FIRE TRUCK TO MISSISSIPPI

If all goes as planned, on Sunday, February 10, Mike Wilbur, will have at our worship services a reconditioned fire truck, that is being donated by a fire company in Connecticut, to a fire company in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Mike, one of our Deacons, a FDNY Lieutenant, and the CEO of Emergency Vehicle Response, a company that trains Emergency Responders, will be driving the engine to Mississippi and then joining our Mission Team in D’Iberville.

The truck had been rebuilt by the Connecticut Fire company so it could be donated to Gulfport. But they had no way to get it there, until Mike noted that he was headed to Mississippi as part of Venture Crew 49’s adult leaders.

It turns out that the fire company in Connecticut is also involved with a Venture Crew, and both Venture Crews will be working to raise the $1500 in gas money that will be needed to drive the engine to Mississippi (it gets about 5 miles to a gallon.)

On February 10^th we had planned to dedicate the group going to D’Iberville. Now we will be dedicating a truck and it’s crew as well as they transport a wonderful gift from the people of Connecticut to the people of Mississippi!

PANCAKE BREAKFAST

We are planning another pancake breakfast on Sunday, January 27, from 8:00am until 1:00pm to support the Mission Trip to Mississippi. Breakfast/Brunch is $5 for pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee!

MISSISSIPPI MISSION TRIP

·         The total cost for the trip will be around $450 per person, with each person going giving $150 each.

·         We have raised about $100 so far for each participant. We would like to raise another $2000.

·         Contributions for the trip can be made to the church, marked on the memo line “Mississippi Trip”. Be sure to place the checks in a separately marked envelope also marked “Mississippi Trip”.

Mississippi Fundraising

   Church Group                     Venture Crew 49

Many thanks to all those who have given towards the trip, including: the participants, the Women’s Auxiliary, those who attended the Mississippi Pancake Breakfast, those who attended the Venture Crew’s “Cheeseburger in Paradise” Fundraiser, all those who have bought Mississippi maps, the JYF Fudge sale, and those who have used the Venture Crew’s Rent-a-Venture Crew. services! Thanks to the Session who gave $500 to the trip this past Tuesday!

THURSDAY NIGHT WORSHIP

·         We start the services again on Thursday, January 10^th!

·         We will continue the service through June.

·         Thursday night is a great option when you can’t worship on Sunday

·         Worship on Thursday includes praise music, prayer, scripture, sermon, and Communion.

COFFEE HOUSE

Greetings to all! We will resume the Saturday evening Coffee House this month, at 7:30 pm on January 19th. Let's gather for Christian music, fellowship, hot coffee /hot chocolate, and homemade desserts. The theme in January is "puddings", such as bread pudding, chocolate pudding pie, banana pudding, custard pie, tapioca, etc. February is the popular "chocolate month, and March will bring yummy cheesecakes! Musicians can contact Sue and Mike Conklin to reserve a spot, and bakers can contact Ginny Grebeldinger to contribute desserts and to help in the kitchen on any given month.

CHOIR NEWS

After a very busy Christmas Holiday season, (Cantata, 4 Christmas eve services, Brass performances, liturgical and hip-hop dancing) the choirs, musicians, vocalists, and dancers are now looking forward to an early Easter! New participants are always welcome! See Sue Conklin for details...
Save the date: Sunday ,Feb. 24, 2008: Contemporary Choir performs at the Howells Church - 5pm

CHRISTMAS EVE

Was wonderful! 567 people visited one of our four services. The totals were: 5:00pm service 117, 7:00pm service 170, 9:00pm service 123, and 11:00pm service 157. The music was heavenly, the worship complete and the helpers most helpful!

SATURATION MAILING

For Christmas Eve, we invited 10, 500 of our closest neighbors. Many thanks to Chester Printing and Bill Hungerbuhler at Adwise for their expert help and wonderful support. Gifts in support of the mailing can be sent to the church office.

Are you in the middle of a challenging time in your life? Do you need someone other than family to talk to? Are you feeling lonely, tired, scared, anxious? A care-receiver can be anyone who needs high quality confidential one-to-one ministry. Call the church office at 386-3851 and ask for Liz Demerest, our Stephen Ministry referral specialist. She will see that you get someone specially trained to talk to you just when you need it! Call today!

NEW MEMBERS CLASS

·         There will be a New Member’s Class on Tuesday, February 12^th at 7:00pm. Please RSVP Liz at 386-3851 or Jeff@otisvillepres.org

FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER

·         Information needs to be into the office by Sunday, January 13^th! (Call Jeff if you need to be late!) Please send your info by email!

FLOWERS IN WORSHIP

·         You will find envelopes on the back table. Please fill them out completely, insert payment, and return to the offering plates or to the church office. Open dates are in the church bulletin.

NEW FRIENDS

·         We always are having new friends joining us for Sunday mornings and for our many activities, but don’t always get names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses.

·         If you have been hanging out with us here at the church and are not yet getting newsletters in the mail or email updates, stop by the church office, give us a call, or send us an email with your info and we will add you to our list of the latest and greatest at the Otisville-Mt. Hope Presbyterian church.

FAIR TRADE COFFEE

·         We are offering in our Kafe Fair Trade coffee, purchased from The Presbyterian Coffee Project.

·         We get the coffee directly from the producers, giving the coffee farmers a decent living from their work.

·         We have 12oz bags for sale as well as Hot Cocoa by the can, and tea.

SMALL GROUPS FOR LENT

·         During Lent (February/March) of this year we will again be doing some small groups, similar to, but also different from our Friendship First Groups. The groups will be 8-12 people meeting once a week for only six weeks this time. The materials for the small groups will be a study called “Outflow”, focused on how we as Christians can have a healthy, caring impact on the world around us.

·         This small group study invites a daily short study routine privately at home with readings and materials to think about, focused around the question, “what could I do to share the love of God in my surroundings?”

·         It is then followed by a gathering of the small group where the group talks about ideas and thoughts the home study has raised, as well as inviting the group to consider ways it can “outflow” as a group as well.

·         To join as a participant or leader, see Agnes Weletok, or send an email to Agnes at aweletok@hotmail.com

HELPERS WE NEED

·         A substitute church receptionist to cover for Ginger and/or Dawn on Sundays they can’ be in the church office from 9:00am – 11:00am.

·         A volunteer bookkeeper for the church office to work 2-3 hours a week in the church office to keep up our bookkeeping. Days and times are optional.

COMMUNION FOR HOMEBOUND

Communion is available to any homebound persons. Simply contact the church office or call Deanna Prisco, Candy Burnett, or Glenda Teabo-Sandoe to arrange a time.

PREACHING

EASTER PAGEANT

Is planned by the Sunday School for Sunday, March 16^th at 9:30am in the Fellowship Hall. Parents and church leaders should make plans. See Allison Wilbur and Brenda O’Connell for details.

BOUNCED EMAIL

Several people have email bouncing back to the church from their addresses. If you are not receiving regular email updates and wish to, please send Jeff your email address to jeff@otisvillepres.org

EMAIL OPTION

You can get the regular email sends by going and joining the church’s yahoo group at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/otisvillepresbyterianchurch

All the emails sent to the congregation are listed there on the front page. You can click on any one and read it. That way you can get the email news without having it sent directly.

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL

We are working on an in house Lenten Devotional Guide for this year’s Lenten Season. If you would like to help, see Jeff ASAP.

SANCTUARY PAINTED

By the time you receive this the sanctuary should be about 1/3 painted. We have decided on two shades of blue, mostly for the sake of change. We are pretty sure we will miss yellow! But we are ready for something new! Many thanks to Craig Romano and his company for their great work!

SECURITY

We have added security cameras to our church building. They record all persons entering and leaving the church. The records will be reviewed if there is a problem with security or safety.

ORDAINED AND INSTALLED

These new officers will be ordained and/or installed in January: Elders Robert Komstedt, John Putnam, Gary Derkacz, Deacons Susan Hawkins, Ruth Putnam, Eric Durkins, Josh Decker and Lisa Santa Cruz.

Our new Memorial Committee members will meet with the committee at it’s next meeting: Dorothy Constable, Ceann Miedema, and Dorothy Byrne.

CAN I GET MY BABY BAPTIZED?

All members can get their child baptized simply by calling Jeff and arranging an appropriate date (usually not the first Sunday of the month because of Communion).

People who haven’t yet joined the church (and by joining made a profession of faith) can ask about the next New Member’s Class, and join the church in preparation for baptism.

IS THERE A CHANGING TABLE

As a matter of fact there is! In the handicapped bathroom, there is a fold down changing table, complete with paper coverings to use when changing your little one.

ASH WEDNESDAY

Ash Wednesday is the 6^th of February this year, the beginning of the 40 days of penance and reflection until Easter (minus the Sundays). Often in our culture, people will ask you, “What are you giving up for Lent?”  And what will your response be?

HOWELLS CHURCH

Roosevelt Ramsey (Kelly Dolson's father) will be hosting his annual Martin Luther King Observance Concert on February 24^th, at the Howells Church. The event is from 5-7 pm. Our Contemporary Choir will be singing at the event! Please join us for an evening of music, performed by people gathered from many different churches.

MYSTERY DINNER THEATER

To participate in this year’s event, see Lisa Grainger or Marilyn Komstedt.