Worship With God, PossibilitiesThe Lydia ircle will meet Thursday, January 7th at 1 pm in ... January 14, 2016 at 7:00 pm in the church parlor. This months selection is The eltic onspiracy

Together with God all things are possible—Matthew 19:26 January 2016

Worship - Sundays - 9:05 am Traditional 11:05 am Praise

Jan 3 Restless for God Psalm 132: 1-12 Guest Speaker: Stephanie Butler

NEW! Worship Series: 5 Practices for a New Year: Jan 10 Silent 1 Peter 1:13-25, Psalm 39:2-5 One service of worship -11:05 am

Jan 17 Slow 1 Peter 1:13-25, Psalm 46:10

Jan 24 Learn 1 Peter 1: 13-25, Psalm 1: 1-3

Jan 31 Laugh 1 Peter 1:13-25, Psalm 51:12

Feb 7 Love 1 Peter 1:13-25, Psalm 36:7

Contact - John Calvin Presbyterian Church 8102 Midcrown Drive San Antonio, TX 78239 210-657-4441 JohnCalvinPresbyterian.org Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm

With God, Possibilities ... With God all things are possible! More than words, this is our theme and annual aim for 2016. Not only was it our pledge drive theme, it is also an attitude and mood we wish to cultivate, experience and live into together during our next journey around the sun. A year from now, we will ponder all that was possible and also all that came to be, as well as that which did not. We will remember God’s favor, guidance and goodness to us. I know there is anxiety and questions about the Transition Team’s Proposal. I want to remind the JCPC family that no decision has yet been made. We will be taking January and February as a congregation to ponder the Proposal, to discuss it, and if the way be clear, to vote on the Proposal. If the Proposal is not supported by a large majority of the Congregation, the Session will go back to the drawing board and develop a proposal for staying in our current location. Do keep in mind, that staying in this loca-tion is an invitation for us to significantly re-imagine how we do worship, ministry and church here on the corner of Walzem and Midcrown. Let us all be praying for wisdom and the spirit of discernment for God’s best possible future to unfold for the JCPC congregation. If you have not done so already, I encourage you to read the Transition Team’s Proposal and prayerfully ponder its invitation. As a part of our discernment process, the Session invites you to a Congregational Town Hall Meeting to discuss but not vote on the Transition Team’s Proposal. This will give you an opportunity to share and hear one another’s thoughts and feelings on the Transition Team’s Proposal. The congregational meeting will occur on Sunday, January 10th at 12:15pm. Please make every effort to participate in this important part of our process. One final thought on our annual aim/theme. It is more accurate to say that with God all things are possible within our sphere of existence. In other words, it is not possi-ble for me to become an NFL football quarterback and get drafted to play for the Green Bay Packers. That is not possible; it is impossibly ludicrous! In the same way, we trust God to bring about the very best possible future. And God’s infinite wisdom knows what the appropriate context and sphere of possibilities are for who we are. I look forward to our journey into the unknown of God’s forthcoming blessings to us as individuals and as a church family together. Pastor Peter Interim/Transitional Pastor

Staff - Peter Haas, Interim Pastor Lisa Ringler, Office Manager Amy Oxley, Director of Music Gordon Ringler, Director of Music Linda Wilson, Pianist Edward Esparza II, Campus Tech

Transition Team Tasks Transition Team Tasks

Be in prayer for discernment of God’s vision for JCPC. Ongoing.

Transition Team will attend New Beginnings Training July 10-11, 2015. Completed.

Schedule/ host New Beginnings Small Group Conversations, September-November. Completed

Schedule and host 2-3 town hall conversations on history and vision for future, Sept-December. Completed

Compile church history and write summary overview In progress.

Discern and write JCPC vision plan for next 5 years

Present Transition Team Proposal to session and congregation at Town Hall Information Meeting December 8, 2015. Completed.

Session consideration of Transition Team Proposal January, 2016. In progress.

Congregational Meeting to Approve Session Proposal February, 2015

50th anniversary celebration April 3, 2016

Potential Timeline of ProcessPotential Timeline of Process …If the way be clear and blessed…

February – May, 2015 Beginning our interim journey by building relationships

April & May, 2015 Session discerns and approves New Beginnings process and elects Transition Team

May 18, 2015 Initial New Beginnings assessment and church family meeting

May 31, 2015 Commissioning of Transition Team

July, 2015 Receive New Beginnings assessment

July – August, 2015 Training Transition Team

October-November, 2015 Small group gathering conversations and Town hall church family discussions

January 10, 2016 Congregational meeting for discussion of Transition Team Report.

January – February, 2016 Session discernment and approval of Vision Plan

February 15, 2016 Congregational meeting to approve Transition Team Proposal

April 3, 2016 Launch Transition Team Proposal Vision and 50th anniversary celebration

Contact your Contact your JCPC JCPC

Transition Team Transition Team ANYTIME ANYTIME

Stephanie Butler 210-268-7857 (cell) [email protected]

Patrick Hutzler 210-716-4848 (home) 210-422-5922 (cell) [email protected]

Jack Leonhardt 210-654-8088 (home) 210-260-5054 (cell) [email protected]

Gordon Ringler 210-846-3420 (cell)[email protected]

Michelle Walter 210-722-3520 (cell) [email protected]

Ann Zeigler 210-655-7158 (home) 210-392-7158 (cell) [email protected]

Our purpose is to share the good news of Jesus Christ by

GATHERING in community, GROWING in Christ’s image, GIVING & serve, GOING & witness, GLORIFYING GOD! P. 2

Congregational Meeting For the purpose of discernment and discussion sooner ra-ther than later, the Session has called a special congrega-tional lunch and meeting for Sunday, January 10th at 12:15 pm to hear the congregation’s thoughts and feelings on the Transition Team’s Proposal. No vote will be taken at this meeting. We are gathering to seek your input and provide an opportunity for you to listen and share with one another as a church family.

2016 Offering Envelopes & 2015 Year-End Contribution Statements Did you request 2016 Offering Envelopes? They’re locat-ed at the Welcome Center for your convenient pick up. Several extra boxes are available – first come first serve! 2015 Year End Contribution statements will be mailed to you on/before January 15, 2016.

Birthday Offering Having a birthday this month? Consider making an extra-giving gift to the JCPC Birthday Fund as a way to say “thank-you” to God for the blessing of another year of life. This fund was established a few years ago and is used to pur-chase items beneficial to the whole congregation that may not be part of the operating budget. Simply make a dona-tion in the amount of your age.

Women’s Circles The Lydia Circle will meet Thursday, January 7th at 1 pm in the parlor and the Mary Martha Circle will meet Monday, January 11th at 9:30 am in the parlor. Come and enjoy fellowship, talk of mission and ministry and study using It’s Not About Me by Max Lucado.

Men’s Breakfast—Saturday, January 9th

All men of the church are invited to the men’s breakfast for delicious food, lively fellowship and a timely devotion-al. Come to the Fellowship Hall (Gym) on Saturday, Janu-ary 9th, 7am.

Book Group—Thursday, January 14

The Read & Dialogue Book Group will meet on Thursday, January 14, 2016 at 7:00 pm in the church parlor. This month’s selection is The Celtic Conspiracy by Thore Han-sen.

In the final days of World War II, an Irish sol-dier discovers a cache of artifacts in an Aus-trian cave that threatens to expose long-buried secrets of the Catholic Church. Secrets that prove the Druids of Ireland did not die out; they were systematically exterminated in cold blood. However, the secret will stay bur-ied within the walls of the soldier’s home for another fifty years before it is brought to light by his son, a modern-day proponent of the Druids’ enlightened, pacifist culture. Armed with the evidence and the conviction to expose the Church’s conspiracy, the sol-dier’s son, a Supreme Court justice forms an unlikely alliance with a healer, a linguist and a Boston attorney to bring the Vatican to tri-al. As the action races from the corridors of the White House and the United States Su-preme Court to Dublin’s halls of academia and the secretive back passages in Rome, the Church will stop at nothing to silence the voices of the past. Questions? Contact Book Group leader, Ann Zeigler at 655-7158.

In the life of JCPC ...



Ministry Updates ...

Evangelism & Mission Ministry Team: Ernest Bernard-Chair, Silbia Esparza, Sue Shehane From Elder Sue Shehane: We would like to offer our heartfelt thanks for all that have supported our Missions this year. Please consider joining our team in 2016 – the work is very rewarding! We meet on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 6 pm in the Hospitality Hall. By the time you read this, Ernest will have delivered the gifts from the Angel Tree to Jamaica. We wish him well in his journey and look forward to hearing the stories of the distribution of the gifts to the children. As Ernest put it ‘It is with good news and joy that we tell you that the Angel Tree giving program at JCPC was a great success! The out-pouring of love and generosity by the members of this great congregation was awesome once again!’ The pro-gram will bring a little cheer to the lives of the children sponsored by ACTS Jamaica this Christmas and we should all take a moment to reflect that we have made a differ-ence! Thank you to all that participated in the Alternative Gift Market and in support of the Guatemalan Ministry (We made $1,178). The Mayan Market brings double blessings; 1.) Indigenous women and their families through the pur-chase of Free Trade products and 2.) Indigenous people through the Guatemala Partnership Ministry. Silbia is hard at work gathering the sheets and distributing the gifts. We made $1,397.

Special thanks to all those that have hosted Lunch and Love in 2015: Presbyterian Women’s Group Rob Spitznagel’s Sunday School Class Lion’s Club of Windcrest Men’s Breakfast Group Music Ministry (Twice!) Windcrest Revitalization Team Cardinal’s Basketball Team Liz Dick and friends The Session We could not possibly serve the 40-60 homeless that attend our Lunch and Love program each month without the help of our volunteers. We have been blessed this year with many new faces – Ballinisahabit, Cardinals Basketball, and Roosevelt Athletics who have all participated in help-ing us serve. Thanks to Sandy and Tom Delk and the JCPC Youth Group for filling backpacks for the homeless and folding clothes items and restocking the closet shelves. We also need to say a very special thank you to our ‘regulars’: Don Perkins, Norma and Clyde Gordon, Brenda Matthews, Irish Dycus, Ruth Spivey and Barbara Shelton. Our team has been truly blessed, and we thank you all.

Finance Ministry Team: Lorry Houtman-Chair, Lisa Pepi From Lorry Houtman: Many Thanks to all the faithful sup-porters of JCPC! At this writing so many of you have al-ready fulfilled your pledges for 2015, and some have gone above and beyond. You've made it possible to contin-ue the ministries of our church, those for our congregation and guests, and those to assist and show Christian love to so many others. This is truly a caring and faithful con-gregation, and we are all blessed!

Worship Ministry Team: Chris Deitch-Chair, Lisa McDougle From Director of Music, Gordon Ringler: The Five Solas are five Latin phrases that emerged from the Protestant Reformation intended to summarize the Reformers' basic



http://www.theopedia.com/Protestant_Reformation

Ministry Updates (con’t) ...

theological principles in contrast to certain teachings of the Roman Catholic Church of the day. "Sola" is Latin meaning "alone" or "only" and the corresponding phrases are:

Sola Fide, by faith alone. Sola Scriptura, by Scripture alone. Solus Christus, through Christ alone. Sola Gratia, by grace alone. Soli Deo Gloria, glory to God alone.

Soli Deo gloria is the teaching that all glory is to be due to God alone, since salvation is accomplished solely through His will and action.

A story ...

Since his parents died, John lived with his brother, a church organist. At just seventeen years old, he got his first job as a church organist. His Lutheran family was pleased to see him carry on the family tradition in music. Word of his mu-sical abilities spread quickly. When John played music, he felt his soul praising God. In fact, he once said, "I play the notes as they are written but it is God who makes the music." After a few years, John got another job as church organist and choir director at a small church. He directed the choir and wrote the worship music used in the church service. But even though he used his musical talents to glorify God, a problem soon arose.

"John, people are complaining about the music you've been composing."

John was stunned. He knew that some of the recent pieces were his best work. What could the problem be?

The man continued, "The music is too showy. Some of our members even think it is sinful. Music should be simple so that it draws attention to God, not to the music or the per-formers."

John couldn't believe it! His music was "sinful"? How could people call his music sinful when he only tried to glorify God? John took a deep breath before defending his music. "The main purpose of my music is to glorify God. Some people do this with music that is simple. I haven't chosen to use a simple style, but my music comes from my heart as a humble offering to God. This honors God no matter what musical style I use."

Unfortunately, John and the church could not agree on this matter, so he started looking for another job. In fact, he changed jobs many times during his life, searching for the freedom to write the music he heard in his soul. He found a

temporary refuge in another town. This was the first time John did not work for a church, but his boss, the Mayor of the Town, was a religious man. The Mayor encouraged John to continue writing sacred music, and for a while, John had the freedom for which he had searched. Even though the Mayor gave John the freedom to write what he wanted, John never forgot that it was God who made the music through him. Whenever he began a new piece, he bowed his head and prayed. "Jesus, help me show your glory through the music I write. May it bring you joy even as it brings joy to your people." Without Je-sus' help, John knew he'd never be able to complete the task. Before writing even one note, John carefully formed the letters J J at the top of the page. With that, the music began to pour from his soul and onto the page. When he was finally satisfied, he wrote the letters SDG at the bottom of the page - Soli Deo Gloria - For the Glory of God Alone. He hoped that when the music was played, it would point toward God. You may know John as Johann Sebastian Bach.

Buildings & Grounds Ministry Team: Tom Delk-Chair, John Lewis From Tom Delk: Happy New Year from your Buildings & Grounds Team consisting of active volunteers Bob Robbins, Vern Handel, Otho Jordan, Ben Catalina, and Eddie Powell, as well as active Elders Tom Delk and Jon Lewis.



http://www.theopedia.com/Roman_Catholic_Church

Ministry Updates (con’t) ...

Did you notice the new dumpster in the rear of our church parking lot? Thanks to Ben Catalina, our church is now in compliance with the City of Windcrest’s waste storage re-quirements. And thanks to Vern Handel, Bob Robbins, and our plumbing contractors, the leak in our underground water line to our Sanctuary is now plugged, thereby saving our church hundreds of dollars in our future water bills

and saving our city hundreds of gallons in wasted water. Do you know where our portable fire extin-guishers are within our various church facilities? Well, thanks to Otho Jor-dan, we now have a map identifying each of them for ready reference by our B&G Team and fire

safety inspectors. Lastly, we welcome the newest mem-ber to our team, Eddie Powell. Eddie and Bob were instru-mental in caulking a number of cracks and crevices that seem to crop up in our church facilities on a regular basis.

The South Texas Winter has arrived, and this means cooler temperatures and higher natural gas bills to run our JCPC facilities’ numerous heating systems. Once more, similar to our Summer energy conservation process, please set all room thermostats back to their original settings once you’re done using the room. Also, please don’t prop any outside doors open, since the heat escapes rooms much faster than it enters them. And thanks again for turning off the lights in our unoccupied rooms. As stated in earlier articles, these seemingly small energy saving measures save our church thousands of dollars in utility costs by the end of the year. As always, our B&G Team (which is an integral part of our Stewardship Ministry) is in need of active volunteers to help keep our church facilities and grounds in tip top shape. Once more, you don’t need any experience to join our team; just your willingness to serve our beautiful church and its wonderful members, guests, and partners in another way. Please don’t hesitate to contact Tom Delk at [email protected] or (210) 845-0302 for more information on joining this important team. Thanks for continuing to keep our church as our communi-ty’s preferred place to worship the Lord and participate in various activities that directly and indirectly further His Kingdom.

Starting on January 12th

, join Pastor Peter on Tuesday mornings from 10:30 am – Noon (or so) in the sanctuary for a fun and enriching weekly review of Books and Bible passages Peter will

use for upcoming sermons, or subjects he is ex-ploring in his writings. Join the conversation and

grow deeper in your faith. No homework re-quired. Join us when you can! Coffee provided.

Feel free to bring cookies to share.



Odds & Ends … Mission Opportunities ...

A little reminder ... If you use the white tablecloths in our kitchen, it is your responsibility to wash and return them to the kitchen! The Presbyterian Women are happy to wash dish towels each month that are placed in the hamper, but tablecloths are the responsibility of the ministry that used them. Please be kind and remember our kitchen is self-cleaning … if you use it, you clean it! Thanks!

Address Directory Update: From Jim Loman. Please delete [email protected] and only use [email protected].

Prayer Notes: Please keep the family of Lee Hilliard in prayer. Lee died Monday, December 28th—she was 98 years old. Services are still pending. The Rev. Dr. Peter Haas will officiate. Continue to remember our shut-ins who cannot worship with us on a regular basis: Joe Brooks, Helen Christley, James Dowdy, Marjorie Green, Bob & Marge Hammerlee, Jane McNeil, Marv Novak, Renee Morris, Gini Neighbors, Bill Sansing.

Lunch ‘n Love Can you help provide a meal or a part of a meal for our monthly homeless outreach program Lunch n Love? Sign up at the Welcome Center in the Hospitality Hall. Questions on what’s involved? Contact any Evangelism & Missions Elder: Ernest Bernard, Silblia Esparza or Sue Shehane. This month’s Lunch ‘n Love will be hosted by the Presbyter-ian Women. Can you help them serve, maybe clean up, or just visit with our guests? If so, drop on by the Gym on Sat-urday, January 30th at 10:30 am!

(If you come help out at Lunch n Love, you’ll likely meet “Pops.” He’s been one of our faith-

ful regular for several years!

Habitat for Humanity The Presbyterian Cluster, Habitat for Humanity, will be helping support a Habitat build this year. We need you! All levels of skill are useful! Mark the following dates on your calendar and look for further information soon. Questions? Contact Jim Browning at 653-3406. March 4, 2016, March 12, 2016, April 8, 2016

The Purpose is a monthly publication of John Calvin Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, Texas. If you have information to submit for the newsletter, a change of address, or if you would like to receive this newsletter electronically, please contact: John Calvin Presbyterian Church Attn: Office Manager 8102 Midcrown Dr., San Antonio, TX 78239



Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 4:00 PM Jarrett BBall 7:00 PM Patrick BBall

3 9:00 AM Trad Worship 10:05 AM Disciple-Making Classes 11:05 AM Contemp Worship 4:00 PM Jarrett BBall 7:00 PM Patrick BBall

4 6:30 PM Bridge Group 7:00 PM Patriots/Munoz BBall

5 11:00 AM Staff Meeting 5:00 PM Prayer Group 6:30 PM Jarrett Bball

6 1 PM Small Group 6:30 PM Jarrett BBall 6:30 PM Praise Team Rehearsal 7:30 PM Sanctuary choir rehearsal

7 1:00 PM Lydia Circle 7:00 PM Patriots/Munoz BBall

8 6:30 PM Jarrett BBall

9 7:00 AM Men's Breakfast 4:00 PM Jarrett BBall 7:00 PM Patrick BBall

10 10:05 AM Disciple-Making Classes 11:05 AM Worship 12:15 PM Lunch & Congregational Meeting 4:00 PM Jarrett BBall 7:00 PM Patrick BBall

11 9:30 AM Mary Martha Circle 6:30 PM Bridge Group 7:00 PM Patriots/Munoz BBall

12 11:00 AM Staff Meeting 5:00 PM Prayer Group 6:00 PM Scottish Society 6:30 PM Jarrett Bball

13 1PM Small Group 6:30 PM Jarrett BBall 6:30 PM Praise Team Rehearsal 7:30 PM Sanctuary choir rehearsal

14 7:00 PM Book Group 7:00 PM Patriots/Munoz BBall

15 Newsletter Deadline 6:30 PM Jarrett BBall

16 4:00 PM Jarrett BBall 7:00 PM Patrick BBall



19 11:00 AM Staff Meeting 5:00 PM Prayer Group 6:30 PM Jarrett Bball 7:00 PM Session Meeting


21 7:00 PM Patriots/Munoz BBall


23 4:00 PM Jarrett BBall 7:00 PM Patrick BBall

24 9:00 AM Traditional Worship 10:05 AM Disciple-Making Classes 11:05 AM Contemp Worship 4:00 PM Jarrett BBall 7:00 PM Patrick BBall


26 11:00 AM Staff Meeting 5:00 PM Prayer Group 6:30 PM Jarrett Bball


28 7:00 PM Patriots/Munoz BBall


30 11:00 AM Lunch n Love 4:00 PM Jarrett BBall 7:00 PM Patrick BBall


January 2016



John Calvin Presbyterian Church 8102 Midcrown Drive, San Antonio, TX 78239 www.JohnCalvinPresbyterian.org

Documents

Worship With God, PossibilitiesThe Lydia ircle will meet Thursday, January 7th at 1 pm in ... January 14, 2016 at 7:00 pm in the church parlor. This months selection is The eltic onspiracy