Alleluia Newsletter

November 2009

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From Me to You
Session Digest
Stewardship Ministry Update
Financial Secretary's Report to Session
Stephen Ministry
Children's Church
Antioch Youth News
Fellowship Committee
Pasadena Presbyterian Women
Calendar
Library
Evangemissions
Faith Community Nursing
Preschool
Campus Crusade for Christ: Building Spiritual Movements Everywhere
Helping Hands Ministry
Annual Bottle Drive
Operation Christmas Child:The power of a simple gift… to share God’s greatest gift, Jesus Christ.
Sunday Worship Attendance
What's New at PPC
Birthdays

From Me to You:

“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”   (2 Corinthians 9:12 NAS)

Who gives thanks for you?

Does that sound a bit strange?

Usually, for Thanksgiving, we show our gratitude to God through worship and praise for all the good things God gives and does for us.  We thank Him for our lives, health, resources, family, friends, church, freedoms, jobs, opportunities to serve, etc.  After all, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17).  Most of all, we thank Him for the matchless gift of Jesus, and our salvation through faith in Him!

But who gives thanks for you?

That doesn’t mean we live our lives seeking kudos and recognition—that’s making it all about ourselves and not about Jesus!  But, when we live for the Lord, and serve Him with our resources and gifts, others are going to be touched by His love and come to know and thank Him too.

That’s what Paul is pointing out in the verse I started with above:  God shows-up when we share Jesus by serving others.  “Serving” means not just helping them with their life situations (“needs”) but with their need for life in Jesus—i.e., sharing the Gospel so they can accept Him by faith and have a never-ending love-life with Him too.

The technical name for this—helping others so they can come to know Jesus—is service evangelism.  Jesus did this when He fed the 1,000s AND gave them the bread of life—God’s Word;  He did this when He healed the sick AND forgave their sins;  He did this when He freed those held in fear and bondage by sin and the devil AND gave them a new life and way to live for God;  and Jesus did this when He raised the dead AND gave Himself on a cross, dying and rising again, so we all can accept Him and have eternal life through faith in Him

(John 3:16; 1 John 5:11ff).

Service evangelism is what the Lord is continuing to do with and through us at PPC, as He is raising up additional ministries and ministers among us such as Helping Hands, Faith Community Nursing, (in 2010 DEACONS), and starting this month, a renewed and improved FOOD PANTRY (to be located in the “123” house).  Service evangelism will also be the focus of our next congregation-wide mission trip to Ecuador coming up in July (7/23-31/2010; see me for details). 

Serving others AND sharing Jesus with them is God’s way and the way forward for our church.  Especially this Thanksgiving season, let’s not only give God thanks, but consider to whomthe Lord is leading us, around the block and around the world, to help meet their pressing needs AND their need for Christ!  Who will give thanks for you?

I sure do—I thank the Lord for you all, your partnership in the Gospel, and the love you share through serving the Lord, each other and others! You all are a blessing, and blessed to be a blessing to all!

In Christ,

Carl

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Session Digest: September 29, 2009

The Session met at 7 p.m. on September 29, 2009 in the Boswell Room. A quorum was not present. After opening the meeting with prayer, it was decided to approve some membership changes, as a quorum was present for these items. The remaining business would be conducted through an e-vote on an omnibus motion, or a called meeting.

The following items were approved:
1. Patricia Edgington was received as a member by transfer of her letter from Bainbridge Presbyterian Church of Bainbridge, Ohio.
2. The names of Skip and Alison Payne were removed from the rolls at their written request.
3. The name of Jackie Rickerman was removed from the roll at her written request as she has moved.
4. The August financial report and Financial Secretary report.
5. An Annual Thank Offering/Thanksgiving service for November 15 at 10:30 a.m. (single service).
6. A line item of $500; for the Helping Hands Ministry.
7. Vacation times for Pastor Carl Crawford during November 18-28 and December 26—January 2, with Pastor Bob Bellingar preaching and covering pastoral needs.

The meeting was closed with prayer at 7:45 p.m. 

+++Complete Session minutes are public record and are available for review
in the Church Office by any PPC member +++

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Stewardship Ministry Update

By the time this newsletter arrives our commitment Sunday, October 25th, will be behind us. If you missed turning in your pledge for the year on that Sunday, please send it to the office so the Stewardship Ministry can create a realistic budget for the coming year. We have much to be thankful for at Pasadena. Our members have been giving faithfully in a very tough year. Our summer giving was the best we can remember as both July and August were "in the black"; and we start autumn in the black, praise God.
Our theme this year for the annual pledge campaign, was "Grow to Give", emphasizing growing our faith through giving by faith. The Lord is glorified and grows our faith in Him when we take steps of obedience, offering His tithes and our offerings freely and trusting in God to provide where He guides. As the Lord said in Luke 12:34 “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." And it's easy to see where the heart of Pasadena Church has been this year. You have glorified God and increased our faith by your faithfulness. Thanks again for all you do for God's glory here at Pasadena.

Please, Remember the Samaritan's Fund
Several of our fellow Pasadena members are jobless; so we'd like to remind everyone that the Samaritan's Fund was set up to help church members and the Deacons' Fund is for those outside the church. At the moment, the Deacons' Fund is doing very well (maybe because it's printed on the pledge offering envelope), but the Samaritan's Fund is getting low as we help our members in need. When filling in your offering envelope, please consider writing in "Samaritan's Fund" so that we can continue to help those who belong to our church.

East Wall of Fellowship Hall Was Paneled, "20 House" Readied for Oliver Family
And let's continue our theme of thanking God for His faithful servants. The Presbyterian Women of Pasadena generously financed replacing the paneling of the east wall of the Fellowship Hall, and thanks to the helping hands of Bill Wyess, Larry Hendry, Don Davis, Barbara Gonzalez, Anthony Oliver, Vicki Danz, and David Terhune for 300 hours of working getting the "20 House" (the one next to Pastor Carl's house) clean, painted and ready.

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Financial Secretary's Report to Session: September 30, 2009

The Financials for September  show actual income $22,369.54 with expenses of $39,489.14 leaving us $17,119.60  in the red (we had 3 pay periods this month). 

Cash Reserves             $139,251.21

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Stephen Ministry

Want to learn more about Stephen Ministry?
First Presbyterian Church will be hosting a Stephen Ministry Caring Workshop on Saturday, November 14th  from 9 am to 1 pm.  This workshop will be hosted by First Presbyterian’s Stephen Ministry team with a continental breakfast served by their Congregational Care committee.  Come with curiosity and questions about Stephen Ministry and learn how it has helped transform 10,000 congregations worldwide by using distinctively Christian care giving.  This workshop will focus on Ministering to Those Experiencing Grief, An Introduction to the Stephen Ministry Series System of Lay Caregiving and How to Care in a Distinctively Christian Way.  This is an opportunity to learn about the Stephen Ministry system for helping those experiencing loneliness, grief, loss, illness and other of life’s crises.  If you would be interested in attending this workshop or becoming a Stephen Minister,  please contact Lina Treleaven at 368-1349 or Pastor Carl. 

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Children's Church

Jesus said in Matthew 19:14, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  Does this verse stir a passion in you, as it does for me?  Could you envision yourself being used by God to help bring the little children to Him?  If so, please pray about being a part of the Children’s Church ministry.  I would love to hear from anyone who feels a calling to be a part of this vital ministry to our children.  Please contact me either through the church office, or on my cell phone at 727-481-6705.

The theme for November will be “thankfulness.”  The lessons will focus on thanking God for the blessings He provides for us on a daily basis – including things that we often take for granted.  We will finish out the month thanking God for the greatest gift of all – His son, Jesus!  November’s lessons will provide the children with a foundation for December, when we will talk about the birth of the Messiah.  The children will begin practicing songs to sing for the congregation in December, so their attendance on Sunday mornings will facilitate their learning the songs.

Children’s Church is a worship service designed specifically for children in kindergarten through grade 5.  The children are dismissed from the Sanctuary during the 8:30 AM service each Sunday, with the exception of Communion Sunday.

“But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Cor 5:7    

Leslie Hughes

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What's Happening in the Antioch Youth Group

November 1st, our Youth will be meeting after Sunday School and going out to lunch at CiCi pizza. November 15th, we will have a Progressive Dinner. We will meet at the church by 4pm, then head to our 1st Stop for appetizers, then 2nd stop for Salad & Bread and the 3rd stop for the main course. Fellowship will be our last stop at around 6:00pm for dessert & Praise and Worship at the Pilkington's home.

We still need volunteer homes who would be willing to host the group at their homes. Call Rob, Brenda or Leslie if you can help.

November 29th—MOVIE NITE IN OUR THEATRE 5PM to 7pm. Hopefully starting in November or December, the Youth will be moving in to the chapel Sunday evenings. Please keep our Youth Ministry in prayer.

God Bless
Rob Taylor

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Fellowship Committee

Hello Everyone!

After several months of  Fellowship taking a rest, I believe we are revived and ready to run! We have some new and exciting ideas for the months to come, including our traditional Thanksgiving Breakfast and Worship Service on November 26, 2009 at 9:00am. There will be more information available at a later date.

Beginning November 1, 2009 throughout the whole month, we will be having a food drive to stock the new Food Pantry! It is located in the 123 House next door to the church, on Pinellas Way N, (the house between the church and the Boy Scout building). We will be needing boxes, paper bags and plastic bags. Ziploc bags of all sizes will also be needed. Plans are to open before Thanksgiving! There will be food bins at each door of the church to drop off donations. We  will be accepting all non-perishable food items, including canned foods (preferably pop tops that can be easily opened, but we will accept any and all), sealed bagged packages and boxed foods. There will be bread and vouchers for fresh fruits and vegetables available as well. We hope to include frozen foods in the future once we can get a freezer. At this time we will be open every Friday from 9:00am-4:00pm. Not only will we be offering food, but every person who comes for food will receive dignity, respect, privacy and most of all, the love of Christ thru the Gospel.

In His Service,

Brenda Taylor, Fellowship Chair

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Pasadena Presbyterian Women

THE PURPOSE OF PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN:

FORGIVEN AND FREED BY GOD IN JESUS CHRIST AND EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE COMMIT OURSELVES. . . . .
To nurture our faith through prayer and bible study
To support the mission of the church worldwide
To work for justice and peace
To build an inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (USA) and witnesses to the promise of God’s Kingdom.

Activities for Month of November  at Pasadena
Monday, November 2nd at 10:15 am                           PW Communion at The Springs
                                Tuesday, November 3rd at 10:00 am                           Council Meeting – Boswell
                                Monday, November 9th at 7:00 pm                                Rachel Circle – Fellowship Hall   
                                Tuesday, November 10th at 10:00 am                           Esther Circle – Hazel Kirsch’s Home
                                Tuesday, November 10th at 12:00 noon                        Ruth Circle –  Pat Drucker’s Home

PW Thank Offering Service will be held Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 10:30 AM with a combined service.  This service will not be solely PW Thank Offering but will entail the whole church in a Thanksgiving celebration.  A little different format from our past two years as we will be involving both the traditional and contemporary  into the combined service.  Liz Cabot, who has served in the mission fields, will be our guest speaker. As in previous years, we will again have a light lunch following the service with a special invitation for the congregation to share. 

PW, since it’s inception here at Pasadena, always had a workday on the last Tuesday of every month.  For the past year and a half, we have not been gathering.  This is an open invitation to any of our women to join the Crafters Group which meets every Monday morning at 10:00am in the Fellowship Hall.  There is something for everyone to do, whether it be cutting up greeting cards to make placemats, knitting, crocheting, needlework or sewing, they would encourage you to come join them.  Contact person is Ruth Hansell where you can get all the details (343-1568) and inquire about bringing a lunch, etc.

In Christ’s Love,
Patricia Watts, Acting Moderator

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Reading Brings Into Focus What We are Thankful For

Please take time to reflect this Thanksgiving season on how reading has been in the past, and can be a part of your future Christian education and a way to discover more of what we are thankful for. We are called to continue learning more about our God and His Word. Continue your education in your church library. And say a prayer of thanks for it and for those who taught you to read.

An important step is to teach your children and grandchildren (and remind yourself). Treasuring God In Our Traditions by Noel Piper can help you think about what is important. Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember by Barbara Rainey (includes a musical cd).

For children we have many more books than can be listed, including: My Thanksgiving Prayer (board book by Crystal Bowman); Look-A-Round Thank You, God; Count Your Blessings; and Our Thanksgiving (Hello Reader for 3-6 year olds).

For older readers: Three Young Pilgrims; Pilgrim Boy (A Beka 3rd grade); Turkeys, Pilgrims & Indian Corn; Sarah Morton's Day; Three Young Pilgrims.

Laurie Smith, Librarian

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Evangemission

The Evangemissions ministry, during its October 13th meeting, discussed the overwhelming disasters that have occurred, both in the United States and abroad, and how WE are called to help those people in need.  In Romans 12:13 Paul states,   “Share with God’s people who are in need.  Practice hospitality.”  Our ministry is grateful to report that our congregation, through the Evangemissions ministry,  has donated $500.00 to disaster relief in the Philippines, Samoa, Indonesia, as well as $500.00 to the relief fund in Georgia.

Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful on the mountain are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’”  We, as believers, have an opportunity every day to proclaim God’s peace and salvation to those who do not know Him.  Pray about how God can use you to share the gospel in YOUR “Zion.”

Please pray for the safety and well-being of all of the missionaries we support, and specifically for the following missionaries and their ministries:  Roger and Marilyn Reeck, Honduras; Migel Pinel, Heart for Honduras; Henoc Lucian, Haiti; Daniel Barnard, Somebody Cares Tampa Bay.

Leslie Hughes—EvangeMission Chair

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Faith Community Nursing

By the time you receive this newsletter, the Health and Wellness Ministry will have completed the first educational program based on the input you provided us on the survey.  I hope you were able to attend the Lifelong Weight Management Class and it offered some new information to change how you think of weight control. It’s not about the perfect diet; but rather, all about healthy choices. 

The November Health and Wellness program will be a class on Stress Management.  Can you use a couple of Stress Management tips as we enter the holidays??  Join us on Tuesday, November 17, from 7 to 8 PM in the chapel.  In addition to the classes, Health and Wellness began Blood Pressure Screenings on Sunday October 25th, before and after Sunday School.  Blood Pressure Clinics will be held every 3rd Sunday, the next one will be on Sunday, November 15.  In addition to getting your blood pressure taken, you will receive a wallet card on which to record your blood pressures and keep with you.  Your blood pressure trend gives much more information to your physician than one isolated blood pressure reading. 

Did you know about 30% of Americans and 60% of hospitalized patients have hypertension?  Hypertension is called the silent killer because many people have it but don’t know they do until complications develop. Blood Pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries.  The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure.  The American Heart Association defines someone as hypertensive if any one of the following four situations occur: (1) having an untreated systolic (the top number) blood pressure of 140 or higher; (2) having a diastolic (the bottom number) blood pressure of 90 or higher; (3)taking an antihypertensive (medicine the doctor prescribes to lower your blood pressure); or (4) being told at least twice by a physician or nurse practitioner that you have hypertension. Major risk factors for hypertension are related to lifestyle and family history.  By making healthy choices we can change our lifestyle. An awareness of a family history that places us at risk for hypertension is a great motivator to make those healthy choices.  Hypertension is more severe in non-Hispanic blacks, elderly people and obese people.  The goal of treatment is control, not cure. Treatment begins with lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, exercising, stopping smoking, making dietary changes, and reducing stress.  Without treatment, high blood pressure can escalate to a hypertensive crisis which is a severe increase in blood pressure that can lead to a stroke. 

Symptoms of hypertensive crisis include:  increased blood pressure of 180/120 or greater, severe headache, severe anxiety and shortness of breath.  If you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. A healthy lifestyle is not about giving up all the wonderful things you love, it’s about making good choices to take care of these amazing bodies that God has given us!

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Psalm 139:14

Debbie Rivard, RN

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Preschool

October has been a very busy month in the preschool ministry. We have been learning about the people who help us in our lives. We had a visit from the fire department and the police department. The fire fighters and police officers taught the children about safety and told them that they were their friends and helpers. The children learned that they have a Friend and Helper named Jesus who will always be with them. They learned that He loves them and will always help them.

The children have learned that Jesus wants them to be helpers also. With the help of their parents they have been buying toothbrushes for the hygiene kits for the homeless ministry at Pasadena.

Our Fall Festival was on October 30th.  It was a tremendous success. Over 40 parents volunteered to plan, set up, host all activities, and chaperone the children. Our families are truly a shining example of fellowship and community.

November will be another busy month preparing to give thanks to God for all He has given us. I look forward to sharing with you all of our November activities.

Let us remember to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
May your Thanksgiving Holiday be blessed.
Laura Woodard, Preschool Administrator

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Campus Crusade for Christ: Building Spiritual Movements Everywhere

Through Campus Crusade for Christ's Global Media Outreach (GMO), I've been able to reach people all over the world with the good news of Jesus, and you can too. Through GMO, we pray for their requests, answer their questions, and encourage them to join a local church. I can personally disciple believers and answer the questions of seekers around the world, and it only requires the ability to regularly visit a web site on a computer. This web site is the only way that the seeker or believer and I communicate, and the GMO web site provides tools for responding to them, similar to email. First a seeker or believer sends a message through a GMO site, and then I use the GMO web site to respond.

I've been doing this for a little more than a year. With my GMO Community Leader, we determined that I'd answer a message from a new person every day -you can arrange vacations and also arrange for a different amount or schedule of emails. Each day, I go to the website and respond to a new person's message. There are times when people write back, asking another question or requesting prayer. Some of the questions that are asked are complex, so I rely on the Holy Spirit and the Bible, the lessons I learn here at the church, and the training materials and advice that the GMO Community Leaders provide.

What makes our effort worthwhile is the knowledge that we are serving the Lord and helping other people to grow closer to Him. One young woman from the Philippines sent a message to a Campus Crusade website, asking how to nourish her faith. In the College and Career Sunday School class, we've learned from the first chapter of James about how even the trials in our lives are used by God to help our faith to grow. I was able to share that knowledge with the young woman from the Philippines by writing back to her on the Global Media web site.

If you'd like to know more about how to get involved with Campus Crusade's Global Media Outreach, please speak to me, Thomas Smith (the younger one), or email me at politicissue@hotmail.com. You can also visit the website of Global Media Outreach at http://www.globalmediaoutreach.com/

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Helping Hands Ministry

Pasadena Presbyterian Church has started a new church-sponsored outreach ministry called the “Helping Hands Ministry.” We are providing the following services to those in our congregation and eventually to the community at large. We will initially provide, but not be limited to, the following services:

• Specific home maintenance projects
• Specific yard maintenance projects
  
• Specific home cleaning projects
  
• Rides to and from church functions

We are looking for volunteers of all ages to assist in this important giving ministry. Everyone in our church family is strongly encouraged to participate by providing services according to your abilities. Your gracious help is most appreciated.

If you would like to volunteer, or are in need of any assistance, please contact Bill Wyess at 360-7095.

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Annual Bottle Drive

It's that time again!

The Pregnancy center Of Pinellas County is having their Annual Baby bottle drive. This one is sooo easy: all you have to do is pick up a bottle at Church and fill it up! You can put it on your desk at work, put it by your front door, so you can empty your pockets when you come home, or, the ever popular "I'll just pop a check in there"! Any amount will do --large or small. Thanks for always being there for these babies, Pasadena!

Love; Barbara Gonzalez
Your Liaison for the Pregnancy Center 

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Operation Christmas Child: The power of a simple gift… to share God’s greatest gift, Jesus Christ.

This year we will again be participating in Operation Christmas Child. It is easy and fun to pack a shoe box for a young boy or girl. In 2008, nearly 8 million shoe box gifts were collected in the United States and ten other sending nations.

***Brochures are available on the information stand in the hallway leading into the sanctuary. Please take as many as you need and read the packing information carefully. Remember to put a boy or girl sign on the top of the box, a check in the envelope inside the box or you can pay on-line, and a rubber band around the box (the lid should not be wrapped, tied or taped to the box). Please pray that God will use Operation Christmas Child to bring many children and families to faith in Jesus Christ.

***Dedication Sunday is November 22nd at both services. Please bring your box(es) to either of these services. The boxes will be taken that day (after the second service) to the drop off church.

Thanks so much for participating in this special mission’s project.  

Terry Odom

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Sunday Worship Attendance

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What's New At PPC

Church Women United Of Greater St. Petersburg

WORLD COMMUNITY DAY
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009