Soup Supper

 Come to our annual soup supper!

Saturday, February 28 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.

Many kinds of soup

Sandwiches

Desserts (including pie)

Donations gratefully accepted.

These will help fund our outreach programs.

January/February Newsletter

 

Upcoming Events:

January 4 Hymn Sing

January 6 10:00 weekly Bible study resumes

January 7 3:00 weekly Power Hour resumes

January 8 church board, beginning at 6:00 pm

January 11 Terry Link is our speaker

January 18 Ted Smith is our speaker

January 25 Bobby Murray is our speaker

February 1 sermon by 2025 Annual Conference Moderator

February 8 Willow Tree will give our message.

Late February—soup supper

 

Birthdays and Anniversaries

 

January

7          Maralyn Heckman

21        Sadie Sawyer

25        Tracy & Dan Mogged

 

February

3          Shirley Wright

            Dorthea Wood

4          Kathleen Petersen

17        Ron & Kathleen Petersen

24        Patty Cripe

 

--Offering envelope summaries are available in your church mailbox if you used envelopes in 2025.

 

In Our Prayers
Leonard Matheny; Pam and Tommy Trone; Ruth Siburt; Martha Wood; Bill Traughber; Shirley Clarkson; Larry Traxler; Randy and Michelle West; Mike and Kathy Gentry; Nancy Fansler; Doug Larrick; Ron and Kathleen Petersen; Debbie Garvey Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Mayo Hanaver; David and Jan Bower; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests; victims of disasters; victims of shootings; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; Haitian Brethren; Ukraine; Israel and Gaza, Sudan, other places where violence is happening

Military and Other Services and their families

Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers

***

Needed: There is always a need for volunteers for the children’s message during the service, a children’s lesson/story time in the nursery during the sermon, and for Power Hour on Wednesdays. Please sign up in the back of the sanctuary.

We need worship leaders too. Bobby has been generous to have done this the past several months. Who will volunteer to give him a break now and then?

 

History Corner:

 

Maralyn Heckman sent this information about WT Heckman’s brother, B. Franklin Heckman. She found it interesting and thought we would too.

---B. Franklin Heckman was born near Hammond, IL, Sept. 22, 1882. He was the son of David and Elizabeth Miller Heckman who moved into the Oakley congregation in 1891. He became a member of this congregation in 1898. He attended Mount Morris College from 1901 to 1905 and married Minna Mote in June, 1905. The following 2 years he was the principal of Cerro Gordo High School. The Cerro Gordo congregation (us) called him to the ministry on December 31, 1905. In 1907 he entered Bethany Biblical Seminary; finished the four-year course; taught Hebrew and Old Testament exegesis for one year; and also did some graduate work at the University of Chicago. He had charge of rescue mission work in Chicago, and conducted a number of Bible institutes in different states. In 1910 he was pastor and evangelist at the mission in Springfield, Illinois (Did you know Springfield was a mission at one time?). In 1911 he, with his wife and two daughters, went to the China mission field and was stationed at Ping Ting Chou. After 15 months he contracted smallpox and died on January 14, 1913, the first Brethren missionary to give up his life while in service in China.

--from Church of the Brethren in Southern Illinois by Minnie Buckingham

 

So, some of you may ask, who was WT Heckman?

 

William T Heckman, son of David and Elizabeth Miller Heckman, was born near Oakley on January 26, 1875. He was baptized on November 3, 1895, and married Hannah Blickenstaff of Oakley on September 5, 1900. They had 3 sons and 2 daughters. He attended Mount Morris College 3 years and taught school in Macon County. From 1899 to 1946, he engaged in farming on the Heckman homestead in the Oakley Brick community. He was elected to the ministry in the Oakley church in 1901, and was ordained an elder on November 1911. From 1901 to 1949 he was a minister of the Oakley church. Other capacities in which he served the church include: elder, Champaign, 1920-1946; elder, Springfield, 1923-1934; elder, Hudson, Blue Ridge, La Motte Prairie, Oakley, and Cerro Gordo 6 years; elder, Decatur, 1935-1945; elder, La Place, 1945-1948; Annual Conference Standing Committee 6 times; district board 31 consecutive years; district moderator 8 times; school board president for 6 years for the Cerro Gordo Township High School. He passed away on March 12, 1967. (WT was the grandfather of Galen Heckman, longtime member of our church until he passed away a few years ago.)

--most information from Church of the Brethren in Southern Illinois by Minnie Buckingham

 

Two brothers of WT and B Franklin are discussed in the above-mentioned book as well: Irwin Daniel and J Hugh. Quite a distinguished family!

 

I end this year with a special prayer:

 

May the broken be healed,

May the sick be restored,

May happiness return to those in despair,

May the lonely be loved,

May the hungry be fed,

And may our world be at peace.

 

--Submitted by Kathy Gentry

 

 

 

 

 

Love God,

Grow with others,

Serve faithfully,

Reach the lost,

Find peace.

December 7 Announcements

 

Announcements:

Sunday School 9:00

Tuesdays 10:00 Bible Study

Wednesdays 3:00 Power Hour

Today Welcome, Ted Smith!

          Angel gifts are due.

          4:00 Community Christmas Vespers, supper follows

December 10 11:00 Women’s Christmas brunch (potluck) and prayer partner reveal

December 14 Cheryl Horne and daughters—message in song

Advent Special Offering—envelopes will be available

December 17 6:30 pm Christmas Service—3 readers are needed

 

--Please sign up to help Stacie with Power Hour and for children’s message and/or children’s lesson.

 

First Sundays: Food Bank donations

 

Keep in Your Prayers

Leonard Matheny; Pam and Tommy Trone; Bill Traughber; Martha Wood; Stacie Warren; Nancy Fansler; Martha Lynch; Ruth Siburt; Dorthea Wood; Mike and Kathy Gentry; Steve Needham; Larry Traxler; Nancy Gorrell; Ron and Kathleen Petersen; Doug Larrick; David and Jan Bower; Debbie Garvey Leibrock; Mayo Hanaver; many unspoken requests; victims of shootings and of natural disasters; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; the Haitian church; the CoB in the Democratic Republic of Congo; those in the middle of war and violence; military and other services and their families; Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers; immigrants, the poor and needy, flood victims and their families; those who will lose insurance and Medicaid; District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Romine church and for the CoB in Venezuela and Columbia.

November 2 News

 

Announcements:

Sunday School 9:00

Tuesdays 10:00 Bible Study

Wednesdays 3:00 Power Hour

November 6 Board meeting starting with commissions at 6:00

November 9 Our speaker is Shawn Cain.

                    Council Meeting follows worship.

                    11:00 – 1:30 Stew Dinner at Hammond UMC

November 16 Dawn Blackman, Champaign CoB, is our speaker.

November 23 Bobby Murray is our speaker.

November 30 Hymn Sing; decorate sanctuary after soup lunch

--Please sign up to help Stacie with Power Hour.

--Prepackaged snacks for District Conference due by 11/2.

--The Lord’s Storehouse is asking for help with Thanksgiving baskets ($30 each). Sign up on the east bulletin board. Put check to TLS in the envelope or give cash to Carol.

 

First Sundays: Food Bank donations

 

Keep in Your Prayers

Leonard Matheny; Pam and Tommy Trone; Bill Traughber; Martha Wood; Stacie Warren; Nancy Fansler; Ruth Siburt; Dorthea Wood; Mike and Kathy Gentry; Steve Needham; Larry Traxler; Nancy Gorrell; Ron and Kathleen Petersen; Doug Larrick; David and Jan Bower; Debbie Garvey Leibrock; Mayo Hanaver; many unspoken requests; victims of shootings and of natural disasters; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; the Haitian church; the CoB in the Democratic Republic of Congo; those in the middle of war and violence; military and other services and their families; Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers; immigrants, the poor and needy, flood victims and their families; those who will lose insurance and Medicaid District Prayer Calendar: Pray for District Conference and attendees this coming weekend in Bloomington.

Thanksgiving

We walk on starry fields of white
   And do not see the daisies;
For blessings common in our sight
   We rarely offer praises.
We sigh for some supreme delight
   To crown our lives with splendor,
And quite ignore our daily store
   Of pleasures sweet and tender.

Our cares are bold and push their way
   Upon our thought and feeling.
They hand about us all the day,
   Our time from pleasure stealing.
So unobtrusive many a joy
   We pass by and forget it,
But worry strives to own our lives,
   And conquers if we let it.

There’s not a day in all the year
   But holds some hidden pleasure,
And looking back, joys oft appear
   To brim the past’s wide measure.
But blessings are like friends, I hold,
   Who love and labor near us.
We ought to raise our notes of praise
   While living hearts can hear us.

We ought to make the moments notes
   Of happy, glad Thanksgiving;
The hours and days a silent phrase
   Of music we are living.
And so the theme should swell and grow
   As weeks and months pass o’er us,
And rise sublime at this good time,
   A grand Thanksgiving chorus.

Ellas Wheeler Cox, 1850 - 1919

Upcoming Events:

November: order your candy

November 2: The Lord’s Storehouse—Amy and Serena, speakers

November 6: Board Meeting—Commissions at 6:00; Board at 6:30

November 9: Shawn Cain, speaker

Council Meeting after worship

Stew Dinner at Hammond UMC

November 16: Dawn Blackman, Champaign CoB, speaker

November 23: Bobby Murray, speaker

November 30: Hymn Sing

Decorate sanctuary; soup lunch after worship

December 4: 6:00 Board meeting

December 6 10:00-12:00: candy pickup

December 7 4:00: Christmas Vespers

December 10 11:00: Women’s Fellowship Christmas brunch; reveal prayer partners

District Conference is November 7 and 8 at the Chateau Hotel and Conference Center in Bloomington. Delegates are Bobby Murray and Glen Kussart. Kelly and Mike Timlin are serving as hosts, and Carol Kussart is conference clerk. Worship is Friday night at 7:00.

Announcements October 5

 

Announcements:

Sunday School 9:00

Tuesdays 10:00 Bible Study

Wednesdays 3:00 Power Hour

October 8 12:00 Women’s lunch—meal provided

October 12 Our speaker is Bobby Murray.

October 19 Our speaker is Walt Wiltschek. Search committee meets after worship.

 

--Please sign up to help Stacie with Power Hour.

--Willing to lead worship? Please tell Carol which Sunday you will serve.

--We need prepackaged snacks for District Conference. If you are willing to donate a few bags, please bring them to church by November 2.

 

First Sundays: Food Bank donations

 

Keep in Your Prayers

Leonard Matheny; Pam and Tommy Trone; Bill Traughber; Martha Wood; Stacie Warren; Nancy Fansler; Ruth Siburt; Dorthea Wood; Mike and Kathy Gentry; Steve Needham; Larry Traxler; Nancy Gorrell; Ron and Kathleen Petersen; Doug Larrick; David and Jan Bower; Debbie Garvey Leibrock; Adiline Young; Mayo Hanaver; many unspoken requests; victims of shootings and of natural disasters; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; the Haitian church; the CoB in the Democratic Republic of Congo; those in the middle of war and violence; military and other services and their families; Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers; immigrants, the poor and needy, flood victims and their families; those who will lose insurance and Medicaid District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Allison Prairie congregation and for the CoB in Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan.

September 28

 

Announcements:

Sunday School 9:00

Tuesdays 10:00 Bible Study

September 28 Our speaker will be Mary Jessup.

October 2 6:00 Executive Committee

October 5 Annual Conference report

October 8 12:00 Women’s lunch 

October 12 Our speaker is Bobby Murray

October 19 Our speaker is Walt Wiltschek, our District Executive

 

Power Hour has started on Wednesdays after school. Please sign up to help Stacie. A sign-up sheet is in the back.

We need worship leaders for many Sundays in the foreseeable future. Please tell Carol which Sunday you will serve.

We also need 2 more delegates for District Conference Nov 7 and 8 in Bloomington.

First Sundays: Food Bank donations

 

Keep in Your Prayers

Bobby Murray and family; Michelle West and family; Family of Nora Hanaver; Pam and Tommy Trone; Randy and Michelle West; Bill Traughber; Martha Wood; Stacie Warren; Nancy Fansler; Ruth Siburt; Dorthea Wood; Mike and Kathy Gentry; Steve Needham; Larry Traxler; Nancy Gorrell; Ron and Kathleen Petersen; Doug Larrick; David and Jan Bower; Debbie Garvey Leibrock; Adiline Young; Mayo Hanaver; many unspoken requests; victims of shootings and of natural disasters; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; the Haitian church; the CoB in the Democratic Republic of Congo; those in the middle of war and violence; military and other services and their families; Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers; immigrants, the poor and needy, flood victims and their families; those who will lose insurance and Medicaid

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Mt. Morris congregation, the Canton congregation, and the ministry of Brethren Press.

September 7 2025

 

Announcements:

Sunday School 9:00

Tuesdays 10:00 Bible Study (note time change)

Today 2:00 – 4:00 Open house for Nancy Born Martin’s 90^th birthday in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome to stop in and wish her a happy 90^th.

September 10 Power Hour starts after school for grades K-5^th. Contact Stacie if you will help with the children and/or snacks.

September 14 Our speaker is Bobby Murray.

 

We need worship leaders for many Sundays in the foreseeable future. Please tell Carol which Sunday you will serve.

We also need delegates and persons to act as hosts for District Conference Nov 7 and 8 in Bloomington.

 

Nancy Gorrell has moved to the Piatt County Nursing Home.

 

First Sundays: Food Bank donations

 

Keep in Your Prayers

Ruth’s friends Pam and Tommy; Randy and Michelle West; Bill Traughber; Martha Wood; Stacie Warren; Nancy Fansler; Ruth Siburt; Dorthea Wood; Mike and Kathy Gentry; Steve Needham; Larry Traxler; Nancy Gorrell; Nora Hanaver; Ron and Kathleen Petersen; Doug Larrick; David and Jan Bower; Debbie Garvey Leibrock; Adiline Young; Mayo Hanaver; many unspoken requests; victims of shootings and of natural disasters; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; the Haitian church; the CoB in the Democratic Republic of Congo; those in the middle of war and violence; military and other services and their families; Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers; immigrants, the poor and needy, flood victims and their families; those who will lose insurance and Medicaid

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Oak Grove congregation near Lowpoint and for the CoB in Haiti.