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November 01, 2005
November Newsletter
Pastor' Pen
As I write this pastor’s pen, Purdue football faithful wait apprehensively for what will take place tomorrow against Iowa. The pre-season view was gaudy—already a high national ranking, a defensive unit that everyone expected was virtually an iron shield in front of our goal-line, and a new offense with enough wrinkles to make a very old person’s face seem uncreased by comparison. But after winning against two less than overwhelming teams, we lost after a terrific struggle to a valiant Minnesota team, and then got blown away by a revived Notre Dame. Our pass defense, well, let’s look for them to remember how they once did it. So, why this in a church newsletter? Always when I watch a football game I think back to my own gridiron days. I remember the excitement before a game, and how each play offered the possibility of the “thrill of victory or the agony of defeat.” I remember ending up in the opposing team’s backfield with my arms around a fullback’s legs despite the big pulling guards that led the way, and I remember missing tackles that should have been easy. I was not a great player, but good enough to start--eventually. I have customarily had plenty of room to work my way up. Football is, for those who play it, a series of tests of courage, agility, skill, strength, and thought. Yes, scrap those ideas about big guys with undersized brains! In a way football games are like parables we see unfolding before us. Neither my high school nor my college team was strong so that for me part of the excitement of playing was always testing the tall odds against winning. Defending the goal line against a bigger offense was a thrill. One more time; one more time! This is what I remember. But fans look at scores and rankings and other statistics that will fade from memory very quickly. Those helmets hide the faces of the players. Look between the bars of those face-protectors and you see young boys’ faces. Who remembers who won the Rose Bowl five years ago? Who remembers except the players and their moms and dads? And for that matter, who cares? How quickly those championship rings and trophies lose their fascination. They gather dust as they sink into the et cetera of the past. It was playing the game at the time that mattered. The players remember moments that no fans ever notice. And this is the long-time value of sports for the young. All those tests of courage, stamina, and determination against worthy opponents. The Apostle Paul used the sports analogy for the life of following Jesus. All those tests of resolve, of patience, of uncertainty; the moral challenges, the disappointments, but also the thrill of the high purpose of the game, “pressing toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” So it is. Keep playing the game!Pastor Stuart D. Robertson
Worship Schedule
November 6th - Communion
“When Bad Things Happen, Where is God?”
Job 24: 1 – 12, 21 - 25
Revelation 6: 7 - 11
November 13th - “What Happens When We Die?”
Isaiah 25: 6 - 9
II Corinthians 5: 1 - 7
November 20th - “Disappointment with God?”
Isaiah 64: 1 - 7
John 11: 1 - 21
November 27th - “Does God Speak to Us? Coincidence or Divine
Communication?”
Jonah 3: 1 - 10
Galatians 1: 11 - 23
Clerk’s Corner
The Session and Board of Deacon held a joint meeting on October 10, 2005.
The Session then approved implementation of a far reaching plan for an Expansion of Children’s Ministries, part of which would involve construction of a playground on church property that would be open to children in the neighborhood as well as to children in the Congregation. This would also involve expansion of the program for a children’s choir and for other outreach programs to children in the community. Plans for the project are currently under review; an informational brainstorming session for the entire Congregation is scheduled for early in January 2006, at which time their suggestions and expressions of interest in leadership or support roles for the project will be received. In the interim individuals are encouraged to express their views and to provide their inputs to the Elders on Session. Details concerning these plans will be distributed to the Congregation in the near future.
The Annual Congregational Meeting is scheduled to be held after Morning Services on Sunday, November 20, 2005. At that time the Congregation will be apprised of the budget that was approved by the Session for 2006, and will be asked to vote on the proposed compensation package for Pastor Robertson.
The Nominating Committee for membership on the Board of Deacons and on the Session met on October 16 and 19, 2005. Names of candidate members will be publicized by the Clerk of Session for approval at the Annual Congregational Meeting. Nomination s may also be offered from the floor at that time.
Elder Myra Leap has sent a letter of resignation of her membership on the Session. The Clerk has been requested by the Session to send her a letter of appreciation for her services to the Congregation.
Thanks go to Elders Grieke Toebes and Jan Hem for rearranging and properly storing the hymnals and pew bibles after each Divine Service and Wednesday Morning Prayer Service. We are similarly indebted to Stephanie Cardwell for volunteering to clean the church buildings during the time that Tish Sietsma was confined to the hospital.
A new Inquirers’ Class will be offered November 6 and 13, 2005. Individuals interested in finding out more about the activities and outreach programs of Faith Church and/or joining the church are invited to notify Elder Michael Bergmann of their intention to participate in the class.
The next Session meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 1, 2005 at 7:00 PM in the Church Library. J.M. Honig, Clerk of Session
Piano Concerto
Alexandra Dubikovsky is going to play with the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra on October 29, Saturday, 8:00 pm at the Long Center. She is going to perform Piano Concerto by Edvard Grieg. Everybody is invited. There will be reception after the concert at the Long Center.
JUBILEE CHRISTMAS 2005
Jubilee Christmas is coming! For anyone not familiar with Jubilee, it's a program coordinated by LUM. It gives low-income parents an opportunity to select gifts for their children, so that they can be “heroes” in the eyes of their children on Christmas morning.
We will be celebrating Jubilee Christmas at Faith on Saturday morning, December 10, and once again, we will be hosting 15 families. We need a lot of help to make it a special day for our guests.
We will launch our preparations for Jubilee Christmas on Sunday, November 13, in the Fellowship Hall. You will have a chance to choose children for whom you would like to buy presents, and sign up to provide other gifts, baked items or volunteer help – whilst having coffee and munching goodies.
Questions? Lonni Kucik 497-5696, Dorothy Bethel 497-4673
Many thanks to the following people who ushered and helped with the collections during October:
Bruce, Martha & Frances Hall, John Baker, John Shively, Andy, Elaine & Carson McVay, Mike & Mayfawny Bergmann, Don & Carol Gentry, John Miller, Mark, Deb, Everett & Anna Johnson, Margaret Rogler, Sergey Dubikovsky, Bill & Marilyn Hinze and Jim, Dorothy & Graham Bethel.
Community Worship Services
• Sun., Nov. 6 St. Mary’s Healthcare 2:30pm
• Sun., Nov. 13 Tippecanoe Villa 1:30pm
• Sun., Nov. 13 Friendship House 3:00pm
• Sun., Nov. 20 Davis Manor 3:00pm
• Sun., Nov. 27 Rosewalk Commons 2:30pm
The Deacons invite you to become a part of this ministry
Inquirer’s Classes
The next Inquirer’s Classes (a two-week series) will be offered on Sunday November 6 and on Sunday November 13. These classes are for anyone interested in learning about the ministry and teachings of Faith Presbyterian Church. This includes those who want to become members as well as those who aren’t sure they want to become members but who would like to find out more about our church. Please contact Michael Bergmann, Glenn Sparks, or the church office if you’re interested.
Schedule Information
You can contact Pastor Robertson by calling the office, 743-3683, on Wednesday mornings 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Pastor Robertson's day off is Monday. Outside of office hours please feel free to call Pastor Robertson at home at
497-2162.
Week Day Morning Prayers
Every morning through email I send out a daily inspirational morning prayer that Pastor Robertson has provided me. I also send out announcements about birthdays and anniversaries for that week. Also included in these emails are updates about individuals (for example if someone is having surgery or just needs prayer). On Thursday’s I include a short “tidbit” about what the sermon for that Sunday will be about. If you are not receiving these emails and would like to, please let me know. The church email address is office@faithpresbyterian.org. Stephanie Cardwell
Worship With Us
We invite you to join in the worship of God each Sunday morning at 9:30am. We also invite you to participate in the prayers, fellowship, work and activities of this church.
For more information about this opportunity to be involved at Faith Presbyterian Church, please call or talk to any member of Session, Pastor Robertson or call the church office at 743-3683.
From the Congregational Care Committee
In the past several months John Miller has served a number of people in our congregation who needed help with rides, errands, and simple tasks around the house.
More than 15 individuals and families have received multiple visits and/or calls when illness or surgery has occurred. These visits seem to have been very well received and we would like to continue this ministry.
In the area of food preparation we have been quite busy since June. We helped 8 families with food for a combined total of 24 meals. A big Thank You to all the cooks! The recipients of this loving service are greatly blessed by it and so are the ones making the meals. If you have not yet been asked to cook a meal, and would like to, please call Grieke or Jane Stewart, and we will put you on our “to be asked next time list”.
Many people participated in bringing food for the reception after Bob Kane’s Memorial Service. It was much appreciated by the Kane family.
All of us -- John Miller, Grieke Toebes and Lois Wark -- ask that any needs of members of our Faith congregation be brought to our attention. Feel free to contact any one of us. This is the only way that we can be of help.
John Miller 743-5781
Grieke Toebes 463-7136
Lois Wark 743-1903
Update on Local Emergency Aid Program
The Local Emergency Aid Program makes use of money donated to the Deacons’ Fund. This money is primarily distributed as emergency aid to needy individuals within our community. “Emergency” implies immediate need for funds; we are not fulfilling long term needs. Members of Faith volunteer the second Tuesday of each month, and operate as a group. We use the facilities of Central Presbyterian Church since it is a convenient location for the needy in the county.
In May of this year, we made an appeal for funds to help with this emergency aid. Your response was generous and we have been able to contribute $450/month to the program. This has allowed the volunteer to give $35 each to a limited number of people for payment of bills, medications etc. With the onset of winter promising higher heating costs, we would like to try to increase the amount of money available for this program to $700/month during the colder weather.
However, our local aid fund is now low and needs new contributions. Recall you may contribute to this much needed ministry (a) by using the green “Deacons’ Fund” envelopes in the pews or in the narthex, or (b) by mailing contributions directly to the church office. Checks should be made out to Faith Presbyterian Church with a note at the bottom stating “for the Deacons’ Fund”. Donations on a regular basis would be helpful, but any help is welcomed.
Ken Wark
(For Local Emergency Aid Staff)
Birthdays in November
November 1 Thomas Housley
November 2 Cheri Sparks
November 3 Sarah Tyler
November 7 Lars Hem
November 8 Susannah Jackson
November 16 Elizabeth Parker
November 16 Hugh Donkin
November 20 Barbara Jacobus
November 25 Ashley Bingle
November 25 Jonathan Moore
November 26 Amber Bingle
November 26 Sarah Kettel
November 28 Frances Janovitz
Anniversaries for November
November 11 Dennis & Nancy Dunn
November 24 John & Lola Miller
November 27 Kevin & Lou Ann Johnston
Faith Presbyterian Church, 3318 State Road 26 West, West Lafayette, IN 47906 (765) 743-3683
An answering machine is available. Email: office@faithpresbyterian.org Home Page: www.faithpresbyterian.org
Stuart D. Robertson, Pastor Ralph Smith, Parish Associate Stephanie Cardwell, Admin. Asst.
Ordinarily submit articles to the church office by noon on the last Friday before the last Monday of every month except when deadlines are announced.
You are welcome to worship with us at 9:30 am each Sunday and 7:00 am each Wednesday.
Posted by faithpres at November 1, 2005 10:13 AM