We had a lovely, memorable celebration of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany this year. We followed the star of
As our liturgy stated last Sunday (January 1), now the work of Christmas begins. We serve the world in Christ’s name.
I love January. I love new beginnings. I love clearing the decks and preparing for a new year. I am excited about the whole mystery about what lies next. I am excited for our church. We have crossed into 2012 with a surge of Spirit.
This is a time of year when we often make commitments. I hope you will commit to serving God with heart, mind and strength for a whole new year. I hope you will commit deeply to life at church. I hope you commit to faithful living wherever God calls you to be during the week and during the year.
If there are any matters on your heart for ways to serve, I hope you will let me or members of the Session or Deacons know. Blessed 2012 to all! ~ Pastor Sarah
V Pilgrim Sacred Journey
U Welcome to the world, Sasha Kristian
U Welcome back into membership, Linda and Allie Dorrell!
U Congratulations on Graduations or completion of Study!
· Tasha Newton,
· Kristina Workman,
· Gina Meester,
V Pilgrim Invitations
U Calligraphy – Does anyone do Calligraphy and would be willing to use it for a church project? Please let Deb Stanton know if you are interested. Thank you!
U Evening Circle – The Evening Circle meets on the third Tuesday evening at 7:15PM in the lower fellowship hall. We take turns as hostess and bring a snack, usually dessert, for each meeting. We encourage anyone who might be interested in checking us out to visit one of our meetings. Deanne Grant is our lesson leader. We are now using the book, “Encouraging One Another.” We served a fellowship coffee hour after church, one Sunday in February, March, April, August, October and November. Our annual summer picnic in June was held at the home of Doyle and Marilyn Kratz. We also held 4 “Girls Night Out” meetings in the summer months, a hostess selected a restaurant of her choice where we met for dinner. The Circle also hosted “Brownie Sunday” on September 4th and we collected $450.00 for our Blanket Sunday mission project in October. Our first meeting of 2012 will be on January 17th at 7:15PM. Come join us!!
~ Sheryl Scott, Circle Moderator – Ann Thompson, Secretary – Deanne Grant, Lesson Leader
U Mark Your Calendar! – Come listen to Bruce Bender give a presentation on his trip
to
~
U New Book Club - All Welcome! – A new book club met for the first time on December 18, 2011. We gathered at the
U Next Book Club Meeting: Sunday, January 29, 2012 at the
feel free to ask them more about our first discussion (Mike Charleston, Jeff Dickinson, Gretchen Goodman, Kaaren Hagge, Elaine Lewis, Rebecca Madden, Angie Madden, & Lyn Schneider)
U Per Capita - As in years past, we are once again asking our members to contribute to the Per Capita assessment for the coming year. The Per Capita payment is used to pay administrative expenses for the Presbytery, the Synod and General Assembly. This year the assessment is $31.24 per member. Please use the marked envelope and also indicate “Per Capita” on your check. We are most appreciative of your support. Thank you! ~ Your Finance Committee
U Youth Groups – 2nd & 4th Wednesdays – We have a group for 7th graders and another group for 8th grade and older. In between their meetings they share a meal together (which they prepare!) Both groups are awesome and are studying Ecclesiastes. Our next meeting is January 11th, 2012! If you have a 7th-12th grade youth in your life who would appreciate being part of such a group, please let Pastor Sarah know.
V Pilgrim Journal
U Greetings to all the Mosher-Pilgrim Saints! – Once again your Session had a productive meeting on January 3, 2012. We welcome two new elders: Jeff Dickinson and Ruth Goodman. We had a very full docket, but we completed our work with good energy and effort. We endorsed the Fellowship Committee’s tweaking of the Alphabetic Flocks. (We’ll now have 8 flocks instead of 9). And each elder adopted a flock. (The Deacons will do the same at their meeting.) We discussed protocols for 2012 and readied ourselves for “Visioning” at the Session-Deacon retreat at the end of January. We celebrated the past month’s many delightful activities and looked ahead to our Lent-Holy Week-Easter plans. We adopted a Child Protection policy and decided to financially support Jeff Dickinson as a leader in training for the Association of Presbyterian Christian Educators conference in
Our Stewardship results are being finalized. We give thanks for sound financial health, the fruit of our God working through all of you! The Session now plans to meet on the 3rd Wednesday of the month this year. Keep the faith & let Christ’s faith keep you! ~ from the Mosher-Pilgrim Session
U The Sudanese American Presbyterian Fellowship was invited to worship in our building for three Sundays. After their span of time worshiping here, they have been invited to worship at Faith Presbyterian Church in La Vista. Their pastor is Michael Kuach, a commissioned ruling elder. It has been a gift to get to know them a little bit better.
V Pilgrim
U Thank You Snow Removal Warriors! – December 4th, 2011 - All cleared for the 9:15 AM Sunday “Wisdom for the Fantastic Journey” Class! December 9th, 2011 – All cleared for the 1:30 PM Friday Bible Study (and earlier!).
U What Do You Do With Your Aluminum Cans? Did you know that some people from Mosher-Pilgrim bring their empty aluminum cans to the church, where Doyle Kratz picks them up. He, in turn, takes them to a recycling center to sell. The recycled aluminum sells for 25 to 50 cents per pound depending upon the market. The Deacons then forward the money received to the Presbyterian Food Pantry. This year the proceeds from your recycling efforts have been $45.50. As a further mission effort, the pull-tabs from the cans are collected. These tabs are then taken to the Ronald McDonald House. The proceeds from these tabs, along with those collected from other organizations, pay the annual Ronald McDonald House electric bill of approximately $12,000. If you are interested in helping with this mission project, please save your cans, bring them to the church and deposit them in the barrel in the lower level store room. The pull-tabs can be given directly to Doyle. Your recycling efforts are important to many people!
U U Reading the Liturgy – A part of the Deacon Ministry is asking a member of the Congregation to read the liturgy for the Sunday morning Worship Service. A word of thanks to these individuals for serving as Liturgists in 2011: Sue Barrett, Vicki Barnes, Bruce and Phyllis Bender, Tom Benkis, Sue Caviness, Mike Charleston, Jeff Dickinson, Jean Fritsch, Madeline Geldis, Ruth Goodman, John and Deanne Grant, Marilyn Kratz, Tim and Angie Madden, Bill Madden, Frank Martincek, Paul Mason, Larry and Mary Lou Melton, Gene and Stephanie Moore, Larry and Kay Moore, Tracey Newton, Jerry Rushlau, Vicki Rushlau, Vonnie Rushlau, Helen Ryan, Lyn Schneider, Larry Scott, Bob Shere, Byron and Helene Simmons, John and Debbie Stanton, Gregg Wallick, Paul Woodward, Dave Workman, Kristina Workman and Jeff Zdan. If you would like to serve as Liturgist and have not been asked, please inform Sheryl Scott or Pastor Sarah. Thank you! ~ Sheryl Scott, Deacon Moderator U The Deacons Deliver The Angel Tree Christmas Gifts! – Thank you to the Congregation for the support of the Deacon Angel Tree Project. The Angel Tree had 20 names of children from U Deacon Donations 2011 – The Deacons appreciate your generous donations to our mission. Here you will find the totals of each month’s contributions and where those contributions were sent. We sincerely thank you!! January $252.00 July $ 648.00 February $421.50 August $ 31.00 March $371.00 September $ 47.00 April $113.00 October $ 101.00 May $195.00 November $ 538.00 June $344.00 December $1,005.50 Total: $4,067.00 Deacon Ministry: $1,521.00 Together, Inc.: $ 30.00 Good Samaritan Ministry: $1,581.00 Open Door Crossroads Connection: $ 38.00 Petty Cash: $ 20.00 Food Pantry: $ 469.00 Total: $4,067.00 Homeless Shelter: $ 58.00 U Ongoing Opportunities U Chancel Choir – Rehearsals are every Thursday from 7-8PM. All are welcome!! U Wisdom for the Fantastic Journey – Ecclesiastes Study – Ecclesiastes Prayer booklets are available for everyone. We will study Ecclesiastes through January 22, 2012. You can study on your own and then all are welcome to the 9:15 AM Sunday discussion group for all ages. V Pilgrim Communications U Continue to inform the church office with your address, phone & e-mail updates! Larry & Mary Lou Melton – Cell phone numbers: Mary Lou – (402) 575-8710 Larry – (402) 972-5213 Home phone the same (402)553-2947 U Pilgrim Updates & Reports U CASHBOX Thru November, 2011-(How we finance “God’s Work” at Mosher-Pilgrim) INCOME YEAR-TO-DATE: EXPENSES YEAR-TO-DATE: Pledge Income . . $ 138,060 Expenses . . . . . . . . . . 151,165 Other Income . . $ 8,354 RESULTS: Expenses 4.0% less Total Income $ 146,414 than planned CASH ON-HAND: Beginning of Year ……….. $13,387 End of November …. . . . . $ 8,639 RESULTS: Income 1.0% less than planned Cash Reserves Reduced $ (4,748) Our regular budget income and expenses are almost exactly as expected. Our church and its’ ministry is truly and richly blessed by YOUR faith and YOUR generosity. As always ….. “We Believe” that “God’s Work” is present in our church as we continue “Living So God Can Use Us”!. . . …. THANK YOU U Deacon’s Financial Report - The Deacon’s donations for November, 2011 were: November 5th $ 57.00 Designated to: November 13th $ 34.00 Deacon Ministry $ 400.00 November 20th $ 200.00 Good Samaritan $ 116.00 November 27th $ 247.00 Crossroads Connection $ 0.00 Total: $ 538.00 Food Pantry $ 22.00 Homeless Shelter $ 0.00 Together, Inc. $ 0.00 Total: $ 538.00 U Deacon’s Financial Report - The Deacon’s donations for December, 2011 were: December 4th $ 110.00 Designated to: December 11th $ 299.50 Deacon Ministry $ 412.00 December 18th $ 366.00 Good Samaritan $ 450.00 December 25th $ 230.00 Crossroads Connection $ 0.00 Total: $1,005.50 Food Pantry $ 23.50 Homeless Shelter $ 0.00 Together, Inc. $ 0.00 Petty Cash $ 20.00 Open Door Mission $ 100.00* Total: $ 1,005.50 * The $100.00 donation to the Open Door V Body of Christ notes WThank you! Thank you for all the prayers and thoughts for my family during the past couple of months. My Dad is doing much better and we continue to pray his cancer does not return. God Bless! ~ Tracey Newton Happy Birthday to Nell Weaver who turned 93 years young on December 26th!! She is pictured here with her daughter Marilyn, and one of our church bulletins. SUNDAY MORNINGS 9:15 AM “Wisdom for the Fantastic Journey” Communal Study (Lower Fellowship Hall) 10:30 AM WORSHIP & Fellowship Following Worship MID WEEK BIBLE STUDY Thursdays – 12 PM - 1:00 PM & Fridays – 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM YOUTH GROUP - 2nd & 4th Wednesdays CHOIR REHEARSAL – Every Thursday at 7:00PM PRAYER & DISCIPLESHIP – Every Day 01/01 10:30 AM - HAPPY NEW YEAR WORSHIP! Congregational Meeting 01/03 7:00 PM – Session meets 01/08 9:15 AM – “Wisdom for the Fantastic Journey” 10:00AM - Youth Choir 10:30 AM - Worship – Baptism of the Lord Ordination and Installation Christian Formation meets 01/10 3:00PM - Evangelism & Discipleship Presbytery Meeting 6:00 PM – Finance Meeting 7:00 PM – Building and Grounds 01/11 Youth Group Meets: 5:30-6:30 PM 7th Graders 6:30-7:15 PM Shared meal-7th-12th Graders 7:15-8:30 PM 8th-12th Graders 01/15 9:15 AM – “Wisdom for the Fantastic Journey” 10:00AM - Youth Choir 10:30 AM - Worship Deacons Meet following Worship 01/17 7:15 PM - Evening Circle Meets 01/19 6:00 PM - Worship Committee 01/22 9:15 AM – “Wisdom for the Fantastic Journey” 10:00AM - Youth Choir 10:30 AM - Worship Following Worship please come and listen to a presentation by Bruce Bender about his recent trip to Tanzinia and enjoy lunch 01/25 Youth Group Meets: 5:30-6:30 PM 7th Graders 6:30-7:15 PM Shared meal - 7th-12th Graders 7:15-8:30 PM 8th-12th Graders 01/27 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Session/Deacon Leadership Retreat 01/28 8:30 AM to NOON Continuation Session/Deacon Retreat 01/29 9:15 AM – “Wisdom for the Fantastic Journey” 10:00AM - Youth Choir 10:30 AM - Worship 4:00 PM Book Club meets at the Heads Up – FEBRUARY 2012! February 5th – Annual Meeting & Souper Bowl Sunday! February 22nd – Ash Wednesday
Upcoming Blood DriveReminder!



