PASTOR OMAN WILL BE ON VACATION JANUARY 19-31. If pastoral assistance is needed, please call: Rev. James Lehmann (church: 217-694-4156; cell: 217-417-4156), or Rev Cinday Bisser (church: 217-694-4156; cell: 920-979-5673)

MAKING PEACE WITH YOUR PAST DISCUSSED AT LIFETREE CAFÉ
A Vietnamese refugee who left Saigon hours before the capital fell will share the story of her escape and later return to Vietnam at Lifetree Café on Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the café and on Thursday at 1:30 pm at Candlewood.

The program, titled “Making Peace With Your Past: A Vietnamese Refugee’s Journey,” features a filmed interview with Binh Rybacki, the founder of Children of Peace International, a charity helping orphans in Vietnam. During the film, Rybacki says she decided to start Children of Peace International after returning to Vietnam where she witnessed the overwhelming needs of children there. “Every one of us has an epiphany in our lives. Every one of us has an awakening,” she says. “It’s just that we don’t know what to do with it. That was my epiphany.”

THE SUNDAY MORNING CLASS WILL NOT MEET THIS MORNING OR NEXT SUNDAY.

THE WEDNESDAY 12:30 BIBLE STUDY WILL NOT MEET THIS WEEK.

50+ VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER: Don’t feel like being part of the crowd at dinner on Valentine’s Day?  Then join with friends for a Valentine’s Day dinner on Sunday, Feb 14 at 4pm hosted by the New Beginnings Social Outreach Team.  We are serving smoked pork tenderloin, cheesy potatoes, green beans, salad, dessert and drinks catered by Bourbon Smoke BBQ, Jason Ishcomer.  Price is $10 per couple/$5 for single.  Tickets will be available after church starting Jan 10 for our congregation and available to the community starting January 28.  Advanced ticket sales only due to limited seating.

HELPING HANDS UPDATE: We are continuing to collect items for the health kits, and food and clothing items for Helping Hands.  Helping Hands will need spring clothing now. Containers for these items are under the coat rack.  Thank you Doug Bosworth for taking the clothing collected in December on the drop off day.  Thank you to everyone that took a Christmas toy tag from our tree and brought in toys.  We were able to make 10 health kits from the items brought in and thanks to everyone that donated items.

A DIAPER DRIVE will be conducted in January by The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, in partnership with WDWS,. Diaper drives help babies in need because many low income parents struggle to afford diapers. The diaper drive will be held: Thursday, January 21st, 2016, 8am-6pm. Diapers (any size) can be dropped at two drive-through locations: Champaign-Urbana Public Health District 201 W. Kenyon Rd., Champaign; WDWS 2301 S. Neil St., Champaign.

ATTENDANCE for Sunday, January 17th was 94 and total offering was $3,168.00.