Osceola s Messenger January February 2018 Christmastime at Osceola Thanks to everyone who helped the Youth Group Deck the Halls for Advent and Christmas. Many hands made light work and we enjoyed the music, refreshments and fellowship.
Sunday School Advent is always a busy time for Sunday School as we teach our children about the miracle of Jesus birth. The classes were busy packing shoe boxes with presents for children all over the world. Thanks to the generosity of our families and church congregation we were able to set a new record by packing 108 boxes!! Students from our Sunday School classes led the lighting of the Advent wreath in worship each week and the children taught the congregation a special song Light One Candle complete with sign language motions. The children also enjoyed a special birthday party for Jesus before having a few weeks off from classes. Returning in January, the classes will focus on Jesus life as he began his ministry and teaching.
Christmas Fun Festival Over 60 people of all ages attended our Christmas Fun Festival to kick-off the Advent season with lunch, crafts, and games. The theme was Follow the Star and even included a visit from a real star! This event is so much fun; we are planning a similar event before Easter. Watch for more information!
Christmas Eve Morning Service We had a wonderful combined worship service with Linden Presbyterian Church. The choirs were combined, along with a praise band.
The children from both churches listed to a Children s Chat by Rev. Bill Weaver who also led us in worship.
Deacons Reaching Out to Those in Need On Tuesday, December 19 the Deacons delivered fruit and milk to the First Presbyterian Church in Cranford for their Warm Hearts program. Partnering with Elizabeth Coalition for the Homeless, every week they host up to 20 guests, providing them with food, shelter, and most importantly, a loving and listening heart. We will be doing this again in February and March. Thank you to all who participated in the Angel Tree. We collected over 40 gifts for children in our Food Pantry Families, the Jardine Academy and the New Frontiers Church. Please let us know if there is anyone who would like a visit or home communion. Members of Session and Deacons attended a Leadership Training Program at the end of November led by Rev. Jeremy Campbell. He went over the roles of both boards in the church. It was an interesting and formation meeting. Submitted by Nancy Iaria President of the Deacons
There is much said today about improving our health by developing habit of optimism, whether facing a difficult medical diagnosis or a pile of dirty laundry. Barbara Fredrickson, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of North Carolina, says we should try activities that build joy, gratitude, love, and other positive feelings. We know, however, that more is required that a general wish for good feelings. We need a strong conviction that there is a source of joy, peace, and love upon which we can depend. Psalm 37:1-8 gives positive actions we can take as an antidote to pessimism and discouragement. Consider these mood boosters: trust in the Lord, and do good, dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness (verse 3); delight yourself in the Lord (verse 4); Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him (verse 5); rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him, do not fret (verse 7); cease from anger, forsake wrath (verse 8). Because they are connected to the phrase in the Lord those directives are more than wishful thinking or unrealistic suggestions. It s because of Jesus, and in His strength, that they become possible. Our one true source for optimism is the redemption that is in Jesus. He is our reason for hope! This New Year, remember - when there s bad news, our hope is the good news of Jesus. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. (Psalm 112:7) Submitted by Deidre Buchner, Elder. Upcoming Preaching Schedule The following ministers are scheduled to preach through the end of the year (subject to change): January 14 Michael Leal January 21 Dr. Glory Thomas January 28 Bob Cunningham February 4 Rev. Jeremy Campbell
Adult Ministries The Commission met to confirm the ministries calendar from January through April. There will be several Pot Luck dinners starting with one on January 30 th at which time Susan Kowalenko-Peterson will share a talk about the time she spent living in the Middle East, while her husband, Marty, worked there. We are looking forward to hearing about her experiences. Please sign up in the Narthex for this dinner to be held in Fellowship Hall at 6:30pm and please list which foods you will be bringing by item. We also need to know the number of family/friends you are bringing to the dinner. Other possibilities for Pot Luck dinners will be a tribute to Mothers in May, possibly a Mission dinner in April, and a Hymn Game night. Our Commission is open for discussion about program ideas in the future. Please leave suggestions in Ginny Oxley s box in the office. Our church luncheons have continued on the first Tuesday of each month, except in January when the weather was affecting everybody. But we plan to be back on the 6 th of February so please mark your calendar. Small groups meeting at this point are: Game days and game nights. Watch the bulletin for dates and time. Lost in Pages book group meets the 4 th Monday at Ruth Mega s house, Bible Study meets at the church with Marilyn Hadsall every Friday at 10 am. Wired Word meets the first Sunday of the month in the Conference Room, upper level at 9:00 AM. If you would like to belong to a small group, we can help you organize and also find a space and time in the church building, if you wish or hold one in your home. Contact us if you wish to belong to a small group. There will be a repeat of last year s Family Game Day on Sunday, Feb 25 th right after the end of coffee hour; after we celebrate the birthdays. We will meet on the Upper Floor. There will be NO electronics.just the old fashion games you played in your childhood. Bring your children, grandchildren or neighborhood kids because we had so much fun last year, we need to do it again Pizza and juice boxes supplied. See sign up in Narthex the beginning of Feb. We continue to celebrate our OPC friends birthday s during Fellowship Hour on the 4 th Sunday of the month. If you are not on the list and would like to be, please call the church office and plan to attend the birthday celebration at coffee hour right after the church service in the Narthex. We also are continuing the Prayer Circle which is a group of persons who have a regular prayer time for person s requesting prayer. These people pray continuously for a month and even longer if alerted that the need continues. Please call the church office if you have a need for prayer. You need not be a member of the church. We pray for people all over the US. If you want prayer but do not want to disclose the reason why, your first name will do as God knows about your concerns and is listening to people who petition help for you. Blessings for all of you Ginny Oxley, Chair Adult Ministry Commission.
FOOD PANTRY Osceola s Food Pantry has been extremely busy over the holidays and we have been able to spread much joy to our families. During both the November and December distributions, our families received their basic food boxes along with a bag of holiday fixin s. In November, apple and pumpkin pies were provided courtesy of Osceola s Youth Group. In December, the Youth Group provided treat bowls and homemade Christmas cards and a container of homemade Christmas cookies was assembled thanks to Osceola s wonderful bakers. For each of the holiday distributions, our families also received $25 gift cards to ShopRite. Other special touches for the holidays included numerous donated turkeys, holiday craft items, Osceola calendars, a holiday greeting from our church members, and Christmas presents for all of our families children through the Deacons Angel Tree. Our Food Pantry had also collected sizeable quantities of new items that were displayed and enabled our families to select gift items for their use. In addition to our Food Pantry families, seven additional boxes each month were distributed to individuals whose names were provided to the Deacons.
All of these efforts are greatly appreciated by those who receive them. Repeatedly, our Food Pantry volunteers hear the words of thanks and receive the grateful hugs. One family was so overwhelmed by our generous provisions in December that they returned to the evening session of the distribution just to express their deep thanks. The work of Osceola s Food Pantry has definitely made a positive impact on the lives of those we serve!! The Food Pantry has also been on the receiving end of generous givers. Our congregation continues to graciously support us with food and monetary donations. We have received large food donations from local Cub Scout and Boy Scout troops, several neighboring churches, Clark s AARP group. We have received donations of goods and furniture from church members and local businesses and are always amazed how quickly things find a home. The Lord certainly does provide! Thank you to all who helped us brighten the holidays for those in need. Your continued prayers help us as we look to serve in new and exciting ways! FOOD ITEMS NEEDED: Cereal canned fruit canned pasta rice Soup hot cocoa mix crackers macaroni & cheese Cleaning products peanut butter jelly ITEMS REQUESTED: Baby diapers/pull-ups Baby items laptop clothes dryer Girls clothing Baby boy clothing coffee table storage tubs PRAYER REQUESTS: Improved living situation improved health better work hours
Youth Group Osceola s Youth Group focused on mission work throughout Advent. The youth delivered 108 shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child to the collection site and volunteered for the evening, packing and counting shoe boxes into larger boxes and loading trucks that are heading to the next site. The Youth Group helped decorate the church sanctuary and hallways, leading our Deck the Halls event and they will be undecking this January. They also prepared treat bowls and homemade Christmas cards to be included in Osceola s Food Pantry s December distribution.
Youth Group is not all work. We have plenty of time for fun and good fellowship. To celebrate Christmas, the youth participated in a favorite activity our annual Christmas Mystery Event. The youth are divided into teams and solve clues to discover the places they go to sing carols and eat during the evening. We caroled to five church families (and were amazed at the prize-winning house decorations at the Terzo home!) and made food stops at Dunkin Donuts, White Diamond, and Baskin Robbins. The evening ended with a visit to a nativity scene where we discuss the reason for the season, offer a prayer, and sing O Come, All Ye Faithful. This is always a great night of fun and Christmas spirit!
The Youth Group s Christmas Celebration, Part 2 took place at the Dietze home. We enjoyed more food and games. Some of the games were puzzling, some took our breath away, and we all had a great time with penguin bowling and penguin races.
The Youth Group looks forward to more fellowship in 2018. The next meeting will be on January 16 from 7:00-8:30 pm at the church and we eagerly anticipate our annual Lock-in on February 2-3.