Weekly News Today, December 8 at 10:30, is the LOGOS Christmas service. Hear the Christmas story through the eyes of children and youth.
Presbyterian Women will be volunteering in the Della Lamb Christmas store, shopping for their clients on Tuesday, December 10, 12:30-4:00 p.m. Meet at the church by 11:45 a.m. to carpool. Please contact Emily Johnson at 254-5346, if you would be interested in helping or carpooling. Attention all ladies of the church! The Presbyterian Women will be having their Christmas Tea on December 11 at 1:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Emily Johnson will be presenting a program on Nativities. Feel free to bring your favorite nativity or picture to share. We will be collecting unwrapped donations of underwear, socks, and shoes for Tabitha’s Closet. For more information, please contact Emily Johnson at 816-254-5346. Our Open Table informational gatherings continue at 1 p.m. on December 12 in Westminster Hall, offering information on Senior Resources - readying our communities for the next generation of retirees presented by the Truman Heartland’s Community for All Ages Coalition and is free and open to members and people from the community, with dessert and beverages provided. Please preregister on the Credenza or online (www.fpcindep.org) so we have enough food, though walk-ins are welcome. Please spread the word as plans are finalized in the newsletter, bulletin, website and Credenza. Contact Becky Schubert (schubertb@outlook.com) of New Life with any questions. We can respond to God's love at Christmas by giving generously to the Christmas Joy Offering. While at this season it's easy to think of the baby Jesus as simply a sweet and holy presence radiating light from a manger, the whole of the gospels and of history tells another story. This child is the way God's love bursts into our lives and history in a way that leaves both forever changed. A portion of this special offering helps students at racial ethnic schools and colleges develop their gifts and find their calling to serve God through serving their community. This offering is also given to help families of both active and retired church workers to meet unexpected needs. The Christmas Joy offering will be collected on December 15. LOGOS end of the year Christmas party will be December 18. Dinner ($3/person) is at 6pm with games and activities to follow. If you would like to attend, please contact Bonnie Ratcliff by December 15 (fpcindep.dce@gmail.com). The Missions Committee is sponsoring the Salvation Army Angel Tree, which is set up in the Parlour. There are just four easy steps in making a child happy this Christmas. 1) Pick an angel from the tree 2) Shop for two gifts or clothes with a limit of $35.00. 3) Bring unwrapped gifts in a bag with the bottom half of the tag (with child’s name) back to the church. 4) Keep the angel and receipts for your records. The deadline is December 16 in order for the unwrapped gifts to be delivered by Christmas. Copies of the Draft Budget for 2020 are available in the Parlour for members to review prior to Session's approval at its Dec. 17 meeting. Please do not hesitate to contact anyone from Finance Committee, including Chairwomen Shirley Crick, Robby Klim who prepares the budget, or Pastor Dave. The Christmas Eve Candlelight Service begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary on Tuesday, December 24. Plan to arrive early and enjoy the fellowship and refreshment of the Wassail Bowl, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Parlour. Annual Report Time! All Class, Committee, Board, and activity leaders please get your 2019 reports to the office. The deadline for the reports to be received in the church office is January 13, 2020. E-mail is the easiest to work with, but print-ready copies are also welcome. This report will be prepared for distribution at our Annual Congregational Meeting and Potluck on Sunday, January 26, 2020 immediately following worship. We will also need people to help assemble the reports. Thanks for your cooperation! The ChristCare Small Group Divine Design are taking a break during the holidays through December and will resume on Thursday, January 2, 2020, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. The group meets in the room upstairs nearest Bonnie’s office. Newcomers always welcome! Have you made your pledge yet? If you haven’t returned your pledge card, please do so by the end of this year. If you can’t bring your pledge to church, you may mail it to the office. Pledge cards are available at each usher’s station. While you are baking for the holidays, please consider baking and freezing for the Annual Chocolate Festival, set for Saturday, February 8, 2020, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. If you have a special birthday or anniversary you would like to celebrate with the church, please contact the church office at 252-6662. If you have an address change, name change, email address or a new phone number, birth announcement, or marriage announcement, please contact the church office by email at fpcindep@gmail.com or call 816-252-6662. Thank you! |
Week at a Glance |