the lantern - amazon s3project!! next up—january 24th meeting plans are to make “huggs”...
TRANSCRIPT
Dear Friends,
Growing up we began decorating for Christmas the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I was so excited to decorate the house for Christmas. My dad would start by lugging huge boxes from the basement filled with our ornaments and other decorations. Every year I would pick through all the boxes to find one specific item: our manger scene. We had the best manger scene. A wooden stable made of wooden sticks on a solid wood base. Hay and straw were glued to the roof and the floor of the stable. It was a good size measuring about eighteen inches from end to end and almost the same in height. Inside would be all the characters of the Christmas story: Mary, Joseph, sheep, a cow, shepherds, and the three wise men.
When I would find the box, I would run with it into the living room and clear off the top of our upright piano. I would carefully pull the stable and the other parts out of its beat up, well-worn box. After taking out all the figurines, I placed the stable right in the middle of the piano. One by one, I unwrapped each character from their tissue paper tomb. Each fig-ure was handmade, sculpted and painted with great detail. I placed each figure in or around the stable until all of them were unwrapped. Then the fun began.
I began by placing the baby Jesus in his manger in the middle of the stable, but towards the front so everybody could see him. I would then place Mary and Joseph behind Jesus posi-tioned in such a way that they would be looking at Jesus. Then on one side would be the shepherds with their sheep and on the other side would be the wise men admiring with great wonder the baby Jesus with their gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh. I would make sure that each figure could see Jesus. I also to made sure that everyone who came into our living room would know that Jesus was at the center with everybody else around him.
In Matthew 1, the angel of the Lord came to Joseph and said to him that Mary, to whom he was engaged, would bear a son conceived by the Holy Spirit to fulfill what the prophet Isai-ah had foretold, “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, God is with us”.
The God of the universe whom we worship and serve came to earth as a child to live and dwell among us. He did this so that we would know him more fully and would place him at the center of our lives. He wants to be our primary focus. Through triumph and tragedy, the Good News of this Advent season is that “God is with us” in the person of Jesus Christ. Let us make Him our number one priority and place Him at the center of our lives.
In Christ,
Pastor Scott
October
CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS PAGE 2
SESSION NEWS PAGE 3
MISSION & OUTREACH PAGE 4-5
KDO PAGE 8-11
CALENDAR & BIRTHDAYS INSERT
The
Lantern December 2016
“A Light in the City”
NEW BRAUNFELS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
CON. CARE & ADVENT PAGE 6
SERMONS PAGE 7
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Church Announcements
The MOC Devotional Breakfast for Decem-ber will be Friday, the 9th at 7:30 AM in the Church Activity Center. The cooks are Sam Stewart, Charlie Felts, and Doy Cole. Since we didn’t get a chance to cover the devotional last time, we will try again. It comes from 1 Samuel Chapter 25, entitled “Beauty and the Beast”. It is a story about David before he became king. The sign-up sheet is posted in the credenza. We will not have a fellowship dinner in De-cember.
Come join the
Lunch Bunch
on Tuesday,
December
6th at
McAdoo’s. We
will meet at
12:30 pm. Sign-
up sheet is in
the Narthex.
CE VOLUNTEERS: We are look-ing for volunteers to help with Children's Church. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Jennifer Gately at 210-771-7031 or [email protected].
Thank You from
Em Riding for calls,
visits, prayers and
flowers during her
recent illness-
special thank you
to Nancy Stewart,
Flo Pacharzina,
and Sue and Earl
Dittman.
CHURCH HISTORY: Our church history booklet, “The First Fifty Years” in-cluding the additional up-date of “After Fifty Years – Seeing the Way Forward,” has been published. The booklets are available in the church office for a suggest-ed donation of $5.00.
POINSETTIAS are now available for $10/plant. They will be pro-vided from the Plant Haus this year, and the deadline for ordering is December 4th. Order forms are available in the narthex, church bulletins, or church office.
ESTHER CIRCLE will meet Tuesday, December 13th at 10:00 am in the Conference Room. Margaret Wheeler will lead lesson 4, “Who is Jesus? According to John..” Please join us for a continuation of this study as we approach the Christmas season and remem-ber those in our church family who need your visits, calls, and prayers.
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The following are highlights from the November 15 Session meeting:
The Treasurer’s Report reflected total offerings in October of $59,668 and expenses of
$42,702. At this point, we are “in the black” at almost $48,000.
Pastor’s Report (Rev. Scott Nowack): Session discussed an article by David P. King,
“Does Religion Still Matter in Public Life?”
Congregational Care Committee (Jody Cosson): The committee is seeking new mem-
bers who can visit ill and shut-in church members on a regular basis. Next meeting is
Dec. 6 at 11:30 am in the Church Parlor.
Facilities Committee (Joyce Taylor): A wifi booster has been installed in the facility.
Work on the fire alarm system (new electrical board) is almost complete. The trees at
the rear of the property will be trimmed in January.
Fellowship Committee (Austin Talley): The Christmas potluck party will be Dec. 4, be-
ginning at 5:30 pm in the Activity Center. Activities and caroling will begin about 6:15
pm.
Kids Day Out (Laura Smith): KDO delivered more than 1,200 lbs. of food to the SOS
Food Bank in October.
Mission & Outreach Committee (Jerri Petmecky): See detailed highlights in this news-
letter.
Stewardship Committee (Charlie Felts): The proposed 2017 budget reflects a $57,037
decrease from the 2016 budget. It was unanimously approved by Session and will be
presented to church members during the Harvest Sunday luncheon. The budget breaks
down this way — Personnel (61%); Buildings/Grounds (13%); Missions (12%); Ad-
ministration (6%); Christian Education (4%); and General As-
sembly, Synod & Presbytery (4%).
Worship Committee (Dave Wright): Reminder that a combined
church service will be held at 10 am on Dec. 25 (Christmas) and
Jan. 1 (New Year’s). The Christmas Joy offering will be received
on Dec. 18. Christmas Eve services will be at 5 and 7 pm. The
choir will be handling the lighting of the candles and the read-
ings at the 11 am services during Advent.
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UNITED NATION SEMINAR Gretchen Weicker will be attending the United Nation seminar at the UN Religion Center after Thanksgiving through December 2. The UN Seminar topic is: Children in the Middle-East, Crisis and Opportunity. Ecumenical partners from the United Methodist Church and the Mennonite Central Committee will lead; they are currently deeply engaged in work in Syria and with Palestinian refugee families. Other ecumenical partners and representatives from the UN ref-ugee agencies will bring updates. If you have specific questions or concerns, please speak to her so that she may raise those in committee.
DORCAS CIRCLE was able to give
Thanksgiving cards to 172 recipients
of Meals on Wheels! THANKS to all
of you who helped with this service
project!!
Next up—January 24th meeting plans
are to make “Huggs” blankets & also
to bring items for “Connections” &
the families they serve. Plan now
to come & be a part of these projects
& fellowship!!
SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells----do you hear the bells of Christmas? Church bells, Bell Choirs, and the Salvation Army Red Kettlebells. Come help the Salvation Army raise money to bene-fit your neighbors in Comal County. Our church will man the kettles on Sunday, December 11th at Walmart and on Sunday, December 18th at Ar-lan’s. Sunday shifts are from 1-4 (3 hours) and from 4-6 (2hours). Sign-up sheet will be in the Narthex on Sundays, November 20th and 27th and December, 4th.
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Mission & Outreach News Briefs The Mission & Outreach Committee recently approved the allocation of $3,000 of its discretionary funds to
the following agencies in need: $500 each to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, Crisis Center of Comal County, the New Braunfels Community Thanksgiving Dinner, and to the Pan American-Schreiner University Agree-ment scholarship fund. The Salvation Army will receive $1,000 to help with its Thanksgiving donations.
Get your running shoes on for a great cause. St. Jude’s Ranch for Children’s annual Jingle Bell Run (and walk) is Saturday, Dec. 10 beginning at 8 am in Gruene. Dress up in Christmas attire! To register go to https://www.athleteguild.com/running/new-braunfels-tx/2016-st-judes-jingle-bell-5k-presented-by-comal-isd.
Thank you to everyone who took an “angel” from our Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services Angel Tree. This year we are providing four gifts each for two adults and 14 children. If you are buying gifts please wrap the presents, attach the “angel” to the front of the package, and return the gifts to the church no later than Sunday, Dec. 11. Santa will be loading up his sleigh and delivering all the presents to San Antonio on Monday, Dec. 12 to be sure the families receive them in time for Christmas.
The Crisis Center of Comal County provides services for women, children, and men who have experienced domestic violence. It provides emergency shelter, clothing, counseling, victim advocacy, case management, community outreach and education, and information and referral services. There is no deadline on how long a client may receive shelter, which distinguishes the CCCC from some of the other agencies providing services to families in crisis. The CCCC is always in need of canned goods/pantry items, men’s, women’s and children’s clothing including shoes, and especially twin linens, blankets and towels. Monetary dona-tions can be made online and walk-in donations can be made at 1547 Common Street. Stacy Hill, executive director, expressed her appreciation to NBPC for its annual monetary support, as well as the recent discre-tionary donation recommended by the Mission & Outreach Committee.
NBPC is hosting Family Promise families the week of January 22-28 and we are always looking for volun-teers. To learn more about how you can serve, contact John or Charlotte Sutton, our FP coordinators, at [email protected] or 817.995.3022. Check out FP’s new promotional video to learn more about the organ-ization by visiting https://youtu.be/qeHzkvTVJOs.
Speaking of Family Promise, you can support the organization by attending a FPFlix at the Alamo Draft-house on January 26 beginning at 6:30 pm. The movie is “Pursuit of Happyness” and stars Will Smith as a homeless single parent. Purchase a ticket in advance by visiting the FP website at fpgnb.org.
The American Cancer Society needs to recruit 10 additional volunteers to drive cancer patients from Comal County to San Antonio area treatment centers. For some patients this program is their only means of get-ting to treatment. To become a volunteer you must: own a safe and reliable air conditioned vehicle, have proof of adequate automobile insurance, have a good driving record, pass a background check, and attend a Road To Recovery volunteer training session. Visit volunteerdriver.org or call 1-800-227-2345 to sign up or to learn more. Charlotte Sutton can help you as well at 817.995.3022.
Reminder: Joe and Pat Turner, longtime members of our church, are being honored in a special way for all of their years of support and service as trustees at the Presbyterian Pan American School in Kingsville. To support the Joe and Pat Turner Scholarship to help future PPAS students attend the school, send a check in care of PPAS before Dec. 31. Indicate it’s for the scholarship and mail it to P.O. Box 1578, Kingsville, TX 78364. Thank you!
Connections Individual and Family Services is a local organization that NBPC supports. In Novem-ber, Ky’Londa Glaze, Connections’ Safe Place Coordinator, visited the Mission & Outreach Committee meet-ing to tell members more about the organization. Services targeted to its primary audience, children and young people, ages 0 to 21, include a Transitional Living Program, Kids Exchange Program, Substance Abuse Prevention Program, Outpatient Treatment Program, Services to At-Risk Youth (STAR), and a Shelter Services & Assessment Center. The agency appreciates donations throughout the year to help the children and youth in need. Those items include socks, shoes, underwear, coats, sweatshirts with hoodies, and toilet-ries. In addition, Connections counselors can always use crayons, play dough, watercolor paints, glue, and drawing paper. Donations can be dropped off at Connections’ offices at 1414 W. San Antonio.
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MISSION OUTREACH TRIP TO CUBA: Thank you for generously supporting my recent trip to Cuba. I went with a team sponsored by Mission Outreach and the Justice Committee of Mission Presbytery. It was definitely a learning experience, and I so ap-preciate all of your support. —Madge Bayston
PCHAS ANGEL TREE: The Presbyterian children’s Home Angel Tree is in the Nar-thex today! This year we are providing 60 gifts for children and Mothers at our home in San Antonio. Please sign up today! Select an Angel, wrap the gift, attach the Angel to the front of the package, and return it to the church no later than Sunday, December 11. Thank you so much for helping to provide a very Merry Christmas for children in our care.
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SERMONS FOR DECEMBER– all by Pastor Scott
December 4 2nd Sunday in Advent
"A Stump of Hope" Isaiah 11:1-10
Romans 15:4-13
December 11 3rd Sunday of Advent "A Blooming Desert"
Isaiah 35:1-10 James 5:7-10
December 18 4th Sunday in Advent
"Somewhere In Between" Isaiah 7:10-16 Romans 1:1-7
December 24 Christmas Eve
"A Light in the City" Isaiah 9:2-7 Luke 2:1-20
December 25 Christmas Day
"Right Here, Right Now" Isaiah 63:7-9
Matthew 2:13-23
CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING: The Christmas Joy Offering will be taken on Sunday, December 18th, at both the 9 and 11 o’clock services. Each year during the Advent and
Christmas season, we turn our eyes to Bethlehem and celebrate the wondrous gift of Je-sus Christ, our Savior. By giving to the Christmas Joy Offering the congregation honors this gift by providing assistance to current and retired church workers in their time of
need and developing our future leaders at Presbyterian related racial-ethnic school and colleges.
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES: The Advent Season will begin November 27th and will continue through Christmas Eve. NBPC will have 2 Christmas Eve Services. The Family
Service starting at 5 PM and the Candlelight Service at 7 PM. Child care will be provided for both services.
CHRISTMAS DAY AND NEW YEAR’S DAY SERVICES: NBPC will have a combined
Praise and Traditional Service starting at 10 AM on both Christmas Day (Sunday, Decem-ber 25th) and New Year’s Day (Sunday, January 1st). The Sacrament of Communion will not be celebrated on January 1st, but on January 8th instead.
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Please submit all materials for The Lantern to the church office, or by email to
[email protected] by Thursday, December 15th for the January 2017 Newsletter.
Worship Information * 9:00—Worship Service * 10:00—Christian Education (all ages) * 11:00—Worship Service
373 Howard Street New Braunfels, TX
New Braunfels Presbyterian Church 373 Howard Street New Braunfels, Texas 78130 Phone: 830-625-5141 FAX: 830-625-5161 Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.nbpres.org Church Office Hours: Monday –Thursday 8:30am-3:00pm; Friday 8:30am-12:00pm
MINISTRIES AT WORK… Want to BE INVOLVED in the Life of the
Church? Contact one of the committees of your choice and make a DIFFERENCE!
Julia George—Clerk of Session [email protected]
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION/YOUTH
MINISTRY Sharon Jebens
[email protected] COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY
Kari Hutchison [email protected]
CONGREGATIONAL CARE Jody Cosson
[email protected] FACILITIES MINISTRY
Joyce Taylor [email protected] FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY
Austin Talley [email protected]
KIDS DAY OUT MINISTRY Laura Smith
[email protected] PERSONNEL Michael Meek
MEMBERSHIP MINISTRY Ann Brunn
[email protected] MISSIONS/OUTREACH MINISTRY
Jerri Petmecky [email protected]
STEWARDSHIP Charlie Felts
[email protected] WORSHIP MINISTRY
Bob Nolen [email protected]
Dave Wright [email protected]