Issue 47 Volume 12 - Week of November 23, 2014

From Dr. Jim Weldon, Jr.

Dear FIPC Church Family,

Below is a GREAT article about something we all need... sleep. It applies to teenagers and has some sound advice. I thought I would share it with you...

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Improving Tomorrow Morning By Changing Last Night
An article from David R. Smith at TheSource4YM.com

"Get up! I'm not telling you again! Get out of bed right now!" If your mornings start off with this many exasperating exclamation marks, there are several things you can do to fix it.

Most of which are very, very simple.

The Magic Number Is 9

No, that's not the winning lottery numbers for this weekend's jackpot. Nine is the number of hours of sleep most doctors and researchers believe teenagers need each - and every - night. Specifically, the Sleep Foundation suggests between 8.5 and 9.25 hours each evening, but according to research by the same group, only 15% of adolescents are getting enough sleep on school nights.

Short rests at night can lead to short tempers in the morning.

Here are a few ideas that researchers and parents have discovered that can make all of our mornings a lot more peaceful.

Develop Regular Sleep Patterns
The typical teenager's life includes any combination of the following: a 7-hour school day, sports practice, a part-time job, homework, digital media entertainment (such as music, movies, and television content), and spending time with friends and family. That doesn't leave much time for sleep. When sleep deprivation happens, a teenager is more susceptible to a host of problems that range from lower grades to an increased likelihood of vehicular accidents.

Interestingly, parents think this problem can be solved by sleeping in on the weekends...but according to Dr. Dennis Rosen of The Harvard Medical School, it can't. Sleeping in on Saturdays and Sundays may replenish a sleep deficit, but it produces a larger problem with teens' inner clock compared to external clocks resulting in a circadian rhythm that's out of sync with life. According to Dr. Rosen, when kids try to cram in a lot of sleep on the weekends, it's like having jet lag every Monday morning; kids wake up because their alarm clocks read 6:00 a.m., but their bodies are telling them it's 1:00 a.m.

But developing regular, disciplined sleep patterns is only one part of the solution. There are other steps you can take, such as...

No Screens Before Bed...Especially Old Smurf Reruns

Jonathan McKee commented to me that one of the biggest complaints he hears from parents in his parent workshops each month is the smartphone. Most young people in the U.S. own them and are spending hours each day on these devices... right up until the lights are clicked off. Most experts are citing the smartphone as the No. 1 culprit keeping young people awake at night.

But new findings are saying that we should also take a close look at what stays turned on after the lights are turned off because of their effect on our bodies.

A healthy person's pineal gland begins to release melatonin a few hours before the body's perceived bedtime. However, some lights, especially the blue lights from a screen, can deter the pineal gland from releasing the necessary melatonin, thus delaying a natural (and needed) sleepiness.

So, not only should kids not watch Smurf reruns, but it might be a good idea to check all sources of light in a bedroom. What color is the alarm clock's display? Are there any blinking lights coming from an electronic device that's being recharged? What about light streaming in through a window?

Turning off blue lights at night can keep you from singing the blues in the morning.

If Possible, Go To School When The Doctor Says So

Fair warning: this is a controversial point of discussion amongst leading thinkers, sociologists, and even politicians. Years ago, many of us parents and youth workers started school closer to 7:30 a.m. than 9:00 a.m., but there's a strong argument these days that the latter might be better.

The American Academy of Pediatrics just released a recommendation to begin middle school and high school classes no earlier than 8:30 a.m. because of observations they've made in teens' circadian rhythms. According to doctors, a "shift" in circadian cycles occurs during adolescence that pushes teens' best sleeping times forward (which is why many young people struggle to go to sleep before 11:00 p.m., even though they may have been in bed for an hour or more).

Research aside, there are two high schools in my town, one that starts at 7:30 a.m. and one that starts at 9:00 a.m. Some of the students at my church (like my teenage daughter) attend the "early" school, and some attend "cappuccino" school, the nickname the students gave the school that begins at 9:00 a.m. Even the blind man can see the difference in attitude between the sets of students each morning. Most mornings, I bump into kids who attend the later school at the coffee shop or local McDonalds as they meet with friends and chat before heading over to the school. Time will tell if a later start time will positively impact school grades, driving safety, and more.

Getting Back to Good Mornings

Mornings don't have to start with a bunch of yelling and screaming, hustle and bustle, or hurt feelings. Like most other things in life, a little bit of preparation can solve a lot of potential problems. Fixing the nighttime routines can go a long way towards achieving a fight-free morning the next day.

Just remember, even though you can tip the scales in your family's favor, all new habits take some time to develop and strengthen. You probably shouldn't expect change to happen "overnight," but within a couple weeks, your family should start to see some marked improvement.

In the future, perhaps it will truly be a good morning.

- See more at: The Battle Over The Bed...That Began Last Night

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God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good!

Grace and Peace,

Jim Weldon

Church Celebrations

FIPC Hosts a
Quinceañera!

A Quinceañera (pronounced: [kin.se.aˈɲe.ɾa], for Aleyssa Acevedo-Collado was celebrated on November 22 at 4:30 pm in the FIPC sanctuary. Dr Jim Weldon officiated over the ceremony. Many family members and friends from all over Florida, South Carolina, and Puerto Rico were in attendance to celebrate this event with Aleyssa's parents Cesar and Luz Acevedo-Collado.

This solemn ceremony, of Spanish origin, is celebrated on the 15th birthday of young women. It signifies the transition of moving from childhood to adulthood. The ceremony includes prayers, scripture readings, statements, traditional gifts, and blessings.

Church Announcements

Christmas Offering

Now through December 29

During this holiday season, a season of generosity, we would like to offer you the opportunity to give to a special Christmas Offering. This Christmas Offering is intended for gifts above and beyond your regular giving. The Christmas Offering will be dedicated to the FIPC Building Fund with the goal of raising the equivalent of one month's mortgage payment ($9,287.26)! Each Sunday, you will be provided with a special Christmas Offering envelope to use for your gifts to this offering. The Christmas Offering begins this Sunday, November 16, and the last day to give will be December 29. As you are making your gift giving list and checking it twice, be sure to remember a gift to your church. If you have any questions, please contact Joe Perry, Treasurer, or Dawn Vanderpool, CFO & Church Administrator.

Love Offering

A Gift of Appreciation for Our Pastor and Staff

Now through December 7

FIPC Family,

During this special season of generosity, if you would like to give thanks to our Pastor and four paid staff members, the Session invites you to contribute to a special "Love Offering". This gift will be presented to them prior to Christmas. Since our Pastor and staff have not received raises in two years and do not receive a Christmas bonus, I know these gifts will be deeply appreciated. If you would like to contribute, please place your gift in an offering envelope and mark it "Love Offering". You can put your envelope in the offering plate any Sunday until December 7th or give it to one of the Elders to be handled.

Thank you for your support and generosity.

Joe Perry, Treasurer

You Are Cordially Invited To

FIPC's Annual Adult Christmas Dinner

Thursday, December 11

Town Hall Event Center (Behind Island Life Grill)

1859 Town Hall Circle, Fleming Island

6:00 pm Social Time / 6:30 pm Dinner

Seared Chicken with Wild Mushroom Marsala Sauce

Carved Round of Beef with Natural Jus

Grilled Vegetable Lasagna

Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes

Fall Squash and Vegetable Medley

Mixed Field Greens Salad

Bakery Rolls

Dessert

RSVP and pay by December 7
$20.00 per person (includes gratuity)

Make checks payable to FIPC

Bring a $10 nice gift (ONE PER PERSON) to exchange
Dress is party casual

Women's Ornament Exchange

December 15 @ 6:30 pm

Gathering Area of Worship Building

This is an annual event for the women of our church that you won't want to miss! Invite a friend and enjoy an evening of fun and fellowship. Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share and a wrapped ornament to exchange ($5-$10 limit). For more information, please contact Ann Roos at 887-2265 or Sara Dryden at 269-2412 ext. 702.

Christmas Eve Family Service

December 24 @ 4:00 pm

Sanctuary

Looking for Hams, Divas, and SuperStars for our Family Christmas Eve Service! We have speaking, as well as non-speaking, roles for Children, Youth, and Adults! Practices will be for one hour on Sundays after church beginning December 9th. Don't like the spotlight? We need volunteers for set decoration, costumes, and stage hands (community service hours for youth volunteers!). Contact Carissa Hogan at 449-0703 for more information.

Blackboard writings A good example is the best sermon

Upcoming Messages

Don't miss out on the important messages that FIPC has planned:

November 30 - Mike Horst - Christmas is Forgiving, Part 1.

December 7 - Rev. Greg Cruice - Christmas is Forgiving, Part 2.

December 14 - Pastor Jim Weldon - Christmas is Forgiving, Part 3. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

Pastor Jim invites conversation on the topics before the scheduled Sunday. Dates and topics are subject to change.

Adult Ministries

Christian Growth Classes

January 11 @ 1:00 pm

Worship Building

We would love for you to join the church and continue your discipleship journey by partaking in one of these classes. If you are interested in joining the church or attending one of the classes, please contact Sara Dryden, Director of Membership. 1st Base participants, please sign up ahead of time in order to receive information to be discussed at the meeting.

Youth & Children's Ministries

The NET Wednesday Nights

6:30-8:30 pm

The Shack

November 26: Thanksgiving holiday--No NET.

December 17: Ugly Sweater Christmas Party--bring a $5 gag gift.

ROCK Wednesday Nights

5:30-7:00 pm

ROCK Room

ROCK stands for "Reaching Out for Christ's Kingdom" and is a youth group for 5th and 6th graders. Check out the fun that is planned this Fall:

November 26: Thanksgiving holiday--No ROCK.

In This Issue

Church Celebrations

Church Announcements

Adult Ministries

Youth & Children Ministries

Thank You

Thanks and Prayer Requests

This Week's Funny

This Week's Devotional

FIPC Calendar

A Record of Our Faithfulness

FIPC is a member supported church.

We do not receive any outside funding. Everything we do is made possible through your faithful giving.

New Members This Year: 21

Attendance:

11/23/14 = 147

Ministry & Building Fund Offerings:

11/23/14 = $6,893.00

(2014 weekly need = $10,048)

Offering envelopes are available in the church bulletin for cash offerings. The envelopes are not necessary for checks. If you ever have any questions about FIPC finances, please contact our CFO & Church Administrator, Dawn Vanderpool, at the church office at (904) 269-2412 ext. 701.

Sunday Worship

Worship Service is held every Sunday morning
10:00 AM

Attire is casual. It is an uplifting, come as you are service.

God never intended for us to go it alone!

We want to help you find the Small Group where you can you grow in your faith and have some fun doing it!

ChristLife - Senior High Youth

Fuel - Jr. High Youth Group

ROCK / Children

Thank You Notes

Thanks to:

The Hospitality Team for Sunday morning refreshments!

The counting team for your continued service to your church!

Our Awesome Worship Band!

Those who helped usher/greet last Sunday!

Our Children's Ministry Volunteers!

Our Youth Ministry Team!

Announcements

Announcements for the e-newsletter, power point slide show during worship, and web site should be emailed to Dawn Vanderpool by 9 am on Mondays.

Announcements for the bulletin should be emailed to Sara Dryden by 10 am on Tuesdays.

Christian Counseling Center

A ministry of Fleming Island Presbyterian Church, The Christian Counseling Center of FIPC is an outreach of the church to our community.

Church Staff

If you would like to contact a church staff member please go to our website.

Facebook

Check out our Facebook page! It's a great way to add photos of events and stay in contact with your church.

Quick Links

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News

Related Topics

More On Us

Thanks and Prayer Requests

Praise / Thanks:

To God for all the new families He is bringing to us.
To God for blessing us abundantly.
To God for His Word revealed to us in the Bible.
To God for all those who work so hard behind the scenes.
To God for our Hospitality Ministry.
To God for our Sunday School Team.
To God for our Youth Group Leaders.
To God for our Great Worship Band and AV Team.
To God for all those folks who pray each day for FIPC.

Praise from the Welcome Cards:

Thank you Lord for the FIPC family, for strength and support.
Church family caring for us; the Lord's provision; our families.
5th Quarter, praise all your work.
We will all be together for Thanksgiving this week.
Great sermon. 5th Quarter sponsors and volunteers.
God's presence during the FSU shooting.
Praise God for his many blessings He has given me, especially my job.
Prayer for shooting victims at FSU.

Prayer Requests:

For our community.
For our church's growth in spirit, connections, and number.
For those who do not know Christ.
The grace to live out our faith.
For our FIPC Pastor, Staff, Elders, Deacons and their families.
For families and individuals who are hurting.
For the PCUSA and FIPC's response to the changes. For our Denominational Relations Committee.
Martha Williams, health.
Faircloth family.
Sydney Ward.
Betty Gedrottis

Prayers from the Welcome Cards:

Our friend, Kim, who was just diagnosed with breast cancer.
The Mettert family, they lost two members of their family in one month.
Pray for strength, and peace for friend, Gil, who will have 1st holidays without his wife of 40 years, who passed this summer.
Healing grace for Bruce. Safe travel and healing for Janey.
To all who are suffering.
Pray for daughter, Brittany, doors open for new job that she can thrive and allow her to be home with family.
Martha Williams, Ruth Thomas, Betty Gedrottis and all who are ill and suffering. CH on upcoming surgery. Safe travel for all over the holidays.
Chuck M. for this Tuesday cancer surgery.
Safe travels during this Thanksgiving holiday season.
Don's car is fixed today. Lord will continue to cement small groups together.
For Georgiann who is suffering from the effects of radiation treatment. Lord touch her heart so that she will accept you. For Jim and family to travel safely to and from Hong Kong.

This Week's Funny

Happy Thanksgiving!

This Week's Devotional

"Your Pain Often Reveals God's Purpose"

by Rick Warren

PurposeDriven.com

"God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things." (2 Corinthians 1:4, 6 NLT)

Your pain often reveals God's purpose for you. God never wastes a hurt! If you've gone through a hurt, he wants you to help other people going through that same hurt. He wants you to share it. God can use the problems in your life to give you a ministry to others. In fact, the very thing you're most ashamed of in your life and resent the most could become your greatest ministry in helping other people.

Who can better help somebody going through a bankruptcy than somebody who went through a bankruptcy? Who can better help somebody struggling with an addiction than somebody who's struggled with an addiction? Who can better help parents of a special needs child than parents who raised a special needs child? Who can better help somebody who's lost a child than somebody who lost a child?

The very thing you hate the most in your life is what God wants to use for good in your life.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 1, verses 4 and 6, "God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things" (NLT).

This is called redemptive suffering. Redemptive suffering is when you go through a problem or a pain for the benefit of others.

This is what Jesus did. When Jesus died on the cross, he didn't deserve to die. He went through that pain for your benefit so that you can be saved and go to Heaven.

There are many different causes for the problems, pains, and suffering in your life. Sometimes the stuff that happens you bring on yourself. When you make stupid decisions, then it causes pain in your life. If you go out and overspend and buy things you can't afford and presume on the future, and then you go deeply in debt and lose your house, you can't say, "God, why did you let me lose my house?" You can't blame God for your bad choices.

But in some of your problems, you're innocent. You've been hurt by the pain, stupidity, and sins of other people. And some of the pain in your life is for redemptive suffering. God often allows us to go through a problem so that we can then help others.

Fleming Island Presbyterian Church 1743 County Road 220 Fleming Island, FL 32003 904-269-2412 www.myfipc.org Directions