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Inspiration from Our Pastor
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Dear Friends,
As I drove home this past Sunday, I couldn’t help but think about the tasty luncheon prepared by our Administration, Stewardship, and Finance Committee. It was a fitting celebration of God’s presence in our midst as we seek to welcome, to proclaim, and to teach, and of our faithful response to God’s good gifts. We are care-takers of all God has provided. I understand we received seventy two pledge cards on Sunday—well done! If you weren’t able to be in attendance, or haven’t filled out your card, don’t worry—you can still return it! Remember these pledges help us (and hopefully help you) to plan for the coming year.
Speaking of the year to come: Election Day will soon be here! It can’t come soon enough. Make sure to vote November 8! Engage your right and perform your civic duty.
November is about more than elections, though. In the church we move the conclusion of the Christian Year on November 20 as we celebrate Christ the King Sunday. Then, on November 27, we begin a new cycle of the Christian Year as Advent begins. In between the country celebrates a day of gratitude and thanksgiving on November 24. I urge you and your families to begin the season of gratitude for all our good gifts now, even before, but especially after November 8.
Once every couple of years I re-read Myron Madden. Madden was a pastor in Louisiana and well regarded counselor. I often think of his writings around Thanksgiving, probably because he wrote about blessing. “We know what a blood transfusion is. Expand on that idea, and you might call blessing a kind of life transfusion,” he wrote. Preparing for Thanksgiving, blessings are reasons for gratitude. But as Madden reminds, blessings aren’t easy to define. His attempt: Blessing is a gift of power. It is the gift of the self to another. Blessing is our permission (weddings don’t work well without it; vocational choice is easier with it). Blessing is permission to be as well as to do. Blessing forecasts destiny: to carry on. Blessing is both material and spiritual (It is the gift of who and what we are along with what we own; not to control the future, but to open it to possibility). Blessing sets free; it does not bind or restrict. Blessing ties the generations together. In the scriptures, it empowered Abraham to continue what his father had begun, and yet it involved separation. Only the truth blesses.
We are not the originators of blessing, but more a channel of them, Madden reminds. He continues, “the carrier of blessing is faith and faith alone. Where there is no faith, there is not transaction of blessing”. This November, may you find many reasons to be thankful. And may you recognize the blessings you have both given and received, connecting each to the face of someone special.
—Pastor Bugg
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A Prayer for Election Day
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Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 822)
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Note: Throughout 2016, the Translation will highlight the committees and ministries at Wycliffe. Each month there will be an in-depth article about one of our ministries.
Our series continues with the ministry of Administration, Stewardship & Finance (AS&F) chaired by Jim Haynie and Jodi Rossman.
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The Ministry of Administration, Stewardship & Finance
Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines.
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(Proverbs 3:9-10 Living Bible (TLB))
Our committee is responsible for developing an annual budget for adoption by the Session. The budget is based on member pledges received each year during the Stewardship campaign and designated funds received for specific outreach missions. The committee oversees the church treasurer, the office administrator and our members who collect, count and deposit the weekly offerings. We are responsible for ensuring an annual financial review is conducted in accordance with the Book of Order. Annual reviews are also conducted of all legal documents, contracts and church inventory.
We look forward to providing the congregation with online access to Realm which is a web-based system where you can view your personal member profile, view group messages, meeting information, monitor your pledges and enjoy the convenience of making electronic offerings.
This is the time of year to start thinking about gathering all our paperwork in preparation of filing income taxes. We all look for write-offs so we owe less tax. Consider making a tax deductible donation or a pledge increase to the church. These can include donating stock or part of your IRA required minimum distribution. Everyone benefits from that!
Our committee is currently made up of Jodi Rossman, Jim Haynie, Barry LaVigne, Dick Haislip, Garland Miles and Carol Marinak. We welcome anyone interested in joining our committee. We are currently in need of a treasurer to replace Erin Tinaro. If you have a knack for numbers and a little computer experience, please consider volunteering a few hours each month to help us out.
Coming in December: The Ministry of Music
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Ladies Lunch Out - November 9
Hurricane Matthew canceled our lunch in October so let's try again in November. Join us November 9 at 11:45 am at the Lynnhaven Fish House. Guests are welcome. To make reservations, call Betty Douglas at 481-5854.
Culture Club - November 12
On Saturday, November 12 Culture Club will visit the Chrysler Museum and have lunch at the cafe. We will see the Johannes Vermeer masterpiece A Lady Writing and view the exhibit Agrarian Ideal depicting the beauty of a simple life on the land featuring the work of Monet, van Gogh, and Homer. We will meet at Wycliffe at 10:00 am and carpool to the museum. Contact Mary Lou Crifasi (496-2620) to make reservations. All are welcome!
Fellowship Luncheon - November 13
Join us next Sunday, November 13 for our monthly Fellowship Lunch. Our menu will feature pork loin, sweet potatoes, green beans, applesauce, rolls and pies. All for the bargain price of $5.
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Outreach Opportunities
Helping Others Have a Happy Holiday
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Community Outreach Follows Hurricane Matthew
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A few weeks ago Virginia Beach was hit by Hurricane Matthew. While we all knew it was coming, no one (not even the meteorologists) expected it to be as bad as it was. Parts of our community were devastated by flooding. We all have our own experiences or know someone who had major issues with the storm and flood waters. Particularly hard hit was the Windsor Woods area of our community.
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Faith Works Coalition, who is a 501c (3) in Virginia Beach, that Wycliffe has supported with Endowment grants is doing relief work every day in Windsor Woods. Right now they are working with Operation Blessing who is focused on clean up and debris removal. When the rebuilding begins, FWC will be taking specific rebuilding and repair projects, beginning in mid-November. If any Wycliffians want to support this local ministry, donations can be made by Paypal through the website faithworkscoalition.org or by mailing checks to Faith Works Coalition 3700 Big Ben Road, Virginia Beach, VA. 23452. For more information contact Carol Marinak.
In addition our Food Closet has been a big resource for School Social Workers. Numerous families have been displaced by the flooding. The need for food for children and their families has risen dramatically since the hurricane. In fact the number of families served since the storm is about the same amount as the TOTAL for the rest of the year. One social worker indicated that the need will continue to grow as state funding for temporary housing has run out and families scramble to find places to live. So consider bringing some non-perishable food items with you on Sunday morning - peanut butter, cereal, pasta, canned chicken or tuna, mac & cheese, soups, beef stew, etc. Thank you for your support.
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Thanks to everyone who has donated Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets and Supplemental School Break food baskets. There are still a few more Christmas baskets that need to be filled. Please remember the holiday baskets are due by Nov. 13th. The Supplemental School Break food deadline is Dec. 11th.
Monetary donations are always appreciated. If you would like to provide a check, please make it out to Wycliffe Presbyterian Church, Memo: Holiday Baskets.
Blessings,
Donice Schumm, CS&M
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Collecting for Vets’ House
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As we approach Veterans Day on November 11, Coffee and Conversation asks that we remember our friends at Vets House, who are trying to get their lives in order with a "hand up and not a hand out", by donating paper products and cleaning supplies. The drop off will be the red wagon in the fellowship hall.
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This year our Angel Tree will be providing Christmas gifts for 7 homeless children. The signup sheets will be posted by November 13th. The deadline for returning all the wrapped gifts is December 11th. Thank you for your kindness and generosity in providing for those in need.
Blessings,
Donice Schumm, CS&M
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All 6th - 12th grade students are invited. Bring your friends!
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Planning Youth Sunday
November 13
Youth Sunday is December 4. Please join us on November 13 at 5 pm to help make plans for Youth Sunday. Let's make it a meaningful and creative worship service. Bring your ideas and come enjoy the friendship of our teen community. PLUS there is always food!
Celebrating Thanksgiving
November 20
Join us in the Fellowship Hall at 5 pm for our annual Thanksgiving feast. Turkey will be provided. Youth members are asked to bring a side dish or dessert. (We will sign up for this at the meeting on November 13.) All are welcome!
Watch the Wycliffe Youth Facebook page for the most current information about Youth events.
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The Season of Advent begins at the end of the month. Our Advent & Christmas brochure will be available soon in the narthex. Join us for worship and special activities!
Christian Education in Advent
This Advent the Adult Sunday School class will be using Adam Hamilton’s DVD The Journey. Classes will be in room 207 just off the Fellowship Hall, starting at 9 AM Sunday, November 27th, the first Sunday of Advent. The Journey travels from Nazareth to Bethlehem in fascinating look at the birth of Jesus Christ. No homework is required; please come and join us!
The Christian Ed Team recognizes that many younger families have difficulty attending Sunday School due to childcare. We will have a class starting Nov.27 for all PreK-Elementary students at the same time. It will be a DVD series with color/activity pages. We will meet in lower elementary room 9:00-9:45 am each week during Advent. Parents - come enjoy an Adult class and know your children will be learning too!
Sunday School classes for children continue following the Whirl curriculum. The winter curriculum begins with Advent on Nov.27. Students will begin studying about Jesus’ birth through the eyes of Isaiah, Elizabeth, and the annunciation. We are currently enjoying learning about Deborah, Elijah, Elisha, Esther, Daniel, and Jonah.
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Deck the Halls
December 3 at 10 am
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Save the date for our Deck the Halls event on Saturday, December 3 at 10:00 am. We will prepare our church with our Christmas decorations and enjoy the fellowship of our members! Come and get into the spirit with us.
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With Christmas rapidly approaching, it is time to order our poinsettias. The cost is $9.00 and a sign-up sheet is in the narthex. If you would like to order, please write your check to Wycliffe Presbyterian Church with a notation that it is for the poinsettias. Our deadline for ordering is December 1.
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TRADOC BAND at Wycliffe
December 11
The 18-member United States Army Training and Doctrine Command Band will present a holiday concert at Wycliffe on Sunday, December 11, at 3:00 pm.
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The TRADOC Band includes soldiers who have passed a highly selective audition and are among the finest musicians in the U.S. Army music program. They perform in concerts, festivals and parades throughout the country – and now they’ll be performing at Wycliffe for you and your friends! It’s another perfect opportunity to bring a neighbor to church.
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Short-Timers Welcome!
The Chancel Choir loves Christmas-Easter singers! If you have a song in your heart but little time on the clock, maybe a short-term assignment is just the thing. The choir will present the Christmas story in song during worship on Sunday, December 11. Share your musical gifts (or your enthusiastic spirit) by being part of the choir that day. Plan to meet for the first 30-minutes of choir on Thursdays, 7:30-8:00p for the 6 weeks prior (not counting Thanksgiving – we generously give off all holidays!) plus Saturday, December 10, from 10-11:30am. It’s an experience you’ll never forget – and there’s candy plus free pencils, too! For more information, email Sandi at sbilly@vwc.edu.
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Music Makers on Wednesdays
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Music Makers is a program for children in kindergarten through 5th grade. It is a joy-filled time of encouragement, singing, playing Orff and rhythm instruments and learning all about music. Music Makers returns this fall under the guidance of Tiffany Hanson, an experienced music teacher. Music Makers meets on Wednesdays at 5 pm in the music room. At 5:30 pm children may go to dinner and then join the Kids Club activities.
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Clerk's Corner: Gail Schwartzer
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At the October 28 session meeting the following actions were approved:
- Approved the wedding of Sean Grady and Sarah O’Connor on December 17, 2016 @ 2:00 pm
- Approved the wedding of Jennifer Werner and John Russell Kuhn on August 11, 2017 (time to be determined)
- Approved the transfer of the authorization & distribution of the Local Mission Outreach funds from Christian Service & Mission committee to Pastor Bugg
- Accepted David Gangwer’s gift to provide & install a surveillance system in the Red House
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NOTE: Annual Session retreat is Saturday November, 19 from 9:00 – 12:00 in Fellowship Hall. Both present and NEW ELDERS should plan to attend.
2016 Session Members
Administration, Stewardship & Finance: Jim Haynie & Jodi Rossman
Christian Education: Rene Hudgins & Chad Gangwer
Christian Service & Missions: David Gangwer & Donice Schumm
Facilities: Garland Miles & Cathy Rotch
Fellowship: Francie Brake & Jean Prather
Member Care: Jackie Alcorn & Bev Parker
Outreach & Mission: Ruth Hogan & Mark Via
Worship: Josie Collier & Bess Mann
Planning & Review: Bob Prestridge
Clerk: Gail Schwartzer
Pastor: Garrett B. Bugg
Incoming 2017 Elders
Darrell Kennedy Lisa Sowell
Robin La Vigne Chuck Steenburgh
Carolyn Lindsey Lee Uittenbogaard
Officers
Erin Tinaro - Treasurer Jim Haynie - Financial Secretary
Trustees
Jim Haynie (2017) David Carney (2017)
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Click heading or calendar to link to a larger calendar that can be printed.
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