(Streaming and phone connections typically go live about 15-minutes prior to the start of services.)

Upcoming Events: 
     Jan 31st: Bible Study + Potluck & Game Night @ Central Illinois
     Feb 7th: Speech Club @ Terre Haute (4:30pm)
     Feb 8th: Super Bowl Viewing @ Radebaughs' (5:00pm)
     Feb 15th: DEL’s Meeting @ Ekamas’
     Feb 21st: Bible Study & Potluck @ Terre Haute
     Feb 28th: Dinner, Game Night, Card-Making @ Central Illinois
     Mar 2nd: Safe Harbor Meal Prep @ 5:30pm

Bible Study (CIL): Our next monthly Bible Study is this Sabbath, January 31st. We will continue our overview of the Twelve Apostles using our new Harmony of the Gospels resource. We will start about 15-minutes after services. If you are not able to join us in person, here are a few ways that you can join our Bible Study: 
     - Here is the link to access our Bible Study via our local webcast. 
     - Here is the phone number to call for an audio-only connection: 701.791.9819 

Potluck & Game Night (CIL): This Sabbath, after the Bible Study we will have the hall into the evening to enjoy some extended fellowship and food. Please bring food to share for dinner and games to share after that!

Community Outreach Opportunity (CIL): We are doing a service project to help kids entering the local foster care system in concert with a local faith-based group - The Forgotten Initiative. The project involves putting together “Journey Bags.” 
We have committed to putting together the following bags: 
     2T Boy (x1) 
     3T Girl (x2) 
The supplies requested for each bag is listed on a sign-up sheet. Please indicate what item(s) you intend to get and bring to services for us to collect and assemble the bags for donation. We plan to have the bags completed by the end of February.

Executive Committee Meeting (CIL): I will be having a meeting with the Executive Committee of the Council of Elders this coming Tuesday, February 3rd. We will be discussing a building purchase proposal and I would appreciate everyone’s prayers that God’s will be done.

Super Bowl Viewing: The Central Illinois brethren are invited to the Radebaughs' to enjoy food, fellowship, and football on February 8th. Taco Bar is the theme for dinner once again and a sign-up sheet is available on the information table.

Speech Club (TH): Our next Speech Club meeting in Terre Haute will be after services on February 7th.

Springfield Bible Study: The next monthly Bible Study in the Springfield area will be on the Sabbath of February 14th at the Curran Township building (6220 Moffet Street, Curran, IL 62670) at 10:00am.

Terre Haute Bible Study: Our next monthly Bible Study will be on the Sabbath of February 21st. We will continue our multi-study series discussing the topic of the Millennium and the Kingdom of God. There will be a potluck after the service and study.

Card-Making (CIL): It’s time for us to re-supply our congregational card stash! We will be making cards together on February 28th after services (during the game night). We will have a table/area set up with all the supplies provided. The process will be fairly straightforward – matching photos to matting and adhering them together – so everyone interested in helping is welcome to participate (kids, too!), no special skills are required. If you have any questions, see Annie Radebaugh or Jacqueline Ekama.

Safe Harbor Meal Prep: On March 2nd, the Central Illinois congregation will once again be preparing a meal for the homeless at the Salvation Army Safe Harbor location in Bloomington. If you are interested in helping to prep the meal and/or financially contributing to make this happen, please reach out to Nathan Ekama.

Alternate Location (CIL): On the Sabbath of March 14th, the Central Illinois congregation will be meeting at the Embassy Suites (100 Conference Center Dr, East Peoria, IL 61611) for services at our normal time of 1:30pm. We will be in the River G room on the conference center side of the facility.

Congregational Directory: If you have not yet signed onto the online congregational directory, created your account, or would like some help with getting your contact information and/or picture uploaded, please feel free to reach out and ask Nathan Ekama or Dan Apartian for a hand. 

Health & Safety Protocols: We ask that any who exhibit symptoms of illness practice the biblical principle of quarantine.

Other Announcements: 

Sign Up for United News Weekly: To subscribe to United News Weekly, please visit our email updates subscription page at ucg.org/subscribe-email-updates. Choose the “United News Weekly” option. If you are already a subscriber to “United Church of God Members” updates, you will automatically be converted to the new United News Weekly subscription list. If you need help signing up, please see Nathan Ekama after services

Articles and Writers Needed for Compass Check: Do you have an idea for an article for our teen magazine, Compass Check? Or, maybe you’re willing to write, but need an idea? Regardless of your age or writing experience, we would love to see what you have to offer. The process of writing for Compass Check is easy and fun. Plus, if you’re a student, you might be able to use it to get some extra credit! If you have an idea or would like to learn more about writing for Compass Check, please contact us at compasscheck@ucg.org.  

Teen Instagram Account: We are using the existing Compass Check account to share encouraging and fun spiritually uplifting content, including Q&A’s, updates on local events and special sneak peeks of ongoing projects. We would also encourage feedback of content you would like to see. This project is specifically for our youth, and we want to hear from you! Make sure to follow us at compasscheck on Instagram (instagram.com/compasscheck) and DM us for any more info, suggestions and questions. 

Light of Hope Helpline: The United Church of God is providing a new service available to its ministry and members. Light of Hope is a helpline supported by Church members who are licensed social workers, counselors and other clinical professionals. They will provide mental health and addiction resources to those in need including individual, couple, family and teen consultation. These specialists will also assist in connecting people in need with appropriate resources in their communities while keeping all information confidential. The Light of Hope helpline is available at any time. When you call, it will initially record your message so that one of our professionals can respond within 24 hours. This service is also provided in several different languages including Spanish, French and German. Light of Hope also plans to develop online materials on a variety of topics such as depression, anxiety, stress management, suicidal thoughts, communication skills, problem-solving strategies, teen issues, parenting issues, etc. The helpline number is (888) 241-6211. 

Prayer Updates: The home office has created a web page where church members may access recent church-wide prayer requests at any time. The address is register.ucg.org/intranet/PrayerRequests and the password for the page may be obtained from your pastor. 
Job Opportunities: Details about any of the current job postings for the Church may be reviewed at ucg.org/members/news/current-job-openings. 

Beyond Today: Beyond Today airs locally in Illinois (Springfield/Decatur/Champaign) on WICD 15 ABC, Sundays at 10:00 a.m.. **BT content is also available via our YouTube channel and via Roku and other smart devices.** 

Online UCG Radio from Australia for the whole world: The online radio station for United Church of God is now streaming 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. You can listen to booklet and magazine readings, Bible readings, Bible Q&As, sermons, Bible class lectures, podcasts, the BT Daily series, music and more! A radio schedule in PDF can be downloaded which will show you upcoming programs. You can reach it easily on your computer at https://www.ucg.org.au/radio or from the UCG Streaming Radio app that allows you to listen on your mobile device. Simply search your app store for "UCG Radio" to install the free app.