Save the Date!
Saturday, July 29th
Snappers vs. Burlington Bees
Home game, Beloit, Wisconsin
Gates Open at 6pm
Game Starts at 7pm
Ticket Price $6.75
* Star Wars night • A special guest appearance to throw out the first pitchFireworks immediately following the game • Food and drink available
* Free parking
For more information, to reserve your tickets or if you need transportation to and from the game contact the church office at (815) 624-6212. [Read more…]
Window Candles: a Welcoming Sight
Have you ever taken a moment to ponder the lights in the windows of our Old Stone Church, or wondered why they are always on? Though often associated with Christmas, historically window candles have held significance throughout the year. Whether a religious signal in 12th century England, or a traveler’s beacon in colonial America, window candles have always conveyed “welcome,” hospitality, safety, and friendship. In keeping with this rich tradition OSC’s window candles continuously shine brightly, offering peace and comfort to all.
Be sure to watch for more about “Shining Our Light” in July.
Born with a love for music, Amy Wilkins began piano lessons at the age of three. Both parents also loved music and sang in church choirs. Her dad had a degree in music and was associated with numerous churches during her childhood as a music or band director.
Amy was born and raised in Rockford, and graduated from East High School where she was active playing the viola, a member of the Swing Choir and also was a rehearsal pianist for several musicals. Her family were members of Rockford First Evangelical Free Church, and she was afforded many opportunities during her youth to participate in music competitions, large and small performances, work with the puppets, handbell choir, and holiday performances.
Music has always been a part of Amy’s life and will continue. While studying at Augustana College in the Quad Cities, she had the privilege of singing in Augie Choir (which had daily practices and travelled every spring break). Her emphasis was obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology/Audiology, while music was her outlet. Amy later went on to earn her master’s degree from SIU – Carbondale in Counseling, and worked for the United Methodist Church on campus as the pianist.
Sanctuary Spa presents “Men’s Night” on Friday, Feb. 10, from 6-8 p.m. at the spa at 175 Harwick St., Rockton.
Men can shop for Valentine gift ideas as well as enjoy appetizers, sports trivia and drink samples while helping to fill the Old Stone Church Food Pantry with nonperishable food donations. Men can enter to win an NFL Jersey just by bringing food donations.
Men, you do not want to miss this event! Call Sanctuary Spa for more information, 815-978-9792.
Merry Christmas!!
We hope you and yours share many special, meaningful moments during this Christmas season!
Christmas Services Schedule
The only thing that truly keeps Christmas alive is for every generation to help the next to understand the coming of true Hope into the world when God’s son, Jesus, was born of Mary. While many complain about “Keeping Christ in Christmas” too many of us don’t actually live out our words or teach our children of the dream of the Christian faith.
It all begins with church!
This year we will be having two opportunities to worship Christmas Eve: one more personal and the other communal.
Christmas Vigil: Christmas Eve from 4-5 pm
Barry and Lynn Yontz will once again open the church for the Christmas Eve Vigil for a time of quiet and private meditation. The church will be open for a time of reading the Christmas texts, prayer, and receiving communion. Stop in the church for any amount of time that you’d like to enjoy the reverence of the evening and give thanks for the birth of Jesus the Christ.
Christmas Eve Worship, 7:00 pm
The service of readings and songs will be held at 7 pm for you to celebrate with your family and our church family. This is a service of hearing the texts of Christmas and singing some of our favorite, sacred Christmas carols. Please plan for your entire family to make this a part of your Christmas celebration.
Christmas Day Worship, 9:30 am
We will have our regular Christmas day worship for all those who are not able to make it to church on Christmas Eve. Though missing the reverence of the dark sanctuary and candles it is the same service of celebration and hope.
The Old Stone Church (UCC) in historic Rockton, Ill., is seeking a MUSIC DIRECTOR. The Congregation is a loving and inclusive community with a “relaxed traditional” style of worship. The applicant will work with the Pastor to develop and provide instrumental & vocal music. Excellent instruments and worship setting for their 9:30 am Sunday Worship and occasional special services.
Please submit resume and any questions to:
oldstonechurch@oldstonechurch.net
Salary is negotiable
You Can Teach Sunday School…
(but you likely don’t think you know enough)
There are a lot of jobs in the church that people don’t think they are qualified for…which gives them the “obvious” exemption from trying. The truth is, however, that most things aren’t that difficult…you’ve just never been given the tools to try them out. Teaching is likely at the top of that list.
The good news, however, is that the Sunday School materials we use are so easily laid out that you’ll do just fine! The lessons are clear, the activities are handy, very little preparation time is truly needed, and we team-teach to make schedules easier. We just need to be committed to teach each new generation the stories of Jesus and his Church to a new generation.
We all believe Christian Ed is important, so don’t be afraid to help: even if you’ve done so in years past. We’ll begin our Sunday School year the third week of September. Please give this your prayerful consideration and agree to team-teach a class this year. With two teachers you can set up any schedule for teaching you’d agree to. Speak with Cheryl Butler or Pastor Dan for more info, and keep our Sunday School teachers in your prayers for the new year ahead of us!
Your Church is Only Strong With
Your Involvement
In large organizations and churches people can hide in the crowd and not get involved. However, in a small church you are missed and your participation is essential to keeping our church healthy and alive in ministries.
If you’ve been serving on committees, singing in the choir, ringing in the bell choir, or teaching Sunday School, thank you for your diligence and participation. If you haven’t served on a committee, sing, ring, or teach this may be your opportunity to serve God and his Church in a manageable way.
If you are not too involved please know you can:
Help teach Sunday School…a commitment of an hour every other week (or two hours a month!). All of our classes team-teach for teacher flexibility. Materials are easily laid out each week.
You can sing in the choir…which currently looks at a commitment of an hour on the first Sunday of each month (although we hope for a new music director soon).
You can ring in the bell choir…which currently meets for 40 minutes after worship each week and performs in church every 6-weeks.
You can serve on a standing committee…which include the Church Council, Christian Education Committee, Diaconate, Building & Grounds, and Stewardship committees. Committee work can be drudgery, but there are everyday organization that needs to be done for any organization simply to survive…much less thrive!
The tendency is to just attend church when we feel like it rather than get involved in building the actual strength of the church. Push yourself to do more to help God’s church be more effective in your life and the life of our community!
Third Thursday is Back!
Thursday, August 18th, 6 – 7:30 pm
“Religions of the World: Hinduism”
The Diaconate would like you to know that the Third Thursday series is beginning again on Thursday, August 18th at 6 pm. These sessions are meant to present topics of conversation to look at areas of life which we may have thought about but haven’t had the opportunity to seriously look at.
This month will begin a series looking at other religions of our world: a series which we presented quite some number of years ago. We all hear about other religions…Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and others…but we haven’t had a chance to look at them. The materials will cover the basics of each religion so we can understand them in the realities of a multi-cultural and multi-religious world.
The Third Thursday sessions begin at 6 pm with a light meal. The topics are presented for discussion from 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Please invite your neighbors to these sessions since it’s an opportunity for them to get acquainted with our members and issues of faith.
Reservations are taken so we can order enough food, and a free-will offering is received to cover the cost. Mark your calendar for participating on August 18th! Please call the church office to register, 815-624-6212.