VOL 87 | JANUARY 2014

IN THIS ISSUE

BIRTHDAYS

ANNIVERSARIES

LETTER FROM PASTOR

PRESCHOOL

MISSION

HEALTH

EDUCATION

FELLOWSHIP

HOLIDAY HOPE UPDATE Holiday Hope is a day of encouragement and hope for families in-transition. This year the event was a huge success with over 300 guests and 150 volunteers. Despite rain, food was served, haircuts, manicures and

massages were given. Make up was provided and glamour shots were taken. Mr and Mrs. Santa were a hit and everyone got a plate of home made cookies. We received so many plates that they filled every available space in the workroom before the event and they were well-received by our visitors. Thank you also for the 134 gift cards that were donated by our congregation and church friends and family. In addition to this, cards were also collected through New Hope Church and the Pre-School so it was truly a joint effort and partnership. Thank you for making such a difference to the lives of those in need. What a day!!!

The First PresbyterianThe First PresbyterianThe First Presbyterian

Kristin Sinclair January 1 Vic J Nalley January 2 Bobby Westling January 4 Bonnie Sharp January 7 Savanna Hansen January 12 Ann MacMath January 12 Gwyneth Boyd January 14 Liz Calvo January 14 Jack Fotch January 15 Betty Livingstone January 15 Carol Culbert January 16 Joyce Geisert January 16 Priscilla Groot January 19 Virginia Carson January 22 David White Jr. January 22 Ronald Noren January 23 Ann Teachout January 24 James Godfrey January 25 James Kroesen January 25 David Fuchs January 26 Jean Turnbull January 30

The following are items currently needed for our “no kitchen” bags: any small flip top cans: i.e. vegetables, fruit, hearty soups, canned pasta, Vienna sausage, chicken or tuna. Also instant oatmeal packets, hot chocolate packets, and raisins. Please leave these items in the cart in the Narthex or in the church office. How about shopping at the 99 cent store? Your contributions have made it possible for us to keep up with the demand without having to buy food! Many thanks to our faithful donors.

FOOD BAGS

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK

Be an "angel" and help sort food for those in need the first Saturday of every month at 9am 8014 S. Marine Way, Great Park, Irvine. Contact Tom Godfrey for more information and directions at TomGodfrey2001@yahoo.com (714) 343-3866 or visit the church website.

BIRTHDAYS

Walter & Barbara Khazoyan January 12 Dave & Debora Karaffa January 14 Charles & Rose Flanagan January 27 Edward & Carol Culbert January 30

ANNIVERSARIES

OUR CHURCH FAMILY Deaths: Velma Dankmeyer, November 24th, 2013 Milfred Smith, November 30th, 2013 Norma Frantz, December 15th, 2013

Thank you to so many of you who sent cards, visited or phoned me following my recent surgery. Our con-gregtion is terrific at showing concern. I am recovering nicely. Thinking of all of you with warmth in my heart. God bless you.

Martha Moyers

PRESBYTERIAN DISASTER ASSISTANCE

Typhoon Haiyan left monumental devastation when it struck the central Phillipines on Nov 8. This storm is one of the worst storms in recorded history. God's people are hurting and we are called to serve them---through prayer, action and support. Checks may be given to our church office and designated for PDA/Typhoon Haiyan.

LETTER FROM THE PASTOR Dear Believers, “In Lewis Caroll’s ‘Alice’s Adventures Through the Looking Glass,’ writes Madeleine L’ Engle in Winter Song, her book with Luci Shaw, the White Queen advises Alice “to practice believing six impossible things every morning before breakfast.” It’s good advice. “Unless we practice believing in the impossible daily and diligently, we cannot be Christians, those strange creatures who proclaim to believe that the Power that created the entire universe willingly and lovingly abdicated that power and became a human baby.” (Wheaton, Ill.: Harold Shaw, 1996, p.74) Isabel Anders, who writes for Synthesis, one of the very stimulating periodicals that frequents my reading, said that this is the season of the impossible, and here are six things that we are asked to believe that sound impossible: a Word that was with God from the beginning, and is now flesh, dwelling among us a baby who is born to be King paths being forged through the wilderness a virgin who is also a mother a coming that is past, present and future and the opportunity to know God the Father, through the One who is and was and shall be forever. ( Synthesis, January 5, 1997) We can amuse ourselves with theological arguments about Word and flesh, or energy and matter (for the physicists among us who consider these interchangeable). But the reality for us is that what seems impossible is actually possible for God. With God, nothing is impossible. The New Year presents much of the same old same old, forget the song Auld Lang Syne. However, for Christians it’s not so much the” same old same old” that leads to the “same old, same old,” but to the impossible. What is impossible for you this year, but would be possible for God? Isn’t this crux? As L’Engle says, “Unless we practice believing the impossible daily and diligently, we cannot be Christians,...” My New Year’s resolutions sound pretty much impossible. Quit getting angry so quickly. I go from zero to angry in 1.2 seconds. It’s hard not to sin when you’re angry and I work on that too. I need help from a source beyond me. It’s helpful to me to know that there is help for that anger. It looks impossible to me, but it’s entirely possible for God to help me. And I know that I have to help God help me. So, off I go into the New Year. What is impossible for you? Is it possible for God? Maybe beginning the day, before breakfast by believing six things that are impossible is a good start for Christians. You know what? This will cure some of the same old, same old blues; take a little control from our self-willed world, reduce some of our anxiety, and put us into possibility thinking. This is long overdue. “I resolve to believe six things each day that are impossible.” “I don’t have to be so task driven today.” “God loves me as I am.” “I can be helped out of perfectionism.” “There’s hope for peace on earth.” “The 5 will not be crowded on my way home.” (Well, I wanted something that really was impossible.) For your own list....and your faith, too. “With God, nothing is impossible.” Happy New Year!

R. WINSTON PRESNALL, PASTOR

FELLOWSHIP

OP HIKERS Saturday, Jan. 11th • 8:00 am • Off-Site

On a perfect hiking day in December the OP Hikers climbed another peak - an easy 3.25 mile climb. Robber’s Peak is a 1152’ sandstone peak in the local Santiago Oaks Regional Park. From the Peak the hikers experienced sweeping views of the Santa Ana mountains and the local metropolitan areas. Because of the location and the wonderful weather, the hikers shared the dirt trail with many hikers and bikers. In January the OP Hikers will enjoy a scenic oceanfront hike in Crystal Cove State Park. The hike will be a 3.5 mile loop hike with part of the hike being on a scenic sandy beach with the return being on the top of the 100’ bluff. The group will leave from the Church’s Maple Street parking area at 8:00 am on Saturday, January 11. Persons of all ages who are interested in hiking, fellowship, and the outdoors are invited to participate in the OP Hiker program. For further information please contact Ellie Schilder (714) 796-9227 or Bob McAulay (714)293-8802.

CLIPPERS Friday, January 17th • 6:00 pm • McAulay Hall

Betty Wells presents a slideshow giving us a glimpse of Orange County’s many parks and recreational areas - of which she is trying to see all, along with her dog Tuffy.

BONNIE SHARP, FELLOWSHIP CHAIR

WHO AM I? In the next two years, once a month, we want to know who you are. We refuse to wait until your demise to find out who you are. Start looking for those pictures, wonderful memories, hobbies, awards, travel, family – every single thing that tells us who you are. The Lord gave you a life, and we want to know how special you are. You will be given a cardboard three-paneled table top board. Look for the first display in February. Help will also be available.

SATURDAY SISTERS FELLOWSHIP Saturday, Jan 25th • 9:00-11:00 am • GSC S

Join Jean Ann Duckworth for a morning of faith, fellowship & friends as we begin our month-ly gatherings for women. Each month, we meet to share prayer, Scripture, refreshments, laughter & more as we grow in faith. Jean Ann's lesson for January focuses on ways to become better versions of ourselves as we work in 2014 to become the incredible women God is calling each of us to be.

BRIDGE & GAMES Wednesday, February 26th • 1:00-4:00 pm • McAulay Hall

Mark your calendars for Bridge and any other games you wish (Scrabble, Mexican Train, etc.). Dessert and fun for all. Prizes. Tickets go on sale end of the month. Invite your friends.

The Fellowship Committee would love to have you be part of our committee. Come join us Tuesday, January 14, 2014, at 7:00 in E101. Committee: Amanda Boyd, Jon Boyd, Karen Godfrey, Carter Sharp, Gene Sinclair, Bonnie Sharp, Chair.

Come let us sing to the Lord, Happy New Year! Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! "

Orange Presbyterian Pre-school: "Love one another", established December 2004. The congregation saw a need in the community for a pre-school. Since then.......

450+ children introduced to Jesus Christ.

9 years of Graduations of 132+ children.

9 "yearly" service projects for the pre-k graduates.

120+ classroom parties.

16 special recognitions/luncheons, to honor mothers, fathers, grandparents & special friends.

450+ trips to "chapel".

450+ trips to Orange Public Library.

9 years of friendship & 18 visits to the Orange Senior Center. Making & delivering valentines, handmade by the children on Valentines day. Also, 9 trips In costume to pass out candy to our senior friends the week of Halloween. "Love sought is good, but love given unsought, is better" - Shakespeare

450+ children taught & loved the experience of gardening, bugs & much more. It began with Vic Westling & continues with Betty Wells.

50+ volunteers.

Thousands of prayers by the congregation for the school, teaching team, children & their families.

In this pre-school: We honor God, We do second chances, We do grace, We allow for mistakes, We do loud really well, We ask for forgiveness, We do hugs, We give respect, We do love. There are four classrooms: Wee 2 year olds; "Caterpillars", Older 2-3; "Monkeys", 3-4 year olds; "Dolphins", 4-5 year old "Wild Cats"/pre-k. Staff of 8; 5 full time & 3 part time. We are open Monday - Friday 7am-6pm. All of the teachers & aides are fully qualified by the State of California Title 22 standards for pre-school teachers & aides. 2014 begins & how exciting to see just what God is going to do this year. We are thankful!

Wish list: fish crackers, napkins, small & large paper plates for craft projects, baby wipes, laundry detergent, fabric softener sheets, your old towels when you get new ones. I just love and feel so blessed when I walk in the child care office & sitting on a chair, table, my desk & in the doorway even before we go into the office there is a sack, box, or container of some "goodies" someone left for the pre-school. Thank you so much!

Chronicles 16:32: "Give thanks to The Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."

JUDY SOLLEE, CHILD CARE DIRECTOR

WOMEN CONNECTED

All women are invited to join one of our monthly Bible Study groups! Our upcoming study is entitled “Dispatches to God’s Household: The General Epistles,” which will explore six books of the New Testament (1 and 2 Peter, 1-3 John, and Jude). Join us as we learn what it means to live in community and belong to the household of God. Mary Circle: Second Wednesday, January 8th at 12:00 pm in the South Room of the Grand Street Center. Leaders: Annette White, (714) 637-4740, Lynda Stewart, (714) 639-5076, or Bonnie Sharp, (714) 633-5897. Lydia Circle: Third Saturday, January 18th at 9:30 am in Room E101. Leader: Elise McHenry, (714) 639-0344.

EDUCATION

SHARING FAITH IN EVERYDAY LIFE

Sundays, Jan 5, 12, 19 & 26 • 11:20am • Flippen Chapel

The Christian Education committee had previously announced in the December Newsletter that we will be starting a new program entitled "The Story" in January. Once we received all of the material we realized that we would need a lot more preparation time to get ready to start the program. We will, therefore, be starting this program in September, after summer vacations, when we hope the entire church will be eager to begin the journey through the bible in 31 weeks. Please look for upcoming information as we prepare for this event. So, for January our Sunday class is entitled 'Who, Me? Sharing Your Faith in Everyday Life'. Led by Jean Ann Duckworth, this class is designed to show we are each called to witness in all parts of our lives using our natural & spiritual gifts. We are called to do this because we may be the only one ever given the opportunity to share Christ's love & message with an individual.

GATHERING HEARTS Tuesdays • Beginning Jan. 7th • North Room GSC

‘Accessorize Your Life: 10 Traits to Give Your Life THE Difference’

The Tuesday evening class begins with a 10-week study based on Jean Ann Duckworth’s book by the same name. Each lesson focuses on a quality that made Jesus just like everyone else but different. Each week offers a Scripture verse that exemplifies the quality and discussion to help us incorporate these traits into

our own lives. Learn to enjoy a positive and powerful difference in your life when you “put on” a selection of accessories with the Christ-like difference.

BOOK CLUB 4th Wednesdays, February 26th • 12:00 pm • E101

The Book Club will be reading Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult for February:

“Somewhere between belief and doubt lies faith. For the second time in her marriage, Mariah White catches her husband with another woman and Faith, their seven year old daughter, witnesses every painful minute. In the aftermath of a sudden divorce, Mariah struggles with depression and Faith seeks solace in a

new friend… a friend who may or may not be imaginary.” Bring your lunch and joins us for this book discussion!

Now that the Holiday season is over, many of us feel that we need to lose some weight. A web site that might interest you is: http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/choosing.htm It advises you how to talk with your doctor and what to ask him or her. Some of the questions suggested by the site are: “What should my weight loss goal be?”, “How should I change my eating habits?”, “What kind of physical activity can I do?”, “How much physical activity do I need?”, “Should I take weight loss drugs?”, “Could a weight loss program help me?”. Try it. Hopefully it will help you communicate better with your doctor. The web site will also give you advice about how to select a weight loss program.

HEALTH MINISTRY

FINANCIAL PLANNING Saturday, Jan. 11th & 18th • 9:00 am • McAulay Hall

Join us for this interesting and essential seminar series to assist you in managing your finances and planning for the future. Patrick M. Curtis leads the seminars and guides us through topics such as annuities, social

security, long term care and life insurance. He is a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones and has a background in Business Administration, Organizational Development and Human Resources. Other speakers include Stacy E. Sponseller of Protective Life Insurance and Mark Lampert of John Hancock LTC.

STEWARDSHIP UPDATE IT IS NEVER TOO LATE!

Thank you to the 91 households who have pledged $280,007 to show their gratitude to God for his work in our church, our community and the world. This includes 9 brand new pledges. At the Commitment Luncheon last November, when asked what he would be doing for the church in the future, Jim Smith replied with two words: “Not enough.” He went on to say he felt he was speaking for everyone in the room, saying that since we all had received so much from this church that there was no way we could do enough to pay her back. We are grateful for God’s gift of the church. The church is a place to love and be loved, and we contrib-ute our time talent, and treasure out of love not out of duty. The church is God’s gift to His people. He has given his heart to us. Where is your heart? It is never too late to make a response.

FINANCIALS

SPOTLIGHT: Who is it that brings the doughnuts each week for coffee hour? Who buys all the supplies for coffee hour? Who makes sure various groups are reminded that they need to make the coffee? Who runs the Bunco games? Who arranges for all the volunteer secretaries and keeps them informed of their schedule? Who is on the Fellowship Committee and is at every Bunco, Bingo, Miniature Golf game, cooking where needed, and being a part of every area of our Lord’s church. Yes, it’s THIS wonderful woman, Karen Godfrey. That’s only part of what she does.

Month of November Eleven Months Ended November 30, 2013 Actual Budget Actual Budget Income $33,313 $24,775 $349,777 $341,725 Transfers $0 $0 $103,650 $103,650 $33,313 $24,775 $453,427 $445,375 Expenses $39,294 $45,530 $472,247 $483,815 Balance ($5,981) ($20,755) ($18,820) ($38,440) Our income was up this month due mostly from pledges being honored. Thank you for your faithfulness in bringing your pledges up-to-date. The above balances include all transfers.

PER CAPITA

Do you want to help support the people who support the mission workers needed to make mission possible in many parts of the world? Do you want to provide opportunities for our youth to engage in short term mission work? Do you want resource materials for training church officers? Your support of the per capita assessment from Presbytery is necessary to make these and many other things happen. The assessment this year is $28.00 per member. Please consider adding this amount to your pledge in January. Any amount you can give to help offset this assessment will be funds our church will not have to pay out of the general fund and will remain to be used by our programs and mission.

BUNCO RETURNS Thursday, Jan. 16th • 5:30 pm • McAulay Hall

It's BUNCO time again!! All are welcome to join us in an easy, fun dice game. Refreshments and fun for $3.00.

MOVIE NIGHT Friday, Jan. 24th • 6:30 pm • Flippen Chapel

"The Polar Express" is a train ride of your life to the North Pole. It's Christmas Eve, and you're about to roller-coaster up and down mountains and slip and slide over ice fields. Filmed in dazzling per-formance-capture animation that makes every moment magical. This is a great movie for all ages.

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JAN

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014

“A Christian Fellowship that actively demonstrates the love of God through Jesus Christ for each other and for its neighbors.”

The First Presbyterian is the newsletter of First Presbyterian Church of Orange The deadline for announcements and articles is the 15th of each month prior to publication.

Church Staff

R. Winston Presnall, Pastor rwinston@firstpresorange.org, extension 109

Shawna Lynch, Dir. Children, Youth, & Family shawna@firstpresorange.org, extension 115

Sarah & Larry Tannas III, Junior High Ministries tannas@firstpresorange.org

Aaron Mosley, Director of Music aaron@firstpresorange.org, extension 104

Judy Sollee, Child Care Director preschool@firstpresorange.org, extension 112 Kristen Lawrence, Organist/Accompanist kristen@firstpresorange.org Lynn Winn, Business Secretary lynn@firstpresorange.org, extension 108 James Keniston, Director of Communications james@firstpresorange.org, extension 106

SCHEDULE OF WORSHIP

10:00 am Worship Service

11:00 am Fellowship

11:20 am Education Class

Visit us on the web at www.firstpresorange.org

Ruling Elders Deacons

Fred Bigner Joyce Geisert Tom Godfrey Bonnie Sharp Gene Sinclair John Bouyer Linda Rogers Ann Teachout Ilco Vandercapellen Betty Wells Ken Zanca Marc Kendrick Jim Kroesen

Bob McAulay Martha Moyers Lynda Stewart James Touton

Bill Benak Amanda Boyd Debbye Karaffa Bob Stanley Kate Stanley Mary Lou Starr Jeanne Chalk Jean Paxton Betsy Kolar Bob Kolar Judy Sollee Fred Baja Shirley Birmingham

Carol Blackwell Jan Fleming Jim Godfrey Chelsea Pickens

191 N. Orange Street Orange, CA 92866

(714) 538-2341 | FirstPresOrange.org