Advent Worship
and Other Events
The Longest Night
Thursday, December 21, 7:00 p.m.
Sometimes Christmas isn’t
“the most wonderful time of the year”
Yet even in the darkness...
God’s light does shine!
Come to a special time of worship...to affirm that God’s light and presence are with those who struggle, and to experience the light of Christ that continues to shine, even in the darkest times. This year our guest vocalist will be Emily Laudeman. Christmas Eve...Join us to celebrate Christ’s birth: 10:00 a.m. One Service of Worship
5:00 p.m. Informal Family Service with Melodia, Jr. Chorale, and Westminster Choirs
7:00 p.m. The Bridge Christmas Eve Service
9:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion Service
with the Chancel Choir, Jill Stoll, flute, & Ben Weiss, violin Christmas Joy Offering A Presbyterian tradition for almost seventy years, the Christmas Joy Offering goes to the Board of Pensions for assistance programs for retired clergy and missionaries, and to support Presbyterian racial ethnic schools and colleges. We are receiving the Joy Offering now through December 24. Please give generously.( more )
New tax-saving giving opportunity for people over 70 — (more).
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The office will be closed on
November 23 & 24, December 25 & 26, and January 1.
Growing in Christ
Youth Ministry
Johnny’s Random Thoughts and Ramblings
Sometimes I think that I am God’s courtjester. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I am okay with the idea. God gave me a good sense of humor and he gave me the ability to appreciate the little idiosyncrasies and oxymorons that make up the life of Johnny. I can laugh at myself, which, I think is a great gift. I like the fact that I don’t take myself so seriously that I can’t laugh at my errors and silly steps.
One of the little pieces of me is that I love music’ I know, you might say. “Well, Johnny. I love music too.’ But you don’t understand...! LOVE MUSIC! I mean, I have a problem. I own over 1,700 CD’s. Every time I go to the store I have to pick something up because I need more music. I can’t stop. There are times when I go out for milk and come back with 13 CD’s (really, that has happened). It is so bad that my wife finally had to put her foot down and now I can only buy 1 CD each time I get paid.
I know what you are thinking. “What is so strange about that? Everyone has their hobby. Yours music.” And I say. “Give me a second and I will explain it to you.”
God has given me this incredible love for music, music of all types from acoustic folk to traditional hymns and classical choral numbers to hard rock and rap and everywhere in between. (I do think, however, that country music is ajoke on all of us)
In the past I have tried to make music. I figure that way I will never be without music when I need it (which is all the time). Plus, God gave me this deep appreciation for music so maybe I can create it in a way that others can find relaxing or motivating as well. I have taken lessons from friends and professionals alike on five different instruments including the Cello, guitar. didgeridoo. drums, and other procession instruments. I have been told by four of those instructors that I should not be wasting the time and/or money on attempting to play those instruments because I was not ever going to improve enough to play anywhere but in a dark, sound-proof room. Okay, so maybe they weren’t that harsh but they told me it was a bad idea to continue.
I would sing but I am not very good at that either. As a matter of fact I was approached by the choir instructor at my home church when they were struggling to find members to join the choir. I told her that the following Sunday I would sit in the pew behind her and if she felt that I would fit into the choir then I would join. Long story short, I was never approached again.
It took me a long time and a lot of whining and complaining about not being able to create music to understand why I had this love of and an inability to create music. I wish I could remember who told me the piece of wisdom that turned it all around for me. To me he/she was an angel making my love of music even greater.
“Maybe you don’t understand music so that you can appreciate it. Maybe knowing how to make music would just get in the way of the appreciation. Maybe you would pick it apart and try to better it and find the mistakes and try to add something in that doesn’t already go there. Maybe you are better off not understanding music butjust listening and loving what you are hearing.”
God has a way of knowing what is best for us. He knows who needs a sense of humor and who needs to create the music and who needs to just hear it. Our minds and our gifts are suited to us. If we use them well, we grow and learn more uses and maybe earn more abilities from God. We need to take stock of who we are and learn to appreciate our likes, dislikes and passions. God has created each one of us with a purpose. His purpose, not ours.
Special Thanks To...
I am such a music dork that I know each set of liner notes has this section for the band members to thank those who helped them in life and on the album. So, I thought I would use this section to thank those who have gone above and beyond this past month.
Thanks to Jennifer Pitcher for organizing the Linton’s Gift Certificate Fundraiser. I would have pulled out all of my hair without your organization.
Thanks to Mary Freed for organizing the Holiday Greens Fundraiser. Without your help I wouldn’t even know what Holiday Greens are.
Thanks to all of the Presbyterians who made your way to Hacienda in October. The General Scholarship Fund for PYF is well- stocked going into the New Year!
Thanks to Mary Seddon for taking the time and care to set up the “Caring Tree” this year. We all appreciate your thoughtfulness and helping hands.
Got Ideas?
Are you looking for any special information or ideas The PYFer? As this new to the Newsletter gets established I am looking for sections to add. Maybe you would like to see a “Youth of the Month” or conversation starters to around the dinner table? want to not only let you know what is going on but lend useful information your family, youth and parents alike. So, let me know if you have any ideas. Click here to email me.
PYF Happenings
Dec. 17 PYF Bible Study 6:30-8pm
Dec. 24 NO PYF
Dec. 31 Jr. High Fellowship I 1:45-3pm
Jan. 7 PYF Fellowship I 1:45-5pm
Jan. 14 PYF Service I 1:45-3pm
Jan. 21 PYF Bible Study 6:30-8pm
Jan. 28 Jr. High Fellowship TBA
Growing in Christ
Adult Ministry
Sunday Classes
Continuing in December:
9:45 a.m.
The Music and Message of Handel’s Messiah, with Starr Robinson. 10:45 a.m.
Finding God in The Lord of the Rings, with Jill Windy.
Coming
January 149:45 a.m.
Tough Issues: (“Mike”) Mehdi Karbalaeali returns for three weeks of conversation about religions discrimination, and other inter-faith issues.
10:45 a.m.
The Gospel According to the Simpsons, led by Jim Rasp.
Week day Class
Tuesdays,
December 12 & 19, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Turning Holiday Stress into Holiday Calm a two-session workshop hosted by First Presbyterian in the Reception Room, provided by the Samaritan Center. Learn about:
- the effects of stress on individuals and the brain;
- ways to reframe stressful situations;
- the benefits of positive self-talk;
- establishing priorities and allocating energies;
- relaxation techniques: visualization, muscle isolation, deep breathing, imagery,
- journaling, meditation, and zones of awareness.
The class is presented by Joyce Menchinger, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.. All are invited free of charge. For more information call 262-3597.
Nifty Sixties  Enjoy good fellowship and good food? The Nifty Sixties, a group of retirees who enjoy both, invites you to attend their monthly lunch. They meet at 11:30 a.m. on the third Monday of each month at Christiana Creek Country Club (the Elks Club), in a special room to the left at the top of the stairs. For a reservation, call Pat Charles at 264-6407. |
Men's BreakfastJoin Steve Braden and men of the church on Wednesday mornings at 8:00 a.m. in the side room at Bennigan’s (in the Ramada Inn on No. Cassopolis, just south of the tollroad) for a lively discussion and mutual prayer. Current topic: the gospel of Mark. BBBB  The Brown Bag Book Bunch meets on the first Monday of each month at 11:00 a.m. to discuss the current book. The upcoming selection is:
January
| 90 Minutes in Heaven
| Don Piper
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Join us in the Reception Room.
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New Members and Trustees
Meet our newest members
who were accepted into membership on November 19, 2006!
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 Cami Von Amendt joins us by reaffirmation of faith. Cami was invited to the Bridge by Debbie Wright-Hughes.
 Donielle (Doni) Boal joins us by reaffirmation of faith. Doni is married to James and has two children Tori & Samantha. Doni attends the Bridge worship.
 Roxanne Coryell joins the church by reaffirmation of faith. She is a Bridge attendee. Roxanne has an adult daughter, Jasmine.
 Vincent and Monica Smith join by reaffirmation of faith. Vincent and Monica have three children living at home: Semo, Justine, and Andrew. Semo Smith joins by baptism and profession of faith. They attend the Bridge service. Please join us in welcoming and making our new members feel comfortable at First Presbyterian!
Trustee News…The trustees have received the long-sought rough estimate of the cost for re-doing our HVAC system. The figure? Approximately $850,000. The Trustees and Session will be making plans in the next few months as to what else needs to be done, and how we should best proceed. |
In other news, the trustees are:
- Removing the two trees by the east (Ruthmere) entrance to improve lighting and reduce leaves in the hallway; and
- Working on improving the lighting in the east (Ruthmere) parking lot.
Growing in Christ: Stewardship
New: Charitable Giving of IRA Distributions
Attention Members over 70! The Pension Protection Act of 2006 allows tax-free lifetime distributions from an IRA directly to charity. Between now and December 31, 2007, you have a unique opportunity to give to the church (or other charities) in a very tax-advantageous manner. Here's how:
- You must be age 70 ½ or older as of the date of distribution.
- Distributions must be made directly from a traditional or Roth IRA to a qualified charity. It doesn't work if the check comes to you. (Note — start early; this may take some time to accomplish).
- Distributions will be excluded from your federal taxable income. You will not receive an income tax deduction for your distribution; rather, the amount is simply eliminated from your income tax calculations.
- If you wish your gift to be designated for a particular purpose, please let Cinda know.
| The stewardship team thanks all who have submitted Estimate of Giving cards for 2007. Not all the cards are in (reminder letters have been sent), but here  are the results as of December 7, with several pledges not yet received: 23 New Pledges
84 Grew Pledges
21 Decreased Pledges
47 Remained Same Pledges
175 Pledges = $415,580.00
The team is hopeful that as remaining pledges come in, our Continuing to Grow campaign will come to a successful conclusion. The 2007 church budget will be adopted at the January session meeting, after all the figures are available. Donations for 2006 need to be given or postmarked by December 31  (make sure the date is 2006) to be included on your 2006 giving statement. If you are planning to give a gift to the church by donating stock, make sure you contact your broker immediately to allow the transaction to clear by year-end. Also, please let Cinda know about your gift, so she can credit your account. If you have questions, please call! |
With regard to giving for 2007:
- Offering envelopes are available to be picked up outside the Gathering Place.
- If you would like envelopes and did not check the box on your pledge card, please call the church office.
- You have the option of paying your pledge either monthly with an automatic withdrawal from a checking or savings account or with a credit card (Master Card or Visa). If you are interested in these options, please call Cinda at the church office (264-3109).
- If you want to prepay your 2007 pledge in 2006, please mark clearly in the memo line “2007 pledge,” so it can be properly credited.
Is your pledge up-to-date? The Stewardship Team asks everyone to catch up by year-end. If you’re not sure, please call Cinda at the church office.
Church Community Services (CCS), our ecumenical food pantry, distributes bags of food and (as funds are available) assistance with rent and utility payments to local families needing emergency help. Our church supports CCS with regular donations from our mission budget, and a number of our members make individual contributions toward rent assistance (since CCS now incorporates the work of the former Dave's Place). Several of our members volunteer at CCS, and they can always use more volunteers! We collect grocery donations each Sunday on the following schedule:
of CCS (the Computer Lab located in the north lower education hallway of our church) is still in need of computers and printers. If you have a new computer, please drop off your old used pieces to Dick Bracken at the church.
Soup Labels for Beardsley School…We are still collecting labels from Campbell’s Soup (and related brands) for Beardsley School. Please bring them in and place them in the cupboard in the hallway across from the restrooms.
for any Sunday’s Worship Flower in 2007. They may be in memory of a loved one, or in celebration of an anniversary, or birthday, etc. The regular cost is $29.00. If you would prefer a special arrangement, please call the church office. We would love to have fresh flowers each Sunday in 2007. The Calendar is located outside the narthex of the sanctuary in the hallway going to the Gathering Place.