New Castle Presbyterian News December 2018

Transcription

1 New Castle Presbyterian News December 2018 In the interim. Earlier and earlier every year. This year, I saw Halloween candy, Thanksgiving decorations and Christmas cookies all competing for the same shelf space at the store. What happened to taking turns?!? One more sign of the decline of civility. But just because signs of Christmas come earlier, doesn t mean we anticipate or celebrate it more faithfully. Which is why we need Advent. We need time to grow into the powerful truth of the need for, and gift of, a Savior. The light of candles glowing and growing week by week remind us of the good news that, with the coming of Jesus, the light shines in the darkness and the darkness shall not overcome it. Throughout Advent, we will hear the call of Old Testament prophets in our worship services. We will hear their messages of hope about what, and whom, is yet to come. And we will hear their challenge about how to get ourselves faithfully ready. Get ready to meet Jeremiah, Malachi, Zephaniah and Micah in church! And how about bringing others to meet them and meet us during the Advent season? This is a good time to reach out to neighbors, co-workers, friends and family to come experience your church family. Whom might you invite to join you? Whom might you contact to say you have been missing them, and encourage them to come back and sit with you in worship? Our annual Spirit of Christmas event December 8 is an important time to wear our welcome for all to see. As I shared in my sermon November 18, I have had more than a few conversations with people out on 2 nd Street who assume this is an historic building, and are surprised to know it is an active congregation It s a real church?, they ask. So, with all of the foot traffic in and around our buildings, please come and show people real church! And welcome them to come be a part of it! In this Advent season of waiting and hope, please pray for your Pastor Nominating Committee. They are faithfully reading and meeting, waiting and hoping, for a pastoral candidate who will be a faithful fit for you in this next chapter of your life as a congregation. While they are working hard, they cannot control all the pieces of this pastor search puzzle. Pray for their wisdom, their patience, their insight -and for a pastor to see the ministry that is possible here! In all the ways that we wait, in these days when this world can make it hard to see the hope, we need Advent. See the light grow each week. Be grateful for the gift of a Savior. And seek to make your life ready to receive and celebrate Him once again! Waiting with you, Jenny

2 GLOBAL PEACE & WITNESS OFFERING THANK YOU! Beginning October 7, we welcomed your gifts to the PC(USA) Global Peace & Witness offering. This is one of the PC(USA) offerings where we get to designate 25% to a project/mission/recipient of Session's choosing, based on a Mission & Outreach Committee recommendation. Last summer, M&O recommended, and Session approved, sending the 25% to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) for their response to wildfires. With all the hurricanes and flooding that devastated the southeast this fall, fires seemed like old news and an old need -- until now with the new fires raging in California. So thank you for your gifts, totaling $604. Of that, $151 will be sent to PDA to respond to the needs of those left without homes and resources, and those grieving the loss of loved ones. PDA has responders in place now, working through presbyteries and with congregations to not only put help in place now, but stay for the long haul to help with rebuilding. For updates on how your gift is making a difference, see CfwXMvsNnC YARD WORK SATURDAY, DEC 1, 9am-Noon Please join us for our church yard clean-up. Please bring rakes and/or brooms. All are welcome! Trustees BROWNIE BOXES NEEDED The brownie supply for Emmanuel Dining Room is running low. The Deacons are asking for brownie box donations. Thank you! THREE BOARD MEETING TUESDAY DECEMBER 11 th at 6:00 p.m. The annual meeting of Session, Deacons and Trustees will be held in Fellowship Hall at 6:00 p.m. on December 11. Dinner and discussion will be served, followed by the monthly Session meeting. DECEMBER SOCK DRIVE Please consider donating socks during the month of December. We need socks for both men and women. White sport socks are the best but we will accept anything you would like to donate. Gently worn socks are also acceptable. Each Sunday the socks will be delivered to Friendship House and they will distribute them to the individuals who come to the Sunday breakfasts and also on Code Purple days and night. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Kris will take vacation. Dec 7 Dec 16 Office phones will be covered each day from 10-12

3 WEARING OUR WELCOME Friends: We affirmed our respect for the dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer ( LGBTQ ) individuals when our Session approved two important overtures last December. These overtures were among four overtures unanimously approved by the General Assembly this summer, each addressing, in a different manner, how we view our LGBTQ friends and colleagues and how they should be treated in the community of the risen Christ. In keeping with our commitment to diversity and to being a welcoming congregation that is a light in our community, our Session approved the creation of a LGBTQ Task Force this summer, which will seek to determine how to make our welcome known beyond the walls of our church buildings. One way to further that goal may be to affiliate with More Light Presbyterians ( MLP ) as a member congregation. MLP s mission is to work for the full participation of [LGBTQ] people in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in society. Another way to do this is by wearing our welcome. To that end, you will see brightlycolored yard signs on church grounds that proclaim our welcome of not only LGBTQ persons, but immigrants, persons with disabilities, persons of color, and those of different faiths. The Session approved the purchase and display of these signs, which we believe send an important message to visitors as we enter the season of Advent, and welcome the community to our Church on December 8 for The Spirit of Christmas. We realize that, for some, this may be a bold move, and for some, it may be long overdue. But in any event, it is not to be taken lightly, and we invite you to engage with the LGBTQ Task Force in conversation at coffee hour; privately by ; or, as a low-tech option, by placing notes in my church mailbox. If you want to join the Task Force, we welcome additional perspectives as we seek to discern how best to move forward as a congregation. We also look forward to table talk opportunities in the New Year, which will be an opportunity to provide information and encourage discussion among our church family. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me or any of our members with questions, ideas, or thoughts. Scott Matthews, for The NCPC LGBTQ Task Force (under the Mission & Outreach Committee of Session): Scott Matthews, Chair and Session elder, Diana Reilly, Chair and Session elder Salina Brett, Miranda Matthews, Rev. Jenny Warren

4 NEW WEBSITE IN THE WORKS! Session has approved a new website for the congregation, and it is underway! We hope to make it inviting not only to seeking pastors checking us out, but to those in the community who now get their first impression of a congregation via website. We will be using photographs of our church family in various settings and activities, to show that we are alive and engaged in worship and service. If you do NOT want your image to appear in any way on our website, please Jenny ASAP at jpwarren@newcastlepreschurch.org UPDATE FROM YOUR PASTOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE The Pastor Nominating Committee is still diligently working to find the next pastor for our church. We have recently held a mock interview with a neighboring pastor to hone our interviewing skills and get some sense of what questions may be asked of us. We are in the process of scheduling candidates for interviews over the next several weeks, and are still receiving PIFs from those that are interested in the position. We hope to have most interviews completed before the Christmas holiday. Peter McCurdy, Nanette Nichol, Jo Viola, Jen Dunham, Ray Snyder, Melissa Boris, Lyn Briggs, Conchita Showell. CONGREGATIONAL MEETING SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16 Session has called for a Congregational Meeting on Sunday December 16, immediately following worship, in the Meeting House, for the purpose of reviewing the 2019 budget approved by Session. USHERS STILL NEEDED! Can you say Good morning!? Hand out bulletins? Count to 80? Collect the offering? Then you can be an usher AND WE NEED YOU! The Worship Committee has a sign up sheet in the CE Building and it is BLANK on 12/23, 12/24 (5:30 pm Christmas Eve service), 12/30 and 1/13, 20 and 27. Can you help? Instructions and lots of gratitude - provided! CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP We will offer two services on Christmas Eve December 24 5:30 p.m. Family Service songs, a participatory story and candle lighting 7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Service scripture, songs, choir, candle lighting

5 SYMPATHY The prayers and sympathy surround all the loved ones of Dr. Jason Campbell, who died to this life on November 13, We give thanks to God for the gift of his life, and for the new life he now lives, in which we find our hope CAROLING IN OLD NEW CASTLE FRIDAY, DEC., 21st We will meet at the church at 7:00pm and proceed from there walking around Old New Castle and caroling. We will end up at Gene and Carol Mayhew s house (17 E. 5 th Street in New Castle) for refreshments and fellowship (we usually arrive there between 8:00 and 8:30pm). Please join us at the Mayhew s even if you are unable to walk around and carol BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION Don t throw that box away just yet! The children in our Sunday school classes all collect Box Tops to help raise money for their schools, and you can help! General Mills, Ziploc, Hefty, and Pillsbury are just a few products that participate in the Box Tops for Education program. Before you throw the box away, look for the little pink Box Tops logo! We will be collecting them throughout the year, and then split them up evenly among the Sunday school class. If you have any questions, please contact Diana Reilly, or anyone on the Christian Education Committee. We appreciate all of your help, we can t wait to see how much we collect! PHOTO DIRECTORY UPDATE DID WE MISS YOUR FACE? We had a wonderful response to the Deacons November Photo Month project! We have all kinds of smiling Presbyterian faces --- but maybe not yours? If we missed you, it s not too late! Please contact Julie Barry at jrbjab@comcast.net to arrange a time for her to get your photo taken. Or, she and her camera may find you one of these December Sundays! Remember, this is one of the best gifts you can give your next pastor!

6 Mission Moments The Mission and Outreach Committee has been busy learning the history of our missions here at New Castle Presbyterian Church. We've been reviewing the survey results many of you filled out which reinforced our thinking that you are committed to carrying out the missions with which we're all familiar (Friendship House, Seaman's Center, Spirit of Christmas and more) but may not be as aware of newer opportunities. Thank you to all of you who took the time and effort to fill the surveys out. We appreciate your input and hope that you may step up to help support these mission projects as those who have spear headed them for many years look to pass the leadership on. Our Spark Grant project, as outlined in last month's newsletter, had gotten off to a great start. Our new mentors will start their work at Carrie Downie and Eisenberg Elementary Schools in January. We're all excited at the opportunity to enrich both our lives and a child's life through the mentoring process. In addition, last week committee members had the pleasure of shopping for and filling 10 Thanksgiving baskets for families at Carrie Downie Elementary School who otherwise may not have a Thanksgiving meal to share. The Spark Grant has also enabled us to make donations to the food pantries at Eisenberg and New Castle Elementary Schools which will be used to keep their shelves stocked with food, cleaning items, personal hygiene items and clothing, available to those children and their families in need right here in our own neighborhood. The Mission and Outreach Committee has also made a donation to the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program at Delaware State University. Jenny recently attended a Presbytery informational meeting outlining the tenuous status of this group of young people brought to the U.S. as children, but now living with uncertainty in their daily lives. Delaware State is one of only 3 colleges in the country providing funds for these students who are not eligible for typical funding sources and must pay $495 every two years to renew their DACA status. In addition, a donation was made to Child, Inc. to help provide last minute Christmas gifts for those served by this non-profit. The mission of Child, Inc. is to be the leading advocate for Delaware's dependent, neglected and abused children and their parents. We also extend a great thank you to all who donated the bountiful gifts to fill 40 ditty boxes for the Seaman's Center this year. On Sunday, Nov. 18, many hands helped fill 40 boxes to overflowing with pens, paper, toiletries, cough drops, razors, shampoo, cards, hats and scarves to brighten the lives of those who spend so much time at sea, away from family and friends. If you would like to be a part of these and other on-going meaningful mission projects, contact any member of the committee (Candy Dunson, Cynthia Robbins, Gail Seitz, Scott Selheimer, Conchita Showell or Jenny Warren) and come join the fun!

7 THE GIVING PUZZLE IS NEARLY COMPLETE! We are so thankful, so very thankful -- for the way this church family has responded to this year's GIVING PUZZLE Stewardship Challenge! On Pledge Dedication Sunday, $174,367 in pledges was placed in that Puzzle Box! Since then, others have added their pieces. And as of November 29, we have received $181,747 from 62 pledging units! Of these 62 pledges are increased over last year (including 1 new pledge!)... 5 have decreased have remained the same We are still hopeful that the 12 folks who pledged in 2018 will do so for If they do, our puzzle will be complete, and our budget income goal will be met! If you are one of those 12, please complete and return a pledge form to the church office as soon as possible. They are available on the church website or from the church office. Session meets on December 11 to determine the Mission and Ministry Budget for think what we could do with all the pledging pieces in place! Every Piece - Every Person - Counts. Thank you all for rising to the occasion, and for giving like a church that has hope for your future!

8 WAYS TO FEED YOUR SPIRIT THIS ADVENT SEASON d365 is sponsored by three denominational partners: the Congregational Life office of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Youth Ministries Office of the Episcopal Church. This daily online devotional with music, scripture, and reflection invites us to pause, listen, think, pray, and act, and can be subscribed to or visited on a daily basis. Connect to it here: God Lifts the Lowly: A PC(USA) Advent Devotional Presbyterians Today s new Advent devotional for 2018 is based on verse 52 from Mary s Song of Praise also known as The Magnificat found in Luke 1: He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly. The link below will take you to the devotional /PresbyteriansToday2018Advent.pdf UPDATED CHURCH DIRECTORY As always there are a few glitches in the system. I was getting ready to print the first draft of the directory and there was an update to the system. I had to learn a whole new program. I truly did not believe that I would ever figure it out but persistence prevailed. I was so happy that I created a document that looked something like the previous but of course still a few bugs to be worked out. There are a few individuals that because of coding did not make the 2018 Directory. Please add the following if you picked up a directory. They are available in the CE building entranceway. William "Andy" and Makenzie Schulz Ike Andy s Cell: (412) E 2nd Street Makenzie s maknanderson@gmail.com New Castle DE Tom & Marilyn Webster 139 Delaware Crossing Marilyn s Cell: (609) Swedesboro NJ Marilyn s justwetwo@comcast.net

9 Flower Guild Annual Poinsettias Donations are being taken for poinsettias. Please fill out the form and return to the office. The Sanctuary will be decorated for two weeks. Flowers may be taken home after the Christmas Eve service. The deadline for orders will be December 9, The cost is $ Please make checks payable to NCPC. NAME: In Memory/Honor of: How many:

10 SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, WE NEED YOU! You can help in many ways. We need people to assist with setup on December 7 and sales and events on December 8. We also need your donations of time and items between now and then to prepare for this annual event. Here is a reference list of our opportunities: Books: Coffee-table quality books and other nearly new volumes are preferred. Delaware specific books also sell very well. Please do not bring games, VHS tapes, or DVDs. You may bring books in boxes or sturdy shopping bags clearly labeled for SOC to the church and leave them in the CE building entry area. If you have questions, or if you have a large number of books to donate, please contact Peter McCurdy for guidelines. Homemade Soups and Breads: Think about Spirit of Christmas as you plan your Christmas treat-making! Containers and labels will be available in the church kitchen. For details or soup recipes, please contact Susan Townsend or Janet Reed. Crafts: If you have a homemade craft specialty to offer, please contact Ellie Gerhart. If you have created items for Spirit of Christmas in past years, please consider making more to sell this year. Cookies: Calling all Cookies! It's that time again and, as you may know, the beverage/cookie table is always appreciated by Spirit of Christmas visitors. Please deliver your cookies (home-baked or purchased) to the church kitchen Friday, 12/7 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30p.m. or early Saturday morning. Thank you, Brenda Walters Red and green Save the date cards are available in the entry area of the CE building. Please pick up a few and distribute them to your friends and other contacts. There are many other opportunities for participation before and during the event on December 8! Sign-up sheets will be posted in the CE building. Contact Monty Gerhart, volunteer coordinator, ( ), to offer your time and learn how you can help. Please remember that all proceeds from donations and sales for Spirit of Christmas at New Castle Presbyterian Church are given to Friendship House mission for the homeless in New Castle County.

11 NEVER TO EARLY TO DONATE A FROZEN TURKEY! If you earn credit for a free turkey this fall please consider donating that free turkey to a Christmas Food Basket project being organized by the Newark Area Welfare Committee. Beverly Stoudt is co-chairperson of this large undertaking. Approximately 375 families and senior citizens will receive a week s worth of non-perishable food on Saturday, December 15. Each basket also will be accompanied by a lb. frozen turkey for Christmas dinner. Many grocery stores are offering bargain prices and offers of free turkeys before Thanksgiving. And, some companies give their employees a free turkey for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. If you have accumulated credit or expect a gift of a turkey and do not want it, please consider giving it to our Christmas Food Basket project. We will need your donated turkey any time before Sun. Dec. 9th. If you plan to donate please call Beverly Stoudt, as soon as you get the turkey, at to arrange for pick up and storage. We have a facility that will store as many turkeys as we can get. If you would like to bring your donated turkey to any Sunday church service that would be wonderful and hopefully easy for your family. Put it in the kitchen freezer and tell Beverly it is there. If you want to purchase a turkey and donate it we will be very grateful. Remember the prices are much better before Thanksgiving than after. We will pledge a turkey. We will bring our donated turkey to church. We do not have space to store a turkey and will need to have our donated turkey picked up. Please call our family at. Thank you for considering this loving project and taking the time to secure a frozen turkey! -Beverly Stoudt ( ), Newark Area Welfare Committee, P.O. Box 951, Newark, DE 19715

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13 December Birthdays and Anniversaries Frank Boris, 12/2 James Anderson, 12/13 T. J. Gillespie, 12/4 Pat Taylor, 12/16 Lisa Fries, 12/5 Kim Beebe, 12/17 Conchita Showell, 12/6 Kevin Collins, 12/18 Parker Boris, 12/8 Celia Viola, 12/19 Vic Clark, 12/8 Lyn Briggs, 12/22 Robert McCullough, 12/8 Annabelle Kern, 12/22 Daniel Barry, 12/9 Charlotte McDowell, 12/30 Bruce & Lisa Raker, 12/14 Connie & Don Reese, 12/28 Jim & Susan Flook, 12/30 Meals on Wheels HELP! We need Meals on Wheels delivery people for Call Susan Flook at if you are interested. Substitutes needed, too. No weekend deliveries. Thanks. Consider this as your call in Christ! Our next delivery will be December If anyone is interested in delivering meals to shutin Seniors in the New Castle area, please contact the office at Monday 10 Tuesday 11 Wednesday 12 Thursday 13 Friday 14 Jude Morrow Jo Viola Joan Smith Miranda Matthews Carol & Gene Mayhew Cynthia Robbins Nanette Nichol Susan & Jim Flook Monthly Report Look here each month for a statistical report on the life of the congregation: Membership: September Loss by Death, Jason Campbell (11/13/18) October Income thru 11/01/18: 2018 Budget:... $224, Actual:... $208, Expenses thru 11/01/18: 2018 Budget:... $216, Actual:... $209,502.00

14 THANKS FOR SERVING IN DECEMBER! COMMUNION December 2 Miranda & Scott Matthews*, Ringo Keka, Dan & Shirley Knox USHERS December 2 Dylan & Mason Reilly December 9 Mark Rappold(?) & Ringo Keka December 16 Salina Brett & Ringo Keka December 23 & December 24 5:30 & December 24 7:30 Jim & Barbara Whisman December 30 & COFFEE HOUR HOSTS December 2 Gail & C.J. Seitz December 9 Sarah McCann December 16 Juliann Barry & Zarina Stone December 23 Carol Mayhew December 30 Noon Circle WORSHIP LEADERS December 2 Candy Dunson December 9 Ray Snyder December 16 Jane Fouracre December 23 Salina Brett December 24 5:30 & December 24 7:30 December 30 Minerva Lermond NURSERY December 2 Molly Shaw & Melissa Boris December 9 Amanda & James Anderson December 16 Chris Fagles & Lyn Briggs December 23 Molly Cooney & Jane Fouracre December 30 Makenzie & Andy Schulz SUNDAY SCHOOL December 2 Bev Stoudt December 9 Laurie/Connie Bell December 16 Sarah McCann December 23 Christmas Party December 30 Ron & Susan Studd COUNTERS December 2 Carol Mayhew & Bruce Raker December 9 Jane Fouracre & Brenda Walters December 16 Barbara Whisman & Carol Mayhew December 23 Jane Fouracre & Brenda Walters December 30 Carol Mayhew & Lyn Briggs EMMANUEL DINING ROOM Steve Martin Cynthia Robbins Miranda Matthews FLOWERS Brenda Walter

15 New Castle Presbyterian Church 25 E. 2 nd Street New Castle, DE Phone: (302) Fax: (302) office@newcastlepreschurch.org Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Address Change Requested Contact the New Castle Presbyterian Church office: office@newcastlepreschurch.org Contact: The Rev. Jenny Warren at: jpwarren@newcastlepreschurch.org Next Newsletter Deadline is December 20, 2018