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Greetings!
About the time you are reading this, we will be preparing to take down our Nativity
sets that help me and JoAnn celebrate Advent and Christmas. I can't help but
wonder if this activity is not at times indicative of our personal faith. When we
open the Nativities to place carefully on the shelves, it is an exciting and joyful time,
much like our faith at this Christmas time. But then, life begins to get in the way. Just
like we do with our decorations, at times we move our faith to the side. After all, we
can't keep that excitement of Christmas going year round. Or can we? It might take
some effort, but I want to do everything in my power to keep that feeling as alive as it is
during Christmas. Joining in Worship Celebration helps do that. Meeting in small
groups feeds that excitement (don't miss the new study starting with the Women in the Word group - details below). Spending some time in prayer and Scripture every day makes faith come alive each and every day. What will you do to make your faith as exciting and joyful as it was this Christmas season?
"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." Charles Dickens
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Office Update
Things are changing quickly in the new office section of the church and in the Loft. Painting is just about finished, the carpet will be put down in about a week, and then trim and doors, and we are ready to move in. Upstairs in the Loft, we are ready for carpet, a little more finish work, set things in place, and it will be open for our youth to enjoy. If you haven't taken a look in either area, stop in. You will be surprised!
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 Jim's Schedule in January and February
Jim will be having another back surgery on January 11. This time, he is required to rest for at least six weeks. Getting back to normal too quickly hindered the healing process last time. Jim will preach Jan. 3 and 10. Please keep him in your prayers during his recovery time. Meanwhile, Jon Keck, a chaplain at St. Mary's Hospital in Decatur returns to CPC on January 17 and 31, February 14 and 21 while Keith Anderson preaches on Feb. 7.
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Let's Go Spelunking in January! Bible Exploration
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Clubhouse in January
Jan 3: Wise Men Visit Jesus; We seek Jesus every day; Matthew 2:1-12.
Jan 10: Paul's Charge to Timothy; We believe the Bible because it's from God; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Peter 1:20-21
Jan 17: Paul Preaches at Antioch; We know God loves us because of the Bible; John 20:30-31; Acts 13:16-23
Jan 24: David Loves God's Word; We follow God's Word every day; Psalm 119:11
Jan 31:Paul Explains How Christians Grow Strong; We learn how to live from the Bible; Hebrews 5:11-6:3
A Clubhouse Family Sunday Event: Let's Go Bowling. January 17, 2016 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Showtime Lanes, 1515 N Springfield St (Route 4) in Virden. Bowling (includes shoe rental) and Pizza. Cost: Children under 12 - FREE. Others $6.00. Friends are welcome with permission slip (available at Clubhouse counter or church office). RSVP by January 13 to Kim Stolba at k.stolba@yahoo.com or 319-512-8930.
SAVE THE DATE: Vacation Bible School, June 19 - 23, 2016. It will be warm then, right?!
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Jan 3: Frontline returns to action, 5:45 at Olsen's Cafe.
2016 Mission Trip! We will do mission work in Louisville, Kentucky at Cedar Ridge Camp June 26 - July 1, 2016. With team-building initiatives at the beginning of the week, helping with camp maintenance during the day and enjoying some of Louisville's attractions in the evening, this trip will bless our CPC Frontline Students with the opportunity to serve and then relax and play too.
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Food Pantry Update for Sunday Jan. 3
Our Kids with Karts are going on temporary hiatus in January because the Food Pantry is bursting at the seams after a number of community food drives in December. They can always use monetary donations to purchase perishable goods so feel free to help in that way. Just mark your check "Chatham Food Pantry."
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Joys and Thanks
- Celebrating the birth of Christ the Lord!
- Thankful for the work crew and volunteers who continue to help with the building renovation.
- Kim Geving back to work!
- From Jane Byram: "A huge thank you to my CPC family for your contributions to the 'Gift of Reading' holiday book drive. Between $330 and 32 books donated, you helped us provide books for nearly 4,900 children this year. The children and I appreciate it!"
- From Clifford Dahl, written in Braille: "Thank you for building a ramp for me. You did a lot of hard work. It will really h elp me get in the house. Your friend, Clifford Ray Dahl."
- From Bob and Jill Speicher: "A big thank you to all who donated to the Angel Tree gift ministry. The staff at Contact Ministries was so appreciative of your gifts, especially the effort to concentrate on teens. They had more than 400 families in need this year, and your generosity helped show them God's love this Christmas."
Prayer requests include: Laura Black, battling brain tumor; Sheila Dudra; Mary Elliott; Bill Carter's sister-in-law, Joyce Carter, surgery 12/7 for cancer; Jim Reitz, back surgery Jan. 11 and recovery after; Steve Sabo, at home recovering from stem cell transplant, Bob and Jill Speicher's daughter Carri and husband Ben - safe travels to Oklahoma after the untimely death of Ben's father.
Prayer Requests may be submitted via email: info@chathampresbyterian.com; website: chathampresbyterian.com; or call the office 483-4204, 9 a.m. to noon, weekdays. After hours, call Cindy Gamble 483-3835 (h), 971-1751 (c) or Tina Knollenberg, 652-4715.
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