V I N E   S T R E E T 
 
 
A Village Of Unconditional, All Forgiving,
Never Ending LOVE.
 
 
Feeling unchurched? Over-churched? Anti-churched?
 
So are we.
Check us out!
 
 
 
 
  
H O W   W E   W O R S H I P

Join Us Sunday Mornings

9:00 A.M. Village

Start your Sunday off in a casual, low-key gathering where we share breakfast and chat about Jesus and life. Small groups for all ages – Nursery Available!
 
 
This ain’t your old fashioned
Sunday School!
 
Join us September – May!
 
 
 

10:00 A.M. Worship

“A little something for everyone and a lot of Jesus” is how we worship. Come as you are and experience our energetic, spirit filled service with moving messages and music ranging from contemporary Christian to traditional hymns.
 
 
This service is geared for all
generations!
 
 

Teaching & Preachings

We teach and preach a Jesus that is real and authentic … Taken straight from the gospels with no biased or politics attached. Whether you’re an active participant or a “fly on the wall” listener, we have something for you.
 
 
Check out our calendar and see what
interests you!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
B I G  I D E A 
 
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15).
 
Pastor Bob
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
C H U R C H   M E D I A

Recent Devotionals

December 2020

Advent Personal Devo; #12 — Dec 10th

“Advent Personal Devo; #12 — Dec 10th”.


Advent Family Devo; #11 — Dec 9th

“Advent Family Devo; #11 — Dec 9th”.


Advent Personal Devo; #11 — Dec 9th

“Advent Personal Devo; #11 — Dec 9th”.


Advent Family Devo; #10 — Dec 8th

“Advent Family Devo; #10 — Dec 8th”.


Advent Personal Devo; #10 — Dec 8th

“Advent Personal Devo; #10 — Dec 8th”.


Advent Family Devo; #9 — Dec 7th

“Advent Family Devo; #9 — Dec 7th”.


Advent Personal Devo; #9 — Dec 7th

“Advent Personal Devo; #9 — Dec 7th”.


Advent Family Devo; #8 — Dec 6th

“Advent Family Devo; #8 — Dec 6th”.


Advent Personal Devo; #8 — Dec 6th

“Advent Personal Devo; #8 — Dec 6th”.


Advent Family Devo; #7 — Dec 5th

“Advent Family Devo; #7 — Dec 5th”.




 
 
 
 
 
F R O M   T H E   B L O G

Recent Posts

Quiet Time By Jackson Silvanik

Over the past week I’ve been doing many small things that I haven’t done in a long time, such as reading physical books, writing in notepads and simply sitting quietly without a phone or tablet to siphon my attention. One of the first things that I noticed is how hard it is to write; not just deciding on a topic or finding the right words, but the actual act of writing with a pen. My handwriting has deteriorated significantly, and it wasn’t easy to read in the first place.

Another thing that I noticed was that the more you sit and search for answers, it soon becomes clear that you aren’t even sure what questions you should be asking. When thinking about various aspects of your life that you wish to improve, you inevitably end up circling back to the biggest questions: how, why, when did things go off the rails? These are the large-scale questions to which there is no immediate answer, and precisely why they can be so frustrating, and without the gratification of a quick result, such reflection can feel fruitless. How can you tell if you’re making progress if you can’t easily mark or define it, or explain it to others?

One of the other things you notice when you sit quietly is just how remarkably loud life can be. Certainly, the world is more accessible now than it ever has been. You can look up anything you want to know, talk to anyone you might need to reach out to, and stay on top of the news just as it’s happening. Consequently, there’s also myriad ways for the world to reach out to you at any moment; to remind you of the bills there are to pay, the tasks you still need to accomplish, to buy this or that. It can come via text or email, endless robocalls, targeted ads in your social media, and it can come at any moment. Simply turning it off for a moment drives home how conditioned we are to such a volume of constant interruption. 

I’ve recently developed a series of small rituals to help give some structure to my day, something that I let go of during the ongoing pandemic, where working from home and the new demands of parenthood have shaken up the 24-hour dynamic, and though I have always been a night owl, it’s made sleep even more distant and anxiety a more constant companion. Starting the day with a devotional has been a welcome tool that helps me start to put one foot in front of the other. Each one concludes with a few meditation tips; things to focus on as you simply sit and breathe for a few minutes. 

One recent reading describes the burden of worry as akin to being a tree trying to stand up against the wind. The mystery and spirit of God is constantly moving all around us, and out of pride and ego, we often try to resist, and worry batters us to exhaustion. One solitary tree cannot bear the burdens and challenges of the world alone, but when we sit and breathe and let the wind move through us instead of flailing against it, the burden can be lightened. The spirit fills the entire forest, and even the still air is always subtly moving. The experience is meant to be shared.

The words “pride” and “ego” have stood out in the different texts that I’ve been reading. It’s a concept that I obviously am meant to absorb. Many of my own challenges stem from the fact that I must learn how to share my fears and worries, to not fear vulnerability and to embrace that you’re rarely alone; you just convince yourself that you are as to appear successful, confident and strong. Mostly, we crave to be in control, and feeling it slip away is stressful. 

Some tips have helped me better calm down and find sleep in the night, one of which is to breathe in slowly and deeply with fists clenched, and then slowly open your hands and extend your fingers as you exhale. The physical act of imagining the pressures of the day releasing from your hands lightens the load just a bit. Sitting, breathing, reflecting and writing have helped me find a few tools to add to the toolkit in the search for improvement; perhaps finding “quiet time” throughout the day will reveal more.


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When Church Comes to You By Jackson Silvanik

I have no problem acknowledging that I am not a typical churchgoer; that is to say, I don’t

regularly attend church in a familiar sense. I haven’t had what I’d consider a home church in

years – I do not wake up each Sunday, put on nice clothes and make my way to a particular

congregation to mingle. Most often, moments of spiritual importance have come to me in

moments of solitude – and as someone with, admittedly, some degree of social anxiety,

fellowship with others isn’t always at the top of my list when it comes to spiritual needs.

Sometimes church isn’t necessarily a place you go, but a state of being that finds you wherever

you are.

I did grow up in the church, though. I went often, and grew up with youth group trips and retreats

and small group gatherings. I attended a Christian high school, and in a sense, you could say I

attended “church” almost every day. I sang the praise songs, learned the Bible via weekly Bible

verses, and recited the Pledge to the Christian Flag every morning. In some ways, I wonder if

the frequency and monotony of the rituals distracted from the real magic of God. What is God,

anyways, if not magical and mystical and spiritual? Sometimes it felt like a chore, or a

homework assignment coming due – often overlooking how big, wondrous and powerful the idea

of a higher spirit and state-of-being can be.

Church is not simply the act of engaging in rituals – it’s an ongoing process of letting life speak

to you when you aren’t expecting it, and finding small moments of peace when you need it most.

The closest thing I have lately had to a “home church” has usually been wherever my dad has

found himself in his pastoral journey. As is typical of Disciples of Christ pastors, his journey

takes him somewhere new every so often. Arthur, as it turns out, has ended up perhaps the

most “home” church that I have experienced for myself in years.

It may be that my life has taken on such new meaning in the time that he has been here. As you

undoubtedly know, my son was recently born while my parents live here. My mom learned to

quilt here, and made him a lovely blanket that we’ll always treasure. My wife and I have visited

numerous times to mark holidays and spend quiet weekends away from our jobs and lives. It’s a

lovely town and there’s something special about it.

The pandemic may have kept people from gathering in-person, but it’s driven home how much

the church is so much bigger than a physical building. I’m happy to turn on a device back in

Lexington and watch my dad deliver a service live from the Vine Street sanctuary.

There’s something special here – an open-minded discussion about racial justice in the wake of

George Floyd’s death, for example. I had the chance to sit in for some of a board meeting about

re-opening the church as Covid-19 continues to surge. What I heard was nothing but

compassion and concern about fellow churchgoers – no politicizing the issue just to open the

doors back up. Not to mention, the kind of town that has an entire festival dedicated to cheese,

and the largest sheet of fire that I’ll likely ever see in-person each July.

Arthur is a wonderful town and I am so glad that you’ve welcomed our family. I’m here now

because the birth of my son has not only been joyful and miraculous, but because it has

amplified issues of my own that I need to work on – finding the ability to let love in, for one, and

try to deal with my worldly anxieties. Coming here is a bit of an escape; a retreat. One of the

things that Christianity always shouts at us is to love others, yet often it seems that we forget to

be loved ourselves. We search in all sorts of places for satisfaction, self-worth and validation,

and yet most of the time we miss what’s already there in the form of our family and friends.

Those little moments of peace are here to be found in Arthur. 

You should be proud of the spiritual community that you’ve created. It will always be a piece of me and my family.


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THE BLESSING OF THE OFFERING

One of the most gratifying aspects of this COVID-19 church-shutdown that we’re in is to see how so many in our congregation make such an intentional and deliberate effort to get their weekly or monthly offering to the church. That shows that many of you care deeply about Vine Street Christian Church. It turns out that a very high percentage of our regular givers are from the ranks of our seniors. The weekly offering has become a part of their religious lifestyle and a representation of their relationship with God. 

Of course, many others give to our church regularly, and generously. But the practice of regular giving is not necessarily an embedded part of their religious life. Many folks give a little when they come, and sometimes a lot. And I wonder if that’s how their relationship with God works; “I know you’re there for me when I need you, and I’ll call on you when I get desperate enough!”  That’s probably not a very effective system for sustaining a local church over the years.  But it sure beats the alternative. 

The truth about the offering is that it provides a way for Jesus followers to complete the act of communion with Jesus on a regular basis. It becomes a spiritual practice and an important part of one’s relationship with God. And … oh yeah … the part we don’t like to talk about much; it provides money for the operations, staffing and maintenance of the church. I don’t shy away from that reality because I see it as an amazing aspect of church life that churches all across the world – through all the ages – have been supported essentially by their members and friends. Actually, it’s very unique in our own American culture. There’s really nothing else quite like it. 

Thus, I see the offering as a win-win for the church. Individual believers are provided the opportunity to make a specific sacrifice for God from the own resources, just as God made a specific sacrifice for each of them through God’s Son, Jesus Christ. And, it’s also a way to sustain the church, and be able to offer everything that an institutional church with Jesus’s name on it things that it should be offering. 

So, on behalf of all of us who benefit directly from your offerings, we say THANK YOU! To each and every one of you who has placed a coin or dollar in the plate or given online … this church is for you, just as Jesus died for you. And, if you’re not yet in the habit of using sacrificial giving as one of your regular spiritual practices, then you may want to consider praying to God about it. That’s the best way to approach anything you do in your life! 

This prayer below is for all of you. For the givers, I hope you find it inspiring and affirming of your giving to the church. For others, I hope that the practical realities of the church offering lifted up in this prayer touch you in your heart and show you a way to join in the financial support of the our church as a regular giver – for your own spiritual benefit. 

In either case, I’d love to know what you think about it! 

AN OFFERING PRAYER WE ALL NEED TO HEAR!

“We offer to you, O God, this money and rejoice in all it will buy and pay for. We thank you that some of it will pay for baloney and cheese from Wal-Mart to feed hungry people.  A few dollars will pay for the work sheets our children carry home after Sunday school. May what they learn here help shape their character and life values. 

“Some of this offering will pay the electricity and heat for this building where we come to worship you, where homeless people come for help, and where other groups meet to help each other and our community.

“We thank you that this offering will pay for our pastor’s salary and the salaries of the church staff who devote themselves to organizing this congregation to make disciples of Jesus to transform the world. May our work here be wise and courageous. And a small portion of this money will help pay our regional office ministers and support the work of all of our DOC ministries around the world.

“We thank you also, God, that the money will not be spent on things that we might desire but that will not really bring us happiness. We thank you that when we give to you, we learn to seek our happiness not in things but in you, and we find a truer happiness this way.

“We thank you, God, that when we give to you rather than spending more on ourselves we fulfill the trust you have placed in us by blessing us with so much. You have blessed us with life, strength, intelligence, abilities and resources, and we thank you for the opportunity to give you joy by being generous to you and others. It is a great blessing to be able to give this money. 

“We know that the way we use the money we have shapes our hearts and affections. So we are grateful that we will love you more as a result of giving this treasure to you. May we give even more to you this coming week so we will love you even more.

“We also remember that some of us who have given the fewest dollars have been the most generous, and some of us who have given more dollars have not given as sacrificially. Still we rejoice in this money we present to you, God. We delight in it. We delight in what it will buy and what it will not buy because we didn’t keep it for ourselves. We love giving you this money, God. Thank you that the Word became flesh and began this earthly Christian movement of love, inclusion, justice, beauty and joy so that we might give our dollars to help fuel it. In gratitude for the blessing of being able to give our money, we pray. Amen.” 

(Acknowledgements to Rev. Dean Snyder – Foundry United Methodist Church, Wash., DC) 

Praying for God’s Love in All that We Do & Give! 

Pastor Bob <>< 


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L E A D E R S H I P

Meet Some Of Our Team

 
Bob Silvanik
 Pastor
 
Beth Jones
Office Manager
 
Karen Good
Music
 
Our Trustees
Bruce Condill, Kevin Huffman ~ Co-Moderators, Ginny Condill ~ Secretary, Shawn Vanausdoll ~ Treasurer, Jared Blaudow ~ Administration
 
 
Church Volunteers
Cleaning Crew
 
 
 
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L O C A T I O N

Contact Info

Address: 249 S. Vine Street Arthur, IL 61911
Phone:217-543-2292