Letter from Pastor Andy Holmes

Transcription

1 Letter from Pastor Andy Holmes Dear JPC members and friends, I hope this newsletter finds you after a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. I was so pleased with the entire candidating weekend; I commend the session and PNC for all the work they put into making the weekend a success. I am grateful for your trust in your PNC, and through them your trust in me. I look forward to getting to know each of you and your families. I am ready to get started on this. To help me out: please wear your name tags in church. There are many names for me to know and so if I ask you repeatedly what your name is, please do not take offense. Some names are easier to remember than others and in time I will get everyone s name down. After the first of the year the session, deacons, and I will talk about how I can best get to know the congregation. Jerusalem Presbyterian Church Pastor Andrew Holmes For now, I am ready to jump in during Advent. When everything in our world is telling us to rush, to hurry, to move fast, to react instead of responding, Advent is saying: Whoa. Slow down. Prepare. Don t hurry. Take time for what is important. It is a fascinating time of year both in our world and in the life of the church. Take time for what is important. I am looking forward to the activities of the season, for the hanging of the greens and Christmas in Wales. And I am excited for worship, to prepare the way of the Lord. I hope to see you in worship this Advent. (With your nametag on, of course!) May this season be one of preparation and hope for you and yours, Pastor Andy Holmes Using the Phone: Using the Post: Using the Web: The church office hours are: Tuesday and Wednesday 9 am - Noon Thursday 9 am 1 pm The church phone number is: or Rev. Andrew Holmes At(414) revandrewholmes@gmail.com Our Location Address is: 207 W. Main St. Wales, WI Our Mailing Address is: P.O. Box 88 Wales, WI, To send an to the pastor revandrewholmes@gmail.com To send an to the church secretary: jpcsec@jerusalempresbyterian.org Visit our website for more information: jpcwales.org Page 1

2 Meet Rev. Andrew Holmes The Rev. Andrew E. Holmes was born in Appleton but calls Grosse Ile, Michigan, his hometown as he had his whole childhood schooling there. Grosse Ile is a series of islands in the Detroit River (Grosse Ile is French for big island ); the island is on the border with Canada as the river empties into Lake Erie. Andy attended the University of Michigan; his degree says he majored in History and Studies in Religion, but his mother might tell you he majored in marching band. Following college Andy attended Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey earning his Master of Divinity in Upon graduation he received the Friar s Club Award for Community Involvement and Leadership. He has served congregations in New Jersey (his field education internship during seminary), Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The three calls since ordination have each been as solo pastor parish calls with congregations ranging between 70 and 240 members. He has served in small towns, urban neighborhoods, and suburban communities. A few years ago Andy began a Doctor of Ministry program at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Texas. He has finished his course work and has been approved to begin his doctoral project. The subject of the project is stewardship and motivations for giving. This project will include research in the Jerusalem congregation with interviews and other activities. The goal is to have the project finished by and approved to walk at graduation in May of Andy is close with his family; his mother, sister, brother-in-law, nephew and niece live in the downriver suburbs of Detroit. His brother lives in Schaumburg, Illinois, outside of Chicago. He loves music, movies, theater, and the Green Bay Packers. He can carry on a conversation about pretty much any sport. He goes by Andy, Pastor Andy, Reverend Holmes, or even Andrew if you prefer. He is excited to get to know the people of Jerusalem Presbyterian Church and looks forward to jumping in during one of the highest-energy seasons of the year. Page 2

3 Christmas in Wales is just around the corner. Sat., Dec. 9th will be the annual Christmas cookie sale along with our participation in Christmas in Wales. The cookie sale will begin at 9:00 a.m. Christmas in Wales will begin at ll:00 a.m until 2p.m. Santa will be arriving at the Village Hall on a fire truck and kids will be able to get their picture taken with him at the hall. There will be two horse drawn wagons that will take families to the other stops in the village. Mama D's will have materials so kids can write letters to elderly shut in's, get their faces painted by Studio Amor, and enjoy music by Stan Markus. Aquatica will offer decorate your own cookies sponsored by Pick N Save, and hot apple cider from Bright Ideas Learning Center. JPC will offer ornament making, story telling by Principal Chris Otto from Wales Elementary, and chili & hot dogs, along with our Christmas Cookie Sale. BR Woodcraft will have a Santa's workshop where kids can make a wooden figure and there will by custard from Culver's. All Saints Lutheran choir will be caroling and Zaeta the horse will be in it's coral for the children to see. It is a fun day sponsored by Wales Business Association and free for all families to enjoy. If an elf stamps your card at each location you will be put into a drawing for a number of donated gift baskets. Come out and enjoy the fun and love of community and Christmas. Thank you from Rev. Jerry Thanks again for the thoughtful gifts and farewell yesterday. I no longer am your interim pastor, but I will always be a special friend. Grace and Peace, Jerry K. Page 3

4 ATTENTION Cookie Bakers To all the cookie bakers a BIG THANK YOU for signing up to bake cookies for the Cookie Sale. All cookies should be brought to the church kitchen on Friday, December 8th between 9 11 am. If that does not work for you the church will be open on Thursday, December 7 th between 7 8 pm. group at church on Friday morning arranging the cookies on trays to prepare for Saturday morning. If anyone is still interested in helping at the sale on Saturday, December 9th please check the sign-up sheet on the clipboard in the back of church. The more the merrier! Be sure your cookies are tightly covered and are labeled with your name and the name of /what kind of cookie. Please check off your name on the sign-up sheet when you bring your cookies. We will have a A PNC Thank You! If you have questions, or suggestions please contact Deb Bennett at or tdzfam3@yahoo.com. Let s make Jan proud! On behalf of the PNC, we would like to welcome Rev. Andrew Holmes to Jerusalem Presbyterian Church! We would also like to thank you for your continued thoughts, prayers and questions throughout the search process. Please join the PNC and the Deacons for a special Welcome Luncheon after service on Sunday, December 3rd logged meeting hours were put into write our MIF and reviewing PIFs (Interviews not included!) Thank you to all PNC members for your hard work and dedication! Here are a couple fun facts from our search process: - The PNC looked at (15) self-referred PIFs, (209) CLC matched PIFs giving a total count to 224 PIFs reviewed! - The PNC met 78 times since we began last June. Page 4

5 A "Carol" History Please join the Chancel Choir and the Back Row as we will be performing our favorite Christmas carols throughout the Advent season. Such musical selections include "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "The First Noel," "Angels We Have Heard on High," and "O Holy Night." In conjunction with the choir, Reverend Holmes will be providing some history and scripture story relating to some of these carols. Family Game Night Family Game Night will not meet in Dec. but will resume its monthly supper and fellowship at 5:30 pm on Tues. Jan. 16 Page 5

6 Worship Schedule 9:30 Sunday Mornings Sunday, Dec. 31 Musician: A. Lorenz Liturgist: Hosts: Worship Committee Nursery: L. Schueller Activities& Events Choral Sunday, Dec. 3 Musician: M. Peterson Choir Director: N. Zywicki Liturgist: N. Zywicki Hosts: Tim and Jenni Eaton Nursery: J. Schulz Sunday, Dec. 10 Musician: A. Lorenz Liturgist: Children Hosts: Dave and Barb Wentworth Nursery: L. Schueller Choral Sunday, Dec. 17 Musician: M. Peterson Choir Director: N. Zywicki Liturgist: P. Beil Hosts: Todd and Deb Bennett Nursery: E. Copeland Sunday, Dec. 24 Musician: M. Peterson Liturgist: L. Ravelo Hosts: Worship Committee Nursery: J. Schulz Christmas Eve Morning Service at 9:30 am Christmas Eve Service at 7:30 pm December Birthdays 4 Donna Mickle 4 Michael Bjorgaard 4 Stacy Bjorgaard 5 Bonnie Waldron 6 William Agathan 8 Carolyn Harms 9 Tom Smith 11 Cindy Barder 13 Jim Morris 15 David Carr 16 Linda Ravelo 17 Jim Chermak 21 Jo Ann Mayo 23 Bill Schueller 25 John Kalix 27 Bill Petterson JPC BOOK CLUB No Book Club in December Bridge Join us for cards at 1:30 pm on Wednesday Sheepshead Last Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm at Three Pillars in Dousman Weekly Attendance November 5 78 November November November Page 6

7 P.O. Box Main St. Wales, WI 53183