Chapel. Chatter. Monthly Newsletter of The First Presbyterian Church of Honesdale Grounded in Christ. Connected in Community.

Transcription

1 December 2016 January 2017 Chapel Chatter Monthly Newsletter of The First Presbyterian Church of Honesdale Grounded in Christ. Connected in Community. From the Pastor Rev. Michael Lyle It is 3AM on the 22 nd of November, days before Thanksgiving and I am wide awake. I am not worried or anxious about tomorrow, I am not restless about any one particular thing. I m just awake! As I lie here in my bed I can hear the wind swirling around outside and I am extremely thankful for a roof over my head, a comfortable bed and a myriad of other blessings. I spend a lot of time thinking and praying for our church and as the calendar is getting ready to flip over to December I am beginning to turn much of my thoughts and attention to the Christmas Season. I have to confess December is the month that orders my year. It is a time when I listen to great music ( O Holy Night is my favorite), watch nostalgic movies ( Christmas Vacation ), eat some of my favorite foods (Christmas cookies), devote time to my family and friends, and spend time reminiscing with my memories of old as I make new ones each year. I think particularly of my Christmas times growing up, especially some of the family traditions like getting the tree and decorating it as a family and the excitement and humor that went along with our exterior illumination. The family gatherings that we used to have were so special to me. Growing up my grandparents on my father s side came with my aunt and uncle and their two children to our house on Christmas Eve. Then on Christmas Day my mother s parents and my uncle would come for yet another Christmas celebration. The memories of Christmas past are so vivid in my mind and permanently imprinted on my heart that they make my heart smile. It seems like only yesterday that I/we were children celebrating Christmas with my/our families... my how things have changed. As I write this, down the hall sleep Jacob and Chloe who were five and three respectfully when we first came to Honesdale and Charley who wasn t even a thought. Now Jacob will be driving in a year and a half, Chloe is almost a teenager, and Charley is already in Preschool. In less than five years Jacob will be off to college with Chloe leaving the following year. It goes so fast! I find myself now cherishing every moment and every holiday tradition. I can see that things in the not so distant future will be different once again, and all that will remain are my sweet memories of Christmases past. (continued on page 2)

2 From the Pastor (continued) It may sound like I am sad or sappy, but I am absolutely not. You may be wondering now if it is such a good idea for me to writing Chapel Chatter articles in the middle of the night, but I do have a point. Throughout my life, the Lord has blessed me and cared for me and provided all that I need in this world, most importantly my All Sufficient Savior in Jesus Christ, God s Son and our Savior. As I make Christ the center of my life, and during the month of December the Reason for the Season, I am ever mindful of His continual blessings. Now, I cannot for the life of me remember the presents and gifts of the past, but my memories are filled with people that I love and that have loved me. Over the last nine years the people of our church have become my family. I am humbled by the blessings of a church that I love so much with all my heart. I know there are times when I disappoint you and times when I say or do the wrong thing. I know there are times when I seem too busy or distracted and times when I am harsh or difficult, but at this moment in time, in this season of life, I want you to know how much I love you and how deeply humbled I am to serve God through FPCH. I thank you for the memories of the past nine years and I look forward to years of many more memories. May God continue to bless you, may He fill your memories with joy, and may you each day rejoice in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas Michael Memory Verses Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel. Luke 2:11 - Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. VCCC December at the Vineyard Center is a special time. We as teachers and staff get to tell the story about the birth of Christ and share His Good News. Along with learning the story we will be celebrating as a whole building on December 21 st. We will have a Happy Birthday Jesus party for both the daycare and preschool. During this celebration we will play birthday games and share in some snacks and cake. Our children love being together. The preschool classes will also celebrate Christ's birth in other ways. The children have been working hard in both preschool r o o m s. I n November they celebrated with a pajama day in class! January will be bustling here at the Vineyard with the restart of Inner Mission on January 4 th. All children from birth to 8 th grade are welcome to attend each Wednesday night at 6PM. Near the end of the month we will start up our BLAST program. This program is for children in grades K-2 nd. This year we will come together to talk about making good choices, and will enjoy great games and fellowship. This program runs for 4 weeks. (Look for more information after the first of the year.) and she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manager, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2:7

3 New Members November brought 17 new members to the church. Please join us in welcoming the following to our church family: Delores Granger Melanie Hnatko Todd Kinzinger Betsy Lacey Betsy Lacey David McLaud Debbie McLaud Mark Ordnung Stephanie Ordnung Heather Reining Kyle Reining Brad Schneider Cindy Schneider Ed Schofield Loretta Schofield Justin Taraschuk Lorissa Taraschuk FCA FCA Red & FCA Black Christmas parties will be held on December 18 th No FCA on December 25 th or January 1 st FCA Black students having a blast at Camp Lackawanna Women s Fellowship The Women s Fellowship will meet at noon on December 13 th for our Christmas luncheon at Gretchen s Grotto. Please bring a wrapped gift for the residents at Ellen Memorial. Our January meeting will be held on the 10 th at noon, We will be studying Lesson 5, Naomi and Ruth. New members are always welcome. Gretchen Erk Chairman Prayers for Our Church Miriam Kreitner joined this church on April 2, 1950, and entered the Church Triumphant on November 23, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 Please also keep the following church members in your prayers: Clark Bonear Ceil Grandjean Shannon McCormick Bill & Thelma Spry Bill Breckel Doug Krom Ken Procopio Ruth Weniger Bible Studies Classes begin again on January 4 th Wednesdays in the Chapel Wednesdays 6PM Studies for children ages birth-8 th Grade and Adults at The Vineyard Center

4 Abraham House We know that Sunday we worship at church and the Vineyard. Wednesdays (beginning again in January) is Inner Mission. Thursdays is Abraham House. Sunday we come to worship, learn and have fellowship. Wednesday we come to learn and have fellowship. Thursday is different. You have the opportunity to do; to put your faith into action. The Abraham House is: Grounded in Christ as we worship, pray and teach from the Bible by our four dedicated speakers. Many who come call the Abraham House their church. Connected in our community as we provide food and clothing to our neighbors. This outreach touches the lives of an average of 68 people per week plus drop ins for clothing. It is amazing to watch the connections the Ambassadors make while giving all the glory to God! Connected in our church community as we build relationships with each other as we serve. We serve with a heart filled with care and compassion and, like Abraham, are putting our faith into action! We are currently seeking a volunteer to help develop a new vision for the clothing room and guide its implementation. There are many ways you can be connected at the Abraham House is coming to an end. Let s talk about a real resolution for A resolution to do. To put your faith into action. Want to talk about it? You will find me at the Connection Desk on Sundays or call the Church Office at If one of you says to them, Go in peace; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:16-17 In His service, George Maxson Director of Outreach Church Events Church/Chapel Sundays 11AM Worship (no service 12/25) Adult Bible Study - Wednesdays 10AM (beginning 1/4) Abraham House Dinner - Thursdays 6PM Abraham House Clothing - Thursdays 7PM Choir Rehearsal - Thursdays 6:45PM (not 12/29) Bell Choir Rehearsal - Thursdays 7:45PM (not 12/29) Abraham House Clothing Room - Saturdays 10AM (January only) Women s Fellowship - December 13 Noon (Gretchen s Grotto) & January 10 Noon (Chapel) Christmas Eve Service 7PM Church Events Vineyard Center Sundays 9AM Worship (no service 12/25) FCA Red - Sundays 5-6:30PM (no sessions 12/25 & 1/1) FCA Black - Sundays 7-8:30PM (no sessions 12/25 & 1/1) Women s Fitness - Mondays 5:30PM (no class 12/26) Men s Basketball - Tuesdays 8PM Inner Mission - Wednesdays 6PM (beginning 1/4) Over 16 Volleyball - Thursdays 8PM Black Sage Project Concert - December 10 7PM Christmas Eve Service 4PM Men s Breakfast - January 31 7:15AM

5 HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DECEMBER 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Communion 4 2 nd Sunday of Advent Kristina DeGroat, Nick Figura, Amanda Linde, Bill Reif 3 rd Sunday of Advent 11 Tanner Rowles 4 th Sunday of Advent 18 Kathy Brundage Heather Reining Christmas No Worship Services 25 Ken Smith 5PM Preschool Board 6:30PM Board of Elders Debbie Kreider Ed Thomas 5PM Deacons Josh & Chandler Hnatko Offices Closed Kay Reynolds, Evelyn Ridd 8PM Men s B ball Leagues Lisa Hutchison Clara Kelly Steve & Robyn Davis PM Women s Gretchen s Grotto 8PM Open Basketball Kyle Hiller 8PM Open Basketball Betty Borsdam Offices Closed 8PM Open Basketball Richard & Doreen Dimmitt Natalie Mozga Kaden DeGroat 7 1 8PM Adult CoEd Volleyball Cindy Odell 8 8PM Adult CoEd Volleyball PM Adult CoEd Volleyball Linda Brenner 21 Brian Goodman Landon McCarthy Kirby Bryant Heath Gustafson Lindsey Pender Marty Robbins 2 Zach DeReamer PM Black Sage Concert Rich DeGroat Matt & Monique Bowman Jen Osborne Rebekah Shepherd PM Worship VC 7PM Worship Church 30 Mark Ordnung 31

6 HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY JANUARY 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Communion 1 Janie Reif Doug & Mickey Krom Sydney Roberts Emily Klim Jim Ludwig Matt Bowman 5PM Preschool Board 6:30PM Board of Elders 5PM Deacons David McLaud :30PM Board of Elders 30 Brian McCarthy John Schultz PM Women s Fellowship Kris Hiller Brianna Nowaski Kyle Reining :15AM Men s Breakfast Maggie Mozga JP Rowles 4 11 Wayne & Melissa Briggs 18 Morgan Birmelin 25 Molly Morgan 5 12 Gene & Helen Cook Kathryn Figura, Marge Gregor, Samantha Zimmer Elizabeth Daniels Georgette Ursich Corey & Dylan Ordnung Kipp Welsh Monique Bowman Nadine Bryant Gary & Angie Mitchell Eli Carmody Gail Potter 28