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 Sanctuary

Sun 12/3 First Sunday Advent

Tue 12/12 Mission Meeting 10AM

Thu 12/21 7PM Longest Night Service at 6PM

Winter Coat Collection

The Wyckoff Family YMCA is collecting gently used winter coats from now until December 9 to be distributed by the Father English Center in Paterson. The Y is located at 491 Wyckoff Avenue, Wyckoff and is open 7 days a week (except Thanksgiving). The drop box is by the main reception desk.

2018 Stewardship Update

If you have not yet made a 2018 pledge, please consider supporting your church generously and sacrificially so that we can be more and more of what God is calling us to be and do. We have to raise $120,000.00 in gifts and pledges to continue to grow as a community and fulfill our mission.  We are off to a great start! Two weeks ago, we received 10 pledges with a total committed of $17,550.00.  Last week, we received 21 pledges with a total committed of $31,000.00 for a combined total of $48,550.00.   After these past two Sundays, we have 48 families and friends pledging just over $72,200.00.  Thank you to everyone who has committed their support! We are well on our way but we still need your support.  If you have not pledged you can still do so by dropping an Estimate of Giving card in Sunday’s offering plate, calling or emailing the church office with your pledge at 201-891-0511 or emailing our bookkeeper, Lynn Collins at lcoll43@aol.com.

Please make our job easy and help us to make plans for next year’s ministry!

Thank you!

Time to Order 2017 Poinsettias

Poinsettias may be purchased in memory of, or in honor of a family member, friend, or special occasion. Plants are $10 and can be taken home after the Christmas Eve Worship Service.  No orders will be taken after December 15^th and no orders will be taken over the telephone.  Your order must be accompanied by cash or check made payable to “HMPC” and given to or mailed to Linda Latham, 49 Squaw Brook Road, North Haledon, NJ 07508.  In Linda’s absence, please give order forms to Lois Gassman or drop at church office.

Building a Life of Blessing

We Believe in You – Stewardship 2018

A long, long time ago, as far back as we can even remember, God spoke to Sarah and Abraham and invited them into a relationship. They accepted.  The terms were simple.  God said “Let’s walk this life together. You be you and I will be me.  I will use you if you are willing to bless all the families on the earth.  I will give you blessings of food and, health, and spirit, faith and courage and you will in turn share these blessings with those you will come to know so that together we can respond to the broken condition of this world. “

The High Mountain Church stands in that tradition and promise. We are building a life of walking together with each other.  We are committed to sharing what we have so that others will be strengthened for a life of faith and courage.  God is calling to us and asking us to bless the world on God’s behalf.

This month we are asking you to pledge your support of our mission for the year 2018. You have been so faithful in your giving this year. Our pledges are right on track and our extra-giving campaigns are the best they have ever been.  As we begin our appeal for your promise of support in 2018 we want to show a list for you to see just a few of the ways we have shared with others from what you gave in 2017.  Your gifts of financial support have gone to:

Center for Food Action and CUMAC food pantries to relieve the pain of hunger.

Summer Camp Scholarships to encourage young people in adventure and faith.

Pastoral Care services for local hospitals for those who do not have a church community.

Strengthen Our Sisters, breaking the cycle of domestic violence.

Presbyterian Hunger Fund and Habitat for Humanity, responding to the causes of homelessness and hunger.

Safe Space and Oasis in Paterson, providing safe options for children and parents.

Mission at the Eastward, making homes safer, warmer, and dryer in Appalachia.

Disaster Response in the USA and the World Workers rights campaigns for fair food practices.

New City Kids, a ministry after school for Paterson youth and children.

Reading Group @ HMPC

The Book Club meets on the 4th Friday of the month and anyone is invited to come and discuss the books.

12/15 100 Year Old Man Climbs Out the Window by Jonas Jonasson.

HMPC Live Stream

http://highmountainpres.org/hmpc-live-feed/

HMPC is live to view, Sundays at 10am EST. Feel free to browse the HPMC YouTube channel, for past streams.Hold your control button down and click on the following: HMPC YouTube Channel for a selection of pre-recorded services

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.

Sunday Servers

One great way you can help HMPC is through your Stewardship of Time. By volunteering once a year, once a quarter or once a month, as a Greeter, Reader, or Hospitality person, you keep our Worship service and spirit of community going! These jobs are super easy and if you would like to try one, please call church office at 201-891-0511.

Outreach: Two Christmas Trees to Help Needy Kids

Our annual Mitten Tree and a new Christmas Angel Tree will be ready for your gifts and decorations from Dec. 1 to 10. Thanks to Lynn Collins, Stephanie Adler, and Iggy Rodriguez for introducing the Christmas Angel Tree this year.

• Mitten Tree by the front door. Bring new mittens, gloves, scarves, hats, or socks in youth or children’s sizes and hang them on the tree. These go to families assisted by the Center for Food Action.

• Christmas Angel Tree in the Covenant Room. Bring unwrapped new toys, books, clothing, or stuffed animals for children from birth to age 13. Write your name on an angel ornament made by our Faithworks children, and hang it on the tree. Your gifts will brighten the holiday for working families who receive childcare subsidies through the Office for Children, Bergen County Department of Human Services.
• Monetary gifts also can be made through Dec.10. Add “Mitten Tree” or “Christmas Angel Tree” to the check memo line.

Outreach Team Donates $1000 for South Sudan Relief Work

Severe famine and ongoing fighting between ethnic groups have made survival difficult for millions of people in South Sudan.

“Half of the population, six million out of 12 million people, are experiencing food vulnerability, and lack of water is always a problem,” said the Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus, PDA director. “Because of the violence, another four million people are fleeing to camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the capital city of Juba, or leaving for refugee camps in neighboring countries.

“South Sudan is a six-year-old country and for four of those six years, it has been embroiled in internal conflict,” said Kraus.

PDA is funding large-scale emergency relief projects and working through Presbyterian Relief and Development Agency (PRDA), the humanitarian arm of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan (PCOSS), to find solutions to the growing challenges which are now spilling over into neighboring countries as hundreds of thousands leave their homes.

The Outreach Team chose this project so we can impact an international crisis which has been mostly ignored by the world community.

                                              HMPC Sunday Servers: Fourth Quarter 2017

*Assigned families can decide who will be reader. Please inform Chris (201-891-0511), who is reading one week before you are scheduled. If you will not be available for your assigned date, please try to switch with someone else and inform the office of this change.  Please check PM regularly to see the date of your assignment.        

Thank you for taking time to assist with this church service!