Philipsburg First Presbyterian Church

Philipsburg First Presbyterian Church

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OCTOBER 2008

THE STUDY LEAVE REPORT

September 12-19, I traveled to the Flathead Lake in Montana to be with my cohort group.

That’s "cohort," not "cavort" group, as one curious guest at our lodge inquired.

This cohort is seven Presbyterian women pastors from all over the US who have been meeting for

the last 18 months through the generosity of a "College of Pastoral Leaders" grant. Our theme has been Spiritual Theology – the work of God at our deepest spiritual core – where we’ve read and discussed

Eugene Peterson’s forthcoming series. Since Peterson lives in Montana, we’ve gone to see him

each fall to learn together and reconnect face-to-face as a group.

So, what did I learn while Bill covered the pastoral front, my dear husband graciously did

single-parenting for the week, and you all kept the light of Christ shining here?

Mostly, I remembered what I know, but perhaps lost track of:

Be patient. Maturity in Christ takes a long time, and it’s more of a circular learning style than a

linear one.

Be faithful to the work before us, no matter what swirls around us both inside and outside of the

church.

Be attentive for God’s work, which is far more significant than our own and is happening even if

we don’t quite see it yet. For, when all is said and done, what God does in and through us is

what matters.

Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Yet it took a week in Montana to remember, and will take our

lives to learn. Be patient, be faithful, be attentive.

Grace and Peace,

ATTN: 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 AUGUST, 2008:

Total Offering and Income to the General Fund $7,375.50

Total Expenses from the General Fund 7,626.18

Deficit for August $ (250.69)

Friends, I came across this poem about Abraham on my Study Leave and wanted to

share it with you all as we immerse ourselves in God’s work through the life of Abraham.

It’s from Swift, Lord, You are Not by Killian McDonnell.

The Call of Abraham

(Now the Lord said to Abram,

"Go from your country." Genesis 12:1)

Talk about imperious.

Without a "may I presume?"

No previous contact,

no letter of introduction,

this unknown God

issues edicts.

This is not a conversation.

Am I a nobody

to receive decrees

from one whose name

I do not know?

I have worshipped my own god.

to you I had addressed no prayers,

but quick,

like sudden fire in the desert,

I hear "Go."

At seventy-five

am I supposed to scuttle my life,

take that ancient wasteland, Sarai,

place my arthritic bones

upon the road

to some mumbled nowhere?

In ten generations since the Flood

you have spoken to no one.

Now, like thunder on a clear day,

you give commands:

pull up my tent,

desert the graves of my ancestors,

leave Haran

for a country you do not name,

there to be a stranger.

God of the wilderness,

from two desiccated lumps,

from two parched prunes,

you promise all peoples of the earth

will be blessed in me.

You come late, Lord, very late,

but my camels leave in the morning.

SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES

Sunday School is well underway! Please give the gift of Christian education

to your child! A few reminders for parents: students in the elementary class

and younger are being checked in at the 5^th Street Entrance to help direct them

to their classes. If your child arrives early and their teacher is not at church yet,

they will need to wait with an adult at the entrance. In addition, with our "two adult"

rule with children, it would greatly help if you would encourage your child to use the

bathroom before Sunday School starts.

KRISLUND CAMP SCHOLARSHIP PLAN

The Sunday School will continue the Krislund Camp Scholarship program from last year, as part of our attentiveness to the stewardship of our funds. Please note the following schedule of attendance for gaining a percentage scholarship to camp:

Attendance 38-43 Sundays yields 50% payment to camp

Attendance 33 to 37 Sundays yields 40% payment to camp

Attendance 25 to 32 Sundays yields 30% payment to camp

Any family with financial constraints can speak with Pastor Tracie about special scholarships. The congregation is invited to sponsor children to camp who have needs beyond the scholarship program.

DEACONS – WINDY HILL SERVICE

The Board of Deacons will be taking care of the Windy Hill Sunday afternoon worship

service on World Communion Sunday, October 5^th, by offering music from our

congregation and sharing our communion with the residents there. This is a wonderful

way to enjoy the gifts of the community of Christ!

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

Operation Christmas Child and the Christmas Shoe Boxes

are coming to our church! The Deacons will be making a

presentation at the Church Lunch on Sunday, October 19, to

show the congregation what a Christmas Shoe Box is and how

we make one. Then, all those who are willing can begin sharing

the Christmas spirit with their box work. Want to know more?

Be at the lunch October 19!

WOMEN’S STUDY

The women of the church will be gathering this Fall to study

the life of Ruth together. This time of learning, sharing and

fellowship build our community and lives with Christ. Take a

Monday night out and join us!

Monday, October 27 – Ruth Ch. 2 Study from 7-8:30 PM

Monday, December 1 – Ruth Ch. 3 Study from 7-8:30 PM

PC(USA) UPDATE

The Denomination continues to wait and watch what the changes that occurred at the

General Assembly in June mean. The Northwest Clergy Cluster met in late August to discuss

options for education, discussion and response. We are hoping a discussion will begin at

Presbytery about concerns and responses. At present, I am seeking to listen and communicate

on several levels as we wait to see what develops.

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

The Philipsburg Presbyterian Home’s Auxiliary Christmas Bazaar

will be Saturday, November 1^st, at the Heights at Windy Hill Village

in Philipsburg. The Auxiliary is grateful for the beautiful crafts,

delicious baked goods, and other items you have contributed in past

years and hope that we can count on your help again this year. We

are asking that you begin now to make your crafts for this year’s bazaar.

Popular items include all quilted items, artwork, needlework, and woodwork,

as well as other kinds of hand-made crafts. Your talents and skills are

needed to make this our biggest and best bazaar ever!

Please mark this date – Saturday, November 1^st, on your calendar now.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING CALLED

The Session has called a Congregational Meeting for Sunday, November 2, immediately following worship,

for the purpose of electing new officers and voting on

the Pastor’s Salary.

NOTE THE TIME CHANGE!

Sunday, November 2, is when Daylight Savings Time ends

and we turn our clocks BACK an hour! If you end up coming

to worship an hour early, try Sunday School!

THANKS FOR YOUR MINISTRY IN SEPTEMBER

September can seem like a busy month, yet many folks found

time to volunteer, share their gifts, and help the church. To the Deacons

for re-starting the monthly lunches… thanks! To Jen Starner, who had everything

ready for Sunday School to begin again … thanks! To our Sunday School teachers, who

stepped forward to nurture and educate our children again … thanks! To Bill Moore, who stepped in

to preach on September 14 and continue the Abraham story … thanks! To Darrell Hollis, who stays faithful

as a Presbytery Commissioner … thanks! To the Trustees who took care of various building needs … thanks!

OFFICER MEETINGS for OCTOBER (in the parlor)

Deacons: Tuesday, October 7^th @ 7:00 p.m.

Session: Monday, October 13^th @ 7:00 p.m.

Trustees: Tuesday, October 21^st @ 7:00 p.m.

PW: Thursday, October 23^rd @ 7:00 p.m.

SEPTEMBER DEACON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Received a "Thank You" card from Krislund for our donation to the camp.

Phyllis Barr of State College came and spoke to us about Samaritan’s Purse – Operation Christmas Child.

Brochures and a DVD will be presented to the congregation at a soup and sandwich luncheon on October

19^th. $100 will be donated to get the project started.

October 5^th is Windy Hill Village day. We plan to serve communion and have some of the small children sing for the residents.

Donated $50.00 to the family of Kylee Branton, a little girl in the community with cancer. We may be able to give more in the near future.

November 16^th – Soup and Sandwich

December 14^th – The children’s Christmas program and luncheon with Santa afterwards.

SEPTEMBER SESSION REPORT

The September Session meeting was very routine. A Congregational meeting for the purpose of election

of officers for 2009 and adoption of the pastor’s terms of call for 2009 was called for November 2, 2008.

We discussed issues facing the national church and issues facing our neighboring congregations;

we considered building use requests; we heard Session committee reports, reports of Deacon and

Trustee activities, and an update on the kitchen remodeling project.

But one item that was definitely not routine was the praise to God and the joy and thanks Session expressed

to Pastor Tracie concerning two important anniversaries – the five-year anniversary of her becoming

pastor of our congregation, and the ten-year anniversary of her ordination as a Presbyterian pastor.

Praise to God indeed for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us in uniting us with Pastor Tracie

and her wonderful family!

OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS

2 – Adam Gearhart 22 – Benjamin Kanour

4 – Susan Broberg 24 – Helen Hollis

5 – Agnes Whitehead 25 – Robert Scott Shoff

6 – Doug Goss 26 – Judy Pleskonko

7 – Elwood Turner 27 – Damon Jones

9 – Chrissy Clyde 30 – Darrell Hollis

10 – Paul Springer 30 – Lynn Herman

16 – Emily Kizina 31 – Andrea Starner

OCTOBER ANNIVERSARIES

6^th – Dale and Laura Warner – 7 years

10^th – John and Kelly Freeman – 14 years

12^th – Marty and Pastor Tracie Bullis – 17 years

15^th – Fred and Barbara Herman – 53 years

26^th – Rob and Jill Reed – 12 years

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY

First Presbyterian Church's Prayer Shawl Ministry is off to a good start. There are currently 18 women

who have dedicated themselves to knitting or crocheting prayer shawls! What a blessing this will be.

The number of women who make shawls has no end, so there is room for you, too. The shawls are

easy and directions are always available.

There are other ways to help. We can always use funds for yarn. It takes 3 skeins for a knitted shawl and 4 for a crocheted one. Yarn can be purchased from $4.50 to $5.00 a skein.

Another way is to let Pastor Tracie or any shawl maker know if there is someone in your family or a friend who could use a shawl for comfort. The person does not have to be a member of our congregation.

A great way to be part of this ministry is to pray for the shawl makers.

If you would like to learn more about Prayer Shawl Ministry, go on the web to www.shawlministry.com.

A NOTE TO SHAWL MAKERS:
All shawls COMPLETED AND THOSE IN PROGRESS

will be blessed during the worship service on Nov. 23. Please try to be at worship that day and bring with you whatever you have finished or are still working on.

OCTOBER 2008 CHURCH CALENDAR

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1

2

3

4

5

World Communion Sunday // Deacons w/Windy Hill Services @

3:00 p.m.

6

7

Deacons @ 7:00 p.m.

8

9

10

11

12

13

Session @ 7:00 p.m.

14

15

16

Dinner for Kitchen Fund

17

18

19

Fellowship Lunch Introducing Christmas Shoe Boxes

20

21

Trustees @ 7:00 p.m.

22

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

23

P. W. @ 7:00 p.m.

24

25

Work Day from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

26

27

Women’s Study @ 7:00 p.m.

28

29

30

31

HAPPY

HALLOWEEN

KITCHEN REMODEL NEWS

The Kitchen Fund, as of September 7, 2008, was at $20,030.60. This is two-thirds of our goal of $30,000, all raised in this year through the hard work of fundraising and your GENEROUS donations. Thank you!

The Kitchen Committee (Barb Little, Gigi Sayers, Angie Dixon, Holly and Dick Kithcart, Pastor Tracie, Don Blake, Dick Wood, Mouse Dixon, and Paul Springer) is hoping to do one more push this Fall to reach the $30,000 goal December 31, 2008. Donations of any amount are welcome, as are Name Plate donations. The form for Name Plates is on the next page, and would make a wonderful Christmas gift to someone you would like to honor. If you are giving a name plate as a gift, Pastor Tracie will write a letter to the recipient to inform them of your kindness.

Construction will hopefully begin by mid-December and be completed by the end of January. A marvelous Construction Team has just been assembled to begin laying out the work with our General Contractor. An advance thank you goes to Don Blake, Tom Harris, Tom Sayers, Tom Little and Ray Joe Millward for agreeing to serve on the Construction Team.

Fundraising over the Summer has gone well, and the committee thanks Joy Branstetter for her picture donation, Gary Barnett for his DVD donation, and Krystal McMillan for her Mary Kay "Satin Hands" fundraiser.

To both help continue to raise funds, and to be good stewards of our finances in the present economy, the Kitchen Committee has received approval from the Session for the three fundraisers listed below. These fundraisers are designed to raise money from meals or items that you are likely to purchase anyway. The committee specifically avoided asking our community to give money to "extras" that many of us are foregoing on our tighter budgets.

A "Meal Replacement" Dinner

Thursday, October 16, is the date set for a meal offered for sit down or take out from Westminster Hall. The menu is yummy meatloaf, baked potatoes, salad, fruit, roll and dessert, all for only $7 for adults or $3.50 for children. SAVE THE DATE to take a break from your work or volunteer schedule to dine in the church. This is a PRE-SALE ticket event, so keep your eyes open for ticket sales. If you can help to sell tickets, the Kitchen Committee is always glad for the help!

Community Day Coupon Books

The Bon Ton is again opening their store on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 for their Community Day fundraiser sale. We have coupon books that you donate $5 for which have a $10 rebate on any sale (so you already double your money!), plus several percent-off coupons for the store. You can use as many coupons as you would like, so save your Christmas shopping for November 15 and save money, too! Coupon books are only good on November 15.

Thanksgiving Pies

The famous Thanksgiving Pie sales are BACK! We will be pre-selling pumpkin pies and offering other varieties for spontaneous purchase on Wednesday, November 27. This event needs pie bakers at the church on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 25-26, pie sellers Wednesday morning, Nov. 27, pie bakers who will donate from home for Wed, Nov. 27 and pie eaters who will buy all these pies! Mark the date, call Pastor Tracie if you can help at the church or bake at home, and cross figuring out a Thanksgiving pie off the "to do" list!

Memorial/Honorary Board

First Presbyterian Church of Philipsburg

A ministry of meals is blossoming at First Presbyterian Church, and we need to remodel and renovate our kitchen in order to keep up with the possibilities to serving others in the name of Jesus Christ.

To both support this ministry, and to honor or remember someone dear to you, you are invited to purchase a memorial or honorary name plate for an individual, married couple, or family. These name plates will be placed on a central Honorary/Memorial Board near the Kitchen.

Examples include:

In loving memory of Mary Jane Smith from Joe and Jane Jones.

In honor of our parents, Joe and Jane Jones from Mary and Bob Jones.

To the glory of God from the Smith family.

You are welcome to purchase as many name plates as you would like. Questions about wording and recipients can be directed to the Kitchen Committee (Barb Little, Gigi Sayers, Angie Dixon, Holly and Dick Kithcart, Pastor Tracie, Don Blake, Dick Wood, Mouse Dixon, and Paul Springer). If you would like to purchase a name plate as a gift, Pastor Tracie can write a letter to the recipient to let them know of your gift. Name plates can be purchased until the end of 2008.

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To purchase a name plate, return this form with a check for $250 per name plate made payable to the First Presbyterian Church, with "Kitchen Fund" in the memo field.

Name ________________________________________________ Phone __________________

Wording for Name Plate: _________________________________________________________

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Wording for Name Plate: _________________________________________________________

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Wording for Name Plate: _________________________________________________________

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