Alleluia Newsletter

November 2008

Go to:
From Me to You
Session Digest
Financial Secretary's Report to Session: September, 2008
Congregational Meeting
Stewardship Ministry Update
Stewardship Pledge Sunday is November 9th
Focus on Fellowship
What's Happening in the Youth Group
Preschool News
Pasadena Presbyterian Women
Children's Church
Discipleship: Christian Education
Books Change Children and Adults for the Better
Life Groups
Evangemissions
Who Benefits from Stephen Ministry?
Sunday Worship Attendance
What's New at PPC
November Birthdays

From Me to You:

“God blesses us that all the ends of the earth may fear Him.”
(Psalm 67:7)

Do you count your blessings?  There are many good reasons to do so.

Focusing on God’s blessings focuses us on God.

We don’t always see the blessings God pours out on our lives—which means we don’t always see God at work in and around our lives. We live in an “easy” age of convenience where we take for granted many of the things that make-up and add-to our lives.  The air we breathe, water we drink, food we eat, money we have, homes we live in, family we love, churches we belong to and freedoms we enjoy are “just there” for us. We forget that “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17). Counting our blessings reminds us that God is the Creator, Provider, Protector, and Benefactor of our lives.

Taking stock of God’s blessings in our lives helps us value God’s blessing of life.

We are created for eternal fellowship with and worship of God. Over-coming our sin and separation from God is what God did and blesses us with through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Every believer every day has the opportunity to point to and praise God for the most precious and gracious gift of His Son!

Counting our blessings helps us see everything from God’s perspective.

Too often we define “blessing” from a self-serving point-of-view. If it makes us feel good, look good, be happy or have our needs met, we say that’s a blessing.  But what about tough times, trials, difficulties, dilemmas?  Isn’t God at work blessing those experiences and events, too?  Of course, as Romans 8:28 declares:  “we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”  Counting our blessings helps us learn to count on God, and look to Him to work things out for His glory and our good in everything!

Remembering it is all from God helps us realize it is all for God.

This is the point and lesson of Psalm 67:7 above:  when we point to God and exalt the Name of Jesus for and in everything, others will see the greatness of God in and through our lives.  The blessing God is to us and the blessings God bestows on us in Christ are the invitation God extends through us for others to come to know, be saved, enjoy and glorify Him too. 

As we thank Jesus in everything (1 Thess. 5:18), everyone will see the blessing Jesus is!

May Jesus bless you and yours with more of Himself, and the gifts of His grace, mercy, peace, joy and love, this THANKSGIVING season, and always!  Thanking the Lord for His gift and blessing of you, His people and family at PPC!

In Christ,

Carl

REMINDER:   STEWARDSHIP/COMMITMENT SUNDAY IS NOVEMBER 9th!  Please bring your 2009 pledge card (previously mailed-out) to lay on the communion table during either service.

Back to Top

Session Digest: September 23, 2008

 The stated meeting of the Session was opened with prayer by the Moderator, Carl Crawford, at 7 p.m. Elder Rivard led a devotional time about what it means to be a follower of Jesus, using Matthew 4:19.

The following items were considered, discussed, and voted on.

1. A letter to the congregation from the Session was finalized. It  included a vision statement for the church from John 15:8, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
2. Minutes of previous meetings were approved.
3. Pat Drucker, Mary and Betty Goodwin were received as members by transfer from their previous church, Rio Vista Presbyterian.
4. Funding for the new position of Director of Family Ministry will be included in the 2009 Budget, if possible.
5. Pastor Brian Sanders of the Underground Church in Tampa will be the Mission Conference speaker March 11,15, 2009.
6. A $500 offering for Hurricane Ike relief was approved.
7. Anya Campbell will be baptized soon.
8. Elders Kathie Schellhaas, and at-large members Alma Oline and Christine Cook were approved for the Pre-School Board.
9. A cookbook prepared by the Craft group was approved.

The meeting was closed with a season of prayer at 10:20 p.m.

Larry Oline, Clerk

Back to Top

Financial Secretary's Report to Session: September 15, 2008

The Financials for September show actual income $28,889.87 with expenses of $34,806.04  leaving us   $5,916.17 in the Red.  

There were $3,500.00 in extra expenses in September, including tree removal of $3,150.00

Contribution income was $2,415.00 below actual operating expenses

Cash Reserves              $ 98,666.91      

Back to Top

Congregational Meeting

The Session has called a congregational meeting for November 16th, following the combined service for the Presbyterian Women’s Thank Offering (Service starts at 10:30, meeting will begin approximately 11:30am in the sanctuary—prior to lunch in the Fellowship Hall).  The purpose of this meeting is 1)  to elect 3 representatives at-large from the congregation to serve on the 2008-9 Nominating Committee. Those elected will still be eligible to be nominated to the office of elder (change in the Book of Order now allows this); and 2) to elect elders Threse Hammond, John Odom and Paul Rivard to a 6-month term (to coincide with the new rotation of officers in July 2009), and elect elder Leo Meilus to the class of 2011.

Stewardship Ministry Update

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 KJV)

We Need YOU!!!

We have many needs in the church for your time and talents.  Are you handy with a hammer, screwdriver, paintbrush or shovel?  Are you available to help set up church facilities for church functions?  We need you!  “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.”  1 Peter 4:10.  Please speak with your elder-shepherd or contact the church office, 345-0148.

If you have any suggestions or questions about Stewardship matters, feel free to contact a member of the ministry. We thank you for your support as we work in all things for God’s glory.

Back to Top

Stewardship Pledge is November 9th

Please bring your pledge cards to lay on the communion table during either service. If you need a pledge card (didn't recieve one in the mail), please check the tables in the sanctuary, or the church office. You may also bring or mail your pledge to the church (please do so before 11/9).

The Stewardship Ministry is challenging our congregation to help fund a new staff position for 2009—the Director of Family Ministries. This position will require a 16% increase in giving (about $60,000) over the budget in order to be fully funded. Please pray and give as the Lord leads and provides—to His glory!

Focus on Fellowship

Please plan on attending the 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Day Breakfast on Thursday, November 27th  at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.  You can contact Pam Levering at 346-0108 if are interested in assisting with preparations.

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

We are looking for Family Night Coordinators.  Family Night Dinners are typically held on the 1st Wednesday of every month with the exception of the summer months.  We depend on volunteer coordinators for the success of the Family Nights.  You can volunteer to be a coordinator for a Family Night by contacting Threse Hammond at 344-0223, and she’ll provide you with additional details. 

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

Our next Family Night Dinner is scheduled for 6:00 PM on December 3 

Please come join us for another opportunity to experience Lucio and Sherry’s creations.     

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

We are also looking for someone to coordinate the Birthday Club.  The Club is already in place as are all of the guidelines.  Volunteers for 2008 through January 2009 are also in place but we need a coordinator to start working on finding volunteers for next year. 

Once the list of volunteers and their assigned weeks is compiled, the coordinator will send this list to the volunteers early in the year followed by a reminder around the 10th or 20th of the month to remind the volunteer that their assigned interval is approaching.  You would also monitor the card supply in the office and order more as needed.

We hope to identify a new coordinator long before the end of the year when further action is required.  If you are interested in this opportunity to coordinate the Birthday Club, please contact Threse Hammond at 344-0223.

Threse Hammond

Back to Top

What's Happening in the Youth Group

Well, October has been great so far. The Antioch Youth Ministry has been busy. We have been practicing the “Set Me Free” drama that was performed at both services. These kids are absolutely amazing! We have been asked to do more in the future, and I'm sure that this will be only the start. We also had a great Harvest lock-in & glow bowling at Ten Pins Lanes. The youth are going to help with the remodeling of the kitchen as a service project, and we are going to represent the congregation by taking part in the baptism of Anaya Campbell.

On November 15th, the Youth will be going to a Third Day concert as a group at Bel Shoals Baptist Church. We will be doing a monthly servant project and focus on what we are thankful for.  I really want to tell the Youth of Pasadena how proud I am to be involved with this group, and a great big thank you to the congregation for all your support and prayers for the youth of this church!  Also, many, many thanks to Brenda and Felicia for working so hard on the new drapes in the Sanctuary.  I also want to thank Leslie for her dedication to the youth of this church, and Barbara Gonzalez for helping with new Youth banner.

In His Service,

Rob Taylor
Volunteer Youth Leader

Back to Top

Preschool News

October has been a very busy month in the preschool ministry. We have been learning about the people who help us in our lives. The fire department and police department came to visit us. They taught the children about safety. It was a terrific experience for the children. They learned not to be afraid of the police and firefighters. The children learned that they were their friends. The children learned that they have a friend who will always be with them and keep them safe. His name is Jesus. They learned that He loves them and will always help them.

The children have learned that they need to help people also. With the help of their parents they have donated many supplies to help the homeless ministry here at the church.  They have also made some beautiful drawings for the Kairos Ministry which they know helps the people who are in prison feel better.

We had our Fall Festival on October 31st.  It was a tremendous success. Thirty parents volunteered to plan, set up, host all activities, and chaperone the children. Our families are truly a shining example of fellowship and community.

November will be another busy month preparing to give thanks to God for all He has given us. I look forward to sharing with you all of our November activities.

Let us remember to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

May your Thanksgiving Holiday be blessed.  – Laura Woodard

Back to Top

Pasadena Presbyterian Women: Activities for Month of November

Monday, November 3rd at 10:15 a.m. PW Communion at the Springs
Tuesday, November 4th at  9:30 a.m.  Council Meeting in Boswell
Monday, November 10th at 7:00 p.m. Rachel Circle – Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, November 11th at 10:00 a.m. Esther Circle -  Pauline Robert’s home
Tuesday, November 11th at 10:00 a.m. Martha Circle – Boswell Room
Tuesday, November 11th at 12:00 noon Ruth Circle –   Virginia Henderson’s home
Tuesday, November 18th at 6:30 p.m. Lydia Circle – Felicia Ragland’s home

Friday, November 7th – Church Women United World Community Day- Registration at 9:30 a.m. – Program at 10:00 a.m. at the American Church of the Beatitudes, 2812 8th St. N.  We can meet at Pasadena Church at 9:00 a.m. and then carpool to the church.

CONGRATULATIONS TO SHERRY EASTERMAN upon receiving a grant from Church Women United (CWU) in the amount of $500.00 to help purchase equipment and/or supplies for the establishment of their future catering business.  This grant process began back in January when Sherry and her friend catered the luncheon for CWU'S Annual Meeting and in a discussion with the state president of CWU learned that CWU offers scholarships/grants to women for continuing education or beginning businesses.  PRAISE THE LORD!

Sunday, November 16, 2008 our Presbyterian Women Thank Offering Service will be held during the worship service at 10:30 a.m. We will have only one service this day and the women of the church will be in charge of the service.  Immediately following the service and congregational meeting, the congregation is invited to the Fellowship Hall for a light lunch prepared by our own chef, Lucio and his wife, Sherry.  The theme for this Thank Offering Service is found in Hebrews.  “Do not forget to DO GOOD and to SHARE WITH OTHERS , for such SACRIFICES GOD is PLEASED.” (Hebrews 13:16 NIV)  Our guest speaker will be Shirley Bragdon who will bring the morning message.

Upcoming Dates & Events:
          April 27-29, 2009 – Spring Retreat @ Dayspring in Ellenton
         July 11-15, 2009 – Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women in Louisville, KY

In His Service,          
Patricia Watts, Moderator

Back to Top

Children's Church

November's Children's Church worship services will center around giving thanks to God for all that He does for us.  We will examine specific Biblical examples of people giving thanks to God.    The children will be expressing their thanks to God through worship.  We will also begin rehearsing songs to sing during the upcoming Christmas season, so it is important that your children come to worship each week.
Children's Church is a worship service designed for children in kindergarten through grade 5.  The children are dismissed from the Sanctuary each Sunday during the 8:30 am service, with the exception of Communion Sunday.

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done."  1 Chronicles 16:8

Leslie Hughes

Back to Top

Books Change Children and Adults for the Better

"Regular reading not only boosts the likelihood of an individual’s academic and economic success—facts that are not especially surprising—but it also seems to awaken a person’s social and civic sense," Dana Gioia, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA),  states in a recent summary of research.

"Reading correlates with almost every measurement of positive personal and social behavior surveyed. It is reassuring, though hardly amazing, that readers attend more concerts and theater than non-readers, but it is surprising that they exercise more and play more sports—no matter what their educational level. The cold statistics confirm something that most readers know but have mostly been reluctant to declare as fact—books change lives for the better," Gioia writes in http://www.nea.gov/research/ToRead_ExecSum.pdf

Even just having books (the more the better) in the home is enough to stimulate kids to higher grades and progress better in school. Gioia recently was interviewed for a World magazine article explaining how the gift of books changed him as a child and helped him want to learn: http://www.worldmag.com/articles/article.cfm?eid=EDB140AE-ED87-6C31-0F1F7224879E936E

But the benefits of reading are not just for children. "...I suggest that since all the data demonstrate consistent and mostly linear relationships between reading and these positive results—and between poor reading and negative results—reading has played a decisive factor. Whether or not people read, and indeed how much and how often they read, affects their lives in crucial ways," he says.

If these secular results are true, and statistics seem to show a correlation, imagine how much you can benefit from reading Christian non-fiction and fiction!

So come to your church library and read, read, read!

Laurie Smith

Librarian

P.S. Please ask for Ministry Builder stamps when you make a purchase from Family Christian Stores. They are given in addition to the card punches you receive to get a discount for yourself.

Back to Top

Life Groups

Two groups meet Sunday evenings 7-8:30pm-—at the Pilkington home (397-8487) and at the Treleaven home.  One group meets Thursday evening 7-8:30pm at the Gonzalez home (343-8008).  The fourth group is led by Larry and Alma Oline (344-8783) and meets at the Church on Thursdays from 2-3:30pm.  Please call the hosts for details. All groups are studying Be Complete, a guide for Colossians by Warren Wiersbe. Study Books and Informational Brochures are available in the Church Office. Attend a group that works for you!

Back to Top

Evangemissions

We receive regular correspondence from our supported missionaries telling us about what is happening in their ministries and what we can be praying for.  I’ve picked 3 to include in the newsletter this month.  To learn more about our missionaries, please pick up the latest news from the missionary board located in the hallway outside the church office.

OPERATION MOBILIZATION (From Alex and Julie Paniagus)
On Saturday, June 28th at 3:00 in the morning a group of 50 people started loading up the bus for a five day medical outreach in the Talamaca region of Costa Rica.  Among the 50 participants we had a group of 17 from the US that included doctors, nurse practitioners and medical students.  Additionally we had our OM Costa Rica staff as well as 20 Costa Rica volunteers.  All of us came together for one purpose, to serve the BriBri  Indians in Talamaca.   After a 6-hour bus ride, we arrived at a riverbank where we unloaded and loaded all the medicine, food and suitcases into several wooden carved boats for a 30-minute boat ride.   This process was repeated on the other side of the river, this time into another bus, which took us to our campsite.   The base camp was in the middle of the jungle with a soccer field and a few small buildings which were used for sleeping and setting up the medical clinic and pharmacy. Each day started with a short team devotion and a time of prayer.  By 8:30 in the morning long lines of people were already waiting outside the clinic to see the doctor.  Many of them had walked several hours just to be there.  From 8:30-5:00 the doctors would see the patients and attend both their physical and spiritual needs.  Each doctor took the opportunity to share the gospel, hand out tracks, or pray for them.

CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST INT:  ( Scott Paros – missionary support team )

As they face food shortages, increased persecution and political upheaval, Campus Crusade for Christ staff around the world urgently need our prayers and support.  From Senegal, Africa, a staff leader writes: “There is no rice now in Senegal and there hasn’t been any for several months.   Please pray for our team in Senegal for that situation.”  From Zimbabwe, another staff leader writes: “ The month was full of challenges and tears.  I have never faced a difficult time in my life such as this…We were living in fear as if we were in a war zone… There is not enough food in the shops and we are struggling to survive.  Basic commodities have become very scarce.  I am happy we endured June, for the Lord taught my family to depend on Him.  I know the following months might even be more challenging but we know and are convinced that He is with us and we know we have friends like you who are praying for us.”  These are obviously serious issues.  But despite the risks, multitudes of staff  serving in closed  and unstable nations continue on, reaching people for Christ and conducting discipleship courses in places like Iraq and other nations that are too sensitive to name.  These are the kinds of countries where it is hard to imagine Christian work even happening-but it is, and these staff are leading the charge.

VISION OF HOPE MINISTRIES:  ( From Henoc Lucien )

Because of inflation, the prices for food have skyrocketed in Haiti.  Please pray for financial support to come in to cover these higher costs.  Also, please pray for two projects that are in the developmental stages now.  One is to explore the possibility of  well drilling in several areas to provide safe clean drinking water for the community.  Another is the possibility of starting a chicken and egg farming project to provide jobs and food for hungry Haitians.   (Pastor Henoc serves the Lord in northern Haiti and has visited our church several times over the years.)

Please keep these and all of our missionaries in your prayers.

Paul Rivard – EvangeMissions chair

Who Benefits from Stephen Ministry?

On Sept 21st we commissioned our newest Stephen Minister, Terry Odom. 
Who Benefits from Stephen Ministry?

People Who Need Care . . .

• Receive quality, Christ-centered, confidential care for their hurts and needs
• Find hope, healing, and a new sense of self-worth through the support of a Stephen Minister
• Know they are remembered and supported by their congregation in times of personal difficulty
• Receive ongoing care for continuing needs long after the onset of a crisis, when many others have forgotten about them
• Grow in a deeper relationship with their Lord as they experience God's unconditional love for them through their Stephen Minister

Members of Our Church Family . . .

• Discover, cultivate, and use the spiritual gifts they have been blessed with
• See themselves as active partners in the mission and ministry of the church
• Find all aspects of their lives enriched by the distinctively Christian caregiving skills they learn and practice
• Experience great joy as they see God working through them to bring hope and healing to a hurting person
• Grow spiritually as they experience the Lord's loving presence in community with other Christian caregivers

Our Community. . .

• Discovers that many members want to be involved in meaningful ministry and will respond to the call to become a Stephen Minister or Stephen Leader
• Becomes a more loving community that is more sensitive and responsive to people's needs for care
• Is able to provide more quality Christian care, so that fewer people slip through the cracks
• Is able to reach out to the unchurched who are hurting and introduce them to the healing love of Jesus in their time of need
• Sees itself as not only being served by the pastor, but as a caring body of believers actively involved in serving one another in love

Please consider becoming a part of this ministry by:  Praying for its continued success; becoming a Stephen Minister by joining the next class or by encouraging people who are "Lonely, Sad, Discouraged" to consider accepting a Stephen Minister's care.

Back to Top

Sunday Worship Attendance

                                                                                             

Back to Top

What's New At PPC

“JOY TO THE WORLD,THE SAVIOR REIGNS!”

The Christmas Joy Offering is one of  the four special, PCUSA offerings received yearly:

Pentecost (seven Sundays after Easter)
Peacemaking (First Sunday in October)
One Great Hour of Sharing
(Lent, and especially Palm Sunday/Easter)
Christmas Joy (this year, December 21)

As God’s Love was made visible among us, so we, each year, express that Love in our gifts.

The Christmas Joy “helps support unmet needs of Families who have given their lives to the mission of the Presbyterian Church (USA), some in retirement, some while they continue to serve.”

Because we know His Love, we give with Joy!

Praise Chorus

Praise Chorus, a new ensemble helping lead worship in our 8:30 a.m. Contemporary Service, needs you. If God is speaking to your heart to join us in fresh expressions of faith in songs of worship, come and see how God can use your Heart for Praise.   Praise Chorus rehearses every Thursday from 6:15 to 7:30pm. You can contact Carol Pilkington, at 397-8487, for more information or to sign up!

It's Baby Bottle Time Again!

Every year PPC has a baby bottle drive for the Pregnancy Center of Pinellas County and it's time to get YOUR bottles and fill them up! Some people put a check in theirs... some put their extra change in them; others ask people to contribute to the bottle drive; still others just stick a bunch of dollars in there!  PCPC helps with crisis pregnancies, evangelism, free health care, counseling, and much, much more...may God Bless you all!  Please return your bottles November 23rd. Please let  Barbara Gonzalez know if you have a bottle to turn in after that date.

Prayer Request E-mail List

Our PPC e-mail praise/prayer list is being revised. 

If you would like to be included on our e-mail list to receive current Prayer Requests, please send your e-mail address to the church office at esmith@pasadenapc.com. Please be sure to put Prayer Request E-mail List in the Subject line.

Ronald McDonald House

You are invited to participate in preparing and serving lunch at the Ronald McDonald House here in St. Pete! On Saturday, November 1st, PPC is signed up for lunch at 12 noon.  If you are interested in donating food or supplies or serving, please contact Pam Levering by October 16 at  727-346-0108!!!!

Back to Top