newsletter · 10/11/2017 · newsletter 250 w. huron, vassar, mi 48768 vassarfpc.org november 2017...

First Presbyterian Church

Newsletter 250 W. Huron, Vassar, MI 48768 VassarFPC.org November 2017

...from Doug’s desk... The month of November brings to mind the Thanksgiving holiday. We recall the first Pilgrims sharing a meal with Native Americans at Plymouth Rock, and the official holiday being instituted by President Abraham Lincoln. But there’s much more.

The concept of thanksgiving is deeply rooted in scripture. From the very beginning, all the way back to the 4th chapter of Genesis, thank offerings are a part of our story. The Levitical system called for not only offerings to atone for sin, but many forms of thank offerings to God in response to blessing. The Psalms are full of thankfulness and gratitude. Jesus taught gratitude and trust both directly and in parables, and modeled it in prayer. And the Apostle Paul is found frequently expressing thanksgiving and gratitude in his letters to churches and individuals both.

Recognizing the rich Biblical example, the Reformed Protestant tradition makes gratitude a point of of emphasis. Luther and other Protestant reformers recognized two uses of the OT law: convicting us of and warning us about sin in our lives, and guiding us in the of keeping public order. But the Reformed (capital “R”) tradition that we are a part of as Presbyterians, beginning with John Calvin, recognizes in scripture a third purpose for the Law. More than just helping us avoid sin in a negative sense or restrain sin in a pubic sense, the Law reveals God’s heart, and helps us see what we should pursue in a positive sense. And that, Calvin taught, comes from and is motivated by a deep sense of gratitude for what God in Christ has done for us. In short: thanksgiving.

We are bombarded daily by lots of “shoulds.” Not that those are illegitimate: far from it. We have “shoulds” in our lives related to family, friends, civic responsibilities, work (or in some cases retirement!), health, and society at large. We agree these things are good, for our benefit, and we want to do our part. But the best things in life are not the “shoulds.” They are the “get to’s” and “love to’s.” They are the things that truly bring us Joy and satisfaction, that no one has to ask us to do. No grandparent has to “discipline” themselves to make time for the grandkids. Someone who loves radio-controlled planes doesn’t have to drag themselves out of bed to go fly them. Things we love still require work and intentionality, like practicing for athletics or music. But when we love them they are not a burden.

Have you ever noticed it is the same with relationships? Do we have to drag ourselves into doing something special for someone when we’re head-over-heels in love? If someone saves our life, do we have to “discipline” ourselves to express appreciation? Connecting the “should-do’s” and “should-not-do’s” to deep gratitude to Jesus Christ opens us to more of what God intends for us. Rather than seeing the Bible as a rule book constantly interfering with our lives, or the community of faith as a spiritual police force, we can come to a place where following Jesus, working for good and avoiding harm to self or others is a joy born of gratitude. Discovering the deeper things of God and wanting to learn more about him to please him more becomes a “get-to.” If we truly grasp what God has already done for us, how can we be anything other than humbled and grateful?

I hope this Thanksgiving you will recover that sense of awe for what God has done for you. God desires us to live out of joy. His love for us is extravagant, and He wants us to love extravagantly. I pray you will have a

blessed Thanksgiving—one that is so full of gratitude to our Lord and Savior that you can’t help but love as you are loved.

http://vassarfpc.org

http://vassarfpc.org

FIRST FRUITS SUNDAY IS

SUNDAY NOV 19TH in WORSHIP!

Please Join us to Celebrate Our Commitment to VFPC’s Ministry in 2018!

Does you or someone you know need visitation?

In the hospital? Home bound? In a nursing facility? Please let the church office know so that

Pastor Doug can visit them! You may also call your care team Deacon.

FINANCIAL NOTES

SEPT: ACTUAL INCOME: 9,092.00 EXPENSE: 7,901.35 NET: +1,190.65

JAN-SEPT: ACTUAL BUDGETED INCOME: 73,108.48 75,000.00 EXPENSE: 81,337.02 89,366.34 NET: (8,228.54) (14336.34)

NEWSLETTER INFORMATION DEADLINE

Nov. 28

PASTOR DOUG’S CONTACT INFO: Cell/Text: (989) 780-2813

Email: [email protected]: facebook.com/pastordougabelLinkedIN: linkedin.com/in/pastordougabel

TWITTER: @REV_DSA

“Lighting a Candle for the Unborn” Friday November 3rd

Empowerment workshop 6-6:45pm, Candle Light Prayer Service Afterward

Sponsored by many area churches incl. VFPC Hosted by Greater Ephesians Church (COGIC)

Saturday Night November 4th!

http://about.me/pastordougabel

mailto:[email protected]

http://facebook.com/pastordougabel

http://linkedin.com/in/pastordougabel

http://twitter.com/Rev_DSA

http://about.me/pastordougabel


http://facebook.com/pastordougabel

http://linkedin.com/in/pastordougabel

http://twitter.com/Rev_DSA

COMMUMION SERVERS Assist~Steve Franko #1~Nicole Baker #2~JoLinda Manus #3~ Alex Campbell #4~Shelley Abel

GREETERS 5th~Dan & Nancy Zuzula 12th~Dan & Mary Johnson 19th~The Wegrzyn Family 26th~Russ & Lori Hubbard

USHERS 5th~David, Scott, and Zach Wegrzyn 12th~Lori Hubbard, Mary Kennard 19th~Mark Bilbee, Mark O’Connor, Bobby Staten 26th~Kevin Haines, Mike Kennard, Dan Zuzula

WORSHIP LEADERS 5th~Steve Franko 12th~TBA 19th~TBA 26th~TBA

VIDEO/TECH 5th~Dianne Hackett 12th~Mike Kennard 19th~Shelley Abel 26th~Shelley Abel

1 David Walker 2 Dan Zuzula 3 Marylou DuBois 7 Kevin Hamilton 7 Mason Gorleski 7 Barbara Baker 8 Connie Blackmer 9 Linda Shoop 12 Barbara Walker 14 Joshua Atkins 30 Kirk Atkins 30 Doug Abel

25 Ray & Helen Waggoner

28 Ray & Maureen Sowden

November 23rd

WHAT’S GOING ON???

Please note: this calendar is always on the website at

vassarfpc.org/know/view-church-calendar/

and is subject to change.

November 2017Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

29Reformation Sunday9:00 AM Adult Sun-day School Class10:00 AM Worship & Children's Classes5:00 PM Fall Family Fun Potluck

30 31Halloween8:30 AM WIC

112:30 PM Study: All Things New7:00 PM Joint Choir Practice8:00 PM Hand Bell Choir

26:30 PM Discipleship & Growth Team7:00 PM Cancer Sup-port Group

3 4

5Daylight Saving Time EndCOMMUNION9:00 AM Adult Sun-day School Class10:00 AM Worship & Children's Classes

6 7Election Day9:00 AM Vassar Min-isterial Alliance

87:00 PM Joint Choir Practice8:00 PM Hand Bell Choir

97:00 PM Session

10Veterans Day (observed)

11Veterans Day

129:00 AM Adult Sun-day School Class10:00 AM Worship & Children's Classes6:00 PM YOUTH GROUP

13 14 1512:30 PM Study: All Things New6:30 PM Communica-tion & Publicity Team7:00 PM Joint Choir Practice7:30 PM Mission & 8:00 PM Hand Bell

167:00 PM Cancer Sup-port Group

17 18

199:00 AM Adult Sun-day School Class10:00 AM Worship & Children's Classes

2010:00 AM Book Club

218:30 AM WIC


23Thanksgiving7:00 PM Worship & Music Team

24 25


27 288:30 AM WIC


30 1 2





3 4




97:00 PM Session


11Veterans Day




17 18



218:30 AM WIC



24 25


27 288:30 AM WIC


30 1 2





3 4




97:00 PM Session


11Veterans Day




17 18



218:30 AM WIC



24 25


27 288:30 AM WIC


30 1 2





3 4




97:00 PM Session


11Veterans Day




17 18



218:30 AM WIC



24 25


27 288:30 AM WIC


30 1 2

Page 1/1Eastern Time Time Zone

http://vassarfpc.org/know/view-church-calendar/

http://vassarfpc.org/know/view-church-calendar/

Vassar First Presbyterian Church Ministry Team Summaries

If you would like to be a part of any of these ministries, please contact the chairperson.Come find your place with us as we build God’s Kingdom together!

Administration (Scott Wegrzyn)This team has two sub-teams: personnel and finance. It oversees these and other general administrative concerns of the church. It crafts a budget proposal each year for Session to approve, oversees staff, considers staffing structure, crafts job descriptions, and recommends building use policy. Buildings & Grounds (Lynn Childs)This team handles all things related to facility and property, such as routine maintenance, small repairs, facility or equipment upgrades, tech needs, or large projects as approved by Session. The church owns not only the church building and grounds, but also the upper parking lot and the pastor’s manse, as well as the equipment and appliances inside them.Communication and Publicity (Shelley Abel)This team’s focus is providing for and managing communications and publicity, with internally and externally, by prioritizing and appropriately timing these things and implying the most effective method for them. This is not only so that any given need gets the best exposure appropriate to it, but so that key events or initiatives don’t get “lost in the noise.” The team will work closely with the church secretary to execute communication and publicity, but will curate what, how, and when any communication publicity is done, and help establish processes and strategies for easy management of the same.Community Connections (Lynn Childs)This team’s focus is any event or project that brings the community together in Christian fellowship: which is “Christian-speak” for having fun and making connections. It serves a practical and cohesive function in our community of faith, and at the same time provides a safe space for new people to get to know us. The team executes several events each year to that end, and looks for smaller ways to facilitate a sense of connection between friends and members as well.Discipleship & Growth (Kevin Haines)This team’s stated mission is “Inviting you on a Journey with Jesus.” It oversees, enables, resources, and supports the person-inviting, disciple-making and disciple-growing aspects of the church’s ministry, from nursery to families to ecumenical Youth Group and VBS, to adult professionals, to retirees. It is concerned with education, but not merely as knowledge transfer, but heart changing: helping people of any age or stage meet Jesus, grow in faith, and become committed followers of Jesus. This team also oversees and resources any small groups that form, from study groups to affinity groups to service/mission groups. Mission & Outreach (Shelley Abel)This team concerns itself with supporting mission efforts that do not typically fall under our own congregation’s ministry. These may be local, regional, statewide, national, or global in nature. In many cases that support is financial, such as perhaps funding a missionary abroad. It may also sometimes be more personal, like forming a work trip to a devastated area of our nation.Worship & Music (Steve Franko)The worship & music team concerns itself with providing for the worship and music aspects of our congregation, and considers not only present needs but future directions for forms of and tools for worship. There are practical matters like making sure ushering and children’s sermons are covered, resourcing our choirs and accompanists, making sure candles are stocked, etc. It also, in collaboration with the pastor and music staff, considers weightier matters like the practice and philosophy of worship.

(Note: Nominating team is not listed because at-large members of this team are nominated by previous nominating team and elected at the congregational meeting. Steve Franko is the chairperson this year)

CONTACT PERSONS

Pastor Doug Abel, (989) 780-2813 (Voice, VM, or Text) Angie Ayotte, Church Office: (989) 823-7671

Elders

Shelley Abel (989) 780-2817 Kevin Haines (989) 871-3293.............. ....................

Nicole Baker (917) 776-9546 Dan Johnson (Clerk) (989) 823-2525............. ........

Alex Campbell (989) 823-3848 Diane Rice (989) 992-9333........... ........................

Lynn Childs (989) 868-4802 Scott Wegrzyn (989) 529-1147............... ..................

Steve Franko (989) 823-7590............

Deacons

Louanne Campbell (989) 823-3624 Bill Shoop (989) 823-1331... .........................

Mike Kennard. (989) 823-2192 Tanya Steele............... (989) 823-2278........... .....

Cheryl Sholty (989) 823-2438 Carol Swaffer (989) 823-3756............ ...................

Kim Wegrzyn, Mod (989) 233-8460...

PRAYER CHAINS

Telephone Chain: Louanne Campbell....823-3624

Email Chain: Angie Ayotte ([email protected])

or Pastor Doug ([email protected])

Contact Persons Session Ministry Teams: Administration (Finance & Personnel) Scott Wegrzyn 529-1147 ........................... Buildings & Grounds Lynn Childs 868-4802 ...................................................... Discipleship & Growth Kevin Haines 823-3293 ................................................... Communication & Publicity Shelley Abel 780-2817 ............................................ Community Connections Lynn Childs 868-4802 ............................................... Mission & Outreach Shelley Abel 780-2817 ....................................................... Nominating Steve Franko 823-7590 .................................................................... Worship & Music Steve Franko 823-7590 ...........................................................

Deacons Kimberly Wegrzyn 233-8460 ...........................................................................Vassar Community Youth Initiative Pastor Doug 780-2813 ...................................Choir (Shared with FUMC) Pat Middlin 545-0948...............................................





SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

Session Highlights

Session met on Thursday, October 12th, 2017. Here are some of the highlights of the meeting. Pastor Doug Abel was our Moderator.

• Shelley Abel and Lynn Childs were excused.

• Minutes of the September Session meeting were approved.

• Financial report shows we are operating on a -$ 8,228.54. Don’t forget that if you have not paid the 2017 apportionment, you can pay $26.17 per member, it would really help.

2018 apportionment will be $26.94 per member. This is voluntary, but if

we could each write a check for that amount, it would really help.

• Next 5th Sunday is October 29th. Donations will be collected for the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) for Hurricane Relief.

• Communion was served on October 3rd by Pastor Doug Abel. Kevin Haines assisted. Elders serving were: Alex Campbell, Steve Franko, Dianne Hackett and Jo-Linda Manus.

• Our membership rolls now stand at 145 as we have dropped 3 members.

• Jake the Therapy Dog has been visiting our kids in Sunday School.

• Secretary Angie Ayotte is taking on more duties.

• We still need to get more kids involved in Church and Sunday School. We have been getting a few more.

• REACH will be in Vassar in the summer of 2018.

• CROP walk was held on October 8th. There were 84 walkers. Report will be given in November.

• There will be no calendar distribution this year due to costs.

• Next Session meeting will be Thursday, November 9th, 2017..

Respectfully submitted,

Dan Johnson

Clerk of Session

First Presbyterian Church

P.O. Box 117

Vassar, MI 48768

newsletter · 10/11/2017 · newsletter 250 w. huron, vassar, mi 48768 vassarfpc.org november 2017...

Documents