Good News Newsletter First Presbyterian Church of Decatur January/February 2016 Pastor’s Pen: I will freely admit that I’m not what you would call a morning person. Luckily, my wife isn’t one either, so we get along well, albeit quietly, when we are sitting around in the morning. One thing that really makes mornings more bearable is the wonderful pot of coffee that we know is waiting in the kitchen. Coffee, for better or worse, is such a major part of our morning ritual that I rarely forget to set the maker the night before, saving us from dreadful time without coffee once we wake up. My love and need of coffee was a major factor, years ago, in requesting that the session approve the bulk purchases of Equal Exchange coffee for use at the church and available for purchase for the home. The other major factor for the request is that Equal Exchange is a company that is doing amazing works in developing nations, and is a partner with the PC(USA)’s Mission Agency. Equal Exchange is a company dedicated to supporting small farmers and farming co-ops throughout Latin America, Africa, and Asia. As part of their dedication, they only partner with democratically organized co-ops, and purchase the coffee at an agreed upon floor price that gives farmers a dignified livelihood. In addition, Equal Exchange provides a large line of affordable pre-harvest credit to farmers, and actively supports community empowerment projects, such as new schools, the training of doctors, community stores, and upgraded processing plants. As part of the Presbyterian Coffee Project, $.15 per pound of coffee purchased from Equal Exchange goes to the PCUSA’s Small Farmer Fund. This fund is dedicated to promoting community education surrounding issues of food security and sustainable agriculture. In 2014
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Good News Newsletter
First Presbyterian Church of DecaturJanuary/February 2016
Pastor’s Pen: I will freely admit that I’m not what you would call a morning person. Luckily, my wife isn’t one either, so we get along well, albeit quietly, when we are sitting around in the morning. One thing that really makes mornings more bearable is the wonderful pot of coffee that we know is waiting in the kitchen. Coffee, for better or worse, is such a major part of our morning ritual that I rarely forget to set the maker the night before, saving us from dreadful time without coffee once we wake up. My love and need of coffee was a major factor, years ago, in requesting that the session approve the bulk purchases of Equal Exchange coffee for use at the church and available for purchase for the home. The other major factor for the request is that Equal Exchange is a company that is doing amazing works in developing nations, and is a partner with the PC(USA)’s Mission Agency. Equal Exchange is a company dedicated to supporting small farmers and farming co-ops throughout Latin America, Africa, and Asia. As part of their dedication, they only partner with democratically organized co-ops, and purchase the coffee at an agreed upon floor price that gives farmers a dignified livelihood. In addition, Equal Exchange provides a large line of affordable pre-harvest credit to farmers, and actively supports community empowerment projects, such as new schools, the training of doctors, community stores, and upgraded processing plants. As part of the Presbyterian Coffee Project, $.15 per pound of coffee purchased from Equal Exchange goes to the PCUSA’s Small Farmer Fund. This fund is dedicated to promoting community education surrounding issues of food security and sustainable agriculture. In 2014 alone, $14,801 was raised through Presbyterian’s purchase of fair trade coffee. Since the summer of 2013, we have purchased roughly 153 pounds of coffee, amounting to about $23 added to the Small Farmer Fund. That doesn’t sound like much, but I know from my experiences with small coffee farmers in Nicaragua, $23 can make the difference for sending a child to school or for putting food on the table. Our continued support of the Coffee Project is a small way that we in our small corner of Michigan can reach out to neighbors around the world not only with prayers and offerings but also with the goods and products that we purchase. The more we purchase the greater our impact can be.
One final note, in addition to all the amazing social impacts Equal Exchange Coffee has, it is also some of the most enjoyable and best tasting coffee I’ve had! Please consider supporting this important mission of the church.
Blessings....Rev. Will
Because this is a slower time of the year we decided to combine the two months. Sunday School meets every Sunday at 9 a.m.,Worship Service starting at 10 a.m. Bible Study...Every Monday 5:45 p.m.Session meets February 1st. 2016..................No January meeting. Presbyterian Women do not meet in January or February.
There will be a special Service February 10th, 7 p.m.
Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!!!!!
January Birthdays and Anniversaries3rd Patsy Middaugh9th Joel Shroyer 13th Rick Hockensmith
Tom Visuri 20th Lori Jerue10th Gale's Anniversary 28th Frank Popp11th Brown Grosvenor
February Birthdays and Anniversaries4th Tom McIntyre 17th Laurie Southworth10th Carrilou Gale 18th Brian Southworth14th Loretta Leighton 20th Don Reits
Nancy Vliek 26th Connie McIntyreEqual Exchange Coffee for Sale!
In the room next to Patsy’s office you will find our supply of Equal Exchange coffees. We stock a selection of coffee that is pre-ground caffeinated and decaffeinated. Prices range from $7.50-$8.50 a pack. In addition to the many wonderful ways this coffee impacts neighbors around the world, the purchases also help our neighbors here at home. For every package purchased here, $1 is given to Decatur Human Services to help make sure everyone in Decatur has food and warmth in their homes.
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Organist's NewsOur organist, Linda, will be taking her winter vacation to Alabama beginning the week of January 10 and returning on March 20. In her place for those 9 Sundays will be two familiar faces - Frank Zajac and Scott Rumley. Each will join us for worship on a two Sundays on, two Sundays off schedule. We give thanks for all that Linda has done for us in the past year and wish her safe
travels and a warm, restful vacation! P.S. We have had a lot of fun with POPupChoir and Linda said she hopes we continue it through the winter. Last pop -up under her direction will be January 10th...Rehearsal at 9:30 before our worship service. _______________________________________________________________________________
December Tid-bitsAs always December is a special month for us at First Presbyterian. The children presented their play to a full house with fellowship following. It was a pleasure to see so many gather for the Caroling in the afternoon with a light dinner afterwards, AND Christmas Eve was a magical night of Lessons and Carols for those attending. We were on the schedule the 27th for White Oaks, and a lot of our members attended that and saw some familiar faces from Decatur, who make this their home now.________________________________________________________________________________
Presbyterian WomenWe had our last meeting of the year in December and will not have another until March. We had a wonderful potluck and then had a gift exchange. All women of the congregation are members and we encourage you to join us in March when our first program of 2016 will be women from Wings of God. We, and some members of the congregation, support this very important mission which helps build a safer community one life at a time for women after being released from prison._________________________________________________________________________________
Community EventsSoup Supper Serving 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for $5 ....January 8th Modern Woodman & Reeder Memorial 22nd Decatur Public SchoolsFebruary 5th Decatur Bible Church 19th Victory Missionary BaptistEmmanuel Church of God in Christ.......5TH SUNDAY OF PRAISE......January 31st, 2016VFW Breakfast Serving 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. January 10th AND February 7th, 2016_________________________________________________________________________________
Souper Bowl Sunday, February 7, 2016Session agreed that it would be a fun-fundraiser to do a Souper Bowl Sunday. In previous years on Souper Bowl Sunday, the youth of our church have stood at entrance ways with soup pots to collect monetary donations which were then sent to the local Decatur Human Services’ food pantry. This year, however, we are raising the ante to include a soup luncheon after church on February 7th. Each session member will provide a crock-pot of soup, deacons will provide bread and brownies, and the Sunday school and other youth will work as servers and dishwashers. Big soup pots will be available for donations to help provide warm, nutritious food for those in need through Decatur Human Services. Please plan on attending....it will be held right after the church service on the 7th of February.
Thank YouSara and I would like to thank you all for the very generous Christmas gift. We are both incredibly grateful for the love and support we have received all year, and truly feel blessed by this community of faith. Thank you again for your wonderful generosity.Blessings,Rev. Will
Session News from the December MeetingEndowment CommitteeDecatur High School received the first endowment payment at the Monthly School Board Meeting in
November.
Report of TreasurerA comparative analysis shows that Total Expenses have decreased 5% from 2014 YTD expenditures.
Pledges have increased 2.6% and Loose Offering has increased 8.7% from 2014 YTD Income Statements.
Deacons Report
Jan Roeder discussed the general functions of The Board of Deacons. This fulfilled the requirement of an
annual joint meeting between the Session and Board of Deacons.
The next Session Meeting will occur at the church on February 1, 2016, 7:00 P.M. A motion was moved to
adjourn the meeting. The motion was supported and approved. The meeting was adjourned with prayer at
8:25 P.M.
Mark R. Johnson, Clerk of Session
Kally & Lexie at White Oaks
Rev Will explaining the Advent Candle to children.
Bell Ringers one and only performance.....they were great!!!!
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