|
The Chronicle
is
Published by
First Presbyterian Church 49 South Portage Street Westfield, New York
JANUARY 2016 |
Church Office Hours 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
Office: (716) 326-2643 Fax: (716) 793-6019
Website:
E-Mail:
Pastor Dana A. Vaughn
Administrative Assistant Polly M Knopp
Custodian Brenda McCutcheon
Deacon of the Month January 2016 Carolyn Bills |
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~ Author Unknown ~
May God make your year a happy one!
Not by shielding you from all sorrow and pain,
But by strengthening you to bear it as it comes;
Not by making your path easy,
But by making you sturdy to travel any path;
Not by taking hardships from you,
But by taking fear from your heart;
Not by granting you unbroken sunshine,
But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;
Not by making your life always pleasant,
But by showing you when people and their causes need you most,
and by making you anxious to be there to help.
God's love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead.
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Dear Friends,
This past year was quite the experience! Have a look.......
Easter Eggscapade
5K Walk-Run-Jog
Winner of Best Costume 
Vacation Bible School
Chicken Barbecue
Hayride
...And these are only a few of our moments captured! It sure has been one exhilarating ride! Thanks for a great year Y'ALL.
Cheers to another year of laughter and fun,
Dana
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Mission/Outreach News....
"Yes, We CAN support Mission
The Mission Committee wishes to thank the "Secret Sisters" for their donation of can deposits received in December. We are grateful for your gift!
The "CAN" fundraising project has been VERY successful! Since beginning, July 2010, we have raised $1,286.65 (25,733 cans) in can deposits. We hope everyone will continue to donate their empty cans and plastic bottles that have a refundable deposit to help Westfield Presbyterian Church carry on its mission.
Angel Tree
Thank you to each and everyone who helped support the 2015 Angel Tree Mission. The Angel Tree is also supported by other churches in our community. The children in the Westfield area received many wonderful gifts from this program for the holidays. Thank you for your generous support to this local Mission.
2015 Christmas Joy Offering - A Season of Faith - A Gift of Promise
"For God who has promised is faithful." ~ Hebrews 10: 23
The total to date for the 2015 Christmas Joy Offering , the 4th special offering of Presbyterian Church (USA), was $252.00. Half of your offering will support the assistance programs of the Board of Pensions that help faithful servants. The other half will go support the ministries of racial ethnic schools and colleges with students trying to discover and develop the gifts God has given them. All of them will help to increase the joy of the family of God. Thank you to all who supported this offering.
Westfield Food Pantry
January is our month to donate shelf and table products for the Pantry. They appreciates any and all donations. Please help anyway you can!
Pennies for Hunger
The "Pennies for Hunger" offering was received the last Sunday of each month during 2015. The total contributions received for 2015 was $210.15 and was divided between the Westfield Community Kitchen and Food Pantry.
During 2015 the Mission Committee supported the following mission projects from donations, fundraisers and the gracious gift from the Presbyterian Women from their October Harvest Dinners: Chautauqua Area Habitat for Humanity, Westfield Ministerial Association, Lake Erie Blue Star Mothers, Chautauqua County Jail Chaplaincy, Presbytery of WNY - Mission Fund, Presbyterian World Mission, Marion Medical - African Shallow Well, Chautauqua County Rural Ministry, Westfield Food Pantry, Westfield Community Kitchen, Miranda Warner - Youth with a Mission, Vacation Bible School, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - Nepal, Kids Escaping Drugs - Renaissance House, Buffalo City Mission, Buckhorn Children's Foundation, Haiti Mission Trip and 2015 July Flood relief.
Winter "Picnic"
Sunday January 17
The Mission Committee invites you to a picnic lunch after church on Sunday, January 17. The menu will include sloppy Joes, make your own salad, potato chips, pickles, cookies, punch, tea and coffee. If you plan to attend the picnic on January 17 please call the church office at 326-2643 to make a reservation.
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Clerk's Pen(cil) II
Following the call to order, devotions and prayer by the Moderator Rev. Dana A. Vaughn the Session took up the work of the church on Thursday, December 10, 2015.
Actions taken at the meeting are summarized as follows:
~ Approved the annual renewal for the bell maintenance with Verdin Company.
~ As recommended by the Finance & Property Committee the 2016 Budget was approved.
~ Called the annual congregational meeting for Sunday, January 17, 2016.
Other Business...
~ Church Mutual Insurance paid our claim for wind damage to the church roof from wind storms in November. Repairs will be made in the Spring.
~ A joint meeting of the Deacons and Elders is planned for Thursday, January 14, 2016.
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The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held Sunday, January 17, 2016 to approve the Annual Congregational minutes of March 1, 2015 and March 29, 2015, Special Congregational Meeting of November 8, 2015, to receive reports of the Committees of Session and Congregational Organizations. Copies of the 2015 Annual Report will be available at the entrances to the sanctuary the week before the annual congregational meeting.
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What not to Take to the New Year
~ By Gregg McCaslin ~
Self-help books: Trust in God first; don't turn to him as a last resort.
(See Proverbs 3: 5 - 6)
Tape measure: Consider only God's standards; don't compare yourself to other people. (See Luke 18: 9 - 14)
Rearview mirror: Don't live in the past. You'll miss out on what God is doing in your life now. (See Philippians 3: 12 - 14)
Gavel: Instead of judging others, pray for them, help them and team with them.
(See Luke 6: 37 - 38)
Life vest: Don't be overly cautious spiritually. Peter experienced Jesus in a real way because he dared to step out of the boat. (See Matthew 14: 22 - 33)
Garage-door opener: We think we're networked but often isolate ourselves from our neighbors. God intended for us to live in community with one another.
(See Hebrews 10: 23 - 25).
Handcuffs: Don't offer excuses about why you can't help out. God can do amazing things through - and despite - us. Just follow him, with no excuses.
(See Mark 6: 35 - 44)
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Prayer Concerns
A special prayer that you'll be blessed with tender care and needed rest, warm thoughts of friends that mean so much and most of all, God's healing touch.
REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR....
Members of Our Congregation
Kay Hall, Gwen Farver, Jim and Ruth Stacy, Prudence Putnam, Doc Near, Betty Reid, Enid Beadle, Bev & Les Yeaney, Ethel Scarpine, Norma Vanderpool, Don Strobl and Gloria Colgrove.
Family and Friends of our Congregation
Bob Reid, Darrell Colgrove, Dee Jensen, Mary Grygier (Sister of Elaine Parker), Mike Strada (Brother of Elaine Parker), Maria Rodriguez (Mother of Ramona Luder), Jeff Graebell and Pauline Emilson.
Our Servicemen.
Capt. Christopher Kittle
Chief Petty Officer, James "JD" Watkins (Grandson of Betty Reid)
SGT2 Arnold Soto (Grandson of Darla Augur)
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Celebrations of Eternal Life...
Our deepest sympathy as a congregation is extended to the families and friends upon the death of their loved ones:
Toni Tenamore ~ Tuesday, December 22, 2015
(Stepmother of Can Tenamore)
Mary Near Beckman ~ Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with all who have lost loved ones recently.
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NOVEMBER 2015 FINANCIAL REPORT
Income: $15,960.75
Expenses: $10,961.41
2015 Pledges Budgeted through November 30, 2015: $81,667.63
($72,905.00 has been paid as of November 30, 2015)
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PER CAPITA
The PER CAPITA is an amount of money assessed each member of the local church for the administrative costs of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Synod of the Northeast, and the Presbytery of Western New York. The church pays approximately $35.00 per each active member of the congregation for the Per Capita.
Any contribution to help defray the cost of the Per Capita expense would be appreciated. Please make your check payable to First Presbyterian Church, earmarked "Per Capita ~ Ecclesiastical Apportionment" and mail to the church office or place in the offering plate on Sunday mornings. Envelopes will be available in the pew racks.
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Celtic Vespers Service
Thursday, January 21, 2016
7:00 p.m.
Influenced by and based on ancient Celtic worship as well as its modern survivals in such a worship communities as the famous Iona Community in Scotland, Celtic Vespers is a beautiful service of evening prayer. Featuring responsorial Psalms, prayers from the Carmina Gadelica, a candlelight procession, a brief incense rite, music based on Celtic tunes, and even a recitation of The Lord's Prayer in Gaelic, Celtic Vespers will offer a truly unique spiritual service.
Please join us on Thursday, January 21 at 7:00 p.m. ~ and bring your family and friends.
Additional, if you would like to participate in the service as a reader, a choir member, an instrumentalist, a cantor, or an acolyte, please call the church office/326-2643.
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BIRTHDAYS
We all join in extending Greetings
and Best Wishes for a Happy Birthday.
May this day be Richly Blessed
With Peace and Joy and
Everything that makes for Happiness
2nd
Steve Peters
3rd
Marie Edwards
Jim Parker
4th
Mark Meleen
5th
Warren Colgrove
Kai Diehl
6th
Laurie Diehl
7th
Brittany Edwards
9th
Don Fritz
10th
Richard Barney
11th
Norma Vanderpool
12th
Jill Raynor
16th
Justin Conklin
17th
Jim Stacy
19th
Cortland Knopp
20th
Alisha Conklin
Mike Ricketts
26th
Jennifer Barton
28th
Ricki Schofield
ANNIVERSARIES
A special Anniversary Prayer...
That God's Eternal love
Will fill your heart this day
With joy and blessings from above
14th
Kathy & Jeff Monroe
Friday, January 1
Church Office Closed
Sunday, January 3
10:00 a.m.
Christian Nurture ~ Adult Class
11:00 a.m.
Family Worship
Monday, January 4
7:00 p.m.
Mission/Outreach Meeting
Tuesday, January 5
11:00 a.m.
Presbyterian Women
Wednesday, January 6
9:00 a.m.
Worship & Music Meeting
10:00 a.m.
Un-decorating the Sanctuary
7:00 p.m.
Christian Nurture ~ Adult Education
Sunday, January 10
10:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
10:00 a.m.
Christian Nurture ~ Adult Education
10:00 a.m.
Children's Sunday School
~ Kindergarten through 6th Grade
11:00 a.m.
Family Worship
12:00 Noon
Coffee Hour
~ Hosted by Property & Finance ~
Tuesday, January 12
10:00 a.m.
Fellowship/Membership Meeting
Wednesday, January 13
9:00 a.m.
Property & Finance
7:00 p.m.
Christian Nurture ~ Adult Education
Thursday, January 14
5:00 p.m.
Joint meeting of Deacons & Elders
Sunday, January 17
10:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
10:00 a.m.
Christian Nurture ~ Adult Education
10:00 a.m.
Children's Sunday School
~ Kindergarten through 6th Grade
11:00 a.m.
Family Worship
12:00 Noon
Annual Congregational Meeting
12:00 Noon
"Winter Picnic"
~ Hosted by Mission/Outreach Committee ~
Monday, January 18
7:00 p.m.
Deacon Meeting
Wednesday, January 20
7:00 p.m.
Christian Nurture ~ Adult Education
Thursday, January 21
7:00 p.m.
Celtic Vespers Service
Sunday, January 24
10:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
10:00 a.m.
Christian Nurture ~ Adult Education
10:00 a.m.
Children's Sunday School
~ Kindergarten through 6th Grade
11:00 a.m.
Family Worship
Wednesday, January 27
7:00 p.m.
Christian Nurture ~ Adult Education
Sunday, January 31
10:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
10:00 a.m.
Christian Nurture ~ Adult Education
10:00 a.m.
Children's Sunday School
~ Kindergarten through 6th Grade
11:00 a.m.
Family Worship
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Life is good...One day at a time
