Dear Friend of FPC,
Merry Christmas! I hope that your Christmas was filled with memorable moments and time spent with those you love. We hope you were able to join us for worship this past weekend. It was great to see so many familiar faces home for Christmas, as well as the new faces of visitors and your friends and family. If you were not able to join us, there is still opportunity to hear the messages preached by listening on our website (http://fpcmaumee.org/#/welcome/listen-to-sermons), subscribing to our podcast (http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fpc-sermons/id480662916), or requesting a CD of sermons from the church office. As we approach the New Year, I offer up this poem by Wendell Berry for your own meditation and prayerful consideration of how God may work through you this year: "The Real Work," by Wendell Berry It may be that when we no longer know what to do we have come to our real work, and that when we no longer know which way to go we have come to our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed.
The impeded stream is the one that sings. May you sing with the lessons God would have for you as you reflect upon this year, and look to the next. Blessings, Kathleen Sheets Pastoral Intern |
Upcoming Events
Inquirer's Class, Saturday, January 7, 9 am - 12 pm, Fellowship Hall
Considering Church Membership? This class is designed to help you decide whether you are ready to become a member of the church. In our time together we will discuss how your decision to become a member gives expression to commitments you have already made or will make for the first time.
- Membership helps you express your commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord. (John 1:12-13)
- Membership helps you express your commitment to the church; the group of people you choose to stand arm in arm with as you serve Christ. (John 17:20-23)
- Membership helps you express your commitment to serve Christ by serving the world. (Mark 10:43-45)
We will take approximately 1 hour to consider each of the commitments above leaving plenty of time for questions and discussion. The mood of the class will be casual and oriented for discussion in the hopes that you will be given the opportunity to build relationships with others who are also considering membership. If you have questions about the class or would like to register please contact Pastor Clint at (419) 893-0223 or ctolbert@fpcmaumee.org.
Senior High Deep Freeze Retreat, January 13-15, 2012
The Senior High Deep Freeze Retreat at Camp Storer is scheduled for January 13 -15, 2012. Information and forms were emailed out last week to Senior High parents. If you are interested in attending and did not receive the pdf packet of information, e-mail Jason Armstrong at jarmstrong@fpcmaumee.org and he will forward it to you.
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Announcements
Food Pantries Experiencing Food Shortage, Donations Needed
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat..." - Matthew 25:35a
 Toledo area food pantries are experiencing a severe shortage of food. For the next few weeks we will have boxes outside of our worship spaces to receive non-perishable food items to help restock the shelves. Please consider bringing a food donation with you as you come to worship this Sunday.
Help People Stay Warm this Winter through Donations to St. Paul's St. Paul's Community Center has asked for donations of new or gently used coats, socks, towels, hats, and mittens (for adults only please). With the approach of cold weather, it was decided to start on this project immediately rather than wait until January. A large box for donations will be located in the foyer, and another will be on the lower level. Thank you so much for your generous support. Offices are now at Union Elementary School We are working diligently to transition to this new space.  Please bear with us during this move as we work to get things sorted out. We are still working on setting up the phones at Union. If you try to call the church and do not get an answer at our regular number (419-893-0223), please call Pastor Clint's cell phone at 419-450-2341 and he will connect you to the appropriate person. Pastor Steve can be reached at 419-699-7077. Clint is on vacation this week, so please contact Steve instead at this time. |
Fellowship
The Wassail Bowl was a great success and fun with many attending after the all- choir concert on December 18th. The cookies were provided by the Growth Groups, Wassail masters, Doug Parrish and Jim and Karen Calderone provided a beautiful and scrumptious beverage and the lively conversation at tables brought people together to enjoy this lively and spirited event. This tradition continues to resonate "goodwill" in the season.
The Caroling on December 4th was held together by 10 lively spirits as we caroled to our neighbors in the rain. This didn't dampen our spirits any with the neighbors coming out to say thank you and appreciating the "spirit" lift.
Wednesday night dinners start up again at Union school on January 11th. Here are the menus for January:
11th - Chicken/green bean and rice casserole with salad, brownies
18th - Lasagna with salad, cookies and fruit
25th - Spaghetti and meat ball with salad, garlic toast and fruit We still need volunteers to serve and clean up through May. If interested in this very easy task, please contact Judy Harbaugh, Doug Parrish or Sarah Otis. The meals are all catered in, so the prep work and cooking is all taken care of for you!
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| Deacons
The Deacons are very busy in the life of the Church throughout the year but particularly during the holidays. They send cards to the homebound and the college aged young adults. They make sure our veterans, college students and other transient members stay connected. They serve as greeter, Deacon Shepherd, Welcome station or other helper for Sundays. But if you only focus on the task that they are doing when looking at a deacon you can miss some truly awesome spiritual ministry that is happening. Yes, flowers get delivered, visitors are reached out to, those who miss are contacted and a host of other tasks in congregational care. But the tasks do not define our awesome deacons...what really defines the role and life of a deacon is "grace", "mercy", and "hospitality". These words are a poor reflection "through a glass dimly" description of the difference that our deacons make in the life of the Church. And during the holiday season, this is particularly true. Poinsettas will be delivered in large numbers, but more importantly our deacons will help Connect Christ and Community during the holidays. Their visits, prayers, and gifts of encouragement make a difference in people's lives. So the next time you see an usher, greeter, or deacon shepherd...you may think that they are only handing out bulletins but look a little closer and you will see smiles, grace and peace being conveyed and gospel lived out. Thanks to these difference makers, the Deacons, this Christmas season have been "Reclaiming Christmas" one life at a time.
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| Mission & Outreach
At First Presbyterian Church of Maumee we have been participating in a growing Christmas Conspiracy to "Reclaim Christmas" through "PRESENCE". As a part of that we have:
- Participated in feeding the hungry and poor at St. Paul's on December 4th
 - Given Thanksgiving and Christmas Food Baskets to 19 area families to make the holidays a blessing (through Salvation Army provided lists)
- Conducted a Red Cross Blood Drive on December 8 collecting 23 units of badly needed blood in honor of Dawn Nelson (Pastor Steve Nelson's daughter), who died three years ago from leukemia at age 28.
- Rang Salvation Army Red Kettle bells at Andersons on December 10th to care for holiday needs for the poor.
- Participated in Operation Christmas Child through the Franklin Graham Association.
- Collected Coats, gloves, scarves and other cold weather gear for the Cherry Street Mission.
- Collected extra food to plus up area food banks in NW Ohio.
 Christmas Caroled throughout the E. Broadway neighborhood on a cold, rainy day to bring Christmas Cheer.- Visiting the homebound members with Poinsettas, caroling and Christmas messages.
- Held a "Grief Share" during the holidays teaching session to help those dealing with grief during the holidays to help them cope and experience grace and peace during loss.
- Continued to open our doors to several AA (Alcoholic Anonymous) meetings that provide support and strength for dozens of area residents who struggle with addiction.
- Sent teams of teens out to area shut-ins/homebound to rake leaves and help with work projects too big for some elderly folks to lighten their load and help them know they are loved.
- Had groups of teens send cards to the homebound in our community to help them know how much they are thought of, prayed for and appreciated.
WOW! Jesus has looked really good shining in the lives of the good people at First Presbyterian Church of Maumee. The Missions and Outreach Commission or MO! for short want to thank you for your faithfulness to Reclaim Christmas during this Advent Season.
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Joys and Concerns
Prayer Concerns
June Baker Swan Creek Health Care Ken Campbell Home, Hospice Care Kay Connor Dolores Finch Gayle Kollen St. Luke's Bob Strohbeck Swan Creek Health Care
Our home centered member of the week is Joyce Yutzy. Members may send a card or note to her at Swan Creek Retirement Village, 5916 Cresthaven Lane, #A-211, Toledo, OH 43614.
Birthdays Anniversaries
27 Pauline Lovejoy, George Sitzenstock Earl & Thurid Campbell (48th),
Phil & Barb Christensen (31st)
28 Marlene Connolly, James Gilmore, Walter & Penny Gunkler (37th)
Nancy Nielsen, Kim Plymale,
David Stannert
29 Jeannine Fortunato, Noah Gromes Joshua & Sarah Lewis
30 Carole Horstman, William Stalder Jr., Brian & Lynne Rayl (33rd),
Eric Tebay Evan & Holli Thomas
31 Kirsten Jacobson, Landen Patterson,
Mary Siefke
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In Worship this Week: Sunday, January 1st
 8:00 a.m. in our Chapel Service. Pastor Steve Nelson is preaching.
9:00 a.m. at The Edge Service in Fellowship Hall. Pastor Steve Nelson is preaching.
11:00 a.m. in our Sanctuary Service. Pastor Steve Nelson is preaching. Elder Janet Russ Jones is Liturgist. Our Chancel Choir sings.
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