What's Happening in life of the church

What's Happening

Find out about the events, mission adventures, and more that is happening in the life of your church

Covid-19 Update

In application of the Bishop’s guidelines for Tier 3 Mitigation the following changes have been made here at O’Fallon First UMC.

We are suspending “in-person” worship at least through Sunday, Dec. 13th
There will be a “live-premiere” of worship online at 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. on YouTube and Facebook every Sunday morning. There are links in this newsletter, and on the website (www.offumc.org).
We will have two “Drive-In” worship services at 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. in the parking lot at the church.
The offices will be closed to the public. Our staff will continue to work a hybrid schedule of work-from-home, and in-person. (schedules will be staggered to minimize the number of staff in the office at one time).
All groups and activities that were meeting in the building will be suspended, including: Sunday school classes, Bible study groups, youth gatherings, prayer groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc. at least until Monday, December 14th.
Our Learning Tree Preschool has taken an adaptive pause beginning November 25th and will not be returning to in-person learning until further notice. They are working on a remote learning option that could take place beginning December 1st.

One thought onto which I’ve been holding since the release of this news is from Philippians 4:6-9, “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus … whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”
May the God of peace be with all of us as we keep on doing all the good we can do: pray, persevere, give thanks, and focus on the good. Among my blessings, and that which I count as good, is this church and all of you. Thank you and God bless!
~ Pastor Don

You can download and view Bishop Beard's letter to our congregation

Bishop Beard's Letter
File Size:	122 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Giving Tree Update

We will be continuing our mission of giving Christmas gifts to 178 local children while observing the current COVID guidelines. Children’s gifts may be brought to the Church for curbside drop off at the Family Life Center Entrance during the following times:
Curbside Drop Off
Friday, December 4, 2PM - 5PM
Saturday, December 5, 2PM- 5PM
Sunday, December 6, 9:30 AM - 11:30AM

If you have any questions call Brenda Futrell at 618-581-7323

Scouting for Food
Fill The Trailer

Monday or Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to noon, or Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Beginning on Monday, Nov. 23rd our Missions Committee will be working with our Boy Scout Troop #64 and #46 to collect food for the O’Fallon Food Pantry and other pantries in the area. As you may know the Boy Scouts of America does an annual “Scouting for Food” project in communities throughout the Nation in November, but this year they cannot do it because of the pandemic. Local food pantries often count on the food collected right before the holidays to help stock their shelves for Thanksgiving and Christmas. So, this year our Missions Committee is teaming up with our local troop the “Scouting for Food to Fill the Trailer.”

Pick up some extra groceries over the next few weeks and drop them off at the church on Monday or Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to noon, or Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The trailer will be set up at the front of the parking lot. Just pull up, and unload your groceries into the trailer. There will also be a member of the Scout Troop or the Missions Committee to unload your car for you if you wish. Thank you for helping our Scouts fill the shelves of our local food pantries during this special time of the year.

Ruth Bible Study

Pastor Don is exploring the book of Ruth through a Bible study which began this past Sunday, November 15th and will go through Sunday, December 20th. It is not too late to join this study, and you can email him at dlong@offumc.org to be added to the study.

Children's Christmas Pageant

Children’s Christmas Pageant
December 13th
Sign-up now to be a part of this special Christmas tradition

Tinsel & Turmail Advent Series

The series breaks down like this:
Sunday, Nov. 29th – 1st Sunday of AdventScripture: Luke 2: 1-7
Sermon Title: “In My Day….”
Themes: Politics, Kosmos (world, government, kingdoms of the world), Hope

Sunday, Dec. 6 – 2nd Sunday of Advent
Scripture: Luke 1: 5-20 (possible readers theater)
Sermon Title: “There Once Was a Priest….”
Themes: Religion, Ekklesia (gathering of faith community), Joy

Sunday, Dec. 13th – 3rd Sunday of Advent
Scripture: John 1: 1-10
Sermon Title: “If I Had Only Known….”
Themes: Culture, Anthropos (humanity, culture, two fold nature of man—body and soul), Love

Sunday, Dec. 20th – 4th Sunday of Advent
Scripture: Matthew 1: 1-6
Sermon Title: “Bless his heart.”
Themes: Family, Oikia (the family, house, abode)