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November 01, 2007
November Newsletter
Pastor's Pen
As a kid I enjoyed those fables by Aesop, the Grimm brothers and Hans Christian Anderson. I would go over them again and again. "Why," I'd ask, "was Rapunzel without a prince"? and "How was it she had such long hair"? I remember as well a story entitled the Dog and His Shadow. With that one I had to keep going over and over in my mind how it was the critter lost his pork chop. I remember Rumpelstiltskin, and The Ugly Duckling. When I got a bit older I was captivated by Lane's The Thousand and One Nights. My favorite today is still The King of the Golden River.
Some time later as a young adult by coincidence, I attended an event which featured a storyteller. I was spell bound to see and hear her in action. She'd get soft, then shout. She'd sit down, then jump up frantically. And oh the passion! I guess I'd say, for me, her story was unforgettable. Before she left, she mentioned that there are informal schools around the country that meet regularly to pass on the ancient art of storytelling. I relished the thought.
But about five years later, I was heading in a different direction. I had learned the fine art of Expository Preaching. You start with the proposition, argue three Biblical principles and end with a poem. That's the gist of it. And this approach works especially well with the Epistles. In some situations, it was even helpful enough to put a few into a deep repose. Someone once said the only thing worse than listening to a long, boring sermon is knowing you're one delivering it!
Along the way, it began to occur to me that presenting Narrative Literature in a different form might offer a breath of fresh air. Let me explain. It is one thing to preach that God is sovereign, that he proved this in David's confrontation of Goliath, and finally that the "battle is the Lord's". That could be a good sermon. It could bless many. But isn't it another matter altogether to hear the harsh, surly Goliath exploding with dripping sarcasm,
“Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?.... Come over here and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air!"
For most of us in that situation our reaction might cause a near-by medic to holler out "Code Red, Code Red"! But not so for the teen facing the giant. You remember his words, don't you?
"You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the beasts of the field.....
"You know the rest: Goliath died of a headache!
See the difference? The expository sermon can be perfectly analytical like one might describe a laboratory cat being dissected. But how different that cat story would be if instead you tell a group personally what your little kitty, Fluffy, meant to you as a child. Which would move your heart?
Here's what I'm getting at: Faith PC has allowed me to do some story telling on Sunday, November 4th at 4:45 pm or so. When you come you'll get to meet Shadrach, a man "on fire" for the Lord. Then later, during the Pitch-In you and your friends can let his appeal set in. Kids, friends and giants will be welcome!
Pastor Ron
"In September the Youth Group participated in the 2007 Lafayette Hunger Hike. The youth collected roughly $800 in donations for the event, which raised over $60,000 to help those in need in the Greater Lafayette Community. The Youth Group would like to thank those who donated money for this worthy cause."
Worship Information
November 4th Sermon: “The Limits of Human Perfection”
First Lesson: Romans 1: 11 – 17
Second Lesson: Philippians 3: 1 –16
Communion
November 11th Sermon: “The Sacrament of Holy Baptism”
First Lesson: Genesis 17: 9 - 14
Second Lesson: Colossians 2: 9 - 12
November 18th Sermon: “Rethinking Our ‘Thankful’ List”
First Lesson: Luke 17: 11 – 19, I Thessalonians 5: 18
Second Lesson: Philippians 1: 3, 15 – 19, 2: 14 – 15, 19
November 21st Thanksgiving Eve Worship
November 25th Sermon: Series “Hope for Christmas”
#1 “Zechariah’s Hope
First Lesson: Luke 1: 5 – 20
Second Lesson: Luke 1: 57 - 75
Items Needed
A young family connected with our congregation will soon have an apartment to move into, and is in need of household items.
May you have some of these which you no longer use?
Glassware, tableware, pots and pans, chairs, bath and kitchen towels, and wash clothes, cleaning supplies, two twin mattresses, box springs, and lamps.
Please call Carol Graefnitz (463-9609) if you can help, so there will be no duplications, and pick-up of larger items can be arranged.
Clerk's Corner
The Congregation is greatly indebted to Elder Don Gentry for assembling the voluminous documentation and for organizing the meetings that relate to the selection process for the new permanent pastor – activities that continue to put considerable demands on his energy and time. The next step involves a meeting of the Committee on Ministry (COM) with Elder Gentry on November 1, 2007, in which he seeks approval to proceed with the constitution of the Pastoral Nominating Committee (PNC) as indicated below.
Action on the proposed budget for the calendar year 2008 is nearing completion.
The annual Congregational meeting is scheduled to be held after Sunday Services November 18, 2007. At that time (subject to prior approval by the COM) the Congregation will be informed of the slate of candidates invited by Session to serve on the PNC. Written ballots will be distributed, with blank spaces to permit additional nominations from the floor, and to approve or disapprove of the candidates. The Congregation will next be informed of the budget that has been approved by Session members, and will be asked to approve the recommended remuneration for Pastor Ron Green. Then the current Nominating Committee will announce the slate of candidates who are invited to join the Board of Deacons and the Session to fill vacancies by individuals who complete their terms of office. Nominations to these positions may also be made from the floor. The installation of all candidates is subject to approval by voice vote. There will finally be a call for nomination and approval of individuals to serve on the 2008 Nominating Committee.
Participants in Sunday morning services are asked to register their names on the friendship pads that are passed along the pews during the offering collection.
Ms. Alicia Connaughton has been engaged to be in charge of the Infant Nursery during Sunday services; please feel free to stop by and say hello. Elder Lou Ann Johnston is attempting to fill the vacancy in the Toddler Nursery; if you have suggestions please forward them to her johnston_elv@msn.com, 583-0739, 463-5508.
The Congregation warmly welcomes its newest members: Karen Gilliom, Christine Hall, and Jean McCoy were publicly recognized and received during worship on October 14, 2007.
Jurgen Honig
Clerk of Session
Welcome
Please welcome our new infant nursery worker, Alicia Connaughton. Alicia is a native of Chandlar, Indiana and is a freshman engineering major at Purdue. She comes to Faith Church with several years of day care experience and glowing recommendations. Please help Alicia feel at home in our church.
Kids' Club Information
Kid’s Club will not be held this fall due to a lack of volunteers. We hope to start back with kid’s club at the beginning of the new year with the theme of music makers. Look for more information to come.
Coming Events
Drama and pitch-in
Sunday, November 4, 5:00pm – 6:30pm
A good activity for the whole family.
Be sure to invite your friends.
Thanksgiving Eve Service and Reception
Wednesday, November 21, 7:00pm
FWF Soup Supper
Tuesday, December 11, 6:00pm
Christmas Eve Service and Reception
Monday, December 24, 7:00pm
Jubilee Christmas 2007
Jubilee Christmas is coming! For anyone not familiar with Jubilee, it’s a program coordinated by the Lafayette Urban Ministry (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 on Saturday morning, December 15. We will be hosting 18 families. Lots of help is needed to make it a special day for our guests.
We will launch our preparations for Jubilee Christmas on Sunday, November 18 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, cookies, or volunteer help.
Questions? Talk to Donna Lofgren, John Miller, Ron Smith, or Dorothy Bethel.
Caroling and Chili Supper
Help make a “Joyful Noise” this Christmas Season. Join the All-Church and Friends Caroling and Chili Supper on Sunday, December 16th. Carolers (young, old, sopranos, altos and “off keys”) will meet at Faith Church at 2:30 pm and will travel to neighborhoods around the Faith Church and maybe a nursing home or two – to sing Christmas Carols. It was great fun last year – and we hope to have even more attend this year!
Following the caroling (and for all who can’t join the caroling) - EVERYONE is invited to Faith Church for a delicious Chili Supper and a Christmas Program provided by the youth. No need to cook – just bring your voices, appetites and FRIENDS for an afternoon/evening of fun and fellowship.
We hope this event will be an outreach – so we encourage everyone to bring your neighbors and friends. It will be a fun way to help everyone get in the Christmas Spirit! More details will be forthcoming in the Sunday bulletins – but MARK YOUR CALENDARS and START INVITING YOUR FRIENDS! If you have questions or suggestions, talk to one of the Evangelism Committee members (Dave Stith, Jane Stewart, Donna Lofgren, Marcella Verplank, Lonni Kucik)
Evangelism Committee
Fall Clean-Up
It’s that time again - Fall Clean Up Day
Saturday, November 3
8 am until noon
DONUTS, coffee and juice will be served at 8 am.
Some of the jobs we hope to accomplish are:
..dead heading flowers, perennials
..pruning bushes, trees where necessary (deadwood, etc.)
..weed and feed grassed areas
..last mow maybe
..disconnect hoses and winterize outside taps
..leaf raking/blowing
..gutter clean out
..the west and north outside walls of the sanctuary are getting pretty green so
we may pressure wash the lower areas (usually the worst) if the weather permits.
We will also be cleaning the chandelier in the sanctuary. Some Purdue students will be doing the ladder work, but we’ll need folks to actually clean the glass. There may also be some other small interior jobs to be done, but we don't have a list of them yet.
Everyone who comes should bring tools, garden equipment appropriate for the job he/she wishes to do.
If you can help out, please contact Pat Short (mpshort2@netscape.net or 743-3160) and let her know what you’d like to work on.
Come and have some fun with us, visit with friends and enjoy one of those last good fall days. Hope to see you there!
Kitchen Klean Up
Check us out the nest time you are in the kitchen. We have organized and labeled the drawers so they can be easily read. Make sure you return items to their special place. The tablecloth closet no longer belongs to “Fibber Mc Gee”. As you use the kitchen, please help us keep it organized.
Jan Hem for Congregational Life
Birthdays
November 1 Thomas Housley
November 2 Cheri Sparks
November 3 Sarah Tyler
November 7 Lars Hem
November 7 Dottie McCaw
November 12 Tammy Sandel
November 16 Hugh Donkin
November 17 Cathy Lockwood
November 19 Elizabeth Parker
November 20 Barbara Jacobus
November 21 Carol Graefnitz
November 23 Ken Sandel
November 25 Jonathan Moore
November 28 Frances Janovitz
Anniversaries
November 11 Dennis & Nancy Dunn
November 11 Bert & Becky Chapman
November 24 John & Lola Miller
November 27 Kevin & Lou Ann Johnston
Community Worship Services
• Sun., Nov. 4 St. Mary’s Healthcare 2:30pm
• Sun., Nov. 11 Tippecanoe Villa 1:30pm
• Sun., Nov. 11 Friendship House 3:00pm
• Sun., Nov. 18 Davis Manor 3:00pm
• Sun., Nov. 25 Rosewalk Commons 2:30pm
The Deacons invite you to become a part of this ministry
Schedule Information
For those wishing to visit with Pastor Green his office hours are Tuesday and Thursday, 10:15am – 2:30 pm (lunch 12:30pm – 1:00pm), Wednesday 8:30am – 1:00pm, and Friday 10:15am – 1:00pm or by appointment.
Worship With Us
We invite you to join in the worship of God each Sunday morning at 9:30am and each Wednesday morning at 7:00am. 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 or call the church office at 743-3683.
Posted by faithpres at November 1, 2007 12:13 PM