A note from the pastor One of the first funerals I officiated was for Barb Julian, who wrote this lovely thought: The year is a landscape; summer the valley, spring and fall the foothills, winter the mountain. At the new year we can stand at the peak of the mountain, and look both ways; back over past years and ahead to a new year. But the new year is misty and we cannot see ahead very well. Only as we progress ahead through the year does the mist part. There is no fear, for God is there, leading the way. ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Permit #40 Edwardsville, IL 62025 U.S. Postage Paid Nonprofit Organization Volume 28, Number 1 January 2015 As we move into a new year of following God in Jesus Christ, keep in mind special education opportunities: On Saturday, January 10, new elders and deacons will gather at 9:00 AM for officer training, followed by a meeting with session, officer examination, and a luncheon meeting. On Sunday, January 11, a new adult class opportunity begins, entitled “Christian Parenting of Teens,” and co-led by me, Bob Gibson, Dennis Pluta, and coordinated by Valerie Barber. Sessions include: Jan. 11: Teenagers 101: Parenting Graduate School Jan. 18: What Changed? Jan. 25: Training Teens to Act Responsibly Feb. 1: Parenting Pearls of Wisdom Feb. 8: Is Christian Parenting Different? Panel Discussion. The book “Parenting Teens with Love and Logic” will be used; copies of the book are available for order. Continued on inside back page FOR THE RECORD Long-time FPCE member Hazel Marti passed away on December 2nd at the age of 95. Hazel joined FPCE on April 28, 1946, after coming to Edwardsville from South Carolina shortly after WWII to live near the family of her husband Orville. Hazel is survived by her son Dick and daughter Mimi and their families. A note of appreciation was received from Noel Lane Jr., informing us his mother Mary Jane Lane died on November 17th. Noel especially thanks Betty Dierkes for her regular and faithful communication. Condolences go out to Tricia Keagy and her family, on the passing of her father, Jerry Pierson and also to Stephenie Vogt and Nichole Kirk on the passing of close family friend, Carol Crosby. BITS & PIECES PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN LUNCH Start the year on a high note by joining us on Wednesday January 7th for a potluck luncheon. Bring a dish to share and open arms for a New Year’s hug. Catch up after the holidays with old friends and new. A good time is always had by all who attend. GLEN-ED PANTRY The Glen-Ed Pantry is in need of coats and blankets, all sizes. Coats and blankets can be dropped off in Fellowship Hall and they will be delivered to the Pantry for distribution. SANDWICH NIGHT It’s BACK! Sandwich Night preparation will be done on Sunday, January 25th, with the sandwiches being distributed on Monday, January 26th. Sign up sheets are posted on the kitchen door. THANK YOU! “Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and prayers. Thank you also for the amazing gift box for finals week! I will be enjoying mine the last semester of school! I wish you all the very best. Thank you again. Fondly, Mallory Milner” FAIR TRADE Please consider adding a Fair Trade item to your shopping list. Hot Chocolate is here! We continue to stock our coffee and tea! Come give us a try! We might become your new favorite! AND you will be helping to give a living wage to a small farmer or tradesperson. 2014 INCOME AND EXPENSES through November 30, 2014 Pledges Other Income Savings Transfer Total Income ACTUAL $306,567 $ 49,091 $ 0 $355,658 BUDGET $296,087 $ 51,546 $ 12,551 $360,184 Total Expenses $348,669 $360,184 Net Income $ 6,989 GIVING MADE EASY—GO ONLINE It’s not too late to start the new year off right by signing up to pay your 2015 pledge online. It’s quick, easy, and most of all, secure! Go to our website, www.fpcedw.org, and click on the red “giving page” button in the upper right corner of our home page. You can use your checking account or credit or debit card to set up a one time donation or a recurring monthly or weekly donation. Ask Deidra Weidinger or Kathy Bellmann if you have any questions. FIRST READ BOOK CLUB If you made a New Year’s resolution to spend more time with a good book, please consider joining The First Read Book Club. The group meets on the third Wednesday of each month, September through May for a lively discussion. We will meet on Wednesday January 21, at 11:45 a.m.in Fellowship Hall to discuss Sue Monk Kidd’s book The Invention of Wings. Joy Myers will be our discussion leader. In February Joyce Toussaint will lead a discussion on The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. In March Mary Anna Davis will guide us through The Goldfinch, 2014 Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction. All are welcome. For information, contact Donna Crider at 343-1404. FAITH FORMATION NEWS: Our Nursery is staffed by (we are currently looking for someone) who is available each Sunday morning for both worship services and Sunday School hour. Pagers are available for parents to hold while they are away from their child. In case of concern, parents will be notified by the nursery worker.. PreSchool – Sunday School class. Anne Caton is prepared to lead the pre-school class for 3 year olds through pre-kindergarten which meets from 9:15 to 10:15 am each Sunday. Please contact the church office if your child is NOT going to participate in this program. Set aside the morning of March 14th for Faith Formation to travel to the Presbytery Office in St. Louis to view a new curriculum from PC(USA) called “Grace and Gratitude”. Other reformed curricula will also be available to view. The N.E.T. (New Experience Together) Kindergarten through Grade 7 Students will rotate to each workshop over this two week period of time by age categories. Thank you to all who helped us travel around the world…we learned many new customs and new ways to celebrate Christmas in our own homes. January will begin a new rotation on Jonah: A Reluctant Believer. This is a whale of a story with a big message from God for children to catch. Students learn that you can’t hide from God – even in a whale! Students discover that Jonah ran away from God because he didn’t “get” God’s message of Compassion, Mercy, and Grace for everyone who repents. As a special enhancement, in each workshop students will collect a different “Catch of the Day” fish to add to a metal key ring. Each fish has an important message from God for living each day. Thank you to Scott Weber and Mark Weidinger for creating our new decoration for the Fellowship Hall. We hope you will take a moment to “experience” Jonah’s visit to the belly of the big fish! We appreciate their creativity and expertise in crafting our inflatable visitor! We also note that the visitor is smaller than a full-sized whale would be but it will give us the vision of what poor Jonah might have gone through! January 4 and 11 will find Robin Paproth leading an Art Workshop where students will travel through an imagination exercise, pretending that they are Jonah sinking to the bottom of the ocean. As they open their eyes they see all varieties of beautiful fish that God created. Students learn that as God created and cares for the fish in the ocean, God also created them and gives them compassion, mercy, and grace when they trust God. Students learn of God’s compassionate character in the Jonah story and further learn that God wants them to put on a compassionate and forgiving attitude towards others. Also on January 4 and 11 students will participate in a Computer Workshop with Mary Lou Sullivan where they will encounter the Compassion Fish who introduces students to the Catch of the Day. Students explore their understanding of compassion and read from the Bible a passage reflecting God’s compassionate character. They use Compassion Meters to rate Jonah’s and God’s compassion or lack of compassion in the story. A highly interesting and interactive CD helps students learn Jonah’s story, understand Jonah’s lack of compassion towards the undeserving Ninevites and God’s character of compassion for everyone. January 18 and 25 will find Mary Anna Davis leading a Movie Workshop where a message in a bottle washed ashore from the Mediterranean Sea and introduces students to God’s marching orders to Jonah – go to Nineveh. As students view the movie Jonah, they are asked to find out how Jonah responded to God’s message. Following the movie, a guided meditation complete with humpback whale sounds playing in the background helps students understand Jonah’s feelings of being captive in the cavity of the great whale. Since music is now being handled in a different way… we ask that parents supervise their children after Sunday School ends at 10:15am. If you would like to be a part of this Sunday morning program – even if it is NOT teaching, please contact a member of the Faith Formation Team and we will discuss possibilities with you. We always need people to help purchase items, set up and take down classrooms, decorate or create an atmosphere for a workshop, and help to keep our supply closet neatened. Your prayers are always encouraged and welcomed. If you merely want to support the efforts but do not feel you have anything to contribute…we are always open to receiving scrip cards…used to purchase items at Walmart or Target for the program. Team members are: Donna Crider, chair, Dennis Pluta, Peggy Lambdin, Robin Paproth, Lee Bernard, Jeannie Trimmer, Joyce Toussaint and Joy Myers, staff. Advisors are: Gayle Driscoll, Anne Caton and Lynn Warren. Time with Young Worshippers This is an opportunity for persons to assist in worship by leading a Time With Young Worshippers. Material is available to assist you in planning and preparation. Please contact one of the pastor’s with your willingness to assist. Confirmation Class: Continues their study of “Professing Our Faith” continuing the discovery of how the church has used The Lord’s Prayer, The Confessions and the Ten Commandments as a foundation for belief. High School Class: …meets with Eric Voss in the classroom off the balcony. This class if for all high school students and uses the “Feasting on the Word” curriculum produced by our denomination. Topics to be discussed this month are as follows: January 4 – John 1: (1-9), 10-18 – Grace Upon Grace January 11 – Mark 1:4-11 – Beloved, with You I Am Well-Pleased January 18 – 1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20) – Called to Speak Out January 25 – Mark 1:14-20 - Called February 1 – Mark 1:21-28 - Transformation Sunday Morning Adult Class will include: The Upper Room class meets with Scott Hagin leading most Sundays using Feasting on the Word as their curriculum. January 4 – John 1: (1-9), 10-18 - The Source of Change January 11 – Mark 1:4-11 – Baptism as a New Beginning January 18 – 1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20) – Discerning God’s Call January 25 – Mark 1:14-20 – Follow the Leader February 1 – Mark 1:21-28 - Transformation Christian Parenting of Teens Class A new 5 week Sunday School class will be offered starting January 11th through February 8th in the Inner Room. It will be co-lead by John Hembruch, Dennis Pluta and Bob Gibson using resources from The Thoughtful Christian. Please join us as we learn how to shepherd our teens through this challenging time while maintaining serenity for ourselves. Wednesday Spirituality Group: …Meets from 10:30-11:30 am each Wednesday morning spending time in prayer as well as study. We resume the study on January 7th led by Robin Paproth on the book by Barbara Brown Taylor entitled: “An Altar in the World.” Barbara Brown Taylor is an Episcopal priest and an excellent preacher. Come and find out what this book is all about. You do not need to have participated before this time but can quickly jump in and catch up on the reading. We plan to complete the study early in February. You might note that Barbara Brown Taylor is a favorite of both of your pastors and frequently quoted! Each chapter is a spiritual exercise…you might want to join in! Come and join in the conversation – your opinions will be welcomed! Youth Ministry News: January 24, 2015, a Saturday night, will be our Trivia Night. Consider putting together a table of your friends for a night of fun and frivolity with a hint of knowledge sharing. Cost for the Trivia Night is $15 per person for a table of 8. All funds raised will be used toward our summer trips. High School students will travel to Lexington, KY this summer on June 6 to June 12 to participate in an urban ministry experience working with homeless and hungry people through the Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church. This is a well-loved trip for those who have traveled here before and much is learned and experienced during the week. Middle School students will travel to Green Lake, WI on July 13 and return on July 18. This is a very experiential time for our students who will share space with up to 900 other middle school students in games, Bible study, singing and worship and a “back home” group time. The candle-light service overlooking the lake is a meaningful time for all our youth….and the adults who travel with them! please make your check payable to FPCE for $100. A second payment will be due in April for the balance of the family payments. Remember that if you have more than one student participating in either a middle school OR a high school trip, you may deduct $25.00 for each student. Gail Miller has agreed to travel with us for this trip. If you think you would like to be one of the adult chaperones but have some questions about the event and your responsibilities, please do not hesitate to contact Pastor Joy or one of our many adults who have traveled with the group: Bob Gibson, Lynn or Bill Warren, Jerry Barber, Terry Trueb, Ron Myers, Gayle Driscoll, Pam Farrar, Valerie Barber (I’m sure I could have left someone off the list!)…or talk to one of the youth who have participated! TUXIS – High School Group – (Together Under Christ in Service) MIDDLE SCHOOL This group normally meets from 4:00-5:30 pm on Sunday afternoons. A parent volunteer should be present and lead the group in a game and provide snacks. PARENTS, please let us know which of the Sundays will work for you to provide a snack and be present to assist at the meetings. PLEASE let Pastor Joy know when you are NOT going to be present so that plans can be adjusted for the people who do attend. An email at [email protected] or [email protected] a text to 815-501-5522 or a phone call to home 288-4211 or cell 815-501-5522 will be GREATLY appreciated. January 4 – Trip to the Missouri History Museum in St Louis for both groups! January 11 – Prepare for Trivia Night, sledding or skating (Depending on the weather!) January 18 – Prepare for Trivia Night, sledding or skating (Depending on the weather!) January 25 – No meeting because youth will be working at the Trivia Night on the 24th! February 1 – SouperBowl of Caring – party at the Loyet home The Great Escape is set for all Middle School youth for July 13-18, 2015. A deposit for 8 youth and 4 adults was mailed at the end of November taking advantage of a reduced rate for the week. Forms will be available sometime in March. If you have not made your deposit, This group normally meets from 6:30-8:30 pm on Sunday evenings. A volunteer will be present to offer a game and a snack during the last half hour of our meetings. PARENTS, please let us know which of the Sundays will work for you to provide a snack and be present to assist at the meetings. PLEASE let Pastor Joy know when you are NOT going to be present so that plans can be adjusted for the people who do attend. An email at [email protected] or [email protected] a text to 815-501-5522 or a phone call to home 288-4211 or cell 815-501-5522 will be GREATLY appreciated. January 4 – Trip to the Missouri History Museum in St Louis for both groups! January 11 – Prepare for Trivia Night, sledding or skating (Depending on the weather!) January 18 – Prepare for Trivia Night, sledding or skating (Depending on the weather!) January 25 – No meeting because youth will be working at the Trivia Night on the 24th! February 1 – SouperBowl of Caring – party at the Loyet home The High School Go ‘n Serve Mission Trip is scheduled for June 612, 2015. We will travel to Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church in Lexington, KY to participate in a variety of urban ministry activities and learning environments. Deposits are due by January 25, 2015. David Lowry has agreed to travel with us. If you think you would like to travel with the group for this trip, please do not hesitate to contact Pastor Joy or Gail Miller, chair of the Youth Ministry team. Unless otherwise specified in the description each youth group will meet separately at their regular meeting time. Dates to look forward to: April 26 – Visit the Holocaust Museum with a viewing of “The Book Thief” the week before the trip. It is going to be a GREAT year…don’t forget to put us on your calendar. We love spending time with you! mission outreach ministries spotlight Other special events in January include officer ordination and installation on January 11, and the annual meeting of the congregation on Jan. 18. In Christ’s Service, John C. Hembruch, Pastor Pastor’s Blog: http://jchembruch.wordpress.com Friend us on facebook: First Presbyterian Church Edwardsville JANUARY BIRTHDAYS 1 SOCK-IT-TO ME & UNDIES-A-GO-GO Yes, you saw it right. Glen-Ed Pantry is doing the Sock Drive again and adding undies to it this time around. I use them, you use them, we all use them. These are the first two things every kid needs to start the day (well, except for brushing their teeth, washing their face, shower…). Let’s get socks and undies to these kids! January is cold enough without not having that first layer of warmth to start the day. I know you want to. We accept checks and cash, or socks and undies. Drop the socks and undies in the Glen-Ed grocery basket in Fellowship Hall. Checks may be made payable to Glen-Ed Pantry Sock Drive and can be placed in the offering plate, mailed to the church or dropped off in the church office. Or you can go online to our website, www.fpcedw.org, click on the red “giving page” button and make a special gift payment online using your credit card or checking account. Just write “Glen-Ed Sock & Undie Drive” in the memo of your check or in the comments box on the giving page. Thanks for the essentials! MISSION OUTREACH UPCOMING EVENT Mark your calendar for our Mission Fair on March 1, 2015. It’s a chance to visit with our mission partners and discover the work they do. More information to follow. 2 3 4 6 10 14 15 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 27 28 29 30 Kay Siegrist, Valerie Barber, Mimi Braun, Rev. Susan Nieson at the Presbytery Office Carter McCall Jewell Daugherty, Rick Powell, Kris Kassens, Sloan Watson Leanna Jackson Rizzoli Nicholas Trueb Doug Gorsage, Steve Rhoten, Therese Hembruch, Josh McIntyre, Caroline Caton Denny Tiede Sandy Stuart, Brendon Cook Chris Farrar, Andrew Albrecht, Anna Farrar, Molly Farrar, Marion Lampe, Harry Armstrong, Pat Atkinson Don Davis, Bob Towell Abby Cotter Amy Loyet, Dane Lowry Sharon Voss John Baisch Bonnie Sherman, Marsha Wohlford, Alanna Nevenner Ed Nieves Richard Farrell Katie Lambdin, Bob Raymond THANKS! We’d like to offer our thanks for all the work and effort the church put into building our ramp. It has been a real blessing for us. Before we got it, it was a real struggle to get Cyntha in and out of the house, but since the ramp was built we all take advantage of its ease of use. Thank you all, The Bastholm Family
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