The
Ambassador
“We
are Christ’s ambassadors,
since
God is making his appeal through
us.”
(2
Corinthians 5:20)
DECEMBER
2006
First Presbyterian Church
802 Commercial
Emporia, KS 66801
(620)342-0375
Fax: (620)342-0480
E-Mail: Church
- fpcemporia@swbell.net
Web Site: www.fpcemporia.org
Dear
Friends,
The
sanctuary is decorated with each item in its proper place.
The carillon will soon be playing Christmas music. There is
a certain excitement in the air.
Advent
begins on December third, when we light the first candle on
our Advent wreath. We begin a time of patiently waiting for
the celebration of the arrival of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ, the child born in the manger about two
thousand years ago.
Advent
means many different things to many different people. The
word advent generally means “coming or
arrival.” For Christians, Advent often means a time
of waiting and contemplating what the coming of Christ
means or how the coming of Christ has altered the world.
There is no doubt that Christ’s entrance into the
world as a human being turned everything upside down.
Advent
is the waiting for the celebration of the birth of a child
that is fully human and fully God. It’s a celebration
of our God’s love for us. It’s the beginning of
the story of the life, suffering, death and resurrection of
Jesus. It’s the beginning of the story of our
salvation as sinners. It’s the final realization of
how much God loves each and every one of us. It’s a
time to celebrate God’s love and the realization of
how far God will go to bring us back to live our lives for
Him.
In
this time of waiting and contemplation, be reminded of what
Jesus Christ entering the world means for us. It’s
important to remember how we are to be different and strive
to live into the new life we are given through the entrance
of our Savior into the world.
For
me, Advent is also a time to reflect on all that has
happened in my first six months with you. It’s a time
for me to reflect on all the great things that are
happening at First Presbyterian Church. I’m proud of
what all of you have accomplished in my short time with you
and I am excited when I think of what God has in store for
our future together.
May
each of you find deeper faith and greater meaning for your
life while you patiently wait and contemplate how Jesus
Christ has changed and continues to change your life.
Shalom!
Pastor
Mike
PASTOR CONTACT INFORMATION
Office Phone:
342-0375
Cell Phone: 757-5981
CHRISTMAS GREETING
FROM
THE
STAFF OF
FIRST
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
CHRISTMAS
LUNCHEON
The
Christmas Luncheon for the women of the church will be
Wednesday, December 6 at 11:30 AM. Music students from
Emporia Senior High School will present a Christmas music
program and Sharon Stewart will give a Christmas Story.
Please mark your calendars for this enjoyable opening of
the Christmas season. Those who are able are asked to bring
a salad, everything else will be provided. We hope all
women will come and enjoy this special event.
HANDBELL CHOIR
The
Handbell Choir will be playing Sunday, December 10, at the
10:30 a.m. service. Rehearsal will be at 9:20 a.m. on
December 10.
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
Cookies and
punch will be served following worship on Sunday, December
17, to celebrate the performance of the children’s
Christmas Pageant at the 10:30 a.m. service. You
won’t want to miss the excitement and twinkling eyes
when special visitors arrive to see the children!
A MAIN STREET CHRISTMAS
Everyone
is welcome to join in Christmas Caroling on the front steps
of the church from 6:30 – 7:30 PM on Thursday,
December 7th,
as part of Emporia Main Street Christmas activities. Sing
to your hearts content as the horse-drawn carriage, filled
with holiday shoppers, passes by our historic church during
the evening. Before the caroling, gather at Wheat State
Pizza at 5:30 for dinner. We’ll carol on the way to
the church from dinner. Dinner is at your own expense. If
you plan to gather for dinner, please contact the church
office so we can let Wheat State Pizza know about how many
to expect. Hope to see lots of people out for this fun
evening.
CHRISTMAS CANTATA
At 3:00 p.m. on
Sunday, December 17, the combined choirs of First
Presbyterian Church and Westminster United Presbyterian
Church will present “Nowell, Nowell, Emmanuel!”
by Gilbert M. Martin and Terry Kirkland. The Christmas
Cantata will be in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian
Church. Our hearts will embrace the beautiful sounds of
Christmas as we celebrate Christ’s birth through
music. Refreshments will be served in the Friendship Room
after the Cantata.
Notes from the Church Treasurer
2006
FINANCES LOOKING OK: As of the end
of October, contributions were running just about on
schedule for the year. Pledged contributions were actually
slightly ahead of schedule ($1,536) and loose offering was
slightly behind schedule ($1,128). Remember that pledges
for 2006 were about $10,000 less than budgeted. Everyone
has tried to hold spending below budget, with some success.
With 83% of the year gone as of the end of October,
expenses were 76.4 % of budget. Information was not
available for November when this issue went to press, but
we need to continue our giving through the rest of the year
if we are to avoid a deficit at year’s end. Thanks to
everyone for their continued support.
2007
PLEDGES PROGRESSING WELL! Pledges for
2007 continue to come in, and we are making progress toward
our budgeted goal of $110,239. As of November
21st,
pledges received were 86.6% of the goal, or $95,423. With a
new pastor, a vigorous Sunday School program, an
enthusiastic group of college students attending
Presbyterian Student Organization (PSO) events and many
exciting new opportunities for ministering in our community
such as Angel Food Ministries, 2007 should be an important
year for our church. If you have already submitted your
2007 pledge,
THANK YOU! If you
haven’t done so yet, there is still time.
Great things are happening at First
Presbyterian! Won’t you
consider helping support and being a part of this vital
ministry in Emporia? If you have misplaced your pledge
card, please contact the church office at 342-0375 and a
replacement will be provided to you.
CHURCH
RECEIVES GIFT FROM REBECCA DEWEY ESTATE:
The
church recently received a generous gift of $10,000 from
the estate of Rebecca Dewey. The session has designated
these funds for support of Christian
Education Adult and Youth Programs. Some of these
funds have already provided new carpet in the upstairs
classrooms, and new computers for use by the children in
Sunday School. Refurbishment of part of the basement to
accommodate youth programs is planned for the near future.
WORSHIP AT THE PRESBYTERIAN MANOR
The next
service at the manor is December 24 at 2:00 p.m. Communion
will be served at this service. First Presbyterian Church
will also have the service at the Manor on December 31 at
2:00 p.m. The residents at the manor love to sing and
worship! If you can help plan the service or attend, please
let us know. We have a sign-up sheet in the office.
2006 CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING
The
Christmas Joy Offering, one of four PCUSA special
offerings, is distributed equally to the Board of Pensions
for assistance programs and to National Ministries to
support Presbyterian racial ethnic education. It dates back
to the 1930s when the former PCUS began supplementing
retirement income and medical insurance for former
missionaries, ministers and church workers. The former
UPCUSA began a Christmas offering supporting general
mission and world relief in 1960. The emphasis on global
work with children continued until 1973 when the offering
was switched to assist former church workers living in
inadequate pensions. Racial ethnic education was added in
1974. The present name came about in 1989, and the 50-50
distribution of funds began in 1991. Last year almost $4.8
million was distributed. Traditionally the offering is
taken on the Sunday before Christmas. The theme this year
is "Joy to the World" and the offering will be taken on
December 17.
(From Presbyterianews)
Emporia
Child Care Center is a non-profit United Way Agency. The
Center serves children ages two weeks to six years of age
on a first come first served basis. At Center I (in the
First Presbyterian Church) children ages 2 years six months
to age 6 attend Monday thru Friday somewhere between the
hours of 6:30 am to 6:00 pm. The Center serves breakfast at
8:00, lunch at noon and an afternoon snack after rest time.
Educational activities such as language, art, math, P.E.,
science, and learning self help skills are going on through
out the day. Knowing a child is born ready to learn the
Center strives to have each child “ready for
school” when we send them off to kindergarten. The
Center’s sliding fee scale helps young families
“afford” the Center and it’s educational
benefits.
This is the
Center’s Mission Statement:
Emporia
Child Care, a family-focused year-round program designed to
meet each child’s developmental needs, is dedicated
to nurturing and educating children of parents who are
working or in training.
Deb Crowl,
Administrator
December Wedding Anniversaries
19 Dean
and Karla Edmiston
21 Mark
and Martha Shook
23 Lee
and Nancy Tucker
December Birthdays
4 Alma
Robledo
6 Adriane Edwards
7 Joyce Kennedy
10 Lois Himes
14 Charles Rodgers
16 Greg Seibel
20 Donna Seibel
24 Walter Graham
24 Michelle Stewart
25 Karen Moorman
27 Arlene Dodge
31 Robyn MacGregor
Please
let the office know of any birthdays or anniversaries that
have been missed so that our records may be up-dated. Thank
you.
JOYS AND CONCERNS
Our
Church Family: Mark
Shook’s mother - healing and piece; Carolyn Eckstrom,
daughter-in-law of Gwen Lorenz, healing and peace; Margaret
Parkman – mobility; Vivian Betty - healing and peace;
Mike Sorsen - peace in dealing with asthma; Robyn
MacGregor’s mother - healing and peace; Dan McBride
(son-in-law of J.D. and Joan Bales) - healing; Mac and
Jessica - peace and love following loss of child; Pauline
Durler (mother of George Durler) healing and peace;
Our
Church and Denomination: PC (USA)
– peace and faithfulness; Our friends at Westminster
– peace and love; Other churches in our community
– faithfulness; Melanie Crawford – energy and
peace for service; Elders and Volunteers – faith and
joy for service; Our church staff: Linda Morrill, Don
Grant, Mary Melhorn, Ed Johnson and Rev. Mike Sorsen
– energy, compassion, faithfulness, enthusiasm and
joy; Sunday School Teachers - peace and joy as they
continue service; Commission to discuss merger - Bob
Edmiston, Adriane Edwards, and Susie Aber;
Friends
& Neighbors: Judy Macholan
(Jill Sorsen’s sisters mother-in-law) – cancer;
Families struggling to make ends meet; People struggling
with addiction; Children that are hungry; People that have
lost loved ones; Patrick and Jen (friends of the Sorsens) -
peace after the loss of a child; Kristi (friend of Adriane
Edwards) - peace and healing; Jean (friend of Gwen Lorenz)
- healing of heart condition; Donna Sprague - healing and
peace;
Community
& World: Our military
as they do their duty to serve; Our leaders and politicians
as they guide our city, state and country
HELPERS
IN GOD’S HOUSE
USHERS
Dec
3 Coburn and Helen
Van Sickle
Dec 10 Elvin and Kathryn
Perkins
Dec 17 J.D. and Joan Bales
Dec 24 Brett and Michelle
Stewart
Dec 31 Nickie Edwards &
Bell Grimsley
Head Ushers:
Lee Tucker and Rick Buck
GREETERS
Dec
3 Nickie Edwards, Belle Grimsley,
Kent & Jodi Heermann
Dec 10 Chuck and Doris Hanna, Bob and Kim
Stewart
Dec 17 Mitch and Karen Moorman, Robyn MacGregor
Dec 24 Virginia Suddock, Mildred Jones, Jim
& Virginia Lowther
Dec 31 Brett and Michelle Stewart, Max and
Sharon Stewart
LITURGISTS VAN
DRIVERS
Dec 3 Robyn
MacGregor Brett
Stewart
Dec 10 Karen
Moorman Max
Stewart, Jr.
Dec 17 Jean
Rodgers Darrell
Brock
Dec 24 Sharon
Stewart Rick
Buck
Dec 31 Nancy
Tucker Dave
Eldridge
ACOLYTE COFFEE
FELLOWSHIP
Dec 3 Lukas
Durler Jim
and Virginia Lowther
Dec 10 Katherine
MacGregor J.D. and
Joan Bales
Dec 17 Deanna
Durler Coburn
and Helen Van Sickle
Dec 24 Eric
MacGregor Robyn
MacGregor
Dec 31 Abby
Stewart Doris
Hanna
OFFERING COUNTERS
Dec
3 George
Durler and Don Grant
Dec 10 Dean Edmiston and
Jodi Heermann
Dec 17 Nancy Tucker and
Nickie Edwards
Dec 24 Bob Edmiston and
Susie Aber
Dec 31 Nancy Tucker and
Robert Stewart
NURSERY
ATTENDANTS: Stephanie
Childs Rebecca Wells
Molly
Pannbacker Kiley
Hadicke Joel
Bland
SCHOLARSHIP
SINGERS: Lee Pierce
Jeremy Devine
Bethany
Chronister Courtney
Slater
DECEMBER
1 to
DECEMBER
31
SUNDAY,
DECEMBER 3
9:20
a.m. Chancel Choir
9:30
a.m. Sunday School for
Children and Adults
10:05
a.m. Children’s Choir practice
10:00
a.m. Coffee Fellowship
10:30 a.m.
Worship with Communion
6:30
p.m. Presbyterian Student
Organization
MONDAY,
DECEMBER 4
5:00
p.m. Mission and Building Fund
Trustees
WEDNESDAY,
DECEMBER 6
11:30 .m.
PW Christmas Salad Luncheon
THURSDAY,
DECEMBER 7
5:00
p.m. Outreach Committee
5:30
p.m. Christmas Caroling gather for
dinner
6:30
p.m. Christmas Carol on Church Steps
SUNDAY,
DECEMBER 10
8:00
a.m. Chancel Choir
9:20
a.m. Handbell Choir Rehearsal
9:30
a.m. Sunday School for
Children and Adults
10:05
a.m. Children’s Choir practice
10:00
a.m. Coffee Fellowship
10:30 a.m.
Worship with Handbell Choir
6:30
p.m. Presbyterian Student
Organization
MONDAY, DECEMBER 11
4:00
p.m. Stewardship and Finance
Committee
7:15
p.m. Session
SUNDAY,
DECEMBER 17
9:20
a.m. Chancel Choir
9:30
a.m. Sunday School for
Children and Adults
10:05
a.m. Children’s Choir practice
10:00
a.m. Coffee Fellowship
10:30 a.m.
Worship with
Children’s
Christmas Pageant
Christmas
Joy Offering
11:30
a.m. Cookies and Punch with Special Guests
3:00
p.m. Christmas Cantata at First
Presbyterian Church
(Joint
choirs of First Presbyterian and Westminster United
Presbyterian)
FRIDAY,
DECEMBER 22
Ambassador
Articles due in office by noon
SUNDAY,
DECEMBER 24 (Christmas Eve)
9:20
a.m. Chancel Choir
9:30
a.m. Sunday School for
Children and Adults
10:05
a.m. Children’s Choir practice
10:00
a.m. Coffee Fellowship
10:30 a.m.
Worship
2:00
p.m. Worship Service at Presbyterian
Manor and Communion
7:45
p.m. Carol Singing before Christmas
Eve Service
8:00
p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight
Service with Communion
MONDAY,
DECEMBER 25 and TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26
Office
Closed for Christmas
FRIDAY,
DECEMBER 29
NOON Contributions
to be counted for 2006 year must be in office by noon or in
offering plate on December 31.
SUNDAY,
DECEMBER 31
9:20
a.m. Chancel Choir
NO
Sunday School
10:00
a.m. Coffee Fellowship
10:30 a.m.
Worship
MONDAY,
JANUARY 1
Office
Closed for New Years
AMBASSADOR ITEMS DUE
Items and events for January are due Friday, December 22,
by noon. Articles may be e-mailed to
lindamfpc@swbell.net
or placed on the secretary’s desk.
