Thyat i r a P resby te r i an Church a t M i l l B r idge

Emai l : o f f i c e@thya t i rap resby te r i an .o rg Webs i t e : thyat i rap resby te r i an .o rg

O f f i ce : 704 -636-1595 Pas to r S te ck : 704 -245 -8100

PASTOR’S PAGE

As you know, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee is hard at work helping us focus our ministries to help us fulfill God’s vision for us of being the Good News Capital of Western Rowan County. Thank you for all your efforts cooperating with and participating in this very important process. The Committee is targeting our Annual Meeting in January to share a draft Strategic Plan. In the meantime, you may be asked to share more of your thoughts on some specific aspects of our church. We ’ll keep you informed as there is information to share. Most important of all is to place this process and whatever comes from it in God ’s hands, and to keep it in your prayers. Finally, I wanted to share with some words offered by Lydia Steele, which I commend to you as we think about how we respond to God’s call and claim on our lives. The thing about Thyatira is that it ’s a place

of love. Not just of worship and fellowship, but love. We reach out to those in need. We check on one another. We are a family. The thing about Thyatira is that there ’s

rarely the sound of “no.” A request for help turns into a call to action. Trailers are packed. Gas tanks are filled. Resources are delivered.

The thing about Thyatira is the passion for learning.

Children know they can come here and learn about God, Jesus, and love.

Sunday School. Children's Choir. Youth Group. Vacation Bible School. Boy Scouts. Girl Scouts. Preschool. The halls of our buildings are buzzing

and energized. The thing about Thyatira is that everyone

feels safe. We come knowing that our differences are

appreciated and welcomed. Political stances aside. Personal views aside. One God. One Church. One Mission. The thing about Thyatira is there is passion. A desire to support and lift up the people

of Western Rowan County. Good news. Helping hands. Loving hearts. The thing about Thyatira is that God is

there. Thyatira is home. A refuge. A safety net. History. Tradition. The Future. No matter where we go, we can return. No matter what we choose, we are

accepted. No matter what we believe, God is at

the core. One God. One Church. One Mission. Peace, Stacey

November 2018 Newsletter Volume 41, Number 11

Prayer Concerns

Carillon: Mary Moon

At Home: JoAnn Kerr • Communities affected by Hurricanes Florence and

Michael • Amol and Cari (McCachren) Shah and newborn

daughter, Lahna Jane, born on Tuesday, October 2 • The family of John Steele following his death

• Phares and Harold Sechler

• Bill McLaughlin

• Fred & Edna Stamper • Pam Poteat Clough, friend of Joyce Caldwell

• Joyce Caldwell, facing health challenges

• Julie, a co-worker of Jada, diagnosed with cancer

• Kitty Harris, dealing with health issues

• Mike Hawkins’ mother, Elizabeth, at Genesis

• Linda Gaylor’s mother, Barbara

• Ada Jo Sloop, serving in the Peace Corps

• Bill Bergstrom is being treated for leukemia • Drema Clemens’ mother, Bertha Warden

• Millicent Hoffner’s brother, Joe Kerr

• Mike Hawkins who has RA and osteoporosis

• Paul Rogers’ daughter and family in Pakistan

• The Raymer family serving in Tanzania, Africa

Liturgists:

4 - Bill Hall 11 - Melissa Kluttz 18 - Millicent Hoffner 25 - Flora Calderón-Steck Nursery Attendants: 7 - Jessica Swanson, Melissa Kluttz 14 - Candace McKnight, Lydia Richmond 21 - Ben Watts, Michelle Patterson 28 - Alice Sloop, Robin Luther

Ushers: Aaron Richmond, Captain Randall Patterson Mike Connolly Paul Gaylor Daniel Milam Thank you to all our volunteers! If you would be interested in being added as a liturgist or nursery attendant please contact the church office or put a note in the offering plate.

November Schedules

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1 Anna Waller Mary Waller

2 Dale Ijames 3 Donna Rowland 6 Greg Hager Luke Waller 8 Kira Wetmore

11 Stacey Steck 14 Claudia Patterson Victoria Patterson 15 Miranda Belk 16 Michael Fuller Bob Freeman 17 Elijah Daniels 22 Adam Swanson John Corriher 24 Adaline Moore 28 Henry Hampton Ashlyn Seaboch 29 Allyson Teague

November Birthdays

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY For the month of October, we received 60%

of our anticipated offerings. Thank you for your continued support and helping us bring good news to

our community by staying up-to-date with your estimated giving.

In Sympathy

We extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Mary Alice Calhoun following her death on October 13.

PHONE PRAYER CHAIN: If you, a family member, or friend would like to be added to our Phone Prayer Chain, please call Jim Albright at 704-279-3317. Whatever your prayer need is, finding peace of mind provides a foundation of

strength to face any situation. Your request is a sacred trust and is kept confidential among our prayer list members.

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Men of the Church will meet for breakfast and fellowship at 8:00am on Sunday, November 4. Please join us!

Please join us!

December 7 at 7:00pm,

final meeting for 2018.

We’re Just Like You,

Only Prettier

by Celia Rivenbark

Our Book Club is open to everyone in the church, and reading is strongly suggested although not required. Contact Lydia Richmond with any questions.

MEETING REMINDER *Be Seen *Be Connected *Be Informed

Deacons: Our next meeting is Sunday,

November 4 at 9:00am.

Finance Committee: Our next meeting is

scheduled for Tuesday, November 13 at

7:00pm.

Session: Our monthly meeting is scheduled

for Sunday, November 18 at 8:30am.

Strategic Planning Steering Committee:

Wednesday, November 7 at 7:45pm and

Wednesday, November 14 at 7:45pm.

Youth Meeting: Sunday, November 4 at

5:00pm.

THYATIRA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

BISCUITS AND BOUTIQUES

Saturday, November 10, 2018 7am - 1pm

220 White Road Salisbury, NC 28147

Biscuits: Sausage and/or Ham $2.50 with

Coffee/Tea/Juice

Vendors onsite include: Phased Boutique, Close to my Heart, Thirty-One Gifts, Color Street, Down

South Deals, Scentsy, Usborne Books, Origami Owl, Providence Farms….and more!

Raffle Prizes!

If you are a crafter, independent sales

representative, or small business owner and would like a booth at our event, please email

office@thyatirapresbyterian.org for more information.

Join us as we give thanks to God for life, love,

and faith at a Western Rowan County Community Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, November 18 at 6:00 p.m.

The service will be hosted by Prospect

Presbyterian Church, 9425 NC- HWY 152, and include participation by Centenary United Methodist Church and Concordia Lutheran

Church as well as Thyatira.

Thyatira will not hold its own Thanksgiving Service this year. Please help us make this a strong community event and blessing to God!

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What were we up to in October:

• Participated in T-Man Run. Sarah and Lauren, both placed in their age group.

• Lock-in was Friday the 26th. Our theme was "Hungry for Jesus". We talked about the feeding of the 5000 and what Jesus meant in John 6:35. We played Human Hungry Hippos, acted out a play, played endless hours of volleyball, carved pumpkins and watched a movie. We had two friends to come have fun with us.

• Halloween Festival was a huge success! We stopped counting after 115 people. Thanks for all who donated candy, cakes, food, time, trunks, and pumpkins. Lastly, thank you to our youth and their parents, we could not do it without them.

What is coming up:

• 11/4 meeting to discuss fundraiser after Big Music

Sunday and our Service Project for December.

Middle & High School Advisor Team Head Youth Leader: Ben Watts Administrative Leader: Melissa Waller Advisors: AJ and Caroline Waller, Nora Dellinger, Ryan Sloop, Jay and Mandy Bates, Brian Waller

Join us for as many of our wonderful seasonal

events as you can!

• Sunday, November 18, 3:00 -5:00 p.m. – Surviving the Holidays Seminar

• Sunday, November 18, 6:00 p.m. – Community Thanksgiving Service at Prospect Presbyterian Church

• Sunday, December 2 – Worship with Communion, on the First Sunday of Advent

• Sunday, December 9 – The Joy Gift Program and Offering led by Thyatira’s Children’s Choirs, on the Second Sunday of Advent

• Sunday, December 16 – Big Music Sunday with our Choir leading us in A Festival of Lessons and Carols, on the Third Sunday if Advent

• Sunday, December 16, 4:30 p.m. – Longest Night Service (info to come in December)

• Sunday, December 23 – Worship, on the Fourth Sunday of Advent

• Monday, December 24, 5:30 p.m. – Candlelight Christmas Eve Service

Dear Thyatira,

Thank you for the generous scholarship given to me to help me continue my education. It’s nice to know I have the support of my church as I continue to study towards my business degree.

Thank you again!

Sincerely, Brandon White

Mike and I are enjoying the delicious Main Street Marketplace in China Grove. We would like to say thank you to anyone in the church who made any kind of contribution to this.

Thank you so much,

Kaye & Mike Hawkins

Editors Note: The gracious gifts to our Looking Out/Seeing In Capital Campaign made it possible to give a generous gift from Thyatira to Main Street Mission.

I am so proud of all the children who sang for Children's Sabbath. The preschoolers sang the best ever!

Christmas is upon our heels. I hope the young disciples are practicing their music. Beginning November 11, we will begin practice at 9:15am. Preschoolers will practice at 9:45am. This schedule will only last until Joy Gift Program on December 9. Thank you parents for getting these precious children to practice. Without you, we would have no children's music program.

Our card ministry will be cranking up full speed. In addition to our church members, I have made contact with a church down east and an elementary school principal. As I have said many times, even though they are young, these children can truly be disciples.

Love,

Ms. Millicent

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Two Year Old Class: October has been a very busy month for the little two year olds. We started our month with the firetruck. They enjoyed getting to sit in the firetruck and watching all the flashing lights. We talked about farm animals and all the noises they make. To celebrate the fall season, we made leaves that were all different colors and also acorns. We made pumpkins, witches and scarecrows for Halloween. The children continue to grow with learning shapes, colors, ABC’s and counting to 15. We enjoyed a day full of fun at our Fall Festival. Thank you to all the parents who volunteered their time to make this day such a great, enjoyable, successful day! We ended our month with our class Halloween party. The children dressed up and enjoyed games and a special snack. Thank you for sending your little one to preschool!

Three Year Old Class: October has been a busy month. The book mobile came. Each child checked out two books and listened to stories. The firemen from Locke Fire department came and let each of the children sit in the fire truck. A good time was had at our Fall Festival. The children enjoyed games, face painting, a craft, snack, bounce house, hay ride and pumpkin patch. Thank you to the Patterson’s for the pumpkins and parents for helping with the festival. Halloween ended the month. The children dressed in costumes and sang for their families.

Four Year Old Class: The four year old class worked really hard this month on the letters D, E, F, G & H. We made crafts and read exciting stories for each letter of the week. We had a visit from our friends at Locke Fire Department on the 4th and then the Bookmobile came on the 6th. It was so much fun climbing on the firetruck and also checking out books. October has also been a month of celebrations. On the 15th, Coy, Eva, and Ella turned 5 years old. On October 23 we had our Fall Festival. We jumped in the bounce house, went on a hayride, picked out a pumpkin, played games in the Fellowship Hall, enjoyed a special snack together and made a craft. We are so thankful for all of the parents and grandparents who volunteered their time to make this such a special event. We ended the month with our Halloween party. It was so much fun to dress up! October was a great month. We look forward to what November will bring.

Recycle your

used

INK CARTRIDGES

&

BATTERIES

Parents and Thyatira Church Members: Do you have a flexible Mon-Fri morning schedule and passion for the education of young children? We are looking for fun-loving and energetic substitutes for the preschool when the regular teachers are absent. Please contact the church office at 704-636-1595 to complete a background check and get more information.

Sanctuary Flowers

Would you like to dedicate sanctuary flowers to the memory or honor of loved ones? Our florist charges $57.25 for one arrangement or $100 for two. You may take your flowers with you after service on Sunday. Upcoming available dates 11/11, 11/18, 11/25. Call or check the signup sheet on the bulletin board outside the office for more dates available. You may call to

order or fill out an order form and put it in the offering plate. Payment should be made 2 weeks in advance of the requested date, payable to Thyatira.

10/21/2018 - Sanctuary flowers were given to the glory of God by Bill Hall in memory of Bill Sr. and Kathryn Hall and their 68th wedding anniversary.

Bring your used batteries and ink cartridges to the church office and we can recycle them for you. Thyatira receives $2.00 per ink cartridge. The funds raised are used to purchase new ink and office supplies for the church.

Proceeds support West Rowan Bible Teaching Association

Our Bible classes are 100% supported by local funds and not tax money.

Your support is greatly appreciated!

Text or Call Orders To: 704-640-2455

Orders Due By: Monday, November 12th

Pick-up Date: 4:00pm - 5:30 pm

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Pick-up Site: West Rowan H.S. Ag. Building

8050 Hwy 801, Mt Ulla, NC

When you turn in by the tennis courts, follow

the road back to the Agriculture Building.

Pay when you pick-up

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Knowledge Is Not Enough Tobacco

Some older members of our congregation began smoking before many of the studies and announcements about the dangers of smoking were a part of public knowledge. Many of the movies released in the 1950’s and even some from the 1960’s glamorized having that cigarette and drink to relax. Smokers today cannot claim lack of knowledge of the dangers of cigarette smoking as the reason why they began and continue to smoke. As with many areas of life, each individual must make his own decision and commitment. For a smoker wishing to quit, there are many programs, aids and helps to reach that goal. November 15 is the day for the Great American Smoke Out this year and would be an excellent time to combine knowledge and action to take steps to live a healthier smoke-free life.

Flu

Each year since our faith community health program began, information on the importance of flu shots has been in our newsletter, yet not everyone gets a flu shot. Failing to get the complete response we want does not mean we give up on providing the information. Our hope is that those who read the information will put aside any false beliefs or myths and do what the CDC and other medical groups recommend and get a flu shot.

The flu season last year was one of the worst on record, an estimated 80,000 Americans died of flu-related deaths last year, according to the CDC. Flu season runs through fall and winter, peaking somewhere between December and February. While the flu spreads every year, the timing, severity and length of the season varies from one season to the next. No one is able to fully predict exactly what will happen each year.

There are five steps to follow to prevent getting and spreading the flu:

1. Get the flu vaccine. It’s not too late to get the flu vaccine, which takes approximately two weeks to be fully effective. Flu Vaccination prevents millions of illnesses and flu-related hospitalizations each year. While the flu vaccine can vary in how well it works, people who get sick usually have milder symptoms. Almost any pharmacy or your doctor’s office will have the flu vaccine available.

2. Avoid people who are sick. Keep your distance from people who are coughing, sneezing or presenting other flu symptoms. People suffering from flu should stay home until the symptoms subside. It is a good idea to avoid a lot of hand shaking or other contact during flu season.

3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his eyes, nose, or mouth, according to the CDC.

4. Clean your cell phone. Disinfect surfaces that you touch frequently as these become hot beds for germs. Disinfect keyboards, cell phones, desks and other surfaces you touch often.

5. Strengthen your immune system. You become sick when germs successfully invade your body. According to Harvard medical officials, “Every part of your body, including your immune system, functions better when bolstered by healthy-living strategies. “ They recommend the following:

• Don’t smoke • Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables • Exercise regularly • Maintain a healthy weight • If you drink alcohol, only drink in moderation • Get adequate sleep • Take steps to avoid infection, such as washing your hands

frequently and cooking meats thoroughly • Try to minimize stress • Have the appropriate medical attention including tests, needed medicines, shots, and other

elements of care which identify problems early or prevent or minimize illnesses.

CDC, Mayo Clinic and Consumer Report

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Thyatira Presbyterian Church At Mill Bridge 220 White Rd. Salisbury, NC 28147-5606 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

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November 2018 Newsletter

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