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December 2018
& January 2019 The Spire
First Presbyterian Church
169 W. College Street
P.O. Box 446
Waynesburg, PA 15370
Phone: 724-627-6006
Fax: 724-852-2502
firstpreswbg.com
[email protected]
Facebook: First Presbyterian Church
of Waynesburg
2018 has been an eventful year in our lives: Karen retired from full-time teaching; we
celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary; the congregation graced us with a summer
sabbatical; and if that were not enough, our first and second daughters became pregnant.
Our first-born, Cara, had our granddaughter, Lucy, on October 6. Lucy was born six weeks
early, and remains hospitalized as of today (November 30). We are grateful for all the prayer
and support given them and us as we continue to navigate her recovery. We, and Cara and
Geoff, are all looking forward to the day when Lucy comes home.
Our second daughter, Rachel, is due December 1; so far all is well, and we look forward to
being with her and Bob as they welcome their little girl into the world. They currently live in
Georgia, and Karen and I anticipate a trip there Christmas.
Thinking about these granddaughters has made me more aware than ever of the paradox of
infancy – babies are at once weak and powerful. On the one hand, our Lucy and her soon to
be born cousin are utterly helpless. They can’t eat or drink, fend or care for themselves. Every
one of their needs has to be met by another, as they live so dependently on us. And yet, at the
very same time, their coming has the power to change everything. Schedules adjust and plans
shift… family dynamics are thrown into flux... parents and siblings jump at every whimper
and cry… rooms get rearranged,...budgets are thrown out the window.
That paradox of weakness and power is most fully realized when we consider the reality of
the incarnation of Jesus Christ, as we celebrate Advent and Christmas this month. Scripture is
filled with the praise that mystery brings as John marvels at the reality of God becoming flesh
and living among us John 1:14 and Paul wonders at the humility of Jesus (Philippians 2:5-
11), forsaking glory and becoming like a servant. St. Augustine proclaimed that paradox like
this:
Maker of the sun, He is made under the sun. . . .
In [the Father] He remains,
From [His mother] He goes forth.
Creator of heaven and earth,
He was born on earth under heaven.
Unspeakably wise, He is wisely speechless;
filling the world, He lies in a manger;
Ruler of the stars, He nurses at His mother’s bosom.
He is both great in the nature of God,
and small in the form of a servant,
but so that His greatness is not diminished by His smallness,
nor His smallness overwhelmed by His greatness.
This Advent season, we will be reflecting on God’s power in weakness as we consider each
of the names of Jesus foretold by the prophet Isaiah: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is
given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.“ (9:6). His names reveal to us
his character and purpose, bringing hope to us and through us to our world. I look forward to
gathering with you as we celebrate the birth of the Savior!
See you Sunday!
Bill
The Spire Content
Page 1:
From the Pastor
Page 2:
Discipleship & Fellowship
Page 3:
Music & Children's Ministry
Page 4:
Mission Corner
Page 5: Helpers & Birthdays
Page 6:
Crossroads Youth Ministry
Page 7:
Financial Update
Insert
Calendar
Christmas Eve Candlelight services will be
held
7:00 PM & 11 PM
Please plan to join us as we celebrate
and worship the Lord Jesus.
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Discipleship & Fellowship by Becky Juliano
Discipleship Hour: An Advent Journey with Becky Juliano
You can take the night off from cooking
& enjoy a delicious meal & fellowship.
$3/Person
$2/Child
$1/ University Students
$10/Family Max
The meal will be served at 5:30 PM.
Discipleship Hour: January 6
Introduction to the Enneagram
with Chaley Knight
Our Discipleship Hour provides great opportunities to
meet and interact with other people in the congregation
while growing in our faith. Our Discipleship hour begins
at 9:00 AM on Sunday mornings. Please check out the
opportunities below. If you have any questions, contact
Becky Juliano ([email protected] , 518-788-8768).
Join us on Sunday mornings at 9 AM
in December as we journey toward
Christmas together.
We’ll slow down to learn and
experience a few spiritual practices
that can keep us focused on God and the birth of Christ in
this season. The ways we engage with God during this
time and throughout the week will bring richness to our
experience of Christmas this year.
Please note, there will be no Discipleship Hour groups
meeting on December 30th. Groups will resume on
January 6th. Contact Becky Juliano for more
Explore the character of God
through the lens of scripture and
the witness of the church.
“Behold Your God” is a profound
12-week study of God’s character. Each study features a
historical profile of a man or woman of God (John Knox,
John Newton, Hudson Taylor, Ann Judson) and focuses
on a single aspect of God’s character.
This group will meet during the Discipleship Hour on
Sunday mornings at 9 AM starting on January 20th.
Discipleship Hour: January 20
Behold Your God with Tim Fox
Discipleship Hour: January 13
Life in Pakistan with Nicky Stock
Spaghetti Lunch
12/5: Chipotle
12/12: Best of Wed. Nights
12/19: POTLUCK Children’s Program to follow
12/26 NO Dinner
1/2: NO Dinner
1/9: NO Dinner
1/16:White Chicken Chili &
Loaded Potato Soup 1/23: Burger Night
1/30: Create-Your-Own
Chicken Salad
On January 20th we will be having a church lunch
immediately following worship.
This lunch is sponsored by the Waynesburg University
students attending the Jubilee Conference in February.
Everyone is invited to come and enjoy a great meal!
Donations will be accepted (but they are not necessary).
All donations received for this lunch will go towards
offsetting the cost for students to attend the
conference.
The Jubilee Conference is sponsored by the CCO and is
all about living faithfully in every area of life. It’s a
gathering of thousands of college students learning how
to worship God with their whole lives. This year’s
theme, “Transform Everything” will challenge students
in live radically for the Kingdom.
No Discipleship Hour: December 30
Wednesday Night Dinners
Join us Sunday morning to hear more about Nicki
Stock’s ministry in Pakistan. She has done incredible
work in a very challenging country. Come hear her
stories and ask you questions!
Have you longed to be the person God has created you
to be?
Have you struggled to maintain your identity in Christ
amidst other expectations of you?
The Enneagram offers you an introspective look into
your personality as well as language to help you grow
into your personality as well as language to help you
grow into the healthiest version of yourself.
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Music & Children’s Ministry by Tomē Custer
The FPC Praise Team is in search
of a back-up drummer or two to
join us on Sunday mornings.
We are looking for someone with
experience. Rehearsal is Sunday at
9:00 AM, 1-2 Sundays a month.
If interested, please contact Tomē
Custer, [email protected]
724-998-3382.
Children’s Christmas Program
Praise Band—Drummer Wanted!
Sundays 9:00 AM Discipleship Hour
10:00 AM Youth Choir
(will resume 1/6)
11:45 AM–12:15 PM Youth Handbell Choir
(will resume 1/6)
Wednesdays 3:15-5:30 PM Pathways
(will resume 1/9)
Christmas Play Wednesday December 19, 2018
Schedule of Events for Kids
To truly show our gratitude for all the God has
given us, we need to reach out to and serve
others.
For the Consecration Sunday luncheon, the
children made 120 (yes, one-hundred-and-
twenty) silverware holders as a service project
for others to enjoy.
It was amazing to see how that one afternoon of
working together made them feel proud of
themselves and like they were truly an important
part of the FPC family.
2018 Children's Christmas Program
Wednesday, December 19 th
5:30 PM dinner that night will be a pot luck meal.
Please bring a dish to share.
6:45 PM Program
“Not (Just) a Shepherd” &
“A Very Special Christmas...Special ”
Join us as our children present two original plays.
Come laugh, and think about what Christmas really means to all of us.
Celebrate the birth of Jesus.
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Mission Corner by Kathie Bortz
We are grateful to all of you who support
“Faith Promise Giving.”
None of our general budget goes toward missions.
Faith Promise giving is used
solely for missions.
Local
Children's Bible Ministries
Jefferson, PA
Greater Waynesburg Christian Outreach
West Waynesburg, PA
Crisis Pregnancy Center
Waynesburg
Greene County. Habitat for Humanity
Jefferson, PA
Pine Springs Camp,
Jennerstown, PA
Equip International
George and Lisa Foose
Marion, NC
International
Christian Missions in Many Lands
Colin & Mary Crow
France & Madagascar
Interserve
Paul and Pat Stock and Nicky Stock
Pakistan
Caribbean Youth Network
Dan & Kelly Weightman
Bahamas
Bethany International
Maddy Cerra
Indonesia
Houses-4-Haiti
Haiti
Houses 4 Haiti
Local Missions International Missions Faith Promise Giving (missions)
I am grateful to report we are current in our giving
toward all our mission projects. Please continue to give
toward Faith Promise (missions) before December 15.
Question: How do I support Faith Promise Giving
(missions)? Decide the amount you want to give to the
general budget and the amount you want to give to
missions. Then write a check to the church and ear
mark it per your request.
Ex:$100 General and Faith Promise (missions) $50.
The Mission Team: Kathie Bortz, Tiffany Gardone,
Carolyn Sondericker, Beth Zeth
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Happy birthday to you!
We rejoice
in the birth
of Emilie Triano
November 13, 2018,
the daughter of
of
Julia & Jim Triano
12/01 Vickie Wagner
12/02 Frank Pazzynski
12/03 Rhea Kijowski
12/05 Mark Allison
12/06 Jan Brunell
Louis Giachetti
12/07 Gabriel McConville
12/08 Katherine Jane Toothman
12/17 Elinor Baily
Ruth C. Mitchell
12/19 Sophie Batchelder
12/20 Caleb Boyd Blair
Brianna Davenport
Heather Pioch
12/21 Betty Zackal
12/24 Tami B. Ribar
Miriam A. Wentzel
Frederick K. Zeth
12/25 Norma Jean Harper
12/26 Jessica Sumpter
Isaiah Edwards Vinay
12/27 John C. Rice
12/28 David F. Pollock
12/29 George Nader
Bernie Vensel
12/30 Ryan Thorn
12/31 Jack Fudala
Donna D. Waine
01/03 Brian Scott Dukate
01/04 Andrew Baur
01/05 Matthew Gene Fox
01/06 Cari L. Baily
01/09 Alyssa Hook
01/12 Beatrice Hook
01/14 Emily Marie Swidler
01/16 Matt Blair
01/16 Rachel Chang Zhi Calvario
01/17 Heidi Lynne Blair
Becky Ann Juliano
Ainsley Phllips
01/18 Chaley Knight
01/20 Erin Erjavek
Brad Wentzel
01/21 Alissa Joy Pettit
01/22 J.D. David Barrett
Elva Dee Wilson
01/24 Hayden Jo Heethuis
01/25 Skylar Ann Braga
Lauren Theresa Fox
01/26 Glenell Agnolutto
Bailey Noelle Fudala
Nancy Moore
01/27 Nicholas Taylor Fox
Nancy C. Oldham
01/31 Thomas E. Andrews
Melissa Cramer
Sally C. Maxwell
Pray for those in service
Casey Parsons
Jason Cowart
Edward Wagner
Jake Wilson
Brandon Brown
Daniel Calvario
David Calcek
Drew McConville
Ryan McGrath
Peter Coote
Arthur Zeth
Connie Teagarden
Ruth Mitchell
Marie Simmons
Mary Louise
John Rice
Bill Thomas
Joan Huffman
Sue Cowell
Elva Dee Wilson
Alice Teagarden
Tiffany Gardone
Helpers
Nursery Helpers
December
2 Leo Christner
9 Ben Maxwell
16 Ethan Maxwell
21 Rachel Calvario
28 Grace Kalsey
Nursery Helpers
January
6 Brianna Pettit
13 Eleanor Cerra
20 Elliott Wentzel
27 Eliza Baily
Ushers
December
Steve King
Rex McCracken
Ross Kalsey
Mark McCullough
Bobby Fox
Lisa Schroyer
Ushers
January
Jeff McCracken
Bill Hook
Ben R. McCracken
David Baily
Eliza Baily
Pray for these dear ones
Sympathy of the congregation
is extended to the family
of Mary Louise Rice.
Mary Louise passed away
on November 9, 2018
A memorial gift has been received
in memory of Mary Louise from
Karl & Janice Baily.
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Crossroads Youth Ministry by Juan Gallo
I was recently asked to think of a tagline for
Crossroads...
Disney is “The happiest place on earth”
Paris is “The city of love”
Wal-Mart is “Save money. Live better.”
What is Crossroads?
As I think back at all of the moments we had this year—
moments filled with laughter and silliness, moments of
deep friendship and conversation, moments where we
stepped out of our comfort zones at a retreat or mission
trip and made incredible memories, and moments where
we just met up week after week to be together, no matter
what—it becomes clear that Crossroads is so much more
than “youth group”.
In spite of all of our differences,
what brings us together is one name:
Jesus.
It doesn’t matter how well you know him or if you don’t
know him at all, because when you come here you will
meet him.
You will encounter him in our music, our message, and
our discussion; but most of all you will come face to face
with Him in the smiles of every single person at
Crossroads.
Whether it’s a college student sacrificing hours of their
weekend to serve or a parent passing through to drop off
a snack, an adult leader greeting you at the door or
meeting up with you at 7 AM to walk through life with
you, or a student from your school standing by your side
to play a game.
Jesus is in every smile, and smiles are plentiful at
Crossroads. Thank you to all who make Crossroads an
amazing place to be. We can’t wait to show you what’s
in store in 2019!
Crossroads is, "“Where we meet Jesus.”
Upcoming Dates:
December 16: Christmas Party!
December 23: No Crossroads
December 30: No Crossroads
January 16: Returns!!!
Follow us: Insta: crossroadsyouthwbg
Fb: crossroadswaynesburg
Email: [email protected]
Call/text: 724-264-8573
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Mission Corner
Money is both a test and a trust from God, however most
people fail to realize it. God uses finances to teach us to
trust him (money is the greatest test of all for many
people). The question asked: Is the way you manage your
money preventing God from doing more in your life?
Financial stewardship is a fundamental part of our personal
spiritual relationship with Christ - One of those exceptional
times when the giver is the principle beneficiary of the gift.
All that is required is obedience to trust in God’s promises
when giving. “Each one must do as he has made up his
mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a
cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every
blessing in abundance, so that you may always have
enough of everything and provide in abundance for every
good work (II Cor: 9:7-8 RSV)
Our church annually budgets over $335,000 to meet
operating expense and $33,500 in support of missions.
Nearly 75% of the money is for the staffing we have been
blessed with. As session develops a spending plan for 2019
it will focus on a balanced budget. This means whatever
you faithfully give to God’s work will be the key factor in
having funds to complete our church’s mission. This is a
healthy financial discipline requiring each person to take
ownership, to do his and her part, to meet the daily needs
of our church.
Stewardship by Ben McCracken
In January, 2019, we will be hearing from
several of the missionaries
that we’ve supported for many years.
December 30-Maddy Cerra
serving in Indonesia
January 13 -Nicky Stock
serving in Pakistan
January 20-Colin & Maureen Crow
serving in France and Madagascar
Actual
Missions 2018
Christian Missions - Crow $2,000
Interserve - Nicky Stock $2,000
Interserve - Paul & Pat Stock $2,000
Caribbean Youth Network $2,000
Equip International $2,000
Christian Bible Ministeries CBM 2,500
Habitat for Humanity - Greene 1,850
Pine Springs Camp 2,150
CBM - Todd & Carla Witter 2,000
CCO 400
Waynesburg Christian Outreach 1,800
Crisis Pregnancy Center 1,800
Jubilee - WU 1,229
Bethany Inter'l - Maddy Cerra 1,000
Houses for Haiti 7,659
Dominican Republic Items 356
Resurrection Power - Washington Presby
Samaritan's Purse
Wycliffe Bible Translators
Washington City Mission
JAARS
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Corner Cupboard Food Bank
total expense $32,744
Transfer to Dominican Republic Mission $1,375
Transfer to Mission Designated Fund $800
Pledged Giving 26,194
CCO - designated 404
Balance 12-31-2017 8,325
total $34,923
Balance $4
Actual Budget
10/31/18 2018
Staff $187,226 $245,441
Property 45,356 47,000
Christian Ed 10,678 18,900
Evangelism 575 2,000
Fellowship 1,712 2,600
W & S 1,772 2,500
Office 8,333 12,500
Deacons 2,000
total expense $255,652 $332,941
Giving 224,935 272,200
Investments 42,240 59,875
Other 1,378 1,210
total income $268,553 $333,285
Surplus $12,901 $344
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First Presbyterian Church
169 West College St.,
P.O. Box 446
Waynesburg, PA 15370
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Bill Sukolsky
Pastor
[email protected]
412-913-9851
Becky Juliano
Director of Discipleship & Ministry
[email protected]
518-788-8768
Sara Christner, Harrison Scott
Pianists
Nelson Fox
Organist
Ben R. McCracken
Treasurer
Shelley McCracken
Financial Clerk
Juan Gallo
Director of Student Ministries
[email protected]
954-696-5178
Tome Custer
Director of Music & Children’s Ministries
[email protected]
724-998-3382
Maribeth Coote
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
724-627-6006
Patrecia Baily
Financial Secretary
Vicki Cline
Custodian
The mission of ECO is to
BUILD flourishing CHURCHES
that make disciples of
JESUS CHRIST
