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For Friday, December 8, 2017
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 WFPC Officers' Column
We often hear, throughout our church community, God's desire for all disciples to fully utilize their time, talents and treasures to glorify Him. I know I have spoken of it in several generosity spotlights and Leaflets articles.
Last weekend demonstrated the impact we have when we use those gifts. Consider for a moment the number of talents given for WTB. Consider for a moment the amount of time given. Lastly, consider the number of people that experienced the efforts of those talents and time, over 4,000. What a powerful discipleship indeed.
In current times we often look for the sound bite or quote to state a position or feeling. We want that instant gratification. We are constantly besieged with information and quick fixes. We struggle to find some meaning in all the world events. We try to rationalize what our minds are absorbing. It is just so much, coming so fast. Sometimes you just want to scream to "MAKE IT ALL STOP." Where is the refuge? There are no easy answers. No one liners to make us feel good.
Well friends, maybe the refuge is in our hearts, with our family, in our discipleship together and definitely in our relationship with Jesus.
As I think back over the past year and consider the many awesome events occurring in our church -- the great ministry areas, the many areas of discipleship and the outpouring of people's time and talents -- I do feel a sense of joy and comfort in our discipleship together.
Prayer - Lord give us strength and hope as your disciples.
Elder, Finance
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AmazonSmile
Give back to WFPC with your Christmas shopping!
WFPC has partnered with Amazon.com to receive charitable donations for FREE! How is this possible? Like many large companies, Amazon has a philanthropic wing of its business that it uses to give money back to registered non-profits. If you buy ANYTHING through Amazon Smile and designate Wake Forest Presbyterian Church as the non-profit recipient, Amazon will give a percentage of your purchase (at no extra cost to you) back to the church.
Here's the link to the WFPC Smile login: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/56-1747638
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Adult Sunday School Christmas Gathering
Our adult Sunday school classes are invited to Christmas Gathering! Join us on Sunday, December 17, during the Discipleship hour. We'll gather in the CLC for fellowship, carols, and nativity trivia! Please bring a breakfast item to share.
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No Chick Flicks in December!
Chick Flicks will not meet in December, but will pick back up in January. We would love to have you join us for film, fellowship, and food at 6:30 on Friday, January 19, at Diane Terrell's home.
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Coat Drive December 10
WOW (Women of the Word) Bible Study is collecting clean coats and warm clothing on Sunday, December 10. Joint Bible study groups will be serving dinner to those in need of a warm meal that afternoon, and we would like to also provide some warm clothing. There will be bins in the narthex and the CLC for you to drop off any items. Please bring items ONLY on December 10. Contact Sandie Buda (sandiebuda@nc.rr.com) with questions. Thank you for helping us help others!
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JOY Group Christmas Brunch
December 9, 9:0 AM
The JOY Group will meet on Saturday, December 9. We will gather in the CLC at 9:30 and enjoy our holiday brunch at 10:00. Edie and Warren Melhado will be our hosts. Please contact Edie at emelhado@nc.rr.com with your RSVP and potluck brunch offering. Everyone is invited to bring a Secret Santa edible gift to exchange (individual or as a couple), with a $10 limit.
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Walk Through Bethlehem
Wow -- What a Year!
We set a new record for attendance this year at Walk Through Bethlehem. We shared the story of our Savior's birth with 1,040 guests on Friday, 1,408 guests on Saturday, and 1,656 guests on Sunday for a whopping total of 4,104! Our amazing church family came through once again to provide a unique gift to our community and to help bring hope and light to the Christmas season for so many people. Thank you for so generously sharing your time, talents, and treasures to make this program possible.
What goes up must come down!
Many thanks to all the members of WFPC who were involved in the 2017 production of Walk Through Bethlehem. Without your efforts, WFPC would not have been able to give this fine gift to our community. But now, just like Christmas decorations, we must take down the set and the props and then store them until next year. Tomorrow, December 9, we will be packing up Bethlehem for storage. For the early risers some will be starting at 8:30, but any time that you have will be appreciated. We plan to finish by noon.
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Mission and Service
This year Mission and Outreach is doing a new thing -- we have two Christmas trees set out that have "ornaments" for you to take home. They highlight three missions of the church to which you and your family can give gifts: Christmas Angel, Back Pack Buddies, and the PC USA Giving Catalog. For instructions, click here.
Christmas Angel Program at Hillside
Remember to mark your calendars to come sing Christmas carols and hand out small gifts to the residents of Hillside Nursing Home (the words to the carols and presents are provided for you) on Saturday, December 16. The address is 968 Wait Ave, Wake Forest. We will start singing at 10:00 AM and will be there between 45 minutes and an hour. Our Girl Scouts from Church will be playing the piano and reading "The Night Before Christmas" to them. We just need you and your family to come and join us! Please come if you can; it makes the residents so very happy and they LOVE seeing children! Hope to see you there!
Christmas Angel Giving to Local Families
In the remaining weeks before Christmas, Dana Wills and her shoppers will be using funds donated throughout the year for the Christmas Angel Program to purchase gifts for seven Social Services families and one local family with special needs. Thank you to Dana and her shoppers, and thank you to our confirmands who traditionally wrap these presents. A big thank you to all who donated so generously to the Christmas Angel Fund throughout 2017! Contact Dana Wills at jimanddanawills@gmail.com for more information.
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Body & Soul Ministry
The following quotation and graphic were provided by the Mental Health First Aid website as part of their media campaign #BeTheDifference: Healthy Holidays. The information and advice are appropriate for all of us as we move through the time of Advent and Christmas and into the new year.
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"For many, December marks the start of the holiday season. But the holidays don't represent a season of joy for everyone. According to a report from the American Psychological Association, 38 percent of people report that their stress increases around the holidays. And the high volume of parties around the holidays can make this a particularly difficult time of year for people facing substance use challenges."
Blood Pressure Screening
Because of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, the blood pressure screenings for November and December will be combined. Screenings will be held on Sunday, December 10, following both services.
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His Kids News
DECEMBER FIRST FRIDAYS FOR FAMILIES will take place tonight. We will be meeting a bit earlier than usual -- 5:30 instead of 6:00. We'll be making Advent prayer chains, eating pizza, and watching "The Muppet Christmas Carol!" Please RSVP to Amy Cebrick at
amycebrick@yahoo.com by noon on Friday.
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SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EVE FAMILY SERVICE:
WFPC Children's Ministry invites you and your child to join us in a beautiful new tradition...a Christmas Eve pageant! ALL children have a role in the pageant, no rehearsal required! All families are encouraged to join us in the CLC on Sunday, December 24, at 9:00 AM as the children of the church present the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Click here to sign your child up for one of the following roles:
Animal - We will have animal masks for children to wear if they choose to be an animal! And animal costumes from home are welcomed!
Angel - Angels wear tinsel halos, which are provided. Wear white leggings or tights.
Shepherd - Shepherds provide their own bathrobes; headpieces are provided. Please have the children wear Tevas or summer sandals.
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PREP FOR WORSHIP BEGINS IN JANUARY!
Current 3rd graders (or 4th/5th graders who have not completed the class) are invited to join us! Classes will be held on Sunday mornings, January 14 - March 25, at 11:15 in Room B104 in the CLC. We cover prayer, Scripture, thanksgiving, stewardship, sacraments, the liturgical year, and other elements of worship. Students who complete the participation/attendance requirements will be presented with Bibles on April 15 during the 11:15 worship service. Registration is due January 7. Contact Melodee Fraser at mlkfraser@aol.com.
Click here
for the registration form.
~Katherine Peiper, Director of Children, Families and Youth Ministries |
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Youth News
RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS: It's that time again! WFPC Youth are heading out into our community to do nice things for people. Mark your calendars for December 10 from 4:00 - 7:00. We will start at the church by stuffing stockings for the participants in the Meals on Wheels program that meet in our church daily. We will then divide into cars and head out for our random acts. We will meet back at the church to share dinner and stories from the evening. Contact Janet if you did not get the email with the sign-up and RSVP. It is imperative that you sign up so we can secure drivers!
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MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS: Starting on January 17, we will have a guys only group! If you are a boy in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade, this group is just for you!! The group will meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 - 7:30. More details are coming, but for now, get excited! Be thinking about what you want your group name to be, and what types of things you want to do! Dads, we have a leader that will be there each week, but would love to have you all rotate as assistants to help out. Our hope is that we will only need one dad each week. More details are coming soon! Let Janet know if you have any questions.
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UPCOMING YOUTH DATES:
| December 10 |
Random Acts of Kindness |
| December 17 |
Middle School Christmas Party
High School Class Dinners |
| Decemer 24 |
No Youth Group |
| December 31 |
No Youth Group |
~Janet Briley, Assistant Director of Youth Ministries | youth@wakeforestpres.org
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| December 10 Scripture, Sermon and Music
Our Scripture will be Matthew 3:1-6. Pastor Rebekah Maul will share her sermon, "Prepare."
Click here
to check out our Music Ministry's selections.
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2017 Annual Budget
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$883,212.00
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Year-to-date Budgeted (November)
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$804,861.00
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Year-to-date Actual (November)
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$768,764.76
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Year-to-date
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$36,096.24
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December Budget
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$78,351.00 |
| December Tithes and Offerings (thru 12/3/17) |
$16,903.50 |
| December 3, 2017 |
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| Tithes and Offerings |
$16,903.50 |
| Designated Gifts |
$1,626.00 |
| Debt Elimination Gifts |
$1,519.00 |
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Sunday School Attendance
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87 |
| 9:00 Attendance |
167 |
| 11:15 Attendance |
189 |
Debt Elimination Monthly Budget
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$8,000.00
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| Debt Elimination Received (thru 12/3/17) |
$1,519.00 |
...all shall give as they are able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you.
Deuteronomy 16:17
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WFPC Calendar Highlights
Friday, December 8
6:15 AM |
CLC B017 | Friday Morning Men's Bible Study
5:30 PM |
CLC | First Fridays for Families
Saturday, December 9
7:00 AM |
CLC Youth Room | Iron Sharpens Iron
8:30 AM |
Outside | Walk Through Bethlehem Take Down
9:30 AM |
CLC | JOY Christmas Brunch
Sunday, December 10
9:00 AM |
CLC | Contemporary Worship
10:00 AM |
Campus Wide | Discipleship Hour
11:15 AM |
Sanctuary | Traditional Worship
5:00 PM |
CLC
| Random Acts of Kindness Party
Monday, December 11
6:00 PM |
CLC
| FaithFit
7:00 PM |
Campus Wide | Boy Scouts
5:00 PM |
Off Campus
| HOPE Tutoring
6:45 PM |
CLC
| Praise Team Rehearsal
7:00 PM |
Youth Room
| WOW Bible Study
7:00 PM | Blue Mod | Stephen Ministry
Wednesday, December 13
5:30 AM | CLC | FaithFit Morning
11:15 AM | Sanctuary | Preschool Christmas Program
5:30 PM | CLC | SHinE Singers
6:30 PM | CLC B103 | Iron Sharpens Iron
7:00 PM |
Sanctuary
| Chancel Choir Rehearsal
7:00 PM |
CLC Music Room
| Handbell Ensemble
Thursday, December 14
10:00 AM |
Youth Room | Morning Glory Circle
11:15 AM |
Sanctuary | Preschool Christmas Program
5:30 PM |
CLC | FaithFit
7:00 PM |
CLC B017 | Diaconate
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Wake Forest Presbyterian Church
12605 Capital Blvd
Wake Forest, NC 27587
919-556-7777
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