DCPC
Faith and Families Newsletter
January 5, 2017
In this Issue:
Letter from Robert
New Year and New Possibilities   
Dear Friends,
At the beginning of each year I have shared with you three words that Jenny and I have chosen to help guide us in the coming year. This past year (2017) those words have been Partnership, Kindness, and Grace. I have prayed and thought about 2018 and about how God would invite me to make a difference in the world. The words I have chosen are meant to open up a space in the world for the Holy Spirit to be at work in and through us. They are not mandates or commands but rather invitations.
My three words for 2018 are Awareness, Imagination, and Intentionality .  Awareness relates to the quality of being present in a situation rather than distracted by the past or the future.  Awareness enables one to be with others and fully engaged with them.  Imagination is the quality of thinking outside of the box and not being stuck. There is more than one way to go about things. Think back to childhood when you were asked to wonder. Imagination could be just what is needed to get something moving.  Intentionality has to do with purpose. Even “being still”, which requires no activity, requires a statement of the will. And intentionality invites you to have a reason for being still; for example, to know God. These are my words for 2018!
I invite you to consider what words might guide you in this new year. I will be in prayer for you as you discern how God would lead you in 2018. May the Holy Spirit strengthen us all for faithful and joyful service so that all may hear the good news of God’s love in Jesus Christ.
 To God be the Glory!
Robert
P.S. Good News!! We have gotten a little closer to our 2018 PLEDGE GOAL of $1.45 Million !! We need your help to fully fund our 2018 budget! 313 family units have pledged nearly $1.35 MILLION to the ministry of DCPC in 2018.  There are still more than 200 families who have not pledged . IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SUBMITTED YOUR PLEDGE PLEASE DO SO TODAY?? PLEASE EMAIL Trish Jones at pjones@dcpc.org to give her your 2018 expected giving.  We can reach our goal if everyone on the TEAM does their part!  We can succeed with God’s help and your pledge! 

Try an Epiphany Chalk House Blessing
January 6th is Epiphany – the day when we celebrate the journey and the symbolism of the magi that followed the star. Years ago I shared an Epiphany Chalk House Blessing. There are lots of new people in our congregation now so I pass this on to you so that you might consider your own version of a House Blessing where you live! As you consider the gifts that the magi brought to the Christ child, think about how your home and your lives might be a blessing to those around you in your neighborhood and community.
              Find some chalk and gather with your family around the entrance to your home. You may use liturgical forms (“The Lord be with you…” etc.), songs, and hymns, or you may simply offer a prayer together. Use the chalk to write around the doorpost something which represents to you that you have been there and offered this prayer. You might write “GBOH 2012” (God Bless Our Home 2012) or “2012 Joshua 24:15” or some other Bible verse. You may use the date and the initials of each family member…whatever works for you. At a minimum, try this:
1)     Gather with chalk in hand and write a simple inscription.
2)     Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9
3)     Give everyone a moment to share their hopes for your family and home in the New Year.
4)     Ask God to bless your home and your family. Here is a sample prayer: “Loving God, bless this home and all who live here. Give us good health, joy, love, and gentleness so that we might honor you in the way that we live our lives. May all who come to our home this year rejoice and find Christ living among us; and may we seek to serve, in everyone we meet, that same Jesus who is your incarnate Word, now and forevermore. Amen.”

UPCOMING STUFF
For Parents: Regaining Balance
This Sunday is a special Parents Group led by Julie Alexander with the goal of helping you regain some balance in priorities. Parents Group meets 5:30-6:30 pm in the parlor (or get started with dinner at 5 pm). You can find some other great resources for regaining balance by   clicking here .
Dave Ramsey – Fianancial Peace University
If you are burdened by financial matters consider attending the Financial Peace University beginning January 9 th . Contact John Ryan at jryan@dcpc.org  for more information.
January 15 th Service Day for 4th and 5th Graders
Children and any interested parents are invited to join Robert and Jenny Alexander as they journey into Charlotte to learn about homelessness and to share lunch with our friends at Charlotte Family Housing. To learn more, CLICK HERE or email Jenny at jalexander@dcpc.org .
Congregational Retreat January 19-21
TODAY is the early bird deadline for the Congregational Retreat. You can save 10% by registering today.  CLICK HERE for a brochure or go to www.dcpc.org and click on the banner. You may also pick up a brochure at the church office. The registration deadline has been extended through the weekend.


If there are concerns or joys that you would like to have listed here please email me at ralexander@dcpc.org  so that we might keep one another in prayer.

Mike Briggs – Mike is the stepfather of Stephanie Shryock. He is recovering from a recent stroke.

Judy Gabel – Judy is the mother of Meredith Harris. She is recovering from a recent shoulder injury.

Charles Houck and family – Charles’ mother, Elizabeth “Molly” DeLoache, died recently. We surround Charles and Michele and their family with prayer.

Margaret Jones – Margaret is the mother of Kelly Pharr. She has recently been diagnosed with cancer.

Jon Martin and family –Jon Martin’s brother, Lee Martin, died recently after a long struggle with cancer. Please pray for Jon and Missy and their family.

Charlotte Neal – Charlotte is recovering from jaw replacement surgery.

Jeff Osman – We continue to pray for Jeff and his family as he awaits a possible liver transplant.

Anna Rollans – Keep Anna in prayer as she recovers from surgery for a broken nose.
Davidson College Presbyterian Church
PO Box 337
Davidson, NC 28036
704-892-5641 www.dcpc.org