serving others in Christ making disciples growing in faith together A newsletter for members, visitors, and friends of Northminster Presbyterian Church VOLUME 21 NUMBER 12 www.northminstermacon.org December 2017 Lessons & Carols - Sunday, December 3rd at 10:00am Join us on this first Sunday of Advent and invite friends and family to this incredible experience with a morning filled with worship through song, proclaimed on a foundation of scripture. Music will be directed by our wonderful music director, Sandy Smith, and performed by our beautiful chamber and bell choirs, along with special instrumentalists and vocalists. Scripture readings will be led by the Northminster youth with special thanks to John Putzke for his assistance. Alternative Christmas Fair - Sunday, December 3rd at 11:00am What do you do for those people on your Christmas list who have all they need, but you still want to show them you care? Give them the perfect gift from the Northminster Alternative Christmas Fair! Join us in the activity room Sunday, December 3rd immediately following the Lessons and Carols service. Your gifts to Thornwell Home for Children, Habitat for Humanity and Loaves and Fishes, given in honor of those special people on your Christmas list, will give twice! Not only are you showing your loved ones how much they mean to you, but your gift is going to help those in need. Give a gift that gives so much more this Christmas! Children s Dinner Theater - Sunday, December 10th at 5:30pm Don t miss out on the fun and excitement of this activity! The annual children s Christmas dinner theater is always a highlight of the season. If your child is interested in participating, please have them at the church Sunday, December 10th by 3pm. No memorization is necessary for this program! Family and friends, bring your favorite pot luck dish to share, any donation for the Rosa Taylor Backpack ministry, and a smile! It s going to be a great night! (Don t forget to take pictures!) Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion service will be held Sunday evening, Dec. 24th. Prelude music by harpist Calista Koch will begin at 5:30 with the service beginning at 6:00. This is a wonderful time to reflect on why we celebrate this glorious occasion of Christ s birth. Sharing the Northminster Life Northminster s incredible family, outreaches, and events are simply too good not to share! We are on Facebook and will be posting about upcoming events, activities, and other opportunities at Northminster on a regular basis. Because we see having a strong online presence as an important way to spread the word about NPC s commitment to serving others in Christ, making disciples, and growing in faith together, we d like to ask for your help with taking pictures at events or activities and sending them to Jennifer via email at admin@northminstermacon.org or by texting them to her at 478-318-7911. Thank you for your help. Inside this Issue Page 2 Stewardship & Finance; Good Sam; Lunch Bunch; Gloves for the Homeless; Thank you from church members; homebound members Page 3: Music Notes; Community Con certs; Celebration of Faith; Pastor Nominating Committee Update; Thanks to Youth Page 4: December Calendar Page 5: Letter from the pastor; Session Highlights Page 6: Silly Section & Christmas Fun Facts
Financial Snapshot October OUR OCTOBER TITHES & OFFERINGS Monthly Need $34,070.79 Given in October $37,169.80 Year-to-Date Need $330,640.03 Given Year-to-Date $351,238.66 YTD Net Variance $20,598.63 From Stewardship & Finance Thank you Northminster! At our November meeting, Session approved the 2018 (Faith) Budget and would like to thank all who pledged their financial support to our church and its many missions and ministries. In his sermon on Nov. 26, Tom spoke from Matthew 25:40, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to the least of these my brothers, you did it to me (ESV). Our work with the various local charities, Presbytery and PCUSA could not be possible without your generous giving of time, talent and financial resources. Stewardship is not just about money. Have a blessed advent season and Merry Christmas to all! Ricky Smith 478-718-1019 rcsjr327@gmail.com GOOD SAM OFFERING The scripture tells us to love your neighbor as yourself. What better way could you love your neighbor than helping them in times of need. The Good Samaritan Offering does this for the needs in our community and for the needs of our congregation. This month we were able to help a single lady who receives disability. All her bills were high and she needed help with her rent. Thank you for your generous support of the needy people in our community! DECEMBER LUNCH BUNCH The Lunch Bunch is a Dutch treat group that gets together on the first Tuesday of the month. The group is open to anyone who likes to eat out and have fellowship time with members and friends of the church. The Lunch Bunch will dine Tuesday, December 5th at Outback Steakhouse at 12:00. THANK YOU - GLOVES FOR THE HOMELESS Thanks once again to your generosity, the Outreach Committee has been able to deliver 250 pairs of gloves to be used as gifts for the attendees at the annual Christmas party for the homeless. An additional 250 pairs have been delivered to the Loaves and Fishes Day Life Center so that they will be available for the clients when cold weather comes. Your gifts have helped to make lives warmer for the less fortunate of our brothers and sisters! If you would still like to contribute, you may put your check to Northminster and designated for gloves in the offering plate. Any excess funds will be used to buy other warm clothing items for the Day Life Center. Dear NPC Family, SPECIAL THANK YOU FROM YOUR CHRUCH FAMILY Thank you for all of your thoughts, prayers, calls, visits and food following Karen s cancer diagnosis and hospitalizations. Your love and support means so much to us as we begin a new chapter in our lives. -Karen & Tom Jones Dear Northminster Members, Cancer Free! I want to thank the Northminster members for the many prayers, cards, notes and phone calls that I received during my time of illness. I know they were very instrumental to my recovery and they meant to much to me. We miss everyone. Love in Christ, Bobbi Powell HOMEBOUND MEMBERS Remember our homebound members in your thoughts and prayers. If you d like to help with cards or care packages, please contact the church office for information about the Congregational Care Committee. Bill & Claude Buzzell Frenchie Bowen Martin Dalton Doris Vann Mary Kay Huber-Leslie Lavenia Kimbell Jewel James Flippy Denton Dana MacMillan John Hurst Laverne McMichael Jane Prentice Jane Starling Bill Rogers
Our annual Lessons and Carols service is MUSIC Sunday at 10:00 am. After all the weeks of preparation, it is hard to believe it is finally here. Our prayer is that your heart will be blessed and you will experience the Advent and Christmas season in a fresh way this year. Please be in prayer for this service, and invite someone to NOTES come with you. This is a great way to share the Gospel with someone and introduce them to our community of faith believers that worship together at Northminster. Thank you to all the musicians and singers who have worked long hours of intense preparation to present this special service of worship. It is my hope and prayer that you will also be blessed as you lead in worship with music, Scripture and song. For our Christmas Eve service, we welcome once again Calista Koch, harpist, who will begin prelude music at 5:30 pm, prior to the 6:00 pm candlelight communion service. Please plan to come and bring someone with you to share in this very special service. The harp music sets a wonderful and beautiful tone as we celebrate the birth of a special baby, Jesus, the Savior of the world. IN THE COMMUNITY: HANDEL S MESSIAH The Choral Society of Middle Georgia and the Mercer University Choir will be performing the Christmas portion of Handel s MESSIAH at St. Joseph Catholic Church Saturday AND Sunday, December 9 and 10 at 7:30 both nights. Tickets are $10. See Frank Ellis for tickets or additional information. CELEBRATION OF FAITH Flint River Presbytery presents: "Responding to the Call", Celebration of Faith 2018. Celebration of Faith (COF) is a retreat weekend, which provides occasions for relaxation, study, worship and fellowship for families and friends within and beyond the borders of FRP. The dates are March 9-11, 2018, and the location is The Lodge at Lake Blackshear in Cordele, Georgia. This year's featured speaker is Ralph Basui Watkins, The Peachtree Associate Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth, Columbia Theological Seminary. Registration is NOW open. Detailed information and Registration Forms are available in the church office or from your Christian Education Moderators, Joe Watwood and Amy Maley. All registrations (and checks) are made through (and payable to) the Presbytery office, and a discount is available for those who prepay half of the cost by January 5, 2018. PASTOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE The Northminster PNC (pastor nominating committee) has completed the congregation s MIF (ministry information form). This has been a very intensive job and the committee is pleased to submit it to Presbytery and then place it online. This is the next step to be paired with pastors seeking a new position. Please continue to be in prayer for the committee as it is working. Also continue to support the ministry of the church through prayer, participation and financial support during this time. THANK YOU, NPC YOUTH! A big thanks for the youth who quickly and efficiently packed school supplies for the Back pack Ministry last Sunday, November 12th. Participants included Emma & Molly Brown, Hannah & Josh Denny, Austin Emener, and John & Rachel Putzke. Thank you so much for giving of your time to help kids in need!
3) First Sunday of Advent 4) 5) Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Hope Lessons & Carols Alternative Christmas Fair 10) Second Sunday of Advent Peace Communion Service 5:30pm Children s Dinner Theater and Pot Luck 17) Third Sunday of Advent Love 24) First Sunday of Advent Joy 6:00 Candlelight Communion Service December 11) 12) 18) 19) 25) Merry Christmas Staff Holiday (Office Closed) 26) 12:00 Lunch Bunch at Outback Steakhouse Staff Holiday (Office Closed) 6) 7:00 Chancel Choir 13) No Choir Rehearsals (Christmas Break) 20) No Choir Rehearsals (Christmas Break) 27) No Choir Rehearsals (Christmas Break) YOGA: The Yoga group is taking a long holiday break and is therefore not meeting in December. Check your January Newsletter and bulletins for information about when the group will resume. 1) 7) 8) 14) 15) 21) 10:0 0 Prayer Group 1:30 Communion at Charlyle Place 22) 28) 29) 2) 9) 16) 23) 30) December Birthdays 2) Denise Fritze 4) Gail Walker 5) Frenchie Bowen 11) Janet Kelly 12) Hannah Denny 13) Abigail Smith, Buck Myers 15) Mary Alice Wilson 17) Roland Hill 18) Jeanne Roddenberry 21) Ross Miller 22) Sharon Sulkers 26) Errol Newark 28) Grace Goodwin 30) Eric Roddenberry Happy Birthday!
LETTER FROM THE PASTOR Tucked away in one of our favorite Christmas carols, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, is this verse And ye beneath life s crushing load, whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow. The crushing load comes to us in present circumstances, remembered grief and pain, and anticipated difficulties. Others have acknowledged the burdens that bring us low. English author Charles Dickens wrote Lost friend, lost child, lost parent, sister, brother, husband, wife, we will not so discard you! You shall hold your cherished places in our Christmas hearts, and by our Christmas fires; and in the season of immortal hope, and on the birthday of immortal mercy, we will shut out Nothing! A more recent Christmas reflection came from Ann Hood who wrote in the Wall Street Journal about the blessing of finding an open church where she could pray out her burdens on a December afternoon in New York City In my adult life, I had spent a lot of time angry at God, mostly over the sudden deaths in my family my brother at 30, my daughter at 5. This year we d suffered another sudden loss, a favorite aunt killed in a car accident. Why on this December afternoon I felt the need to check in with God, I cannot say but I was grateful for a place where the spiritually confused might come inside and kneel and feel their words might rise up and be heard. In these days in the midst of your joy and Christmas traditions be mindful of those who have experienced or are in the midst one of life s crushing blows who do not go easily or merrily through the days of Christmas. Death, grief, job loss, illness and accident take no holiday. Join in prayer with Karl Barth s Christmas Prayer: O Lord, our God, when we are afraid do not let us despair. When we are disappointed do not let us become bitter. When we fall do not let us remain downcast. When we are at the end of our understanding and our powers, do not let us perish. We think of all the darkness and suffering of our time,.of all the burdens that so many bear uncomforted We think of the sick and sick in spirit, the poor, the displaced, the oppressed, and those who suffer injustice. We think of them all with the petition that the light of Christmas may shine brightly for them and for us, much more brightly than before that they and we may be helped. We ask all this in the name of the Savior in whom thou hast already heard us and will hear us again and again, Amen. May God richly bless you and yours, Tom Sparks NOVEMBER SESSION MEETING HIGHLIGHTS During the November 20 session meeting, with 100% attendance, your session: Heard a report on new elder training that was conducted on 11/11/17 Heard a report on Communion served at Carlyle Place and visitations by Interim Pastor Sparks Scheduled a breakfast and examination of new elders for 1/7/18; Approved Sam Alderman as alternate clerk for the event in Karen's absence Discussed committee moderator assignments for 2018 Heard a report from the 10/21/17 Presbytery meeting held in Columbus, GA Accepted transfer of letter for Jeff Fallis to Trinity Episcopal Church in Asheville, NC Outreach noted that the Alternative Christmas Fair will be held 11/3/17 to benefit Habitat for Humanity, Loaves & Fishes Ministry, and Thornwell Home Approved the pledge to Loaves & Fishes for 2018 Approved purchase of a new HVAC unit for the Fellowship Hall (& removal of existing unit) Approved replacement of the carpet in the Community Room Approved the 2018 (Faith) budget Approved, with gratitude to the Pastor Nominating Committee, the Ministry Information Form (MIF) Approved the recommendation from the Planned Giving Committee for quarterly withdrawal amounts from the endowment funds for 2018 Suspended the 12/18/17 session meeting Concluded the meeting with a sharing of health concerns for NPC members and their extended families, and Adjourned with prayer.
Northminster Silly Section A Joyful Heart is Good Medicine... -Proverbs 17:22a Brutal Honesty Just as I began my Christmas Eve service, the electricity in the church failed. The ushers and I found some candles and placed them around the sanctuary. Then I reentered the pulpit, shuffled my notes, and muttered, "Now, where was I?" A tired voice called out, "Right near the end!" Fine Print on Santa s Website Santa s Privacy Policy: At Santa s Workshop, your privacy is important to us. What follows is an explanation of how we collect and safeguard your personal information. Why Do We Need This Information? Santa Claus requires your information in order to compile his annual list of who is Naughty and who is Nice and to ensure accuracy when he checks it twice. What Information Do We Collect? We obtain information from the unsolicited letters sent to Santa by children all over the world listing specific items they would like to receive for Christmas. Often these letters convey additional information, such as which of their siblings are doodyheads. What Do We Do with the Information We Collect? Sharing is one of the joys of Christmas. For this reason, we share your personal information with unaffiliated third parties: the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy. Weather Forecast Accuracy One day in early September the chief of a Native American tribe was asked by his tribal elders if the winter of 2011/12 was going to be cold or mild. The chief asked his medicine man, but he too had lost touch with the reading signs from the natural world around the Great Lakes. In truth, neither of them had idea about how to predict the coming winter. However, the chief decided to take a modern approach, and the chief rang the National Weather Service in Gaylord Michigan. 'Yes, it is going to be a cold winter,' the meteorological officer told the chief. Consequently, he went back to his tribe and told the men to collect plenty of firewood. A fortnight later the chief called the Weather Service and asked for an update. 'Are you still forecasting a cold winter?' he asked. 'Yes, very cold', the weather officer told him. As a result of this brief conversation the chief went back to the tribe and told his people to collect every bit of wood they could find. A month later the chief called the National Weather Service once more and asked about the coming winter. 'Yes,' he was told, 'it is going to be one of the coldest winters ever.' 'How can you be so sure?' the chief asked. The weatherman replied: 'Because the Native Americans of the Great Lakes are collecting wood like crazy.' Christmas Fun Facts Male Reindeer shed their antlers in the winter, meaning those pulling Santa s sleigh are likely females. The Christmas wreath was originally hung as a symbol of Jesus: the holly represents the crown of thorns while the berries represent his blood. Jingle Bells is the first Christmas carol to have been sung in space. The first Christmas was celebrated on December 25, 336AD in Rome. Alabama was the first state to declare Christmas a legal holiday in 1836. The tallest living Christmas tree is believed to be the 122-foot, 91-year-old douglas fir in the town of Woodinville, Washington. In Hawaii, Santa is called Kanakaloka, in Germany he is Kriss Kringle, in Italy he is Le Befana, in France he is Pere Noel, and in Russia he is Deushka Moroz.