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Worship-10:00 am

Fellowship following Worship

Sunday School

First Presbyterian Church 73 West Winter Street, Delaware, OH 43015-1934

Phone: (740) 363-1205 Fax: (740) 369-1249

Website: www.DelFPC.org E-mail: delfirstpres@midohio.twcbc.com

Pastor: Rev. Deb Patterson Office Manager: Wenda Smith

Leader of Family Ministry: Nikki Hogarth Parish Associate: Rev. Oluf Kongshaug

Director of Music: Ruth Rabby Organist: Joseph Musser

Financial Secretary: Barbara Ross Financial Coordinator: Nancy Reynolds

Custodian: Peg O’Brien Outreach Coordinator: Ellen Watson

Nursery Attendants: Melissa Curtis, Kendra Hart Newsletter Editor: Diane Welker

Media Coordinator and IT: Taylor Smith Corp. Investment Team: Jack Flury, Bob Douds

OFFICE HOURS: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00 AM-12:00

CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY

Bulletin Deadline . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday at Noon

Newsletter Deadline . . . . . . . . . . . NOON on the 20th of each month

spire@midohio.twcbc.com

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This prayer inserted for your reflection…from the January Blessing, Prayers, and Promises (to encourage you every day of the month) booklet… Pastor Deb’s message will return next month!

Dear God,

Thank You for the blessing of a new year. Grant me

wisdom and insight as I make plans for the days and months

ahead. Strengthen me with CONFIDENCE to accept opportunities

open to me, as well as willingness to face the challenges that come

my way. In all things, dear God, let me remember that it’s not

my plans, but Your plans, that matter most. Today and every

day, I place my trust in You.

Amen

Behold, I make all things new. Revelation 21:5

JANUARY 27TH Immediately following worship

(All active members are entitled to vote and are encouraged to attend!)

From our Pastor’s Heart …

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2018 ANNUAL REPORTS ARE PAST DUE ! Committee Chairs: If you have not emailed your report to Wenda yet, please send it NOW!! Thank you for helping her meet the mid-January printing deadline!

MARTIN LUTHER KING CELEBRATION

Please join us in celebrating the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Delaware's 26th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast Celebration, Monday, Jan. 21st. The breakfast buffet opens at 7:45 a.m. with the program to follow at 8:30 a.m. Both the breakfast and program will take place in the Benes Rooms of the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center of Ohio Wesleyan University. The keynote speaker is Bishop Tracey Malone. Bishop Malone serves as member of the board of directors for the General Commission on Religion and Race, member of the board of trustees at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and is an OWU Ex Officio Trustee (2016). Please see Pastor Deb for tickets if you would like to attend. (Session has reserved a table for 8 at the annual breakfast.)

FELLOWSHIP Your Fellowship Committee cannot take you to the Fleetwood Mac 2019 Tour.

But we can drive up to Marion on Saturday, January 26 at 8pm to be

entertained by Rumours, the "country's premier Fleetwood Mac tribute band."

(They have performed at the House of Blues and at Epcot.)

Let Nancy Nungesser know by Sunday, January 6 if you want to purchase $19

(includes $1 ticketing fee) tickets. We'll take the church bus or you can meet the

group at the theater if you want to go up on your own. Contact Nancy at 740-

990-7491 (land line) or 614-323-3619 (cell) or nungna@yahoo.com.

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Music Notes by Ruth Rabby IT’S A BRAND NEW YEAR…

YOU CAN DO NEW THINGS… IS MUSIC AT FPC ONE OF THEM?

You can join a choir!

Chancel Choir

rehearses Wednesdays at 7:30

You can learn how to ring a bell (or two)!

Talk to Ruth Rabby or Jennifer Thacker. You can share your instrumental skills! Tell Delia Herzog or Tricia Shaw what instruments you play.

All choirs and ensembles are re-grouping and learning new music for the seasons of Lent and Easter. Now is the time! Adults, see you January 16th at 6:30(Bells) and 7:30(Chancel) in the choir room.

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MONTREAT Here's another plug for next summer's Montreat Music & Worship conference. Our church will attend June 16-June 22, 2019. There is programming for children going into grades 4 and up. It takes places in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. Registration opens in mid-December. Here is a link to a page that tells more about it: https://www.presbymusic.org/montreat

ADULT STUDY “Unafraid- Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times”

Beginning in late January we will read and discuss Rev. Adam Hamilton’s book, “Unafraid”. Drawing on recent research, inspiring real-life examples, and fresh Biblical insight, Hamilton shows how to untangle the knots we feel about disappointing others, failure, financial insecurity, loneliness, insignificance, and aging. Hamilton shows how believer and unbeliever alike can develop sustaining spiritual practices and embrace Jesus’ recurring counsel: “Do Not Be Afraid”. The book includes daily devotional materials as well as the text for group discussion. Classes will be offered on Monday evenings from 7- 8:00 p.m. and Wednesday mornings from 9:30-10:30 a.m. beginning the week of January 28th. Books will be available at coffee hour after church in January. A donation of $10 is asked to help defray the cost of the books. Classes will be held for 10 weeks concluding before Holy Week in April. Participants will be asked to read material before class. Class time will include watching a short video, and group discussion. For more information contact Peggy Stringham, 740-816-0294. Rev. Hamilton is senior pastor of the 20,000 member Methodist Church of The Resurrection in Kansas City and is the best-selling author of 25 books. We used his

advent study “The Journey” in November for our adult classes here at FPC.

NEW PHOTO DIRECTORY Stephanie Mampe reports that the directory has been submitted to Lifetouch and we should expect our newest edition of the FPC Directory late this month.

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FPC RENEWAL EXPERIENCE As an element of our FPC 2019 renewal experience, we invite you to join us in a weekly short heartfulness meditation program on Wednesday mornings from 10:45 to 11:30 in the church library. We will begin our new meditation opportunity on Wednesday, January 9, 2019- 10:45. If you have questions or would like to know more about heartfulness meditation – contact Judy England!

CONGRATULATIONS Adaline Jane Johnson was baptized in

December. Parents are Emily and David Johnson. Adaline is the granddaughter of Kit and Steve Gordon.

The Gazette, December 10th, reported Ethan Hazelton is one of the engineering design students at Hayes getting real life experience in this field with teacher, Andrew Borzok.

Ethan is working on a jig for an individual who works in a factory but has only one functional hand. Ethan has talked with the client, the boss of the client, his teacher, and classmates for suggestions and feedback on the design. He says, “I’ve learned problem solving in general. It takes a lot of work to decide what’s best for people... and there’s a lot of issues with certain ideas that you just don’t think of by yourself, that’s why it’s important to have feedback …and a team to help you.”

IN SYMPATHY

Please keep Dave Emmons in your thoughts and prayers in the loss of his brother, Steve.

Peggy Stringham’s mother, Julia Miller, passed away in Albion, Michigan December 5th ( a couple of weeks shy of celebrating her 100th birthday). Please keep Peg, Chuck and their family in your thoughts and prayers as they deal with their loss.

Please keep Joan Cornell and family in your prayers following the recent passing of her sister.

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FLOWERS FOR 2019 In November we learned the flower shop we order from, Josie Posie, was closing. We were sad to hear this and wish the owner, Jennifer, the best in her next endeavor. We have decided to order our flowers in 2019 from the Kroger on Houk Road. They have a lovely selection and you can get a really nice arrangement for $40.00. Any questions, just call the office. The new Flower Chart for 2019 has been posted by the water fountain by the back doors. Order forms are available by the chart. Sign up early to reserve that special Sunday you would like to provide flowers for worship. Any questions, give Wenda a call!

THANK YOU A heartful thank you for your gift of $2,000 this year. Your faithful support each year is making a tremendous difference in the lives of those we seek to empower, educte, and connect. With your help we are working to ensure a thriving community where members experience hope, help, and healing in very real ways. In partnership with HelpLine, you helped save lives. Susan Hansen, MSW,LISW-S Executive Director of HelpLine Thank you to all the FPC carolers who braved the cold to deliver Christmas carols. I really appreciated the music and the poinsettia. Thanks so much.

Barbara Welker

Thank you for the prayers, cards, calls, visits, and delicious food as I recover from knee replacement. A special thanks for the carolers who brought Christmas into our living room. It was beautiful! I love our church family! Thanks!!!

Karen McNeal Thank you for your kind words, cards and support in the loss of my mother. It means a great deal to have such a loving and caring church family.

Peggy Stringham

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LECTIONARY

January 1 NEW YEAR’S DAY Ecclesiastes 3:1-13; Psalms 8; Revelation 21:1-6a; Matthew 25:31-46

January 6 Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalms 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

January 13 Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalms 29; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

January 20 Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalms 36:5-10; I Corinthians 12:1-11; John 2:1-11

COOKIE

CUPBOARD Our November 30th baking spree for Andrews House Christmas Cookie Cupboard yielded 98 dozen cookies.

This included 22 varieties, 8 bakers: Jack and Leslie Flury, Laura Bowie, Amy Jo Sommers, Sue Bauer, Tricia Shaw and Diane Welker and 5 tasters: Bob, Don, Grant, Dominos’ workers, and Friday night AA.

Thanks were received from Andrews House and thanks are extended to all who helped!!

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TR USTEE HIGHLIGHTS Soliciting bids for parking lot snow removal and seasonal grass cutting. Soliciting bids for excavation and repairing apartments main sewage line. Working on software issues with sanctuary computer. Seeking utility cost quotes.

Several tasks on the church grounds, inside the church and within the apartments are completed. The solar project is not currently feasible due to the large expense of needs from AEP and within the church motors and wiring.

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS 2019 budget was discussed. Session will have a special meeting on December 23rd after church to approve the budget. The Christmas loose change offering will be designated for Delaware City Schools Pacer Pantry Program. Session VOTED TO APPROVE funding a table at the MLK event. FPC will host the MLK Sunday event in 2020. Annual meeting will be January 27, 2018 Fidelity Federal donated $500 to Laundry Love. Next session meeting will be January I, 2019.

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PRESBEES A big thank you to Bunny and Fred Allen for heading up Presbees for this last year.

They are turning the reins over to Chuck and Peg Stringham for next year. Thanks also to Margaret and George Alexander who were the faithful phone caller and keeper of reservations!

From the final meeting of the year, you see some of the volunteers who helped make things go well each month. THANKS!

Presbees will resume in the Spring. Watch for details!

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DEACON HIGHLIGHTS Caring team concerns : Betty Smith struggling with significant back issues;

Bob Douds, Jr. is back to coaching; Karen McNeal still recovering from knee surgery; Paul Kostyu is recovering from back surgery; Dave Emmons brother, Steve, passed away; Peggy Stringham’s Mom passed away; Bob Douds, Sr. recovering from foot surgery; Dick Jackson had a stent put in and is feeling much better; Susan Cellar awaiting lumpectomy results.

Thank yous were sent to Nancy Reynolds for creating handmade soaps given to Willow Brook residents after Christmas worship and another one for Diane Welker for her help with the soaps and our FPC Christmas cards.

There was caroling on the 16th at Willowbrook after the worship service; as well as, caroling on the 23rd for other homebound members

The SPIRE January 2019 Page 12 Pastor Deb and her daughter, Kaitlin Mack, exit the Candlelight Christmas Eve 10 AM Worship…

Communion was served by intinction.

Prelude included a variety of Christmas music; like Jennifer Shaw and Betty Kongshaug in a duet and the Presbyterian Pickers.

The ushers lit the pew candles, and passed the light of Christ… OR in the case of our new battery powered window candles- Scott Anstaett turned them on!

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