Vol. 28 December 2016 Number 12

THE CHURCH VOICE

from me to you…………

Dear friends in Christ, Advent has begun. I hope you can join us next Sunday as we light the 2nd Advent Candle in our Sanctuary. On Sunday, Dec. 11, our Choir will share an inspiring collection of anthems as their Advent gift to us. On Sunday, Dec. 18 the Youth will lead our worship and we will collect the Christmas Joy Offering. Our Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion will be at 7:00. Then Christmas Day falls on a Sunday! Everyone is encouraged to gather with us at 10:00 Christmas morning. No Sunday School, no early worship, just one 10:00 service on Christmas morning. Hope you can be with us on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 4, for Songfest. There will be some light refreshments and lots of joyous singing. This gathering will take the place of 55+ in December, no admission charge, but consider increas-ing your Christmas Joy Gift with the money you save. It’s not too late to pick up a PCUSA Giving Catalog in the Church Office, this might help you find something for that person who is hard to shop for and to support Presbyterian Mission work at the same time! Thanks to everyone who packed a Shoebox for Operation Christmas Child and to all the good folks who helped needy neighbors in our county with their gifts to BFA’s Tree of Hope. Margaret and I will celebrate our 40th Wedding Anniversary on Christmas Day. We plan to re-visit our honeymoon site on Ocracoke Island for a few days. What a joy it has been to share our last 12 wedding anniversaries with our Church family in Shallotte. May God bless us everyone.

In God’s Grace,

8:30 Usher December 4

Larry Cook

December 11

Larry Cook

December 18

Helen Odum

December 25 10:00am Only: Jim Braddock & Carol Kauffman

Ushers December 4 Larry Cook & Sarah Cook

December 11 Larry Cook & Sarah Cook

December 18 Jim Braddock & Mike Clawson

December 25 10:00am Only

Greeters December 4

Mindy Cardwell & Carol Vealey

December 11 Linda Sing &

TBD

December 18 Joyce Richards &

TBD

December 25 Gail Thomas

Acolytes December 4

C.J. Nelson

December 11 Lauren Nelson

December 18 Youth Sunday

TBD

December 25

TBD

Sunday, December 4 2nd Sunday of Advent Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 Romans 15:4-13 Matthew 3:1-12

Sunday, December 11 3rd Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 35:1-10 Psalm 146:5-10 or Luke 1:46b-55

James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11

Sunday, December 18 4th Sunday of Advent Isaiah 7:10-16

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Romans 1:1-7

Matthew 1:18-25

Sunday, December 25 Christmas Day Isaiah 62:6-12

Psalm 97

Titus 3:4-7

Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20

Important dates you don’t want to miss!

December 4— 4pm SongFest December 11—11 am SPC Choir Cantata

December 18— 11am Christmas Joy Program

December 24— 7pm Candlelight Communion Service

(Christmas Holiday- Office Closed 12/26 and 1/2/17)

Volunteers Needed for

Please stop by the office to select which Monday you can

help with answering phones and small office tasks.

Thank you,

Stephanie Reeves

754-6929

ADDRESS UPDATES!!

Fred & Caroll Raedels

2200 Elm Avenue #1034

Laurinburg, NC 28352

Gene Shannon c/o Cindy Presson

4206 Turtle Crossing

Niceville, FL 32578

If you have placed a name on the list below and it needs

to be removed, please call the Church Office, 754-6929.

Church Family

Bob Alexander, Louise Ashe, Kay Austell, Bob Benjamin, Jerry Bertschi, Vicki Blount, Donna Butler,

Lois Chadwick, Kat Cheves, Marian Downer, Pete Durham, Pat Formy-Duval, Christian Huffman,

Lesa Kolcun, Michael Kolcun, Lantz Lackey, Peggy Lackey, Ann Long, Jerry McCann, Martha Miller,

Tom Morgan, Catherine Norman, Donald Oakley, Lucie Oakley, Wayne Smith, Seamus Smithwick, and

Frances Williams.

Extended Church Family

Justin Boyd, J.C. Brooks, Sue Coats, Corey Copeland, David Davidson,

Tyler Davies, Calvin Flanagan, Henry Foy, Barry Frink, Bart Furlow, Lynn Gause,

Daniel House, Kenny Keisler, Louise Kerns, Caleb Leimoni, Nancy Luger, Robert Olfzak,

Al Parker, Julie Pollock, Harry Ritchie, Judy Santora, Ken Schroder, Ann Smith, Eddie Stephens,

Nancy Suared, Eddie Swan, Phyllis Thomas, Brian Willis, and Gary Wright.

In the Military

Andrew Burgmuller, Gabriel Garratt, Bryan Setzer, Brian Soles, and Clay Thompson.

Food Pantry Sunday is December 11

Please bring non-perishable food items to the church

between the hours of 8:30a.m. and 12:30p.m. or on

Sunday mornings.

If you wish to make a monetary donation,

you may mail it to the church office, or place

it in the offering plate.

If you would like to volunteer in any

capacity, please contact

Bill Johnston at 579-0193.

To My SPC Family,

Throughout the past year you have been so gracious and kind with the many cards, food and gifts that I am truly humbled by it all. The prayers, thoughts and hugs have

meant so much. My recent surgery was a real surprise to my surgeon when I came out of the recovery room with a full

strong voice until Don reminded him there was another set of powerful hands in the room.

I can’t imagine a more loving church family. It is with a grateful and loving heart that I thank all of you.

In Christian Love,

Carol Kauffman

John & Beth Schwab

and

Lois Chadwick

4751 Lightkeepers Way

(Unit 16B)

Little River, SC 29566

Dear SPC,

Thank you to everyone for their prayers, cards and well wishes after

my recent surgery. It is such a blessing to be part of a caring family. Special

thanks to Pastor John and Deacon Bill Johnston for their concern and visits.

Mike Tedor

Why would I spend the money now instead of when I actually need a niche?

Making plans for yourself is a way of making your intentions known to your family. This subject can be a delicate one, and families may

have difficulty discussing plans for after death. Yet, most people cannot predict the circumstances of their deaths. Reservation for

inurnment in a niche or for a memorial plaque could be greatly ap-preciated by your family. If you would like to speak with someone about your plans or your questions,

please call the church office or Betsy Braddock Palmer.

Niches are available for one or two sets of cremated remains. $1,500-$2,000

Memorial Wall plaques can be reserved in honor of or in memory of someone. $750-$1,000

Other monetary contributions are greatly appreciated! Questions? Call Betsy!

910-754-9635

Hallelujah! This joyous expression most frequently associated with the

Easter Season and Christ’s Resurrection could certainly stand as the recurring

theme of this year’s Special Christmas Music presentation at Shallotte Presbyterian. Scheduled

slightly earlier this year on December 11 at the 11:00 AM Worship Service, four of the choral

pieces featured have some iteration of “Hallelujah”.

From the initial distant angelic statement to the full-throated “Alleluias” that follow,

Elaine Hagenberg’s “All Praise to Thee” begins our program with a declaration of thanksgiving

for the Christ Child being sent into our midst. The spiritual “Heard About A Newborn King!”

brings back the delivery with an exuberant “Glory, glory, hallelu” while in Dan Forrest’s

masterpiece “See Amid the Winter’s Snow” “Alleluia” serves as a reverent and humbling

pronunciation of the miracle birth. So, can you guess what might conclude our December 11

program? – Handel’s “Hallelujah” Chorus, of course, perhaps the greatest and most popular

musical utterance of “Hallelujah” ever written. And, there are a few other wonderful pieces

thrown into the mix including Joseph Martin’s advent favorite “O Come to Us, Emmanuel,”

Robert Hobby’s simple but effective “To Bethlehem Two Strangers Came,” and a gorgeous

Craig Courtney arrangement of the much admired contemporary piece “Breath of Heaven.”

All will be enhanced and supported by accompanists Judy McCann and Susan Linton, a

professional string quartet and Pastor John Causey’s narrative tying it all together. Our talented

Handbell Choir will feature two pieces that day, one for Introit and another for Offertory.

I hope all of you will join me in expressing deep appreciation to our Chancel and

Handbell Choirs for their dedication to our mission at SPC. They bring their wonderful talents

to witness through music to those in attendance Sunday after Sunday and at special programs.

Their commitment is truly exemplary. I feel extremely fortunate to be able to work with them.

We encourage you to invite someone to attend with you and help us celebrate

“Hallelujah, Christ is Born.” We believe you and they will be touched by this glorious music,

the performers and Pastor Causey’s narratives.

Barry Auman, Music Director

A Note from the Stewardship/Finance Committee

The following is a brief summary of our giving and related expenditures of the Operating Fund for the 10 months ended

October 31, 2016 with comparative amounts for 2015 and 2014.

2016 2015 2014

Actual Actual Actual

Pledges & Other Offerings received $336,863.03 $351,048.37 $ 358,571.04

Expenditures:

Staff Ministry 159,755.72 167,596.54 200,970.91

Local Program Ministry 11,494.74 10,818.35 7,867.45

Property and Grounds 95,947.93 96,538.93 86.696.10

Administration 19,050.12 20,162.21 14,678.11

General / Sessional 1,586.36 377.94 253.00

Missions and Benevolences 43,762.72 45,782.14 45,510.06

Total Expenditures 331,597.59 341,276.11 355,975.63

Revenues over (under) Expenditures $ 5,265.44 $ 9,772.26 $ 2,595.41

A thought to consider….

“No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.”

Calvin Coolidge

30th US President

Note from the Finance Committee:

We continue to run behind in pledged giving and revenues are $24,000 less than last year at this same time. If you are able,

please catch up your pledge before the end of the year.

Our Church Treasurer reminds you that any 2016 contributions must be in the Church Office by Friday, December 30.

Thank you!

The Friendship Sunday School class has a lot of thanks to share

with some special people.

Circle 1 has given the class a lighted Christmas tree for use in their classroom. The group will be mak-

ing and learning about Chrismon ornaments during December. Circle 1 has also provided small gifts for

each student, which will be given as a gift from Santa at the annual Group Home Christmas party

on December 15th. These gifts were given, honoring Peggy Benoy, who was a teacher in the

Friendship Class. She was beloved by the students.

Another thank you is given to the Faith Circle. For years, this circle has done many fun events with the

students, as well as giving them gifts on special holidays. This year for Halloween, treats, small gifts, and hygiene items were given to them in a

pumpkin bag. All of the students were thrilled and so excited with these gifts, and could not wait to

show and share them with their families and staff.

Coming to Sunday school and church worship each Sunday is a blessing for the Group Home, and the

highlight of their week. All the Friend-ship Class teachers thank John, Barry, Joyce, and the congregation for their

support and kindness. A special thanks to those who have befriended students

during the worship service.

Was a SUCCESS!!

Thank you to All of those who were able

to bless these children in need.

2,400 Shoeboxes were collected

and 175 of those came from SPC!

Way to go!

Before these special gifts can bring hope and

joy to children around the world, each one has

to be carefully inspected and made ready for

overseas shipping and You can be a part of this

exciting process!

If you want to see what’s behind the wrapping

paper You can volunteer to help the

Charlotte Processing Center

On 12/5, 12/6, 12/7 or 12/8

From 10-4pm.

If you are interested please call

Susan Clawson 910-579-7285

PW Coordinating Team Meeting Wednesday, December 7

10:00am

Faith Circle Tuesday, December 13

6:30pm - Home of TBD

Circle #1 & Joyce Skeen Circle will meet together on Wednesday, December 14

12:00pm

(Cirlce #1 will begin at 11:00 for business

followed by lunch, Bible study.)

Come Have Some Fun with the Girls! It’s no secret that an afternoon outing with the girls…..

(movies, lunches, shopping, etc)

….is one of the things we gals enjoy most!

If you’re interested in joining in on the fun,

we would LOVE to have you join our growing group!

Please call Elizabeth Lewis for more information 910-754-8493

isters

f

trength Friday, December 16

11:30am at River’s Edge Clubhouse (Shallotte) Movie to follow lunch!

NEWS FROM THE

CONNECTIONS

COMMITTEE

There will not be a potluck in December.

We look forward to seeing you in January!

Committee

Shallotte Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Non-Profit Organization P. O. Box 3256 5070 Main Street Shallotte U.S. Postage Paid

Shallotte, NC 28459 Shallotte, NC

Phone: 910-754-6929 Permit #140

E-mail: church@atmc.net

www.shallottechurch.org

ADDRESS RETURN REQUESTED

December 2016

Presbyterian Counseling Center 4910 Wrightsville Avenue Wilmington, NC 28403

910-452-7370/910-448-0525

Satellite Office: Shallotte Presbyterian Church

CENTERPOINT

Recently I wrote an article addressing some of the issues a young couple marrying for the first time is likely

to face. This month, I would like to address some issues a couple entering a second marriage may

encounter.

People in mid-life have a lot of history. Part of the marriage contract is to accept your partner’s history

without resentment.

Couples marrying for a second time often have established careers and have acquired property and other

assets. While they may not seem very romantic, pre-nuptial agreements are more and more common.

Finances should be thoroughly discussed.

Blending families is a challenging and complex aspect of re-marriage. Many people do it quite successfully.

Stepparent/stepchild relationships can be close and nurturing and co-exist lovingly with natural parent/child

relationships. However, this may require time, patience and understanding.

Pre-marital counseling can be as helpful for a couple entering a second marriage as it can be for a young

couple marrying for the first time.

Call 452-7370, and visit the Center: www.presbyteriancounselingcenter.org

Ann C. Thacker, Counselor

www.facebook.com/shallottepresbyterian

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