The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

San Gabriel Presbyterian Church
The Trumpet
DECEMBER 2013
In this issue
Pastor Letter
Worship Schedule
Transitions Workshop
“...the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
Pastor’s Farewell Party
Explore God: Alpha
Presbyterian Women
Discipleship
SGPC Workday
Youth/Children Ministry
Finance
Session Highlight
Ladies Luncheon
Remembered in Prayer
Birthday/Anniversary
Deacons
Pictorial Directory
Seminary Intern
Music Ministry
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
Psalm 23:1
Christmas Joy Offering
Blue Santa
Christmas Eve Service
Operation Christmas Child
New Members
Welcome
New Staff
Living
Nativity
New Elders/Deacons
VOLUME 16
Email: [email protected]
http://www.sgpcgeorgetown.org
Sunday Morning Worship - 9:15am
ISSUE 12
5404 Williams Drive
Georgetown, Texas 78633
(512) 868-0902
Greetings in Christ!
I cannot believe this is the last letter I will send as your pastor. Al-
though I look forward to retirement, I will miss you. I will miss serving
as your pastor. It has been an incredible blessing to serve Christ with
you for over fourteen years.
I know that God has plans for this church. Those plans include finding
an interim pastor and a new called pastor. Your elected Session will
work with Mission Presbytery to identify the interim pastor – hopefully
by February. The interim pastor will be trained to guide the Session and congregation
through the search process. We are grateful to have Ruling Elder Phil Barnes from Westlake
Presbyterian Church in Austin as our Committee on Ministry liaison for the Presbytery. Phil is
well known to some of you and well respected in the Presbytery for his leadership.
Thank you for understanding that it is time for me to play with my grandson and enjoy the
next phase of my journey with Christ. I am amazed at what we have accomplished in Christ
together. This congregation is strong and spiritually healthy. It will be exciting to see your
future unfold.
I look forward to celebrating Advent and Christmas Eve with you. Christ is coming! And so is a
new pastor. God is good.
With love in Christ,
Pastor Jeanie
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Page 2
DECEMBER WORSHIP
December 1—1st Sunday of Advent
Pastor Stanley preaching
Matthew 24:36, 42-44; Romans 13:11-14
Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122
December 8 – 2nd Sunday of Advent
Pastor Stanley preaching
Isaiah 11: 1-6, 10; Matthew 3:1-12
Romans 15:4-13; Psalm 72
SGPC’s
Christmas
gift to the
community
December 15 – 3rd Sunday of Advent
Pastor Stanley preaching
Isaiah 35:1-10b; Matthew 11:2-11
James 5:7-10; Psalm 146
December 22 – 4th Sunday of Advent
Pastor Stanley preaching
Isaiah 7:10-16 ; Matthew 1:18-25
Romans 1:1-7; Psalm 80
December 24 - Christmas Eve
Candlelight Service of Scriptures & Songs
December 29—1st Sunday after Christmas
Tim Gray preaching
Sunday,
December 1,
is this
month’s food
collection for The
Caring Place.
Look for the open
trunk outside to
drop off your
non-perishables
Scriptural Focus for 2013
Ephesians 3:20-21
"Now to him who by the power at work
within us is able to accomplish
abundantly far more than all we can ask
or imagine, to him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus to all generations,
forever and ever. Amen."
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Friday and Saturday evenings, December 13
and 14, SGPC will be abuzz with the annual Living Nativity. The Living Nativity is offered as a
reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.
From 6-8pm on those evenings, SGPC members
and friends will be dressed as characters standing in front of a stable backdrop to represent
the first Christmas. The characters will be accompanied by a donkey, a camel, and an assortment of other animals.
While it is a simple tableau, there is a lot of activity behind the scenes and preparation leading
up to the event. From being a character, to
helping with costumes and make-up, to lighting
and sound, to directing traffic, to preparing
food, to organizing publicity and more, there
are a variety of ways for people to be involved –
even if you cannot be at the event.
For further information, visit the Living Nativity
table in the Narthex or contact Virginia
Lazenby, (512.818.0988) .
Sign-up in the Narthex
to help SGPC
spread the love and
joy of Christmas!
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Celebration of the Ministry
LADIES
of Pastor Jeanie
CHRISTMAS
Sunday, December 22, 11am-1:30pm
LUNCHEON
Members and friends of SGPC are invited to join
in a celebration of Pastor Jeanie’s fourteen
years of ministry here at San Gabriel. Pastor
Jeanie has been a tremendous leader for San
Gabriel taking the church from a group of thirty,
interested in forming a new church on the west
side of Georgetown, to a dynamic church with a
membership of over three hundred.
DECEMBER 12
The celebration will be a special time for thanking Pastor Jeanie for her ministry and to wish
her well on her retirement. It will be a fellowship event with a brief presentation at 11:15.
Finger foods will be provided.
We look forward to seeing you at this special
celebration!
2002
11:30 AM
Cost: $12/person prepaid
Deadline: Sunday, December 8
Sign-up Sheet in the Narthex
►
►
►
Great Fellowship
Gift for each attendee
Fantastic Food
3 Salad plate & Chocolate dessert!
At this holiday season, if
you would like to express
your appreciation to our
staff monetarily, there are
two containers on the desk
in the Narthex.
One is designated for Pastor Jeanie and the other
one is for our staff, which
includes: the Bridges Kids, Crystal, Janette, Karalyn,
Lydia, Minta, both Nancy’s, and Scotty.
Note:
Checks are to be made out to Elder Dwight Henn and
indicate that it is for staff gifts.
2013
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Thank
you, Dwight Henn, Admin Elder
Dick Miller and his daughter
Sherri Miller-Warwick
Page 4
CRAFT NIGHT
The New Hymnal "Glory to God" will be rolled
out in the sanctuary on December 1, the first
Sunday of Advent. It is also the first Day of the
Christian calendar. I really like the new hymnal!
The hymnal project began in 2004 and the final
list of songs and liturgical material was presented to the 220th General assembly in 2013.
The assembly gave its unanimous endorsement.
And now we finally have it at San Gabriel. It has
many of the hymns that are in the past hymnal
as well as some new and old liturgical material.
It also has some new contemporary praise
songs as well as global music.
We will be asking you to actually pick up a hymnal and use it as we introduce and teach new
hymns. An example on the first Sunday of Advent the theme is: "Wake up! Advent is time
to prepare for Christ to come into our lives.
Our opening hymn will be "Awake! Awake and
Greet the New Morn" Marty Haugen wrote the
hymn and the music. Bill Hunt is gathering a
wind ensemble to play during Advent and the
Winds will play the hymn, the choir will sing the
first verse and then we will all sing the first
verse together. Now this will be your favorite
new hymn!
We are so blessed to have this new hymnal. I
look forward to exploring "Glory to God" with
you.
Grace and Peace,
Scotty
Come Sing With Us!
I want to invite you to sing with the choir for
this Advent season. It will be a great way for
you to prepare for the birth of Jesus.
Our next scheduled meeting is on Monday December 2, at 6:30pm for another fun craft night.
Marcella Kyle will show us
how to make our own
bead snowflake for your
tree at home.
She will be providing the supplies as a gift to all
the women.
We hope you join us for another fun night of fellowship. We were told that the scouts at the
church that night said they thought we were having more fun in the library than they were. You
got that right!
BIBLE STUDY
On Monday, December 16, we
will meet in the church library
at 6:30pm for another Bible
study as we prepare for the
season of Christmas.
Our study will be moderated
by Nell Newton and the lesson
is based on Exodus 13:17-15:21, "PASSING
THROUGH THE WATERS.” The key idea for the
discussion is that for Jews and Christians alike the
exodus is tied to the salvation of all peoples.
REMEMBER to mark your calendars for the Mo
Ranch Women's Retreat on March 28-30, 2014.
Registration will be the first of January for all ladies at SGPC as open registration begins January
15. So we need to be ready to mail ours two days
before. Talk with Penny Rymes or Jo Ann Long
for details and information.
We will be glad "to pick you up" for any Presbyterian Women's event!
Blessings,
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Jo Ann Long (512.869.5083)
Penny Rymes (512.260.1147)
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Discipleship
New Women
of Faith Study
Beginning on
January 8!
The Women of Faith begin their winter study
on Wednesday, January 8, at 9:30 with a time
of Christian fellowship and sharing as well as
an introduction to an exciting ten week study
that will start the following Wednesday, January 15. It will be a great time to catch up and
visit, as well as be inspired to dig into the
Word. And maybe a surprise or two!
The new study is entitled Eyewitness to Majesty – Abandoning Self for Christ - See Jesus
at Work through the Eyes of Peter. “Through
this study we will walk along with Peter as he
is an eyewitness to the life of Christ. You will
watch Peter transform from Simon the ordinary fisherman to Peter, fisher of men. Peter
will encourage and inspire you. But most of
all, he will challenge you to develop a deep
and personal relationship with your Savoir. He will motivate you to abandon self for
Christ.”
The study is by Mindy Ferguson, a national
retreat and conference speaker from the
Houston area, who passionately encourages
women to live for Christ. It is an in-depth Bible study in workbook format with emphasis
on personal application. It stirs the heart and
engages the mind, presenting truth with
a balance of conviction and encouragement,
and is sure to generate rich, honest discussions in our small groups. To sign up for the
new study, email Ann Stewart . The cost of
the book should be approximately $12. Invite a friend or neighbor! Deadline for ordering books will be December 18.
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In December the Explorers class will finish
its study of the life and
writings of Dietrich
Bonhoeffer .
The next two Sundays,
Dec. 8 and 15, the class
will look at Presbyterian minister and writer, Frederick Buechner
and his writings and sermons on the Birth of
Christ. Newcomers to the class are always
welcome. The class meets in the Music Room,
and is coordinated by Rev. Dr. Mary Gaines.
The JOY group will meet
on the second Tuesday
this month. They are
half way through their
“When
God
First
Thought of You” study
by Lloyd John Ogilvie on
1-2-3 John.
The OWLS group, which meets on the first
and third Mondays, is continuing their standalone topics through December. If you are
looking for a small group home study experience, contact Ann Stewart, 512.864.840.
The Men's Saturday Fellowship will begin a
new Serendipity Bible study entitled "Mending
Fences: Healing Significant Relationships” this
month. The group meets weekly at 8am in the
music room and all men of the church and
their friends are most welcome.
For more information, contact Gerry Rymes at
512.260.1147.
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Discipleship
WE NEED
YOUR PHOTO
IN THE NEW
The Vineyard class will
conclude their study
Spiritual Gifts in December, but new people are still welcome!
of
“You will receive power” were the last words Jesus
spoke to His disciples. But where is that power today? Through the special gifts given to every Christian, God continues to empower and build His
church. This class is designed to discover what the
Bible teaches to help us think about the meaning
and to expose us to the promises, assurances, exhortations, and challenges of God’s Word.
PICTORIAL
CHURCH
DIRECTORY!
It has been three years since our last pictorial
directory was printed.
So, we are getting
ready to create a new directory and we need
YOU to help make it complete!
Just for participating, YOU get a FREE 8x10
photo and a printed directory!
The study of the Scriptures renews our minds so
that we can be transformed by the Spirit of God. All
you need is a good study Bible (NIV, RSV, NAS,
NRSV; a paraphrase is not recommended). We
meet after worship at 11am on the parking lot side
of the sanctuary.
For your convenience, we have three ways that
you may sign-up! Stop by the desk in the Narthex on Sunday or stop by the church office
during the week, or sign-up online by clicking
on the pictorial directory slide on our website
at www.sgpcgeorgetown.org.
The class topics for December are:
December 1 No Class
December 8 The Fruit of the Spirit
(Galatians 5:13-26)
December 15 The Excellent Way of Love
(1 Corinthians 13:1-13)
Class begins again in January with a new study.
The photos will be ready in time for Christmas,
so if you decide to purchase any additional
photos, there are coupons to help lower the
cost. Bring two cans of food for The Caring
Place to your photo session and get a $5 off
coupon!
The GWIP class, which is primarily parents of young children, although the class is
not limited to this demographic, meets each Sunday
at 11am in the Library.
Photo session dates are December 3-7.
The class is facilitated by Nelda Carpenter.
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Page 7
Thanks to everyone who sent cards for my birthday! I miss all of you very much. God bless all.
I help in the office at the end of the day. I go to
my apartment and watch football awhile and a
few other shows then I go to bed. I go shopping
when I need something and It gives me time to
get a little fresh air. Again I want to thank all of
you at San Gabriel for thinking of me.
God bless you, your friend
Wilder Brown
A special THANK YOU to
all who were able to
come out and help with
the church work day on
Saturday,
November
th
16 . With everyone’s
help, many things were accomplished including
window cleaning, painting, baseboard and door
cleaning, replacing filters, light bulb changing,
mowing, weeding, mulch spreading, and probably
many other things I’m forgetting about. All told,
by conservative estimates, the group of thirty-five
volunteers (see photos on page 16) probably
saved the church over $1,000 in labor costs for
the work that was accomplished.
Go ahead and mark your calendars now for the
spring cleanup day which will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2014. Look for sign-up sheets in
the Narthex in early 2014.
Thank you!
Mike Pehl
San Gabriel congregation and
friends contributed a total of 193
shoeboxes to Operation Christmas
Child! More than double last
year! Many, many thanks to all of
you and especially to Gary and
Sharon Samford who delivered the boxes to the
collection point in Liberty Hill. Please pray for the
journeys of the boxes as they bring joy and the
Word of God to hurting children all around the
world.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FALL 2013 CONFIRMANDS!
Page 8
CHRISTMAS
JOY
OFFERING
DECEMBER 22
Through the Christmas Joy Offering (CJO), Presbyterian congregations have long expressed their
compassion for others, especially for those who
serve the Church. This offering is received for the
equal benefit of the Assistance Program of the
Board of Pensions, which distributes financial assistance to eligible church workers and their families,
and racial ethnic schools and colleges of the PC
(USA).
Today, the Church's decreased size, coupled with
the economic challenges of the times, results in
lower receipts from this offering. Unfortunately,
there has not been a corresponding drop in church
workers' need for financial assistance; rather, the
need continues to grow. Ongoing support of the
Christmas Joy Offering is critical for the Assistance
Program to continue its core ministry: providing
income and housing supplements to qualifying retired church workers and their families, and assistance to eligible church workers and their families
facing unexpected financial needs.
WOW (Worship on Wednesdays) meets on
the first and third Wednesdays at 6pm in the
Sanctuary.
Candlelight Service
of Scripture and Song
December 24—6pm
Christmas Eve Service rehearsal
December 18, 6pm
Volunteers needed to direct
parking on Christmas Eve,
Please contact the church office.
If you are able and willing,
please use overflow parking
area on Christmas Eve to help
with parking for visitors!
All K-5th graders
are invited!
Come join us on
December 4th
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Page 9
Sunday, December 1 at 5:30pm Sr. Highs and YG
Peeps bake cookies and draw names for “Secret
Santa” gifts.
Sunday, December 8 Sr. High and YG Peeps leave
the church at 5:30pm to travel over to Burnet to
see the Bethlehem Village. We will need volunteers to drive and all youth going need to let
Minta McIntosh know so we have enough vehicles
Please let Minta McIntosh know on Sunday if you
want to go. I’ve heard this is a really neat Christmas event.
Friday, December 13 and Saturday, December 14
Annual Live Nativity both nights. The planning
team is looking for children and youth volunteers
to serve as shepherds, sheep, and angels. Parents
will need to assist their children with their costumes! Let Minta McIntosh (512-635-3677) or
Virginia Lazenby (512-818-0988) know if you are
interested in volunteering.
Sunday, December 15, at 5:30pm Sr. Highs and
YG Peeps will be celebrating together with a
Christmas party. They will find out who their
“Secret Santa” is that evening. (Remember to
bring your Secret Santa gift.)
There will not be Sunday School Classes or youth
group meetings on Sunday, December 22 and
Sunday, December 29 for the Christmas break.
Sunday, December22, from 11am-1:30pm: A Celebration of Pastor Jeanie’s Ministry at SGPC.
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Tuesday, December 24, Christmas Eve The Worship
Committee is asking for children and youth to volunteer
to play the parts of shepherds, sheep, angels, camel,
donkey and the star. If you are interested in playing
one of these parts, please contact Minta McIntosh (512
-635-3677) or Rebecca Caldwell (512-591-7491). There
will be a Christmas Eve rehearsal on Wednesday, December 18 at 6pm.. Since this will be Pastor Jeanie’s
last service with us, I am hoping that all of you can
come and be a part of it.
Children’s
The Children’s Ministry continues to have WOW on
first and third Wednesdays from 6-7:30pm. They will
have WOW on Wednesday, December 4, and the
story for the evening will be based on the Luke account of Jesus’ birth.
All children are invited to be part of the Christmas
story as shepherds, angels, etc. on Christmas Eve. On
Wednesday, December 18, at 6pm there will be a rehearsal for all those participating in the Christmas Eve
service. Be sure to come to the rehearse and have a
costume set aside with your name on it for Christmas
Eve. FYI This will be Pastor Jeanie’s last time to lead
us in worship and it would be awesome if all the families could be here to be a part of this Christmas Eve
Service. Please let Rebecca Caldwell (512-591-7491)
or Minta McIntosh (512-635-3677) know if you plan
to participate in this very special service.
Also remember to come and be a part of the Celebration of Jeanie’s ministry on Sunday, December 22 after worship.
Page 10
BSA
Venturing
Crew 911
Scouts
As a key program of the Georgetown Police Department, Blue Santa has provided
toys to underprivileged children annually.
Each year, the Georgetown Police Department, its department volunteers, and individuals and businesses join forces to hold
special events or set up donation barrels
to collect toys. Toys are sorted into ageappropriate categories and special Christmas boxes are filled for families who apply
for assistance.
San Gabriel is once again participating in
the Blue Santa program for underprivileged kids. You can help brighten a child’s
Christmas by bringing in unwrapped toys
and placing them in the “Blue Santa” container in the Narthex.
Thanks for your
help!
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A “model” design for a car/building accident scenario was planned and developed by our SGPC
Venturing Crew 911. They also served as controllers for this twenty-five patient full scale exercise .
The Texas School Nurses Organization asked to offer similar training. In April 2012, the Venturing
Crew 911 scouts again planned, wrote, recruited
actors and controlled two exercises for the TSNO
meeting. One was a fifteen patient scenario with
severe weather and straight-line winds at a sporting event; the other was a seventeen patient gas
main explosion in a cafeteria mass casualty incident. About seventeen nurses participated in the
training, which helped to prepare the Venturing
Crew 911 scouts in order to design and run the
WCNC 2013 exercises, which involved a total of 140
nurses and fifty-six actors. The scouts wrote the
individual actor’s scenarios, and even learned how
to pour and paint their own wound prosthetics using silicone material. In their roles as controllers,
they were involved all summer in the planning for
the exercise.
Page 11
NEW MEMBERS
Wayne & Jan LaVoncher
Wayne and Jan retired to Sun City from Wisconsin in
December 2005. They have been married since June
1964 and have a daughter Wendy living in The
Woodlands TX with her husband Mark. Their son
Jeffrey lives in Wisconsin with their three grandchildren Mason 9, Ava 7 and Kendall 5.
After visiting almost every church in Georgetown
and elsewhere, they are happy to have found San
Gabriel Presbyterian. They enjoy their dog Molly,
bridge, golf, games, traveling and being with friends.
Pastor’s Discretionary Fund: On many
occasions
during
the year, our Deacons identify "crisis"
short-term financial
needs among members of our congregation.
Unfortunately, there are
times when funds
are not available to
meet these crises. We would appreciate it, if you
would donate to the “Pastor’s Discretionary Fund‘
this month. Make your checks out to SGPC, and
indicate Pastor’s Discretionary Fund. Thank you,
Terrace Allebach, Moderator of the Deacons
Shepherds needed: If you feel called to reach out
in care to members of our congregation, please
speak to Terrace Allebach, Moderator of the Deacons, or to another Deacon about becoming a
Shepherd.
REBECCA CALDWELL
RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP
YOU’RE
INVITED!
FROM SYNOD OF THE SUN
FOR HER CONTINUING
COMMISSIONSED RULING
ELDER TRAINING.
All adults are invited to join us for crafts and
conversation on the second and fourth Fridays
from 9:30-11:30am in the music room.
Next meeting will be on December 8
SUPPLIES DELIVERED!
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Page 12
Through
ALPHA
WORKSHOP
FOR
ADULTS
Holidays may be a joyous time of spiritual renewal with family and friends, yet they can
also be difficult for those of us experiencing
stress such as aging, moving, new jobs, death,
divorce, marriage, new child, illnesses, and
other changes.
Transitions: “Making Sense of Life’s Changes
is a six-week discussion group designed to
provide insight, understanding and growth for
those experiencing changes and transitions. It
will be led by Licensed Professional Counselors Carolyn Greer, Ed.D and Nell Newton,
M.Ed.
We held this workshop in August and September, and we had several requests to repeat it
for the holiday season. So we met the first
three weeks in November and will meet
Thursdays in the church music room from 12:30pm on December 5, 12 and 19. This
group is open to all members and visitors.
The Alpha Course, which started September 22,
was completed at the last weekly class on November 17. Twenty-eight people completed the
course with an average attendance each Sunday
evening of twenty-four.
We wish to thank Pastor Jeanie and the Session
for their support of Alpha. We had a wonderful
support team organizing the meals, providing inspiring worship, and leading the small groups.
Thirteen attended the Holy Spirit weekend,
where we experienced a time of knowing and
feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit, studying
the gifts of the Spirit, spiritual renewal and
prayer, concluding with a beautiful Sunday morning worship time with a personal presentation of
the Sunday morning “talk” in an open outdoor
Chapel overlooking the Hill Country. (Those present have expressed that there will be more
times like this to come for San Gabriel.)
We feel very blessed to have been part of this Alpha experience. …. Dick and Mary Carter
Our study is based on the book, TRANSITIONS:
Making Sense of Life’s Changes, second edition, by William Bridges. Please call the
church office at 512.868.0902 to register, and
(should you chose) order the book ($12). It is
also available on Kindle.
If you have questions, contact Nell at
512.863.2662 or Carolyn 512.943.9234.
Alpha retreat group photo taken by Gerry Rymes
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Page 13
Dr. Jeanie Stanley
Session Highlights
At a called meeting on November 9th, the Session received Wayne and Jan LaVoncher into
membership by reaffirmation of faith. At its
regular meeting on November 17th, the Session
approved using scholarship funds to engage a
high school singer for the choir and praise team.
Our Presbyterian Hymnals will be sold for $5
when the new Glory to God hymnals are introduced December 1st. The Worship Ministry will
invite members to donate to a grand piano
fund. The Session approved a youth trip to
Bethlehem at Burnet on December 8. Phyllis
and Larry Perkins will chaperone the youth for
the Mid-Winter Conference in February.
The Session will recommend that the congregation change the by-laws to add an additional
deacon, for a total of eight deacons, at the Annual Congregational Meeting scheduled after
worship on January 26. The Session affirmed
the congregational approval of the new loan
with Independent Bank and designated Dwight
Henn, Don Harper, and Michael Pehl as trustee
signatures. Elders Harper and Frohlich reported
good responses to the pledges of time, talents,
and treasures. The Session will meet on December 19th to consider the 2014 budget based on
funds pledged and otherwise expected. A cash
flow deficit remains for this year, but Elder
Harper anticipates additional donations in December.
Pastor Stanley announced her retirement at the
end of this year and expressed appreciation for
her time serving this congregation. Committee
on Ministry liaison Phil Barnes outlined the transition process, which will include celebrating
Pastor Stanley’s ministry for the next six weeks.
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The Session will create a Transition Team composed of three to five Session members to coordinate leadership in the church and work with the
presbytery to select an interim pastor. A congregational meeting will likely be held after worship December 29 to terminate the pastoral relationship as
of December 31, 2013. Interim pastors are trained
to guide the congregation through a mission reflection, as well as a determination of expectations for
a new pastor. Once these tasks are completed, the
congregation will elect a Pastor Nominating Committee, which will conduct a national search for a
new pastor. Although the Session received the
news with sadness, they also wished Pastor Stanley
joy in retirement. The next regular meeting of the
Session will be Sunday, December 15, at 12:15pm.
Congregational Meeting
At a meeting of the SGPC Congregation and Corporation held at the close of worship on November
17, members voted to refinance the loan on the
church building and property with Independent
Bank at an interest fixed rate of 4.45% for the next
five years and the following five years at Prime plus
one with a ceiling of 6%. The loan was previously
approved by the Mission Presbytery Board of Trustees. The new loan will lower monthly payments
from the current $9,866.28 to approximately
$8,060.46. The loan balance is $1,057,101.97.
The loan changes passed unanimously and appreciation expressed to Finance Elder Don Harper,
Treasurer Leonard Kropp, and the Finance Ministry.
Page 14
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Growing up in the suburban sprawl of Los Angeles,
my family would pile into
the car once-a-week during December to spend an
hour or so driving by
houses lit by Christmas
Tim Gray
lights. Our own neighborhood had “nicer areas” but
it was the “really nice” areas of L.A. that went all
out. I remember a particular house in Pasadena
called the "Ice Cream House." It was named this
way not only because of the ice cream that was
handed out by its owners from the front door, but
also because it was owned by a local owner of an
ice cream factory. In my head, it rivaled the Seven
Wonders of the World: the walls of the three
story mansion were covered by string after string
of lights, there were animatronic characters including Garfield, Peanuts and other popular cartoons sliding, dancing and even driving a reindeer
drawn sleigh.
Each year I was so excited for these moments-time with my family, the twinkling lights, the
songs that surrounded the entire season. This was
time away from the worries and stress of school,
and it pointed towards that annual morning of
opening presents and eating good food.
As much as I want to remember and even recreate these memories for my own child, I've lost
much of the wonder that so excited me. I hear
Christmas carols on the radio and I think,
"Already? It isn't even Thanksgiving yet!" I look at
our budget and think, "I can't imagine Jesus
would have wanted so many to go into debt for
his birthday..." Along with so many wars around
the world continuing right through Christmas, I
wonder where the peace is that we sing about?
The small world that I lived in as a child, that was
so easily made peaceful, isn't a reality for me anymore.
What might help me find that peace (and perhaps
others who have never found peace during the
holidays) is a real look at what Christmas and Advent stands for in the church's liturgical calendar.
The liturgical calendar is an annual cycle for worBack to Main Directory
ship to follow which begins with Advent and ends with
Christ the King Sunday. Why does it start with Advent?
Because of what Christmas stands for: the fulfillment
of our hope of God's reconciliation with this world.
It's easy to think of Christmas as a celebration and remembrance of what has happened in the past: there
was a mother and father in a barn, there were angels
and a star, and there was a small baby who was to
grow into this Savior for a people. We have our children and adults play these roles in our church, recreating for us this historical event. But if this is all that we
celebrate, we are rejoicing in something that has already happened--it is in the past and only available to
us in old dusty books.
This isn't the Jesus and new covenant that we celebrate every Sunday morning, is it? Jesus isn't locked
away in our collective memories is he? No. Jesus lives!
Jesus is here now transforming and gathering us together. And it is to Jesus that we pray for the reconciling of this world--for wars to end, for the provision of
abundance where we have so little. Christmas is not
just the remembering of what has happened, but the
celebration of the fulfillment of what will be. And this is
where Advent fits perfectly into our liturgical seasons.
The world is as broken now as it was in the times of
Jacob, King David and the prophets. Wars, hate, destruction; we yearn for peace, love, for the Kingdom
and reign of God. Advent is the cry out for Christ's coming, for the reconciling of this world for God's glory.
And Christmas is the celebration of God's promise to
do so each and every year.
So, then where does that leave our Christmas lights?
Are those warm feelings surrounding these traditions
gone, grown out of me like my youth itself?
There are many things wrong with our Christmas celebrations, but I'm beginning to re-understand my time
spent looking at and setting up my own Christmas
lights. Every house's lights, no matter its size or scope,
are incomplete. They're shiny, creative and they draw
us in, but they're also just lights. Their electricity will
run out, their lights will burn out and eventually stop
working. It is in that moment that they point to something permanent, even timeless, to when beauty won't
be impermanent--when the world will be drawn together to God's eternal glory. Those twinkling lights
make me hope for a time when God will come and
make all things new, when peace will be a real tangible
thing and justice will reign true in all things.
Page 15
WORK DAY
Giving through SGPC:
How We Serve
As Christ with God’s grace gave His life
freely to us, you in turn by giving a portion
of what you have are helping share the
Good News throughout the world. The results of your gifts are multi-fold with this
same objective: missions, education, worship, outreach, nurture and fellowship.
Methods of bestowing financial gifts to the
church have multiplied over time with the
advent of the electronic age. In the next
few weeks, the Finance Ministry will be
publishing material that will assist you in
understanding some of these options that
are or will be made available to you.
We also want to convey that when we ask
for fiduciary gifts (as are all types of gifts)
to San Gabriel Presbyterian Church that
you are expressing your discipleship for
and faith in God’s mission in the world.
How you give has become easier. Remembering to
write a check every once in a while, carrying it to
Church and remembering to put it in the offering
plate can be replaced by setting up automatic or
one-time electronic payments to the Church.
And if you wish to give non-cash financial assets,
such as stocks, bonds or mutual funds, we will also
assist you with how to do that. Since there are
great income tax advantages to you by transferring
these financial instruments at this time of the year,
we will start with that method. Copies of these instructions will be available at any time in the
church narthex.
Watch for more news about financial ways you can
help prepare and accomplish God’s work in us-your church family!
Finance Ministry
“As each has received a gift,
use it to serve one another,
As good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
1 Peter 4:10
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Page 17
Check out the “yellow pages” in the Narthex to see what tasks you would be willing to help with. There are jobs for everyone, regardless of your energy or skill
level!
Finance Ministry Report 2013
Submitted by Don Harper, Finance Elder
The Contributions and expenses by month are:
MISSION FINANCIAL REPORT - OCT. 2013
INCOME:
12% of General Fund goes to Missions
EXPENDITURES:
PC(USA) Missions:
$ 1,897.65
Includes: Missionary Support,
Funds to support PC(USA) Medical
Benevolence Foundation, Children’s
Home, Theological Education,
Local Benevolences
$ 580.79
Includes: Scouts, Faith in Action, Meals
on Wheels, Backpack Buddies, Caring
Place, Ministerial Alliance
Discretionary: Grace PC
$ 200.00
Staff Support: DCE
$ 383.33
Seminary Intern
$1,076.50
TOTAL MISSIONS:
$ 4,138.27
OTHER MISSION CONTRIBUTIONS:
Caring Place
$ 120.00
Disaster Relief PCUSA)
$ 320.00
Special Offering: Caregivers $
20.00
Peacemaking $ 918.00
Peacemaking-25% to WCCAC $ 306.00
TOTAL OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS: $ 1,684.00
We continued to experience a negative cash
flow of $8,491.00 in October. We took action
at our congregational meeting to refinance
our mortgage which reduces our monthly payment. That coupled with the actions mentioned last month will help our negative cash
flow in the future. The projection is to turn
positive in December.
The Stewardship Campaign is in the final
stage of contacting a few loyal givers to get
their pledges turned in. We will give a final report at that time. However, we can report that
the number of pledges has increased above
last year.
Thanks to all of you that have pledged. This is
a tremendous help in preparing a budget to
achieve the SGPC goals for the coming year.
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DIRECT
DEPOSIT
Have you considered having your general fund
pledge direct deposited to SGPC? Even if you
are out-of-town, sick or unable to attend
church, your financial support continues in your
absence.
If you are interested, forms are available on the
display board in the Narthex. All you have to do
is fill out the form and return it to either Leonard
Kropp , Don Harper or Karalyn Bearden!
Page 18
01 Chuck & Carolyn Ali (1st)
07 Bill & Karen Patterson (28th)
12 Chuck & Tammy Baerman (54th)
17 Sean & Ginger Mann (19th)
18 Herb & Martha Ulbricht (66th)
19
Gary & Sharon Samford (54th)
20
Bill & Katie Knodle (55th)
John & Sandra Isbell (38th)
22
Jim & Beth McCullough (57th)
Fred & Susan Strahm (48th)
23
Tom & Kathy Kilburg (46th)
24
Ben & Judy McCrary (47th)
27
Terry & Karen Blevins (36th)
Chad & Jennifer Ford (16th)
Eric & Brenda Urben (10th)
28
Mel & Joan Ulferts (62nd)
DECEMBER 1—12 NOON—SANCTUARY
Lunch meeting with Dr. Don Bonner, a friend of
SGPC, who will talk about the expansion of the
Wesleyan facilities, which are a blessing to us all!
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01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
Terry Blevins
Catherine Ogburn
Tom Kilburg
Dan Fossler
Billl Hunt, Lawrence Way
Luise Dyke
Lance Burrow
Joan Ulferts
Harry Freeman, Caroline Such
09 Janette Donaldson
12 Bill Dixon
13 Peggy Dickens, Chris Robinson,
Maggie Salmon, Jayden Mann
14 Jeff Hill
15 Gerry Rymes
16 Sharon Samford
18 Larry Stewart
19 Preston Perkins
22 Mel Ulferts
27 Darlene Fugitt
Dan, Joan & Elda
29 Elda Steury
Happy 80th
30 Mike Weir
Birthday!
31 Oliver Gee
Page 19
Remembered in Prayer
"O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in
your presence this day." I Kings 8:28
Serving in the Military
Health Concerns
Heidi Winter-Johnson
Peg Case
Mary Gaines
Chuck Baerman
Tammy Baerman
Joe & Cordelia Razek
Jeannie Wood
Joann Schoen
Hank Ulbricht
Wilder Brown
Dave Vernooy
Herb Ulbricht
Sandra Isbell
Dick Miller
John Harvick
Mike Donaldson
Mark Elley
Jane Hammerbeck
Joan Lawrence
Ruth Grimaldo
Sympathy
Michael Zemel, on the loss
of his mother Jane
In our thoughts and prayers...
PV1
(Erma Patton grandson)
Spec Clay Jenkins
(J.C. & Jo Ann Long’s grandson)
LCpl James Lenz
(Joyce & Thurm Slack’s grandson)
LCpl Ronnie Sharp
(son of friends of Pat Rehm)
TSgt Chandra Kurkowski
(sister of Amber & Chuck Witt)
Sgt
SSgt
M-Sgt
M-Sgt
1Sgt
WO2
Those who need a job
Those who are traveling
Those with financial concerns
Those with family issues
Those who need to sell a house
PC(USA) Missionaries:
Jeff & Christi Boyd and
Family, Cameroon
Liz Searles, Romania
Back to Main Directory
Nick Friesen
(Emily Parsons’ nephew)
Robert E. McClanahan
(Minta McIntosh’s grandson)
Jesse Mahannah (member)
Jeremy Marmet USAF
(Nancy Cogar’s grandson)
Erik McLeod
(Eddie & Vickie Shipman’s nephew)
Jordan Hardin
(Dick Miller’s grandson)
1LT
1LT
Other Concerns
Sean Lewis
Dan Sieloff (member)
Will Zorn
(friend of Emily Parsons)
LT
James M. Missler USN
(Norma Walston’s cousin)
CDR William B. Cogar
(Nancy Cogar’s brother)
MAJ
Sean Baerman
MAJ
Michael Slack
(Joyce & Thurm Slack’s son)
Ted Read
(Chuck Baerman’s nephew)
LTC
(Ron Trapp's son-in-law)
Page 20
CURRENT CALENDAR:
You can get the latest
updates on what is
happening at the
Church at our web
site.
http://www.sgpcgeorgetown.org/calendar.php
San Gabriel Presbyterian Church
5404 Williams Drive
Georgetown, Texas 78633
(512) 868-0902
Email: [email protected]
http://www.sgpcgeorgetown.org
Reporters: Anne Frohlich, Terrace Allebach,
Norma Walston, Minta McIntosh,
Photos:
Patricia Raglin, Buddy Bradford,
Dawn Pehl, Minta McIntosh,
Janette Donaldson
Editor/Production: Janette Donaldson
_____________________
Saturday, December 14
8am in the Narthex
ALL MEN ARE INVITED!
San Gabriel Presbyterian Church - Session
Dr. Jeanie Stanley, Moderator
Cheryl Abernathy (Communications/Life)
Anne Frohlich (Nurture)
Dwight Henn (Personnel & Insurance)
Don Harper (Finance)
Virginia Lazenby (Outreach/Life)
Mike Locke (Mission)
Michael Pehl (Building & Grounds)
Pat Rehm (Children/Youth Discipleship)
Rebecca Caldwell (Worship)
Norma Walston (Adult Discipleship)
Ann and Mike Weir (Clerk)
San Gabriel Presbyterian Church - Deacons
Terrace Allebach, Moderator
George Coffey
Ann Brown
Dr. Steve Brown
Dr. Ben McCrary
Rosemary Detrich
Lori Trenk
Minta McIntosh painting the YG Peeps logo
on the wall in The Peeps Nest
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Page 21