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CHURCH CURRENTS First Presbyterian Church 210 S. Wayne Street Milledgeville, GA 31061 phone: 478-452-9394 fpchurch@windstream.net www.fpchurch.org

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid

Permit No. 113

We seek to glorify God through:

Inspiring worship in Word and music, Inquiring study for adults and youth,

Inclusive hospitality locally and globally, Industrious outreach for social justice

and environmental stewardship.

December 2013

We are on the radio Our worship service is broadcast on WKZR

(102.3 FM.) every Sunday morning at 11:00AM

HANGING OF THE GREENS

Friday, December 6th - 10:00AM Won’t you plan to join us in decorating our church?

Come join us as we celebrate the Come join us as we celebrate the Come join us as we celebrate the Come join us as we celebrate the miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ! miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ! miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ! miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ!

CHRISTMAS EVE CHRISTMAS EVE CHRISTMAS EVE CHRISTMAS EVE

6:30PM WORSHIP6:30PM WORSHIP6:30PM WORSHIP6:30PM WORSHIP Lessons and Carols and Candlelighting!

Children of all ages are welcome to join us!

Holiday Office Hours Church office will be closed December 25th and will open again on January 2nd and 3rd. Regular church hours will resume January 6th.

Issue No. 213 December 2013

First Presbyterian Church

Organist:

Kate Phillips Dir. of Music:

Jennifer Flory Admin. Asst.:

Dianna Hendricks

Elders: Class of 2013: Mary Lucik, Linda McKnight, Joe Owens, Peter Piro Class of 2014: Rosemary Begemann, Linda Watson-Kaufman, Sue York Class of 2015: Dave Baarda, Anne Smart, John Bradley Deacons: Class of 2013: Jan Clark, Sunda Coleman, Faye Heal, Mary Baker Class of 2014: Deanna Bivins, Mary Jordan, Doris Moody Class of 2015: Bill Werts, Margie Dodd, Jesse Osterhoudt

Pastor:

Debbie Osterhoudt

Child Care Providers: Robin Collins Jason Poole

Coord. of Children Campus & Youth Ministries: Ministries: Gloria Burns

Dear Friends, It is difficult to believe that another year has passed and we will be celebrating the first Sunday of Advent on December 1st! I am always ready for Christmas - that season of the church year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ; new life and light com-ing into our world. The season of Advent enables us to prepare our hearts and minds to receive this most treasured of gifts from our Creator God. I love retrieving the first crèche I was given as an adult from the closet where I have carefully packed it away the previous year. It is a lovely carved nativity scene which a family member gave me after she had traveled to Germany. The history of the crèche (or "nativity scene") stretches back to St. Francis of Assisi. In 1223 he was concerned about the secularization of Christmas - imagine that! So he decided to create a live nativity scene in the village of Greccio, Italy with the hope that it would remind the people of Italy that the emphasis of Christmas should be the worship of Christ. The Pope blessed St. Francis' efforts and within 100 years all churches in Italy were expected to have their own nativity scenes. Obviously, the live characters would soon give way to permanent crèches. In England, years later, the tradition of the crèche would spin off into another tradition. Families would bake a mince pie in the shape of a manger which would hold the Christ Child until Christmas Eve, when the pie was eaten. My first crèche always resides in a central place in our home and is the first Christmas decoration to appear. My children, when they were young, would place the characters in the old stable; a lively discussion would always erupt when it came time to place the angel above the stable! I invite you to pause and remember why we celebrate and prepare for Christmas. Consider putting Christ front and center. Join us for worship each Sunday. Consider what you might give, instead of what you might receive, as a way of reflecting God's incredi-ble, generous love for us. “For unto us a child is born.” May you have a blessed Advent and Christmas! Pastor Debbie

FLANNERY O’CONNOR DISCUSSION GROUP

Thursday December 19th

10:30 AM at Andalusia

Please come join us on Thursday, December 19th,

at Andalusia, the Front Porch; we will be reading

“The Train”. We always have lively discussion and it is a great time of fellowship.

If you have questions, call Sue York 478-454-3288.

Hope to see you there!

Wanda’s Mother’s Fruitcake Cookies 1 cup butter contributed by Mary Baker 1 cup brown sugar 3 well-beaten eggs 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ cup sherry 1 pound candied pineapple, chopped 1 pound cherries, chopped 1 pound (about 3 ½ cups, broken) pecans 2 cups chopped dates Cream butter and sugar; add eggs. Mix. Add flour, cinnamon, baking soda mixture. Add remaining ingredients. Dough will be very dense—I use my hands to mix it well. Drop from spoon onto greased pans; bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONCHRISTIAN EDUCATIONCHRISTIAN EDUCATIONCHRISTIAN EDUCATION

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PAGEANT Rehearsals for the Children's Christmas Pageant will be Wednesday, December 4, 5:15-6:15PM, Wednes-day, December 11, 5:15-6:15PM, and Sunday, December 15, 5PM. The Wednesday rehearsals will be primarily music and costuming so preschool and elementary children unable to attend may come for the Sunday afternoon December 15 rehearsal and still participate in the pageant. Youth and older children who want to sing will rehearse on the three dates listed above and on Sunday, December 1 at 3PM. The pageant will be Sunday night December 15 at 6:30PM. YOUTH Youth will be helping with music for the Children's Christmas Pageant so please read that announcement. Our next youth meeting will be December 1 at 3PM for a music rehearsal with Youth Group at starting about 4PM. The meeting originally scheduled for December 8 has been canceled because of the Milledgeville Christmas Parade at 3PM that afternoon. Please let Gloria know what your holiday schedule will be. We would like to plan a holiday party when the most people are available. It will probably be around or after New Years so please let me know. STARS It is time to register for the winter session of S.T.A.R.S. Our Wednesday afternoon program for preschool and elementary children. Brochures will be mailed in the middle of the month or you may pick one up in the Narthex or porch entrance to the sanctuary. Please register by January 1. We will begin on January 8, 2014 and meet for eight weeks through February 26. We enjoyed singing, playing and learning about the seeds of God's love in us. So plan to join us again in January.

If you have questions about any of the children and youth programs, please contact Gloria Burns,

478-454-6285, gloryb.ce@gmail.com.

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN “An Abiding Hope” is the title of our lesson book. It is lead-ing us on a journey of migration in the Old Testament. We have studied the early life of Moses, God’s call to lead the Hebrew people out of Egypt, and the confrontation with Pharaoh. Lesson 4 will begin the journey. Our December meetings will be an interesting and delightful start to the holiday season. The collection box for gifts to the residents of the Presbyterian Homes in Georgia is in the Fellowship Hall along with a list of suggested items needed by the residents. Please leave your unwrapped gifts in the box by December 3rd. We will also be talking about bringing Christmas cheer to our Golden Circle of friends and to those unable to get out and about. You are welcome to join our study and meetings in De-cember. The Sunday meeting will be a Christmas gathering at Mary Baker’s home on December 1st at 5PM. We will be having a pot-luck supper after our lesson. Our Tuesday class will meet on December 10th at 11AM in the parlor followed by a pot-luck lunch in the Fellowship Hall. Please let me know what side dish or dessert you plan to bring to share. As always, I look forward to joining you or our time of learning and fellowship. Anne Dennis, (Moderator)

CHURCH COMMUNITYCHURCH COMMUNITYCHURCH COMMUNITYCHURCH COMMUNITY

NURSERY SCHEDULE

If you would like to help with the Nursery, please contact Anne Smart @ 478-452-4109.

December 1 Joel Burns December 8 Elizabeth Baarda December 15 Jackie Northington

December 22 Nan Rogers December 29 Anne Smart Thank you for your help

NURSERY HELPERS We are very excited to have so many children in worship each Sunday. After our Time with Children many of those children go to join the babies in our nursery. During our sermon time, Robin teaches a Bible lesson to our preschool children while Jacob and a volunteer watch over the babies and younger chil-dren. We have a very dedicated group of volunteers who assist Robin and Jacob with those children. It is important work but it is also a wonderful opportunity to get to meet the youngest members of our congregation. If you would like to help with this ministry please let Gloria or Anne Smart know and we will add you to our rotating list. Most volunteers are in the nursery is once every two to three months. If you decide to become a vol-unteer it is important that you check the list in the Newsletter each month for your name and if you are unable to be there that week find someone else on the list to swap with you. Gloria will send you an email reminder when it is your week to serve. Many thanks to our dedicated helpers.

Green Initiative Activities and Opportunities continuing in 2014 Oh - go take a hike!

Join us for planned morning excursions starting up again in January on Fridays at 10:00AM. Friends from the community are welcome and encouraged to join us. In November we enjoyed excursions to Andalusia, Salamander Springs Farm, the Lucille Harris Community Garden and the Oconee River Greenway. Contact the church office at 478-452-9394 and leave a message for Marion Robinson.

Give Holiday Gifts that Matter! You can purchase "Fair Trade" food and craft items from Equal

Exchange which helps support small-scale farmers across the globe as well as many denominations including the PCUSA. Browse unique products for sale at http://equalexchange.coop and send a list of items you wish to purchase to either Debbie Harshbarger at theharshbargers@yahoo.com or to Dianna at the church office at fpchurch@windstream.net. You can also fill out a form in the church office and leave it with Dianna. Orders need to be turned in by Sunday, Dec.1st to help guarantee arrival by Sunday, Dec.15th. Placing an order through FPC prevents you paying the shipping and handling charges. Checks made payable to First Presbyterian Church will be collected when orders are distributed. For more information, contact Debbie Harshbarger or Faye Heal.

Try this recipe for your holiday baking - use Fair Trade products if you can! Elizabeth Baarda's Brownies (using Fair Trade baking cocoa) 4 squares chocolate (substitute 4 tablespoons cocoa powder plus 2 teaspoons oil) 1/2 cup oil 2 cups sugar 4 eggs Sift 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 tsp. baking powder and 1 tsp. salt. Mix in the rest of the ingredients. Bake 30-35 min. at 350F.

Visitors and Volunteers welcome at the Lucille Harris Community Garden and

Solomon Harris Walking Trail in Harrisburg

Several FPC members have been instrumental in building these two new community assets. The church is recognized as a supporter of this project on a sign that was dedicated at the

Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on November 21st. More volunteers are always welcome to help with teaching classes about growing veggies, maintaining the newly installed fruit orchard under Don Steward's guidance, installing the Butterfly Garden designed by Margie Dodd or various other improvements including an after-school tutoring camp that takes place in . Lee Center Mon. through Thursday afternoons. Contact the McKnights or Debbie Harshbarger if you wish to get involved.

GREEN INITIATIVEGREEN INITIATIVEGREEN INITIATIVEGREEN INITIATIVE

Hiking at Salamander

Springs Farm

Checking out the tree house at

Salamander Springs

Solomon Harris

Walking Trail at the new Community

Garden

A big crowd showed up for the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting ceremony at the new

community garden and walking

Elizabeth Baarda's Brownies made with Fair Trade

cocoa were a huge hit at the reception after church!

HELPING OUR NEIGHBORSHELPING OUR NEIGHBORSHELPING OUR NEIGHBORSHELPING OUR NEIGHBORS

BLANKET DRIVE

As the temperatures finally start to fall we, at First Presbyterian Church, Milledgeville, see it as a welcome relief. We look forward to the change of season and the changing colors in the landscape. Our friends at The Open Door Community see the coming of nighttime chills that make it very uncomfortable sleeping outdoors. This year, as in many years past, we will have the opportunity to donate blankets for the homeless who seek shelter at the Open Door. The deacons have agreed that we need to provide a better quality blanket and so we have chosen a loom woven machine washable 60% wool Bunkhouse Plain blanket. Our cost is $14.00 each and that price includes shipping. Check the Global Mission bulletin board to see samples of the good quality, attractive blankets we can provide for our friends. You may make your donation any time or any number of times. We want to make our first shipment before the weather gets cold! Complete the form. Attach a check payable to First Presbyterian Church. Place both in an offering plate, drop off in the church office, or mail to First Presby-terian Church, 210 S. Wayne St., Milledgeville, GA 31061. Your Name

Blankets given in memory of

Blankets given in honor of

Checks in the amount of $

for blankets.

CHRISTMAS CAROLING

Join us for Christmas Caroling on Wednesday night, December 18. We will have our covered dish supper

beginning at 6pm (this is thirty minutes early for our regulars so mark the time) then head out to sing for some

of our shut-ins about 6:45 pm. We will return to the church for dessert and hot chocolate after we finish.

Bring your best Christmas spirit to share.

ANGEL FAMILIES, 2013 The Samaritan’s Ministry Team proposes that we at First Presbyterian Church assist 5 families in our community identified by Department of Family and Children Ser-vices during the Christmas season, 2013. These are fami-lies with single parents and multiple children who des-perately need our help. They have been screened by DFCS so we know that our support will be appreciated. We would like to provide: Articles of clothing for each member of the family Additional gifts within reasonable monetary constraints. A tree is set up in the Fellowship Hall with angel tags for decoration. Each tag identifies the family, the individual (Example: boy, age 11 or mother, age and their sizes) and one item from the list of needs provided by DFCS. Members of the church or other friends are invited to take as many tags as they would like and shop for that particular item. Gifts must be placed around the tree, wrapped and with the tag on the gift identifying the family and gift item by Thursday, December 12. Donations are always welcome and will be used to fill in the “gaps”. Be sure to identify your gift for “angel families”. Samaritan Ministry Team members are: Frankie Holder, Jackie Northington, Bill Werts, Jack Bivins, Alice Ten-old, Catherine Dean, Nita Peavy and Debbie Osterhoudt.

VIP’S CORNER (Visually Impaired Persons)

Harry Beck started the meeting by telling about his recent participation in a telephone conference with state wide representatives of support groups for visually impaired people. In his informa-tive discussion Harry said the conference identified resources, tips for improving groups, and program ideas. He also noted

that the Milledgeville VIP group was the largest and best organized of its kind in the state. The theme of the November VIP Support Group Meeting was giving thanks. This goes well with the group’s goal of focusing on the positives and not dwelling on the negatives of member’s situations. Individual members took time to recognize people and things they were grateful for. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, members brought canned goods for the church’s community food pantry in appreciation for the church’s generosity in allowing them to meet there each month. Milladene Grant provided the monthly easy cooking idea, “pigs in a blanket” and provided recipes for members. These and other refreshments were provided for group members at the close of the meeting. The next meeting will be December 18th at 10:30AM. George Power will lead VIP’s in a musical celebration of the holiday season. Anyone interested in attending is welcome. HARRY ANNE MILLADENE MARJORIE

NOVEMBER PRISON FAMILY LUNCH The board of deacons hosted the November Prison Family Lunch-eon for around 60 guests from Atlanta. What a wonderful meal! One of our guests asked to speak during our circle time and thanked us for the love that she feels when at-tending our monthly luncheons. We are so grateful to be able to share our church with these guests each month. Many thanks to the board of deacons—everyone contributed in some way to make our meal a success. And thanks to Nancy Holbrook, our “honorary deacon” for her help!

COMMUNITY OUTREACHCOMMUNITY OUTREACHCOMMUNITY OUTREACHCOMMUNITY OUTREACH

GEORGIA COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC HOLIDAY CONCERT

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FOOD PANTRY

Our food pantry continues to be in need of canned fruits. Also in low supply are canned soups,

vegetables & meats, dry rice, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and jelly.

All donations are appreciated and may be left at the church office, Mon - Thurs 8:30 - 4:30.

A big thank you to the students of Scott Dillard’s class at GC&SU who have been helping each

Tuesday in the food bank. Please call Mary Baker, 478-453-2626

if you would like to help with this ministry. Your continued support helps us to feed our

neighbors and many lives are changed with Christ.

Friday, December 6 Russell Auditorium

7:30PM

$10 Tickets

Call 478-445-8289 for more information

MAX NOAH SINGERS AFTERNOON HOLIDAY CONCERT

Wednesday, December 11, 1:30PM

Old Governor’s Mansion

$5 suggested donation

Call 478-445- 4545 for more information

Illnesses: Tom Murphy, colon cancer, Kathy Carroll’s brother Robbie White, cancer, Betty Hattaway’s friend April McMillan, cancer, Jeanene Vinson’s granddaughter Bill Brenner, prostate cancer, Bill Flory’s uncle Amy Smith, cancer Carmen Silva, pancreatic cancer Chris Pearson, Sunda Coleman’s son, eye & health issues Evelyn Knight Frank Gunsauley, Nancy Miller’s brother-in-law, chemotherapy Wendy Chance, sister-in-law to Donna Gautier, metastasized cancer Leigh Humphrey, friend of Bill & Ruby Werts, kidney failure Judy Powell, friend of Letha & Sandra, diagnosed with MDS Jerry Stembridge aka Chip Young, Roger’s brother, Nashville, TN, serious health issues Elaine Goggans Angela Brewster, Lexington, KY, friend of Jackie Northington, breast cancer metastasized to her back Marguerite Owens, Gloria Burns’ mother

Assisted Living: Banny Lundy, Green Acres, Milledgeville Laurette Smith, Savannah Court, Milledgeville Katherine Lyda, Louise Sallstrom’s mother, Green Acres Jonnie Tenold, Savannah Court, Mike Tenold’s mother, Savannah Court Harold Gillis, Sr., Lee Gillis’ father, Scotia Village, Laurinburg, NC

SUPPORTING PAST, PRESENT,

AND FUTURE LEADERS

Whether providing financial assistance to current and former church workers and their families or providing opportunities for deserving students to attend Presby-terian-related racial ethnic colleges and schools, your

generous gifts to the Christmas Joy Offering will shine the One True Light of Christ's love. Look for these

special offering envelopes Sunday, Dec. 15.

DON’T FORGET TO BRING YOUR CANNED FOOD TO WORSHIP

We ask you to bring food on the same Sunday we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. We will be celebrating the

Lord’s Supper on Sunday, December 1st.

FELLOWSHIP REFRESHMENTS

Sunday after worship we invite you to join us in the Fellowship Hall for refreshments.

Volunteers are needed each week to bring cookies/drinks.

There is a sign-up sheet in the kitchen. Please contact Deanna Bivins at 478-932-0015 or by email at djbivins2@gmail.com

READ ME; RECYCLE ME This newsletter was printed on recycled paper!

We use recycled paper products in the church office, kitchen and restrooms ,and we encourage

our members to do the same.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) will be in the Philippines! After a disaster, generous and willing people want to be involved in showing Christ’s love to those in need. Here are some ways you can stand in the GAP to help disaster survivors. GIVE / ACT / PRAY When we hear of the struggles of refugees in war-torn countries or weather calamities around the world, we often wish there was some way to help. Contributions can be made to PDA at any time of the year, not just during the One Great Hour of Sharing campaign. Make your check payable to FPC and designate it for PDA and include a specific disaster if desired.

FROM THE TREASURER: October Year-to-Date Undesignated income $17,583 $199,609 Budgeted Expense $18,443 $240,956 Net income/(expense) ($860) ($41,347) We are planning the 2014 Budget at this time. Your pledges for next year are vital to the budget planning process. If you have not yet turned in your pledge for 2014, please do so by the end of December. As always if you have any questions about the finances of First Presbyterian Church, feel free to contact me 478- 451-7118 or faye.heal@gcsu.edu

Bir

thda

ys

Anniversaries

DECEMBER Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat

1

Lords’ Supper - bring

canned goods please

3:00 Music Rehearsal

4:00 Youth Group

5:00 PW Meeting

2

5:30 CE

3

4

5:15 Christmas

Pageant rehearsal

6:30 Pot Luck

7:00 Bible Study

5

7:00 Choir

6 10:00 Hanging of the Greens 10:00 Walk around the block 7:30 GCSU Holiday Concert

7 7:00 AA

8

9:45 Sunday School

11:00 Worship

Noon - Deacons

Called Session meeting

to accept new members

9

5:30 Stewardship

& Finance

6:45 Property

10

11:00 PW Lunch

& Study

6:30 Session

Dinner at Holly

& Sunda’s home

11

1:30 Max Noah

Holiday Concert

5:15 Christmas

Pageant rehearsal

6:30 Pot Luck

7:00 Bible Study

12 10:00 So-So Sewers

7:00 Choir

13

10:00 Walk around the Block

14

7:00 AA

15

9:45 Sunday School

11:00 Worship

5:00 Christmas Pageant

rehearsal

6:30 Christmas Pageant

16

17

18

10:30 VIP’s

1:00 Green

Initiative

6:00 Pot Luck

6:45 Caroling

19 10:00 So-So Sewers 10:30 Andalusia

2:00 LIR Reading 3:00 LIR Writing

7:00 Choir

20

10:00 Walk around the Block

21

Noon Prison

Family Lunch

7:00 AA

22

9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship 4:00 Youth Meeting

23

Office Hours 8:30 - 4:30

24

Office Hours 8:30 - 4:30

6:30 Lessons &

Carols Worship

25

26

Office Closed

27

Office Closed

28

7:00 AA

29

9:45 Sunday School

11:00 Worship

30

Office Closed

31

Office Closed

1

2

Office Hours 8:30 - 4:30 7:00 Choir

3

Office Hours

8:30 - 4:30

4

December 2nd Daniel Kaufman December 3rd Cissy Lane Susan McGill December 10th Ben Smart December 11th Dean Clark December 12th Emily Bradley Willa Gee December 13th Karen Grimes Cecilia Odihe

December 14th Kathy Carroll December 19th Monica Garcia December 20th Janet Clark December 25th Roger Stembridge December 26th Hagan Thompson

December 1st Jesse & Debbie Osterhoudt December 4th December 11th Carl & Nancy Miller Joseph & Catherine Dean December 16th December 18th Dean & Janet Clark Clyde & Jane Tipton December 20th December 20th Bob & Anne Smart Lee Gillis & Jude Hirsch December 22nd Sam Downer & Cindy Phillips December 29th Arnold & Rae Wade Greg & Susan York