The Presbyterian Commitment to Peacemaking notes that "God is continually at work in the world offering healing, wholeness, mercy, justice, and peace. God's peace is offered wherever there is brokenness - in individual lives, families, congregations, communities, nations and creation."
Salva Dut, in his work with Water for Sudan, is an agent of God's work for healing with each well that he drills in southern Sudan. Salva will join us on October 7 to celebrate Peacemaking Sunday and World Communion. He will arrive at 9:15 to share pancakes with the Sunday School students and their parents and to tell stories about his work. At 10:30, Salva will speak in worship and update us on this year's drilling season.
We will receive the denominational Peacemaking Offering, 75% of which is distributed by the national church, and 25% by us. This year, our 25% will be given to Water for Sudan to continue providing clean, safe water for villagers, bringing healing, wholeness, and justice to their lives. You may also make donations directly to Water for Sudan.
Through his visits and ministry, Salva has become a friend of this congregation. You will want to be here on Peacemaking Sunday to hear about his work and chat with him at coffee hour.
The first Tuesday of each month will be "Meeting Night." Members of all program committees will meet in the sanctuary at 7:00 for devotions and sharing of prayers. Then committees will scatter to different rooms for their meetings. This plan allows for easier and immediate communication between committees and makes other evenings of the month available for study and creative activities.
Meeting Night includes the Nurture, Worship, Mission, and Membership Committees (and Property Committee as needed). The work of other committees is more seasonal, and their meetings will be established as needed: Nominating, Finance, Personnel, Memorial and Endowment, Natural Church Development and Source of Success. Session will continue to meet on 2nd Tuesdays, and the deacons on 3rd Tuesdays.
Our first Meeting Night will be October 2.
The annual Turkey dinner will be held Saturday, October 27, under the leadership of Kathryn and Martha Russ. We need your donations of pies, squash, cranberry sauce, turkeys and stuffing. We need your help to set-up, to cut pies, to carve turkeys, mash potatoes, and to greet and serve our guests. Sign up in Fellowship Hall. The Turkey Dinner feeds bodies and spirits as the proceeds are distributed among several mission projects.
Sunday School got off to a sunny start with Sunny the Clown. This year we will be sponsoring the Cal-Mum Food Pantry as our mission project. As we did last year, we will be collecting items each month. For the month of October we will be collecting cans of fruit and cans of vegetables. Anyone can donate! Just bring an item each Sunday. We plan on taking a trip to the pantry to help sort and box food for local families in need. We would really appreciate your donations. Some other items that they are in need of are: boxed food mixes(mac'n'cheese), cereal/cereal bars, granola bars, soups, and sauces.
Keep your calendars clear for Saturday morning, October 20th, for the annual Fall Church Clean-up. We'll gather at 9:00 am, get ourselves organized, and tackle the fall clean-up chores. Bring your leaf rake, your work gloves, your favorite cleaning supplies, and of course, plenty of ambition. There will be refreshments to keep you fueled. We should be finished by 1:00 p.m.
If Saturday won't work for some of you, there will be a sign-up sheet in Fellowship Hall listing some specific jobs which need to be done. You can do them at your convenience prior to October 20th.
Many hands make for light work. Let's all pitch in and get our beautiful sanctuary building ready for the holidays. If you have any questions, please contact Jay Ward. See you on the 20th.
I get questions all the time:
"Why does the church talk about money so much?"
"What is a tithe? Do you calculate it on net or gross income? Does giving to other charities count?"
"What is expected? I'm paying college tuition and a mortgage."
"I'd like to give to the church, but my social security check just covers my bills."
"I have no idea what is an appropriate amount. What do others do?"
Jesus must have gotten questions, too, because he talked more about money than about prayer. In an attempt to answer your questions and help you make important decisions, I have decided to preach a series of stewardship sermons:
| Oct. 21 | Giving From the Head: What does the Bible teach us? |
| Oct. 28 | Giving From the Hand: How do I deal with my debt and still give to the church? |
| Nov. 4 | Giving From the Heart: Giving to God, not to the budget |
On November 4 we will consecrate our estimates of giving for 2008 and celebrate with lunch together. I hope you will make this season of worship a priority for your spirit's growth. Let us learn together to be generous!
Grace and Peace,
Nancy
We are updating our e-mail addresses for the church family and friends. We know that some of you have changed and some have newly created e-mail addresses. Please send your updates to caledoniafirstpc@frontiernet.net so that our database is up-to-date. This will allow your Membership Committee and the church office to keep in touch with you throughout the year.
The Session met for a regular meeting on Tuesday, September 11, 2007.
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All singers welcome. Music will be provided at rehearsals.
First Presbyterian Church (FPC)
3080 Main Street, Caledonia
Rehearsals:
Wednesday, September 26 at 7:00 at FPC
Wednesday, October 24 at 7:00 at FPC
Wednesday, November 28 at 7:00 at FPC
Concert:
Sunday, December 9 at 2:00 at FPC
For more information, contact:
Maria Neale
538-2317
Gail Hyde
475-5343, 249-9235
This concert is funded in part by the New York State
Council on the Arts Decentralization Regrant Program
administered
by the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts.
Our community ministry serves supper between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. every Wednesday, beginning October 3, to anyone who enjoys sharing a tasty, nutritious meal with others. The meal is prepared and served by a different team each week of the month. Help is always welcome. Right now, help is especially needed for clean-up on the 3rd and 5th Wednesdays. Clean-up begins at 6:00 or later with dish-washing, taking down tables and chairs, and mopping the floors. Come for supper - trade dinner for dishes!
If you or someone you know would like to help with this ministry in any way, call the team leader:
| 1st week | Barbara Bird | 538-2544 |
| 2nd week | Shirley Burdick | 538-2807 |
| 3rd week | Darcy Monacelli | 538-6524 |
| 4th week | Mary Drotar | 538-9753 |
| 5th week | Pat Wyble | 538-6045 |
The Presbyterian Book of Order states that "as there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament Church provided persons with particular gifts to share in governing and ministry." In the Presbyterian Church, elders are chosen by the people. Together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament, they exercise leadership, government, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a particular church as well as the church at large. They serve faithfully as members of the Session of the church.
Elders are expected to be persons of faith, dedication, and good judgment. It is the duty of elders, individually and jointly, to strengthen and nurture the faith and life of the congregation committed to their charge. Together with the pastor, they should encourage the people in the worship and service of God, equip and renew them for their tasks within the church and for their mission in the world. They should visit and comfort and care for the people.
Each elder at First Church chairs a working committee (more about these committees in future newsletters). The current session includes the following elders:
| Barbara Bird | Clerk of Session |
| Louise Haskins | Mission Committee |
| Gail Hyde | Nominating Committee |
| Paul Lofgren | Finance Committee |
| Lisa Morrill | Natural Church Development Team |
| Steve Russ-Clar | Membership Committee |
| Sally Stoddart | Worship Committee |
| Jay Ward | Property Committee |
| Jim Wheeler | Memorial & Endowment Committee |
At a recent Session meeting, some of our elders wrote about what it means to them to be an elder:
Do you feel that your gifts energy and faith could lead you to become an elder of First Presbyterian Church? Please talk to a member of the Nominating Committee: Bill Dearcop, Karen Harris, Ann Shaffer, Pam Sinclair & Gail Hyde, Chariperson.
I am writing to thank you and the Endowment Committee of the First Presbyterian Church of Caledonia for awarding me a $500 scholarship. This is a great honor, and I am glad that you have selected me out of all of the possible candidates.
I am proud to know that the committee believes that I am worthy of this scholarship, and will make sure to live up to these expectations. Once again, thank you for awarding me this scholarship.
Sincerely,
Melanie Adams
I would like to thank The First Presbyterian Church for choosing me for the scholarship this year. I was truly honored. I have used it toward my tuition.
Sincerely,
Chad Parnell
What is the significance of 2448? It is our designation code for United Way. Use it to direct your UW contributions to Source of Success.
"Being a good steward and a lover of good coffee can co-exist wonderfully when you drink a cup of Equal Exchange."
The Presbyterian Coffee Project is an innovative way to reach out to small-scale farmers in the developing world while enjoying fellowship and an excellent cup of coffee. As Christians we can address a consumer dilemma by buying coffee that is fairly traded. Presbyterian congregations that participate are supporting practices which help farmers in Latin America, Africa and Asia earn a fairer share of income, obtain access to credit and technical support, and gain a trading partner they can trust, a fair trade organization called Equal Exchange.
In our congregation, as we enjoy this high-quality coffee, take time to learn more about its impact on the people who grow it. Read about coffee farmers and the ways in which the church is helping people like them. Long-term congregational commitment has sustained Presbyterian and ecumenical ministries of relief and development for more than 50 years. With such commitment, we can also make a difference in this new way. More to come about the many products we can buy to add our ministry support to the Presbyterian Coffee Project.
As our secretary, Sharon has been our partner in ministry for five years. She resigned, effective September 6, to assume a new position with AXA Financial. The good news is that she will be able to maintain her position as Director of Source of Success. We are grateful for Sharon's time among us, and wish her God's blessings in her new work.
Wayne was recommended by the Personnel Committee and hired by the session on September 11. He began work immediately as our administrator. Wayne's expertise is in computer technology. He will focus on continuing to develop our new database, designing a church website, publishing our bulletins and newsletters, and supporting committees. Wayne will not keep regular office hours and will do some work remotely, but e-mails and phone messages will be checked often. Welcome, Wayne!
| 7 | Lamentations 1:1-6 , Lamentations 3:19-26, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Luke 17:5-10 |
| 14 | Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, Psalm 66:1-12, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Luke 17:11-19 |
| 21 | Jeremiah 31:27-34, Psalm 119:97-104, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5, Luke 18:1-8 |
| 28 | Joel 2:23-32, Psalm 65, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, Luke 18:9-14 |