Newsletter
November 2007
Contents
Saints of First Church,
Consecration Sunday
Advent Study
John Bascom Missionary from
India
What do Deacons do?
Turkey Dinner Results
First Presbyterian Church Will Name a
Well
Nancy Reinert Will Visit Sudan
Nurture News
Are You a Spiritual
Person?
Faith Booking
Lectionary for November
Celtic Christmas Concert
Silent Auction November 30
The Christmas Light
Snowbird Addresses
Saints of First Church,
November 4 is Consecration Sunday. November is an apt time to focus on our stewardship. As we head into November we look toward the end of the harvest season and the celebration of Thanksgiving, and stewardship is really about giving thanks.
My stewardship is something that gives me great joy. Every Sunday morning I write the check for Wayne's and my tithe to the church. And every time I do, it is with gratitude and shear pleasure that I am able to give something back to God. I write that check and pray, "Thank you, God! Thank you for life and health and family and friends and for your love in Jesus Christ that gives me new life! Amen!"
I do not play the lottery, but I dream about how much fun it would be to be handed a couple million dollars and be able to decide to whom to give it! My tithe to the church does that on a smaller scale; it allows me to contribute to ministries that I know and want to support - ministries like our children's Christian education, Source of Success, Wednesday Night community suppers, Presbyterian missionaries all over the world, and our own worship and fellowship activities.
Wayne and I did not always tithe. There were some lean years when we didn't even come close to a 10% tithe. But we made that our goal, and have steadily increased our level of giving until now it is a little more than a tithe. God is good!
I encourage you to be in prayer in this season of thanksgiving about all of the blessings for which you are grateful. What percentage of your resources will you give to God to say "Thanks, God!"? - knowing that everything you have comes from God, and God cares about how you use 100% of your resources.
With gratitude for our ministry together -
Grace and Peace,
~ Nancy
Consecration Sunday
Come to Worship & Lunch
On November 4 we will celebrate and dedicate our estimates of giving for 2008. We will sing praise to God and gather at the Lord's Table, where are reminded how great are God's gifts. Then we will complete our "Estimate of Giving" cards.
Our lunch together will celebrate the harvest. The Bible teaches us always to give our best to God - the "first fruits" - and we ask you to do that by bringing your best dish to pass. What a grand harvest celebration that will be!
Please make a reservation: 538-4555 or caledoniafirstpc@frontiernet.net. If you are not able to be in worship on November 4, we will contact you later that week with an "Estimate of Giving" card.
Advent Study
Repentance, Faith, Holiness, and Love: An Advent Study, begins Wednesday, November 7, at 1:00 p.m.
For at least 1,700 years, Christians have observed a season of prayer and preparation leading up to Christmas. Advent is a word means "to come, to show up," and in the chaos of the shopping and party frenzy, we Christians try to pull the shutters down on all that and do some soul searching, some praying, some repentance. Company is coming, and it's the Savior of the world. The question of Advent is "Will there be room?" Can we sweep out the clutter of our lives and leave a space into which God might become reality?
In this study we will explore various characters in the biblical story, and even a few others out of the annals of history, to think through how to "prepare him room" during Advent. We will structure their stories around four themes: repentance, faith, holiness, and love.
Join us, be ginning November 7, at 1:00 p.m. in the church library. We will not meet Nov. 21.
John Bascom
Missionary from India
Worship and Lunch
A number of years ago, a boy, Gavinda, was born to a poor Indian family in the lowest of the caste system. By the time he was five, his family placed him in an orphanage, as they could not afford to keep him. But God was with him. When he was about ten, an American family, friends of Rich and Marilyn Henry, felt called to adopt him and another boy from the Children of Promise orphanage. They named him John. The boys arrived in the USA when John was about twelve and were welcomed by his new mom and dad and four biological siblings in the Bascom family. Even at this young age, he had received enough Christian teaching that he felt led to minister to others. So when he was grown, he returned to India as a missionary to bring more of the light of Christ to his native country and it's people.
He founded Faith Harvest Ministries, which has grown to have a number of outreaches. One of the most exciting things is that John returned to his home village and family. The church here recently sent a team to build a church in his home village. So now his biological family has the opportunity to find Christ. Stop by the calendar in the fellowship hall to see pictures of some of the people and the work that is being done.
We are blessed to have John coming to our church on Sunday, November 11. John will speak in worship, and there will be lunch afterward with some Indian food to taste. Invite your friends, especially any Indian friends that you know.
Let us praise and thank God with John for all that has been done through his life and ministry.
~ Marilyn Henry
Behind the scenes:
What do Deacons do?
The office of deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of sympathy, witness and service after the example of Jesus Christ as stated in the Presbyterian Book of Order. Deacons minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may need a helping hand in any way. Deacons are expected to be persons of spiritual character, honesty, warm sympathies and sound judgement.
Deacons in our church:
- Visit our shut-ins, whether at home, nursing home, hospital, etc.
- Accompany our pastor to deliver communion to those shut-ins.
- Provide transportation to those in need to appointments, etc.
- Prepare the Lord's Supper when communion is celebrated.
These are just a few of the ways a deacon ministers to the congregation.
Our present board of Deacons are:
| Bev Blazjueski | Martha Russ |
| Empress Das | Don Sears |
| Carolyn DeMersmann | Martha Weiland |
| Norma Embling | Pat Wyble |
| Mark Rogers |
They would be very happy to further explain what it means to be a Deacon at First Church.
Do you feel that you would like to become a Deacon? Do you know someone who would? Please talk to a member of the Nominating Committee - Bill Dearcop, Karen Harris, Ann Shaffer, Pam Sinclair, Lew Wilson or Gail Hyde - Chairperson.
Turkey Dinner Results
Over 400 dinners were served resulting in an estimated profit of $2,250. These moneys help the Women's Association to support many mission opportunities.
First Presbyterian Church Will Name a Well in South Sudan
Salva Dut, Sudanese refugee and President of Water for Sudan, Inc., returned to First Church on Peacemaking Sunday, October 7. Salva first visited us before his first well-drilling season in southern Sudan three years ago. Since then, he has drilled 17 wells that serve almost 60,000 people. He continues to inspire us with his stories of transformation.
After his visit, 2 members pledged $5,000, the amount that gives donors "naming rights," who challenged the congregation to contribute an additional $3,000, which will pay for all the expenses of drilling a well. To date, an additional $1,100 has been given. The receiving account remains open so that members can continue to contribute toward the goal of underwriting the cost of a well and the transformation of countless lives.
Nancy Reinert Will Visit Sudan
Nancy is a member of the Board of Directors of Water for Sudan, Inc. The Board is sponsoring a trip to the villages of southern Sudan. Nancy will join the trip in February to visit some of the villages that have received or will receive a well and to observe the major changes that a village well enables.
The session has approved a sabbatical time in Lent of 2008 for Nancy to surround the trip with prayer and reflection. She will return for Holy Week.
Nancy describes this sabbatical experience as a pilgrimage with Jesus toward God in the desert of south Sudan - a Lenten journey into the wilderness. She expresses her longing for a more intimate experience with God and her belief that God has called her into this difficult journey into a very primitive culture. In such a situation, one depends totally on God for security and safety.
Nancy will hear first-hand the stories of the villagers, and we will learn how our single well will make a difference for hundreds of Sudanese women, men, and children.
Nurture News
- Remember that the Sunday School mission focus this year is the Cal-Mum Food Pantry. The children are creating a wall of food in their classroom.
- The first Sunday of the month is "Pancake Sunday" - November 4!
- Bibles will be presented to second-graders in worship on November 18.
- The Sunday School will celebrate the beginning of Advent on December 2. Parents are invited!
Are You a Spiritual Person?
The answer is yes! God created each of us spiritual beings. The real question then is "How do you live out your spirituality in your daily life?
|
Are you Passionate in your Spirituality? |
Are you Passive in your Spirituality? |
|
Do you: Share your joys, blessings, prayers with
your family, church and friends? |
Do you: Hide your prayers from those you
love? |
How do you live out your spirituality?
Romans 12:11: Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Will you pray with me?
Dear Lord, breathe renewed energy into my tired spirit. Speak loudly in my life that I might hear over my own weakness. Let my zeal be for serving you daily. I pray with a joyful and ready heart. Today I pray for…
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Faith Booking
Coming Soon to a Scrap-Book near you.
Do you like to scrap-book? Those precious pictures are only a part of the story. Years from now when your children are looking at them, what will they see? What will those pictures tell them about you, about your love for them, about their lives? What would you like them to know?
Here is a new way to think about scrap-booking. It is called Faith-booking. Save the date Sunday, January 20 and plan to come join us in faith, fellowship and fun.
Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! Job 19:25
Each Generation can make known their faithfulness to the next. Isaiah 38:19b
~ Lisa Morrill
Lectionary for November
| 4 | Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4, Psalm 119:137-144, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12, Luke 19:1-10 |
| 11 | Haggai 1:15b-2:9, Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17, Luke 20:27-38 |
| 18 | Isaiah 65:17-25, Isaiah 12, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Luke 21:5-19 |
| 25 | Jeremiah 23:1-6, Luke 1:68-79, Colossians 1:11-20, Luke 23:33-43 |
Celtic Christmas Concert
An evening of carols, wassails and tunes from the Celtic holiday tradition
(Advent, Christmas, the winter solstice, and Hogmannay)
Featuring
Kevin Angus, Bevin Coggeshall, Chuck Boda,
Peter Watson, Dick Bolt and Joel Hume
vocals, dancing, Scottish smallpipes, whistles, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, Celtic harp, and guitar
Friday, November 30, 7:30 p.m.
* Silent Auction Begins at 6:00 p.m. *
Silent Auction November 30
A silent auction of baked goods, surprise gifts and special holiday gift baskets will be held from 6:00-7:30 p.m. and during the reception in Fellowship Hall. It is time to think about what you will donate: a service (computer help, gardening, baking); a basket full of themed items; something lovely from your attic.
The Christmas Light
A Cantata
by Benjamin Harlan
All singers welcome. Music will be provided at rehearsals.
First Presbyterian Church (FPC)
3080 Main Street, Caledonia
Rehearsal:
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.
Snowbird Addresses
The new church database has a provision that will assure that you receive church mailings, such as the newsletter, while you are enjoying warmer climates. Contact the church office or send an email to caledoniafirstpc@frontiernet.net with the date that you will leave and the date you will return. The database will then assure that the correct address is used for all church mailings.