NEWSLETTER. December OUR STAFF. 2 is to serve God by: Preaching God s Word Teaching God s Love Healing God s People

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1 December NEWSLETTER OUR STAFF The United Presbyterian Church of New Kensington 601 Fifth Avenue New Kensington, PA FAX: Website: tupcnk.org 2 The Rev. Wendy Keys is to serve God by: Preaching God s Word Teaching God s Love Healing God s People Pastor/Head of Staff pastoroffice@tupcnk.org Cell H. Preston Showman Organist/Choir Director 2018 Stacey Oden Director of Christian Education and Food Ministries stacey@tupcnk.org Cell Kris Cullinan Secretary churchoffice@tupcnk.org Lynn Crumley Custodian Mike Kovitch Custodian Karen Grillo Financial Secretary/ Offering Coordinator financeoffice@tupcnk.org Home Cathy Brady Assistant Treasurer financeoffice@tupcnk.org Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:00 am - 2:30 pm Tuesday and Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Sunday Hours: 9:30 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship The deadline for the December 2018 Newsletter is November 18 th

2 3 4 We have just celebrated one of my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving. It is in that spirit that I would like to extend a special thank you to Andrea Guido. Andrea has served this church and community faithfully for over 9 years by running the Food Bank. She has put countless hours into making sure deliveries have been made and contacting clients that sometimes aren't able to pick up their food. Many of you may have seen Andrea working diligently the morning on the first Thursday of the month when the food trucks pulled up to deliver our supply of food, and then again on Saturday as she headed up a team of dedicated Deacons and volunteers to organize and help distribute the food. What you probably didn t know is that Andrea would spend the rest of Thursday doing paperwork getting ready for Saturday. And then on Monday morning, after Food Bank, she would again be in the church finishing up all the paperwork required by the food bank. Andrea spent countless hours working on and with the Food Bank, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank her publicly. Her dedication and passion is appreciated by me and countless others. This brings us to who will replace her. Actually this is something that many of the Deacons and Session members have been dealing with for some time. At the August Session Meeting, it was decided that we would hire a Food Coordinator to coordinate Food Bank and provide other opportunities for food ministries. The great part is that we already had someone on staff for who this fit perfectly with what she already does. It is my pleasure to announce that Stacey Oden will be filling this position. Stacey s new title is Director of Christian Education and Food Ministries. As we enter into this Advent Season we find ourselves looking at the past and being so thankful and also looking forward to the future and all that it brings to us and the ministries of this church. Christmas Joy Advent Blessings, Pastor Wendy During this Advent season, we celebrate leadership past, present, and future through support of the Christmas Joy Offering. We do so because church leaders greatly impact our lives of faith, walking with us down the path to be more like Jesus. We want future leaders for the church and world, like those educated at our Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color to reflect the wideness of God s intended diversity, and we want those church leaders and their families who find themselves grappling with a critical financial need to have the resources they need. For those supported through the Christmas Joy Offering, this help is truly a gift from above. May our gifts, and the leaders who receive them, point us always to the truth of the one whose birth we celebrate, Jesus Christ the truly perfect gift. We will be taking this offering on December 23rd. An envelope has been provided for your convenience. Highlights from the November 13, 2018 Stated Session Meeting The Session of The United Presbyterian Church of New Kensington met for a stated Session meeting on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. Statistical Report: There are 202 members on the Active Roll and 1 Affiliate Member. Endowment & Finance reported that monthly expenses are exceeding monthly income. It was MSP to accept the 2019 Food Bank dates as presented. The office has a new copier. Sunday, December 2nd, is the Women s Tea Christmas Breakfast & Pageant on Sunday, December 23rd, at 9:30 a.m. A Joint Meeting of Session and Deacons will be held Tuesday, December 11, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Respectfully submitted, Donna L. McLaughlin Clerk of Session ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Heifer International Donations As Christmas approaches, the Deacons have again chose to collect and make a donation to the Heifer International Living Gift Market. In 2017, the Deacons collected and made a $500 donation to the Heifer International Living Gift Market. Heifer distributes animals, along with agricultural and values-based training, to families in need around the world as a means of providing self-sufficiency. Recipients must agree to pass on the gift by sharing animal offspring, as well as the skills and knowledge of animal husbandry and agricultural training with other impoverished families. If you would like to participate with the Deacons in this ministry, please send your donation to the church office indicating the donation is for the Deacon s Heifer project. You may also place your donation into the collection plate during worship by using a brown envelope marked Deacon s Heifer project. Deadline for donations is Sunday, December 9 th. Thank you for your consideration. Board of Deacons

3 5 6 Please contact Kathryn Whitacre on the Worship/Fellowship Committee to sign up to be a liturgist or to be an usher. Thank you!!! VOLUNTEERS DECEMBER Liturgists Donna McLaughlin 12/16 Julia Yockey 3 Pastor Wendy 4 Jackson Dameron 12/30 Karen Grillo Ushers Robin Sorch, Karen Grillo* Gloria Lauffer* 12/16 Nancy Deiseroth, Joe Nixon, Randy Schultz, Mamie Nixon* 3 Karen Grillo, Amy Dameron* 4 12/30 Tim Beckes, Kristen Beckes, Natalie Beckes, Lauren Beckes* Head Ushers Mark Bondra Bob Thomas 12/16 Kathryn Whitacre /30 Donna McLaughlin Counters Robin Sorch Marie Davis, Kathryn Whitacre 12/16 Donna McLaughlin 3 Tim & Andrea Guido 12/30 Communion Servers Liz Deringer, Donna McLaughlin, Robin Sorch, Julia Yockey *Greeter There is a correction to the December calendar. The December Prayer Shawl meeting will be held on December 7th at 1:00 p.m. instead of December 14th. Please note the date change.

4 Prayer Concerns Jeffrey Claypool Cheri Mosley Sybil Jean King Sue Washburn Kendra Linda Chobanian Maureen Deringer Cybil 7 Dave Beck Judy Bobby S. Angie Webb Rita Terry Janice Perry Betty Salmane Shirley Donald Lewandowski, Jr. November Food Bank: We served 103 households 16 doubles total of 119 orders. Bill Robinson Nick Mitchel Charlie Mike Kovitch Sydney Sancia Wilson Russ Connor Tony Harold Showman In Christian Sympathy to: The Gross family on the passing of Marilyn Gross. The Glass family and friends on the passing of Evelyn Glass. 49 senior boxes 2 birthday bags 4 new households. Prayers for our young men and women serving in the armed forces. 31 volunteers for a total of 129 volunteer hours. In Christ s Love, Pastor Wendy We gave out 10 coats and outerwear. Please call the office to let me know if anyone is in Food Bank Pantry Wish list: Cereal the hospital. Dec. Food Bank: Truck Delivery: Dec. 6th Packing & Distribution: Dec. 8th Please consider donating to the Heifer Project - see flyer for additional information. Next Meeting: December 7 p.m. If you would like to add someone to the prayer chain, please call Sandy at with your request. Thank you. Submitted by Robin L. Sorch, Deacon Secretary Prayer Chain: Sandy Mozzy Charlotte Claypool Lucille Bash Pat Lewandowski Betty Tylinski Cheri Mosely Kathy Anne Cullinan Marion Yates Robin Sorch The Shawl Ministry meets on the second Friday of each month in the Library at the church at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. We now have recorded over 500 shawls made, and most have been given in our outreach. We welcome the participation of church members in alerting us to persons who would benefit from our mission of love and care, as represented by the Prayer Shawls. If you are interested in this outreach, please contact Kathryn Whitacre at ****************************************** We Need Your Help! Please help us keep our database up to date and our Newsletter mailing costs low! Mailing out the Newsletter to out-of-date addresses is costly. Each time we have a Newsletter returned, it costs us $0.71 in addition to the original postage. You can help us to keep our costs down by updating us with your correct address if you have or will be soon moving. Please call the church office at or (churchoffice@tupcnk.org) with your information so that we can correct our database and you can continue to receive your monthly Newsletter. Thank you! ****************************************************** December 5:00 p.m. for food, fun, and fellowship at Denny s on Tarentem Bridge Road N-1-1 TEST How to connect and help your community connect with the most comprehensive Information and Referral System in Western Pennsylvania. 911 EMERGENCY (POLICE, FIRE, EMS) 811 PA ONE CALL SYSTEM (CALL BEFORE YOU DIG!) 711 HEARING IMPAIRED (TDD SYSTEM) 611 PHONE SYSTEM PROVIDER 511 TRANSPORTATION LINE (POT HOLE LINE) 411 INFORMATION (COST $ TO CALL AND CONNECT) 311 CITIZENS SERVICES (MAYOR S LINE) INFORMATION AND REFERRALS (HELPLINE) *All numbers may not work in all areas. If 21-1 does not work, please notify us at info@pa211sw.org.

5 /1 William Deiseroth 12/3 Lily Bosak 12/4 Robert Shulz, Jr. 12/5 Judy Folk 12/7 Karen Richards 12/10 Karen Grillo 12/13 Brenda Wilson 12/14 Brock Shipman 12/19 Andrea Guido 1 Liz Deringer 3 BettyLou Waterloo 12/30 Jordan Guido Nicholas Szanto *************************************************************************** Ladies Christmas Gathering & Movie Mr. St. Nick Starring: Kelsey Grammer Date: Friday, December 7 th Time: 6:30 pm -? - Place: Chapel Ladies, come join us for fellowship, a Christmas movie, and snacks. The church will provide hot tea, hot cocoa, bottled water, and soft drinks. If you wish (but not required), bring a snack to share. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. This is so we know how many to expect, and in case we have to cancel or reschedule due to bad weather. A reminder to all congregation members that flowers can be ordered for in the Sanctuary for Sunday mornings either in Memory or In Honor of a loved one. There is a flower chart in the Narthex. Price: $30.00 small vase Anyone wishing to order can call Kris in the church office by Wednesday the week that they would like them. Donations can be placed in the offering plate. Thank you. We have the following handicap accessories to loan to members and friends on a short-term basis. If you wish to borrow any item, please call the church office at wheelchair four prong cane Hoyer lift walkers potty chairs TO ALL CHURCH MEMBERS: The handicap items that are listed in the Newsletter can be loaned out to members of the church. Please remember to call the church office before taking any item. If you have any equipment at your house on loan and are finished with it, please return the item to the church in a timely manner, reporting to the office that it is returned. Choir Rehearsals are held on Thursday Evenings Bells 6:30 pm Chancel 7:30 pm Who needs the Community Clothes Closet? Our neighbors do! The economy has taken a toll on many adult members of our community. Daily life for these individuals is laden with struggles. Economic challenges affect much of our adult population. It is the goal of the Community Clothes Closet to assist these people. The CCC exists to help adults of our community who are experiencing financial hardship. It is our hope that, by providing clothing and personal hygiene essentials at extremely reasonable prices, our neighbors will be able to stretch their limited income. Monday 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Wednesday 6:00-8:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 319 Tenth Street New Kensington

6 11 Christmas seems to have some of the best traditions. One Christmas tradition our church has is the Potluck Breakfast. This year it will be held on December 23rd at 9:30 a.m. followed by our very special Christmas Pageant during our 11 a.m. Worship Service The Nativity Story