How Do We Love?
One of the
subtlest temptations of the Christian walk is believing that having the right
words is the same thing as having a loving heart. In Job 5, Eliphaz rightly
reminds Job that the Lord disciplines those He loves—a truth grounded in
Scripture. Yet by assuming that Job’s anguish was proof of hidden guilt,
Eliphaz weaponized a sacred reality against a broken friend. When sound
theology is stripped of empathy, it ceases to comfort and begins to crush; it
turns another person’s sacred grief into an argument to be won. Job never asked
to be diagnosed or solved—he simply needed someone willing to sit beside him in
the ashes and honor his pain with steadfast kindness.
Christ
offers us a far better way, showing that divine truth is never an excuse for
human cruelty. Jesus never compromised the truth, but He also never trampled a
bruised reed or snuffed out a smoldering wick. True faithfulness does not
demand that we posture as theological referees over someone else's storm, but
rather calls us to embody the gentle, cruciform love that draws near to the
brokenhearted. Before we speak into someone’s trial, we must pause and ask: Am
I using the truth to carry this hurting person, or am I using it to stand over
them? Let us choose the courage of compassion, letting our doctrine be known
not by how sharply we defend it, but by how tenderly we love those who are
hurting right in front of us.
God Bless
You!
Pastor David
Pastor David’s phone
number is 217-329-4785. Email is devdrk476@gmail.com
Upcoming
Events:
Sunday
School 9:00
Tuesdays
10:00 Bible Study
Sept 3 6:00 pm Church Board
October 11 Executive committee after worship
October 22 9:30 Women’s work morning and soup lunch
November 5 6:00 Church Board
November 6, 7 District Conference in Polo
November 15 Council Meeting after worship
We
need 2 more delegates for District Conference.
Let Carol know of your interest.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
September
2 Jackie Born
Tim
& Michelle Wright
4 David Biggs
6 Nancy Born Martin
15 Michelle
& Randy West
21 Nancy Gorrell
23 Kevin Krall
26 Joe Martina
October
10 Shirley Krall
19 Tina Martina
20 Mike and Kelly Timlin
David
and Loriann Biggs
26 Mike Gentry
27 Mary Hissong
28 Glen & Carol Kussart
Church Finances
The Board is grateful for the continued giving by our
congregation! In order to keep us all abreast of our finances, especially since
we are now paying a pastor, we thought it appropriate to keep everyone abreast
of our income and expense totals. So far this year, we are running a deficit of
$8781.
2026 Income:
$32,289 as of 8/31/26
Expense:
($41,070)
Our reserves are covering the deficit so far, but we
encourage everyone to keep up their giving so that we may continue to further
the work of Jesus in our congregation, in our community, and around the world.
In Our Prayers
Pray for
peace with Iran! And for peace between Ukraine and Russia! The victims of the
Nepal floods, the ending of TPS for our Haitian and Syrian brothers and sisters;
Jonah Martina; Dave and Gina Ritchie; Vinny; Bobby Murray; Martha
Wood; Bill Traughber; Randy and Michelle West; Martha Lynch; Karen
Chenoweth; Ryan LeHew; Sam Brandenburg; Nancy Fansler; Doug
Larrick; Ron Petersen; Debbie Garvey Leibrock; Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken
requests; victims of disasters; victims of shootings; shut-ins; the Church of
the Brethren around the world; immigrants
Military and Other Services and their families
Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers
Needed:
--Volunteers
for the children’s message during the service and/or for a children’s
lesson/story time in the nursery during the sermon. Please sign up in the back
of the sanctuary.
--Someone
to take turns running the Power Point for worship. If you know a little about
computers, you can do this job. Let Carol know.
--Chorister—Martha is carrying the entire load. Who can step
up to lead singing once in a while?
--Greeters—if
you are willing to hand out bulletins at the sanctuary door before worship,
talk to Nancy Born Martin.
Sermon
topics—Pastor David is seeking input on topics that you would like to hear
more about from the pulpit. Please let him know about any particular interests
you may have.
Study
group:
Pastor
David wants to know of interest in a study group. If you would be interested,
let him know and give him some preferred days and times.
Coats
for Kids will be starting to collect coats in October. Keep your eyes and
ears open for where to donate. Gently used coats or new ones are appreciated.
Money is also gladly received. This program was started in 1992 by DOVE in
partnership with WAND. If you would like to volunteer to help, call
217-428-6616.
DeWitt
County DOVE is having a fundraiser to support their RSVP (senior citizen
volunteer program) at Kirby Foods in Clinton, October 9, 10 am to 6 pm and
October 10, 10 am to 2 pm. If you are that direction, you might consider
stopping by. I hear Kirby Foods has good food. A pork chop sandwich is $6, meal
$8; a ribeye sandwich is $8, meal $10.
Remembering 9/11
Christ
is our peace
A
statement from Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele marking
the 25th anniversary of Sept.
11, 2001:
Twenty-five
years have passed since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, yet the sorrow of
that day remains close for many.
We remember the nearly 3,000 people whose lives were taken in New York City, at the Pentagon, and near Shanksville, Pa. We honor those who moved toward danger to help others, and we hold in prayer the families, survivors, rescue and recovery workers, and communities that continue to carry grief, trauma, illness, and loss.
We also
remember the suffering that followed. Wars devastated communities abroad and
brought lasting loss and trauma to families in the United States. Muslim, Sikh,
Arab, South Asian, and other neighbors endured racist and xenophobic
discrimination and violence because of who they were—or were perceived to be.
The
aftermath of Sept. 11 showed how fear can compound tragedy, turning grief into
suspicion, exclusion, and aggression. That danger does not belong only to the
past. Today, fear is again being used to divide neighbors, cast people as
threats, and justify the pursuit of power.
The
church must bear witness to another way.
Scripture
proclaims that Christ is our peace and has broken down the dividing wall of
hostility between us (Ephesians 2:14). As a peace church, we are called to
embody that peace with courage and action. Following Jesus means standing with
people harmed by violence, resisting hatred, pursuing justice, and overcoming
evil with good.
It also
requires us to examine our loyalties. No nation, political party, leader, or
ideology deserves the devotion that belongs to Christ. The church must not use
faith to justify the pursuit of power or place national interests above love of
neighbor.
Our
loyalty to Christ becomes visible in how we live with those around us. Being
“Jesus in the neighborhood” means moving toward one another, sharing one
another’s burdens and gifts, and seeking the well-being of the whole community.
That loyalty must be more than words. At a time when fear pushes people apart, Jesus draws us toward one another—to know our neighbors, listen to their experiences, share one another’s burdens and gifts, and seek the well-being of the whole community.
On this anniversary, we call our congregations to embody
that peace with courage and action by:
- Remembering truthfully
through prayer, worship, lament, and learning.
- Building relationships across
religious, cultural, and political differences, rejecting language and
actions that diminish or dehumanize others.
- Practicing healing through
service, conflict transformation, and solidarity with those experiencing
violence, exclusion, isolation, or hardship.
We
cannot undo the violence of Sept. 11 or the suffering that followed. But we can
refuse to let fear have the final word. May God comfort all who mourn and give
us courage to follow Jesus toward one another, embodying his peace wherever we
live.
For the
glory of God and our neighbor’s good,
David A.
Steele
General Secretary
Church of the Brethren
History Corner:
Did you know the Potawatomie came through this area on their Trail of Death march? There is a commemorative marker north of the Sangamon River. Follow Oakley Blacktop north and go straight instead of curving left. Turn right at that road (Caleb Rd). At the corner of Caleb and Dunbar is a marker on the right side of the road, at the edge of a farm. A second marker describes the Lorton Trading Post.
Another
marker in this area is the one for the Peck family on the County Line Rd north
of Cerro Gordo. This designates where the original Peck home was and lists some
important events and the names of the descendants at the time. The Pecks were
one of Cerro Gordo’s founding families. I don’t have a good photo of it.
All
three markers are worth the short trip to see.
Love God,
Grow with others,
Serve faithfully,
Reach the lost,
Find peace.
