The Presbyterian

A Newsletter of the First Presbyterian Church125 South Poplar Street, Bucyrus, OH 44820

December 2019

Exalting Christ. Denying Ourselves. Loving our Neighbors.

Thank you from the McNeills! On behalf of Mary, Elijah, Davi, Oak, and myself, we would like to thank our wonderful church family for your love, support, prayers, and generosity towards us with the arrival of Oak Calder on Oct. 30th. It truly is a blessing to our family to be surrounded by such loving people. From diapers, to grocery gift cards, to baby clothes, you all have truly helped us as we have begun to transition into thisnew stage life. On top of that, we have been blessed with wonderful notes, cards, and gifts for Pastor Appreciation which have filled my heart with thankfulness for this church! You see, that kind of love, service, and hospitality is what sets First Presbyterian apart. You don’t have to be the Pastor or the Pastor’s family to be loved and appreciated like that here. In reality, this is the unique gift God has given us as a church—to show honor to every image-bearer who walks through our door, to treat them with dignity and respect, to embrace them with the welcome of Christ, and to truly believe that the Good News is for them, too. It’s what I love about our church family, and what I wish everyone knew about us. So thank you for that expression of Christ’s love to my family. And I pray that weare able to express that same love and hospitality to many more in our community. For His Kingdom,

Jeremy McNeillPastor, First Presbyterian ChurchBucyrus, OH(256)-652-7823

Group and Committee Dates for December

Author of Life Book Club The Author of Life Book Club will meet Thursday, December 5, @ 6:30 PM at Dorothy Watts home.

Presbyterian WomenThe Presbyterian Women will meet on Tuesday, December 10, @ 10:30 AM at Gennie Rios's home.

Gamma DeltaGamma Delta will meet on Wednesday, December 18, @ 12:30 PM in Fellowship Hall for a Potluck meal. Bring your own table service. We will be wrapping gifts for two families from Salvation Army's Christmas list. Come and enjoy.

Deacons MeetingThe Deacon's will meet Wednesday, December 11, @ 5:00 PM in Fellowship Hall.

Finance CommitteeThe Finance Committee will meet Monday, December 16, @ 9:30 AM at the church.

Session MeetingThe Session meeting will be on Thursday, December 19, @ 6:00 PM in FellowshipHall.

Mission TeamThe Mission Team will be meet on Saturday, November 23rd, 9:00 AM @ Barb Price's home.

Presbyterian MenThe Presbyterian Men's group meets each Friday @ 7:00 AM, at the Pelican . All men of FPC are invited to attend.

Discipleship GroupsThe Men's Discipleship Group will meet at 7:00 PM on December 3 & 17.The Women's group will meet at 6:15 for prayers followed at 6:30 for the book study on December 10, will break for Christmas and New Years and resume on January 7.

Check the Church Website Calendar for any changes.www.firstpresbucyrus.org

Happy Birthday 3 Tim Mutchler15 Tami Robinson 19 Victoria Hoerig,25 Chet Johnston, Janet Kohls26 Tena Eyster 27 Maya Collene28 Mary Kiess29 Emily Goldfuss30 Jeremy McNeill31 Kevin Kohls,

Anniversaries28 Alan & Michelle Bacon

Flowers01 Alan & Michelle Bacon0815 Tami Robinson22 Christmas Poinsettias29 Don & Phyllis Reed

Prayer HourJoin us every Sunday evening for Prayers, Communion and coffee.

December Deacon: 12/01&08 Kelli Patterson. 12/15, 22 & 29 Debbie Hablitzel.

November Elder: Dan Price

December Ushers/Greeters01 – Dan & Barb Price

Tom & Vicki Ahlefeld08 – Dan & Barb Price

Tom & Marcia Heminger15 - Dan & Barb Price

Sam & Lorie Rager22 - Dan & Barb Price

Mark & Marcia Dishon29 – Dan & Barb Price

Carol Griffith & Carrie Diebler

In Our PrayersSurgery, Injury, and/or Recuperating: Duane Watts, Joyce Hahn, Marv Hauenstein, Sam Eichhorn, Norm Campbell,Judy Eichhorn Shut-Ins: Mary Lou Hastings, Sue Headley, Glenn Gibson, Grace Kearns, Mary Kiess, Margaret Price, Marcia Dobbins Cancer Steve HooverPenny Billings (Steve's sister/stem cell donor)Zachary Fisher (Sue Irwin’s nephew)Bruce Betz (Kelli Patterson’s stepdad)Eileen Anderson (Greg & Sharon Northrup’s daughter)Susan Murphey (Jan Fulton's cousin)Ann Pokopac (Kathy Bardon's sister)Ellen Andrews (Kathy Bardon’s cousin)Bruce Price, in remission (Dan's brother)Ruthie Robinson (friend of Gennie Rios) Members, Family and Friends of Members: Jamie Carver ( Bucyrus Police Officer)Sylvia Lane (Kelli Patterson's Grandma)Jo Anne Johns (Donna Watts mom)Michelle Holcomb (Lori Rager’s cousin)Gary Waugh (Gennie Rios' cousin)Brett Erwin (Anya Schell's son)John Scott (Kathy Bardon's relative)Cody Howard (friend of Ashleigh Helbert)Florence Cooper (Vickie Ahlefeld's mother)Sandy Will (Carrie Diebler's mother) Military: John T. Ballinger III, Cody Gibson, Keagan Rios, Levi Diebler, Jason Hahn, Daron Watts, Zach Wilson, John Bacon, Todd Loy, Brydan Lohr

Prayer Requests Prayers are needed for: ____________________________ Member ___ Family___ Friend ___Remove Prayer request: __________________ _________ Requested by: ____________________________

First Presbyterian News

Music for DecemberDecember 2 – Krista KennerDecember 8 - Marcia Burkhart will have a 15minute pre-service before worship. Please plan to be here early.December 15 – Angela, Joe and BobDecember 22 - KristaChristmas Eve - December 29 – Marcia Burkhart will be playing and is planning a Christmas Carole sing-a-long during the Praise & Worship.

Mission Team The Shoebox Program

Blessing the Shoeboxes before they are shipped.

The Mission Team packed 10 additional Shoeboxes bringing the grand total to 94 Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes. The shoeboxes were delivered to St. John's church. Thank you to all those who helped, this project has become such a blessed event.

Debbie HablitzelMission Team leader

Salvation Army - ends November 24th.Blanket Sunday promotion will be January 12 through February 2nd.

Presbyterian WomenAid-A-Village Guatemala Thank you to the Presbyterian Woman and the congregation for the generous donations for the Aid-A-Village drive. The donations filled3 boxes with towels, buttons and needles & thread. Gennie Rios heard from Frances Dixon who was in Oregon when the boxes arrived and Frances stated that the boxes will be taken to Guatemala in January.

Baby Bottle Campaign The Voice of HopePregnancy & Family Center is sponsoring a Baby Bottle Campaign. They are asking churches in the area to take a provided baby bottle, fill it with coin for a donation. This is an easy way for our congregation to help support the outreach ministry of Voice of Hope. The campaign will run from September 29th to December 31st. If you have any questions please contact Gennie Rios 419-562-6034.

Church T-ShirtsShirts with church logo – there is a sign-up sheet at the back of the church for anyonethat would like a shirt with the church logo on the front and the Mission Statement on the back.

T-shirts ($13/$16)Crews, long sleeve ($14/$16) Sweatshirt hoodies ($21.10/$24.10)

Prices will depend on the quantity ordered, higher price is if ordering 12-24 shirts, lower price is if ordering 25-49 shirts. Prices listed are for small-large. If you have any questionsplease contact Tami Robinson, 419-569-5747.

From Kathy ByrneDear Church Family, During Wassail, I will be providing samples of different chocolates that I enjoy making. If you enjoy my chocolates and would like to order some for the Christmas season, please contact me at 419-310-1316. Thank you, Kathy Byrne

Poinsettia Order FormThis year we will be purchasing poinsettias from Norton's. Colors available are red, white, and pink. Orders must be in by Friday, Dec. 6th. Poinsettias may be taken home after the Christmas Eve service. Checks should be made out to the church and payment of $12.50 per poinsettia is appreciated with your order. If you have anyquestions, please call me at 419-561-0263. Thank you! Jan Fulton

Name __________________________

Phone __________________________

Qty ___ Red ______ $_____

Qty ___ Pink ______ $ _____

Qty ___ White _____ $_____

Total $_____

In Memory of

______________________________

______________________________

In Honor of:

______________________________

______________________________

I will take my poinsettia home _____

Please give to a shut-in ______

Order forms are also available on the table at the back of the church.

Men's BreakfastThe Men's Breakfast will be Wednesday, Wednesday, November 13, @ 7:00 AM in the Bucyrus Community Hospital. Thespeaker will be JD Bergman, Executive director of “inTeam,” Sports Analyst/BigTen Network & ESPN, Olympic Wrestler for Team USA at the 2010 & 2013 World Championships. Devotion will be by William E. White, former NFL & OSU Football player.

BORNBORN Blessing Bags – If you would like to donate items to Born for the Blessing bagsthere is a basket in the vestibule area. This will continue through the winter months, items will be delivered once a month. Need: Volunteers (Call us 419.562.2150 to make arrangements), Copy Paper, Stamps, Card stock, #10 envelopes, Toilet paper, Bottled water, Individual snacks, Hot hands and feetpads, Socks, Tents, Sleeping bags, Hats Gloves & Scarves

Bucyrus Visitors & TravelBureau

Tickets are available from the Tourism Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, and Crawford Partnership. We're working on other locations.

Kids PageDecember Family Time

The Life of JesusIf you would like to start a new family tradition, on December 1st,as a family, beginning reading the Christmas Bible Reading Plan.

From: www.livingfreeindeed.com

The First Presbyterian ChurchP.O. Box 67Bucyrus, Ohio 44820