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November/December 2015 Messenger
New London Presbyterian Church November/December 2015 Messenger
The holidays are coming! The holidays are coming! We just celebrated Halloween and the saints who challenge and inspire us on All Saints’ Day, which means that Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner. I’ve already seen Christmas decorations in stores, advertisements for the first set of Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel, and wondered what to get my niece for Christmas. In a matter of weeks, I’ll be getting off the train in Colorado to celebrate one holiday and a plane in South Carolina to celebrate the other. As the year begins to draw to a close, I find myself wondering what I can do to feel more joy and gratitude and less envy and discontent in my daily life. So, what helps you celebrate the blessings in your life? How do you feel joy in those moments when the world’s challenges seem overwhelming and out-of-control? One of the books I’m reading is One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, a book about a woman’s process of finding joy in the midst of daily life by sharing stories and noting the blessings she receives each day. Knowing I need an influx of joy and gratitude in my life, I’ve begun listing the blessings I discover each day in a journal that sits open next to my favorite chair. Things as simple as fuzzy caterpillars, a tree full of yellow leaves shining brightly in the sun, and the comforting presence of a purring cat in my lap bring joy into my life and keep me focused on the more important things in life. In time, perhaps, time spent with friends or an accidental encounter with a saint will make the list of 1,000 gifts I’m striving to write down. As I write this, I’m only on number 35 so I have a long way to go. God only knows what will show up in the coming weeks to brighten my days and shine a light in the darkness. What blessings have you noted in your daily life recently? How do joy, gratitude, and peace infuse your life? What challenges are you facing and what helps you see God’s presence in the world around you? As we approach the holiday season, let us take time to remember what is most important in our lives and share that with others. Let us open our senses and notice the blessings we encounter each day as we live, work, and have our being. May we find deeper joy, greater communion, and amazing grace each and every day. Thanks be to God. Amen. Blessings,
Aimee
November/December 2015 Messenger
General Fund Financial Summary Information
The total amount our church is required to pay this year is $3,803.97. This is based on membership reported to Presbytery each year.
Between January-September only $874.16 has been collected thus leaving a shortfall of $2,929.81
As in past years, it’s been asked that our members pay their portion (for 2015 it’s $34.27 per person). Any amount not collected from members must be paid, and therefore comes out of our general fund account. This extra giving (above regular offering) helps our general fund obligations for the year.
If you have not already paid your portion, please be sure to include “Per Capita” in the memo portion of your check or on the offering envelope.
August 2015 INCOME
Gifts and Offerings 6,001.00
Mission and Outreach
15.00
Per Capita 0.0
Other 25.00
Copier 3,178.68
Radio Fund 177.50
TOTAL INCOME 9,397.18
MONTHLY EXPENSES
Disbursements 12,481.50
Our church service is broadcast on KILJ (105.5) each Sunday. Our monthly cost for broadcasting the service is $220. Contributions from our church family and listeners keep this long time mission project going. Our broadcast reaches not only travelers, but also those who cannot get to church, including some of our own church family members. As our funds are dwindling down, we are reaching out to see if you will consider a donation to the fund.
Donations can be mailed to: Presbyterian Church, 400 N. Elm St, New London, IA 52645
Please include “Radio Fund” in the memo portion of your check or if
Making a contribution in the offering plate, please write “Radio Fund” on the offering envelope. Thank you for your contributions and continued support.
September 2015 INCOME
Gifts and Offerings 3,973.00
Mission and Outreach
90.00
Per Capita 138.54
Other 31.45
Copier 349.59
Radio Fund 117.50
TOTAL INCOME 4,700.08
MONTHLY EXPENSES
Disbursements 7,045.85
YTD~Jan-Sept 2015 INCOME
Gifts and Offerings 49,101.00
Mission and Outreach
998.95
Per Capita 874.16
Other 3952.16
Copier 3528.27
Radio Fund 1534.99
TOTAL INCOME 59,989.53
YTD EXPENSES
Disbursements 72,712.75
November/December 2015 Messenger
A big THANK YOU goes out to all who gave funds towards the new copier. It’s great to have newer technology for our use and if you have not stopped by to see or use it, stop by to see it. Basic instructions on using the copier are provided but should you have questions, please ask Doris.
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God’s Work in the World
Each and every day, we get an opportunity to share our love with the world, point out God’s presence in our lives, and deepen relationships with God and one another. Even the smallest acts can make the world just a little bit better one moment at a time. Where have you seen God at work in your homes, workplaces, schools, and community spaces? How have you show God’s love in your relationships with others? Over the last two months, I have seen God work through children lighting candles during worship, women warmly greeting one another during fellowship events, and men cleaning up leaves and maintaining the church grounds. Others have done God’s work by praying for people who are struggling, running the sound system, setting up for worship, and taking people to appointments. I invite you to share your stories of people doing God’s work in the world by sending a note or calling the church so others can hear them too. Keep your eyes and ears open as you live out your faith today, tomorrow, and always. Amen.
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Session members …………
Reminder: meetings are on the 2nd Wednesday of every month @ 7:00 p.m.
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Those wonderful Church Bulletins! These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced at church services:
The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.’ The sermon
tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'
Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help. Next Thursday there will be try-outs for the choir. They need all
the help they can get. Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM . Please
use the back door.
Do you receive or see humorous religious sayings? Welcome our lighter side, from an email titled: Church ladies with typewriters. Thanks Mary Shelledy for sharing.
November/December 2015 Messenger
The main activity for the women for the next month will be preparing for the
bazaar. The date of the bazaar is Saturday, November 21st. They’ve been busy canning meat during the summer & fall. As before, the bazaar will open with rolls and coffee at 8:00. They will be selling their canned meat, cookies and candy by
the pound, plus items from the general store. The Circle of Love will have their noodles and jars of chicken soup mix for sale. If you have canned items, craft items, other baked goods, please have them marked and ready to sell before 8:00
a.m. The only way the bazaar can work is if people sign up on the schedule that will be posted on the bulletin board starting Nov. 1st. Help will be needed in the
kitchen, at the pie table, and at the cookies and candy tables. The more people who sign up to work, fewer will need to work longer hours. THE BEST WAY TO MAKE THE BAZAAR SUCCESSFUL IS TO HAVE MANY
WILLING HANDS. PLEASE PARTICIPATE. There will be sign-up sheets once again for the pies, cookies, candy, and soup
items. It is helpful to know what kind of cookies, candy, or pies you are willing to provide. The past couple years we have had a nice variety of delicious candy and cookies.
On Saturday, October 3rd the Presbyterian Church Women’s presbytery meeting was held in our church with approximately 60 women attending. The speaker for
the day was Denise England who spoke on the 2014 PW Global Exchange to the Caribbean. The topic was on human trafficking. The officers would like to thank
everyone who help make the day successful. No matter what you did for the day it was greatly appreciated. THANKS SO MUCH!!
PRAISE SERVICE The women of the church will conduct their annual praise service on Sunday,
October 25th during the regular worship service. Please join them at this service and for fellowship following the worship time.
MEALS ON WHEELS NOVEMBER IS OUR MONTH FOR DELIVERING MEALS ON WHEELS. THERE IS A CALENDAR ON THE BULLETIN BOARD. IF YOU CANNOT SIGN UP FOR A
WEEK – JUST DO A DAY OR TWO.
The PW will meet for the final meeting of the year on December 14 at 11:00 a.m. for potluck. It
will be hosted by the officers. The business will be a discussion of the year’s activities and a distribution of the mission funds. All the women of the church are invited to attend. The more
the merrier.
November/December 2015 Messenger
Circle of Love will be busy in November and December
getting ready for the bazaar and decorating for Christmas.
Christian Education The children's Sunday School is going well in Friendship Hall. Each week we put
our God Sightings up, and we are now recognizing how we can be a God Sighting.
We are learning about the gifts that God gives us as we learn about the stories
of Joseph.
Beginning in November, we will be starting to practice for our Christmas
program. If children would like to be in the program, they will need to come
to Sunday School in November and December to practice. Stay tuned for more
information!
Trunks or Treat !!
Many thanks to all who have helped with our Trunk or Treat community activity for children! We have many creative talents in our congregation who have worked with cardboard and duct tape, spider webs, toilet paper rolls, and Q-tips!
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Circle members are reminded that we will be making noodles Wednesday, November 4 at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 7 at 8:30 a.m. Pam Williamson will serve as hostess on the 4th and Doris Dickey will be hostess on the 7th. We will set up for the bazaar on November 18 at 6:30 p.m. All women are invited to help with these activities!
Decorating for the advent season will be planned at our November meetings.
November/December 2015 Messenger
PRAYER CHAIN If you would like to be included or excluded on the Prayer Chain, let Aimee know.
NOVEMBER Sun., Nov. 1, DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS
Remember to set your clocks back 1 hour
10:30 a.m., All Saints’ Day Sun. morn. worship & children’s s.school
Wed., Nov. 4, 6:00 p.m., Circle of Love- noodle-making Sat., Nov. 7, 8:30 a.m., Circle of Love- noodle-making Sun., Nov. 8, 10:30 a.m., Sunday morning worship
& children’s Sunday school Mon., Nov. 9, 11:00 a.m., Women’s Fellowship Wed., Nov. 11, 7:00 p.m., Session meeting Sat., Nov. 14, 10:00 a.m., Presbytery Meeting @
West Liberty Sun., Nov. 15, 10:30 a.m., Sunday morning worship
& children’s Sunday school 4:00 p.m., Chapel, Care Center
New London Nursing & Rehab. Wed., Nov. 18, 6:00 p.m., Bazaar set-up Sat., Nov. 21, 8:30 a.m., Fall Bazaar Sun., Nov. 22, 10:30 a.m., Sunday morning worship
& children’s Sunday school Thurs., Nov.26, Thanksgiving Day Nov26-29 Church Office Closed Sun., Nov. 29, 1st Sunday of Advent - Hanging of the Greens
10:30 a.m., Sunday morning worship & children’s Sunday school
DECEMBER
Sun., Dec. 6, 10:30 a.m., Sunday morning worship & children’s Sunday school
Wed., Dec. 9, 7:00 p.m., Session Meeting Sun., Dec. 13, 10:30 a.m., Sunday morning worship
& children’s Sunday school Mon., Dec. 14, 11:00 a.m., PW potluck Sun., Dec. 20, 10:30 a.m., Sunday morning worship
& children’s Sunday school 4:00 p.m., Chapel, Care Center
New London Nursing & Rehab. Thurs., Dec. 24, 7:00 p.m., Christmas Eve service Fri., Dec. 25, Christmas Day Sun., Dec. 27, 10:30 a.m., Sunday morning worship
& children’s Sunday school Thurs., Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve Sun., Jan. 3, 10:30 a.m., Sunday morning worship
& children’s Sunday school
If you like to read, don’t forget to check out the books we have in our Library.
November/December 2015 Messenger
REMINDER: To bring non-perishable foods for donation to
the Felowship Cup - on the 4th Sunday of each
month.
NOVEMBER
BIRTHDAYS
1st Ruth Piper 1st Jess Williamson 3rd Megan (Alden) Denning 3rd Kate Byczek 4th Ezekial Lemley 5th Leonard McAllister
6th Elizabeth Stuekerjuergen 7th Staci (Williamson) Moore 7th John Newell 9th Landon Brown 12th Matt Walker 12th Sue Tomlinson
15th Hannah Carmon 16th Brian Borton 21st Erin (McCabe) Garvey 21st Heather (Bowman) Pope 24th Bob Wehrle 27th Chris Gibson 27th Carlie Jo Loyd 27th Jamie (Carmon) Loyd 28th Gwen Moore 29th Kelsey Riley 29th Dean Davis 30th Bryan Walker
NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
13th Tom and Chance Davis 20th Tom and Sharon Borton 20th Bob and Teresa Wehrle 24th Roger and Diane Walker 24th Kristen & Duane Stuekerjuergen 28th Milo and Lucille McCabe
DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
8th Chris & Apryl Johnson 15th Lyn and Kari McAllister 22nd Craig and Bobbi Huebner 27th G.A. and Nella Elliot
DECEMBER
BIRTHDAYS
2nd Dave McGregor 8th Missy Anderson 8th Aimee Goldmeyer 8th Peg (Wiley) Byrum 10th Keira McBeth 11th Jerry Jones
12th Dick Lane 13th Tyler Raub 14th Rylan Olsen 19th Conor Johnson 21st Kay Ball 21st Bob Byczek
25th JESUS
30th Madelyn Johnson
CHECK OUT: Session members and their assignments for 2015-2016.
See next page under session members section
MOVING REMINDER: If you or a family member receive the newsletter by mail, please remember to let us know when you or
a family member move so we can update our records. We’ve requested address service notification from the postal
service and lately we’ve received several notices from them of address updates.
November/December 2015 Messenger
NLPC MISSION STATEMENT
Inspired by the powerful, creative force of
God's love, our mission is to glorify God
in ways both great and small by growing
spiritually, nurturing children,
impacting our community, and using
our gifts in service to God.
THE MESSENGER: Published bi-monthly by the New London Presbyterian Church, 400 N. Elm St, New
London, Iowa 52645, 319-367-2744. The messenger is also posted on the church website and linked to their Facebook page: at: http://newlondonpc.org or at
https://www.facebook.com/ThePresbyterianChurchOfNewLondon.
If you’d like to help reduce paper & mailing cost and receive the newsletter by e-mail, please send a message to [email protected]. Paper copies are typically available at the church for two Sundays and those not picked up after printing, will be mailed. If someone has been removed from or if someone needs to be added to the mailing list, please let Doris Dickey or Pastor Aimee know. Postmaster: Send address changes to The New London Presbyterian Church % The Messenger, 400 N. Elm St. New London, Iowa, 52645.
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Staff:
Pastor: Aimee Goldmeyer
Manse Phone: 319-367-8074
Email: [email protected]
Office hrs:
Church Secretary: Doris Dickey
Email: [email protected]
Treasurer: Brittany Cummings
Custodian: Jaime Loyd
Organist & Choir Director: Nella Elliott/Lanny Rowe
Church phone: 319-367-2744
Church Address: 400 N. Elm St.
New London, Iowa 52645
Church Website: http://newlondonpc.org
Church facebook link; https://www.facebook.com/ThePresbyterianChurchOfNewLondon.
Our leadership team seeks to nurture God’s blessings in our lives in a variety of ways. Will you please pray about how God may be calling you to serve in our congregation? If you would like to share your gifts with others or have questions, please contact Pastor Aimee or one of elders listed below.
2015-2016 Session Members
(Effective July 1, 2015):
BUILDING & GROUNDS: Tom Davis
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION: Jane Simmons & Teresa Wehrle
CLERK of SESSION: Chris Selby
FELLOWSHIP: Ron Raub
FINANCE/ MEMORIALS/ STEWARDSHIP: Lyn McAllister & Dave McGregor
MISSION/OUTREACH: Betty Grove
WORSHIP: Bob Lemley FELLOWSHIP: Ron Raub
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Information for the Jan/Feb 2016 newsletter is due:
Friday, December 11th, 2015
November/December 2015 Messenger
400 N. ELM
NEW LONDON, IOWA 52645
See you at the….
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
OF NEW LONDON, IOWA
400 N. ELM NEW LONDON, IOWA 52645 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
November/December 2015 Messenger
