Centralia First Presbyterian
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First Presbyterian Church in Centralia gathers for a 10 a.m. Sunday worship service. The church’s Pastor is Joannie Naraghi. Scripture readings will be from Psalm 29 and Matthew 3:13-17. Liturgist will be Beth Mainer. Ushers will be Dean Francois, Susie Francois, Sara Miller and Elaine Schlau. Tasha Aarons and Daphne Minor are Nursery attendants; the Nursery volunteer will be Dana Woodrome.
Special music will be the Chancel Choir and Diana Brink presenting “Christ is King,” Helman.
Fellowship time begins at 9:15 a.m. Sunday and will be hosted by Nancy Gibson and Christine and Noah Hunt.
The Chancel flowers will be given this week in honor the Church Choir by Nell Blastick.
Sunday school classes for all ages will begin at 9 a.m. Happiness and Light Adult Class will meet in the parlor, children’s Sunday school will meet in the School Room upstairs and junior and senior high school youth will meet downstairs in the Little Chapel.
Choir rehearsals are at 9:40 a.m. on Sundays and Thursday rehearsals are on a break until Feb. 5.
On Saturday, Jan. 10, the men will meet for breakfast at Downtown Lounge at 7:30 a.m. then come to the Church to help the Centralia Firefighters and other Church family members to take the big sanctuary tree and other decorations down and properly store them. All are welcome to join us as we take the Christmas decorations down.
Session Budget Meeting is at 6 p.m. Jan. 12.
Deacons will meet after worship on Jan. 18 in the parlor.
The church’s Annual Meeting will be held after worship on Jan. 25.
Session members and Deacons who will be serving in the class beginning in January 2026 will be ordained and installed during the Worship service on Jan. 18. Session members to be ordained/installed at this service are: Susie Francois, Sara Miller, Madaline Ruez and Mike Warden and Deacons to be ordained/installed at this service are: Vivian Creed, Shelly Day and Rob Jackson.
A youth bowling trip to Salem is planned for Jan. 18 following worship.
The Wham Memorial Carillon plays concerts of faith daily at 9 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
First United Presbyterian Church of Centralia services are livestreamed, with the link on the church’s Facebook page, located at First Presbyterian Church – Centralia, IL and services can also be accessed on YouTube.
Elevator access is available on the south side of the church building.
Centralia First Presbyterian members Dan Kingery and Rob Jackson left on Jan. 9 for a mission trip to Belize as part of the Belize Mission Project. They will be doing various jobs in the dental field for the underprivileged in Belize. Donations may be made through the Church by marking “Mission Trip” on the check or envelope. “We are so glad to support you Dan and Rob! We look forward to hearing about this trip. Praying for safe journeys to and from, for a successful mission, that you are able to help many, many underprivileged people in Belize, and that you feel the love of your Church Family during the entire trip,” shared the Centralia First Presbyterian membership.
Centralia First Presbyterian has a Free Little Food Pantry to the church grounds. Donations may be put directly in the Little Free Food Pantry or may be dropped off at the church. Donations from the community are encouraged and appreciated. Items needed are non-perishable food items, including peanut butter, crackers, canned ravioli, toiletries and any thing grab and go that is non perishable.
The Parkinson’s Support group has restarted and meets at 2 p.m. on the second Wednesay of each month at Heritage Village in Centralia, with the next meeting on Jan. 14. Meetings are open to all who are affected by Parkinsons.
Mike Warden shares the following reflection on New Year’s Resolutions and the Bible
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed,” Proverbs 16:3.
The ancient Babylonians were the first people to make New Year’s resolutions, some 4,000 years ago. Some of us still carry on the tradition of making resolutions at the start of a new year. Setting goals for self-improvement is a worthy goal. But, by the end of that year, we don’t always care to share the result of those resolutions. Having someone who holds you accountable for keeping your resolutions can be a blessing if that someone is God. Talking to Him about our goals can give us peace of mind and an opportunity to ask for wisdom and guidance in how to make our resolutions come true. I came across a recommendation to consider the following Bible verses as resolutions and to have peace inknowing that if is God’s will for them to be fulfilled, He will enable us to accomplish them.
Pray for guidance: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5)
Forgive those who have hurt you: “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may haveagainst one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13)
Take care of yourself: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 19:20)
Love others: “The most important one, answered Jesus, is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Be a role model: “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity.” (Titus 2:7)
Don’t be discouraged by failures; “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
Value your friendships: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-11)
Help those in need: “Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:34-40)