tower november 2011

8/3/2019 Tower November 2011

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First Church of Christ in Saybrook Congregational

irstirstirstirst ChurchChurchChurchChurch ChristmasChristmasChristmasChristmas FFFFairairairairNovNovNovNovemberemberemberember 12121212thththth 9 am9 am9 am9 am 2 pm2 pm2 pm2 pm

Continue to add to your Donation Station! forRummage sale itemsBring your donations to the church see Lane in the Office leave donations in

(not outside of) the storage area on the lower level. To have items picked up see

Leigh Gesick. Remember no large pieces of furniture, appliances, computer equipment, plantsor text books

Make a Silent Auction Donation some of the donations that we have so farinclude: an area carpet, lathe turned bowl, Goodspeed Opera House tickets, fall

wreath, 1 hour card stamping class, canvas original painting, hand carved Nativityset, golf for 2 with a cart at Fenwick golf course, 2 hours of babysitting, Fromage

gift basket, Foodworks gift basket, Mystic Seaport family membership, giftcertificate from Old Saybrook Soup and Sandwich, The Bombe cake from

Vanderbrookes, childrens portrait package

Tell 5 people about our Christmas Fair! - call them, forward an email, have themcheck our website www.firstchurchsaybrook.org, pickup a flyer in the Connector

and give it to them.

Gather ingredients for your favorite recipe make a contribution to our baketable. Remember small packaging is better. Pies can be full size!

Sign up to work for the Fair setting up, organizing, pricing or to work the day ofthe Fair pick your favorite table or to help clean-up.

And dont forget to come and shop!There will also be chili and chowders, Hallady dips, The Crafters handmade gifts,

and this year there will be the Cozy Christmas Caf where you can relax and havea specialty coffee.

TTTooowweeerrr NNNOOOVVVEEEMMMBBBEEERRR 222000111111

An all-church event!

What to do in the 12 Days before

the Fair:


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Our Thanksgiving Service will be on November 20,

with special music and a special worship service.

There will be a THANKSGIVING OFFERING Sunday, November 20

to benefit HEAT n EAT and the SHORELINE PANTRY.

Your offering of money will give Heat & Eat the funds to purchase ingredients

not available from the Connecticut food bank in order to create frozen dinners

for those who come to the Food Pantry. (Heat & Eat is comprised of volunteers

who come to cook in our church kitchen every Monday morning and other

volunteers who package the meals each Monday afternoon) Want to volunteer?

See: Bo Henderson

For the Shoreline Pantry bring canned goods, packaged foods and home and

bath necessities (especially needed). If you bring them to church on Sunday,

Nov 20, place them by the Communion Tableat other times these items may be

placed in the collection drum by the Connector door.


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Join us forJoin us forJoin us forJoin us for

The Boar's Head FestivalThe Boar's Head FestivalThe Boar's Head FestivalThe Boar's Head Festival

Sunday, January 8, 1:30Sunday, January 8, 1:30Sunday, January 8, 1:30Sunday, January 8, 1:30Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford, CTAsylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford, CTAsylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford, CTAsylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford, CT

Sign up by Sunday November 6Sign up by Sunday November 6Sign up by Sunday November 6Sign up by Sunday November 6 if you want us to orderif you want us to orderif you want us to orderif you want us to order your tickets,your tickets,your tickets,your tickets,estimates to be about $25 per person.estimates to be about $25 per person.estimates to be about $25 per person.estimates to be about $25 per person.

You may order your own tickets by contacting the Asylum Hill ChurchYou may order your own tickets by contacting the Asylum Hill ChurchYou may order your own tickets by contacting the Asylum Hill ChurchYou may order your own tickets by contacting the Asylum Hill Churchdirectly.directly.directly.directly.

Check out scenes from last years performanceCheck out scenes from last years performanceCheck out scenes from last years performanceCheck out scenes from last years performancehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObT7QS9LAS4&feature=youtu.be


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~ Worship in November ~Theme: Thanksgiving for the Past with Hope for the Future

Sunday, November 610:00 am Holy Communion

Gospel: Matthew 25: 1-13 (Parable of the 10 Bridesmaids)Sermon: Are You Prepared? Dr. Whitcher

Sunday, November 1310:00 am Sacrament of Baptism

Gospel: Matthew 25: 14-30 (Parable of the Talents)

Sermon: Visioning or Vanishing Dr. Whitcher

November 20 - Thanksgiving Sunday10:00 am

Gospel: Matthew 25: 31-46 (The Judgment)

Sermon: A Matter of Perspective Dr. Whitcher

November 27 - 1st

Sunday of Advent10:00 Holy Communion

Gospel: Mark 13: 14-37 (The Great Tribulation)

Sermon: Watch & Wait Dr. Whitcher

~November Study Groups~

Wednesdays, November 2 & 9

7:00 pm in the Fireside RoomABBA! A Bible Basic for Adults Last two classes

Sunday, November 6

10:30 am in the Fireside Room

Theology: Study of God The TrinityLast Class

Mondays, November 7, 14, 21, 28

10:00 am in the Fireside RoomWomen of Prayer: Book Study

Mondays, November 7 & 28

7:00 pm in the Fireside RoomThe Deaconate Training


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Confirmation /Prep For Life Classes

Next class will be November 13

9th and 10th Grade Youth will begin meeting once a month with the pastor in anexperiential learning process by which faith faces real life as preparation for a young

persons owning their faith, once made on their behalf by parents at their Baptism. Thisis a trial year to evaluate how effective it would be to continue throughout a young personsHigh School Career, where ones Confirmation would coincide with the adult passage of

their Graduation.

We will meet on the following Sundays at 11:30 -- with Lunch

November 13, December 11, January 8,

February 12, March 11, April 1, May 13

If you have a young person who would like to join this class, please speak to the

Pastor.

Healing Service

Wednesday, November 30and The Last Wednesday of Each Month at 7:00 pm

(The Chancel of the Sanctuary)

A time of peace, candlelight, prayer, Tais song,meditation,

anointing with Holy Oils for healingand Communion

a small group experience in our Chancel setting. Come for yourself,

for a family Member for a friend. Led by the Pastor.

November 30 March 28(None in Dec.) April 25January 25 May 30February 22 Ash Wednesday

STEERING COMMITTEE will meet next on

TUESDAY, November 8 at 7:00 in the Fireside Room


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CHRISTMAS DECORATIONSCHRISTMAS DECORATIONSCHRISTMAS DECORATIONSCHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

I would like to contribute to the poinsettias and greens decorating the sanctuary this Christmas

season.

( ) As a Thanksgiving Offering

( ) As a Memorial - in memory of

___________________________________________________________________________

( ) In Honor of

___________________________________________________________________________

Presented by:

___________________________________________________________________________

Only Red Poinsettias will be available

It Is Important For The Flower Committee To Know If A Plant Is Being Taken ToSomeone So That Duplicates Are Not Delivered. Please Indicate:

( ) After the service I will be taking a poinsettia for my own use.

( ) After the service I will be delivering a poinsettia.

(If this is a church member or friend, please give the name so that

he/she will not receive a duplicate plant from the Flower Committee.)

_________________________________________________

(Name)

( ) Volunteers are needed! Please indicate If you would be willing to help deliverthe remaining poinsettias to those who are on the Shut-In list

The cost for contributing to the decorations is $9.00.

Please return this form to the Church Office no later than Monday, December 12.

Thank you.

______________________________________ _______________________________

Name Telephone


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As of the printing of this Tower, the Search Committee will have met with all four FocusGroups to discuss their ideas about the future of Children and Family Ministry at FirstChurch. Our next step will be to meet with our Pastor to obtain his input and hear his ideasand then the committee will regroup. Our goal over the next month or so is to edit the jobdescription based upon the feedback we heard from the Congregation and present you with

our findings. We have an amazing team and have met with wonderful people who havegiven us honest feedback. We are confident with guidance from God and support from ourCongregation we are on the right path! Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not onyour own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight- Proverbs 3: 5-6

Kristin DeCapua, ChairRick Allen, Laura Colebank, Katie Gesick, Sherrie Monaco,Stuart Otto. Lynn Pandiani, Kathy Sugland and Susan Townsley

WORSHIP AND MUSIC MISSION GROUPWORSHIP AND MUSIC MISSION GROUPWORSHIP AND MUSIC MISSION GROUPWORSHIP AND MUSIC MISSION GROUP

Senior Choir

"Calling all Singers"

We always want new members, but we're happy to include those who just wantto do something special to mark the holidays. As long as there is sufficientrehearsal participation, someone who wants to sing in any of the Christmasservices is welcome.

Lolly Bassett

Search Committee Update


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SPIRITUAL LIFE MISSION GROUP

Teen Ministry Team

Our Mission - The Teen Ministry of First Church of Christ in Old Saybrook

provides a loving community that leads and supports Jr & Sr High youth on

their journey as followers of Jesus Christ and inspires joyful service to God

and others.

Fellowship! Fundraising! Outreach!the Jr & Sr High teens were busy this October!

We started the month with a fun fellowship activity Pizza and Bowling!

The following weekend we rolled out the pumpkins, and bake goods for our Harvest

Fundraiser. Thank you to parents and Congregation members for taking the time to bake somany yummy treats, and for stopping by to purchase items. This new fundraiser raised over$800! Plus we had the added benefit of sharing our day with a guest Emma. She lives in PAand came to Old Saybrook to spend the weekend with the Wright family. Charlotte and Emmabecame fast friends while on the mission trip to NC!

17 First Church members of all ages drove to New Haven on October 16th

to visit the RonaldMcDonald House and prepare a meal for the families staying there.Your donations of food,individually packaged snacks, cleaning products, baby wipes, books, games and crafts were


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greatly appreciated!We were fortunate tomeet ClaireDeMartino, one of thefounders of the onlyRMH in Connecticut

and hearabout thehistory ofthe housebefore sheguided uson a tour.

This RMH has beenserving families ofchildren with seriousillnesses or chronicconditions since 1985!

Consistently, the 12 bedrooms in this beautifully restored Victorian home are filled tocapacity. From the comfortable living room to the welcoming dining room to the excitinggame roomit is obvious how this RMH can provide a home for these families dealing withcommon fears, experiences and hope for their sick child.

Keep pulling those soda can tabs! The Ronald McDonald House in New Haven has raisedover $8000 from these donations!

Mission Trip deposits should be handed in to Mrs. Vinciguerra.

Next Jr & Sr High activity Sunday November 6th from 11am - 12:30pm in Fellowship Hall

Childrens Ed Team

We are learning that multi-tasking in this position is an absolute requirement. Just beforewriting this article, we were assembling Trick or Treat for UNICEF boxes, and tomorrowwe will be looking at Christmas crafts for advent.

Yesterday we conducted our second Bible Explorers class where 3rd graders are finding newways to explore their new bibles. The CE team presented the 3rd graders with their very ownAdventure Bibles on October 16

th. We all felt the excitement and wonder of the 3

rdgraders as

they couldnt stop looking through their new bibles.


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We recently completed the first module of our new Grades 1-6 curriculum as well as thecreation story in Pre K/K, and there were some memorable moments:

- The children and teachers (think giants) acting out the twelve spies travelling toCanaan (Numbers 13:17 14:19) with colored balloons

- Using a drop of dish soap to separate green and blue food coloring in milk to showhow God made the earth and water

- A cup of water turning solid helping us understand how great a change the taxcollector (Luke 18:9-14) felt when he received Gods grace

- Hamster theater yes, you read that correctly retelling Acts 27:13 25, Paul gettingshipwrecked

Since we cannot do justice to the church school experience here in the TOWER, we want youto experience it yourselves. We will be calling all parents and asking you to commit to aSunday when you will participate in church school. We will also place the schedule in theconnector so you do not have to wait for our phone call. Pick the class you will join and thenget ready to enjoy! Even if you are not a parent, feel free to sign up for a Sunday and learnalongside the children.

The Pre-K/K class is a large active group, and we are blessed to have dedicated teachers whodo all the planning, preparation and teaching of the lessons. We hope to be able to give them achance to attend adult worship now and then so we will be signing up parents to assist one ofthe primary teachers on particular Sundays.

Teenagers love going to the movies and our Grades 7 and 8 teens are no exception. They arecontinuing to watch Soul Surfer and discuss the main characters relationship with God.

We are thankful to our many nursery volunteers who have stepped up to care for our youngestmembers as we continue to look for a full time nursery care provider. As the number of littleones continues to rise, we ask parents to add a name label to any snacks or drinks they bringfor their children. We will also continue to ask that two adults are present in the nursery at alltimes.

The Christmas Pageant has always been an event the children look forward to and now is thetime to start planning. If you ever dreamed of being a director, choreographer, band leader, orscreenplay writer, this is your chance! Contact us as soon as possible as the format of thepageant must be finalized before November 13

thso we can discuss roles with the children. A

Christmas Pageant team sign up sheet can also be found in the connector.

Lori Tomko, Kris Beezer

Co-Directors, Childrens Ministries


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MEMBER CARE MISSION GROUPMEMBER CARE MISSION GROUPMEMBER CARE MISSION GROUPMEMBER CARE MISSION GROUP

MISSION AND OUTREACHMISSION AND OUTREACHMISSION AND OUTREACHMISSION AND OUTREACH GROUPGROUPGROUPGROUP

Family of the Month Team

November

Our Family of the Month for November is a family of five, a mother, father and threechildren living in a motel room. Mom is only getting about 12 hours of work from her parttime job helping the elderly and disabled and recently needed to leave due to a health issue.Dad has been struggling as a self employed person who has not had work lately due to ourrecession. The family moved into the motel when they lost their housing due to an inability topay the rent. We are helping this family to get back on their feet. Mom has been directed tomedical help and Dad is actively looking for a job and a job retraining program. Mom willjoin him in looking for employment when she is well. This family will need help withtransportation to work, relocating back into a rental and food and medical care. Mom left myoffice today in tears knowing someone could help.

Please call Susan Consoli, the Social Services Coordinator, at 860-395-3188 if you have anyquestions. Donations may be left in the Church Office with any checks made payable toYouth and Family Services. We very much appreciate your continued support. Thank you.

Pictorial Directory

If you would like to have your email address included in the

Pictorial Directory, please email Karen Vradenburgh [email protected].

Rick Allen & Karen VradenburghMember Care Group


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Blood Drive Team

The BLOOD DRIVE is coming to First Church on Monday, December 19th from 1-5:45 pmin the fellowship hall. Remember that blood shortages are even worse during the holidays, sothis is your chance to give the Gift of Life! As always, volunteers are needed to staff thedrive and to provide snacks and baked goods. Starting after Thanksgiving, there will be signup sheets in the Connector at the "Blood Drive" table and someone will be available to helpyou add your name to one or more of the lists. Sign up early for the best times! I can also

sign you up by phone or email. Help make this Blood Drive the most successful one yet--save lives by donating blood, its fast and easy!

Kathy Price860-388-9985 or [email protected]

The Green Team

SLIGHTLY GREENER

Good news! Later this month well take a couple steps forward with wider, easier avenuesfor recycling. A recycling container will be on premises, so well no longer have to rely onvolunteers to tote stuff to the transfer station. Plus, well populate the entire building withrecycling bins, thus allowing all who use our facilities to participate with ease.

Sowatch for the arrival of the blue bins, and please take care to put recycling in its properplace; collection is single-stream, so theres no need to separate paper from other material.We believe the result will be an ever-tinier quantity of trash for the landfill, and a muchgreater contribution of material that gains a second life through recycling.

First Churchtending Creation with care.

From the Green TeamKaren VradenburghAnn Kloter

TRUSTEES GROUPTRUSTEES GROUPTRUSTEES GROUPTRUSTEES GROUP

November is a time of falling leaves, leftover candy, veteran appreciation, and elections.However, the family we have at First Church understands and appreciates that politics is adivisive issue and there is no place for such topics under our roof. Therefore, in the spirit oftogetherness and thanksgiving, I would like to introduce the new Board of Trustees and bringyou in on our discussions.

At our October meeting we welcomed new Board members and elected new officers. Pleasemake yourself acquainted with the entire Board; who are:

Derrik M. Kennedy, ChairBill Lawlor, Vice-Chair


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Leigh Gesick, TreasurerCharlie McSorley, SecretaryKristin DeCapuaNeil BeezerSusan TownsleyLafayette KeeneyJeff Linn

Please, feel free to approach us, call us, or contact us in anyway to express your thoughts onchurch finances, administration, or if you have new ideas that you would like the Trustees toconsider.

We would also like to give you a brief idea of what well be discussing over the next coupleof months and are always welcoming of your feedback. We will be keeping a keen eye onchurch finances, exploring the idea of adding a recycling program to our waste disposalcontract, creating endowment fund policies to manage their use, possibly forming a capitalimprovement committee to explore options for our church, and establishing personnel policiesand procedures to give us a strong foundation to move forward.

This Board works extremely well together because of our collective understanding that we areall here to keep our family together and grow stronger. We hope that the congregationreaches out to us with ideas, comments, and concerns and welcomes our recommendations.

Sincerely,

Derrik M. Kennedy

LEGACY GROUPLEGACY GROUPLEGACY GROUPLEGACY GROUP

Highlights of our Legacy Fund PolicyA forward looking group of our members led us in establishing the Legacy Fundin the mid 1990s. The original principal was invested and has now grown toaround $500,000. We have never taken any money out of the Legacy Fund, but

it is large enough now to support some annual withdrawals and still keepgrowing. This fund offers a great opportunity to support the mission andministry of First Church in addition to what we do with our regular annualbudget.

As previously reported in the Tower, an ad hoc group of Legacy Team membersand Trustees has updated the original Legacy Fund policy. The policy isintended to accomplish several goals:


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Provide a means for the congregation to confirm the intent tomaintain the fund into the indefinite future by limiting

withdrawals to a sustainable amount

Set the investment parameters to guide financial management ofthe fund

Have a written policy to demonstrate to potential donors that thefund is well managed, and restricted in its use

Agree that the primary purpose of the fund is not to supplementthe operating budget and therefore, no more than 25% of the

annual withdrawal can be used for that purpose

Use some of the money each year for a purpose proposed by theTrustees and voted on at the annual meeting

The policy can guide us to meeting these goals, but success requires that we, as

a congregation, agree that this is what we want to do. A church meeting will becalled to ask the congregation to adopt this policy as our guidance on use of theFund. Prudent use of the Legacy Fund can be an exciting new ministry for usand we hope you will attend the meeting to help launch this effort.

Copies of the policy are available in the church office

BOOK CLUB READING LISTBOOK CLUB READING LISTBOOK CLUB READING LISTBOOK CLUB READING LIST -------- 2011/202011/202011/202011/2012

November: "29"By Adena Halpern

January: "The Things That Keep us Here"By Carla Buckley

February: "The Help"By Kathryn Stockett

March: "A Covert Affair: Julia Child and Paul Child in the OSS"By Jennet Conant


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ANNUAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Our Annual Meeting was held following church Sunday, September 18 with 72 members inattendance. Susan Townsley, Moderator Pro-tem, presided over the meeting.

The main item on the agenda was the vote to make permanent the existing Team Ministrystructure. Following lengthy discussion, the members voted: To extend the Team Ministryconcept for one (1) year and instruct the Steering Committee to appraise, evaluate and cometo the congregation with recommendations for improvements and enhancements beforereturning to the congregation for a vote of permanency and appointment of a By-Law Team.

Other items voted at the Annual Meeting were the new slate of officers and missing GroupRepresentatives. A revised mission statement and nominations for a Deaconate class of 2013.

James Platt, Clerk


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stewardshipstewardshipstewardshipstewardship


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Pastors Note

Thanksgiving for Our Past with Hope for the FutureCraig M. Whitcher, Pastor

s a pastor I have to sort out the currents, torrents and tides of social change like asailor navigating the Connecticut River mouth as it enters the Sound; and then try to

interpret them based on the scriptures, especially the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thosecurrents of change include technological changes, generational dynamics, environmentalinstabilities; and, philosophical understandings pulsate, making these realities difficult toframe. Nevertheless, I cannot resist trying to capture the movement for our little ship here atFirst Church.

During the last few decades, weve watched mainline churches such as ours struggle not justto grow but to simply maintain. Whether we admit it or not weve had to acknowledge thecompetition from the Evangelical/Pentecostal megachurches with their investments intechnology and presentation, swallowing up many mainline transplants. Weve looked withawe upon their barebones, unchurchy exteriors and pleasant interiors reminiscent of

shopping malls. These large churches filled with people attracted to charismatic pastors,catchy praise music led by rock style bands, and theatre screens filled with images to capturethe imagination. For the last twenty years, eager leaders in mainline churches have beenlooking to the robust megachurch movement to teach us how to reach out to our culture in arelevant way.

Now, we are beginning to learn that the megachurch doesnt seem to be working andmaintaining its influence as it had. Megachurch members are aging, worship asentertainment seems to be losing its luster. Many evangelical pastors have becomeexhausted by trying to grow a church on steroids. The children who were raised inmegachurches are becoming less enchanted with the scene, frustrated with the doctrine, and

the political attitudes of conservative evangelicalism in general.

We are reaching a time when those of Generation X (born in 1961 to 1981) ought to besettling down in their religious/spiritual habits, like the generations before. However, we findthat many have not established any religious (church) tradition, let alone spiritual habits. Thesons and daughters of those who abandoned the mainline churches created in the 1950s; arenow deriding the evangelical churches that grew up in the wake of mainstream Protestantdecline.

Not only have religious attitudes changed, but demographics as well. We find rings ofsuburbs and exurbs, and the cultural makeup of our towns is changing. Younger generations

long for the diversity, arts, and earth-friendly transportation of urban centers. Highly skilledand educated men and women of every ethnicity are moving back into the very same urbanareas many of their parents fled. Young families may be seeking smaller bed room towns butwant the services of larger cities.

As we catch glimpses of what the currents and torrents are all about, we may wonder wherethe tide is taking us. And we know it is not just generational attitudes and demographics. Werealize an important philosophical shift is also taking root, which leads us to ask: How havewe been changed in our congregations? Can the church adapt to flourish in this new context?

A


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What are the possibilities arising in this unsettling and surging time? Can we reframe ourministriesour faith, our hope, and our lovein the midst of these currents?

I can remember a time when the church was the hub of my social life. I was a post war baby.I was born to the last decade of a church-centered world. I can barely remember a time whenpeople went to church every week. It wasnt long before the church was simply a place myfriends visited on Christmas Eve and Easterand now even that tradition is beginning tofade.

It is not that I am happy about the current state of the church, but I have witnessed thesechanges and have tried to either stem the flood or ride the waves of change. When I introducemyself as a pastor in public, I encounter little awe and a modicum of respect, as well aspuzzlement. Indeed, I run into more and more people who ask what a pastor is, because manyof them have never been inside a church, even for a funeral or a wedding. I am often met withcuriosity, as if people did not even realize it was still possible to make religion a careerchoice.

Yet, as many mainline churches move farther and farther to the sidelines of our culture, asmegachurches lose their entertainment value, and as church leaders look to the nextgeneration, there is a great deal of hope waiting to be kindled. I find inspiration in the factthat those who show up to worship here are drawn by a deep sense of hunger for communityand a search for God. I am encouraged by the movement of young adults into churches likeours with our basic hospitality and mission and ministry that proclaims the Gospel and meansthe model that drove people to the megachurch is breaking down. Congregations that did notfare well in the last 20-30 years are beginning to see new vitality. The new visions of how wedo church are coming into focus; shaped by changing demographics, shifting social concerns,and burning spiritual yearnings. I see streams of living water bubbling up through theturbulence.

There are progressive political leanings of the younger generation and former evangelicals, asthey long for spiritual communities that care deeply about social-justice issuesthe same

issues that many of our congregations have been organizing around for hundreds of years.There is a deep spiritual yearning pervasive across generations, yet we know people will nolonger settle for one-way preaching and entertaining services. They want meaningfulworship, an empowered lay leadership, and a spirituality that leads to action.

Finally, I read in my professional journals that the coming of age of the Millennial Generation(those born between 1982 and 2001) bodes well for churches like ours. Not only is thisgeneration much larger than those that preceded it, Millennials are also much morecommunity focused and institutionally minded than the generations before them.Generational sociologists Neil Howe and William Strauss believe the influence of the risinggeneration will cause every arena [to] become more orderly, structured, and civic minded.

With regard to religion in particular, Howe and Strauss suggest, Millennials will favorfriendly rituals and community building.

If we begin to reframe the work of our spiritual life as a community of faith, taking care tounderstand the shifts occurring in our culture and to respond to them faithfully, then the futurecan be fruitful. If we realize and welcome the changes that will come, if we can be open towhat new adaptations will bring to us, if we can begin to sense the Holy Spirit moving, thenwe will be able to sense vitality in a new generation.

Credit is due to an article by The Substance of Our Hope by Carol Howard Merritt of the Albans Institute


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CHURCH NOTES

Grateful thanks to Terry Shuttleworth, Barbara Downie, and Suzanne Otto for

preparing the Tower for mailing.

Articles for the December TOWER must be submitted to the Church Office no later

than November 21. Thank you.

Sign up for email! Receive the Tower by email and help save on paper and postage costs! It is a

Word document, in a PDF format, which is easy to download, it comes through instantly, and

you can receive it when you are traveling wherever you are. Contact the Church Office and

give it a try!

IF YOU NO LONGER WISH TO RECEIVE THIS NEWSLETTER, please ask to have your name removed by

calling the church office or e-mailing us. This will save us postage and save you the inconvenience of receiving

unwanted mail

Church Staff

The Rev. Dr. Craig M. Whitcher, Senior PastorJay Downes, Director of Teen Ministry

Lolly Bassett, Choir Director and OrganistLane Bolton, Church Administrative Assistant

Lori Tomko and Kris Beezer, Co-Directors Childrens MinistriesLeigh Gesick, Treasurer and Director of Handbell Choirs

Ken Hartley, Financial Assistant

Bill Gifford, SextonLori Tomko, Christian Education Music Director


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NOVEMBER2011

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 1:00 SSKP3:00 Food Pantry5:00 Weight Watchers6:00 Scouts6:30 Bell Choir7:00 & 8:00 Alanon7:30 Narcotics

2 10:00 ShawlMinistry12:15 Alanon1:00 Crafters4:00 Recital6:30 TeenMinistry7:00 Bible Basics

3WeightWatchers:9:30 , 11:00, 6:0012:30 Bridge6:00 Breast Cancer7:00 Choir7:00 Search7:30 Narcotics8:00 Alanon

4 5

8:00WWatchers9:30WWatchers

610:00 Worship-Communion

11:15 Jr-Sr Hi

11:30 Theology; A

Study of God

78:00 Heat n Eat-Cooking10:00 Women ofPrayer1:00 Heat n Eat-Packaging

3:00 SSKP3:30 Bible Exp.7:00 Diaconate7:00 Stewardship

83:00 Food Pantry5:00 Scouts5:00 Weight Watchers6:30 Bell Choir7:00 Steering7:00 & 8:00 Alanon

7:30 Narcotics

912:15 AlanonLunch

1:30 Crafters

6:00 Scouts

7:00 Bible Basics

10 FAIR SET UPUpstairs

Weight Watchers:9:30 , 11:00, 6:00

7:00 Choir

7:00 Search7:30 Narcotics8:00 Alanon

11

FAIR

SET UPDownstairs

12

CHRISTMAS

FAIR

9am to 2pm

13

10:00 Worship-Baptism

11:30 Confirmation/Prep for Life Class

148:00 Heat n Eat-

Cooking10:00 Women ofPrayer1:00 Heat n Eat-Packaging3:30 Bible Exp.4:30 Scouts7:00 Trustees

15

3:00 Food Pantry5:00 Weight Watchers6:30 Bell Choir7:00 & 8:00 Alanon7:30 Narcotics

16

10:00 PrayerShawl Ministry

12:15 AlanonLunch

17Weight Watchers:9:30 , 11:00, 6:0012:30 Bridge6:00 Breast Cancer7:00 Choir7:00 Search7:30 Narcotics8:00 Alanon

18

7:00Scouts

19


20

10:00 Worship

218:00 Heat n Eat-

Cooking1:00 Heat n Eat-Packaging3:30 BibleExplorers

229:30 Crafters

3:00 Food Pantry5:00 Weight Watchers6:30 Bell Choir7:00 & 8:00 -Alanon7:30 Narcotics

23

12:15 AlanonLunch

24

THANKSGIVINGDAY

25 26


27

10:00 Worship-CommunionFirst Sunday in Advent

288:00 Heat n Eat-Cooking1:00 Heat n Eat-Packaging2:00 Book Group3:30 Bible

Explorers7:00 Deaconate

293:00 Food Pantry5:00 Weight Watchers6:30 Bell Choir7:00 & 8:00 -Alanon7:30 Narcotics

3012:15 AlanonLunch

5:30 Scouts

7:00 Healing

Service

tower november 2011

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