Dear Faith Community Church Family,
This year has felt like a rollercoaster to say the least. We’re thankful to our great God for his continued faithfulness and goodness to our church over this last year. Despite the hardships we have experienced, his blessings have been abundant toward us.
This Friday, the state of Illinois will be moving into Phase 5 of the Illinois reopening plan. While the state doesn’t require churches to follow its mandates, our elders have used the CDC and state guidelines as we have made decisions to help us gather safely for worship and fellowship over the last year. We are thankful for your patience as we’ve sought to navigate the pandemic with wisdom, patience, and love as both a session and as a church body.
In particular, there are two areas where we will be seeking to bring our current protocol into alignment with Phase 5 guidelines:
1. Worship Center Capacity: We will no longer have a capacity limit on our Sunday morning gatherings. While we will keep the same arrangement of chairs in the Worship Center as they are for the time being, we will no longer have a cap on the number of attendees (at least until we grow numerically to such an extent that it becomes a fire hazard!).
2. Mask Optional Worship Service: Beginning this Sunday (June 13) we will move to a “mask optional” worship service. Please note that we will continue to offer the Sunday morning worship via livestream at this time.
We know that each of us has differing positions on these issues, but our calling is to pursue unity over division. One of the most appropriate verses for us during this time comes from the mouth of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:1-3:
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
A few other items:
Here is the link for this Sunday’s livestream service (9:30am). The text for this Sunday’s sermon is Acts 6:8-8:3.
This Sunday: Congregational Meeting (Following Worship Service)
Following the worship service this Sunday (June 13), we will hold our June congregational meeting. During this time, we will hear a story of evangelism from Cornelia Popescu, share and pray together in small groups, and review the budget for the 2022 fiscal year.
Outdoor Worship Service: Sunday, July 4
We had an excellent response to our outdoor worship services we held last summer. On Sunday July 4, we will hold an outdoor service on the lawn located on the west side of the building. We encourage you to bring your chairs and blankets. In the case of inclement weather, we will hold the service in the Worship Center.
Men’s Lunch at LaBelle’s Next Wednesday (June 16) at 12:00pm
FCC men are invited to Larry LaBelle’s house on Wednesday, June 16 at noon for a time of fellowship and to share a meal together.
Prayer Requests
Mollie Taylor: Mollie was taken to the emergency room today after sustaining a fall yesterday evening. She returned home from the hospital this afternoon. Please pray for rest and complete healing for Mollie.
Family of Mary Cowden: Mary Cowden, a former member and FCC choir director, recently went to be with the Lord. Please pray that God would encourage her husband and family during this time.
Karla Van Der Molen: Pray for healing and continued strength for Karla as she undergoes treatment for ALS.
Lou Carter: Please pray for our sister Lou as she continues radiation treatment for cancer in her lungs and liver.
In Him,
Pastor Rhett
Larry LaBelle
Tim Wierenga