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The Park Presbyterian Church Newsletter

T H E P A R K V I E W

VOLUME 41, ISSUE 12

December 2018

Inside this issue...…

Advent at Park 1

From the Pastor 1, 3

A Perfect Gift 2

Mitten & Hat Tree 2

Poinsettia Order Form 3

Christmas Dinner 4

Calendar 5

Birthdays & Prayers 6

Church Family News 6

Red Kettle Ringers 7

Church Life Team 7

Presbyterian Women 8

Blue Christmas 9

One Starry Night 9

Family Promise 10

Bible Study 10

Kitchen Renovation 11

From the Office 11

Schedule of Volunteers 12

From the Pastor Advent is a time of waiting. It is a time of anticipation. It is a time of prayer and contemplation. Advent is often a time where people reconnect at a deeper level with Christ. We are also reminded how Christ is working in our lives as we reflect over the past.

Advent in Latin means “coming.” During Advent, we pray and reflect on Christ birth, we celebrate Christ in our lives and we pray for the coming of Christ again. As Christians we celebrate the Advent season the four Sundays before Christmas. This year advent begins on December 2nd. Each week of Advent there are special themes in which we light candles for on our advent wreath; Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. I think we would all

(Continued on page 3)

Saturday, December 1 CELTIC DINNER, 5:30 P.M.

COMM. TREE LIGHTING, 6:00 P.M. CHRISTMAS CEILIDH BAND, 7:00 P.M.

Sunday, December 2

“SHARE YOUR BLESSINGS” BAGS DUE

Monday, December 10 POINSETTIA ORDERS DUE

PW LUNCHEON CIRCLE, NOON

Tuesday, December 11 CAROLING WITH

NEWARK SCOUTS, 6:30 P.M. AT NEWARK MANOR

Monday, December 24 CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP, 7:00 P.M.

.Tuesday, December 25

COMMMUNITY CHRISTMAS MEAL, 1:00 P.M. AT FIRST UNITED METHODIST 301 SOUTH MAIN ST., NEWARK

Advent at Park

PAGE 2 THE PARKVIEW

pastornppc@gmail.com

EMAIL ADDRESS

315-664-2573

CELL PHONE NUMBER

Facebook Messenger

(PLEASE ADD HIM!)

Mondays 9:00-Noon

Thursdays 9:00-Noon

OFFICE HOURS

How to Contact Pastor

Christopher

In the lead up to Christmas, many of us spend time in search of the perfect gift—the gift that communicates to friends and family how much we know and love them. We search our memories for indications of what gift might cause the faces of our loved ones to light up. We scour the stores and shops, hoping to come across the thing that will communicate a depth of love that our words cannot. As important as gifts to loved ones are, we have an opportunity to give gifts that help many people we do not know through the Christmas Joy Offering. These gifts in particular draw us back to the manger and God's perfect gift to us - Jesus Christ. Jesus came to live among us, bringing light into darkness, and reconciliation to God and to one another. A perfect gift from a gracious God. During this Christmas and Advent Season, we celebrate leadership, past, present and future through support of the Christmas Joy Offering. We do so because church leaders greatly impact our lives of faith, walking with us down the path to be more like Jesus. We want those church leaders and their families who find them-selves grappling with a critical financial need to have the resources they need which are provided through the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions. We also support the offering to help our future leaders in the church and world, like those educated at our Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color. Supporting these students helps the whole church develop leaders who reflect the wideness of God's intended diversity. For those supported through the Christmas Joy Offering, this help is truly a gift from above. May our gifts, and the leaders who receive them, point us always to the truth of the one whose birth we celebrate, Jesus Christ—the truly perfect gift.

DEBBIE COMPHER

Mission Chair

A Perfect Gift this Advent Season

The mitten tree is in the lounge and is waiting for your donation. The little kids and the big kids are looking for hats, gloves, or mittens and scarves. We need to keep everyone warm this winter. Could you help us out? Thank you.

Callan, Anderson, and

Claire hard at work

coloring their fish at

November 11th’s

R.O.C.K Program.

This month’s program

will take part as a por-

tion of Advent Family

Night—see R.O.C.K.

News on Page 9.

Mitten & Hat Tree

PAGE 3 VOLUME 41, ISSUE 12

2018 Poinsettia Order Form Enclosed is my check in the amount of $________ for ____ plants.

In memory / honor of (please circle one):

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Given by: _________________________________________

___ please deliver my plant(s) to a shut-in ___ I will pick up my plant(s) after 12/24.

Reminder: orders are due to the office by Monday, December 10th, for pick up following the Christmas Eve service

$6 per plant

agree we can use more hope, peace, joy and love in our world. December is a busy time of the year for many of us. It seems like the pace quickens as the month goes by and Christmas has come and gone before we realize it. I would encourage each of you this holiday season to set aside a moment each day to pray, reflect or meditate on what this season is truly about. The PC(USA) is offer a wonderful daily devotional program to use for the Advent Season. The name of the devotion is “God Lifts the Lowly.” It is out of print; however, you can download a free pdf from the PC(USA) church store at pcusa.org/2018advent. We will also have printed copies available at the church. As part of program offerings for Advent there will be a special worship service, “Blue Christmas- A Service of Wholeness and Healing” on December 18th at 7:00 pm. The service will be held in the chapel. Everyone is invited to join in this service. Please see the article, “Blue Christmas Worship Service” in this newsletter on Page 9 for more details. The pastor led bible study will continue throughout December on Thursdays, December 6th, 13th and 20th at 12:15pm. The bible study will use the book, “All I Want For Christmas; Opening the Gifts of God’s Grace.” Books are available from Rev. Christopher or

in the Church office. I want to personally take the opportunity to thank eve-ryone who participated in the recent stewardship drive for pledging your time, talents and for your financial commitments. I also want to thank you for a fantastic 2018 at Park Church. The programs have continued thrive because of your willingness to participate, plan and develop wonderful and spirit led programs and of-ferings. The church is the people and each of you

make it special! We encourage you to consider Park Church if you’re looking for last minute tax deduct-ible giving as we end the year. As always, all giving to the church (including year-end giving) are included in your year-end state-ments. All year end giving should be re-ceived by December 31st. We appreciate

your consideration and generosity. It’s been a pleasure to serve you here since June. Thank you for your warm welcome and continued hos-pitality to Ron and I since our arrival. Lastly, I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Peace and Blessings!

REV. CHRISTOPHER

(Continued from page 1)

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23/30 24/31 25 26 27 28 29

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

December 2018

COMMUNION

BLESSINGS BAGS

DUE

Choir Rehearsal

9:00 a.m.

Worship

10:00 a.m.

Coffee Hour

11:00 a.m.

Choir Rehearsal 9:00 a.m. Worship 10:00 a.m. Coffee Hour 11:00 a.m. “One Starry Night” Advent Family Night 3:00 p.m.

Choir Rehearsal

9:00 a.m.

Worship

10:00 a.m.

Coffee Hour

11:00 a.m.

Choir Rehearsal

9:00 a.m.

Worship

10:00 a.m.

Coffee Hour

11:00 a.m.

(24)

OFFICE CLOSED

Christmas Eve

Worship

7:00 p.m.

(31)

OFFICE CLOSED

Merry Christmas!

OFFICE CLOSED

Community Meal

@ First United

Methodist

1:00 p.m.

Wednesday

Workers

11:30 a.m.

PARKVIEW

DEADLINE

PW Bible Study

Noon

Finance Team

5:30 p.m.

Adult Bell Choir

6:00 p.m.

Caroling w/Scouts @ Newark Manor 6:30 p.m.

Worship Team 6:00 p.m.

Session 6:00 p.m.

POINSETTIA ORDERS DUE PW Lunch Circle Noon Property Team 6:00 p.m.

Celtic Dinner 5:30 p.m. Christmas Ceilidh Band 7:00 p.m.

Adult Bell Choir 6:00 p.m.

All I Want for Christmas 12:15 p.m. Quilters’ Circle 6:30 p.m.

All I Want for Christmas 12:15 p.m. Quilters’ Circle 6:30 p.m.

All I Want for Christmas 12:15 p.m. Quilters’ Circle 6:30 p.m.

Organ Concert @ United Church of Canandaigua 7:00 p.m.

Service of

Wholeness

& Healing

7:00 p.m.

Quilters’ Circle 6:30 p.m.

In Our Prayers...

December Birthdays

Church Family News

THE PARKVIEW PAGE 6

A note from former Park Church mem-

ber Priscilla Gifford: “Hello my friends, After 40 years in Newark, I moved to Boulder, CO 16 years ago, and I appreciate your sending the Park View each month so I can follow the life of Park Church. I will be 90 on November 17, and I have published a modest book, "Along the Way--Footprints From a Long Journey". Not a memoir, but a col-lection of poems and reminiscences. I will be sending a copy in the next few weeks for the church library, if one still

exists. [Note—the book has been re-

ceived and is in the church office if any-

body would like to take a look.] The book is available on Amazon.com. Ex-tend my best wishes to my friends there. Blessings to the church family as you journey along. Peace, Priscilla Gifford”

The family of Edith Cree sincerely thanks our Park Church family for your kind expressions of sympathy. The many cards, hugs, Facebook posts, and phone calls were very much appreciat-ed. Edith considered Park her church and she loved reuniting with her friends each year at the Rummage Sale. Thank you also for all the cards and calls Edith received during her illness. It meant the world to her that so many cared. --Bob and Mary Cree

It’s a girl! Aurora Appleby was born November 1st at 5:13 a.m., at 6lbs 15 oz

and 20” long. Aurora’s parents are Tom

& Heather Appleby, and proud first-

time grandparents are Ed & Cheryl

Lotz. Congratulations to all, and wel-come to the Park Church family, Auro-ra!

Prayers for healing and comfort: those in Syria, children separated from their parents at the border, Doug Groover, Sue Stobie, Joe Dady (leukemia), Samantha (Hill) Holley going through difficult time, Holly Burgess—broken ankle & surgery, Pittsburgh, Ron DeCracker (stroke), Eric Foote (Ellie’s brother—surgery), Emily Lang (pneumonia), Andy Stobie—disc surgery, spousal/partner abuse in Puerto Ri-co, Bob Bodine sick from chemo, farmers struggling to get crops harvested, Kaydee Groover, Marian Maxwell—at Unity Hospital and still on dialysis

Prayers for protection in service to our country: Joe Burgess, Seth Burgess, Ryan Enos, David Kuperus, Tim Peck, Greg Seppeler

Prayers for hope and encouragement to our mission partners and Presby-

terian peacemakers: Rev. Nadia Ayoub (Greece), Mision Sinai and Mision Monte Horeb (Mexico), Rev. Joan Stewart (WV) , the Presbytery of Geneva mission team to WV

Prayers in thanks and celebration: support for Matias family following the pass-ing of Gloria, Aaliyah Matias—born 9/21/18, Stephanie Lang’s new nephew out of the NICU, Jake Bouwens’ 90th birthday!, thanks from Linda for all who helped make our first Family Promise week a success, thanks for all who helped obtaining new stove for dining room & padded chairs, safe trip to Costa Rica for Terry & Col-leen Monje, new sound person-in-training!

2

John McCue

5

Carol Rosenthal

10

Stu Blodgett Jr.

15

Roger Brennessel Sally Praino Jean Young

16

Vern Coleman

19

Alicia Short

20

Joe Burgess Ken Rowe

22

Roger Johnson

23

Christine Stephens

24

Mary Cree

25

Jonathan Taylor

27

Larry Brown

29

Sandi Marcano

Church Family Life News Our first Church Family Potluck and Game Night of the church school year was held on Friday, November 16th. It was great to have Sue and Dan Tierson join “us regulars” and to also have Ron Leaman stop in for a visit. We enjoyed a delicious meal, followed by cook-ies that Dennis Dewispelaere and Sue provided, as well as cherry pie from Bob Hanson. We also appreciated the generous monetary donation that we received. The group chose to play “Skipbo” and the ever popular “Sequence” game that is played with teams. We were blessed with friendship and laughter, that sparked warmth in our hearts, on that cold wintery night, after the snowstorm.

Upcoming Church Family Life Events:

Advent Family Night, “One Starry Night,” on

Sunday, December 9th

; 3:00-6:30 pm: Please join us

in Bethlehem for “One Starry Night” to celebrate the Advent season. Walk through the town and meet the innkeeper, census taker, shepherds, wise men, beggar, and others, while experiencing the sights, feel, smell, sound, and taste of what Bethlehem was like, at the time of Jesus’ birth. Ornaments for children and adults to make will be created at several of the village stops, to remind us of that night, and also be used to adorn our church Christmas trees. Since all of the Newark church community has been

invited, along with Western Palmyra, Lyons, Junius and the Phelps United Church, we plan to offer a light meal of soups, chili, bread, cookies, and beverages. Sign-up sheets will be posted, if you are able let us know that you are planning to attend, and also for those who wish to help us provide the meal.

Christmas Caroling with the Boy Scouts at New-

ark Manor on Tuesday, December 11th

at 6:30:

Adults and families are invited to join us in the Newark Manor foyer, 222 West Pearl Street, to sing Christmas carols to the residents. Festive attire is welcomed and music will be provided. Signup sheets will be posted and rides offered to anyone who would like one. We may go out for cocoa afterward, if there is interest.

Church Family and Friends Potluck and Game

Night on Friday, January 18th

at 5:30: Save the date and look for further information in the January Park View.

Next Church Family Life Team Meeting: We will meet on Monday, January 7th, at 4:00 p.m. in the lounge. We invite anyone who wishes to join us to at-tend, or please speak to any team member, if you have any thoughts for our consideration.

CHERYL LOTZ

Church Family Life Team Leader

PAGE 7 VOLUME 41, ISSUE 12

Red Kettle Ringers are needed for the last week of the cam-

paign which could be a very exciting week for dona-

tions. Though our first three weeks of the campaign are

looking quite full of ringers there are still some slots to be

filled . Dec. 18-Dec.22 is quite empty as of now. For all

those of you who have signed up a big thank you and bless

you for caring for others you may not even know. Thank

you for giving the precious gift of your time. May God be

praised.

ANNE ROGERS

Red Kettle Ringers Needed

Presbyterian Women PAGE 8 THE PARKVIEW

LEADERSHIP 2018

Clerk of Session

Cari Taylor

Christian Education

Paul Salisbury, chair

Church Life

Cheryl Lotz, chair

Finance

Dale Groover, chair

Membership

Paul Salisbury, acting chair

Mission

Deb Compher, chair

Property

Scott Blondell, chair

Worship

Bob Hanson, chair

Youth Elder

Emily Schultz

(non-ordained)

Member-at-Large

Ken Rowe

GROUPS 2018

Deacons

Sandi Marcano, moderator

Anne Ross, co-moderator

Presbyterian Women

Deb Compher, co-moderator

Mary Cree, co-moderator

The Presbyterian Women’s Luncheon

Circle will meet Monday, December

10 at noon in the lounge. Bring some-thing to share (or $2 for the basket!) and join us for a brief devotional, prayer and enjoyable fellowship. Hostesses Ellie Foote and Pat Hart will provide beverage and dessert. If you can let our hostesses know you’re coming, it will help with planning—but walk-ins are always wel-come, too. Make 2019 the year you add our once-a-month luncheons to your cal-endar! We would love to get to

know you better! It’s a wonderful way to stay close to your church family.

The PW Coordinating Team met after the luncheon on November 12 to start our planning for activities in 2019. We will meet again after the lunch-

eon January 14, to plan our 2019 budg-et. You are always invited to join the “team” that keeps PW alive and well at Park Church. A sincere thank-you to all of you who

made donations to the “Share Your

B le s s in gs” C hr i s tmas f ood

bags, which will be distributed by the Newark Food Closet in December. Park Church was able to fill 21 bags for fami-lies in need. Another sincere thank-you to all those

who made the Celtic Evening, Dec

1 at Park Church a success. Whether you worked in or out of the kitchen—planning, shopping, decorating, cooking, selling tickets, serving, cleaning or usher-ing—without your gift of your time and talents, we couldn’t host an enjoyable evening for our community, as well as raise funds for our Church and PW.

Presbyterian Women will again help wel-

come Family Promise families to our

building the week of January 20. Park Church Coordinators for Family Promise are Linda Werts, Anne Rogers and Carol Thurston. Please let them know how you can support this vital mission to help our neighbors get back on their feet.

PW Bible Study is in progress and

you are invited to join us any-

time. We are using the PW/

Horizons Bible study, God’s Promise: I

Am with You which includes readings

from the Old and New Testaments. In December we will meet once

on December 17. Christine Stephens leads the study.

The Quilters’ Circle is meeting on Thursday evenings, 6:30-8:00 pm. Con-tact Karen Watson or Holly Burgess (via the church office) to confirm the time, or for more information. Many thanks to our church family for your continuing support of Park’s Pres-byterian Women and our purpose to nur-ture our faith, support the mission of the church worldwide, work for justice and peace, and build an inclusive, caring com-munity of women that strengthens the PC(USA) and witnesses to the promise of God’s kingdom. From Ellie Foote—“Hey folks, just wanted to inform you all that we made a total of $155.00 on the bake sale on Oc-tober 28th. Thanks for all who contrib-uted that day.”

Deb Compher & Mary Cree, Your

PW Co-Moderators

PAGE 9 VOLUME 41, ISSUE 12

STAFF AT PARK

Rev. Christopher Mergener PASTOR

Bethany Comella OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Rev. Ellen Donnan CHRISTIAN EDUCATOR

Yoshiko Arahata ORGANIST

Jamie Harris SEXTON

Sarah Humphrey CHOIR DIRECTOR

Natalie Lemmon BELL CHOIR DIRECTOR

Advent Family Night R.O.C.K News

This year’s Advent Family Night event will look a little different. Imagine coming into the church to find the vil-lage gate and a census taker awaiting you. Each child is given a money pouch with 10 denarii to use in the village

of Bethlehem. As you enter the village gate, you find the inn with the innkeeper, the Stargazer Hill with the shepherd and sheep, Roman soldiers wandering through the village, the marketplace complete with items to “buy,” a tax collector, and the stable with Mary, Joseph, and the baby. You smell baking bread. You hear vari-ous animals. The townspeople are greeting you. As you approach the stable, you hear a baby’s cry and enter to find Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. At each booth, there are various activities for people of all ages to do, including the traditional making of orna-ments. A tree in the village of Bethlehem will be deco-rated with ornaments made at this event. Food and beverages can be “purchased” at the marketplace.

This event is open to the community, so please invite people of all ages to come and participate. You can stay for the entire time or for part of the time. At 5:00 pm, there will be the traditional meal of various soups and bread for dinner – EVERYONE is invited to stay and partake in a time of fellowship over the meal. For more information, connect with Ellen at parkchristianed@gmail.com, or Cheryl Lotz.

A special worship service of Wholeness and Healing with the theme “Blue Christmas” will held on December 18, 2018 in the chapel. A time for meditation begins at 6:30 p.m. and the worship service will begin at 7:00 p.m. Those looking for comfort, hope, wholeness and re-newal in this holiday season (this pretty much includes all of us) are invited to join us in this special service. There will be quiet times for re-

flection and meaningful words and music. Please consider taking some time for yourself to participate in this event.

PASTOR CHRISTOPHER

A Service of Wholeness and Healing

PAGE 10 THE PARKVIEW

A Family Promise update from Park’s Coordinators: Linda Werts, Anne Rogers, Carol Thurston… Park’s first Family Promise “rotation” went smoothly with the help of many volun-teers from both Park Church and the Newark Community. We hosted a family of two parents and their teenage son. Although the first round of training for volun-teers ended last month new training sessions will be scheduled as needed and a date can be arranged for Newark. Please speak with Linda Werts if you have interest in joining other Park Church volunteers in helping our neighbors in need to regain their livelihoods, independence and dignity. There are several needs at present. Here at Park we are looking for donations of table lamps and a high chair and booster seats. The Day Center in Lyons is in need of volunteers to be present during the day in 2 hour, or more, shifts from 7am-5pm. This position requires training and a background check. While at the Center you are free to bring your own work to do, socialize with and support the family members, bring an activity to work on together, or simply read a book or catch up on your emails. The Newark Community has stepped in to fill all of the hours for Mondays each month. Speak with Linda Werts if you have interest and availability. Our next “rotation” will be January 20, 2019 through early morning January 27th. We look forward to your support in extending gracious hospitality to families in need.

Family Promise Update

Please join us as we continue in the Advent Bible Study, “All

I Want for Christmas; Opening The Gifts of God’s Grace.” This bible study includes five chapters that includes ques-tions for reflection and discussion, a focus for the week, and six daily Bible readings for personal devotion time during the week. The study began on November 29th but it is not too late to join. Books are available from Rev. Christopher or you can pick up your copy in the church office.

PASTOR CHRISTOPHER

Bible Study Continues...

PAGE 11 VOLUME 41, ISSUE 12

We are moving along methodically with each step of the kitchen renovation. Our electrician was able to do all his work before the Harvest Dinner, and what a huge difference it made. Many more outlets kept us from having "breaker pops!” We were able to purchase a slightly used stove (6 yrs. old, great condition) for $500.00 along with 115 padded chairs ($10 each) from the Lyons American Legion. Our wonderful team of men moved it here, and it now sits in the downstairs dining room. Our next step is to remove the old stove in parts and take to Alpco. We can then remove the old heater that hangs over the stove. Betlam will be called to install water shut-offs that are part of that system. We have been approved by the code enforcer of Newark that a regular stove hood will suffice as we will not be doing fried foods. A new hood and duct work will be installed to vent the fumes to the outside. Again, many, many thanks to all that have contributed monetarily towards this project and all those who have manually helped in so many ways. This church family is Awesome!!

NATALIE LEMMON & SCOTT BLONDELL

Kitchen Renovation Project

The job always goes better when you have your buddies! Thanks to all who helped, and the PW and

Henry, and Marie Burnham, and by the grace of the Lord above, this stove survived the move and

will provide sustenance for our community for many years to come.

2019 Stewardship Update 60 members have contributed to the 2019 Stewardship Campaign.

Please consider turning in your pledge card for the 2019 year, and com-

pleting your pledge for 2018.

THE STEWARDSHIP TEAM

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

NEWARK NY—PERMIT #18

Park Presbyterian Church 110 Maple Court Newark, NY 14513

“We will make Christ visible

by believing, living and

sharing the word of God.”

DE

CE

MB

ER

2018

Liturgists: 2nd—Anne Rogers 9th—Scott Blondell 16th— 23rd—Natalie Lemmon 24th— 30th—

Counters:

2nd—Karen Doebler & Thurlow Hammond 9th—Deb Compher & Dale Groover 16th—Kris Bald & Sandi Marcano 23rd—Karen Doebler & Sandi Marcano 24th—The Christmas Eve offering will be counted 12/30

30th—Dale Groover & Thurlow Hammond

Greeters & Ushers:

2nd—Debbie Compher & Ellie Foote 9th—Peter & Aaliyah Matias, Kate Feiock 16th—Bill & Karen Doebler 23rd—Humphrey family, Gil & Holly Burgess 24th—The Briggs Family 30th—Bob Hanson & Kay Groover

Greeters/Offering Collection: McKenna Briggs Flower Delivery: Sandi Marcano Coffee Hour: Karen Watson Communion Servers: Sarah Humphrey Liturgists: Natalie Lemmon

Schedule of Volunteers for December