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December 01, 2007
December Newsletter
Pastor's Pen
Gordon MacDonald once wrote, "The world can do almost anything as well as or better than can the church. You need not be a Christian to build houses, feeds the hungry, or heal the sick. There is only one thing the world cannot do. It cannot offer grace. Grace is the church's single most important contribution. Where else in the world can you find it?"
One person who knew about grace was Bill Leslie. He, the pastor at LaSalle street church in Chicago in the '80's, was a friend of mine. He generously helped me with my preaching. I still have the "check list" he gave me for sermon preparation. So, you can imagine how delighted I was when one of his parishioners wrote this:
"Bill never tired of the theme of grace: he recognized his endless need for grace, preached it almost every Sunday and offered it to everyone around him in starkly practical ways. As I sat under his ministry Sunday after Sunday I gradually absorbed grace, as if by osmosis. I came to believe, truly believe, that God loves me not because I deserve it
but because he is a God of grace. God's love comes free of charge, with no strings attached. There is nothing I can do to make God love me more--or less."
That member, Phil Yancey, in his book Church: Why Bother? goes on to add his own personal testimony:
"Grace was the factor most glaringly absent from my childhood church. If only our churches could communicate grace to a world of competition, judgment, and ranking (a world of ungrace) then church would become a place where people gather eagerly, without coercion, like desert nomads around an oasis.
"Now, when I attend church, I look inward and ask God to purge from me the poisons of rivalry and criticism and to fill me with grace. And I seek out churches characterized by a state of grace."
What a church that would be, wouldn't it. There would be people like Mother Teresa given to serving the poorest, most miserable people--helping the kind you find sleeping down by the tracks. There'd be uncountable numbers committing acts of lavish generosity and spontaneous sacrifice. Whatever the need, it would quickly be met. Imagine parishioners offering a short prayer for each person they encounter or with tears tenderly holding a grief-stricken widow. Imagine seeing "souls to be won" instead of inappropriate dress or awkward behavior. Words of praise and encouragement would pepper the air.
Can you and I here at Faith Presbyterian Church model that which the world so desperately longs for? Can we create an oasis? Make someone's day? What will flow out of our hearts?
Pastor Ron
Worship Information
December 2nd - Sermon “Zechariah’s Hope”
Scripture: Luke 1: 5 – 20, 57 - 75
Communion
First Sunday in Advent
December 9th - Meditation “Joseph’s Hope”
Scripture: Matthew 1: 18 - 25
Choir Cantata
Second Sunday in Advent
December 16th - Sermon “Mary’s Hope”
Scripture: Luke 1: 26 – 56, 2: 1 - 7
Third Sunday in Advent
December 23rd - Sermon “Jesus’ Hope”
Scripture: Matthew 21: 33 - 46
Fourth Sunday in Advent
December 24th - Christmas Eve Festival of Lessons and Carols
Service at 7:00 p.m.
December 25th - Christmas Day
Service at 11:00 a.m.
Sermon “Angels We Have Heard on High”
Scripture: Luke 2: 8 – 14, Hebrews 1: 1 - 9
December 30th - Sermon
Clerk's Corner
At its November 6, 2007 meeting the Session approved the budget for the calendar year 2008.
At the Annual Congregational Meeting on November 18, 2007 the Congregation received information on the 2008 budget and on the current contract for the remuneration of Pastor Green. The Congregation approved the following members to serve in the Class of 2010 on Session: Elders David Stith, Jane Stewart, and Carol Gentry for three year terms. The Congregation further approved the nominations for the Class of 2010 on the Board of Deacons: Kathryn Bowker (1 year term), Carol Graefnitz, Barbara Knox, Donna Lofgren, and Polly Tyler (3 year terms). Lastly, the Congregation approved the nomination of the following individuals to serve on the Pastor Nominating Committee: Don Gentry, Elizabeth Goodrich, Janet Hem, Grieke Toebes, Glenn Sparks, Steven Varys, and Lois Wark. Finally, the Congregation approved the nomination of the following individuals to serve on the 2008 Congregation Nominating Committee: Michael Lockwood, Patrick Kain, Kris Stith, Thomas Van Horn. Two additional members from the Session and one from the Board of Deacons will also serve on that committee. We are now set to initiate the search for a new permanent pastor.
Jurgen Honig, Clerk of Session
Faith Women Fellowship Soup Supper
Early December brings one of the highlights of our Faith Women Fellowship activities: our Soup Supper. We take time to be together, to prepare for the Christ child, to eat and talk, and then, to listen.
We have a special guest, Kathy Nimmer, who has an inspiring message about living with her handicap, which she will share with us.
Our Small Mission Project will go to LUM, to supply snacks for the After School Program. Healthy snacks (raisins, pretzels, granola bars, cheese crackers) and bottled or canned juice will be much appreciated.
Please watch the Narthex for a sign-up sheet, plan on bringing either bread or dessert, and bring a friend to share this special event with.
Come to Faith Church on Tuesday, December 11, at 6:30pm, and enjoy the warmth of Christian Fellowship.
Grieke Toebes, FWF
Jubilee Christmas
Jubilee Christmas is coming! We will be hosting 18 families this year. The parents will be invited to select gifts for their children, so they can be the "heroes" on Christmas morning. We will be celebrating Jubilee Christmas on Saturday December 15 at 10 a.m. Breakfast will be served at 9:00 for guests and hosts, and all helpers are invited.
We need a lot of help to make this a special day for our guests. Here's how you can help:
1. Pray. That it will be a day filled with love and blessings.
2. Toys. There's a Christmas tree in the fellowship hall with tags representing gifts ($25-30). There's also a bowl with tags for stocking stuffers ($1-5). If the toy needs batteries, please include 2 sets. Attach the tag to the unwrapped gift and place it in the box in the fellowship hall no later than Sunday December 9.
3. Gift wrap and bows.
4. Cookies and Refreshments*.
5. Family Gifts*. Things like laundry detergent and paper products.
6. Card Tables*.
7. Volunteers*.
a. Each family needs a host.
b. Setup, cleanup, and general help.
8. Money. This helps us to pay for the hams and gift certificates provided by LUM, a hat and mittens for each child, and a gift for each family, as well as purchase any last-minute toys or supplies. Place your gift in the morning offering or in the donations box in the fellowship hall.
*Signup sheets for these are in the fellowship hall.
Through Jubilee Christmas, we not only serve others in the community, but also grow as a community of believers in the Lord. We appreciate your help - Thanks!
Questions? Talk to Donna Lofgren, John Miller, Ron Smith, or Dorothy Bethel.
Caroling and Chili Dinner Outreach and Fellowship Event
Please consider joining a group led by Dave Stith for caroling at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 16th. Following the caroling at 5:30 p.m. there will be a chili dinner with a traditional Christmas program presented by the Sunday School Kids.
You are welcome to join at either or both, and don’t forget to bring a friend.
Caroling at 2:30 p.m. – We will meet in Fellowship Hall and travel together from there.
Chili Dinner at 5:30 p.m.
Wish to help with clean-up? Please contact Jan Hem 463-7870.
Evangelism and Congregational Life Committees
Christmas Card List - Great Idea:
When you are making out your Christmas card list this year,
please include the following:
A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001
Congregation Elects Pastor Nominating Committee
The Committee on Ministries of the Presbytery on November 1st. approved the Faith Church Congregational Reflection Study and authorized the congregation to elect a Pastor Nominating Committee. The committee was elected during the annual congregational meeting on November 18th. The committee has the responsibility to search for and screen candidates for the next Pastor of Faith Church. The process is expected to take several months. Once the committee has interviewed, checked references and heard the final candidates preach, the committee will bring the recommended candidate to Faith Church for an introduction to the congregation and to give the congregation an opportunity to hear the candidate preach. At the end of the service, the congregation will be asked to make the official call to the new Pastor and set the compensation package. All of this process will be done in coordination with the Committee on Ministries of the Presbytery.
Those elected to the committee were: Jan Hem, Grieke Toebes, Lois Wark, Elizabeth Goodrich, Glenn Sparks, Steve Varys, and Don Gentry. The committee will have their first meeting with the COM representative before the end of November. At that meeting the process for the search will be discussed and officers for the committee selected.
The committee will up-date the congregation on the progress as the search unfolds. Any recommendation and question should be directed to the Chair of the Committee once the Chair is elected.
Sunday Evening Bible Study
December 2 will be held at the Moore’s
December 9 will be the last meeting of the semester
and will resume in January
Birthdays
December 6 Barbara Muller
December 8 Michal Chojnacky
December 8 Jenne McMillin
December 13 Valentina Hinkel
December 14 David Czerwonky
December 15 Alexandra Dubikovsky
December 15 Laura Wilcoxson
December 16 Jakob Housley
December 16 Ann Landgrebe
December 16 Dae-Hee Lee
December 17 Graeme Mason
December 20 Mary Landgrebe
December 27 Alex Dale
December 27 Lillian Parker
December 31 Judson Clinton
Anniversaries
December 1 Yancy & Laura Wilcoxson
December 3 John & Mary Mason
December 15 Knox & Cynthia Clinton
December 20 Stuart & Bonnie Robertson
Community Worship Services
• Sun., Dec. 2 St. Mary’s Healthcare 2:30pm
• Sun., Dec. 9 Tippecanoe Villa 1:30pm
• Sun., Dec. 9 Friendship House 3:00pm
• Sun., Dec. 16 No Davis Manor
• Sun., Dec. 23 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, Pastor Green or call the church office at 743-3683.
Posted by faithpres at December 1, 2007 10:26 AM