Chili Cook-Off

Chili Cook-Off will be Sunday, January 10th at 5:00 p.m.  Enter your chili and corn bread recipes!!  Everyone is welcome to come and eat the entries!

Week of January 3

Sunday, January 3

9:30 a.m. Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Worship in Faith Hall

11:00 a.m. Worship in Chapel

3:00 p.m. Taking down Christmas decorations

5:00 p.m. Youth group

Monday, January 4

Tuesday, January 5

7:00 a.m. Men’s Bible Study

9:00 a.m. Preschool

7:00 p.m. Boy Scout troop 48

7:30 p.m.  Stephen Ministry

Wednesday, January 6

7:00 p.m. Praise Band rehearsal

7:15 p.m. Choir rehearsal

Thursday, January 7

9:00 a.m. Preschool

10:00 a.m. Women’s Bible Study

5:00 p.m. Youth Hang Out

7:00 p.m. Ballroom dancing\

Friday, January 8

Saturday, January 9

Sunday, January 10

9:30 a.m. Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Worship in Faith Hall

11:00 a.m. Worship in Chapel

5:00 p.m. Youth group

7:00 p.m. Ballroom dancing

Sunday Hospitality Teams: January

January 3

Glenn Coyle

Patti Ruleman

Brandon & Shirley Barker

January 10

Drew Hosea

Ann Griffin

Jane Kaman

January 17

Daren & Windy Davis

David Hayes & Catherine Lawhead

January 24

John & Di Randles

Robert & Betsy Draughon

January 31

Vickie Dunn

Jennifir Taylor

Brian & Carol Johnston

Soup Kitchen: February

Soup Kitchen We need volunteers for the First Presbyterian Soup Kitchen.  Faith is responsible for Sunday, February 7th.  Please volunteer by signing up at the front desk.  Any questions, contact Julia Hosea at jchosea@comcast.net.

Confirmation Class

Confirmation Class is about to begin for 6th grade and up.  The class will be Sunday afternoons from 4:00—5:30 p.m., and begins on January 10th.  Please let the church office or Pastor Greg know if you would like to register your student.

Pastoral Letter: January

The Year of our Lord Two Thousand and Ten

When I was younger I asked where the year went.  Now that I am older the question has become where did the decade go? So we find ourselves at a new year and a new decade in what is still a new century and millennium.  But before I get too deep, let’s remember that a day is like a thousand years in the sight of the LORD!

A measure of how successful one’s past year can be made in many categories.  I kept my job or I lost my job.  The business was good or bad.  My child or children made it through another grade of their education.  My spouse and I are still married.  We experienced illness, even death, but have made it through.  I got to retire or I had to put retirement off.  My life has gotten better or has gotten worse.  And the list could go on and on.

The key question for every Christian. is this: Has my been relationship with God grown stronger or weaker this past year, and why? As we begin this year, it calls for a certain amount of reflection on our part.  Having just celebrated the anniversary of the birth of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, we have been through a significant spiritual season.  Yet, there remains the question:  Has my relationship with God improved or gotten weaker this past year?  Now let me complicate that by asking another question:  Has my relationship with God improved or gotten weaker this past decade?  Now we are beginning to look at ourselves on the basis of our lives not just a day, a week, or even a year at a time, but on a substantial and significant part of our lives.

How would God answer this question about you? Would God say your relationship with him has improved or gotten weaker this past year, this past decade?  God’s relationship with us remains constant.  It is our relationships that tend to fluctuate back and forth.  That is why I believe it is important to examine that relationship, especially at the end of one calendar year and beginning of another calendar year.

I urge all of us to improve our relationship with God in this coming New Year.  Let us be ambitious and improve our relationship to God over the next decade!!

Remember to be faithful at worship, constant in your prayers, and ready to serve the Lord,

Pastor Greg Darden

Week of December 27

Sunday, December 27

10:30 a.m. Worship in Faith Hall

Monday, December 28

Newsletter Deadline

Tuesday, December 29

Wednesday, December 30

Thursday, December 31

New Year’s Eve

Church office hours: 9—12

All contributions for 2009 due by noon.

Friday, January 1

New Year’s Day

Church Office Closed

Saturday, January 2

Sunday, January 3

9:30 a.m. Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Worship in Faith Hall

11:00 a.m. Worship in Chapel

3:00 p.m. Taking down Christmas decorations

Men’s Bible Study will resume on Tuesday, January 5.

Week of December 20

Sunday, December 20

Fourth Sunday of Advent

9:30 a.m. Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Contemporary worship

11:00 a.m. Traditional worship

5:00 p.m. Youth Christmas Party

Monday, December 21

Tuesday, December 22

7:00 p.m. Boy Scout troop 48

7:30 p.m.  Stephen Ministry

Wednesday, December 23

7:00 p.m. Praise Band rehearsal

7:15 p.m. Choir rehearsal

Thursday, December 24

Christmas Eve

12:00 p.m. Worship

6:00 p.m. Christmas Carol Gallery

11:30 p.m.  Candlelight Communion

Friday, December 25

Christmas Day

Church Office Closed

Saturday, December 26

Sunday, December 27

10:30 a.m. Worship in Faith Hall

Pastoral Notes: December 20

Only five more days in the season of Advent!  I hope that you have finished most of your preparations and can now fully enjoy the coming of Christmas.  This is the time to live the moment and celebrate what God has accomplished in sending his Son, Jesus into the world!

I am grateful for my family and to celebrate Christmas with them.  I am grateful for Faith Presbyterian Church and the opportunity to celebrate and worship during my 15^th Christmas as your pastor.  I am grateful for all that has been done for the sake of others this Christmas season.

To the staff, elders, deacons, and members of the congregation who have worked to make this season memorable, and important, and full of activities, I thank God for your faithfulness.  To all who look forward to completing the spiritual journey to the stable in Bethlehem, isn’t it wonderful to know why Christmas is celebrated!

Finally, I remind you all that we have three opportunities to worship on Christmas Eve.  This year there is a service at 12 noon for those who don’t want to get out after dark or who have other commitments on Christmas Eve.  At the 6:00 p.m. service the adult choir will present A Christmas Carol Gallery.  For all those who want to ring in Christmas morning there will be a candlelight and communion service at 11:30 p.m.   I hope you will be able to attend one or more of these services and bring family, friends, and neighbors with you to celebrate Jesus’ birth once again.

Merry Christmas to all!!

Pastor Greg Darden

Week of December 13

Sunday, December 13

Third Sunday of Advent

9:30 a.m. Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Contemporary worship

11:00 a.m. Traditional worship

4:00 p.m. Guess Who’s Coming to Bethlehem?,  Children’s musical

4:45 p.m. Genesis and Caterpillar

5:00 p.m. Session meeting

Monday, December 14

6:30 p.m. Women’s Dinner

Tuesday, December 15

7:00 a.m. Men’s Bible Study

9:00 a.m. Preschool

7:00 p.m. Boy Scout troop 48

7:30 p.m.  Stephen Ministry

Wednesday, December 16

7:00 p.m. Praise Band rehearsal

7:15 p.m. Choir rehearsal

Thursday, December 17

9:20 a.m. Preschool Christmas program

5:00 p.m. Thursday Night Hang Out

Friday, December 18

Saturday, December 19

Sunday, December 20

Fourth Sunday of Advent

9:30 a.m. Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Contemporary worship

11:00 a.m. Traditional worship

5:00 p.m. Youth Christmas Party