CPC: December Update - Celebrate Christmas!

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Chatham Presbyterian

News, Events and More!

December 1, 2013 Newsletter

Issue 21

DECEMBER IS HERE!

How time does fly these days. Can you believe this is my second Christmas serving as your pastor for now? Unbelievable, isn't it?

As we navigate through the holidays, let me encourage you to create a December to remember. Over the years, I've learned there are so many things you can do in your lives to help celebrate this awesome time of the year. Here are a few suggestions:

1) Attend all the Christmas services you possibly can. There is nothing more uplifting than being with Church family during this wonderful season. Join us at CPC this December for a series called "It's A Boy," which will celebrate the birth of Christ in a very creative way....so don't miss a Sunday!

2) Spend major time with all the family you can. It's just a great time to go see Uncle Harry and Aunt Mary!

3) GIVE in creative anonymous ways. It is so fun to give to someone when they least expect it. Have some fun with this one and report back.

4) Eat something you have never tried before. While enjoying all the traditional dishes, why not try something new and creative?

Last, but certainly not least, pick one thing to do for your wellness this next year. What is the one thing you could do for yourself that will be a benefit? Name it and game it!

Have a wonderful Christmas season.

I Love being your Pastor for Now.

Pastor Ken

SAVE THE DATE! December 22nd Children's Program

"March to the Manger," During Worship

On this special day during the church service, we will come to the manger with our gifts to Jesus. There will be a reading of the story with a living nativity. Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, shepherds and wise men will all enter the sanctuary bearing gifts - and the whole congregation will join the scene, bringing our gifts to the manger.
This is a beautiful and tangible way for families to remind their children of the true meaning of Christmas. What will you bring? A deeper spiritual commitment? A financial gift to the church? An act of loving service? Canned food for the needy? Giving up an unhealthy habit? A letter expressing your heart? Wrap it up and bring it to the manger on December 22nd.

THE CLUBHOUSE: FRIENDS, FAMILY, FUN!

What better gift could we get this Christmas than God's love?

Your children will want to join us for "Stocking Stuffers" as we learn about Jesus' birth and how we can share God's love with others because of his love for us.

December 1 - Light of the World - We show God's love to the world (Matthew 5:13-16)
December 8 - Mary Praises God for Jesus - Jesus deserves our love and appreciation (Luke 1:39-56)
December 15 - The Messiah is Born - We love God for sending his Son (Luke 2:1-20)
December 22 - MARCH to the MANGER Christmas program (no Clubhouse)
December 29 - John Tells about Love - The Holy Spirit helps us love each other (1 John 4:7-16)

January Sneak Peek: Best Friends Forever (friendship)

Clubhouse Kids Share God's Love and Make a Big Difference this Christmas. Clubhouse Families - Your donations of canned fruit, vegetables, soup, peanut butter, and jelly will help local families have a bright and cheery Christmas this year. Bring your contributions to the Clubhouse no later than December 8 when they will be packed into the food baskets being distributed to 27 families served through the CPC Angel Tree project. Thank you for sharing God's love with those in need!

Make a difference for our children in 2014 - Volunteer

We need help in the Clubhouse once per month beginning in January for these areas: Greeter and small group leaders for preK/kindergarten, 3^rd, 4^th & 5^th grade. To join our great crew, contact volunteer Childrens' Ministries coordinator Laura Van Proyen at 494-0503 or christianed@chathampresbyterian.org

You'll be glad you did!

Frontline Youth

CPC Frontline Youth will lead Frontline services this month.

Sunday, December 1: Olsen's Cafe opens at 5:45 with affordable, tasty meal options. Youth worship and fun activities go from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Bring a friend!
Sunday, December 8: Olsen's Cafe opens at 5:45. Youth worship and fun activities go from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Angel Tree Baskets will be assembled.
Sunday, December 15: Olsen's Cafe opens at 5:45. Youth worship and fun activities go from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Bring a friend!
Sunday, December 22:Olsen's Café open at 5:45 pm. Youth worship and fun activities go from 6:30 - 8:00 pm.

Holiday Season Women in Word Study

One Thousand Gifts

by Ann Voskamp

Join "Women in the Word," and take some time this holiday season to look at the many joyful blessings God give us every day. That's the focus of the new study, "One Thousand Gifts," to meet at CPC's north Clubhouse room 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Dec. 5, 12 & 19. The guidebook is $9. Questions? Contact Laura Van Proyen at 494-0503. Please note that the study will not meet Dec. 26 or Jan. 2.

JOYS!

Thanksgiving blessings
The beautiful decorating by our Hanging of the Greens teams.
Jim & Cindy Gamble's daughter Laura, who was recently married in Florida.
Todd Marvel's mother, Sally Trawick, with a cancer-free biopsy.
For Clifford & Corrina Dahl who traveled to New York for a drug trial.
For all the volunteers who keep CPC moving forward in so many areas.
For our Pastor Nominating Committee who have begun initial interviews. Keep praying for this team!

Concerns and Prayer Requests Let Us Pray For You

All kids and families facing major trials and illnesses.
Scott Kaiser's parents,

Lem and Helen, transitioning to assisted living in Chatham.
Tina Knollenberg's niece undergoing fetal testing for potentially harmful virus.
Wendy Housel, recovering at home after hospital stay for influenza-type symptoms.
Lenore Forbes, recovering from hip replacement surgery.
Natalie Armstrong: Her grandfather is ill with bone/liver cancer.
Severs Family: Health and family concerns.
Laura Black:Continued prayers for her and her family as she continues treatment for a brain tumor.
Janet Gatschenberger: Her father, John Stone, battling bone/lung cancer.
Dougherty family needing wisdom and clarity.
Jan Day: Her sister Melissa diagnosed with ALS and sister Phyllis who is her caregiver.
Prayers for April Woerner's father, Frank Alves, who is fighting throat cancer.
Lisa Edmison: Brother-in-law fighting kidney cancer.
Wendy Ford: Knee surgery infection.
Dwight Knollenberg:TJ's and Emily's grandpa, age 85, fighting cancer.
Polly Pierce Hulcher:Family friends, the VanPelts, who have a 4-year-old daughter, Olivia, fighting rare cancer.
Margaret Carroll, Marsha Marvel's mother, under hospice care in Peoria.
Russ Marvel, Todd Marvel's father, recovery from surgery.

Military Members

Aled Fain, Eric Anderson, Drew Corell, Margaret Siemer, Brad Miller, Seth Baker, Gary Kirchner, Clay Kuetemeyer, Josh Yakle.

Shut-Ins

Twila Juraska
Maxine McCoy, Lewis Memorial

Boosters: For those in need of extra prayer Clifford, Dave, Corrina & Isaac Dahl; The Baird Family, Irma Gobleman, Dwight Elliott, Mary Jane Elliott, Mae Marie Koster, Lois Siemer, Paul Spindler, Bill and Carolyn Templeton, Cynthia Wilson, Chuck Hendricks.

Please email us your praises and prayer requests.

Need extra emotional support this holiday season? Sign up for "Surviving the Holidays" with Crossroads Counseling on Thursday, December 5th at 6:15.Details here.

Angel Tree Gifts Due Back Tomorrow, December 1st

Thanks to everyone who took tags and went shopping! Please remember to bring your wrapped gifts with the tags attached tomorrow. Frontline Youth will be assembling the next two Sunday nights.

Holiday Book Program is Back! Deadline is tomorrow, December 1st.

Started by retired teachers including our own Jane Byram, this program is designed to give new books to needy children at Christmastime. Donated books are given to twelve social service agencies who in turn give them to the children under their care. For more information on how you and your kids can help with this program, click here.

COLLEGE STUDENT CARE PACKAGES

Across the Miles

Help us show them we care!

Diane Hobson

is still accepting monetary donations for postage, gift cards and care packages that are mailed several times a year. Also, if you have a college student who would enjoy hearing from CPC, please email their address and birthday to Diane

here. Help us let them know their CPC family is thinking of them!

Christmas Eve Service is 6:30 p.m. December 24

CPC Christmas 2011