Pasadena Presbyterian Church
January 2009
Go to:
From Me to You
Session Digest
Focus on Fellowship
Stewardship Ministry Update
Financial Secretary's Report to Session: December 07, 2008
What is the Per Capita Apportionment?
What's Happening in the Youth Group
Preschool News
Children's Church
Pasadena Presbyterian Women
Church Women United
This Position Is Now On Our Wish List For Funding: Director of Family Ministries
Library
Life Groups
Evangemissions
Familiar Quotations, Anyone?
Sunday Worship Attendance
What's New at PPC
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
(Romans 12:2)
Change: If there is one thing you would like to change about yourself, what would that be, and why?
The new year is often viewed as an opportunity to change. For many folks, January 1st brings an invitation to start over, chart a different course, make or at least try to make some things different in and about their lives. Countless such “New Year’s resolutions” will be made, and a few may even be kept and accomplished.
Real change, though, is what God offers us in the person and work, and Gospel, of His Son, Jesus Christ. God is the expert when it comes to making us over—after all, He made us all! He knows just who He designed us to be; and He works not just on the outside—altering cosmetic appearances—but inside of us: God in Christ, by His Holy Spirit, according to His Holy Word, makes us, and all things, new!
That’s why God calls us in Christ to change:
- Change our direction--from running away from God and heading into an eternity without Him, to coming back to God, being forgiven for all our sins, by accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord. In the Bible’s terms (2 Peter 3:9), that’s called “repentance.”
- Change our minds—from thinking things the way the world apart from God does (aka “according to the flesh”), to knowing God in His Word, doing what He says, even taking on the mind of Christ. The Bible (Romans 12:2 above) calls that “renewal.”
- Change our hearts—from making things all about ourselves, living selfishly and inwardly, to making everything in and about us point to God: loving God totally, and giving Him all the glory from our lives! In the Bible (Ezekiel 36:26) that is “revival.”
- Change our ways—from wanting what we want and doing things however we desire, to becoming complete in Christ (Colossians 1:28) so our lives are completely serving Him. The Bible views that as “regeneration:” showing and sharing Jesus in all we think, say and do.
God does want and works for us to change so that we will have true life abundantly, and live to His greatest glory. That is why He sent Jesus: He can do what we can’t do, and never will, ourselves—save and transform our lives.
Looking to 2009 and the changes the Lord will make in me, and in each of our lives together as His Pasadena Presbyterian Church, so that His good, acceptable and perfect will continues to be realized in and through us all, to His greatest glory!
In Christ,
Carl
The stated meeting of the Session was opened with prayer by the Moderator, Pastor Carl Crawford, at 7:05 p.m. Elder John Odom gave a devotional/praise report.
The following items were acted on by the Session:
- The annual review of the active roll. Those eligible for transfer to the inactive roll will be contacted by elders and/or letter.
- The evote on selling the church bus was confirmed unanimously. The purchase of a church van was added to the Wish List.
- A meeting was scheduled with Rev. David Miller, liaison with the Committee on Ministry, for 12/9/08 as follow-up to the meeting held on 11/18/08. Elders will contact those members attending the 11/18/08 meeting to offer an additional opportunity to meet privately to seek reconciliation.
- Approved transfer of Jerry Bohannon to Pasadena Community Church.
- Session reviewed the preliminary 2009 budget. It will be finalized at the December meeting.
- Reviewed and approved by majority vote the working agreement for 2009 between the Network of Christian Counselors, Counselor Terry Collier, and PPC.
- Received the resignation of Financial Secretary Bob Bates, effective 12/31/08. Approved assigning Financial Secretary duties to the Church Managing Secretary, and upgrading that position to Church Managing Executive Secretary.
- Approved transferring some office duties from the CMES to a new part-time position of Church Clerical Assistant, to allow the CMES time to fulfill the financial responsibilities. Compensation for both positions will come from splitting the Financial Secretary’s compensation between them for 2009, so there will be no net increase on the 2009 budget.
The meeting was closed with prayer at 10:12 p.m.
(Session Minutes are public records and are available for review by PPC members in the Church Office)
We are looking for Breakfast Food Coordinators to enlist individual volunteers or small groups to provide breakfast foods on Sundays to be served in the Fellowship Hall. Volunteers provide bagels, donuts, fruit, milk or O.J. Once the list of volunteers and their assigned Sunday is compiled, the coordinator will contact the volunteers to remind them that their assigned Sunday is approaching. If you are interested in this opportunity to become a Breakfast Food Coordinator, please contact Threse Hammond at 344-0223.
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Our next Covered Dish is scheduled for 6:00 PM on January 21
Plan on joining us at the Covered Dish on Wednesday, January 21 at 6:00 PM. Everyone is invited to bring a main dish, salad, bread and/or dessert. Those who do not bring a dish are encouraged to give a donation to be used for future Fellowship Dinners. Everyone is also invited to come early to fellowship and help set up.
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Please consider becoming a Covered Dish Dinner Coordinator by contacting Threse Hammond at 344-0223. Coordinators are generally responsible for organizing the Covered Dish Dinner by recruiting volunteers for the following duties:
- make coffee and lemonade
- place placemats on tables and small trash cans under beverage and dessert table;
- wipe down tables & chairs after dinner,
- put chairs on top of tables,
- wash coffee and lemonade containers,
- clear dessert table and pitch or give away leftovers
In addition to recruiting volunteers for the day of the dinner, coordinators also ensure the dinner is listed in the Sunday bulletin. Coordinators also help the hosting ministry keep an eye out for all of the “little things” when programs are held in Fellowship Hall during the dinner as well as alert Vicki when paper/plastic supplies need to be refreshed.
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Threse Hammond
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 churchfacilities 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.
PPC Wish List |
||
| Nature of Project | Estimated Cost | Recieved |
| Director of Family Ministries (to start position) | $60,000 | |
| Upgrade AV System in the Sanctuary (In process) | $11,000 | $11,000 |
| Purchase of Church Van (In process) | $16,000 | $6,300 (from sale of the bus) |
Financial Secretary's Report to Session: December 07, 2008
The Financials for November show actual income $34,011.22 with expenses of $28,513.54 leaving us $5,497.68 in the black.
Year to Date 2008 |
|
| Actual Income | $ 386,157.83 |
| Actual Expenses | $ 380,601.60 |
| Black | $ 5,556.23 |
November was a 5 Sunday month for Contributions
PPC Foundation |
|
| Pasadena Foundation | $ 24,179.48 |
| Wahl Scholarship | $ 49,945.67 |
Cash Reserves $ 99,732.12
What is the Per Capita Apportionment?
Per Capita Appotionment (PCA) is an annual “membership fee” which all Presbyterian USA churches send to Louisville headquarters as an offering to help support the administrative functions of our Presbytery and Synod and the General Assembly. The PCA is based on the number of active members on a church’s roll. The amount per member is set by Presbytery; for 2009, the amount is $13.47. For PPC, our PCA (don’t you love anagrams?) is estimated to be $5,536. We consider this to be part of our mission giving in support of the wider mission of the PC(USA). Everyone who uses offering envelopes will have one envelope in January marked for PCA . If you don’t use envelopes, but would still like to give specifically to offset your PCA as an active member, you can do so by making out a check to PPC, designate it “For Per Capita.” It would be wonderful to raise our PPC PCA by this special offering, and so free up $5,536 for other ministries in our congregation.
What's Happening in the Youth Group
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Well, what a year we have had! We are looking forward to the new year ahead. It starts off with our first major activity, WINTER JAM ‘09, January 17th at the Sun Dome in Tampa. There will be cool performances from artists Toby Mac, Brandon Heath, Newsong, Barlow Girl, The Afters, Hawk Nelson, Pure NRG, Family Force 5, and others. A great inspirational leaders, Tony Nolan, will also be speaking. The cost per person is only $10.00! This is a must-see event! We will be leaving for Tampa on Sat., January 17th at noon. Bring your friends and come with us!
The Youth are also excited to promote our annual Valentine Dinner & Drama-with-a-twist in February. More information will come later. Tickets will be available in January.
Happy New Year to everyone! May the New Year bring many blessings, prosperity and love!
Rob and Brenda
Volunteer Youth Leaders
I hope that you all had a very blessed Christmas. December was a very exciting month in the preschool ministry. Our focus, of course, was preparing for the great 
celebration of the birth of Jesus. We learned about Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus our Savior and Friend. Our Christmas pageant was awesome. The children presented a living nativity and sang songs that told the story of Jesus’ birth. The Praise Band led us in song, Ben Cope was our narrator, and the Fellowship Ministry hosted a reception of cookies and punch. It was wonderful to see various church ministries working together.
We will begin our January by continuing the Christmas story. The children will learn about the Wise Men who saw the star and came to worship Jesus. We will also explore winter animals and their habitats.
Registration for the 2009-2010 school year will begin January 26th for currently enrolled families and January 29th for church members not currently enrolled. On February 2nd registration will be open to the public.
May your New Year be blessed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit – Laura Woodard
With the new year brings a study about new life in Jesus Christ. We will be doing a survey of Paul's letter to the Romans, specifically studying about faith, mercy, grace, and salvation through Christ.
Children's Church is a worship service designed specifically for children in kindergarten through grade 5. The children are dismissed from the Sanctuary during the 8:30 AM service each Sunday, with the exception of Communion Sunday.
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13
Leslie Hughes
Pasadena Presbyterian Women: Activities for Month of January
Activities for Month of January
Monday, January 5th at 10:15 a.m. PW Communion at the Springs
Tuesday January 6th at 9:30 a.m. Council Meeting in Boswell
Monday, January 12th at 7:00 p.m. Rachel Circle in Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, January 13th at 10:00 a.m. Esther Circle – Pat Edgington’s Home
Tuesday, January 13th at 10:00a.m. Martha Circle – Boswell Room
Tuesday, January 13th at 1:00 p.m. Ruth Circle – Aristeia Sowa’s Home
Tuesday, January 20th at 7:00 p.m. Lydia Circle – Room 204
We appreciate everyone’s participation in our Sock Tree and in the Christmas Card Greeting Tree. Next month we will list the friends and members who left Christmas greetings on the tree. 181 pair of socks were taken to Beth-El Farm Workers Ministry in Wimauma. Our thanks to Leo Meilus who delivered the socks and thanks to all the people who donated socks for this worthy cause. You are a blessing!
February 6, 2009 will be our General Meeting in the Chapel at 10:30 a.m. with a light lunch following in the Fellowship Hall. Roger Weldon, Program Manager from Sallie House for abused children will be our speaker. This home is sponsored by the Salvation Army. This will be a very informative meeting and all are invited to attend.
July 11-15, 2009 – Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women in Louisville, KY. Following are the remaining 5 of the10 reasons YOU should attend! 6. To learn about Missions and Mission Opportunities; 7. To be part of an exciting Churchwide event; 8, To participate in the business meeting as a voting representative; 9. To meet International participants and 10. To participate in Bible study. Registration begins in January. See Pat Watts for more details
Blessings to all in the new year!
Patricia Watts, Moderator
The Annual Meeting will be on January 17th, 2009 at 9:30am. It is being held at Stewart Isom Church (1820 Walton Street South, St. Pete). Please bring a salad along with $3 and stay for the luncheon. If you have any questions, please call Laura Prosser (864-7290).
This Position Is Now On Our Wish List For Funding: Director of Family Ministries (DOFM)
This Position Is Now On Our Wish List For Funding:
Position Title: Director of Family Ministries (DOFM)
from Infant to Senior Saints
Purpose: To develop and equip leaders; to engage the community; to pass on faith; and to live well in Jesus Christ.
Responsibilities: In coordination with the Discipleship Ministry the DOFM will perform strategic planning and coordinate family ministries from infant to adult:
1.Recruit, Train and Coordinate teachers/volunteers for all age levels of Christian education (adult small groups, Sunday school, mid-week Christian education ministries, VBS, Youth, etc.) within the church.
2.Secure background checks for all teachers, substitutes and others involved in working with youth or children, including nursery staff and volunteers.
3.Research and select teaching materials, with the approval of the Discipleship Ministry.
4.Evaluate family ministries within the church at least every six months with the Discipleship Ministry.
5.With the chair and members of the Discipleship Ministry, keep track of budget expenditures, and make recommendations for further budget needs, including assisting in preparing the annual discipleship budget.
6.Communicate programs and opportunities through the church newsletter, bulletin boards, brochures and radio announcements.
7.Coordinate with the church office the joint utilization of all educational classrooms with other programs and uses of church facility.
8.Provide opportunities for families to grow in their faith. Plan and conduct family activities, develop workshops for parents and children.
Skills: In addition to having leadership ability, the DOFM should have both credentials and experience in family ministry and teaching.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE JOB DESCRIPTION,
PLEASE CONTACT THE CHURCH OFFICE
(The congregation is asked to pray for and give to fund this position in 2009)
Ministry Builder Stamps and Donations Help Bring New Books, Videos, and CDS For Adults and Kids
Your donations have helped the library grow! Thanks for your donations of Ministry Builder stamps from Family Christian Stores, we were able to purchase twice as much as we might have! (For every 20 stamps you give the library, we get $5 off our bill.) 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. Also, the books and Bible media (a CD set and a children's set of videos) that have been donated made a wonderful addition to the library. Thanks.
CD:
The Holiness of God, Extended Edition, R.C. Sproul: Fifteen 23-minute messages on 5 CDs
BOOKS and pamphlets:
Oprah Miracles and the New Earth A Critique, Dr. Erwin Lutzer: Is her class on miracles heresy?
How We Got the Bible/and the Bible Time Line
Manners and Customs of Bible Times (Moody Publishers, revised) full of color photos and paintings
DVD:
The Note (based on the novel by Angela Hunt)
FOR KIDS:
DVDs:
Gigi's First Day of School
Gigi: Bursting with Readiness
Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia)
BOOKS:
Gigi and the Purple Ponies
Serenity series (manga-a modern comic style)
Laurie Smith, Librarian
"BE JOYFUL" - New Life Groups Study
Starting January 11 and running through April 5th
Following up on Pastor Carl's Sermon on Joy, the Study is "BE JOYFUL!" a book on Philippians by Warren Wiersbe. Wiersbe says that if you Master Philippians then you should enjoy a happy Christian Life. Discover the secret of Joy, walk out into the sunshine and be Joyful! Study Books and Informational Brochures are available in the Church Office. Attend a group that works for you! 
LIFE GROUPS Two groups meet Sunday evenings 7-8:30pm, one at the Pilkington home (397-8487) and one at the Treleaven home (368-1349). Another 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.
As we come to the close of another year, I just wanted to pass on to all of you the gratitude expressed from all of our missionaries and ministry representatives for your faithful support this year. Although our annual Faith Promise and Mission Conference is still 3 months away, this is a fitting time to thank all of you.
Through your prayers, your gifts and pledges, all 18 supported ministries were provided for throughout the year! At a time when so many were facing declines in their financial support, you maintained your commitment. Truly, we have all seen the hand of God in our lives as He provides for us so that we can then be a blessing to others. Because of your giving, the Great Commission is being taken to the far corners of the world, and to our local community. Jesus is being taught around the world and here on our own college campuses. Because of you, hundreds of families have safe drinking water in their villages in South America and Honduras. Because of you, medical and dental opportunities have been available to those who have no resources in Haiti and the Equator. Because of you, churches ravaged by storms are being rebuilt, and new ones started, not only in Haiti, but in our nearby state of Texas as well. Because of you, the hungry are fed and clothed, and the free gift of salvation is shared.
Thank you also for those who felt called to step out of their comfort zone in missions: Those who go inside prison walls to share the love of Jesus through the Kairos ministry. Those who assist our own missionaries, like Rex Almquist of South East Asian Relief here in St Petersburg, helping young Asian children with their homework. Those who prepare meals for the homeless and bring not only nourishment for their body but for their soul as well. Those who prepare food and bring encouragement to families at Ronald McDonald House. Those who support our troops through gifts and prayers. Those who make crafts and blankets to provide for ministries. God has given all of us gifts to share and there are so many in need. Thank you all for sharing your gifts.
God Bless you all
Paul Rivard. EM chair
Remember: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”?
Well, the Bible has a whole book full of familiar quotations!
How about: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” And: “A good name is more desirable than great riches.”
Yes, you’ve probably heard them so often you have lost count. And there are many more quotations where those came from!
The adult Bible study group, which meets in Room 204 on Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m., will be finding new familiar quotes during January and February as they explore the Book of Proverbs. Using study guide “cheatsheets,” we consider the Scriptural passages, asking and answering questions, and discussing matters relevant to our lives in today’s world.
So— Beginning on January 14, 2009 we invite you to come and replenish your memory bank with ancient wisdom which has so much to say to us as we live our lives in midst of today’s world!
| 8:30 a.m. | 11:00 a.m. | Total | |
| December 7 | 127 | 73 | 200 |
| December 14 | 119 | 73 | 192 |
| December 21 | 123 | 109 | 232 |
| December 24 | 174 (6pm) | 109 (9pm) | 283 |
| December 28 | 96 | 63 | 159 |
Thank You
My sincere thanks for all the prayers, cards and phone calls I received during my surgery and recovery. A special thanks to Pastor Carl, Helen Mull and Beverly and Howard Cole. May God bless you.
Madeline LeRoy
Big Thanks to Our Staff Members:
Dave Terhune—for parking lot striping,
sidewalk repair and refinishing and painting the chapel doors!
Vicki Danz—for many kindnesses, small and large, and for chasing clutter and getting “stuff” organized!
Furniture Needed For CASA
A few of our parents at Pasadena Fundamental School are teaming up to furnish transitional apartments in one of our local shelters. They need your help!! If you have any furniture that you do not need...they do need it!!!
CASA is a shelter that assists women and children who are victims of abuse. CASA has many transitional apartments for the women and children to stay in for 18-24 months, allowing them the time to get their feet back on the ground.
Linda Burrows, Dena Minning, Robin Sams, Alison Payne and other moms are teaming together to furnish a CASA apartment. Items such as end tables, dining table and chairs, a couch, loveseat, double or queen bed, dressers, pots and pans, TV stands, TVs, and bar stools are needed. If you have anything to donate, please call Alison Payne 798-2129. Thank you so much.
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.
Church Clerical Assistant
OUR SESSION is glad to announce the hiring of PEGGY BESTMAN as our new Church Clerical Assistant. Peggy has had extensive church office experience. She will be helping our Church Managing Executive Secretary, Eva Smith, in office duties Monday through Thursdays, 9:00—1:00. Eva is taking over duties from the Financial Secretary position. Please introduce yourself to Peggy if you call or drop by the office.
and Updates
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