PRESBYTERIAN MESSENGER

UPCOMING EVENTS. . .

Every Sunday 10:00 AM Worship

Communion served 1st Sunday of Month

Choir Practice 8:30-9:30AM

Knitting Group 2nd Sunday of Month in

Sanctuary 12-1:30PM

Every Tuesday – Bible Study 7-8:30PM

Every Wednesday – Bible Study with

Rev. Lou Kilgore 10-11:30AM

Bell Choir Practice 7PM

Mon 1/16 MLK Day-Office Closed

Thu 1/19 Personnel 10AM Session 7PM

Fri 1/27 HMPC Book Group 1-3PM                                

Mission Team Project for “Souper” Bowl Sunday

This year’s collection for the Center for Food Action (CFA) includes a new option in addition to cans of soup. On Sunday, January 15^th, you can pick up a CFA soup container “Bank”, use it to collect spare coins and cash for three weeks, then bring it back on Sunday, February 5^th.  Canned soup is a great gift, too, but cash is more versatile and will allow CFA to provide a variety of foods for families in need.

Book Club at HMPC

The Book Club meets on the 4th Friday

of the month and anyone is invited to

come and discuss the books. The Book

Club will meet again on January 27, 2017, at 1PM

My Personal Wishes

A few years ago, Linda Latham, Mary Guidetti McColl, Carol Margreither and Barbara Fernstrom met several times to develop a booklet, “My Personal Wishes at the Event of My Death”. This was to give those who were interested a guideline to express to their families how they would like everything to be handled after their death. This includes requests for funeral arrangements, memorial donations, organ donations, information for death certificate and newspapers, as well as location of important papers. If you would like a copy of this form, please contact Chris Buckley. It is suggested a copy be given to a family member for reference. We hope you will find this helpful.

Prayers & Announcements

Announcements for the Sunday Worship

service should be emailed to the church

office. If you would like the community

to pray with you please call the office at

201-891-0511.

Annual Reports for 2016

A first reminder that the office would like all annual reports in, via email, by Friday, February 10, 2017. If you would like to send your report in sooner, rather than later, we are accepting reports starting next week.  Thanks!

Ḟaithworks

Our focus Bible story for this Sunday is Isaiah 49:1–7. We read from the first part of this book during the first two weeks of Advent. The books in the Hebrew scriptures beginning with Isaiah and ending with Malachi are called the books of the prophets. A prophet is someone who delivers God’s messages to the people. These messages might be speeches, dreams, visions, or life experiences. The chapter from which we will read at Faithworks talks about a time when the people of Judah were living in exile in Babylon, far away from their home. They were discouraged and wondered if they would ever return home. Cyrus of Persia is now ruling over the Babylonian empire. He seems more tolerant of other religions. The Hebrew people begin to see a twinkle of hope after long years away from Judah and Jerusalem. The servant here is the prophet, or perhaps Israel itself, called to spend their strength for the important task of doing God’s will. God promises to do even greater works. Not only Israel will be restored and the captives brought back, but the nation will become a light to all nations. God’s salvation will reach to the ends of Earth. The prophet is called by God to proclaim to a people in exile in Babylon that God is faithful and will restore them. The prophet describes his vocation – God knew him before his birth and has given him powerful words to proclaim God’s message but there is a point when the prophet feels vulnerable, fearful, uncertain of the task God wants him to do.

Younger children in our group are discovering who they are, where their gifts and abilities lie, and where they fit into their world. They are noticing what they are good at and they have a sense of what they enjoy doing and taking on new roles and responsibilities. Older children, on the other hand, are often asked “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Their voices are still dominated by family culture, media, friends, teachers, coaches, and other significant adults. This session provides an opportunity for all children to listen intentionally for God’s voice and to explore what God might be inviting them to do with their lives. At our time together they will have an opportunity to consider how they can use their gifts to be all that they are. They may feel vulnerable, fearful and uncertain about their future in a scary world but vulnerability is also a source of love, belonging, joy, trust, empathy, creativity, innovation. The story of Isaiah’s call, like the story of Jesus’ baptism last week, provides an opportunity to affirm again God’s call and God’s love in their lives. We are named as members of the Body of Christ in baptism. What does it mean to be called and named by God? How do we identify and confirm that call to be all we are and can be? Please pray that our young people will experience God’s unconditional love as they explore the invitation to use their gifts to spread God’s light and love in the world they are called to live. All children and youth are welcome to join us for Bible story time and activities on the 2^nd floor after the time of conversation with the pastor in worship. Childcare is available for children 4 and under on the 2^nd floor as well.

Travel with a Purpose – Paterson Habitat to Gulf Coast

Since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita made landfall in late 2005 Habitat for Humanity has built, rehabbed and repaired more than 6,000 homes. The Gulf Coast region is still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Gulf Coast affiliates continue to build houses in the hurricane-affected areas as part of Habitat’s long-term program―the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Recovery Effort. No construction experience is necessary. TWAP trips are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something truly meaningful, discover a new culture and new friends, and learn some new things about yourself, too. Paterson Habitat has returned to the Gulf Coast year after year to help with these efforts.

• Wednesday February 15th – Saturday February 18th
• Shorter trip options within these dates are available by request.  Email trips@patersonhabitat.org if you are interested in joining the team.

Coalition of Immokalee Workers Update

CIW had the honor recently of welcoming the Rev. Jan Edmiston, Co-Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to Immokalee. Representing nearly two million Christians nationwide in the highest elected position within the PC (USA), Rev. Edmiston’s visit signified the latest demonstration of her church’s deep and unwavering commitment to the CIW’s work, a commitment that has been a crucial driving force in the success of the Fair Food Program.

Rev. Edmiston received a warm welcome from CIW members and a tour of the very community center and low-power radio station that both the PC(USA) and the Peace River Presbytery generously helped to launch thirteen years ago. After hearing firsthand from CIW leaders about the transformative changes that have taken place in the fields, Rev. Edmiston both met with Judge Laura Safer Espinoza of the Fair Food Standards Council, to learn about the FFSC’s role in monitoring and enforcing workers’ rights under the FFP, and traveled to Sunripe Certified Brands to hear from a participating grower in the Fair Food Program about how this unique partnership is bringing dignity and human rights to the fields for the first time in decades — and having a positive impact on the growers’ bottom line.

Before departing, Rev. Edmiston shared the hope she felt during her visit to Immokalee, and her plans to follow-up her visit with action in the broader PC(USA) community.  Her visit was a welcome ray of inspiration in difficult times. CIW received $500 from HMPC Mission Funds in 2016. To learn more about this program, go to www.ciw.org

                           Sunday Server Sign-Up Sheet; First Quarter 2017

*Assigned families can decide who will be reader. Please inform Chris who is reading one week before you are scheduled. If you cannot be available when assigned, please switch with someone else and inform the office of this change.  Please check PM regularly to see the date of your assignment.  We need a few more volunteers for the listed duties.  If you can help in anyway, please call the office at 201-891-0511 and we can add you to the list. Thank you for your kindness and generosity in assisting with the church service.