“Opening Doors, Living God’s
Word”
E-CHIMES
A Weekly Update of Joys,
Concerns and Ministry with
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Sunday Worship Hour
10:30 a.m.
Church Office Hours: Monday
- Thursday: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Pastor's Office Hours: Monday
– Thursday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
(Fridays: Pastor's day off,
office closed)
OUR MISSION
As followers of Jesus,
we will
open our doors
to glorify
God and do God’s work
in our
community and beyond.
October 27, 2011
Church Phone: 989-773-9609
Our email is churchoffice@fpcmp.org
Our website is www.fpcmp.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/FPCMP/
Pastor Miller’s phone
502-609-6171
Email address: andrewlmiller1@gmail.com
In This Issue:
· Prayer
concerns:
· CROP Walk
Update (NEW)
· J-Walkers
Weekend Events (NEW)
· Mark Cox
Faculty Recital (NEW)
· Wed @
first Items needed (NEW)
· Christmas
Outreach (NEW)
· Sue
Blodgett’s 85th Birthday (NEW)
· From Oct
17 Session
· Christmas
Caroling
· Isabella
County DHS needs your help
· Next Book
Club Meeting
· Fall Fun
Day
· Soup &
Bread Dinner Annual Fundraiser
· SJP
Hosting Alternative Gift Giving Fair
· SpringHill Juniors Retreat
· Lectionary
Readings
· A Glimpse
at The Week Ahead
· Looking at
Events in the Church, Around the Town and Beyond
· Birthdays
and Anniversaries
· Web Links
of Interest
PRAYER CONCERNS
Prayers of Concern John Kingsnorth
(Nancy Klunzinger’s brother), Sue Blodgett, Lucille Wysong, Hilary Burns (Heidi Rocha’s sister, Nancy
Enders, Liz Hubbard, Clarice Miller, (Rev. Miller’s mother) and Lois
Austin, Carol Shannon, Graham Tillotson and Martha Miller.
O Holy God, it is easy for us to lose sight of you in the midst of
difficulties. Let us not lose heart. Give us the strength through
the Holy Spirit that we may continue to bear witness to your love and grace
through the example of the Son and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer taken from the 2011
Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study.
CROP WALK Update
Because you prayed, because you gave, and because you walked, our
church raised over 3,200 dollars for hunger
issues.
Thank you every one.
J-Walkers Weekend Events
J-Walkers will be creating their annual haunted house for Fall Fun
Day this Saturday. Set-up will be Friday from 6 - 8 pm and Saturday, starting
at 12. After Fall Fun Day, we will be taking a trip to the Longton's
in Clare for dinner and a bonfire. We will leave from church at 4:30. Bring a
dish to pass. Parents welcome!
Mark Cox Faculty Recital
You are invited to the faculty recital of Mark Cox on Tuesday,
Nov. 1 at 8 pm in Staples Family Recital Hall, CMU. Music for
solo tuba, tuba and euphonium, and tuba and piano (with Mary Jo Cox).
Included will be several pieces in which Mark has used his photography to create
a visual representation of the music. This will be projected simultaneously
with the performance. Works of Brahms, CMU composer Jay Batzner,
CMU alum David Biedenbender, and the Beatles!
Items Needed for Wednesday@First
Thanksgiving Baskets
On the first Wednesday of every month we meet for a potluck dinner
at 6:00 pm followed by a different activity each month. Bring your own place
setting and a dish to pass. Drinks are provided.
November: Thanksgiving Baskets
December: Carol Sing-Along
January: Epiphany Celebration
February: Talent Show
March: Game Night
April: TBA
May: Blessing of the Animals and Picnic
On Wednesday, Nov. 2, we will be making cards
and putting together gift baskets for our members who are in nursing homes or
homebound. We would like to include lotion, body wash, kleenex,
hand sanitizer, warm socks, stamps, blank greeting cards, hard candy, homemade
treats (cookies, small loaves of bread, candy), book to read (could be used) or
a puzzle book. If you can donate one or more items, please drop them off in the
office before Nov. 2, or bring them with you that evening.
We are also asking for different volunteers to set up and clean up
each month. This involves putting out drinks (coffee, water, lemonade) and
serving utensils beforehand; and washing serving utensils and wiping tables and
counters afterward. If you can help, please sign up on the narthex bulletin
board.
Christmas Outreach
Christmas Outreach is expecting a large increase in clients this
year due to a Social Services cash cut
off date as of October 1st. We are in great need of new
or gently used linens, such as towels, blankets, sheet sets, pillows, rugs,
kitchen items, etc.
We would greatly appreciated it if you
could conduct a linen drive at your church.
Drop off dates are Nov. 30., December 1,2,5 and 6 from
1:00 pm to 7:00 pm, except for Friday from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Finch Fieldhouse, on the campus of Central Michigan University.
If you have any questions, please call Co-Chairs Jane Butcher at
772-1443, Molly York at 560-3359 or Kathy Parks at 772-3087.
Thank you in advance.
Sue Blodgetts 85th Birthday
For those of you who wish to send a Birthday Card to Sue to help
her celebrate her 85th birthday, you may send it to:
Sue Blodgett
% Masonic Pathways
1200 Wright Ave.
Room 335
Alma, MI 48801
Some Items from the Session Meeting of October 17
The Nominating Committee is beginning work on preparing a slate of
nominees for Session, Deacons, and at-large positions on next year’s Nominating
Committee.
A summary of our church’s income and expenses follows.
Sept. actual
Sept. budget Year
to date actual
Year to date budget
Income
$15,859.03
$20,834.00
$162,103.77
$183,606.00
Expenses
$28,559.11
$19,351.45
$174,686.85
$182,753.65
The Presbytery’s review of church records took place on October
1. Our Session minutes were approved with exceptions and our church
register was approved.
Christmas Caroling
First Presbyterian will be doing their annual Christmas Caroling
on Sunday December 18th at 2:45 pm. The trolley will need to be back
in the garage by 5:00 pm. There will be a chili supper at the church
afterwards. So reserve this date on your calendar if you want to enjoy the
blessings of the Season as we sing to members of our church some of whom are
shut-in.
Isabella County DHS Needs Your Help!
Needed: Volunteer Drivers to transport Foster Care Children to and
from parent visits, to school, and counseling. DHS reimburses mileage and
meals! (If applicable) They also provide booster and car seats along with
a pamphlet on the proper installation of them. For more information
please contact Andi Pellegrini
Community Resource Coordinator Isabella County DHS 989-772-8438 or email Pellegrinia@michigan.gov
The Next Book Club Meeting
The next book club meeting will be Thursday October 27at noon in
the church parlor.
Fall Fun Day
Fall Fund Day will be held 2-4 pm on Saturday, October 29.
Fun for the whole family! Enjoy crafts, games, haunted house, yummy
snacks, and hayrides. Prizes for the best costume! If you’d like to
help, contact Mary Jo Cox. Mary.J.Cox@gmail.com
Soup & Bread Dinner Annual Fundraiser
Isabella Community Soup Kitchen is holding its annual Soup &
Bread Dinner Fundraiser at the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen at 621 S. Adams
St. (1/3 block north of High St. between Freddie’s and Mill Pond Park. Friday, November 11 from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Awesome
soups and breads donated by many local restaurants and bakeries.
COST: Free will donation from your heart to help feed needy people in our
community.
SJP Hosting Alternative Gift Giving Fair
An invitation goes out to all who would like a table to feature
/display for the alternative gift giving table/fair again this year. If
you have any literature of projects that you would like to display please let
Cam Ellis know. 772-7040 or email camellis1@frontier.com
SpringHill Juniors
Retreat
We will be taking 4th, 5th, and 6th graders to SpringHill
Camp on November 11-13 for a fun-filled weekend of high-energy activity and
worship. The theme this year is “Upside Down.” When Jesus came, preaching
and healing and serving, it wasn't at all what the world was expecting. Jesus
turned their idea of an earthly kingdom upside down and instead built a Kingdom
based on humility and service. This year at Juniors',
we'll focus on the concepts in Philippians 2:5-11 and Mark 10:45, and explore
the example of Christ and his upside down Kingdom.
LECTIONARY READINGS for Sunday October 30, 2011
Matthew 5: 1-12
Psalm 34: 1-10, 22
A GLIMPSE AT THEWEEK AHEAD (Thursday -
Thursday)
All events are at First Presbyterian Church unless otherwise noted
Thursday October 27
12:00 pm Book Club Meets
6:30 pm Bell Choir Rehearsal
7:30 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Saturday October 29
2:00 Fall Fun Day
4:00 Bonfire/Potluck at the Longtons
Sunday October 30, 2011
9:30 am Adult Bible Study
Worship Service & Sunday School/Reformation Sunday/Toll the
Bell
“Living An Upside Down Life” by Rev.
Andrew L. Miller
11:30 am Fellowship Hour & CMU Bakesale
Fundraiser for Mobile Food Pantry
Monday October 31
9:00 am Monday Morning Men
10:00 am Staff Meeting
Tuesday November 1
7:00 pm SWAN Semi Annual Meeting
Wednesday November 2
Noon Book Lydia Circle Meets
6:00 pm Wed @ First Potluck/Thanksgiving Crafts
8:00 pm AA
Thursday November 3
6:30 pm Handbell Choir Rehearsal
7:30 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal
LOOKING AHEAD AT EVENTS IN THE CHURCH, AROUND THE TOWN AND BEYOND
Mobile Food Pantry 2011 Schedule
November 5 TBD
November 19 West Intermediate (Sponsored by FPC)
December 10 TBD
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
November Birthdays
3 Robyn
D’Reaux
3 Jon Baker
3 Shaun
Pardy
LINKS
Presbytery of Lake Huron www.presbylh.org
Presbyterian Church USA www.pcusa.org
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance http://pcusa.org/pda/response/usa/hurricanekatrina-index.htm