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Philipsburg First Presbyterian Church |
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Easter Our History Activities
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December
2006
WHEN
ANGELS SPEAK
Angels these
days are the makings of folklore or pin collections, but the Scriptures
say that God intervened in the
lives of real people in order to carry out the miracle of Jesus for us. Perhaps we can pray for God’s intervention in our world
again – with the cry that Jesus come again!
In order to
hear more fully the first coming of Jesus, we are centering our Advent
Candle Lighting and sermon texts around the four times angels spoke in
the birth narrative. Through
those words, we hope to hear God’s word to us today.
So, be expectant for Jesus through these words and texts: December
3: “Your prayer has been answered” from Luke 1:5-25
December 10: “The Lord is with you” from Luke 1:26-38
December 17: Our Christmas Musical, “Jesus IS the Reason for
the Season”
December 24: “I bring good news of great joy” from Luke
2:1-12
Together, may we hear the angels sing!
Grace and Peace in this Advent and Christmas, WORK
DAY THANKS
October 28 was a crowded day on the non-PSU-home-game
calendar. But a few folks
came out for the workday and worked hard.
Many thanks go to Marty Bullis, Ryker Bullis, and Tom Sayers for
their work on the choir window lighting; Dan Nelson, Ralph Nelson and
Darrell Hollis for reinforcing a few sagging pews; Tracie and Madelen
Bullis for sorting the costume closet and cleaning out the church
office; Tom and Gigi Sayers for providing lunch; Gigi Sayers, Helen
Hollis, and Madelen and Ryker Bullis for cleaning the heater covers.
THANK YOU for giving of your energy to take care of the marvelous
church we have been given! MONTHLY THANKS
Much to give thanks for happened in the traditional month of thanks of November.
We are grateful to: Marty Bullis, Ryker Bullis, Tom Sayers, and Gary
Barnett for lighting up the choir window like it
has never shined before … thanks! The many helping hands at the Presbyterian Homes Bazaar, who made
items, spread joy, and worked at the Bazaar … thanks!
In particular, to the Wednesday sewing group of Helen Gill, Dot
Davidsen, Barb Springer, Shirley Turner, Theresa Martha …
thanks! Jim Gearhart,
for filling and setting out the candles for the November
weddings! Darrell Hollis,
for stepping in last minute to be the Presbytery
commissioner … thanks! The
Deacons, for filling our stomachs with GREAT Marianna hoagies
again … thanks!
INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR
THE GENERAL FUND FOR OCTOBER, 2006:
Total Offering and Income to General Fund
$10,627.38
Total Expenses from General Fund
$ 9,321.64
Surplus for October
$ 1,305.74 DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
2
– David Laux
19 – Gertie Clyde 3
– David Dixon
19 – Tom Sayers 5
– Amy Butler
25 – Joe Turner 5
– Ben Jeffries
27 – Lora Storck 9
– Dottie Fenton
28 – Barbara Herman 9
– Jennifer Jones
28 – Julie Jo Johnston 10
– Susan Test
29 – Perry Richmond 12
– Helen Gill
30 – Dede Coleman DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES 19th
– Paul and JoAnn Springer – 8 years 27th
– Darrell and Helen Hollis – 48 years 28th
– Allen and Joyce Kitko – 5 years 29th
– Adam and Bethany Coursen – 5 years OFFICER
MEETINGS for DECEMBER (in the parlor)
Deacons:
Tuesday, December 5th @ 7:00 p.m.
Session:
Tuesday, December 12th @ 7:00 p.m.
Trustees:
Tuesday, December 19th @ 7:00 p.m.
PW:
To Be Announced DEACON’S HIGHLIGHTS: Ø
Shannon Johnson shared her faith story
with the Deacons.
The Deacons approved her nomination to the board. Ø
Learned that there are 12 giving tree
requests from Windy Hill, 31 from Decatur Village, and 8 children of
incarcerated individuals for the Angel Tree. Ø
The giving tree and angel tree ornaments
will be available for the congregation on December 3rd. Ø
Following a report by Pastor Tracie on
the free community holiday dinner being planned, approved purchasing a
small snowman ornament for each participant. Ø
Discussed possible ways to increase
attendance on the Fall Foliage Tour. SESSION HIGHLIGHTS Session
was pleased to spend time at the November meeting hearing the faith
story of
old friend and elder-elect Julie Jo Johnston.
We look forward to welcoming her to
the board for the coming year. The rest of the meeting was quite
routine. We spent time
making plans for the Advent and Christmas season. We approved the use of
the building for an upcoming YMCA recital. We heard reports on the
actions of the Deacons, Trustees, and various Session committees. We
were particularly pleased to approve the purchase of another octave of
chimes for our bell choir, as there are too many junior bell ringers for
the chimes that we presently have! Session also approved a 2007
operating budget that we hope will
result in our first “black” end of year balance in quite some time.
Session wants to thank you all for giving us the opportunity to
serve you this past year, and we want to wish you a peaceful and joyful
holiday season filled with the love of Jesus Christ. NOVEMBER
TRUSTEES NOTES 1.
The Trustees would like to thank everyone
who volunteered for the Fall
Work Day on October 28th. 2.
A volunteer work crew will be moving the
speakers in the front of the
sanctuary on Saturday, December 9th. 3.
It was decided to form a church decorating committee. 3.
Trustees voted to charge an extra $100 to
non-members if the church needs to
be heated for a wedding. 4.
Christian Women requested the use of
Westminster Hall on January 9th for
their monthly meeting and luncheon. 6.
A new leaf blower has been purchased for church use. ADVENT DEVOTIONAL The Session is
again seeking to enhance and focus your
devotional season by offering a free devotional
book for each church family or individual.
Redeeming Light, by
Robert Hereth, will be available each Sunday through the first Sunday of
Advent, December 3, to pick up and begin reading. ANTICIPATING
EVERY DAY
The Advent Quarter cards, which are available at the back of the
sanctuary, are a way to anticipate the coming of
Jesus on a daily basis.
Using the cards to mark the days, and to set aside space and time
in each day to be grateful for the coming gift of Jesus, is a wonderful
way to remember the purpose of Advent.
Make it a family time, a prayerful time, a celebratory time.
GIVING TREE The
opportunity to share our riches with
those who have less will be
given again to the church community on Sunday, December
3, when we offer the Giving Tree ornaments.
Two ornaments will be offered again this year, consisting of Angels,
representing a gift needed by a local child of a prisoner, or
Christmas, representing the gift need for a local
resident in one of our Philipsburg
Presbyterian Homes, Decatur Village or
the Philipsburg Towers. Please
plan
to select an ornament and return the gift
to the church by Sunday, December 17. HOLIDAY
DINNER The Spirit moved among our congregation
this year to provide a free Holiday Meal to those
in our community who may be alone for the holiday or may
not have the means to enjoy a holiday feast.
Through the generous gift of an anonymous donor, and the creative efforts
of the planning team of Gigi Sayers, Holly Kithcart, Shannon
Johnson, and Barbara Little, a holiday feast has been set for Sunday,
December 10, at 5 PM. Children of the church will sing, along
with other carolers. If you know of anyone who you’d like to
see invited, please contact Pastor Tracie (342-0812). Invitations are being distributed with a requirement of a
reservation. The meal will
serve 100 people. CHRISTMAS
GREETINGS
FOR
FAITH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Faith
Presbyterian Church in Harvey, Louisiana, is still working to recover from
Hurricane Katrina. In order
to share our Christmas greetings (beyond supporting
their work by purchasing Bed and Breakfast Alternative Christmas Gifts),
we
are inviting you to bring in a Christmas Card for them.
Please have your card at
the church by Sunday, December 10, so we can send them on in time for
Christmas! WOMEN’S
CHRISTMAS DINNER
The women of the church had such a
delicious and delightful time gathering at the Windy Hill
Presbyterian Home for dinner on October 23 that they decided to go
there for the annual Women’s Christmas dinner, too!
The dinner will be Monday, December 11,
at 6 PM. The cost is $10 per person, payable at the door.
The entertainment is a delightful time of “white elephant
gift” sharing, where each person brings a used-but-useable wrapped
gift. Guests will select gifts one-at-a-time and open them.
Other guests may choose to steal a gift or open a wrapped one.
It’s GREAT fun, and always a delight to see who gets the Santa
slippers! CHURCH
FAMILY CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
Instead
of mailing out a number of cards to individual families, you are invited
to send or bring one card to the church to hang on the Bulletin Board at
the Fifth Street Entrance. We
can all gather around and read the letters and well wishes, enjoying the
news of God’s work in one another’s lives.
And the generosity and joy doesn’t stop there.
With the money you save from reducing the
numbers of cards you send out, consider making a gift to the Christmas Joy
Offering, or the Christmas Eve Offering, which will be designated this year to the
Deacons to distribute to a variety of local needs. Of course, you can send out cards to
whomever you choose. But
putting a card up at church assures that everyone receives your warm
greetings. If you can put it up by December 17, many will see the board
as we go to the Westminster Hall for our Soup and Sandwich lunch. JESUS
IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!
by Stephen DeCesare In
a creative twist, the Senior Choir and Children’s program have combined
efforts this year to provide our Christmas Musical during worship
on Sunday, December 17. Following
the musical, our Deacons will host
a lunch in Westminster Hall, followed by a hopeful visit from St.
Nicholas! Actors in the
musical include:
Lisa
and Sarah Chorle as the mother and daughter; Carly Gonder as Mary; Payton Guelich
as Joseph; Ryker Bullis as the Innkeeper; Dan Nelson as Gabriel; Matthew
Starner as the Roman Soldier; Kayla McCreadie as the lead angel with the
preschool class as the host of angels; Ryan Good as the lead Shepherd
with the early elementary class as the group of shepherds; Ben Jeffries,
Eliot Reed and Ethan Reed as the Wise Men; Cody Ammerman as King Herod. Musical
Selections are as follows: "Silent
Night" (1855 Version) Jennifer Johnston, Flute "Ballad
of Mary" Carol Moore, Soloist "Great
Saint Joseph, Son of David" Senior Choir "O
Little Town of Bethlehem" Karen Wood, Soloist "In
a Manger" Jill Reed, Soloist "Glory
to God" Senior Choir "I
Heard the Christmas Bells" Sonshine Choir "Three
Kings Are They" Jim Gearhart, Dan Nelson, Doug Nelson, soloists "Little
One" Senior Choir "Holy
Child" Senior Choir "Jesus
is the Reason for the Season" Sonshine Choir SUNDAY SCHOOL IS ON DECEMBER 24, TOO! The children of
the church will have Sunday School on Sunday, December 24, with a
gathering in the upper Sunday School room for a special Christmas
ornament craft time. Please
plan to share in this time of fellowship and celebration! SERVICES ON
DECEMBER 24
For our morning worship service, we will be offering communion to those who worship with us that morning, as well as celebrating our Lord’s arrival as we anticipate
Christmas the next day. In the evening, the church will worship
jointly with our sister Church in Osceola Mills.
The family service, with the candle
ceremony and many musical presentations, will be held at 7:30 PM at our church.
The communion service will be held at 10 PM at the Osceola Mills Presbyterian Church.
So all families can sit and enjoy the services together, nursery care will not be
offered. CHRISTMAS
EVE OFFERING
The
tradition of inviting people to give to the Deacon’s Fund for 2007
will continue
at our Christmas Eve service offering time.
The gifts from the Green offering
envelopes, as well as the funds collected on Christmas Eve are used by
our Deacons
to fund the many community services we support, such as Habitat for
Humanity, Red
Cross, Relay for Life, Shoe Bank, service projects, Angel Tree, Angel
Food, and ministries
to our children. Please
consider a gift to their efforts beyond your
regular giving this Christmas. GIVING ENVELOPES If there is
anyone who is currently not receiving giving envelopes and wishes to
start in 2007, please let Edie
Good (342-0591) know by the end of the year. NEW
MEMBERS Please
note the contact information for the new members received
October 8, 2006, into our congregation.
Dan and Kirsten Guelich
Amy Bainey Taylor,
Payton
PO
Box 48 861 Tyrone Pike
Hawk Run, PA 16804 Philipsburg, PA
16866
(814) 343-4559 (814) 343-4642 abainey@pomounties.org kguelich@pomounties.org Nancy Fetters
501 Seventh Street
Philipsburg, PA 16866 Jason
and Ann Rishel Dick and Holly Kithcart
(814) 342-7196
Will, Paige PO Box 208
121 North 6th Street Grassflat, PA
16839
Philipsburg, PA 16866 (814) 345-6667
(814) 553-5768 dickorholly@cenpanet.net
ajrishel@comcast.net A
NOTE REGARDING ONE OF OUR EXTENDED FAMILY WHO IS
CURRENTLY SERVING OUR COUNTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST Kevin has been in touch and he is fine.
Tension among his team is
NOTE:
If this newsletter has been passed to you by one of our members
as an introduction to our church,
we welcome the opportunity to get to know you better through coming to worship with
us. Our Sunday worship
service begins every Sunday at 10:30 AM, with Sunday
School for all ages at 9:30 AM. Our
church is located on Presqueisle |
