Sunday Church School
Central has an active Sunday School that meets every Sunday from September to May at 9:30 a.m.
The biblically based curriculum for children offers age appropriate Bible stories and activities. Children gather at the beginning of each session
for group singing.
Youth curriculum applies biblical principles to issues affecting today's youth, opening the door for relaxed discussion
and problem solving.
Our children and youth participate on a regular basis in the worship service, further cementing
their place in this church family.
Adults also meet to discuss family, vocational, and recreational issues in a biblical context.
On Sundays in June and July, when Worship begins at 9:30, the younger children can participate in our
summer program which begins after the pastor presents the Children's Sermon.
Led by dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers, our Sunday School offers love, friendship, and a spirit of
togetherness to all who enter.
Confirmation Class
A confirmation class for junior high school youth usually runs from the fall until Easter every other year or so, at which time students are presented to the Session for membership to Central Presbyterian Church. During the year, students obtain a strong Christian foundation and learn about the structure and beliefs of Presbyterianism.
Promise Keepers
NOTE: this group is currently on hiatus
Made up of the men of the church, meetings are held every Sunday morning. Discussion and fellowship follows the guidelines of the national Promise Keepers Assocation. The men of this group regularly attend regional and national conferences.
John Allen Sunday School Class
Named for Central's founding father, this Bible study group has traditionally met during Sunday School with membership consisting of the older generations of the church. In recent years, however, the class has become a fellowship group, meeting the third Wednesday each month. Sometimes they have a luncheon at a local establishment, and other times they have an afternoon discussion in the church lounge. New members are very welcome!
Mary-Martha Bible Study/Presbyterian Women's Association
This monthly Bible study consists of members of the Presbyterian Women's Association. Bible studies are held the second Wednesday of each month; regional meetings and conferences with other women's groups in the Presbytery are held at various times of the year.
Women's Retreat/Support Group
This group of women formed in the mid-1980's out of a need for a support system within the church. An annual overnight retreat is held each spring at someone's home for fun and fellowship, to discuss life in general, and to review an assigned book. Other meetings and get-togethers are held as needed during the year. Members can call upon one another at any time for prayer and support in complete confidence. At the spring retreat, each is assigned a new secret "prayer pal" for the next year.
Quilters for Christ
A number of very modest women have been commissioned to hand-sew quilts twice a week; funds from the beautiful hand-crafted quilts go toward church improvements and other projects. There is always room for another set of hands! If you can sew, your talents would be much appreciated.
Please note that the current waiting list for orders is so large that requests for new quilts can not be accepted at this time.
Co-ed Volleyball and Summer Sand Volleyball
Games are held against local churches on Mondays throughout the summer and winter months, promoting fellowship and sportsmanship.
Awesome Angels after-school program
Awesome Angels is an organization made up of children who are currently in Kindergarten through 6th grade. This is Central's attempt to offer and encourage Christian fellowship for the younger members of the congregation. The children meet each Wednesday after school for two semesters each schoolyear. The schedule varies each year, but runs roughly from the middle of September to the middle of December and then February through April.
Each meeting, the children are served refreshments, have a Bible lesson, sing, and have an activity of some kind (craft, game, etc.). We separated the children into three groups by age this past year, and plan to do so again. Each meeting relies on the presence of no fewer than six adults: the minister leads the Bible lesson, Julia Territo directs music, Nancy Mehr and Karen Gebhards acted as our weekly supervisors in 1997-98, and then three additional adults are needed to lead each of the three groups.
The Awesome Angels take part in the worship service the 4th Sunday of each month. They also are responsible for ushering on that day.
At least one special event is planned per semester. At Halloween time we have gone bowling and then enjoyed a meal together in which all assist in the preparation, and the past few years the Angels have joined with the Methodist Youth Club for a special swimming party in the spring.
We welcome all grade-school age children of Central to join Awesome Angels. You may contact the church office or call Rhonda Plaeger for more information or to register your child for the 1998-99 year.
Junior High Youth Group
Open to students in junior high school, the group is involved in meaningful activities with peers. They participate in confirmation classes which start in the fall and are completed by Easter.
For more information, please contact Patrick Scheina.
Senior High Youth Group
High school students take part in Christian fellowship and fun, prayer, community activities and outreach projects, and participate in regional and national Presbyterian youth meetings through Presbytery of Great Rivers and "Presbyterian Youth Connection".
Fun activities include canoeing, attending a U of I football game, fall work day, wiener roast, Christmas caroling, decorating church for Christmas, and the Palm Sunday Breakfast. Money raising projects like selling calendars and napkins and the Palm Sunday Breakfast offering help fund activities during the year. Outreach services include helping with the St. John's Breadline, Meals on Wheels, and volunteering at the Mary Bryant Home.
Please contact Patrick Scheina through the church office for more information on how to take part in the fun!
Organists, Pianists
Featuring Emma Lou Denton on the Wicks pipe organ, beautiful, breathtaking music can be heard at every worship service at Central. Joined by Rich Ford, Julia Territo, and others on piano, we think Central has the best, most professional-sounding musicians in the county.
Chancel Choir
Central has always had some kind of adult choir. The purpose of the Chancel Choir is to add to and enhance worship services at Central. Anyone who can carry a tune, is willing to get better, and has a commitment to rehearsals and Sunday performances is welcome to join. Beautiful cantatas at Christmas and Easter highlight the year's performances. There are currently about 25 members.
If you would like to join or for more information, please contact director Rich Ford at 632-3791 or ford@fgi.net.
Handbell Choir
Approximately 12 people are needed to play our three octave set of handbells. A typical ringer has some musical experience, but a sense of timing is the most essential element. With handbells (unlike most instruments or singing) you only ring your bell when your note appears in the music. Visualize a piano keyboard with different people playing several keys.
The purpose of the choir is obviously to enhance our church music program and lead us in our praise of God. Besides being featured once a month, handbells are used in combination with piano and organ or vocal music. Handbells hold additional appeal because of their unique beauty and because they can be played both by people who love to sing, or cannot sing. New members are always welcome.
The Handbell Choir was started by Judy Boutelle, who also directed it for many years. This was the third handbell choir Judy started "from scratch." Besides being an avid ringer herself, Judy attended directors training conferences throughout Illinois and national conventions in Florida.
This year Rich Ford is our very capable Handbell Choir director. Please contact him if you would like to help "ring those bells."
Special Music Enhancements
In the summertime, when the regular choirs take a break for a few months, special music with a lighter flair is featured by small groups or soloists with voice or instruments such as piano, guitar, violin, flute, harp, etc. Performers usually consist of Central members, but often we attract folks from other churches or New Salem or just friends to take part in this worship enhancement. The music is always very special.
Parish Nurse
Established in 2000, our parish nurse is available to all members of the congregation to answer health questions and concerns. Her regular duties include taking blood pressure readings during the Fellowship Hour and writing a monthly column on a health issue for our newsletter, Central Chimes. The parish nurse program is provided through a gift from Presbytery of Great Rivers' Ebersolt Fund.
Home Communion
On the Monday after the first Sunday of each month, Home Communion is delivered by the minister and an Elder of the church to shut-ins and nursing home residents. Anyone wishing to receive this service may contact the church office to make arrangements.
Special Offerings
Outreach Shepherd
Each month someone is designated as the shepherd who goes to the two local nursing homes, Sunny Acres and Menard Convalescent, to visit members and friends of Central.
Ministerial Association
Central Presbyterian Church is an active advocate and participant in the PORTA ministerial association. We believe in cooperation and fellowship with other churches. Some of the important joint ventures of the association include sponsoring the New Salem Park ministry and worship in area nursing homes, the county CROP Walk, Thanksgiving, Good Friday and Easter Sunrise services, as well as cooperative World Communion services and most recently the Sunday evening "Celebration of Worship and Praise" at New Salem.
The Association meets regularly (noon, third Wednesday) for Bible study, fellowship and to plan cooperative activities.
Menard Caring
Menard Caring is a cooperative mission between Petersburg Churches, funded in part by a Presbyterian endowment (Ebersault Fund) and participating churches. Its mission is focussed on helping people remain independent, primarily by arranging transportation when other systems fail. Menard Caring receives referrals from other agencies and then our staff coordinator recruits a volunteers to respond. Other ways of helping include utility bill aid, eye glasses and prescription drug partial payment.
Another outreach of Menard Caring is the very successful Petersburg Food Pantry, housed in the Central Presbyterian Church facility. This program is so widely supported and used by area agencies that it no longer needs endowment support.
S.T.E.P.
Systematic Training for Effective Parenting is a new program that helps parents understand and apply effective skills in raising children in these times of step-parents, single parenting, helping with schoolwork and homework, and how to deal with drugs, violence, and other concerns and behaviors. In STEP, parents learn better communication and how to lessen conflict.
STEP is a seven session course conducted by Dee Ring, a couselor and psychologist, and Cindy Godbey, teacher and experienced STEP facilitator. Please contact the church office for more information or to find out when the next course will be offered.
CROP Walk
Held annually in early autumn, CROP Walk is held around the downtown square of Petersburg to raise funds for Church World Service as well as local food pantries. A joint effort by several local churches, funds help families and children around the world live a healthier, safer, better life.
Human Sexuality Class
Every few years in cooperation with other local churches, a human sexuality class is held for two days over a weekend for teenagers. Ministers, young adult peers, and experts in the fields of education, medicine, and psychology teach students about sexuality from a mature, healthy, Christian viewpoint, to help prepare them to live as responsible, informed teens. Parents meet separately in an open discussion of concerns and advice in raising their youth in today's sexually-active world.
Building Use
As a service to the community, Central's building has been made available to local clubs and organizations for regular meetings, overnight retreats, performances, and music recitals. Our building's fully handicap-accessible features, large kitchen, fellowship hall, classrooms, lounge, and beautiful sanctuary can meet the needs of many groups. Cub Scouts, Tiger Scouts, Girl Scouts, Menard County Singers, Alcoholics Anonymous and Parents Without Partners are just some who have felt at home here over the years. Any public service group wishing to reserve our facilities must contact the church office to seek permission from our Session.
Central Chimes newsletter
Our monthly newsletter mailed to church members which includes the Pastor's Pen column, the parish nurse's health column, concerns, membership news, upcoming calendar events, and articles to educate or just lift one's spirit.
These Days
This bi-monthly Presbyterian devotional magazine includes a daily reading with a Bible verse and prayer. A number of copies are available to individuals on the table in the narthex, or annual subscriptions by mail may be purchased through the church office. A large print version is available.
Fellowship Sunday
One Sunday each month is designated a time after Worship for refreshments and fellowship with fellow members and visitors. Our parish nurse will be on hand to take blood pressure readings and answer your health questions.
Annual Church Worship and Picnic in the Park
On one Sunday each September regular Worship is held outdoors at New Salem Historic Site at the Sangamon Picnic Area, followed by a potluck picnic. This annual event provides for a mix of good old fashioned fun and fellowship with a meaningful worship of God in a natural, relaxed environment.
Annual Wiener Roast
Held in the fall of each year and sponsored by the Christian Education Committee, the wiener roast is open to the entire congregation and provides an afternoon of food and fun in a park atmosphere.
Promotion Sunday
One Sunday at the end of the Sunday church school year set aside to call attention to the hard work of the many volunteer teachers and assistants. Their tireless efforts provide students of all ages the guidance needed for daily living in Christ.
Palm Sunday Breakfast
Before Worship on Palm Sunday each year, the Christian Education Department provides a delicious breakfast to the entire congregation for fellowship and celebration of the start of Holy Week.
Co-op Vacation Bible School
Held daily during one week each summer, our Bible school is held in conjuction with several nearby churches--United Methodist, Christian Church, and St. Paul's Church of Christ. During the week a specific theme is centered upon as children learn Bible stories, play games, do crafts, and share refreshments. On Friday night the children present a closing program to their families to share what they've learned during the week.
Special Seasonal Sunday Evening Bible Discussions
Usually held during Lent and/or Advent, these study/discussion sessions are led by members of the church to help better understand the biblical events of the season and how they fit in to modern life, allowing personal reflection and preparation for the weeks ahead.
Bicycle Excursions and Trips
We usually stay in Presbyterian Churches, and our tours have ranged from southern Illinois and Missouri to Wisconsin and Michigan. In recent years we have used trails dedicated exclusively to hiking and non-motorized vehicles. This is a safety consideration as well as an enhancement for enjoying nature and fellowship along the way. We also have expanded our clientele to people of all ages. We have happily accommodated five-year-olds as well as retirees. The church office will have information on the next bike hike.
Former Central minister Gerald Boutelle led bike hikes as a part of church camp for over 25 years. It all began when he and another minister in Chicago sat down with the presbytery staff person in Chicago and reflected on "What can we do to give young people a mountain-top experience with God?" Typical tours are about 5 days, with several hours of riding in both the morning and afternoon (35 miles).
Men's Lenten Breakfasts & Women's Lenten Bible Studies
Sponsored by the PORTA Ministerial Association, fellowship meetings are held for men and for women at a different host church in the community each Wednesday morning during the six weeks of Lent. The men are served breakfast, followed by a devotional period, and the women have a coffee and book discussion.
Regional and National