I recently read how in the early days of the Tennessee Valley project (TVA), a dilapidated log homestead had to be abandoned to make room for a lake behind the dam.  A new home on the hillside had already been erected for the cabin’s poor Appalachian family, but they refused to move into their beautiful new split-level ranch.

The day of the flooding arrived, but still the family refused to move.  As the bulldozers were brought in, the Appalachian family brought out their shotguns.  No amount of legal brandishings or bulldozer menacings would budge this family from their cabin.

Then someone from the TVA decided to try one last-ditch effort to end the stalemate. They called in a social worker to talk with the family and find out what the problem was.  “We ain’t goin’ anywhere,” the family announced to the social worker.  “Nobody can make us.  We’re not budging no matter how many threats you make or how rundown our li’l cabin may look to you.”

The social worker pleaded, “Help me to explain to the authorities why you won’t move into your beautiful new home.”

“See that fire over there?” the man asked, pointing to a blazing fire in the primitive hearth of the log cabin. “My grandpa built that fire over a hundred years ago,” the man explained.  “He never let it go out, for he had no matches and it was a long way to a neighbor’s.  And he told my pa to never let it go out.  And when he started to tend that fire that fire has never gone out; and just before he died he told me to never let that fire go out.  I’ve tended it ever since.  None of us ever let it die, and I ain’t a-goin’ to move away now and let grandpa’s fire go out!”

That gave the social worker an idea.  She arranged for a large apple butter kettle to be delivered to the home.  She explained to the family that they could scoop up the live coals from the fire and carry them to the new home where they would be poured out and fresh kindling added.  In this way grandpa’s fire would never go out.  She then asked if that would be acceptable.

This Appalachian family huddled, and then agreed to move from their shack in the hollow to the new home on the hillside.  But they wouldn’t budge – until they could take with them the fire of their ancestors.

My father was the one who started the fire for my family.  His father and mother were both alcoholics, his mother died when he was two, his father died before he was married.  He started down that same path of destruction until one night, kneeling beside his bed, he asked God to forgive him, come into his life, and the fire of the Holy Spirit was ignited in his life.

He tended that fire well over the years.  No matter how great the storm, no matter how fierce the winds that blew, he made sure that fire was still burning.  And I have tried my best to keep that fire burning in our family.  And now my son is having a son and my prayer is that he will shoulder the awesome responsibility to keep the fire burning in the Prince family.  I will continue to do my part, as long as I am able, but one day it will become my son’s responsibility to keep the fire burning for his son and our family.

How about you?

Are you the one who will start the fire for your family, because you are allowing the Holy Spirit to set you ablaze with His presence; or are you fulfilling your responsibility by tending the fire that was first started in a grandparent or parent?

Paul wrote to a young pastor named Timothy and reminded him of the fire that was burning first in his grandmother’s life and then his mother’s life – and then he challenged Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God (the Holy Spirit) that was in him.  This is what he wrote to Timothy:

“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your             mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.  For this reason I remind you to fan into             flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, For God did not give us a spirit             of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (II Timothy 1:5-7 NIV)

Are you doing your part in tending the fire and keeping in burning?  Are you fanning into flame the gift that was given to you – for you and your family?

DID YOU KNOW???

We’ve started the new “FOUNDATIONAL” sermon series, if you didn’t pick up a booklet, or not able to be here Sunday, but you still want to be a part of the reading and memorizing of Scripture, prayer and service, which are all meant to prepare us during this Lenten Season and leading up to Easter, you can pick up a booklet at the information center and be sure to fill out a card with your name and email address so you can receive the weekly email.

This Wednesday, February 22, is Ash Wednesday and we will be having a special service as part of our Prayer Gathering at 6:30 p.m.  Our teens and adults will come to together for this unique time.  We will show a 33- minute video that will impact you deeply.  Come and be a part.

Alabaster Offering will be received on this coming Sunday, February 26^th. Twice a year we receive a love offering which 100% goes for the purchasing of property and constructing of buildings on our different mission fields.

Dinner for 6-8 is slated for the months of March and April.  Get to together with 6 to 8 adults from the church for dinner from 6:00-8:00 p.m.  Meet new friends.  The host/hostess will let you know when the dinner will be served in their home and what dish you will be asked to bring.  The main dish is provided buy the host/hostess.  Fill out a reservation card at the information center and leave it in the office or drop it in the offering plate.

Men’s Fellowship Hour –All men are invited to come to join Men’s Fellowship Hour at 6:30 p.m. Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and acts of service is the agenda.  Meets in Room #105.  Invite your friends to join with you.

Wednesday Night Ministries: Caravan, MERGE, Velocity and the Prayer Gathering at 6:30 p.m.. Dinner from 5:00-6:00 p.m. This week’s menu is Hamburgers, Hashbrown Casserole, Salad, and Dessert

Are you in need of special prayer?  Is there someone you know who needs prayer?  Our Prayer Gatherings on Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. is meant to be a time when we can expectantly bring those needs to God, why not join with others and see how God can transform that very situation you’ve been praying about.

Lee School Supply List – for this school year is:  pencils, wide-lines paper, markers, crayons, glue sticks (no bottles), and pocket folders.  There are boxes in the foyer for your generous donations for our school partner.

Cans for Kidz – The Children’s Ministry is still collecting aluminum cans to help update their ministry area.  There are rubber containers at either end of the building for your donations.  Thanks you for your continual support of Children’s Ministries.

This coming Sunday, February 26^th our wonderful nursery volunteers are Bonnie Patterson and Kristi Lamb with the infants, and Heather Bladen and Brytani Young with toddlers, and Mindy Palmer is the floater. This Wednesday, February 22^nd, our nursery will be staffed by Jeff Owen and Mindy Palmer. Thank you!

Our “Happy Meals Team” is still looking for a few good people.  On the second Sunday afternoon of each month, people gather in the church kitchen to help prepare and deliver a meal to the Ronald McDonald House and Helping Hands Shelter.  There is a need for more people to join them, whether it’s helping in the kitchen, supplying ingredients, or donating money to buy groceries for the meals.  These community ministries have come to depend on a meal once a month to help out families who have a real need.  Contact Pastor Fred or Jim and Janet Gille, or Dave Buchanan if you would like to help serve our world through this important ministry.

CHILDREN MINISTRIES

There are several openings in our Children’s Ministry for those who love children and want to help tell the story of who God is and all He has done, and then have a great impact on the next generation.  Both Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings there are ministry opportunities – if you’d like to help out contact Dawn McLain at 217-381-8801, or see her at church, usually in the Kidz Zone.

TEEN MINISTRY

Momentum will be back in action on Friday, March 2^nd.

Up Coming Dates:

April 6 – Good Friday Service

April 8 – Easter Services

April 14 – Ladies Quarterly Craft Connection

April 14 – Ladies Day at ONU

June 4-7 – Teen Mystery Trip

June 15 – Neighborhood Connection and 5K

June 25-29 – Teen Camp at Table Rock Camp

July 6-12 – District Assembly and Campmeeting

July 15-19 – Vacation Bible School

PRAYER REQUESTS……….

Those listed in Sunday’s bulletin and:

Julie Maltas’ mom – colon cancer

Darin Burdinsky’s dad  – lung cancer

Pat Sherf (Mindy Palmer’s dad)

Sylvia Palmer (Brian Palmers’ mom) – cancer

Jim Bolt’s dad- cancer

Richard Sowards (Pastor Gregg’s Dad)

Joyce Showens (Julie Duncan’s mom)

Barb Kinman

Shelia Leggett

Sharon Hiatt

Dorcas Chandra

David Ogden

Wally Groesch

Press play below, download the file (instructions below), and/or subscribe to our podcast.
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What will you do on this day we celebrate love to show the one you love that you really love them?  I’ll propose something pretty radical toward the end of these musings.

It began when I wondered about the history of this day.  This is what I discovered.

The history of Valentine’s Day and the story of its patron saint are shrouded in mystery. We do know  February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was Saint Valentine, and how did he become associated with this ancient rite?

The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl – possibly his jailor’s daughter -who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and – most importantly – romantic figure. By the Middle Ages, perhaps thanks to this reputation, Valentine would become one of the most popular saints in England and France.

In addition to the United States, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France and Australia. In Great Britain, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated around the 17th century. By the middle of the 18th, it was common for friends and lovers of all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes, and by 1900 printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one’s feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine’s Day greetings. 

Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began selling the first mass-produced valentines in America. Howland, known as the “Mother of the Valentine,” made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as “scrap.” Today, according to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.) Women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines.

Okay, for all of you history lovers, there’s just a bit of history.

Now for my radical idea.

I’m not saying don’t buy cards, or candies, or special treats.  I’m not saying don’t take the love of your life out for a romantic dinner.  I’m not saying skip the roses, candles, and poetry – if those are the things you’re used to doing on Valentines’ Day – I’m not saying don’t, it’s not that radical, or maybe it’s even more radical.

I happened to watch a North Carolina’s father’s facebook video (along with 13,179,188 other viewers) take his 45 handgun and shoot his daughter’s laptop computer, which the day before he had spent time repairing and installing $130 dollars of software onto. You see he had discovered that his teenage daughter had posted on facebook an angry, profanity-laced letter about how terrible her parents were for making her do chores like making the bed and working in the garden.  On and on she railed in the most disrespectful of ways of how terrible her parents were.  So Daddy, though he loved his daughter, finally was fed up with her disrespect, and unloaded his 45 into her laptop (that I’m sure he had purchased for her).  Now, she no longer has the opportunity to post her nasty thoughts on facebook.

I then read of a father who was always on his iphone when he was at home.  He wasn’t so much talking on his phone, but he was tweeting, he was texting, he was checking his e-mail, he was checking his facebook.  And he would do this at the dinner table; he’d do it when he was supposed to be playing with the kids or

reading to them; he’d do it in the middle of a conversation with his wife.  And after many complaints and many failed attempts to give those he said he loved his undivided attention he came up with a way that curbed his enthusiasm for his iphone and social media.  Every time his kids caught him on his iphone tweeting he’d pay them a quarter.  Soon his children (and his wife) were begging him to tweet.  But he quickly broke his habit.

Here’s my radical idea – why not on this Valentine’s Day, and every other day for that matter, when you’re with the person you love, when you’re with those people you are say are the most important ones in your lives, why not resist the urge and refuse to tweet, text, check e-mail or facebook.  Every time you do that in the middle of a conversation aren’t you really telling the person you love – this other conversation is more important than our conversation.  My time on social media is more important than time with my kids.

Here’s a radical idea, on this Valentine’s Day – when you’re with the one you love – no tweeting, texting, checking email or facebooking.

DID YOU KNOW??

Tom Goin’s poem to Janet was published in the State Journal Register for the 32^nd year.  Tom and Janet were married on Valentine’s Day and every year since he has placed a new, original poem stating his undying love for Janet.  What a romantic!  What a guy!

Chad Sowards won first place in the solo competition at the show choir competition in Manteno last weekend.  Way to go, Chad!

Mug Sisters Party – Save the date of February 17^th for a time of coffees, teas, and the chocolate fountain. All ladies are invited to come and find out who your mug sister was from last year, and to come and be apart of this coming year’s Mug Sisters. If you can’t make the party, get an absentee kit from Peggy Tripp.

Alabaster Offering to be received on Sunday, February 26^th. Twice a year we receive a love offering which 100% goes for the purchasing of property and constructing of buildings on our different mission fields.

Dinner for 6-8 is slated for the months of March and April.  Get to together  with 6 to 8 adults from the church for dinner from 6-8:00 p.m.  Meet new friends.  The host/hostess will let you know when the dinner will be served in their home and what dish you will be asked to bring.  The main dish is provided buy the host/hostess.  Fill out a reservation card at the information center and leave it in the office or drop it in the offering plate.

Men’s Fellowship Hour –All men are invited to come to join Men’s Fellowship Hour at 6:30 p.m. Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and acts of service is the agenda.  Meets in Room #105.  Invite your friends to join with you.

Wednesday Night Ministries: Caravan, MERGE, Velocity and the Prayer Gathering at 6:30 p.m. Dinner from 5:00-6:00 p.m. This week’s menu is: Chicken and Noodles, Bread and Butter, Tossed Salad, and Dessert

Are you in need of special prayer?  Is there someone you know who needs prayer?  Our Prayer Gatherings on Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. is meant to be a time when we can expectantly bring those needs to God, why not join with others and see how God can transform that very situation you’ve been praying about.

Lee School Supply List – for this school year is:  pencils, wide-lines paper, markers, crayons, glue sticks (no bottles), and pocket folders.  There are boxes in the foyer for your generous donations for our school partner.

Cans for Kidz – The Children’s Ministry is still collecting aluminum cans to help update their ministry area.  There are rubber containers at either end of the building for your donations.  Thanks you for your continual support of Children’s Ministries.

This coming Sunday, February 12th  our wonderful nursery volunteers are Kathy Hedden and Julie Duncan with the infants, and Julie Bott and Logan Bott with toddlers, and Mindy Palmer is the floater. This Wednesday, February 8th, our nursery will be staffed by Lisa Houston and Mindy Palmer. Thank you!

Our “Happy Meals Team” is still looking for a few good people.  On the second Sunday afternoon of each month, people gather in the church kitchen to help prepare and deliver a meal to the Ronald McDonald House and Helping Hands Shelter.  There is a need for more people to join them, whether it’s helping in the kitchen, supplying ingredients, or donating money to buy groceries for the meals.  These community ministries have come to depend on a meal once a month to help out families who have a real need.  Contact Pastor Fred or Jim and Janet Gille, or Dave Buchanan if you would like to help serve our world through this important ministry.

KUDOS

Ronald McDonald House writes: Please accept our sincere thank you for your participation in our Guest Chef Program.  Your donation of time and resources were very much appreciated by the guests of Ronald McDonald House.  Your support helps alleviate our families’ worries about what they will eat while staying at the House, allowing them to focus all of their attention on their sick child. Thank you for helping relieve some of the stress these families are faced with.

CHILDREN MINISTRIES

There are several openings in our Children’s Ministry for those who love children and want to help tell the story of who God is and all He has done, and then have a great impact on the next generation.  Both Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings there are ministry opportunities – if you’d like to help out contact Dawn McLain at 217-381-8801, or see her at church, usually in the Kidz Zone.

TEEN MINISTRY

Teen Ski Trip – Teens who are interested in going on the annual ski trip need to RSVP Pastor Jay.  This year’s destination is Devil’s Head in Wisconsin.  February 17-19.

Momentum will not be held this Friday.  Next Momentum is March 2^nd

Upcoming Dates:

April 6 – Good Friday Service

April 8 – Easter Services

April 14 – Ladies Quarterly Craft Connection

April 14 – Ladies Day at ONU

June 4-7 – Teen Mystery Trip

June 15 – Neighborhood Connection and 5K

June 25-29 – Teen Camp at Table Rock Camp

July 6-12 – District Assembly and Campmeeting

July 15-19 – Vacation Bible School

PRAYER REQUESTS……….

Those listed in Sunday’s bulletin and:

Julie Maltas’ mom – colon cancer

Darin Burdinsky’s dad  – lung cancer

Pat Sherf (Mindy Palmer’s dad)

Sylvia Palmer (Brian Palmers’ mom) – cancer

Jim Bolt’s dad- cancer

Richard Sowards (Pastor Gregg’s Dad)

Joyce Showen (Julie Duncan’s mom)

Barb Kinman

Shelia Leggett

Sharon Hiatt

Dorcas Chandra

Dawn Pettys

Wally Groesch (cancer)

Press play below, download the file (instructions below), and/or subscribe to our podcast.
Podcasting Instructions:
1. Open iTunes
2. Go to the “Advanced” menu and choose “Subscribe to Podcast“
3. In the box that pops up paste:

http://www.springfieldfirst.com/?feed=podcast

4. Click on “OK”
5. Springfield First Church of the Nazarene Sermon Podcast will show up in your podcast list.

To Download and Save to Your Computer:

Right click here and choose “save target as” or “save link as”, depending on your browser.

To Listen Right Now:

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Good Moanin’ Springfieldians,

I’m going to be a grandpa.  Have I mentioned that to you already?

I was hoping Connor Frederick would be born this last weekend, it didn’t happen.  You see, Teri and I were married on Superbowl weekend, and being the romantic I am, I made Teri (who absolutely hates football) watch the Superbowl with me on our honeymoon.  Being the good, newly married bride, she watched but I don’t think she has forgiven me yet.  Three years later on Superbowl weekend Nathan was born.  So, as a one-day old baby he watched from his hospital room in his daddy’s arms as the Cincinnati Bengals played the San Francisco 49ers.  And I’m sure that instilled within him his love for football.  So, it just seemed right that after these momentous occasions my first grandchild should also be born on Superbowl weekend, but alas it was not to be.

The doctor has given Chanel and Nathan the due date of February 17^th.

The lady in Walmart doesn’t agree.

About six weeks ago, as they went through the check out line, the checker made some comment to Chanel about how big she was, and how she was about to burst, and how that baby must be ready to come out at any time.  The woman standing in line behind Chanel (whom she didn’t know) said, “Oh no, honey, that baby’s not ready to be born yet.”  And then she said to Chanel, “It’s going to be a boy, right?” And Chanel nodded her head.  And then the woman confidently said, “He’ll be born about February 10^th.”  She then asked when the doctor said the baby’s due date was, and when Chanel told her February 17^th, the woman, still confident as ever, said, “Oh no, I know about these things, it will be February 10^th.”

So, now we wait to see who is right.  Grandpa struck out, but will the doctor be right or the Walmart lady be right? Should Nathan take February 10^th off work; have Chanel’s suitcase in their vehicle; have the route to the hospital mapped out?  Or should he wait until the day the doctor gave them?

Anyone who has had a child knows the date given is never a given.  I’m sure there are some, but I don’t think I know of anyone who actually delivered their child on the exact day the doctor had predicted.  Nathan was three weeks early; Ashley was couple days early, Lauren was two weeks late.

And with Lauren we did everything possible to try to speed her grand entrance into this world.  My sister, who is a neo-natal specialist, told us that if Teri was ready to deliver, there was an herbal tea she could drink that was supposed to help the labor to come.  I drove all over the metro Detroit area looking for this tea, finally found it, Teri brewed it up, drank it, even though it tasted like toxic swamp water – and Lauren, who had been extremely active practicing her gymnastics moves in her mother’s womb, quit moving altogether.  For two days she didn’t move.  We thought we had killed out baby. But on March 1^st Lauren decided the time was right and made her grand entrance.

Waiting for a baby to be born helps me understand a little better what Paul meant when he told the Philippians that they needed to “eagerly await” a Savior.  In Philippians 3:20-21 he wrote, “But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.”

Let’s learn what it means to eagerly await.  Let’s not anxiously wait; or whine and wait; or grumble and complain – let us eagerly await the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Let’s be ready for that day.  Let’s live with the knowledge that it is coming.  Let’s live like it could be today, but if it isn’t, we won’t get discouraged or defeated.

Let’s love others like it could be today.

Let’s forgive others like it could be today.

Let’s reach out to others like it could be today.

Let’s be the husbands or wives we would be if it was today.

Let’s be the parents or children we would be if it was today.

Let’s be the employees or employers we would be if it was today.

Jesus told the disciples one day:

“Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.” (Matthew 24:4-8 NLT)

We’ve seen all of those things happening for a number of years; we’ve felt the birth pains, so what if today happened to be the day?

Let’s learn to eagerly await our Lord’s coming.

Let’s live like today could be the day.

DID YOU KNOW???

The next Blood Drive at our church will be this Wednesday, February 8^th from 3:00-7:00 p.m. see or call Pat Fowler (529-9597) for an appointment or just drop in during those hours.  Give what’s in your heart!

There are still several openings in our Children’s Ministry for those who love children and want to help tell the story of who God is and all He has done, and then have a great impact on the next generation.  Both Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings there are ministry opportunities – if you’d like to help out contact Dawn McLain at 217-381-8801, or see her at church, usually in the Kidz Zone.

Our “Happy Meals Team” is still looking for a few good people.  On the second Sunday afternoon of each month, people gather in the church kitchen to help prepare and deliver a meal to the Ronald McDonald House and Helping Hands Shelter.  There is a need for more people to join them, whether it’s helping in the kitchen, supplying ingredients, or donating money to buy groceries for the meals.  These community ministries have come to depend on a meal once a month to help out families who have a real need.  Contact Pastor Fred or Jim and Janet Gille, or Dave Buchanan if you would like to help serve our world through this important ministry.

Monthly No Frills Craft Night – this Saturday, February 11 – Bring your favorite craft to the Kidz Expresswaty from 5:00-10:45 p.m.  Free space provided.  Bring your own snacks and drinks.  To reserve a space you must RSVP to Trish Ballweg by Friday, February 10^th, by emailing her at patricia.ballweg@att.net or call 414-1946.

Mug Sisters Party – Save the date of February 17^th for a time of coffees, teas, and the chocolate fountain. All ladies are invited to come and find out who your mug sister was from last year, and to come and be apart of this coming year’s Mug Sisters. If you can’t attend, contact Peggy Tripp (or the office) and get an absentee kit.

Alabaster Offering received on Sunday, February 26^th. Twice a year we receive a love offering which 100% goes for the purchasing of property and constructing of buildings on our different mission fields.

Dinner for 6-8 is slated for the months of March and April.  Get to together with 6 to 8 adults from the church for dinner from 6-8:00 p.m.  Meet new friends.  The host/hostess will let you know when the dinner will be served in their home and what dish you will be asked to bring.  The main dish is provided buy the host/hostess.  Fill out a reservation card at the information center and leave it in the office or drop it in the offering plate.

Men’s Fellowship Hour –All men are invited to come to join Men’s Fellowship Hour at 6:30 p.m. Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and acts of service is the agenda.  Meets in Room #105.  Invite your friends to join with you.

Wednesday Night Ministries: Caravan, MERGE, Velocity and the Prayer Gathering at 6:30 p.m. Dinner from 5:00-6:00 p.m. This week’s menu is: Beef Stroganoff, Bread and Butter, Tossed Salad, and Dessert.

Are you in need of special prayer?  Is there someone you know who needs prayer?  Our Prayer Gatherings on Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. is meant to be a time when we can expectantly bring those needs to God, why not join with others and see how God can transform that very situation you’ve been praying about.

Lee School Supply List – for this school year is:  pencils, wide-lines paper, markers, crayons, glue sticks (no bottles), and pocket folders.  There are boxes in the foyer for your generous donations for our school partner.

Cans for Kidz – The Children’s Ministry is still collecting aluminum cans to help update their ministry area.  There are rubber containers at either end of the building for your donations.  Thanks you for your continual support of Children’s Ministries.

This coming Sunday, February 12th our wonderful nursery volunteers are Kathy Hedden and Julie Duncan with the infants, and Julie Bott and Logan Bott with toddlers, and Mindy Palmer is the floater. This Wednesday, February 8th, our nursery will be staffed by Lisa Houston and Mindy Palmer. Thank you.

KUDOS

Thanks to our church family for everything that has been done for us including our recent move.  We couldn’t have done it without you.  You are a blessing to our family!   The Charles Camp family.

CHILDREN MINISTRIES

There are several openings in our Children’s Ministry for those who love children and want to help tell the story of who God is and all He has done, and then have a great impact on the next generation.  Both Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings there are ministry opportunities – if you’d like to help out contact Dawn McLain at 217-381-8801, or see her at church, usually in the Kidz Zone.

TEEN MINISTRY

Teen Ski Trip – Teens who are interested in going on the annual ski trip need to RSVP Pastor Jay.  This year’s destination is Devil’s Head in Wisconsin.  February 17-19.  See Pastor Jay about the cost.

Momentum is in action this Friday, February 10. The sport will be Dodge Ball!

Upcoming Dates:

April 6 – Good Friday Service

April 8 – Easter Services

April 14 – Ladies Quarterly Craft Connection

April 14 – Ladies Day at ONU

June 4-7 – Teen Mystery Trip

June 15 – Neighborhood Connection and 5K

June 25-29 – Teen Camp at Table Rock Camp

July 6-12 – District Assembly and Campmeeting

July 15-19 – Vacation Bible School

PRAYER REQUESTS……….

Those listed in Sunday’s bulletin and:

Julie Maltas’ mom – colon cancer

Darin Burdinsky’s dad  – lung cancer

Pat Sherf (Mindy Palmer’s dad)

Sylvia Palmer (Brian Palmers’ mom) – cancer

Jim Bolt’s dad- cancer

Richard Sowards (Pastor Gregg’s Dad)

Joyce Showen (Julie Duncan’s mom)

Barb Kinman

Shelia Leggett

Sharon Hiatt

Dorcas Chandra

Wally Groesch (Jean’s brother) cancer

Press play below, download the file (instructions below), and/or subscribe to our podcast.
Podcasting Instructions:
1. Open iTunes
2. Go to the “Advanced” menu and choose “Subscribe to Podcast“
3. In the box that pops up paste:

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4. Click on “OK”
5. Springfield First Church of the Nazarene Sermon Podcast will show up in your podcast list.

To Download and Save to Your Computer:

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Have you heard this parable of sorts?

Not long ago I read about a little museum on Nantucket Island that is devoted to a volunteer organization, formed, I think in the 19^th century, maybe the 18^th century.  In those days, travel by sea was extremely dangerous.  Because of the storms in the Atlantic along the coast of Massachusetts, many lives would be lost within a mile or so of land.  So a group of volunteers went into the life saving business.  They banded together to form what was called at the time the Humane Society.

These people built little huts along the shore.  And they all took shifts watching the sea.  Whenever a ship went down, the word would go out, and these people would devote everything to save every life they could.

They didn’t put themselves at risk for money or recognition, but only because they prized human life.  To remind themselves what was at stake, they adopted a motto.

This was their motto – “You have to go out, but you don’t have to come back!”

That doesn’t sound like a very catchy recruiting slogan, does it?  But it was.

“You have to go out, but you don’t have to come back!”

It’s fascinating to read accounts of people who would risk everything – even their lives – to save people they had never met.

Over time, things changed.  After a while, the U.S. Coast Guard began to take over the task of rescuing those from shipwrecks.  For a while, the coast guard and the life-saving society worked side-by-side.  Eventually, though, people began to think, “Let the professionals do it.  They’re better trained.  They get paid for it.”

So the volunteers stopped manning the little huts.  They stopped searching the coastlines for ships in danger.  They stopped sending teams out to rescue drowning people.

Yet, a strange thing happened: They couldn’t bring themselves to disband.  Get this, that life-saving society still exist today.  The members meet every once in a while to have dinner.  They enjoy one another’s company.

They’re just not in the life saving business anymore.

Could that describe the church of today?

Folks, you and I are made to be in the life-saving business.  If we know Jesus Christ as our Savior…if the Holy Spirit has done this work of changing us from the inside, we are called to be in the life-saving business.  That’s our purpose.  To glorify God by reflecting His glory to others.

There are people all around us who have little mini-shipwrecks every day.  You work with them.  You go to school with them.  You sit with them in church.  You live next door to them.  They’re part of your family.

Maybe it’s a friend who got chewed out by her boss; or a child who fails in school; or a wife whose fight with her husband gets her a little more disappointed in her marriage; maybe it’s a co-worker who made foolish financial choices; or a high school girl who didn’t get asked to her prom; or somebody at church who gets caught in something they should not be involved in.  For them it sure feels like a shipwreck.

And yeah, people are weird at times but so were you and I, and then someone reflected Jesus to us, and we were drawn to Him, and He reached out to us when we were drowning and saved us.  And now He is calling you and me to do the same thing.

Remember what Paul wrote, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (II Corinthians 3:18 NIV)

Are you reflecting the glory of Jesus to those around you, or are you playing games?  Getting together with the people you like, having dinner together, but no longer in the life-saving business?

Here’s a couple of quotes I read recently that were really challenging to me:

“I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least.” Dorothy Day

“You can safely assume you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.” Anne Lamott

Don’t forget the $2 Challenge – it may be with someone you already know, and they’ve recently

experienced a shipwreck in their life.

DID YOU KNOW???

The next Blood Drive at our church will be Wednesday, February 8^th from 3:00-7:00 p.m.  See or call Pat Fowler (529-9597) for an appointment or just drop in during those hours.  Give what’s in your heart!

There are several openings in our Children’s Ministry for those who love children and want to help tell the story of who God is and all He has done, and then have a great impact on the next generation.  Both Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings there are ministry opportunities – if you’d like to help out contact Dawn McLain at 217-381-8801, or see her at church, usually in the Kidz Zone.

Our “Happy Meals Team” is looking for a few good people.  On the second Sunday afternoon of each month, people gather in the church kitchen to help prepare and deliver a meal to the Ronald McDonald House and Helping Hands Shelter.  There is a need for more people to join them, whether it’s helping in the kitchen, supplying ingredients, or donating money to buy groceries for the meals.  These community ministries have come to depend on a meal once a month to help out families who have a real need.  Contact Pastor Fred or Jim and Janet Gille, or Dave Buchanan if you would like to help serve our world through this important ministry.

Monthly No Frills Craft Night – Saturday, February 11 – Bring your favorite craft to the Kidz Expresswaty from 5:00-10:45 p.m.  Free space provided.  Bring your own snacks and drinks.  To reserve a space you must RSVP to Trish Ballweg by Friday, February 10^th, by emailing her at patricia.ballweg@att.net or call 414-1946.

All Church Trivia Night – Our teens will be hosting a Trivia Night this Saturday, February 4^th at 6:00 p.m.  This will be a fundraiser for our teen ministries.  The cost is $10 per person.  Tables of eight will compete against each other. So begin forming your teams and brush up on your 1980’s trivia.

Mug Sisters Party – Save the date of February 17^th for a time of coffees, teas, and the chocolate fountain. All ladies are invited to come and find out who your mug sister was from last year, and be apart of this coming year’s Mug Sisters.  Sign up at the Information Center.  If you cannot attend, but would like to be a Mug Sister, see Peggy Tripp for an absentee form.

Alabaster Offering received on Sunday, February 26^th. Twice a year we receive a love offering which 1`00% goes for the purchasing of property and constructing of buildings on our different mission fields.

Dinner for 6-8 is slated for the months of March and April.  Get to together with 6 to 8 adults from the church for dinner from 6:00-8:00 p.m.  Meet new friends.  The host/hostess will let you know when the dinner will be served in their home and what dish you will be asked to bring.  The main dish is provided buy the host/hostess.  Fill out a reservation card at the information center and leave it in the office or drop it in the offering plate.

Men’s Fellowship Hour –All men are invited to come to join Men’s Fellowship Hour at 6:30 p.m. Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and acts of service is the agenda.  Meets in Room #105.  Invite your friends to join with you.

Wednesday Night Ministries: Caravan, MERGE, Velocity and the Prayer Gathering at 6:30 p.m.. Dinner from 5:00-6:00 p.m. This week’s menu is: Baked Ham, Au gratin Potatoes, Buttered Corn, Salad and Dessert

Are you in need of special prayer?  Is there someone you know who needs prayer?  Our Prayer Gatherings on Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. is meant to be a time when we can expectantly bring those needs to God, why not join with others and see how God can transform that very situation you’ve been praying about.

Lee School Supply List – for this school year is:  pencils, wide-lines paper, markers, crayons, glue sticks (no bottles), and pocket folders.  There are boxes in the foyer for your generous donations for our school partner.

Cans for Kidz – The Children’s Ministry is still collecting aluminum cans to help update their ministry area.  There are rubber containers at either end of the building for your donations.  Thanks you for your continual support of Children’s Ministries.

This coming Sunday, January 29^th our wonderful nursery volunteers are LaVon and Keith Nelson with the infants, and             Tracey Burger and Connor Burger with toddlers, and Mindy Palmer is the floater. This Wednesday, February 1^st, our nursery will be staffed by Abby Heppe and Mindy Palmer. Thank you!

CHILDREN MINISTRIES

There are several openings in our Children’s Ministry for those who love children and want to help tell the story of who God is and all He has done, and then have a great impact on the next generation.  Both Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings there are ministry opportunities – if you’d like to help out contact Dawn McLain at 217-381-8801, or see her at church, usually in the Kidz Zone.

TEEN MINISTRY

Teen Super Bowl Party – Pastor Jay is hosting the teens in his home for the annual Super Bowl Party beginning at 4:30 p.m. on February 5^th in room #106 at the church.

Teen Ski Trip – Teens who are interested in going on the annual ski trip need to RSVP Pastor Jay.  This year’s destination is Devil’s Head in Wisconsin.  February 17-19.  See Pastor Jay about the cost.

Momentum is in action this Friday, February 3. The sport will be soccer

PRAYER REQUESTS……….

Those listed in Sunday’s bulletin and:

Dawn Pettys – surgery today to remove a brain tumor

Julie Maltas’ mom – colon cancer

Darin Burdinsky’s dad  – lung cancer

Pat Sherf (Mindy Palmer’s dad) – fell and broke a rib

Sylvia Palmer (Brian Palmers’ mom) – cancer

Jim Bolt’s dad- cancer

Barb Kinman

Sheila Leggett

Dorcas Chandra

Norm Castleman

Wally Groesch – cancer treatments

Press play below, download the file (instructions below), and/or subscribe to our podcast.
Podcasting Instructions:
1. Open iTunes
2. Go to the “Advanced” menu and choose “Subscribe to Podcast“
3. In the box that pops up paste:

http://www.springfieldfirst.com/?feed=podcast

4. Click on “OK”
5. Springfield First Church of the Nazarene Sermon Podcast will show up in your podcast list.

To Download and Save to Your Computer:

Right click here and choose “save target as” or “save link as”, depending on your browser.

To Listen Right Now:

Press the “play” button below.

How could he forget the details?

Last Sunday, January 22^nd, was Nathan, my son’s, 30^th birthday.  (Oh, man, am I old!  It seems like just yesterday I was celebrating my 30^th birthday.)  As my kids were growing up we had some birthday traditions we did every year.

1.) On the day of their birthday I would take out which ever child was celebrating their birthday to their favorite fast food place and just them and Dad would have lunch together.  During lunch I would stick together straws, one for each year they had been alive, and then they would have to try to suck their pop through all the stuck together straws.  It was cute when they were three or four; it was a challenge when they were nine or ten; but we were still doing it when they were 18.  I’d be down on the floor holding the cup and they would be standing on the bench trying their best to suck out even a dribble of pop. Surprisingly they never seemed embarrassed by this tradition.  I even drove down to Olivet on Nathan’s 21^st birthday just for him to try to make 21 straws.

That’s not what Nathan forgot.

2.) On the evening of their birthday, the birthday child, would get to pick out whatever they wanted for supper that evening.  We would always end up with some very weird combinations of foods for that dinner that night.  Also, the birthday child would have their dinner served to them on the “good” china.  Teri and I had received some very expensive china as wedding gifts, and it was only used for very special occasions.  But on each birthday the good china was pulled out just for the one celebrating their birthday.

This isn’t the tradition that Nathan forgot the details of either.

3.) Of course, there was always birthday cake and ice cream and presents.  The older my kids got the less they wanted cake and so the tradition soon became birthday pie, and then ice cream cake.

Nathan remembered this detail perfectly as well.

4.) The last tradition, one we did every year, was to tell the “Nathan Story,” or “Ashley Story” or “Lauren Story.”  At the birthday dinner table, before the cake with candles was brought, before any presents were opened, my kids loved hearing the story of that day when they made their entrance into this grand ole’ world.  Every year their story would be told.  I’d go into great detail.  Where we were, what the weather was like, who the doctor was, what we (mom and dad) were feeling…detail after detail after detail…and heaven help me if I left out even the smallest of details, they would always be very quick to correct me.  The story would always end with me telling how the doctor would slap them on the bottom of their feet and they would let out a scream and how that was the sweetest sound their mom and I had ever heard.

Well, this Sunday on Nathan’s birthday, we called him to wish him a happy birthday and I asked him if he had told Chanel the “Nathan Story.”  He hadn’t and so I started to regale him with what I thought was a very familiar story.  I got to the part where the cord had been wrapped around his neck three times and the doctor had to use forceps to hurriedly get him out, and how he was very, very blue when he drew his first breath. And Nathan stopped me and asked, “The cord was wrapped around my neck three times?”   He asked it as if he had never heard that part of the story.  I assured him that was part of his story, the story he had heard every year, until he moved out on his own.  But he had forgotten that detail.

I don’t know how he could forget that part of his story.  He had heard it so often.  I don’t know if because the birth of his own son is just weeks away, he forgot about his own entrance into this world, but somehow he forgot his own story.  I don’t know if he forgot the joy Teri and I experienced (we had told him about it over and over again) at the birth of our first child as we counted his toes and Teri said, “Hi, Small.”  That’s what we had called him while he was in the womb.  Teri was “Big” and he or she (we didn’t know which we were having) was “Small.”

Somehow he had forgotten the details of his own story.

I started thinking (like only a weird pastor would) about how often we forget our own story, our salvation story, the day of our new birth, the day we were adopted into God’s family.  We were in that position where life was strangling us, we were fighting for air, we didn’t know if we would make it – but then our Father came to the rescue.  Sometimes we forget the joy, the unbridled joy, our Father had when we made our grand entrance into His family.

Jesus in one of His parables stated, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10 NIV)  For some reason when I’ve read that before I always thought it was the angels who were rejoicing.  But that’s not what it says.  It says, “”There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels.” That means it was the Father who was doing the rejoicing over the new birth of his son or daughter.

The old prophet Zephaniah also spoke of God the Father rejoicing over His children.  He wrote, “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

I’m not sure what song He might be singing, maybe “Happy Birthday,” but whatever you’re going through today; whatever is robbing you of peace or joy; whatever is causing you to forget the details of that day when you were adopted into the family of God – take time to quiet yourself and listen – He, your Father, wants to remind you of “Your Story.”  He wants to sing to you.  He wants to rejoice over you and quiet you with His love.

Listen, that’s your Father singing over you.

DID YOU KNOW??

There are several openings in our Children’s Ministry for those who love children and want to help tell the story of who God is and all He has done, and then have a great impact on the next generation.  Both Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings there are ministry opportunities – if you’d like to help out contact Dawn McLain at 217-381-8801, or see her at church, usually in the Kidz Zone.

Our “Happy Meals Team” is looking for a few good people.  On the second Sunday afternoon of each month, people gather in the church kitchen to help prepare and deliver a meal to the Ronald McDonald House and Helping Hands Shelter.  There is a need for more people to join them, whether it’s helping in the kitchen, supplying ingredients, or donating money to buy groceries for the meals.  These community ministries have come to depend on a meal once a month to help out families who have a real need.  Contact Pastor Fred or Jim and Janet Gille, or Dave Buchanan if you would like to help serve our world through this important ministry.

The Year-End Contribution statements can be picked up in the office during the week.

Upward practices are going on this week. Games will start this Saturday, January 28^th.

Monthly No Frills Craft Night – Saturday, February 11 – Bring your favorite craft to the Kidz Expresswaty from 5:00-10:45 p.m..  Free space provided.  Bring your own snacks and drinks.  To reserve a space you must RSVP to Trish Ballweg by Friday, February 10^th, by emailing her at patricia.ballweg@att.net or call 414-1946.

All Church Trivia Night – Our teens will be hosting a Trivia Night on Saturday, February 4^th at 6:00 p.m.  This will be a fundraiser for our teen ministries.  The cost is $10 per person.  Tables of eight will compete against each other. So begin forming your teams and brush up on your 18980’s trivia.

Mug Sisters Party – Save the date of February 17^th beginning at 7:00 p.m. in #106 for a time of coffees, teas, and the chocolate fountain.  Bring your favorite mug for the exchange.  Your exchange “sister” will then use your mug and think of you and pray for you daily.  All ladies are invited to come and find out who your mug sister was from last year, and be a part of this coming year’s Mug Sisters.

Alabaster Offering received on Sunday, February 26^th. Twice a year we receive a love offering which 1`00% goes for the purchasing of property and constructing of buildings on our different mission fields.

Dinner for 6-8 is slated for the months of March and April.  Get to together with 6 to 8 adults from the church for dinner from 6-8:00 p.m.  Meet new friends.  The host/hostess will let you know when the dinner will be served in their home and what dish you will be asked to bring.  The main dish is provided buy the host/hostess.  Fill out a reservation card at the information center and leave it in the office or drop it in the offering plate.

Men’s Fellowship Hour –All men are invited to come to join Men’s Fellowship Hour at 6:30 p.m. Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and acts of service is the agenda.  Meets in Room #105.  Invite your friends to join with you.

Wednesday Night Ministries: Caravan, MERGE, Velocity and the Prayer Gathering at 6:30 p.m. Dinner from 5:00-6:00 p.m. This week’s menu is: Beef Taco Salad, tortilla chips, toppings, and Dessert.

Are you in need of special prayer?  Is there someone you know who needs prayer?  Our Prayer Gatherings on Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. is meant to be a time when we can expectantly bring those needs to God, why not join with others and see how God can transform that very situation you’ve been praying about.

Lee School Supply List – for this school year is:  pencils, wide-lined paper, markers, crayons, glue sticks (no bottles), and pocket folders.  There are boxes in the foyer for your generous donations for our school partner.

Cans for Kidz – The Children’s Ministry is still collecting aluminum cans to help update their ministry area.  There are rubber containers at either end of the building for your donations.  Thanks you for your continual support of Children’s Ministries.

This coming Sunday, January 29^th our wonderful nursery volunteers are: Susie Jaynes and Amy  Wubker with the infants, and Joyce & Delaney Workman with toddlers, and Mindy Palmer is the floater. This Wednesday, January 25th, our nursery will be staffed by Janice Young and Mindy Palmer. Thank you.

KUDOS

Dear Pastors, family, and friends,

Thank you so much for the beautiful floral arrangement. Also, for your prayers and thoughts.  It was so great just to know my sister, Carolyn, is at home with Jesus.  Thank you all, Abby Heppe

CHILDREN MINISTRIES

There are several openings in our Children’s Ministry for those who love children and want to help tell the story of who God is and all He has done, and then have a great impact on the next generation.  Both Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings there are ministry opportunities – if you’d like to help out contact Dawn McLain at 217-381-8801, or see her at church, usually in the Kidz Zone.

TEEN MINISTRY

Teen Super Bowl Party – Pastor Jay is hosting the annual Super Bowl Party at the church in room #106 beginning at 4:30 p.m. on February 5^th.  $10 per teen will cover the cost of all the food!

Teen Ski Trip – Teens who are interested in going on the annual ski trip need to RSVP Pastor Jay.  This year’s destination is Devil’s Head in Wisconsin.  February 17-19.  See Pastor Jay about the cost.

Momentum is in action this Friday, January 27. The sport will be 3 on 3 Basketball!

PRAYER REQUESTS……….

Those listed in Sunday’s bulletin and:

Darrin Burdinsky’s dad

Pat Sherf (Mindy Palmer’s dad)

Sylvia Palmer (Brian Palmers’ mom)

Barb Kinman

Shelia Leggett

Sharon Hiatt

Dorcas Chandra

Norm Castleman

Wally Groesch

Press play below, download the file (instructions below), and/or subscribe to our podcast.
Podcasting Instructions:
1. Open iTunes
2. Go to the “Advanced” menu and choose “Subscribe to Podcast“
3. In the box that pops up paste:

http://www.springfieldfirst.com/?feed=podcast

4. Click on “OK”
5. Springfield First Church of the Nazarene Sermon Podcast will show up in your podcast list.

To Download and Save to Your Computer:

Right click here and choose “save target as” or “save link as”, depending on your browser.

To Listen Right Now:

Press the “play” button below.