Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Pastor Clayton’s Comments
As I was working on this year’s stewardship letter, I wanted some information on the various outreach ministries we have here at Calvin. So, I walked across the hall and looked at the record that is kept of the number of people the food pantry helps. As of today (October 26), our little community food pantry has helped feed over 600 men, women and children in our community! That is an amazing outreach. There are still two months left in the year, so I am certain the food pantry will serve many more before year’s end. Considering our food pantry ministry also started me thinking about the season ahead.
Over the next couple months, many of us will gather with family and friends to celebrate. Plentiful food and thoughtful gifts will be a big part of those gatherings. Before we head into this season of celebration, it is a good time to stop and remember the words of Matthew 25.
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick and in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’”
In the midst of our celebrations, let us remember our call from Christ to help those who are in need. There are a variety of ways you can help members of God’s family who are in need during this season through the church. Here are a few:
1) Help the Food Pantry – Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, there are volunteers waiting to feed people. Each Sunday during the Moment with the Children, we take up food for our community food pantry. The item for the
month of November is canned pasta (ravioli, spaghetti, etc.), though the pantry will take most any non-perishable food item. Please remember to bring something in to donate. Also, what food is not donated is purchased; you may also make a monetary donation to the Food Pantry.
2) Operation Christmas Child – On November 15, we will be dedicating shoeboxes to be sent around the world by Samaritan Purse’s Operation Christmas Child. Consider taking a box, following the instructions to fill it up, and bringing it back on November 15.
3) Food Baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We fill a limited number of baskets for people to be able to have holiday meals. You’ll see more information appearing in the Sunday bulletins soon, or you can see Kristi Puryear for more information.
Many of you will have other opportunities to help people in our community through angel trees, or programs sponsored by the various schools, workplaces, or charitable organizations you are a part of. I urge you to be a part of those you feel called to. In lending a helping hand to someone in need, you’re not simply doing a good deed, you’re doing the work of your Christian calling. Blessings to you as this season of celebrations approaches.
In Christ,
Pastor Clayton
Calvin November 2015
Volume 52, Issue 11 C A L V I N P R E S B T E R I A N C H U R C H F A L L N E W S L E T T E R
BIBLE QUIZ: I HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD
1. What did Jesus say was the first and most important commandment?
2. What was Jesus’ reply to the devil when he was tempted on the pinnacle of the temple?
3. Where does Jesus say we should keep our treasure?
4. What was Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ question as to who was greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
5. What did Jesus say about paying taxes?
6. What did Jesus say to the woman who touched his clothing and was healed?
7. What did Jesus say to the men who wanted to stone a woman taken in adultery?
8. When Nicodemus came to visit Jesus, what was he told?
9. What was Jesus’ last instruction to Peter?
10. What did Jesus say about when he would return to earth?
Happy November Birthdays!
Becky Crowder 04Bill Chitty 05DANIEL D. DICKENSON 05Jeff Cenedella 06Bettyann Hall 06Klaus Schoenhoff 07Shirley Bueche 10JACK DABNEY 11Brenda Shamblen 11Tracy Wheeler 12Kristi Puryear 17*George Schoulda 17Gwyn Mull 22Elizabeth Shields 25
Anniversaries!
Mortin & Mary Hecht 11Doug & Barbara Weich 19
(*Friends of Calvin)
Ministers in capital letters
Flowers:Session Nov: 1Circle 2 Flowers
Bereavement: Circle 1
Sunday Host Nov : 1 – Men of Calvin
8 - Session15 - Circle 122 – Circle 229 - Circle 3
Sandwiches for St. Columba:Nov. 4 and 18
Nov. Upcoming Events1 – Pledge Sunday / Stephanie Webster guest speaker Food Basket / Daylight Savings time ends 2 – CE 6:45 pm / Preschool 7:00 pm 11 – Office Closed Veterans’ Day8 – 13 - Pastor Clayton gone13 – 14 - Jacobs Wedding14 – PW Retreat at Hannah Kriewalt’s home15 – Operation Christmas Child Dedication / Poinsettias16 – Session Meets21 – Advent Day 8:30 am to 2:00 pm25 – Preschool closes at noon26 – Thanksgiving Day! 28 – Hanging the Greens 9:00 am
Dec. 12th PW Christmas Tea 11:30 am to 1:30 pm See Paula Spruill, our church secretary Tammie and group leaders for further upcoming events.
Calvin CommentsPlease remember to bring in articles for Calvin Comments between the 15th and 20th of each month. If you don't see your birthday or anniversary in Calvin Comments, or don't receive Calvin Comments and would like to, please give your name and address and /or e-mail address to Julie or Tammie, our church secretary, along with your birthday and anniversary dates, or put it in the Calvin Comments box beside the kitchen. Thank you, Julie Davis Chase
www.cal-pc.org Paula’s is: [email protected] in the office is: [email protected] Rascoe’s: [email protected]'s Website: www.calvinpresnorfolk.com
Joan Oglethorpe’s address: 106 Ranchland Dr. Moyock, NC 27958 Phone: (252) 232-0112 Cards letters calls would be appreciated
What was the first liquid and food consumed on the moon ? Most are unaware of this story. Forty-five years ago, two human beings changed history by walking on the surface of the moon. But, what happened before Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong exited the Lunar Module is perhaps even more amazing, if only because so few people know about it. I'm talking about the fact that Buzz Aldrin took communion on the surface of the moon. Some months after his return, he wrote about it in Guideposts magazine. The background to the story is that Aldrin was an elder at his Presbyterian Church in Texas during this period in his life; and, knowing that he would soon be doing something unprecedented in human history, he felt that he should mark the occasion somehow. He asked his minister to help him. And so the minister consecrated a communion wafer and a small vial of communion wine. Buzz Aldrin took them with him out of the Earth's orbit and onto the surface of the moon. He and Armstrong had only been on the lunar surface for a few minutes when Aldrin made the following public statement: This is the LM pilot. I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way. He then ended radio communication, and there, on the silent surface of the moon, 250,000 miles from home, he read a verse from the Gospel of John, and he took Communion. Here is his own account of what happened: "In the radio blackout, I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. Then I read the scripture: 'I am the vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in me will bring forth much fruit . .. Apart from me you can do nothing.' "I had intended to read my communion passage back to Earth, but at the last minute [they] had requested that I not do this. NASA was already embroiled in a legal battle with Madelyn Murray O'Hare, the celebrated opponent of religion, over the Apollo 8 crew reading from Genesis while orbiting the moon at Christmas. I agreed reluctantly."
"I ate the tiny Host and swallowed the wine. I gave thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility. It was interesting for me to think that the very first liquid ever poured on the moon and the very first food eaten there were the communion elements."
"And, of course, it's interesting to think that some of the first words spoken on the moon were the words of Jesus Christ, who made the Earth and the moon - and who, in the immortal words of Dante, is Himself the "Love that moves the Sun and other stars."
How many of you knew this? Too bad this type of news doesn't travel as fast as the bad does.
Submitted by Suzi Williams
ANSWERS: 1. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark12:30-31)2. “It is written, you shall not tempt the Lord your God.” (Matthew 4:7) 3. “Lay up for yourself treasures in heaven. “ Matthew 6:4)4. “Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18.4)5. “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s. “ Mark 12:17)6. “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” (Luke 9:48)7. “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” (John 8:7)8. “You must be born again.” (John 3:3)9. “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17)10. Those words are found in Luke 21:6-28. Read it for yourself!!
Calvin Presbyterian Church2901 East Little Creek Rd
Norfolk, VA 23518
Calvin CommentsNovember 2015
Volume 52Issue 11
Happy Thanksgiving!
