1. education
2. school

Monthly Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church December, 2013
From under……...
The Redbud Tree
Inside this Issue
Pastor’s Invitation
1
October Lay Readers
2
‘Maxine’
Church Christmas Party Invite
Christmas Caroling Announcement
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Thank You
December Church Mouse
Serving in worship for December
3
Special Person of the Month
4
Pointsettia Order form
Thank You
“Chuckles”
Hanging of the Greens
Taking down the Greens
5
Crossword Puzzle
6
Financial
7
Calendar
8
Last Page
9
You are invited to
Pastor Nancy’s
Christmas
Open House
121 Parkview Circle
Dec. 18
3:00—5:00
(since parking is limited, you may want to carpool
from the church parking lot)
…………….continued next page
1
Lay Leaders
FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER
1st 8th 15th 22nd 29th -
Don Crapnell
Ralph Gillespie
Sissy Wells
Sharon Adler
Barb Hough
A little Presbyterian lass asked her
mother, “Was Jesus born in a barn?”
The mother answered, “Well, sort
of…” The little girl said, “I wish I’d
been born in a barn. Then when I left
the door open and you asked me if
I’d been born in a barn, I could say
‘yes, like Jesus”
December 11th
5:00 p.m
C
H
R
Come join
us for
a fun,
Come
join
us for
I
celebration!
afestive
fun, festive
celebraS
Bring your favorite
T
tion!
“finger foods” or
Bring
your favoriteM
your favorite
“goodies”
share. or A
“fingertofoods”
S
your favorite
Please bring a cheap/
“goodies”
shareP
funny
($5.00 orto
less)
“white elephant”
A
item, gift wrapped,
R
for a fun gift exchange! T
Christmas Caroling
Come and join us on Sunday, December
8th @ 2:00 pm. to go a caroling at Good
Samaritan.
Y
Please
a cheap/
A sign-bring
up sheet
(tofunny
tell us you’re
coming)
($5.00
or less)
is
posted
in
the
“white elephant”
Fellowship Hall.
item, gift wrapped, for
a fun gift
exchange!
MERRY
CHRISTMAS
Hope to see you there!
2
December Birthdays
1
2
6
6
9
11
12
14
16
17
18
20
20
22
23
27
28
Jack Coffman
Joyce Hofer
Ken Kunkel
Lois Craven
Chuck Whitcome
Sarah Ruegsegger
Patti Gamelin
Sherman Fine
Iona Weeks
Loweta Rogers
Frank Root
David Buff
Mary Golden
Sarah Kelly
Velma Smith
Barbara Fink
Carolyn Saul
H
O
O
H
H
O
!!
Another year has come and gone…
This little mouse just rolls along…
The Santa hat with big black ears…..
He wears it now as Christmas nears...
Like all our busy mice this year……
This Christmas mouse….
is also dear!
Merry Christmas!!
Do you know this busy mouse?
USHERS FOR DECEMBER
IF YOU DON’T SEE YOUR BIRTHDAY OR
ANNIVERSARY, PLEASE CONTACT
THE OFFICE SO WE CAN GET YOU STORED IN
OUR RECORDS!! THE SAME GOES FOR ANY
MISTAKES YOU MAY SEE!!
(we can’t fix it if we don’t know it’s broke!)
1st & 8th
15th & 22nd 29th -
Gary & Sharon Adler
Phil & Ellen Jordan
Opal Buck & Velma Shaw
GREETERS FOR DECEMBER
1st & 8th Pattie Wilson
15th & 22nd - Wana Thacker
29th Doris Dykstra
Thank you so much for the
thoughts, cards and flowers in
our time of need. It helps heal
the pain of our broken hearts.
December Anniversaries
7
8
28
30
30
Lowayne and Steve
Wedge
3
David & Vicky Buff
John & Mary Martin
Phil & Ellen Jordan
Richard & Georgianne Tonne
Robert & JoAnn James
Special Person of the Month
‘The Ruegsegger Children’
Sarah, Alex, Ian, Andrew & Elliott
Merry Christmas! When we received the call to ask us
to be in the Redbud – we thought, “are you all really
ready for that”. So here goes….
Our Sarah is turning 17 on December 11th. She is a junior
at Norfork High School. Sarah was a premie and has a
heart condition, Tetralogy of Fallot (flow), C.P. and
Selective Antibody Deficiency (S.A.D.). S.A.D. basically
means she does not have an immune system. Sarah is not a
threat to anyone else, it is all the germs that are a threat to
Sarah. Sarah has had five open heart surgeries, had a
feeding tube until the age of eight, receives antibodies
weekly after church via an I.V. and takes many meds each
day to keep her strong. She has had way too many surgeries
and procedures to count. But what we have known all along
is she is a fighter! Sarah volunteers two days a week at the
Norfork Youth Center, is a teacher’s assistant at the
elementary school library in the afternoons, texts
wonderfully, sings perfectly and was voted “Best
Personality” her sophomore year at school.
Alex is a sophomore at Norfork and is 15 years old. Alex is
in the FFA, History club and is very involved in quiz bowl
and Sr Beta. Alex was ranked #1 for the state of Arkansas
for Jr League Quiz Bowl and was on the Jr Beta Arkansas
state championship team which earned him and his
teammates a spot at the National Beta Convention in
Mobile, Alabama in June 2013. His team placed 6th out of
28 teams. Not Bad! Alex is interested in becoming a genetic
physicist after high school.
Ian is the middle child, a freshman, and is 14 years old. Ian
loves the outdoors and being with animals and nature in
general. Ian is on quiz bowl, involved with FFA and just
finished a chicken project. (We had 60 chickens to raise for
eight weeks then went to the state fair in Little Rock to show
them.) Ian, nor Alex – as he competed too, placed at state
but we did learn a lot about chickens. And yes, we did the
cycle of life for the chickens, or should we say we have a lot
of chicken in our freezer. Ian can be found at the Moose
Lodge with Grandma and Papa every other Friday night.
Ian is known as “the french fry boy”. Needless to say the
lodge takes good care of Ian.
Andrew is the fourth child, is 11 years old and is in 6th grade
at Arrie Goforth Elementary School in Norfork. Andrew is
a writer and a creator. Andrew is a member of the Jr Beta,
quiz bowl team and is in the gifted and talented program.
Andrew and his friends have created a web page. All of the
children have kept in contact with their friends from
Illinois, but Andrew and his Illinois friends are quite active
thanks to the internet, facebook, cell phones, texting, face
time, Skype – he uses it all. Thank goodness for free long
distance.
4
Elliott is our fifth and the youngest child.
Elliott just turned 10 years old – double
digits – doesn’t seem possible. Elliott goes
to Arrie Goforth too. He is in the 4th grade
in the gifted and talented program also.
Elliott and Andrew both compete in the
First Lego League. Regional competitions
were held in Searcy in November and they
received 2nd place so they will be competing in the state competitions in December
at ASU. This is a robotic team that competes in different programing challenges.
Elliott is our hand shaker and greeter.
We have been blessed with readers. Often
you will find them with a book in their
hand or near by. They have all adjusted
well with moving here from Illinois 18
months ago. We are still looking for a pizza delivery service to our house, but have
a feeling that isn’t going to happen any
time soon. They all love pasta, pizza and
ice cream…...and CHOCOLATE.
Some other little know facts about these
children is they all watch, as a family,
Jeopardy. They also watch Duck Dynasty
and Mr. Who.
Have I lost you yet?
There is also some general cartoon watching and Ian likes the History Channel.
When quizzed about past vacations the
most special was California. Several years
back Sarah wanted to meet Vanna White
(Wheel of Fortune). She was on a feeding
tube at the time and in an effort to get her
back to eating again her parents told her
she could get to do this if she got off the
tube. They contacted ‘Make a Wish’ and
all five of the family spent nine fun packed
days in southern California (Santa Monica), Simi Valley (Ronald Reagan’s home
and museum), Disneyland and Wheel of
Fortune. Not only was Sarah on Wheel of
Fortune...she won a car! How great is
that! Plus, she met Vanna White!!
These great kids are the grandchildren of
Robert and Yvonne Kilpatrick
and the children of
Fred and Mari Ruegsegger.
Thank You!
Your attention, greetings, and
words of encouragement during my recent recovery
demonstrates the many reasons why First Presbyterian
Church means the world to
me.
Thank you and blessings.
Carolyn Saul
“Hanging of the Greens”
You won’t want to miss this fun day with
your church family….mark your calendars
for Saturday, November 30th, 9:30 a.m. We
will be meeting that day to decorate the
church for Advent and the Christmas season.
There will be a continental breakfast for all
who attend. PLEASE make an effort to
help, we need all the help we can get!!!!
Please let Sissy Wells know if you will be
there and if you can bring some goodies.
Poinsettias for Advent
If you would like to order a Poinsettia in Honor of
and/or in Memory of someone special, please fill in
the following information and return this slip to the
church office. Please make your check payable to
First Presbyterian Church and your memo “Flower
Fund” poinsettia.
Thank you, Worship Committee
“What goes up — must come down”
(You are welcome to donate any amount for your
poinsettia which will go into the Memorial Fund).
Help Needed!!
I would like ____Poinsettia (s).
Take down decorations
Friday, January 3, 2014
10:00 a.m.
Furnished by:______________________________
In Memory of:______________________________
___________________________________________
In Honor of:________________________________
5
6
Financial News
INCOME & EXPENSE SUMMARY
Ten Months Ending October 31, 2013
REVENUE
ACTUAL MONTHLY
$9,321.00
0.00
4.62
0.00
764.00
27.00
0.00
ACTUAL YR. TO DATE
$110,160.00
605.00
188.94
666.70
6,161.28
191.00
0.00
$10,116.62
$117,972.92
$366.77
11,694.88
500.00
150.15
1,452.22
2,616.36
-17.47
0.00
$2,634.01
104,824.58
2,474.23
2,462.98
11,223.23
25,325.82
441.25
0.00
TOTAL EXPENSES
$16,762.91
$149,386.10
NET INCOME (LOSS)
($6,646.29)
($31,413.18)
Pledges
Initial Offering
Interest
Miscellaneous
Loose Offerings
Sunday School
Fellowship Hall
Total Revenue
EXPENSES
Worship & Planning
Personnel
Evangelism & Outreach
Church Growth
Administration
Building & Grounds
Christian Education
Strategic Planning
7
REDBUD CALENDAR DECEMBER, 2013
Sun
19am
School
- Adult Sunday
10am Worship Service
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri Sat
2
3
4
5
6 7
9 am Counters
1 pm - Ladies Circle
Meetings
(1, 3 & 4)
10 am Bible Study
3:30 pm - E & O
Meeting
10-11 am
Alleluia Ringers
C
L
O
S
E
D
11
12
13 14
10 am Bible Study
10-11 am
Alleluia Ringers
11 am Coffee hosted by
Circle #1
2:00 pm Choir
11 am blood pressure
Screening
8
9
9am - Adult Sunday
School
10am -Worship Service / 9 am Counters
communion
10 am Deacons Mtg.
11am - Coffee hosted by
Circle #3
10
2:00 pm Choir
11 am Worship
Meeting
5 pm Christmas Party
Gardeners
Christmas Lunch
Copper Kettle Offering
15
16
9 am Adult Sunday School
9 am Counters
10am Worship Service
11 am Coffee hosted by
E&O
12 - 4 pm Master
11:30 am - Men of the
Church
17
18
19
9 am - Fellowship
of Love
No Bible Study
10-11 am
Alleluia Ringers
2:00 pm Choir
Pastor Nancy’s
Open House
3 - 5 pm
Christmas Cantata
22
23
9 am Sunday School
9 am Counters
10am Worship Service
24
25
26
10-11 am
Alleluia Ringers
5 pm - Christmas
Eve Candlelight/
Communion Svc.
11 am Coffee hosted by
Building & Grounds
C
L
O
S
E
D
20 21
C
L
O
S
E
D
27 28
C
L
O
S
E
D
Office Closed
29
9 am Sunday School
10 am Worship Service
11 am Coffee Hosted by
Deacons
30
31
C
1
I’ve learned so much
L from
my mistakes…….
O
9 am Counters
I’m thinking of making
S
a few more!E
New Year’s Eve
Publication Deadlines
Weekly bulletin - Wednesday afternoon by 2:00 pm
Newsletter - Tuesday, November, 19th
Please submit all articles in writing.
You may drop them off at the office or
email to Connie McLaurin: fpcmh@centurytel.net
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Office closed
Please verify committee meetings
with the chairperson as
days/times are subject to change!
8
D
Church Office Hours
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Pastor,
Reverend Nancy L. Taylor
Mr. Gary Adler, Lay Pastor
Monday - Thursday
Sunday School:
Sunday Worship:
Church Mailing Address
1106 Spring Street
Mountain Home, AR 72653
870-425-3799
Secretaries:
Connie McLaurin,
Helen Harding,
Carolyn Saul
fpcmh@centurytel.net
Website: www.fpcmh.net
First Presbyterian Church
1106 Spring Street
Mountain Home, AR 72653
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
9
9:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.