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January 2008Head Usher... Not Available Nursery Volunteers
NOTE: If the Sunday assigned to you is not convenient, please exchange Sundays with someone else. If you notice any supplies needing to be replaced, please let me know. Thank you for your assistance and suggestions. Donna TePoel, Nursery Volunteer Coordinator
New Years Notes from Pat . . . As we begin 2008, I want to extend sincerest appreciation to all who made the past year a meaningful one for our church Music Program: The Sanctuary Choir - for their week-to-week dedication, numerous practice hours, and the enthusiastic use of their talents to enhance our church’s worship of God. Especially we are grateful for the annual Christmas music service which, as many of you have said, “makes it Christmas for me.” The Handbell Choir - Although recently hampered by conflicting schedules that have made it difficult to get all hands on deck at once, this continues to be a talented and enthusiastic group whom you will hear in worship during the coming year. My love and appreciation especially to Handbell Director Barbara Gillespie. The Adventure Time Children’s Choir - “small but mighty” this talented group deserves our thanks for their monthly participation in Sunday worship, and for a delightful rendition of their Christmas pageant last month. (Over) January, 2008 Lamplighter Tazewell Presbyterian Church Many individuals whose contribution is behind-the-scenes or otherwise sometimes overlooked - These include Pam Irvin whose careful organization of the Adventure Time program makes it possible for us to include an active Children’s Choir; Phyllis O’Quin who makes certain that music information for worship is carefully included in our bulletin; Molly Thompson, who willingly volunteers in the nursery for music events; Anne Sergent, page-turner for our accomplishments (a job more difficult and more essential than you might think!); Robert Heldreth, who helps us with children’s robes and hymnals; parents and grandparents who create costumes for our children’s pageant; and family members who patiently support the rehearsal time of their spouses or parents. The Congregation in Sunday Worship - for your participation in hymns - old and new - your active listening and music appreciation skills which allow God to speak to you through music, your encouragement of the choir and instrumentalists, and for every expression of appreciation that you convey, your part in the music program is greater than you may tend to realize! Church music is not an entity unto itself, but exists in order to enhance worship and Christian experience for our entire church family. To each and all of the above, my personal thanks and every good wish for a blessed New Year!
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to everyone for calls, cards, kindnesses - and especially prayers for my mother, Ruth Steele during her recent illness. Barbara Wilson
Jesus works miracles even during our everyday lives. One of the first miracles He performed was changing water to wine during a wedding at Cana in Galilee. It would have been extremely embarrassing for the host of the wedding reception to not have enough wine for the guests; and Jesus truly showed that He cares about others by performing this miracle. (John 2: 1-11). Jesus showed His concern for His disciples and others by calming the storm when they were fearful on a boat in the middle of the sea. (Mark 4: 35-40). Jesus knew the storm would not harm them; but His disciples still needed to learn about having faith in Him. Throughout the Bible, we are reminded that God cares for us. “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you.” We can turn to the Lord in any situation and we know that the Lord will hear us everyday. “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.” (Nahum 1:7). Now we need to be willing to hand over our troubles to the Lord during times of trouble. Jesus is willing to intervene in our problems. He is willing to work in all of our small, daily hardships, embarrassments, and concerns if we will only ask. Try to remember - “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7). Thank you, Lord, for helping us during times of worry and trouble in our everyday life. No matter how small the incident, we know that You are there for us. Help us to remember to allow You to help even when we think it is trivial. We know You are essential in every part of our life. Joan Flynn and Kim McGraw
Session Committee Chairs 2007 Committee reports need to be in the church office by Sunday, January 6th, to be included in the Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 13th, 2008.
A set of fireplace equipment was given to the Ladies Parlor from Bob Dills. He also gave a book: North American Churches - placed in the parlor in memory of Elizabeth S. Lockhart.
Operation Christmas Child... “Often our staff is asked, “How do the shoe boxes that I’ve packed get into the hands of children?” One vital step in the process is preparing the shoe boxes for shipping at an Operation Christmas Child Processing Center. The would not be possible without the 65,000 volunteers from across the nation who commit their time and prayers to this Samaritan’s Purse Project during the busy holiday season. With Operation Christmas Child Shoe boxes, our hope is that through this demonstration of love, a child may become open to know and accept God’s love through Jesus Christ, His Son. As one volunteer at the Charlotte Processing Center told us, “I can’t be a missionary on the foreign field, but I can be a missionary by helping send shoe boxes that bring the Gospel to those who need to receive it.”
SESSION DIGEST . . . 1. The meeting was opened with devotion by Frank Barnes and prayer by Rev. Dennis Hoffman. 2. The minutes and Treasurer’s reports were presented. 3. A letter was read from Jimmy and Charlotte Grant saying that they had made final payment on the loan for their house. Motion was made by Joe Bowen to let the Church Trustees release the loan on the residence of James and Charlotte Grant due to the payment in full. Motion was approved. The request of Janine Addair asking permission to have a self-defense class at the church was referred to the Property Committee. 4. Elder Training is scheduled for January 5th, 2008, from 9:00 A.M. to 12 noon. Examination of new Elders is scheduled for January 6th, 2008, following the Morning Worship Service. 5. The Annual Meeting is scheduled for January 13th, for the purpose of receiving the 2008 Church Budget as information, and to receive annual reports. 6. Committee Reports: Christian Education - Donna TePoel, Chairman, reported the Committee had met and reviewed the letter to the McAvoys; finalized plans for Jesus’ Birthday Party during the Sunday School hour Dec. 23rd (all Sunday school classes are invited to attend); an update was given on the budget for 2008 which was turned in to the Finance Committee. Kim McGraw was elected to be the Christian Education Committee member on the Pre-School Board. There are to be eight voting members on the Board: These include four parents, one TPC Session Member (Karen Ray was elected as Session member representative); one minister from TPC; one DCE and one Christian Education Committee member. January, 2008 Lamplighter Tazewell Presbyterian Church Session Digest...continued... Guidelines for voting on the preschool scholarship were discussed; possible guidelines for obtaining Sunday School teachers was discussed. Fellowship/Missions: Had not met. Finance/Stewardship: Curtis Dunnivan presented a Church Budget for 2008. Motion was made to pay off the entire Tynes Fund by using money from the Ella Bowen Fund. Motion passed. Motion was received and passed to approve the 2008 Church Budget. Personnel: Betty McClanahan, Co-Chairman, reported that Freddie Blair was hired to clean the church beginning January 1, 2008, at a salary of $900 per month. Property: Had not met. Worship: Joe Bowen will serve as Liturgist Dec. 30th; Ward Lester Jan. 6th; Kathy Wright Jan. 13th; Frank Barnes Jan. 20th, Vicky Rinehart Jan. 27th. Pulpit supply was discussed. Session members expressed desire to have leadership, stability, and continuity in Worship Service. Pastoral Care: Curtis Dunnivan reported the Pastoral Care Committee had made telephone calls, sent cards and made visits to the people on the prayer list. Motion was made to approve all Committee reports; motion was approved. 7. OTHER BUSINESS: It was suggested that the date of the Annual Meeting be published in the bulletins. 8. Randall Cooper reported that Danny Whitt was approved to preside at Communion. 9. Dennis Hoffman closed the meeting with prayer. |
