2016 will be a special year in many ways! On September 14, 2016, First Presbyterian Church will be 165 years old! We will have a special service and speaker around that time to celebrate this special event in the life and history of our congregation. On December 11, 2016 Indiana will celebrate its 200

th birthday as a state! We will also honor this

special event in our state’s history. During 2016 which is also a presidential election year, I will be doing a series of sermons on Jesus and Civil Behavior. Not every Sunday’s sermon will be on this topic. We will still be having sermons for different church seasons and Holy Days such as Palm Sunday and Easter as well as other occasions such as stewardship. Therefore, the sermon series itself will be spread out over the year. As you know, FPC needs to become better known in the community, so I want to update you on some of the ways we are seeking to do this besides the successful Arts Celebration, Quilt Show, and Fazoli’s Fundraiser which we had in November. We are currently working on having the 1

st@11 Praise

Band play at community events like they did for the Praise and Picnic Celebration in August that was part of Anderson’s 150th anniversary. The band is also looking into making a CD of their songs. Other

Senior Pastor Kevin

Bausman

Office Administrator -

Julie Benagh

Director of Music/

Organist—Damion Mead

Director of Hand bells

Barb Bowman

Financial Secretary -

Ken Wilkinson

Youth Leaders—Kirby

Gilliam & Jesus Llamas

Contemporary Worship Leader- Kirby

Gilliam

Nursery supervisor—

Lesley Henning

Maint. Engineer—Mike

Schildmeier

Asst. Maint Eng.—Jim

Marvell

The Anderson Testament

F i r s t P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h

JANUARY 2016

Library News 3

Finance 4

Ann Noland News 5

Pacers’ Game 6

Bowling 9

Birthdays 11

Odds & Ends 12

Inside this issue:

PASTOR KEVIN BAUSMAN

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approaches we are doing involve an ad about the sermon series in the January issue of Great Deals, my talking about the sermon series at a Rotary meeting in January, a major newspaper article about FPC in The Herald Bulletin in January, an ad on the church page in the Bicentennial Book for Indiana, and updating our church website. Stay tuned! More ideas are in the works! Finally, in the 2014-2015 budget we had a line called God’s Piece where people could give above and beyond their pledge if God blessed them with some unexpected financial gift. We had $900.00 in that line. The missions committee and the session voted to evenly divide the line between one local missions project and one overseas missions project. The local one is Garri George‘s ministry Youth Serving Christ which has a great impact on the lives of young people in our area. The overseas piece went to PCUSA missionaries working among the Kurds in northern Iraq. While I cannot mention their names here due to security reasons, my family and I saw firsthand their work with Kurdish refugees in Berlin, Germany, prior to their answering God’s call to go to northern Iraq. I suggested this ministry since FPC does not currently support a ministry that focuses on the Islamic world and has also greatly reduced PCUSA missions support due to financial cutbacks. When these missionaries to the Kurds are home on furlough, I hope to have them here so you can meet them.

May God bless you

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Here are new offerings in your Church Library:

On Death and Dying by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, M.D. - Replacement

Dying To Be Me by Anita Moorjani, Foreword by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer. My Journey from Cancer To Near Death to True Healing.

A Log Cabin Christmas Collection by Wanda Brunstetter, 9 historical romances during American Pioneer Christmas.

And Jesus Will Be Born by Adrian Plass, A collection of Christmas Poems, Stories & Reflections

The Christmas Quilt—by Jennifer Chiaverini

Treasured Stories of Christmas—a collection by Norma Vincent Peale and other authors, A Guideposts Book

Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good—By Jan Karon, a new novel

Come Rain or Come Shine—By Jan Karon, a new novel

The Friends of Jesus by Karen Kingsbury.

Time to clean out your shelves and tables!

It’s a new year and time to check around the house to see if you have any church books that need to be returned!

The library staff thanks you for using our many books and wishes you a Happy, Cozy, New Year of

reading!

LIBRARY NEWS

November Revenues $15,600 November Expenses $28, 361 November Deficit (12,776) YTD Revenues $107,634 YTD Expenses 146,818 YTD Surplus ($39,818)

November was another month much like the last few - not satisfactory from a financial perspective, but what we should expect if we are realistic knowing we face a projected large annual deficit. Expenses significantly exceeded revenues and the deficit was $12,776.

Expenses were a little above normal for a month with no expected irregular expenses. The boiler needed repairs costing $3,200 and Worship and Music needed equipment and repairs for the Upper Room service costing $980. Personnel expenses were normal, but other budget areas had below normal expenses. Income continues to be a concern. Total congregational giving for budget use for the year to date is about $10,000 below what we expected based on pledges and estimates. Fortunately expenses are about $40,000 below budget for the same period. Unfortunately spending is certain to pickup significantly in several budget areas during the remaining six months in our fiscal year. It is also normal for contributions to be lower in the second half. I hope this year will be different! I am pleased that this report can end on a positive note! During November we received the $10,000 estate gift from William and Marilyn Stewart and the stock market made a small advance. As a result our total financial assets increased by $7,316 during November.

FINANCE REPORT

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COMMUNION!

Join us in the New Year as we gather around The Lord’s Table for Holy Communion on Sunday, January 3rd. Remember to bring non-perishable canned or boxed food and paper products, which will be dispersed to the needy in our community through Operation Love. No

glass containers, please!

The third Sunday of the month is designated giving for the Christian Center. Please bring your donations of paper products, coffee, toothpaste, soap, toothbrushes, and deodorant on Sunday,

January 17.

Items for both of these projects will be collected and delivered to Operation Love and the Christian Center by Lou Canaday, Deacon.

EXCITING NEWS FOR ANN NOLAND!

Our Ann Noland has accepted a call to become the Pastor at

Greenfield Presbyterian Church.

On Saturday, February 20th

, she will be examined on the floor of the Presbytery meeting to be held at

Tabernacle Presbyterian Church in Indy. Her home church should be represented! Everyone is welcome to attend.

She will be ordained here at 1st Pres and installed at Greenfield in the spring.

We are so happy for Ann and wish her the best in this journey!

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On Friday, January 15th, Deacons are sponsoring an all Church Outing to see the Pacers take on the Washington Wizards. For only $15.00 dollars, we will receive a ticket to the game, a FREE Pacers gift, a food voucher for a hot dog, chips and a Pepsi Product, the opportunity to shoot a free throw on the court after the game, and our church’s name in lights on the ribbon board at halftime!

Yes, we’ll be sitting in the balcony, but it should still be a fun night. Hope we win!

We’re going to a Pacer’s Game!

YOUTH EVENTS! 2016

Jan 10: Youth Begins after Christmas break! Youth each Sunday, noon to 2 pm. Jan 24: Cosmic Bowling with Deacons (all youth) Feb 7: SouperBowl of Caring/Fat Sunday Pancake Lunch Feb 19: All Church Game Night Feb 26th—30 Hour Fast Lock in

FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION

On Monday, January 25th, Elder Ella Carson will be holding a Focus Group Discussion at 6:30 PM.

All who have ideas regarding potential activities within the church are welcome to attend!~

Snacks will be provided!

Any questions, please contact Ella Carson.

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Memorials

The following memorials were received by the church before December 17:

COYLE SHAW Laura & Bill Beeler Frank & Jayne Beeler Jack & Boots Eflin

Mark & Julie Shaw Bruner Betty Gribben Brooke & Harold Johnson Charles & Nancy Johnson Laurale’ Johnson Nancy Ohlheiser George & Madolyn Shaw LaVene Washburn L. Ann Weigand Dick & Mary Kay Roby Chuck & Ginny James PEG HACKLER Dan & Jane Davisson Betty Gribben

Patsy Patterson

Offering Envelopes

Weekly offering envelopes for 2016 are available in the narthex and Heritage Hall

for those who would like them.

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A letter from Bela Kalumbete

Greetings in this new year to all at Anderson 1st Presbyterian!

This TZ man continues to travel across this great and vast region. As an example, on a mid October

morning I left for Mwanza, Sengerema, and then preached at Geita, returning to Mwanza to chair a Board meeting. The following Monday I took the weekend to take care of voting matters. The next day after I cast my vote I boarded a bus back to Majahida, where I stayed until 23 November, and then on to Dar es Salaam where I had another class to teach. I have been at Majahida Bible College in Bariadi, Simiyu, where I have been teaching since 2013. Although I am not sure whether I would remain there long, it seems I might continue to help the school for another future. So that is a sample of my simple schedule. In addition to class instruction and guest preaching in various churches, I am a farmer. As I write this, schools are off for the holidays, so my wife Naomi and I are busy with rice farming and corn cultivation. The rains as of now are good and we hope to see that God smiles on us as we make use of them. Farming is a hard chore here, and as you know we use hand hoes. This can be very demanding as well as annoying. No wonder many young people run away into cities to seek the good and easy life, only to find themselves falling into the shark’s menacing jaws! Although deep down Bela seems to be a city fellow, I loath living a life dependent on cash for everything one needs. I believe in aging in a city, but living in the rural area has its benefits. On July 16, 2016 Majahida Bible College will celebrate its 50th year. I would love to have one or two if not more people from 1st Pres visit me to join in the occasion. I hope I am not dreaming a madman's dream! I will write more when I am well situated, but, allow me to be late

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Thank you to all to completed the green survey cards! Most of the responses were from the 9:00 AM worship service. Forty eight cards were received as of 12-10-15.

If you haven’t submitted your card yet, you may still do so.

COMMUNION

All Church Bowling Night

The Deacons are putting together a fun afternoon of bowling for the whole church! On January 24th, we will meet at Championship Lanes (Formerly Cooper’s Bowling Alley) at 3:00 PM for two hours of fellowship and bowling. This is the time to brush up your skills (or show them off) or just come and be in the presence of your friends in Christ.

The special price is $8.00 for 2 games, shoes and a soft drink. Call the church office or email us and let us know if you will be coming so we may make reservations, or just show up!

Come and join the fun. Hope to see you there!

SURVEY RESPONSES

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Lanny & Becky Weatherford, January 10th, 46 years

Sean & Tanya Crabtree, January 28th, 9 years

May God bless you with many more years of happiness!

Anniversaries

The Church Office will be closed

New Years, January 1 & 4, 2016.

Regular Church Office hours are 9-3, Monday through Friday.

Thank you for your understanding.

Church Office Holiday Hours 2016

Deadline is the 15th of each month.

Complete the Newsletter form and place it in the

church office, directly in Julie Benagh’s mailbox in

the Conference Room - OR - e-mail to Julie at

1stPresAnderson @choiceonemail.com.

Newsletter Guidelines

Thank you to all who participated in any way in our Bell-O-Gram day on Saturday, December 12! 13 youth and adults delivered

Christmas musical greetings to lots of people. We had a wonderful time and were graciously received.

The Beelers hosted a welcome meal at their home.

Funds raised were given to the Youth Group.

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1/1 Carolyn York

1/4 Isaiah Wilson

1/5 Bill Bowman

1/6 Jane Shaw

1/7 Cindy Peck

1/10 Sandra Davisson

1/11 Shelly Fosnot

1/12 Judy Kimmer

1/13 Courtney Bostic, Olivia Lowe

1/14 Chuy Llamas

1/17 Libby Young

1/18 Betty Stinson

1/19 Jane Wilkinson

1/20 Yusef Alazetes

1/21 Steve Benagh

1/22 Beth Falge, Tanner Madewell

1/24 Chase Shumway

2016 Birthdays

PIZZA WITH THE PASTOR

returns January 17th !

Dates to Remember:

1/1/16 HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 1/3 - Communion 1/15 - Pacer’s Game Family Night @ Banker’s Life Fieldhouse 1/16 - Presby Pride Men’s Breakfast @ Golden Corral (9 AM) 1/24 All Church Bowling 3-5

Lay Readers Jan 3—Barb Bowman Jan 10—Dr. Bill Wolfe

January 17—Dick Peck Jan 24—Mary Alice Carrell Jan 31—Maybe you?

Serving you Holy Communion by Intinction on January 3rd will be Cathy Stewart, Steve and Julie Benagh &

Pastor Kevin. 11 AM Communion will be served by

Jerry Crabtree & Pastor Kevin.

Coffee Hour Hosts will be your Deacons.

People to Watch for in January 2016

The Anderson Testament

230 West Ninth Street

Anderson, IN 46016

Phone: (765) 642-0219

Email -1stPresAnderson@

choiceonemail.com Facebook: First

Presbyterian Church

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

On the Web: 1stpresanderson.org