January 2018 Newsletter

Transcription

1 January 2018 Newsletter Christmas is just about in the rear-view mirror now, maybe a few last minute gifts to get, plans on who exactly is bringing what to dinner, but overall, hopefully you have things pretty well set at this point. So all that is left is to take care of those last minute details, enjoy the day, and then Christmas is over: gifts opened, parties done, guests sent home. You made it through for another year. It may not seem like it, but Christmas is more than just one day a year; Christmas is a season, twelve days to be exact, running from December 25th until January 5th. (This is where the title to Shakespeare s play Twelfth Night comes from.) During that time, we are to celebrate Christ s birth in Bethlehem, the news that came to the shepherds, the miracle of that life, and the joy which it brings. But then on January 6th, we move right on to the next season, Epiphany, which marks the arrival of the magi. These astrologers from the east, likely modern day Iran, arrived in Bethlehem after much searching, a year or two after Jesus was born. It s amazing to think that the only way that they were able to find this child was the guiding light of a star which dictated their lives for years. When they saw the child, they were amazed that they had finally found the One who they had sought for so long. In greeting the Christ, they brought precious gifts: gold, frankincense, & myrrh, representing his life to come. When the time came for them to return home, they left by a different route. For us, the Sunday closest to Epiphany lines up with the first Sunday of the New Year. In celebration of both Epiphany and the beginning of a new year, we will start a new tradition at Living Hope: Epiphany Stars. During communion, when you come forward to receive the bread and juice, you will also be offered an Epiphany Star. These are simple paper stars with words of spiritual disciplines on them to use as a guide for the coming year. The invitation to you will be to use that word as a way to orient yourself towards God for the coming year, giving you a potential guiding light for every day of The church that my grandparents attended did this every year and my grandma would always put her star on the mirror of her dresser as a way to remind her to practice that discipline every day as a way to see Jesus. And maybe that Epiphany Star will allow you to encounter Christ in a new way so that, like the magi, may approach the world differently. Merry Christmas, Blessed Epiphany, and a Happy New Year! In Christ,.

2 Larry Under the Bridge January 21, 2018 Please continue to give canned and boxed goods for the two food pantries we support. Donations are taken year round. Please sign up to pack or deliver lunches for our January Meal Packing on the Congregational Life bulletin board. Because of your generosity, we were able to purchase supplies for lunches from your donations for THANK YOU! Christmas Joy Offering Celebrating God s Indescribable Gift Collection Dec. 24, 2017 Jan. 7, 2018 Every year during this time, we turn our eyes toward Bethlehem and anticipate the birth of Jesus Christ. Through him we receive the indescribable gift of God s grace. This year, we take time during the Advent and Christmas season to consider the gratitude we feel. It s out of this gratitude that we turn to support church leaders who dedicate their lives in service to Christ and the church. It s out of youthful wonder that students at Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges look forward to a life of faith, worship, and Christian leadership. With Christ at the center this holiday season, we can follow in his example of servant leadership by serving our brothers and sisters in faith. Through the Christmas Joy Offering, we are able to support those in our community and give them the gift of hope. Funds from the Christmas Joy Offering help the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions provide critical financial assistance to eligible workers in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and their families, and to qualifying retired church workers and their families. The Christmas Joy Offering also supports the education and development of our future leaders at Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges. These schools are dedicated to creating opportunities and environments for racial ethnic students built on a foundation of Christian values. The Offering benefits Menaul School and Presbyterian Pan American School, two secondary schools that ready students for a path of higher learning, as well as Stillman College, where graduates are prepared for lives of leadership and service. By giving to the Christmas Joy Offering, we can share in the hope of Christ and celebrate his leadership by providing support to our church workers, racial ethnic young people, and their families. Thank you for your generosity in donating. 2

3 Our church is always very generous when we are asked to give to the special offerings throughout the church year [One Great Hour of Sharing, Pentecost, Peacemaking, PW Thank Offering and Christmas Joy]. The Per Capita Apportionment is a little different in that every church is required to pay its fair share in full each year to the denomination, Presbyterian Church (USA) to maintain our relationship with the larger church. This offering is based upon the number of members on our church rolls at the end of the prior year (in our case, 94) and is essentially a cost of being members in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Just as we are a community in Christ, we also are a part of the larger church community and we help to support that larger community with our per capita offering. This year s Per Capita, $34.00 (an increase The per capita apportionment for 2017 is: from 2017) is really a small price to pay General Assembly $ 7.73 for membership in the national church Synod $ 5.40 organization that provides so much support Presbytery of Milwaukee $20.87 to our congregation. total $34.00 At LHPC we ask our members to help offset the cost by contributing their individual per capita offering over and above their regular pledge. The more members who contribute their per capita payment the more money is available to cover other costs in our church budget. A special envelope is included with your special offering envelopes for your use. Parents -- remember that all confirmed youth are members too, even if they are away at college or on their own, if they have not transferred their membership to another church. Women s Association Thank you, Living Hope Members and Friends, for supporting the Thank Offering. $1,195 was collected, and sent to the national Thank Offering collection, providing assistance to many. Thank you to all who helped make the Living Hope/Dickson Hollow Christmas Celebration a joyous time of celebration. Thanks to our bakers, caterer, Dickson Hollow performers: flutist Kendall with Mary Dalton, and Leroy on the accordion, DH beverage waiters: Walt, Dave and Ray, planners and assistants. Your donations to The Toy Store at Christ Church, Milwaukee, (50 toys and $225 purchased scarves, hats, and mittens) made Christmas a happier a warmer time for many children Circles are reconvening with Naomi Circle meeting on January 8 at 10:00 a.m. at Kathy Mathews', and Martha Circle meeting on January 9 at 12:30 p.m. at Living Hope PC. 3

4 Did we miss your birthday or anniversary? Please let the office know so we can update our files. Christian Education Connection Kids Sunday School class meets every other Sunday at 8:45 AM in the Learning Center. This Month: January 7 and 21 Teachers, Teacher Assistants and Snack Providers are always needed. Please sign up on the bulletin board in the Congregational 4 Life Hallway.

5 January Family Prayer Calendar We are a connectional church connected in faith to God Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Jesus taught us that prayer connects us to the Divine and to each other. Each month we list our faith community. Every family has a date when we ask you to hold them January Calendar 1. Marjorie Gauen 2. Emmy Gedeit 3. Arleen Goranson 4. Majd Hanna, Nour Ajami, Timothy and Christian 5. Larry and Marge Harris 6. Mitz Holley 7. Bernie and Judy Huizenga 8. Hazel Hurum 9. Bob Hutchings 10. Barry and Thelma James 11. Goldie and Ray Jones 12. Joan Junek 13. Peter and Harriet Kirchhoff 14. Amanda and Paul Lavoe, Ziva, Zion, and Zach 15. Curtis MacDonald 17. Char Mattson 18. Ginny Maurer 19. Anne Melvin-Rood, Kip Rood, Catherine and James 20. Pat Mitschrich 21. Nancy Molstad 22. Paula Moore 23. Priscilla Nealey 24. Don Olson 25. Jim and Bette Olson 26. Bruce and Kris Parker 27. Mike & Jenni, John, Sam, and Scott Parnon 28. Monica Partenfelder, Olivia, Campbell and Mack Partenfelder 29. Scott Partenfelder 30. Bill and Pat Perkins 31. Ray and Arlene Petersen 16. Kathy Mathews 5

6 Living Hope Presbyterian Church Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat AM Worship 1 January No Bible Study 2 3 Office Closed Sat Dec. 23 Tues Jan 2. Open on Friday morning, Dec 29. 8:30-12:30 Office Open 4 5 8:30-3:30 Office Open 6 7 8:45 AM Sunday School 10 AM Worship 11:15 Mission Meeting 8 9:30 AM Bible Study 10:00 AM Naomi Circle at Kathy Mathews home 9 8:00 Collaboration Meeting 12:30 PM Martha Circle at LHPC AM Worship Installation of Officers 11:15 AM Deacons 15 9:30 AM Bible Study 10:30 AM Worship Committee 8:30-3 Office Hours 16 8:30-1 Office Hours :30-1 Office Hours 20 New Office Hours Start this week: M 8:30-3 Tu & F 8: :45 AM Sunday School 10 AM Worship 11:30 LUTB 11:30 Session 22 9:30 AM Bible Study February Newsletter Deadline AM Worship 29 9:30 AM Bible Study February 2 3 ANNUAL MEETING after Worship 6

7 Jan 7 Jan 14 Jan 21 Jan 28 Communion Servers Joe Fresch* Marcia Sinner Nancy Molstad Peggy Waterman Kathryn Fresch Liturgist Fellowship Hosts Don and Peggy Waterman Steve and Marcia Sinner Dan, Allison, and Christine Brankle Barry and Thelma James Counters Joan Junek Ginny Maurer Steve Sinner Kathy Mathews Dan Brankle Dave Stephan Don Waterman Judy Bauer Sunday School Marcia Sinner Marcia Sinner Welcome Host/ Lock up Karen Stephan Karen Stephan Ann Tennyson Ann Tennyson Ushers Keith Pierce Karl Bertram Barry James Tom Tennyson Ann Tennyson Don Waterman Tom Tennyson Ann Tennyson Don Waterman Ken DeBoer Diane DeBoer MONDAY BIBLE STUDY GROUP Bible Study meets Monday mornings at 9:30 AM in the Brookfield Room You are invited to join us!! The passages we study are the scripture passages for each upcoming Sunday. Even if you cannot attend our study group, you are invited to read through the passages prior to worship in your preparing for worship. Lesson Date and Passages: For Sunday: 1/8 Genesis 1:1-5; Mark 1:4-11 1/14 1/15 Mark 1:14-20; Jonah 3:1-4:11 1/21 1/22 Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Mark 1: /28 1/29 Isaiah 40:21-31; Mark 1: /4 7

8 Winter Weather and Worship at LHPC Our current policy for cancelling worship service due to weather is that worship will go on no matter the weather. Annual Reports Reports due: January 10, 2018 Reports available: starting January 21, 2018 Everyone is advised to use their judgement and only drive to church if they can SAFELY make it. Annual Meeting Sunday, January 28th, 2018 immediately following worship. LIVING HOPE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH W156 N4881 Pilgrim Road, Menomonee Falls WI Office hours: Mon and Wed 8:30-12:30, Fri 8:30-3:30 Transitional Pastor: Rev. Will Houts Administrative Assistant: Lisa Quinn Clerk of Session: Kathryn Fresch Director of Music: Dr. Wallace Cheatham Office: (262) Cell: (262) Office: (262) Session Members Judy Bauer, Joe Fresch, Kathryn Fresch, Curtis MacDonald, Nancy Molstad, Keith Pierce, Eileen Pierce, Marcia Sinner, Steve Sinner, Tom Tennyson Deacon Members (designated last names) (A-B) - Julie Courtney (G-K) - Kris Parker (P-R) - Peggy Waterman Moderator (C-F) - Karen Stephan (L-O) - Ann Tennyson (S-Z) - Julie Camp 8