Philipsburg First Presbyterian Church

Philipsburg First Presbyterian Church

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NOVEMBER 2009

OUR QUESTIONS

One of my pastor friends is doing a sermon series on the questions Jesus asks in the

Gospels. It sounds like a wonderful series – and one which we might undertake together

in the future. But the concept got me thinking about what questions we ask of God.

What are our questions, and how does Scripture deal with those?

My friend told me his personal study revealed 75 different questions of Jesus. As I have

worked through Scripture, I settled on six questions asked out of our human nature for the Sundays of October 18 through November 22. This takes us right up to Advent.

By the time this newsletter arrives at your door, we’ll be halfway through the series, but

those questions keep coming. If you missed a Sunday of a question you’ve had, give a call

to your friends in the pews around you and take some time for coffee together to talk.

Perhaps the asking of the question teaches us more about discipleship than an answer does.

October 18: Did God Say …? From Genesis 3:1-7

October 25: Why Did This Happen? From Judges 6:11-18

November 1: Is This of God? From Judges 13:1-18

November 8: Why Not Punish Us? From Ezra 9:5-15

November 15: Is This the Time? From Acts 1:6-11

November 22: What Should We Do? From Acts 2:37-42

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.

INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR THE GENERAL FUND FOR SEPTEMBER, 2009:

Total Offering and Income to the General Fund $ 13,685.53

Total Expenses from the General Fund 15,227.30

Shortfall for September -$ 1,541.77

THANKS TO …

November is the perfect month to give thanks for folks like:

All those who gave their Saturday morning to lend a cleaning or fixing

hand at the church on the Work Day – thanks! Paul Springer for being

the October liturgist – thanks! The Young at Heart Lunch planners and

makers – thanks! Jeff Eyet, for keeping our records and minutes straight,

with another year of approval without exceptions – thanks! The Nominating

Committee for prayerfully calling folks to serve – thanks! All the folks who

provided items for the Windy Hill Bazaar – thanks!

THANK YOU – HELP!

At our 50^th Wedding Anniversary Card Party, someone graciously gave Bill and me a gift card to Applebee’s. However, the gift card fell out of the greeting card; therefore, we were unable to identify the gift giver and say thanks. Would the party responsible please call 342-0758 so that we may say "thank you."

Thanks,

Bill and Carol Moore

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING SET

The Session has called a Congregational Meeting

for after worship on Sunday, October 25, 2009, to

elect officers and vote on Pastor Tracie’s salary.

FALL BACK!

October 31 to November 1 is the end of Daylight Savings Time weekend; so our clocks should go back an hour on Saturday night! If you forget,

give Sunday School a try, since you’ll be at church an hour early at 9:30 a.m.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

The Deacons have invited members of the congregation

to fill a Christmas Shoe Box for a child in the world to be

distributed by Samaritan’s Purse ministries. Information on

how to fill a box is available at the church or by calling the

church office for a brochure. Boxes are due at the church

by Sunday, November 15. Give the gift of Christmas joy to

a child this year!

FUEL AID CONCERT

Presented by the Philipsburg-Osceola Ministerium

Featuring Many Local Artists

Sunday, November 15^th, 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

At Trinity United Methodist Church

Tickets: $5.00 (Available at First Presbyterian Church)

[The purpose of this concert is to raise funds for distribution through Community Action to families and individuals with fuel needs this winter.]

YOUNG AT HEART LUNCHEON

When: Wednesday, November 18^th at 12:00 p.m. Reservations

Where: First Presbyterian Church, Westminster Hall Gertie Clyde (342-4371)

What: Lunch, Program & Fellowship Darrell or Helen Hollis (342-3376)

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY

Thursday, November 19, will be our next

women’s study in the parlor in the parlor.

We continue with the book of Joshua.

THANKSGIVING PIE SALE RETURNS

Between the success of last year’s pie sale and the need for some supplemental income for our church budget, we are again doing the Thanksgiving Pie Sale at the church on Wednesday, November 25,

9 AM to noon. This opportunity lends three options for you in the congregation to choose from:

Be a pie baker for the pumpkin pies made Tuesday,

November 24! Contact Sue Holdren to let her know

you can help.

Be a pie baker at your own convenience, by baking

and bringing in a pie for the Wednesday sale.

Be a pie buyer on Wednesday, November 25!

ADVENT DEVOTIONALS

The Session is again seeking to enhance and focus your devotional season by offering

a free devotional book for each church family or individual. A Grand Miracle, edited by

Joel Heck from writings of C.S. Lewis, will be available each Sunday beginning November 1 to pick up and begin using on the first Sunday of Advent, November 29.

OFFERING ENVELOPES

Anyone not currently receiving giving

envelopes who would like to for 2010,

please let Edie Good know.

TRUSTEE MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

1. Reviewed financial report
2. All salaries will be frozen for 2010
3. Reviewed areas of possible energy savings ,utility savings, and others:
      a. Transfer to Vonage for phone and interent
      b. Use dishes in kitchen to save on buying paper products.
      c. Fundraiser from each board in 2010
      d. Reduce outside lighting schedule
      e. Weather stripping
      f. Turn on sanctuary lights later on Sunday mornings
      g. Change to compact flourescent light bulbs
4. Reviewed a tentative 2010 budget.
5. Trustees are looking at all items in the budget where costs can be cut.
6. May begin in 2010 transferring growth from Bragonier Fund into General

Fund.

CHURCH OFFICER MEETINGS FOR NOVEMBER

Deacons: Tuesday, November 3^rd @ 7:00 p.m.

Session: Monday, November 9^th @ 7:00 p.m.

Trustees: Tuesday, November 17^th @ 7:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

3^rd – Barb Springer 15^th – Cory Wood

5^th – Seth Storck 16^th – George Pleskonko

6^th – Tom Little 17^th – Lydia Dixon

8^th – Kelly Freeman 19^th – Robert "Ethan" Reed

9^th – Gary Barnett 20^th – Nikki Rohrback

9^th – Edward A. Good 21^st – Janey Johnson

10^th – Carly Sayers 23^rd – Austin Eggers

12^th – Edie Good 27^th – Todd Dixon

13^th – Matt Jones 28^th – Larry Ammerman

13^th – Morgan Coble 28^th – Matt Johnson

14^th – Marti Eggers 29^th – Suzi Peck

15^th – Jill Reed

NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

1^st – Ralph and Sally Nelson – 34 years

11^th – Ray and Dot Davidsen – 59 years

18^th – Stuart and Robbie Hollis – 20 years

19^th – Elwood and Gladys Turner – 20 years

28^th – Harold and Mary Shirey – 50 years

28^th – Edwin and Lora Storck – 28 years

ATTENTION

Jennifer Johnston has a new E-mail address.

If you need to send her church-related

announcements, etc., you may do so at

tj.je4@iqnetsys.net. Thank you.

NOVEMBER 2009

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1

All Saints Day!

Daylight Savings

Time Ends

2

3

Deacons @ 7:00 p.m.

4

5

6

7

8

9

Session @ 7:00 p.m.

10

11

VETERANS’ DAY

12

13

14

15

Deacon Lunch

Shoeboxes Due!

Fuel Aid Concert

3 PM - 5 PM at the Rowland Theatre

16

17

Presbytery Meeting at Belleville West Kish – 9:30 a.m.

Trustees @ 7:00 p.m.

18

Young at Heart Luncheon @ 12:00 p.m.

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

Young at Heart Luncheon @ Windy Hill – 12:00 p.m.

26

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Church Office closed

27

Church Office closed

28

29

First Sunday in Advent with Communion

30

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