Beyond the Motions

Consider the following list:

Stewardship Fair Congregational Meeting (Nominating Committee Report)

Community Thanksgiving Service Pisgah Thanksgiving Meal Dedication Sunday Pisgah Thanksgiving Service Somalia Mission Kick-off First Sunday in Advent

November is a month unlike any other. Part of my role at Pisgah, I think, is to try and tie everything that we do into a neat little package, so that it all makes sense. So, here goes: As we gather with our church family, and the community at large to give thanks for the gifts in our lives, we will also gather to return those gifts unto God. We will do so with our tithes and offerings, with our participation, and with the election of our officers. We will do so by reaching out to folks we have never met before in Somalia and sharing from our abundance. All of it will be done from a posture of thanksgiving. Then, when we have properly, and exhaustively, given of ourselves as a result of that Thanksgiving, we will begin the vigil for the Christ child. How did I do? With all that is happening here over the next 30 days, it is tempting to run from one activity to the next, simply going through the motions. What a shame that would be! Count your blessings this month, intentionally. Give out of your abundance this month, boldly. If you do so, then we will be prepared to light the first Advent candle on November 27th, and begin our journey toward the greatest gift of all: a child, wrapped in cloth, lying in a manger. Meaning resides somewhere just beyond the motions. Peace be with you. Pete

Pisgah and Somalia Campaign

“Over 29,000 children have died in Somalia refugee camps in a period of 90 days.”

Thank you for being part of Pisgah‟s discussion and planning to help the people – especially the children –of Somalia. At Pisgah, it started with a charge by the Session to respond to the famine in Somalia and the related refugee camps in a manner beyond the traditional means of simply writing a check to an available aid organization. The Mission & Evangelism Committee began our work with three planning meetings.

On Sunday, September 3rd, we gathered to simply Explore Ideas. From this meeting several tasks were assigned:

To identify trusted sources and organizations that are hands-on, effective, and have the ability to effect change in the humanitarian issues.

To build a number of venues for Pisgah‟s congregation as well as the community at large to participate in and help provide support to the Somali people.

To learn more so that we understand the issues that give rise to the current humanitarian crises and what we can do.

On Sunday, October 8th, we gathered to discuss Goals & Objectives. From this meeting, the following ideas were discussed:

Any funding opportunities needed to meet one of two objectives o Help with the immediate need of those

dying of starvation and malnutrition o Help become part of the longer term

solutions to end the crises and bring stability to the region.

We identified two organizations that we thought could be trusted: CARE and World Vision. However, we agreed to continue checking and vetting, and we are not ready to make our recommendations to the congregation.

That educational and action opportunities take place over the next 12 months to raise money & awareness within the Pisgah congregation and the larger Central Kentucky community.

Ideas that were shared were:

5th Sunday role and after church learning opportunity

Potential influential or dignitary level speakers

Individual day of fasting before Thanksgiving

Social Media Fundraising Campaign

Learning how the PCUSA may be involved

A spring 5K run/walk in the beauty of our Pisgah community.

Tie in with the youth groups 30 hour famine

January/February or later Pisgah Academy Day

Community Ambassador Program

On Sunday, October 30th, two events took place- The 5th Sunday offering, and an after-church lunch meeting with three Somali refugees. These 3 young men

The Pisgah Post Worship God, study the Scriptures, practice the Teachings

of Jesus as Lord and Savior

Pisgah Presbyterian Church Woodford County, Kentucky November 2011

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are building a United Somalia Youth Association of Louisville to help create greater understanding and unification for Somalis living in Kentucky (and eventually other states) with the ultimate goal being to help unite the diverse challenges in their native homeland. Joining us in the Sunday worship and for the after-church discussion were Mukhtar Ahmed, Noor Yussuf and Mohamed Nur. Mohamed gave a brief description of their work to the entire congregation as part of our 5th Sunday announcement. After the service, we learned of their travels and their struggles from Somalia to Kenyan refugee camps to Louisville, Kentucky. Noor Yussuf was born, raised and educated in a Somali refugee camp in Kenya before coming to the US. We also gained very personal insights into the complex issues that give rise to the current crises and environment. Our guests were very grateful that we cared about Somalia, noting that for over twenty years the whole world seems to have ignored their homeland. Our guests were candid about the failings of the Somalia Transitional Government [that has been the “government” for the past 21 years], as well as the difficulty of overcoming tribal discrimination and conflict. Our guests were very clear – the problems of Somalia are “man-made.” All three came from an agricultural background and they were clear that Somalia was a fertile and productive land with natural resources, needing a functioning government and educational opportunities. The issues facing Somalia are complex and solutions will not be easy. It will take time, cooperative work of many and, most of all, a willing spirit. Children are dying, families are being ripped apart and inhumane acts are being carried out daily. We are Christians!! We cannot sit idly by, while humans continue to die from famine and war. Thank you for being part of this work so far. Please join us or stay with us. We need all of Pisgah to help with this extremely difficult crisis. The committees scheduled its next meeting for Sunday, November 13th to discuss final details of the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend Sunday, November 27th Ambassador Meeting, where we will have several invited guests to help Pisgah understand the issues better and learn how we can be more effective in our call to support. As we prepare for Thanksgiving, we encourage you to consider adding a day of fasting to your week. Most of us do not know what it means to be hungry. We invite everyone to be a part of our “Pisgah and Somalia” campaign, by gaining a greater understanding and appreciation of what our brothers and sisters are going through, and by supporting those who are trying to affect change.

Mark 16:15 “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to all creation.”

Mark 16:20 “And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.”

The Mission and Evangelism Committee helps Pisgah Church members go into the community to proclaim the good news and to meet the needs of our neighbors and to help our neighbors “find” Pisgah Church. The Mission and Evangelism Committee have a number of other plans and projects – such as the M & M work for Woodford County youth and the Pisgah Victory Garden. Please join us at our committee meeting, normally held after church on the first Sunday of each month. Peace to you all, Joe Johnson & Hank Graddy

As a mother I have always thought that one of my greatest achievements was teaching my son to say his first prayer. After much consideration, I

finally decided the best approach to teaching a child to pray was to get back to basics. So, I decided to rely on the sentiment that is a primary core of my spirituality. Thank you God for all of our blessings! Every day God continues to bless us in so many ways. Here at Pisgah we are particularly blessed to be surrounded by a never-ending supply of talented and caring people. From serving as an officer in the church to collecting the offering on Sunday morning, this congregation seems to realize it truly does take a village to create a fulfilling and loving environment for all of God‟s children. So if you are asking how you can help or you are new to our church, we have an opportunity for you to take a look at the variety of places your talents can shine. After the casual morning service on Sunday, November 6th, we will be having the Stewardship Fair. Please join us for lunch and an opportunity to visit the committee booths in the Academy Building. The booths will be filled with information and opportunities for you to find your niche here at Pisgah. AND, never ones to shy away from family fun, we will have a chili cook-off, cake contest and lots of outdoor activities. We hope you can join us for this fun-filled afternoon. As you begin your exploration of how you might share your time and talents with our church, it never hurts to get back to basics. Thank you God for all of our blessings. We have so many to share.

Donna Lawrence

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By now, each member should have received their stewardship packet at church or in the mail. Your packet should contain a refrigerator magnet, a letter from Pete, asking budget summaries for 2011 and proposed budget for 2012, a time and talent pink sheet, a session committee list, a green pledge worksheet, and an envelope. If you are missing any of these items, contact Lynn Davis for a replacement. We ask that you prayerfully consider the time and talent sheet and the pledge worksheet for your participation/stewardship in 2012. Your role in the life of the church is essential to our continued walk together with God. Please fill out the pink sheet and the bottom part of the green pledge sheet and return them in the envelope provided. You may return these any time to the stewardship mail box, however Sunday's service on November 20th, will be Dedication Sunday.

Sunday, November 6th is the Stewardship Fair after church.

Sunday, November 13th after the congregational meeting, the Administration Committee will answer any questions you may have about the proposed 2012 budget.

Sunday, November 20th is Dedication Sunday.

May each of us consider honoring our 2011 pledge in the closing weeks of this year and prayerfully consider our 2012 tithing commitment at Pisgah. Together with God we can do great things! Your stewardship and planning committee:

Missie Wood Maggie Howard Lindsey McHatton Hal Kirtley Donna Lawrence Patrick Bryant Dottie Schmidt Becky Prater David Prater Bobbi Sweeney

Children’s Church

Each Sunday morning, the children gather around Pete. We all watch in love (and sometimes good humor!) as the children and Pete share God‟s word. Then the children spring up and evacuate the church at top speed. Just where do they go? Downstairs in the orange room of the Academy Building is a truly spectacular sanctuary. The orange room is just a room until it is filled with the young voices and open hearts of „Children‟s Church‟. Worship begins with a song then we grow quiet and listen to one of God‟s stories. Each child reflects on the story and its meaning before we share our joy in Christ with the feast. This isn‟t play time. It is worship that is appropriate for all ages. I would like to invite you to drop in and

observe on a Sunday morning. The stories are scripted and only require minimal preparation. If you are interested in becoming part of Children‟s Church, contact Agatha or Katie Graham 948-8475 or muttstuffky@gmail.com

Pisgah Book Discussion Group

Interested in books? Interested in people? Interested in people who like books? If you answered yes to any of these questions, consider joining our newly formed book discussion group on November 7th at 6:30 in Pete's office. This month we will be discussing Manhunt by James L. Swanson, "the 12 day chase for Lincoln's killer". Lexington Public Library is providing book discussion kits with a long list of interesting titles. So, no book to buy, and copies of the chosen title will even be delivered to the church for pick-up. Join us for some thought provoking discussion (or just plain fun) with friends, new and old. Barb Phelps

Goodbye October, October has been an awesome month, full of

goodwill and good times. Pisgah youth walked in the Lexington Crop Walk to raise awareness for hunger and collect food for God’s Pantry, traversed through corn mazes, carved some

interesting looking pumpkins, volunteered at the Hope Center and celebrated Halloween with

their friends at Second Presbyterian in Lexington.

And now moving forward until the wonderful craziness that is November!

Hello November, November 5

Senior High Paintball

November 6 Pisgah Stewardship Fair

Bowling

November 13 Youth Group at Pisgah

November 20 Thanksgiving Meal (after church)

Ice Skating

November 27 NO Youth Group (enjoy leftovers)

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2012 Youth Mission Trips Senior High Chicago, Illinois June 29-July 6

For our 2012 Senior High Mission Trip, we will be work in Chicago through an interdenominational group called Discovering Opportunity for Outreach and Reflection (DOOR). For more information about DOOR, visit doornetwork.org. Watch your mailboxes for a detailed letter of what we’ll be doing as part of our trip!

Middle School The final details are being put in place. Middle schoolers – watch your mailboxes too for details!

Immediately after worship

Sunday, November 13th

The purpose of the meeting is to hear

the recommendations of the

Nominating Committee regarding our

Slate of Officers for 2012

Christ the King Sunday (Nov. 20)

At the end of the Christian year, the church gives thanks and praise for the sovereignty and reign of Christ. We call this Sunday “Christ the King.” The Christian celebration of this special Sunday is actually quite new having begun in 1925. We celebrate this Sunday as we reach the end of the church year noting the completion

of the Christian journey through the life of Jesus on earth and in heaven. Christ the King Sunday is at the end of “Ordinary Time” one week prior to the start of Advent. This day centers on the crucified and risen Christ. We recognize and praise his lordship as we look back to Ascension, Easter and the Transfiguration while looking ahead to the preparation for Advent and the celebration of Jesus birth at Christmas. So we affirm that Christ is King or Christ reigns in a special recognition on this Sunday. Linda Jones

Thanksgiving Dinner at Pisgah Sunday, November 20

We will continue our long standing tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving dinner together. Mary Shepherd Circle will host Thanksgiving dinner in the Academy Building immediately following our 11:00a.m. service. Please bring your family and a large side dish or dessert to share. You may bring your dish to the kitchen that morning before church. There will be people in the kitchen to receive the food starting at 9:30 a.m. We all look forward to the great food and fellowship.

A Note from the Administration and Finance Committee

With two months remaining in the 2011 fiscal year, I want to take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of not losing our giving momentum as we approach the end of the 2011 fiscal year. The October Treasure‟s Report is final and on the income side of the ledger we are still running close to 9% percent behind with our total income. We are 79% of the way through the fiscal year and our total income is at 70% of the budgeted total. Pledged income is at 69% and unpledged income is at 77% of the amount budgeted. On the expense side of the ledger, out total expenses are at 66% of the amount budgeted, which is the main reason we are not showing a deficit at this time. Had our committees and staff spent the money allocated for them to have spent at this point in the year we would have a $14,400 spending deficit. It is very important that we regain our giving momentum and catch up on our giving as we near the end of the 2011 fiscal year. The 2012 Asking Budget has been distributed in the pledge packets and the Administration and Finance Committee has scheduled a Question and Answer session on Sunday, November 13. If you have questions about this budget please join our committee after worship in the sanctuary on this day. Let us all renew our commitment to stewardship as we come to the close of this year and make exciting plans for 2012. Mary Hinton

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Pisgah Cemetery Association Annual Meeting

Saturday, November 12th 9:00 A.M. in the Academy Bldg.

Woodford County Food Pantry

There are a lot of changes happening at the pantry. It is still located at the community education building, but we can no longer use the facilities as long as there children at the school. So therefore we are open evening hours only. The new times are: Monday and Friday evenings 5:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M. Each church will staff the pantry for three weeks. We will need three volunteers per evening and one of those volunteers must be a male. We are currently serving around 140 families per month and the vouchers for milk and eggs cost about $550 per month. Pisgah has been asked to provide spaghetti sauce and canned pasta. This will be on going. This is a ministry that we committed to do with the other churches in our community and very much needed. Please keep the pantry and their clients in your prayers. Dottie Schmidt

Join with your church family as we carry on a long tradition with New Union Christian Church for a combined Thanksgiving Day service. This year we are meeting here at Pisgah Church. The service is at

10:30a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Youth Academy Day!

Attention all Youth and Parents!!!

It seems like, in the not so distant past, protecting youth from the dangers of the world, was a simple as controlling where they went, and who they hung out with. I know…that‟s simplifying it a great deal, but it certainly was a simpler time. In the past couple of decades, there has been this wonderful explosion of technology that has opened our eyes to the vast and varying world around us. Unfortunately, it has also opened the doors to your home to a world that you might not want inside. Of course, I‟m talking about the

internet. Youth, do you know how to protect yourselves online from predators, from con-artists, from thieves? Parents, do you find that your youth know more about the computer that you do? Do you know how to protect them, and your home? On Saturday, December 17th, from 10am-1pm (lunch included), Pisgah will be over-run by the US Attorney‟s office, representatives from the DEA, local law enforcement, and other Project Safe-Childhood (http://kentuckystatepolice.org/kicactf/icactf_project_safe.htm) representatives. The program itself will be fun and informative. Best part is: it‟s free! Come and join us, bring friends! Registration forms will be mailed home to parents and youth this month. Any questions, call Pete at the church office.

Advent begins November 27

On the Christian Calendar, the season of Advent includes the four weeks preceding Christmas. The word ADVENT means „coming‟ and refers to the coming of Jesus as anticipated by the prophets. It refers not only to the fact that Christ has come, but it affirms the belief that He will come. Advent is a time of preparation and anticipation. It is appropriate during Advent to read from the writings of the prophets, which remind us of the ancient people of God who waited longingly, sitting “in darkness and in the shadow of death” (Luke 1:79) Each year we go through many rituals preparing for Christmas…..decorating the tree, putting up greens, cooking and baking, exchanging gifts, attending parties. Merchants encourage us to spend money, children nearly burst with excitement and we often find ourselves frantically „doing‟ rather than „being‟. It is a time in which we prepare for the celebration of Christ‟s birth in order that Christ, who came in love, may be born anew in our lives and in all of our relationships. The meaning of Christmas is not one that we can grasp hurriedly. It covers a four week period which gives us the time we need to prepare ourselves to grow into the joy of Christmas. There is promise and joy in the season as well and yet a yearning for the need to become prepared. At Pisgah we prepare an Advent Booklet with daily contributions by our members and the Worship Committee encourages each of you to take one and incorporate it into your daily routine in your preparation for Jesus‟ coming so that Advent for you may become a time of Hoping, a time of Preparing, a time of Sharing, a time of Celebrating. Missie Wood

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Snippets

o Jack Pryor was privileged to go on an "Honor Flight" to Washington, D.C. on Oct. 11. The flight honored WWII Veterans and was a beautifully planned experience, with a police escort thru the city with sirens blaring and then a visit to the war memorials. At the WWII memorial there was a whole school of children who waved flags and wrote cards thanking the soldiers for their service. Jack had the time of his life! He was accompanied by his daughter Tandy.

o Maggie Howard's great, great Grandmother's first cousin, Father Luigi Guanella (1842-1915) was canonized into sainthood on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at St. Peter's Square by Pope Benidect XVI. Saint Guanella was born and raised in the northern Como region of Italy, dedicating his life to charity with special emphasis on the developmentally disabled and poor. He was founder of Servants of Charity and Daughters of St. Mary of Providence which are two organizations that continue today throughout the world caring for those less fortunate. Maggie had several relatives travel to Rome for this special event. Of note, Saint Guanella's body has not decomposed and lies uncorrupt under glass in a small church in northern Italy.

o The Woodford County Community Thanksgiving Service will be held at St. Leo‟s Church in Versailles on Thursday, November 17th at 7:00p.m.

We are always on the lookout for more “Snippets.” Help us keep this column going by sending in any interesting little tidbits you hear!

Remember to set your clocks back

Sunday, November 6

Happy Birthday to You in November

1 Mary Louise Quisenberry 8 Annie Stilz 11 George Kadamyan 12 Joy Hardesty, Kathy MacLeod 13 Emily Craycraft, Emma Mitchell, Michael Jones 14 Andrew Johnson 15 Linda Bisbee, Pegi Ivancevich, Pete Jones 17 Wanda Rodgers, Olivia Cassidy 18 Lesley Kindred 20 Susan Dunlap 22 Vitaly Budovsky, Steve Burrier 23 Asa James, David Prater 24 Bekah Davis 26 Stephanie Mobley

And in early December…

1 Carlee Miller 2 Chad Scott 5 Jesse Smith 8 Toland Lacy, Phil Lacy 9 Sue Fosson, Judy Simpson Please help us keep this list up to date!

The Pisgah Post is published monthly by the Pisgah Presbyterian Church, 710 Pisgah Pike, Versailles, KY 40383. The deadline for the December 2011 issue of the newsletter is November 23. Please submit signed articles to the church office or email them to office@pisgahchurch.org.

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Sundays at Pisgah Church 9:45a.m. Sunday School 11:00a.m. Morning Worship

The Staff Email Pete: pastor@pisgahchurch.org Lynn: office@pisgahchurch.org

Presbyterian Web Sites: Presbyterian Church (USA): pcusa.org Transylvania Presbytery: transypby.org Synod: synodoflivingwaters.org Montreat: http://montreat.org Presbyterians Today: pcusa.org/pcusa/today

Pisgah Church Staff Pete Jones, Pastor Linda Jones, Organist Lynn Davis, Secretary Amy Carpenter, Youth Director Ted Bendis, Bookkeeper Bob Keller, Groundskeeper Rhonda Ball, Nursery Worker

The Session Pete Jones, Moderator

Wanda Rodgers, Clerk of Session

Class of 2011 Class of 2012 Class of 2013 Martin Fister Anne Davis Todd Cassidy Mary Hinton Hank Graddy Sue Fosson Joe Johnson David Prater Tony Raider Wanda Rodgers Linda Scott Bobbi Sweeney

The Board of Deacons

Class of 2011 Class of 2012 Class of 2013 Shelia Baker Tessa Dole Susan Dunlap Katie Burrier Ann Hayes Janet Lake Emma Mitchell Melissa Scott Dan McHatton Jackie Prewitt Dani Upton Smith Mitchell

The Board of Trustees

Class of 2011 Class of 2012 Class of 2013 Michael Jones Warley Harper Happy Broadbent Alice Kiviniemi Laura Mancuso Linda Kuder

The Pisgah Post November 2011 Pisgah Presbyterian Church 710 Pisgah Pike Versailles, KY 40383 Address Service Requested

DATED MATERIAL ENCLOSED

Non-profit (bulk rate) U.S. Postage Paid Versailles, KY 40383 Permit No. 192

Web: www.pisgahchurch.org, Voice and fax: (859) 873-4161, email: office@pisgahchurch.org