Forest Hills Presbyterian Church December 2013 Bi-Weekly Newletter Upcoming Preaching Schedule Calendar 12.8 Rev. Katherine Baker 12.15 Rev. Dr. Todd Cioffi 12.22 Rev. Dr. John Schmidt 12.24, 7:00 PM Rev. Dr. Laura Smit 12.29 John Medendorp 1.5 Rev. Jim Pollard Mark Your Calendar December 7 Deacon s Annual Senior Christmas Brunch December 15 Nativity Pageant Congregational Meeting Annual Red & Green Potluck December 24 7:00 PM Christmas Eve Service of Lessons, Candles & Carols January 5 Join us for Rev. Jim Pollard s first Sunday as Senior Pastor at FHPC! John 1:1-18 New Beginnings A Congregational Meeting will be held December 15, immediately after the 9:30 AM worship service, for the purpose of electing elders, deacons and the nominating committee for 2014. Rev. David Weber will moderate.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 Faith and Health Connection with Walk to Bethlehem As we are in the last few weeks of our Walk to Bethlehem, I would like to suggest a small devotional booklet to add to our walking this month, as we complete the devotionals in the packet. This booklet is entitled, Walking to the Manger, An Advent Devotional by William L. Butch Odom. It is available online at the website of The Church Health Center: www.churchhealthcenter.org Walking to the Manger is a collection of devotionals, inviting you to make walking, reflecting, and prayer, a part of your daily advent practice. Every week begins with a Psalm and the opportunity to set a movement goal for yourself. Each day of Advent also offers a passage of Scripture along with reflections and prayers. book overview from The Church Health Center Health Ministry Events Walk to Bethlehem: We are now crossing the Atlantic Ocean as we make our way back home for Christmas. Please turn in any steps and miles, even if they are from earlier in our walk. Model for Healthy Living Series: Sunday, Dec. 8, during the Adult Education Hour - Social Media and its Effects on Relationships with Family and Friends. Part of the presentation from Sunday, Nov. 24 included information on Blue Zones around the world. More on this later. You may want a sneak preview if you were not at the presentation: www.bluezones.com Monthly Health Observance: Managing Holiday Stress. Having a plan to manage holiday stress is just as important as the shopping, baking and activities lists that we have at this time of year. Planning ahead and seeking support will help prevent stress overload and possible depression. Check out and pick up a list of holiday de-stressing tips at the Walk to Bethlehem Table. Praying that in this Advent Season, you will be blessed with the Grace and Peace that passes all understanding, Nancy
PRAYER CONCERNS In Medical Facilities: Jim Tschantz (Porter Hills Rehab, Rm. 230) Harriet Nice (mother of Vern Nice, Lacks Hospital) Don Breckenridge (Heartland Health Care, 2320 East Beltline, GR 49546 Rm. 604) Recovering at Home Evelyn Kruse Eleanor Vollwiler Linda Westveld Lois Hale Renee Donovan Walter Caroll Jarvis In Retirement Facilities Dottie Siebers (Clark on Keller Lake) Barbara Sjoerdsma (Clark Retirement) Eleanor Vollwiler (Maple Creek) Other Christina Hindley (friend of Anita Brocker), inoperable cancer Judy Smith (mother of Joe (& Kerri Smith), cancer Joe Sharphorn (father of Paul & Laura) Verbrugge), bypass surgery Dick Engle (brother of Sandy Suarez), Cancer surgery Jerry Winters (father of Kathy Cullens), severe heart condition. Gabbi (granddaughter of Larry & Renee Donovan), Congenital Ullrich Muscular Dystrophy Missions Kids Hope USA A positive start to our mentoring program began in November at Kettle Lake Elementary. Our mentors are connecting with 1 st and 2 nd graders at this time. In January, we look to match 3 rd 5 th graders with trained mentors who are eager to spend an hour each week building up those children. The Missions Committee is once again supporting a holiday Angel Tree to assist children at Hope Community and Liz s House. Please choose an Angel with a name, gender and age and purchase an age-appropriate gift, spending in the $20-25 range. Be creative, there are no requests this year.:) Please return your wrapped gift, with the Angel tag attached, to church on or before December 15th! Contact Barb Hoogenboom with any questions. All I want for Christmas is a pint of blood. Children being treated for cancer and children having heart surgery need blood and platelets from donors of all types, especially type O. Our next church blood drive is next Sunday, Dec. 15, from 8:30 11:30 AM in Fellowship Hall. Contact Ellen Gravelie if you wish to donate. Operation Santa Claus volunteer opportunities: Dec. 6th, 9 11 AM, sorting of clothes & toys; Dec. 18 & 19, 1-5 PM, sorting of wrapped gifts & food items; Dec. 20th, 8:30 AM 12 PM, final wrapping and filling of food boxes. All of these take place at Cascade Christian Church. No need to sign up for these activities, but please call Mimi Cole or Kim Grimwade with any questions. Kids Food Basket - Dec. 9, 1-2 PM 10 volunteers are needed. Sign up on the Missions Slat Wall. Sympathy Barbara Mohr and family, on the passing of Bob Mohr on Friday, Nov. 29. A memorial service will be held at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Dec. 14.
Announcements Mizpahs & Hunky Dories Christmas Brunch, Sunday, December 8 after church, at the home of Delores Dodenhoff and Kim Grimwade. RSVP regrets only. Pieceful Gathering Stitchers: Our meeting in November was very successful. So far this fall we have donated 15 quilts to Blodgett Hospital and have given 3 to church members. Remember we are NOT meeting in December but will start up again on January 9, so mark your calendars. All are welcome to join us even if you can t sew. We always have great food and wonderful fellowship time. Call Mary Klynstra with any questions. If you picked up a full length women s black winter coat on November 6 by mistake, the owner would appreciate its return. Thank you! Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey Game Saturday, January 18. Game starts at 7:00 PM Doors open at 6:00 PM. Lower level tickets for the discounted price of $16. You must sign up and pay in advance. Sign up on the Current Events Slat Wall in the Narthex. Annual Reports from church leaders and committee chairs are due in the church office by January 15, 2013. Please e-mail your report to office@fhpcusa.org, or copy it to a flash drive and drop it off in the church office. Thank you. The Annual Red and Green Potluck will be held in Fellowship Hall on Sunday, Dec. 15, 5:30 7:00 PM. Bring a salad, entrée or dessert that is predominantly red or green. No need to make a reservation, simply show up with a dish to pass. Call Tom Sullivan with questions.
CALENDAR Tuesday, December 3 6:00 PM Great Lakes Men s Chorus / Fellowship Hall Wednesday, December 4 7:45 AM Men s Breakfast / The Gathering Place 12:00 PM Women s Small Group / Lounge 6:30 PM Jubilation Bells / Sanctuary 7:00 PM Endowment Committee / Lounge 7:30 PM Sanctuary Choir / Choir Room Thursday, December 5 6:00 PM Boy Scout Troop 345 / Fellowship Hall 6:15 PM worshipband Rehearsal / Sanctuary Friday, December 6 Saturday, December 7 10:30 AM Deacons Annual Senior Christmas Brunch / Fellowship Hall Sunday, December 8 9:30 AM Celebration Worship Service / Sanctuary K 5 th TRU Worship 10:30 AM Fellowship Time / Fellowship Hall 10:45 AM Education Hour / Lower Level Classrooms 10:45 AM Nativity Pageant Rehearsal (4 year olds 9 th grade) / Sanctuary 4:00 PM Jr. High Youth Group / Core 6:00 PM Sr. High Youth Group / Core 7:00 PM Bible Study-Book of Amos / Lounge Monday, December 9 11:00 AM Staff Meeting / Lounge 7:00 PM Kids Food Basket / 2055 Oak Industrial Dr. Tuesday, December 10 6:00 PM Great Lakes Men s Chorus / Fellowship Hall Wednesday, December 11 12:00 PM Women s Small Group / Bread House 6:30 PM Jubilation Bells / Sanctuary 7:30 PM Sanctuary Choir / Choir Room Thursday, December 12 11:00 AM Pieceful Gathering Quilters / Fellowship Hall 6:15 PM worshipband Rehearsal / Sanctuary Friday, December 13 Saturday, December 14 11:00 AM Bob Mohr Memorial Service / Sanctuary Sunday, December 15 8:30 AM Blood Drive / Fellowship Hall 9:30 AM Celebration Worship Service / Sanctuary Children s Christmas Pageant K 5 th TRU Worship 10:30 AM Congregational Meeting / Sanctuary 10:45 AM Education Hour / Lower Level Classrooms 4:00 PM Jr. High Youth Group / Core 5:30 PM Annual Red & Green Potluck / Fellowship Hall 6:00 PM Sr. High Youth Group / Core Monday, December 16 11:00 AM Staff Meeting / Lounge 6:15 PM Budget & Finance / Lounge Tuesday, December 17 5:00 PM Missions Committee / Lounge 6:00 PM Great Lakes Men s Chorus / Fellowship Hall 7:00 PM Board of Deacons / Room 26 Wednesday, December 18 7:45 AM Men s Breakfast / The Gathering Place 12:00 PM Women s Small Group / Lounge 6:30 PM Jubilation Bells / Sanctuary 7:30 PM Sanctuary Choir / Choir Room Thursday, December 19 6:00 PM Boy Scout Troop 345 / Fellowship Hall 6:15 PM worshipband Rehearsal / Sanctuary Friday, December 20 Saturday, December 21 Sunday, December 22 9:30 AM Celebration Worship Service / Sanctuary K 5 th TRU Worship 10:30 AM Fellowship Time / Lounge 10:45 AM Education Hour / Not Meeting 10:45 AM Praise Kids (K 5 th Music) / Not Meeting 4:00 PM Jr. High Youth Group / Not Meeting 6:00 PM Sr. High Youth Group / Not Meeting Monday, December 23 11:00 AM Staff Meeting / Lounge 7:00 PM Worship Committee / Cancelled Tuesday, December 24 7:00 PM Christmas Eve Service / Sanctuary