool Kids (3-5y/o)
Lucky you…next week you will be at ROAR! Vacation Bible School at First Congregational Church in Moline, June 10th-14th for a Wild adventure!
A few reminders:
Thank you for your generous support for our VBS ministry!
Interested in sponsoring a VBS camper? $50 wills sponsor a camper for the full week of vacation Bible school! To contribute click the button below or checks may be designated to “VBS Camper.”
Contact Becca Peterson for more information.
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Angler on many levels.
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