Jan3, 2011

the

H e ral d
Volume XXXXIX, No 1

Annual Congregational Meeting of the church will be on Sunday, January 27th following morning worship service. The report booklets will be available for pick-up on Sunday, January 20th.

Go forth in joy and proclaim to the world that you do know Jesus, your Lord and salvation! Emmanuel. God is with us!

Inside this issue:

Lants Lines 2

Christian Educator 3

Come to the Stable was presented on Sunday, December 16. 35 children and youth (with 3 unable to attend) and 7 adults brought the message of Jesus birth and salvation to the congregation. Thank you to Amanda Davis and Amanda Mang for their direction, Amanda Tramel and Jean Shutt for costumes and props, Nancy Cobb Lippens and Julie Haan for music leadership and John Moulton for his trumpet fanfares.

Church Happenings

Page 2

the He ral d
Lants Lines
[Jesus said,] Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. (Luke 11:9 NRSV) Lets reframe that. These are the words that I heard so often in my seminary training. The idea behind them is that an insight or an activity can take on a different look, depending on the context in which it is viewed. Just as I am amazed when a piece of art that Amanda has purchased at an art fair comes alive when she replaces its original frame with a nicer one that brings out the qualities of the painting, so I am sometimes surprised how reframing experiences or actions can make me see them differently. As the New Year rolls in, we often joke about our resolutions. For example, I saw a cartoon the other day about a man who was making his resolutions on December 27. His friend congratulated him on getting to his resolutions early. Nope, said the man, these are my resolutions for this year; maybe I can keep them for several days! In spite of our best intentions, we often find that our resolutions have relaxed or disappeared before the year is more than a few weeks old. But what would happen if we reframed those resolutions? Same words, but instead of calling them resolutions, what if we called them prayers. Suddenly, that puts them in a new light. For one thing, we are less likely to add trivial things to our lists if we involve God in the list-making. Also, when our resolutions become prayers, we are encouraged to ask first whether they are within what God would want for our lives (Your will be done). Most importantly, when we pray for self -improvement within the will of God, we can be sure that we are not alone in our efforts. The Holy Spirit keeps reminding us of the resolutioneach time we prayand then gives us courage and confidence that we can do it. God wants each of us to develop and grow in faith, hope, and love. Why wouldnt God help us when we resolve to do it? A personal note: I am so deeply grateful for the way each of you contributed to a meaningful Advent and a joyous Christmas in our church. The decorations, the music, the help with building maintenance, the programs with children, the food (!)everything worked together for a worshipful and happy season. Amanda and I are grateful, too, for your many cards and other expressions of good will during the holidays. Our church staff, as always, is moved by your generous Christmas gifts. Thank you! And God bless you, one and all.

Thank Yous
Thanks for the tasty cookies the Deacons made. John & Leah Ramer To the church family: Thank you so much for the generous Christmas gift. We are so grateful for your love and support. Blessings to each of you for the new year. Lant, Scott, Cheryl, Mark, Jonathan, Alvin, Gayle, Amanda and Sarah

V o lu me X XX XI X ,

Page 3

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION REPORT Cheryl Moles, Christian Educator Please plan to stay after worship for a while on Sunday, January 6 to help unhang the greens. The holiday decorations will be packed away on Epiphany. This job always goes quickly and the helping hands are appreciated. 2012 was The Year of the Bible at Central Presbyterian Church! We are finished!! Congratulations to those that read the whole Bible and to those that are still working dont quit now!. The discussion group for the December readings will be Wednesday, January 2 at 6:45 pm at the church. Come with discussion questions and comments! Parents Night Out/Kids Night In is Friday, JANUARY 11. Childcare will be provided from 5:30 9:00 pm with supper served. Please notify the church office if your child(ren) will be attending. Sunday School meets every Sunday at 9:30 am. There are classes for all ages with child care available from 9:15 to 11:45 am. Sunday School will not meet on December 30. A new adult class on parenting will begin on January 13. Childrens Worship for children ages 4 years through 1st grade is held following the Childrens Moment time in worship. It is led by Donna Paul-Bonham or Cheryl Moles and meets in room 202. T3EM Supper and Childcare will resume on January 15 and all commissions and committees will be meeting. The family prayer group meets on Mondays at the church. Come at noon for lunch. The sharing of joys and concerns begins at 12:30 pm followed by prayer. The Lenten Series will be on Sundays, Feb. 17 through March 24 from 5:15 to 7:30 pm (supper, worship and classes). Adults will use an excellent book and video by biblical scholar, N. T. Wright, Surprised by Hope, that reveals the amazing full scope of what Gods Word has to say about the world to come and the world that is. Children will be learning Gods Surprises and the youth will have their youth group meeting. Childcare will be provided.

Central Presbyterian Church

Central Presbyterian Church
125 North Seventh Street Terre Haute, IN 47807 Phone: 812-232-5049 Fax: 812-232-5040 E-mail: CPCOffice@thcpc.org Website: www.thcpc.org Sunday School for all ages 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. Rev. Lant B. Davis, Pastor Scott Paul-Bonham, Parish Associate Cheryl Moles, Christian Educator Sarah Kelsheimer, Church Secretary

Non-Profit Org. US Postage Paid Terre Haute, IN Permit No. 425

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Church Happenings
Womens Book Club The Womens Book Club will be taking a winter break this month. If you would like to get ahead on next months reading, A Nurtual Woman by Carole King will be discussed. Monday Stitchers Do you like fun and fellowship? The Monday stitchers have an opportunity for you to help on a mission project and join in the fellowship while sewing. Nancy McKee has given the group a project called Little Dresses for Africa that is also being worked on at her church in Arizona. Come on Monday, January 7th, to learn more about this project. Bring a sack lunch. Womens Bible Study The Womens Bible Study will meet on January 22 at 10:00 a.m. Unit 5 from Psalms (Interpretation Bible Studies) by Jerome F. D. Creach will be discussed. More information on the location will follow in the Sunday bulletin.

Next Herald Deadline Jan. 20, 2013