The Salt Shaker DEC 2016 STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY REFLECTION by Bill Serbousek, Nov. 6, 2016 Today is Stewardship Sunday. This is when we request that you turn in your pledge cards which helps guide us into the next year. But in addition, our church members have pledged to share their talents with all of us. They are trade skills, leader- ship and teaching qualities, musical talents and personal time that is donated to the church. We say thank you to everyone for your personal contributions. We are also blessed to be stable with your financial donations. But the upcoming year does create some challenges for us financial- ly. But this church is known to accept the challeng- es before them and overcome these hudles. Giving is an expression of gratitude for what we have re- ceived. So, there is one subject that I have not addressed in the past. It is the young people of this church. They are the next generation that will con- tinue the teachings of Jesus and spread the word of God. The following was written by a young farmer in southern Iowa. With his permission, I want to ex- press to you the meaning of a child in our church. THE PRICE OF A CHILD The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 at $255,000 for a middle income family. That’s some sticker shock! Keep in mind that doesn’t include college. But it’s not so bad if you break it down. $13,900 a year $1,160 a month $38.50 per day And only $1.60 per hour FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH NEAR ELY 11100 Spanish Road, Ely, Iowa 52227 319-848-4624 elypres.org So what do you get for $255,000? Naming Rights You get glimpses of God everyday You get giggles under the covers at night You get more love than a heart can hold You get a hand to hold that is covered in jelly You get a partner for blowing bubbles You get someone to laugh with after a bad day For $255,000 you don’t have to grow up. You get to: Finger Paint Play with Play-Doh Go Hide and Seek Catch lighting bugs Go to a Disney movie You get to frame rainbows, hearts and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother’s Day and cards with backwards letters for Father’s Day. For $255,000 you get to be a hero: Taking training wheels off of bikes First words First day of Kindergarten First date First time behind the wheel You get to be immortal. You get another branch add- ed to the family tree, and if you are really lucky, a long list of limbs called grandchildren and great grandchil- dren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, and communication that no college can teach. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, and patch a broken heart. You can ground them for life, but you will love them forever. So… like you, one day they will love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!! They are the future of our church. Thank you, Bill Serbousek
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The Salt Shaker
D E C 2 0 1 6
STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY REFLECTION
by Bill Serbousek, Nov. 6, 2016
Today is Stewardship Sunday. This is when we
request that you turn in your pledge cards which
helps guide us into the next year. But in addition,
our church members have pledged to share their
talents with all of us. They are trade skills, leader-
ship and teaching qualities, musical talents and
personal time that is donated to the church. We
say thank you to everyone for your personal
contributions. We are also blessed to be stable
with your financial donations. But the upcoming
year does create some challenges for us financial-
ly. But this church is known to accept the challeng-
es before them and overcome these hudles. Giving
is an expression of gratitude for what we have re-
ceived.
So, there is one subject that I have not addressed
in the past. It is the young people of this
church. They are the next generation that will con-
tinue the teachings of Jesus and spread the word of
God.
The following was written by a young farmer in
southern Iowa. With his permission, I want to ex-
press to you the meaning of a child in our church.
THE PRICE OF A CHILD
The government recently calculated the cost of
raising a child from birth to 18 at $255,000 for a
middle income family. That’s some sticker
shock! Keep in mind that doesn’t include college.
But it’s not so bad if you break it down.
$13,900 a year $1,160 a month
$38.50 per day
And only $1.60 per hour
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH NEAR ELY
11100 Spanish Road, Ely, Iowa 52227
319-848-4624 elypres.org
So what do you get for $255,000?
Naming Rights
You get glimpses of God everyday
You get giggles under the covers at night
You get more love than a heart can hold
You get a hand to hold that is covered in jelly
You get a partner for blowing bubbles
You get someone to laugh with after a bad day
For $255,000 you don’t have to grow up.
You get to:
Finger Paint
Play with Play-Doh
Go Hide and Seek
Catch lighting bugs
Go to a Disney movie
You get to frame rainbows, hearts and flowers under
refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle
wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for
Mother’s Day and cards with backwards letters for
Father’s Day.
For $255,000 you get to be a hero:
Taking training wheels off of bikes
First words
First day of Kindergarten
First date
First time behind the wheel
You get to be immortal. You get another branch add-
ed to the family tree, and if you are really lucky, a long
list of limbs called grandchildren and great grandchil-
dren. You get an education in psychology, nursing,
criminal justice, and communication that no college
can teach.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo,
scare away the monsters under the bed, and patch a
broken heart. You can ground them for life, but you
will love them forever.
So… like you, one day they will love without counting
the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!
They are the future of our church.
Thank you, Bill Serbousek
P A G E 2
Pledges for 2017
As of 11/29/2016, 29 pledges for 2017 were made
for a total of $75,076 plus an additional $1,428 for
per capita. Thank you. A good start to the 2017
commitments. Please consider making a commit-
ment or increasing your current donations. 2017
cards are available at church, or a simple note to
Recording Secretary Judy Serbousek will help out
greatly. The Session’s goal is $96,296 for 2017
pledges. In 2016, the pledged amount was $83,290.
The $13,000 increase is to compensate for 2015
surplus of $13,000. Thank you.
Guatemala Goods
The Guatemalan hand-
crafts goods are coming
to church soon. Come
shop in fellowship hall at
church and know that
you are supporting “Sharing the Dream,” an organi-
zation that provides for two elementary schools,
scholarships for teens, and an elder center in Gua-
temala! Please see Jodie Chadima for more infor-
mation.
SESSION NOTES - Oct. 20, 2016
1. Attendance in September averaged 85.
Congregation membership 217
2. Treasurer’s report: at 75% of the year 73% of the
budget has been allocated. Contributions are
lower than expected.
3. Soup Supper report. 350 served. $3515 in supper
sales. $2178 kolach sales, $544 frozen soup
sales, $446 donations, and $1195 Country
store.
4. CROP Walk had 49 walkers. Sharon Methodist
Church joined in the walk this year.
5. Motion approved to issue mission checks to
Helping Hands, CR Soup Kitchen, Food Bank,
Food Pantry, and Diaconia in Czech Republic
6. Motion approved to replace electrical panels in
the church for $2600 out of the maintenance
fund.
7. Stewardship materials will be shared in Novem-
ber.
The next Session meeting is scheduled for
Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
YOUTH MINISTRIES
Hello from the Youth Group!
It is the most wonderful (and busy) time of the year!
In Youth Group, we are taking a break from curricu-
lum to focus on Advent, what Christmas means to
believers, and how we can go out into this world dur-
ing advent, and every day, sharing God’s love and the
good news of Jesus!
Thank you to all of our senior meal guests; Youth en-
joyed the honor of sharing a meal with all of you!
Very special thank yous to those adults who guided,
taught, supported and fed the youth: Joanne Chadima,
Theresa Harder, Darla Meyer, Alyson Eadie, and also
Larry Harder for driving the youth who delivered
meals!
Thank you to each person who donated items, boxes,
and shipping funding for Operation Christmas Child!
Youth packed and wrapped 28 boxes – I believe this
is a new record for our Youth Group!
In December, Youth will be ringing bells for Salvation
Army, caroling with our congregation, performing in the Sounds of Christmas, going on a secret mission,
and having a Christmas party. In addition, we will be
going bowling in late December, and are inviting ALL
YOUTH GROUP ALUMNI to join us! If you have
ever been a Youth Group Member, please plan to join
us on December 28.
Youth will need a driver for our Secret Mission on
Saturday, December 10 – please contact Angie if you
can help drive in the afternoon.
As always, if there are any questions or comments
about the Youth programs, please feel free to contact
me at church, by phone.
Blessings, Angie
Advent Candlelighters Consider volunteering to light the Advent