November/December 2024
Good Stuff
There’s so much good stuff happening at WFPC!
Please continue to let us know of any “News” you have to share.
News from your Session:
If you need to contact Rev. Brian Copeland: rev.briancopeland@gmail.com, 850-524-4884.
Office hours Thursdays 1 pm – 5 pm. Be sure to stop in and visit while he is in the office.
**Pastor Brian will be on vacation December 25-31.
Dan Thomas will lead the worship service on December 29th.
Note from Pastor Copeland:
Greetings! I pray you are all having a cozy holiday season! Throughout the year we experience joys and sorrows. These memories often come rushing back around the holiday season as our calendars can become thick with activities. Be kind to yourself. Perhaps on the busiest days carve out an hour to be with yourself and bring a bit of calm to an otherwise chaotic day. That’s also a good practice for other days throughout the year, but somehow it seems the most sought after during these holidays. I promise you that was not the original intent of the holidays. It is however, a time to gather, share, and of course celebrate!
Wishing y’all a joyful Holiday Season encompassed in love and of course good food,
Pastor Brian
You may view our worship service on the church Facebook page. (Weedsport First Presbyterian Church)
During one of Rev. Copeland’s recent sermons he shared “Five Ways to Love Your Neighbor.” Since they were so helpful, I requested that he share them with us again. They are attached.
Committee reports need to be turned in by January 18th. Thank you.
If anyone would like to be added or removed from the lay reader list, please let Sandi Kreplin know.
Worship:
All Saint’s Day was held Sunday, November 3rd. We remembered Bev Clark, Roger Sturgis, Rick Cathy, Alice Garhardt, Gary Hurd, Rev. Donald Repsher, Donna Scanlon, Joan Bollinger, and Jane Hunt.
Poinsettias: Order forms are available in the Narthex. Please have orders turned in by Sunday, December 15th. If mailing on your order, please be sure it reaches the church by the 15th. (Order form attached.) Poinsettias will decorate the church Sunday, December 22 and Christmas Eve, December 24. After the Christmas Eve service you may take them home. Thank you!
LONGEST NIGHT SERVICE:
A Christmas Service for Hope and Healing, a Longest Night Service Thursday, December
21st at 7:00 PM. at Marcellus First Presbyterian Church. The bright colorful lights and joyful songs at Christmas can, in
heartbreaking contrast, deepen the darkness and gloom felt by those struggling with grief,
depression, or illness. This service is intended to offer comfort, healing, and hope for those
having difficulty on this longest night of darkness. As always, all are welcome.
Congregational Meeting will be held following worship on Sunday, January 26. Installation of officers will also take place that Sunday.
Missions:
**Clothes Closet – Help is needed on Tuesdays 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Thursdays 3 – 5:30 p.m.**
Please note the hours for Thursdays have changed.
Sandi has taken bags/boxes of men’s and women’s clothes to Chapel House in Auburn and Linda Fey has taken clothes to the elementary school nurse.
Sandi Kreplin will be away from January 1st through January 18th. Help will especially be needed during her absence!!
Salvation Army Angel tags were posted on the Christmas Tree in the Narthex. Unwrapped gifts need to be at the church by Wednesday, December 11. If you need them picked up contact Linda Fey.
Red Cross Blood Drive:
Our November blood drive resulted in enough blood products for up to 95 hospital patients! The next blood drive will be Thursday, January 2, 2025. Be sure to sign up online at redcrossblood.org!
If you can volunteer let Cyndy Rooker know.
During the month of December, we are collecting the Christmas Joy offering. The Christmas Joy offering has been a Presbyterian tradition since the 1930’s. The offering distributes equally to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and to the Presbyterian-related schools and colleges. The Assistance Program provides critical financial support to church workers and their families. Presbyterian-related schools and colleges provide education and leadership development while nurturing racial and ethnic heritage. This has been a Presbyterian commitment for 140 years. There are envelopes in the Narthex or you may mail or drop off your gift to the church, marking “Christmas Joy” in the memo.
January Mission: We will once again be collecting diapers for the Diaper Bank.
We filled 12 boxes for Operation Christmas Child this year! All our boxes went to South Africa, some on November 29th and some on December 2nd. Thank you from OCC attached.
South Africa is a country on the southernmost tip of the African continent. The country surrounds the small nation of Lesotho. Racial separation known as apartheid legally ended in South Africa in 1994. Samaritan’s Purse began distributing gift-filled shoeboxes there in 1997 and launched The Greatest Journey, our follow-up discipleship program, in this nation in 2010.
Pray for Your Shoebox Recipient
“Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”—Matthew 21:22
Please don’t stop praying for the boy or girl that you first lifted up when you packed your shoebox. Continue to ask God to soften his or her heart to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so that he or she will follow Him all the days of their life. Pray also for families and entire communities to be transformed as God’s love is shared through your simple gift.
Loose Change Offering: This year we are donating the loose change offering to a different program or organization each quarter. The first quarter the donation was given to Sleep in Heavenly Peace, the second quarter to the Clothes Closet, and the third quarter was shared between Christmas Joy and the SCAT Van.
We joined with Marcellus First Presbyterian Church to donate warm coats to the refugees through Interfaith Works. Together 61 adult coats, 5 snowpants, 19 hats, 13 children’s coats, 21 pairs of mittens, 8 scarves and headbands and 1 sweater were delivered.
From the 200th anniversary committee –
Presently the committee consists of Debbie Dennis, Linda Willis, Chere Ware, and Barbara Gray. We have several ideas but are hoping to get everyone involved in some small way. We welcome thoughts, ideas, photos, clipping, and mementos – and even special memories on index cards. Please contact any of the committee members. We would love to hear from you! The next meeting will be December 30 at 1 p.m. at church. All are welcome!
The committee learned through research that our former pastor, Rev. Donald Repsher, passed away December 18th, 2020 at age 91. If you would like to send a card to Pamela, his wife, the address is:
740 Restful Water Way, Riverview, FL 33569
Coming Attractions:
Watch for the Fun Facts from the committee starting with the next newsletter in January!
Building and Grounds:
The back of the church was painted and looks fantastic.
Christian Education:
Advent Bible Study: Pastor Brian has begun an Advent study. We are using a devotional, “Words for the Beginning.” The study began Thursday, December 5th, but you may join any Thursday. Next Thursday, December 12th we will be looking at week 2, “We Can’t Go Alone.”
Upcoming Dates:
Dec. 11 – Salvation Army Angel gifts need to be returned.
Dec. 15 – Brass ensemble will be part of the service at MFPC at 9:30 a.m.
Dec. 21 – Longest Night Service at MFPC
Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve Service at 7 p.m.
Jan. 12 – Session and committee meetings
Jan. 26 – Congregational Meeting and Installation of Officers
Feb. 9 – SOUPer Bowl Sunday
Donna Glowacki is doing well after surgery.
Max Appleby, Chris Grudzien’s father, is home from The Commons.
Dale and Nancy Sweet have recovered from their surgeries.
Ranny Peacock, a friend of Laura Granger, who has been battling health concerns, is doing better.
Stephanie Baker’s mother, Cindy, has completed chemotherapy for breast cancer. Stephanie is Marcia Baker’s daughter-in-law. All her scans look good!
THANK YOU!
To all who help with the Greening of the Church on November 24th.
To Donna Glowacki for donating the Advent packets and devotionals in memory of Mike Glowacki.
To Karen Seitz for baking our Communion bread.
To The Praise Band/Choir for the beautiful music they provide on Sundays. We especially enjoy the addition of the flute (JoAnne Slauson), guitar (Dan Thomas), and percussion (James Marshall). Of course, we always enjoy the weekly organ and piano (Laura Granger and Marian Smith).
To all who volunteer at the Clothes Closet and to those who donate clothes.
Thank you to Dan Thomas for continuing to share the worship link weekly so those that are not able to attend may enjoy listening to the service, to JoAnne Slauson for keeping the website up-to-date, and Rev. Copeland for recording and posting the church service on Facebook.
Please pray for…
The family of Arlene Sears, mother-in-law of Cindy Sears, who passed away on November 30th.
Evelyn Sweet, Dale’s mother, was admitted to the hospital Sunday, December 8. She is 95.
Walter Becker, Pearl’s brother, who is recovering from surgery. They removed part of his lung, which included the tumor.
Carol Ward, who is recovering from surgery on her nose.
Rev. Brian’s brother, Larry. He had the rest of his left kidney removed. He will still need lots of recovery and recuperation.
Jim Viccaro, Vicki’s husband, is recovering from surgery on his vertebrae.
The family of Roger Sturgis. Roger passed October 14th.
Jean Saroodis is dealing with nerve pain from surgery.
Irene Chapman, Anne McLoud’s sister-in-law, passed away in October.
Jeanne VanDusen, Anne McLoud’s sister, as she continues to battle health issues.
Wayne and Dillon Hunter, father and son, both battling cancers. They are Jeanne VanDusen’s son and grandson, Anne McLoud’s nephew and great nephew. Wayne continues chemo medicine and has had positive visits with the doctor. Dillon has regular appointments to be sure he is still clear.
Denny Ware is slowly improving but has a long road ahead.
The family of Lisa McClure, Bev Clark’s neighbor, passed away Sunday, December 8th.
Elaine Ozolins as she continues to treat her cancer.
Eileen Derevenko as her cancer has returned.
Mat Grudzien. Send positive thoughts for healing. He was recently in the hospital but is at home now.
INFORMATION WORTH REPEATING:
(This information will have been in previous newsletters but it is felt it is worth reprinting.)
If you are interested in being a greeter, please let the deacons know. (Anyone can be a greeter.) There is a calendar in the Narthex for you to sign up.
If you would like to offer to make refreshments for a Sunday, please check the calendar in the Narthex and let the Deacon for that Sunday know. It is a great way to help out our deacons.
The “Weedsport Presbyterian Church” Facebook page has been updated. Feel free to follow. There is a link to the webpage in the Welcome for an easy way to link back and forth. Feel free to contact Joanne Slauson (joanneslauson@gmail.com) for any changes and additions on the Facebook page.
Now that the church service starts at 11:15 a.m., Adult Sunday School starts at 9:45 a.m. This may make it easier for you to join us in the upstairs Koinonia Room Sunday mornings before church to get some very interesting background of the day’s scripture. Dan Thomas has a wealth of knowledge to share!
Weedsport Good Samaritan Fund reminder: Do you know someone that might need our help?
We would like to offer this reminder. The Weedsport Good Samaritan Fund is available to assist with emergency medical, utility, and other needs that may arise. Please contact Cyndy Rooker if you have any questions or know of someone who could use assistance. (Must be a resident of WCSD, Weedsport, Cato.)
IMPORTANT REMINDER! &
Please be sure to turn off the lights and lock the doors to the church whenever you leave the building.
Birthdays:
Dec. 10 – Amie Fatcheric Jan. 7 – Laura Granger
Dec. 16 – Deb Dennis Jan. 13 – Vicki Viccaro
Dec. 26 – James McEnelly Jan. 15 – Dan Thomas
Dec. 27 – Gavin Gwinn Jan. 16 – Aubrey Leonard
Dec. 28 – John Seitz Jan. 25 – Michelle Stoecker
Jan. 2 – Don Dennis Jan. 27 – Heather Reed (Rooker)
Jan. 3 – Charles Rooker Jan. 29 – Jenna Grudzien
Jan. 4 - Nathan Gray Jan. 30 – Ed Rooker
Jan. 6 – Deb Fleming
*If you would like to have someone added to the birthday list, please let us know, thanks.
What’s Going on at Church?
Sunday:
9:45 a.m. Adult Sunday School with Dan Thomas
11:15 a.m. In-person worship
1-3 p.m. Square Dancers in dining room
Tuesday:
10-noon All Things Creative meets in the former first floor office.
10-1 p.m. Free Clothes Closet open
7-9 p.m. Square Dancers in dining room
Wednesday:
9 a.m. Join Rev. Brian at Finally Ours Restaurant for coffee hour.
Thursday:
1-5 p.m. Rev. Copeland’s office hours
3-5:30 p.m. Free Clothes Closet open
6 - 7 p.m. Bible Study (Rev. Copeland)
1 p.m.-6 p.m. Red Cross Blood Drive at UMC, First Thursday of every odd month (Jan., March, May…)
*If you would like to have someone added to the birthday list, please let us know, thanks.
Thank you, Connie Horr, for being the best proofreader! She makes sure our newsletters are easier to read and understand!
