The Lamplighter is a monthly publication of

Ohio United Presbyterian Church

1236 Longvue Ave., Aliquippa, PA 15001

Church Office Hours-Mon thru Thurs 9:00 am-3:00

Church phone (724) 378-3690

JANUARY 2017

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Happy New Year! I hope and pray that you had a wonderful

Advent and Christmas. I also hope that you were able to find a

bit of time to set aside to reflect upon the earth-shattering and

mind-boggling birth of Jesus, who is truly and fully Immanuel,

God with us. Our church family was quite busy, with a cookie

bazaar, Advent celebration, children’s cantata, choir cantata,

bell ringing for the Salvation Army, packaging gift bags for kids

at Mars Home for Youth, among many other displays of love

and service. It was truly a wonderful season.

As we enter another new year, I hope and pray that we are all

able to rest, recover and rejuvenate from a hectic and busy

season. As schedules simplify, my hope is that we hear God

calling to us and that by His Spirit we are empowered to grow in

spiritual maturity. May our restless souls find rest in the Living

God.

And as we enter January, we come to another feast in the

church calendar—Epiphany. Epiphany occurs on the 6th of

January, 12 days after Christmas. Christmas and Epiphany cele-

brate Jesus’ “cross-shaped” advent, descending and spreading

into all the world. On Christmas we remember that Christ came

down to earth (the vertical arm of the cross) and on Epiphany

we recall that Christ came to be the light to the whole world

(the horizontal arm of the cross). Epiphany celebrates the com-

ing of the magi and the church remembers the first sign or mira-

cle of Jesus at the wedding in Cana when Jesus turned water

into wine (John 2:1-11). Epiphany rightfully reminds us that Jesus

is not merely a personal savior, but Jesus came to be a light to

everyone, everywhere—He came to save the world. Epiphany

also challenges us to be witnesses to the true light in our daily

lives.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Nick

A Word from Pastor Nick 2

Birthdays

Nursery & Jr. Church

Volunteers

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News from the Pews 4

Just for Fun 5

Session/ Minutes

Good News to Share?

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Mission pages 7-8

Kid’s Activity Page 9

January Calendar 10

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

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2 Dominic Pasquarelli

6 Jerri Lech

10 Paul Hurni

12 Eric Nan

Bob Keller

16 Sara Allen

17 Camden Hoth

18 Michelle Sebastian

19 Brian Archer

20 Belinda Nolte

21 Kevin Smith

22 Rich Kerlin

22 Simon Hunsberger

23 Betty Lou Conrad

Jack Byer

24 Marlee Kerlin

Lizz Ward

25 Everitt Laird

Megan Hunsberger

27 Jerry Stuck

31 Johnathan Lech

Robert Nan

1 Gina Arzberger

8 Brittany McKee

15 Sallie Alviani

22 Sharon Neville

29 Rayna Knox

1 Family Sunday

8 Kortney Marlatt

15*

22 Elaine Verostek

29 Wendy Dameron

*volunteers still needed

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LUNCH BUNCH

Lunch Bunch will be held (weather permitting) on Tuesday, January 10th at Noon at

the church. Everyone is invited to ring in the New Year! The menu will include soup, sandwiches and dessert and then we’ll learn about hand bells and how to ring

them. Sign up by calling the church office or with the bulletin insert.

DEBORAH CIRCLE

Deborah Circle will be held on Monday, January 16 at 6:30. The circle will meet at the church this month.

ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

Our Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 29th immedi-

ately following worship. There will also be a Deacon’s fellowship luncheon that Sunday.

ANNUAL REPORTS DUE!

All committee chairs need to submit their year-end reports to Judi in the church of-

fice no later than January 15th so they can be included in the 2016 Annual Report.

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE WOMEN’S RETREAT!

The Women’s Retreat will be held the weekend of April 28-April 30th this year. Full

details will be in the February Lamplighter and in future bulletins.

OUR SYMPATHY

Our love and sympathy goes out to the family and friends of Robert Rybicki, who

passed away on Christmas day.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to Danny Palmer for being selected for the National Honor Society.

Danny is the son of Rich and Christina Palmer and is a student at Hopewell High

School.

WE WELCOME OUR NEW CHURCH OFFICERS

On Sunday, January 8th, our Class of 2019 church officers will be ordained/

installed.

Elder Class of 2019: Mark Douglass, Joe Glatz, Barbara Mihalow, and Kathy Tolfa

Deacon Class of 2019: Michael Knox, Cherryl Lachowicz, Sharon Neville and Julie Novacek

WE WELCOME OUR NEW CHURCH MEMBERS!

On Sunday, January 8th, we will also welcome into church membership:

Melissa Byer, Rayna Knox, Michael Knox, Simon Hunsberger, Megan Hunsberger, Cate Colesar, Nick Hoth, Kasey Hoth, Shane McLynden and Brittany McKee.

NEW PER CAPITA AMOUNTS FOR 2017

The Presbytery took action at the stated meeting in November to set the 2017 Per

Capita at $43.34 per member.

The General Assembly portion is $7.50 per member

The Synod of the Trinity portion is $2.30 per member

The Beaver Butler Presbytery portion is $33.54 per member.

The total apportionment per member is $43.34.

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Top Reasons For Joining The Church Choir

*You're running out of clean clothes and the robe saves on laundry.

*The church is usually crowded and you want to make sure you always have

a seat.

*You've just been selected for jury duty and you want to get use to sitting with

a large group of people.

*The collection plate is never passed to the choir.

*There's a clock in the back of the church and you want to know when one

hour has passed.

*For years you have wanted to know who sits in the back of the church but

were afraid to turn around and look.

*You've been known to nod off during the service and don't want the minis-

ter/priest to catch you.

*The chairs for the choir are padded and are the most comfortable chairs in

the church.

Just for fun

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Session Meeting Highlights-December 2016

Motion to pay full Beaver Butler Presbytery apportionment of per capita and have BBP match our GA and

Synod payments passed.

Learned Clerk of Session is 2nd signer on general fund checks - will be updated with bank after January 2017 Session Meeting as the Clerk may change.

Motion to accept Nick Hoth, Kasey Hoth, Shane McLynden and Brittany McKee as new members passed.

Study leave for Nick, Dec 27-29 Motion to allow passed.

Study leave for Nick to attend 2nd half of CREDO conference, March 14-20, 2017 ( March session meeting may need rescheduled ) passed.

Motion to allow the YMCA to use Church for Summer program after VBS (which will run June 12-16) passed.

Set January Congregational meeting date: January 29th

Set January 8th as day when new officers installed and new members welcomed

Motion to accept Deacons Benevolence fund disbursement criteria passed

Motion to Remove Aliquippa Missions Project from mission support and support Bill Gail Johnson who are missionaries to France with Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship (7% of monthly giving) passed

Good News from Our

Church Family

Do you have something special

to share about yourself or a

family member:

A promotion?

A new member of the family?

A special award received?

A special honor given?

Let us know and we’ll include it in the

Lamplighter! Send an email or leave a

note for Judi in the church office.

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INTERNATIONAL MISSION

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KID’S PAGE

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