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First Presbyterian Church 115 - 6th Ave. NW P.O. Box 188 Independence, Iowa 50644 Phone: 319-334-3523 Fax: 319-334-4134 Email: [email protected] Website: fpcindependence.com 1 Aila Anderson 3 Ryan Ruffcorn 4 Kate Barloon Ruth Duritsa TJ Peters 7 Susie Bevans Ryan Brown Brooks Burkhart, Jr. Effie Frye Hayley Hamilton 8 Cheryl Hanna 10 Ericka Barloon 13 Norma DeJong 16 Jacob Bonefas Alicia Krusey Christine Nelson 18 Ryan Mitchell 19 Dean Siglin 21 Marta Rouse 24 Kyle Harms 25 JESUS CHRIST Aubree Adams Betty Crowell 27 Gloria Hummel 31 Scott Mumm Kate Risk 1 Charlie & Beth Conklin 9 Don & Carole Mumm 19 Tim & Kathy Eilers 28 Bob & Cheryl Hanna 31 Malcolm & Ellie Risk FARTHER ON INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Words from our Pastor 1 Youth Page December News/Notes 2 December Calendar 3 Birthdays/Anniversaries 4 DECEMBER 2016 PASTOR John H. Hougen Email: [email protected] Church Office Phone: (319) 334-3523 Fax: (319) 334-4134 Office: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday - Friday Website www.fpcindependence.com Staff Kathy Eilers Youth Ministry Coordinator Email: [email protected] Kathy Smith Secretary Email: [email protected] Robbie Rouse Custodian December 16th - Deadline to drop off Adopt-A-Family gifts December 18th - Treasure Seekers’ Christmas Program December 21st - Treasure Seekers’ Birthday Party for Jesus December 24th - Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service at 7:30 p.m. December 25th - Christmas Day I’m listening to Christmas music. For two days now. I’m even playing it in the car. I’m doing all I can to get in the Christmas spirit. It seems really hard this year. Can anybody relate? Last Friday was Black Friday. I wasn’t in the mood for do any shopping, but mid- morning I found myself going to the mall with Jinger. I gave shopping a valiant effort. I just couldn’t do it. I wandered through a couple stores. Nothing. I was feeling so melancholy. I went into the middle of the mall and found a table with 3 chairs and sat down. I texted Jinger and told her where I was and to take her time. I was content to sit and do nothing. I had been at my table for about 10 minutes when a young mother and her daughter came by my table. She asked if the other two chairs were available. I said they were and expected her to take the chairs to a nearby table. To my surprise she and her daughter sat at my table. We introduced ourselves. Her three year old daughter, Samantha, was quite the conversationalist. She obviously got her skills from mom. So I transitioned from a despondent Christmas shopper to inter- acting with my new friends. Samantha, she did not like being called Sam, was very excited about Christmas. We found ourselves talking about Florida. I had just returned from visiting there and they were looking forward to a move there in the future. Mom worked at home so a move was not a problem. We talked for about 15 minutes or so. Samantha was a delight and I could sense her great joy around this time of year. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was a God thing. God has this way of putting just the right people in our lives at just the right time. Angels are always making their rounds. God touches our lives in so many ways. And always in the right ways. I am still struggling to get in the Christmas spirit. But a chance encounter with a 3 year old cracked open the door for me. Christmas has always been about a child. A child born in Bethlehem’s manger who would change the world. If a child can change the world, changing my attitude should be easy. Samantha’s smile and enthusiasm for Christmas started me on the path to readying my heart for Christmas. What gets your heart ready for Christ- mas? What opens you to the miracle that is Christmas? We know the story. We can sing the songs. But we need angels to make their rounds as they did on the first Christmas. As you prepare for Christmas it likely will not be something that gets you ready, it will be someone. Maybe a three year old. Angels come in all shapes and sizes you know. “The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.” Lord knows we need it! - Pastor John
