July N&A Sheet

News

Summer Coffee Hour: through August coffee and juice will be served in the foyer before and after worship. 

Mission-Planning Team 

Mission TripAugust 21st– 25thto Barnet, Vermont.

We will be staying at the Green Mountain Retreat Center (about a 4 hour drive) and helping in different areas, for all abilities.  $25/ per person includes room and food, registration due July 21st.All ages welcome.  Contact Tracie Anteman with questions. 

Trash & Treasure Sale: August 17th

Spring cleaning?  Time to De-clutter? Please remember to save items for our church Trash & Treasure sale on August 17. Please do not bring your items to church until August.  Sorry: no clothing, TV’s, Computers, and the like. Questions? contact Leslie Hooper

PrayerBoard: Connect with others this Summer on the prayer board posted in the foyer. You are invited to share prayer requests, bulletins from churches you may visit when you are away, and then check out how you can pray for others. 

Summer Band Ice Cream Social, Our turn: July 26th

A longstanding summer tradition in Middleburgh is the Friday evening summer band concert with ice cream social.  Our turn to host the ice cream social is July 26.  

There will be many ways for you to participate:  

  • transporting tables to the high school lawn
  • setting up, serving
  • cleaning up
  • and of course providing delectable homemade baked goods!  

Stay tuned for more details as the date approaches.

Operation Christmas Child

You may recall that some of the shoeboxes we packed last fall were destined for distribution in Ukraine. They have arrived!  Children in that country once clouded by the darkness of communism have been blessed by our gifts and by hearing about Jesus!  We are privileged to be a part of training up a new generation of believers.  Please continue to pray for the children and those who will disciple them.

                  Our students are enjoying their first days of summer vacation and may not want to think about back-to-school shopping right now. However, school supplies will soon be on sale in the stores!  When we provide a few basic supplies in our shoeboxes, it sometimes means that the children who receive them may be allowed to attend classes!!  Please use the sheets in the foyer to make a pledge to provide school supplies for children in need.

                  Since our first Harvest Bazaar ended, we have been making plans for the second.  Please mark your calendar for Sept. 21 and plan to spend the day with your church family to raise funds to ship our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to children around the world.  There will be a planning meeting on July 9 at 7 p.m. in the church library for the bazaar. The Harvest Bazaar crafters will meet again on July 15 at 6 p.m. in the same location.  Newcomers are always welcome!

Summer Sundays

Adult Christian Educationwill continue through the summer, which is exploring the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. 10 a.m. 

July 21st: Bodes visit.Come here missionaries Josh and Erica Bode and family are finding Oman, their work there and how we can support them.

July 28th:Community Worship on the Lawn, 11 a.m. High School lawn. We’ll worship with the other congregations in town, Kim and Reggie Harris are leading the music. Bring a lawn chair your comfort. (we will not be meeting at our building) 

June News & Announcements

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Sundays

   June 9th: celebrating the end of the Youth Christian Education and ministry year during worship

   June 30th: Church (inside) picnic: June 30th. 11 a.m. worship in the Fellowship Hall. Lunch following with hotdogs and hamburgers provided, bring a dish to share. 

No reservation required- but please let us know you are coming on the blue sheet in the foyer for an estimate on the meat and set up. Thanks!

      Middleburgh Central School Baccalaureate Service June 23rd, 7 pm.We are hosting. 

Consistory Meeting,June 13th, 7 p.m.

Fellowship CommitteeMeeting:June 10, 6 p.m. in the church library

Harvest Bazaar Crafters:  June 17, 6 p.m. in the church library

Summer Coffee Hour: after June 16th through August coffee and juice will be served in the foyer before and after worship. 

Mission-Planning Team

Red Cross blood drive, Thank you for making this a success! We exceeded our goal!  

Ronald McDonald Housein Albany help, Saturday, June 15th. 10 am-12 pm, up to 15 people total between baking and cleaning/odd jobs.  All bakers must be at least 16 years old.  Sign-up sheet is in the foyer.  Leaving from church at 8:45 a.m.  

Mission TripAugust 21st– 25thto Barnet, Vermont.

We will be staying at the Green Mountain Retreat Center (about a 4 hour drive) and helping in different areas, for all abilities.  $25/ per person includes room and food, registration due July 21st. All ages welcome.  Contact Tracie Anteman with questions. 

Trash & Treasure Sale

Spring cleaning?  Time to De-clutter?

Please remember to save items for our church Trash & Treasure sale on August 17.

Please do not bring your items to church until August.  Sorry: no clothing, TV’s, Computers, and the like.  Questions? contact Leslie Hooper

Operation Christmas Child

We will continue to collect hygiene items during June.  Items to purchase are:  toothbrushes (multipacks desired), bars of soap, and combs.  We already have enough washcloths for our goal of 304 filled shoeboxes!

As summer vacation approaches for our students, we know that school supplies will soon be going on sale!  Beginning on June 9, pledge sheets will be in the foyer for you to indicate what you will purchase for our fall packing party.     

Please save the date of September 21 for our second Harvest Bazaar.  The event will be held to raise funds to ship some of our shoeboxes.  There will be many ways for you to participate in the bazaar. New this year will be scarecrows to direct our guests.  Please consider making one!  After the bazaar, we plan to group the scarecrows on the church lawn as our entry in Rotary’s Scarecrow Contest!

Thank you for supporting OCC with your time, resources, and prayers!

A Shoebox Story from Guyana

           A young girl went home from school one day with a list of items needed for her to remain in a sewing class.  The list included such things as a tape measure, pins, needles, thread, and scissors. The items were to be taken to class on the following Monday.  With a broken heart, the girl’s mother told her daughter that there was no money to buy the needed items for her sewing class.  On Friday, the girl attended a special program at a church where she heard about her Heavenly Father’s immeasurable love.  She also received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox.  Upon opening her gift, the girl discovered all of the items on the list for her sewing class!

          God uses the shoeboxes we pack with ordinary items in mighty ways!  The girl in this story received what she needed for her sewing class.  She would be able to learn skills which might help her care for her family one day or lead to a career involving sewing.  The shoebox also touched the heart of the girl’s mother who saw the hand of God at work in her child’s life.

How blessed we are to be able to join God in mission to the world’s hurting children through Operation Christmas Child!

May News & Announcements

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Mother-Daughter-Sister-Friend Tea- Saturday, May 11 beginning at noon

Operation Christmas Child

                  The stockpile of gifts for our 2019 packing party is growing!  Thank you to everyone who has been shopping and/or making gifts.  The suggested gifts to purchase in May are hygiene items:  multipacks of toothbrushes, bars of soap, and combs.  We already have enough washcloths for the children.

            Save the date of September 21 for our Harvest Bazaar.  Money raised at that event will be used for the $9 donation requested for each shoebox.  That donation pays for discipleship booklets for shoebox recipients, training and materials for those who host shoebox distributions, and shipping.

            The Harvest Bazaar crafters meet monthly to work on items to sell at the bazaar.  Beginning in May, they will meet on the third Monday beginning at 6 p.m. in the church library.  As well as a productive time, our time together has been a sweet time of fellowship. Grab a project and join us!

            Perhaps you enjoy sewing, knitting, or crafting on your own and are not able to meet with the Harvest Bazaar crafters.  We welcome your contributions to the bazaar also! Please consider making something that we may offer for sale at the bazaar.

            Gentlemen, are your shirts ready for the rag bag? The Harvest Bazaar crafters can use them!  We need striped, checked, and plaid shirts for one of our projects. Shirts may be left in the OCC donation box.  Thanks!

            Pleaseprayfor:

shoebox recipients
those who host shoebox distributions and disciple children
the work of the NY Greater Capital District Area Team of OCC

Fellowship Committee

The fellowship committee thanks you for supporting the April NET dinner, community Easter breakfast, and coffee hours.  If you would like to take a turn at hosting a coffee hour, but you aren’t sure about how to do it, ask a veteran coffee hour host to partner with you!  Thank you!

Sunday Help: there are spaces available to help in the nursery, reading Scripture, ushering and coffee hour. See Pastor Jeff to help with nursery or ushering and get a five-minute tour. 

Signup in the foyer to read Scripture and coffee hour.  

Worship Committee Meeting: Tuesday, May 7that the Youmans house.

Mission-Planning Team

Red Cross blood drive, Thursday, May 16th, 2 pm- 7 pm.  As this is our first time hosting an event for the Red Cross, we are looking for 45 appointments and 35 actual donors.  We need helping setting up tables and chairs, registration table, and snack table help. 

Ronald McDonald Housein Albany help, Saturday, June 15th. 10 am-12 pm, up to 15 people total between baking and cleaning/odd jobs.  All bakers must be at least 16 years old.  Sign-up sheet is in the foyer.  

Mission TripAugust 21st– 25thto Barnet, Vermont.

  We will be staying at the Green Mountain Retreat Center (about a 4 hour drive) and helping in different areas, for all abilities.  $25/ per person includes room and food. All ages welcome. 

Contact Tracie Anteman with questions. 

Trash & Treasure Sale

Spring cleaning?  Time to De-clutter?

Please remember to save items for our church Trash & Treasure sale on August 17.

Please do not bring your items to church until August.  Sorry: no clothing, TV’s, Computers, and the like.  Questions? contact Leslie Hooper

Personal Hygiene ItemsThank you for offering hygiene items for students & families in the Middleburgh District. We will continue to maintain the supply for the schools, so look out for particular needs at the items are used up. So far we have given the school: 27 sticks of deodorant, 22 bottles of shampoo and conditioner, 26 bars of soap, 15 cans of shaving cream, 22 tubes of toothpaste, 24 toothbrushes, along with feminine hygiene stuff, tissues, toilet paper, razors, hair-ties brushes and combs and socks and underwear.  

April News & Announcements

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Spring Work Days: join us for getting the church yard ready for mowing season and building cleaned up after the winter. 

  • Move branches and sticks from lawn
  • Rake stones off lawn
  • Wash windows and door entrances

 Group work days are set for April 6 and 13, 9 a.m.- 12 p.m., or come anytime. 

Men’s BreakfastMen eating breakfast together, Saturday April 6th,  7:30 a.m. in the hall.

Consistory Meeting- April 11th, 7 p.m.

Mother-Daughter-Sister-Friend Tea

            The fellowship committee cordially invites all women and girls of the church and the special ladies in their lives to attend a tea on Saturday, May 11 beginning at noon.  The tea is being catered by Nancy Williams’ son, Jeff. In order to know how much food will be needed and how many tables to prepare, the committee is asking you to make reservations for you and your guest(s) by April 14.  A sign-up sheet is in the foyer.  Attendees are encouraged to wear their “Sunday finery” including hats.  There will be no charge to attend the tea.  We hope there will be a large turn-out for this event which will celebrate our relationships with the special women and girls in our lives!

Operation Christmas Child

JOG with Operation Christmas Child!

Enter the Joy of Giving by purchasing gifts to be included in our shoeboxes for 2019. 

Suggested gifts to purchase in April are:

bars of soap, combs, small stuffed animals (Look for after-Easter clearance!)

You are asked to also give your prayers for Operation Christmas Child.  Some new prayer needs include:

the area church relations team that is seeking to engage more churches

the Connect Conference for OCC volunteers that ML will attend May 2-4

                  plans by the area team to be at Troy’s Riverfront Festival in June

                  Thank you for supporting Operation Christmas Child!

Sunday Help: there are spaces available to help in the nursery, reading Scripture, ushering and coffee hour. See Pastor Jeff to help with nursery or ushering. Signup in the foyer to read Scripture and coffee hour.  

Mission-Planning Team

Red Cross blood drive, Thursday, May 16th, 2 pm- 7 pm.  As this is our first time hosting an event for the Red Cross, we are looking for 45 appointments and 35 actual donors.  We need helping setting up tables and chairs, registration table, and snack table help. 

Ronald McDonald Housein Albany help, Saturday, June 15th. 10 am-12 pm, up to 15 people total between baking and cleaning/odd jobs.  All bakers must be at least 16 years old.  Sign-up sheet is in the foyer.  

Mission TripAugust 21st– 25thto Barnet, Vermont.

  We will be staying at the Green Mountain Retreat Center (about a 4 hour drive) and helping in different areas, for all abilities.  $25/ per person includes room and food. All ages welcome. 

Contact Tracie Anteman with questions about the mission opportunities. 

Trash & Treasure Sale

Spring cleaning?  Time to De-clutter?

Please remember to save items for our church Trash & Treasure sale on August 17.

Please do not bring your items to church until August.  Sorry: no clothing, TV’s, Computers, and the like.  Questions? contact Leslie Hooper

Personal Hygiene Items

Thank you for offering hygiene items for students & families in the Middleburgh District. We will continue to maintain the supply for the schools, so look out for particular needs at the items are used up. 

March News & Announcements

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Financial Peace University Course – March start date! (3/3 or 3/10)

FPU is a 9-week course on personal financial management by Dave Ramsey. You’ll learn how to budget, save for emergencies, pay off debt and save for the future. For more information see: http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/

We would like to meet on Sundays beginning this month, but we need to hear from those interested in what works best. Ron Barnes has offered to facilitate again. Please let Pastor Jeff or Ron Barnes know. $129.99 for first time, free for repeats. Scholarships are available- we don’t want anyone not to participate because of the cost.  

Fellowship Committee

  • Our committee welcomes new members with new ideas! Our next meeting will be on Monday, March 11 beginning at 6:30 p.m.  We meet at the church in the library.  Please join us!
  • One of the events the committee is planning is a Mother-Daughter-Sister-Friend Tea.  The tea is being catered by Nancy Williams’ son, Jeff. It will be held on the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend, May 11, beginning at noon.  In order to know how much food will be needed and how many tables to prepare, the committee is asking you to make reservations for you and your guest(s) by April 14.  A sign-up sheet will be in the foyer.  Attendees are encouraged to wear their “Sunday finery” including hats. There will be no charge to attend the tea.  We hope there will be a large turn-out for this event which will celebrate our relationships with the special women and girls in our lives!
  • Another event in the works is the Harvest Bazaar.  The bazaar is held to benefit Operation Christmas Child.  Some new vendors will be participating this year as well as returning vendors.  The date is September 21.  You may help us prepare by attending our crafting bees which will be held on March 23 and April 27 beginning at 9:00 a.m.  in the fellowship hall.  See Marian Bouck, Karen Miller, or Allison Coons for more information.

Operation Christmas Child

            Many shoeboxes that were packed in 2018 have already been delivered to children in many nations, but many more are still on their way to the hands of children. They will be transported by ship, plane, camel, dugout canoe, bicycle, and several more ways.  Our continued prayers are needed to cover these precious gifts and those who are delivering them.  We pray also for the follow-up classes, The Greatest Journey, which will guide and nurture the children as they learn about Jesus.

            The suggested gift to purchase this month for our packing party is small baby dolls.

Men’s BreakfastMen eating breakfast together, pretty simple, very delicious, Saturday March 9th7:30 a.m. in the hall.

Sunday Help: there are spaces available to help in the nursery, reading Scripture, ushering and coffee hour. See Pastor Jeff to help with nursery or ushering. Signup in the foyer to read Scripture and coffee hour.  

Trash & Treasure Sale

Spring cleaning?  Time to De-clutter?

Please remember to save items for our church Trash & Treasure sale on August 17.

Please do not bring your items to church until August.  Sorry: no clothing, TV’s, Computers, and the like.  Questions? contact Leslie Hooper

Personal Hygiene Items

We are starting a new effort of supplying the Middleburgh Schools with personal hygiene items for students and their families. A shopping list of things we’d like to provide is in the foyer for you to take. Items will be delivered to the school nurses and counselors for any student who needs them. Providing these basic things 1) helps practically their very limited budget 2) shares in a tangible way that these students and families are valued and support is available. 

Suggested Hygiene Items

  • Bars of soap
  • Shampoo & Conditioner 
  • Toilet paper (individually wrapped)
  • Deodorant/ Antiperspirant – for girls and boys
  • Washcloths
  • Toothpaste
  • Toothbrushes
  • Face wash
  • Shaving cream- for men and women 
  • Nail clippers
  • Dental floss 
  • Tampons and feminine pads
  • Hair brushes
  • Hair ties

Leadership Team Meeting,March 28th, 7 pm. Any committee chairs or anyone who organizes ministry in our church is invited to come. Please forward written updates to Pastor Jeff by 3/21 to be distributed in advance of the meeting.  

february news & announcments

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Financial Information 

2018 Summary

We were blessed to finish 2018 being able to do the ministry that we wanted to do this year and without dipping into our reserves or investments. We received $147,294- across all the accounts. 90% came in through plate receipts (and general donations).  The expenses were $128,000. A full financial report is available- ask Pastor Jeff. For 2019, the general fund budget is about $125,000 (does not include things like Food Pantry or other accounts). 

Giving Envelopes

what are they for? They are more than a way to keep your giving a secret- they are a way to register your giving for a charitable giving statement for tax purposes at the end of the year. This is how it works: each set of envelopes has a number that is assigned to a giver. That number is connected to your name by our Financial Secretary, Lewis Youmans. When used, the envelope number and amount is recorded and passed on to Lewis. At the end of the year, you’ll receive a statement.  Using the envelopes is not necessary, but if you you’d like to use them, pick up a box without a name and let Lewis Youmans know who you are: name, address, and envelope box number.  We accept cash and checks. Bitcoin currently not accepted. 

Worship

2/17: No youth Christian Education 

Adult Christian Education, 10 a.m. studying the Beatitudes in Matthew- now until March 24th

March 6th– Ash Wednesday, (beginning of Lent)

Financial Peace University Course 

FPU is a 9-week course on personal financial management by Dave Ramsey. You’ll learn how to budget, save for emergencies, pay off debt and save for the future. For more information see: http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/

We would like to meet on Sundays beginning this month, but we need to hear from those interested in what works best. Ron Barnes has offered to facilitate again. Please let Pastor Jeff or Ron Barnes know. $129.99 for first time, free for repeats. Scholarships are available- we don’t want anyone not to participate because of the cost.  

Committees 

You are invited to consider serving on a committee. For the next three weeks, signups and descriptions will be in the foyer. 

Ushering 

We are opening up the ushering task to anyone who is interested in helping. It is a ministry of hospitality which basic responsibilities include: opening the prepping for worship, welcoming people, handing out bulletins, arranging for the bell to rung, receiving the offering. We don’t actually seat people anymore, but you get the idea.  

A list of specific duties are in the foyer next to the door. An orientation can be held if anyone has not done it before. 

Men’s Breakfast: Men eating breakfast together, pretty simple. 7:30 a.m. in the hall, Saturday February 2nd& March 2nd  

Fellowship Opportunities in February

Feb. 6 (5-6:30) – NET Dinner  

Join with others from the community to enjoy good food and conversation.  This is a great time to catch up with those you know and to meet new friends!  See the sign-up sheet in the foyer if you would like to contribute to the meal or to serve.

Feb. 8 (6-8 p.m.) – Family Game Night 

Put down the remote and load up the car with your kids and your favorite board games!  If you don’t have kids, you are also invited to have a fun night with your church family!  Bring a dessert or snack to share.

Feb. 11 (6:30 – 7:30) – Fellowship Committee Meeting

Come and share your ideas with the committee. We are happy to have new members join us in planning to bring our church family and the community together in fellowship!


Leadership Rejiggering We are adjusting our organization in how planning and decisions are made. Consistory (made up of Elders and Deacons) has traditionally been the body to formally make decisions for ministry. The work has been done for many years with the help of committees. In an effort to broaden and share the work committee chairs, consistory and others will be meet together every other month. In the opposite months, Consistory will meet for a Consistory meeting. Elders will still have oversight of the membership and worship and the Deacons managing the gifts of the church. One way to understand it is that the leadership meetings and work will run parallel to Consistory meetings and work. Outcomes we are hoping for include better communication, more people participating in serving and developing ways to address need both within and outside our church.  

Jan N&A- Page 3

Uncategorized

Supplemental News and Announcement-

Financial Information

2018 Summary

We were blessed to finish 2018 being able to do the ministry that we wanted to do this year and not dipping into our reserves or investments. We received $147,294- across all the accounts. 90% of that came in through plate receipts (general donations).  The expenses were $128,000. A full financial report is available, see Pastor Jeff.
For 2019, our budget is about $125,000.

Giving Envelopes: what are they for? More than a way to keep your giving a secret- they are a way to register your giving for a charitable giving statement at the end of the year. 

            This is how it works: Each set of envelopes has a number that is assigned to a giver. That number is connected to your name by our Financial Secretary, Lewis Youmans. When you give, the envelope number and amount is recorded and passed on to Lewis. At the end of the year, you’ll get a statement for the IRS.  Using the envelopes is not required. If you don’t have envelopes assigned to you and you’d like some, pick up a box, note the number and let Lewis Youmans know who you are: name, address, and envelope box number.  

Financial Peace University

            FPU is a 9-week course on personal financial management by Dave Ramsey. You’ll learn how to budget, save for emergencies, pay off debt and save for the future. For more information see: http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/

Ron Barnes has offered to facilitate again. We would like to meet on Sundays. But we need to hear from those interested in what works best for them for time and starting date. Please let Pastor Jeff or Ron Barnes know. $129.99 for first time, free for repeats. Scholarships are available- we don’t want anyone not to do it because of the cost. 

January 2019 News & Announcements

Life Together, News

Happy New Year!

Christian Education
Youth CE continues on Sundays from 10-11 a.m.
Adult Christian Education resumes January 13th, 10 a.m.

Worship
Season of Christmas: 12/25-1/5
January 6th: Epiphany, celebrating the Lord’s Supper.
We are also celebrating the sacrament of baptism for Tracie, Craig and Audrey Anteman before worship at 10:45 a.m. We are doing this before 11 a.m. worship because Tracie has some anxiety about standing up in front of people. Anyone is welcome to come for the baptism, though. During the worship service we will welcome them and Ed and Kathy Jenkins into membership.

Consistory Meeting: 1/17, 7 p.m.

We are in process of reconfiguring an aspect of leadership in the church- which includes the committees and the committee chair. The outline of the idea is to have leadership meetings that would include the committee chairs and others who take the lead in various areas. This team would meet every other month with members of Consistory. Opposite those months, Consistory would meet. Look out for a meeting in January so we talk through both the idea and the details together. If you have questions in the meantime, feel free to contact Pastor Jeff.

Game Night- Saturday February 1st, 6-8 pm.

Operation Christmas Child
The shoeboxes we packed last fall have been or will be distributed on two continents! Children in Ukraine and Malawi will be blessed by our gifts and the Gospel message.
One example of how Operation Christmas Child has had an impact on children in Ukraine is the work being done within the Roma community. As well as receiving shoeboxes, many children are participating in The Greatest Journey discipleship program where they are learning to follow Christ – and how to read!
Malawi is a small nation located in Southeast Africa. It has a population of 19.2 million people. 46% of the population is 14 years old or younger. In 2014, a 12-year-old Muslim girl named Angelina received a shoebox. Inside she discovered the school supplies that she and her siblings desperately needed but their parents could not afford to buy. The flashlight Angelina received meant a great deal also as the family did not have electricity in their home. Angelina learned of an even greater Light as she read the booklet she received with her gift. The Greatest Gift encouraged her to start attending church where she began to study the Bible. “I felt sweet in my heart because I was filled with the Word of God!” Angelina’s witness eventually led all ten members of her family to Christ!
Please save your Christmas cards with religious pictures for the shoeboxes we will pack in 2019. You may leave them in the basket in the foyer. THANK YOU!

HARVEST BAZAAR
Save the date of September 21 for our second Harvest Bazaar. Our purpose for hosting the event is to raise funds to ship our OCC shoeboxes and provide discipleship materials and training. Please see Mary Lou if you know a vendor who would like to participate.
We will have a work bee on Jan. 26 to begin making Christmas decorations to sell at our booth. It will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at noon. Come when you can, and leave when you have to! Helpful to bring, but not necessary to attend: straight pins, fabric, ribbon, cutting mat, rotary cutter. It may also be helpful to Google “folded star Christmas ornament” and watch some of the YouTube videos to be inspired!

Fellowship Committee Meeting – Jan. 16 at 6:30 in the Sunday school room opposite the restrooms

We thank Karen Miller for serving as an Elder whose terms has concluded.

December 2018 News & Announcements

Life Together, News

Annual Meeting: December 2nd Join us after worship for our annual congregational lunch and meeting. Meeting packets are available with reports. Lunch is potluck- bring something (anything!) to share.

Greening of the Sanctuary- Come help decorate the sanctuary for Advent Saturday, December 1st, 2 pm

Mission planning group meeting, 12/9 after worship.

Christian Education
No Adult Christian Education in December.
No Youth Christian Education 12/23, 12/30

Operation Christmas Child
We will soon know the country of destination for our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes! We continue to pray that each gift will reach the hands of a child without incident or delay. We pray for those who are tasked with the transpor-tation and distribution of the shoeboxes. Most of all, our hope is that the children will welcome the Greatest Gift of All – Jesus into their lives.
Collecting gifts all year long is one way in which we prepare for our annual shoebox packing party. A suggested gift to purchase will be posted each month, but you are always encouraged to grab a bargain when one pops up! A box is located in the foyer where you may leave your contributions. Please save Christmas cards with religious pictures for January’s gift collection. THANK YOU!

Election of Elders & Deacons
In our tradition our local government is called the consistory. The consistory is made up of the board of elders and board of deacons. Minsters are of a special kind of elder. The consistory has oversight and care of the ministry and the congregation. The mission of the church is accomplished with theses working in harmony.
What do Elders & Deacons do? Under Christ the elders have supervision of the church. They are responsible for matters involving the spiritual welfare of individuals and the church as a whole. Oversight includes celebrating the sacraments, encouraging spiritual growth, and visitation to the sick.
The deacons administer the gifts of the church for those in distress and need- both in the church and world.
Elders and deacons serve the household of God so a basic qualification for an office is for the person to be Christian and demonstrate a life shaped by Christ. An elder should be one inclined towards spiritual discernment, wisdom and grounded in God’s Word. A deacon should be inclined towards compassion and mercy while able to steward the gifts God has given us. Here are a few Scripture passages directed at elders and deacons:
1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-11.
In our church, elders and deacons serve one four-year term at a time. Consistory meets about once a month and each board meets other times. To nominate someone, submit their name on a piece of paper into the box on the foyer table. Their election is confirmed at our annual meeting (12/2) on a single slate. If you have questions, feel free to speak to a consistory member. We are looking to fill two Elder terms (a 2 and 4 year terms) and three Deacon terms (a 1, 2, 4 year term).

Advent Worship
Advent is a season of preparation to celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ- as in the Incarnation and in the Second Coming; recalling and anticipation. It is also the beginning of the church year. The season of Christmas is Dec 25th– Jan 6.

Advent Series: Living in Waiting, Matthew 24-25

1st Sunday, Dec 2nd: celebrating the Lord’s Supper, Matthew 24:1-44

2ndSunday, Dec 9th, Matthew 24:45-25:13

3rdSunday, Dec 16th: Youth Christian Education Christmas program, Matthew 25:14-30

4thSunday, Dec 23rd: including time of remembrance, Matthew 25:31-46

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 7 pm, service of readings and carols. Matthew 2:1-12