Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: First Presbyterian Church of Easton

First Presbyterian Church
Easton, PA

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Soundings

January 2012

ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

The Session has called the Annual Meeting of the Congregation and Corporation of the First Presbyterian Church of Easton for Sunday, January 29, 2012, immediately following the 10:30 AM service. The business of the meeting will include presentation of the church operating budget for 2012, and the hearing of annual reports of church teams, groups and organizations, including financial reports.

The meeting will be held in the Sanctuary and nursery and childcare will be available during the meeting.

Annual report booklets will be available on Sunday, January 22.

 

ANNUAL REPORT

Annual Reports from Team leaders, staff and others are due in the church office by Tuesday, January 3, 2012. Reports can be dropped off or emailed to office@eastonfpc.org.

 

IN CONCERT…

Save the date!! Mary Fahl will perform a benefit concert for the church on Saturday, February 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. (Snow date is Saturday February 18.) Don’t miss this special event as singer/songwriter and recording artist Mary Fahl gives a special solo performance. Songs will include those she has written and performed for several motion pictures. You won’t want to miss Mary’s powerful, expressive and emotional singing that draws on classical, folk and world music, and has been described by Boston Globe critic Steve Morse as “a voice for the gods that can transport listeners to other realms”.

The concert will be followed by a reception and meet and greet in Legacy Hall. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by calling the church office at 610-253-3579 or Susan Mackay at 908-507-2621.

 

SHAWL MINISTRY

Next Meeting: Monday, January 2nd from 1:00 to 3:00 in the Brainerd Gathering Area

All congregational members, neighbors, and friends are welcome to join us.

On Monday, December 5th, with beautiful Christmas music playing in the background, members of our group helped package many crocheted and knitted hats, scarves, mittens, lap robes, and shawls for delivery. We delivered to six agencies after our holiday luncheon. The agencies were:

·        Spring Garden Children’s Center

·        Cheston Elementary School

·        Safe Harbor Homeless Center

·        Salvation Army

·        Northampton Children and Youth

·        Third Street Alliance

A total of 246 items were distributed! Thank you, thank you, to ALL who participated.

Our annual Nut Sale is drawing to a close. Thank you to all that support our mission. A few bags of nuts are still available each Sunday in the Legacy Hall during Coffee Hour right after the Worship Service. Remember they make great gifts and delicious, nutritious snacks!! After ALL bags have been sold our total profit will be $321.60. That money is used for purchasing yarn that keeps our mission going. Call Fran Dean 610-838-7779, for more information.

May this season wrap you in warmth and much comfort.

 

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN

The 2012 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women will be July 18-22, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. For more information or to register go to www.presbyterianwomen.org/gathering, or call 502-429-5825. The theme is “River of Hope”.

 

BOOK CLUB

The Book Club meets for lively discussions in the Brainerd Gathering Area on the following Mondays at 1:00 PM. New members are cordially invited. Questions – call Cathy Burnet at 610 588-6738.

January 9 - I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron, a lighthearted look at aging.

February 13 – All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum.

March 12 – Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg.

April 9 – The Kindness of Strangers by Katrina Kittle

May 14 – Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

PRAYER REQUESTS

First Presbyterian Church has a prayer list which is updated and printed weekly. Prayer lists are available from an usher on Sunday morning, on the back table in the sanctuary, or on the Deacons' information table in Legacy Hall. You may also receive this prayer list weekly by email just by calling the church office. Also, you may add the name of anyone for whom you have prayer concerns to this list by calling the church office. Names will be automatically removed after six weeks unless the office is notified otherwise. Please consider obtaining this list and supporting those in need of prayer.

 

BRUNCH BUNCH

The Brunch Bunch will go to lunch immediately after worship on Sunday, January 8. Meet in Legacy Hall to carpool to Ruby Tuesday Restaurant in Bethlehem Twp. For more information on the Brunch Bunch, speak to Rose Marie Leone (610-258-3063).

 

THANKS FOR THE OVERWHELMING ANGEL TREE RESPONSE!

At least 1forty angels contributed fifty-four gifts for this year’s Angel Tree family! The collection box outside the office was filled so full that the deliverers needed four large bags to hold the additional gifts. As requested, the gifts were wrapped, too. The checks received bought additional clothing for the children.

In addition to the three winter jackets, each of the three boys in the family received shirts, pants, and warm sweat shirts. Each received a book, a game and toy, and a filled stocking. The Shawl Ministry provided each member of the family with mittens and scarves, and the Mom was given a shawl. The Mom also received a gift card to WalMart, Target, and the Palmer Park Mall, as well as scented candles and perfume so she can feel special, too. True to our previous experience, the Moms in the program ask for very little for themselves.

Carol Freebairn, Deacons’ co-Moderator, excitedly and proudly delivered the gifts on Monday, December 19 to our contact at the Third Street Alliance. Each contributor should be pleased for making this our best year yet. You expressed the true meaning of Christmas. Thanks to all for your very generous support!

 

SANCTUARY FLOWERS

The sanctuary flowers enhance the beauty of our weekly worship services and bring joy to homebound or hospitalized members of our congregation who receive them after worship. A sign-up sheet to provide flowers during 2012 is posted in Legacy Hall. Two floral arrangements cost $35 and up, depending on the type of arrangement. After you reserve your date to donate flowers, let the church office know your price range and we will order the flowers for you from Bloomies, our church florist. Bloomies will then bill you directly.

 

MANY THANKS

Thank you to our church family for all the prayers, cards, flowers and meals you provided to Tim and I during my recent illness. They were all very much appreciated.

- Connie Cain

* * * * * * * * *

Dear Church Family,

Thank you for your prayers during my recovery. Also, Rev. Simmons’ visit was much appreciated as well as the beautiful shawl presented to me by Fran Dean.

- Shirley Cooper

* * * * * * * * *

Thank you so much for letting us use the church for our Al-Anon meeting. Have a wonderful holiday.

- Al-Anon Group

* * * * * * * * *

On behalf of the soldiers who receive our care packages, we would like to thank First Presbyterian Church and the Mission Team for including Support the Troops, Inc. as part of Mission Sunday on November 13.

We ship packages to the troops year round, so if you know of anyone serving overseas, contact us with their full address and we will surely ship them a care package. If you have any questions, we can be reached at 610-438-8885.

- Blair and Valerie Ferguson

 

OFFERING ENVELOPES

Boxes of 2012 offering envelopes for those who had them previously are on a table in the narthex. If you would like offering envelopes, please call the church office, 610-253-3579.

 

PROJECT OF EASTON

Every second Sunday of the month envelopes are in the bulletin for contributions to ProJeCt of Easton. These monetary gifts benefit the Interfaith Food Pantry ($1.00 allows ProJeCt to distribute $15.00 worth of food). ProJeCt of Easton also offers comprehensive emergency assistance and language and literacy services. Please continue to give generously to this local mission.

 

A LEGACY OF FAITH”

DID YOU KNOW…. that our church has four special funds that support the ministry of this congregation?

The Capital Fund made possible the extensive renovation of our church building and still welcomes contributions.

The Memorial Fund receives gifts in memory or in honor of loved ones, and these funds may be unrestricted or designated for a specific purpose.

The John H. Lehr Helping Hand Fund, established by member Barbara Lehr in memory of her husband, is a discretionary fund disbursed by the pastor to assist members of the First Presbyterian Church of Easton who are in need of temporary assistance.

The Endowment Fund consists of three parts: Ministry Enhancement (outreach, worship, education and fellowship), Building and Property, and Christian Education.

Your gifts to any of these funds are warmly welcomed at any time!

 

2012 PER CAPITA

All members of the church are encouraged to find the envelope marked per capita at the front of your box of offering envelopes and use it to pay the per capita assessment that our denomination uses to fund the operations of the presbyteries, synods, and General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) This year’s per capita amount is $26.89 per confirmed member of the congregation.

Our church has benefited greatly from the support of our denomination when we were able to renovate our building because of the Presbyterian Loan and Investment Program. As we have benefited from the support of the larger church, let us be generous in supporting the larger church by paying our per capita assessment. Note: Your regular pledge does not go towards per capita; this offering is “over and above” your regular pledge to this congregation.

 

SNOW CANCELLATION POLICY

First Presbyterian Church of Easton is registered with WFMZ Channel 69 and church activity cancellation/ postponement information will both run across the bottom of your television screen and appear on-line at WFMZ.com.

 

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

The deadline for the February “Soundings” is Monday, January 23. Articles can be mailed, dropped off or e-mailed to the church office, office@eastonfpc.org

 

The Haggis is Coming, Ho-Ro, Ho-Ro!

First Presbyterian Church of Easton will be celebrating Scottish poet Robert Burns and all things Scottish with our 9th Annual Burns Supper on Saturday, January 21, 2012. The event will be held from 5-9 p.m. in the candlelit Legacy Hall.

Reservations are required and seating is limited for our popular annual fundraising dinner, so don’t delay in signing up. Suggested minimum donation is $50 per person for the evening featuring a multi-course meal, entertainment and the poetry of Burns, as we follow a ritual more than two centuries old commemorating this figure of worldwide renown.

A Burns Supper is held to mark the Scottish bard’s birthday with food, poetry and good fellowship. The bill o’ fare for our Burns Supper includes roast beef with the traditional Scottish side dishes “lang kail” and “tatties-an’-neeps” (also known as kale, and mashed potatoes and mashed turnips); Cock-a-Leekie Soup and smoked salmon and whitefish on homemade oatcakes as appetizers; Typsy Laird trifle for dessert; and our own special recipe for Haggis, the Scottish national dish that Burns celebrated with a poem.

For reservations, please contact Shirley Van Norman at 610-258-4259. To learn more about the dinner, call Art Charlton at 610-393-0156. Kitchen helpers and servers also are needed for the dinner, and anyone interested in reciting a Burns poem or singing during the entertainment portion of the evening is encouraged to participate. See you there!

 

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

1 Margaret Chen

3 Zoe Meyer

4 Carolyn Peil

5 Barry Fugere, Eugene Oliva

6 Melissa Mohammed

7 Ann Minnich

11 Barbara Lehr, Richard Peil

12 Madeline Worley

15 Kenneth Stanek, Mary Young

16 Karla Florindi

19 Shirley Cooper, Gary Ruschman, Jacob Van Norman, Jessica Van Norman

20 Tanner Berkenstock, Melanie Miles

22 LeRoy Cooper

24 Michelle Muthoka

25 Debbie DiCanto, David Kreidler

26 MaryAnn Spindler

27 Aalyiah Swass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Presbyterian Church, Easton, PA

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