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Philipsburg First Presbyterian Church |
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Easter Our History Activities
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JANUARY 2009 BEGINNING IN THE MIDDLE
When we start a new year, we’re told to start fresh, make a resolution, and get a new start. But life isn’t really like that. We are always in the middle of something – mid-history, mid-life, mid-transformation. We can’t wipe out our past and start fresh, because our past is part of who we are. If we lose it, we may get rid of the parts we don’t like, but we also lose the best parts, too. For us as people of faith, the past reminds us primarily of God’s faithfulness to us and to all who came before us. That history gives us the courage to look ahead with Christ’s hope.
We’ve been looking at Abraham’s history in the Fall months, then at the history of Jesus as he came among us. Now, we’re moving back to the patriarchal history with a good look at Isaac and Jacob before Lent turns our attention to the life of Jesus again. Walking with the patriarchs has given us a sense of God’s long story of faithfulness, as well as reminded us that humanity looks similar in any age. As we hear our story in the Hebrew Scriptures, we see the wonder of God’s great story connecting us as people of faith. So, if you’ve been reading along in Genesis, keep right on reading. Together, we’ll see the ways God has been, is, and will be at work.
Grace and Peace,
SNOW AND WORSHIP REMINDER 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.
KITCHEN FUND UPDATE While the Kitchen fund total for the year won’t be known until after the newsletter information is due, we are approaching $27,000.00, and the construction team is working hard to do what we need to do in the kitchen for that amount. Some bids have changed over the years, with prices going both up and down on various items and costs. The goal is to finish the renovations by the end of January for a dedication of the new kitchen at the Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, February 8th.
The efforts of the congregation to give gifts to this fund have been outstanding. Between grants, fundraisers, and gifts, the finances we need to extend our church’s meal ministry have come in. Thank you for your gracious gifts!
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING The Annual Congregational Meeting and Corporation’s Annual Report Meeting will be held Sunday, February 8, 2009, after worship and lunch together. Please plan to take time to fellowship and hear of God’s work among us in the last year. WHAT A FEAST! The Christmas Feast on Sunday, December 7th was wonderful! We served 90 sit-down guests, loads of volunteers, and our children’s choir. The tables were festive and lovely, the food was plentiful, hot and delicious, and the children sang like angels! Our guests ate turkey and all the trimmings, then enjoyed a Christmas ornament, friendship around the table, and the gift of song from our children, led by Karen Wood. What a feast! This is our 3rd annual event! The planning team of Angie Dixon, Barb Little, Gigi Sayers, and Holly Kithcart, with cooking help from Dottie Isaacson, Helen Dixon, and Tracy Branthoover, made it possible – plus a gracious donation from an anonymous donor who wanted to celebrate Christmas with us all!
MANY THANKS Part of December joy is giving to others, and many gave to our church in significant and meaningful ways. Thank you! To Karen Wood and Sally Laux, for directing and playing the music for the Kids’ Program…thanks! To Jill Blake, Christy Johnson, and Jen Starner for costuming and corralling the participants of the Program…thanks! To Don and Jill Blake and Mouse and Helen Dixon, 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 in Philipsburg had gifts for Christmas …thanks! To the Presbyterian Women for the Christmas Dinner…thanks! To Todd Dixon for parking lot and sidewalk plowing…thanks! To outgoing leadership (Deacons Harold and Mary Shirey and Jill Blake, Elders Tracy Branthoover and Joyce Kitko, and Trustees Barb Little and Shirley Turner), who gave well in their years of service…thanks! To Angie Dixon, Gigi Sayers, Holly Kithcart, Dottie Isaacson, Helen Dixon, Tracy Branthoover, 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 Ilo Warg, who works with the organist to tune the organ and piano, and sets the practice heat…thanks! To Darrell and Helen Hollis; Jim, Bernhard, and Ilo Warg; Todd, Ben, and Noah Jeffries; Allison and Steve Kardohely; and Lisa Holden and Winnie Eckley for lighting the Advent candles…thanks! To Carol Moore and the Alternative Christmas team for giving the chance to give gifts in two ways, five times over…thanks! To Jill Reed’s class for creating Giving Tree ornaments…thanks! To the Deacons, for the children’s Christmas lunch, complete with a gift from Santa…thanks!
NEW OFFICERS On Sunday, December 28th, 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.
CLOCK REPAIR NEEDED We are looking for someone to come to our church and look over the 5th street entryway clock, to give an estimate of repairs needed. If you know of a clock repair person, please speak with a trustee, or Dan Nelson, Chair of Trustees.
FOR NOVEMBER 2008: Total Offering and Income to the General Fund: $ 9,274.11 Total Expenses from the General Fund: $ 9,551.09 Shortfall for November: $ (276.98)
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY The Prayer Shawl Ministry of First Presbyterian Church began in September, and it has been a blessing to both the shawl makers and those who have received them. Seven members of the congregation have experienced the blessing of a prayer shawl, as well as six persons of the larger community. In 2008 nineteen shawls were made and 13 were given to those who are ill and/or shut-in, as well as those who are experiencing major life changes. Any recommendations of someone who may be given a shawl are to be given to Pastor Tracie, Carol Moore or Jerilin Pritchard. They will also be pleased to receive any cash donations toward the purchase of yarn. Please consider being part of this ministry as a shawl maker, financial supporter, or prayer supporter. You will be blessed and a blessing.
ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS GIFT The Alternative Christmas Gift program is in its fourth year at First Presbyterian Church, and is a strong reminder of what Christmas and giving to others is all about. When individuals purchase gift certificates, they are ministering to others as well as honoring a loved one with their gifts.
The Alternative Christmas Gift opportunities in 2008 and the contributions to each opportunity were: First Presbyterian Church Kitchen Fund: $270.00 Trinity United Methodist Church Shoe Bank: $370.00 Holt Memorial Library Building Fund: $530.00 Camp Krislund wagon refurbishment: $320.00
Thirty-seven children in the Philipsburg area will receive new shoes in 2008.
Gifts to the library building fund will ensure an outstanding educational forum for our community. More children will be offered a Christian experience at Camp Krislund in a unique setting. Our Christian partners in Thailand sacrifice to provide educational opportunities for children. We can help supply educational tools.
A remodeled church kitchen is going to be beneficial to our growing ministry of meals for the community. Our church family has been actively involved in this ministry. Children from the pre-school through youth have colored the gift certificates. The Alternative Christmas Gift committee, consisting of session mission committee members and members-at-large from the congregation, planned the giving opportunities, and church officers handled the finances. Members of the congregation were involved by purchasing gifts. Thank you to all who helped and those who purchased gifts. The blessings have spread locally and half-way around the world.
Deacons: Tuesday, January 6th @ 7:00 p.m. Session: Monday, January 12th @ 7:00 p.m. Trustees: Tuesday, January 20th @ 7:00 p.m. PW: To Be Announced
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
2nd – Jay Milsom 14th – Pastor Tracie Bullis 7th – Kathy Richmond 16th – Ashley Laux 8th – Carol Moore 17th – Susan Harris 8th – Eric Rodgers 18th – Ryker Bullis 9th – Tom Holden 26th – Jennifer Starner 11th – Laura Barnett 31st – Chalmer "Mouse" Dixon
JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES 19th – Ed and Leona Good – 57 years 24th – Don and Beverly Holt – 50 years 28th – Tom and Julie Jo Johnston – 42 years
JANUARY 2008
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