565 Wimbish Rd. Macon, GA 31210

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1 565 Wimbish Rd. Macon, GA RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID MACON, GA PERMIT NO. 164 CHRISTMAS FOR BACKPACK MINISTRY CHILDREN Ann Weaver, Gail Newark, and Judy Hill worked hard on December 5th to package and wrap gifts for the children Northminster has been supporting through the Backpack Ministry. Special gifts include school uniforms for each of the children. VOLUME 14, NUMBER 12 DECEMBER 2013 Page 2 Christingle Sunday; Advent Candle Lighters; Letter from the White House Page 3 Christmas Party for the Homeless; Alternative Christmas Fair; Lunch Bunch Page 4 Leadership Swap Inserts Pastor s Page, Session Meeting Highlights, Music News 1

2 GROWING TOGETHER IN FAITH CHIISTINGLE SUNDAY A LETTER FROM THE WHITE HOUSE On Sunday, December 15th, at 9:45 AM the children will be gathering in the Fellowship Hall during the Sunday School time to participate in a growing world-wide movement the making of a Christingle. Please consider helping in one of the following ways. Or, if you have another idea, please call the church to give us your idea! You could provide a bag of oranges (any unused would go to Loaves and Fishes). You could cut tin foil squares. You could invite your neighbors. You could cut holes in oranges for children. You could aid in clean-up (orange juice will be a result of cutting a hole in the orange for the candle.) You could donate gum drops and toothpicks. ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTERS December 1st 8:45 AM Susan Welch 11:00 AM The Walkers December 8th 11:00 AM The Putzkes December 15th 8:45 AM Sandra Ridgeway 11:00 AM Jeff Fallis December 23rd 8:45 AM OPEN 11:00 AM OPEN December 24th 12:00 Noon OPEN 5: 00 PM OPEN 6:30 PM Bruce Burns Above is a letter sent to Northminster from the White House and signed by the president, Barack Obama. It was received in the office on Monday, November 25th. What you cannot see is that is has a beautifully embossed seal at the top. What you can probably make out is that it is a letter of thanks regarding our efforts to improve our energy efficiency. This came to us due in part to the diligence of the Go Green Committee in their efforts to improve how we use the energy within the church. One would imagine that the biggest step made toward this effort was the improvements made in the last year: updating the florescent lights of the upstairs, and also the improved heating of the sanctuary. As the president (or an aid of some sort) said in this letter Congratulations again 2

3 SERVING OTHERS IN CHRIST CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR THE HOMELESS This year s annual Christmas party for the homeless will be held on December 17th at First Presbyterian Church. Northminster has been asked once again to provide 250 pairs of gloves for the gift bags that the participants will receive. Since purchasing large quantities of gloves in middle Georgia has proved difficult in the past, the Outreach and Evangelism Committee has attempted to make the purchase easier by ordering an adequate number of gloves which you will be able to purchase from us. Northminster has a history of doing a great job of providing whatever was asked of us, and we can certainly do so again. Warm gloves make a real difference for those who live on the street. Thank you for your help in making their lives better! Five pairs of gloves can be purchased for $10 after the service each Sunday. HELP KROGER CONTRIBTE TO L&F There is a wonderful new opportunity to earn money for Loaves and Fishes and it won t cost you a penny! Loaves and Fishes is now on the community rewards system for Kroger Plus cards. If you have a Kroger Plus card, all you have to do is go to their website, create an account, then go to the community page and attach your card to Loaves and Fishes. After that, every time you use your card a percentage gets donated to Loaves and Fishes! All you need to get started is your Kroger Plus card or your Alternate ID which is your 10 digit phone number. It only takes 5 minutes, so sign up today and encourage your friends to sign up also. Here is a link to the website: If you have any questions, contact Jeanne Roddenberry or Genny Whitaker. GOOD SAM OFFERING Thanks for your continued support for the Good Samaritan Offering. This money is used to help those in need, members and non-members alike. Your contributions to this fund made it possible for us to assist a woman with her power bill. She is separated from her husband and has been off work due to a car accident. When she can work, she is a housekeeper and has one special needs child. Thank you for your generous support of the needy people in our community! The Good Sam Offering is received on the first Sunday of each month. GREETERS ARE NEEDED Have you ever noticed when you come through the sanctuary doors on Sunday morning that there is always a smiling face waiting to greet you as you come through the door? There is also a person sitting at a table ready to write you a visitor name tag if it is needed. Wouldn t you like to become a part of this very important ministry at Northminster? This ministry is always looking for new faces to participate in this ministry. A new schedule will be prepared soon for the New Year and we want your help! Please call the church office and tell them you want to be a new greeter for the New Year! ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS FAIR Do you have that person on your Christmas list for whom you just can t figure out what to buy? Then, you come to the Alternative Christmas Fair on December 8 th after the 11am service. You can make a contribution to a charity and send them a card saying that you have made a donation in their honor. This year our fair will feature 3 charities: Loaves & Fishes, Habitat for Humanity and Thornwell Home for Children. Come Shop and make someone feel special and help God s children! LUNCH BUNCH The Lunch Bunch is a Dutch treat group that gets together on the 1st Tuesday of the month. The group is open to anyone who likes to eat out and have fellowship time with other members. The Lunch Bunch will meet Tuesday, January 7th. They will be going to Greek Corner Pizza on Vineville Ave. 3

4 MAKING DISCIPLES THE CHRISTMAS STORY IN PICTURES Left to Right: Ann Putzke, Kendall Emener, and Ella Smith. TOP TEN REASONS TO JOIN THE CHOIR 10. Your favorite movie is Sister Act. 9. You have just been selected for jury duty and want to get used to sitting with a group of people. 8. Your church is so full you want to be sure you always have a seat! 7. The collection plate is never passed to the Choir! 6. The clock is in the back of the sanctuary and you want to be the first to know when it s time to go. 5. You want to be close to the preacher if he s a ys s o me t h in g heretical. You can find more information about the Music department on page 6. LEADERSHIP SWAP All across the Presbytery, bulletin drafts will be going back and forth as every church in the Presbytery will be sending and receiving Elders and ministers in the pulpit exchange. The purpose of the Pulpit-Swap is to remind us of our connectionalism as Presbyterians. On January 26th, Reverend Hammet will be going to First Presbyterian, Warner Robins. We will be receiving Glenn Gilstrap and elders from Westminster Presbyterian, also in Warner Robins. 4

5 Last month we looked at the way, for the sake of the future ministry of Northminster, and for the sake of John Sawyer s new ministry start in Bedford, New Hampshire, we all needed to end well, say good-bye well, grieve well, and move on well. We looked at the way good closing rituals make for good beginning rituals for both. Good closings can be a spiritual journey. Intentionality about the process is a key component. I recounted some of our rituals. As you know, Christmas has its own set of rituals. We hear the complaints about how early we hear Christmas Carols in the stores it is like Muzak flips the switch from Vincent Price on Michael Jackson s Thriller to Bing Crosby s Silver Bells around 10:47 PM on October 31 st, and the cashier changes from the witch hat to the elf hat, and off we go One lamenter on Facebook registered his or her disgust with the early Christmas start, but then confessed, And yet I start singing along. The PasTor s Page Ending Well, Starting Strong Part II J Perhaps that is why I have found myself gravitating to the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. In reality, the church flips the switch from Christ the King Sunday (November 24 th this year) -- almost as quickly as Muzak does to Advent and Christmas. Gestation periods are abbreviated. Family strife and concern for reputations and dowries and betrothals get compacted. John is a dream one minute, an infant the next, and then he is preaching about Jesus coming. All of this moving about can be a little confusing. And heaven help you if you missed a Sunday. So, I like the nine months and eight days of silence that Zechariah brings. One day he is burning incense. Perhaps lights an extra piece of incense and says a prayer. It s rather sweet. I sense that he is hoping that there still might be some way Elizabeth can have some security after he s gone. And in that culture, that meant a son. Or a good son. An angel appears. Zechariah listens, then asks a practical question. And he not only gets his name ohn is a dream one minute, an infant the next, and then his is preaching about Jesus coming. written on the board, he gets some serious time-out with no speaking. Nine months of silence. That s a long time. Child is born. He still can t speak. And then eight days later Perhaps he was beginning to wonder if he would ever be able to speak. But then he backed up his wife on the name choice, the circumcision is performed, and Badaboom Badabing, he can speak. In fact, he gushes. And it is all praise to God! Luke has this flair people just break out into song The angels. Mary. Simeon. Anna. Zechariah. Everyone but Mary has been waiting to sing. They have been storing it up. In the angels case, for years! John (the baby) begins strong as his father ends well the silence of the nine and the eight. They all begin well. And they all point to the coming of the Christ Child. More about that next month. For now, Merry Christmas! Peace, Insert 1

6 SERVING OTHERS IN CHRIST with musical praise THANK YOU A great, big Thank You goes to our Children s choir, under the direction of Monica Fenimore, who sang for us on Sunday, November 24. They sang Abba Father and did a fabulous job!! UPCOMING EVENTS The Northminster Brass ensemble will be playing on December 15 at the 11:00 AM service. This is also our Christingle Sunday plan to come and bring a friend with you. For our Christmas Eve service at 6:30, area harpist, Calista Koch, will be playing for us. Prelude music begins at 6:10. Plan to arrive early, and enjoy the music of the season on one of the most lyrical instruments. CHORAL SOCIETY S ANNUAL PERFORMANCE OF HANDEL S MESSIAH The Choral Society s annual performance of Handel s Messiah will be held on Tuesday, December 10 at 7:00 pm at St. Joseph s Catholic Church. Always a sell-out, tickets are $15.00, and can be obtained from any member. Our church has 5 members singing in this auditioned group of choristers: Judy Martin, Tom Goodwin, Frank Ellis, Catherine Woody, and Sandra Smith. This is a great way to start your holiday season! CALENDAR OF MUSICAL EVENTS Wednesday, Dec 25 and Jan 1: No Choir Rehearsal. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Sunday, Dec 29: No choir for 11:00a service. Wednesday, Jan 8, 2014: All Choir rehearsals resume Saturday, Jan 11, 2014: Spring Choir Retreat S&F REPORT Thank you to all of you for our very successful stewardship season. Pledges are up despite our aging congregation and a difficult economy. Your faithfulness and generosity to God s plan never ceases to amaze me. Special thanks go to The Session, Brent and Rusty Gunn, and my wife Natalie, for making it happen. In Christ, Minor C. Vernon, MD Our annual Lessons and Carols service will be held on Sunday, Dec 8 at 11a. Please plan now to attend, and bring a friend with you. Share the music of Christmas with someone, and get your holidays off to a great start! If you would like to sing in the choir for the Christmas season, it s not too late! Come on Wednesday evenings at 7:45 when we will be practicing the Lessons/ Carols portion of our rehearsal. A dress rehearsal on Saturday, Dec 7 at 10a, is also scheduled. L: NPC Members attend the Rosa Parks Luncheon FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT Actual Budgeted Difference Percentage October total pledges/loose offerings received 33, , % overall October expenses % YTD total pledges/loose offerings received % overall YTD expenses % (Actual is compared to the (reduced) Austerity Budget, not the (initial) Asking Budget) Insert 2

7 CALLED NOVEMBER SESSION MEETING (Recorded by John Putzke) Meeting started with evaluation of senior and associate pastor. Jeff Dudley opened the meeting with a devotional based on the book the officers will be using in their Advance. The Administrative Assistant announced plans to leave at the end of December. - Motion passed to give Christina a parting gift. We celebrated the 175th Anniversary of the faithful service of the Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church. Approved Haley Bowers transfer of letter request to Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville. Celebrated her engagement and planned marriage in France (June, 2014). Noted that Stewart Bowers is now a part of a non-denominational church in Athens, GA. Celebrated the response to the backpack ministry. Corporate Meeting of Northminster, Inc. scheduled for December 1st, after the 11 AM worship service. - Motion approved -- annual required action related to housing allowance designation for Heard tentative dates for representatives of Next Church, The Fellowship, and the Covenant Network to make presentations in early 2014 at two gatherings within the Presbytery. - Motion passed to seek members willing provide funding for additional hymnals Glory to God. THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE S PLANS FOR 2014 In preparation for Northminster Presbyterian Church s 50 th Jubilee Celebration in June 2014, the Mission/Outreach Committee has been brainstorming about ways to celebrate a spirit of community involvement and support in other words, thinking beyond ourselves and reaching out to those in need! Each month throughout 2014, we will be celebrating a specific church mission. Beginning in January 2014, we would like to see the church increase its support for the Backpack Ministry. Be on the lookout for specific items to bring in on Sundays throughout the month of January! In February, the focus will be on Loaves and Fishes. March s theme will be a book donation drive and possibly opportunities to read to students in our local classrooms. It is also Dr. Seuss s birthday month! In April, we will organize a church-oriented spring cleaning day --please feel free to share your ideas about church-wide clean-outs and clean-ups to help keep our Northminster sparkling and shining! May s plans involve organizing two separate Habitat for Humanity volunteer days. There may also be other ways you can help if the dates don t work for you! We plan to use June as a Sabbath month taking some time off as the summer begins and the kids are out of school. In July, we ll kick back up again with a School Supply Drive, to help our local school children (and teachers!) have what they need as school begins in August. August is open for ideas about planning for a Mission Trip. Please send your ideas along if you have any special causes in mind that you feel our church could support. Connie Fritz at the Presbytery is also a good resource for mission trips. In September, we plan to turn our attention to those members of our congregation who are not able to worship with us on Sundays due to illness, lack of transportation, or a variety of other reasons. We would like to boost our churchwide visitation to these special members of Northminster who are especially appreciative of a home visit! The Congregational Care Committee is a great resource for ways to support these individuals. October, November, and December are months to focus on items needed for cold weather for those less fortunate; specifically, hosting a coat drive, having a yard sale, and perhaps other needed articles of clothing for donation. Please prepare your hearts and minds for these special monthly themes throughout the 2014 calendar year and come join in this spirit of giving! Thank you for your help and support as we show our love of Jesus by giving a little more of ourselves in 2014! In Christ, Brandon Walker Insert 3