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Glorify, Build,
REACH
The purpose of St. Peter’s First Community Church is to glorify God, build up the body of Christ, and reach out to those in our community and world to help them become
followers of Christ.
Eva
nge
l
DECEMBER
2016
to each of you from the staff at
St. Peter’s First Community Church!
Lauren Baker Becky Lyons Mary Sell
Megan Engle
December 4 December 11 December 18 December 25
Snacks Hildebrands and Malones Cookie Exchange
Cookies Tammy Brown No snacks
Reader Shari Brinneman Jay Rinehart Sandy Hacker Sally Morrison
Acolyte Megan Engle Jana Krueger Gabe Baumgardner Dana Meyer
Ring Bell Rick Chesterman Claudia Wilson Scott Baker Foust kids
Sound System Phil Engle X X X
Video Tech Ryan Lemon X X X
Songleaders Ann Ambler, Lisa Harter,
Jim Hildebrand X X X
Open/Close Duty Tom Hosler Mike Lyons Brian Royer David Morrison
Announcements David Morrison Adrian Halverstadt Brian Royer Ann Ambler
Nursery Helper X Sandy Shoemaker Dana Meyer X
Little Discoverers Teacher/Helper
Megan Condry/Lauren Baker
Robin Baker Happy Birthday, Jesus
Christmas Party X
Young Explorers Teacher/Helper
Megan Condry Megan Condry Happy Birthday, Jesus
Christmas Party X
Kids Ignite Teacher/Helper
Jenna Strick Jenna Strick and Jennifer Braun
Happy Birthday, Jesus Christmas Party
X
Greeter-Wm St Shari Brinneman Mike Ward Jennifer Braun Sandy and Kevin
Shoemaker
Ushers & Greeters - West
Meyer Family Robin and Scott Baker Sandy and Mike Hacker Theda and Vern
Neel
Usher & Greeters - East
Geoffrey Guy Geoffrey Guy Geoffrey Guy Geoffrey Guy
Usher - Center Gary Yeiter and Adrian
Halverstadt Tracy Blocker and
Terry Rodgers Adam Myers and
Phil Engle Rick Chesterman and Rick Baker
If you are unable to volunteer as scheduled, please find a replacement and notify
Megan in the church office of the change as soon as possible.
Birthdays
12/01, Van Bailey
Margie Cox
12/02, Joy Newton
12/04, Nic Wall
12/07, Leighla Bruner
Melody Bruner
Sandy Shoemaker
12/08, Jeff Derr
Jeff Haneline
Maxine Spicer
12/14, Art Kalhoefer
12/15, Amelia Halverstadt
12/16, Ben Davis
Sara Hamilton
12/19, Jillian Davis
12/23, Jacob Froehlke
12/24, Cassie Miller
12/25, Cole Cocklin
Kilah Cocklin
Sharon Sands
12/26, Barb Derr
Joan Diffenbaugh
12/27, Sheri Wilson
12/28, Maribelle Bechstein
12/30, Mary Sell
12/31, Garrett Hubbartt
Anniversaries
12/01, Bob and Paula Bittner
12/12, Dan and Yvette Jarvis
12/21, Herb and Nancy Rollo
12/22, Rod and Jeannie Myers
TEAM UPDATES
Fellowship Team:
Fellowship Team needs your feedback on activities for our SPFC Connections.
If you have any ideas of things we can do that would be fun and allow those in
attendance to enjoy each other's company, please let any team member know.
We are looking forward to welcoming new members into our church family in
the very near future and hope to have a collage of pictures of all our church
family soon (complete with names, so we can greet each other on a first name
basis).
Finance Team:
September 2016
Income: Unified Budget Giving $ 10,509
Trust Income $ 1,261
Miscellaneous Income $ 105
Expenses: $ 18,544
October 2016
Income: Unified Budget Giving $ 13,828
Trust Income $ 1,261
Miscellaneous Income $ 2,797
Expenses: $ 15,317
Youth and Children’s Ministry:
Please see the children and youth page for updates.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SPFCC is partnering with 509 Community for upcoming Advent services. Services will be held on
Thursdays at 6 pm. SPFCC will host services on December 1st and 15th. 509 will host services on December
8th and 22nd. You are invited to participate in these worship services as we enter the Advent season.
Mark your calendars for the next SPF Community Connections
event, Cookie Exchange! The event will be held on Saturday,
December 10th from 2-4 pm at SPFCC. Sign up by Monday,
December 5th, if you plan to attend. A sign up sheet will be in the
William Street foyer or you can contact Megan in the church office
to sign up. Please bring two dozen cookies with you – a dozen to
share on the 10th and a dozen for shut-in bags. During the cookie
exchange event, we will decorate cookies for snack time on Sunday,
December 11th, and enjoy Christmas music! You’re welcome to invite a friend to join you, as well!
Myers Funeral Home is offering a 2016 Holiday Remembrance Program in honor of those who have died
and in support of those who still live. Pastor Gerald O. Moreland will bring a practical presentation of coping
with holiday grief, followed by a candle lighting ceremony in memory of loved ones. The service will be held
at Myers Funeral Home Huntington Chapel, 2901 Guilford Street, Huntington, on Sunday, December 11th at
3 p.m. RSVPs are not required, but please call 356-2400 if you have any questions.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Please continue to pray for:
The family of Lois Stephan after her recent passing.
The family of Chuck Hare after his recent passing.
The family of Carol Kimmel after her recent passing.
All those facing financial, emotional, spiritual, and health stresses.
Mark Your Calendars:
Christmas Eve Worship
11:00pm
ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
The annual meeting will be held after service on January 29th, 2016. Written reports are due from the
2016 team leaders and any other group leaders by Monday, January 9th so they can be compiled, printed
and ready to distribute by Sunday, January 22nd.
Poinsettias to decorate the church for the Christmas season may be ordered from Town and Country
Flowers (356-3860). Please place your order with Town and Country by Tuesday,
December 13th. You may purchase a poinsettia elsewhere, too. If ordering elsewhere,
be sure to have all plants to the church by Thursday, December 15th. All gifts of
poinsettias will be recognized in the December 18th bulletin, so if your plant is in
memory or honor of someone, let Megan in the church office know by December 13th.
Please discreetly mark your plants with your name and plan on taking them home with
you after the Christmas Eve service.
Thank you to all who contributed to the steak supper success! The final profit from the 2016 steak supper
is $1,747.58.
New Hope Church invites you to The Love Liner, their dinner theater performance, taking place on Friday,
December 16th and Saturday, December 17th at 6 pm, as well as on Sunday, December 18th at 5 pm at New
Hope UB Church, 2001 Engle Street, Huntington. The event includes a buffet meal. A free will offering will
be taken. For more information, contact New Hope at (260) 356-0870.
The Congregational Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, December 4th,
at the conclusion of the 9:30 a.m. worship service. Agenda items are
the 2017 budget and election of 2017 team leaders. The proposal of
candidates for the 2017 Council is as follows:
Worship: David Morrison Finance: Bonnie Hosler
Fellowship: Ann Ambler Missions: Tracy Blocker
Women's: Barbara Derr Property: Steve Schilling
Men's: Gary Yeiter Teaching: Dan Jarvis
Childcare will be available during the meeting.
All who attend SPFCC are encouraged to stay for the meeting.
Libby Davison Nancy Mackowski
Ryan Gatchel Nicole Muzzillo
Jeff Haneline Samantha Sutorius
Children’s Update
*A big thank
you to all the
kids who helped
carry the food
forward during
the Ingathering
in November!
*Mark your
calendars for
December 18th
for our Happy
Birthday Jesus Christmas Party. The kids won’t want to miss
it! The kids will be doing lots of fun activities on Sunday
mornings in December as they make gifts for our shut-ins
and take part in other special holiday activities as we
celebrate our Savior’s birth.
Celebration Moment: It was encouraging to hear all the
things the kids were thankful for during our recent
Thanksgiving lessons. They had a lot of fun counting their
blessings and thinking more about all the gifts God has
given us. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
HKC Update
*HKC meets on Monday evenings from 6:30-8:30 pm for
kids in 2nd-6th grade (or ages 8-12). Registration forms are
available in the William St. foyer.
*We are looking for additional volunteers to help on
Monday evenings. If you would be interested in building
relationships with students, sharing Jesus, and having fun,
see Megan for more details.
*Our HKC Christmas Party
will be held on Monday,
December 12th! It will be a
great evening of celebrating
our Savior’s birth! HKC
will then break for the
holidays and resume on
Monday, January 9.
Celebration Moment: For the last 30-40 minutes of HKC,
the kids are in small groups with our caring volunteers. It is
such a joy and
encouragement to
see the kids
digging into
God’s word,
asking questions,
applying the
lessons to their
lives, and
growing in their
faith.
Youth Update
*Youth group meets on Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30
pm. All middle and high school students are welcome to
attend.
*December Happenings: The youth will continue in our
series about who Jesus is and what it means to follow
Him. Our Christmas Party will be on December 21st!
*Festivus, January 6-7: Area youth groups will come
together for a lock-out all night party. Travel around
Huntington & Ft. Wayne for all kinds of games and
activities. See Megan for more details.
Celebration Moment: We had a great time preparing and
enjoying our
Friendsgiving
meal! The youth
brought their
friends and
cooked up some
yummy dishes as
we laughed and
had a fun evening
together.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Homework Help Update
*The program is for Middle & High School students and
meets Mondays – Thursdays from 3:00-5:30 pm.
*Extra helpers are needed December 14-21 as our HU
student volunteers will be wrapping up their semester and
heading home. Volunteers are needed from 3:15-4:30 and
4:15-5:30. If you’d be available to fill in an afternoon that
week for an hour or so, please let Megan know.
*Homework Help will be wrapping up on December 21st
for Christmas break. Homework Help will resume on
Wednesday, January 4, 2017.
*With an increase of students and several volunteers
unable to return in the new year, we are looking for
additional volunteers to provide assistance, support, and
encouragement to the students in 2017. If you are
interested in volunteering and would like more
information, contact Megan Condry.
Celebration Moment: It is always great to celebrate with
the students in their growth and accomplishments!
Recently, a student was so excited that he had brought his
math grade up to an A and had no missing assignments!
His face light up as he was sharing this with us, and his
parents were so excited, too.
Please continue to pray for all the children & youth involved in these activities.
Pray for the volunteers who interact with them each week.
Letting Go of Expectations
As a kid, I learned a song for the seasons in the church
calendar. It was quite the catchy tune because every time
I hear the word Advent, immediately the song begins
playing through in my head. I have a deep love and
appreciation for this time of year from growing up in a
church tradition and family where we celebrated these
special seasons. I have fond memories of lighting the
Advent candle at church and at our table at home each
Sunday. I remember making my own Advent wreath and
painting a nativity set. At home, we had a special journey
to Bethlehem wall hanging that involved an image and a
Scripture reading each day of the season. Small things,
but such a meaningful part to the season for me.
“Advent, he’s coming, prepare you the way.” These
were the first words to the kids’ song I learned. This
season of Advent is about preparing ourselves and our
hearts for what is to come. We know the Christmas story,
we’ve read it and heard it countless times, but each time I
hear it I feel a beautiful connection to the story, like God
is reminding me of something or opening my heart to
something new. Recently I’ve been thinking about what it
must have been like to have lived right before Jesus’s
birth. We know the whole story so we go into it knowing
how things are going to work. Imagine though living it,
waiting and waiting for the Messiah to come. All the
hopes the people had for him and what he would be like.
All the prophecies and all those expectations, longings,
and hopes.
Our amazing, loving God, who knows what we need
chose to respond to all those expectations by sending a
baby into the world. Can you imagine the conversations
as news spread about Him? What the newspaper
headlines would have read? The people had to have
questions….how was this baby going to save them?
But, God knew. God knew that this was the best way
to save the world. As news spread about the Messiah,
I’m sure people couldn’t imagine what would happen over
the next few decades. I wonder if I had been there, what
expectations would I have held? What would I have been
thinking and wondering?
Some 2,000 years later, I think I can ask myself some
of the same questions. What expectations do I have now?
What projections am I putting on myself and others? How
am I open and receptive to changes and things not going
as I expected?
As I reflect on it now, the beauty of the story is that the
people didn’t get what they expected when they wanted it,
but they ended up getting something even better. The
Savior of the world came. He came as a little, lowly baby.
He came for each of us to die and then rise again so that
we can have life! God knew how the story would play out
and how powerful it would be when he sent Jesus to earth
as a baby. “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved
into the neighborhood.” John 1:14 (The Message). He
knew that this way, this tangible, present, earthly, way,
was the way to reach us.
“It is now, at Advent that I am given the chance to
suspend all expectation and instead to revel in the
mystery,” (Jerusalem Jackson Greer). I’m not much for
mystery or the unknown. I prefer a plan and like to know
what’s going on. I often have expectations for myself,
situations, and people around me. I’m reminded, in light
of the Christmas story, that when we let our expectations
die and we allow ourselves to be present, as things are, in
the mystery, something marvelous happens. God chose to
show His love to us through a powerless, humble baby.
I don’t want this advent season to pass me by but
instead want to fully enter into it preparing my heart for
what is to come. I want to remind myself again of the
hope, love, peace, and joy this season brings as we
anticipate, celebrate, and rejoice that our Savior has come.
We know the rest of the story and it makes this season of
preparing all the more sweet. We set aside our
expectations and allow ourselves to commune with God,
to listen, to wait, to hope, and to enter fully into the
mystery.
The people didn’t get what they expected but instead
something even greater. It didn’t happen overnight or in a
few years, but it was over a long journey that God worked
out this beautiful story to save the world. This truth
causes me to sit back, to rest in God, and to trust in his
plans. What I expect today, tomorrow, or next month,
might not come in the way I want but I’m willing to hang
on to Jesus and put my hope in his plans and ways
because they are good. I’m willing to set aside my
expectations and enter into the marvelous journey with
God that often feels like a mystery but is so beautiful. As
I read the story again, I’m reminded that it is a story that
has the handwriting of God all over it, and I want that for
myself, too. I want to live in such a way that I am
preparing myself for what God has ahead. I want to live
fully in the now, letting go of my expectations, and
trusting Him fully for what is to come.
“Advent creates people, new people” (Dietrich
Bonhoeffer).
A Letter from Megan Condry
SPFCC December Calendar Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 6 pm Advent Service at SPFCC 6:30 pm God Speed HH
2 Setup in FH for December 3 rental
3 1-5 pm FH Rental
4 9:30 am Worship and Welcome of New Members Congregational Meeting
5 6-8 pm Girl Scouts
6 pm Something Biblical
6:30-8:30 pm HKC
HH
6 SeniorPak Prep
6:30 pm Community Prayers Service - SPFCC
7 pm Circle
HH
7 6:30 pm Choir 7 pm Youth Group HH
8 6 pm Advent Service at 509 6:30 pm God Speed HH
9
10
2-4 pm SPFCC
Cookie
Exchange
11 8:30 am Fellowship Team Meeting
9:30 am Worship
12 6-8 pm Girl Scouts 6:30 pm HKC HH
13 6-8 pm YSB Parenting Class
6:30 pm Women’s Team Meeting
HH
14 6:30 pm Choir 7 pm Youth Group HH
15 12:30-3 pm Mission Room rental
6 pm Advent Service at SPFCC
6:30 pm God Speed
HH
16
17
18 8 am Men’s Breakfast
9:30 am Worship
Happy Birthday, Jesus Christmas Party
4-9 pm FH Rental
19
6-8 pm Girl Scouts
6 pm Something Biblical
HH
20 SeniorPak Prep 6:30 pm Council HH
21 6:30 pm Choir 7 pm Youth Group HH
22
6 pm Advent Service at 509
6:30 pm God Speed
23
24
11 pm Christmas Eve Service
25 9:30 am Worship Merry Christmas!
26 SPFCC Office Closed
27 6:30 pm Property Team Meeting
28 6:30 pm Choir
29
6:30 pm God Speed
30 31
*HH denotes Homework Help program, which runs from 3 - 5:30 p.m.
A Note From the Ministry Coordinator:
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the
right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t
give up.” Galatians 6:9
The hustle and bustle of the Christmas season has
begun! As this busy season approaches again, I have been
drawn to reflect on how I can be generous with my time.
As many of us do, I often think about giving and
generosity in terms of financial or tangible gifts, which are
important, but I forget about the gift of time, which is often
even more meaningful than anything money can buy.
As I reflect on where and how I’m spending my time, I
wonder if there is anything currently on my schedule to
which I could and should say no. I also wonder if there are
areas where I need to be spending time, but that are
currently missing from my agenda. As we all can, I often
become more selfish with my time than I should. I
constantly have a list at least a page long of things I would
like to get done, and I’ve come to realize that this list will
always be there. There will always be rooms to clean,
laundry to fold, and dishes to wash, but the people in my
life may not always be there. Am I investing my time in
things that have eternal significance? Am I investing my
time in people whom I value? Is my time spent pointing
others toward Christ? As I reflect on my answers to these
questions, I realize that giving generously with my time
means spending time not necessarily on things that are
important to me in an earthly sense, but on the things that
hold eternal significance, which typically means investing
in relationships…my own personal relationship with God
and my relationships with others. Sometimes I tire of doing
what is good, of giving generously, of thinking of others
before myself. Sometimes I feel like these investments I
make aren’t helping anyone, but God has been reminding
me that these investments are important to Him and that
they do hold eternal significance. Even if I can’t see the
fruits of giving generously now, I am confident that God
will bless these areas of investment if I don’t give up.
As I consider how to give generously, I can’t fight the
constant feeling of busyness and I’m not sure there is a lot
I can do to change that, but, if I’m busy with the right
things, I’m realizing that maybe it is not so bad to be busy.
God is continually using my role as assistant coach for the
Huntington University Women’s Golf Team to help
develop my character. This is an area in which I invest a
significant amount of time and that makes me feel busy,
especially during the season when I’m spending 15-20
hours a week with golf. And, in the offseason, I still invest
at least a couple hours a week into this role. Sometimes
when I’m on the course with the girls, I feel guilty that I’m
not spending time with Eloise or like I’m not fulfilling my
role as a wife or as a mom, but as I’ve recently taken these
concerns to God, He has helped me realize that investing in
these girls and impacting them for Christ is one way I can
give generously with my time. I enjoy building
relationships with the girls, learning more about each of
them, and helping them become the women God intends
for them to be. This experience also helps me grow in my
relationship with God as I prepare devotions and lead small
group time with the girls and helps me become more
confident in the work God is doing in and through me.
And, Eloise sees me giving
generously with my time
and investing in these girls.
Thankfully, God has placed
people in my life who
remind me often that she is
learning more than I realize
from my example. That makes all the difference. I want to
teach her to give generously to causes that have eternal
value, to invest her time in building relationships with
others, and to be sure that what she is doing draws her to
and points others toward Christ. I want to teach her that
she can wear many hats. She can be a wife and mom and
still spend time working, volunteering, and investing
generously in others. With all of this, I thank God for a
supportive family and for friends who encourage me by
reminding me of the impact I’m having on the golf girls.
When I’m not able to be with Eloise because I’m on the
course, she is busy building relationships with her Daddy,
Grandma, and Grandpa, and that brings her, and me, lots of
joy!
God continues to work in me to help me understand
how I can be more generous with my time, and there are
things that still need to be rearranged in my life to more
fully serve Him. But, it is reassuring to know I’ve taken
certain areas to God and He has confirmed that these are
areas in which I should currently be investing. As the
hustle and bustle of the Christmas season sets in, I pray
you will make time to ask God how you can give
generously with your time, your talents, and your
resources. As you find yourself busy this season, may you
take a moment to evaluate what it is with which you are
busy. I encourage you to share with God your concerns
over busyness, your feelings of tiredness over doing good,
and your worry that you aren’t making an impact even
through your generous giving. In doing so, I pray you’ll be
encouraged and that you’ll find peace this Christmas
season, knowing that God is pleased with and will bless the
good you are doing and the generous investments you are
making and that He will use these investments to point
others toward Christ! ~Megan Engle
Eva
ng
el
ST. PETER’S FIRST COMMUNITY CHURCH 206 ETNA AVENUE HUNTINGTON, IN 46750
Worship 9:30 am Conversation and Refreshments
10:45am
Glorify, Build,
REACH
The purpose of St. Peter’s First Community Church is to glorify God, build up the body of
Christ, and reach out to those in our community and world to help them become followers of
Christ.
ST. PETER’S FIRST COMMUNITY CHURCH
phone: 260.356.7728
fax: 260.356.7514
email: [email protected]
web: www.spfcc.org
https://www.facebook.com/StPetersFirstCommunityChurch
Megan Engle, Ministry Coordinator
Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday 8 am-4 pm
Richard Strick, Pastor
260.224.2146
Becky Lyons, Financial Secretary
Megan Condry, Youth & Children’s Director
419.733.1272
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host
appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth
peace to those on whom his favor rests.’” Luke 2:13-14
