Vine Street Christian Church Arthur, IL

GRADUATES' BREAKFAST: We will honor eighth grade, high school, and college graduates at next Sunday's Graduates' Breakfast. The breakfast is open to folks ages 12 through 100. Breakfast begins at 8:30 AM, gifts will be given to graduates at 9:00, and David Ingram will speak from 9:15-9:30. Junior High through Adult Sunday School classes will resume at 9:30 AM. David Ingram will talk about being a writer, his trip to New York City, and following our dreams. Please R.S.V.P. by May 14 via the pew pads, the sign-up sheet on the L-table, or by contacting the office.

PENTECOST OFFERING: The Pentecost Offering will be taken on May 20 and May 27. Half of the offering stays in our Region. "For the past 12 years, the Pentecost Offering has been in place to support the planting of new churches. During that period of time, God has used the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to start more than 730 new churches. These new churches have reached more than 45,000 people for Christ. A large number of these people are new to the faith. When you give to the Pentecost Offering, you help support these new churches. One half of the offering stays in the region where you live and one half goes to the general new church office to fund the recruitment, assessment, training and coaching of new church pastors, spouses and core team members. In the past 12 years more than 1,300 persons have been trained, on your behalf, to
spread the Good News of the Gospel." http://www.disciplesmissionfund.org/SpecialDayO fferings/PentecostSpecialDayOffering/tabid/480/ Default.aspx

DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINING: All who are interested in receiving training on how to use the defibrillator are invited to attend the May Elders' Meeting after church next Sunday. The 15-20 minute training will occur at the beginning of the meeting, and those who are not Elders will be able to leave once the training is complete. Deacons (and all interested parties) are enthusiastically encouraged to attend.

MAY 16 COMMUNITY MEAL - Sausage and pancakes will be served on May 16 at Arthur UMC, and desserts will not be needed.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL is June 4-8, 2012. The majority of the activities will take place at Arthur Mennonite Church. Children will "visit" SonRise National Park, where they'll explore God's true nature and learn some important survival skills: "They can always depend on Jesus and His promises of true peace, true riches, true power, true love, and true hope! At SonRise National Park, kids will learn to trust Jesus as their all-powerful guide and Savior" (from the website www.arthurvbs.org). Attendance is free. If your child would like to participate in the mission project, a collection will be taken each morning. Registrations can be made through the website listed above, or through registration forms that will be available on the L-table at the back of the sanctuary.

SUNDAY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: We will have a Sunday School Open House on June 3rd after church! Hotdogs, videos of our children, and fun will be shared. Come and see why our kids enjoy coming to Sunday School each week. You won't want to miss it!

FACTS AND FIGURES: 5/6/2012 Attendance - 114;
April 2012 Operating Fund:
Income: $12,082.82, Expenses: $11,252.69;
2012 Operating Fund Balance, Year-to-Date: -6,875.80

E-TITHE PROGRAM: Did you know that we have an E-Tithe program at Vine Street Christian Church? For those of us who have ever said, "Oops, I forgot my check (or change)," as the offering plates are passed, the E-Tithe program might be helpful. In the same way that we can authorize our bank to automatically send a check to utility companies, we can authorize our bank to send a check to the church. If you are interested in this option, please complete the transfer authorization form that is located on the L-Table at the back of the sanctuary. Or, you can contact the church office and we can e-mail or send the form to you.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL: Please start saving and bringing in one gallon and half-gallon containers for the ice cream social on September 1. Sherbet containers make excellent half-gallon containers.

May 4 was an exciting night for many of Arthur's high school students. It was Prom Night. Teens dressed up, danced to music, socialized with friends - and took Prom pictures. Some of our community's youth came to Vine Street Christian Church to have their pictures taken in the church's garden�much to the delight of members of our church. Different members told me in succeeding days about the Prom pictures, and all of them were beaming with big smiles as they shared about how our space had been used.
The garden was created as a place of welcome for the community. It was built to extend the hospitality of Christ beyond our church's walls. It is a place where people can set a spell, where they can enjoy the beauty of God's creation�and where they can take pictures of meaningful events in their lives.
The benches in the church garden welcome all as Christ welcomes us: "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Come and sit a spell in Christ's presence, enjoy Christ's beauty, and be refreshed. The folks at Vine Street Christian Church hope that you experience Christ's peace as you rest in the garden.