ACTS. Publication of First Presbyterian Church, Ft Walton Beach, Florida

Transcription

1 ACTS Publication of First Presbyterian Church, Ft Walton Beach, Florida

2 It s hard to believe December is here. The last month of the year. Advent, that time of waiting, wondering, and wishing, is gobbling up our hours and days as we count down to Christmas. Christmas will come and go in such a blur, that we will have to remind ourselves what a great celebration it was. Then it will be time to put away the ornaments, lights, and other decorations. It will be time to start gathering up the receipts and paperwork in anticipation of the end of the year accounting requirements. It will be time to buy a bright new calendar to be hung in place of the old one with the frayed edges and so many notes and events written in the squares. Sometimes it seems that December and Christmas are markers of the end of another year. Isn t it wonderful that we Christians don t have to worry about things being over? We don t have to dwell on what has ended or what might have been. For us, Christmas, the birth of the child who is our Lord and Savior, only points us toward beginnings. The Greatest Story Ever Told began, of course, when our Triune God: Creator, Word, and Wind, swept across the dark sea of chaos and nothingness to bring divine light to the world. Throughout the Old Testament, God never abandoned God s people. There was never an end. There was always a remnant of believers to go forward to seek and embrace new beginnings. It was true in the New Testament times, as Jesus lived among us. It was true as Jesus gave himself on the cross and broke the power of sin and death in his resurrection. It was true as the early church struggled to keep going and growing. It is true for us today. As we walk the path of discipleship through Advent, as we pause to kneel at the manger and then return to our daily routines, as we say goodbye to 2013 and make plans for 2014, may we become more aware that God is not finished with us yet. Creator God continues to renew, reshape, and recreate us to conform more and more to the image of forgiveness, compassion, and mercy. God s Word, the Living Word Christ Jesus, continues to inspire, teach, and love us with a love so full we cannot even imagine it. God s Spirit, the Breath that gives us life, the Wind that guides us in our living, continues to speak to us and open to us the possibilities of new beginnings every day. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, World without end. Amen. Amen. Blessings and Peace for a Joyous Advent and Christmas! Sharon John and I would like to invite you to join us in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, December 15, 2013, 3:00 pm 5:00 pm for fellowship and refreshments as we give thanks for your generous spirits of hospitality, kindness, and concern during the last year, and look forward with joy to the blessings of Christmas. Sharon 2014 DEVOTIONAL CHALLENGE For the coming year, I will be using Jesus Calling by Susan Young for my daily devotional time. This book is quite popular and recommended by many people. It is available in bookstores and at Wal-Mart. I hope each of you will find a time each day for Bible reading, reflection, and prayer. It is an amazing experience to commit a portion of every day to spend totally in the presence of our Lord!

3 Notes from Jackie Hails While selecting music for the Advent/Christmas season, I found a choral arrangement of Silent Night, Holy Night (Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht) arranged by the well-known composer/arranger, Edwin Fissinger. We usually only sing this carol during the candlelight Christmas Eve Service, but I decided to incorporate it into the choir's selections to be sung during December. The harmonies and chords are somewhat different from the traditional carol in our hymnal and present a challenge for our singers. I thought it would be interesting to refresh our memories on the history and origin of this beloved carol. The following is an excerpt from the article SILENT NIGHT: The Song Heard 'Round The World, written by Bill Egan, Christmas historian: 195 years ago the carol "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht" was heard for the first time in a village church in Oberndorf, Austria. The congregation at that Midnight Mass in St. Nicholas Church listened as the voices of the assistant pastor, Fr. Joseph Mohr, and the choir director, Franz Xavier Gruber, rang through the church to the accompaniment of Fr. Mohr's guitar. On each of the six verses, the choir repeated the last two lines in four-part harmony. There are many fanciful tales purporting to tell the history of the carol--(mice ate the bellows of the organ, making it necessary to use the guitar as accompaniment, Fr. Mohr was forced to write the words to a new carol in haste since the organ would not play, etc.) What we DO know is that Fr. Mohr wrote the six original stanzas in 1816 when he was a young priest in Mariapfarr, Austria, but have no idea what inspired him to do so. He was transferred to Oberndorf in 1817, and on Christmas Eve, 1818, he journeyed to the home of musician-schoolteacher Franz Gruber, showed him the poem and asked him to add a melody and guitar accompaniment so that it could be sung at Midnight Mass. When the carol was sung for the first time, these two men could hardly imagine the impact their composition would have on the world. Karl Mauracher, a master organ builder and repairman from the Ziller Valley, traveled to Oberndorf to work on the organ several times and obtained a copy of the composition. Thus, the simple carol began its journey around the world as a "Tyrolean Folk Song." Two traveling families of folk singers from the Ziller Valley incorporated the song into their repertoire, changing several notes, and the carol evolved into the melody we know today. The carol became popular throughout Europe, and was first sung in the United States in 1839 by the Rainer Family from the Ziller Valley. By the time the song had become famous throughout Europe, Fr. Joseph Mohr had died and the composer was unknown. Although Franz Gruber wrote to music authorities in Berlin stating that he was the composer, the melody had been assumed to be the work of Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven at various times and these thoughts persisted even into the twentieth century. The controversy was put to rest nineteen years ago when a long-lost arrangement of "Stille Nacht" in the hand of Joseph Mohr was authenticated. In the upper right hand corner of the arrangement, Mohr wrote, "Melodie von Fr. Xav. Gruber". So just what is the miracle of "Silent Night"? The words flowed from the imagination of a modest priest. The music was composed by a musician who was not known outside his village. There was no celebrity to sing at its world premiere. Yet its powerful message of heavenly peace has crossed all borders and language barriers, conquering the hearts of people everywhere---from small chapels in the Andes to great cathedrals in Antwerp and Rome. On that Christmas Eve, a song was born that would even wing its way into the hearts of the worshipers who will celebrate the birth of our Savior here at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Christmas Blessings to each of you!

4 Thank you for giving... we collected 24 shoe boxes for international delivery by Samaritan s Purse and 7 boxes for local delivery. These gifts will share the love of Jesus Christ and touch the heart of needy children at home and all over the world. Poinsettias will grace the Sanctuary this Christmas season. You may place a plant in memory or in honor of loved ones. Orders will be taken through mid-december. Cost is $12.00 for each plant. The Angel Tree will have tags with specific needs for Opportunity Place residents. Opportunity Place is a shelter where families are given an opportunity and resources to heal, grow, and move forward. There will also be a donation tree for the Animal Protection League in memory of Fritz Creswell. Thank you for participating in the project to send cards to friends in our partner churches in South Africa. Members of St. Kiaran s Presbyterian and the Masiphumelele congregation really appreciate and look forward to our greetings each year. Many of them send cards in return. INI SERRV M MINI SERRV MARKET WILL BE OPEN BEFORE CHRISTMAS The Joy Circle has listened to requests from our customers who wondered "why don't you have your Market before Christmas?" and are making plans to open every Sunday in December before Christmas. The Market will be in room 7 of the CE building. The first day will be December 1 and we will be open every Sunday until December 22 from 11AM to 2PM. We have many items that would make wonderful gifts and a shipment of new items that we've never had before. There will be more new Christmas items (felted dog ornaments from Nepal for example) as well as some very updated jewelry and more. This Mini Market will not have the newspaper write up that we have in February but will be in the Up Coming Events columns of the local newspaper. This would be a great time to invite your friends to attend Church with you and then stay to see the wonderful "International Craft Show" at the Market. Remember the best way to impact poverty in the world is to pay people fairly for their work. SERRV products are fairly traded hand made items from some of the neediest countries in the world. Our regular BIG Market will be coming in February 2014 and will open about February 9 with a similar schedule to previous years -- more details will come out closer to the date. See you at the Market and please help us spread the word.

5 Finding Bethlehem in the Midst of Bedlam Experience the hope of Christ this Advent amid the commotion, confusion, and challenges of the Christmas season. Tuesday: December 10th & 17th 1:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall Wednesday: December 11th & 18th 5pm Dinner; 5:30 pm Study *After the study on Dec. 18th we will sing carols and have a cookie exchange. Bring two dozen cookies, some to eat, some to exchange and take home. A collection of recipes from some of the best cooks in the world! Cookbooks make great Christmas presents for friends and family. On sale after Sunday services or stop by the church office. Books are $10 each. The Christmas Joy Offering has been a tradition in the Presbyterian Church for almost seventy years. The offering supports the education of students at Presbyterian racial ethnic schools and colleges and helps families of active and retired church workers in need through the assistance programs of the Board of Pensions. December 8, 2013 Special Worship and Music followed by Appreciation Reception The Sanctuary Choir and Handbells are once again preparing for Christmas Music Sunday. We hope to honor God with the musical presentation. Our children will also be singing and playing handchimes during the service. The day has also been designated as Music Appreciation Sunday a time when the congregation says thank you to the musicians for their contributions to worship throughout the church year. Plan to come and invite your friends and family to come with you. Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service Prelude 5:45pm Service 6:00 pm

6 Ladies, Picture yourself at the PW Gathering on January 28, We will have a Picture Party identifying folks in old church photos and reminiscing about the history of the church. Plan to come share a delicious meal and your favorite memories and stories. DATES to REMEMBER: Birthday Luncheon Thursday, December 19, 11:30 am: Birthday Luncheon Thursday, January 16, 11:30 am: PW Gathering in the Fellowship Hall Picture Party Tuesday, January 28, 11:30 am COLD NIGHT PROGRAM It s time to plan for the cold weather season. We need blankets this year. And we always need more volunteers.. Contact Yvonne Franklin, , if you have questions or need more information. *Safety training for leaders will be Monday, December 2nd at 5:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. *Leader meetings are held the second Monday of each month, 5:00 pm. Prayerfully consider where you might serve the Lord at FPC Nominating Committee: Jim Weatherbee, Session Beth Crawley, Session Craig Dock, Deacon Carol Davis, Presbyterian Women Nancy Nicks, Youth Steve Cahoon, Congregation Marlene Naylor, Congregation Financial Statement December 1 Serve: Tom & Ann Sipos, Marlene Naylor, Beth Crawley Set up: Yvonne Franklin, Sue Pedersen Clean up: M. Naylor, B. Crawley Christmas Eve Serve: Fred & Mayrelizbeth Pryor MG & Kim Moran Set up: Tom & Ann Sipos Clean up: Pryor Family January 12 Serve: John & Diana Drian George Goodall, Lila Mendel Set up: Bill & Lila Mendel Clean up: John & Diana Drian INCOME: OCT. YEAR to DATE Offerings... $16, , Facility Use , Designated , TOTAL INCOME... $17, , Transfer from Investment Acct , EXPENSES: Clergy Compensation.... $ , Worship Committee , Christian Education Witness & Outreach... 1, , Fellowship Committee , Admin. & Finance... 10, , Property Committee... 2, , Membership & Service Technology Deacons TOTAL EXPENSES... $19, , EXCESS INCOME/EXPENSES.. --2, ,593.49

7 GUATEMALA MISSION TRIP March 22-29, 2014 Come with us to Porch de Salomon in Panajachel. No special skills required just a heart for helping build a better future for the people there. Final plans will be made by December 31 so we can begin preparations and fundraising. Talk to Rev. Sharon for details and check out their website:. December Bill and Charlene Howard December 03 JANUARY Ben and Marilyn (Ankeney) Vines January 18 Wil and Jackie Hugli January 28 BIRTHDAYS Marsha Richards Craig Dock Diana Drain Joe Richardson Nancy Nicks Connor Williamson Mark Haller Tom Sipos Rosemary Brown Watch your mailboxes for the most important catalog of the holiday season the Alternative Gift Catalog with a bright gold cover! For the SEVENTEENTH year we will have the opportunity to honor and show our love for those we want to remember at the holiday season by showing our love for God's world. Read this important catalog for causes that will touch your heart and an explanation of how it works. This year s catalog will include 8 causes from Alternative Gifts International and 6 causes that were chosen locally. Through the 16 previous years of our AGI catalog our congregation and friends have given over $90,000 to make the world better. COUNT-DOWN to 2014! Two Cents-a-Meal contributions are used to fight hunger both locally and beyond. Each year 25% of 2 Cents-a-Meal donations from our church are donated to local hunger initiatives. Funds that are sent to our Presbytery also come back to our community in the form of grants. In the past years our local Sharing & Caring, Feed the Hungry, and Cold Night programs have all received these grants. There is a 2 Cents-a-Meal jar in the Narthex and in the Fellowship Hall. So let us count that spare change! Faye Black Brian Moore Jennifer Niki King Roger Huson Dotty Burdick Ken Williamson Eric Pryor Neil Godfriaux Betty Weatherwax Lorraine Lahr Dixie Aftonomos Pam Smith Glenda Weatherbee Barbara Blackburn Maia Dock Helen Seagrave Happy Birthday, God Bless You!

8 Non-Profit Org. US POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 4 Ft. Walton Bch, FL Return service requested. First Presbyterian Church 134 Beal Parkway S.W. Fort Walton Beach, FL PHONE: FAX: Rev. Sharon Schuler, Pastor revsharon1@gmail.com Jackie Hails, Music Director musicdirector@1stpc.gccoxmail.com Pam Haynes, Office Administrator office@1stpc.gccoxmail.com