A Note from the Pastor 2

KidREACH…

Change Is In The Air

3

MWPC Birthdays MWPC Anniversaries Address Updates Food Bank News Annual Report Deadline

4

What’s Your Tradition? 5

January Calendar 6

Financial Report

Sermon Schedule

7

2016 Per Capita 8

Marcus Whitman Presbyterian Church

JANUARY, 2016

WHITMANEWS

KidREACH at Marcus Whitman Presbyterian Church

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

4:00 - 6:00 P.M.

Learning - Tutoring

Delicious Snacks

Fun Games

Christian Faith Based

Much More!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Annual Congregational Meeting

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Following the Sunday morning Worship Service and enjoying a simple and delicious brunch, we will have our congregational meeting in order to:

Review the past year Receive the 2016 budget

Hear about 2016 plans and goals Approve Pastor’s Salary Package

Elect some of MWPC members as Financial Officer and Nominating Committee

Inside this issue:

Pastor Rob

As I write this, I noticed my office wall calendar and see there remains only a few days to the

year. With this comes year ending projects and things needing to be completed as the new

year starts. You, like me, having enjoyed the Christmas season, are now beginning the task of

taking down the Christmas lights and decorations; putting away the gift wrap and boxes or

bags; taking care of those final pieces of holiday candy and leftovers; completing my gift

returns, exchanges and gift cards and setting up the new 2016 calendars.

Yes, the completion of the last days of the year and the beginning of the new year, brings a

number of things to our “to-do” list(s). One of those “to-do’s” may be the annual “New Year’s

Resolutions”. You know, the annual exercise we each do in an attempt to make personal

changes, be more consistent and start something new in our lives.

As believers, I think one of the top three items on our resolution list should be to improve our

relationship with God and Jesus. This is a great and necessary annual exercise, or better still,

desire for each of us. Redefined, intentional, consistent work on our relationship with the

living Savior and Lord of our lives, is definitely one of the top three! God said, “I will give you a

new heart and put a new spirit in you…”. Paul reminds us that…”put off your old self...be

made new in the attitude of your minds...put on the new self created to be like God in true

righteousness and holiness”.

So, God is into any and all resolutions which speak of the desire for “new” beginnings to

deepening our relationship with Christ.

Happy New Year!

Peace,

Pastor Rob

A Note from the Pastor

Emily Chant

Children and Family Coordinator

Change is in the Air…

The moment that MWPC has greatly anticipated is nearly here! KidREACH is arriving in just a few weeks… on January 13, 2016 we will be welcoming at least 7 new kids to our facilities to grow, learn and, to simply, be kids. Though I am just getting to know the ins and outs of MWPC, I do know that this new after school program that is arriving is something that many of you have prayed and worked very hard for. I know that you see God working through MWPC in the life of children and families at Parkside Elementary School. I know that you are trusting God to use us in the lives of these children to strengthen their families and this community. Thank you for your faith, MWPC. Thank you for taking the risk this year to invest in not only a new employee, but a new season for your church; a new season to invest in the community of Des Moines in a new way. I am reading a book by Seattle’s own, Brenda Salter McNeil, called Roadmap to Reconciliation: Moving Communities into Unity, Wholeness and Justice. McNeil’s words are pertinent for the change that MWPC is facing as we begin this new season investing into the children of our community. Sometimes, change breeds feelings of chaos and uncertainty because the unknown overwhelms the arrival of new seasons. Yet, McNeil states that it is this very chaos that is needed in order for transformation to take place; transformation in us individually, in our families, at MWPC and beyond. As KidREACH arrives, MWPC has the incredible opportunity to share in the lives of children and families throughout the Des Moines community. Sharing involves building relationships with these kids, sharing our lives with them and allowing them to share their lives with us. As much as we are here to teach and mentor, they are to do the same for us. I pray that we would be open to learn, grow and share in this exciting new season of KidREACH at MWPC. Let’s commit our lives to sharing the love of Christ to our community through our deeds and our words. I pray that the hope of Christ would permeate this community through the selflessness that we not only show one another, but the new children and families of KidREACH.

Page 4 Whitmanews January, 2016

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

Randy Flodin 12

Larry Warren, Jr. 12

Chris Campbell 27

Gerri Goheen 28

Shawn Oakley 28

ANNIVERSARIES

Ray & Pat Hanchett 4

Contact Updates…

LYNN TAYLOR

Providence Mount St Vincent

4831 35th Ave SW, # 216

Seattle, WA 98126

(206) 937-3700

JOYCE NEWELL

Willow Brook Assisted Living

615 Summit Ave N

Kent, WA 98030

206-201-9457

The Des Moines Food Bank

needs your donations! Needed

items for January are soups and

canned goods. Please place

your donations directly into the

blue Food Bank receptacle in the

Hallway. Thank you.

Adult Christian Education classes resume Sunday, January 10th at 9:00 a.m. We hope you’ll plan to join us as we study the Gospel of Mark. Women’s Bible Study resumes on January 7th at 10:00 a.m. Monday Evening Bible Study has been canceled.

The 2016 deadline for

submitting all annual

reports is Thursday,

January 14th. Please

submit reports before

the office closes at

2:00 P.M. Thank you!

Page 5 Whitmanews January, 2016

What’s Your New Year’s Eve Tradition?

New Year’s Eve is celebrated around the world, from time zone to time zone, with great enthusiasm! As we

make the transition from one year to the next, many choose this opportunity to welcome the New Year with

century old traditions and customs. Here are a few interesting ways different countries welcome in the New

Year:

England: The English custom for welcoming New Year is full of hospitality and warmth. They believe that the first guest for the year would bring fortune for them. He should be a male, should enter through the front door and bear some traditional gifts like loaf of bread for the kitchen, drink for the head of the family and coal to light the fire, otherwise he is not allowed. They believe that these bring good luck throughout the year.

Denmark: In Denmark, residents keep a pile of dishes, all broken, in front of the door. For this they save old dishes and People usually throw these on the friends’ doors during New Year. This symbolizes friendship and brotherhood and they believe the one with maximum dishes outside, has the most friends. Some Danish are found to leap some chairs during midnight.

China: The Chinese have a unique way of celebrating a New Year, where every front door of a house is

painted in red which symbolizes happiness and good fortune. They hide all the knives for the day so that no

one cuts oneself, because that may actually cut the entire family good luck for the coming year. However

,that doesn’t make any difference to the feast they have during this celebration.

United States: Americans celebrate in style with New Year’s Eve parties. Exquisite wines and gourmet food

symbolize hope for prosperity. Champagne, cakes and feasting on black-eyed beans are considered lucky

and festive. Football tournaments are telecast nationwide and many families enjoy watching the games with

friends and family. The most celebrated event is the “ball drop” in Times Square, New York. Since 1907,

each New Year’s Eve a specially designed ball is dropped at 11:59 p.m. EST amidst cheers of millions of

spectators.

England

Denmark

United States

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2

3 Worship

& Lord’s Supper

10:00 A.M.

4

OFFICE

CLOSED

5

6 Work Crew

9:00 A.M.

7 Women’s Group

10:00 A.M.

Choir Rehearsal

7:00 P.M.

8 9

10 Worship

10:00 A.M.

Adult C/E

Resumes

9:00 A.M.

11

OFFICE

CLOSED

12 Gathering for

Prayer

6:30 p.m.

Council Meeting

7:00 P.M.

13

Work Crew

9:00 A.M.

14 Women’s Group

10:00 A.M.

Choir Rehearsal

7:00 P.M.

Annual Report

Deadline

15

16

17

Worship

10:00 A.M.

18 OFFICE

CLOSED

19

20

Work Crew

9:00 A.M.

21 Women’s Group

10:00 A.M.

Saltair HOA

6:30 P.M.

Choir Rehearsal

7:00 P.M.

22

23

24 Worship

10:00 A.M.

Annual

Congregational

Meeting / Brunch

25

OFFICE

CLOSED

26

27

Work Crew

9:00 A.M.

28 Women’s Group

10:00 A.M.

Choir Rehearsal

7:00 P.M.

29 30

31

Worship

10:00 A.M.

January 2016

Page 6 Whitmanews January, 2016

Financial Report as of November 30, 2015

INCOME ACTUAL BUDGETED EXPENSE ACTUAL BUDGET

Offerings 123,723.22 112,095.89 Pastors Pkg 73,417.01 75,338.50

Salaries/Taxes 19,287.49 20,864.46

Rental 3,850.00 3,843.29 Admin/Bldg. 13,164.68 15,187.37

Bldg./ Gnds 1,845.12 2,287.66

Int. Income 19.94 20.13 Office Mgt 3,851.98 4,018.07

Christ. Ed. 395.43 2,225.45

Total Income 127,593.16 115,959.31 Deacon 80.62 228.77

Fellowship 506.51 1,435.75

Mission 3,000.00 3,225.61

Worship 1,222.82 2,592.39

Expenses Total 116,771.66 127,404.03

Income minus expenses to date: $10,821.50

JANUARY, 2016 SERMONS & SCRIPTURE

January 3rd Celebrating the Lord’s Supper January 24th “Access By Peace”

“Peace Plus” Ephesians 2:14-22

Isaiah 26:3-4

January 10th “Peace With An Edge” January 31st “Putting Up or Transcending”

Matthew 10:34-42 Philippians 4:4-9

January 17th “A Different Kind Of Peace” February 7th “Rule #13”

John 14:25-27 Colossians 3:15-17

February 14th is the first Sunday of Lent and the beginning of our Lenten Series

as we journey to the Cross of Christ.

Page 7 Whitmanews January, 2016

2130 S. 248th Street

Des Moines, WA 98198

Marcus Whitman

Presbyterian Church

Phone: 206-878-2013

Fax: 206-878-2013

E-mail: office@mwpc.org

Know, Grow and Serve!

We’re on the web!

mwpres.org

2016 PER CAPITA

As a member of MWPC, you are also a member of the Presbyterian Church USA.

A part of that membership is the participation in national, regional and local

Presbyterian mission. One of the ways this happens is through per capita - a

contribution and offering by each member and congregation. Through the per

capita received, a variety of missions and ministries have the necessary funding

to do their work. This year’s per capita amount is $40 per member. Please take

the special envelope in your offering envelopes and place it in the offering plate

on any Sunday in January. Thank you.