The Messenger December 2020 - Westwood Presbyterian ...
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The Messenger December 2020
“An Ode to Christmas Lights”
Bursting through December nights
That could be long and cold,
Our Christmas lights bring warmth and joy
With colors soft or bold. The Christmas Joy Offering will be
received on December 20, 2020. Theme this
Caroling from the rooftops, year is “The Perfect Gift”.
And from trees both small and tall, “God saw the great needs of the world and
The lights cry out, “We have good news!” offered a perfect gift, Jesus Christ. In Jesus,
We want to shout to all. we receive the perfect gift of God being with
us, and of being together when we are
You've seen the darkness earth can hold, apart.”
The sorrow, war and fear; When we give to the Christmas Joy Offering,
But God has sent His Son for all,” we share our love with the leaders of our
To show His Love is here. Church—past, present and future.
50% of your gifts make is possible for
“The darkness can't put out God's Light, students to learn and grow in faith at
Christ's with us day by day, Presbyterian—related schools and colleges
Illuminating paths so we equipping communities of color.
Can follow in His way.” 50% of your gifts provide assistance for
current and retired church workers and their
Light homes and streets and candles.” families with critical financial needs.
Make your world shine clear and bright. An envelope for this offering is provided in
God's love surrounds and blesses us. your box of envelopes. Please give
Come, celebrate God's Light! generously. If we all do a little, it adds up to
--Peggy Ferrell a lot. God bless you!
7 Estil Gay
8 Judy Simensen
16 Carol Godfrey
Newsletter Deadline 31 Betty Gambrell
for January is Lana Gay
December 16th. Per Capita Request
Each year The Presbytery of the
Miami Valley publishes
“Expected Payments” for each
active member of each church.
For the year, 2020, they are 20 Cindy & Steve Anglin
requesting a total of $50 . In 22 Betty & Doug Gambrell
The deacons Christmas years past, the Session has voted
project has selected 6 to give what fits our budget.
families this year. We The Session also invites
will not be giving members, who are able, to pay
personal gifts; only food all or a portion for yourself. If
and a gift certificate. you have questions, please talk
Pickup will be Saturday, to Rev. Godfrey or a member of
December 19 from 3:00 to the Session.
5:00 pm.
There will be no mitten
tree this year.
The donation for the
Christmas Project will
begin again in February
2021. Serve City takes Westwood Financial Report - 2020
any nonperishable items. October: Receipts Expenses Balance
Current Funds 4,769.50 7,416.16 -2,646.66
Per Capita 40.00 0.00 40.00
Benevolence 245.00 0.00 245.00
Total 5,054.50 7,416.16 -2,361.66
Year-To-Date:
Current Funds 63,077.00 59,732.02 3,344.98
Per Capita 575.00 0.00 575.00
The Usher Sign Up Sheet Benevolence 595.00 350.00 245.00
for 2021 is on the church Total 64,247.00 60,082.02 4,164.98
bulletin board. If you would
like to usher in the New Year, More detailed financial reports
either stop by and sign up or are available upon request from Steve
call the church and tell us Anglin or the church office.
which month you will be
available. Thanks!
“Here We Go Again “
“Here we go again.” It seems like in our world today we take one step forward and two steps
back. Those of us who want unending progress tend to get somewhat frustrated by these events.
Again we have had to close the church, due to the threat of the “coronavirus.” It has come
way to close to home, especially with some who have tested positive and others who have
people and family close to them who have been diagnosed and even hospitalized. Some have
even had the death of friends and members of their families. Even when we take the proper
precautions we never know where or when it might hit. Even Carol and I were tested yesterday
because we had suspicious symptoms. We will get the results in three days and are in
quarantine for two weeks. Please remember us in your prayers.
Because of our closing down, most of the end of year’s events have been canceled. We had
to cancel our Thanksgiving celebration. This year we will not be holding our Christmas Eve
Service. There also will not be a “mitten tree” since the church is closed.
The things that are continuing are Sunday Worship, which is recorded on Thursdays and
placed on our church website: westwoodchurch.org. I hope you will keep up with those we are
remembering in prayer and the weekly announcements. We are also continuing to receive your
pledges for 2020 and your pledge cards for 2021. In conjunction with this, the Session is
working on a budget for the New Year.
The Deacons are continuing with their help for families at Christmas. Six families have been
chosen. This year there will be no personal gifts. There will be food and a gift certificate.
They are continuing to collect canned meat for November. The food will be distributed on
Saturday, December 19.
A Congregational Meeting will be held in early January. As soon as the date is set we will let
you know. At that meeting you will elect new officers, have the new budget presented and we
will discuss our plans for 2021. Hopefully by January we will be at a place that we have
medication for the virus and life will begin to get back to a semblance of something we know as
normalcy.
My hope during this time that you are able to continue finding the blessings that God is
providing. I know we want this pandemic and its results over with. It frustrates us all. But
now, more than ever, it is important for us to take God’s hand and allow him to walk with us.
He is still in charge no matter what it looks like on the outside.
May we build our faith by trusting God, keeping up with worship through the website, read
and study scripture and prayer. One of my favorite benedictions is:
“Go in peace, and may our Holy God surprise you along the way.
Christ Jesus be Your company and the Spirit lift up you life. Amen.”
May it be so in all of our lives!
In Christ,
Norman
Prayer Concerns
Hospital: Penney Wimsatt (Pam Long's sister) –
covid-19 / Sycamore Medical, Dayton
Miscellaneous concerns:
A special thanks to Bob Estridge Bonita Gay
for being so meticulous Fred Sloneker
concerning making sure that the Ruth Mollett
church is sanitized before and after Summer
each gathering which takes place. Michael Gesell(Marlene) lymphoma
You are such a blessing to us, Bob! Bonnie Martin (Reva) – recovering back surgery
Bill Kraft
Mark Combs - home
A special thanks also to Tim Dale Alvey - recovery
Turber who spearheaded the Dianne Hurst - recovery
purchase of our new computers for Family of Jeff Tellup (John's brother)
the secretary's and pastor's office. Family of Virginia Miller (Bonnie Santel's sister)
Thank you Tim for also installing Family of Frank Dougherty
them and helping us to work out Family of Loretta Otto
the kinks. The difference is
amazing. (Also thank you to an In Nursing Home/Assisted Living:
anonymous donor who footed half Windsor of Cape Coral: Dick Flynn
the cost of the purchase!) It is Westover: Catherine Gibson
good when we work together to do Sheridan at Mason: Bill Mountsier
God's good work.
National & International Concerns:
Our country, Natural disasters, violence, unity
Our armed forces worldwide
Missionaries across the world
Westwood Presbyterian Church, Peace in our world
Thank you so very much for the use of
your church building for our Eagle Local Concerns:
Scout “Court of Honor”! You have a Our church
beautiful house of worship! The Cities of Hamilton & Fairfield
ceremony went very well, and the use Serve City / Haven House / Community Meal Center
of the fellowship hall for the reception Churches in community
was very helpful. Everyone had a great Corona virus victims & cure
time!! Thank you!!
Congregational Prayer:
From the Family of Xander Roberts We continue to pray for our sister churches in the
“Eagle Scout”. Miami Presbytery, and for all the churches in our
Doug and Sharon Trimmer community in Ohio.
Learning to Read Scripture
by Janice Springer
There are several modes I have found that people use to interpret and understand
scripture. The following are some of them.
• Some understand the Bible as a story book. This is how most children read
scripture.
• Some look at the Bible as text book. We may read it as a science text, believing
that the world was made in six 24-hour days. Or we might read it as a history text,
believing every event happened exactly as it was recorded.
• Sometimes the Bible serves as an answer book, offering answers for the questions
with which we struggle.
• The Bible can serve as a manual of ethics. It tells us what to do or not do in order
to be loving people.
• Sometimes we use the Bible as a survival guide. It helps us face whatever life
brings to us. If I have a terminal illness, it may be a source of strength.
• Eventually we may understand the Bible as our family album, one that uses stories
instead of photos. The Bible tells us about our parents, our people, our past;
therefore, it tells who we are.
• If we are lucky, we eventually recognize the Bible as a love story. It tells of the
rocky but enduring romance between humans and the Divine.
• The Bible can be a community organizer manual. It tells us how to build and
sustain community. It tells us what destroys community.
• Sometimes we come to read the Bible as a liberation document. God is on the side
of the oppressed, calling those who are bound into freedom and those who are
marginalized into community.
Our Deepest Sympathy is extended to the families of:
• John Tellup at the death of his brother Jeff this
past month.
• Bonnie Santel at the recent death of her older
sister Virginia Miller.
• Loretta Otto.
• Frank Dougherty.
Remember them in your prayers as they grieve.
Westwood Presbyterian Church 1068 Stahlheber Road Hamilton, OH 45013 Address Service Requested
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