Midweek Newsletter: Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023.

 

NARTHEX NEWS

WEEKLY EDITION

NOVEMBER 22nd, 2023

 


FROM THE NEWS DESK

OF

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

LEBANON, INDIANA

128 E. Main St. ~ Lebanon, IN 46052~ (765)482-5959

https://www.lebanonfpc.org ~ office@lebanonfpc.org

 


In the midweek newsletter this week:

~ Reminders & Celebrations

~ Advent Season: with notes on theme, music, candle lighting, and more

~ Poinsettia Info

~ Gourmet Seekers Info and Time for Tea Tearoom Info          

~ Gretel’s Days Off

~ PPM Christmas Program! & PPM Update

~ Open House: Nativities from Around the Globe

~ Toy Drive

~ Weekly Devotional/ Prayer Room

 

Reminders:

Live & Learn: No Live & Learn this Saturday. Enjoy extra time to share thanksgivings!

Liturgist for November is Roy Flanary; Elder is Amy Morrison.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! May it be a day for you to reflect upon God’s goodness. May your hearts respond with praise and adoration for our great God.

Caring Sunday this Sunday:  There is a box in the lobby for your donations for The Caring Center. Checks can be written to the church with “Caring Center” in the memo line. Top 10 items needed: apple juice, apple sauce, canned fruit, cereal, mac ‘n’ cheese, peanut butter, canned tuna or chicken, vegetable oil, sugar, spaghetti sauce.

In recognition of the upcoming holidays, there are some new needs on their monthly list. Many of these may resemble your own list for the holiday season! Perhaps pick up an extra or two while you’re out getting your own and share it with the community through The Caring Center:  chicken broth, corn, cranberry sauce, evaporated milk, fruit, green beans, pumpkin pie filling or plain pumpkin, yams or sweet potatoes, butter, cake mix, egg noodles, Jello, potatoes, pudding mix, sugar, turkey, ham, whole chicken.  

Celebrations: Happy birthday to a really great crew. We love each one of you. We hope your year is exciting and new, and that you remember God loves you!

Happy Birthday to: John Quinn, 11/26; Nancy Jones, 11/29; Mary Piper, 12/2; and Lisa Erwin, 12/5!

Happy Anniversary to: George II and Leanne Piper, 11/24!


Advent Season:

Advent Theme for Nov. 26th:

The theme for Advent this year is “Joy to the World”/ Nations in the Nativity. Each Sunday in Advent this year, you will get to travel around the world – no passport required! Twenty-one different countries are assigned to each pew. Each week you can choose which country you would like to visit. Information about the countries will be posted on the pews. Come, worship, learn and grow together. No jet-lag, no expensive plane fare, no traffic as you move from country to country, no over-booked hotels – Just friends, fellowship, and Godly worship. Come hear how the goodness of the Lord travels the globe and spans the ages of time.


Music Notes:

As said, our theme  this year for advent will be “Joy to the World”.  Will you help us make a joyful noise? This Advent season there is the opportunity for special ensembles, solos, duets, etc., to share in musical celebration.

If you are interested in singing, playing an instrument, or anything else that will enhance the worship during Advent, please email Lisa at lisahutcheson@yahoo.com or talk to her at church. If you plan on sharing music, please make sure you have the accompaniment arranged before you inform Lisa of your interest.

Advent Candle Lighting!

We need volunteers! We are looking for volunteers to light the candles during the Advent season. Each Sunday during Advent, there is a special part of the service where the candles are lit. The first Sunday of Advent is this coming Sunday and the candle is the candle of hope. There is a sign-up sheet on the hallway bulletin board. Please contact Gretel in the office ASAP if you would like to help with the candle lighting this Sunday.

 This Sunday’s theme is Persia: This Sunday, we will travel to Persia. Lisa Hutcheson will provide Persian candy. The recipe for the candy will be included on a special bulletin insert. (These are going to be delicious! Make sure you try some and take the recipe home!)

Poinsettias Info: 

If you have not paid for your poinsettia order, you may do so at any time. It is $17 per plant. Checks should be made out to the church with “Poinsettia” in the memo line.

Want to dedicate your flower to someone? Leave the information with me in the office and I will see that it gets into the bulletin. There is also a sign-up sheet for dedications on the hallway bulletin board. Thank you.

Gourmet Seekers: The Gourmet Seekers Group will go to Parky’s Smokehouse in Lebanon on Friday, Dec. 1st. If you have not confirmed with Gretel that you are going, please contact her and let her know. There is a reservation for noon that day. Please let Gretel know if you plan to meet there or meet at the church.


Time for Tea Goes to a Tearoom in December:

The Time for Tea lunch group will be visiting a “Tearoom” on Thursday, Dec. 7th, meeting at the church at 12:45 pm, returning to church at 3:30. The tearoom is in Clayton, IN – “Ms B’s Teas”. There are two designated drivers with a possible third in the wings so that the group can carpool. Nancy Turner has made reservations for 1:30 so as to be seated as a group. Please RSVP to Nancy Turner by Tuesday, Nov. 28th. You can reach Nancy at: 317-443-7277 or naturner241@yahoo.com (Nancy has spoken with the tearoom for recommendations on timing and menu. The group will order their own lunch off the menu.) The following is the website for the tearoom (which includes bouTeaque information):

 

Gretel’s Days Off: I will be taking some time off between now and the end of the year. I will be off November 24th (Friday) and November 27th (Monday). Both days the office will be closed. If you need to reach me during those days, you can still do so via email. Otherwise leave a message on the office phone and I will get the information when I return to the office. In December, I will be off: December 21st, as well as December 25th through December 29th. If it is decided that someone needs to be in the office during that time, I will arrange that. Otherwise, the office will also be closed on those days. Again, you can reach me via email or leave a message on the office phone. Am I going to Hawaii? Nope. On a cruise? Nope. Venturing through the wilds of Scotland or traversing the Swiss Alps? No and no. Not going very far and my plans don’t include anything terribly exciting, but I am looking forward to it. And I thank you for your support and patience during my absence.

 


PPM Christmas Program!
The Preschoolers will hold their special Christmas Concert on December 1st and 3rd. Friday, December 1st, is their dress rehearsal. The program will begin at 10 am. The church is invited to this, and I encourage you to come out. The students are adorable, and they and their teachers work very hard preparing for this special event. Sunday, December 3rd at 5:30 pm, is their program for the PPM parents and families only.

 


PPM Update:
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  Many years ago, when I was still in a classroom, we had 3 or 4 fun Thanksgiving songs we would sing every day. This particular year I added the lyrics to “Count Your Blessings” at the end of the fun songs. We did this every day leading up to the holiday. When we returned the following week, a mom came to me and said they were getting ready to eat dinner and the daughter said, “Mommy, wait! We have to sing all the songs.” She then proceeded to sing the fun songs, including “Count your Blessings”, and then lead everyone in the prayer that we do every day: “God our Father”. The mom said to me that this was the best part of their family gathering. (Even though this little girl is now an 8th grader!) Each year, I remember her sweet smile and picture her singing for her family at the table. When I count my blessings, I think of all the little ones we have reached through our program, we are truly blessed to teach them daily about God's love for them. I have many things to be thankful for, as I know you do as well. What makes us feel truly blessed this Thanksgiving?
Blessings to all of you, Lori. 

 


Open house: Nativities from Around the Globe! You are invited   to an open house  at the Trinity Lutheran Church on Dec. 2nd and 3rd from 1-3 pm. This open house will feature a collection of over 75 different nativity sets from around the globe. Considering the theme of FPC’s Advent season this year, this open house seems extremely timely! Trinity Lutheran is located at 2625 Elm Swamp Rd, Lebanon.


Toy Drive! FPC will be participating in the Myrtle Bailey Boone County Toy Drive this year. Boxes will be in the lobby for collection beginning this week. The ages: infants through age 18. Suggested items: for infant – diapers, wipes, shampoo/conditioner, diaper bags; for teens: fairy lights, cosmetics, perfume/cologne, mirrors, wallets. For any age: books, cold weather gear, toys, games, sports equipment, hygiene items, school supplies. This is the 47th annual Myrtle Baily Toy Drive for Boone County. Thank you for your support.


Weekly Devotional: Is it so small a thing?

“Is it so small a thing to have enjoyed the sun, to have lived light in the spring, to have loved, to have thought, to have done; to have advanced true friends, and beat down baffling foes”? (From the Hymn of Empedocles by Matthew Arnold, 1822-1888)

Indeed, it is no small thing to recognize the light and warmth of the sun and the God who created it. It is no small thing to consider the lessons we have learned, the friends we have made, the loved ones we have cherished, and thank God who has connected us with these special people. It is no small thing to appreciate the beauty of the seasons – be it spring, summer, fall or winter, and the God who ensures, through His faithfulness, that each season will come and go as He wills. Scripture itself reminds us that God “hath made everything beautiful in his time”. (Ecc.3:11a) We are advised to “eat, and drink, and enjoy the good of all [our] labor, it is the gift of God.” (Ecc.3:13) Have we scaled mountains? Conquered wily foes? Stood our ground with fellow soldiers at arms? Beat down enemy gates? Slogged through the trenches? And can we say we have done so with the Lord as our Captain and our Rearguard?  Then let us praise God for His protection, provision, shelter, and strength. But let us also cherish the simple things, like reveling in a ray of sunshine or the shimmer of raindrops in the moonlight. May we take time to consider the goodness of God and feel our hearts lifted to worship and praise.


Prayer Room:

Prayer is important to the body of First Presbyterian Church. Are you interested in joining the prayer chain? Would you like to learn more about the role of prayer in our lives? Please contact Phyllis Duff, Prayer Coordinator, at (765)482-1485/ raduff2@att.net.

Dear Heavenly Father, Eternity will not be enough time to sing Your praise! We love You! Amen.

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