thehands Lamplighter&feet MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF FRANKLIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DECEMBER 2017

February201 North College 2011 Street Franklin, KY 42134 Monthly NewsletterTel: (270) 586-4535 of †Faith Fax: (270) Bible 586-4592 Church E-mail: [email protected] † www.franklinpresbyterian.org

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rk Conspiracy Project By In this Issue The Advent Conspiracy11.5 encourages substituting compassion Lo- Advent Conspiracy for consumption. In doing so, we embrace four themes: rem Worship MoreBaby-Worshipping Shower Christ can become the greatest ip- Pastor’s Pen and most enjoyedHannah focus Joy of the season. sum Give More-God gave his Son as a relational gift; Christians dol- Advent/ 11.6 or Schedule can try to give more meaningful, relational and experiential sit gifts insteadMarch of Outreach expensive Sign ones. Up Spend Less-Decrease the volume of purchasing and receiving Session Highlights costly Christmas gifts.11.12 News & Notes Love All-InCrusaders the Advent, Day Trip enters our poverty so we will no longer be poor. With the money saved by giving relationally Stewardship & Youth 11.16 and resisting consumerism, people can redistribute that Daily Lectionary money to theFocus “least on of Prayer these” in their communities and the world. December Calendar The Worship Committee11.19 invites us to take the Conspiracy Looking Ahead Challenge ofMen giving’s Breakfast at least one less physical gift and instead, giving the same money toward one of the two organizations Worship 11.20 chosen for this years Advent Conspiracy Project: Opportunities Living WatersChoir for the Try World Outs & Boys and Girls Club. The table will be set up in the back of the sanctuary for you to give, and a certificate will be given to you to complete for whom the gift is given.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday thru Thursday Article 9:00am-2:30pm Pastor’s Pen LUNCH: A half hour between 11:30pm-12:30pm Driving back to Franklin after Thanksgiving, the radio

stations were blaring . Thanksgiving CHURCH STAFF hadn’t even dawned before my neighbors had Rev. Dr. Robyn Abel draped across roof tops. , Pastor came and went-right along with . Yeah, Candice Mendoza check those off the list-I didn’t fall prey to either one! I Pastoral Administrative Assistant know, I sound like Mr. Scrooge or Mr. . Carolle Tracy, Music Director Donna Houston, Organist The Advent Season is a precious time in the Christian Shirley Crutcher, Nursery faith. It is a time when we look to God and ponder in our hearts what our Creator was wanting and desiring ELDER/ELDER HELPER OF as he chose to take on human form and to dwell THE MONTH among us in the Christ Child. What amazing and Donna Houston wondrous love the Divine has for us to make the CJ Hall sacrifice to walk among us, to point the way, to lead by example and to lay down his life. FRIEND OF THE MONTH Debbie Wyatt Our nation and community are filled with needs both materially and spiritually. Many have family challenges RULING ELDERS ON that need attention regularly. In our family of faith, we SESSION have many health issues needing our constant prayers Anna Smith and love. Caren Gibson Barry Hain This Advent and Christmas Season, may we rejoice in CJ Hall the loved ones in our lives. Then, may our gratitude Donna Houston compel us to give of ourselves to ones who are not as Emma Jean Kirby fortunate. Prentice Knight

Meredith Halcomb Becky Stubbs Moreover DEACONS: Mary Frances Page whom he did Marcella Davis predestinate, Woon Yen Prall Advent/Christmas Activity Schedule

SATURDAY , DECEMBER 2ND: Gibson at (270) 586-6260 or (270) 647-2108 or at 9 a.m. by email at [email protected].

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24: SUNDAY , DECEMBER 3RD: Lighting of Candle of Love-Halcomb Family Advent Breakfast 8:30 a.m. Advent Skit Story-This is the Nativity Story Lighting of Candle of Hope-Barbara Shriver Annual Congregational Meeting PC(USA) Christmas Joy Offering during worship (Check out

SUNDAY , DECEMBER 10TH: www.presbyterianmission.org/christmasjoy to

Lighting of Candle of Peace-Cropper Family find out where your donations go!) Advent Skit Story-The Prophecy Foretold Lessons and Carols @ 10pm

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17TH: Special Music with Hammered Dulcimer Lighting of Candle of Joy-Brandon Stubbs Craig Duncan will begin @ 9:30pm. Advent Skit Story-Mary and the Angel Come & worship God on ! This Soup Sandwich & Potluck service will include special music, along with CHRISTMAS CAROLLING AROUND musical meditations from the FPC choir, TOWN: (Time TBA) congregational Christmas hymns, including Silent Night sung by candlelight. Come one, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 20TH: come all, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus WHITE CHRISTMAS BOX PACKING & Christ! DELIVERY Would you like to help pack and/or deliver White Christmas boxes? Packing will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the Cornerstone with delivery to follow. Anyone interested in helping with packing or deliveries should contact Caren Session Highlights (from Stated Session meeting held Nov. 26)

 Approved Fish Fry fundraiser for February with proceeds going to purchase new pew bibles.  Received the Presbytery Commissioner report  Received a report from the Preschool task force. The task force will continue with the next step in their feasibility study, gathering financial requirements for staffing, educational materials and necessities in order to break even. They will report back at the January meeting.  Approved requesting for Building and Maintenance to gather information concerning the installation of a lift-type elevator. This is for information only at this time.  Pastor Robyn will continue to work to bring a Child Protection Policy to Session.  Approved a Faith Budget for 2018 which will be given to congregation at its meeting on Dec. 3. (While there is a deficit of approximately $4,000 between projected income and expense, session supports this budget).  Committee reports were received. There continues to be an issue with the church security system. Pastor Robyn will contact Building & Maintenance.  The Congregational Nominating Committee has been unable to find enough people willing to serve as Elder for the Class of 2020. News & Notes In 2017, Christian Service  Certified FPC as an Eco-Care Thank you! accomplished: Congregation  Supported FPC Pastor’s Thanks to all who help prepare, set up,  Organized and oversaw Benevolence fund cook, deliver, serve, Summer Feeding Program  Collected and dispersed KIVA clean up, etc. for this  Continued providing FPC food loans year’s annual Bean bags for needy travelers/  Organized meals and served Soup Fundraiser. families meals and volunteered for RITI Because of everyone’s  Supported Buckhorn  Supported Habitat for hard work, we were  Supported Heifer Program Humanity pancake breakfast able to raise a total through “Read to Feed”-  Sponsored FS Boys & Girls Club of $2,300 to go  Sponsored FS Good Samaritan, $1,217.00 towards Local Inc.  Supported victims of hurricanes Christian Service!  Held Bean Soup Fundraiser through Presbyterian Disaster  Held annual Yard Sale for Relief missions  Investigated process of working  Supported Church World with refugees

Service Blanket Sunday  Established groups for refugee  Gathered offering and help through the International presented Minute for Mission Center of Kentucky (Living Waters)  Distributed White Christmas For anyone who assisted with the food boxes to needy families above mentioned projects,  Supported the Simpson Co. we say a huge thank you!!! Backpack program DON’T FORGET OUR  Provided lunch for “People ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL Serving People” program MEETING ON SUNDAY, DEC. 3 AFTER WORSHIP SERVICES!!!

TLC Christmas tea

Tuesday, dec. 5 at 2:30 p.m. in the cornerstone

Please bring a $5 gift for exchange, and also bring your favorite cookies or candy to share!!! Stewardship Corner November Average Attendance: 64 White Christmas Nov. 5 72 This years White Christmas Offering handsNov. 12 70 &fe will be on Sunday, Dec. 3 & 10. Nov. 19 51 You may also bring in toiletry items as Nov. 26 62 well as hats, gloves, etc. to place in the boxes. We will be packing and November Weekly Offering Average:$2,102.10 delivering the boxes on Wed. Dec. 20th Nov. 5 $2,381.90February 2011 beginning at 9 a.m. If you know of a Nov. 12 $2,477.50 family that could benefit from a MonthlyNov. 19 $1,595.00 Newsletter of Faith Bible box, please let the office know their information! Nov. 26 $1,954.00Church Average Weekly Income Needed for Budget: $2,403.85

Mark Your YOUTH CORNER Sowing the Field / Calendar By Chuck Silverstein Lorem ipsum dolor sit The youth 11.5 The Youth Group Christmas party amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismodmeets each tincidunt Wednesday ut laoreet will be on dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi (during school) from 6-7 Wednesday, enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci ta- tion ullamcorper suscipit lobortisp.m. at nisl the ut aliquip dec. 20th from ex ea commodo consequat.Cornerstone. Duis autem vel 11-5 in the eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit Dinner is provided. youth room. esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisisAnna at vero Smith eros is etthe accumsan Youth et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent Group leader. Baby Shower luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te Han- feugait nulla facilisi. Youth Skating Party during winter break nah Ut wisi enim ad information , TBA!!! minim ve- niam, quis nostrud exer- CONNECT WITH US! ci tation ul- www.franklinpresbyterian.org lamcorper [email protected] susci- www.facebook.com/ pit lobortis franklinpresbyterian

www.d365.org

http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/worship/daily-prayer/

Save the date. Wine to Water Fundraiser Thursday, January 18, 2018 6 pm – 8 pm

SUPPER DESSERT AUCTION

Sponsored by Franklin Presbyterian Church Living Waters for the World team At The Cornerstone

Help us share the gift of clean water with our partners in Guatemala

Looking Ahead JANUARY RITI Elder of the Month: Becky Stubbs It’s that time of year again when we reach out to Elder Helper of the Month: CJ Hall help our brothers and sisters in Franklin, Simpson Friend handsof the Month: Diane Shutt &County,feet who are experiencing homelessness in the cold winter months here in Franklin, through  1ST: OFFICE CLOSED Room in the Inn, RITI. If you would like to sign up help, and haven’t  7TH: SOUP & SANDWICH LUNCH signed up already, please do so on the sheet in Febru- TAKE DOWN DECORATIONS the educational wing. For more information on RITI ary  18TH: WINE TO WATER FUNDRAISER or trainings, etc., please contact Jane Rahm at [email protected] for more 2011 information!

Mark Your Sowing the Field / Reaping the Harvest BenevolenceCalendar UpdateBy Chuck Silverstein 11. Lorem Thanks to our interest income from FPC’s investments and ipsum 5 generous donations from the congregation, the Pastor’s dolor Ba Benevolence fund has paid out over $1,896.89 so far in sit by 2017 to help people with rent, shelter, electricity, water, food, amet, Sh among other things. The balance of the fund is $586.64. con- ow er Thank you for feeding, clothing, and ministering to our sisters and Ha brothers in the community through your donations! nn ah If you would like to donate to the Pastor’s Benevolence Fund, Jo please note “Benevolence” in the memo portion of your check. y

11 .6 Worship Opportunities

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL TODDLERS Teacher: Prentice Knight (ages 5 and under) are welcome in the nursery Time: Sunday, 9:30am-10:30am (ground floor of education wing) from 9:30am until 9:30-9:45 — Coffee & Fellowship worship finishes. 9:45-10:30 — Class Time Location: The Cornerstone (new building near the ADULT CHOIR gazebo) Wednesday, 6:00pm-7:30pm Bible study & thoughtful discussion of the Scripture Upstairs, education wing with the purpose of fostering spiritual growth & “Serve The Lord With Gladness; Come Before His developing a better understanding of how a follower Presence With Singing!” Psalm 100 of Christ should live in the modern world. (It’s Biblical!!) YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL HANDBELL CHOIR Youth Sunday School Wednesday, 5:00pm-6:00pm Time: 9:45am Downstairs, education wing

Franklin Presbyterian Church 201 North College Street Franklin, KY 42134