Faith Presbyterian Church

05/26/2026

Faith Presbyterian Church Weekly Devotion May 26, 2026
“God’s People Coming Together to Serve"
- Rev. Dr. Tom Dickerson, Pastor

"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." — Romans 12:4-5

Yesterday, on Memorial Day, our church family experienced something beautiful. We gathered for pancakes and premium whole hog sausage, and God showed up in record numbers. What began as a simple youth fundraiser turned into a powerful reminder of how the Lord moves among His people.

It wasn’t fancy. It was pancakes, sausage, syrup and smiling faces. Ordinary things. But when ordinary people come together with willing hearts, God multiplies the impact. Funds were raised for youth programming that will disciple, encourage, and equip our young people throughout the coming year. Lives will be touched not because of one superstar effort, but because many hands worked, many feet served, and many hearts gave.

This is how God often chooses to work: through the collective faithfulness of everyday people. He doesn’t need celebrities or perfect conditions. He uses moms flipping pancakes, dads grilling sausage, teenagers clearing tables, parents welcoming guests, and families showing up to support the next generation. Each person played a different role, but together they accomplished something significant.

Memorial Day itself reminds us of sacrifice and service. We honor those who gave everything for our nation. In the church, we are also called to a kind of service—one that lays down personal convenience for the good of others and the glory of God. When we serve shoulder to shoulder, we reflect the heart of Jesus, who came not to be served, but to serve.

No matter how ordinary your gifts or your schedule may feel today, remember this: God is at work through His people coming together. Your smile at the door, your willingness to help, your financial support, your prayers—they all matter in the body of Christ. Thank you!

05/24/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOfTYKDpIuA

Dr. Tom Dickerson , Pastor

05/20/2026

Faith Presbyterian proudly congratulates our three graduating seniors: Ireland Deming, Cole Henkenmeier, and Joey Trenter!

We will honor these graduates on Sunday, June 7, during our worship service, with fellowship to follow at 10:30 a.m.

Please join us in congratulating Ireland, Cole, and Joey as we celebrate this special milestone and pray God’s blessings on their future journeys!

05/18/2026

Faith Presbyterian Church Quincy, Illinois
Weekly Devotion - May 18, 2026
Let Your Light Shine: “Empowered in Every Season”
- Dr. Tom Dickerson, Pastor

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” -Matthew 5:14-16

Pentecost was never meant to be a one-time spectacular event. It was the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit who empowered fearful disciples to become bold witnesses, turning a small gathering into the launching pad of the Church that still advances today. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit didn’t just visit, He indwelt believers, equipping them to be the light Jesus described in the Sermon on the Mount.

Your life as a believer carries that same charge. The light is not your own personality, talents, or even moral effort—it is Christ in you, shining through the power of the Holy Spirit. In a world that feels increasingly dark with uncertainty, division, and change, we are not called to blend in.

As we move through the remainder of May 2026, many are marking endings and new beginnings: preschoolers stepping into kindergarten, high school graduates heading to college or the workforce, seasoned professionals stepping into retirement. Every transition reminds us that life is a continual journey of becoming the person Jesus intends us to be.

Growth rarely feels comfortable. Some struggles are self-inflicted, those poor choices or repeated patterns we can’t seem to break. Others remain mysterious—losses, health issues, or circumstances we still don’t understand. God’s plans can feel elusive in those moments. Yet the narrow path is not walked by perfect sight or perfect strength. It is walked by faith, empowered by the same Spirit who came at Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit’s role is practical and ongoing. He convicts and corrects (keeping us on the narrow path). He comforts in sorrow and strengthens in weakness. He produces fruit in us (love, joy, peace, patience...) that becomes visible light to others. He gives gifts and boldness to serve and witness.

How do we live out Matthew 5:14-16 right where we are, in our transitions, struggles, joys, and sorrows? In seasons of ending or beginning (graduation, retirement, relocation), choose the words and decisions that reflect trust in God’s sovereignty. Share with others honestly: “I don’t have all the answers, but I know who does.” Your calm confidence becomes light. Your humility becomes hope for someone struggling. Let your visible actions, your words and how you live, point people to the Father. Share your time with a new retiree, consider mentoring a graduate, or listen to someone wrestling with self-inflicted pain without quick judgment. These small, consistent Start every day with surrender, asking the Holy Spirit, to fill you afresh today, just as You did at Pentecost.

Be a visible city on a Hill! Don’t hide your faith under a bowl of busyness, fear, or “keeping it hidden.” Share your story, as imperfect as it may be, because your ongoing growth testifies that Jesus is still transforming lives.

05/17/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qudEKHczFso

Dr. Tom Dickerson , Pastor

05/11/2026

Faith Presbyterian Church Quincy, Illinois
May 11, 2026 Weekly Devotion

“Honoring the Office of Mother”- Rev. Dr. Tom Dickerson, Pastor

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”-Exodus 20:12

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.’”-Proverbs 31:28-29

Yesterday was Mother’s Day, a time when we pause to celebrate and honor the sacred office of motherhood, an institution beautifully designed by God Himself. From the very beginning, God placed the family at the center of His creation. Mothers carry, nurture, teach, pray, sacrifice, and shape the next generation in ways that echo the heart of Jesus.

Every family story is different. Some grew up with warm, present mothers; others experienced absence or complicated relationships. Yet Scripture calls us to honor the office of mother even when the individual story is imperfect. God does not demand flawless performance from mothers or from children, but He does look for obedient faith. He invites us to trust Him in our roles, whether as parent or child, and to extend grace where brokenness exists.

Jesus Himself modeled profound honor toward women and mothers. He received care from His own mother, Mary, and in His final moments on the cross made provision for her. He listened to women, taught them deeply, entrusted them with the first news of His resurrection, and valued their faith and courage. In a culture that often-marginalized women, Jesus elevated them.

The command to honor parents is one of the few with a promised blessing attached. Likewise, parents are instructed not to provoke their children to anger, but to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Both directions matter. How we treat our mothers and fathers’ reveals our heart toward God’s authority, and how mothers and fathers steward their children reveals their trust in God’s design.

Today, whether your mother is near or gone, whether the relationship is easy or strained, take time to thank God for the gift of life she helped give you. If possible, express honor through words, actions, forgiveness, and prayer. If you are a mother, rest in the truth that God sees your faithful obedience more than your imperfections. His grace is sufficient.

I was fortunate to have a Godly mother, grandmothers, and many other surrogate moms in the small town I grew up in. There is not a day that goes by that I am not reminded by their sacrifice, their steadfast resolve, and their love for the Lord. I count myself blessed. Heavenly blessings for all mom’s gone before us.

05/10/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzLArJJvD6M

Dr. Tom Dickerson , Pastor

05/07/2026

Join us Sunday, May 10, as we honor our mothers and the women who helped shape and mold us into the great people God created us to be.

05/04/2026

Faith Presbyterian Church Quincy, IllinoisMay 4, 2026 Weekly Devotion “Yielding to the Power”- Rev. Dr. Tom Dickerson, Pastor

“‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Zechariah 4:6)

Imagine standing at the starting line of a Pine Wood Derby or Soap Box Derby race. The rules are simple and strict: no motors, no batteries, no pushing. Your carefully crafted car must rely entirely on gravity, momentum, and the design you poured into it. The moment you release it at the top of the hill, your work is done. The car glides forward, picking up speed not because of your frantic effort, but because of the unseen force of gravity pulling it downward. Try to “help” it along the track, and you’ll only slow it down or disqualify yourself. The real power was never meant to come from you.

Life with God often feels like that derby car. or like rowing a small boat across a vast lake. We grip the oars, muscles burning, sweat pouring, determined to reach the other shore by our own strength. We push, we strive, we exhaust ourselves trying to generate momentum. But Jesus never intended for us to live the Christian life in our own power. At Pentecost, He gave us something far better.

In Acts 2, the disciples were waiting in Jerusalem as Jesus had commanded. They weren’t strategizing campaigns or building programs in their own wisdom. They were simply yielded—praying, united, expectant. Then the Holy Spirit came like a rushing wind and tongues of fire. Ordinary people were transformed. Peter, who had denied Jesus, stood boldly and preached, and thousands were saved. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead now lived in them, and in every believer who would come after.

The Holy Spirit is not a distant force or occasional boost. He is the very presence and power of God within us. Like the wind filling sails, He moves us forward with divine momentum. Like gravity on the derby track, He carries us when we simply let go and trust His design. Rowing in our own strength leads to burnout and frustration. Yielding to the Spirit brings joy, peace, and supernatural results.

Think about the areas where you’ve been striving lately, perhaps in your work, your family, your ministry, or your personal growth. What would it look like to release control and let the Holy Spirit take the lead? Galatians 5:16 invites us: “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” The fruit of that yielded life, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness is not manufactured by effort. It grows naturally when we stay connected to the Creator.

Today, pause and pray: “Holy Spirit, I surrender my oars. Fill me afresh as You did at Pentecost. Move in me, through me, and ahead of me. I choose to rely on Your power instead of my own.”

The race isn’t won by the strongest rower or the most determined pusher. It’s won by the car that stays in its lane and lets the hill do its work. You were never meant to power your own life. The same Spirit who empowered the early church is available to you right now. Yield to Him. Let Him carry you. The ride will be far more beautiful and far more effective, than anything you could achieve alone.

05/03/2026

Energy and Enthusiasm at Lollipop Preschool Sunday!