connection. The angels returned to the Angel Tree, bearing gifts for children in foster care. JANUARY 2019 On the fourth Sunday of Advent, we were led in music by Rusty Phlegar, Patricia First Presbyterian Church 200 E. Second Street Rentner, and Fred Schafer. Some of them Pastor Margaret Fox Perrysburg, OH 43551 piped in during the hymns as well, and I [email protected] (419) 874-4119 remember noticing how the music brought Website: www.fpcpburg.org out our voices and helped us sing together. And then, on Christmas Eve, with a Dear friends, service of Lessons and Carols, we read the stories and sang the hymns that proclaim Advent has been a full the Good News of great joy: unto us a season here at First Savior is born, Christ the Lord. Presbyterian Church. It’s been a season of The new year is upon us, and with it paradox, full of both pain new changes and opportunities here at FPC and promise, sorrow and Perrysburg. Renovations of the Junior hope, end of life and new Worship room to become a toddler life--but woven throughout are faith and love room/nursery are underway. In late and the grace of God. The season has January, we’ll convene a class of new brought accidents and illness, and painful members; if you are interested in joining the reminders of loved ones no longer with us church, please contact me. Session will for the holidays. And it has also brought welcome new leaders, and the teams will community, compassion, and connection. begin planning for Lent.

On the first Sunday of Advent, we “I thank my God every time I enjoyed a raucous Christmas dinner, remember you, constantly praying with joy followed by a quiet Taize evening service to in every one of my prayers for all of you, set the tone of watching and waiting for because of your sharing in the gospel from Advent: “Stay with me, remain here with me, the first day until now.” (Phil. 1:3-5). Have watch and pray…” a Merry Christmas season and a happy new year. On the second Sunday of Advent, our children led our worship with a Grace and peace, Christmas pageant, pointing us toward the Margaret story of Christ’s birth. The congregation PS: From Jan. 6-13, I will be on study leave celebrated together with cookies for at the Moveable Feast in Santa Fe. The Fellowship Hour. Feast is a group of 25 pastors from around On the third Sunday of Advent, we the country who meet each year to share blessed prayer shawls to serve as a papers on the lectionary texts; this will be tangible symbol of compassion and care for my first year with the group. those who are in need of comfort and Children & Youth

By Tyra Jones Adult Bible Study First and foremost, I would like to thank everyone who took the time to By Selinda Schultz help with the Christmas pageant, without your time and dedication the As we journey from the joy of Christmas pageant would Christmas to the light of Epiphany we have never happened. see revealed for us the nature and purpose of the gift of Jesus at Also, I would like to thank Christmas. Starting on Sunday, the youth, you guys did January 6 at 9 AM and Tuesday, an amazing job and you January 8 at 10AM we will explore, look great in your for six weeks, what being a Disciple costumes. So, thank you of this Jesus entails. You are invited everyone! to discover the joys and challenges of The Way of Jesus with us. Study In other news, we will be books @$7 will be ordered for usual finishing the Deep Blue Kids participants. curriculum for junior worship. The Deep Blue Kids family series has Please contact Selinda at 419 865- really worked the youth; enriching 8383 or [email protected] them with different aspects of what with questions or to order books. family look like and how these different family serve God. I have been looking into the next curriculum for 2019. I have realized it is easier to get the teens together when we have service projects and fun activities to do. I am looking for more service projects and fun activities to get the teens more involved in 2019.

Thank you everyone for your support and help with all you do!

Congregational Life Team Jo Salvage, Chair

Save the Dates!

Church Wine and Cheese Social Saturday, January 26, 2019 4 – 6 pm Bring a bottle of wine and appetizer to share (sodas and coffee also served) New Location: River Place (by Costco)

Walleye Hockey Faith and Family Night Sunday, February 10, 2019

Table for 6 Dinner Groups Sign-up posted in January Groups will meet February, March, and April

Join your church family for fun fellowship!

Mission Team

Kathy Jarosz, Team Leader

Thank You, Thank You, Please think about getting Thank You! together with your friends or family or the people sitting in the For all the help over the past year with pew with you and hosting a Table the Table. We, your Mission Team, this year. It is not a difficult job could not have done it without the help and there are numerous people of many people in our congregation. that will help. An entrée is picked Especially in December when so many but if you would like to change of our normal helpers were not and fix something else that is available. I knew that our congregation entirely up to you. Come join in could step up and you ended up serving the fun and fellowship. over 80 Christmas dinners to our members and the community. I know Angel Tree that many in our community look Jan Martell again did a great job forward to the Table not only for the with the Angel Tree. All the great food but also for the sense of angels were gone on the first family that abounds at the Table. Sunday it was up. There were a Please help us continue the great work lot of happy children at Christmas in the upcoming year. this year due to the generosity of The dates for this year will be: this congregation.

16 January 20 February PCU Food Collection: The PCU item 20 March 17 April for this month is canned 15 May 19 June vegetables. 17 July 21 August Next Meeting: The next meeting is 2 18 September 16 October January 2019 at 4:30 p.m. Think 20 November 18 December about joining the team.

Welcome to:

By Vinny Sauer

Advent is a period of reflection and preparation. All season we sang hymns awaiting Christ’s birth in quiet anticipa- tion and thoughtful contemplation. After The tABLE a delicious Christmas Dinner on Dec. 2, we joined in the sanctuary for a service of quiet meditation. In the candlelit First Presbyterian Church, 200 E. space, we sang Taize chants and Second St., Perrysburg reflected on prayers and scripture. We are planning for future services like this www.fpcpburg.org 419-874-4119 so stay tuned for more opportunities for quiet meditation. We invite you to please come to The choir is taking a short break the Table! The Table is a free after Christmas but will be returning on meal for the community. January 6, 2019. If you’ve been thinking about singing with the choir, now is a great time to start! We warm-up before Everyone is welcome. Even if you Sunday services at 9:30 a.m. and rehearse after fellowship hour at 11:30 can only come for a short time – a.m. for 30-45 minutes. Please talk to we would love to see you! music director, Vinny Sauer for more details. th January 16 , at 5:30 p.m.

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

Jan. 1 Alexandria Hope Jan. 2 Helen Williamson Please remember these members and Jan. 2 Amy Konz friends in your daily prayers: Jan. 12 Ross Martin Jan. 14 Kay Traver Kate Bell Betty Brainard Jan. 16 Margot Quick Dorothy Darr Martha Gluth Jan. 18 Melinda Gallant Betty Howald Geraldine McGue Jan. 18 Martha Gluth Gillian Mitchell Rick Modrzynski Jan. 21 Helen Haas Lee Murr Andy Nelson Jan. 23 David Traver Ken Nesper Gene Phlegar Jan. 25 Patrick Sheridan Pat Sheridan Ed & Sue Williams Helen Williamson Earl Witzler FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

Feb. 1 Kathryn Werkman Feb. 3 Ian Bova Feb. 5 Jack Simmons Thank you from Feb. 12 Julia Brown Feb. 13 Rachael Youel Barry and Lee Murr Feb. 15 Robert Duddy Feb. 15 Eva Lengel Barry and I feel blessed to be a part of Feb. 23 Sophia Walcher the FPC family, and we as the congregation are very blessed to have Margaret Fox as our pastor. We will be eternally thankful for Margaret’s caring If you have a birthday that is not and pastoral presence during my recent listed, please contact the church office so that we can update our car accident. She responded right away records. and was with us at both St. Luke’s and The Toledo Hospital, and was a great support to Barry and me. We also thank you, the congregation, for your cards, phone calls, delicious meals, and

willingness of others to provide meals.

This is truly what the church is to be.

Thank you. Lee and Barry Murr

SERVING CHART FOR JANUARY

GREETER HEAD USHERS ACOLYTE LITURGIST CHILDREN’S COMMUNION COMMUNION POWER USHER MESSAGE SERVERS PREPARERS POINT

Allison Margot Jan 6 Helen Jim Mackin & Dylan Gretchen Don Youel Quick, Jack Lowrie Nancy Haas Gilmore Lois Schuh Downs Simmons, Gilmore, Gates Rubright Rusty Margot Phlegar, Quick Barry Murr Doris Jan Phyllis Jim Currie & Leo Julianne Margaret Gretchen 13 Gogel Gilmore Valerie Crawford Rowland Fox Downs Rowley Miller Carol Jan Nancy Jim Sprague & Isla Fay Mitchell Sarah Kathy 20 Gates Gilmore Lowrie Davies Magoun Jarosz Gilmore

Marty Jan Martha Jim Sloan & Lizzy Allison Tyra Jones Stephen 27 Gluth Gilmore Sarah Crawford Mackin Potts Crawford

If you have a conflict with assigned date, please try to trade with another volunteer and inform Lee Murr at [email protected] or call 419.861.2005. If unable to resolve conflict, contact Lee Murr as soon as possible. Thank you for your service to FPC.

SERVING CHART FOR FEBRUARY 2019

GREETERS HEAD USHERS ACOLYTE LITURGIST CHILDREN’S COMMUNION COMMUNION POWER USHER MESSAGE SERVERS PREPARERS POINT

Lowrie & Feb Lois Stephen Brenda & Anthony Megan Selinda Jim Lowrie Barb M 3 Rubright Potts Don Clark Merrell Schultz Gilmore, Gilmore Youel Jack & Linda Simmons

Feb Eva Lengel Stephen Robert & Lizzy Jan Martell Margaret Fox Gretchen 10 Potts Fay Crawford Downs Mitchell

Julie Feb Doris Stephen Lindsey Logan Jeff Kasza Valerie Nancy 17 Currie Potts & Kathy Riley Rowley Gates East

Rick & Kathy Feb Carol Stephen Mary Isla Randy Tyra Jones Jarosz 24 Sprague Potts Beth Gilts Davies Phillips

If you have a conflict with assigned date, please try to trade with another volunteer and inform Lee Murr at [email protected] or call 419.861.2005. If unable to resolve conflict, contact Lee Murr as soon as possible. Thank you for your service to FPC.

January 2019

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 CHURCH OFFICE 3:30 pm Advent CLOSED FOR THE Poetry Study HOLIDAY 6:30 Worship/Music HAPPY NEW YEAR! Team Mtg. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 9:00 am Bible 10:00 am Bible PASTOR Study Study MARGARET WILL 10:00 am Worship/ Noon – Women’s 4:30 pm Mission BE OUT ON STUDY Communion Assoc. Luncheon Team Mtg. LEAVE 1/6 – 1/13 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 9:00 am Bible 10:00 am Bible Study Study 5:30 pm “The 10:00 am Worship 7:00 pm Session Table” Mtg. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 9:00 am Bible 4:30 pm 10:00 am Bible 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Study Stewardship/ Study NEWSLETTER Wine/Cheese Party 10:00 am Worship Finance Team Mtg. ARTICLES DUE

27 28 29 30 31 9:00 am Bible 4:30 pm 10:00 am Bible Study Congregational Life Study 10:00 am Worship/ Team Mtg. Congregation Mtg. Bereavement Support Group – 2nd Tuesday of the month AlAnon – Every Wednesday night Toastmasters – 3rd Friday of the month January Newsletter

Service Times: 9:00a.m. Adult Bible Study (Sept. thru May) 10:00 a.m. Worship Children are excused during the worship service to attend Sunday School Communion is served on the first Sunday of each month

Session Members Jo Salvage – Clerk Nancy Gates, Co-Clerk Melissa Cain, Co-Clerk Alex Bearden Michael Cain Jim Gilmore Kathy Jarosz Jeff Kasza Lee Murr Rusty Phlegar Jack Simmons

Staff Pastor ……………..………………………… Rev. Margaret Fox Adult Education Director …………….. Selinda Schultz Youth Ministry Coordinator …………. Tyra Jones Music Director …………………………… Vinny Sauer Treasurer ………………………………….. Don Youel Secretary ………………………………….. Linda Bristow Financial Secretary …………………… Tom Connolly Custodian ………………………………….. Jay Salvage Nursery Attendant ……………………… Rebecca Hope