The Messenger - October 22
Pastor's Corner 10-22-08
"Ambassadors for Christ"
Let me begin this week by
saying "thanks" to those of you who have contacted Kim or
me to express your condolences on the death of Kim's mom, Sue
Franklin. Sue was a real fighter until the very end, and she leaves
behind a legacy of perseverance for those
she loved. Even though I hated to miss the concert, class, and ball
game that we were planning to share with you last weekend, it was a privilege to gather with Kim's family and
celebrate Sue's life. As we commend Sue's soul to God, I hope you
will remember Kim in your prayers. Kim will remain in Montgomery
tending to legal matters for the next 2 weeks. She has been very
strong, but there is a lot of work to do, and it is easy to become
overwhelmed.
Now that Andrew and I are
back here at First Pres, I look forward to sharing the next several
weeks with you. The Thanksgiving Basket Project is already in full
swing, and preparations for the annual Missions Fair (on November 2)
are well underway. Soon, we will also be hearing from several
leaders in our church about the privilege
and responsibility of Christian Stewardship. Meanwhile, I look
forward to concluding my series of sermons entitled "Images of
Church."
The message for this week comes from Paul's' description of believers as "ambassadors" for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:16-21). That's a fun concept to envision and apply within our lives. Thus, my sermon is entitled "Welcome to the State Department!" I hope you'll join us.
Neal
Oct. 22 Calendar Highlights It's the SoCal version of Fall.
| Wednesday | Breakfast
Bible Study at Carrow's |
7 am |
Contact:
Bob Erbacker |
|||
| Women's
Bible Study |
1 pm |
Contact: Kim Neuenschwander | ||||
| Children's
Devotions |
4 pm |
Contact: Sue Headley | ||||
| Cherub
Choir |
4:30 pm |
Contact: Emily Anderson | ||||
| Gospel
Gang |
4:30 pm |
Contact: Lesley Sirianni | ||||
| King's
Chorus |
5:30 pm |
Contact: Lesley Sirianni | ||||
| Sr.
High "Chill Time" |
5:30 pm | Contact: Todd Walter | ||||
| Jr.
High Fellowship |
6:30 pm |
Contact: Todd Walter | ||||
| SonLight
Singers |
6:30 pm |
Contact: Lesley Sirianni | ||||
| Chapel
Bells |
7 pm | Contact: Nan Roberts | ||||
| Prayer
Group |
7 pm |
Contact:
Keith Headley |
||||
| Thursday | Crew
731 |
7:00 pm |
Contact: Eric V. Beck | |||
| Chancel
Choir |
7:30 pm |
Contact: Allan Petker | ||||
| Friday | Breakfast | 8:15 am | Contact: Paul Mathews or Pastor Neal | |||
| Hangout | 7:30 - 9:30 pm |
Contact: Todd Walter | ||||
| Saturday | Co-Ed
Volleyball |
Schedule
to left |
Contact: Erik Larson, Jim Peacock | |||
| 4pm Bayview Baptist vs. First
Presbyterian-4 (Brad) 5pm Ascension 1 vs. First Presbyterian-1 (Dave) 6pm Ascension 1 vs. First Presbyterian-3 (Jim) 8pm First Presbyterian-5 (Maureen) vs. Lawndale Wesleyan-2 |
||||||
| OUTRIGGERS
Cruise |
11:30 am |
Contact: Sandy Clayson | ||||
| Sunday | Adult Sunday School | Before Service |
Contact: Paul Mathews or Shirley Gonzales | |||
| Children's Sunday School | Begins During Service | Contact: Sue Headley | ||||
| Worship |
9:30 am | Contact: Pastor Neal or Paul Purdy | ||||
| Sr.
High Fellowship |
Off for Concert |
Contact: Todd Walter | ||||
| Monday |
Youth
Praise Band |
6:30 - 8 pm |
Contact:
Tim Gray or Randi Bender |
|||
| Women's
Bible Study |
7 pm |
Contact:
Kim Neuenschwander |
A Look Ahead
- Oct. 25 - Fun Fellowship Night - Pizza, Pumpkin Carving and Movies
- Nov. 2 - Alternative Christmas Market --- Free Soup!
- Nov. 25 - Thanksgiving Basket Delivery
THANKSGIVING FAMILY BASKETS PROGRAM - OUR 13TH YEAR
OUR GOAL: DELIVER 1,000
COMPLETE FOOD BASKETS
FEED 6,000 NEEDY PEOPLE IN THE SAN PEDRO AREA
Thanksgiving Family Baskets food program for needy families in the greater San Pedro area. In our first year we delivered 58 Baskets. We really have come a long way to help needy families celebrate Thanksgiving.
Through the generous support of church members and many other organizations and friends, we fed last year almost 6,000 needy people. And, we raised donations to purchase over 1,000 complete food baskets. Each basket allows a recipient family to receive food for approximately six people, complete with all the necessary canned and packaged food, trimmings and turkey, together with a Bible. The food Basket allows a family to prepare and serve its own meal on this special Thanksgiving Holiday.
2008 Goals
- Again, feed 6,000 needy people
- Distribute 1,000 Family Baskets (18,000 food items)
- Raise $33,000
- Bring together 150 volunteers to help assemble the baskets and deliver on Nov 25th
- Recipient family names come from local schools & service organization submittals
- Spread God’s love and caring, to make a difference in our community
The applicant families are referred to us by school principals and agency directors located in San Pedro.
This year we plan to reach out to 40 different organizations and local schools, including:
High Schools * Boys/Girls Club
* 3 San Pedro Adult Schools * LOVE, INC.
* YWCA * House of Hope
* Salvation Army * Rainbow Services
* SHAWL House * Beacon House
* Toberman House * Harbor Occupational
* Harbor Interfaith * Hope Chapel
* U.S. Military Families – Ft. MacArthur * Joint Efforts
* Harbor View * Habitat for Humanity
* LAPD Harbor Division families * Justice for Murdered Children
* First Pres Church
If YOU would like to be part of the 2008 Thanksgiving Family Baskets program, please fill out the form which you will receive and return to the Church or Brent Howell.
In advance, Thanks-for-Giving !!
Brent F. Howell - Coordinator – Thanksgiving Family Baskets Program
