On the INSIDE

Fellowship/CE 2-3

Youth 4

Birthdays/Milestones 5

A Publication of The Presbyterian Church, Fredericksburg, Virginia Lamp Led by the Holy Spirit, we glorify, nurture, witness.

January 2019

Enjoy! Another Year Begins What makes a thing “holy”? It’s not willpower, or luck, or self-determination or

ambition. What is holy is what is set apart to a sacred purpose. Most often that is

done by God, and we merely formalize the obvious. Think of a baby’s birth, or an

aged parent’s last breath.

Now think for a moment about the bubbly quality of sparkling sodas and juices.

Can you remember when they tickled your nose as a child? -- Or as an adult, how

the effervescent fizz of certain drinks impresses you?

“Laughter is carbonated holiness,” says Anne Lamott.

While you are toasting and celebrating in January, consider this unexpected image

from the distinguished writer. Perhaps sharing a little carbonated holiness can help

us start the New Year on a good footing, with a more joyful demeanor.

A smile, a grin, or full-bodied laughter is such a gift in our super-serious world. It

reminds us of friendship, of joy, of playfulness. And, it’s contagious.

Try it out today: see if you can help others break from their blank boredom, their

frowning sternness, or the veneers of cynicism and indifference that pancake so

many faces like mortuary make-up.

Recall the great response to the opening question of the Shorter Catechism.

Q: “What is the chief end of humankind?”

A:“…to glorify God and enjoy God forever!”

Being committed to glorifying God may just keep you open to laughter, joy, a

more balanced view of yourself and those you love. Do you suppose that laughing

together might even help keep us more faithful disciples?

Carbonated holiness seems as if it may be worth sharing!

See you in worship!

Page 2 The Lamp The Presbyter ian Church

2019 Confirmation Journey The 2019 Confirmation Journey begins on January 6, at 6:30 p.m. with an

activities night for the explorers and their mentors in the Undercroft. Classes

will start the following Sunday, January 13, at 9:45 a.m. and continue through

May 5. The only Sunday there will not be class is March 10 when the explorers

will be at the congregational retreat. There will also be some special activities

that will take place other than class time. The explorers for the 2019

Confirmation Journey are: Zach Horn, Will Oplinger, Margaret Rowe, Jack

Schneider, and Helena Sidebotham. The leaders are: Della Hall, Tricia Garner,

Porter Blakemore, and Bruce Harvey. Please be in prayer for the explorers,

mentors, parents, and leaders.

Bowl Foods Potluck and Trivia Night The Fellowship Committee will host

a Bowl Foods Potluck and Trivia Night

on January 26, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

in Fellowship Hall. Please bring your

favorite food that can be eaten in a

bowl: chili, macaroni and cheese,

stew, or soup. Beverages and dessert

will be provided. The trivia game will

be for older children, youth, and adults.

A table for young children will be

provided for Play-doh and coloring.

Church School Brunch All members and visitors are invited

to the Church School Brunch on

Sunday, January 6, at 9:30 a.m. in the

Fellowship Hall. All the food and

beverages will be provided by the

Christian Education Committee.

Children and youth will move to their

classes following the brunch and a

few announcements. Adults are

encouraged to remain in the

Fellowship Hall for a brief description

of the adult class offerings and to assist

with cleanup.

January Prime Timers Our January outing will be on

Wednesday, January 9, at noon at

Basilico Italian Market at the new

location at Harrison Crossing, 7011

Harrison Road. Going from

Fredericksburg, you turn left at the

Harrison Crossing light, take the first

left, and then right into the parking lot.

You may park in the front or the back.

Look for Harry Smart at the front door.

RSVP to Harry or Gerry Smart,

786-6170 (hbs31@comcast.net) by

January 6.

May Pittsburgh Trip Prime Timers and Empty Nesters

going on the trip to Pittsburgh,

Falling Water, and the Flight 93

Memorial, April 30-May 2, 2019,

are reminded to continue to make

their monthly payments of $50. All

monies are due by March 31. The

total cost is $389 per person. There

is still room for a couple of people.

Contact Bruce, 373-7057

(bharvey@fredericksburgp.org).

Empty Nesters/Prime Timers Event Join us for an evening of fun,

conversation, games, appetizers, and

desserts on Saturday, January 12. It’s

a great chance to catch up with friends

in a fun and comfortable atmosphere.

Please bring your own beverage along

with an appetizer or dessert to share.

A bonfire and s’mores are also on the

agenda! The fun happens from 5:00 to

9:00 p.m. on January 12, at the Simms’

residence, 12092 Mount Rose Drive,

King George. Let Lynn know by

phone, 540-775-2763, or email,

ljsimms1209@gmail.com, if you plan

on coming.

Page 3 The Lamp The Presbyter ian Church

PW Circles & Other Meetings Never Ending Circle - Jan. 6, 12:30pm, at Debbie Leimer’s, leader, Trudy McNatt, 373-2852

Circle of Joy - Jan. 7, 10am, Church Parlor, leader Kathryn Hower, 361-7435

Faith Circle - Jan. 14, 1pm, Church Parlor, leaders Patti Kerns 786-2861 & Susie Davis 656-2055

Friendship Circle - Jan. 8, 10:30am, Chancellor’s Village, leader Carol Johnson, 639-4700

Circle of Prayer - Jan. 21, 12:15pm, Conference Room, leader Jeanne Ramsburg, 710-5891

Circle of Grace - Jan. 20, 2pm, lead-ers Heather Eland, 737-4449, Robin Joel, 229-1421, Rachel Hole, 903-0677

Horizons Bible Study Review of Lessons 6 & 7 - Jan. 13, 12:30pm, Conference Room, lead by Pastor Tamminga,

PW Coordinating Team meeting- Jan. 15, 10am, Conference Room

Lenten Church School Class Special Church School Class during

the season of Lent

During the Lenten season, a new

Conversations in the Public Square

course called “Who is My Neighbor –

Immigrants & Refugees Among Us,

will meet on March 17, 24, 31, and

April 7, and 14, in the Fellowship Hall.

Plans are still in process on this course.

We will have guest speakers from both

the PC (USA) Office of Public Witness

in Washington, DC and the PC (USA)

Office at the United Nations, refugees

from our community, and other guests

as we work together to come to a better

understanding.

Congregational Retreat The 2019 Congregational Retreat at

Camp Hanover is March 9-10. This is

a great weekend to make new friends

and renew old friendships in God’s

creation as you enjoy activities for all

ages, worship, campfire, singing,

stories, free time, and great fellowship.

The theme the planning team is

developing, is: Open: God, Commu-

nity, and Fun. Stay tuned for more

information. The food is great and

the accommodations are suitable for

almost everyone.

If you have questions contact a

member of the committee: Katie

Fidler, Barbara Nance, Jamie Loder,

Charlotte Young, Cole Young, Julie

Young, Jon Schneider, Patty Toler,

Karen Johnson, Connie Barnes, or

Bruce Harvey.

Worship Workshop The Worship Workshop is coming

on Sunday, January 27, following the

11:00 a.m. worship service. All 1st –

3rd graders and their parents are invited

to come to the workshop that will help

prepare and enhance worship for all

members of the family as they move

from different learning centers focus-

ing on: the Lord’s Prayer, Finding a

Scripture Passage, making a Hymn-

book marker, playing a sanctuary

game, and an order of worship activity.

The group will also go to the Sanctu-

ary for a scavenger hunt and to sing the

Doxology and the Gloria Patri. Lunch

is included.

Please let Bruce know by Sunday,

January 20 if you plan to attend.

Rise Against Hunger Event Are you ready to pack 20,000 meals

for some of the hungry people in our

world? Come join the excitement of

seeing 3-year olds through adults

working together to put the meals of

rice, vegetables, soy, and 23 vitamins

and minerals in plastic bags, sealing

the bags, and then packing them in

boxes. Boxed meals will go to the Rise

Against Hunger warehouse ready to be

shipped to a place in need.

Mark your calendar for Sunday,

February 3, following worship led by

our high school and middle school

youth and the Souper Bowl offering

(the offering will assist in the cost of

the meals, which are 29-cents per

meal). The Souper Bowl offering was

started by a Presbyterian youth director

in South Carolina over 25 years ago on

Super Bowl Sunday. Come join the

fun and look for the sign-up table in

January.

Community Dinner Dates January 19 and February 16.

Contact Karen Johnson, 540-621-

5685 (ksjohnson422@msn.com), if

you would like to help.

Page 4 The Lamp The Presbyter ian Church

Middle School High School

@ TPC@ TPC

*Sat. January 5

We will be kicking off the new year together at The GardenFest of Lights! All youth are invited to meet at 6:30 p.m.

in the church parking lot to depart for the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond. See you there!

Students should eat supper prior to their arrival. Cost of this event is $10 per student and we expect to return to the

church by 10:00 p.m. There will be no Youth Fellowship on Sunday, January 6.

January 13

Youth Sunday is just around the corner! All Youth are invited to come and join us for an afternoon of food,

fellowship, and the fun of planning this special day in the life of our congregation. We will meet from 12:00-3:00 p.m.

in the Fellowship Hall. Lunch will be provided. There will be no Youth Supper this evening.

*Fri. January 18 - 19

YOUTH LOCK-IN, enough said. It has been many years since our last youth lock-in. Come and be a part of history,

8:00 p.m. Friday to 8:00 a.m. Saturday. There will be no Youth Fellowship on Sunday, January 20.

January 26

You won’t want to miss our very first Youth Supper of the New Year… or the special activities some of our youth will

be leading this evening!

Upcoming Blood Drive The Presbyterian Church will be sponsoring a blood drive with the

American Red Cross on January 29, from 1:00-7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship

Hall. All you need to do to become a part of this lifesaving mission is book

your appointment time on the signup sheet located on the table in the

Fellowship Hall each Sunday in January or online at redcrossblood.org.

Search online for sponsor code: FredericksburgPresbyterian.

Don’t forget to encourage your family members, friends, and co-workers

to join you. If you have any questions, please contact Linda Benn, 540 370-

1646 (lkbrab@verizon.net).

2. Libby Humes, Mike O'Brien, Scott Theado,

Tom Wimberly

3. Brent McGhee

4. Mollie Creasey Gary Wainwright

6. Joan Darby

8. Haley Dameron

9. Bud Baker, Sarah Gormley, Anne Thompson

10. Thomas Digges, Harry Farley, Bridget Harvey

11. Laura Digges, Eric Dowling, Ruth Moreau,

Lillian Remsen, Alexandra Spaulding

12. Mike Foreman, Ginger Oplinger

13. Pete Kolakowski, Mia Rawlings

14. Maxine Gloyd, Gary Scheibel

15. Lou Cralle, Duane Hansen, Oliver Morris,

Linda Spangler, Neil Sullivan

16. John Baer, Susan Harrison

17. Erica Foreman, Drew Rexrode, Jane Williams

19. Missy Dodson, CJ Forsing, Lee Woolf

20. Meredith Goggin, Miguel Pineda, Chris Repp,

Don Wilson

21. Michael Gloyd

22. Nellie Kate Dameron

23. Sarah Coddington, Nancy Wilson

24. Jeff Kunkler

26. Carol Campbell, Harry Lewis

27. Adam Bentley

28. Claire Fritz, Don MacNemar

29. Brian Baker, Ellie Bell, Zac Cunningham,

Bruce Harvey, Silas Lacey, Clara Liska,

Kim Liska, April Stevens

30. Kaileen Coffman, Don Doherty

31. Robert King, Lynn Norfleet

John Bailey Connie Barnes Marjolijn Bijlefeld Matt Bohmke Kurt Chewning Steve Davis Erik Fino

Piper Foresman Michael Gloyd Vanessa Huffman Andrea Ilardia Brian Liska James Luckett Sammy Merrill

Diane Peterson Michelle Porter Will Rowe Beth Valasko Joel Young

2018-19 Session

Moderator – Rev. Allen H. Fisher, Jr., Pastor Associate Pastor – Rev. Brittany Tamminga Clerk of Session – Tamie Pratt-Fartro

Milestones Capsule of Concern: Tom Edwards, Clark Hower, Barry

Jones, Sharon Moser, Carter Theado, John Walker

Baptism: Mia Larkin Rawlings, born January 13, 2016,

was baptized on November 25, 2018. Mia is the daughter

of Bayli Larkin Rawlings. Her grand-mother is Lynn

Rawlings, her great-grandmother and great grandfather are

Debra and Dorian Myers, and Jeffrey Rawlings, II is her

uncle.

Graduation: Henry Day graduated from James Madison

University, December 15, 2018.

Heartfelt Christian love and sympathies are extended to

Marnie Schattgen and family on the death of her father,

Laird Cruzen, who died on November 13, 2018; and

Felicia Hibbeler and family on the death of her father,

Herb Rudolph, who died on November 30, 2018; and

Patti Myers on the death of her sister, Donna Lee Burns,

who died on November 27, 2018, in Minneapolis, Minne-

sota.

Page 5 The Lamp The Presbyter ian Church

Elders

Thanks The Christian Education Committee thanks The Rev.

Anders Pedersen and The Rev. Allen H. Fisher, Jr., for

teaching this past semester in our adult church school

classes. Both the Parenting Class and the Faith & Movie

Class will continue in the winter/spring semester. Please

be on the lookout for the 2019 Winter/Spring Church

School Brochure with descriptions of all the adult classes

along with teachers for the adult, children, and youth

classes.

The Sacrament of

Communion

will be celebrated in

worship on

January 6

Some dates to remember Sunday, January 27

Worship Workshop for 1st-3rd graders and their

parents following the 11:00 a.m. worship ser-

vice, please let Bruce know by January 20, if

you plan to attend

Tuesday, January 29

Red Cross Blood Drive in the Fellowship Hall

Sunday, February 3

Rise Against Hunger – we will again put together

20,000 meals in the Fellowship Hall to help feed

the hungry

March 9-10

Congregational Retreat at Camp Hanover

Know Your Neighbor Events The next Know Your Neighbor Event will be on

Saturday, January 5, at the Fredericksburg Area

Food Bank from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. We will pack

food boxes. Ages 10 and up are welcome to come.

We will meet at the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank,

3631 Lee Hill Drive. We will go to Wegmans for

lunch for any who are interested.

On Sunday, March 3, our church will host a Know

Your Neighbor: An Interfaith Gathering event in the

Fellowship Hall from 3:00-5:00 p.m. We will hear

short presentations about Easter, Passover, and

Ramadan as well as have a time for table talk and

fellowship.