December 2017
November 19, Farmington assembled 50 flood buckets for those affected by recent hurricanes.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Deepening our Discipleship 1 Day School News .................. 2 Eagle Scout Project ............... 3 Flood Buckets........................ 3 Advent @ Farmington .......... 4 Memphis Chorale ................. 5 Outdoor Nativity................... 5 Christian Education ............. 6
Deepening our Discipleship Rev. Rebecca Luter When my children were babies, there were nights I fell asleep rocking them. My arms would ache from holding, bouncing, jiggling, and swinging them. “Tired” some days did not come near describing the exhaustion I felt. Yet, I tried to remember to cherish. I tried to remember that these days don’t last forever. They didn’t. Now they are cherished memories: the weight of a baby boy completely at rest on my shoulder, the curl of the corner of her mouth as she sleeps, lullabies, baby smells and baby sounds. I am thankful for friends who reminded me to pause. I am thankful for those nights now.
Presbyterian Women ........... 7 Midweek Meals ..................... 7 Worship Leader & Usher Training................................. 7 Acolyte Schedule .................. 8 Birthdays ............................... 8
As we live our lives, we need to be reminded to pause and cherish the here and now. For the next four Sundays, we will be celebrating Advent. Advent is a season of preparation for Christmas, a time to pause and cherish the gift of the Christ Child. “Advent” comes from Latin and means “to come.” Join us as we prepare to welcome the coming of the Christ Child. May you pause in the midst of the season of life you are in to remember these are moments to cherish. May you breathe and create space for God to come. May you behold and see Emmanuel with us now in our world. May you receive God’s desire for your life gracefully, listening as Mary did. May you rejoice, for the Lord is come!
Day School News
Evan Green in his Indian vest is ready to show Dad how to gobble gobble.
Meghan Lovan, 4 yr. old at the Preschool Thanksgiving Feast.
3 year old Presley Arnoldl having fun with Mom.
Ms. Crystal and Ms. Barbara's 4 year old class are gathered for the fun.
Eagle Scout Project
M
y Eagle Scout project, which consisted of replacing two signs for the church and installing a garden bed, took place on Saturday October 28th. I completed my project with the help of troop 81. There were 5 other scouts and 4 adults that worked in groups of 3 to 4 to help me with my project. It was completed in about 3 hours, starting at 9:30 and lasting till around 12:30. I'm very thankful for those who helped me make this project possible like my parents, my friends, and the members of the church. I myself attended the preschool when I was little and I'm glad I can turn around and do something for the school that has done so much for me. -Daniel Dickinson Funds are still needed for this project and anything above the necessary amount will be given to Farmington Presbyterian Day School. If you would like to support Daniel’s project, please consider a donation of any amount on his Gofundme website. https://www.gofundme.com/2pm275-eagle-scout-project
Flood Buckets
F
armington packed flood buckets to help Presbyterian Disaster Assistance in their mission. The buckets were taken to Ferncliff Disaster Assistance Center in Arkansas where they will be shipped to the areas of need. Thank you to all the folks that helped pack buckets and our Missions Committee for creating this opportunity.
Christmas at Farmington
Advent Breathe, Behold, Receive, Rejoice
November 30 at 7 pm The Memphis Chorale: A concert of choral music in our Sanctuary that will prepare you for the Christmas season
THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT
HANGING OF THE GREENS Saturday, December 2,
10:00am-12:00 noon, followed by a light lunch. Come decorate and share the joy of the season with your Farmington Family
December 3 at 11 am Breathe: Making space for God in our lives December 5 at 5 pm An Advent Service of Wholeness: A service for those who are hurting or grieving this holiday season
THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT December 10 at 11 am Behold: Looking for Emmanuel, God With Us, in our lives December 13 at 5:45 pm The Annual Children’s Christmas Pageant: The pageant will begin at 6:45 after dinner in the fellowship hall. The children invite you to come with them to worship the Christ Child.
THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT December 17 at 11 am Receive: Responding as Mary did to God’s Will in our lives, “Let it be to me as you have said” December 17 at 5 pm A Service of Nine Lessons and Carols: The meaning of Christ’s birth in word and song, led by our Chancel and Children’s Choirs accompanied by harpist Marian Shaffer, followed by a celebration of Christmas for all in the Fellowship Hall December 20 at 3 pm Caroling Caravan: Come along as we share the joy of Christmas with those who are unable to attend worship
THE FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT December 24 at 11 am A Festival of Carols: Our morning worship will be a special service as we all join in singing the great Christmas carols and hearing their stories December 24 at 5:30 pm Rejoice: The Lord is come! Christmas Eve Service with Candlelight Communion
Outdoor Nativity Set December 2, 9am
Evening of Carols November 30, 7pm Join us Thursday night, November 30, for an evening of Christmas music! The Memphis Chorale, directed by our own Gabe Statom, includes many Farmington Choir members. Music includes traditional Carols, stunning ethereal cathedral music and popular pieces such as Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire. The concert is free and an offering will be taken to support the Memphis Chorale.
E
The Farmington Men continue their tradition of setting up the Outdoor Nativity on December 2. Rain or shine, the men piece together the manger scene in front of the church. Be part of the crew that will assemble the nativity scene this December 2nd at 9:00 am Saturday Morning. Coffee and donuts will be provided.
New Paint
M
very year, the Farmington property is festively decorated for the season of Advent. This is not done without a little heavy lifting!
ary, Joseph and the Wise Men of the Outdoor nativity set all received a new coat of paint just in time for Christmas. Local artist, Abbie Gore, masterfully refreshed the chipping and fading pieces. The new look will be on display in front of the church after
Christian Education
Preschool Can you believe it’s that time of year again? Time to decorate, bake cookies, buy gifts, sing carols. And, in our world, it’s time to teach preschoolers the true story of Christmas—the story of when God gave us Jesus—the best gift ever!
Elementary Christmas . . . that time of year when kids are completely focused on all the ways they can give gifts to others. Or that time of year when they write down pages and pages of gifts they want for themselves this Christmas. While Christmas and generosity go hand-in-hand, our kids are growing up in a world where Christmas is more about what we can get. That’s why, this Christmas, we want our kids to take the challenge to give BIG! They don’t have to give money or stuff either. That’s why our tag line is “Think outside the box.” We want kids to see that giving big can be how they spend their time and use their talents to help others.
Youth In this 3-week series, we’ll be talking all things Christmas, focusing on how we can our shift eyes away from the high expectations we have for the holiday season and instead focus on the true hope, peace, and love that only come from Christ.
Youth Christmas Party December, 10 @ 2pm Bring a Free or nearly free wrapped gift. Put a playlist on CD, wrap a card offering a service you can provide, be creative but keep it low cost!
Upcoming Events
Y
ou are cordially invited to the Presbyterian Women Christmas Gathering on Tuesday, December 12 at 6 pm in the East Room. This is will be a time of fellowship and welcoming our newest members to the Presbyterian Women circle. Our Bible study will be on Lesson Four, In Community with God’s Messengers. Please bring side dish to share. Ham, rolls, and beverages will be provided.
Dec. 6—Pot Roast and Chrismons Dec. 13— Scott’s Famous Homemade Pizza, followed by the Children’s Christmas Pageant RSVP by Monday @ 4 pm Cyndi@farmingtonpres.org
Committee Meetings Christian Education 9:30 am Sunday, Dec. 3 Congregational Care 12:30 am Monday, Dec. 3 School Board 5:30 pm Tuesday, Dec. 12 Property and Grounds 7:30am Friday, Dec. 8 Service 6:00 pm Monday, Dec. 11 Session 6:00 pm, Monday, Dec. 18
Rsvp by Dec. 10 (attending only) Carolyn 7544944 or demareee@earthlink.net The Farmington Women will be participating in the Johnson Auxiliary serving Regional One Health clothing drive. The Johnson Auxiliary provides a clothes closet to assist patients and their family members at Regional One Health who may be in need of emergency clothing and hygiene items. The Auxiliary wish list will be posted on the Women’s bulletin board. Please place your donated items in the East room by Dec.12.
Session Report The session welcomed two new members into the Farmington Family this month: Martha Hart and Gabe Statom. We are blessed that they have found they are at home here. We approved the ordering of cabinetry associated with renovations for the Choir Room. Those cabinets are now being constructed. We look forward to competed renovations in the Choir Room and Nursery in the near future. The request of the Memorials committee to purchase a new Baby Jesus for our Outdoor Nativity was approved as were the proposed 2018-2019 rates recommended by the Day School Board.
Usher & Worship Leader Training January 7 The Worship Committee is reaching out to those in the congregation that would like to serve as either an Usher or Worship Leader. We will be having training sessions and would like to include all that are interested in serving. Also, if you are currently serving as an Usher or Worship Leader and would like to take a break, please let us know this as well and know that we thank you for your service. Please contact Sandy Wann for more information (901-484-5683). January 7: Usher Training at 10am in the Sanctuary & Worship leader training at 12:15 in the Sanctuary
December Birthdays
Acolyte Schedule
1
Jackie Hall
2
John Thomas
3
Natalie Lively
3
Julia Lively
3
Elizabeth Luter
9
Micheal Wann
9
Crystal Edmonds
10
Mary Shelley Ritchey
11
Mike Schneider
12
Molly Sweet
13
Susie Fister
18
Hudson Barr
19
Loyd Hudson
19
Grayson Perkins
Linda Turner, Managing Director of Day School, Ext. 3138
19
Ed Byrne
Gretchen Burch, Program Director of Day School, Ext. 3132
21
Kenny Williams
21
Rachel Doelling
21
Carol Lyons
22
Linda Turner
23
Lu Schneider
Congregational Care – Becky Hutchins
25
Melanie Oest
Fellowship – Mary Shelley Ritchey
26
Caroline Churchwell
27
Nancy Mitchell
30
Neil Sherman
If your birthday is not listed, please contact the church office to be added. We would like to celebrate with you.
Dec. 3
Olivia Mittag
Dec. 10
Hadley Barr
Dec. 17
Kenny Williams
Dec. 24
Elizabeth Luter
Dec. 31
Nicholas Luter
Staff Extensions Rev. Rebecca Luter, Pastor, Ext. 3134 Doug Barr, Director of Christian Education, Ext. 3130 Gabe Statom, Director of Music, Ext. 3139 Cyndi Bevington, Administrative Assistant, Ext. 3131 Polly Knight, Financial Records Keeper, Ext. 3136
Anthony Jones, Maintenance Technician
Session Members Administration – Kirsten King Christian Education – Susan Bryant Clerk – Melanie Oest
Adult Discipleship—Laurinda Ingram Property and Grounds – Jerry Hosier School Board – Charlie Smithers Service – Lance Palmer Treasurer—Steve Demaree Worship – Sandy Wann
If you have content for the January edition of New Vision, please email Doug Barr no later than December 18 at Doug@farmingtonpres.org Farmington Presbyterian Church and Day School 8245 Farmington Blvd. Germantown, TN 38139 www.Farmingtonpres.org