THE DECEMBER EPISTLE. John Westlund T H U R S D A Y 2 9 N O V E M B E R

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1 THE DECEMBER EPISTLE T H U R S D A Y 2 9 N O V E M B E R FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) 500 BREEDLOVE DRIVE P.O. BOX 784 MONROE, GEORGIA OFFICE@FPCMONROE.COM WIFI PASSWORD: FPCMONROE1 UPCOMING EVENTS AT FPC MONROE From the Pastor: Over the last few months, we have introduced you to our new Vision Statement that places an ideal in front of us that we want our church to be known for over time. Here is the statement again below: Living our faith, lifting others, and loving all Woo!!!! Having taken a closer look at living our faith and lifting others, this month I would like us to think about how we might become known throughout the Monroe area for loving all. When asked what the most important commandment was, Jesus answered, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is like unto it; love your neighbor as yourself. He went on to explain that these two were a summary of the law. It is at the heart of what God wants for us love. It is why God sent his only son to be born into this world and walk with us. For God so loved the world I once read that love is a lot like a wagon wheel, where the closer the spokes are to one another, the closer they are to the center and vice versa. I have found it to be the same with God and people. The closer we grow together, the closer we move towards God, and the more we move towards God, the closer we seem to find ourselves with others. It is kind of a picture of those commandments, love God and love your neighbor. Loving each other and God seems to come naturally to all of you folks at First Pres, but how can we become known for loving all? Perhaps it is serving our community by volunteering at F.I.S.H. or finding a way for us to give of ourselves to an underserved neighborhood. Perhaps it is pouring time and energy into a child. Maybe it is investing in your neighbor next door, down the street, at the office, or at school just showing them the love of God by caring for them. Maybe it is praying for the opportunity to invite someone to join you in worship, or maybe to go serve with you. Perhaps it is going out together as a group and serving somewhere in the community. How can you show the love of Christ to your neighbors in Monroe? This Advent Season, be expectant for God to show you how to love all, for it was God who first loved us. In Christ, John Westlund PAGE 1 OF 7 GLORIFYING GOD GROWING DISCIPLES LOVING THE WORLD 29 NOVEMBER 2018

2 Santa Claus Express Thank you: A big thank you goes out to our congregation from the New Day Circle and the Joy Circle for your wonderful response to our Santa Claus Express ministry in November. Your generosity will benefit the residents of Presbyterian Homes both at Christmas and in the year to come. We appreciate you! Saints Alive: Holiday celebration is to be this Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 6:30 pm!! Wear your holiday spirit and meet in the FPC beautifully redecorated fellowship hall for a feast prepared by our culinary genius, Dianne Cown, and her crew. Fun and surprises are planned, so don t miss the end of the year feast! The usual $12/person will apply. The Sanctuary will be bedecked with poinsettias on Sunday 12/16, 12/23, and Christmas Eve. Order forms are in the foyer and in your bulletin. Cost: $12 per; Sunday 9 December is the last day to order!! Tuesday Morning Bible Study will be taking a break for the holidays in December, but will start back up on January 8, C H U R C H O F F I C E Valarie s office hours are Monday through Friday from 9a until 1p. C I R C L E Harriette Griffin, Point of Contact New Day Circle Monday 17 December ---- Christmas Lunch at the Cottages noon. Joy Circle Monday 10 December ---- Christmas gathering at Susan Evans 6:30 p.m. S A I N T S A L I V E Pam Rossi, Point of Contact Tuesday 4 FPC J E S S M U L K E Y M A N S C A V E Larry Berrong, Point of Contact T FPC C H U R C H G O L F Larry Berrong, Point of Contact V I T I C U L T U R E Beattie Evans, Point of Contact Thursday 13 the Evans P O W D E R & B R A S S S O C I E T Y John Clendenen, Point of Contact Gathers on Saturday 15 the WCSO Outdoor Range C H A N C E L C H O I R Beattie Evans, Point of Contact S A N C T U A R Y F L O W E R S Myrtice Ann Allgood, Point of Contact PAGE 2 OF 7 GLORIFYING GOD GROWING DISCIPLES LOVING THE WORLD 29 NOVEMBER 2018

3 C H U R C H S C H O O L Adults Breedlove Class The Present Word Larry Berrong, leader Adults Cross Trainers Class Current Events through the Lens of Scripture Ann Hall, leader Adults Inquirers Class Max Lucado: John 3.16 Debbie Long, leader Grades 6-12 Youth Class Various books of the Bible Neal Howard, leader December 2nd, meeting at Scoops from 4:00-5:30 pm, for fellowship and Bible study. For middle school and high school. Contact Maddy Kor at or mek37512@uga.edu. Sermon Series: Invite others to join us for our Advent Worship Series, Great Expectations. We will be taking a look at the messages that came to Zechariah, Mary, and the Shepherds from the voice of angels and how the messages of such good news do not necessarily make life easy, but it surely brings an expectation of great hope, peace, joy, and love. Come be a part of the echoes of angels as we hear the good news for our day and time. Dec 2 nd Dec 9 th Dec 16 th Dec 23 rd Dec 24 th Beyond Fear and Doubt The Great Trouble with Favor The Story and Songs of the Season Time to Go and See Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: Born of God PAGE 3 OF 7 GLORIFYING GOD GROWING DISCIPLES LOVING THE WORLD 29 NOVEMBER 2018

4 Christmas Eve Service: Come join in a special night of worship when we gather at 5:30 pm on Christmas Eve, December 24 th. We will celebrate the birth of the babe in Bethlehem as we share communion together and remember that the Light of Christ has entered the world as we share in a candlelight service. SUNDAY 2 DECEMBER Martha Hanson & Lynn Conner Nancy & Phillip Moss, James Stewart, Sarah Williams Special Usher: Ava SUNDAY 9 DECEMBER Connie Roberts Billy Conner, Neal Howard, Tom Whitley, Pat Young Special Usher: Ella SUNDAY 16 DECEMBER Poinsettias Bill Cenkner, Kathy Cenkner, Patti Cole, Jim Williams Special Usher: Maddie Mae SUNDAY 23 DECEMBER Poinsettias George Carroll, Steve Fields, Harriette Griffin, Elizabeth Hester Special Usher: Stella SUNDAY 30 DECEMBER Jim & Mary Ann Rivers Nancy & Phillip Moss, James Stewart, Sarah Williams Special Usher: Ava Worship Sacrament of Communion FISH Ministries Offering LITURGIST: ANN HALL Worship LITURGIST: CLAY HUDSON Worship Special Christmas music by Chancel Choir LITURGIST: BARB MCKEE Worship LITURGIST: KEN ROBERTS Worship LITURGIST: ANN HALL PAGE 4 OF 7 GLORIFYING GOD GROWING DISCIPLES LOVING THE WORLD 29 NOVEMBER 2018

5 A D M I N & F I N A N C E Synovus Monthly Payment (P&I): $1, Mortgage Balance,11/8: $115, GENERAL FUND OCTOBER BUDGETED JAN - OCT YTD BUDGET BUDGETED INCOME 13, , , , DESIGNATED GIVING , TOTAL RECEIPTS 13, , , , TOTAL EXPENSES 19, , , , NET -5, , CAPITAL FUND LOAN BALANCE: $ 0.00 Account Balance, $ 20, Receipts, October Capital Draws, October 0.00 Account Balance, $ 20, M I S S I O N S Team Up 2018 Christmas ornament drive: For the past two years, FPCM has partnered with Team Up for the annual ornament fundraiser. The purchase of an ornament helps to provide support for Team Up education, wellness, transportation and mentoring services for young people affected by trauma in Walton County. Our ornament this year is a beautifully printed wooden ornament with a twine hanger and storage envelope. Each ornament will cost $25 with 100% of proceeds going to benefit the work of Team Up Mentoring. See the silver tree in the narthex for further details. Upcoming Event: Walton County Relay for Life May 3, 2019 First Presbyterian Church of Monroe has started a Relay for Life team. Please go to the following website to join our team. More information to follow! FISH MINISTRIES VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: FPC MISSIONS MENU Prayerfully choose whether to support one, none, or several. Monthly on the 1 st Sunday we receive an offering for the FISH MINISTRIES Food Bank. FEBRUARY Vacation Bible School SEPTEMBER World Gospel Mission (The Ritchies, Kenya) NOVEMBER 1. Presbyterian Homes Santa Claus Express 2. Thornwell Home Turkey Trot MAY Walton Animal Shelter OCTOBER Women s Health & Wellness Clinic DECEMBER FISH Dental + FISH Medical TEAM UP Mentoring PAGE 5 OF 7 GLORIFYING GOD GROWING DISCIPLES LOVING THE WORLD 29 NOVEMBER 2018

6 P E O P L E PASTORAL TRANSITION Transition Committee (Mary Clendenen, Barb Greer, Charles Hamm, Connie Roberts) Pastor Nominating Committee (Neal Howard, Nancy Moss, Jim Haralson, Patti Cole, Ann Hall) The Rev. Joy Fisher will continue as FPC s Presbytery Consultant. ITEM Worship script Sunday bulletin Sunday bulletin insert Eposts, Epistles Address directory Session docket Prayer list ASSIGNMENTS GENERATED BY Barb Greer Barb Greer As received by church office As received by church office Valarie Malcom Rev. John Westlund Beattie Evans Printed by Valarie Printed by Valarie Printed by Valarie Broadcast by Valarie Broadcast by Valarie Distributed by Rev. John Westlund Broadcast by Beattie 2018 FPC NOMINATING COMMITTEE THIS COMMITTEE BRINGS NON-CLERGY NOMINATIONS TO THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION. Chair and Vice Chair: Tim Hince and Bob Rossi Congregation: Carole Burns (2018), Foster Young (2019), Sarah Williams (2020) Beattie Evans MUSIC DIRECTOR ble1120@icloud.com Charles Hamm TREASURER chamm@monroeaccess.net Harriet Kilpatrick PIANIST F P C S T A F F harriet.kilpatrick@gmail.com The Rev. John Westlund INTERIM PASTOR john@fpcmonroe.com Valarie Malcom ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT office@fpcmonroe.com The Rev. John Westlund, INTERIM PASTOR john@fpcmonroe.com Mary Clendenen [CLASS OF 2019, TERM 1] HOSPITALITY & CARE mc.5ga.5gb@att.net Barb Greer [CLASS OF 2018, TERM 1] WORSHIP cell 52bballardgreer@gmail.com Elizabeth Hester [CLASS OF 2019, TERM 1] MISSIONS home cell emhester5@gmail.com F P C S E S S I O N MEETS ON THE 2 ND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH AT 6:30P Tim Hince [CLASS OF 2018, TERM 1] BUILDING & GROUNDS tegoose5@bellsouth.net Neal Howard [CLASS OF 2020, TERM 1] CHRISTIAN ED & NURTURE howardnc@windstream.net Nancy Moss [CLASS OF 2020, TERM 1] ADMIN & FINANCE home cell nancysb61@yahoo.com Carolyn Berrong, CLERK of SESSION ladawgs@comcast.net Bob Rossi [CLASS OF 2019, TERM 1] BUILDING & GROUNDS rossir101@gmail.com Connie Roberts [CLASS OF 2018, TERM 1] HOSPITALITY & CARE mcdr@gmail.com Gwen Roberts [CLASS OF 2020, TERM 1] MISSIONS home cell gweenroberts@gmail.com PAGE 6 OF 7 GLORIFYING GOD GROWING DISCIPLES LOVING THE WORLD 29 NOVEMBER 2018

7 For many Christmases now the FPC family has shown its love and gratitude to our church staff via a love offering. If you ll route your contributions through me, on Christmas Eve I ll make the distribution to Beattie Evans, Harriet Kilpatrick, Madison Kor, Valarie Malcom, Roel Salinas, and John Westlund. Thank you, and Merry Christmas! Charles Hamm, FPC Treasurer D E C E M B E R B I R T H D A Y S Leigh Ann Walker Jett Bowen Valarie Malcom Bill Roberts Frances Puckett Elizabeth Hince Sara Bartlett Chrissie Bunch Timothy Hince PAGE 7 OF 7 GLORIFYING GOD GROWING DISCIPLES LOVING THE WORLD 29 NOVEMBER 2018