Out of Gratitude We Give Inside this Issue · 2017. 12. 11. · in God’s generosity, reminding us that God not only provides seed for sowing and bread for food, but God goes further,

C A R M I C H A E L P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H

Volume LVII Number 11 December 2017/January 2018

Inside this

Issue:

From Pastor Keith 2

From Pastor Ivan 4

Write Your Life Story

5

Stephen Ministry 7

Welcome, New Members!

8

Health Ministry Matters

9

Choir Retreat 2017 11

Brick by Brick 12

In Our Church Family

12

A Special Thank You

13

Presbyterian Women

14

Library Corner 15

Scuttlebutt 16

Dinners for 6,7,8 20

The Marathon is Coming

22

in God’s generosity, reminding us that God not only provides seed for sowing and bread for food, but God goes

further, part-nering in hu-man generos-ity both as a source and as amplification. The gifts we give are from God, and they are mul-tiplied and

increased by God as we give. The result of

(Continued on page 3)

Out of Gratitude We Give Christmas Joy Offering December 17

“Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift.”

– 2 Corinthians 9:15

The Christmas Joy Offering cele-brates the birth of Jesus Christ, the truly “indescribable gift”, as well as the gifts of church leaders – past, present and future.

In the second letter to the Corinthi-ans, Paul talks of a generous gift that has

been promised. As he sends folks ahead to make arrangements for this gift, he takes the opportunity to illu-

minate the impact of generosity. Paul grounds readers first

ner, and hand off the key to the person spending the night. Overnight People ar-rive at 8:30 p.m. and spend the night in the church library (you can bring your own sleeping bag if you wish). They wake up our guests at 6:00 a.m. and unlock the Parlor so they can get a quick


Family Promise Needs You in January

Family Promise is coming to Carmichael Presbyterian Church Jan-uary 21-28. We are in special need of two kinds of volun-teers each day—Day Hosts and Overnighters—to help us make the week a

success. You will re-ceive training and have the opportunity to

shadow someone doing the job if you

like.

Day Hosts serve from 5:00-8:30 p.m. They unlock the rooms and provide support to dinner and hospital-ity volunteers. They join our guests for din-

Page 2 The Mission Bell—December 2017/January 2018

Pastor Keith DeVries Writes:

“With Appreciation …” Lisa Torgerson is one of

our longest serving staff mem-bers, dedicating her life and her ministry to the children and youth of CPC for nearly 20 years. Lisa has served as the Childcare Coordinator, Di-rector of Chil-dren’s Ministries and the Youth Director. At dif-ferent times dur-ing her tenure, her employment status has been part-time, half-time, full-time and now more than full-time as she serves concurrently as the Director of Children’s Min-istry and as our Youth Direc-tor.

The Personnel Committee has long recognized Lisa’s many contributions to the lives of our children and youth, her lengthy term of ser-vice, and what an amazing job she has done and continues to do, thus they have approved a sabbatical leave for her. Sab-baticals are meant to provide time away from the routines of work so that one might dis-cover a time of renewal and extended rest and be given the opportunity to re-establish healthy rhythms in life. They are available to both pastors and Christian educators and normally happen over a three

month period of time. You might remember that Pastor Ivan took a three month sab-

batical in 2016. Lisa has chosen to experience her sabbati-cal leave in a slightly dif-ferent way, choosing to take three mini-sabbaticals of one month each starting at the end of

2017. Lisa will be on her first mini-sabbatical starting Dec. 18, then again starting on April 2nd and finally for one month in the fall of 2018.

In Lisa’s absence, Mary

MacDonald, chair of the Christian Education Division, will oversee the children’s ministry portion of her job, while other adult leaders will fill in for Lisa’s youth ministry responsibilities, insuring that all the bases will be covered during her sabbatical leave.

So, don’t be surprised when you don’t see Lisa dur-ing the week or on Sunday during those times. Keep Lisa and her family in your prayers and drop her a note sometime expressing your gratitude for all that she does for the chil-dren and youth of CPC. Thanks, Lisa!

And may the blessings of God’s love incarnate during this season of Advent, Christmas and the New Year be with you always,

Pastor Keith

Save the Date! Annual Meeting of the

Congregation

Sunday, January 28 12:30 p.m.

in McMillen Hall

The program includes lunch, fellowship, the budget for 2018; electing ruling

elders, deacons & nominating committee members; the 2017 annual report; and

Terms of Call for our pastors.

Watch the Sunday Parish Notes for details!

Page 3 Volume LVII, Number 11

THE MISSION BELL

(USP 593-640) Published Monthly by

CARMICHAEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

5645 Marconi Ave., Carmichael, CA 95608

Periodicals Postage Paid at Carmichael, CA 95608

Postmaster send address changes to:

Mission Bell 5645 Marconi Ave.

Carmichael, CA 95608

the generous gift made by the Corinthians therefore has a compounding effect, enriching the Co-rinthians “in every way.” It results in impact to those whose need is met, and the ministry made possible by the gift – to the giver of the gift as well. It then over-flows in thanks-giving to God and benefits the whole church as it in-spires and testifies to the gracious work of God through Christ. It is that grace, then, that Paul describes as “indescribable.”

Through the work of the Christmas Joy Offering, we seek the living of this truth: that God’s generosity is the source, the support, and the

(Continued from page 1)

… Christmas Joy Offering ... outcome of our own. We give because God has freely given.

We give to support the needs of our church leaders – past, present, and future- and God amplifies and extends those gifts through the ministry of those leaders. Their gifts of

ministry extend and amplify as well, “overflowing” in

thanksgiving to God, and the entire en-

vironment of generosity bears witness to God’s grace, a truly inde-scribable gift.

In gratitude to God for the gift of Jesus, we are asked to join this celebration of God pres-ence with us by supporting those in need of help and hope.

Thank you for your support of

this life-changing Of-fering. The Christmas Joy Of-fering supports church work-ers and their families in need and nurtures the promise of our future racial ethnic lead-ers.

Did You Know ?

The Christmas Joy Offering Provides: • $1.1 million of gifts from 2016 are currently be-

ing used to provide critical financial support and

grants for current and retired Presbyterian church

workers in their time of need.

• Housing supplements from the Board of Pensions

helped more than 211 households remain in their

homes, afford assisted living, or long-term care.

• Income supplements from the Board of Pensions

helped nearly 291 households, assisting retired

workers and surviving spouses with the means to

provide for themselves.

• Shared and Emergency Grants from the Board of

Pensions helped more than 110 households fac-

ing times of great financial need or uncertainty

due to unforeseen circumstances.

Any contributions that you would like included on your 2017 giving statement MUST be received by 12:00 noon on

Wednesday, December 27. If you have not completed your 2017 pledge, or can make an additional gift, please do so by Decem-ber 27.

If you have any questions, please contact Paul Shultz, Financial Administrator at [email protected] or 486-9081.

Year-End Gifts


From Pastor Ivan Herman:

“Christmas Blues, Christmas Joy” Charlie Brown: [Charlie

Brown and Linus stop at a wall on their trip to the pond for ice skating] I think there must be something wrong with me, Li-nus. Christmas is coming, but I'm not happy. I don't feel the way I'm supposed to feel… I just don't understand Christmas, I guess. I like getting presents and sending Christmas cards and decorating trees and all that, but I'm still not happy. I always end up feeling depressed.

Linus Van Pelt: Charlie Brown, you're the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem. Maybe Lucy's right. Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you're the Charlie Browniest. — A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965 TV Short)

While the holidays can be a time for merriment, they can also be a time for holiday de-pression and the Christmas blues for many. We feel the loss of loved ones most acutely at holidays and the constant refrains of “Happy Holidays” may not reflect what we really feel inside. Many people struggle during this sea-son. They may be dealing with a recent health diagnosis, a separation from family, a search for employment, or may be feeling the loss of a dream of a future as it should have been, but will never be.

Amid all our December ac-tivities, we often approach Christmas and don’t feel

ready, and that, too, can be a source of tension and stress. Perhaps all our busy-ness gets in the way of real preparation. As retailers vie for every available dollar and begin their Christmas market-ing in October, by the time Christmas begins on December 25 most of us are worn out and ready to pitch out the tree and its trimmings on the next day.

How can we get ready, then, without being over-whelmed and spent? How can we be truly ready for Christmas even if we are weighed down with sadness? One approach: in-stead of celebrating Christmas for the entire month of Decem-ber, celebrate the season of Ad-vent! The four weeks preced-ing the twelve days of Christ-mas (Dec. 25-Jan. 6) are all about preparation. Consider what Larry Stookey, in Calen-dar: Christ’s Time for the Church has to say on Ad-vent: “Because it precedes Christmas, many have misun-derstood Advent as a time to get ready to celebrate the com-ing of a child in Bethlehem. In fact, the primary focus of Ad-vent is on what is popularly called ‘the second com-ing.’ Thus Advent concerns the future of the Risen One, who will judge wickedness

and prevail over every evil. Advent is the celebration of the promise that Christ will bring an end to all that is con-trary to the ways of God; the resurrection of Jesus is the first sign of this destruction of the powers of death, the inaugura-tion and anticipation of what is yet to come in fullness. Ad-vent begins with the future: ‘The reign of God is com-

ing. Prepare!’ And it ends with the past: ‘Messiah will be born in Bethle-hem. Re-

joice!’ The sacred story, to be understood aright, has to be read backward. Just as the birth and ministry of Jesus are incomprehensible until we know of the Lord’s death and resurrection, so too the whole of the past is muddled unless first we have a grasp on the nature of the future.”

When we celebrate Advent instead of focusing on roman-ticized seasonal traditions, we turn our attention on a future that is always in God’s hands. That future orientation does not let us escape our pre-sent or retreat to a rosy past that never was, but rather equips us to move forward knowing that Christ is always present with us no matter what. In that is our Christmas joy.


breakfast before the Family Promise van picks them up at 7:00 a.m.. The overnight per-son then locks up the rooms and returns the key to the of-fice. You can sign up to do overnight with another person if you would like.

We also have opportuni-ties for people who would like to cook a meal, provide fel-lowship with the children, or help “tear down” on the last Sunday before church.

Family Promise is a non-

(Continued from page 1) profit organization that works with churches and synagogues across the Sacramento area to provide housing and meals for newly homeless families so that they can get back into their own housing. CPC hosts Family Promise families four times a year for a week at a time. During that time, fami-lies sleep here (in the second floor children’s classrooms), shower here, and have even-ing meals and social time. During the day, children go to school, and parents receive counseling and job assistance,

or they work. Not having to pay for rent or food allows families the ability to save enough to pay for housing de-posits.

Family Promise families are so appreciative of the sup-port they get from our church—we are making a real difference in their lives.

CPC Family Promise lead-ers are glad to explain what’s involved. If you have any questions or want to know more, call Carol Jones.

… Family Promise …

Participants in The 3rd Act sessions held during spring 2017 expressed an interest in having a Life Story Group at CPC. As you think about what you will want to do in the New Year consider coming to our CPC Life Sto-

ry Group. The Reverend Judith Davis of Bethany Presbyterian Church will lead our group. Judith has a Storytelling Ministry. It is one of the Presbyterian

Church (USA)’s 1001 New Worshipping Communities.

By joining us in this new group you will be able to write your life story. This is a positive way to recall your own significant matters, realize how you have grown and coped. It will help you identify the person you really are, with your unique experiences, strengths, beliefs, values and relationships. Over your lifetime you have learned so much and shared with others. You may find that you can add closure to some nagging issues by writing about them. You will be able to share what you want to share with loved ones now and possibly with your future generations.

Have you ever wondered about a family member who has lived and passed on? Would you like to have known more about the life he or she lived, what was accomplished, joys and challenges faced and who that person really was? Did you want to know how their faith journey influenced their lives? Instead of just thinking that you will record some of your memories someday, why not actually join with others here and “just do it!”

This is your personal invitation to sign up between services in the Gathering Place during Janu-ary for the CPC Life Story Group beginning in February. There will be six sessions at every other Wednesday afternoon from 2:00-3:30 p.m., with the first session on February 28, 2018.

A special request: We are looking for a CPC member who is comfortable writing and who will become a co-leader with the Reverend Judith Davis. To discuss this further please contact Joan Hur-lock by email at [email protected] or call.

Are You Ready to Write Your Life Story? by Joan Hurlock



December & January is a time that we celebrate our Lord’s birth and remember that God gives us new life. Many people struggle during these months especial-ly, feel-ing lone-ly, hurt, and overwhelmed by circum-stances in their lives. As Christians, we can reach out and be a “cup of cold water” to a thirsty soul. We can be there to listen, encourage and demonstrate God’s love by our presence.

Doing so, some people dis-cover that this is a gift that God has given them—a calling to give people compassion and support when they need it most. – Would this be you? – Would you like to be helping people in a ministry that also will make a difference in your own life? Consider becoming a Stephen Minister!

Stephen Ministers are members of our congregation who provide one-to-one confi-dential, caring ministry to peo-ple experiencing grief, divorce, job loss, hospitalization, and many other life difficulties, with which they feel over-

whelmed. Stephen Ministers are not expected to provide “answers” to those problems;

they walk alongside the individual, providing a listening ear and a sound-ing board, demonstrat-ing God’s love and presence.

As a Stephen Minister, you’ll be

equipped to provide a very high level of care. After your training, our Stephen Leaders will match you with someone in need of care—men are matched with men, women with women. You’ll meet with that person once a week to listen, care, pray, encourage, and reflect Christ’s presence in his or her life. Stephen Minis-try is life-changing for both the care receiver and the Ste-phen Minister. As an added bonus, your Stephen Minister skills can enhance relation-ships in other areas of your life as well.

A Stephen Minister recent-ly shared how his spiritual life was enhanced through his car-ing ministry with his care re-ceiver. “I didn’t used to pray much except when I needed help, until as a Stephen Minis-ter, I had my first care receiv-er. The second time I met with

Learn, Serve & Grow as a Stephen Minister by Misty Dunn, Stephen Minister/Stephen Leader

him, I asked him if he’d like to pray. He immediately said, “yes.” At first, I was a little nervous praying aloud, but I could see and feel the burden lift from both of us as we prayed. Now I understand the power of prayer. It’s not just uplifting for the care receiver but also for the caregiver. It’s like a breath of fresh air and the feeling is ongoing. Our whole attitude changes; it feels like, maybe, prayer at the end of our time together leaves us with a boost for the whole week.”

To learn about others’ ex-periences serving as Stephen Ministers, visit stephenminis-tries.org/SM. Then, prayerful-ly consider whether Stephen Ministry might be a way that God wants you to serve. CPC is planning to begin a new training class this January. We’d love to have YOU join other CPC members who are interested in learning and practicing skills to be a distinc-tively Christian caregiver.

If you are interested in learning more about this car-ing ministry at CPC, how to receive care from a Stephen Minister, or how to become a Stephen Minister, please con-tact any of the Stephen Lead-ers: Kelly Holland, John Wal-

lace, Len Tozier, Mary Thom-

as, or Misty Dunn.


Welcome, New Members! These folks were received by Session as members of Carmichael Presbyterian Church on October

28 and welcomed during worship on November 19. It is our joy and privilege to welcome them into our faith community! Photos by Bruce & Sharon MacLean

Brian Grenoble

Michael Miller

Kristen Miller

Sharleen Millering

Hal Millering

Mariam Ortega

Clark Smith

Ricky Horvath


An oppor-tunity is coming for Carmichael Presbyterian Church people to participate in the 2018 Presby-terian Older Adult Ministries Network conference to be held at the Zephyr Point Presbyteri-an Conference Center June 5-8, 2018. This is a national confer-ence that is being held in our midst.

The theme is Savoring the Journey “So that time of re-freshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:20).

Here is your personal invi-tation to save the date and possibly request a scholarship. Scholarships will be available from the Sacramento Presby-tery’s Health and Older Adult Ministry Task Force. Contact Shelley Mitchell at [email protected] for a schol-arship application form or pick up a copy in the CPC church office.

Registration for the confer-ence will open in January. An-ticipated registration fees are $350 for non-member of POAMN or $250 for POAMN members. Room and board at Zephyr Point: double occu-pancy will range from $250-$523. Some cabins may be available to share where each group prepares their own

Health Ministry Matters by Joan Hurlock

ters. Perhaps you and others from CPC can continue involvement fo-cused on older adults as I am now making plans to

relocate as I continue to live my life as an aging older adult. Please consider this your invitation to explore is-sues and dimensions of grow-ing older with the support of our church and connections with POAMN. Blessings.

POAMN is the Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network, a network of persons who are en-gaged in ministry with older adults. These people work in presbyteries and synods, they are leaders in congregations and some serve in specialized minis-tries such as chaplains in care facilities and presbytery staff who are involve with older adult min-istry Committees. POAMN is related to the Presbyterian Mis-sion Agency of PC(USA).

meals.

This will be an opportunity to learn and grow in ways to promote church development that considers our older adults. I have found inspira-tion and information through POAMN to foster program-ming such as to develop the manual “Taking Care of Busi-ness” that is now available on the CPC website and create the series of sessions held last spring called The 3rd Act. And attended by many of our older adults.

I have been an active mem-ber of POAMN for the past 4 years and have obtained bene-fits from their yearly planning guide and quarterly newslet-

Thank you for supporting the Deacons Christmas

Basket Project! A friendly reminder that wrapped gifts are due

Sunday, December 10.

And, we still need delivery drivers for

Sunday, December 17.

Questions? Contact Julie Ueltzen

at 486-9081 or [email protected]


Come One, Come All!

Thursday, December 7 at 1:00 p.m.

McMillen Hall featuring the

El Camino High School Madrigal Choir

Please join us for an afternoon of seasonal Christmas music and carols brought to us by the marvelous El Camino High School Madrigal Choir.

Enjoy a wonderful dessert from Jackson Catering and Events, along with the “Jan Stone Opportunity Table” and this year’s Honorary Service Award.

Your $5 donation supports the students and the leadership of the ECHS Madrigal Choir.

Reservations are required and can be made by signing up between services in the Gathering Place, or calling Carolee Roach or Ginny Rodgers by December 4.

Advent Gathering


This year we went someplace new for re-treat. It was a leap of faith – faith that we would sing, worship, share, dine, and recreate in the new place, Leoni Meadows, as we had at Zephyr Point, Lake Tahoe. We did, and we didn’t. Why? When circumstances change, new vistas appear, new conversations en-sue, and new possibilities emerge.

The old still peppered the new. Randy Benfield chal-lenged us with many pieces to practice in his patient, kind, and careful way. Trina Spi-

vack accompanied us with her usual good-natured intensity. Dave Studer entertained us with his wry humor. John

and Debbie Cameron’s enthu-siastic support and overflow-ing love inspired us. Darrell

and Mary Torgerson’s pres-ence, despite the aches and pains, brought perspective.

This year’s theme, “Embracing Change with Thanksgiving,” helped us re-

CPC Choir Retreat 2017

Change Was Blowing in the Wind by Beth Lindley

flect upon what we were all experiencing together, as a choir, and separately

as individuals, navigating new paths with some trepidation and looking longingly back toward old, familiar ones. Each year the choir sections take turns doing the devotion-als and Sunday worship expe-rience. From the sopranos we heard that change is part of God’s plan, that God will be with us through all the chang-es, and that familiar things help us feel at home in a new place. During the basses’ turn, John Simpson moved many of us to tears with his recitation of the lyrics, “Love Them Now” by Avery and Marsh: “Love them now. Don’t wait till they’re gone away. Love them now, while they’re around. Touch them, hold them, laugh and cry with them.”

Leoni Mead-ows is a Christian camp and retreat cen-ter near Grizzly Flats in El Dorado County. Staff mem-bers were

welcoming, friendly, and ac-commodating. Everyone enjoyed the yummy vege-tarian meals. Dur-

ing our free time on Saturday afternoon, we had the option of touring the original Leoni House, visiting the Nature Center, or going on a Zipline tour.

Seven fun-loving, daring choir members took the zip-line tour. It was actually three ziplines. The first was the longest, a quarter-mile of swinging, whizzing fun, up to 200 feet above the ground! Sally Willey was the first to brave the step off the platform, high up in a large sugar pine. Thamsyne Brown called it a “leap of faith.” The wild ride ended on a similar platform high up in another sugar pine. Sally gripped that tree so hard that she had reddened inden-tations in the palms of her hands. After that first run, I (Continued on page 12)

Photos by Beth Lindley


Doors, Doors and More Doors – During 2017 we have seen door replacements and repairs to all exterior doors in the Narthex of the Sanctuary. What a huge im-provement that has been especially with the installation of the stained glass windows in the new copper-clad double doors at the front of the church. What a beautiful way to welcome our congregation and guests.

B&G is hoping in 2018 to enhance the appearance of the church by replacing the weath-er-worn double doors at the entrance to the Gathering Place and the other set at the en-trance to the walkway up to the Welcome Center. Because these are interior doors, they are neither as secure nor as en-ergy efficient as the double doors that were replaced earli-er this year at the exit of the walkway near the Welcome

Center. We would greatly ap-preciate your willingness to help with the replacement of

these doors. If you are willing to partici-pate in this endeav-or, please contact Dick Jacobi, B&G Committee Chair, who may be reached

at [email protected].

Microwave Oven – The oven in the kitchen of the Par-lor needs to be replaced be-cause the paint is peeling off the interior of the oven. Our Family Promise guests often use that microwave when heating up items when they arrive after dinner has been served or in the morning for making a quick breakfast. If you have an oven which you no longer need, we would ap-preciate you contacting Dick Jacobi. It need not be a large oven because it will be used mainly for reheating.

Brick by Brick by Olene Chard, Buildings & Grounds Committee

In Our Church Family

Please lift up in prayer these members of our church family who have recent-ly lost loved ones:

Dorothy Woodstrom and family on the loss of her husband, Jim Woodstrom

on October 20.

the family of Rich Blair—

in-laws Dave & Marie Se-

gur, wife Janet, and chil-dren Lynette and Robyn— who passed away on October 22.

Mary Balkow, founder of CPC’s Mission Bells, and family on the loss of her husband, Bob Balkow, on October 30.

The family of Hazel An-

gell, who passed away on November 4.

dubbed us the Adrenaline Shakes Club. The second was steeper than the others, and thus the fast-est, to their delight. John Cameron got stuck when he let go of the white rope at the other end and got a bonus ride back to the middle, where he waited for our guide, George, to rescue him. The third and shortest ride returned us to the non-swaying ground. I managed to get videos with my phone while zipping along. What a rush! Just ask Carol Piper, Bob Brumm, Sally Willey, John Cameron,

Debbie Cameron, Thamsyne Brown, or me!

We may have exchanged a lake for a meadow, but it came with its own beauty and enchant-ments, like the early-morning mist hovering over the meadow, the thrumming of a zipline, or the stagecoaches to explore and imagine past adventures. As changes blow through us and over us, re-member that God is with us every step (and leap) of the way!

(Continued from page 11)

… Choir Retreat ...


Christmas Pageant

Sun. December 10 at 10:00 a.m. McMillen Hall

The “Fumbly Bumbly Angels” are coming to CPC. They and all of the children of

CPC invite you to join them as they search for the manger in Bethlehem.

Dear Friends,

Thank you so very much for the meals, cards, prayers, and support

during Lynn’s surgery and re-covery. What a blessing it is to have such a wonderful church family! We are grateful for all of you.

In God’s love,

Paul & Lynn Shultz

A Special Thank You

CLEAN OUT YOUR

CLOSETS AND DONATE

NEW AND GENTLY USED

WARM CLOTHES! Why? To support outreach programs at Carmichael Presbyterian Church. Collected items will be distributed to guests at Supper on Saturday dinners in December and January.

When? Now through January 14

WE WOULD ALSO LOVE TO HAVE NEW SOCKS, UNDERWEAR, AND GLOVES Look for collection boxes in the Welcome Center and church office.

Questions? Contact Barbara Farley at [email protected]


Presbyterian Women (PW) are looking forward to seeing you at the annual Advent Gathering on Thursday, Dec. 7, in McMillen Hall. By popu-lar de-mand we will again be treated to the mu-sical tal-ents of the El Camino High School Madrigal Choir fol-lowed by a delightful dessert prepared by Branden Rodgers

from Jackson Catering. Sus-pense will also be rewarded when an Honorary Life Mem-bership award is presented to a deserving CPC member. The Jan Stone Opportunity Table of donated items available for purchase will be featured. Res-ervations, at $5, close on Mon-day, Dec. 4. For reservations, call Ginny Rodgers at 722-5088 or Carolee Roach at 485-7053.

PW members have been busy with helping church-sponsored activities which in-clude the Harvest Festival, the Alternative Gift Market, and the upcoming annual Dea-cons’ Christmas Baskets.

PW will continue their own mission projects in December with each Circle choosing the

PW Plans for Now and Months Ahead by Wilma Boland

PW Circle Meetings Dorcas: The World Service Sewing Circle is for those who enjoy

sewing for mission projects. Meets in the Howard Crowley Room on Tuesdays, December 7 and January 2 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Leader: Carolyn McGregor

Lydia: This evening Circle is for those unable to participate in a morning Circle. Meets in members’ homes Mondays, December 18 and January 15 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Leader: Jean Brown

Mary Martha: Meets in the Gathering Place on Thursdays, De-cember 21 and January 18 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Co-Leaders: Carol Dobler and Judi Stewart

Naomi: Meets in the Church Parlor on Thursdays, December 21 and January 18from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Leader: Bonnie

Hard

Rachel: Meets at the home of Margo Scandella, 4669 Nottingham Circle in Sacramento on Thursdays, December 21 and January 18 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Leader: Margo Scan-

della

project that they will endow

with their mone-

tary/personal service contri-butions. In January all Circles will combine their contributions to further the life-altering work of the Fistula Foun-dation.

The December Bible lesson at our Circle

meetings continues with the topic, “In Community with (Continued on page 15)

The El Camino High School Mad-rigal Choir performs for an atten-tive and appreciative audience at a past Advent Gathering.

Photos by Wilma Boland


God’s Messengers.” During Advent it is appropriate that our studies of Hebrews take on angels since these messen-gers from God are found in many of our readings during this season. We will see that biblical writers talked about angels in a way that resonated with their audience. The au-thor of Hebrews compares Je-sus to the angels as a way of reminding the reader that God is nearer to us than we might think, certainly a message no less powerful to today’s read-ers. Lesson four studies angels as another stone in our sup-

(Continued from page 14) porting wall of the community of faith.

In January our Bible study will highlight “The Communi-ty with the Tradition of the Past.” From Abraham and Sa-rah to the Gospel stories of Je-sus, we are deeply connected to the past in our present faith community. The book of He-brews draws passionately and often from the tradition we share with the original audi-ence. Characters and stories from the Hebrew scriptures enliven the book from begin-ning to end thus suggesting the author of Hebrews as-sumed that the readers were

familiar with these stories. In lesson five we will examine the tradition from which He-brews draws its strength and our own personal faith tradi-tion. The cloud of witnesses grows because we recognize the multitudes that have come before us.

You are invited to be a guest at any Circle meeting. Contact the leader of the Circle you would like to attend, or you would be welcomed to attend the Pastor-led Bible study at 9:30 am in the How-ard Crowley Room on Thurs-day, December 14 and January 11.

… Presbyterian Women ...

New Advent Books

▪ Songs for the Waiting, by Ma-grey DeVega (394 DeV) De-votions inspired by the hymns of Advent

▪ Illuminating Ad-vent, by Mark Hinds (394 Hin) Leader’s Guide to the PC(USA) series titled: Being Reformed

▪ Advent For Everyone, by N.T. Wright (394 Wri) A journey with the apostles

New Fiction

▪ The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir, by Jennifer Ryan. (Fic Rya)The men in an English vil-lage are off to World War II,

so the choir has to be dis-banded, or does it? The la-dies get together and form

one of their own, to the surprise of the bishop.

Donations from Jim & Judi Flint

▪ The Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel. (232.9 Str)

▪ Reduce Me to Love, by Joyce Meyer. (248.4 Mey)

▪ The Purpose Driven Life: what on earth am I here for? By Richard Warren. (248.4 War)

▪ Muslims, Christians, & Jesus, by Carl Medaris. (297 Med)

▪ An Unhurried Life, by Alan Fadling. (264 Fad)

Library Corner by Doris Beckert, Librarian

Just in time for Ad-vent, our Li-brarian, Doris Beck-

ert, has gathered together all of our Advent and Christmas books for you. Come in and see how rich our collection is!

The Season of Advent be-gins the Church Year with the four Sundays before Christ-mas. It is a time of anticipation and preparation for the com-ing of the Christ child. This year, Advent starts on Decem-ber 3.

Holiday Time by Dick Piper


Scuttlebutt News from CPC’s Mariner Ships

Clipper Ship Skippers: Ed & Janann

Poteet Eighteen members of the

Clipper ship met Saturday,

Novem-ber 11, at Ron

and Carol Dobler’s home for our annual planning meeting for 2018 and election of officers. Ron and Carol provided a variety of wonderful small bites and re-freshments after the business meeting.

The following members were elected to the offices in-dicated:

Skippers: Ed & Janann Poteet

First Mates: Terry & Judy

Sweeney

Purser: Gary Lee

Chaplain: Thelma Wever

Signal Master: Charleen Lee

Care and Share: Ginny Rodg-

ers

Cargo Master: George Bur-

bank

Logkeeper/Photographer: Dee Irwin

Mis-sion Bell Re-porter: Jim Hill

Activities planned for 2018 include: Joint meeting with Companionship, Valentine potluck, lunch and movie, Bocce ball, lunch at Jackson Catering, lunch at the Milagro Centre, picnic, a taco feast, Octoberfest, annual plan-ning meeting and Christmas lunch. As good Presbyterians we enjoy eating food together.

We are sponsoring two families through the Deacons Christmas Baskets. At the No-vember meeting we signed up members to purchase and de-liver presents for parents and children. We have done this for

many years and it has been a rewarding experience both for those who help to provide the gifts and deliver them as well as those who receive gifts.

Please keep Dennis and

Marie Frye and Bonnie Hart-

man in your prayers for heal-ing and care.

Companionship

Skippers: Dave & Priscilla Mauerman

On Saturday, November 4, the Companionship met at CPC for our annual planning meeting. The Gathering Place looked lovely with beautiful autumn decorations on the tables and wonderful aromas of dinner awaiting us. We be-gan with a devotional by Bar-

bara Boyd whose mother cele-brated her 100th birthday on November 12. Starting with an Upper Room article on birth-days, Barbara reflected on our excitement about birthdays when we’re young, which be-come less enthusiastic as we get older. She pointed out that it’s easy to grumble about the afflictions that accompany the aging process, but instead we should consider the Psalmist who encouraged us to be grateful as we grow older and remind us that those birthdays will bring us closer until we finally are united with the Lord.


Clipper Ship mem-bers planned their activities for 2018 and elected officers at their November meeting.


Dinner Time at 5:30 p.m. Once a Month Full Dinners: $6 adults, $3 children

Other Wednesdays, Pizza & Salad: $5 adults, $1 per slice for children & youth

ALL DINNERS INCLUDE BEVERAGES AND DESSERT.

for Children & Youth

6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Child Care (ages infant–4 yrs.), #102 With the wonderful Mary & Paul Camozzi

Waterfall (grades K-5), Music Room The Waterfall Singers enjoy singing and

learning about music as they prepare to sing

during both worship services several times

during the year and get ready for a Christmas

Pageant! Led by Nancy Studer and Kathy

Phillips.

Upper Room Student Ministry

(grades 6-12), Upper Rooms 6th-12th grades meet together for crazy

games, music, fellowship, and a brief talk,

then split into small groups for discussion,

fellowship, and prayer. Led by Lisa

Torgerson and an amazing team of youth

leaders!

Wednesday Works will not meet on

December 20, December 27, January 3, or

January 10.

for Adults

6:15 – 7:15 p.m. Bible Study, Howard Crowley Room

Join Pastor Ivan for Bible study and discussion. Bring

your favorite Bible!

A Gathering for Prayer, Chapel (EXCEPT January 17)

Come lay your burdens at the foot of the cross, and

sit quietly in the presence of God. Join in prayer with

others as we seek God’s heart.

Taizé Worship, Chapel (January 17 ONLY)

Join in a time of contemplation, music, and prayer

on the third Wednesday of most months.

Library Open Spend some quiet time reading, studying, or just

browsing the volumes in our church library.

7:30 – 9:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir, Music Room

Sing praises to God, enjoy fellowship, and learn

music to lead in worship at the 8:45 a.m. service

each Sunday. Directed by Randy Benfield.

Winter 2017-2018


… More Scuttlebutt ...

Following the devotional we lined up to sample four dif-

ferent and delicious chilis, four delightful salads, yummy cornbread, and beer bread. Dessert included not just one, but two brownie recipes and oatmeal cookies!

Following dinner we held our business meeting includ-ing finalizing our calendar for 2018 and electing and in-stalling our new officers. In her wonderfully creative fash-ion, our outgoing Skipper Kate Erlich presented each new officer with an appropri-ate gift: captain’s hats for our new Skippers Priscilla and

Dave Mauerman, sailor hats for our First Mates Nancy and

Dave Studer, miniature binoc-

(Continued from page 16) ulars and spyglasses for our Lookouts Sharlene and Joe St.

Clair, a giant pencil and notebook for Logkeepers Chris and

Dave Beeby, a book “Jokes Your Minister Can Tell” and “God

Will Use This For Good--Surviving the Mess of Life” for

Sherri and Duane Johnson, and fla-mingoes for out-going Chaplain Barbara

Boyd. Finally, Kate read her poem “My Name is Not Ish-mael: A Whale of a Tale”.

There once were two skippers named Mauerman

Who anchored their yacht with the power on.

They attempted to sail,

But met up with a whale

Whose powerful jaws nearly de-voured-em.

Along came First Mates known as Studer

In a tiny life raft with no rudder

But they hoisted the whale,

Rescued skippers (so frail),

And revived them with Merlot and Gouda.

The Beebys recorded all action

While Willeys balanced our books by the fraction.

The Johnsons sent prayers

While our lookouts (St. Clairs)

Found new members to our satis-faction.

--Burma Shave

Our next meeting will be Christmas caroling and a white elephant gift exchange on December 2. If you’d like to join us, please contact our Lookouts Sharlene and Joe St.

Clair.

Friendship

Skippers: Dave & Christi-na Tomlinson

HMS Pinafore

Skippers: Dave & Marie Segur

Our November meeting began with a devotion pre-sented by Mary Torgerson. She read a portion of the book Proof of Heaven: A Neurosur-geon’s Journey into the Afterlife by Dr. Eben Alexander. The theme of Mary’s reading was that we are all loved.

After signing up for pur-chasing the year’s Deacons’ Basket gifts, electing our offic-ers for next year, and enjoying root beer floats and cookies provided by Jeani Durden and Dick Strader, we moved on to the day’s entertainment.

Darrell Torgerson and Mary had seen a movie called


The election of officers in Companionship comes with office-appropriate gifts, poetry, and fun!


A Dog’s Purpose, and decided that it would make an enjoyable pro-gram for our No-vember meeting. Judging by the number of moist eyes in our group during the viewing, it would seem they were right.

A Dog’s Purpose begins in the 1960’s when a young boy named Ethan and his mom rescue a pup and adopt him, choosing to name him Bailey. Ethan eventually meets a girl named Hannah, who becomes his girlfriend. Through a se-ries of unfortunate events, Ethan breaks up with Hannah around the end of their high school years and they go their separate ways.

Sometime later Bailey dies,

(Continued from page 18) and the middle portion of the movie follows Bailey as he’s

reincarnated as various breeds of dog. After a few reincarnations, the present-day Bai-ley becomes aware of the fact

that both Ethan and Hannah live in the same gen-eral vicinity. You’ll have to watch the movie in order to find out what hap-

pens then.

We usually meet on the first Satur-day of the month. If you might like to attend one of our future meet-ings, please con-tact any member

of H.M.S. Pinafore for more information.

Holy Scow Skippers: Bill & Misty Dunn

Holy Scow is an active and fun Mari-ner Ship, whose mem-bers enjoy do-ing activities together most months but hasn’t report-ed on them until now. Here’s a

brief overview of our year’s activities in 2017:

We started the year by join-ing the Clippers to hear Pastor Ivan Herman tell about his family’s summer activities in Ecuador; we had a baked pota-to potluck and invited Rev. Jack McNary to present high-lights from the last couple of Scotland Pilgrimages he led, and Bill Dunn added a slide show from those trips. We prepared and helped serve dinner for Wednesday Works; prepared and served dinner for Supper on Saturday; and ate dinner together and at-tended “Damn Yankees” at Music Circus. We enjoyed a delightful evening and deli-cious dinner prepared by Keith & Jenny DeVries (purchased at the Planting Seeds of Faith Auction); and helped with Harvest Festival.

In November, several of us took the train (which was fun!) to Jack London Square in Oak-land to eat a scrumptious


Holy Scow members took a fun train trip to Jack London Square in November.

… And More Scuttlebutt ...

Pinafores enjoyed an afternoon mov-ie and fellowship at their November meeting.


(Sponsored by Membership Division)

Sign up to participate in a group gathering for a potluck dinner in your own home or the Gathering Place starting in February 2018. These gatherings will enable you to get acquainted with new people or old friends in a relaxed atmosphere. Please use the registration form below to choose the day of the week you prefer by selecting your first, second, or third choices. Also let us know if you would like to host a group in your home or in the Gathering Place and what size group that you would pre-fer. If you have any questions, please contact Tara Calderon ([email protected]) or Julie Joyce ([email protected]) or call the church office at 486-9081.

Name_________________________________________________________ Address________________________________________________________ City______________________________________ Zip__________________ Phone (day)________________________ (eve)_______________________ Email_________________________________________________________

Number the day by selecting your preference using 1, 2 or 3: Home: Thursday (evening) _____ Friday (evening) _____ Saturday (evening) _____ Gathering Place: _____ Host: Yes No Group Size Preferred: Six Seven Eight

PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM TO THE CHURCH OFFICE BY JANUARY 31


lunch at Kincaids. David and

Phyllis Brewer (now living in Livermore) met us at the train station and joined us for lunch. We will finish our year’s activities by providing goodies and greeters for De-cember, and enjoying an al-ways-delicious Christmas pot-luck dinner and white ele-phant exchange.

Kinship Skippers: Bill & Erin Pace

Lifeboat Skipper: Hal Holland

Nautilus

Skippers: Tom & Brenda Mock

Undaunted by an occasional cold drizzly rain,

(Continued from page 19) six hardy Nautilus crew mem-bers, together with our guest, Carol Misquez, joined a Cali-fornia Department of Fish and Game swan tour northeast of Marysville. Our little caravan drove around and amongst flooded rice paddies, stopping now and then to get out and look at the hundreds of thou-sands of migrating Tundra Swans and assorted geese, ducks, and White-face Ibis. In addition to setting up a spot-ting scope at each location, Janelle, our guide, provided binoculars to those who need-ed them. Because the swan migration had begun only a few days before, the skies in all directions were filled with

V-formations and swarms of

… End of the Scuttlebutt … birds. She estimated there may have been over a million in the air and on the waters. Janelle passed around dissect-ed portions of birds that had died of natural causes. Our appetites thus stimulated, we repaired to the Dancing Toma-to restaurant in Yuba City for warm lunches. Rain or no rain, it’s an outing well worth the drive.

Skipjacks

Skipper: Margo Scandella

During the week of Octo-ber 15, fifteen Skipjacks partic-ipated in the preparation for Supper on Saturday held Oc-tober 21. Carole Jacobi led the brigade from thawing, cooking, and separating chick-en to the final product of Southwest Chicken Casse-role. Skipjacks learned that 90 guests were to attend the sup-per, and 20 “to go” bags filled with barbeque chicken legs and thighs were to be distrib-uted at the end of the meal. Thank you Carole for your planning, preparation, and completion of this Skip-jack endeavor!

On Friday, November 3, Skipjacks met at Jan Olsen’s home for an artistic session in creating Christmas orna-ments. Bob and Doris Beck-

ert instructed the Skipjacks in how to paint the inside of Christmas tree bulbs without a


The Nautilus crew spent a driz-zly day watching the swan mi-gration in November.


… End of the Scuttlebutt ...

brush. Bob and Doris also led the way in creating a hanging orna-ment made from styrofoam balls, glue, glitter, and commun-ion cups. The

(Continued from page 21) end result of both orna-ments was quite amaz-ing! Hopefully, everyone kept their glue on the table and their glue guns away from fingers. To round out the evening, Diane In-

stness prepared and served a delicious spice cake. Thank you Diane,

Bob, Doris, and especially Jan for opening your home to “would be” artistes!

Tradewinds

Contacts: Jack & Jerri Pe-fley

Skipjacks prepared dinner for S.O.S. in October and then made Christmas crafts at their No-vember meeting.

The Marathon is Coming! Sunday,

December 3

The California International Marathon will run on Sunday, December 3, causing some intersections near the church to be closed. The race starts at 7:00 a.m.

near Folsom Dam. Fair Oaks Blvd. is part of the route.

Intersections will be closed only while the race comes through, but be prepared, if necessary, to leave home

early and avoid the race course on your way to church.

For a complete listing of road closures and times, go to https://runsra.org/california-international-

marathon/course-information/

Mission Bell

Deadlines

January 8, 2018 for the February 2018

newsletter

February 5, 2018 for the

March 2018 newsletter

Submit articles to: Amy Lerseth, Mission Bell Editor at [email protected]

or leave articles in the Mission Bell box in the church office.


Our CPC Staff Remembering that the mem-

bers of Carmichael Presbyterian Church are the ministers and missionaries of our faith com-munity, our Pastoral Staff and Support Team provide leader-ship and specialized ministries.

The Rev. Keith L. DeVries

The Rev. Ivan N. Herman

Randy Benfield, Director of Music

Trina Spivack, Accompanist

Jenny DeVries, Contemporary Worship Leader

Marti Wallace, Mission Bells & Carillon

Director

Lisa Torgerson, Children’s & Youth Ministry Director

Paul & Mary Camozzi, Childcare Providers

Rachel Ratliff, Preschool Director

Karen Gray, Pastors’ Secretary

Julie Ueltzen, Church Secretary

Paul Shultz, Financial Administrator

Ron Morris, Maintenance Manager

Christian Bolen, Custodian

Lisa Levering, Wedding Coordinator

Contact Us by telephone:

CPC Office 486-9081

Office after–hours line 486-1406

Health Ministry 486-0604

Stephen Ministry 486-0604

CPC Preschool 486-9189

Food Closet 483-9232

Fax 486-3771

To leave a voice mail message for a staff person when the office is closed, dial 486-9081. When the machine answers your call, dial the person’s extension.

Keith DeVries 203 Ivan Herman 202

Karen Gray 201 Julie Ueltzen 200

Paul Shultz 205 Lisa Torgerson 204

Randy Benfield 208 Ron Morris 206

via e-mail:

Keith DeVries [email protected]

Ivan Herman [email protected]

Randy Benfield [email protected]

Julie Ueltzen [email protected]

Karen Gray [email protected]

Paul Shultz [email protected]

Ron Morris [email protected]

Lisa Torgerson [email protected]

Rachel Ratliff [email protected]

Or link to email through our website www.carmichaelpres.org

Luncheon & Auction

16th Annual

TIME VALUE MAIL

5645 Marconi Avenue

Carmichael, CA 95608-4423

Carmichael Presbyterian Church

Traditional Worship Service - 8:45 a.m. (with traditional hymns and organ)

Contemporary Worship Service - 11:00 a.m. (with the Contemporary Music Team)

Sundays at CPC

Sunday Morning Education Opportunities

Periodicals Postage

Paid at CARMICHAEL CA

95608

For Children and Youth Infant & Child Care 8:30 A.M. -12:30 P.M. Infant/Toddler Care (birth-4 years), Room 102 Cry Room (with video feed of worship service), #101

1st Service Pull-Out Program (following “Time for Young People” at the 8:45 A.M. service) Spark, 4 years-2nd grade, Room 104 Children’s Christmas Pageant Practice, #203

Children’s Sunday School 10:00 A.M. -10:55 A.M. Godly Play, 3 years-Kindergarten, Room 207 Whirl, 1st– 3rd grade, Room 206 Connect, 4th-5th grade, Room 205

Youth Sunday School

10:00 A.M. - 10:50 A.M.

Middle School (6th-8th grade), Room 209

High School (9th-12th grade), Room 211

2nd Service Pull-Out Programs (following “Time for Young People” at the 11:00 A.M. service) Spark (4 years-2nd grade), Room 104

For Adults 10:00-11:00 a.m.

Adult Education classes are on hiatus until January. Watch your Sunday Parish Notes for offerings in the

new year!

Documents

Out of Gratitude We Give Inside this Issue · 2017. 12. 11. · in God’s generosity, reminding us that God not only provides seed for sowing and bread for food, but God goes further,