The Messenger A Publication of Mosher-Pilgrim Presbyterian Church (402) 731-7222 (402) 734-6680 (Fax) Email: Mosher-Pilgrim@mpchurch.omhcoxmail.com Website: www.mpchurch.info
November 2009
Congregation’s ‘Thanks be to God’ Chili Lunch! Sunday, November 15th After Worship – Lower Fellowship Hall Provided by the Session! Weirdos Welcome!
Pilgrim’s Progress – Greetings from the Session!
Greetings to all the Mosher-Pilgrim Saints!! Our Church is alive and well, working in Christ’s name. Our full-strength Session had a very productive meeting. Our Bible Study was on Genesis 22:1-14. The Session approved: 1) Sue Barrett as our representative to the Nov. Presbytery meeting, 2) creating an Office Task Force, 3) updates to our membership rolls,
and 4) use of the Church on 2nd Mondays, from 7-9 P.M., in the upper meeting room by the Adult Committee of Scout Pack #295. The Session spent time in Long Range Planning as well as the Fall Stewardship Drive (“Going Forth in Grace Alone”), as well as celebrating the life of our church and looking forward to paying off our mortgage. : )
We give thanks to God for our congregation, which has shown the Spirit of God flowing through our many activities, and also in our strong economic support. Thanks also to all who come to join in our worship and joy whether brand-new or life-long members. Thanks to all those “Saints” who had a hand in the planned Stewardship presentations for each week in October and for presentations still to come. May we see a glimpse of what our Lord has planned for our congregation in 2010.
We are so blessed with the moving music by our accompanist, Yulia and the choir. The new copier is fabulous! The Trek Across the Torah and Christian Formation are progressing well. We are also thankful for all the
to join us in the Crossroads Ministry!!!
It is easy to see the Spirit working in our Church, thanks to all of your efforts!! May God continue to Bless us one and all!!!
Deb Stanton,
Clerk of Session
Going forth in Grace alone
Toward 2010
Mosher-Pilgrim Presbyterian Church
God’s Pilgrims Give Thanks!
This fall
“Stewardship,” a sacred matter of divine and human collaboration, is something our human minds can barely contain. Each year we try to learn a little more about it. This year our church’s Stewardship Taskforce has prayerfully offered material each week in October worship services. Inspired by words and phrases from the song “Grace Alone,” pictures were selected and additional music was chosen. Hopefully, these presentations have helped us glimpse and newly appreciate different angles of God’s gift at work here. And now, as November arrives, we are ready to say thanks back to God. We are ready to signal our commitment that, with the Spirit’s help, we intend to be new or stronger stewards.
In November all of us will receive an invitation to pledge or re-pledge our lives to God. By Christ’s grace alone, we commit to God’s healing and loving purpose. We hope you will pledge to renewed commitment to God in time, talent and treasure. We hope our church continues to be a good steward of all your offerings and of God’s purpose here.
As we prepare for our response of stewardship, here are some dates to keep in mind:
November 1 “Cornerstone” – the last of 5 music & slide presentations
(words from song “Grace Alone”)
November 8 “Invitation to Respond to God’s Grace”
(see a mix of the “best” slides from the past 5 weeks)
The Session invites everyone to pledge
November 15 “We Give Thanks to God” – the congregation is invited to
return pledges this Sunday
Chili Lunch provided by the Session after worship service
We give great thanks for all that God has done
through our church across 2009!
We look forward with hope to
“Going Forth in Grace Alone” in 2010!
Session & Stewardship Task Force 2009-2010
Members of Session: *Sue Barrett, *Bill Madden, Tim Madden, Paul Mason, Mary Lou Melton,
Vonnie Rushlau, ** Larry Scott, Helene Simmons, Debbie Stanton
*Members of Stewardship Task Force: Tony Calta, Marilyn Kratz, John Stanton
**chair of Task Force
A Special Thank You to the Congregation
Thank you Incredibly Sneaky Pilgrims! At first, I thought, “How nice!” One person and then a second one sent me a note at the beginning of October. Well, when another note and another kept sneaking in across the month along with other signs of appreciation, I thought, “All right! Who instigated this?” I felt like a beloved recipient of an elegant joke. Thank you for your skillful, memorable, meaningful and thoughtful gift of organized appreciation across “pastor appreciation” month. I won’t ask who or what the perpetrator was! The joke is on
me and I loved it! Way to go! I applaud you! It was great! I appreciate you!
~ In love & gratitude, Pastor Sarah
Directory Updates!
Darlene Kesner – huskerlady@msn.com Yulia Kalashnikova -
Melissa Heineman. Merle Taylor–Compassionate Memory Care
7342 So. 76th Ave 407 South 86th Street
Pilgrim Invitations
U Snack Luck Sunday – Just a reminder to all that the former Finger Food Sunday has been changed to SNACK LUCK SUNDAY! There are no other changes to this date – we still need all the wonderful snack foods you have always provided for Fellowship following Worship Service on Sunday mornings. Don forget, there also plenty of empty slots open for individuals to sign up for the other Sundays. ~ Fellowship Committee
U Prayer ministry – the Presbytery is starting a Presbytery-wide prayer ministry. They are looking for about 2 pray-ers from each congregation to pray for Presbytery revitalization,
re-development & new church development. There will be quarterly meetings for all pray-ers to gather. The expectation is that 30 minutes a week will be devoted to prayer on your own. If you are interested in this ministry, or for that matter, any other kind of prayer ministry in
our church, please see Pastor Sarah.
Pilgrim’s Journal
U We give thanks for a successful CROP walk on October 11. The weather was chilly. Snow still lay on the ground from the day before. But the walk was fun and joyful and at the end
we joined up with the group from Benson Presbyterian Church. We all managed to invite ourselves over to the Simmons’ house for cocoa and s’mores. Thank you, Pilgrims, for supporting this mission which assists those who need food. It also obviously fostered a wonderful communal faith experience.
U On November 1, 2009 we plan to acknowledge the special gift of a painting to our congregation. The painting is of Abram and Sarai as they face their journey prompted by
the call of God. The artist is our own member, Terry Strauss. Terry is a painter and colorist inspired by Matisse and Van Gogh as well as other painters. This is Terry’s first biblically inspired piece. You will notice his careful and particular theological interpretation of the
Biblical story. Sarai does not look pleased with the journey ahead! Terry has also tied it into our own Pilgrim Trek with an inscription. The Session received this kind and generous gift at the October meeting. We will get it framed and we are looking into incorporating it into our front office fix-up plans.
Financial Stewardship – “Cashbox” through September
(How we finance “God’s Work” at Mosher-Pilgrim)
INCOME YEAR-TO-DATE: EXPENSES YEAR-TO-DATE:
Actual Pledge Income . . $ 104,150 Actual . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 115,012
Planned Pledge Income . . 103,334 Planned. . . . . . . . . . . 122,294 $ (7,282)
Actual Other Income . . $ 8,533 RESULTS: Expenses 6.0% less than
Planned Other Income . . 6,775 planned
Actual Total Income . . . . $ 112,683 CASH ON-HAND:
Planned Total Income 110,109 Beginning of Year …… $10,113
$ 2,574 End of September……. 7,783
RESULTS: Income 2.3% more Cash Reserves Used $2,051
than planned !!
Our finances are in good shape!!! Our overall income is slightly ahead of schedule, and your church officers are being very cautious on expenses! It is YOUR ongoing faithful support that upholds and lifts high our confidence for the future of our church and its’ ministry.
As always ….. “God’s Work” is present in our church as we continue “Living So God
Can Use Us”! . . . . THANK YOU . , , ,
Body of Christ notes
WMany Many Thank You’s! The Evening Circle would like to thank everyone for
their extremely generous giving on Blanket Sunday. Because of your thoughtful giving a check for $495.00 will be sent to Church World Service! Thank you again for your continued support!
WThank you to our friends at church for remembering us! ~ Cody Utley and Dorothy Jury
WThank you - for all of the alternative giving cards that I received for my birthday. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness in remembering me. Thanks again! ~ Tom Martin
WThank you - for all your birthday cards to me! This means a lot! ~ Erica Thomsen
Calendar
November Sundays
9:15 AM Communal Study of the Torah
Lower Fellowship Hall
10:30 AM Worship in the Sanctuary
Across the Week
- Study the Torah text, Worship on
your own through scripture, prayer and being Christ’s apostle
- Study New Testament / sermon
text on Thursday or Friday
November 2009
11/1 9:15 Trek Across the Torah Study- Lower Fellowship Hall
10:30 AM – Communal worship of God - All Saints Day
11/5 12:00-1:00 Thursday Bible Study
7:00-8:00 Choir
11/6 1:30-2:30 Friday Bible Study
11/8 9:15 Trek Across the Torah Study- Lower Fellowship Hall
10:30 AM – Communal worship of God
Deacons meet
11/10 Presbytery meets in
11/12 12:00-1:00 Thursday Bible Study
7:00-8:00 Choir
11/13 1:30-2:30 Friday Bible Study
11/13 2:45 Hospitality Task Force
11/14 3:00 PM – Torah Trek Meeting
11/15 9:15 Trek Across the Torah Study - Lower Fellowship Hall
10:30 AM – Communal worship of God
Thanks be to God! Congregational Chili Lunch after worship
5:00 meet at church to head to Crossroads Connection ministry
11/17 3:00 Finance
7:15pm Evening Circle Meeting
11/18 7:02 Session
11/19 12:00-1:00 Thursday Bible Study
7:00-8:00 Choir
11/20 1:30-2:30 Friday Bible Study
11/21 10 AM Deacons gather to prepare baskets
11/22 9:15 Torah Study – Lower Fellowship Hall
10:30 AM – Communal worship of God
Christ the King Sunday
11/26 and 11/27 No Bible Study – Thanksgiving Break
11/29 9:15 Torah Study – Lower Fellowship Hall
10:30 AM – Communal worship of God
First Sunday of Advent!!
Heads up for December
Thursday December 24 at 6:00 PM will be our Christmas Eve Service
Please bring your family, friends and neighbors to celebrate this night of awe as God’s people
NOVEMBER, 2009
MESSENGER
