Koinonia Times Volume 24, Issue 6
Not long ago I was
looking out the office window and watched the playgroup children doing what
they do best - playing!
I could not help smiling at the great joy and laughter I heard and the genuine
sense of wonder in their eyes. Everything for these pre-schoolers is a new
adventure. New things to learn, new things to do, new people
to meet. It was fun to watch one little boy continue to try to get a toy
to work until he finally figured out what he needed to do.
As I looked about these youth, and reflected
on their venture into our world, I wondered and thought about how often we
adults lack their inquisitive and adventurous spirit. All too often we think we
know all we need to know, and have done all we need to do. Science and
technology have settled many issues humanity once wondered about; mass
communication brought the world into our living rooms. What is there left for
the human mind to explore?
Yet there is a whole world of the spirit
that is often left unexplored. There are continually new things God wants to
teach us in the Bible, in our contact with others, and in our experience with
nature. Christ wants us to experience His presence in new ways as we move on in
our journey through life. God is never finished with what He wants to do in us
and through us, regardless of our age or place in life. The sense of wonder
that a child has in seeing a butterfly, or playing with a new toy can be ours!
Bob Dylan once wrote, “Those who aren’t busy living are busy dying.”
Christ calls us to experience new life. It
can be yours today and every day. We invite each of you to come and explore the
new ways God wants to work in your life this day, and every day, as we study,
pray, worship, and fellowship together.
Pastor L. S. Emery
Now That’s the Spirit of Giving in Action!
This November marks the Delta Food Bank’s 10th
anniversary of serving an average of 500 families in the community during the
summer and 700 during the winter. They
all need food, jobs, housing, and household and personal items. Families served
include migrant workers, seniors and low-income and single-parent homes. In
July alone, the Food Bank served approximately 321 adults, 138 seniors, and 194
children. Laura Herzog, CEO says:
Rainy days are fast approaching and
our food will be in great demand, but short supply. We like to have chicken
noodle soup on hand for the flu season, as well as beans, macaroni &
cheese, powdered milk, and fresh apples that are donated by a local packer.
Along with the U.S.D.A. food we receive, we provide 2,500 lbs. of potatoes @ $1,500
to give out during the winter months, and cold cereal for the children every
month— if we can afford it— to give them a meal they can fix themselves. (A
two-month cereal supply costs $2,540.) We ask our neighbors and friends to help
their neighbors and friends at this time. Any donations are tax deductible, and
very appreciated.
The Food Bank is open 24 hours, seven days a week, 365
days a year, and serves the Delta from
Youth
News
All aboard for Novemberbash and
Decemberfest at
Four Young Adults set to go on India Exposure
Hunger Study Tour
Four young adults from
In addition to their exposure to general
Indian life and culture, the young adults will meet with organizations working
with groups in need: Untouchables, indigenous forest people, traditional bamboo
workers, women and children.
The group also will learn about the
religions of
This is not only an exciting opportunity for
the young adults, but for you as well. We would like to ask you to consider
helping support these young people participate in this valuable journey of
faith. The total cost of the trip is $2600. Financial help is therefore needed.
If you wish to sponsor a young person,
please pick up a sponsorship form at the church. All gifts are tax deductible.
For more information, please call us at the church office.
New Members’ Class
Once again, we will receive new members
during Advent. A November class will be arranged in which we will discuss the
history, beliefs, and programs of both the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., and the
Walnut Grove Community Presbyterian Church. Membership means identifying with
God’s people in a particular church. It also means using the gifts and
resources God has given you through the ministry of a particular church. Would you like to be part
of the December 2004 new members’ class? Prayerfully consider if this is the
church you wish to identify with, and to which you wish to offer your time and
talents.
A Time to Give Thanks
The sanctuary will be open from 9 a.m. to 1
p.m. Thursday, November 25 - Thanksgiving day, for any
who wish to come and have a private time of prayer and thanksgiving. A written
program with prayers and psalms will be available for your personal use.
Barbecue completed
The last phase of
the barbecue project was completed in September. Kudos to Tony Benge
and Steve Craner of Ti-Gas, who installed the gas lines, so we are now
able to barbecue with both propane and/or briquettes. Larry Horn and Bruce Towne came
by with tractors and equipment to backfill the trench. The barbecue is a
wonderful addition to the patio that will be enjoyed by all for many years. Thanks,
guys!
In addition, the barbecue cover has been installed. At present, we’ve collected more than $350 in
donations for this $500 cover. Donations are still accepted!
New tables and
chairs were purchased for
the church hall to replace the well-used old ones. They are lightweight,
durable, will last for years. Come by and take a look. The cost for the 12 new
tables and 100 chairs was approximately $2,600, and was paid for out of the
Investment Account, rather than the regular church budget. The Harvest Dinner
(see p. 5) is a fundraiser to reimburse the account.
The Deacons
are always looking for help!
The Deacons of the church have been working very hard lately in trying to
provide needed services to people in our community. These include: taking meals
to those having difficulty doing everyday chores because of illness, or dealing
with death; transportation to doctors, pharmacies, or market; visitation for those who are alone and
in need of support. Can you help? Call the church office!
Celebrate Memorial Sunday
Memorial Sunday is a time when the
church honors its family and community members who’ve gone on to be with the
Lord. This year, on Sunday, November 7, during the service, the names of those
lost to us over the last season (a year and a half) will be stated, followed by
the ring of a chime in their memory.
Our final
farewells are to:
Donald Bates Violet
Hubbard
Janet
Bates Gloria
Russ
Crane Ruby Shilkett
Maryly
Darsie John Tison
William
Darsie Doris Waterworth
Donald
Dickson Frank Wilcox
Bob Hart
Budget Report
The church budget is nearly healthy as of
the 9/31/04 report. Total income to date was $61,184; that is $4,006 short of
the $65,250 year-to-date goal. Expenses were $912 over the budgeted amount,
which leaves a $5,203 negative balance for the year so far. This is better than
we were at this time last year, but not where we want to be. We’ve added two
new programs–the Way-Out-Wednesday (WOW), and T.N.T. youth ministries. These
take additional funding beyond our 2004 budget. Though we normally receive
additional year-end gifts that help us, we hope that you will keep the church
and its ministry in mind as you plan your financial giving before the end of
December. We also hope that our members will continue to be faithful in their
regular giving so that we can balance our budget for this year!
Harvest Dinner Set
for November 6
A Harvest Dinner will be held at the Walnut
Grove Community Presbyterian Church on Saturday, November 6, at 6:30 pm.
Diners will have a choice of steak, chicken, or salmon entree with the
usual accompaniments, and there will be a variety of homemade desserts.
The cost per adult is $20, including beverage. Souvenir wine glasses will
be available at $10, with two complementary servings of wine.
Dinner orders
(choice of entree) will be taken at the time of ticket purchase. For
children 12 years of age and under, a special menu at $5 will offer the choice
of all-you-can-eat hot dogs or hamburgers accompanied by kid-friendly side
dishes and a choice of dessert.
The New Holland Combine, a local band
offering a varied program of jazz, standards, gospel, and country, will provide
music for the evening. Based in
Committee chair Shirley Hobart says,
"We'll have one seating only, at 6:30. All tickets must be purchased
in advance; there will be none sold at the door, and when the hall is full
advance sales will be closed. So plan your party with family and
friends and buy your tickets early!"
For further information or to order tickets,
please call the church office at 916-776-1106. Office hours are Monday
through Friday from 9 to 1, but messages can be left at any time and your call
will be returned.
The Worship Committee would like to decorate the
chancel again this year to reflect the bounty of this harvest season. To do
this, we would welcome all kinds of produce...pumpkins, squash of all sorts,
gourds, corn and cornstalks, pomegranates, apples, pyracantha berries, and
anything else fairly sturdy and long lasting.
Be sure
to come and join us for the hanging of the greens on Thursday, December 2. We
will begin with a potluck dinner at 6 p.m., and decorate the church for Christmas at 7
p.m.. We are looking for a donation of a Christmas tree for the sanctuary. In
the past, this has often been given in memory of or to honor a loved one, or as
a celebration of a new life or recovery. If you would like to
donate the tree, or have harvest items mentioned above, please contact Audrey
Mondeel at (916) 777- 5759 or the church office at 776 - 1106.
Bakers Wanted!
The holiday
season is almost here, and we’re looking for cookies for the children to give
to the congregation on Sunday, Dec. 19, and also following the Candlelight
service at 7:30 p.m. Do you like to bake? We need you! You can bring
cookies for either service (or both!) to the church hall on Sunday before the
service. Many thanks to all who participate in this wonderful
part of fellowship.
WAY OUT
WEDNESDAYS!
The WOW group had a great start-up on Sept. 15, and we’ve been going strong
ever since! The group meets on Wed. evenings from 7-8 p.m. and is open to all
5th-8th grade students. It’s a fun time of games, discussions and special
activities in which students learn principles of Christ’s love and fellowship.
The group is led by Pastor Larry Emery, Ashley Johnson, Ruth Morgan and Jim
Reed. Upcoming events include making our own group tee shirts at EZ Living
Casuals and having pizza on Nov. 3rd. Thanks to Roger and Ruth Morgan for
the shirts!
On Wed., Oct. 20, 14 WOW members packed 14 backpacks with school
supplies for incoming Hmong refugees. They wrote welcome notes and included
their pictures in the greetings to newcomers to the
Money for the backpacks and
supplies was provided by the Mission Committee and a gift from a friend of Rev.
Emery. The friend came to this country at age 11 as a Vietnamese refugee from a
camp in
Projects like putting together
backpacks for other children help young people learn Christian love and care
for others. The Gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to reach out to those in need
of physical, emotional and spiritual support.
Over the next several months,
16,000 refugees –half of them children under 15– now living in
For more
information about the Hmong refugees, go to www.sacbee.com/projects.
T.N.T. Blast Off!
T.N.T. is the new and exciting youth program
for Walnut Grove community children from grades K - 4. It meets on Tuesday
evenings from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m., and is centered on Jesus and His teaching. We
have music, Bible memorization, object lessons, crafts, snacks and games.
We are blessed to have 24 children so far,
and are praying for more! Each child receives a T.N.T club shirt, a New
International Readers Version of the Bible, and “Dynamite Dollars” for
attendance, memory work, bringing a friend, and bringing their Bibles to youth
group. We want to thank Roger and Ruth Morgan for donating the shirts to the
group.
Our staff includes Edna Williams, Raquel
Zucha, Lucy & Jim Van Andel, and Margaret and David Jamieson. Please pray
for all of us as we conduct this exciting program!
The Director’s Stand
by Debbie Phulps
Fall waved the green flag,
commencing a race of raindrops, tree limbs and leaves towards the earth.
It also signaled the beginning of the frantic race through the holiday
season. If things hold to form as last year, my race will lag until the
far turn, Thanksgiving. At that point, it becomes a desperate sprint to
get everything together by the finish line of Christmas. Some years
it seems there just isn't enough time between the November-December
holidays. The fall appears too filled with "holiday." For
a moment I question the wisdom of having Thanksgiving in November. Then,
a thought,.....how fitting that Thanksgiving should
precede Advent and Christmas. Although not a religious holiday,
Thanksgiving's thrust is to pause us to account for
our many blessings. For the Christian, what greater blessing
have we than the gift of the Savior!
The Choir will be rehearsing each Wednesday
from 7:30 to 9:00. Anyone interested in joining the choir for the
Christmas season should contact me @ 916-776-1351. Practices will be
structured so that Christmas music is rehearsed during the first portion to
accommodate vocalists joining us for Candlelight only.
Candlelight Service -
Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m.
A Celebration of Our Savior’s Birth in Scripture
and Song
Come join us for
beautiful Christmas music presented by our church choirs, familiar Christmas
carols to be sung by all, sharing the Christmas story, and the traditional
candlelight ceremony. The Christmas season is not complete without joining with
fellow Christians in celebration of our Savior’s birth.
It’s time again
to order holiday poinsettias to adorn the church in honor or memory of a loved
one. Stop by the office, or pick up an order form in the narthex. Poinsettias
are $15 each, and Monday, Dec.13, will be the last day to order so we can have
them ready for Candlelight service on Sunday, Dec. 19th.
Hanging of the Greens - Thursday, Dec. 2
Potluck at 6 p.m., Decorating at 7 p.m.
We hope to see
you at our “Hanging of the Greens” - Decorating the sanctuary and Koinonia for
the Advent Season. Please bring a salad, dessert, or main dish for the potluck,
and bring the kids too! There will be a special time for them as well! A
wonderful way to start off the Christmas Season!
Jesus’ Birthday Party
Sunday, Dec. 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Jesus’ Birthday
Party is a celebration for the whole family! Music, drama, and the Christmas
story will be performed. We will close our time together once again with Jesus’
Birthday cookies handed out by the children.
Mark your calendars:
Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 2
Memorial Sunday Nov. 7
Harvest Dinner: Saturday, Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m. in Koinonia
Hall
Hanging of the Greens/
Potluck dinner Thursday,
Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m.
Presbytery Meeting Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at
Faith
Presbyterian Church
Poinsettia orders Last day, Dec. 13
Children’s Christmas
Program Sunday, Dec. 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Candlelight Service Dec. 19 at 7 p.m.
Communion Nov. 7, Dec. 5 (every 1st Sunday
(open to all) of the month during 9:30 a.m. worship)