Venice View A monthly newsletter of Venice Presbyterian Church December 2016 Established 1828 Reaching God through: Enrichment, Education and Extending Our Hands Venice Presbyterian Church 4244 Layhigh Road PO Box 41 Ross, Ohio 45061 Phone: (513) 738-1317 email: churchoffice@thevenicechurch.com www.thevenicechurch.com Pastor Janet Dillaman Sunday School 9:15a Worship Service - 10:30a Junior Church - during worship service Youth Group - during worship except 1st Sunday: 12-2
The Sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated on: Sunday, December 4, 2016 Inside this issue... Important Info. 2 Dear Friends 3-4 Boards/Events.. 5-17 Calendar.. 18-19 Venice Presbyterian Church 4244 Layhigh Road P.O. Box 41 Ross, OH 45061 Office Hours Monday - Friday 9:00a-1:00p Phone (513) 738-1317 Fax (513) 738-2060 Email churchoffice@thevenicechurch.com Web www.thevenicechurch.com STAFF Attendance September 4.40 11...67 18...72 25...35 October 2..60 9.. 60 16 61 23 54 30 53 Pastor Janet Dillaman Cell (513-477-7746) Administrative Assistant Debbie Schwab Music Directors Kwi-im Kim Sterling Finkbine Nursery Attendants Nancy Renner Monica Schwab Youth Director James Dillaman Custodian Mike Schwab Venice View is published monthly. All items should be submitted by the third Tuesday of each month. 2
Dear Friends, When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about (Luke 2: 15, 20) O Come, All Ye Faithful The songs of the Christmas season comprise some of the finest music known to man, and this hymn is certainly one of our universal favorites. Today it is sung by church groups around the world since it has been translated from its original Latin into more than 100 other languages. The vivid imagery of the carol seems to have meaning and appeal for all ages in every culture. The original Latin text consisted of four stanzas. The first calls us to visualize anew the infant Jesus in Bethlehem s stable. The second stanza is usually omitted in most hymnals, but it reminds us that the Christ-child is very God Himself: God of God and Light of Light begotten. Lo, He abhors not the virgin s womb; Very God, begotten, not created O come, let us adore Him. The next stanza pictures for us the exalted song of the angelic choir heard by the lowly shepherds. Then the final verse offers praise and adoration to the Word, our Lord, who was with the Father from the beginning of time. For many years this hymn was known as an anonymous Latin hymn. Recent research, however, has revealed manuscripts that indicate that it was written in 1744 by an English layman named John Wade and set to music by him in much the same style as used today. The hymn first appeared in his collection, Cantus Diversi, published in 1751. One hundred years later the carol was translated into its present English form by an Anglican minister, Frederick Oakeley, who desired to use it for his congregation. The tune name, Adeste Fideles, is taken from the first words of the original Latin text, and translated literally means be present or near, ye faithful. O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant; Come, ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, born the King of angels: Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; Sing all ye bright hosts of heav n above. Glory to God, all glory in the highest: 3
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv n. Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: Refrain: O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord. As we move through Advent and share once again the wondrous gift of Christmas, it is my hope and prayer that this season we experience together our love and devotion to Christ in some special way. Merry Christmas from all of us. Pastor Jan and John James, Julia and Quincy Jeff * Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions, Kenneth W. Osbeck, Kregel Publications, 1990. Annual Officer Reports Elder reports are due by January 10 in order to compile the 2016 Annual Report. Copies of last year s reports are available in the office and all reports should be turned in to our Administrative Assistant, Deb. 4
Thursday Morning Coffee Conversations: 9:30 am December 1, 8, and 15: We will be filling Christmas stockings with tangerines, candy, and puzzle books for the RAMM Christmas community choice pantry. The Hope for the Holiday RAMM event takes place on Sunday, Dec. 18, reaching families with children in the Ross School District. Our Bad Girls of the Bible continues: Dec. 1 Potiphar s Wife: Bad to the Bone Dec. 8 Lot s Wife: Bad for a Moment Dec. 15 Woman at Well: Bad for a Season 5
COUNTRY CHRISTMAS Saturday, December 3 10:00-3:00 You are invited to join us at our holiday event fundraiser. Lunch with homemade food (carryout available), baked goods, Granny s Closet, crafts and vendors, music, and free pictures with Santa COUNTRY CHRISTMAS Setup Timeline: Food signups due: Sunday, November 27 All Opportunity Basket items due: Sunday, November 27 All craft donations due: Friday, December 2, 6:00 p.m. All hamburger/chicken/misc. items due: Friday, December 2, 6:00 p.m. All salads, desserts, baked goods, etc. due: Saturday, December 3, 9:00am Ways to Support the Women s Fundraiser? Donate items for the Opportunity Baskets (Gift Cards, Cincinnati items, Sweet Treat items) Donate food items for the luncheon Donate handmade crafts Donate baked goods Donate items for Granny s Closet Make a financial donation Attend the event Lunch, Carryout, Shop All proceeds from this event benefit the Women s Mission Projects! 6
All VPC women are invited to attend the holiday party, which will be held in the Church Annex. You are assured to get in the holiday spirit during this fellowship time. R.S.V.P. Sign up at church or call Melanie at 868-7288. A big thanks to Sally Schwoeppe and Bob Young for coordinating the outing to Camp Washington Chili and the Sign Museum. A Good Time was had by all!!! 7
JOY (Just Older Youth) Group News The Joy Group will be having a Christmas party at the home of Ruth Guenther, 2391 Ross Millville Road, Hamilton, OH on Tuesday, December 20 th at 12:00 noon. Please bring a covered dish to share and a small gift or gift card (value no more than $10) for a gift exchange. Drinks and hot chicken salad will be provided. Please plan to join us for a time of fellowship and fun! Any questions, call Gayla at 738-3708. 8
SHOE BOX CHRISTMAS It's just around the corner, believe it or not! For the past 2 Christmases we have donated a total of 175 shoe boxes filled with gifts for the men, women and children residing at Haven House Homeless Shelter in Hamilton. The gifts have been so well received and those receiving them were overjoyed with the gifts. Here's what you do: Take a shoe box and fill it with small gifts such as: Men: socks, deodorant, comb, deck of cards, tooth brush and tooth paste, candy bar, warm knitted hat, etc. Women: socks, brush, lotion, makeup, warm neck scarf, deodorant, etc. Children & babies: warm mittens, hats, small dolls for girls, small toys, candy, match box cars for boys, etc. Then wrap the shoe box and deliver it to church starting around the 1st part of December. We will be delivering the pile of shoe boxes to Haven House around the 19th of December. Just keep in mind how this one small shoe box can brighten a less fortunate child or their parent's holiday. So it's not to early to start thinking and collecting items for this fun project. P.S. Our local Girl Scout troop also helps out and donates to this project. Big thanks to them also! Questions: Ask Sharon Thompson 742-9292 9
Venice Preschool News What a Difference a Baby Makes. We follow a man from Galilee. His name is Jesus. He is compassionate, loving and above all, forgiving. In December, we celebrate His birth and recognize what a difference one baby can make! The Preschool Christmas program for Mon-Wed-Fri class will be December 19th at 10:30am and 2:00pm. The Tue-Thu class will be December 20th at 10:30am. There will be no school December 21, 2016 through January 3, 2017. Merry Christmas from Venice Presbyterian Preschool! 10
Please help the Deacons provide for families in need this Christmas by making a donation through the Giving Tree envelopes in the bulletin and hanging on the tree downstairs. Please place in with regular offering, or bring by the church office. Thank you. The Venice Presbyterian Church pantry has provided 88 families with food this year and helped provide a Thanksgiving dinner and extra groceries to 45 families on Saturday, November 19th at the RAMM Thanksgiving pantry. Your donations are greatly appreciated! We will need donations for our Christmas pantry. The items we are most in need of are: 1) Breakfast Foods (cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix, syrup, granola bars, pop-tarts) 2) Peanut Butter and Jelly 3) Spaghetti Sauce and Dry Pastas 4) Soups 5) Desserts or Snack foods 6) Personal Care (shampoo, body wash, deodorant, toothpaste/ toothbrushes) If you have any perishable items to donate, please contact the church office. Thank you for your continued support in helping to feed our neighbors! 11
Our deepest sympathy to Audrey Boehringer and Family. Audrey s husband, Ray Boehringer passed away on Sunday, November 13, 2016. You may send a card to Audrey at: 3440 Hamilton New London Rd, Hamilton OH 45013 Our deepest sympathy to Becky and Keith Jones. Becky s mom, Sandy Peters passed away on Friday, November 11, 2016. You may send a card to Becky and Keith at: 2515 Smith Rd, Hamilton OH 45013 Treasurer s Report: Youth Group Noisy Offering Thank you for your generous offerings to the Youth Group Noisy Offering. For 2016, your Noisy Offering gifts have been $1,428.80 Thank you for the support for the Potato Bar lunch which raised $398.40. Your generous support will enable making a mission trip this coming summer. Dale Hanson Treasurer 12
SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS These are the Carols we will sing during Youth & Children s Christmas Program, December 18, 2016 10:30am O Come All Ye Faithful O Little Town of Bethlehem It Came Upon A Midnight Clear Away In A Manger (kids) Hark The Herald Angels Sing We Three Kings Joy To The World Go Tell It On The Mountain All carols are just the first verse so you can practice at home Junior Church Rehearsal Schedule Dec. 4 and Dec. 11 Dress Rehearsal Dec. 17 at 10am Final Dress Rehearsal Dec. 18 at 9:30am Loft Dec. 4 with Lunch and Christmas games 12-2 Dec. 11 Dress Rehearsal Dec. 17 at 10:am Final Dress Rehearsal Dec. 18 at 9:30am Dec. 18 Christmas Party/Movie 12-2 13
Once again, we will be celebrating Advent by decorating the Sanctuary with Poinsettias. These may be ordered in honor of or in memory of loved ones for $9.00 each. Please see envelopes included with bulletin, or you may contact the office. Orders are due by December 11th. Don t miss your chance to get a Venice Presbyterian Church wooden ornament. They are only $5.00 each, and can be purchased through Martha Young. You may reach her at 738-1966. We will be having free pictures with Santa Claus in the Sanctuary during Country Christmas on December 3rd from 11:00am to 2:00pm. 14
Advent Lighting November 27-December 24 On the first Sunday of Advent: With the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah, we watch and wait for the coming of Christ, Who will bring light and peace to the world. On the second Sunday: With John the Baptist, we cry out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord! Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. On the third Sunday: With Mary, the mother of Jesus, we rejoice, for the Mighty One has done great things for us. How holy is God s name! On the fourth Sunday: With Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we tell the story of Jesus, the child of Bethlehem, who came to save us, and is coming again in glory. _ On Christmas Eve: With the choirs of angels, we sing: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to all people on earth! Candlelight Christmas Eve Service The Spirit of Christmas 7:00 pm Christmas Day Carol Service 10:30 am 15
Please keep the following people in your prayers. Let them know we are thinking of them by sending a card, making a phone call, or a visit. Please keep Jean Wagonfield in your prayers. She is at Bradford Place. Send a card to: Bradford Place, 1302 Millville Ave, Hamilton OH 45013 Please keep Russell Gene Oder in your prayers. Doverwood Village, Room 24, 4195 Hamilton Mason Rd, Fairfield Township OH 45011 Please keep Ray and Mildred Miller in your thoughts and prayers. Millie is in the critical unit at Sanctuary Pointe. Send a note to Millie and Ray at: PO Box 172, Ross OH 45061 Please keep Viola Powell in your prayers. She now requires full time care. Please send a note or card to: 2135 Noble Ave, Hamilton OH 45015 Please keep Ginny Schradin in your prayers. Send a card to: 2993 Acer Ct, Hamilton OH 45013 Please keep Ruth King in your thoughts and prayers. You may send a note or card to: 4137 Hamilton Cleves Rd, Hamilton OH 45013 Please keep Becca Asher (Sue Pigg s daughter) in your prayers for healing. Please send a card to: 2861 Minton Rd, Hamilton OH 45013 Please keep Clydene Spangler in your thoughts and prayers. You may send a card to: 2701 Chopin Dr, Cincinnati OH 45231 Please keep Diana Davis in your prayers for healing from cancer. Please send a card to: 10439 Deer Trail, Harrison OH 45030 16
1- Lloyd Stander 2 - Allen Boyle 3 Carroll Metzger 11 - Jerry Rohrer 14 - Jay Butterfield 17 - Joy Minks 18 - Kirsten Homdrom 19 - Helen Rohrer 23 - Ray Miller 27 - Dale Hanson 31 - Ruth Guenther If we have missed your birthday or anniversary, please contact the church office. Thank you. 17