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Immanuel Family News

PASTOR’S PONDERINGSHappy fall, Friends!

There are lots of fall activities that are looming on our

calendars! Events like our Turkey Dinner, Book and Bake Sale, Craft

Show, Sanctuary decorating, and Advent worship come immediately

to mind. So do Thanksgiving worship, Christmas Caroling, and yes,

even Charge Conference! This newsletter contains information about

many of these and how you can be involved!

But today I am specifically thinking about how many of the

“saints” it takes to do the ministry we do here at Immanuel. How

many hands go into keeping this building in the beautiful condition

we have come to expect? How many folks pitch in to serve a

delicious Turkey Dinner to our neighbors? How many hours will be

spent by countless volunteers to decorate the Lord’s house to

celebrate the Birth of the Savior? How many hours will go into filling

up our Angel Tree and Mitten Trees? How much additional energy

will be freely offered by our musicians to sing God’s praises?

Many of our current teams are kicked into high gear, as well.

The Finance Team is busy preparing a Spending Plan for 2020. The

SPRC is working on staffing expectations as we approach a new year.

Our Trustees are installing programmable thermostats, and other

measures to safeguard our assets, while protecting this beautiful

facility. And our Administrative Council is preparing for Charge

Conference and developing priorities for the year ahead.

After just finishing my sermon series based on Paul Nixon’s

book, I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church, I have come to realize how

truly alive Immanuel really is. Could things be better? Sure. Could

we make room for some more disciples in worship? Sure. Could our

monthly Treasurer’s Report look healthier? Sure. But friends… it only

takes a few moments of looking around to recognize how truly

blessed we are!

And maybe that’s the key to enjoying this exciting time of

year…. To be more thankful for all the blessings that God has given

us. I remember that in Luke 17, while 10 lepers were made clean,

only 1 returned to give thanks to Jesus and glorify God. And I have

decided that I want to be more like that 1 leper. I want to be more

thankful and more willing to glorify God for all that we have been

given.

I hope you will join me in trying to be more thankful and, of

course, this is best done here in worship! As that old hymn

encourages us… “Come, ye thankful people, come!” I can’t wait to

greet you in worship soon!

Pastor Jack

Nov./Dec. 2019

Youth/Family

Nov./Dec. 2019 page 2

Election Day Book and Bake SaleAll day on Election day. Proceeds

go to Mission outreach. Come for

the book/bake sale and stay for our Turkey dinner!

Turkey Dinner November 5, 2019 5:00pm-7:00pm

Menu consists of hot turkey, stuffing,

potatoes, gravy, California blend,

cranberry sauce, coleslaw, rolls, beverages and

homemade pies.

Ticket prices (tickets available at the door):

Adults (ages 13+) $12.00

Children (ages 5-12) $6.00

Children (under age 5) Free

Take out $12.00

Don't want to sit inside for another

winter? Then join the Church of the

Bells ski club. We ski Friday nights at

Labrador Mountain. Your passes will be good any

Friday that Lab is open and 6 ski lessons are included

in that price, so new skiers are welcome. If you would

like to find out more information, call Chris Paoli at

(315) 484-7846 for all of the details.

Join us on Sunday, December 15 after

10am worship to share the Good

News of Jesus’ birth with our

homebound friends with singing of

Christmas carols. All are encouraged

to come!

4pm

Christmas Eve Worship 7:30pm

10pm

Some helpers are needed for the following ministry areas...

*Sunday morning offering counters ---

See Robin Polge

*Sunday morning "PowerPoint Clickers" ---

See Pastor Jack

If you would like to help with our coffee hour after

either worship service, please sign up outside of the

Fireside Room.

Hello all, my name is Ashley and I am the Kidz

Club Coordinator for this school year! I grew up in

this church and spent many summers counseling

at Casowasco Camp and Retreat Center. I am very

excited to be working with the kids this year! It will

be a great and engaging way for kids to learn

about the Bible, Jesus, and the love of God!

We have begun our month long journey

through the life of Moses, from being put into a

basket, all the way to the 10 Commandments! It

started in October and will run through part of

November! In December we will go through

Advent and the entire story of Christmas!

As many are aware, it can take a village to run a

church, and I am in need of volunteers for

teaching with me on Sunday mornings. If you just

want to volunteer just once, or would like to make

a monthly commitment just let me know, and I

can work with you on finding the best Sunday to

do it!

Just a quick note, there will be no Kidz Club on

December 29th, in between Christmas and New

Years, so enjoy your holiday!

Blessings,

Ashley Davis

Kidz Club Coordinator

RAKE AND RUN!Junior and Senior High Youth Group....it’s Rake

and Run time! For those of you that don't know

what Rake & Run is, we go around to different

houses of our church family, or sometimes

members of our community, that might need a

little help, rake their leaves for them by surprise,

and RUN! We will be going on our annual Rake &

Run on Sunday, November 10th. We will leave

from church after service (probably around

11:30am), head to Cam's Pizza for lunch, then

head out to do our raking from there. Please

bring a rake if you have one (labeled with your

name on it), and money for lunch. Bring a friend if

you'd like! If any parents can help out with

driving, please let me know. Contact Mr. & Mrs.

Paoli at 315-484-7846

Ministries

Nov./Dec. 2019 page 3

Holiday Craft ShowFriday, Nov. 15 4-8pm

Saturday, Nov. 16 9am-3pm

We are FULL !!! Our 2019 Holiday Craft Show has a

FULL group of CRAFTERS

Once again we'll have wonderful Homemade Food

Plenty of Parking and as ALWAYS we are Handicap

accessible

Don't forget to bring a non perishable item or a

monetary donation to have your name entered to

Possibly receive a Crafters Gift !

Please check the list at church to see what is needed

in the Kitchen … your donation is ALWAYS

appreciated .

Mitten Tree: The mitten tree for our

friends at the Onondaga Nation will be

put up Nov 24th thru Dec 8th. Please

bring in new gloves, scarves, hats, mittens and socks

and also gently used children's coats, snow pants, and

children's boots. Last year through your generosity we

collected 177 items. Any questions please see Shelley

Dawson Smith.

We will once again be raising funds

to support Heifer International.

Heifer International provides

livestock and training to families living in poverty to

help fight hunger and poverty. You can choose to

purchase either a part or whole animal or give a

general donation to be used where needed most. To

make a donation, please see Helen or Sara Forward

after church in the Narthex on November 24,

December 1, December 8, or December 15. Any and

all gift amounts are appreciated. Please help us fill the

ark with hope.

DOOR SPRAYSIt's that time of year again! Please

support the Mission Team by buying

a beautiful door spray for

$20.00. Orders will be taken on Nov

10th and Nov 17th. We will be

making the door sprays on Saturday Nov 23rd starting

at 9:00a.m. and any help would be appreciated even if

you can only help for an hour. Any questions please

see or call Shelley Dawson Smith at 315-487-1290.

Coming Soon! Stay tuned for

information about this year’s Angel Tree!

Red Poinsettias will be available for placement in the Sanctuary. Orders for poinsettias will be Nov. 24-

Dec. 9. Order forms will be available in the church

office and after worship. Plants will be $10 each.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Charge Conference is Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 7pm. Reverend Dr. Russ Hall will be facilitating our yearly

meeting, all are encouraged to attend. Our

Administrative Council will meet directly following the

Charge Conference.

Every fall our Lay Leadership committee begins to

look at the needs of our teams and committees. Do

you have a special interest or talent you would like to

share? Please let Pastor Jack know so he can match

you up with a fun group to work with!

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ Finance Report Status of Giving

2019 Pledges to Operating Fund $205,147.00

Amount expected by October 31, 2019 $153,860.25

Amount received by October 3, 2019 $132,360.30

Short fall in giving through October 31, 2019

$21,499.95

If you have fallen behind on your pledge, or if,

like the Forwards, you only pay in one lump sum once

a year, we need your help!

Please help us meet our expenses by completing

payment of your 2019 pledge. ~Your Finance Team

**********************************

September 3M DonationsTotal Collected $3,054.00

Mortgage Payment $2,556.86

Trustees $248.57 *

Missions $248.57 *

*Actual distribution was $179.64 as there was a $68.93

shortage in August. Any questions please call Shelley

Dawson Smith @ 315- 487-1290.

Pastor Pastor Jack Keating

Phone (315) 487-1171

Email churchofthebells@gmail.com

Website www.churchofthebells.org

Worship 8:30 am and 10 am

Kids Club During 10 am worship, Sept. - June

Office Hours Mon.– Fri. 9am-12:30

or by appointment

Handicapped accessible

Please join us!

Electronic Service Requested

Our Mission

“To make disciples of Jesus Christ

for the transformation of the world.”

November/December 2019We wish to be good stewards of both financial and environmentalresources. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, pleaseemail us at churchofthebells@gmail.com and request removal.