CALLING ALL DISCIPLES Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church 1 Corinthians 13, Christmas Style by Sharon Jaynes If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family I m just another decorator. If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family I m just another cook. If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family it profits me nothing. If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point. Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tried. Love doesn t envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn t yell at the kids to get out of your way. Love doesn t give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can t. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure. 2018 December 1 Calling All Disciples
Communion Sunday will be December 2, 2018 Deacon to prepare the Sacraments are: Sarah Smith and Cathy Kirk First Presbyterian Church 700 N Central Avenue Connersville IN 47331 765-825-4189 CLERK OF SESSION: Carla Beard OFFICE HOURS FOR SECRETARY: Tuesday and Thursday 9 am 2 pm Email and Website: office@connerpres.org www.connerpres.org For January December 21st NOTE: Church Office will be closed Christmas Day, In This Issue: Word from Elder Beard, p 1 Spread the Word, p 2 This Month at FPC, p 3 Prayer Concerns and More, p 4 Deacon s Notes, p 5 Session Report, p 6 Mission & Worship Report, p 7 December Calendar, p 8 and be Open Wednesday and Thursday, December 26 th & 27 th. Congregational Meeting December 16 th after church service to elect new officers. 2018 December 2 Calling All Disciples
Liturgist for the month of December: Mary Swope December 2 ============================================== Coffee Hour December 2 December 9 December 16 Lisa Hazelrigg December 23 Ann Kirschner December 30 ******************************************************* The Price for altar flowers will continue to be $15.00 this year. December 2 Kevin and Jill Yaryan December 9 December 16 Open December 23 Poinsettias December 30 Open Please let the church office know how you want the flowers to be dedicated. ******************************************************* Deacon of the Week - Visitation Schedule Dec. 2 Dec. 8, Cathy Kirk Dec. 9 Dec. 15, Jill Yaryan Dec. 16 Dec. 22, Sarah Smith Dec. 23 Dec. 29, Ann Kirschner Dec. 30 Jan. 5, Cathy Kirk Usher/Counter Teams Schedule December 2 Jill Yaryan and Richard Leiter December 9 Myra King and Sarah Smith December 16 John Bohlander and Doug Ross December 23 Lisa Hazelrigg and Don Kirk December 24 John Fairchild December 30 Jill Yaryan and Richard Leiter ======================================= Church and Community Activity Schedule December 3 December 5 December 6 December 8 December 9 December 10 December 12 Worship 10:30am Bible Study 5:30pm Choir 6:00pm Fellowship Hall Reserved Breakfast w/christmas Angel Bible Study 5:30pm Choir 6:00pm Deacon s Meeting 7:15pm December 14-15 Fellowship Hall Reserved December 16 December 17 December 19 December 21 December 23 December 24 December 30 Distribute Christmas Baskets, 3:00 5:00pm Bible Study 5:30pm Choir 6:00pm Session Meeting 7:15pm NEWSLETTER DEADLINE Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 2018 December 3 Calling All Disciples
PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE WITH ANY CHANGES TO THIS LIST: Tonya Moryl Husband with pancreatic cancer, stage 4 Tom Yocum Prostate cancer (Mary Swope s brother) Mary Ann McClure Kidney Failure (Gilda McClure Lewis mother) Brooklan Phillips - Bone Cancer in leg Started Chemo (She is Junior in High School) Tracy Crist Breast Cancer Jill Yaryan co-worker s friend Jackie Himes Daughter Needs Prayers (Jackie, church custodian) Mrs. Tipton Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, receiving chemo Greg Peters Back Surgery Friend of Jill Yaryan Bev Riley Health concerns Ashley Parrish Health concerns Pastor John Miller Health concerns Pastor at Liberty Presbyterian Church Jan Smith Congestive heart failure, daughter of Jeanne Johnson ONGOING PRAYERS: Ellen Doty Hospice Margaret Hurst Molly Fairchild Nan Rose Dink & Betty Thornberry Helen Parvis 2018 December 4 Calling All Disciples
Deacons Meeting: 14 November 2018 PRESENT: Cathy Kirk, Ann Kirschner, Kay Bishop, Sarah Smith and Jill Yaryan ABSENT: Cathy Kirk opened with prayer. Carla Beard and Mary Swope stopped in to thank the Deacons for their ministry and caring and emphasized how important it is for our church, especially, during our search for a Pastor. Mary informed us that there will be sheets included in the Thanksgiving baskets informing the families about our church. Sunday worship times and upcoming events such as the Breakfast with the Christmas Angel and Christmas Eve service will be included. She mentioned that since we have lots of cards, that, we might want to have 25 available to put in the Christmas baskets. It was also mentioned that Rev. Richard Smith will be filling the pulpit through Advent. Sarah Smith provided the Devotions titled Knowing Your Spiritual Season by Rev. Margaret Minnicks. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1. Jill will give devotions for the December meeting. Sarah Smith moved to approve the minutes from the prior meeting. Ann Kirschner 2 nd and motion carried. Deacon Business: The cards for birthdays and anniversaries for December were prepared by Sarah Smith and were signed by Deacons. We also signed several Thanksgiving cards and Christmas cards to put with the Christmas baskets. Ann Kirschner will deliver the additional jewelry (that has been collected by our congregation) to Hickory Creek Nursing home soon and talk with Karen to find out if we might be able to help with their project when we go to visit. She will find out if Tuesday, December 4 th, 11 th or 18 th would work and let us know. She will also find out what type of gifts or special handout for the residents would be welcomed. Communion Set-up: Deacon of the Week: Flower Report: Prayer Concerns: December 2 nd - Sarah Smith and Cathy Kirk January 6 th - Jill Yaryan (set-up) and Cathy Kirk (help clean-up) Nov 25 - Dec 1 Kay Bishop Dec 2 - Dec 8 Cathy Kirk Dec 9 - Dec 15 Jill Yaryan Dec 16 - Dec 22 Sarah Smith Dec 23 - Dec 29 Ann Kirschner Dec 30 - Jan 5 Cathy Kirk Ann needs to order poinsettias by November 26 th. The price remains at $15. She has 1 order already and expects the sanctuary to look beautiful beginning with the Breakfast with the Christmas Angel. Since we are limited with our own shut-ins, she recommends, if you are not keeping the poinsettia for yourself, each person might deliver a poinsettia to their recipient of choice. Any leftover poinsettias will be delivered to Hickory Creek Nursing Home. Continue for all listed in our Sunday Bulletin The motion to adjourn was made and seconded and all agreed. Cathy Kirk closed the meeting with prayer. Respectfully submitted, Jill Yaryan Next meeting: December 12, 2018 arrive at 7:00 pm meeting will begin by 7:15 pm 2018 November 5 Calling All Disciples
November 28, 2018 Session Report Session met Nov. 28, later than usual because of Thanksgiving. Rev. Pat Smith from Muncie served as moderator. Treasurer Larry Zumkeller reported that income for the month of October totaled $11,262.23. Expenses totaled $5277.98. He mentioned that individual summaries of donations during the past year would be mailed soon. Elder Carla Beard reported that Rev. Wally Wilson had accepted a call to another church and that our search for an interim continues. Elder Don Kirk reported that the thermal panes in the doors on Central Ave have been replaced. Plans for Breakfast with the Christmas Angel on December 8 continue. Elder Lisa Hazelrigg reported that 25 Thanksgiving baskets were distributed on the 19 th. The Family Video store donated 20 turkeys. They are planning to donate hams for Christmas, and the committee plans to distribute boxes on or about the 19 th of December. Elder Mary Swope reported that the Food Policy Council appreciated the use of our Fellowship Hall on Nov. 14 to gather donations of food. The food was distributed to food pantries throughout Connersville. Elder Hazelrigg reported that the police department requested donations for their drug-free children s program. Session approved a donation to this program from the Betty Jo Schuler Memorial Fund. Elder Hazelrigg reported that the nominating committee had no luck in finding 3 people to serve as officers for 2019. Session set December 16 as the date for a congregational meeting. Elder Zumkeller announced that a stewardship letter was sent before Thanksgiving with pledge cards due by Dec. 9. A Budget meeting has been scheduled for Dec. 6. Elder Mary Swope reported on her efforts to find pulpit supply for Sunday worship. We have been fortunate that Rev. Richard Smith is available on many Sundays. On Dec. 9, Martha Slocomb, who is studying to become an ordained minister, will fill the pulpit. On Christmas Eve, Carla Beard will fill it. Elder Fred Sess reported on the Presbytery meeting Nov. 3 in Ft. Wayne. The presentation from Rev. Ray Jones is available on the Presbytery web site. Elder Kirk raised the question of our church permitting the use of our facility for same-sex marriage. We considered the discussion from 2015. Each Session member had an opportunity to express an opinion on the issue. Rev. Smith recommended that we reconsider the question at our January session meeting. Elder Zumkeller moved to adjourn, and the meeting was closed with prayer. 2018 November 6 Calling All Disciples
The Mission Committee distributed 25 Thanksgiving baskets on Monday, November 19. Several people from the congregation graciously stayed after services on Sunday to prepare and fill the boxes for Monday. We have all the food and items we need for the Christmas baskets as well. We will be handing out those baskets on Wednesday, December 19 or Thursday, December 20. Family Video provided us with 20 turkeys for the Thanksgiving baskets and will provide 20 hams for Christmas. We also appreciated Erica from the video store staying and helping the committee carry the baskets and items to the cars. Thanks to Bob Swope for delivering baskets to a few of our shut-ins. ========================================================================================================= Worship Committee Report Communion was served on Sunday, November 4, 2018, with Elders C. Beard, F. Sess, M. Swope assisting Pastor Wally Wilson. Our pulpit was filled on November 4 th by Rev. Wally Wilson, on November 11 by Dr. Ron Naylor, on November 18 th by Dr. Richard Smith and on November 25 th by Elder Carla Beard. We will begin our Advent season on December 2 nd. The Sanctuary has been decorated for the season and each week we will light one of the Advent candles as we wait on the coming of the Christ Child. Our Christmas Eve Candlelight service will be at 7:00pm on Monday, December 24 th. Elder Carla Beard will lead our worship. The pulpit will be filled by Dr. Richard Smith on Sunday, December 2 nd when we celebrated the Lord s Supper, and on December 16 th and 23 rd. We will welcome Christian Theological Seminary student Martha Slocombe to lead our worship. Ms. Slocombe is under the care of Whitewater Valley Presbytery. Please join First Presbyterian Church for Christmas Eve Candlelight Service December 24 th at 7:00pm Everyone Welcome! 2018 November 7 Calling All Disciples