Advent is upon us! December 2018

Transcription

1 First Presbyterian Church of Succasunna 99 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ ~ December 2018 Advent is upon us! Join us on Sunday, Dec. 2 as we begin our Advent sermon series based on Rev. Matt Rawle s book, The Gift of the Nutcracker. The Nutcracker Ballet first premiered in Saint Petersburg in 1892 and has become a Christmas Tradition for so many families. No, we are not going to have any ballet, but we will move through the story as we examine the themes of Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace. Dec. 2: Clara Waiting for Christmas The Candle of Hope Dec. 9: Drosselmeir: a Godfather s Love The Candle of Love Dec. 16: Christmas Pageant a Lamb s Tale The Candle of Joy Dec. 23: The Nutcracker: The Greatest Gift The Candle of Peace Blessings, ~ Pastor Carie INSIDE THIS ISSUE December Calendar... 2 Prayer Concerns, etc Lectionary... 4 December Updates... 4 December Updates... 5 Alternative Gift Market... 6 Bake Sale... 7 Save the Date... 8 Order Poinsettias... 9 Community AT THE OPEN DOOR Pastor: Rev. Carie Morgan Secretary: Janet Melvin Editor: Sandie DiDomenico Church Office: Fax: E: fpcsunna@optonline.net January Open Door submissions to: OpenDoorEditor@yahoo.com by December 19th, 2018

2 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 11am-4pm Roxbury Home for the Holidays 2 9am Sunday School 10:00 Worship Communion Following Worship Fellowship Time 3 6:30-9:00 DBSA Meeting Downstairs in Yellow Sunday School Room 4 5 7:30 Session Meeting In Fellowship Hall 6 7:30 Service of Hope At SUMC 7 Church Office Closed 8 2pm Julie Sauder s Piano Recital 6:00-7:30 GS Mtg Fllwshp Hall 6:45-9:15 Boy Scout Meeting in Fellowship Hall 1 st Sunday of Advent am Sunday School 10:00 Worship Following Worship Fellowship Time 1:00-2:00 Christmas Concert in Sanctuary 2 nd Sunday of Advent 16 6:00 Mission Meeting in Fellowship Hall 6:30-9:00 DBSA Meeting Downstairs in Yellow Sunday School Room 17 Church Office Closed am-3pm Wreaths Across America 10:00 Refreshments in Fellowship Hall 11:00 Laying of the Wreaths in FPCS Cemetery 12pm Ceremony In Sanctuary Lunch to Follow 22 9am Sunday School 10:00 Worship Sunday School Pageant Following Worship Fellowship Time 6:00-9:30 DBSA Holiday Party in Fellowship Hall Church Office Closed 6:00-7:30 GS Mtg Fllwshp Hall 3 rd Sunday of Advent am Sunday School 10:00 Worship Following Worship Fellowship Time 4 th Sunday of Advent 30 Christmas Eve Services 5pm Family Service 11:00 Candlelight Service Church Ofc Closed 31 Merry Christmas Church Office Closed Church Office Closed No Sunday School 10:00 Worship Following Worship Fellowship Time New Year s Eve

3 Prayers & Concerns: June Varcoe The Kerr family Sue Buldiger Amanda Ellen and Charlie Alpaugh Georganne and Fred Pisorchik Kim Saul Bernadette Hill Austin and Mike Bennett Elaine Bearley Ed Loughrey and family Carrie and Justin Dawn Ward Barbara Colwell Alex C. Connie Pat Piserchio Please Pray for the Families of: Tom French and Donny Klein Session Snippets The Session of FPCS calls a meeting of the Congregation on Sunday, Dec. 2 directly following worship for the purpose of receiving the slate of nominations for elders and deacons and electing these elders and deacons to the various classes of 2020, 21 and 22. Thank You Our annual Tea and Fashion Show on October 20th was a huge success. I want to thank everyone for all your help. We made $2, for our church. Thank you to all the bakers, sandwich makers, models, those who helped set up, serve and clean up. It takes a lot of hands to pull this off thank you one and all for a job well done! ~ Sue Anderson 3

4 LECTIONARY December 2 1 st Sunday of Advent Jer. 33:14-16, Ps. 25:1-10; 1 Thess. 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36 December 9 2 nd Sunday of Advent Mal. 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79; Phil. 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6 December 16 3 rd Sunday of Advent Zeph. 3:14-20; Isa. 12:2-6; Phil. 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18 December 23 4 th Sunday of Advent Micah 5:2-5a; Luke 1:46b-55 or Ps. 80:1-7; Heb. 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) DECEMBER UPDATES Join Roxbury s winter street fair with music, food trucks, crafts, Santa, carriage rides along Street in Succasunna. Inside our Fellowship Hall is our Bake Sale-Café. We'll have delicious baked goods for sale and hot tea, coffee and cocoa that you can take with you or sit awhile and enjoy in our cozy warm Fellowship Hall. All cookies, cakes, and assorted other goodies will be freshly made. Take them home and pop them in the freezer and remove as needed. The people you entertain at Christmas will be delighted and think you baked for days! We are looking for bakers and people to help sell our goods. If you can help please contact Sue Anderson at or sueanderson14@verizon.net. More info on page 7. "Home for the Holidays" Sat., Dec. 1st, 11am-4pm December 30 1 st Sunday after Christmas Day 1 Sam. 2:18-20, 26; Ps. 148; Col. 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52 Shop Rite Gift Cards The Annual Giving Tree A Christmas tree with tags of needed toys is in Fellowship Hall. The toys will be collected on Sunday, December 9 th during the Toy March during worship. Shoprite Gift Cards can be purchased weekly by contacting Dick Schulte; he can be ed at rnslks@optonline.net. If you are unable to attend church that Sunday there will be a box by the tree for your gifts. Toys and books are greatly appreciated.please no toy weapons. As in years past the toys will be going to Child and Family Resources in Mt. Arlington. An agency that serves families who are low income by providing financial assistance in the child care needs of their child. You can check them out at 4

5 DECEMBER UPDATES Purchase a Christmas Wreath and Support Boy Scouts Boy Scout Troop 163 will be having their annual Christmas Tree Wreath sale fundraiser starting the weekend after Thanksgiving. The Boy Scouts will be selling the wreaths at Roxbury Fire Company #1 located at 122 Main St, Succasunna, NJ Hours of the sale are 6pm - 9pm Fridays, 11am - 7pm Saturdays and 11am 5pm Sundays sale starts Friday November 23rd. Wreaths are $30 each. The children of our Sunday School are planning a Christmas Pageant for Sunday, December 16th. Followed by refreshments after this fabulous New Orleans sound! FREE or optional donation. Wreaths Across America Saturday, Dec. 15th First Presbyterian Church of Succasunna You can donate a wreath to be placed on a Veterans grave at the Succasunna cemeteries: First Presbyterian, Succasunna United Methodist and Pleasant Hill/Hillside Ave. cemeteries. They are $15 each and you can mail a check or money order to: Wreaths Across America to 20 Garden Ct., Succasunna, NJ or go on line and pay with a credit card at: Come help place the wreaths on the graves at 11am at the Succasunna Presbyterian cemetery and a dedication service will be at 12noon inside our church. There will be coffee and donuts before and light lunch after inside our Fellowship Hall. This again is sponsored by the Ferro Monte Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Morris Habitat s 121 Main Street Project Stay tuned for more information on the 121 Main Street Groundbreaking event and FPC Succasunna volunteer team build dates. If you re interested or need more information, please let Kathy Ritchey know, at kritchey@optonline.net. 5

6 It s never too early to think about Christmas shopping do you have someone on your list that is difficult to buy for.or has everything? How about a gift that makes a difference? If interested, please check off the items you would like to purchase and submit a check made out to FPCS, by December 19th. Checks and this sheet with your designations can be mailed to or left in the church office. We will get a gift donation letter to you for your recipient. You can also purchase these items during the Alternative Gift Market on Saturday, December 1 st. We will also have gift items from SERRV for you to purchase. Any questions, please call Linda Fleischer at Non Profit Homeless Solutions, Morristown NJ offering shelter, services and supportive housing to the homeless and working poor in Morris County. Family Promise, Morristown NJ dedicated to ending the crisis of homelessness in Morris County. Faith Kitchen, Dover, NJ provides nutritious meals daily to those in need. Morris Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Camp Johnsonburg, Johnsonburg, NJ year round camp and conference center serving all people in a beautiful and natural environment. Presbyterian Missions the ministry and mission agency of the Presbyterian Church. Heifer International works to end hunger and poverty around the world by providing livestock and agricultural training. Gift Options $25 feeds 10 children lunch at the shelter $50 feeds 20 children lunch at the shelter $75 feeds 30 children lunch at the shelter $100 feeds 40 children lunch at the shelter $20 laundry card $25 diapers/wipes for a week $25 Uber Gift Card $50 groceries for 2 for 1 week $ plastic forks $10 2 tubs of butter $20 5 gallons of milk $100 commercial coffee pot $5 2x4 plywood stud $10 bucket of nails $15 section of sheet rock $50 bundle of roof shingles $250 exterior door $10 1 LED light for cabin $15 1 curtain for private changing area $20 1 bench for cabin $45 1 cubbie for cabin $90 1 new mattress $10 farming tools $25 a family of chickens $30 one bag of seeds $10 share of sheep, pig or goat $20 flock of chicks $30 gift of honeybees $60 trio of rabbits

7 Bakers Needed for Home for the Holidays Bake Sale & Café The Fundraising Team is looking for bakers (and candy/fudge makers) for our bake sale & café on Saturday, December 1 st at Home for the Holidays. This street festival event is open from 11AM until 4PM. Donation drop off times are Thursday 11/29/18 during church office hours 9:30am 1pm and Friday 11/30/18 during set-up from 5pm- 8pm. We are looking for donations of homemade baked goods and candies as follows : Cookies (including holiday types); package some up in zip lock bags 3 small cookies or 2 large ones Tins of cookies festive holiday tins Breads pumpkin, banana, cranberry, spice, chocolate chip etc. Large size but also mini sized loaves Brownies, Blondies package some on a plate; or 1 big brownie in a zip lock bag, 2 smaller etc. Fudge packaged for gift giving and some in zip lock bag a few pieces to a bag Rice crispy treats in zip lock bags Other holiday candy/snack items (i.e. pretzels dipped in chocolate etc.) Larger zip lock bags of popcorn drizzled with chocolate & caramel Apple pie, chocolate cake, Coffee cake, crumb cake Anything you think would sell well at a holiday bake sale We ll sell a mix of large items shoppers can take home and small bags of cookies/snacks that people can eat right away. Please contact Sue Anderson to let her know what you plan to make at or sueanderson14@verizon.net. Thank you bakers! We could not do this without you and we really appreciate your help! Family Promise Needs You! Our church will be supporting the First Baptist church in Succasunna by hosting the evening of Thursday December 22nd. We will need the following: 2 people to prepare a meal 2 people for the dinner shift 6pm to 8pm 2 people for the overnight shift 8pm to 6am Please let me know if you would like to volunteer. The 6pm to 8pm shift is great for a family with children to volunteer. Contact: Linda Fleischer, (text or call), l.fleischer@yahoo.com Sincerely, The Fundraising Team (Amelia M., Ruthann W., Linda F., Laurel P., Sue A., Michele O.)

8 SAVE THE DATE Women of the Church - Are you interested in joining a book study group? The Presbyterian Women of Newton Presbytery have one, and they meet right here in Roxbury. Here is the upcoming schedule: Hello everyone, Thanks to all who helped with the Blood Drive on November 11th. The total of Blood Units was 49!! So glad as a church community we were part of another successful Blood Drive. We had 20 of those units produced from the alyx machines, these units need to be used within a week, they will go to newborns and people undergoing cancer treatments. The soup was appreciated and enjoyed by all. God Bless, Ken 8 January 18th Outliers by Malcom Gladwell February 15th 7 Women by Eric Metaxas They meet at 5:00 p.m. at Panera's in Ledgewood and attempt to begin the book discussion by 6:00 p.m. Contact Pastor Carie if you have any questions. The Presbyterian Youth Triennium is open to all youth entering into high school through graduation. Save the date: Tues, July 16-Sat., July 20, 2019 Location: Purdue University in Indiana Cost: $ (may decrease depending on Presbytery scholarships) Theme: Here's My Heart Please talk to Pastor Carie ASAP if you are considering attending - it is a great event! We are just beginning the planning stages for an intergenerational summer mission "trip"...right in our own backyard. For one week our church would be home base for sleeping (optional) and meals. Each day we would experience a hands on experience to local agencies, a nursing home, community gardens etc. Our next planning meeting is after church on Sunday, November 18th. Please join us to learn more or how you can help...even if its just to assist with meals. This will be an "all hands on deck" event! Hope you will join us!

9 ORDER YOUR POINSETTIA PLANTS Orders for poinsettia plants to adorn our Sanctuary during Christmas are now being taken. Plants are $8.50 each and can be ordered by filling out the form below and returning it to the church office or put it in the offering plate during worship. Checks should be made payable to FPC of Succasunna; be sure to put Poinsettia Order in the memo section of your check. Please place your final orders by Sunday, December 16 th. Plants will be available for you to take home after Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve. PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY! Number of Plants: Telephone: From: In Memory of: In Honor of: 9

10 PARTNERING WITH OUR COMMUNITY CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday Thursday 9:30am-1pm Did you know we provide space for a support group on Monday evenings? Here is more info: We are a mood-disorder self-help support group affiliated with the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). The mission of DBSA is to improve the lives of people living with mood disorder, and their loved ones. People who are living with depression or bipolar disorder (manic depression), and their families and friends, are welcome. Our goal is to help our support group participants towards wellness. Our website is: Telephone number is: is: info@dbsasuccasunna.org First Presbyterian Church 99 Main Street Succasunna, NJ PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE Time Dated Material Published Monthly Address Service Requested

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