Presby Press First Presbyterian Church

114 East Jefferson Street † Ottawa, IL 61350

(815)433-1045

www.ottawafirstpres.org

Volume 40 No. 10 december 2016

Remember to Pray for One Another!

Your First Presbyterian Church Family believes in the power of prayer. (See Romans 1:9b-10a). You are invited to pray intentionally for one another in the First Presbyterian Church family.. Please pick up a name of someone to pray for from the basket at the back of the sanctuary.

From the Pastor’s Desk

As we enter the new beginning of the Christian calendar, that begin-

ning marked by Advent, I want to say thank-you! to our worship

committee elders, Diane Kennedy and Carol Woeckel, and the team

of helpers that came the day before Advent began to prepare our

sanctuary and building for the joy of the season. It looks so beauti-

ful!

Our Advent sermon and devotional theme this year is Joy to the

World! The most joyful hymn of all hymns by that same name, was

written by Isaac Watts in 1719. Watts composed nearly 750 hymns

during his lifetime, many of which we would recognize as much-

loved hymns (When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, among others).

But this hymn takes the church to the heights of joyous praise at the

reign of Jesus Christ. Watt’s study of Psalm 98 and his understand-

ing that it pointed to Jesus is what inspired his writing of Joy to the

World! It beautifully captures the joyous activity in us to let every

heart prepare him room. We do so whenever we worship him, the

King of Kings and Lord of Lord. He brings salvation to our sin-

darkened hearts and world. When we lift our hearts and voices in

the joyous sound, heaven breaks through the heaviness that can

hang upon our lives. We remember that Jesus Christ is powerful

and faithful to save us all and get us through any heartache, even

death.

Continued on pg. 3

our mission

To be the

loving

Community of

Jesus Christ

that will

WIN

new followers

of Christ to

saving faith

GROW

All followers

to deeper faith

GO

Into the

world and

demonstrate

faith

Pastor John W. Walker

jwalker@ottawafirstpres.org

Church Secretary Cindy Arjes

fpcone@ottawafirstpres.org

Treasurer Betty Angus

Westminster Choir Director

Lloyd Chapman Lloyd@udnet.net

Organist Diane Chapman

The Presby Press is published monthly by

First Presbyterian Church

114 E. Jefferson St., Ottawa, IL 61350

Telephone 815-433-1045

Pg. 2

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room this Advent & Christmas!

ADVENT 2: December 4 – Joy to the World! The Lord is Come

Celebrating the Lord’s table together

ADVENT 3: December 11 – Joy to the World! The Lord is Come

We welcome Soul Shine to lead us in worship through music and

song

ADVENT 4: December 18 – CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH JOY-

FILLED SONG!

Come hear the joy of Christ’s birth in music with all our choirs –

adult, children, and bells

Invite family, friends and neighbors to join us!

Share a delicious meal with our friends in the Ottawa community

after worship

CHRISTMAS EVE – CELEBRATE CHRIST’S BIRTH WITH GLORI-

OUS LIGHT!

Enjoy another beautiful Christmas Eve worship at First

Presbyterian at 7:00 p.m.

Special music and the drama of candle lights filling the sanctuary

Invite others to join you!

CHRISTMAS DAY/SUNDAY: December 25 – Come share your

Joy to the World!

Come for a simple, shortened worship service on Christmas

morning at 9:30 a.m.

We will welcome the birth of Christ with some of our favorite

hymns together

A very special young member of our congregation will share a joy-

filled story! Come and find out who

NEW YEAR’S SUNDAY—January 1, Begin the New Year in worship

Celebrating the Lord’s table together

Our Elders are committed to serving.

Diane Kennedy (Worship)

870-740-0442

Carol Woeckel

(Worship) 434-6852

Brian Smithmeyer

(Discipleship) 795-6791

Lisa Mestelle

(Discipleship) 252-7462

Brad Angus

(Trustee) 433-2946

Dan Mestelle

(Trustee) 252-7462

Dan Duggan (Trustee)

431-9168

Jim Keely (Administration)

433-0868

Kerry Gerding (Fellowship & Outreach)

434-4123

Betty Ehret (Fellowship & Outreach)

228-2217

Ron Koestler

(Missions)

343-6088

Mike Farrell

(Deacon)

433-5477

Diane Farrell

(Clerk of Session)

434-2774

Continued from pg. 1

This Advent and Christmas season, may we not forget that no matter

our or the world’s circumstances, Jesus Christ is the Victor over all

evil, oppression, injustice, hardship and sin. We need not despair,

because no matter how stressful or disappointing our lives can be in

different seasons, Jesus Christ reveals God’s salvation in the most

profound way: He is a King like no other who comes to us, God in

the flesh, to save us from our sin. We may know heartache and tears

now, but Jesus Christ is faithful to get us through it all. Now and for

all eternity, we join our hearts with heaven and earth to praise our

good Savior. Joy to the World! The Lord is Come!

With joy and great affection for you,

Pastor John Walker

OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL BOOK FAIR!

Opportunity School will be having

a Book Fair December 12-16 in the

library. Please feel free to stop and

take a look. These are quality

books for any child to whom you

would like to give the gift of read-

ing.

Pg. 3

Pg. 4

THE PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN OF WALTHAM

Invite you to the 34th annual “For Unto You is Born a Savior”

Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at 1:30 p.m.

Waltham Presbyterian Church

809 N 3450th Rd. u

Utica, IL 61373

(childcare provided)

In case of inclement weather call:

815-667-4373 or 815-667-4970

Or listen to local radio stations for cancellation

Christmas Poinsettias orders are being taken NOW!

Poinsettias will be ordered by the Worship

committee to decorate the sanctuary. You may

designate your flower to a shut-in, or you may

take it home after the service on Christmas Eve.

Cost of the flowers is $13.00 each. Please include

a check or cash with your order. Place your order

form in the offering plate or turn into the office no

later than December 4! If you have any questions

please call

Diane Kennedy (870-740-0442).

Christmas Joy Offering:

During the month of December inserts will be placed in the

bulletins every week. These inserts will explain more about

what the Christmas Joy Offering is supporting. Christmas Joy

Offering envelopes will be in the pew racks for you to use. If

you plan to donate please do so before the end of December.

Would your small group like to celebrate Advent in a wonderful way?

Please consider having your small group ring bells for the Salvation Army! For more

information please contact Debbie Damron (434-3606) or Ron Koestler (343-6088).

The Mitten Tree is in place in Scott Hall again this year!

Please place your mittens and hats on the tree. The items will be picked up December 12

for distribution by the Salvation Army. Any questions? Call Arla Severson (667-9892).

Pg. 5

Pg. 6

CONNECTION | NOVEMBER 2016 Dear Lighthouse friends, here is another

update from Lighthouse church. We are

so thankful for your partnership and

support. I hope it will be encouragement

to you to see what God is doing in

Czech republic.

LEADRSHIP TRAINING

This fall we have started 2nd semester

(of 6 semesters) of our pastor institute.

We have 13 guys that are going through

it right now. It is very exciting to see

how our leaders are growing and getting

trained. We have been talking about sys-

tematic theology and counselling.

Also we had our whole network leader-

ship training. We had about 60 leaders

form our network to talk about how to

steward our time in order to be most

productive for the Kingdom.

COLLEGE MINISTRY IN OLOMOUC

This fall we continued our college ministry in Olomouc. In our meetings we

had around 60 student. The big difference is that we started meeting with

smaller group of students every week. Dan and Marketa our leaders have 15

- 20 students in their living room every week. It has been exciting to see

what God is doing with the students. There is one girl who is interested in

getting baptised.

Lighthouse Connection bedrich.smola@gmail.com

Pg. 7

PRAY WITH US

In 2016 we want to focus and

pray for 10 new people to be-

come Christians.

College ministry in Olomouc

New church plants in Czech republic. We see great potential for new church plants. We need God’s wisdom in church planting.

Future of church planting in Vsetin. We are pray-ing and thinking about planting new church in Vsetin. It has been 10

years since Lighthouse was started and

we are praying for the vision of the future…will you join us?

5 BAPTISMS THIS FALL!

Pg. 8

FOR THE CHILDREN AT ADVENT

LOVE, WIN, GROW, GO: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

Would you be willing to supply a meal for our Jr. High Youth Group (LOL4JC)? They start each meeting with a meal to begin a time of fellowship before launching into their discussion and game time. Please contact Lori Trolinger (815-795-6791) or Lisa Smithmeyer (815-313-5843) if you would like to commit to preparing a meal for our LOL4JC kids

Free Community Meals; 3rd Sunday of every month: LOOKING TO FILL January and into 2017. Might God call you to work on the community meal project? On the third Sunday of each month volunteers are needed to do the following: Or-ganize the meal (decide what to make, plan the purchase of food); cook the meal; visit with those eating; clean up. Who can help? Anyone, any age. Are you feeling like you and your friends can be the next ones? Contact Kerry Gerding (434-4123) or Betty Ehret (228-2217) for more information and to sign up. Prayer Shawls: Our Prayer Shawl Ministry is still going strong. Do you know someone who could use a hug from God (who doesn’t)? Please call us so that we may provide a Prayer Shawl for you to give that “someone” who needs God’s hug. Jackie Bean 434-3380 Why not join a small group? At FPC small groups are important. Why? Because few experiences encourage and build our faith more than small groups. Small groups teach us how to better know, understand and apply God’s word in daily life. They also become a place of good friendship and caring. Want to join a small group? It’s easy! Just talk to Pastor John or one of the small group contacts listed below: Mike & Diane Farrell (Sun. PM): 434-2774 Betsy Feagans (Mon. PM): 433-5480 John Walker (1

st Sun. PM monthly): 433-1045 Lisa Mestelle/Women-Beth Moore Bible

Jack & Sandy Finnegan (Thurs. AM): 433-5253 Study (Thurs. PM): 252-7462 Jim Keely/Men (Sat. AM): 433-0868 Carol Engberg/Women: 433-3465 (Thurs. PM, once a month) Handy Food Receipts Please save your receipts and bring them to church. We can earn 1% of the receipts totals for our church! Boxes will be in Scott Hall and on the table by the church offices. Ottawa Community Food Basket: Donations for the Food Basket for the month of December is Soup. Let’s fill the barrels at the entrances to our sanctuary and share our gifts with the less fortunate in our community. Sunday Greeters needed: We need your smiling face to greet newcomers and "oldcomers" at the front door on Sunday mornings. This is a great way to contribute to the life of your church. Contact Chris Keely (433-0868)

Pg. 9

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

DECEMBER

Aspen Stuedemann 1

Sandy Finnegan 4

Lori Olson 4

Ben Dial 6

Bruce Smith . 6

Karen Mikkelsen 6

Helen Tammen 11

Sawyer Booras 11

Kevin O’Connor 17

Betty Angus 18

Holly Hess 22

Jax & Marek Zarwell 24

Anna Schmidt 26

Willow Stuedemann 27

Olivia Trolinger 28

JANUARY

Jodi Martin 5

Keith Stevenson 5

Michael Hess 6

Betty Ehret 12

Dawn Hess 13

Cathy Peters 21

Nathalie Schmidt 26

Debbie Walker, 27

Dana Snook 27

Diane Kennedy, 28

Winona Bartlett 31

LADIES’ NITE OUT

Tuesday, December 6

6:00 p.m. at

R Grotto

Please contact:

Idalia Stricklin

488-5182

for info & reservations.

KUM JOIN US

SUNDAY, December 4

IN THE LIBRARY FOLLOWING WORSHIP.

WE WILL MEET AT HALFTIME

RESTAURANT FOLLOWING OUR MEETING

All are welcome!

FOOD, FELLOWSHIP& FAMILY

Pg. 10

December 2 0 1 6

Pg. 11

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Every Sunday

8:45 am-

Pre-worship Prayer

9:00 am Choir

9:30 am-

WORSHIP

10:45 am -

Fellowship

10:45 am-ZONE,

Jr. & Sr. High

Sunday School

Every Wed.

7 pm– Choir,

library

Every Thurs.

9:30 am

Seniors Small

Group

Every Saturday

6:30 am Men’s

Small Group

1. 2. 3.

4.

5.

6.

6pm– Ladies Nite

Out

7.

8. 9.

10.

11.

9:30 a.m.-Soul

Shine joins us in

worship!

5pm-LOL4JC

12. 13.

7 pm-Committee

Meetings

14.

15. 16. 17.

18.

Christmas Music

Sunday!

10:45 a.m.-

Session Meeting

Noon-

Community Meal

19. 20.

21.

22. 23. 24.

7 pm-Christmas

Eve Service

25.

MERRY

CHRISTMAS!

9:30am-Worship

Service

26. 27.

28. 29. 30. 31.

First Presbyterian Church

114 East Jefferson Street

Ottawa, Illinois 61350

Return

Service

Requested

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

Ottawa, Illinois

* Prayer Par tners : pg. 1

* Lighthouse Connection cont. pg. 7

* For The Children at Advent pg. 8

* Win, Grow, Go pg. 9

* Food, Fellowship & Family pg. 10

* December Calendar pg. 11

* Highlight of the Month pg. 12

* From the Pastor’s Desk pg. 1

* Advent Schedule pg. 2

* From the Pastor’s Desk cont.pg. pg 3

* Announcements pg. 4

* Announcements pg. 5

* Lighthouse Connection pg. 6

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room this Advent & Christmas!

ADVENT 2: December 4 – Joy to the World! The Lord is Come

ADVENT 3: December 11 – We welcome Soul Shine to lead us in worship through song

ADVENT 4: December 18 – CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH JOY-FILLED MUSIC!

CHRISTMAS EVE – CELEBRATE CHRIST’S BIRTH WITH GLORIOUS LIGHT!

CHRISTMAS DAY/SUNDAY: December 25 – Come share your Joy to the World!

NEW YEAR’S DAY/SUNDAY: January 1, 2017—Begin the New Year in worship