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December 2012
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(scroll to see it all)
(click on to JUMP TO)
 
From Our Pastors 
  News from Adult Day          Services
  Green Screen Movie
BIrthdays and stuff 
Poinsettia/Special Music Order Form
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CHURCH SERVICES AT THE KNOLLS  

 (notice a change)

The first service for December will be Tuesday, December 11 at 2pm.

However, since the 4th Tuesday in December falls on Christmas Day the service will be changed to THURSDAY December 27 at 10:30.  Thank you! We will be in the Country Kitchen and anyone who would care to come is invited.

Becky Quay

 
Deadline for the January
newsletter is December 20, 2012 
 
FROM OUR PASTORS 

 

barbara-pulpit2 As we move into the season of Advent in 2012, we're aware that so many people are living with at least intermittent bouts of anxiety: concern for a loved one's health or well-being, economic worries, anxiety for the future, stress in the wake of natural disasters, concern for the state of the world with new outbreaks of war and violence.  

         Recently, I've come across two poems, one new and one old favorite, which speak to the condition in which we live. Both poems name the stresses of the human condition, but remind us of the promises of God on which we can rely. They remind us that, whatever we face, we can trust our lives and the lives of those we love to our strong and faithful and merciful God, and to our Savior Jesus whose coming we await once again.

 

 

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eve

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holly

 

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES

Monday, December 24

 

 Family Service: 4:30 p.m.

 Informal service designed for children and  youth and their families, with everyone of any  age welcome.

 

 Traditional Service: 7:30 p.m. Lessons and  Carols, with special music and candle lighting.

 

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christine
christianeducation 
 
 
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION 

You can contact Christine Garton at [email protected] or call or text her cell at 850-276-3231.

 

 

Thank you to our November 2nd-5th grade Sunday School rotation teachers Roberta Crain, Paula Green, Karen Shearer and Jennifer Walter.

 

Christine Garton will be away at an Advent spirituality retreat at the Transfiguration Spirituality Center in Cincinnati Nov. 30-Dec. 2.    

 

Youth group will have it's normal meeting on Sunday, Dec. 2 from 4-5:30 PM at the Seminary. Jenn and Rachel, our youth interns, will be leading the games and the message.

  
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CARES, CONCERNS, JOYS AND THANK YOUs

 

IN OUR PRAYERS:

 

Keep these friends in your prayers:

Helen Martin, Vi Suit, Vada Sanford, Cathy Fey, Gene and Faye Santavicca, Marilyn Rettig, Asa (Drena Bowerman's son), Lucy Ferris, Brian Hitsman, Harold Gilmoew (Genee Hesse's brother)and Stephen Kuehn (who has been deployed to Qatar)

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We give thanks for the life of Dr. Jerry Buerk and we pray for comfort and peace for his wife Ellen, their family and all his loved ones.

 


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deacons
DEACONS
 

 

 

Angel Report: Cards, rides, errands, calls and visits will be reported in January.

Special Projects: $100 spent for 2 children at Kramer in dire need of Warm clothing.

Deacons do not meet in December.

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The Deacons thank all church members who donated blood on October 24. We had a total of 35 donors and collected 28 units (pints) of blood. Our goal was to collect 29 units. We were pleased with the final result.

We hope that many church members will be able to donate blood in April and November in 2013.

Winners of the Miami University Athletic Department sports events are:

 

Football:  Tyler Thurtell

Women's Basketball: Becky Quay

Men's Basketball: Mike Murray

Volleyball: Joe Simpson

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Do you know someone who needs a Prayer Shawl? We have all shapes, sizes and colors available. If you have a friend or relative to whom you would like to give a Prayer Shawl, please call Sue Skillings 523-3120.

 

 


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                   women
Oxford Presbyterian Church Women 

 

The OPW Cookie Walk and Craft Sale will be on December 1st.

 circles

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CIRCLE MEETINGS

 

THE TUESDAY AFTERNOON CIRCLE and

THE TUESDAY EVENING CIRCLE

Will resume meetings in the New Year.

 

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The Annual OPW Christmas Tea will be held on Sunday, December 9th, in the Molyneaux Library at 2:30 pm.  Come join us for a reading of a Christmas story, singing Christmas carols, wonderful Christmas cookies, and great fellowship.  This will be a nice break from the hustle-bustle of the season.  Jean Derickson will play the piano for our sing-along.  The OPW Coordinating Team is planning this event and Sarah Jane Soika is the contact person.

 

  

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annoucements
ANNOUCEMENTS  

  

 

 

The 2013 Per Capita Apportionment is $26.55.

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2013 WORSHIP FLOWERS NEEDED:There is a 2013 calendar available for those wishing to sign up to give Sunday morning flowers.The cost is $20.00.  You will find the calendar located next to the Molyneaux Library above the water fountain. Contact person is Marjorie Smith, 523-3895.

 

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CHURCH SERVICES AT THE KNOLLS (notice a change)

Fairly recent church services on DVD will be shown at The Knolls on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. The first service for December will be Tuesday, December 11 at 2pm.

However, since the 4th Tuesday in December falls on Christmas Day the service will be changed to THURSDAY December 27 at 10:30.  Thank you! We will be in the Country Kitchen and anyone who would care to come is invited.

Becky Quay

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fridayFIRST FRIDAY NITERS

 

 

Will meet on Friday, December 7th at the home of Jean and Mel Derickson.(2650 Oxford-Millville Road)

If you need a ride, contact Nancy Sturgeon at 523-4309. Everyone is welcome!

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WISHED FOR GIFTS

THE MITTEN TREE is once again bursting with mittens for children of all ages. If you are able, please take a mitten from the tree, write out your check for $40-$50 made payable to the Oxford Presbyterian Church, then bring everything to the Molyneaux Library after services on

  • December 2                               christmas gift
  • December 9 or
  • December 16

where Karen Shearer will assist you and answer questions. Your donation will allow a gift(s) to be purchased by the parents for their child or children at Wal-Mart. Parents are thrilled to be able to make choices for their children at Christmas time that would otherwise be impossible. Parents are under the supervision of the Family Resource Center. Volunteers at Wal-Mart assist with the shopping and the check out. Let us help light up yet another face at Christmas!

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This year's Cookie and Craft Sale is almost here.

Save these dates please;

  1. Friday 11/30/12 - bring cookies/candies and crafts to the Seminary from 8:00AM-5:30 PM
  2. Saturday 12/1/12 - come to buy cookies and crafts or to just have a cup of coffee/cocoa and a few cookies plus some conversation in the caf�.

 

Please help us raise money for missions by baking cookies to sell, buying

 

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A happy group of OPC elves will be going to Safe Haven Farm on Sunday, December 2, to decorate their Hatton Center for the Christmas season.  Safe Haven is a home for autistic adults, located on beautiful farmland near Middletown. Jim Wilson, son of christmas tree Dave and Sue Wilson, is a resident there.   We will meet at the church at 1:30 pm, directions will be available, and carpooling is in the plan. It will take about two hours, but any time you can spend is much appreciated.  Decorations from last year are stored on site.  All we need are some fresh greens, so please check your evergreens (and maybe your neighbor's trees!).  Those who wish to contribute funds for the Safe Haven Christmas Party can make checks to Safe Haven Farms Inc. and give them to Judy Fisher.

Questions, comments - Judy Fisher (523-3489 or [email protected])

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Scott Kuehn's son, Stephen has been deployed to Qatar. He would appreciate cards, etc. His address is 

 

Steven S. Kuehn

379 ECES/CEE

APO   AE   09309-1205

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elizabethjohnson
Name that author/researcher seen by your editor in the Smith Library (Lane) absorbed in her latest research

 

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CONGRATULATIONS!

From The J. Arthur Heck Lectures

Reunion Luncheons and Alumni/ae Banquet

United Theological Seminary

 

2012 Effective Ministry Award Recipients

 

The Revs. James H. and Billie Ann Maynard

 

The Revs. James H. and Billie Ann Maynard received their Master of Divinity degrees from United in 1977. Yet as early as 1970, Jim and Billie began hosting local and national Christian speakers in their Kettering home, literally filling the hallways and rooms with people yearning to hear God's word. From these gatherings a vision was cast by the Maynards for a retreat center in southwestern Ohio where church leaders and parishioners could escape the hectic pace of life and hear inspirational speakers in the beautiful sanctuary of God's amazing creation. In 1978, Pleasant Vineyard Ministries (PVM) was officially licensed as a 501- (C) (3) non-profit organization and the search was on to find a location for a retreat center.

 

In the fall of 1981, God miraculously fulfilled that desire through the purchase of the former 80-acre Boy Scout Camp Myron Kahn. During this time PVM offered weekend retreats and the use of their facilities to church and lay organizations. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, many churches were sponsoring their own conferences and attendance at PVM retreats began to drop, which forced the camp to become strictly a rental facility. Jim and Billie asked their son, David Maynard, to join them and help with the operations of the camp.

 

In 1995, David Maynard and his wife Cathy became the directors and expanded the vision of PVM to offer summer camp programs for youth. These programs have grown to offer a wide variety of unique and culturally relevant experiences that cultivate the hearts of children and prepare them to receive spiritual truths.

 

The reach of Pleasant Vineyard Ministries now stretches around the world including children of military families stationed overseas. In 2012, PVM hosted paintball camps at seven military bases located through the Pacific Rim. In 2011, PVM expanded its camp programs to additional bases and offered more program choices to children as far away as South Korea.

 

PMV Urban Outreach continues to grow with two summer camp programs for urban youth; one located in the heart of Cincinnati at the Over the Rhine Community Recreation Center and the other at PVM Camp.

 

What started as a small vision by Jim and Billie Maynard in their living room now reaches children and families around the world. Through all the successes and accomplishments PVM has garnered, Jim and Billie want to give all of the glory to Jesus Christ.

 

To learn more about PVM: visit

http://www.pvmcamp.com/

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Annual Christmas Celebration at Historic Hopewell Church

Sunday December 11, 5:30 PM

We invite everyone to visit Historic Hopewell Church on Sunday, December 11th at 5:30 pm for our annual Christmas celebration. This very special service features the music and message of this holy season. The celebration honors the legacy of Christmas services as they have been held in country churches throughout our rich history.

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Help spread the news-share what's happening with you and your family by sending info to Nancy Moeckel, your newsletter editor. ([email protected])

 

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community
COMMUNITY  

 

newsNews from the Adult Day Services

 

Everyone here at the ADS is planning a December to remember. Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa will be celebrated this month, while we journey through time, reminisce and educate ourselves about what this Holiday Season brings to us. Baking, crafting, reminiscing, laughing, exercising our bodies and minds, tasting the fruits of our labor while having fun and learning something new each day will help us strive to finish off the year with a bang.

 

I want to take a moment and thank our clients of the ADS and Oxford Seniors from making me feel very welcomed in my first few months as your Activity Director. I am still in awe of what a great program and community that Oxford has. Without our clients, families, volunteers, students and staff this program would not be what it is. I want to wish everyone a safe holiday season and happy New Year. I look forward to all the exciting things we have planned for 2013

Gabrielle Swafford CTRS, Activity Director

 

Highlights for the month of December are

-       Decorating for the Holiday

-       Making holiday cookies and candles

-       Watching Miracle on 34th Street

-       Sing a long with Bob Baer

-       Celebrating the holidays!!

 

Reminder - We will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

If you know anyone who may want information on the ADS, please have them call Debbie Curry, LPN - Director at 513-523-0464

 

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greenscreenGREEN SCREEN- Fall 2012

A free environmental film from the Oxford I.C.C.W.G. and Green Oxford Green Screen presents films about the science, art, politics and spirituality of the natural environment.  Presented at 7:00 p.m. at the Oxford Community Arts Center. Our aim is to show films that educate, amuse, motivate and inspire. All films are free.

 

December 5

Revenge of the Electric Car

Revenge of the Electric Car presents the recent resurgence of electric vehicles as seen through the eyes of four pioneers of the EV revolution. Director Chris Paine (Who Killed the Electric Car? 2006) has had unprecedented access to the electric car research and development programs at General Motors, Nissan, and Tesla Motors, while also following a part time electric car converter who refuses to wait for the international car makers to create the electric cars the public demands. As more models of electric cars than ever before start to arrive in showrooms and driveways across the world, Chris Paine's film offers an inspiring, entertaining and definitive account of this revolutionary moment in human transportation. Revenge of the Electric Car follows these automakers as they race each other to create the first, best, and most publicly accepted electric cars for the new car market. (90 minutes)

 

Presented by GREEN OXFORD and the INTERFAITH CLIMATE CHANGE WORK GROUP (ICCWG), a coalition of area churches and concerned individuals working on the issue of climate change and earth stewardship at: [email protected]

 


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birthdays

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

 

         2       Arnold McCashland

         2       Ned Stephenson

         2       Joe Foltz

         4       John Dolibois

         4       James Wespiser

         4       Prue Dana

         5       Carol Flee

         5       Vivian Wilson

         6       Margaret Smith

         6       Martha Shriver

         7       Kep Small

         8       Vada Sanford

         8       Randy Trostel

         9       Evan James

         10     Carol Bowers

         10     Louise Griffing

         10     Sue Skillings

         11     Laura Harvey

         12     Barbara Barnes

         12     Ann Bader

         13     Linda Boardman

         15     Sue Wilson

         15     Robin Vealey

         17     Jan Reinhart

         17     Lynn Jacobs

         18     Paula Green

         18     Donald McKillop

         18     Nick Fears

         18     Jonathan Hunter

         19     Pris Berry

         20     Dick Munson

         20     Steve Brown

         20     Robin Thomas

         22     Mamie Broadhurst

                           (Missionary)

         22     Maggie Garton

         23     John Curry

         25     Holly Gage

         26     Richard Jellison

         27     Anne Bailey

         28     Won Ahn

         28     Randall Brakemeyer

         28     Tom Poetter

         28     Jean Hitsman

         29     Jean O'Connell

         30     Nancy Sturgeon

         30     Taryn Satkowki

         31     Whitney Hartman

         32     Jacob Marley

 

        

DECEMBER DOODLES

 

In 2012, the earliest winter since 1896 arrives with the solstice at 6:12 A.M. on December 21 (EST).

 

The word solstice comes from the Latin words for "sun" and "to stand still."

The old farmers almanac says, " winter will be colder and drier than normal, with above-normal snowfall. " YIKES

 

Amendment 21 to the United States Constitution, repealing prohibition, ratified, December 5, 1933.

 

Question:

The name of Scrooge's deceased business partner in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol was....?

(as always, the answer is somewhere in the newsletter)

 

December 14, 1969 Jackson Five made their 1st appearance on "Ed Sullivan Show"

 

Purple was chosen as an advent candle color because Purple dyes were once so rare and costly they were associated with royalty; the Church has long used this color around Christmas and Easter to honor Jesus.

 

What is the title of the reworded Christmas Carol?

Do you perceive the same vibrations that stimulate the auditory sense organs?

 

On average, women say 7,000 words per day. Men speak just over 2,000.

 

Recycling one plastic bottle a day, for a month, will save enough energy to power a laptop for over 70 hours.

(better yet, reuse the same bottle!)

 

 

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pastors
From Our Pastors 
Full Article

 

 

As we move into the season of Advent in 2012, we're aware that so many people are living with at least intermittent bouts of anxiety: concern for a loved one's health or well-being, economic worries, anxiety for the future, stress in the wake of natural disasters, concern for the state of the world with new outbreaks of war and violence.  

         Recently, I've come across two poems, one new and one old favorite, which speak to the condition in which we live. Both poems name the stresses of the human condition, but remind us of the promises of God on which we can rely. They remind us that, whatever we face, we can trust our lives and the lives of those we love to our strong and faithful and merciful God, and to our Savior Jesus whose coming we await once again.

         John Van De Laar's poem called "Enough" was published in Weavings this year. It evokes the images Jesus used in his beloved Sermon on the Mount passage in Matthew 6:25-34, and reminds us: God will care and provide for us those things we most deeply need.

 

Enough

 

Worry and stress are not hard for us, God

   We do them without thinking.

 

There is always the potential of threat

   To our security,

         our comfort,

         our health,

         our relationships,

         our lives,

   And we foolishly think that we could silence the fear

         if we just had enough money,

         enough insurance,

         enough toys,

         enough stored away for a rainy day.

It's never enough, though;

     the voice of our fear will not be dismissed so easily.

 

But in the small, silent places within us is another voice;

   One that beckons us into the foolishness of faith,

           that points our gaze to the birds and flowers,

           that, in unguarded moments, lets our muscles relax,

           and our hearts lean into loved ones;

In unexpected whispers we hear it,

       calling us to remember Your promises,

           Your grace,

           Your faithfulness;

       and suddenly, we discover

         that it is enough.

         Amen.

 

         The second poem was written in 1973 by Madeleine L'Engle, a prolific writer of books for children and adults, as well as a poet. She was a faithful member of St. John the Divine (Episcopal) on the upper west side of Manhattan, where we met her when we lived there. She reminds us that God is alive and active and present in our world, at work for love, in every time and place.

 

The Risk of Birth

 

This is no time for a child to be born,

With the earth betrayed by war & hate

And a comet slashing the sky to warn

That time runs out & the sun burns late.

 

That was no time for a child to be born,

In a land in the crushing grip of Rome;

Honour & truth were trampled by scorn -

Yet here did the Savior make his home.

 

When is the time for love to be born?

The inn is full on the planet earth,

And by a comet the sky is torn -

Yet Love still takes the risk of birth.

 

         Whatever worries or concerns we are living with this Advent, let us bring them before God in faith and trust.

         And whatever the pressures on us from our society to stay busy with a whirlwind of sometimes frantic shopping and high pressure activities, let us make a plan to carve out some time to relax into God's care, to praise God in worship, and to join others in warm fellowship and service as we remember "the reason for the season."

Advent worship will include special music and liturgy and the candle-lighting ceremony let by children. Christmas Eve services will include an informal, 40-minute service for children and their families at 4:30 p.m., and the traditional service of lessons and carols and candle lighting at 7:30 p.m.

You can enjoy warm fellowship and Christmas carols with the First Friday Niters fellowship (which is open to anyone) December 7 and at the OPW Christmas Tea Dec. 9.

You can serve others while enjoying fellowship by caroling to homebound members (followed by Christmas parties in homes) on Dec. 16 or decorating Safe Haven Farm for Christmas along with church friends on Dec. 2. See details in other articles in this newsletter.

 

Praying for an Advent season that brings many blessing to you and yours,

Mark and Barbara   

 

 

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ed
  
Christian Education Full Article 

 

Thank you to our November 2nd-5th grade Sunday School rotation teachers Roberta Crain, Paula Green, Karen Shearer and Jennifer Walter.

 

Christine Garton will be away at an Advent spirituality retreat at the Transfiguration Spirituality Center in Cincinnati Nov. 30-Dec. 2.    

 

Youth group will have it's normal meeting on Sunday, Dec. 2 from 4-5:30 PM at the Seminary. Jenn and Rachel, our youth interns, will be leading the games and the message.

All youth in grades 6-12 are invited to our Youth Christmas Party on Sunday, Dec. 9 from 4-6 PM. We'll watch the movie "Elf" and enjoy holiday goodies with the interns before they start exams the next day. We will do this at someone's home, which will be announced sometime after Thanksgiving. Feel free to dress up as an Elf or dress up in your pajamas for this event. As always, friends are welcome to attend! This will be our last youth event for 2012.

 

CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY EVENT! Come Christmas caroling with us on December 16 at 6:30 PM. We will meet at the Seminary, then we'll go sing for homebound members of our congregation, which can include visiting the Knolls or

visiting Woodland Manor. You do not have to have a great singing voice to come along! Our homebound members LOVE to see the children and youth at the holidays. After our caroling, we will gather at a church member's home for refreshments and fellowship together. Friends are also welcome at this event.

 

HEY YOUTH! The broomball event will be Sunday, January 13 from 6:30-8:00pm. We'll do a fundraiser for "Sweat for Nets." Friends are welcome to participate in this event.

 

Also, after Dec. 9, we will not meet again until January 13.

 

  • Upcoming events for the spring include"Sweat for Nets" broomball at Goggin Ice skating
  • Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday
  • Climbing wall
  • Uptown video scavenger hunt for prizes
  • King's Island trip

and more!

 

Contact Christine Garton at

[email protected] or text her at 850-276-3231 to get on the list for more info and "Like" the Oxford Presbyterian Church (Ohio) Youth Group Facebook page to keep up with the latest happenings.

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SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS...

  • On Sunday, Dec. 23 the 2nd-5th grade classes will be combined.
  • No Sunday School class for any age group on Dec. 30 since we will have either a Hymnfest or informal worship at the Seminary.

Children's worship bags with extra activities will be available for children that morning.

 

FAMILY CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP SERVICE will be held on Monday, Dec. 24 at 4:30 PM and will last 30-40 minutes. Children are invited to dress up as their favorite character from the story of the birth of Jesus. There will be a few costume items available at the back of the sanctuary for children who do not arrive in a costume but would like to dress up.

FAMILIES ARE ALSO ASKED TO BRING AN ITEM THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT AS A GIFT TO THE BABY JESUS. IT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT HAS NO MONETARY VALUE, BUT HAS WORTH TO YOUR FAMILY. YOU WILL GET THESE ITEMS BACK AT THE END OF THE WORSHIP SERVICE.

 

You can contact Christine Garton at [email protected] or call or text her cell at 850-276-3231. 

 

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Contacts                                 
Newsletter Editor                            Church Office
Nancy Moeckel                               Elaine Patterson
[email protected]                   [email protected]
523-6003                                        523-6364                               
We welcome your feedback on the newsletter.   Please let us know what you think of this online version of the newsletter.  What would work better, what does not work at all, what do you like?