Hebron Highlights* ‘Hebron’ was the original name of the 1790 congregation that is now

‘Jonesborough Presbyterian Church’

December, 2015

Jonesborough Presbyterian Church

128 West Main Street

P O Box 383

Jonesborough, TN 37659

423-753-6162

Pastor: Reverend Allen Huff

Clerk of Session: Bill Reese

Treasurer: Alexis Burkett

Office Staff: Monica Moore

Music Director: Cherry Smith

Youth Director:

Brooke Ransdell

Pianist: Jeri Paolini

Nursery: Debbie Walls

WebMaster: Bill Reese

Newsletter Editor:

Monica Moore

Dear Friends,

Dear Friends, Much has been said about the excessive commercialism of Christmas. And most of it is true. For the next few weeks everything will be red and green, tinseled and frosted, and smelling of peppermint and apple spice. Storeowners will be happier to see you while fellow shoppers may not. In the malls, peace and goodwill are likely to be in shorter supply than this year’s hottest-selling smart phone. And watch out for all those delivery drivers delirious with sleeplessness and stress. During this season, as wants and expectations expand and magnify, people focus on “achieving satisfaction.” On Christmas Day, the spoils will be laid out for evaluation and consumption. And on December 26, those who have yet to be satisfied will swarm the stores, again. What does it mean to be satisfied? To have a sense of victory in an economic transaction? To silence the voice of one desire crying out in the vast wilderness of our wants in order to prepare the way for one which appears to have become more crucial? The Holy Spirit promises an old holy man named Simeon that he will not die without laying eyes on the Messiah. Just when Simeon is about to resign himself to interminable life, a young couple comes and bothers him with another eight-day-old boy to be circumcised. But when these common folk hand him their son, the old man’s eyes brighten. His heart quickens. The fulfillment of the Spirit’s promise squirms in his arms. Both he and the world will begin to trade interminable for eternal. At long last Simeon is satisfied, and in a trembling voice he says so. But the old priest sees more. In addition to salvation and glory, he says, this child will bring a lot of people to their knees and a sword to pierce his mother’s soul. Now, that’s a fairly safe prophecy. What child doesn’t? Simeon’s point, of course, is that, at first, the arrival of heaven will hurt like hell. The long-awaited gift is given at Christmas is a package that includes Good Friday and Easter. The infatuation with stuff in December is simply a vain attempt to be satisfied with Christmas alone. The gift we celebrate at Christmas is a gift to be shared among all of us. It will not go on sale December 26. It cannot be exchanged for a different size or style. Nor will it satisfy us if we keep it to ourselves. In truth, it takes a lifetime of sharing this gift even to begin to receive it. Thank you, Jonesborough Presbyterian, for sharing so much Christmas with my family and me over the last five years. I pray that we have shared some of it with you, as well.

May God bless all of us with a most joyful, memorable, and merry Christmas!

Peace,

Allen

December Lectionary Readings 2nd Sunday of Advent—December 6 Malachi 3:1–4 Luke 1:68–79 Philippians 1:3–11 Luke 3:1–6 3rd Sunday of Advent—December 13 Zephaniah 3:14–20 Isaiah 12:2–6 Philippians 4:4–7 Luke 3:7–18 4th Sunday of Advent—December 20 Micah 5:2–5a Luke 1:46–55 or Psalm 80:1–7 Hebrews 10:5–10 Luke 1:39–45 (46–55) Christmas Eve—December 24 Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 96:1-13 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) Nativity of the Lord/Christmas— December 25 Christmas Dawn Isaiah 62:6-12 Psalm 97:1-12 Titus 3:4-7 Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20 Christmas Day Isaiah 52:7-10 Psalm 98:1-9 Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12) John 1:1-14 1st Sunday after Christmas Day December 27 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 Psalm 148 Colossians 3:12-17 Luke 2:41-52

CHOIRS Last Choir practice for 2015 will be on December 16th Golden Heirs December 17th. Choir will resume on January 13th and Golden Heirs January 14th

December, 2015 Events Calendar Tue 1st * Choirs meet @ 6:00 PM Wed 2nd * Jama Concert Thu 3rd * Salvation Army Bell Ringers Sat 5th * Shalom Circle Dinner & Auction 5:00 PM Wed 9th * All Choirs meet Sat 12th * Officer breakfast and meeting 8:30 am Sun 13th * A Christmas Musical * Property meets following worship Mon 14th * CL & M 12:00 PM * Jonesborough Yarn Party 6-8:00 PM Tue 15th * Christian Ed 7:00 PM Sat 19th * Live Nativity Scene 12-3:00 PM Front Lawn

Tour of Churches

Sun 20th * Property meets following Worship Christmas Joy Offering

Mon 21st * Worship Committee 6:00 PM * Stewardship & Finance 7:00 PM Tue 22nd * Stewardship * Session 6:30 PM Wed 23rd * JAMA Foodbank @ Persimmon Ridge Thu 24th * Christmas Eve Service @ 6:00 PM Thur 31st * JAMA Foodbank @ Persimmon Ridge

JPC Wellness/December, 2015 Carol Jernigan, Faith Community Nurse

Blue Christmas

Elvis Presley may have made it famous, but Ernest Tubb sang it better!

Holidays can be stressful and taking care of your self is very important. Take time to recognize how you are feeling, and be mindful of how you approach every

activity. Slow down and notice those around you. Do you see someone in your community that could use a visit? We have Prayer Shawls available in the church office if you would like to share with someone you know that is alone or lonesome

this Christmas. Have you lost someone dear to you this year? Holidays can add to that sense of loss. Take a moment to light a candle to remember a loved one. Find

a Blue Christmas service to sit quietly and reflect. It’s easy to say, “I’ll take time after the holidays are over” but we forget and move on. Take time now for yourself and those that you love.

Holiday Stress can lead to Holiday Illness. So here are some tips on how to take care of yourself:

Make good choices. Avoid excess salt and alcohol. Too much drinking -- for example, binge drinking -- can lead to atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm in which

disorganized electrical signals cause the heart’s two upper chambers to contract irregularly. Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart failure.

Get a shot. Consider getting a flu vaccination. Infection and fever put extra stress on the heart.

Breathe. Go indoors during air pollution alerts but try to avoid breathing smoke from wood-burning fireplaces. If you’re visiting another home during the holidays, sit as far

away as you can from a burning fireplace. Ultra-fine particles in the air can be bad for the heart.

Get help. If you feel chest pain or other symptoms, call 911 for emergency help. The stakes are high. So give yourself and your family a gift this season. Don’t postpone

treatment because you don’t want to spoil the holiday merrymaking. Signs of a Stroke

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke notes these major signs of

stroke: • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arms or legs. • Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding others.

• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination. • Sudden severe headache with no known cause

• If you think someone is having a stroke, you should call 9-1-1 immediately. CPR Classes will be held on January 30th. Please contact the Church Office to sign up!!

December Assignments

December Greeters: Dennis Thomas & Harriet Baker December On-Call Elder: Terry Welch December Offering Counters: Gary Burkett & Karen Childress December Comm. Prep Team: Leigh Ann Hieronymus & Carol Jernigan Christmas Eve: Bunny Downing December Communion Servers: (Team 1) Terry Welch, Ray Marney, Eva Garst, Bill Reese & Graham Norman

Connect with us Online: Web Page: www.jpcusa.org Office emails: office@jpcusa.org Phone: 423-753-6162

Pastor Allen’s sermons can be found on his blog: http://www.pastorallentn.blogspot.com

If you do not see your Birthday listed in the Bulletin or

Newsletter, please call Monica in the church office

(423)753-6162 or email the church office office@jpcusa.com

Birthdays

Emily Laughrey 4

Cheryl Smith 4

Jeff Amburgey 4

Janet Browning 5

Marianne Huff 5

Dylan Helm 6

Gary Gerhart 11

Harrison Taylor 12

Martin Harris 13

Graham Norman 15

Wilma Forence 16

Larry Garst 18

Marilyn Buchanan 28

Sarah Knight 29

Church Members: Summer Buchanan, Sara Nan Byrd, Joanne Comer, Kathie Dameron, Bill Downing, Pam Dunn, Joseph Dykes, Connie Hosmer, Barbara Jilton, Charlotte McDonald, Mike Matney, Jackie Riddle, Jill Sauceman, Bob Scheu, Richard & Wendy Schwerdtfeger, Ronda Schwerdtfeger, Cheryl Smith, Tony Smith, Harrison Taylor, Phyllis Wilson. On-going prayers for our Homebound Members and Friends: Marianne Fair (daughter of Ruth Chase), Alisa & Barbara Goolsby, Roger & Veronica Hansen (parents of Donna Hansen & Debra White), Beulah Hendry (mother-in-law of Marion Light), Jet Hieronymus (father-in-law of Leigh Anne Hieronymus), Elizabeth Hoss, Audrey Kaiman, Paula Pennington (cousins of Pauline Douglas), Robert Riddle (Bob’s son), Gwen & Sharon Soergel (granddaughters of Ken & Jean Soergel), Bruce Scheu (brother of Bob Scheu), Rita Kinney (Kathy Scheu’s mother), Brenda Young (mother of Leslie Sharpe) Church Prayer List of Friends and Relatives: Karen Birdsong, Lindsey Black (niece of Heather Anderson), Pat Bond, Robert Bowers, Ben Britton (a friend of Fred Sauceman), Buchanan-Curtis family (Allen Evans, Marty Akens & Kim Buchanan), Glen Burkett (Gary Burkett’s brother), Peter & Anne Campbell’s family (Anne, Gerry, daughter Lisa Host, granddaughter), Shuly Cawood (Harriet Baker’s Daughter-in-law), Nicholas Chambers, Ray Clayton, Wade Cole, Buster Copas, Carolyn Cope, Michael Cudahy, Cliff Dameron (Kathie Dameron’s father) Tony Davis(nephew of Eva Garst), Mike Eads (friend of Jill Sauceman), J.R. Ellis, Elaine Felix (a friend of Bob & Charlotte McDonald), Becky Floyd (friend of Chuck Collins), Sara Jane Florence, Vonnie Godard, Mikala Hansen (daughter of Teresa & Morten Hansen), Randy Hart (friend of Bob McDonald) MaryAnn Graves, Alfred Greenlee, James Gregg, Sherry Helisek (Vivian Cash’s daughter), Myra Hensley (friend of Charlotte and Jim Pahris), Robin Hill, T.J. Crawford (a friend of Leigh Anne Hieronymus), Leonard Huffstetler, Betty Hyder, (aunt of Leigh Anne Hieronymus) Stevan Jackson, Larry Kelly’s family, Cayla King, Kristi Kyle (friend of Linda Brothers), Sophia Larsen, Herbert Ledford, If you have a prayer request, please call the church office, 423(753-6162) or send us an email

at www.jpcusa.org You may also fill out a prayer request card, prayer request cards are located near the visitor’s book and are also located in the pews, you may drop your prayer

request in the offering plate.

Please Pray For the Following People (For those in our congregation who are aware of illness or life events among our long-time or infrequent congregants, please notify the office 753-6162 and Allen)

Jonesborough Yarn Party Monday, December 14th from 6:00-8:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall, we meet the second Monday of each month. It is a social group that gets together once a month to knit, crochet, or spin. It's a fun way to meet others in the community that shares this interest.

If anyone has questions, please ask Emily Webb or Deb Burger. Everyone is welcome!

JAMA’ Food Pantry is in great need of: Soups, Peanut Butter, Flour, Sugar, Cornmeal, Jams, Jellies, Pork and Beans, Instant Potatoes, Cereals, Spaghetti & Sauces, Sugar,

Dried Beans, Canned Fruit, Meats, Vegetables & Large Paper Bags. PLEASE HELP! Anyone wishing to help at the JAMA Food Pantry

on a 4th or a 5th Thursday of the month: Please see Jim Cash for details.

The Food Pantry welcomes your help in serving those in need.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry Needs:

-Fleece fabric: 1 yard pcs. -Packages of quilt batting

-Yarn of all colors ~~~ We thank everyone for their donations ~~~

Dec 20th: Guest musicians will join adult choir for Messiah selections for call to worship, offertory, anthem and benediction.

Galina Timofeev, violin Oleg Timofeev, violin Jim Benelisha, cello Emily Webb, flute

Jonathan Barnett, bass voice

Treasurer’s Report Year-to-Date 01/01-2015-10/31/2015

Difference in contributions vs. budget: ($1446.03) Difference in contributions vs. actual expenses: $13101.89

Weekly Budget Status October 2015 October weekly average giving: $4264.61

October weekly giving – weekly budget needs = Variance $4264.61 - $4576.13 = ($311.52)

We meet the 1st Tuesday of the month at 12:30 in the fellowship hall. We welcome new members! Bring your lunch to the meetings.

The Shawl Ministry includes persons of all faiths. Items are made with prayers,

blessings or wishes in mind for the recipients. “Part of the journey of prayer and faith is to recognize that we may never know how our love and care will touch or change another person’s life. Instead, we are invited to offer others our compassion and let

whatever needs to happen, happen.”

Cherry’s Musical Notes

News from Jonesborough Presbyterian Church Music Department

December 4th: The Golden Heirs will sing selections at 6:30pm at Lamplight Theater in Kingsport.

December 11th: The Polar Express Musical will be held at David Crockett’s Little

Theater at 7 p.m. The Adult Ensemble and youth soloists will sing.

December 12th: The Adult Ensemble and youth soloists will participate in A Day With Santa at 3pm downtown Jonesborough.

Lamplight Theater December 13th: The Adult Ensemble will sing for the matinee

show at 2:30pm. December 18th The Golden Heirs will sing “Emmanuel Christmas Musical” at 6:30.

Christmas Musical “What Child is This” December 13th 11:00 am

Dec 2nd Youth and Adult Ensemble with youth soloist and Adult Choir

will sing at Jama Event at Trinity We still need more ringers! Come play with us!

Choir practice will resume on January 13th Golden Heirs January 14th

The Session of Jonesborough Presbyterian Church

Session Ministry Teams

Class of 2015 Class of 2016 Class of 2017 Karen Childress Eva Garst Carter Florence Graham Norman Gary Burkett Ray Marney Jim Cash Gordon Edwards Terry Welch Glenn Walker Bill Reese Becky Wolfe

Clerk of Session: Bill Reese Worship: Chair: Eva Garst: Vice Chair: Carter Florence Summer Buchanan, Jeri Paolini, Marcy Hawley, Cherry Smith, Ruth Verhegge, Emily Webb, Leigh Ann Hieronymus, Bunny Downing, Irene Mitchell, Charlotte Pahris Christian Education: Chair: Becky Wolfe Cherry Smith, Cheryl Smith, Debbie Walls, Marianne Huff, Brooke Ransdell Congregational Life & Membership Development: Chair: Karen Childress Linda Brothers, Sara Cash, Barbara Grooms, Karen Earing-Winter, Mary Lee Miller, Ann Norman, Charlotte Pahris, Corinne Parnell, Kathy Scheu, Ida Shurr, Phyllis Wilson. Mission: Chair: Glenn Walker; Vice Chair: Terri Welch Marilyn & Summer Buchanan, Carol Jernigan, Jim Rhein, Carol Salinas, Jonathan Webb, Karen Welch Property: Chair: Gordon Edwards: Vice-Chairs: Graham Norman & Jim Cash, Bill Downing, Larry Garst, Jim Pahris, Kelly Wolfe, Bob Scheu, Tim Winter, Neil Comer Stewardship & Finance: Chair: Terry Welch; Vice-Chair: Ray Marney; Treasurer: Alexis Burkett, Eva Garst, Ray Marney, Jim Rhein, Jennifer Wolfe Administration: Chair: Gary Burkett: Gordon Edwards, Mike Floyd, Hal Knight, John Laughrey, Ruth Verhegge, Pat Wolfe.

Hebron Highlights December, 2015

Jonesborough Presbyterian Church P.O. Box 383 Jonesborough, TN37659