Charge: To provide for the maintenance of divine worship at all levels at LBPC as God is encountered in worship and the sacraments.

Elders Dave Hall and Kathy Reed, Deacons Jennette Robertson and Andrew Carpenter, at large member Melinda Mackey-O'Brien, music directors Jan Klerekoper and James Vaughn, the Rev. Tobin Wilson

wonder (wun dәr), -v.i. 1. To think or speculate curiously: to wonder about the origin of the solar system. 2. To be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe; marvel (often fol. by at): He wondered at her composure in such a crisis. -v.t. 3. To speculate curiously or be curious about: I wonder what happened. 4. To feel wonder at: I wonder that you went. -n. 5. Something that causes surprise, astonishment, or admiration. 6. The emotion excited by what is strange, admirable or surprising. 7. A miracle; miraculous deed or event.

The season of wonder - Advent - is here; LAMENT, LOOK, LIVE, LAUGH!

Melinda Mackey-O'Brien

Special events this season of wonder - Encounter God in the music and stories, in community:

Dec. 7, Friday - Holiday Choir Concert, the beautiful music of the Boeing Employees Choir, 7:30 p.m. in our sanctuary. Admission is free. The concert benefits Highline Music4Life, a non-profit that puts musical instruments in the hands of children.

Dec. 17, Monday - Christmas concert, The Normandy Park Youth string orchestra, with Diane Lange Jones, in the sanctuary, 7 p.m. Admission is free, donations welcome

Dec. 24, Christmas Eve services in the sanctuary - family service, The Best Ornament, 5 p.m., candlelight service, "Wonder: The Struggle for Mystery", 10 p.m.

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Charge: to foster authentic community and encourage congregational life at LBPC

Goal: To serve as an umbrella for present and future ministries and promote communication among all ministries as well as with the congregation

Members of the Encourage Team are two elders; deacons who have decided to join this team and members from the congregation

Elders: Norma Kastien and Margarita Suarez;

Deacons: Penny Hickman and Lee Weber

Others: Barbara Carlsen; Jan Cox, who also works with the Heath Care Team; Priscilla Stephenson and Natalie Sarantos.

For this December letter we want to share what we said on Sunday, Nov. 25, during the worship service:

Thanks to all of you who participated with our congregational activities and supported our healthy Sunday snacks for the coffee hour.

We see our team as a way for us to be the disciples to encourage all of the other disciples. As we do connect in prayer (Encounter) and (Engage) with the neighborhood and with those who are not here, we feel it is important to have a community that is caring and loving and peaceful.

One the gospel stories that we feel reflects what we see as our commitment, happened after the resurrection, when some of the disciples were out fishing and Jesus appeared at the beach, and prepared breakfast for them. Once they realize it was Jesus at the shore, they came there, and found him cooking breakfast..."come and eat"...he said to them. We at Encourage feel it is important to feed those already here, to prepare a table for all.

We on the Encourage team have done this and plan to continue doing this with the following:

1. Four activities a year after the Sunday service; like the Salad Potluck Lunch, Sundae-Sunday with Tobin as one of the soda jerks; and Make-Your-Own-Sandwich Sunday...This year we did three: Salad Potluck Lunch; Sundae- Sunday and Make-Your-Own-Sandwich Sunday.
2. In October we started what we called "healthy snacks" at the coffee hour, after the service, (of course we could debate what is healthy). This year, besides the people in the team, we have had about 15 of you who have helped with this project.
3. We are currently working on the connection and support for the members who cannot come on Sunday or who we do not see here on Sunday. Several people on the team are working in organizing this so we really can connect with many by visiting with members/community; homebound, disconnected, ill and those in need.
4. Support of other activities that are part of our community life, like helping with the photo directory: several of our members made phone calls and personal connections, and others helped as host for the photo day, and others not in the committee also volunteer to help with this. We know it was not perfect and there were some difficult days, but there were also moments of joy...and yes we are glad we do not do this kind of project every year.

Support the other teams and help with encouraging members to participate in church activities.

HEALTHCARE TEAM

10 Simple Steps to Help De-Stress

There is no shortage of angst-inducing news these days: natural disasters, economic woes, political unrest. Add to this backdrop stresses in our personal lives, layoffs, illness, money woes, temper tantrums, and traffic jams, and it is clear that stressful situations are constant and inevitable.

Just as serious as the stressors themselves are the adverse effects stress can have on your emotional and physical health. Many well-respected studies link stress to heart disease and stroke-the No. 1 and No. 3 causes of death, respectively, in the United States. Stress is also implicated in a host of other ailments such as depression and anxiety, chronic lower respiratory diseases, asthma flare-ups, rheumatoid arthritis, and gastrointestinal problems.

Stress is not all bad. Your perception of a real or imagined threat can spark the stress response, which prepares the body to fight or flee. That swift reflex was encoded in you for survival. Thanks to the stress response, you might suddenly jump out of the path of a speeding car or flee from a burning house. But when your stress response is evoked repeatedly, your body experiences unnecessary wear and tear - such as high blood pressure - that can lead to poor health.

Even if you only have a few minutes to spare, the stress-busting suggestions described below can make your days calmer, if not easier.

Preventing and reducing stress

While some stress is inevitable, when your body repeatedly encounters a set of physiological changes dubbed the stress response, trouble can brew. Stress may contribute to or exacerbate various health problems. But it's possible to dismantle negative stress cycles. This report can help you identify your stress warning signs and learn how to better manage stressful situations.

Take the sting out of 10 common stressors

Sometimes just thinking about embarking on a program of stress control can be stressful. Rather than freeze in your tracks, start small and bask in the glow of your successes. Give yourself a week to focus on practical solutions that could help you cope with just one stumbling block or source of stress in your life. Pick a problem, and see if these suggestions work for you.

1. Frequently late? Apply time management principles. Consider your priorities (be sure to include time for yourself) and delegate or discard unnecessary tasks. Map out your day, segment by segment, setting aside time for different tasks, such as writing or phone calls. If you are overly optimistic about travel time, consistently give yourself an extra 15 minutes or more to get to your destinations. If lateness stems from dragging your heels, consider the underlying issue. Are you anxious about what will happen after you get to work or to a social event, for example? Or maybe you're trying to jam too many tasks into too little time.
2. Often angry or irritated? Consider the weight of cognitive distortions. Are you magnifying a problem, leaping to conclusions, or applying emotional reasoning? Take the time to stop, breathe, reflect, and choose.
3. Unsure of your ability to do something? Don't try to go it alone. If the problem is work, talk to a co-worker or supportive boss. Ask a knowledgeable friend or call the local library or an organization that can supply the information you need. Write down other ways that you might get the answers or skills you need. Turn to CDs, books, or classes, for example, if you need a little tutoring. This works equally well when you're learning relaxation response techniques, too.
4. Overextended? Clear the deck of at least one time-consuming household task by hiring help. If you can, hire a housecleaning service, shop for groceries through the Internet, convene a family meeting to consider who can take on certain jobs, or barter with or pay teens for work around the house and yard. Consider what is truly essential and important to you and what might take a backseat right now.
5. Not enough time for stress relief? Try mini-relaxations. Or make a commitment to yourself to pare down your schedule for just one week so you can practice evoking the relaxation response every day. Slowing down to pay attention to just one task or pleasure at hand is an excellent method of stress relief.
6. Feeling unbearably tense? Try massage, a hot bath, mini-relaxations, a body scan, or a mindful walk. Practically any exercise - a brisk walk, a quick run, a sprint up and down the stairs - will help, too. Done regularly, exercise wards off tension, as do relaxation techniques.
7. Frequently feel pessimistic? Remind yourself of the value of learned optimism: a more joyful life and, quite possibly, better health. Practice deflating cognitive distortions. Rent funny movies and read amusing books. Create a mental list of reasons you have to feel grateful. If the list seems too short, consider beefing up your social network and adding creative, productive, and leisure pursuits to your life.
8. Upset by conflicts with others? State your needs or distress directly, avoiding "you always" or "you never" zingers. Say, "I feel ____ when you ____." "I would really appreciate it if you could ____." "I need some help setting priorities. What needs to be done first and what should I tackle later?" If conflicts are a significant source of distress for you, consider taking a class on assertiveness training.
9. Worn out or burned out? Focus on self-nurturing. Carve out time to practice relaxation response techniques or at least indulge in mini-relaxations. Care for your body by eating good, healthy food and for your heart by seeking out others. Give thought to creative, productive, and leisure activities. Consider your priorities in life: is it worth feeling this way, or is another path open to you? If you want help, consider what kind would be best. Do you want a particular task at work to be taken off your hands? Do you want to do it at a later date? Do you need someone with particular expertise to assist you?

10.Feeling lonely? Connect with others. Even little connections - a brief conversation in line at the grocery store, an exchange about local goings-on with a neighbor, a question for a colleague - can help melt the ice within you. It may embolden you, too, to seek more opportunities to connect. Be a volunteer. Attend religious or community functions. Suggest coffee with an acquaintance. Call a friend or relative you miss. Take an interesting class. If a social phobia, low self-esteem, or depression is dampening your desire to reach out, seek help. The world is a kinder, more wondrous place when you share its pleasures and burdens.

HEALTHbeat, April 24, 2012, Harvard Medical School

From the Children's Department 

Kids Need to Feel Special

After the article I wrote last month, I have been thinking a lot about the idea of making kids feel special. Last month I wrote about how the classroom remodel, specifically the hooks in the hallway have made such a difference in eliminating the chaos with the kids during the after school program. I believe that the space makes the kids feel special because it is new, fresh and encourages them to do their best work. Another way I saw this idea acted out last month was with our annual Thanksgiving dinner. Due to the amazing team of volunteers, we served 40 of our children and their family members in a beautifully decorated fellowship hall. Tablecloths, place settings

and centerpieces made by the children, created a very special space for dinner that night. I am thankful for John and Penny Hickman, Melinda Mackey-O'Brien, Steve Glass, Salley Mackey, Dolores Allen, Don and Pat Bucy, Jennette Robertson, Dawn Wilson, Maddie Wilson, Jessica Wilson, Jessica Stocks, Adam Kryzer and Jan Rekate who put in so much time and effort to help make the night so special for our kids and their families. Having people committed to the vision of making kids feel special definitely makes a difference in the lives of the kids in the after school program. I know that they feel special when they are at LBPC, especially at the holiday events that allow us to go above and beyond what we regularly do to help kids realize they are valuable.

 

Any chance we can take to encourage a child by making them feel special is a chance always worth taking. I've included a picture of one of our children's younger siblings enjoying the special centerpieces at the Thanksgiving dinner.

 

Happy December!

 

Sarah

 

 

Thanks for your generosity!

Your generous donations of food, money and help fed seven families for Thanksgiving this year! We had a few canned goods left over and they were given to the food bank. Our congregation is most generous to those in need. God bless you all.

Gerry Flaten

 

All-Church Dinner on January 26

On Saturday, Jan. 26, everyone is invited to our third annual all-church dinner sponsored by Presbyterian Women. Be sure to add this date to your calendar now. We are looking forward to sharing a meal together along with an extra bonus of a talent show and hobby display.

 

Instead of a silent auction this year, we would like to become better acquainted as we share our talents and display our hobbies. The focus is not on selling or buying but on learning more about each other's interests. Tables will be set up for hobby displays. Perhaps you enjoy handicrafts, woodworking, writing, poetry, painting, sculpture, gardening, drawing, music, games, photography, sports, baking, etc. If you do not have an actual item to show, bring a photograph of your hobby. If you are not currently participating in that hobby, you could still describe your past interest. Please let Gail Lane or Lucille Wheeler know if you are able to bring a display so we can arrange table space. We encourage children to participate in sharing their hobbies and interests.

 

Following dinner, we are planning a talent show. This could include drama, skits, monologues, poetry, dancing, storytelling, solos, duets, musical performances, etc.

 

We would love to have children involved. Let Gail or Lucille know if you can participate.

 

As we are not raising funds for our Presbyterian Women mission through a silent auction this year, our fund raising will come from the sale of the dinner tickets and also back by popular demand, a dessert auction. Each table can bid together for a dessert for their table. Dinner tickets will go on sale following worship on Jan. 6, 13 and 20. Adult and youth tickets are $25 and tickets for children 12 and under are $12.50. Talk to Gail if you would like to help with a scholarship fund for tickets for those who need it. Funds raised during this dinner will include support for the new backpack program. This is a joint project with UGM, Presbyterian Women and World Vision. Children from our UGM program who need food over the weekend will take home a backpack of nutritional food on Thursday afternoons. Additional funds will support other mission projects. For example, we are planning support for the Roma people in Eastern Europe and the Ukraine. The Roma people (gypsies) are the most neglected minority and suffer great discrimination.

 

Our Presbyterian Women are very grateful for your generous support of our mission projects every year, and we are looking forward to a fun evening on Jan. 26. Remember to add Jan. 26 to your calendar and think now about whom you could invite.

 

 

Presbyterian Women Say Thank You

On Oct. 28, our congregation contributed $411 to our annual Presbyterian Women Thank Offering. Our own Presbyterian Women at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church are grateful for your generosity. This was a bigger contribution than last year's! These funds are added to all the funds raised by Presbyterian churches all over our country to support both national and international projects with 40 percent going towards health related activities. Thank you!

 

 

Hospitality House Joys

Joy One

Hospitality House is thrilled to report proceeds of more than $22,000 from the Sept.

 

29 Walk for the Women! We had a beautiful day, great turnout, energy plus via the Kennedy H.S. Drum Line, fun raffle prizes and the cutest kids and dogs. Team LBPC was led by our intrepid honorary captain, Sally Mackey. AND our very own Pat Schroeter received the prize for the most dollars pledged - $1,500. Way to go, Pat! That's almost enough to put a woman through the shelter's 90-day program and into stable housing. Many thanks to all the generous LBPC supporters. Truly, for 12 years you have been the hands and feet of Christ, enabling homeless women in South King County to find home, health and hope.

 

Joy Two

Want to spread a little Christmas cheer?

• Maybe your family /group would like to "adopt" a resident for Christmas giving -contact Peggy Meyer (206.242.2422) or Priscilla Stephenson (206.242.8037).
• You could provide movie gift cards which are much appreciated by the women during inclement weather. Costco has a packet of two tickets for $16.
• A very "painless" way to assist the shelter is to obtain a "B" Caring Card from Bartell's drugstore at no cost or obligation to you. Simply ask a cashier for an application form and designate Hospitality House as the beneficiary (group ID 500030590). The tricky part is to remember to show your blue script card on further purchases-excluding prescriptions. The shelter will receive up to four percent of our combined purchases throughout the year.

Joy Three
 Peggy Meyer has agreed to be Lake Burien PC's representative to the HH board of directors. She will be replacing Linda Shaw and Priscilla Stephenson who will be stepping down after four years. Peggy has been LBPC's long-time meal coordinator so we now need someone else to take on this simple task: once a quarter, calling from a list of LBPC volunteers who have offered to provide a dinner or part thereof. More info is available from Peggy.

 

Christmas blessings to you all!

Priscilla

 

  

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