November 2012

Do you know that following advice in the Bible gives you a better quality of life? Here is one example. The Bible says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (I Thessalonians 5:16-17) This little bit of advice, when followed, will help you have a better quality of life according to the Harvard Medical School newsletter, “In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, selish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.” Think of things you’re grateful for every morning and you’re setting yourself up for a good day.

This time of year many of us become overwhelmed with tasks that need to get done and less daylight in which to do them. This can lead us to depression, so at this time of year we need to give thanks more than ever. We, your Co-Pastors, are going to put into practice what the Bible teaches. Here are a number of reasons your Pastors give thanks to God:

⇒ Our Church Nominating Committee has finished its job to bring a slate of candidates before the congregation to be elected as Deacons and Elders. When the Nominating Committee asked potential officers to serve as Deacons and Elders, very few turned them down. This is what pastors like to see in a healthy church. Those being nominated to serve as Deacons are: Judi Armstrong, Kyra Hickey, Jamie Bozarth, Pam Kurtz, Jeff Rowlands and Lou Emerick. Nominated to serve on Session we have: Mike Ball, Carol Hacker, Loretta Martin, Linda Silvonen, and Ryan Warnke. Session has called a Congregational Meeting for Sunday, December 2nd at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary to elect officers to serve from 2013-2015.

⇒ Presbyterian Pilgrimage is a retreat where Christians come face-to-face with God’s grace and our responsibility. Last weekend 16 of our church family gathered on Thursday evening at the Howell Retreat Center. The Leadership Team gave talks: God’s Grace Given, God’s Grace Received, Spirituality, Christian Action, and Christian Study. Nine from our church were on the Leadership Team, including Pastor Roxie. Seven were first time pilgrims. All 16 returned excited about being Christ’s followers, filled with the desire to serve God with all their might.

⇒ Our Church Family consists of church members and nonmembers. We depend upon our church members to support the church with their time, talents and treasures, and they do. We thank God for them. Many in our Church family choose not to join the church, but they also serve God with their time, talents and treasures. We thank God for them. Our church serves God as one Church Family, consisting of members and nonmembers. We are grateful to everyone who serves God through this church. Together we are a Church Family.

⇒ Our Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) has been working since May to write a Church Information Form (CIF), and now seeks input from the Session and members of Presbytery to make it as good a document as possible. Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry will then need to approve the document. At that point the PNC will move to the next step in the process of calling our successor. A colorful chart in the Narthex displays the seven steps in calling a pastor. We are about to move from step 3 to step 4. Please continue to pray for our Pastor Nominating Committee: Alisha Baker, Julie Huttenlocher, Jeanne Ledingham, Jeff Anderson, Christian Ball, Bruch Focht and Bill Herhilan, chairman. We thank God for them.

Rudyard Kipling at his prime was much revered as a novelist and poet, and every word he wrote was said to be worth 25 shillings (roughly $2.00 in today’s currency). A group of college students mailed him 25 shillings and asked him for his best word. He wrote back, “Thanks.” That is one of the best words in the English language. When used, it benefits both the sender and the receiver. We thank GOD for YOU. THANK YOU!

~Pastors Bill and Roxie Davis