Weekly Update

Your Weekly Update

From First Presbyterian Church

Advent Poinsettias
This year we will be supporting another Mission Project. If you would be willing to share a poinsettia ($11) with us and/or donate to this year’s Mission Project, ($15), please contact Cheri in the office at 336-1649. Please let her know if this poinsettia is in memory of, or in honor of someone.

Thank You
We would like to give a HUGE thank you to everyone for their thoughts & prayers during my stay at the hospital! Also to all who generously prepared meals & donated gift cards to us to help during that time. We are so fortunate & thankful to be a part of such a wonderful church family! We have definitely felt the power of prayer, God is Good!
Cassidy & Stacy Howard and Family

Wednesday, December 2nd

Meal: Ham & Cheese Potato Bake
Meal Crew:Doug & Lynn Davis, Roger & Donna Rieck & Jane Loveall

Adult Classes
· True Spirituality by Chip Ingram ~ led by Pam DenHerder
· A Modern Girl’s Guide to Bible Study: A Refreshingly Unique Look at God’s Word by Jen Hatmaker ~ led by Rachelle Gewecke
· Women of Faith: by Eric Metaxas ~ led by Pastor Clint
Recharge Meal Servers Needed
A sign-up sheet is posted in the narthex and ready for you to sign up to help set up, serve and cleanup for our weekly meals at Recharge (formerly WNF).

“Surprise” 80^th Birthday Celebration

You are invited to Nelda Broocks “Surprise” 80^th Birthday celebration on Saturday, December 5^th from 2-4pm at First Presbyterian Church. If you are unable to attend, well wishes may be sent to her at 811 9^th St., Spirit Lake, IA 51360.
Dayle Broocks & family

FPC Christmas Luncheon
FPC women are asked to sign up to make cookies and candy and/or to work at the FPC Christmas Luncheon on Thursday, December 10th. A sign-up sheet is located in the narthex.
The women of our church and community are invited to attend the Annual Presbyterian Ladies Christmas Luncheon. The date is Thursday, December 10th at 12:30pm. Following the luncheon, a program will be presented by Jennifer Dukes Lee on “Have Yourself a Pre-Approved Christmas.” Please join the Presbyterian Women for an afternoon of great food and inspirational fellowship.

Fun Facts & Thank Yous following Operation Christmas Child 2015:
1.) A total of 122 boxes were donated by our church family! That’s fantastic!
2.) 3 youth did a wonderful job giving weekly OCC promotion announcements during worship: Katelyn Brockmeyer, Pressley Cochran-Bray and Annika Stecker!!!
3.) Much appreciation to Nadine Hough for making colorful fabric drawstring bags and to Eulyn Riemersma for knitting beautiful caps and darling dolls that could all be included in our shoe box gifts!!
4.) On Sun., Nov. 22nd, the Stecker Family helped the OCC Committee load the 122 shoe box gifts that were then delivered to Good News Church in Okoboji (our closest Relay Center). From there they were delivered to Worthington (a Collection Center). Next our area’s gifts went to Minneapolis (a Processing Center) and then on to Chicago where they were shipped to these countries: Barbados, Burundi, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Suriname, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad, and Tobago.

Hanging of the Greens
Saturday, December 12th at 10:00am, please join us as we decorate the sanctuary for Advent/Christmas. With many hands, this should go quickly! Hopefully this will be a good way to share some time together as we journey toward Christmas. Please plan to join us!

Christmas Caroling
The congregation will be sharing Christmas carols with shut ins and community members on December 16th starting at 6:00pm. All students and families are invited to join us for our pizza dinner starting at 5:30pm and join us as we share Christmas favorites with others!

Christmas Celebration
Instead of an evening Youth Christmas Program like we have done in the past, the Christian Education committee will be hosting a Christmas celebration on December 13th during the Christian Education hour between classes. Our festivities will begin at 10:00am and include a Christmas cookie exchange, Christmas goodies, and creating Christmas cards for shut ins and service members. Pre-K-3rd grade students will offer a short musical program at 10:30am and the Confirmation class will also be providing a living nativity to follow.

High School Christmas Party
This year’s High School Christmas Party will be held on December 16th starting at 7:00pm. Join us for a white elephant exchange, Christmas music, Christmas goodies, and Christmas related games. It will be a night full of fun and fellowship. We look forward to seeing you there!

FPC is Collecting Freezer Meals
Thank you to all who have helped by making freezer meals, you have definitely helped families with this need! But, we still have some families in need of meals, so we are collecting freezer meals again, casseroles or hot dishes, here at the church and distribute them to the families in need. Thank you in advance!

Ushers & Greeters Needed for 1st & 2nd Services
We have started the process of preparing the usher & greeting schedule for our 1st & 2nd Worship services for 2016. If you would like to be an usher and/or greeter next year, please let us know. If you haven’t been an usher or greeter, here is your chance to meet a quite a lot of the congregation. Let us know – either Cheri in the office or Bob Peterson.

Power Point People Needed
We are looking for someone with power point skills to put together our Power Point presentation for our Worship Service. Please contact Clint if you are willing to help.

Church School Snacks
A sign-up sheet and PEANUT/ NUT-FREE SNACK LIST has been placed in the library window. Please take a snack list and sign up for your favorite date!! 5 dozen snacks and 2 large juice (not red) are needed in the Cantina for Church School by 9:45am each Sunday morning.

Children’s Quilts ready to finish
The children’s quilts are in the fellowship hall and ready for completion. Please take them home and complete one or as many as you like. In the past these quilts have been given to CAASA, DC Public Health for the New Moms program, LRH for the new babies, Kinship, SL Library, Prospect Hill Presbytery, Full Gospel Mission and the Parkersburg tornado victims. Lap Quilts have been given to Hilltop and Milford Nursing Center. Please help with this project which provides warmth to many members of our community and beyond.

Ladies….of all ages:
Coffee break time every Thursday morning, 9 AM at Hey Good Cookies. No agenda, just get together with friends and a little chit chat. Questions: Call Lori Vicker at 515-249-6684.

Lakeshore Center Advent Series
Throughout the Sundays in Advent, the Lakeshore Center will be hosting an Advent series called Finding Refuge in Advent at 5:30pm. On December 13th they will be having a representative from the Dream Center come and speak about human trafficking. For the activity that night, they will be assembling welcome kits for new guests at the Dream Center. Our church has been asked to help gather items to be included in the welcome kits. Here are some suggested items:

full size shampoo, conditioner, body wash
Bath pouf
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Feminine hygiene products
Brush/comb
Nail clippers/files
Snacks
Journal w/pen
Slippers
Books
Hot chocolate packs

Please pick up your pans and
bowls from the kitchen.

Mandy Vicker
Cooper Bartels waiting on test results.
Dean Miller recovering from hypothermia.
Hannah Poolman recovering from ACL surgery.
Mark Voss recovering from a blood clot in his leg.
Stacy Howard who is awaiting the birth of their child.
Roberta Carlson recovering from hip replacement surgery.
Betty Lamer recovering from an illness.
Velma Ashburn recovering from knee surgery.
Connor Rowley recovering from an accident.
Talia Patton as she suffers kidney rejection.
Jim Arens who has been diagnosed with interstitial lung disease.
Mitchell Elmquist struggling with lymphoma.
Marcia Andersen, who is having health concerns.
Jay Anderson as he await transplants and further recovery.

Upcoming Meetings:

December 2nd

Recharge – 5:30pm
Building & Grounds Committee Mtg – 6:30pm
High School Youth Group – 6:45pm
2nd Service Rehearsal – 7pm
Adult Handbell Practice – 7pm
HS Act II – 7:50pm
Chancel Choir practice – 8pm

December 3rd

Men’s Bible Study – 9am
PW Coordinating Team Mtg – 5:30pm

December 5th

Surprise Birthday Party for Nelda Broocks – 2-4pm at FPC

December 6th

Reformed Worship Service – 8:50am
Coffee and fellowship – 10am
Sunday School – 10:10am
Confirmation – 10:15am
Reforming Worship Service – 11:15am
Worship Service at Hawkeye – 2pm

December 7th

PW Sewing – 9am
Worship Committee Meeting – 5pm
Christian Ed Committee Meeting – 6:30pm

December 8th

Women’s Bible Study – 1:30pm

Sunday School – 10:10am

Adult Sunday School Classes
Beginning November 8th

Faith in Films ~ led by Jan Bolluyt
Reformed Faith 101 ~ led by Clint Loveall

Reformed (1st) Service ~
December 6th

Organist – Eulyn Riemersma
Liturgist – Walter Mendenhall
Ushers – Jill Jennings, Kelly Swancutt, Ron Niebruegge & Bob Peterson
Greeter – Les & Marlene Noll
Video Taping – Keith Brockmeyer
Nursery – Laurie Steinkuehler & Katelyn Brockmeyer
Coffee – Jim & Mary Quitno

Reforming (2nd) Service ~
December 6th

Singers – Emily Andersen, Kari Bruinsma, Pressley Cochran-Bray & Bart Duncan
Greeter/Usher – Mike May
Power Point – Brice Pratt
Sound – Kelly McKeever
Nursery – Amber Lippon

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