FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF LITCHFIELD NEWLETTER Issue #

First Presbyterian

Church of Litchfield

NEWLETTER January 2016

225 NORTH HOLCOMBE PO BOX 6 LITCHFIELD, MN 55355 320-693-3548

Pastor’s Message By Pastor Gordy Pennertz Verse for November: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who

has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing. Ephesians 1: 3

We welcome in another New Year; 2016! I begin this letter with thanksgiving for the blessings

of 2015. It continues to be a privilege to serve as pastor to this congregation. I appreciate the

commitment it takes from the congregation to keep us alive and active in Litchfield, Minnesota.

I want to encourage all of us to consider how we can grow closer to God in 2016. There are so

many distractions in this world. It takes a commitment to make time for God in all the commotion

around us. Individually, that means taking time to be alone, quiet, prayerful with the Lord. As a

congregation, it means taking advantage of the activities that teach us about God, that help us serve

God and others and that builds community. We currently have two bible studies, both are open to

new members, both are easily accessible in that you don't need to be a bible expert to join, both give

opportunities to learn more about our Lord through the Word. I don't think I can stress enough how

important a time of study of God's Word is to our spiritual growth. Please consider joining.

There are service opportunities: WINGS carding parties, visiting our shut-ins, mitten tree,

collections for WINGS, giving to the Headstart Children.

And community ones: Circle for the women, worship every Sunday, Bible studies, meals,

coffee hour, Lenten services, work days, etc.

Please consider getting involved. It helps the church and our community but it also helps you

to grow in faith and in relationship with Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior!

Grace and peace, Pastor Gordy

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Upcoming events: Sunday, Dec 27 Christmas

Hymnsing during worship

Wednesday, Jan. 6 Home

Communions

Sunday, Jan 10 Confirmation classes resume

Wednesday, Jan. 13 Bible

Study 4:30 “The Story”

Sunday, Jan 17 Annual

Congregational meeting

following worship

Tuesday, Jan. 19 CCC

meeting 4:00

Saturday, January 23 9:30-

2:30 Elder/Deacon training--

-a noon meal will be served

Tuesday, Jan. 26 Newsletter

items due

Wednesday, Jan 27 Bible

Study 4:30

Sunday, Jan 31 Potluck

following worship

JANUARY JOBS… LITURGIST:

3-Susan Berg

10-Shirley Brooks

17-Kay Hanson

24-Judy Holmes

31-Michael Joldersma

USHERS:

3-Don & Jayne Ackman

10-Kay Hanson

17-Perez Girls

24-Graphenteens

31-Amy Levinski

Money Counters:

3-Emily O & Julie Rae

10-Bev & Michael

17-Shirley & Judy

24-Gary & Julie Rae

31-Sue & Arlyce

Communion Servers:

3-Arlyce, Michael, Wade & Savannah

Coffee Hour:

3-Judy Holmes

10-Mary Crosbie

17-Sue Berg

24-Rhonda Joldersma

31-POTLUCK!!

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES:

4-Philip Waldron

12-Kennedy Rech

19-Stephanie Savoy

31-Jacob Joseph

It is time for the Mary-Martha Christmas Party! We will be getting together on Monday, December 28th at 6 PM at Julie Rae Pennertz’s, 703 West Crescent Lane, for a potluck of horsdoevres and treats! ALL women of the church are welcome to join us for this time of fellowship and games. Bring something to eat, as well as a game or poem. The more the merrier!

“THE STORY”

Bible Study:

Our next class will meet on January 13th at 4:30, “Daniel in

Exile”. We know the story of Daniel in the lion's den. There is more to His story and we will learn of Daniel's courage and faith and steadfastness while he was an exile from his country. Come and learn about our history through the Hebrew Bible as we grow closer to the coming of the Messiah.

PER CAPITA is $34 per member for 2016. Please turn yours in ASAP.

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SANCTUARY

DUTY:

January:

David

Pennertz

Epiphany: early 14c., "festival of the

manifestation of Christ to the gentiles" (celebrated Jan. 6) from Greek epiphaneia "manifestation, striking appearance. We recognize this as the date the Wise men visited the Holy Family, Alsom in the New Testament, "advent or manifestation of Christ". The general literary sense of "any manifestation or revelation" appeared 1840.

CHOIR Practice…

Wednesday,

January 13th

and January 27th

…both at 7 PM…start

the New Year by joining

us in “the Loft”…the

choir loft that is! We’d

LOVE to have you!

PRAYER FOR THE

NEW YEAR

Be at peace. Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life; rather look to them with full hope as they arise. God, whose very own you are, will deliver you from out of them. God has kept you hitherto and will lead you safely through all things... Do not fear what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting God who cares for you today will take care of you then and every day. God will either shield you from suffering or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.

Be at peace and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.

-- St.Francis

********************************************

From: Linda Lavoie

lindamusic@msn.com

Dear friends,

For those of you who don't know, Ron and I have moved to NH! After 35 yrs. of being gone, after hoping and praying to be able to return home to family, we are actually here. Ron is pastor at Rye

Congregational Church in Rye, NH, which is a seacoast town. We are temporarily living in a house that belonged to the parents of a member of the congregation. We are 1 mile from the ocean, which is my favorite place in the world to be. We are now about an hour's drive from most family members. We are having a lovely ranch house built in the town of Epping. We hope to move in by the end of March. At that point we will only be a 30 min. drive from family, and Ron will commute a 25 min. distance to the church. Our cups runneth over, truly. We've been here since Sept., but I've not gotten my computer set up. Would love to hear from you. Wishing God's blessing on each of you.

New address: P.O. Box 609 Rye, NH 03870

Phone #: 603-501-8013

A merry and blessed Christmas to all of you.

Love, Linda Lavoie

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JANUARY PRAYER LIST 1-Dwight Barrick

2-Joel Barrick

3-Mortie & Susan Berg

4-Carol Blunt

5-David Boll

6-Linda Boll

7-Heath Bozonie

8-Barbara Bremseth

9-Shirley Brooks

10-Dennis & Melva Burnette

11-CJ Crosbie

12-Roger & Mary Crosbie Mariah and Katie

13-Arlyce Dedrickson

14-Beverly Driver

15-Bruce & Shirley Good’

16-Gary & Rosie Graphenteen

17-Kay Hanson & Tim Lane

18-Greg & Karen Heath

19-Judy Holmes

20-Doug & Laurie Johnson

21-Harlan Johnson

22-Jared & Courtney Johnson & Maci

23-Michael & Rhonda Joldersma & Savannah

24-Sierra Joldersma

25-Ken & Harriet Koelln

26-Owen Kragenbring & family

27-Roger & Roz Landers

28-Jim & Lila Lundberg

29-Amy Levinski

30-Marshall & Dottie Madsen

31-Jerry Meuleners

GUIDANCE

If you are lost in the jungle, chances are that your intuition alone won’t lead you to safety. What you need is a knowledgeable, trustworthy guide—someone who is familiar with the terrain and knows the best route to your final destination. GOD is such a guide. HE knows the journey that lies ahead of you. He knows where each decision you make will take you. Ask Him for guidance when you come to any crossroad in life, BIG or small. With the Bible as a map, its truth as your compass, and God’s Spirit as your guide, you can make it through any wilderness—from embarking on a new career, to moving into a new stage of life, to offering direction to you children.

“I know not the way God leads me, but well do I know my Guide.” Martin Luther

“Lord, tell me your ways. Show me how to live. Guide me in your truth.”

Psalm 25:4-5

“When we fail to wait prayerfully for God’s guidance and strength, we are saying with our actions, if not with our lips, that we do not need Him.”

Charles Hummel

JANUARY LITURGY

3rd-Psalm 147:12-20 Ephesians 1:3-14 Matthew 2: 1-12

10th- Psalm 29 Acts 8:14-17 Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

17th: Psalm 36:5-10 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 John 2:1-11

24th: Psalm 19 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a Luke 4:14-21

31st: Psalm 71:1-6 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Luke 4:21-30

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It is Christmas decoration take-down time! Come and join us on Epiphany, Wednesday, January 6th at 6 PM for a quick take-down and then the movie “The Fourth Wiseman”, along with popcorn and pop. Let’s make it a joyous celebration of the New Year and work together to

get things down quickly with fun and fellowship! See you then! (Those are church mice in the picture! Hahaha)

Annual Congregational meeting! Join us on

Sunday, January 17th following morning

worship.

It’s a New Year potluck on Sunday, January 31st. (Actually it’s a 5th

Sunday!) Bring a dish to pass and come and join in for some fun and

fellowship. It has been awhile since we have had a potluck, so be sure to

join everyone!

Session Minutes for December 8th

All members were present. Pastor Gordy led our educational topic of reviewing the duties of

the pastor. We then opened the meeting with the reciting of the Lord’s Prayer. The agenda

for the meeting was approved.

Minutes of the previous meeting were approved, as was the treasurer’s report. Pastor’s

report was approved. We talked about the Advent Program and how nice it was. Then we

reviewed the pastor’s schedule and his report.

Clerk’s report stated 51 served communion in December. Clerk’s report approved.

There was NO old business.

New Business:

We give $1500 to special missions. 10% goes to General assembly, 10% to synod and 80%

Presbytery. We have $1480.80 left in special missions. We discussed a variety of places that

we could give it. It was decided to donate 50% to ProWorks and 50% to MAM: Meeker

Area Ministries (homeless). We will need to approve the statistical report prior to the

annual meeting.

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Permission was granted for the Pennertz family to use the church January 16th.

Congregational meeting was set for January 17th. m/s/a We then took a moment for

prayer.

Committee Reports:

Worship/Christian Ed.: Reviewed mentors for our new confirmation class.

Christian Community:

Buildings and Grounds: We only have the bills left to pay for the completion of the

front steps project until the railing can be painted.

Stewardship/finance/personnel: Personnel reviews were completed. Everyone did well.

We reviewed goals for all staff. Bonuses will be given. There was no budget information.

Christmas Joy offering will be collected on the 20th and 27th of December.

PW: There will NOT be a bake sale for this year. PW money will be used for

replacement of coffee pots/coffee maker.

Deacons: Did not meet this month.

The joint blessing was said as we closed our meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan Berg, Elder

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