FEBRUARY 2017

REV. JANE STOVER, PASTOR Telephone: (302) 998-6365 Email: elsmerepres@verizon.net

Fax: (302) 998-4626 Website: www.elsmerepres.org

EPC STAFF

REV. JANE STOVER, PASTOR

THOMAS J. MEEHAN, ORGANIST/MUSIC DIRECTOR

DIANE JACKSON, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1 Church Information

2 Inside this issue

3 Pastor’s Page

4 Birthdays

5 Anniversaries

6 Session Notes

7 Micah the Church Mouse

8 EPCCC

9 2016 Annual Beach Retreat

10 Christian Education

11 Calendar

12 Kids Corner

13 News of Our Flock

14 Inclement Weather

PASTOR’S PAGE

As I wander through the Day Care, I am

starkly reminded that it’s February!!! The ‘one’s’ class are feverishly working on making valentines with white paper doilies. (C’mon…many can relate.) Sequin hearts and decorative hearts are everywhere. I asked one of the older children, “Hey, what’s with all the hearts?” One little girl quickly answered, while rolling her eyes, “Valentine’s Day! Duh! You know - love!” One of her male counterparts quickly added, “and candy!” As always…out of the mouths of babes. I LOVE those kids. They keep me grounded and ‘on point.’

Yes, Hallmark, Flowers FTD, restaurants, and even jewelry stores, are happily busier and lucrative in the month of February, as in other months. It is the month of “love,” as culture dictates. Yet, only one month to focus on love?

I recall as a child, and, once again, I’m dating myself, we exchanged valentines with everyone in our class. Our paper bags (white, if we’re lucky) we’re handsomely decorated and taped to the chalk rail around the classroom. The only rule in place was, “everyone received a Valentine!”

A rule? As a follower of Christ, it’s a bit more than a rule…but a responsibility…our marching orders. I could quote verse after verse after verse as to what scripture teaches us about God’s love. But let’s cut to the chase. In fact, it is the greatest of all commandments, “Thou shalt love the Lord, your God,with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.”

“Duh,” I ask you, “what part do we not understand?

Friends, love trumps all. When in doubt…LOVE!

Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Trust that, believe that, share the love.

In Christ’s love,

Jane

CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS THIS MONTH

February 6 Jennifer Thomas

Keira Lynn Poole

February 8 Andrew Rankin

February 12 Wayne Rankin

February 14 Margaret Semerteen

February 22 Jean Ray Smith

Sean Rankin

February 26 Dave Thomas

Preston Rankin

February 28 Bettyann Paris

SESSION NOTES

Our church membership remains at 80.

Below is the financial information as of December 2016:

December 2016 YTD

Income Received $ 18,699.46 $ 139,431.45

Expenses Paid - 13,484.02 - 140,898.06

Net Income $ 5,215.44 $ - 1,466.61

For the year pledges were kept up to date and expenses were kept to a minimum. The large amount of income received in December was due to the timing of the CCC contribution being deposited for November and December.

Session will meet again February 21 @ 7:00pm.

CHURCH MOUSE

Hi Friends,

I'm sorry I missed you last month. I have been traveling and visiting relatives. Although it was nice to see my kin, I really did miss all of you.

I began my travels by going to see cousins in Pittsburgh. They are also church mice who live in a Methodist church. It seems similar to our church except the music wasn't as uplifting as it is here at EPC. They have several children who attend, but again, they are not as involved in activities like our children are. We have children who are enthusiastic about learning and doing God's work.

Next I traveled to Baltimore to see my Aunt Minnie (no relation to Disney's Minnie). She also lives in a church. Their Sunday service was very different from ours. Their service was solemn and long. There was no family feeling or friendliness like we have at Elsmere. Blessings flow through this church every day.

I can't wait to get back to Kid's Club. I heard they will be doing SOCKS OF LOVE for the homeless in the Wilmington area. I want to be a part of that. I better go because I hear Chris, the building facilitator, coming in to work and he doesn't know about me yet.

Have a warm and wonderful month!!

Micah

ELSMERE PRESBYTERIAN CHILD CARE CENTERUPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS

Superbowl Celebration Pediatric Dental Office Visit Valentine’s Day Party Staff In-Service Day

DENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

February is Dental Health Awareness month. It’s a good time for families to review the preventative measures they are taking to make sure their children’s teeth, gums, and mouth remain healthy. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

DELAWARE EARLY LEARNING FOUNDATIONS

All children are learners. Children learn through play. Every child is unique and is accepted for his/her differences in development,

culture, home environment, and learning style. Parents/families are the child’s first teachers-they play a key role in preparing

children for success in school through being involved in their child’s education from birth.

Quality early learning experiences are essential to prepare a child for success in school.

The learning opportunities provided need to be developmentally appropriate for all children.

A developmentally appropriate learning environment supports learning and development.

It takes partnerships among families, early care and education professionals, schools, health care providers, and other community resources to promote children’s development and school success.

2016 Annual Beach Retreat! 

NEW THIS YEAR!  Free Childcare and half-price kids meals!

Also, scholarships toward registration are available.  Email your request to

Bob Schminkey (bschminkey@ncpresbytery.org)

Please complete registration with payment (online or via USPS mail) no later than January 28th to guarantee a room.

Registration will remain open until 3/2/2017.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

We are still having a blast with Kid's Club. There is an average of 12-14 children each week. Sunday school continues to be fun and educational. Recently the

children went on a scavenger hunt to see how many places they could find God. Guess what? God is EVERYWHERE!! We are still raising money for our trip to Kentucky to see The Ark.

Thank you for your support.

Diane

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4

5Communion

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

6 7 8 9 10Kids Club6-8

11

126th Sunday in Ordinary Time/Proper1

13 14 15 16 17 18

197th Sunday in Ordinary Time/Prosper2

20Presidents’ Day

21Session Meeting

22 23 24 25Mens Breakfast at Michaels

26Transfiguration of the Lord

27 28

KIDS CORNER

NEWS OF OUR FLOCK

*Dick Fernald is presently in Compassionate Care at St. Francis. Prayers of love and support and peace for coveted for Dick and Joan and family.

*Jim Semerteen remains at Christiana Care as they determine a facility for his long term care. Hold Margaret and family in prayer during this transition.

*Baby Wyatt has suffered several setbacks in his condition. EPC joins with so many others near and far for this precious baby and his mother.

*Prayers for Deirdra Drozdowski as she undergoes foot surgery on February 3. Prayers for a speedy recovery for ‘Dee.’ She is a new regular face in our midst and we are blessed.

*Continued prayers of support for the ‘Miller’ family, especially Autumn. They, too have been such a blessed addition to our church family.

*Continue to pray for our church family members who are unable to join us physically: Peg and Albert Degen, Bob and Peg Roberts, Evelyn and Russ Daisey, Marian Manning, Julie and Jack Tobin, Dot Waibel, Polly Roberts.

(As always, if you have news of EPC members or friends, please contact Rev. Jane or call the church office.)

INCLEMENT WEATHER INFORMATION

In the event that we need to cancel church services due to inclement weather, we will have it announced on the

following radio stations or online.

1150 AM WDEL (www.wdel.com)

93.7 FM WSTW (www.wstw.com)

Elsmere Presbyterian Church606 New RoadWilmington, DE 19805

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED