Church Briefs-June 2, 2011
Revival is June 12 at Northside Christian
Do you want to “fan the flame” you once had? Maybe you once had a “fire” to worship and serve the Lord, but circumstances in your life – or even church – put that fire out!
Are you looking to reignite that flame? Are you looking to have in you the same fire you see in others?
Northside Christian Church, 1845 W. Jackson St. in Vandalia, will hold a one-night revival on Pentecost Sunday, June 12, at 6 p.m. under the theme of “Fan the Flame.”
Weather permitting, the revival will be held in a tent in the west parking lot. Music will be provided by Janie Steele.
For information, call the church office at 283-1970 or visit the church web site: (http://northsidechristianvandalia.com).
Brownstown First Baptist to hold VBS
First Baptist Church of Brownstown will hold Vacation Bible School from Monday, June 13, through Friday, June 17. The nightly sessions will run from 6-8:30 p.m.
For more information, call Mary Graumenz at 267-4941.
VBS at Patoka Christian starts Sunday
Vacation Bible School will be held this Sunday through Friday at Patoka Christian Church.
Under the theme of "High Seas Journey," the sessions run from 6-8:30 p.m. nightly for students in pre-K through fifth grade.
Participants will follow the travels of the Apostle Paul. Included will be music, story times, crafts, pirate games and snacks.
Rides to the church will be available from the Shobonier Post Office at 5:15 p.m. and from Joyce’s in Vernon at 5:30 p.m. nightly.
Questioning God's existence? Here's help
Beginning this Sunday at Northside Christian Church, the “Higher Grounds coffee service” is taking a new direction. “Higher Grounds” will no longer be a worship service; it will instead become an issue-driven Bible discussion.
"After experiencing the horrors of war, there are many military men and women returning, often from multiple deployments to war zones, who have some real issues they would like to take up with God," said the Rev. Carl Rhodes. "They have witnessed hate and human suffering at its worst, and just want to shout toward heaven, 'If you exist, God, how can you allow war?' They especially question how God can claim to be a 'loving God.'
"Many will keep their anger bottled up inside, feeling that there is no one who will listen to their pleas for help, especially a church. They secretly pray that God will answer their cries, but when the answers don’t immediately come, they just become more withdrawn and filled with despair. Many will attempt to seek release through alcohol or drugs. A peaceful night’s sleep free from the nightmares becomes rare."
Rhodes also said that there are others in our society who, like soldiers returning from war, have experienced other circumstances that have them questioning the existence of a “loving” God. They have experienced the death of a loved one or they are battling a debilitating illness.
The new “Higher Grounds” service starts on Sunday mornings at 11:15 a.m., beginning this Sunday, at Northside Christian Church. For more information, call the church office at 283-1970 or visit the church's website at http://northsidechristianvandalia.com.
Sonshiners concert June 4 at The Barn
The Sonshiners, a popular Southern Gospel quartet from Southern Indiana, will be in concert this Saturday at The Barn in rural Pana.
The 7 p.m. program is free, but an offering will be taken.
During intermission, an ice cream social will be held.
The Barn is located one mile west of Tower Hill off of Ill. Route 16. Turn south at the Dollville Road sign for 2.5 miles.
For more information, call Joanne Clark at 217-562-3562.
Brownstown First Christian plans VBS
Brownstown First Christian Church will host a Vacation Bible School that begins on Monday and runs through Friday, from 6-8:15 p.m. nightly. Kids, age 2 through eighth grade, are welcome to participate. The theme for the VBS is: “Inside Out & Upside Down on Main Street; Where Jesus Makes a Difference Every Day.”
To register, contact the church at 427-3687 or attend the VBS Registration Carnival Kick-Off this Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. in Brownstown Park. The event will include games, prizes, food, big blow-up toys and much more.
Brownstown First Christian Church meets at the corner of First and Poplar streets in Brownstown.
VBS next week at Bethel Baptist Church
Bethel Baptist Church will host a Vacation Bible School next Monday through Friday at the church, which is located northwest of Vandalia on Ill. Route 185.
The VBS activities will run from 6-8:30 p.m. nightly. A bus will be available to pick up students in first through sixth grades.
For more information, call Patty Edwards at 326-7451, or e-mail her at [email protected].
Augsburg Church plans special services
Immanuel Lutheran Augsburg Church will celebrate the Ascension of Our Lord this Thursday at 7 p.m. with a Divine Service and Holy Communion.
The church also will celebrate the Divine Service and Holy Communion this Saturday at 6 p.m.
Immanuel Lutheran Augsburg Church is located at the intersection of 900N and 1300E on the St. Peter Blacktop (four miles east of U.S. Route 51). For more information, call the church office at 846-8383.
FUMC car wash, cookout is Saturday
First United Methodist Church of Vandalia will hold a car wash and cookout this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hicksgas, located at 1704 Veterans Ave. in Vandalia.
Food items available will be pork burgers, hot dogs, chips and soda. All proceeds go toward the group's upcoming mission trip to Barnesville, Minn.
For more information, call the church at 283-3684.
Liberty Christian VBS is June 20-24
Liberty Christian Church will hold its Vacation Bible School June 20-24 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the church, which is located north of Brownstown. The theme for this year is "Panda Mania – Where God is Wild About You."
Participants are asked to pre-register and send a check for $5 if they want a T-shirt. For more information, call 347-2271.
WJLY hosts Dixie Melody Boys on Friday
WJLY Christian Radio, 88.3 FM in Ramsey, will host the Dixie Melody Boys in a free concert this Friday at 7 p.m. at the WJLY studio, just south of Ramsey.
The concert will be held under a tent, with an alternate site being available in case of heavy rain. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
No admission will be charged for the event, but a free-will offering will be taken.
The Dixie Melody Boys have been performing since 1961, and have received many awards – including several nominations for Grammy Awards. They have had more than 20 Gospel Music Top-40 hits. They were recently notified that the group will be inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame later this year.
For more information, call WJLY at 423-2082.
