Bill’s Bestowals:
“Into the Future!”
“The Lord … said to (FPC Mena) …
‘I will bless you … and you will be a blessing.”
(Genesis 12:1-2)
Wow! What a gift the month of November has been as we have celebrated FPC Mena’s 125th Anniversary! So many highlights …
† Worship in the park on the 6th!
† All Saints’ Day Prayer of Remembrance including past generations!
† Our General Presbyter – Stewart Smith – leading worship on the 13th!
† Old friends joining us for special moments!
† Glances at the past (with Thanksgiving) on the 20th!
† Temporal costumes (Personally, I can’t unsee Mike Landry and Wes Stiefer with hair)!
† Encouragements for the future on the 27th!
† 125 items gifted to the “Fresh Start Pregnancy Center!”
† Poems and hymns written to honor the past and future.
† A new online “Family Cookbook!” (Go to www.firstchurchmena.org; scroll down to “latest news” to find it. Paper copies are available at the church)
† Birthday cake!
† Delicious lunches each Sunday!
† And a “125th Year Anniversary Commemorative Booklet!” (now available!)
I would like to offer enormous gratitude to:
© Our strong, able and THOUGHTFUL ad hoc 125th Anniversary Committee! The committee was comprised of Mary Dixon, Annette & Bill Hays, Karen Mosier & Linda Spurgin, and chaired by Judy Thompson!
© Pete Chambers, who gave a wonderfully inspirational message concerning the future of FPC. “If we work toward fulfilling our mission statement, I believe the future looks good for First Presbyterian. If we, instead, focus on priorities the world thinks are important, we don’t have much of a future.”
© Countless others who jumped at opportunities to make our 125th Anniversary special. (I didn’t see a great deal of what went on behind-the-scenes; suffice to say that the effort was enormous!)
© Last and Greatest: The One who “blessed us to be a blessing,” and who continues to provide the light we shine … to Him be the glory!
Another gift came my way in November unexpectedly. It came in the form of this well-timed story:
Attention to all parents who need to tell the truth about Santa:
Son: “Dad, I think I’m old enough now. Is there REALLY a Santa Claus?”
Dad: “OK, I agree that you are old enough. But before I tell you, I have a question for you. You see, the ‘truth’ is a dangerous gift. Once you know something, you can’t unknow it. Once you know the truth about Santa Claus, you will never again understand and relate to him as you do now. So my question is: are you SURE you want to know?”
(Brief pause)
Son: “Yes, I want to know.”
Dad: “OK, I’ll tell you: Yes, there is a Santa Claus.”
Son: “Really?!”
Dad: “Yes, really … but he’s not an old man with a beard in a red suit. That’s just what we tell kids. You see, kids are too young to understand the true nature of Santa Claus, so we explain it to them in a way that they can understand. The truth about Santa Claus is that he’s not a person at all; he’s an idea. Think of all those presents ‘Santa’ gave you over the years. I actually bought those myself. I watched you open them. And did it bother me that you didn’t thank me? Of course not! In fact, it gave me great pleasure. You see, Santa Claus is the idea of giving for the sake of giving, without thought of thanks or acknowledgement. When I saw that woman collapse on the subway last week and called for help, I knew that she’d never know that it was me that summoned the ambulance. I was being Santa Claus when I did that.”
Son: “Oh.”
Dad: “So … now that you know, you’re part of it! You have to be Santa Claus too, now. That means you can never tell a young kid the secret, and you have to help us select ‘Santa’ presents for them. MOST important: you have to look for opportunities to help people. Got it?”
People of FPC, Mena: à“GOT IT!!” ß
If you are a part of this church: overcome any Claustrophobia you are feeling, because a Claus in your “Kingdom of God Citizenship Agreement” calls for it! LIVE IT! Merry Christmas!
Shalom! Pastor Bill
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December 2022 Calendar:
Sunday: Fellowship “Hour” begins at 9:30 a.m.
Sunday School at 10 a.m.
Worship at 11 a.m.
Thursday: Grief Share at 10 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.
December 1: Fellowship Meeting 8 a.m.
December 3: PW Meeting at New Papa’s 11:30 a.m.
December 6: Mission Committee Meeting 5 p.m.
December 7: Worship Committee Meeting at 1 p.m.
December 10: Game Day in the Fellowship Hall, 12 p.m.
December 10: Jim Smith Memorial in the Sanctuary, 2 p.m.
December 12: Stewardship & Finance Committee Meeting 1 p.m.
December 13: Session Meeting 5:30 p.m.
December 19: Christmas Caroling 4:30 p.m.
December 24: Christmas Eve Service, 5:40 p.m. for music, 6 p.m. for service
December 25: Christmas Day Service at 11. àFeel free to wear pajamas! ß
December 27: Building & Grounds Meeting 10 a.m.
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES:
6 – Charis Seitz 23 – Hailee Pullen
11 – Wes Stiefer II 25 – Garrett Lundberg
15 – Niles Smith 26 – Delta Reed
17 – Jimmy Murphy 28 – David Spurgin
22 – Patience Taranto 30 – Alice Rains
SERVING THIS MONTH:
Ushers: David Spurgin & Chuck Schroyer
Communion Preparers: Delta Reed
Communion Servers: Leon Myers, Dora Venable, Chuck Schroyer
Annette Hays, Wes Stiefer
SPECIAL COLLECTION SUNDAYS:
December 4: Personal Care Collection
December 25: Goodland Academy
