Northfield Presbyterian Church

The Good News December 2011

From the Pastor’s Pen…

Dear Friends and Church Family,

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ

Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not count equality

with God something to be grasped, but made himself

nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being

made in human likeness. And being found in appear-

ance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedi-

ent to death—even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:5-8

Every year we rehearse again the quaint and well-

worn story of Christmas. It’s a wonderful story, but in many

churches it’s a tradition, and only a tradition! The story is

filled with many fascinating details of angels showing up in

places where they were not invited, with messages that were

not initially understood or appreciated—at least from a human

perspective. There is an inconvenient long trip to be made by

a very pregnant girl in order to satisfy a government demand

to register for taxation. These things and many more capture

our attention.

But if we were to be asked to tell the story, would our

source be the songs we sing and hallmark Christmas cards that

arrive in our mailboxes? Or would our story sound more like

the Bible’s accounts in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke? It

is amazing how the songs and even hymns we sing and the

cards we receive are based on assumptions! The Bible’s ac-

count is full and rich with lessons and meaning; but it is also

rather Spartan with many of the traditions we have accepted

not found in the Bible at all. For instance consider these ques-

tions:

What mode of transportation carried Mary and Joseph

to Bethlehem?

How many Wise Men does the Bible say visited the

new born King?

What did the Innkeeper really say to Joseph and

Mary?

Was the baby’s name “Jesus” or “Immanuel”?

During this Advent season, as we await the celebra-

tion of the Lord’s birth and anticipate his return to this world,

allow me to encourage you to read the story again from the

Bible. You’ll find it in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. While you

are reading see if you can find the answer to the questions

above. But go beyond the questions to see how many Old

Testament prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus. But most of all

consider why Jesus came into this world and for whom he

came!

As you have probably already figured out, I am

preaching on the four themes that coincide with our bulletin

covers: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, and on Christmas day,

Christ!

May your discoveries in your quiet times and our cor-

porate worship fill your heart and mind with the true wonder

of the Incarnation. And may you personally encounter the

One who left heaven to be your Savior.

In His Grip,

Art Helin

Ladies Christmas Tea

Northfield Presbyterian Church Saturday, December 10, 2011 Ten O’clock a.m.

All Ladies of Northfield Presbyterian Church of junior high age and up are invited to attend

our annual Christmas Tea. We will celebrate the season with food, fellowship,

special speaker, Cynthia Wessel & music provided by Zeger Verhage, Debbie Langford

and Chelsea Josephson Please invite your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to join us for this entertaining holiday event.

Registration forms are on the Church website or on a table in the narthex.

Our church family recently said goodbye to

two longtime members.

Dave Kerr joined Emily in heaven on Novem-

ber 12th. He had been an elder and vital mem-

ber of our church family for many years. A

funeral service was held here on Nov. 17th.

Margaret Frost went home to the Lord on No-

vember 24th. Her service was also held here at

NPC on November 29th. Margaret was active

in choir and the Women’s Association for

many years.

Special Christmas Musical Service

Sunday, December 18th

10:15 a.m.

Beginning with the children’s performance of

“The Dream”

Directed by Patty Fenn and Patti Maholm

Followed by

the Church Choir and special Musical Guests leading us in a dy-

namic

Advent Worship Experience!

Under the direction of Zeger Verhage

You won’t want to miss this. Invite a friend.

Dear Members and Friends,

We are presently looking to the coming year and

working to create a budget for 2012. In order for the Ses-

sion to pull it together, we need your input in the form of

your commitment to your church family.

Our budget, however, is not the goal. Rather, serv-

ing the Lord, caring for people, reaching out into the com-

munity, and proclaiming Christ throughout the world are

the goals. The budget is only one tool necessary to accom-

plish these goals. Funding these ministries is crucial.

Without our investment in God’s work here, there wouldn’t

be the Sunday School, Adult Education, Music, Worship or

Mission Programs as we know them today.

Others created a future for us that they never saw.

What we enjoy is the legacy of another generation. It is our

turn to create one not only for this generation, but the one

coming after us. We have enjoyed the faithfulness of our

forefathers.

Because we are a smaller congregation, we offer a

size, a style, a theology, and a family that is desirable to

many. We draw from a radius of fifteen miles. People

drive past many other churches to be part of this faith com-

munity.

Thank you to all our members and friends who are

investing in the Lord’s work at NPC for the coming year.

He calls us to tithe to Him (Malachi 3:10) and test His

faithfulness to provide for every need we have. Read the

passage. Open your minds to what God is saying. Open

your hearts to receive God’s love. Be prepared for the

doors God opens for you. Open minds plus open hearts

equals open doors. That is God’s promise.

Please prayerfully consider God’s Word to you and

honor Him by making your commitment for 2012.

Sincerely,

The Stewardship and Finance Committee

November

Income: $ 20,834 Expenses: $ 13,501

Year-to-date

Income: $ 186,310 Expenses: $ 182,543

Thank you for helping us end the year strong!!!

Stewardship Update

There will be no December meeting this year. Take

the time to prepare yourself for the holidays. Meet-

ings will resume Monday, January 9th at 10:00 a.m.

The Association provided coffee

and cookies to voters at the re-

cent election. They were very

well received by all. Thanks to

all who baked and helped keep

the table supplied throughout the

day!

Also, thank you to all who gen-

erously supported the Project

Christmas Tree program this year. We helped to pro-

vide a Christmas for 4 local families though the Mace-

donia Emergency Assistance Center.

Please remember to bring wrapped presents in by

December 12. Place your tag on the package.

We look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

Women’s Association

Margaret Anderson 5-Dec

Phyllis Davies 9-Dec

Zach Brooks 10-Dec

Debbie Langford 11-Dec

Beverly Redpath 16-Dec

Helen Rutledge 16-Dec

Kitty Kerner 17-Dec

Riley Smith 18-Dec

Carol Fenn 19-Dec

Joe Geshke 19-Dec

Paul Anderson 20-Dec

Ron Maxhimer 22-Dec

Christine Fenn 27-Dec

Beth Smith 29-Dec

Wesley Czech 29-Dec

Christopher Russo 30-Dec

Shoe Box Thanks

Thank you for supporting the Samaritan’s

Purse Operation Christmas Child drive that

we did in November. Between the church

and the Day Care we contributed 58 shoe

boxes to the drive. Many will be tracking

their donations on the special website set up

by Samaritan’s Purse. Once again, your

generosity amazes!

Cookie Exchange Party

Dec. 8, 2011

7:00 pm

Please bring at least 6 dozen homemade

cookies. After making baskets for others,

we should have plenty left to share!

At the home of:

Debbie Langford

43 Northfield Ave.

Northfield

330-467-0061

(RSVP to Debbie)

Thanksgiving Community Meal

This year the Thanksgiving Community

Meal crew welcomed approximately 100

friends and neighbors on Saturday, No-

vember 19th. Church members and Vic-

tory Baptist Friends provided the food

and labor for the day. Everyone ate their

fill (and then some). Even the Day Care

benefitted from the leftovers!

Thank you to Gil and Trudy Polcen for

organizing another great meal and to all

who provided help, food and clean up!

I will praise You,

for I am fearfully and wonderfully

made; Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

December 2011 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

7pm Christian Career

Group

8pm AA

2 3

8am Men’s Bible Study at

Chick-Fil-A

4 COMMUNION

9am Sunday School

10:15 am Worship

12:30 VBC Worship

5

6:30 pm VBC Choir

7pm Boy Scouts

6

7pm Tuesday Bible

Study

7

6:30 am Men’s Bible Study

at Chick-Fil-A

9:45 am Day Care Chapel

Time

6:30 Cub Scouts

7pm Choir

8

6:30 pm Simple Supper

and Prayer at Helin’s

7pm Cookie Exchange at

Langford’s

8pm AA

9

6pm Set Up for Tea

10

10 am Ladies Christmas

Tea

11

9am Sunday School

10:15 am Worship

12:30 VBC Worship

12

6:30 pm VBC Choir

7:30 pm Deacons

7pm Boy Scouts

13

7pm Day Care Board

7pm Tuesday Bible

Study

14

9:45 am Day Care Chapel

Time

6:30 Cub Scouts

7pm Choir

7pm VBC Bible Study

15

7pm Building and

Grounds

8pm AA

16 17

8am Men’s Bible Study at

Chick-Fil-A

18

9am Sunday School

10:15 am Advent

Musical and Chil-

dren’s Pageant

Worship

12:30 VBC Worship

19

6:30 pm VBC Choir

7pm Session

20 21

6:30 am Men’s Bible Study

at Chick-Fil-A

9:45 am Day Care Chapel

Time

7pm Choir

22

8pm AA

23 24

6:30 pm Family Can-

dlelight Service

9pm Communion

Candlelight Service

25

10:15 am Worship

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

26

Day Care and Office Closed

27 28 29

8pm AA

30 31

Youth Update Operation Santa’s Helpers

Northfield Presbyterian Church

7755 South Boyden Road

Northfield Ohio 44067

Phone: 330-467-4137

www.northfieldpreschurch.com

npc7755@roadrunner.com

SPECIAL ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS SERVICES

December 18th 10:15 a.m. Children’s Pageant &Special Musical Service December 24th 6:30 p.m. Family Candlelight Service December 24th 9:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion Service December 25th 10:15 a.m. Worship January 1st 10:15 a.m. Combined Casual Worship Service/Continental Breakfast in Fel-lowship Hall (watch for details in upcoming Sunday Bulletins)