Focus on Faith

Faith United Presbyterian Church Newsletter

December 25, 2014 

Phone:   734-5129     Hours:  M-F   8 AM - Noon  and 1 -4 PM   

   

Pastor:  Rev. Dr. Kathy Stoner-Lasala

revkathysl@gmail.com  (609) 319-4030

 

     Church Email: faithup@maplecity.com      

Website: www.faithpresmonmouth.org
This Sunday - First Sunday after Christmas Day
December 28, 2014
  10:30 a.m. 

 Christmas Carols

 

Lectionary: Galatians 4:4-7, Psalm 148, Luke 2:22-40
 
Liturgist:  Ann Phelps
Ushers:  Julie Armstrong, Bob Wells, Jonalyn Heaton, Lolla Ballard, Betty McBride 
Greeters: Scott & Jill McClintock and Dixie Wells
Children's Church:  Doug Torrance
Nursery: Lolla Ballard
  Coffee Hour:  No Coffee Hour
CD Recording:  Ted Briscoe 

Don't forget the Christmastide Breakfast at 9:30 a.m.  
It's potluck and bring your own table service

Upcoming Meetings/Events 

 

 
Teddy Bear CDC closed December 24 through January 5

Thursday, December 25 - Church Office Closed 

Friday, December 26 - Church Office Closed

Sunday, December 28 - Christmastide Breakfast - 9:30 a.m. 

Thursday, January 1 - Church Office Closed

Friday, January 2 - Church Office Closed

Sunday, January 4 - Officer Training and Examination of Officers - in the afternoon

Tuesday, January 6 - Session Meeting 7 p.m. - including examination and receipt of additional new members

Saturday, January 10 - Undecorating of Sanctuary - 9 a.m. 

Sunday, January 11 - Ordination & Installation of Officers

Wednesday, January 14 - Wednesday Night Live resumes 
Wednesday Night Live - Resumes January 14, 2015
How to Reach Our Pastor

Want to know how to reach our Pastor?  Kathy's open door office hours are Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and Thursdays 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. To make an appointment at another time, you can call or text Kathy's cell phone at 609-319-4030, or email her at revkathysl@gmail.com. Kathy reserves Fridays for visiting homebound members; her day off is Monday; and if her sermon isn't finished by Thursday, she may be deep in prayer and study on Thursday mornings!
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2015 Pledges

Your Session is hard at work to compile our 2015 Budget.  If you haven't made your financial faith commitment for 2015, now is the time to make this prayerful, faithful decision. Maybe you can't find, or didn't receive, your pledge card?  Not to worry: additional pledge cards are available through the church office. 

Christmastide Breakfast - December 28 


 

Pack your sleigh with a warm casserole or other morning favorite, such as fruit, coffee cake, or donuts to share with the fellowship and your own table service.  Our longstanding tradition of the annual Christmastide Breakfast continues!  Mark your calendar for this potluck in the Social Hall at

9:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 28.  Choir members--remember that you don't have a rehearsal the morning of December 28, so you will be free to attend, if you wish.  Sunday School classes will also be suspended on this day.  No Coffee Hour. 


Nursery
Available from 10:30 through the end of the service on Sunday mornings. 

Children's Church
Meets after the children's Time in the service.  Children's Church helps children to learn to worship God and to understand what happens during worship.  Children 5 years old to 3rd grade are encouraged to attend Children's Church. 

Adult Ed.
Stay tuned for Faith & Life classes resuming in January.

Elementary and Junior High Sunday School
Regular classes January - May
2015 Directory Information  


 It will soon be time  to publish the 2015 church membership directory (white book) for new church officers.  PLEASE, if you have changed your telephone number (perhaps you've dropped your landline) or have moved to a new address during 2014, call the church office or email at faithup@maplecity.com so that Vicki will have your most current information.  We'd like our directory to be as up to date and as useful as possible.  The only reliable way to get this information is for you to tell us! 


 

We want to have the new directories available for all of our church officers at the beginning of January. (NOTE:  This is not to be confused with the pictorial directory coming out in April or May.)  Even if you have given the Hottles your new information for the pictorial directory, the church office will not have access to that in time for the January 2015 directories, so please let the office know your most current information.   

New Officer Training  

Are you a new Deacon or Ruling Elder on Session?  In addition to the Officer Training & Examination of Officers on Sunday, January 4, 2015 at our church, the Presbytery also offers training sessions for new Deacons & Elders on your choice of one of five Saturdays, each held from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. with lunch served at noon. The training is taught by Rev. Richard Johnson, Pastor of the Biggsville United Presbyterian Church.  

WHAT IS TAUGHT? 

During each training event participants will 
  1. Examine and explore the significance of their personal faith to their call to ministry. 
  2. Examine the core beliefs of the PCUSA through the confessions of the church.
  3. Look at each part of the Book of Order and how each applies to their work, and spend some time learning just how amendments and overtures, creeds and confessions become part of the Constitution.
  4. In addition, attendees will tiptoe through the minefield of decision-making and the various ways decisions can be made
  5. Give special attention to addressing controversial issues and conflicts when they arise within the life of the congregation.
  6. Time will be given to help both ruling elders and deacons understand the ministry and role deacons play in the life of the church as well as consider the breadth of the deacons' ministry
  7. Ruling elders will be introduced to the many facets of their office as they seek to lead their congregations and shape their ministries. 
DATES

January 31    -  First Federated Church, 3601 N. Sheridan Road, Peoria, IL  61604

February 7    -  Third Presbyterian Church, 1030 N. 7th Street, Springfield, IL 62702

February 21 -  First Presbyterian Church, 400 E. Carroll Street, Macomb, IL  61455

February 28 -  First Presbyterian Church, 2000 E. College Ave., Normal, IL  61761

March 7 - United Church, 150 W. Third Street, Woodhull, IL  61490

RSVP to Patti Parrish at pparrish@greatriverspby.org or phone 800-537-8592. Be sure to include your name, home and/or cell phone number, and email address in case you need to be contacted about cancellation due to weather. 
Time for Annual Reports 
 
  
Session Committee Moderators and other group leaders -- as 2014 draws to a close, it will soon be time for Vicki to publish our Annual Report to the congregation to be distributed at the next Annual Meeting in January. Let us know who was on your committee and what your committee did during the year to support the overall vision and mission of our church. 
  
In addition to keeping the congregation informed about church life, these reports are invaluable to new moderators coming on as they learn their responsibilities.
  
Reports from the following committees, boards, and groups have usually been included: Pastor, Clerk of Session, Finance & Stewardship Committee (includes Audit, Investments, Budget, Memorials), Board of Deacons,  Worship, Personnel, Outreach, Washday Ministry,  Fellowship, Sewing Circle, Mission, Thai Circle, Nominating Committee, Music, Christian Education, Wednesday Night Live, Youth Ministries, Fillman Fellowship, Presbyterian Women, Presbyterian Women Finances, Bereavement Committee.  Added to the Annual Report will be the 2014 Profit & Loss Budget vs. Actual, Profit & Loss Budget Overview for 2015, and Pledges for 2015.  

If you have questions about what to cover in your report, there are some copies of last year's Annual Report in the office.
  
DEADLINE:  1st week of January 
Prayer Concerns

Don Mills (at the Monmouth Nursing Home); the family & friends of Thomas Vaughn; Esther Mercatoris (Kathy's aunt); Dale Dingman; Louise Roos; Jack Stoner (Kathy's father); Jan Speer (at Monmouth Nursing Home); Rev. John Irwin;  Tamene Bekele; Jim Andrews;  Bobbi Cady (Sarah Torrance's mother); Robert Cooper (Bonnie Heflin's cousin); Bill Smallwood;  Etta Jane Pullen; Ed Strickler; Cathy Abernathy; Greg &  Joy Haning; Bill Hoover; Blaine Robinson; Vern Mettler; Cinda Stansbury; Mary Johnson; Lindsay Murdock. 
Thank You

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the people we serve, the Board of Directors and staff of Jamieson Community Center would like to thank you for your donation of winter apparel for our Christmas Store.  We appreciate your contribution to our mission.

Our programs include Senior Nutrition, summer meals for children, a food pantry, Jingle Bills, STARS, and the Community Christmas Store & Christmas Baskets.  We also provide gently used clothing and household goods at affordable prices through our thrift store.  In the month of November, we served 2, 178 meals to seniors throughout Warren County.  Our pantry has already served more people than we did all of last year.  135 Christmas Baskets will be distributed and 220 children will receive clothing, blankets, hats and mittens from our Christmas Store.  The generosity of our community allows us to provide essential services to help meet the needs of families and individuals.  

Jamieson Community Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  No goods or services were received in exchange for this donation.  Thank you for giving hope to people in need. 

Sincerely,

Nancy Mowen
Executive Director
Jamieson Community Center

Birthdays

 

December 16 -   John Sorensen, Alexis Crosier

December 17  -   Job Runge
December 18  -  Dorothy Hutchisson, Jarrett Baber
December 19  -  Jason Haynes, Evelyn Blackford
December 21 -   William Allison
December 23 -   Joyce Allison
December 25 -   Robert Whiteman, George Nieman
December 26 -   Samantha Fisher
December 27 -   Kristin Sorensen
December 30 -   Bette Vance, Gabriel Torrance
December 31 -    Dawn Brown 

January 2  -    Rose Trimble, Carol Heflin, Mitch McVey
January 5  -    Tralynn Mitchell
January 6  -   John Turnbull
January 7  -    Ann Phelps
January 10 -  Bob Roney, Sheila Wilson, Darlene Moffet

Anniversaries
 
December 19  - Buster & Jane Kellogg (44th)
December 20 -  Lowell & Dee Long (51st)
December 22  - Charles & Joyce Peirce (37th)
February 28    - Greg & Lynn Baber (28th)

Christmas Flowers 2014 Were Given in Memory of:

 

 
  

Emory & Elizabeth Schroeder

     By Evelyn Carlson

 

Jim Long, our son

Evelyn Youssi, Dee's Mom

     By Lowell & Dee Long

 

Dan Adair, Irven & Vera Painter, Mildred Adair, David Lorton, Elvis Black, Dan Reeder, Randy Cooper, Marcia Damos

     By Linda Adair

 

Family Members

     By Ralph & Martha Whiteman

 

Ellen Smith Stoner

     By Kathy Stoner-Lasala

 

David Phelps

     By Marjorie Phelps

 

Our parents, Donald & Janet Themanson

     By Bobbi Themanson &   

     Kristin Sorensen

 

Our parents:  Mr. & Mrs. Merle Melvin

and Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Mettler, Sr.

     By Vern & Norma Mettler

 

My mother, Lois Strickler

     By Jim & Kris Brown

 

My father, Merle Brown

     By Jim & Kris Brown

 

My son, Brian Hendel

     By Kris Brown

 

 Loved Ones

     By Sharon Simpson

 

Marilyn Roney

     By Robert D. Roney

 

All Loved ones

     By Gene & Donna Larson

 

Carl Freed

     By His Family

 

Donovan Duke Vance

     By Elizabeth L. Vance

 

Ronald Lawson and 

Mary Elizabeth Higgins

     By Alice Lawson

 

David Moffet

     By Darlene Moffet

 

Mom & Dad Patterson & Jim Keefe

     By Joyce Patterson

 

Grandma Sandy Townsend

     By Brittany & Jessica Wilson

 

Dave and Ruth Turnbull

     By The John Turnbull Family

 

Our Grandson, Sullivan

     By Bob & Jenny Makiney

 

Merle Brown

     By Patricia Brown

 

Loved Ones

     By Cathy Abernathy

 

 

Our parents, Mr. & Mrs. Vernon Mettler, Sr. and Mr. & Mrs. Charles Well.  Also in memory of Dixie's sister, Pat Comer

   By Bob & Dixie Wells

 

Donna & Walt Wegener and Lyle, Lucy & David Dingman

   By Debbie & Dale Dingman

 

Dr. Don R. Josephson

    By Margaret Josephson

 

In memory of our parents & dear friends

       By Jim & Carol McCurdy

 

James W. and Isabel B. Marshall and other  family members

       By Their Family

My daughter, Rita Carwile Bergren

     By Ruth E. Carwile

 

Jim & Brian Armstrong

     By Julie Armstrong

 

My son, Bryan Figle

     By Peggy Figle & Family

 

Loved Ones

     By Bob & Carolyn Meling

 

Don Robeson

       By Jeanne A. Robeson

 

 

Christmas Flowers 2014

Were given in Honor of:

 


Jan Lorton, Mary Walters, Carolyn Meling

     By Linda Adair

 

Sheila Wilson

     By Brittany & Jessica Wilson

 

Kathy Thompson & Karen Roney

     By Robert D. Roney

 

All who have been so kind after our fire!

     By Gene & Donna Larson

 

Our Family

     By Patricia Brown

 

Grant Stoner & Esther Smith Mercatoris

     By Kathy Stoner-Lasala

 

Our children:  Jenna, Ben, & Beth

     By Debbie & Dale Dingman 

 

My Children & Grandchildren

     By Marjorie Phelps

 

Our daughters and families

     By Kenneth & Phyllis Wilson

 

Children and Grandchildren

     By Jeanne A. Robeson

Our Grandchildren

     By Ralph & Martha Whiteman

 

My Family

     By Alice Lawson

 

Our Church Family

     By Tom Best

 

Our parents:  Shirley Makiney & Mel Kerestes

     By Bob and Jenny Makiney 

 

Shirley Armstrong

     By Julie Armstrong

 

Our grandsons:  Noah, Ethan, & Grady Clark

     By Jonalyn & Gary Heaton

 

Our parents, Patricia Brown & Edwin Strickler

     By Jim & Kris Brown

 

Our Children and Grandchildren

     By Jim & Carol McCurdy

 

 

 

Additional Flower Fund Donations:

Kathy Stoner-Lasala

Evelyn Carlson