We spent Advent following the birth narrative and story of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew,

so we’re going to continue with that Gospel right up until Lent. Since Lent starts early this year on

February 6, that will be the month of January in Matthew! And, since Matthew is the first

book of the New Testament, the new year of 2008 is a good time to commit to

reading through the New Testament this year. Will you give it a try?

As we look at passages in Matthew, we will continue to follow the life of Jesus after his birth narrative

to the beginning of his ministry. As we pause at Epiphany Sunday, Baptism of the Lord Sunday, calling

the first disciples, and Transfiguration Sunday, we’ll listen for God’s call to us through the life of Jesus.

These passages coincide with the church calendar, so I hope you have the sense

that we are part of something larger – along with many in the body of Christ!

If you can take up the challenge to read through the New Testament, find a reading partner to

discuss what you read together. I’d love to hear about your progress and we begin again in 2008!

Grace and Peace,

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 Street between 5^th and 6^th Streets, with parking

behind the building or on the street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the case of snow on Sundays, Pastor Tracie

will plan to conduct the worship service for all who

can attend. While this may mean a service without

an organist or choir, we will worship in the spirit of

"where two or three are gathered." Each member of

the congregation is encouraged to make the best

individual choice they deem necessary for travel and

attendance in inclement weather.

The Christmas Feast on Sunday, December 16, was wonderful!

We served 67 sit-down guests, loads of volunteers, and sent home

meals with those who attended. We had lovely tables, delicious food,

and wonderful guests from our community. Our church contributed

turkey and all the trimmings, a Christmas ornament, friendship around

the table, and the gift of song from our children and in caroling, led by

Karen Wood. What a feast! This is really looking like an annual event!

The planning team of Angie Dixon, Barb Little, Gigi Sayers, and

Holly Kithcart made it possible – plus a gracious donation from an

anonymous donor who wanted to celebrate Christmas with us all!

PRESBYTERIAN HOMES WOMEN’S AUXILIARY THANKS

On behalf of the volunteers and residents, we would like to thank you and your church members for the support of the 2007 Windy Hill Presbyterian Homes Auxiliary Bazaar. We thought you might enjoy knowing where the profits from our bazaar are spent. In 2007 the auxiliary pledged $12,000 which was used to complete a patio and purchase patio furniture for the residents. They have really enjoyed the new outdoor living space. We also contribute monies for the residents who need help with personal needs such as glasses, dental work and

other personal items that are not covered by Medicare. All monies earned at this bazaar are used entirely for the residents and their needs at the Windy Hill complex. Without the items and time your church members donated, the bazaar would not have been as successful, and the members of the auxiliary would not have been able to accomplish our goal to help make the residents more comfortable and happy.

Sincerely yours,

Gertie Clyde and Diana Brenizer, Chairs

 

As full as December is, many in our congregation served the church in significant and meaningful ways. Thank you ! To Paul Springer, for directing the Kid’s Program … thanks! To Karen Wood and Sally Laux, for covering the music side of the Program … thanks! To Jill Blake and Jen Starner for costuming and corralling the participants of the Program … thanks! To Jill Blake, Jim Gearhart, Karen Wood, and the other folks who decorated the church for Advent and Christmas … thanks! To the Senior Choir, for the gift of your voices for the Cantata … thanks! To Sally Laux for playing and directing the Cantata … thanks! To the many gift-givers who made sure the needy elderly and children of prisoners in Philipsburg had gifts for Christmas … thanks! To the Presbyterian Women for the Christmas Dinner … thanks! To Bob Branstetter and Marty Bullis for snow shoveling … thanks! To Mouse and Todd Dixon for parking lot plowing … thanks! To Carol Moore, who helped with so many arrangements for the Christmas Dinner … thanks! To outgoing leadership (Deacons Lisa Chorle and Sally Nelson, Elders Laura Barnett, Tom Little, and Colleen Viehdorfer, Trustees Marty Bullis and Bonnie Rodgers), who gave well in their years of service … thanks! To Angie Dixon, Gigi Sayers, Holly Kithcart, and Barb Little, who pulled together another Christmas Feast for the community … thanks! To all the volunteers, servers, hosts, and bakers who contributed to the Christmas Feast … thanks! To our anonymous donor who gave $250 to cover ALL the expenses of the Feast … thanks! To Ilo Warg, who works with the organist to tune the organ and schedules the piano tuning … thanks! To Mouse and Helen Dixon, Holly and Dick Kithcart, Bonnie and Amy Rodgers, the Springer four generations, and the Bullis Family for lighting the Advent candles … thanks! To Carol Moore and the Alternative Christmas team for giving the chance to give gifts in two ways, four times over … thanks! To our snow helpers Tom Little, Ed and Tyler Good, Bob Branstetter, Marty Bullis, and Todd Dixon … thanks! To the Wood Family for making the Angel Tree deliveries…thanks! To the back-up musicians who took care of the Dec. 16^th snow day – Sue Holdren, Karen Wood, and the kids – Madelen and Ryker Bullis…thanks! To the poinsettia crew of Jim Gearhart, Sue Peck, Helen Dixon, and Carol Moore, for arranging the flowers beautifully…thanks!

On Sunday, December 30, we had the privilege of ordaining and installing our new officers to

serve their three-year terms on our Boards. The church can be grateful for so many

gifted individuals who serve faithfully.

Trustees: Joy Branstetter, Don Blake, Jerilin Pritchard for the Class of 2010

Barbara Little fills a one-year term for the Class of 2008, replacing Erik Johnson

Session: Laura Bordas, Jay Milsom, Jim Warg

Deacons: Nancy Fetters, Todd Jeffries, Dick and Holly Kithcart

as devotions. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to recommend Todd Jeffries

and Nancy Fetters to the Session as incoming members of the Board of Deacons in 2008.

- A $100 donation was given to Community Action for meat vouchers

• On December 9^th, lunch was served after the Children’s Christmas Program with a visit

from St. Nick

- Angel Tree & Giving Tree gifts were given out in time for Christmas

Session’s December meeting is always a little bittersweet, as we bid farewell to members who have served with us for three or more years. Laura Barnett, Tom Little, and Colleen Viehdorfer have given you much good service and us many fond memories. They will be missed. But happily, we were also able to welcome Laura Bordas and Jim Warg as they gave us their faith stories and continued to sit in on the rest of the meeting as a bit of preview of things to come, before they officially join us next month.

Session reaffirmed its commitment to the kitchen remodeling project as it endorsed a proposal Pastor Tracie had written for a capital improvement/community outreach grant that had become available through Synod of the Trinity and Huntingdon Presbytery. The grant is competitive, but hopefully we will receive some seed money for our project.

Session as a whole heard reports from its busy committees: Church Roll Committee had suggestions for annual adjustments to the church roll; Employee Relations Committee reported on its efforts to blend a new Presbytery mandated sick leave policy with our current pastoral job description and terms of call, and discussed a plan to review and revise all employee job descriptions; Nominating Committee proposed the addition of Karen Wood to the Presbyterian Homes Auxiliary; Pastor Tracie and Worship Committee reported on plans for another baptismal reaffirmation during a January worship service. The Kitchen Remodeling and Sabbatical Committees announced upcoming meetings.

Session also heard updates on the terrific service work of the Boards of Deacons and Trustees. They deserve much gratitude for their efforts in the daily operations and special projects of our church life.

Session wishes all of you Peace and Grace through the holiday season and New Year.

This month the Trustees want to thank the following members for their work on repairs and projects

at the church: Dick Kithcart, Tom Little, Don Blake, and Gary Barnett. Projects included: drain cleaning,

tree trimming and removal, plumbing and electrical repairs, and replacement of the front door locks.

The following maintenance and service projects were discussed:

1. The copier servicing contract and options for reducing the churches expenses in this area.
2. The board approved purchasing a new CD player for the sanctuary sound system to replace the current player, which is broken.
3. The board approved closing the church’s safety deposit box, which is no longer needed to store documents.
4. The trustees approved seeking quotes for minor repairs needed on the educational building roof.
5. The board is putting in an application to have a prison work team replace the sidewalk leading from the manse to the Laurel Street sidewalk.
6. The board discussed the purchase of decorative ropes to be used to reserve rows in the sanctuary when needed. Board members are gathering quotes for this.
7. The board discussed snow removal needs and the coordination of shoveling crews. If you are available to help with snow removal, please contact Marty Bullis or Dan Nelson.

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

2 – Jay Milsom 14 – Pastor Tracie Bullis

7 – Kathy Richmond 16 – Ashley Laux

8 – Carol Moore 17 – Susan Harris

8 – Eric Rodgers 18 – Ryker Bullis

9 – Tom Holden 26 – Jennifer Starner

11 – Laura Barnett 31 – Chalmer "Mouse" Dixon

 

 

 

19^th – Ed and Leona Good – 56 years

24^th – Don and Beverly Holt – 49 years

28^th – Tom and Julie Jo Johnston – 41 years

The flower chart for 2008 is in the

narthex with weeks selected based

on prior years of sponsorship. If your

name is listed from prior years and you

wish to make a change, please notify Laura Barnett

at 342-3476. If you would like to sponsor flowers one

week, please fill in any blank date on the chart or call Laura.

Communion will be held Sunday, January 6, as we begin 2008 together.

To extend the Lord’s Supper to the community, please bring Paper Products

(tissue, toilet paper, paper towels) to the Food Bank Offering basket that day.