TABLE OF CONTENTS

Deepening our Discipleship 1

Presbytery Event .................. 2

Youth ..................................... 3

Elementary ........................... 4

Teacher Feature ................... 5

Day School News .................. 6

Christmas Schedule .............. 7

MidWeek Meals .................... 7

Feed Fayette .......................... 7

Committee Meetings ............ 7

Acolyte Schedule .................. 8

Birthdays ............................... 8

December 2015

Rev. Rebecca Luter

Deepening our Discipleship

O ur theme throughout Advent is “A Place of Refuge in the Madness of the Season.” The countdown has begun, the Black Friday sales data is in, and as I write this I receive the

latest Cyber Monday deals. My house is half-decorated. My presents are half-bought. My plans are half-made. And yet, I am happy it is Advent. I don’t know about you, but I am almost thankful for the madness of the season and the never-ending to-do lists for the distraction they provide from world events and political debates.

Yet, that is not why Advent gives me great joy. The refuge of Christmas is not a retreat to the mall, and our hopes for the world are not going to be granted by a right jolly old elf. Advent brings deep and abiding solace as we prepare our lives and our hearts to welcome Christ. The first Sunday of Advent, we heard a message of hope that God comes to us in unexpected places like Bethlehem. The second Sunday of Advent, we will hear a message of peace that comes when we, as unlikely to be God’s agents as Mary and Joseph, are obedient to God’s will. The third Sunday of Advent we will hear again the joy that is ours when we, like John the Baptist, recognize that Christ is present. And the fourth Sunday of Advent we will hear God’s loving invitation to worship the Christ child…an invitation to all, whether shepherd or wise man.

Throughout Advent, I invite you to experience the refuge from the madness…whatever madness you are experiencing…and prepare your life and your heart to receive the Prince of Peace.

Photo taken November 23 at 4:10pm, when the only sunlight in the sanctuary hit this decoration.

Youth Schedule

Dec 6 - God is still but not silent. 4pm -

6pm. In the Youth Room. Dinner

Provided.

Dec 13 - God the Father 4pm - 6pm. In the

Youth Room. Dinner Provided.

Dec 20— Christmas—More than a story.

4pm - 6pm. In the Youth Room. Dinner

Provided.

“The thrill of hope, a weary world

rejoices.” Has reason defeated the need for faith? Some

would say belief in God is obsolete. We can

explain so much through science that the

Bible can seem outdated and irrelevant.

Looking into the night sky, ancient people

saw a ceiling with holes in it that the light of

heaven passed through. In reality, those are

stars. Years ago, people believed the earth

ended at the oceans, we now know you can

travel from shore to shore and end up back

where you started. Once upon a time, the

human race consisted of two people, was

preserved by a family in a boat, and was

scattered to the four corners of the earth into

various language. Or are these legends and

myths? What about Jesus. Is his story true?

The stories of the Bible don’t always match up

with science and reason. But the Bible

expresses the same hope and longing that

draw our curiosity into space and to look

through the microscope. We seek these

discoveries because we hope to find meaning

and a source of all life. We long to

understand how we got here. At Christmas,

we celebrate the gift given in a manger; the

source of all life arriving and dwelling with

us. Until then we wait.

Advent is not a weary, cold, and hopeless

wait. Advent is anticipation, longing, or as

the hymn O Holy Night puts it, “the thrill of

hope”. It is the kind of hope that draws us

forward from darkness to light. December 6,

13, and 20 the Sunday Night Youth Fellowship

will be looking at the story of Christmas

through the eyes of reason and faith. We

may discover the hope that drives us to

discover, create, and believe.

Youth @FPC

There are stores that have had their Christmas decorations out for weeks now. And since it’s such a big time in the church, we want to make sure you have plenty of time to get ready for the event—both personally and in your children’s ministry.

So to get you in the Christmas holiday mood, we’re going to ease you into it. You don’t have to go into the attic, basement, or storage unit and drag out all your Christmas decorations. Let’s just talk about Christmas movies.

There’s just something about some of those movies that no matter how you’re feeling after you watch them you can’t help but get into the Christmas spirit. Maybe one of these lines from some Christmas movies resonates with you:

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” (Elf)

“Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see.” (The Polar Express)

Or even the classic, “I Triple-Dog-Dare you!” (A Christmas Story)

Christmas movies have a way of changing the way you look not only about Christmas but also about life as we see characters on the screen transform from unbelief to belief, from stingy to generous, or from cold-hearted to compassionate.

For the month of December, we’re taking a quote from one of those famous movie lines and “Triple-Dog-Daring” kids to show compassion to the people around them and even across the world.

We define compassion like this: caring enough to do something about someone else’s need. But when it comes to compassion, no movie even comes close to the greatest story of all time, yep, THE Christmas story.

Think about it. The Creator of the universe, the one who made galaxies, solar systems, stars and

planets, was attentive to His creation. He saw how sin had broken His people and His world. He saw and understood—more than we ever will—what the ultimate consequences of sin were for us. He saw our greatest need.

But God didn’t stop there. He did something about it. Jesus became one of us. Humbling Himself to be born as a tiny baby in a remote town in the dwelling place of animals. His birth announcement was sent first to a lowly group of shepherds and later to kings from a distant land. He lived as one of us, so that eventually He could die as atonement for our sin and be raised again on the third day so that we could also one day live forever with God in Heaven.

The Christmas story can really be summed up in one verse of Scripture. And this is the verse that we want every parent, every leader, and every child to memorize and carry with them the rest of their lives. Because there’s no other verse that can compare with what this verse says. It’s the essence not only of the Christmas story, but the essence of the story of Jesus. It’s found in John 3:16: “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life” (NIrV).

If you look at the Christmas story, it’s easy to see that one aspect of God’s character is compassion. God saw our greatest need, and He met it in the most remarkable way. To get kids thinking more about this we’re taking the entire Christmas season to talk about compassion and ask a different question each week to get kids and families thinking about how they can show compassion this Christmas.

Elementary

Lindsay Pierce

How long have you been teaching?

11 years

What do you like most about teaching at FPDS?

The “ah ha” moment when they finally figure

it out and seeing the world through their eyes

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Spending time with my family and working

out

Liz Justis

How long have you been teaching?

10 years

What do you like most about teaching at FPDS?

The interaction with the children and the

nice relationships I have with the staff

members... The food is pretty good too!

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Relaxing with a good book.

What is your favorite vacation spot?

South Italy in the summertime

Thanks to all Farmington

Presbyterian Men who

installed the Outdoor

Nativity Scene November

28th.

Duke Lively

Jack Ingram

Jack Williams

Jerry Renfrow

John Hazen

Jon Still

Paul Bourassa

Ray Bendall

Roland Mittag

Scott Hutchins

Steve Demaree

Gross Motor Development

Day School News

Preparing preschoolers for Kindergarten is what

we do best here at Farmington, but that entails

more than one might think. We focus on the

whole child: spiritual, social, emotional, cognitive

and physical development. The physical

development of a child doesn’t seem as

important as the cognitive development, some

might say, but they are directly intertwined and

dependent on each other. Gross motor

development helps fine motor development, and

fine motor skills are necessary for reading and

writing. There seems to be a decline in gross

motor function in children due to all the

technology options that are available today.

Many children would choose Mine Craft over a

game of kick ball or Mario Cart over hop scotch.

So, our job is to offer opportunities for gross

motor movement. While recess time is a major

source of gross motor development, a child who

is uncoordinated is going to avoid movement and

settle for inactivity. Our job as educators is to be

sure to give children the time, space and

opportunity to move. In the preschool, simple

games, obstacle courses, and repeated activities

help children work on balance, hopping,

alternating feet while climbing stairs, jumping,

skipping, and catching a ball. We have a gross

motor activity cart with games and materials

teachers can use. In the school age program, we

have basketball, soccer, football, hula hoops,

jump ropes and balls. Children need strong gross

motor skills so they can participate in physical

activities and lead a healthy life. While we can

assure you that your child will have a successful

kindergarten experience, we also want to assure

you that they are learning how to move and are

developing skills that will help them be active

and happy playing.

Preschool Christmas Programs

Monday, December 14th at 9:30am

Karen & Karen (MWF Class)

Amy & Barbara (MWF Class)

Lindsay & Liz

Tuesday, December 15th at 9:30am

Amy & Barbara (T/TH Class)

Elise & Mallorie

Tuesday, December 15th at 11am

Natalee & Rachel

Karen & Karen (T/TH Class)

Sarah & Kerry

Help us decorate the Mitten Tree in the

Fellowship Hall with adult hats, scarves, and

gloves for homeless men and woment in our

community.

Decorate the Mitten Tree

Congregational Care

10:00 am Tuesday, Dec. 1

Session

6:00 pm, Monday, Dec. 14

Committee Meetings

Each month we collect a different item to

donate to the Feeding Fayette Food Pantry.

December, we are collecting canned soup and

stew! Bring in your cans and add to one of the

donation bins in the halls of the church.

Feeding Fayette Collection

Dec. 2 - Chicken Spaghetti Programs for adults and pageant rehearsal

Dec. 9 - Chicken Tenders

Christmas Pageant

Dec 16 - Lasagna

Programs for adults and children

Dec 1 Hope and Healing Service 6 pm A service of preparation and prayer for those who have experienced loss or crisis and for those who are not joyfully anticipating the holiday season.

Dec 9 Family Night Dinner 5:45 pm Children’s Christmas Pageant 6:30 pm Dec 18 Christmas Caroling Meet at FPC at 3pm—We will be caroling at the

homes of our members who are unable to attend worship due to mobility challenges. It is followed by a time of Christmas Cheer at the home of Brandon and Shelley Wann.

Dec 20 Lessons and Carols 6:00 pm Experience the Christmas Story through Word

and Song. Followed by a reception in honor of our Chancel Choir

Dec 24 Christmas Eve 5:00 pm

Candlelight Communion Service

Dec 25 Christmas Day

Christmas at Farmington

Farmington Presbyterian Church and Day School 8245 Farmington Blvd. Germantown, TN 38139

www.Farmingtonpres.org

If you have content for the January edition of New Vision, please email Doug Barr no later than

December 16 at Doug@farmingtonpres.org

Acolyte Schedule

Dec. 6 Meredith Oest

Dec. 13 Natalie Lively

Dec. 20 Olivia Mittag

Dec. 27 Jack Ritchey

Session Members

Administration – Kirsten King

Christian Education – Laurinda Ingram

Clerk – Melanie Oest

Congregational Care – John Hazen

Fellowship – Mary Shelley Ritchey

Property and Grounds – Jerry Hosier

School Board – Susan Bryant

Service – Bonnie Blair

Worship – Sandy Wann

Staff Extensions

Rev. Rebecca Luter, Pastor, Ext. 23

Doug Barr, Director of Christian Education, Ext. 29

Cyndi Bevington, Administrative Assistant, Ext. 21

Rhonda Pearsall, Bookkeeper, Ext. 22

Jenny Howell, Executive Director of Day School, Ext. 28

Linda Turner, Managing Director of Day School, Ext. 24

Gretchen Burch, Program Director of Day School, Ext. 32

Anthony Jones, Maintenance Technician

If your birthday is not listed, please contact

the church office to be added. We would

like to celebrate with you.

1 Jackie Hall

2 John Thomas

3 Natalie Lively

Julia Lively

Elizabeth Luter

9 Michael Wann

10 Mary Shelley Ritchey

11 Mike Schneider

12 Molly Sweet

13 Susie Fister

18 Hudson Barr

19 Loyd Hudson

21 Kenny Williams

Rachel Doelling

23 Lu Schneider

25 Melanie Oest

Chelsea Davis

26 Caroline DelPriore

27 Nancy Mitchell

30 Neil Sherman

December Birthdays