~ A NEW THING ~

“Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old.

I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth.

Do you not perceive it?”

~Isaiah 43:18-19a

A s other pastors have observed, one disadvantage to writing a

newsletter article is that it throws off a person’s inner clock.

It means trying to convey certain feelings on paper before

you (the writer) have really gotten ready for them in real

life. For example, I have to write about Thanksgiving well before

Halloween, and long before autumn actually arrives in West Texas.

Then I need to write about the extravagant joy of Christmas before I’ve

even had a chance to truly contemplate Thanksgiving. Even today as I

write – having pushed the newsletter deadline to its allowable limit –

I’ve got to think about a world I haven’t seen yet: the New Year, 2019.

“Life comes at you fast,” the Nationwide Insurance ads claim.

And as we look back over the days we’ve been given, or even just the

365 days of the year now ending, we would have to agree. Something

new is always upon us. “Do you not perceive it?” Isaiah asks.

One problem with welcoming a new year is that it comes at a

time when nothing feels new. The Christmas decorations look out of

place as January arrives. Taking them down is a tiresome task. And not

to knock a much-loved carol, but if Christmas takes place “in the deep

midwinter” then West Texas hasn’t gotten the memo. This year it

seems winter hasn’t even gotten out of the gate at Christmastime. By

New Year’s Day, winter’s iciest, coldest two and a half months are still

ahead of us, with precious few holidays to break up their tedium. Ac-

cording to Proctor Family legend, my late-February birthday was often

accompanied by the worst weather of the year. You’ll know I’m another

year older on the day you hear about the threat of ice or snow in San

Angelo.

Even so, in every season of life, there is a new thing that God is

doing, if we will open our hearts and spirits to its unfolding. Whatever

time it is in your life, whatever your age or occupation, the voice still

calls out to you again saying, “Follow me.” Or, as the God of Isaiah

Continued on P. 2

CHURCH LIFE @ FPC

Continued from P. 1

declares, “I am about to do a new thing… Do you not perceive it?”

The beginning of a new year always arrives with great promise. We

sense the chance to have a fresh start. We hope and pray for better health –

or continued health. We also wonder what the New Year will bring – can we

expect joy or will we be surprised by sorrow?

I like to remind myself as the New Year arrives that no matter what

happens, God is with me. 2019 may be a completely different kind of year

than 2018 proved to be – but God will remain the same – steadfast, gracious,

full of love and mercy. While none of us know what may happen tomorrow –

we can know that God is waiting for us there. So when that “new thing”

happens in the New Year, we do not need to be afraid for God will see us

through.

As 2019 begins, I pray that you may experience great happiness and

joy – and that your faith and trust in Jesus will deepen and grow roots that

will help you remain steadfast in faith. For when our faith is firm and our

trust in God’s goodness assured, then we have nothing to fear and everything

to hope for as 2019 arrives.

Finally, as the traditional English Christmas carol “Here We Come

A-Wassailing” says so beautifully, “May God bless you and send you a

Happy New Year.”

1/4 Warner Phillips

1/5 Katherine Lauer, Christopher Kappelmann

1/7 Shirley Sherrill

1/8 Natalie Craddock

1/9 Cassie Millican, Haylee Thompson

Jackson Moore

1/10 Todd Henderson

1/11 Cindy Gray, Gabriella Gonzales

1/14 Christian Bodenhamer

1/15 Keith Swiderski, Megan Timmerman,

Driskell Akin, Ellen Helbring

1/16 Bub Williams

1/17 Chelsea Sturm, Sarah Grafa

1/18 Barbara Rogers, Robert Coffey,

Billy Craddock

1/19 Jim Cobb

1/20 Lauren Brooks Bell, Brady Winn,

Troy Bradley, Jon Castillo

1/23 Brian Treadwell

1/24 Ashley King

1/25 Gordy Day, Cathy Cobb, Brendan Byars

1/26 Sherri Jones

1/28 Macy Massey, Angela Day

1/29 Susie Gibson

1/30 Larrison Cornell, Bridget Scott, Deborah Smith

1/31 Janet Phillips, Amy Hill, Kimberly Wynne

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Happy New Year! Church

ofc. closed

2 6:45 a.m. EMBS, 210 5:00 p.m. Music Rehearsals

3 10:00 a.m. Crochet Group

4 5

6 8:30 a.m. Prayer 9:15 a.m. Sun School 10:30 a.m. Worship

7 8 12:00 p.m. WOW, Parlor 5:15 p.m. Diaco-nate Mtg

9 6:45 a.m. EMBS, 210 9:00 a.m., MDO 10:30 a.m. Staff 5:00 p.m. Music

10 10:00 a.m. Crochet Group

11 5:00 p.m. Elder Retreat

12 9:00 a.m. Elder Retreat

13 8:30 a.m. Prayer 9:15 a.m. Sun School 10:30 a.m. Worship Congregational Mtg

14 9:00 a.m., MDO 15 12:00 p.m. WOW, Parlor 5:15 p.m., Session

16 6:45 a.m. EMBS, 210 5:00 p.m. Music Rehearsals

17 10:00 a.m. Crochet 11:45 a.m. METS 3rd Thursday lunch

18 19

20 8:30 a.m. Prayer 9:15 a.m. Sun School 10:30 a.m. Worship

21 MLK, Jr. Day NO SAISD

22 12:00 p.m. WOW, Parlor

23 6:45 a.m. EMBS, 210 9:00 a.m., MDO 10:30 a.m. Staff 5:00 p.m. Music

24 10:00 a.m. Crochet Group 6:30 p.m. 18/29

25 26

27 8:30 a.m. Prayer 9:15 a.m. Sun School 10:30 a.m. Worship 5:00 p.m. Game Night @ LL

28 9:00 a.m., MDO, Soup Kitchen

29 12:00 p.m. WOW, Parlor

30 6:45 a.m. EMBS, 210 5:00 p.m. Music Rehearsals

31 10:00 a.m. Crochet Group 6:30 p.m. 18/29

Dear FPC,

The flowers from the sanc-

tuary are lovely. They came on

Richard’s four-years-cancer-free

anniversary. We feel very blessed

by God and our wonderful caring

church family.

We send our blessings to all

for this Christmas season.

Suzanne & Richard Dorris

Dear Church Family,

Thank you very much for

the sanctuary flowers. They

helped in my speedy recovery from

surgery. Thanks also to Susan &

bub Williams for the delivery.

Yours in Christ,

Steve Stephens

Volunteer at Lamar Elementary, call Mary Boster, FMI, 656-6722

Help out at the Wesley Trinity Daily Bread Soup Kitchen on the fourth Monday of each month or help keep the Little Free Pantry stocked.

Call Susan @ church, FMI, 655-5694.

Volunteer to be an usher and greeter on Sunday mornings! Call Gabriela to sign-up, 655-5694.

Help with Children’s Sunday school—call Natalie, FMI 325-716-8280

Start praying about your involvement with VBS 2019! June 4-7, 2019

Attend a bible study!

WOW—a bible study for women, meets on Tuesdays @ noon. Call the church office, FMI. They will resume on January 8.

Men’s Early Morning Bible Study meet on Wednesday mornings at

6:45 a.m.

18/29 Young Adult Ministry resumes on January 24, 2019.

Join the Chancel Choir, or the Celestial Bells! Call the church office, FMI.

Attend 3rd Thursday lunch at 11:45 a.m. in the Commons!

Youth

W e will start with

the youngest of

Diamond & Jon

Castillo’s seven

beautiful children as we introduce

them to you in this newsletter

piece:

Genesis is the baby of the fami-

ly, she was born on March 13,

2018.

Griffin is in Kindergarten and

like all his siblings, he is home-

schooled. His favorite hobby is

playing video games and he re-

ports that tomatoes and straw-

berries are his favorite foods.

Grayson is in the first grade and

like his younger brother Griffin,

he too lists playing video games

as his favorite activity. His fa-

vorite thing to eat is a strawber-

ry!

Inara is in the second grade and

her favorite activity outside of

school is making various crafts.

Chicken nuggets are her favorite

things to eat!

River is in the third grade and

her favorite thing to do outside of

school is making art! Egg Drop

Soup is what she most enjoys eat-

ing.

Jonathan is in the fourth grade

and just like his two younger

brothers he says playing video

games is his favorite activity.

And, just like little sister River,

he loves Egg Drop Soup too!

Serenity is the oldest of

Diamond and Jon’s seven chil-

dren. She is in the sixth grade

and her favorite things to do in-

clude cooking and creating art.

Pizza is at the top of her list for

favorite foods!

A Family Fun Night at

the Lake Lodge -

where everything

s’more fun together

is tentatively scheduled for

January 27 from 5:00 p.m. till

7:00 p.m.

“Family” doesn't mean

those parents who have children

living at home - family in this in-

stance means CHURCH family -

all are welcome and encouraged to

bring a favorite game and be

ready to enjoy hot dogs, chips,

fruit and last and definitely most

delicious - S’MORES! Save the

date! Call Natalie at church, 655-

5694, if you have any questions,

or would like to help out with this

event.

All services are @

10:30 a.m.

January 6

Carter Behrens,

Mike McCammon,

Carolyn & Bill Quillen,

Polly Brooks

January 13

Dennis Grafa,

Mary Louise Strain,

Lacy & Lane Allison,

Gabriela Spraggins

January 20

James Huffman,

Joe Kilman,

Susan & Bub Williams,

Susan Woods

January 27

Julie & David Quam,

Ronny Hooker,

Steve Stephens,

Gabriela Spraggins

FOOD FOR THE MONTH OF

JANUARY

Baby formula, baby food, rice, pinto

beans, canned soup and tomatoes,

macaroni & cheese, peanut butter,

saltines, & disposable eating

utensils

Project Dignidad is an ecumeni-

cal ministry providing food to

individuals and families in

emergency situations since

1976. Please place your dona-

tions in the basket in

the Commons.

Church Life @ FPC is published monthly for the

members and friends of First Presbyterian Church.

Church office: 655-5694

Website: fpcsanangelo.org

Send any news items or thank you letters by the 25th

of each month to:

programs.director@fpcsanangelo.org

Or to: FPC* 32 N. Irving St., San Angelo, TX 76903

To

Susie & Clay Gibson &

family on the loss of

Clay’s mother,

Sue Gibson, who passed

into eternal life on

November 10, 2018

Colleen & David Hair &

family on the loss of

Collen’s brother,

Michael Flynn, who

passed into eternal life

on December 9, 2018

Joy & Bill Morehead &

Julie & Steve Cecil &

family on the loss of

their

daughter/sister-in-law,

Kathy Morehead,

Who passed into

eternal life on

December 10, 2018

Cathy & Vic Choate &

family on the loss of Vic’s

mother, Martha Choate,

who passed into eternal

life on

December 13, 2018

Third Thursday lunch returns

on January 17, 2019

11:45 a.m., $8

In the Commons

Make your reservation by

noon on Wednesday, January

16 by calling, 655-5694.