Bake SaleDuring Soup

SupperFundraiser

OasisFundraiser

Soup SupperFebruary 16th

Free Will Offering

Oasis Annual

Bowling Party Feb. 24th

Happy Valentine’s

DayFebruary 14th

February 2019

Greetings to all of my sisters and brothers in the Lord! On days like today I am reminded of the song, “In the Bleak Mid-Winter”. This is one of my favorite carols. But right now we are truly feeling the harsh winds of winter. It is my prayer that each heart is filled with the warmth that can only come from a relationship with God.

To our friends that are not currently attending church: If you have been feeling a bit cold lately, come inside. The love of God is ready and waiting for you to seek His love. There is Sunday School at 9 for all ages so that you can learn more about the love of Christ and His holy word. At 10 we have coffee, juice and things to munch on. At 10:30, worship begins. We would be honored to have you join us any Sunday. All are welcome in the house of the Lord.

I also want to address our regulars. Some have been attending Flora PC for many years and others have been here barely a year now. We are all equals. No one has more of voice over policy and procedures than anyone else. We are all disciples of Jesus the Christ and are seeking His will for our individual lives as well as for our community and congregation.

So how do you make your voice heard? One little word- committees. I know it can sound terribly boring and time consuming. Each person is responsible for the life of this church. How we spend money, what Sunday School materials are used, the layout of Worship services and the upkeep of our building and grounds. This month, I am asking each of our Session Elders to write a small summary of what their committee is responsible for. Wewill then have a sign –up sheet for folks to join a committee.

No single person can do all the work of the church – it takes all of us working together seeking the will of God. Perhaps you “used to” teach Sunday School or you “used to” be more involved. I am asking that you pick up the mantle once again. It may be that the greatest spiritual gift that you can contribute is to be a prayer warrior; serving on a committee as the person in charge of praying for that committee and their decision making process. Perhaps you are the person who can’t commit to meetings, but can offer to plant flowers in the Spring or pick up trash around the church grounds. Maybe you could be the person that opens the church when the elevator is being inspected or the copier is being repaired.

Seek God first and everything else will fall into place. We are a church that the Holy Spirit is moving in and around. Will you quench the Spirit by remaining silent or will you fan the flames by taking part in the ministry? I’ve said it before and will probably say it again: no one joins an athletic team yet never practices with the team and only desires to sit on the bench. Pray. Then pray some more. Ask God what He wants you to do and I assure you that He will help you find the time to fulfill His plans.

Your sister in Christ,Pastor Grace

Christian Educationby Barbara Pearce

Sunday SchoolWE MISS all of our children in Sunday School. Our last

lessons covered Thanksgiving and the Birth of Jesus. We will now finish our study on all the books of the Bible with the New Testament. The Adults are finishing the study entitled “Entrusted, a Study of 2 Timothy”. Please join the Adult Sunday School at 9:00 every Sunday morning in the room next to the Kitchenette upstairs.

OASISOasis is continuing with the 2-weeks studies. The evening is started off with a meal. Following the meal, the children have fun singing and dancing. Next the rotation starts with Bible Study, Games, Crafts and Music. The children then spend time with their leader in prayer

and getting to know one another. This can be done through a discussion time (focusing on the children’s day), role playing, games or other activities. The evening ends with worship in the sanctuary. The parents are directed to pick up their children in the sanctuary.

Oasis’ Annual Bowling Event will be on Sunday, February 24 from 3-5 PM at Myers Sport Bowling (4231 East Market Street). Anyone needing a ride should meet at the Church Parking Lot no later than 2:15 for an Oasis Leader to transport you. Leaders will provide drinks and snacks to be eaten during bowling. Families are encouraged to join us.

Geneva Camp FundraiserFree Will Offering Soup and Cornbread Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, February 16, from 5-7:00 PM. This Fundraiser is to help send Oasis Children to Religious Summer Camps. The soups are

being provided by Oasis Leaders. There will be a bake sale along with the free will donation soup supper. We are asking congregation members to bring baked goods. Baked Goods need to be delivered between 2:00 and 4:00 PM so we have time to set them up. Volunteers are asked to be at the church by 4:30.

Stewardship, MissionFinance, Personnel

By Tammy Moss$250 was collected for

the Christmas Joy Offering.  Thank you to all who contributed.

Parish CouncilSession and Parish Council met on January 5, 2019. We went through Role Playing to see how church ideas would run from the Council to Session and Session to Council. Some items were brought up that the two churches want to see the Parish Council improve. These items included: Expand on 5th Sunday of each month, Joint Personnel, improve visibility with social media and increase missions. Parish Council (Linda, Jan and Judy from Delphi and Laurie, Joe and Barbara from Flora) will be meeting on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 to discuss developing a strategic plan, working with the community, reporting to session and accountability. Areas we are going to look at are: worship, spiritual development and discipleship, pastoral care, ministry and outreach to the unchurched community as well as church administration.

Leviticus: About the Levites

Thursdays 5:30-7:30404 Washington Blvd.

Flora

Paul: A Forgiven Child of God

Sundays 4- 5PMDelphi First Presbyterian

Church Office213 S. Indiana St.

Presbyterian Womenby Jane Bishop

The Mary-Martha Circle will not meet until March 19. We are, however, busy at the Thrift Shop. Volunteers are always welcome--come and see!!

February Thrift Shop ScheduleThurs...Feb.7... Jane Bishop. Sort& Mark

Thurs...Feb 14… Libby Sparks. Sort& Mark Sat...Feb.23...Sally Schmidt. Cashier

FOOD PANTRY IN FEBRUARY

This is the month for Presbyterians to donate items as well as furnish workers: Two each Monday and Friday morning from

9:45 to 12, and two workers one Tuesday to unload the truck. Here is another "come & see".

Worship Committee ReportBy Martha Clark

We started the Christmas season with the annual Hanging of the Greens on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. We are so blessed to have some enthusiastic kids who are willing to climb ladders and carry big boxes of decorations down from the attic so the adults can “do the easy work”. We are also so thankful to Terri Langston for making sure all the decorations were organized so we

knew were every decoration should be properly placed.

We celebrated Advent with our traditional lighting of the candles each Sunday. Several families were involved with the tradition and shared the significance and the spiritual meaning of Advent.

December 9th, the Christian Church hosted a Christmas program with their choir and the joint bell choir. Donations were taken after the program to raise funds to purchase another set of bells.

The church sponsored 5 families this Christmas season. We prepared Christmas Baskets with enough food for a Holiday meal along with toys and clothes for the children. The baskets were distributed December 15th.

Wednesday the 19th was the Oasis Christmas party with close to 100 attending for dinner and worship service. Bibles were given to the 4th graders during the service and Christmas bags were also distributed to the kids. Desert was served after the program. Thanks to Laurie and Donna. They are always ready to serve food to the Oasis kids and their families and any special events that take place.

Flora and Delphi Presbyterian churches held a candlelight Christmas Eve service at Flora. 51 people were served communion. Toni Brewster conducted the worship service with readings from the Old and New Testament and led the congregation in Christmas carols.

On December 30th, Delphi Pres. hosted Sunday Service that included the Christian Church and Flora Presbyterian church. The congregation was blessed with the continuation of the Christmas celebration with wonderful choir music, bell choir and a

clarinet solo. Pastor Grace and Pastor Kim conducted the worship service. Two Elders from the Delphi church were installed. A brunch was served afterwards.

I am looking forward to serving you this coming year.

In Christ, Martha Clark

Notes from Toni2019 is a wonderful new year and a great year for making music at Flora Presbyterian! Both hand bells and choir have taken a mid-winter break and will be staring rehearsals with new enthusiasm. If you are interested in being a member of any of these groups, now is the time to dive in. Talk with Toni or Pastor Grace and we’ll get you started. All ages are welcome. New season…new musicians…new music! Currently rehearsals are on Sunday, but the schedule can move to reflect the needs of the musicians. Melvin Matos will be a fantastic addition to our musicians. He will be helping with services as we add some contemporary Christian music to our worship.

Church Cancellation

When Church has to cancelDue to weather, we will post it on Face

Book as well as WLFI Channel 18.Please Stay Safe and Warm!!

Oasis CancellationReminder We follow the Carroll School System, if Carroll Cancels that day we cancel Oasis, Also if evening events are

cancelled Oasis is cancelled as well.

February UshersFebruary 3rd Marlene Smith, Barbara PearceFebruary 10th Joe and Tammy MossFebruary 17th Joe and Tammy MossFebruary 24th Bill Kearns, Jay McMillin

Scripture Readers for February February 3rd Sally Schmidt, Heather MauerFebruary 10th Joe Moss, Martha ClarkFebruary 17th Laurie Brower, Jane KearnsFebruary 24th Laraine MacLauchlan, Autumn Mauer

Audio/ Visual Schedule for February February 3rd Martha ClarkFebruary 10th Barbara PearceFebruary 17th Kevin Clark, Matt MatosFebruary 24th Martha Clark

Acolytes for FebruaryFebruary 3rd Aden Mauer, Judah PittsFebruary 10th Gabe Mauer, Kolton PittsFebruary 17th Autumn Mauer, ShawnRossFebruary 24th Haylee Randolph, Janessa Pitts

Session LeadersLaraine MacLauchlan- Clerk

Barbara Pearce – Christian Ed.Tammy Moss- Stewardship/Mission

Martha Clark- WorshipKent King-Bldg and Grounds

Joan MossDoug MacLauchlan

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Flora Presbyterian Church211 S Center StreetFlora, IN 46929florapc@embarqmail.com(547) 967-3907

First Class Mail

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B=Donna Sholty

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Valentine’s Day!!

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Soup Fundraiser

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Presidents Day

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