“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.

December 29, 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

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

---

In This Issue:

· Prayer concerns:

· Annual Reports(NEW)

· December Session Report

· 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 go out to Sue Blodgett, Lucille Wysong, John Kingsnorth (Nancy Klunzinger’s brother), Hilary Burns, (Heidi Rocha’s sister), Liz Hubbard, (Martha Miller’s mother),Clarice Miller (Rev. Miller’s mother), Bruce Theunissen (Bill Theunissen’s brother), Veha Chamichian, Howard Richardson, Ralph Groves (Kathryn Longton’s godfather), Lois Austin, Byron Shunk (Jan Johnston’s son-in-law), Janine Warren (John Scheide’s neice) and the IEPC Mission Tea who will be traveling to Costa Rica next summer.

Eternal God, thank you for the hope of everlasting life that you have given us in Jesus Christ.  Help us to know that the beauty of your presence resides in all persons. Give us the eyes to see and the hands to reach out and touch in your name.  Through Jesus Christ we pray.  Amen.

Prayer taken from the 2012 Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study.

---

Attention Committee Chairs

Annual Reports are due by January 16^th.  You may send them to me via e-mail and if I can cut and paste via the computer, they can be due no later than January 20^th.  A date of January 29 has been set for the Annual Congregational Meeting.  Thank you for your cooperation in this.  Have a Happy New Year!

---

Some information from the December session meeting      

•At the congregational meeting in early 2012, the congregation will be asked to adopt by-laws.   

 A draft of proposed by-laws was reviewed by the session.

•The session will similarly adopt an operations manual for its own operation.  A draft of an

operations manual was reviewed and revisions were suggested.  A second reading will take

place at the January session meeting.

•The treasurer’s report for receipts and expenses through Nov. 30 showed

November 2011 Year to date 2011 Budget year to date 2011

            Receipts           $14,611.99                    $201,960.73        $222,774.00

            Expenses         $21,572.62                    $218,366.33        $228,228.77

  The complete financial report is available upon request.

•Peter Loubert was reelected as treasurer for 2012.  He has served faithfully in this position for

more than a handful of years.

•Thanks were extended to current session members Bob Berryman, Judy DeWitt, and Jane

  Staples who will not be on next year’s session as well as to current session members who will

continue their service next year.

---

LECTIONARY READINGS for Sunday January 1, 2012

Isaiah 61:10, 62:3

Galatians 4: 4-7

Like 2: 22-40

A GLIMPSE AT THEWEEK AHEAD (Thursday - Thursday)

All events are at First Presbyterian Church unless otherwise noted

Sunday January 1, 2012

Worship Service/Communion

            “Radical Adoption”   by Elder Jon Baker

11:30 am Fellowship Hour  (no luncheon)

Monday January 2

Church Office Closed

Wednesday January 4

6:00 pm Wed @ First Potluck

8:00 pm AA

LOOKING AHEAD AT EVENTS IN THE CHURCH, AROUND THE TOWN AND BEYOND

---

Mobile Food Pantry 2011 Schedule

January 14, 2012         Finch Fieldhouse

                                    Corner of Preston & Franklin

January 28                    Sacred Heart Parish Hall

                                    319 E. Illinois St.

February 11                 Finch Fieldhouse

                                    Corner of Preston & Franklin

February 25                 Finch Fieldhouse

                                    Corner of Preston & Franklin

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES 

January Birthdays

1          Clarence Tuma

2          Jan Cox

2          Richard Nisbet

5          Katelyn Eidenberger

5          Jimmy Scheide

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