Announcements

Northeast Pantry Donations - December 2024

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Macon County has one of the 10 highest rates of food insecurity in Illinois.  Families and individuals in our community are struggling with high food prices and looking to local food pantries for help.  Let’s join together and help by supporting Northeast Community Food Pantry on December 1, 2024.  Please place your food donation in the shopping cart in the Connection Café.  Let’s fill the cart!

Thank you Central for last month’s donations that totaled 120 pounds of nonperishable food items.  Here are some suggestions for December: canned soup, canned chili, pancake mix that only requires water, syrup, peanut butter, canned chicken and tuna, pasta, canned spaghetti sauce, cereal, canned fruit, dried noodles, broth, boxed mashed potatoes, and rice.  Please, be sure to check the expiration date.  It is also a good idea not to donate items in glass packaging.  

Posted by Nancy King with
in Meals

You’re invited to the 2024 Thanksgiving Potluck!!

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Our Fellowship Committee is hosting a Thanksgiving potluck luncheon on Sunday, November 24th, after the 3rd service, in the Great Hall.

 

Fellowship will be providing ham, rolls, mashed potatoes, and gravy.

 

We have sign-up sheets available at the Welcome Center and in the Great Hall. PLEASE RSVP by November 20th, 2024, to make sure that our Fellowship Committee knows how much food to purchase.

 

We are asking the congregation to bring the following:

Last name starting with A-L: Please bring a dessert to share.

Last name starting with M-Z: Please bring a side dish to share.

 

Looking forward to seeing you there for great food and even better fellowship!!

 

Also, please save the date…

Come Home for Christmas Brunch & Lunch is on Sunday, December15th, this year.

More details to come!

Christmas Care and Share 2024

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Once again, Decatur is coming together for Christmas

The Prayer Shawl and Christian Action & Community Service (CACS) ministries are combining to collect for the annual Christmas Care and Share program sponsored by Dove, Inc. and Northeast Community Fund since 1972 and joined by the Salvation Army in 2020. This event is supported by churches, businesses, and groups throughout the community.  Dove became the local distributor for Toys for Tots in 2019.

 

This event helped 1,200 families and more than 80 seniors last year to experience a more fulfilling Christmas thanks to our caring and sharing of presents.  Please join us again to support those in need in our community!  

 

It’s easy to care and share.  

  • First, a list.  We need new unwrapped items: gloves, mittens, scarves (infant to adult sizes), toys, books, board games (for kids up to 17 years old), basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, toothbrushes, shampoo, lotions etc.  Also PHONE CHARGING CORDS…EAR BUDS….GIFT CARDS up to $10. The Prayer Shawl team will make hats and scarves!
  • Second, we need (39 gal) garbage bags to transport your gifts to St. Paul’s Lutheran church along with wrapping paper and tape for parents to wrap your presents.
  • Finally, bring your presents and wrapping supplies to Central and place them in the trunks to be placed on November 17th in the Connection Café and under the Christmas Caring Tree on November 25th.  CACS and the Prayer Shawl ministries will deliver your presents on December 10th to St. Paul’s Lutheran church.

Christmas will be more memorable this year thanks to you for Caring and Sharing!

 

Christmas Care & Share Volunteers Needed

Our Christian Action Community Service department (CACS) is leading Central’s participation in the community’s Christmas Care & Share again this year. Many volunteers are needed to prepare for & work at the event.  All work shifts are 2 hours long at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

Volunteers are needed December 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, & 14 for organizing, sorting, counting, & unloading donations between 8:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m.

Volunteers are needed December 16-20 for assisting toy and gift shopping for families between 8:30 a.m. & 4:30 p.m.

To sign up to volunteer, you can…

  1. Scan the QR code below
  2. Visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScBN0kn2hlvpnviUBN7RxEKoGIh1oRRxB3ogAN1boSkhPjQ4g/viewform
  3. Reach out to Ryan Huff at

You may contact Judy Ford at for questions.  Please consider giving your time to make someone’s Christmas happy.  Thank you!

 

Thanksgiving Offering 2024

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Higher education has been an important focus for Disciples since the very beginning of our movement. Throughout our history, we have worked to form leaders who will make a difference in the world. The Thanksgiving offering, to be collected Nov. 17 and 24, helps supports thousands of students at our 15 colleges and universities and our seven seminaries and divinity houses. Please consider giving generously by placing your gift in the brass bowl in the Narthex, giving online, or taking it to the church office.

Posted by Theresa Fulk with

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