Church Newsletter, December 15, 2021

Dec 15, 2021

 
 

Worship With EGPC Online!

Join us for worship on Sunday at 10:15am via the Elk Grove Presbyterian Church website, click on the “Worship” page  and you will be able to watch a live streaming of the entire worship service. You can also view directly on our Facebook page and YouTube Channel.

 

 
Visit Our Worship Page
Visit Our Facebook Page
 

Dear Church Family,

I hope you have been able to watch the “Christmas Cantata”. It’s not too late if you missed it. You can still watch it on our youtube channel and on our website.The choir under the direction of Mead Killion gave a fantastic musical performance with the excellent narrative script written by Barbara Singleman and narrated by Barbara Britton. A big thanks goes out to everyone involved in creating this masterpiece. Cindy Lam our pianist along with bass player Rich Armandi and drum player Kent Bredrup added such richness to the songs. Following the concert we had this delightful potluck lunch and sitting back and watching everyone talk with each other really was an added blessing for me. We finally seem to be at a place where we can sit next to each other and really connect in person again.

This week we have two services, one is our “Longest Night Service” also known as “The Blue Christmas Service,” and our regular Sunday worship service at 10:15. If this time of the year is difficult for you, if you’re having trouble getting into the “spirit” of Christmas this might just be the service for you. We will have times of quiet reflection, scripture, prayers and lighting of candles. Come and join us, it’s 5 pm Saturday!

May this week be filled with wonderful blessings!
Pastor Barbara

 

 

 
 

Luke 1: 46-55
46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

 

 

 
Our scripture passage Sunday is about “Mary’s Song”. It is a song she sings to God praising God for being chosen to bear the Son of God. Think about how challenging this was for Mary, the ridicule and embarrassment she would face. Yet her visit to Elizabeth and their shared experience of divine intervention gave her the strength and courage to see that it was God working in her life to bring Jesus, the Christ into this world; to a world desperate to know God and God’s amazing love.
 

CELEBRATING THE CHRISTMAS CANTATA,
“MARY’S BOY CHILD”
THANK YOU CHOIR FOR A WONDERFUL CONCERT!

 

 

 

 

 
 

THIS SUNDAY WE WILL BE COLLECTING FOOD FOR OUR FOOD PANTRY! 

 

 

 
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
DECEMBER 24TH
AT
5:00 PM

 
 

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18th 5:00 pm

 

 
 

Struggling with the holidays? Just not feeling joyful right now? Maybe this has been a difficult year for you…you are not alone. We are having a “Longest Night” Service just for you. Come and be quiet, come and sit in a Holy space and feel God’s presence. Come and gather together with others who are feeling the same.

 

 

 

 
 

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PURCHASED A POINSETTIA!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

REFRIGERATORS ARE STUFFED WITH HAMS READY TO HAND OUT TOMORROW AT THE FOOD PANTRY! THANKFUL FOR GENEROUS DONATIONS!

 

 

 

 

 

 
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED COATS FOR PADS! YOU ARE AMAZING!

 

 
 

NOVEMBER FINANCIAL REPORT BELOW!

 

 
Food Donations from CTL

 
 

 

 

 
 

Don’t forget our church has a Amazon Smile Account which means when you order amazon products using our account, our church gets a percentage of the money spent.  If you have questions about how to set this up just let us know and we’ll help you!

 

 

 
 

If you are ordering Christmas Gifts on Amazon please so go to AmazonSmile and sign up under our church name. We will benefit from your purchases. Thank you!

 

 

 
 

To keep our prayer list up-to-date, we will keep people on the prayer list for three weeks. If after three weeks you would like them to remain on the prayer list, just let Barbara Wilson, Val Heller or Pastor Barbara know! 

 

 
 

Prayers for Our Church Family
 
Melodee Russow continued healing of knee,

Prayers for Those Who Have Died and Their FamiliesJean Campbell’s family on her death

Prayers for Family and Friends

Hank Krusec’s daughter who was in a car accident (Business associate of Lee and Bert Clarbour), Rev.Ty for emotional support (Christi’s friend), Kathy undergoing chemotherapy (Christi’s friend), Brad Thompson with aggressive prostate CA (brother of Val and son of Lois) Jaden and the adjustment to Middle School and Sue his mother (Grandson of Kay Pollack), Earl Sepke on dialysis (brother of Susannah Swift), Christine for healing from cancer (Phil Holda’s daughter), Monique having dialysis (Helen’s niece.)

General Prayers

Prayers for our President • Prayers for those serving in the military (Barbara Singelmann’s grandson Peter) • Healing of our country • Prayers for shut-ins (Char Algozin, Mary Clarbour) • Homeless and Hungry in Busse Woods • Prayers for our church with God’s guidance on a bold new vision • Prayers for Elk Grove and their support of our Clothing Ministry and Food Pantry.

 

 

Prayers Answered
Judy Hockenberry (friend of Pastor Barbara)

Rebecca Reynoso cancer free
 Moses’ wife, Naomi arrived to Chicago 

Special Celebrations!Eva & Dean Cameron’s Anniversary

 

 

 

 

 
 

Food Pantry Updates!

 

 
The EGPC food pantry continues to serve our community and our volunteers remain faithful in their service to us. We are committed to adhering to all precautionary measures to ensure no cross-contamination with clients. The Food Pantry Donation drop box always seems to be filled. As you check on your neighbors, please share with them that our food pantry is open and ready to help anyone who needs food!

Food continues to appear in our food box.  Almost daily there is something donated and many times from people we don’t even know! I want to send a special thanks to all those faithful shoppers who each week pick up the special things we need. It is an ongoing blessing to be so graciously supported by your donations and donations from our community.

Current items needed by the food pantry:
Canned Pasta and One Dish Meals !
 Thank you!
 

 

 

 

 

 
Thank you faithful friends and members of
Elk Grove Presbyterian Church!

 

 
 

NEWS from the Session!

Here are the latest things you should know:

 
  • Christmas Cantata is set for December 12th during worship time and in the afternoon.
  • Session is studying the book “Crucial Conversations.”  
  • Worship survey has been completed. Results will be shared with congregation soon.  
  • Blue Christmas Service is Saturday, December 18th.
  • Mission Committee is “on fire” and generating lists of possible new mission projects!
  • Our next Session meeting will be on Tuesday, December 14th. If you have anything you would like to bring to session please let any of the session members know. 

 

 

 
Our online giving continues to provide a quick and easy way to give to the church! To see how easy it is and the different ways you can give to the church click here.