The Good News November 2020
In This Issue... From the desk of….Pastor Nancy Pearson
Thanksgiving and Beyond! From the Desk... 1 The holidays look different this year. Our plans to gather our extended families together for a sumptuous dinner on Thanksgiving Day may have to be postponed. Christmas gatherings and large groups of friends and families gathering around the Christmas tree may not happen in the same Youth News 2 way. I wonder if this necessity to rethink our holiday plans gives us an opportunity to reconsider what our Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations are really Christian Ministries 3 all about. What if we used these days and hours when we’d be preparing for a houseful of guests and massive cooking events in the kitchen, to focus on what we’re thankful for. Maybe it’s a good time to have a basket on your Session News 4 kitchen table and some autumn colored papers…to write something every day that you are grateful for. Maybe you’ll find an item or a picture to put in your “Thankful Basket” that reminds you to give thanks to God for a person Treasures News or event. 5 And maybe as the pandemic has required us to think more carefully about how we shop and even how we spend, we could think about others who Upcoming Sermons 6 don’t have the resources that we have, for those in our community and beyond who have been impacted by unemployment, illness, and natural disaster. Christmas time is a great opportunity for us to take our focus off Our Gratitude 7 ourselves and think of how Jesus would have us reach into the lives of others.
Yes, the holidays may be different this year!
But Praise God: our thankfulness and joy continues through every season.
Blessings to you, Community Presbyterian Church
Pastor Nancy 2279 N Wedgewood Ln Cedar City, UT 84721 Cedarpres.org
The Good News —October 2020
Community Presbyterian Church Youth Newsletter November 2020
November Lineup
(Youth Group is from 11:30-1:00 on Sundays) Sunday 10/25 Youth Group: Halloween theme Sunday 11/1 Youth Group: Jesus and the Supernatural Tuesday 11/3 HS Girls Group Sunday 11/8 Youth Group: Jesus as Sacrifice Sunday 11/15 Youth Group: Thanksgiving when life goes “wrong” Tuesday 11/17 HS Girls Group Saturday 11/21 Sub For Santa Service Event and Friendsgiving Dinner Sunday 11/22 Youth Group: Thanksgiving when you think you’re poor Sunday 11/29 NO Youth Group, have a great Thanksgiving Break!
High School Girls Group! 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 6:30pm-7:30pm
No boys allowed (although we’ll probably talk about boys…)
Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday evening from 6:30-7:30pm. At Bristlecone Coffee & Yoga, 67 W Center St. This will be a “Word, Share, Prayer” format with a more High School focus dealing with topics that are on your mind, digging into the Bible to listen for how God’s Word can speak into our daily lives. Sub for Santa Service & Friendsgiving potluck Dinner! Saturday, Nov 21 RSVP by Sunday, 11/15 Cost: $10 donation for gifts Starting and Ending at Community Pres. 4:00-6:00 Service Project 6:00-7:30 Friendsgiving Dinner and Games Join us on a shopping spree service project to benefit the Iron County Holiday Assistance! We will head to Walmart to buy gifts for kids whose families can’t afford Christmas presents. When we’ve spent all our dough, we’ll return to church for Friendsgiving dinner and games. Bring $10, a dessert or side dish to share (or we can make some food ourselves), the permission form on the back of this newsletter, and a few friends! (CPC will provide turkey, ham and drinks) It’ll be fun! ***PARENTS! We need help with transportation! All students will wear face coverings and sanitize hands before getting in vehicles (and throughout the event). Please let Pr Robyn know if you can help drive!!!
The Good News —October 2020
Children’s Ministry November 2020 CPC Moms Gather with other moms for an evening of conversation, hot drinks and supportive fellowship. BYO drinks and we’ll meet in the CPC Youth Room or Welcome Center—whichever has the comfy-er couches! We will practice COVID precautions by staying 6 feet apart and wearing masks as much as possible while still sipping our lattes. Join our Facebook Group CPCMoms by friending Robyn Eddy (Pastor Robyn). We’re trying to set up our first gathering for the end of October or early November.
Children’s Christmas Program! Sunday, December 13 during the 10am worship service. Rehearsals on Saturday, December 5 and December 12. We are still working out the details, but please mark your calendars for this year’s Children’s Christmas program. It will definitely be simpler than in the past, taking COVID precautions into consideration, but we want our kiddos to shine like the Christmas Star as they help re-tell the story of Jesus’ birth.
Inquirers/New Members Class…on Zoom! Interested in learning more about the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)? Interested in what Community Presbyterian Church is all about here in Cedar City? Our Inquirer’s class is for you! Though the format is different during this season, we want to join together to explore our faith and our church and what it looks like to be a Presbyterian follower of Jesus Christ. At the end of the class, you may want to make a commitment to become a member of CPC. Pastor Nancy will lead this group on ZOOM. Materials will be provided in notebook form to be picked up at the church office. We’re considering a one hour class for 4 weeks beginning in mid November. If you are interested in being a part of this unique class, please contact Pastor Nancy at [email protected] or the church office at [email protected] John 15:12-13 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Dearest Church Family, As your shepherds we reach out to you. We continue to look for ways to stay connected and let you know that you are loved and cared for as family. We have sent cards, emails, texts, and phone calls. Best of all face to face of course paying heed to being safe with masks and distancing. If we are not connected to you we do our best to support those you feel close to and assist them in meeting your needs. It is with great joy that we respond to the blessings in our lives by sharing our love and concern to our church family. We thank God for the opportunity to serve our church with His guidance. You may contact any of us!
Rita Osborn 590-8520 Cathy Ewert 559-3553 Jeff Smith (310) 612-4331 Marilyn Smith 590-4331 Gen Phelps 559-6822
The Good News —October 2020
Session News Session met on Oct. 21. 2020 on the patio of Dana Covey.
Excused were Jane McCoy and Linda Stetzenbach. Word, Share, Prayer was a devotional by Stan Ott, Building One Another. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved. Reports: • Pastor Nancy will be taking a study leave Nov. 2-6.The Stewardship campaign this year will be Abundance and Scarcity. Stewardship Sundays are Nov 8, 15 and 22. Pastor Nancy would like to produce our own Advent Booklet. • Pastor Robyn-the youth group numbers are small, Robyn is intentionally seeking each person individually to make sure they are feeling supported and grow in their faith. • Youth-the youth group was kicked off for this year with frisbee golf and dinner out at 3 peaks. A bit windy, but fun. The youth led the Oct 4 service, and the high school girls group has met twice. The annual Pumpkin patch event was quite successful with about 30 people in attendance. • Finance-budgets will be due soon. The September finance report was approved. A motion was approved to purchase a projection version of the Glory to God hymnal, with music and lyrics. • Worship and Music-Ruth Fotheringham will lead W/M during Linda’s absence. • Congregational Life-a nice retirement celebration was held honoring Marci on Oct 11. • Mission- A motion was approved to allocate more funds from Treasures to the charities that Treasures supports. • Personnel- An Admin Asst. job description was approved to be announced. • Presbytery-Presbytery met virtually on Oct. 10 with about 58 people in attendance by Zoom. It was a very successfully conducted meeting. A new Executive Presbyter was approved, Rev. Mirjam Hass-Melchior. She will be starting at least by Jan 1, 2021. Rev Jeff Silliman was honored for his many years of dedication to the ministry in Utah. The next meeting of session will be at 3pm on Nov. 18th. The meeting was adjourned with prayer by Pastor Nancy.
Worship and Music We are pleased to be able to continue to meet for in person worship on Sunday mornings. Our Session el- ders continue to monitor closely the rising numbers of people in Utah infected with the virus so that we can make sure we are both complying with the state restrictions and providing a safe experience for our people. Case counts in Iron County remain lower that the state average, but of course that could change at any time. We appreciate your continued adherence to the restrictions including social distance, face coverings and no gatherings for fellowship. We know that you are impatient for things to be back to “normal,” but that will have to wait a bit longer. Our Praise team is providing music in person twice per month now, and Jolene Heit is accompanying us on the piano on alternate Sundays. We appreciate the faithfulness of these church family members. We will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper now on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays of each month. (Nov 1,15,29) We have the “portable elements” in the church office if you would like to use them as you worship at home. We’re continuing to improve your worship experiences, both in person and at home. Our tech team is now “live streaming” the worship service, so you can watch at home at the same time that we are worshiping in the sanctuary. We are hoping in the next weeks to also publish a worship plan/bulletin online that you can use for your at home experience. Thank you for continued support in a changing environment! We appreciate your prayers.
Klaus and Linda Stetzenbach-temporary address: 81 S St #1. SLC, UT 84103
The Good News —October 2020
Treasures Thrift Store was named as one of the Mission Giving Best of Iron County. Congratulations to all our hard working volunteers for making this happen! Business is booming at Treasures Community Thrift Store. And that means that we have the opportunity Treasures has blossomed even during the COVID to make significant donations to our community pandemic. We have received some wonderful partners who minister in our community. We have donations. The store has seen some improvements, made monetary distributions this month to: Iron including a new step and some other cement work. County Care and Share, Utah Foster Care, Family Our volunteers are dedicated and show up when Support Center, Children’s Justice Center, Intervar- there is work to be done. Many shoppers are regular sity at SUU and Canyon Creek Services. Praise customers and have become friends. We are always God for this ministry to the Cedar City community!! praying for more volunteers. Our regular volunteer work hours are Monday 9-1 and Thursday 10-4. Abigail Circle Starting again! Thursday, Nov. 19, Hope to see you then! 10:00-11:00 in the Welcome Center
Bring your Bible, Study book (listed below) and your mask. If you are joining us, please call the office to have
your name added to the list. This is a 6 week study, we will skip some of the Thursdays. Order your own book- (Amazon, Christian Books). Read the introduction and Help Wanted!! complete Lesson 1 before the Nov. 19th meeting. Job title: Administrative Assistant 1 and 2 Samuel: Growing a Heart for God (New Community Bible Study Series) Employment Type: Part-time ( up to 24 hours) ISBN-10 : 0310280494, ISBN-13 : 978-0310280491 Working Hours: 9:00- 5:00 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or as assigned. Stewardship Season! It’s that time again where we prepare to craft Salary: Hourly wage depending on qualifications and experience the church budget for the upcoming year. We are so thankful for your continuing giving to the Location: Community Presbyterian life of the church during the months of the Church, Cedar City, Utah pandemic. Thank you for your faithfulness! Key responsibilities and duties: General secretarial skills, typing, filing, screening For three Sundays in November, Pastors phone calls, taking messages, and handling routine Nancy and Robyn will be sharing messages correspondence Receptionist duties, greeting visitors, answering from the pulpit about Our Abundant God in a questions Time of Crisis. Collating reports and producing bulletins, newsletters, Perhaps it is hard for us to think about giving our financial resources during the time of the Experience, Education Requirements: Familiarity with Desktop Publishing Software pandemic, when so many things seem to be Previous experience with office management uncertain. Strong interpersonal skills Flexibility But even in the times of uncertainty, we serve a Interested? God who is loving and generous and powerful. We serve a God who continues to bless us in Submit a resume including your education, achieve- ments, and technical skills along with three personal abundant ways, if we only pay attention. I references to: encourage you to stay in tune with what our Personnel Committee, CPC great God is doing in your lives and all around 2279 N Wedgewood LN us. Watch for God’s abundance in the middle Cedar City, Utah 84721 of times of seeming scarcity!
The Good News —October 2020
Upcoming Sermon series Thank you for your prayers for our congregation! Nov 1 “I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body Please keep these members and friends in your & The Life Everlasting” thoughts and prayers.
Philippians 3:12-21 Klaus & Linda Stetzenbach: Klaus is undergoing chemotherapy at the Huntsman Cancer Center in Nov 8 Stewardship SLC. Pray for healing for him and strength for Linda as she supports him. “God’s Abundance in a Time of Crisis” Chloe, Virginia Stephenson’s 17 year old Matthew 25:14-29 granddaughter who is experiencing severe pain and is waiting for test results. Pray for Chloe and for her Nov 15 Stewardship (Pastor Robyn) family. Mary Shurtleff: Mary is continuing to struggle with “God’s Abundance in a Time of Crisis” pain and with multiple health issues. Pray for healing. Luke 9:10-17 Bonnie Blakely: Bonnie is now in California living Nov 22 Stewardship Commitment Sunday with her son Sam. Pray for her health and that she is “God’s Abundance in a Time of Crisis” adjusting well to these life changes.
1 Kings 17:8-16 Pray for many of our congregants’ family members and friends who have been diagnosed with COVID Nov 29 First Sunday of Advent 19. Pray for healing for infected bodies and for comfort for those whose lives have been upended by “Emmanuel: God with Us” the virus. Pray too for families who have lost loved ones to the pandemic.
Pray for the state of Utah as hospital capacity and Iron County Holiday Assistance resources approach a dangerous level. Pray for administration and government officials who are We have a great opportunity this Holiday season to provide gifts making critical decisions. and foods for our neighbors who could use a helping hand. Again this year, the Iron County Holiday Assistance program Pray for medical professionals treating people with will be receiving donation gifts and meals for families in our COVID and other illnesses. Pray for energy and area. And because of the pandemic, we anticipate the needs to stamina for these essential workers, and for be even greater this year as many have been affected by protection for them and their families. unemployment and job loss. Pray for the election week ahead. Pray for a smooth Here at CPC we will have a Christmas tree in our Welcome running electoral process which is a centerpiece of Center with tags for gifts for specific ages of children as well as our democracy. Pray for no interference from outside tags to provide frozen holiday turkeys. Tags will be ready for sources that would disrupt the voting. Pray for each you to take beginning Sunday November 15. Please shop for of us to use care and kindness in speaking to others the appropriate gifts and bring your unwrapped gifts to church about candidates, especially when we disagree. by Sunday November 29.
Pastor Robyn and Pastor Nancy will be delivering the gifts to the Cedar City Armory for pre-approved families to pick up the week of December 1. Frozen turkeys and other holiday foods should be delivered directly to Care and Share at 222 W 900 N.
Thank you for your participation in this great holiday project!! We appreciate your generosity.
Bible Sunday: Bibles were presented to our 8 year old children Ethan Childers-Garrison during Worship on October 25, by their Ciara Moon parents. Anthony Montoya
Unable to attend-Adrian Boudreau
The Good News —October 2020
The Good News —October 2020
Community Presbyterian Church 2279 North Wedgewood Lane Cedar City, UT 84721
Address Service Requested We are especially thankful for… Dated Material
Youth Pumpkin fun!!
The Board of Elders
2021 Dana Covey, Brad Phelps, Linda Stetzenbach 2022 Jane McCoy, Rich Bontadelli, Jeff Smith 2023 Jeff McCoy
The Board of Deacons
2022 Rita Osborn
Staff Pastor Nancy Pearson [email protected] Associate Pastor Robyn Eddy [email protected] Administrative Assistant Dana Covey [email protected] Treasurer Jeanine Howells [email protected]
Contact Us Open T-Th 10-4 Closed M, F Office Phone (435) 586-8891 Webpage www.cedarpres.org Facebook www.facebook.com/cedarpres
Community Presbyterian Church Who is this little pumpkin? “Reach, Grow, Send”
The Good News —October 2020