Christ Presbyterian Church

2018 Christ Presbyterian Church Our family tends to be slow taking down Christmas decorations. We aim to pack them by the conclusion to Christmas, the Day of Epiphany, January 6, but sometimes it s almost February. Maybe it s that our January schedule tends to be full. But also, with holiday decorations away, the house just looks so ordinary. Although, ordinary is a hallmark of God-with-us in Jesus. It was the bread and butter of Jesus ministry that was about God s extraordinary kingdom in the midst of everyday life. When Jesus called followers they weren t decorated religious elites but commonplace people, whom he named salt and light (Mt 5:13-14) a community in which God s astonishing grace would be tasted and seen. At the Heritage Event on December 10, we told stories of what the community of Christ Church is all about. All we shared makes clear that God s Spirit is at work, making God s love flow through our life together. The stories revealed three gospel themes: CPC values relationships. We seek to welcome others and demonstrate God s sacrificial love. CPC has a heart for helping people. We desire to make a difference in others lives. CPC prizes vital, meaningful worship. We encounter God in praise, prayer, and Word, naming God as life s purpose and goal. Relationship, service, and worship are values and practices core to the community Jesus makes of ordinary people. Clearly, the flame we would fan for the church s renewal is already alive! But God calls us to further life in God s mission, which is why, in February, during the season of Lent, we will share in a church-wide Bible study, A People of Salt and Light. Focused on the Sermon on the Mount, this study will explore a biblical vision of the community Jesus creates. As we listen to Scripture, we will name how God is making us a Christ-shaped community, and claim how God is calling us to truer reflection of Jesus light. It will be a Bible study for ordinary people, like those Jesus called and taught 2,000 years ago. The Renewal Coordinating Team hopes everyone will participate there will be lots of ways to do so (see p. 2) because everyone matters to the renewal of CPC. We all carry the flame of the Spirit God is fanning for the sake of God s mission. Wishing you light and love, and daily tastings of God s goodness, as we enter 2018. Mark Your Calendar: January 21: Presentation of Facility Renewal Plans January 28: The Annual Congregational Meeting Both events meet in the sanctuary following worship. 1

News in Our Life Together Fan the Flame Phase 1 Continues with Bible Study The next part of the Fan the Flame renewal that will stretch into 2019 is a church-wide Bible study during the season of Lent, A People of Salt and Light. In this study on the Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel of Matthew, we will listen for Jesus model for community. With studies meeting around worship, a mid-week evening, during the day, and even online, the whole church will explore the kind of life Jesus would give us as his disciples. We hope everyone will participate and be part of the forming vision for God s mission for CPC! The Renewal Coordinating Team ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING AFTER WORSHIP, JANUARY 28 NEW ADULT LEARNING At the Annual Congregational Meeting we will hear a word from the Session and Renewal Coordinating Team about 2018 as a season for renewal, give thanks for those who have served as deacons and ruling elders, and vote on Pastor Reeves' 2018 terms of call. Annual Reports will be sent electronically and will available in the Narthex on Sunday, January 21. This video and conversation based class focuses on disciplines that deepen our relationship with God and each other, including prayer, worship, sacraments, money, service, and community. Animate: Practices, Jan 7 Feb 11 Begin the New Year focused on receiving fresh life in Christ. Meeting in the library, 9:30-10:15 AM PRAYER GROUP The Prayer Group now meets on SUNDAYS following worship. Join the group s prayer meeting at 12:00pm in the Prayer Room off of Fellowship Hall. Talk with Sandy Stumpf if you have questions. 2

Our Child-Led Worship Service Gave an Uplifting End to 2017 3

Elizabeth Goodin Children's Ministry Director elizabeth@christpcusa.org A New Year A New Us I have five calendars in my office, because I love a well-organized schedule (surprised?). I like making room for everything and seeing what s coming up, but most of all, I love flipping to a new pretty picture each month and starting with a fresh plan. You can imagine how a new year feels for me. It s a new beginning, and anything is possible! This year, I look forward to what our church renewal journey will bring. And I m also thinking about a renewed approach to children s ministry. I ve shared several statistics in the past, about grown children leaving their church and their faith once they ve aged out of their Sunday school program or youth group. At Christ Church, we don t want that to happen, and we re on top of it. It s why we put so much effort into cultivating an intergenerational faith community and why we talk so much about family ministry and partnering with parents. Faith shared and nurtured by parents seven days a week, through the ups and downs of everyday life, is what makes it long-lasting for a child. For a children s ministry program to be truly effective, then it should wade into those waters and become a parent ministry program as well. In 2018, I want to create a new picture of what partnering with parents looks like. Here s my idea, and I hope you ll be onboard. I want to create a Parent Panel that meets three times per year, in January, May, and September. This panel will be made up of every parent of a Birth through Grade 5 child. We ll begin with conversations about our respective roles, our own limitations, and the challenges we face. We ll talk about goals and strategies, hear feedback, and most importantly, offer support. Then we ll make plans together. I don t know where this will take us, but I do know that the Holy Spirit will lead us to where we need to go. I would love to make this a Saturday evening meal, but you tell me. What works best for your family? I believe that together, we can create something uniquely individual that truly serves our own families and children. And at the same time, we ll build a legacy for Christ Church as a community where faith is born, nurtured, and lasts through many, many calendar years. Let s do this. God Bless, and Happy New Year! 4

In A Perfectly Messed-Up Story by Patrick McDonnell, we meet aspiring young author, Louie. Louie has a story in his mind, and it s perfect. The pages on which he begins to tell it are perfectly spotless. He will teach; he will inspire., but what s this? His perfect plans didn t include a messy reader! Over vehement objections, his story becomes messed up with peanut butter and jelly, fingerprints, and spilled orange juice. It s the smeared colored marker that puts him over the edge: I give up, go on without me. Just when things appear beyond repair, however, Louie realizes something. His story may be messy, but it s still being read. Not perfect, it turns out, is perfectly FINE. With fist in the air, Louie jumps up and shouts, Let s finish this! Do our lives always go according to plan? Almost never. But with a change in perspective and a little faith, we can find the hidden blessings and rely on God s promise to work wonders in the mess. 5

Cory Fetzer Youth Ministry Director cory@christpcusa.org 330-472-6988 (cell) Spring Calendar Time It s that time of year again! The new Youth Group Spring Calendar is finished and ready! I know it s not technically spring until March, but it s better if we don t talk about that season that starts with W and think warm thoughts instead. Here s a preview into what s happening each month from now until the end of April: January On MLK Day, we ll carpool to University Circle and visit the museums that are free that day with our friends from the Bridge Avenue School! This is a great opportunity to minister to the students directly and build relationships with them, as we typically don t see them when we do our monthly service trip to Bridge Avenue. We ll meet at 9am at church and be back around 4:30. Pack a lunch! February February 9 is Winter Jam! It s a $15 concert at the Wolstein Center downtown with 10+ Christian artists and speakers. There will be thousands of other youth group students there and it ll be a blast! And since it s on a Friday this year we won t have to stand outside in the cold for 6 hours! We ll meet at CPC at 4pm and head downtown. March On the 10th we ll have a Nerf War to get some exercise while we wait for the weather to warm up. Join us at CPC from 10-4 and bring $5 to help cover lunch costs. Bring your friends! April The last weekend of the month, the 28th-29th is the return of the 30 Hour Famine! We ll fundraise beforehand to bring awareness and funds to help end world hunger. The event begins at 6pm Friday but we fast starting after lunch that day. Prepare for an amazing time as we learn what poverty and hunger looks like around the world. Along with our big events we ll always have CPCServe on the third Tuesday of each month and weekly youth group on Sundays. Plus, there s always opportunities for movie nights, sledding or other unscheduled fun things! Be sure to check the website, Facebook, or bulletin for changes to the schedule or cancellations. I m excited for a great spring season with CPC! 6

Missions Thursday January 18th THANK YOU TO CPC The Mission Committee gives thanks to you for the tremendous support in purchasing the World Vision Hygiene Kits in September. Enough money was generously given that they were able to purchase 50 more kits from World Vision. We invite you to help us put them together on Sunday January 7th during Fellowship Hour. Thanks again from the Mission Committee Finance TO REDUCE PAPER USAGE AND COST We are encouraging as many as possible to sign up for an electronic version of your Year-end Contribution Statement. If you choose to provide consent, please respond I consent to the CPC Office, by January 15. For those who elect not to consent, a paper copy will be sent via US mail. Your paperless choice can be changed at any time by notifying the CPC Office at: 440-729-1688 or office@christpcusa.org COLLECTION FOR NEXT STEP HOME The Mission Committee is leading a collection of paper products for the Next Step Home, which serves young people leaving foster care, all through January. When shopping please consider making a purchase of paper towels, bathroom tissue, Kleenex or copy paper it helps make a difference in someone s life! Please contact Sandy Stumpf with any questions at 440-708-8170. YOUR OFFERING ENVELOPES FOR 2018 are available for pick-up in the Narthex. Contact the church office if you do not find yours. The initial offering envelope is to offset the cost of these boxes. Each box of pledge envelopes costs less than $5.00. Per capita covers the expense of belonging to the Presbytery of the Western Reserve. For 2018, per capita is $30.25 per member. Contact the church at: 440-729-1688 or office@christpcusa.org for questions or envelope 7 requests.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 7:30pm Men's Discussion Group FH 2 6:30 Bootcamp FH 7:30pm Children s Ministry Meeting 3 6:30am Men's Bible Study, Arabica 6:00pm Cub Scouts/ Tigers 4 5 Office Closed 6 7:00am Christian Meditation PR 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 *Sunday Morning Schedule 7pm Youth Ministries Meeting YR 6:30 Bootcamp FH 6:30am Men's Bible Study, Arabica 7:00am Christian Meditation PR 6:00pm Youth Group 7:30pm Men's Discussion Group FH 7:00pm Deacons RM 7:00pm Girl Scout Leader Meeting FH Office Closed 8:00am Men s Bible Study 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 *Sunday Morning Schedule 11:45am Mission Committee RR 6:00pm Youth Group 7pm Property & Maintenance Rm 8 7:30pm Men's Discussion Group FH 6:30 Bootcamp FH 7pm Session Library 6:30am Men's Bible Study, Arabica 6:00pm Community Dinner Chesterland Baptist 7:00pm Grateful Praise Rehearsal (Men) Office Closed 7:00am Christian Meditation PR 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 *Sunday Morning Schedule 7:30pm Men's Discussion Group FH 6:30 Bootcamp FH 6:30am Men's Bible Study, Arabica 7:00pm Grateful Praise Rehearsal 7:00am Christian Meditation PR 11:45 am Annual Member Meeting Office Closed 8:00am Men s Bible Study 6:00pm Youth Group 3:30 Grateful Praise Rehearsal 28 *Sunday Morning Schedule 29 7:30pm Men's Discussion Group FH 30 6:30 Bootcamp FH 6:30pm New Initiatives Meeting PR 31 6:30am Men's Bible Study, Arabica Sunday Morning Schedule 9:15am - Adult Choir Rehearsal 9:30am - Joyful Noise Rehearsal 9:30am SS Youth through Adults 10:30am -Intergenerational Worship 10:45am Children s Sunday School 12:00pm -Women s Prayer Group 8 Nursery Care is available for infants and toddlers

Do you really think you can make a difference in the world? If you're like most people, your answer was no. Well, guess what? You're probably wrong. Not only can you make a difference, you've probably had a far greater impact on way more people than you realize. Are you interested in making a difference? Volunteer at Hospice of the Western Reserve can be a life-changing experience. From helping with patients and their caregivers to assisting at our Warehouse Sales to a corporation providing a day of service, volunteering at Hospice of the Western Reserve is one of the most rewarding things you'll ever do. Learn more at: hospicewr.org /volunteer or 216-255-9090 9

Dick Sabo 1/1 Skip Van Kampen 1/2 Shari McCaslin 1/3 Maveric Milnar 1/5 Sandy Stumpf 1/6 Marsha Zimmermann 1/7 Trae Zimmermann 1/8 Nancy Cline 1/9 Helen Frankmann 1/10 Naomi Bergman 1/11 Bob Graham 1/13 Vic Strebeck 1/13 Connor Arp 1/18 Ral Warner 1/20 Marsha Fischer 1/22 Mitchell Nitz 1/22 Margie Clapp 1/23 Jong Hong 1/23 Rosemary Macedonio 1/23 Bob Albrecht 1/25 Cheryl Rye 1/26 Vincent Bello 1/27 Bobby Brooks 1/29 Amber Balista 1/30 Evan Reeves 1/30 Eric Mathiott 1/31 Kathryn Troyer 1/31 Anniversaries Frank & Eileen Mormino 1/07 WHEN THE WEATHER OUTSIDE GETS FRIGHTFUL CHECK FOR EVENT CANCELLATIONS: Your E-mail CPC Website: CPC Facebook Call the church office: CPC Office is closed when West Geauga schools are closed. FLORAL ARRANGEMENT If you desire to purchase a special floral arrangement for a Sunday morning worship service, please contact: Shari McCaslin at: 440-646-9812 or email pnsmccaslin@windstream.net COFFEE HOUR If you wish to host a special Sunday morning, Coffee Hour in honor or in celebration of someone, Please Contact: Amy Rau at: 216-287-0490 or email arau@lincolnelectric.com Have you misplaced something recently? Is there a chance you may have lost it? If you can't find your winter apparel, glasses, bracelet, toys, books ETC, come by the CPC Lost and Found, in Fellowship Hall. We might just have what you've been looking for. Church office hours: 8:30 am - 3:00 pm Monday - Thursday Contact Information Christ Presbyterian Church 12419 Chillicothe Rd. Chesterland, OH 44026 440-729-1688 Fax: 440-729-3733 Website: www.christpcusa.org Church Office e-mail: office@christpcusa.org Pastor Matt's e-mail: matt@christpcusa.org 10