Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church Spire
December 15, 2014     
In This Issue
Men's Retreat
Advent Banners
Celebrate The Season
Coats For Kids
Pilgrim Church Dinner
York Connection
BLANKETS 4 KIDS
PWPD
Inter-Faith Council News
Ronald McDonald House

In the Life of Our Congregation  

  Attendance  

 

November 9        183
November 16      194
November 23      198
November 30      147
December 7        210

  Visitors 

 

Randy Wiseman, Jason Hendrix, Rachel Baumgartner, Amy,
Elizabeth and Walter Schmidt, Cole McCaughan, Shaun
Hardimon, Sherron Goelz, Diana Mente, Judy Ranka, Jason and
Emily Haas

 

 

Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministry

 

December 21  
Psalm 89:1
I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever with my
mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.

 

December 28
Psalm 148:1-2
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts. 


  
Contact a pastor or Julie Gloor for more information about this ministry.
GIPC Connections
Our Website:
www.gipc.org

GIPC Church Calendar

Visit us on Facebook!

Follow Us on Twitter: GIPresbyChurch

Subscribe to our sermon podcast on iTunes: "Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church Sermons"

Check out what's happening nationally:

www.pcusa.org

Join Our Mailing List
Men's Annual Retreat 
Men of the church, remember to sign up for the
2015 Retreat

to be held on Friday, February 6 and Saturday, February 7.

The topic this year:  
"Questioning Everything and Living by the Spirit"
presented by the Very Rev. Philip Dinwiddie, St. James Episcopal Church.


 

The ROSE
HOPE 
Messianic prophecy

The DOVE
 PEACE
God establishes the first covenant with the people
LILY OF THE VALLEY
LOVE
purity and humility


Christmas Eve Communion Paten and Chalice

 
Advent photos courtesy of Mike Reynolds
Celebrate The Season . . .
Fourth Sunday of Advent ~ JOY ~ 
 
The palm tree represents
joy ~ an ancient symbol of paradise . . . We celebrate joy in Christ's coming rooted in the promise of God's eternal love.


   The purple candles represent the anticipatory nature of advent candles this time. The Advent wreath is a symbol of the entire season that has provided continuity for our journey through Advent to the time of the birth of Jesus.
Wednesday, December 24
Christmas Eve Services
  10:00 am    
Brief Communion Service for those who prefer not to come at night.
    5:00 pm
Family Candlelight Worship, a child friendly worship service for Christians of all ages. Nursery provided.
    7:00 pm
Candlelight Worship with Communion - a full service of music with special solos, scripture, and a communion service for this most special of nights. Nursery provided.
  11:00 pm
Candlelight Worship w/ Communion - a traditional service of lessons and carols complete with the Adult Choir, communion service and the touching midnight candle lighting. No nursery provided during this service.
 

 

Coats For Kids

Last month our youth started a collection of coats, hats, and gloves for the children of Harms Elementary School.
  The congregation's response was overwhelmingly generous and we were able to give coats, hats, and gloves to many, many children at that school.
  Thank you all for your support and we are already looking forward to ways we can continue the connection we have built with the children in that community.

 

I Am My Brother's Keeper Church

   Pilgrim Church is located in Detroit and one of their most important ministries is helping the homeless in the city. Every Tuesday and Thursday evening they invite the homeless to come hear God's Word, have a hot meal, and afterwards spend the night in their gymnasium.
   On Tuesday, December 30, our youth will help serve dinner to the guests of Pilgrim Church along with some other members of our church. We will meet at GIPC at 5:00 pm and should return by 8:00 pm. It's a very important ministry and we hope that you are able to be a part of it.
   Contact Grace Iglehart at giglehart@gipc.org and let her know what youth are interested in coming by Sunday, December 28 so she can be sure that we have enough car space and chaperones.

York Connection

Tips For Seniors

 Is that what's troubling you, Bunkie? 
  During the holiday season, it is easy to become stressed-out by obligations and errands. It's cold outside, your immune system is being assaulted by the flu bug and, every day, there's less sunshine to help lift your spirits. You may be eating worse, sleeping less, and drinking more. Often, by the time the family gathering rolls around, you're worn out, tense, and fragile. For many, the sources of holiday stress are family related: the family dinner, obligations and the burden of annual traditions. Holiday stress can make it more difficult to cope with family than at other times of the year. This year, try to determine what it is about the holidays that gets you down. Is it unhappy memories, toxic relatives, awkward changes, or burdensome traditions?       Cutting through the vague sense of dread about family gatherings and identifying specific problems can help you deal with them directly and make sensible choices. Here are some suggestions:
*Limit your commitments to the ones you have time to really enjoy, avoiding that rushed or pressured feeling.
*Stick to a reasonable budget to eliminate money concerns.
*Avoid excessive eating and drinking.
*Get plenty of rest to overcome fatigue and build a reserve of energy.
*Release negative thoughts about the holiday and focus upon positive expectations.
*Visualize the approaching New Year as an opportunity to make a fresh start; a genuine, "new" year.
- Chief Runamuck

Yoga "Feeling Fit" Class

Our December schedule is Thursday, December 18 @ 10:30 am. and an added class on Tuesday, December 30 @ 11:45 am.  $5/class - welcome all ages and levels of mobility.   Class meets for 45 minutes.
2015 classes will resume on Thursdays at 10:30 am. starting January 8.


BLANKETS 4 KIDS

Attention non-sewers!  
On January 18, after each service, you will have the opportunity to make a no-sew fleece blanket for a child victim of sexual abuse to be used during their medical exams. We would be supporting Kids-TALK Children's Advocacy Center in their efforts to comfort these children. THE NEED IS GREAT! Over 7000 abuse and neglect intakes occur in Wayne County every year.
   Bring sharp scissors with you for cutting the fringe!!

Contact Jeanne Kennedy from Mission and Stewardship Commission for more information. 

Presbyterian Women (PWPD)

   The Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery of Detroit gathered at Celtic Cross Church in Warren for their December 3 program "The Many Musical Moods of Christmas."
   Dr. Jim Parker accompanied the Christmas sing-along before the business meeting and after the business portion of the gathering, played a medley of music that captured the many moods of Christmas. He accompanied Michelle Lepidi as she sang "I Wonder As I Wander" and "Oh, Holy Night" in her beautiful soprano voice. She completely changed the mood with an animated version of "Santa, Baby."
  With the Celtic Cross sophisticated technical equipment, pastor Rev. Matthew Means handled the DVD of the Boar's Head Festival as the 75 ladies and gentlemen in attendance saw excerpts from the 2006 Festival on two large overhead screens. I narrated scenes of the entrance of the Beefeaters, the boar's head, the yule log, the royal procession, and the "Twelve Days of Christmas."
  Following the program we enjoyed a satisfying lunch of hot chicken noodle soup, a make-your-own salad and tasty desserts. Anita Teresko provided transportation to the Celtic Cross Church gathering for Dianne Bridges and me.
  The next gathering will take place on February 4 at the Grosse Pointe Woods Presbyterian Church. On Saturday, March 14 will be the PWPD retreat in Royal Oak and the PWPD meets on April 1 at St. Johns in Detroit. Coming up from June 18-21 will be the Presbyterian Women's Churchwide Gathering in Minneapolis, MN.

- by Pamela A. Frucci, liaison
     with the PWPD

 

Interfaith Council Thanks You

  The island churches are always ready to give a helping
hand and it was evident again this year when we hosted the
ChristNet homeless program. Our five island churches, as well
as St. Cyprian's in Riverview, participated by hosting their
evening and serving dinner, having volunteers spend the night and preparing breakfast for our guests before they left for the day.
   Our Wednesday night dinner of ham and all the trimmings is
always a special treat for our guests. Many of you helped
prepare the meal while others showed up to help serve the
dinner as well as  visit. Thank you for the giving of your time
to help our ChristNet guests have a memorable week with us.
Your enthusiasm and generosity was greatly appreciated by
members of the Inter-Faith Council as well as our 28 guests.
- Jo-Anne Gronlund
Grosse Ile Inter-Faith Council of Churches

 

Ronald McDonald House

Here is how the crew was greeted as we arrived to serve lunch on December 12. Santa's beard was REAL. People from the Dearborn Firefighters were passing out gifts at RMcD House that morning.
photo courtesy of Bill Rito 
 
The Spire is a publication of the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church, 7925 Horsemill Road, Grosse Ile, Michigan. The purpose of this newsletter is to share news and information about GIPC and our denomination.

Contributions are invited and encouraged. The Communications Commission reserves the right to accept or reject submissions and to edit to fit available space or for style and consistency.

Material is due six business days before the first or the fifteenth of the month. Emailed submissions should be sent to spire@gipc.org.

Please contact the church office or a member of the Communications Commission if you have any questions. Communications Commission: Sue Ashley, Marta Kramer, Ray Kramer, Carl Krohn, Nancy Morrison