(Copies of this note are available at the Information Booth on Sundays, or at the church office during the week.)

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1 2014 CONGREGATIONAL MEETING - NOVEMBER 16 th - One of the provisions of MPC s dismissal from the PCUSA requires us to revise our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws to reflect our dismissal from the PCUSA and affiliation with ECO, which is targeted to be effective on November 16 th. This is an appropriate action and will accurately reflect our corporate status and governing provisions. ECO requires us to comply with its polity, and the revisions have been drafted to do so. There is no impact from these revisions on our ministries and programs. Such changes to the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws require congregational approval. There will be a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, November 16 th in the Sanctuary for the purposes of: Electing Elders, Deacons and Trustees to the Class of 2017 Approving revised Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws The Bylaws and Articles are available on the MPC website for your review, or you may pick up a copy at the Information Booth on Sundays or at the church office during the week. Please review these prior to the Congregational Meeting, in preparation for voting. Any questions should be referred to Rosa Heard, or rheard@mandarinpres.com, in advance of this meeting. FROM THE PRESBYTERY OF ST. AUGUSTINE TO THE MEMBERS OF MPC: In the continuing bond of Christian friendship, the Presbytery of St. Augustine and Mandarin Presbyterian Church (MPC) provide the following information for members of MPC who may wish to retain their membership in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - (1) If the member has already found a church home, the session of that congregation may ask MPC to prepare a letter of transfer for the member. (2) If the member has not found a new church home, then he or she may transfer temporarily to a member roll maintained by the Presbytery as of the date of MPC s dismissal from the Presbytery. If or when that member finds a new church home, the presbytery will transfer membership to that church. (3) If the member does not want to choose either option at this time but does not wish to become a member of ECO, then the member may ask MPC to remove him/her from its membership roll effective prior to the date of MPC s transfer to ECO. With all these options, the member is welcome to come to worship at MPC or any of the churches in the Presbytery of St. Augustine at any time. For assistance with any of these options, members are welcome to contact the Stated Clerk of the Presbytery, the Rev. Sandra Hedrick, at or sandra@staugpres.org. Thank you! (Copies of this note are available at the Information Booth on Sundays, or at the church office during the week.) DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME - Be sure to fall back this weekend to Daylight Savings Time. Set your clocks back one hour and join us for worship on Sunday morning.

2 CHRISTMAS DÉCOR 301 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14 TH - If you ve attended the two previous Décor Events, you were among the many that enjoyed an evening of Christmas music, yummy holiday refreshments, easy decorating tips, and door prizes! You ll want to join us for this year s event, Semi-Homemade Christmas! Tickets are $10 and are available in the Lobby. Mark your calendars and join us for the festivities on Friday, November 14 th at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall on the East Campus. THIRD THURSDAY CIRCLE - Third Thursday Circle will meet Thursday, November 20th, 7:00pm at an alternate location. Please find us at Hawthorn Club House, 6450 Autumn Berry Circle. We are studying "Hebrews for everyone", by N.T. Wright and will be doing Chapter 3. All ladies are welcome to attend. If you have a question or need more information please contact Linda Runyon, l.runyon@comcast.net. OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD MPC is once again supporting Samaritan Purse s Operation Christmas Child. These gifts of love will be sent to children living in poverty in areas of the world where there is great need. Filled boxes should be returned on or by November 16 th. NOVEMBER J.O.Y (Just Older Youth) Come join us on Thursday, November 13 th in the Fellowship Hall at 11:00 for our monthly gathering. Lunch is $5. To reserve your spot, call the church office, MANDARIN PRESBYTERIAN PRESCHOOL NEWS - On November 3, Mandarin Presbyterian Preschool will begin registering students for the 2015/2016 school year. As a MPC member, you are eligible to register your child before the general registration begins in December. MPP offers the following classes: 2 year olds: MWF and TTH (8:45 12:00) 3 year olds: MWF and TTH (8:45 12:00 w/ option to stay until 3:00) 4 year olds: VPK program (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten paid for by the state) M-F (hours= 8:45 12:00 w/ option to stay until 3:00 ) MWF (hours = MW 8:45 3:00, F 8:45 12:00- p.m.) TWTH (hours = TTH 8:45 3:00, W 12:00 3:00 p.m.) Spots fill very quickly. For further information, contact Mellanie Henderson, MPC ENDOWDED SCHOLARSHIP FUND - Each spring, MPC awards one or more scholarships to graduating high school seniors from within our congregation. As the end of the year approaches, please consider a monetary gift to the Endowed Scholarship Fund at MPC. Your investment will be used to support the youth of our church and will pay dividends for years to come. ADULT MISSION TRIP - Interested in a mission trip to Costa Rica? All are welcome. We plan to depart on January 19 th and return on January 26 th. For additional information contact Pat Sullivan, or lpsully@bellsouth.net. MILITARY PRAYER LIST Pray for MPC military and their families: Alaina Clay, Chad Coursey, Geoff Cunningham, Jeremy Etheridge, Peter Flynt, Becky Gallant, Richard Gallant, Russell Gallant, Michael Hahn, Kurt Hannon, Christopher Hicks, Scott Hoffman, Bobby Hughes, Tyler Keithley, John LeVoy, Les McNellie, Yancey Montgomery, Christopher Snyder, & John Winkler (Bold denotes active duty deployed.) Please call the office to add or remove a name from the list.

3 STUDENT MINISTRIES Go MAD on November 22 nd for Middle and High School Students For our November GoMAD we will be teaming up with Church of the Redeemer to help them put on their annual Fall Festival for refugee families. We will be assisting with food, games, arts and crafts, and other fall fun for refugee children and their parents. These are families that fled their countries because of persecution and we have a chance to help give them a fun evening of bonding as a family and learning more about the love of Christ. Sign up information will be coming soon! Middle School HANG TEN MIDDLE SCHOOL SERIES: Hello My Name Is October 29 th, November 5 th, 12 th, 19 th & December 3 rd. 6:00 8:00 pm Jesus is so much bigger and better than we could imagine let s look at some of the names that Jesus has and how they apply to us. NO HANG TEN Wednesday November 26 th Happy Thanksgiving ROCKIN AROUND THE SKATING RINK: December 10 th 6:00-8:00 pm - Cost $ Skate Station, 3461 Kori Rd, Jacksonville, FL As fun as it is to Rock Around The Christmas Tree, it is even more fun to rock around in roller skates. We have rented out Skate Station just for us!!! Meet Skate Station as we rock out and celebrate Christmas with some good old roller skating. Wear your tackiest Christmas outfit and socks. Bring your favorite dessert/snack to share!!! MIDDLE SCHOOL SUNDAY MORNINGS DIVE IN 9:00 10:15 a.m. on the East Campus. Come dive in deeper into the Bible and what it means to you personally. This semester we will be looking at stories from the early church and the letters in the New Testament. There is also yummy food and fun games! High School CRAVE HIGH SCHOOL SERIES: That Awkward Moment When November 2 nd, 9 th, 16 th, 23 rd & December 7 th - 6:30 8:30 pm Some of the most awkward things to talk about, are also the most important. What does the Bible say about dating? What does God think about parties? Does it really matter what I do on my phone? Let s move past the awkwardness and see how we can really live the best lives! NO CRAVE Sunday November 30 th Small groups will be doing their own thing for the night! CHRISTMAS FEAST (aka Progressive Dinner) December 14 th 6:00-9:00 pm Christmas time means movies, music, shopping, and of course yummy food! Back by popular demand! Join us as we head around Jacksonville to partake in some intense food intake. Wear your worst Christmas outfit and bring your appetite and a white elephant gift ($5) and be ready to have a great time as we end the 2014 year of Crave. HIGH SCHOOL SUNDAY MORNINGS 9:08 9:00-10:15 a.m. on the East Campus. Bring your Bible (or we can get you one) and be prepared to be challenged in new ways. There is food and worship to get you going in the early morning!

4 JOIN THE CHOIR FOR CHRISTMAS Calling all singers! Join us for choir rehearsals on Wednesdays from 7:00 9:00 p.m. as we prepare for the Advent season, our Christmas program on Sunday, December 14 th, and our Christmas Eve service. No auditions required! For more information contact Bill Vasko, or MPC S NEW SMALL ENSEMBLE Choir member Karen Breidert is putting together a new singing group for MPC. They will sing in harmony; sometimes a capella, sometimes accompanied. Rehearsals will be at her home on Mandarin Road and will be sporadic instead of on a regular night depending on singing engagements and music. This group will learn music for special Sundays and other events. If there is interest from both men and women and the group is balanced they will do four part, SATB arrangements. The arrangements are a bit challenging and she s looking for experienced singers that enjoy small group work. There will be auditions to be sure the voices blend and the group is balanced. If interested, please contact Karen, or drummoo@juno.com. MANDARIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH is pleased to offer a preventive health event by Life Line Screening on November 18 th. Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries which is a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs which is a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat which is closely tied to stroke risk; and a bone density screening, for men and women, used to assess the risk of osteoporosis. Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). In order to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, visit the Life Line website, or call CHRISTMAS INTERNATIONAL HOUSE - Every year during the holidays, college dorms close and international students are left without housing. Many cannot afford to travel home and use this break as an opportunity to see more of the United States. Christmas International House is an ecumenical organization that provides opportunities for international students to live with a host family for two weeks (December 18 January 2) to experience an American Christmas. There are group activities planned, and the host family provides meals and lodging. If you would be interested in hosting a student this Christmas please contact Nikki Bowen at ndbsmile@gmail.com or RETHREADED: SEWING A STORY OF HOPE EVENT Tuesday November 18, 7:00-8:00pm in the Sanctuary. Join us for dessert and to hear more about what is going on at Rethreaded, a ministry to women coming out of the sex trafficking industry. We will have a time to pray for those who are affected by this and also will have a chance to purchase items created by the women. This is a great chance to get some early Christmas gifts that are meaningful and beautifully crafted. RSVP to Jessica Konker at jkonker@mandarinpres.com. THORNWELL HOME FOR CHILDREN Thornwell serves children and families across Florida, Georgia and South Carolina and its ministry is possible because of church partnerships. Last year alone they served 133 kids in residential care, gave 15 families a new start through Building Families, educated 64 children in their 4 yr old Kindergarten, were able to keep 80 children with their siblings and reunited 41 children with their families. Envelopes are available in the pews throughout November & December; please consider supporting this mission.

5 ANGEL TREE PROJECT - The Angels in this program are children whose parent(s) have been approved for Christmas assistance through the Salvation Army. We have pledged to take care of 110 Angels at MPC. To participate, select an Angel tag from our tree, sign it out and purchase a minimum of a new toy and a new outfit of clothing for the child described on the tag. Some Angels have requested more expensive items such as bicycles. Please consider asking your small group to collectively sponsor one of these Angels. Angel Tags will be on the tree in the Narthex beginning November 16 th. Return the filled bag to MPC no later than Sunday, December 7 th. COMING IN NOVEMBER: NORTHEAST FLORIDA GREAT BANQUETS - Look for the banner in the Narthex and STOP BY THE INFORMATION BOOTH to chat with a friendly face who can answer any questions you may have about the upcoming Northeast Florida Great Banquet Weekends, November 6-9 (women) and November (men). As always, the Weekends are filling fast and wait-lists are likely! Reservation Request Forms are available at the information booth on Sunday mornings, the church office any weekday, or online 24/7 at the MPC website (mandarinpres.com/grow/northeast florida great banquet). DAILY BREAD FOOD PANTRY has now been in operation for 18 months. We have served over 2,100 households (6,263 individuals) and distributed well over 100,000 pounds of dry staple groceries and fresh produce to our neighbors. We are now serving between households per week and the numbers continue to grow. A large number of those in need are elderly, fixed income people who have seen their monthly income squeezed by rising costs for Medicare and doctor visits as well as escalating food prices. Most of our visitors are working families with 1 or 2 under employed earners. We are one of the few food pantries open in late afternoon. Many come every other week, once a month or as needed; but all are very grateful that we are there for them. We have been particularly challenged over the last few months as one of our main partners, Nourishment Network (formally 2 nd Harvest) has discontinued operations and the new food bank affiliated with the national organization, Feeding America, is not fully up and running. We have depended on these partners for 65%-70% of our food and that s dropped to around 25%. The congregation s generous support is needed now more than ever. A list of specific needs is usually in the Sunday bulletin. Daily Bread also distributes special Thanksgiving and Christmas food packages in addition to the weekly bags. Last year we provided 85 complete fixings for a Thanksgiving meal (including a $15 gift card for a turkey or ham) and a $25 food gift card for Christmas. This year we expect to give out over 100 of each of these special gifts. Look for an upcoming special appeal during Sunday announcements. The Daily Bread volunteers humbly and thankfully serve you, the Mandarin Presbyterian congregation in this ministry and appreciate all your encouragement and support! A NOTE OF THANKS My sincerest appreciation to the staff, session and congregation of MPC for the beautiful flowers. More so, thank you for the love, prayers and support. Our church family has been such a blessing to both me and Mallory and it has truly been a comfort during this time. I miss Mal a lot, but I am at peace knowing he is in heaven watching over me. I pray God will continue to bless our church! Marion Edwards

6 PRELIMINARY OCTOBER FINANCIAL UPDATE: Month YTD 10/1/14-10/31/14 1/1/14-10/31/14 Contributions $162,313 $1,625,816 Expenses $174,129 $1,800,399 Net Income/(Loss) ($11,816) ($174,583) As a church, we are grateful to become a part of the Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians. As Bryan wrote in his Stewardship letters to the congregation, new beginnings don t come along too often and we look forward to this time of opportunity together. As we live into that opportunity together, please prayerfully consider how you can help with the deficit we now face. Thank you for your faithfulness to MPC! STITCHERS NEEDLEWORK GROUP If you like to sew, knit, crochet or do any type of needle crafts, the Stitchers group would love to have you join them! It s a good time for fellowship, working on your own projects or items for community service. The group meets the 1 st and 3 rd Sundays of the month at 1:30 p.m. in room 9 on the West Campus. All ages and abilities are welcome. Contact Ginger Yates, gyates04@yahoo.com. FLOWER CALENDAR If you would like to reserve a Sunday on the Flower Calendar, please contact Barbara Frye, or bfrye@mandarinpres.com. The cost is $45 and flowers may be picked up after the 10:30 a.m. service, or the Deacon Ministry is happy to take them to a member in need if you wish. This flower ministry is a great way to honor, memorialize or celebrate a loved one or special event. ARE YOU EXPECTING? If you are expecting a child we want to know! We have an ongoing maternity prayer list, as well as a gift from the church once your precious baby is born. Please contact Barbara Frye, bfrye@mandarinpres.com or MPC S NEWEST MEMBERS We welcome the following people who united with Mandarin Presbyterian Church at the New Member Dinner on October 12, 2014: Peter & Heather Aiello Robert & Bonnie Bruorton Dale & Jackie Carson Robert Coker Randy & Margie Dalton Bill & Donna Dozois Liz Etheridge Charles & Brandi Garland Matthew & Virginia Handrich Stephen & Susan Haas Charles & Faith Hipp Carl & Amy Johnson Keith & Dana Johnston Mike & Kimberly Kash Connie Kingery Mark & Faye Lazar Mark & Valerie Meador Sherman & Debbie O Brien Arren & Hope Quilal-lan Allen & Lee Samuels Lee Samuels, Jr Daryl & Molly Sanford Joseph & Janet Wozniak