Winter. update. Winter QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HONESDALE DECEMBER 2017

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1 This morning I started going through some pictures of the last 10 years. There are people in the pictures that have gone on to be with the Lord. There are pictures of Glenn Lutz and Joe Kneller, men who loved our church who have gone before us to be with the Lord. They touched our lives in a variety of ways. I found a picture of Ralph Westgate holding the air nailer that missed the mark and ended up in my backside. There s a picture of Dick Kreitner in his choir robe. There s another picture of Bob Hardy at the church picnic. Where has the time gone? Winter update Winter QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER Where Has the Time Gone? FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HONESDALE DECEMBER 2017 little girls are too. Some have moved or left for college, and for others I have had the pleasure to officiate their weddings. Where has the time gone? I found some pictures of my family when we first arrived in Honesdale on December 9, We were greeted with a love offering in the manse as the front room was filled with food and supplies. I found a picture that choked me up... Jacob (5) and Chloe (3) in Sunday School class with Helen Cook and Joan Green. Where has the time gone? prayed daily for FPCH. God has blessed our church over the past 10 years, and I want to thank you for all of the support for me and my family. We are humbled to be in Honesdale serving God! Ministry can be extremely lonely, but we are so grateful for all the relationships we have found here. We love you and wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas, Michael, Brooke, Jacob, Chloe, Charlotte and Moses. There are also pictures of those who no longer attend our church and I pray have found other places to worship our God and King. These pictures of those that have left bother me terribly. My heart breaks when I see people in town who once attended our church even for a Sunday. Under one of the picture tabs are all of the kids over the past 10 years in our youth group and kids programs. Some of the little boys are all grown up. Some of the In a few days I will have been here for 10 years and I have to say, I ve loved it! I am struck daily by all that God has done here and how He has allowed me to see His amazing work in our church and in our community. I ve loved witnessing God s changing power in the hearts and minds of so many. I carry the scars of my mistaken words, actions and failures, and I thank you for your forgiveness and love. Since my first conversation with the search committee in June of 2007, I have 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved. (Eph. 2:3-5 NIV) Coming Up at FPCH December 24 11am Christmas Hymn Sing (10th St. Campus) 4pm Christmas Eve Service (Vineyard nursery available) 7pm Christmas Eve Service (10th St. Campus) January 7 10am Inner Mission (Vineyard kids 4-8th grade) February Small Group Ministry

2 Exciting Changes in Store for FPCH At the beginning of 2017, the Board of Elders challenged one another with questions like: Who are we? How are we known in the community? What is our identity? It became clear to us that we did not have a true identity. We could identify what we do and how we do it, and even how we used to do it, but not who we are. In the midst of our discussions, we identified that we are in fact Presbyterians and that being Presbyterian defines the denomination that we follow. However, Presbyterian is not and cannot be the identity of who we are as a church. So who are we? We are to be a church of Grace. Grace is a gift that we receive that we don t deserve. Our faith, our church, our lives are about Grace and truly, that s it! After much prayer and discussion, we developed a Vision Statement: transformational worship We are to be a church of Grace that seeks to make disciples for Christ through transformational worship, active missions, and engaged youth in Wayne County and beyond. With a clear identity, mission and vision, we were excited to see what God had in store for FPCH! But now the challenge: How do we carry out this vision? How do we take our vision into Wayne C o u n t y? H o w d o w e intentionally go and make disciples?! What are the barriers to planting another church in southern Wayne County or Northern Wayne County? What about Hamlin or Damascus? What are the barriers that keep the unchurched from attending? Are we standing in God s way? Are we missing opportunities to make disciples in Wayne County? After much research, prayer and discussion, the session concluded that the name 2 First Presbyterian Church of Honesdale may in fact be a barrier to the unchurched, as well as to those outside of Honesdale. The word Presbyterian, we found, comes with preconceived notions for many. The word Honesdale, we realized, can also deter those who live in other areas of Wayne County. We concluded that the name must reflect our identity, our mission and our vision. Our identity is Grace. That s it. Our vision is to reach Wayne County (Ridge). We are a church of grace in Wayne County. So as of January 1st, 2018, we will be known as grace ridge church, a member of T h e C o v e n a n t O r d e r o f Evangelical Presbyterians. P l e a s e C h e c k o u t w w w. 1stpreshonesdale.com for a video explanation, as well as FAQs. The name will not be the only change implemented in As we seek to honor God with worship that transforms hearts and lives, we will be making some changes at both campuses. At the 10th Street Campus, there will be changes in the worship format and technology. In addition, the fellowship area will be redesigned, and the choir room will become a nursery. At the Vineyard Campus, the stage will be enlarged and the music format will be adjusted. Our process for guest services will be reformatted at both locations. Transformational Worship doesn t just happen on Sundays. We are called to worship God with our whole lives! We believe that the way to help people mature in their faith and become disciples who honor God is threefold: Worship corporately Commit to making worship attendance a priority every week! Serve in a ministry Our goal is that every adult will prayerfully seek a ministry in which to serve. Join a small group As our small groups ministry is unveiled in February, we pray that every adult will join a group and participate in fellowship, friendship and discipleship. (More on small groups on page 3.)

3 active missions The Abraham House - James 2:14-24 A Restart came in November for the Abraham House. At the center of this change is a move from expository teaching to series teaching. Through this series called the end of me Kyle Idleman reveals that the key to the abundant life Jesus promised lies in embracing His inside-out way of life. This four week study unpacks these counterintuitive truths: week 1; Broken to be Whole, week 2; Mourn to be Happy, week 3; Empty to be Filled and week 4; Authentic to be Accepted. You are invited to join us Thursdays at 5:45 pm at the Abraham House located at the 10th St. Campus Chapel. Lifebreath - Ezekiel 37:1-10 Work is underway at the Mountain House at Woodside. This is where adult mission teams that come to Wayne County will stay. It will be their home base as they go out to serve. Also, we have a new website for lifebreath missions, which will be our primary way to bring mission teams to Wayne County. Part of this website includes a new process called Mobilized. Mobilized is a resource that we will use to disperse information for all of our mission opportunities, including payment, FAQs and a countdown to trip date! It is our prayer that through the n e w l i f e b r e a t h w e b s i t e, lifebreathmissions.com, we will be able to take our missions program, both local and distant, to a new level. Not everyone is called to go on a distant mission, but as a church one of our focuses is to be a sending church. We are hoping you will help us send those that feel called to the mission field. Your support is vital, whether it is through prayer, donations or time. God is doing some amazing things through our church, and His Spirit is alive and active. Please be prayerful about how you can support our missions. In His service, George Maxson, Director of Outreach Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Matthew 28:19 coming in February small groups An exciting new chapter at our church will be the addition of a small group ministry. Small groups encourage community and fellowship, as well as deeper relationships with God. There will be many different inhome groups formed, including couples, women s, mens, young adults, senior adults This ministry will kick off at the beginning of February, with groups beginning to meet February 12. Watch for more information and sign ups! women s fellowship T u e s. D e c 1 N o o n Christmas Lu n c h e o n a t Gretchen's Grotto Wo m e n s F e l l o w s h i p w i l l continue in the new year with some changes. The meetings will tentatively be held at Gretchen Erk's home at noon on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Our first meeting will be on January 9. We will begin a new Bible study: "Proverbs and Parables." Read Study 1 in your study guide: "Let the Wise Listen." Bring a lunch and drink and join us. 3

4 engaged youth Our students face an identity crisis every single day because of the expectations society places on them. They search for their i d e n t i t y i n a c a d e m i c achievements, athletic success, musical abilities, popularity, or the number of social media followers and likes they get. In our recent study of 1 John we tried to fight the idea that any of these things could possibly define who they are. Although these descriptions may say something about our students, we need to help them understand their true identities are found in Jesus Christ. They are children of God! What an awesome gift! Fellowship of Christian Athletes had a busy fall with 5th Quarters, Sunday and Thursday night huddles, weekend retreats, a trip to Skyzone, and a Matthew West concert. Coming up in the next couple months are Progressive Dinners and Christmas Parties. Our goal through all of our events is to allow students to experience true Christian fellowship. Lives and relationships are transformed when we spend time with our brothers and sisters in Christ and invite God into everything we do. Please pray that our students continue to grow in their relationships with each other and that every one of them finds peace in knowing they are a child of God. Andy Wood Director of Youth Ministries A s w e c o n c l u d e o u r f a l l children s programming at the Vineyard Center, our focus of making disciples has certainly been at the forefront of our ministry. Our 345 Club involved 46 children in grades 3, 4, and 5 and at the core was the POWER that is in the name of Jesus as well as the principles that go into discipleship. Prayer, obeying the Holy Spirit, worshipping, explaining one s faith, and reading the Bible daily is also a part of our BLAST session that began on November 28th and is being offered for children in Kindergarten through 2nd grade. All offerings collected at Inner Mission during the fall session w e n t t o w a r d s O p e r a t i o n Christmas Child. Each Sunday, our nursery is available during the V9 service and we have seen great excitement as our youngest children of God continue to grow and experience God s love through prayer and seasonal projects! As we end the year and look to ways in which we can continue to serve, please keep our ministry and all our volunteers in your prayers. There will be exciting changes ahead as Inner Mission moves to Sunday m o r n i n g s a n d a d d i t i o n a l children s programming resumes in January! Lindsey Pender Director of Children s Ministries Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Ephesians 6:10 4

5 Vineyard Christian Child Center The Vineyard Christian Child Center would like to introduce and welcome Justin Taraschuk as our new Director. Justin has been with our church for about a year and a half, and last year he took over as leader of the music ministry team for the V9 service. God has answered our prayers for a leader in our music ministry and has since blessed us again with Justin also being qualified to run the VCCC. For the last 21 years Justin operated a business in Honesdale, but recently felt that God was pushing him in another direction. With his degree from Marywood University sitting idly by, he was the perfect candidate for the position the VCCC needed to fill. Justin has the upmost respect for all the families who bring their children to our Center as well as the knowledge to handle all the day to day operations that are needed to run a successful childcare program. We are so very pleased to have him on board and we know that your prayers for him and his family will give him the strength he needs to lead this ministry graciously and humbly forward. We Celebrate our Church Family Birthdays! DECEMBER 1 Cindy Odell 2 Kirby Bryant 2 Heath Gustafson 2 Lindsey Pender 4 Kristina DeGroat 4 Amanda Linde 4 Bill Reif 6 Lisa Hutchison 6 Clara Kelly 7 Natalie Mozga 10 Rich DeGroat 11 Tanner Rowles 12 Debbie Kreider 12 Edwin Thomas 13 Kyle Hiller 14 Hunter Swingle 15 Linda Brenner 17 Jen Osborne 17 Rebekah Shepherd 18 Kathy Brundage 18 Heather Reining 20 Betty Borsdam 20 Jacob Rickard 21 Kaden DeGroat 22 Brian Goodman 26 Kay Reynolds 26 Evelyn Ridd 29 Landon McCarthy 30 Marty Robbins 31 Mark Ordnung JANUARY 1 Janie Reif 2 Matt Bowman 3 Brian McCarthy 3 John Schultz 4 Maggie Mozga 4 JP Rowles 8 Sydney Roberts 12 Helen Cook 12 Kathryn Figura 12 Marge Gregor 12 Samantha Zimmer 13 Kipp Welsh 15 Lisa Corcoran 15 Emily Klim 16 Dave McLaud 17 Kris Hiller 17 Brianna Nowaski 17 Kyle Reining 18 Morgan Birmelin 19 Elizabeth Daniels 19 Georgette Ursich 22 Jim Ludwig 25 Molly Morgan 26 Corey Ordnung 26 Dylan Ordnung 27 Monique Bowman 28 Eli Carmody 28 Gail Potter 5 FEBRUARY 1 Betsy Lacey 1 Paul Lloyd 3 Kelly Birmelin 4 Tracy Welsh 5 Bob Bryden 5 Polly Eisele 5 Kate Maxson 5 Kody Welsh 7 Ceil Grandjean 8 Janet Rutherford 8 Julie Stanton 9 Drew Daniels 12 JW Rickard 13 Michael Lyle 14 Julie Hutchison 14 Angelia Rowland 15 Morgan Schneider 17 Greg Frigoletto 19 Mary Kempton 19 Ken Procopio 19 Aline Townsend 20 Doreen Dimmitt 20 Libby Rickard 21 Lorraine Gallik 21 Chandler Hnatko 25 Cindy Guenzel 25 Andrea Stanton 28 Clyde Kreider

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