Rev.
Dr. Clifford J. Hayes . . . The intriguing stories told
by Jesus, and all the great theological thinkers, have compelled me throughout
my life. I believe that the process of telling and listening helps all
of us to understand ourselves in community with others — and then
to define the mission to which we are called. Telling our personal stories
is so powerful for children. Sharing a happy or sad story at supper
time has been one of our family's favorite traditions, one which has
produced much discussion and many rich memories. Email Pastor Hayes here. clifford@lincolnschurch.org
Committed to worship and service in downtown Springfield, First Presbyterian Church seeks to embrace the community that surrounds it ——
— by
responding to the issues of the day in thoughtful and caring ways,
— through cherishing the diversity of experience and gifts of people,
— by welcoming ideas
—
and respecting questioning,
— through reaching out to those with spiritual and physical needs,
— and by celebrating growth and discovery,
—— not according to our plan, but within God's mystery.
Our convictions,
which reflect our Presbyterian traditions, stem from our understanding of faith.
Thus, in our life as a church, we are influenced by these convictions ——
— The Bible guides us to an
understanding of God's infinite love for all humankind seen most powerfully
in Jesus’ ministry
of love and selflessness.— Through the Bible's teaching
and the Holy Spirit's inspiration, our spiritual experience is deepened,
and we are encouraged to recognize the element of mystery and holiness.
— The Bible is more than literal
truth; it should be read critically, intelligently and with understanding
of its historical and cultural context.
— The mind is a gift of God
that we are expected to use to think critically and act responsibly.
— The
belief statements of the church point the way to the greater "truth" known
only by God.
In our worshipping community, First Presbyterian
seeks to be inclusive, to value the individual, to challenge
all to dedicate themselves and their lives to God and to seek to live as
Jesus lived.
First Presbyterian Church (FPC) has contracted with the Springfield Association for Retarded Citizens (SPARC) for cleaning and janitorial services. SPARC is a not-for-profit social service agency, which has served developmentally disabled citizens for over forty years. SPARC is the local affiliate of the National Association for Retarded Citizens.
We welcome them warmly.
Shannon Yost
.
. . Jesus taught with boundless love and gentle patience, and this grace
inspires me as Co-Director of Children,
Youth, and Family ministries. I am very happy to have the opportunity
to deepen my love for, and faith in, Christ by sharing the word of God with our children. Their playful curiosity and innocent sincerity in learning the truth of Christ’s plan for their lives makes programs such as Sunday School and Vacation Bible School so important — and so fun. We welcome you and your children to learn more about the joy of living according Christ’s amazing plan every Sunday at 9:00 AM. Email Shannon Yost here. shannon@lincolnschurch.org
Chris Young .
. . When we talk about close connections, we call it a family, whether we are referring
to our immediate family, our church family, or some other gathering of people seeking to understand each other better. It is a privilege and a challenge to work with the kids and families of First Presbyterian
Church as we try to strengthen
our connections to each other and
to the world around us. Any parent will tell you that plenty of free humility training comes with raising children, and I'm sure more humbling experiences are in store with this ministry. It's up to us to remember that when working with children, the lessons run both ways. Email Chris Young here. chris@lincolnschurch.org
Dr.
Rudolf Zuiderveld .
. . As Organist for First Church, I enjoy offering a stylistic variety
of excellent music for worship on
our Opus 35 Brombaugh organ.
My position as Professor of Music
and College Organist at Illinois College enhances my service by allowing me the opportunity to share the glory of music through concerts and lectures across the country
and occasionally in my native Netherlands.
Bernard
Wiseman . . . The music presented during a church service
can have a profound influence on the spiritual experience of worshipers.
As director of the Sanctuary Choir at First Presbyterian Church my goal is
to provide meaningful choral music for the service of worship. Stylistically
speaking, the music will cover the breadth of church choral music repertoire
and music selected for performance will be influenced by the various liturgical
seasons or special events in the church year. I am richly blessed to have
been able to provide choral music leadership in various churches for over
three decades.
Staff Listing:
The Reverend Dr. Clifford J. Hayes - Pastor
Shannon Yost - Dir. of Children,
Youth,
and Family Ministries
Chris Young - Asst. Dir. of Children,
Youth, and Family Ministries
The Reverend Gene Bilotti - Parish Associate
Bernard Wiseman - Choir Director
Dr. Rudolf Zuiderveld - Organist
Tom Melton - Buildings Manager
Cindy Cass - Office Manager | cindy@lincolnschurch.org
Tara Kaeding - Bookkeeper | tara@lincolnschurch.org
Pamela Hayes - WebDesign and Advertising
Nancy A. Betz - Child Care Provider
Mike Self - Assistant Sexton and Security
Brian Piersma - Clerk of Session
LuAnn Atkins | Ann Kelson | Barb Olson
——
Lay Pastors
Contact Us
|
Directions
|
Site Map | Brombaugh Opus 35 Pipe Organ | Cuba Partnership Ministry
Child Protection
Policies (PDF)
© First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, Illinois .
321 South 7th Street . Springfield, IL 62701 .
tele: 217.528.4311 . fax: 217.528.0768
photos by Chris Young and Pamela Hayes | some images© 2007 JupiterImages
Corporation, iStockphoto
Updated March 12, 2008