Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
On the INSIDE
Fellowship/CE ..................... 2-4
Mission ................................ 4-6
Stewardship/Youth................. 6
Birthdays/Milestones.............. 7
New Members ..................... 8,9
Vespers On Sunday, December 21, at
4:00 p.m., all of the choirs will present a
Christmas Vespers Service in the
Sanctuary. Come and be inspired by
the telling of the Christmas story
through music, dance, and congrega-
tional singing.
A Publication of The Presbyterian Church, Fredericksburg, Virginia Lamp
Led by the Holy Spirit, we glorify, nurture, witness.
December
2014 The Big Wait
This time of year seems to have been commandeered by the
merchandisers and materialist culture around us; it is sometimes
difficult to imagine any other day or perspective. We agree that for
shoppers and children, these weeks seem to be a countdown: How
many days until school is out? How many days left to purchase gifts?
How long before the presents appear under the tree?
The church has asked significant questions of its own during Advent
(from the Latin adventus – the coming toward, the advance – the same
root as our word “adventure”). Through the ages, during times when
the Church was persecuted, powerful, pervasive, marginal, obscure,
isolated, growing, and culturally enmeshed, we always used the four
Sundays before Christmas as a time to ask about the wait. It is a time
to recollect the hope of the coming of Christ, and to look forward to
Christ’s coming again. Our scripture lessons will move from a focus
on the second coming of Christ to the Good News of Christ’s birth in
Bethlehem. It is a journey worth taking. These are questions worth
asking. This is the only Messiah worth waiting for.
How long will the wicked prosper? How much suffering will we
have to endure before the coming of the Lord? Why do illness and
pestilence, war and violence seem to be the order of the age? When is
the dawn of peace? The church in Advent, rehearses the most impor-
tant big wait – the coming of the Lord.
Advent is a season of hope, a season of anticipation, a time of
waiting and yearning. “Come Lord Jesus!”
See you in worship.
Peace,
Page 2 The Lamp The Presbyter ian Church
Presbyterian Women Circles
Never-ending Circle Sun., Dec. 7, 12:30pm, Connie Barnes Leader, Trudy McNatt - 373-2852.
Circle of Joy Mon., Dec. 1, 10am, Church Parlor Leader, Kathryn Hower - 361-7435,
Leader, Gale Kehoe, 371-4570.
Faith Circle Mon., Dec. 8, 12:30pm, Church Parlor Leader: Susie Kuliasha, 370-1710.
Circle of Prayer Tues., Dec. 9, 12:15pm, Church Parlor - Leader: Jeanne Ramsburg, 710-5891.
Friendship Circle Tues., Dec. 9, 11:30am, Chancellor’s Village Leader: Paula Kallay, 898-6169.
P rime Timers will have a Christmas
brunch at Fredericksburg Country
Club at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday,
December 10. The menu will include
an omelet station, waffles, sausage/
bacon, grits, muffins/biscuits, fruit and
drinks. Please let Bruce, 373-7057,
([email protected]) know
by December 7, if you plan to join us.
The cost is $21. We thank Lou Silvey
for making the arrangements.
F orever Young fellowship will
gather at O’Charley’s (1791 Carl
D. Silver Pkwy) on Wednesday,
December 3, at 11:30 a.m. This will
serve as our outing for November &
December. Please call Gina Whitticar,
373-7271, by November 25, for a
reservation.
Church School Church School classes will run through December 21. We will take a break on
December 28 and January 4. All classes will resume on Sunday, January 11, with
the regular schedule.
Adults will be able to choose from 4 classes. Three of the classes are: the
Parenting Class, the Faith & Movie Class and possibly the Being Reformed:
Faith Seeking Understanding series. There will be a new class on Biblical
Financial Disciplines. Stay tuned for more details.
Annual Congregational Retreat The Congregational Retreat will be March 14-15, at Camp Hanover. The re-
treat is for all ages with activities that bring our church family together through
group building, sharing of stories, Bible study, worship and singing. There is free
time, a campfire and more. Plan to come for the night or just for Saturday.
2015 Confirmation Journey The Confirmation Journey will begin with an orientation meeting for youth
and their parents on Monday, December 15, at 7:00 p.m., in the Middle House.
On Sunday, January 11, the youth and their covenant partners will meet at
5:00 p.m., in the Middle House for a time to get to know one another. The first
class will be on Sunday, January 18, at 9:45 a.m., on the second floor of the
Middle House. Classes will continue through Sunday, May 24, with
Confirmation on Sunday, May 31. Special dates to keep in mind are
February 1 - Stop Hunger Now; February 18 - Ash Wednesday service;
March 14-15 - Congregational retreat; April 2 - Maundy Thursday service; and
April 3 - Good Friday service. The confirmands will also read a gospel with
their parents, do a food pantry project and visit one of the following: session,
deacons or committee meeting. We also may involve the youth with preparing
communion and ushering/greeting. The teachers are Tricia Garner, Della Hall,
Porter Blakemore and Bruce Harvey.
A Sprig of Holly, Halford Leacock
The Lord is Near: Advent Meditations From the Works of Henri J.M. Nouwen
Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas
Preparing for Jesus: Meditations on the Coming of Christ, Advent, Christmas, and the Kingdom, Walter Wangerin
Advent: The Days before Christmas, Paul Lindberg
The First Christmas: What the Gospels Really Teach about Jesus’ Birth, Marcus Borg
First Christmas: The True and Unfamiliar Story, Paul Maier
Come to the Cradle: A Study for Advent Christians, Robert Luccock
The Purpose of Christmas, Rick Warren
Volume 41, Christmas: An American Annual of Christmas Literature and Art
Volume 43, Christmas: An American Annual of Christmas Literature and Art
Volume 45, Christmas: An American Annual of Christmas Literature and Art
Christmas Candlelight Services, Harold Gwynne
Christmas Remembered, Ron DelBene
Kneeling in Bethlehem, Ann Weems
Nativity Stories, Alan Howard
How Far To Bethlehem? Norah Lofts
The Story of The Other Wise Man, Henry Van Dyke
Once Upon a Christmas, Pearl S. Buck
The Gift of the Magi, O. Henry
Christmas Gift! Ferrol Sams
The Story of Silent Night, Paul Gallico
Page 3 The Lamp The Presbyter ian Church
Help us find our way home!
During the recent inventory of the Belk Memorial Library, a number of books were identified as “lost.”
If you can help any of these wayward books find their way back to the Library, it would be very much appreciated.
Advent & Christmas selections in the Belk Memorial Library As you watch, prepare, rejoice, and behold this Advent season, you are invited to check out
the following books from the Belk Memorial Library, located in the rear of the Church House.
History of God, Karen Armstrong
Interpretation Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching: Matthew, Douglas Hare
John Among the Gospels: The Relationship in Twentieth Century Research, D. Moody Smith
Interpretation Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching: Romans by Paul Achtemeier
The Revelation of John, Volume 2, William Barclay
Paul Tillich, J. Heywood Thomas
Christ of the Celts: The Healing of Creation, J. Philip Newell
What Presbyterians Believe: An Interpretation of the Westminster Standards, Joseph Gettys
Love Wins: A Book about Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, Rob Bell
Stages of Faith: the Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning, James Fowler
Moments to Hold Close, Mouzon Biggs
I Want to Live These Days with You: A Year of Daily
Devotions, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Recreating Marriage with the Same Old Spouse, Sandra Bender
Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference, Philip Yancey
Temptation, Diogenes Allen
Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. Joanna Weaver
Giving Good Gifts: The Spiritual Journey of Parenthood, George Conway
Shepherding a Child’s Heart, Tedd Tripp
Making Good Preaching Better: A Step-by-Step Guide to Scripture-Based People-Centered Preaching, Alvin Rueter
Growth in Grace: A Manual for Students with Study Questions, Victor Matthew
Abington Dictionary of Living Religions, Keith Crim
Art of Growing Old, Carroll Saussy
Look to the Rock: One Hundred Ante-bellum Presbyterian Churches of the South, Daniel Hollis
(Continued on page 4)
Page 4 The Lamp The Presbyter ian Church
HELP FOR REFUGEES During the week of November 9, the local Refugee Service Center received 4
refugee families, 3 from Afghanistan and 1 from Bhutan via a refugee camp in
Nepal. Except for the Bhutanese, these families were brought to the United States
under the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program in which a family member
worked as an interpreter for the U.S. military. The Center needs kitchen, bed and
bath items, including plates, silverware, glasses, pots and pans, brooms, mops, and
cleaning supplies; also towels, sheets, and bedding. New items are great, but used
items in good condition will be fine. Wal-Mart gift cards are very helpful as they
can be used to buy supplies to supplement item donations. Donations are tax
deductible. Donations can be delivered directly to the Refugee Center at 325
Wallace St. or Tom Edwards, 540-226-1892, ([email protected]) will pick
up and deliver them.
Additionally, volunteers are needed on an occasional basis to help draft resumés
and complete job applications, help transport new refugees to a grocery store or
medical or job interview appointments, or assist the Center in general refugee
support tasks. Tutors are also needed for the children in the families. To volunteer,
contact Karen Johnson, 540-371-2719, ([email protected]).
Celebration of Women – A Selection of Words and Paintings, Helen Exley
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Horse and His Boy, C.S. Lewis
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, C.S. Lewis
In This Mountain, Jan Karon
The Glenbrooke Series – Secrets, Robin Jones Gunn
Cosmic Christmas, Max Lucado
A Skelton in God’s Closet, Paul Maier
True Believer, Nicholas Sparks
The Last Disciple, Hank Hanegraff
Plain Perfect, Beth Wisemen
The Annie Dillard Reader – Selections from Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Teaching a Stone to Talk, Holy the Firm, An American Childhood and The Living, Annie Dillard
Missing Library Books (Continued from page 3)
Advent Study Let us begin our watch this Advent season by joining a discussion during Church
School of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens which begins on Sunday,
November 30, and runs through Sunday, December 21, with repeat sessions on
Tuesdays, December 2, 9, and 16 at 7:00 pm. Please join us for discussion and
refreshments. Contact Debe Garrison ([email protected]) for more
information.
Page 5 The Lamp The Presbyter ian Church
Christmas Joy Offering During Advent we will receive the first of the four special offerings of the
Presbyterian Church (USA) the Christmas Joy Offering. There are two parts to the
offering. One is the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions. It provides
critical financial assistance to eligible workers in the PC (USA) and their families
and to qualifying retired church workers and their families. The Assistance
Program also sponsors grants for vocational training of clergy.
Rooted in a nearly 300-year-old tradition, the Assistance Program embodies the
connectional church at its best. As the Assistance Program relies not on dues but
volunteer gifts, legacies, endowments and one-half of the Christmas Joy Offering
for its funding, it provides a way for caring Presbyterians to support, during their
times of need, those who serve the Church. Assistance is granted for needs that lie
beyond the scope of the Benefits Plan.
In 2013, the Assistance Program distributed 1,324 grants and more than
$5.6 million to qualifying pastors, missionaries, other church workers and their
families.
(Excerpted from www.pensions.org)
The other half of the offering goes to Racial Ethnic Schools and Colleges. The
importance of the racial ethnic schools and colleges of the PC (USA) is demon-
strated in the continuing partnerships between the two entities. The institutions
have provided quality education to people who have contributed immeasurably to
the church at large and to the world. Students are educated for the professions of
their choice in an environment which supports and nurtures racial and ethnic heri-
tage.
Many of the college students are the first in their family to attend college and
come from low- to moderate-income families. They may be marginalized and
would not be accepted at other institutions of higher learning. The secondary
schools receive students earlier than typical schools and prepare them for accep-
tance at institutions of higher learning.
These institutions have a covenant relationship with the General Assembly
through the General Assembly Council, and the relationship is guided by the Arti-
cles of Agreement (8.c and 8.4) adopted at the time of reunion in 1983. Some of the
schools are: Cook Native American Ministries, Johnson C Smith University, Knox-
ville College, Menaul School, Presbyterian Pan American School and Stillman Col-
lege.
Please be in prayer for this important offering and be generous in your support.
Adult Mission Trip For the 2015 Adult Mission trip we will travel to Hampden, West Virginia, to
work on houses in this very poor area of the state. The dates for the trip are
April 5-11. The cost will be $150. If you are interested in going, please contact
Bruce Harvey, 373-7057 ([email protected]).
Page 6 The Lamp The Presbyter ian Church
Youth Group Schedule
Middle School Activities
Dec. 7 - Discussion on Sabbath and Creation
Dec. 14 - White Elephant Christmas Party at the Repps -
1407 Washington Ave., Fredericksburg, 22401
No youth group activities Dec. 21 and 28.
High School Activities
Sat. Dec 6. - Christmas Movie Night at 7:00 p.m. Bring
your favorite Christmas movie snack and
Christmas movie.
Dec.14 - Tacky Sweater Christmas Party and
White Elephant gift exchange
No youth group activities Dec. 21 and 28.
From the Annual Stewardship Campaign Committee.
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another,
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10
Stewardship isn’t just a matter of “raising money.” It is cultivating a deep aware-
ness that spiritual growth and generosity are intimately connected. God gives us
abundant gifts each day of every year and asks us to take care of those gifts and share
them generously.
We thank you for your faithful support and response to the call to Christian stew-
ardship with your commitment to share your gifts. We could not serve the congrega-
tion or help the community without your generosity. The ministries of this church
would not and could not operate without you. Thank you for helping to grow and
nourish our Tree of Stewardship. It is overflowing with love and generosity.
You may continue to send in your pledges if you have not already done so. Please
send them in or bring them to church and remember to specify which service you
attend. Thank you again.
Community Dinner—December 20 Thank you to everybody who contributed pies for the November Community Dinner. The
dinner guests loved pie a la mode for dessert and were very appreciative of taking a whole pie
with them. “The Great Pie Give-Away” continues! Pies are again needed for the December
dinner. If at all possible, please bring your pie(s) to the Methodist Church between 2:00-4:00
p.m., on Saturday, December 20. The door is opposite City Hall and next to 710 Princess
Anne Street. If that is not convenient, you can drop them off at Karen Johnson’s house, 510
Lewis Street, on Friday. It would be helpful to know if you are donating a pie, so please con-
tact Karen, 371-2719, ([email protected]). Would you like to help serve, visit with
guests, play the piano, or clean up? Let Karen know that, also. Thanks!
Page 7 The Lamp The Presbyter ian Church
Elders
Rachel Ball
Gene Bingham
Dave Bohmke
Karen Boyles
Joan Darby
Tristin Fidler
Wayne Hibbeler
Doug Horstman
Donna Hughes
Rod Hughes
Robin Joel
Leif Johnston
Susie Kuliasha
Amy McCullough
Allen Polk
Hannah Porter
Tom Wimberly
Sarah Wright
Adam Zimmerman
2014-2015 Session
Moderator – Rev. Allen H. Fisher, Jr., Pastor
Clerk of Session - Patty Toler
Milestones Capsule of Concern: Rick Brehm,
Joan Eck, Bill Eye, Donna Hughes,
Michael Hynden, Lista Winger-Eger,
Dennis Makovsky
Continued Prayers: Lou Garrison,
Marjorie Glassco, Ruth Moffitt,
Jeanne Waite
Baptism: Julie Ann Chewning, born July 25, 2014, was
baptized on November 16, 2014. Julie’s parents are Laura
and Kurt Chewning, and her siblings are Jesse and Corey.
Charlotte Jane Young, born August 26, 2006. was baptized
on November 23, 2014. Charlotte’s parents are Julie and
Joel Young, and her brother is Cole
Heartfelt Christian love and sympathies are extended to
Barbara Atkinson and family on the death of her husband,
John, who died on October 23, 2014.
To Phyllis Muir and family on the death of her husband,
Hugh, who died on November 4, 2014.
To Len Dameron and family on the death of his mother,
Sylvia who died on November 11, 2014.
And to Barbara Evans and family on the death of her
husband, Jerry, who died on November 16, 2014.
I would like to thank all of you, especially my circle,
who have been so thoughtful and kind to me and my fam-
ily since Coleman died. I am so grateful for your kind
words and prayers. With the grace of God, my family
and good friends like you, I will get through this difficult
time.
May God's love be with you,
Lynda Starnes
1. Mary Ann Casey, Maggie John, Nancy Henshaw,
Charlotte Horne, Greg Bohmke, Marty Stephens
2. Linda Benn, Bill Nix, Charles Murray
3. Linda Spratt, Kathy Stephen, Kathryn Hower,
Danielle Gilason
4. Betty, Hume, Bev, Newlin, Heather Eland, Jon Fritz,
Monica Fritz
5. Dick Ridge
6. Heather Carelock, Kaci LeFebre
7. Thaddeus Lyman, Steve Eckel,
Elizabeth Saunders-Morris
8. Shirley Phillips, Barry Hall, Erik Hawley,
Jeb Brough
9. Sullivan Powell
10. Bob Lang, Milton McNatt, Laura Chewning
11. Jim Carelock, Graham Schattgen, Florencia Medina
12. David Hancock, Nicole Fritz
14. Susie Gillespie, Kay Lanceley, Kevin Pickett,
Tristin Fidler, Laura Eubanks, JoAnn Robinson
12. Elizabeth Piersall
16. Barbara Atkinson, Carol Johnson, Cayden Jones,
Chrissy Conway
12. Mitchell Spinnanger, Gray Dameron, Isabel Steven
18. Mike Sidebotham, Jan Putnam
19. Schuyler Sweet, Carol Jackson, Jack Rainey
20. Martha Helmen, Marion Zimmermann,
Amanda Wimberly
21. Bob Morecock, Mia Day, Wayne Wray, Edie Orazi
22. Amy Talmadge, Holly Horn, Allie Eisensmith
23. Vicky Wilder, Hannah Porter, Morgan Leimbach,
Casey Paul
24. Michael Paul, Bill Demarest
25. Thomas Hancock, John Oplinger, Christopher Farley,
Marianne Lumsden
26. Pam Eisensmith, Gail McGhee,
Serena Whalen, Andrea Ilardia
27. Charlie Rowe, Jack Spinnanger, Beth Costello
28. Jeanne Waite, Connie Barnes, Anita Churchill
29. Brandon Beiler, Claire Lacy, Graham Major,
Clara Szlyk, Noah Swift, Amy Umble, Stella Jones
30. Katya Zablotney, Mary Lowman, Liam Conway,
Jo Anne Smith
31. William Eye, Jennie Fellinger, Linda Sweet,
Gene Bingham, Nathan Payne, Sarah Demarest,
Rachel Wyant, Edward Langdon, Sam Brehm
NON PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE
PAID Fredericksburg
VA PERMIT NO. 193
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
810 Princess Anne Street
Princess Anne and George Streets
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
The Sacrament of
Communion will be celebrated in worship on:
Dec. 24, 2014
Jan. 11, 2015
Advent/Christmas Events
December 21
Vespers ~ 4:00 p.m. ~ Sanctuary
December 24
Christmas Eve Services ~ 4:30, 7:30,
and 11:00 p.m. ~ Sanctuary
