November 2014 Newsletter copy

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Escalon Pres November 2014

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SEEK: to bring others to Faith in Jesus Christ ! v SUPPORT: personal Growth through God’s Word ! v

SERVE: in Mission locally and globally SUSTAIN: a Christ-Centered Fellowship

First Fruits Sunday

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November 16, 2014

First Fruits Sunday at EPC is a Sunday devoted to Christian stewardship. It is not a fundraising event, or a plea for the church to meet budgetary goals. The importance of this annual Stewardship focus is to devote ourselves to the biblical call to give generously and grow spiritually as a response of faith to the provisions of the Lord. This Sunday has a normal worship service in which we hear together God’s Word and respond as a family of faith in bringing forward First Fruits Commitment Cards. These cards are 1) your personal giving commitment for the coming year (kept confidential by our treasurer and can be amended at any time) and 2) are the means by which we as a church family responsibly plan for the coming year by stewarding the congregation’s faithful giving with financial integrity. Encouraging personal commitment and maintaining financial integrity are tremendously important to us as a congregation. November 2014 Newsletter

Pastor Troy Onsager will be preaching for this year’s First Fruits Sunday on November 16, preceded by guest preacher Rev. Julia Leeth on Sunday November 9. Following worship we gather together as God’s people around a meal and celebrate the First Fruits of God’s harvest. Escalon Presbyterian Church has been blessed by faithful giving of those who trust in Jesus Christ and believe in the mission of our church for one hundred years now. We’ve supported one another in both good and tough economic seasons. As always, glory be to God for the harvest he brings about for which we are ever grateful. Let us continue to trust and follow him in faith. We offer these biblical principles of giving (below) to help you “give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

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Session Notes

Deacon Minutes

By Jeff Hood

by Marsha Love

The Session of Escalon Presbyterian Church met on Monday, September 16th, 2014 at Escalon Presbyterian Church. Our moderator, Rev. Troy Onsager, opened with prayer at 7:03 PM PT Troy opened with update regarding Cheryl Hall. Cheryl is healing slowly. She is a little hard of hearing which improving a little each day. No special needs or meal support. Check-up will be on 09/11 at Stanford. Please keep her in your prayers.. Session Meeting Minutes for August 25th, 2014, adjusted minutes were M/S/A (Motioned, Seconded, and Approved) after review. Finance Team reported on current status, being within $5,000.00 of plan year to date. A review of budget for this time last year, indicated we had a higher balance and that our financial position was not that much different than current status. Mission Outreach spoke in regards to plans and inquired about General Mission Giving to ECO. Mission requested that $4,000.00 of our previous Mission Giving be directed to ECO Projects, M/S/A. Trustees completed electrical panel replacement. There is a scheduled work day on Nov. 8th, 2014. Adult Ministry presented an upcoming opportunity “Step into the Word of God” self-assessment and selfpaced study program providing opportunity to grow deeper in each of our respective walks. The guides will be presented and made available to the Congregation Sunday, September 21st. A “Meet the Church” type of new member course had been considered earlier in the year. Some interesting ideas were shared. Brian Ralston will be speaking the first 3 Sundays. Troy and Brian are working out being our Pastoral support once weekly, while Troy is away. Nominating Committee – Sherry Branscombe, Jeff Hood, Dicksie Woodward, Randy Schmidt, Tom Walls, Joel Adams, Janet Barton and Jayne Fahey will comprise the upcoming committee. Meeting adjourned with prayer at 8:40 p.m. 2

Thank you, thank you for your many donations and participation in our annual Deacon Yard Sale! It was very successful and fun. We have become known for our abundance and variety of good quality items at reasonable prices. We hear our sale is an annual “first stop” with shoppers coming from afar. A blurred-eyed shopper excitedly exclaimed, “This is my Super Bowl! I get so excited, I have trouble sleeping the night before!” We often see casually dressed shoppers but this year we saw our best-dressed shopper. We had to ask. Our shopper was the “mother-of-the-groom.” She had passed our sale on the way to her son’s wedding. The reception didn’t take place until later that afternoon in San Francisco. How could she resist? We attempt to finance our Deacon projects with this sale, but also give to the community. We give book and game special prices to teachers and schools, “Dollar-a-Bag” the last hour and pack-up unsold items for reuse at Modesto’s Hope Chest. Unsold clothing and shoes will travel to Mexico this Spring with Jennifer Schmidt’s mission trip. We thank you for this community outreach and thank the EPC Youth Group for their helpful energy at the sale’s end. The holidays are quickly approaching and plans are in place for several activities. Advent decorations will be placed in the sanctuary following Thanksgiving. The Fellowship Hall Christmas tree will be set up with gift tags to provide gifts to families in need. Three Escalon schools, Dent, Collegeville and El Portal, have been contacted to submit names. Your past generosity of this project has been most appreciated. Our first desire as Deacons is to be of support and assistance to you. Please contact us with your concerns. We are eager of be of help.

Yes November 2014 Newsletter

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Let Us Give Thanks By Joel Adams

The dust has settled and most of the crops are harvested and the blessings of God’s creation have been assessed. We now wait for the cleansing rain and wind to wash the earth and clean our air. Especially in the Central Valley of Northern California, we have visual reminders of work and reward, toil and repose, abundance and dearth. We see it in the trees, the fields, the full bins, the loaded trucks, the piles of shells, the rows of harvested fruit. True in all our lives, there are times of plenty and times of want. We work hard and are pleased with our rewards and sometimes disappointed. Our investments of time, resources, and heart are often met with great results, but are also devastated with lack of return. In all times we are called to give thanks. Although difficult, our sovereign God is with us. God’s plans are beyond our understanding and difficult to comprehend with our earthly existence. God has given us all many blessing to help us thru the temporal times of stress, disappointment, and despair. One of those blessings is music. Yes, music! What brings back memories, pulls at your heart, allows for release, brings you to tears, cause you to smile, and warms your heart like music? God has given us this beautiful, therapeutic, and powerful tool! Let’s use it! Play, sing, and listen to music. Fill your lives with music that helps you be thankful, helps you reflect on what is good, encourages you to look above, look around, and rejoice. Come to worship and sing to God. Play music in your car. Play the piano in your living room, play a CD during dinner, listen to music while working around the house. However you choose, let God use music to encourage and lift you up!

O God beyond all praising, we worship you today And sing the love amazing that songs cannot repay; For we can only wonder at every gift you send, At blessings without number and mercies without end: We lift our hearts before you and wait upon your word, We honor and adore you, our great and mighty Lord. Then hear, O gracious Savior, accept the love we bring, That we who know your favor may serve you as our king; And whether our tomorrows be filled with good or ill, We'II triumph through our sorrows and rise to bless you still: To marvel at your beauty and glory in your ways, And make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise.

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I am drawn to this text, which is commonly sung to the tune THAXTED by Gustav Holtz. November 2014 Newsletter

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Chili Cook-Off/Talent Show

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November 2

The Talent Show will begin at 4:00pm, Sunday November 2, in the Sanctuary. All ages are welcome to enter! Immediately following the show, join us in the Faith Center for Talent Show judging and Chili Cook-Off dinner. Sign up in Faith Center to bring chili, salad, bread or dessert. For more information contact April Adams 838-0336 or Jayne Fahey 872-0317.

Nominating Committee

October & November

Please be in prayer for the nominating team of our church: Sherry Branscombe (chair), Jeff Hood (elder), Dicksie Woodward (deacon), Randy Schmidt, Tom Walls, Joel Adams, Janet Barton, Jayne Fahey. They will be meeting to discuss elder and deacon nominations for 2015. There will be three 3-year deacon openings available as well as three 4-year elder openings (Adult Ministries, Youth Ministries and Church Life. If you would like to nominate someone - fill out a nomination form available in the church foyer.

Operation Christmas Child

November

Since 1993, Samaritan's Purse has delivered some 69 million gift-filled shoe boxes to boys and girls in more than 130 countries. A gift to Operation Christmas Child helps cover processing and shipping expenses and allows our teams to share the Good News of God’s love with children and their families. Have your shoeboxes filled and wrapped for drop off on November 19th in the Faith Center. See Sandy Thompson if you have any questions.

See’s Candies Orders

November

It’s November, and time to think about your Christmas See’s Candy order. Our price is $14.00 per pound this year, a savings of $4.00 over the shop price. Gift Certificates are $15.20 per pound. The real convenience though, is the candy delivered to the church; how can you loose? The order forms and picture catalogs are in the church office. Please return completed orders along with your check to the church office by November 23. That’s the Sunday before Thanksgiving! If you have any questions please contact Barbara Jones at (209) 847-7767.

Children’s Christmas Program

December 14

Come spend time in B.C., the hotel is filled with many of today's modern conveniences—a valet for parking, a doorman, a bellman, a fine chef and maids to accommodate your every need. To the joy of the hotel management, Hotel Bethlehem has reached capacity. When Joseph and Mary arrive, there is "No Vacancy"! A great bonus is in store for the hotel staff for all their had work. The stable boy however, allows Joseph to bring Mary to their stable. Though he loses his bonus for this, he gains Jesus! Hotel guest and staff also discover the joy of finding Jesus. Rehearsals to be announced soon! 4

November 2014 Newsletter

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EPC Youth Group

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Wednesdays / JR High / SR High

EPC Junior High group meet from 5:30 to 7:00 and the Senior High Youth from 7:00 to 8:45. For further information contact our Youth Director Mike Fahey. Come join us and have some great fellowship, teaching and fun!

NEW - Third Wednesdays

November 19

Hosted by your Youth Ministries Team, there will be a light meal provided from 5:30PM-6:30PM followed by activities for children 5th grade and under. There will also be a time for fellowship for adults. Following the meal the Youth Group will gather (6th-High School) and at 7:00PM the choir will begin. Youth Group parents are invited to stop by and meet the Youth volunteers and join in the study for the night if they are so inclined.

Studies for Adults • • •

Various

Adult Sunday School - Sundays (9:15 -10:15 Fireside Room) Women’s Circle - 2nd Monday of Each Month (1:30 pm Fireside Room) Men’s Study - Saturday Weekly (7:00 am Escalon Golf Course)

Ladies Night Out

November 14

Women! Join us November 14th (Second Friday of every month) to ‘get away from it all’ and go out to dinner. Come have great fellowship with us while enjoying a cooked meal out at various restaurants. Please R.S.V.P. to Joyce Noble.

Women’s Circle" "

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November 10

The circle is a small group meeting of very special women where: * Faith is nurtured and growth takes place through study, friendship & outreach * We are challenged to stretch beyond our limits * We move beyond the safe places of life and reach out to others. Our Women’s Circle will meet the second Monday of each month (September – May) from 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM in the Fireside Conference Room. All women of the church are welcome to attend as we plan to expand our perceptions, deepen our understanding and reflect on our lives as Christian women.


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2014 Master Plan

Print-Outs, View on-line

Have you seen the 2014 Master Plan? Revealed to the congregation in August, you can find printed copies of the master plan in the foyer of the Sanctuary or in the church office. Also, on the homepage of the website, you can see all the proposed architectural drawings or view a pdf version of the Master Plan. Go to: escalonpres.org. Continued feedback welcomed contact Bob McCune or Jerry Hougland.

Adult Ministries Next Steps

Print-Outs, View on-line

The Adult Ministries Next Steps help booklet for Bible Reading was passed out to the congregation the last two weeks of September. If you have not received a copy, please pick one up in the foyer of the church or the church office. Also, on the homepage of the website, you can enter into the Next Steps portion of our website and view all of the resources printed the booklet. Go to: escalonpres.org. Continued feedback welcomed - contact Margy Sawyer or Dan Adams.

Sunday School Information "

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Sandy Thompson

Sunday School grades pre-K - 8th meet in the Choir Room at 9:15am. High School students gather at 9:30am in the Youth Room. Our teachers and helpers are excited to get started, join us as we begin a new year! Classes are:

• Pre K-K - Nursery is provided also for those staying on campus or attending a class - (Jayne Fahey, Dawn Machado, Janice Martin) • 1, 2 grades - (Ellen Nelson, Corinne Thompson, Lorie Macsenti) • 3, 4, 5 grades - (April Adams, Lisa McCune) • 6, 7, 8 grades - (Sandy Thompson, Don & Janet Nickerson, Jason Jericoff) • Sabbath Cafe - High School - (Mike Fahey, Jen Schmidt)

EPC Pictorial Directory

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Church Office

The EPC Church office is going to being publishing our own church pictorial directory at least annually, if not more often. We will be publishing a directory with individual photographs (rather than groups - so each face can be clearly seen) to be distributed to active persons/families in our church. Please also submit pictures of each of your children ages 18 and under. It will not be available via our website. Options: 1) Individual photos of all in your family, 2) A family photo you like - we can crop individual faces here in the office. 3) Have your photo taken here at the church - just let the office know. Please e-mail us your best photos to [email protected]. 6


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3:00 PM Girl Scouts

Thanksgiving

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7:00 AM Men's Fellowship Group & Study

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Church Office Closed

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Chancel Choir

3:00 PM Girl Scouts 6:30 PM Deacons Meet

Newsletter Deadline

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Senior High Youth

3rd Wednesday

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C.A.R.E. Sunday - Cereal

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5:30 PM Group 5:30 PM Dinner 7:00 PM Group 7:00 PM


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7:00 AM Men's Fellowship Group & Study 8:00 AM Trustees Work Day

7:00 AM Men's Fellowship Group & Study

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7:00 PM Session Meeting

6:00 PM Ladies Night Out

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First Fruits Sunday

Veterans Day


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Election Day

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Daylight Saving Time Ends C.A.R.E. Sun…anned Meats

9:15 AM Sunday School 10:30 AM Worship 10:30 AM Movie Day 11:30 AM Fellowship

Sunday

US Holidays

Escalon Presbyterian Church

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