Christ Is Our Cornerstone First Pres s “We are a church that is Finding Christ, through Faith, Prayer, and Compassion.” That’s the new tagline for our church that was approved by the session at their Regular Meeting on December 17. This came through a time of discernment at our Leadership Retreat earlier this year, and months of prayer. The idea of us searching together to find Christ is central to any church’s mission. We also wanted to point to some concrete ways that we are searching and encountering God: faith, prayer, and compassion. In addition, this allows us to use the acronym FPC (First Presbyterian Church) to help us remember Faith, Prayer, and Compassion. This tagline replaces “Christ Is Our Cornerstone,” which we have used for years. By making that change, we are in no way saying that Christ is no longer our cornerstone. Christ will always be at the foundation of our church. However, we are entering a new time for our church, and we need a new vision of what God is calling us to do. This new tagline is just one of the steps we will be taking as we move into our future. This past summer I was impressed with First Lutheran Church’s t-shirts which use the acronym FLC: “First Lutheran Church, Friends Loving Christ, Friends Loving Community.” One of the ways that we begin to grow and transform is to “get our name out into the community.” I believe First Lutheran is doing this in part though their tagline and t-shirts. People want to join something where they feel like they are part of something bigger. We hope this new tagline will help make it easier for people to “get to know us” and want to be a part of what we are doing here in our community. Over the coming months, we will be exploring ways to get (Continued on page 2) Worship & Music 3 Christian Education 6- 7 Greeting from Lithuania 8- 9 Mission Committee 10 Music Notes 16- 17 Joys & Concerns 20 Contents: January 2016
Transcript
C h r i s t I s O u r C o r n e r s t o n e
Fi r s t P re s s
“We are a church that is Finding Christ,
through Faith, Prayer, and Compassion.”
That’s the new tagline for our church that was
approved by the session at their Regular
Meeting on December 17. This came through a time of discernment at
our Leadership Retreat earlier this year, and months of prayer. The idea
of us searching together to find Christ is central to any church’s mission.
We also wanted to point to some concrete ways that we are searching
and encountering God: faith, prayer, and compassion. In addition, this
allows us to use the acronym FPC (First Presbyterian Church) to help us
remember Faith, Prayer, and Compassion.
This tagline replaces “Christ Is Our Cornerstone,” which we have used
for years. By making that change, we are in no way saying that Christ is
no longer our cornerstone. Christ will always be at the foundation of our
church. However, we are entering a new time for our church, and we
need a new vision of what God is calling us to do. This new tagline is
just one of the steps we will be taking as we move into our future.
This past summer I was impressed with First
Lutheran Church’s t-shirts which use the acronym
FLC: “First Lutheran Church, Friends Loving
Christ, Friends Loving Community.” One of the
ways that we begin to grow and transform is to “get
our name out into the community.” I believe First
Lutheran is doing this in part though their tagline
and t-shirts. People want to join something where
they feel like they are part of something bigger. We
hope this new tagline will help make it easier for
people to “get to know us” and want to be a part of
what we are doing here in our community. Over the
coming months, we will be exploring ways to get (Continued on page 2)
Worship & Music
3
Christian Education
6-7
Greeting from Lithuania
8-9
Mission Committee
10
Music Notes 16-17
Joys & Concerns 20
Contents:
January 2016
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 2
the tagline and its underlying message out
into the community.
I hope you will join me in embracing this
new tagline. Let’s get behind the saying,
and really be a group of Christians
working together to find Christ
everywhere we are. Faith, prayer, and
compassion are just some of the ways we
can do that! Proverbs tells us, “If people
can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But
when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed” (Proverbs
29:18, The Message). Let’s start 2016 off right — striving for the new
vision that God has for us. Our church has amazing potential! We just
need to strive together for Christ, and there will be no stopping us!
I hope your holidays were blessed, and that 2016 will be the best year
yet! Blessings …
D i n n e r w i t h F r i e n d s
Dinner with Friends will
meet at 5:30 P.M. Saturday,
January 16, at Christie’s
Pub. A sign up sheet is
located in the Third Avenue
hallway or you may call the
church office to sign up.
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 3
Worship and Music
Well, we just finished celebrating
the birth of Jesus. Our first
Advent Sunday was November
29, when we lit the
first candle on the
wreath, and each of
the following
Sundays we lit one
more candle. It
culminated with
the lighting of the
Christ candle at our
Christmas Eve
service at 8
o'clock. It is a
wonderful service
with the special
music, candlelight,
and communion. We welcomed
all who are able to attend.
On December 27 Dawn Sears
provided a short message and
Barry Dietsch lead us in a Carol
sing.
Sunday, January 3, 2016, we join
with First Lutheran Church for an
11:00 A.M. joint service of
Lessons on Carols
with communion.
It is always a great
service with the
combined choirs.
This year’s service
is at the Lutheran
church.
On Tuesday,
January 5, the
Worship and Music
Committee will
undecorated.
Our committee
wishes you a Happy New Year
and we hope to see you in church
in the coming year.
The following donations and gifts have been received:
To the Memorial Fund in memory of George Crozier
D o n a t i o n s a n d G i f t s
Proposed Revisions to the Church’s Bylaws:
To be voted on at the Annual
Meeting of the Congregation on
February 14, 2016.
In order to make it easier to find
people willing to serve as elders
and deacons, the session is
suggesting we reduce the length
of terms for elders and deacons to
two years from the current three
years. Therefore, the session
recommends the following two
sections of the bylaws be changed
(changes in bold and/or crossed
out):
XII. Elders
The congregation shall elect
twelve elders divided into three
two classes, one class of whom
shall be elected each year.
Elders will serve two-year
terms, with one class being
elected each year. No elder shall
serve for consecutive terms, either
full or partial, aggregating more
than six years. An elder having
served a total of six years shall be
ineligible for reelection to the
session for a period of at least one
year. Election of officers shall
occur at a meeting of the
congregation called for that
purpose. The session, at its
December meeting, with the
advice of the Moderator and the
Nominating Committee, shall
elect an elder to serve as clerk for
the following year (G-3.0104),
and shall form such committees
as necessary to carry out its work.
At the same meeting of the
session, the session shall annually
elect a treasurer (who need not be
a member of the session). A
quorum for the session shall be
the pastor or other presiding
officer and one third of the elders.
XIII. Deacons
The congregation shall elect
fifteen fourteen deacons divided
into three two classes, one class
of whom shall be elected each
year. Deacons will serve two-
year terms, with one class being
elected each year. No deacon
shall serve for consecutive terms,
either full or partial, aggregating
more than six years. A deacon
having served a total of six years
shall be ineligible for reelection to
the board of deacons for a period
of at least one year.
(Continued on page 5)
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 4
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 5
Annual Meeting of the Congregation …
The board of deacons, at its first
meeting of the year, shall elect a
moderator and a secretary from
among its members and shall
form such committees as
necessary to carry out its work.
The pastor shall be an advisory
member of the board of deacons.
A quorum for the board of
deacons shall be one third of the
members, including the
moderator.
The Annual Meeting of the
Congregation will be held on
Sunday, February 14, 2016
immediately following worship.
We will discuss reports from our
ministry teams for 2015 and any
other business as appropriate. We
will also receive the budget for
2016. Finally, we will elect new
elders and deacons to serve on our
boards, elect new at-large
members of the Nominating
Committee for 2016, vote on the
pastor’s Terms of Call of 2016,
and vote on revisions to the
church’s bylaws. Mark your
calendar now, and plan to join us!
Copies of the Annual Report for
2015 will be available on Sunday,
February 7, so you can read them
prior to the meeting.
C h r i s t i a n E d u c a t i o n
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 6
2015 is coming to a close and we
are beginning 2016. Resolutions
are made and our expectations for
a great year are set high. My
advice to you as we enter this New
Year is to love
your family and
friends, take time
for yourself, and
let God pave the
way as you look
forward. New
things will be
happening in
Christian
Education in 2016.
Each Sunday we
will have youth
acolytes and
occasionally
literalists as well.
There will be a
sign-up sheet when the New Year
begins.
PACE
This year has been amazing for the
growth of our PACE program.
When I started this position in
2013 there were seven (7) kids
participating in the program. Now,
as we enter 2016, there are
fourteen (14) kids and one youth
helper who attend PACE each
week. The
attendance grew so
quickly this year
that we now have
to take two (2)
vehicles up to
WAEC to pick up
the kids on
Wednesday
afternoons. If two
(2) more kids join
the program, we
would need a third
vehicle. What a
wonderful problem
that would be!
Youth Group
I am very pleased to say that we
have five (5) members of our
youth group who come regularly
on Sunday evenings. They are
dedicated to the lessons we work
on and the service projects we do.
From Dawn Sears, DCE
What’s Happening in Christian Education?
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 7
Of course we have some fun too!
Our holiday lock-in is coming up
where we will be collecting items
for “Caring for Life,” a local
organization that helps local
families with sick children.
CE Certification
January fourth starts my fourth
class in my Christian Education
Certification process. This class
will be on Practice and Polity. I
will take three (3) weeks of online
classes then spend the first week in
February in Richmond for the
campus part of the class. I was just
set up with a liaison from the
Committee on Preparation for
Ministry through the Presbytery. It
looks like, if all goes well, I could
be done with my classes and ready
for my exam the end of 2016.
Thank you so much for your
support in this endeavor.
I would like to take a minute to
thank all of the Sunday School
teachers, Youth Group, and PACE
helpers for 2015. Without you, our
programs would not be as
successful as they are! A huge
thank you to: Casey Johnson, Jen
Rossey, Jessica Dolan, Wally
Blythe, Vickie Eggleston, Barry
Dietsch, Tristan Dolan, Jim and
Carrie Duckett, and Abbie
Higgins. I also want to thank my
committee who help make CE
what it is! Thanks for standing by
me: Gloria Lasher, Vickie
Eggleston, Joanna Elletson and
Anne Higgins.
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 8
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 9
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 10
The mission trip for the first week
in October was rescheduled to the
beginning of November. Five
members of our congregation, Jim
and Vickie Eggleston, Sally
Beckerink, Joan Otto and Jeff Ott,
travelled to work with those
affected by Hurricane Sandy.
They led the service on December
6 to tell us of their experiences
and afterward we all enjoyed a
great luncheon prepared by Lynda
Slocum.
Bon-Ton sales booklets were
again sold by the committee and
other interested folks and this was
once again a huge success.
$1,225.00 was raised by selling
245 books. A huge thank you to
Tristan Dolan who helped us out
by selling 32 books!
Once again we offered Christmas
Angels from the Salvation Army
to help needy children in the
community. Our congregation
didn’t disappoint and, as always,
the tree was bare of tags very
quickly. It’s nice to see that every
year we can count our blessings
and help those in need during the
holiday season. Also to aid the
Salvation Army, members of FPC
were bell ringers at the Warren
Post Office on Friday and
Saturday, December 4 and 5. All
of us who volunteered would like
to give thanks that, while it was
chilly, at least it was dry! Thank
you to everyone who stopped by
to chat and give a donation to the
red kettle.
The Mission Committee is
planning another soup sale as well
as a pepperoni bread sale for
Super Bowl Sunday on February
7. Soup selections include
hamburger vegetable soup,
(Continued on page 18)
M i ss i o n C om m i t t e e
Beverly Callahan ................... 757-8475
Bev Eldridge .......................... 72301649
Elsie Giegerich ...................... 723-9436
Marty Goodman..................... 723-1262
Rose Mary Landon ................ 726-0469
Bette McAmbley ................... 726-1698
David Snyder ......................... 688-4911
Susie Spangler ........................ 723-9363
Carol Torrance ....................... 726-0819
Debbie Vicini ......................... 723-1658
DUTIES FOR KITCHEN AIDES
1. Help the cook with food preparation when needed. 2. Make coffee. 3. Allow the host committee to take over other responsibilities when they arrive at 3:15. 4. Help the cook prepare plates for serving. 5. Make certain all food is marked and properly wrapped for storage in the freezer. 6. See that all dishes and equipment are put away in their proper places.
December 24, 2015 No Meal December 31, 2015 No Meal – low turnout January 7, 2016 Bev Callahan North Warren Presbyterian Rose Mary Landon Church David Snyder January 14, 2016 David Snyder Grace United Methodist Church January 21, 2016 David Snyder First Lutheran Church January 28, 2016 Carol Torrance Calvary Baptist Church David Snyder February 4, 2016 David Snyder First United Methodist February 11, 2016 Elsie Giegerich First Presbyterian Church Bev Eldridge David Snyder February 18, 2016 Bev Callahan Praise Fellowship Rose Mary Landon David Snyder February 25, 2016 David Snyder North Warren Presbyterian Church
S h a r i ng P la c e H e l p e r s
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 11
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 12
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 13
GROUP ONE
Susie Spangler, Captain 723-9363
Beverly Callahan 757-8475
Sylvia Follett 723-9734
Joyce Hishman 726-0568
Amy Neiport 779-9030
Carol Torrance 726-0819
February 11, 2016 July 14, 2016
DESSERTS
Joyce Hishman 726-0568
Tina Huey 726-2917
Priscilla Powley 757-8567
Dorothy Wingert 723-6656
GROUP THREE
Lynda Slocum, Captain 726-4990
Beverly Callahan 757-8475
Ron Carlson 723-5209
Sylvia Follett 723-9734
Susie Pirillo 726-7423
Don Scott 723-3632
December 10, 2015 May 26, 2016
DESSERTS
Mindy Colvin 726-2844
Louise Crozier 723-8690
Tina Huey 726-2917
Susie Pirillo 726-7423
GROUP TWO
Patti Anderson, Captain 757-9268
Deane Anderson 757-9268
Beverly Callahan 757-8475
Ron Carlson 723-5209
Sylvia Follett 723-9734
Lisa McPherson 726-9422
March 31, 2016
DESSERTS
Mindy Colvin 726-2844
Jennie Dobson 723-1190
Connie Johnson 723-7208
Tina Huey 726-2917
SUBSTITUTE DESSERTS
Martha Goodman 723-1262
Carol Torrance 726-0819
SUBSTITUTE SERVERS
Carol Hanna 723-2179
Susie Spangler 723-9363
Carol Torrance 726-0819
Dottie Wingert 723-6656
NOTE: Team Captains and “Early”
people should be at the kitchen at
3:00 p.m. All others should be there at
4:00 p.m. If you can not be there at
your assigned time, please arrange
for your own substitute. It is not
your Team Captain's responsibility!
All members of each team are
responsible to help the two kitchen
aides with clean up after everyone
has eaten.
S h a r ing P la ce S ch ed u le
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 14
B r u s h e d b y t h e S a c re d
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 15
Dear Friends and Family,
If you are among the many who over the years have urged Lee to
publish his poetry, I want to let you know that it has been
accomplished.
As advertised by one of our nearby
churches: A rich and delightful
collection of poems penned by Rev.
Lee Beckes, the honorably retired
pastor of First Presbyterian Church
in Bradford, is now available! The
200-page volume may be purchased
from Amazon.com. Orienting the
reader in place and in time, this
collection serves as the perfect
companion to reflection/devotional
reading or provides a wonderful gift
to a cherished friend!
Hope you enjoy it!
Rev. Lee Beckes
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 16
M usic No tes
Margia Hansen and Carrie
Salapek have been named the
2015 “Most Valuable Singer”
and “Most Valuable Ringer,”
respectively. The prestigious
awards were presented by
Director of Music Barry Dietsch
at the annual choir Christmas
“Tacky Gift” party held at the
home of Vickie and Jim
Eggleston on Saturday,
December 12. Also, Heather
Dietsch was the winner of the
first annual “Most Valuable
Organist” award.
The party featured warm
fellowship, festive libations,
wonderful food, a rollicking gift
exchange, the breathlessly
anticipated awards presentation,
and caroling, all in the
beautifully decorated Eggleston
home. A good time was had by
all!
The musicians and guests enjoy the gift exchange.
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 17
Award winners Margia Hansen Heather Dietsch, and Carrie Salapek
Lynn Sears, and Jennifer and Randy Rossey
enjoy the festivities.
Jim Eggleston, Bob Sears, John Eldridge, Mark Phillips, and John Lasher
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 18
Visitation List
Warren Manor -
Barbara Chester
Winnie Wills
Soldiers & Sailor’s Home,
Erie
Larry Stewart
At Home -
Ellie Dyke
Geneva Nagy
Golden Living Center—
Kinzua
Carol Budd
The Rouse Home or Suites
Lois Conaway
Richard Freeburg
Barbara Graham
Ken & Martha Holtz
Martha Jones
Sally Kasper
Penny Krespan
Patty Lundahl
Violette McAmbley
Becky Swanson
chicken noodle soup, lentil soup,
and pepperoni bread. So come
prepared to stock your freezer
with tasty tummy-warming soup.
What’s better on a chilly winter
day? Order form for the bread
is in this newsletter.
As always, the Mission
Committee welcomes new
members and hopes you’ll
consider joining us. Our
meetings are held at 11:20 A.M.
on the first Sunday of the month
in the Library during the fall,
winter & spring and at 8:15 A.M.
during the summer months.
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 19
PEPPERONI BREAD SALE
$8.00 per bread
Order by Sunday, January 24
for pickup
Sunday, February 7, after church
Just in time for Super Bowl Sunday!
**Proceeds support Mission Committee projects
including the Backpack Program** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To order, complete this form and place in the offering plate
or deliver to church office by Sunday, January 24, 2016.
All orders must be prepaid.
I would like to order ______ Pepperoni Breads @ $8 each
Total Cost: $_______
Name_____________________________________
Phone_____________________________________
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 20
Joys & Concerns
Christian Sympathy to:
Eric and Becky Hinderliter and
their family upon the death of
Eric’s brother, Rev. Bruce
Hinderliter, Honorably Retired,
who died unexpectedly on
November 20 at age 73. Bruce
grew up in and was ordained at
FPC Warren in 1967. At one
time, Bruce served as the
moderator of the Synod of the
Trinity. Please pray for the
Hinderliter family in this time
of bereavement.
New Address:
Sally Kasper has a new address. It
is:
Rouse Suites Apt. 111
615 Rouse Avenue
Youngsville, PA 16371
Thank you ~
Pastor Jeff Ott & Presbyterian
Church,
Thank you for all of the help
and donation of the church and
supplies for my benefit. We are
very appreciative of the support
from the Presbyterian Church.
Christina Eggleston
Lake Erie Presbytery Prayer List
The Presbytery of Lake Erie asks
that we pray for churches, pastors,
and other members of our
Presbytery. This month we pray
for the Hartstown, Franklin’s
Rocky Grove Avenue, Tionesta,
Endeavor, Titusville, and First
Presbyterian Church of the
Covenant churches and their staff.
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 21
D e a c o n s by C l a s s
Deacon Parish #
Class of 2015
Carol Hanna ----------------------- 6
Vacant ---------------------------- 13
Marjorie Neel --------------------- 8
Priscilla Powley ------------------ 9
Dawn Sears ------------------------ 1
Susie Spangler ------------------ 14
Class of 2016
Colleen Vignere ------------------ 2
James Eggleston ---------------- 15
Bette McAmbley --------------- 12
Vacant ------------------------------ 4
Pat King -------------------------- 11
Richard Swanson ----------------- 3
Deacon Parish #
Class of 2017
Ann Ferguson --------------------- 5
Shelly James --------------------- 10
Ray Pring -------------------------- 7
Class of 2015
Howard Ferguson
Martha Goodman
Anne Higgins
Martha Leathers
Lynn Sears
Class of 2016
Betty Bauer
Kay Dolan
Tim Greenlund
Gloria Lasher
Rick Strohmeyer
Class of 2017
Mark Phillips
Jane Strohmeyer
E l d e r s b y C l a s s Total number of Elders reduced to 12. (Class sizes will even out over the next three years.)
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 22
J a n u a r y B i r t h d a y s
Adult
Paul Blasco January 2
Don Scott January 4
Andy Dietsch January 5
Bernie Wingert January 6
Marjorie Neel January 10
Chuck Davidson January 11
Craig Mayer January 11
Lisa McPherson January 11
Ann Buerkle January 14
Coleen Christy January 14
Jim Holding January 14
Amy Hines January 17
Matt Huey January 20
Jen Neall January 20
Drew Higgins January 22
Carol Hanna January 23
Devon Franklin January 25
Melinda King January 25
Lori VanOrd January 27
Dean Anderson January 28
Shirley Knopf January 31
Jackie Rhodes January 31
Youth
Sloane Horner January 12
Peyton Horner January 22
F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Page 23
