First Presbyterian Church

133 E North St., Geneseo, IL; 309-944-5189

fpcgeneseo@geneseo.net; www.geneseofpc.org

Pastor Ryan J. Landino

February Schedule

February 7 February 21

Transfiguration of the Lord/Souper Bowl Sunday 2nd Sunday in Lent

9:15 am Sunday School/Confirmation 9:15 am S.S. /Confirmation

10:30 am Celebration of the Lord’s Supper 10:30 am Worship Service

11:30 am Annual Meeting/Lunch 11:30 am After Church Coffee

February 14 February 28

1st Sunday in Lent 3rd Sunday in Lent

9:15 am Sunday School/Confirmation 9:15 am S. S./Confirmation

10:30 am Worship 10:30 am Worship Service

11:30 am After Church Coffee 11:30 am After Church Coffee

The GrapevineThe GrapevineThe GrapevineThe Grapevine February, 2016February, 2016February, 2016February, 2016 Volume 36, No. 2

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“What Else is Special About

February?”

Official, Validated February 2016 Holidays

Bake for Family Fun Month, Dog Training Ed-

ucation Month, Library Lovers Month, African

American History Month, Haiku Writing

Month, Hot Breakfast Month, Mend A Broken

Heart Month, Return Shopping Carts to the Su-

permarket Month, Youth Leadership Month

Car Insurance Day (1), Decorating With Candy

Day (1), International Face & Body Art Day (1),

Crepe Day (2), Groundhog Day (2), Facebook's

Birthday (4), World Cancer Day (4), Bubble

Gum Day (5), Girl Scout Cookie Day (6), Take

Your Child To The Library Day (6), Super Bowl

50 (7), Man Day (7), Chinese/Lunar New Year

(8), Mardi Gras (9), National Stop Bullying Day

(9), National Pizza Day (9), International Pan-

cake Day (9), Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day

(11), Get Out Your Guitar Day (11), Satisfied

Staying Single Day (11), Lincoln's Birthday (12),

NAACP Day (12), Autism Sunday (14), Batman

Sticker Day (14), International Book Giving Day

(14), Race Relations Day (14), Singles Awareness

Day/Singles Appreciation Day (14), Valentines

Day (14), Presidents Day (15), Love Your Pet

Day (20), World Day for Social Justice (20), 87th

Academy Awards Ceremony (22), George

Washington's Birthday (22), National Bacon Day

(26), International Sword Swallowers Day (27),

Leap Year Day (29)

Find more at: www.brownielocks.com

“Giving Up [Something] for Lent”

Very soon, Ash Wednesday will be upon us, and Lent will begin.

The question comes up every year, how should we “practice” Lent? What

attitudes do we take? What spiritual disciplines should we take up?

The ultimate climax of Lent is, of course Easter. Easter is that most spectacular

of holidays where we rejoice in the resurrection. How meaningfully we appreciate Easter,

though, is directly determined by how well we practice Lent. It starts with Ash Wednes-

day. Ash Wednesday sets the tone for all of it, because it’s the one day we face death

most directly and courageously outside of a funeral. For how can we know the im-

portance of the resurrection, if we cannot first come to grips with the reality of death?

The rest of the Lent liturgical readings all focus on where our current relationship stands

with God. It is a way to take spiritual measuring tape and do a self-examination on how

far we have allowed God into our lives. Holy Week then culminates in Maundy Thurs-

day, which sounds similar to our word “mandate,” because it is when Jesus gives his last

mandate or commandment before his earthly ministry ends. Good Friday is a time to

creatively reimagine the impact of the passion story on our lives today—always ending

on the hope of remembering why we call Good Friday “Good.” Holy Saturday is the last

day of contemplation and reflection before Easter Sunday, where Christians throw the

biggest party this side of Cana.

So how do we best practice Lent? Anything we can do to help us be sincere and

authentic about where we have let God in (or out) of our lives is a good Lenten practice.

One of the most popular is “giving up [something] for Lent.” This could be meat, choco-

late, TV, anger, whatever—other denominational traditions have more rigid standards on

what is appropriate to “give up.” Our tradition is more flexible on what practices we take

up. The most important part is to understand why we give something up. Lent is a time to

remember that we are spiritually hungry for God, that we have a physical, mental, spiritu-

al, emotional need for God—a way to embrace that need more directly is to temporarily

give up something semi-central to our lives. That way, every time we want [chocolate],

we say, “Wow, part of me wants [chocolate] but what I REALLY need, is God.” The

spiritual practice of fasting is intended to do the same thing. I challenge you to take up

any spiritual practice that brings you closer to God this Lent. Whatever we “give up” it

should always point us back to what we have taken up in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016

Annual meeting

11:30 am

Lunch to follow

Sunday, Feb. 7 is Souper Bowl Sunday!

Bring canned goods, nonperishable items or a monetary do-nation and place them by your favorite football team sign by Sunday, Feb. 7. A soup and sandwich lunch will be served and a freewill offering will be accepted. All Souper Bowl

donations will benefit the Geneseo Food Pantry. Whether you are cheering for the Broncos, the Panthers, or the

commercials, let’s bring our spirit of giving to the playing field!

Presbyterian Women

Faith Circle Lamplighters Circle

Date: Wed. Feb. 17 at 9:00 am Date: Mon. Feb. 22 at 2 pm

Hostess: Barb Grunwald Hostess: Virginia Nelson

Lesson: Louise Rash Lesson: Sharon Esche

Prayers of the People

Our thoughts and prayers are with all the men and women serving in the Armed Forces/Military, as well as Gen Atwell, Janet Borkgren, Dennis Carton, Archie Cullen, Helen Ellsberry, Lauretta Green, Chuck Grunwald, Sandy Haas, Shane Haas, Wanda Hallendorff, Sammy Hodgett, Carol (Mrs. R.C.) Johnson, Marian Keag, Phyllis Keag, Betty Miller, Naida Moburg, Karen Stancliff, Joyce Will, Pat Williams, Nellie Wright

• Worked on 2016 logis�cs, assigning chairpersons for commi�ees, communion set-up assignments,

and general housekeeping items associated with ge�ng us started with a new and full session.

• Reflected posi�vely on the Conversaon Spaces experiment held on January 10th, which started

with the topic and video “Muslims and America.” The event a�racted approximately 30 par�ci-

pants and generated though,ul discussion. Session named a desire to con�nue them periodically.

• Concluded that the computers downstairs could be�er serve others than sit unused at the church,

so according to normal prac�ce, session decided to invite anyone in the congrega�on to feel free

to take them, otherwise they will be recycled accordingly.

• Introduced the idea of reigni�ng a Mission & Outreach Commi�ee, to possibly meet as needed

and develop ideas for new mission projects/outreach opportuni�es we can undertake as a church.

Regular Session Meeting, 1/27/16 (Gary & Barbara Asay , Gary Bell, John Brophy, Melanie Curran, Steve Durian, Deb Klemmer, Sue Snell, John Schang, Roger & Karen Stancliff, Pastor Ryan Landino, excused: Scott Durian)

Ash Wednesday Worship

Joint Worship led by Pastors Bruce Berthold and

Ryan Landino

Wed. February 10, 7:00 pm

At First Congregational Church

Area churches are again hosting breakfast for the guys every Saturday in Lent.

The schedule is:

Feb. 13 St. Malachys

Feb. 20 Grace U. Methodist Church

Feb. 27 First Lutheran Church

March 5 First Presbyterian Church

March 12 First United Methodist Church

March 19 Geneseo Evangelical Free Church

Reservations are not needed! Come and enjoy the food and fellowship.

Easter Sunday

March 27, 2016

We will soon be taking orders for spring flowers to

decorate the church for Easter.

Watch the bulletin for details!

Used with permission: “h�ps://www.facebook.com/RadioFreeBabylon”

Interested in astrology? Perhaps we should be, as it affects our lives throughout

the rest of the year. The equinox is when the sun shines equally over the south-

ern and northern hemispheres.

The vernal, or spring, equinox holds special magic, ushering in the return to

warmth and, with it, the renewal of animal and plant life. It is fi�ng, then, that Chris�anity marks it as

the anniversary of Christ’s resurrec�on. We celebrate Easter on the first Sunday a@er the first full

moon following the vernal equinox. This year, the equinox is March 20, the full moon is March 23, and

the first Sunday a@er (Easter Sunday) is March 27.

So why, you ask, am I wri�ng about this in the February ar�cle? Because 46 days before East-

er is the first day of Lent, which puts Ash Wednesday on February 10.

Wait a minute. Doesn’t Lent have 40 days, you ask? The Bible says 40 days, the song says

“Forty Days and Forty Nights”, so why are we talking about 46 days before Easter? The answer is that

there are six Sundays in the Lenten season, and, since all Sundays are a celebra�on of the resurrec�on

of Christ, they don’t count as part of Lent.

So February 10 we begin our walk and prepara�on for the passion, crucifixion and resurrec-

�on of our Lord.

George

At the Geneseo Food Pantry, we focus on encouraging clients to make wise choices to stretch their food dollars. A representative from the University of Illinois Extension Outreach Program is periodically available when clients come to pick up food. She provides low cost recipe ideas using ingredients that the Food Pantry has available. She also takes a minute to speak personally with each client, helping them find low cost nutritional foods that all members of the family enjoy, and her help is appreciated.

Food Pantry clients can shop for clothing and household items once per week. On the second floor there are clothes, accessories, sheets, blankets, towels, kitchen items, small appliances, decorations, toys, books, CDs, videos, games, and puzzles. Our clients would appreciate any of these items you can donate. What we often run low on are baby clothes, smaller size men’s clothes, and towels.

Thank you to everyone who donated coats and other warm clothing this winter. We have received plenty of winter clothing from coat drives around the community, so our clients will stay warm this winter!

Our volunteer of the month, Tom, has been volunteering for the Geneseo Food Pantry for ten years. He helps load trunks with food, helps with food drives, run errands, and sings and whistles songs! Tom has a wife and two children. Tom said the best thing about volunteering at the Food Pantry is spreading good cheer, singing songs, talking and cheering up people. He enjoys helping others through their difficult time.

If you have joined Facebook, please look up Geneseo Food Pantry and “like” our Facebook page. You will see updates on what is going on at the Food Pantry, and what our current needs are.

If the Geneseo schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Food Pantry is also. Our business hours are Mon., Tue., and Thu., 9-12 and 1-4, and Fri., 9-12. Food needs for February are: Pancake mix, syrup, rice, soda crackers, and mustard. Non-food needs are: Laundry detergent, Q-tips, feminine products, bar soap, and all-purpose cleaner.

Drop boxes at the church for Food Pantry donations are located outside the church office and in the coat room off the front entrance of the church. Donations are always appreciated and especially encouraged on the third Sunday of the month, which is designated Food Pantry Sunday.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Psalm 62

Genesis

19:1-29

John

6:27-40

2 Psalm12

Genesis

21:1-21

John

6:41-51

3 Psalm 96

Genesis

22:1-18

John

6:52-29

4 Psalm 116

Genesis

23:1-20

John

6:60-71

5 Psalm 84

Genesis

24:1-27

John

7:1-13

6 Psalm 63

Genesis

24:28-38

John

7:14-36

7 Psalm 103

Malachi

4:1-6

Luke

9:18-27

8 Psalm 5

Proverbs

27:1-6,10-12

John

18:15-27

9 Psalm 42

Proverbs

30:1-4,24-33

John

18:28-38

10 Psalm 5

Amos

5:6-15

Luke

18:9-14

11 Psalm 27

Habakkuk

3:1-18

John

17:1-8

12 Psalm 22

Ezekiel

18:1-4,25-32

John

17:9-19

13Psalm 43

Ezekiel

39:21-29

John

17:20-26

14 Psalm 84

Daniel

9:3-10

John

12:44-50

15 Ps. 145

Genesis

37:1-11

Mark

1:1-13

16 Psalm 34

Genesis

37:12-24

Mark

1:14-28

17 Psalm 5

Genesis

37:25-36

Mark

1:29-45

18 Psalm 27

Genesis

39:1-23

Mark

2:1-12

19 Psalm 22

Genesis

40:1-23

Mark

2:13-22

20Psalm 43

Genesis

41:1-13

Mark

2:23—3:6

21 Psalm 84

Genesis

41:14-45

John

5:19-24

22Psalm 145

Genesis

41:46-57

Mark

3:7-19a

23 Psalm 34

Genesis

42:1-17

Mark

3:19b-35

24 Psalm 5

Genesis

42:18-28

Mark

4:1-20

25 Psalm 27

Genesis

42:29-38

Mark

4:21-34

26 Psalm 22

Genesis

43:1-15

Mark

4:35-41

27Psalm 43

Genesis

43:16-34

Mark

5:1-20

28 Psalm 84

Genesis

44:1-17

John

5:25-29

29 Psalm 6

Genesis

44:18-34

Mark

5:21-43

Daily readings taken from:

presbyterianmission.org/devotion/daily

None This Month

If your birthday or anniversary is

not listed or is incorrect, please

call the church office.

2016

8 Jamison Weisser

12 Marilyn McGaughy

19 Sylvia Hein

20 Sue Snell

22 Joe Wright

24 Joseph Gragg

27 Judy Pullman

27 Alyssa Simpson

Announcements & NewsAnnouncements & NewsAnnouncements & NewsAnnouncements & News

Our Church Budget Update As of 1/24/16 2016 Operating Budget: $117,992 Year to Date Contributions: $9,102 Building Maintenance Fund Goal: $20,000 Building Maintenance Fund Contributions: $8,935

Session Members for 2016 Barbara Asay Melanie Curran John Schang Gary Asay Scott Durian Sue Snell Gary Bell Steve Durian Karen Stancliff John Brophy Deb Klemmer Roger Stancliff Board of Deacons for 2016 Cathie Bell Wanda Hallendorff Judy Pullman Sherry Brophy Diane Hartsock Louise Rash Marcia Fleming Alison Johnson Barb Schang Maureen Ford Kim Lambin Kelli Williams

Sun Mon Tue Wed

1 2

5:30 pm Deacons 1:30 pm Bible Study

7 Transfiguration of the Lord/Souper

Bowl Sunday

9:15 am Confirmation & Sunday School

10:30 am Holy Communion

11:30 am Annual Congregational Meeting

12:00 pm Soup/Sandwich Lunch

8

9

7:00 pm Basement

Reserved

10 Ash Wednesday

1:30 pm Bible Study

7:00 pm Worship at

1st Congregational

14 1st Sunday in Lent

9:15 am Confirmation & Sunday School

9:30 am Properties

10:30 am Worship

11:30 am After Church Coffee

15

16

4:00 pm Christian Ed. 9:00 am Faith Circle

1:30 pm Bible Study

21 2nd Sunday in Lent

9:15 am Confirmation & Sunday School

10:30 am Worship

11:30 am After Church Coffee

22

2:00 pm Lamplighters

Circle

23

1:30 pm Bible Study

28 3rd Sunday in Lent

9:15 am Confirmation & Sunday School

10:30 am Worship

11:30 am After Church Coffee

29

Wed Thu Fri Sat

3

1:30 pm Bible Study

4

5:30 Worship & Music

7:00 pm Choir

5 6

Ash Wednesday

1:30 pm Bible Study

7:00 pm Worship at

1st Congregational

11

7:00 pm Choir

12 13

17

9:00 am Faith Circle

1:30 pm Bible Study

6:00 pm Finance

6:30 pm Session

18

7:00 pm Choir

19

GRAPEVINE

DEADLINE

20

24

1:30 pm Bible Study

25

7:00 pm Choir

26 27

2016201620162016 First Presbyterian Church

309-944-5189

www.geneseofpc.org