Remembrance of the Saints

“To be a saint is to live a life that is always giving itself away and yet is always full.”

Frederick Buechner, Presbyterian author and pastor

The early church set All Saints’ Day to be a special day to remember the saints. We will remember

our saints during worship on November 3. Please bring pictures of the saints you have loved -

both those who are living and those who have died - and place them on the Lord’s Ta-

ble prior to worship. A reading of the names will be included in worship as well. Fol-

lowing communion, we will sing For All the Saints, and its chorus speaks well: “O bless

communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle; they in glory shine; yet all are one

in thee, for all are thine. Alleluia! Alleluia!“

Pledge Sunday

November 17 is Pledge Sunday, the time to return your 2020 pledge card so we can

dedicate them to the Glory of God. Pledge cards will be mailed to homes soon. Please

take time to pray and consider how God and Christ’s church have blessed your life.

Encourage your children and youth to pledge as well as childhood habits are often

lasting habits. The Session will use the pledge card totals to prepare a Operating

Fund budget for 2020.

Community Thanksgiving Service

The Hoopeston Area Ministerial Association will host a Community Thanksgiving Service on

Sunday, November 24 at 2:00 p.m. at the Methodist Church in Rankin. Join our fellow Christians

for this special time of Thanksgiving worship.

Pizza and Movie Night

All ages are invited to a family movie night on November 24 at 5:30 p.m. We’ll begin with pizza

and popcorn and then watch the movie on the big screen. To usher in the Christmas season, we’ll

watch Sony’s 2017 animated movie The Star which received wonderful re-

views. It’s a family friendly telling of the Christmas manger story from the

perspective the animals! It embraces the values and spirit of the greatest

story ever told very well. Both young children and adults will enjoy this.

First Presbyterian Church

Hoopeston, Illinois

November 2019

The Bridgebuilder

Inside this issue:

Pastor’s Letter 2

Thanksgiving, Ad-vent

3

Youth , Preschool 4

Stewardship 5

Finance, Mission, Session

6

Prayers, Dates

7

First Presbyterian Church

915 E Orange St

PO Box 297

Hoopeston, IL 60942

Phone: 217-283-6229

Fax: 217-283-6229

E-mail: church@fpchoopeston.com

W e ’ r e o n t h e w e b !

w w w. f p c h o o p e s to n . c o m

First Presbyterian Church

P.O. Box 297

915 E. Orange St

Hoopeston, IL 60942

Return Service Requested

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

Permit No. 49

Hoopeston, IL 60942

First Presbyterian Church of Hoopeston

Head of the Church Jesus Christ

Ministers of the Good News All of Us

Session Elders Wayne Bandy, Melissa Betka,

Donna Boyer, Rita Carter,

Elizabeth Donley, Julie Stump,

Janet Smith, Cheryl Steiner, Shirley Wagoner

Deacons Gwen Bandy, Debi Lankford

Preschool Assistant Teacher Mechelle Berlin

Organist and Music Director Rick Brackmann

Administrative Assistant Pat Catron

Custodian Gary Deck

Pastor Wade Meranda

Youth Group Director Kathy Watson

Preschool Director Margo Watson

Page 2

Pastor’s Letter

November Birthdays

11/1 Marty Kloska 11/5 Skip Betka 11/12 Scott Watson 11/13 Laura Meranda 11/15 David Nelson 11/15 Trent Betka 11/24 Chalmers Flint, Kristi Keller, Craig Lee 11/28 Betsy Schellhardt, Janet Smith

November Anniversaries

11/07/1970 Jeff and Betsy Schellhardt 11/18/2000 Skip and Melissa Betka 11/22/1969 Stan and Shirley Wagoner 11/26/1994 Matt and Gina Morgan

Page 7

Prayers, Dates

Pastor’s Letter

Dear Friends,

Here we are in November, the time to give thanks

to God for the blessings God has provided. Young or

old, sick or well, good harvests or bad, we can always

count our blessings.

An old children’s story encourages kids use their

fingers each morning and count their blessings. Ten

blessings are provided to get them started.

I can see.

I can hear.

I can talk.

I can walk.

I have a family.

I have a home.

I have friends.

I have a dog or cat.

I have a school, a job, or a retirement.

I have a church.

I encourage you to do the same. Ten a day. Any ten.

I know that on good days counting our blessings is

easy and on bad days difficult, but an awareness of our

God-given blessings can be encouraging on any day.

The counting might encourage God as well, God from

whom all blessings flow.

I’m happy to report that pledge cards will be mailed

to households soon. How exciting is that?! I pray for

the Spirit of gratitude to be on your heart this year.

Bring your card to worship on November 17 and we’ll

make a pledge to God together. I know the ministry of

our church is a top ten blessing to many members and

friends and to many others in town who receive our

prayers and support.

Remember to invite your friends and neighbors to

worship during this holiday season. Share the blessing

of your church with others.

Blessings, Wade

In Our Prayers

Those who grieve for: Willis Bird (P. Catron’s uncle), Ethyl Roach (R. Carter’s aunt), Steve Johnson (S. Wagoner’s friend), Dave Dixon, JoAnne Howard (R. Stump’ friend), Sam Rayfield (S. Burton’ uncle), Daisy Garcia (M. Prosise’s friend).

Those with immediate concerns: Tammy Lewis (R. Carter’s friend), Karl Steiner, Jeanette Deck, Becky Timmons, Dalton Goble (HAHA student), Betty Hutton (D. Boyer’s friend), Candy Baltz (W. Bandy’s cousin), Mason Steiner, Jackie Morse (R. Carter’s cousin), Ann Coffman, Marge Foster, Peter Krimble (L. Martin’s friend), Tom and Judy Benjamin, Sam Milton (M. Carlson’s cousin), Cookie Green (R. Stump’s friend), Cristiano Valera (Maple School student), Sue Williamson (D. Dixon’s friend), Tina

Skender (C. Flint’s daughter), Karen Evans (R. Carter’s friend), Ray Stump, Bonnie and Stephanie Sterrenberg (G. Bandy’s friends), Matt Smith (J. Smith’s son), Linda Martin, McKenzie Baughn (M. Pro-sise’s daughter), Sue Davia (D. Dixon’s sister), Shawn Lane (S Wag-oner’s cousin), Eileen Leemon, Beau Edrington (S. Betka’s cousin), Karen Peterson (D. Dixon’s sister), Charles France (J. Smith’s broth-er), Judy Stevens (E. Donley’s cousin), Marla Haas, Shirley Wagoner, Gary Fritz (H. Steiner’s dad), Kevin Moore (Burton’s friend), Joyce Cottingham (L. Martin’s friend), Linda Fritz (H. Steiner’s mom), Brenda Pelman (K. Cox’s mom), Nathan Allis (C. Newman’s neph-ew), Blake Kinnett (BHHS student), Mary Kane (K. Root’s aunt), Natalie Zollar (E. Donley’s niece), Ian Anderson (J. Stump’s nephew), Vickie Anderson (J. Stump’s sister), Mar-tha Barner, Carole Ronane (J. Stump’s friends), Beth Meese (G. Morgan’s friend).

Those with long-term concerns: Rachel Fenner (G. Morgan’s friend), Toby and Kim Wagoner (pregnancy), Juan Robles (Brackmann’s friend), Troy Flint, Kristi Keller, Mechelle Cook (R. Carter’s friend), Marge Carlson, Jane Stei-ner, Jeremy Hirschland (B. Huffman’s grandson), Kelley Clem (P. Clem’s son), John Long (D. Dixon’s brother), Tina and John Hanson (Vi Hanson’s children), Brian Lemenager (M Foster’s grandson), Felix and Louise Morgan (M Morgan’s grandparents), Cheryl Steiner, Patti Root (K. Root’s mom), Paula Sims, Ruth Highfill, Marty Kloska, Rob Burton Family (J. Stump’s brother), John and Dawn Lindley, Gary Deck, John Masengale (S. Burton’s dad), Mason Whitaker (G. Deck’s grandson), Sue Burton, Charlie Pajor, Linda Briscoe (L. Huffman’s niece), Lori Egnew Vaughan (G. Morgan’s friend) and Sophia Voyda (E. Donley’s niece), Drew and Kelsey Sheppard and baby Leena (D. Dixon’s friends).

Those homebound in assisted living or nursing homes: Vader Clements, Mike Blankenship, Pat Vacketta, Lois Lankford, Jeanette Couch (C. Lee’s grandmother).

Those in church leadership: Our Session and Deacons, Rev. Wade, Vilmaria Cintron-Oliviere and Cindy Kohlmann (General Assembly co-moderators), J. Herbert Nelson (G.A. clerk), Bill Capel (Presbytery moderator), Bill McLean (Pres. PCC), Cindy Bean (Pres. clerk).

New Officers Elected

God has called a new class of officers to serve. The

Nominating Committee provided a slate of candidates

which was blessed by the congregation at its October

27 meeting. The new elders and deacons will be or-

dained and installed into office on January 12.

Elder Larry Betka class of 2020 Christy Lee class of 2022 Jill Nelson class of 2022 Missy Prosise class of 2022

Deacon Rita Carter class of 2021 Gina Morgan class of 2022

2020 Nominating Committee Sue Burton Laura Flint Kristi Keller Gwen Bandy Julie Stump Shirley Wagoner Melissa Betka

Behold!

We’re blessed to have the musical group Behold! wor-

shipping with us on November 17. We’re grateful for

their friendship and for the ministry of joy and hope

they bring. Behold! includes members of the St. John’s

Lutheran Church in Schwer and the

Prairie Green Church of Christ: Tracy

Scherf, Bob Storm, Tim Schaumberg,

Ken Lehmann, Quentin Schaumberg,

Sara Seyfert, Melissa Storm, Brandi

Jensen, and Beth Totheroh. May God

bless them and keep them.

Behold! will be singing a collection of favorite praise

hymns during worship. “Praise the Lord! Sing to the

Lord a new song in the assembly of the faithful. Let

everything that breathes praise the Lord!” (Psalm 149)

Condolences

Our condolences go out to the family and friends of

Dave Dixon (70) who died on October 5. We pray for

his wife Debby and their children Dana (Amy) and

Jenn (Steve). We pray for their grandchildren as well:

Cassidy and Katie Dixon and Logan, Miles, and Parker

Robinson. We pray for his friends. May God abide with

all who grieve.

Dave and Debby celebrated their 50th wedding anni-

versary last summer and were grateful for that. A me-

morial service was held at Anderson Funeral Home on

October 12, officiated by Revs. Wade and Ann and was

followed by a luncheon at our church. The family asks

that memorial gifts be given to the John Greer PTO for

its Playground for All Project.

It’s a Boy!

Congratulations to Sean and Bianca Danner on the

birth of their child, Felix Cusimano Danner, on Octo-

ber 21. The Danner family lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

And congratulations to Felix’s

grandmother, Linda Martin, as

well!

May God’s blessing be upon

Felix and the new life he brings

to the world. Six pounds and

ten ounces of hope has come

and we are grateful to God.

Finance, Mission, Session

Page 3

Thanksgiving and Advent

Change for Change Mission

Our October 20 our mission offering was $273 and will

provides meals for the Hoopeston Volunteer Fire De-

partment’s meetings.

On November 17 the offering will help provide for the

healthcare needs of the Steiner family.

On December 22 the offering will support the local

Emergency Assistance Fund administered by HAMA.

Page 6

Upcoming Advent and Christmas Schedule

December 1 1st Sunday of Advent: Decorate the church after worship, Communion

December 8 2st Sunday of Advent: Hanging of the Greens w/Kids, Handbells at NH

December 15 3rd Sunday of Advent: Christmas Breakfast 9:00, Christmas Joy Offering

December 22 4th Sunday of Advent: Advent Music Service

December 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, Communion, 7:00 p.m.

December 25 Christmas Day

December 29 Worship, 10:00

January 5 Epiphany (the magi arrive bringing gifts), Communion

January 12 Ordination of Elders and Deacons

General Fund Giving

“One of the dangers of having a lot of money is that

you may be quite satisfied with the kinds of happiness

money can give and so fail to realize your need for

God. If everything seems to

come simply by signing

checks, you may forget that

you are at every moment to-

tally dependent on God.”

- C. S. Lewis

Christmas Poinsettia Orders

Poinsettias bring Christmas joy! Plants not taken after the Christ-

mas Eve service will be given to nursing home residents.

$16.00 per plant

Given by: _________________________________

In Memory of: _____________________________

In Honor of: _______________________________

In Celebration of: ___________________________

Total plants ordered: ______

Total amount due: $________

Please return this form with your payment to the church

office by December 8. Mail to: First Presbyterian Church,

P.O. Box 297, Hoopeston, Illinois 60942.

Session Highlights

From the October 21 stated meeting:

• 10 out of 10 present

• Heard good news about guest preacher, pasta din-

ner prep, memorial service.

• Set pledge drive plans, Pledge Sunday is Nov 17

• Selected Session members to serve on 2020 Nomi-

nating Committee: Julie, Shirley, and Melissa.

• Reviewed and approved financial report for Oct.

All records are in good order.

• Heard Nominating Committee will have a slate

ready for the Oct 27 Congregational Meeting.

• Set Advent/Christmas season calendar.

• Directed Nov Chg-Chg to Steiner healthcare needs

and Dec to HAMA Emerg Fund.

• Directed Pasta Dinner proceeds: Faith Friends For-

ever ministry, Kitchen Fund, Behold!, Goble healthcare, Lion’s Club gifts, and Heritage Health gifts for residents.

• Directed Pasta Dinner piano tips to Sensory Santa,

program for kids with special needs.

• Directed McFarland Fund support: $250 to Santa

Cares Too kid’s gifts and $1,100 to Small Wonders’ classroom needs.

• Directed Christmas Eve offering to Steiner family

healthcare needs.

We’ve Got Mail

For McFarland Fund support:

We are most grateful for your support. Your generous

gift of $300 will make a real difference in the lives of

youth in northern Vermillion County. Our objective is

to provide essential hygiene and other supplies to

those in need.—The Dwelling Place Board of Directors.

Psalm 138: Thanksgiving

I thank you, LORD, with all my heart; I sing praise to you before the gods. I face your holy Temple, bow down, and praise your name because of your constant love and faithfulness, because you have shown that your name and your commands are supreme. You answered me when I called to you; with your strength you strengthened me.

All the kings in the world will praise you, LORD, because they have heard your promises. They will sing about what you have done and about your great glory. Even though you are so high above, you care for the lowly, and the proud cannot hide from you.

When I am surrounded by troubles, you keep me safe. You oppose my angry enemies and save me by your power. You will do everything you have promised; LORD, your love is eternal. Complete the work that you have begun. Amen.

2019 2018 2017

Given as of Nov 30 $81,110 $83,265 $79,613

Total for Year tbd $105,385 $100,396

Pledges for Year $107,710 $102,925 $101,880

Recycling

Help us be good stewards of God’s creation. We are a

recycling center for several hazardous items.

• Recycling paper, glass, and plastic. If you are not

able to participate in Hoopeston’s curbside program,

bring your recycling to church.

Pickup is every other Friday. Recy-

cle bins are outside by the trash

bins.

• Recycling batteries and light

bulbs. Both batteries and CFL

bulbs contain toxic heavy metals. Bins for these

smaller items are on the counter in fellowship hall.

• Recycling cell phones. Your donations of old

phones provides phone cards for U.S. military per-

sonnel serving away from home.

• Recycling ink jet cartridges. The ink in printer car-

tridges is very toxic.

• Recycling pop tabs. Tabs are collected for recycling

to support the Ronald McDonald House at Riley’s

Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis.

Page 5

Stewardship

Page 4

Youth, Preschool

Small Wonders News

Let’s eat at Preschool!

Everyone enjoys food in November. Small Wonders

Preschool will be discussing the different food groups,

where our food comes from, and how to make healthy

choices for our bodies. We will be

experiencing a grocery store, farm

house, farmers market, as well as

many other food activities! Of course

another big part of eating food is also

having good table manners. We will

practice good table manners to get

ready for the big family Thanksgiv-

ing Dinner.

We are excited for our fall field trip to Orpheum Chil-

dren’s Science Museum! We’ll be

learning about the Clever Critters at

the museum. We’ll meet the turtles,

bearded dragons, snake, tarantula,

and roaches that call the Orpheum

home! Students will learn all about

these amazing animals including

diet, habitat, and adaptations.

We also have another special visitor for the classroom

this month! Mike Webb from the Okinawan School of

Karate will be providing a Little Ninjas course here at

Small Wonders Preschool. I can’t wait to see what we

will learn.

I want to give a BIG thank you to everyone whom or-

dered from our Beef House fundraiser. Everything will

be delivered to First Presbyterian Church on Friday,

November 15.

Happy Thanksgiving! - Margo Watson, Director

Youth Ministry

The youth are providing a leaf raking service on the

afternoon of November 3. They will leave church at

11:45 a.m. to rake and dispose of leaves for anyone who

needs some help. A donation to the

mission trip is appreciated.

The youth will be attending a concert

by the popular Christian group Mer-

cy Me on November 10 at the State

Farm Center in Champaign. We wish

them lots of fun, faith, and safe trav-

els.

The Youth Group (5th-8th) will meet on November 17

at 5:30 p.m. and Discipleship Class (9th-12th) at 6:30

p.m. for devotions, games, snacks, and to pack Christ-

mas care packages to send to our college age youth.

They’ll also decorate the Christmas tree in fellowship

hall.

On December 1, the youth will

meet for lunch and shop for

Christmas gifts for children on

the Angel Tree gift list.

On December 15, the youth will provide Christmas

Bingo for the residents at Autumn Fields assisted living

facility and will provide the Bingo prizes too.

We are so grateful for our youth and for Kathy—for the

time they give, and for the good ministry they do.

Stewardship and the Rule of Love

Presbyterian Perspectives

This is an except from the book Coffee with Calvin: Daily Devotionals,

by Donald McKim. At the time of the Reformation, John Calvin was a

pastor and writer who articulated much of the Reformed, or Presby-

terian, approach to faith. McKim is a Calvin scholar and works for

our denomination’s Westminster John Knox Press.

The word stewardship in the church is often too lim-ited. It is usually tied to the church's finances and rais-ing the church budget. Hear the word stewardship and we reach for our checkbook!

This is one proper dimension of stewardship. But it is not the only dimension. Stewardship, as Calvin re-minds, relates to the fact that we are “stewards of eve-rything God has conferred on us.” All our resources come from God. As stewards, we are those who man-age God’s resources responsibly.

All we have bene given by God is to be used to help our neighbor. This is the far-reaching concept that goes beyond giving money. We give much more—everything else that will help our neighbor. As stew-ards, our lives are focused on generosity and benefi-cence. We are generous with the resources God has given because they are given to us to use for the sake of others.

Our stewardship is tested by the rule of love. Can we understand the ways that we are spending our money, time, and energies as helping our neighbor and as an expression of love? Are we looking primarily to the benefit of others rather than to our own?

We are to “render account of our stewardship” of what we have done with what we have been given. In the end, the rule of love will be the test.

Pledge Sunday: November 17

Pledge Cards for our 2020 Operating Fund will be

mailed to homes soon or you can use the one below.

Please bring or mail your card to the church by Novem-

ber 17. May the Spirit of Generosity be with us!

2020 Operating Fund Pledge First Presbyterian Church of Hoopeston

Name(s) __________________________________________________

My (our) Estimated Giving for 2020 $_________________________