Highlights of November Leadership Mtg. Held on Oct. 31st, 2017

Finance and Facility Team - Mark Garach - 2018 budget is ready - 7 member endowment team preparing for presentation at Congregational Forum. - Fine tuning policies and procedures. Hospitality and Communications Team - Valerie Smith - The Older Servants dinner is slated for Sunday, December 3. - Team will be selling poinsettias used in sanctuary.

- Need someone to schedule greeters. - Planning the Hanging of the Greens and Christmas Eve services. - May change the format of the flower schedule.

Christian Education Team - Janie Myers - The Advent booklets will be available at the welcome center.

- Not planning to reinstate children's church at this time. - Accepting new books for the library. - Blessings and Dreams: the 2018 team will decide who will lead Bible studies. - Reviewing revised policy guidelines.

Missions and Service Team - Darlene Wyland - Collected $355 for Pennies for Witness.

- Jane Brumbaugh coordinated the blood drive. Seventeen pints were collected. - The last day to bring Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes was November 12.

Worship Team - Terry Hershberger - Terry was away. Deacons' Report - Betsy Garach reported.

- The deacon call was October 15. Contacting those called to ask if they will serve. - The Chuck Russell fundraiser was a great success. - Preparation for the Christmas fruit bags has begun. - Visitations are ongoing.

Business 1. Camp Blue Diamond Capital Campaign Fund - Added budget line of $2000 to be given to CBD for next 5 yrs, for

a total of $10,000 over the 5 yrs, for building projects. 2. Discernment Team Member - Discussed names for 2018 slate. 3. Youth Ministry - Leadership Team and youth advisors will be meeting for a day long retreat to define our vision for the future of youth ministry at First Church. 4. Congregational Forum on November 26 - Current business items: Constitution Revision, Endowment, Budget, Slate. 5. Pastoral Leadership - Search continues. God is at work, do not be discouraged. 6. District Conference 2018 - Kristen Hall coordinating. Team look at maintenance needs 7. Project Vision - continues.

Next Meeting - Nov. 28th at 6:30

In Service to our Lord and Church

Chris & Craig Wagner Carol & Dan Emerick Mitch & Bethann Frederick Ben Smith Travis Russell Generation Hope

3 10 17 24

morning 31

Organist Cathy Petre Darlene Wyland

Cathy Petre Barb Wineland Darlene Wyland

Pianist Terry

Hershberger Brenda Fluke-

Garber Cathy Neal Cathy Neal Marcia Fleck

Storyteller Betsy Garach Sandy Norris Bethann Frederick

Dave Crumrine Pattie Conlon

Nursery Attendant

Pat Dick Signe Dellinger

Audrey Smith

Signe Dellinger

Welcome Center

Jane Brumbaugh

Carol Emerick Jeannie Stiffler Arlene Beers

Parking Lot Greeters

Dave Imes Mike Bianconi

Dave Imes Don Myers

Paul Witkovsky Mark Garach

Don Bookhammer Dave Imes

Flowers Memory of

Duane Snyder

Memory of Glenn Claar

Lori Smith

Bulletins Memory of Chuck Piper

Memory of

Harold W Smith

Pulpit Supply

Hanging of the Greens

For those 70 and older

Sunday, December 3, 2017

12 noon in the Fellowship Hall

Please sign up at the Welcome Center

Greeters

Front Door: Rear Door:

Deacon Greeters

Front Door: Rear Door:

Acolyte Audio Technician

Fellowship Time

8 am

December 16

New Frontier

INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

12/1 Jim Butler Hunter Keith Linnie Long 12/2 Mindy Wagner Jaelyn Kenawell 12/3 Brady Bolatto Holly Smith Paul Longenecker 12/4 Meghan Detwiler Amy Hite 12/6 Tammy Fluke 12/7 Megan Witkovsky Coty Thompson 12/8 Don Bookhammer Gary Speck Pattie Conlon 12/9 Marsha Josapak 12/10 Mallory Burns

Emily Croft Courtney Frye Mandy Keith 12/11 Valerie Smith Megan Eger 12/12 Destiny Wagner 12/13 Dawn Crumrine Charles Smith Jr. 12/14 Jaden Myers 12/15 Denny Albright Hailey Glunt Howard Giordano 12/16 Deeanna Trigona 12/17 Xander Frederick Mike Burket 12/18 Dan Brumbaugh Justin Croft 12/19 Maureen Detwiler Marcia Fleck Bette Frye Bill Sollenberger Brandi Walter

12/21 Nate Detwiler Travis Frye 12/22 Benjamin Smith 12/23 Cathy Neal 12/24 Kristen Hall Caleb Keith 12/25 Mikaela Smith Lucinda Treese 12/26 Dave Crumrine 12/27 Julie Witkovsky 12/28 Diana Walls Mark Steele 12/29 Bethann Frederick Jeanne Sollenberger Jacob Reilly 12/30 Patricia Brumbaugh Daniel Hoover

Justin Mock Janis Loucks 12/31 Tom Holsinger

12/5 John & Rose Bishop Randy & Diane Guyer 12/12 Tom & Cindy Shaw 12/17 Justin & Mandy Croft 12/22 Joe & Julie Dively 12/24 Tommy & Sandy Smith 12/26 Terry & Marlys Hershberger 12/28 Lee & Holly Metzler 12/31 Todd & Stacey Thompson Thank you to everyone for joining me in the Fellowship Hall on Saturday, October 21st to celebrate my 90th birthday. – Anna Ferne (Long) McConahy We are so blessed to be part of such a caring church family. Thank you for all the payers, cards, calls, all the caring gestures during Tommy’s health issues. We thank God that he is feeling better and recovering. – Tommy & Sandy Smith

We express our condolences to Doris Carper on the passing of daughter Joanne on October 28, 2017. Our Christian sympathies are extended to the family and friends of Chuck Russell who ended his earthly life and went to his eternal home on November 15th. Please keep Kaye, Travis & Angie, Abe, Graci, Charli, and Traci in your prayers.

Paul Longenecker

429 S Market St Room 305A

Martinsburg, PA 16662

931.6350

Dear Friend of Roaring Spring First Church of the Brethren :

Please consider visiting the Hoss's location(s) listed below on 12/10/2017 to aid us in raising money to benefit Roaring Spring First Church of the Brethren . Present this when ordering on 12/10/2017 at Hoss's in Duncansville Hoss's will then donate 20%* or 25%** of your total check paid to Roaring Spring First Church of the Brethren DISTRIBUTING INVITATIONS ON HOSS’S PROPERTY IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED AND WILL DISQUALIFY OUR ORGANIZATION! Thank you for your cooperation!

Group #78627 December 4th at 10 am we will discuss Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters.

The bestselling book that asks the question: what would present-day America look like if the Civil War never happened?

A young black man calling himself Victor has struck a bargain with federal law enforcement, working as a bounty hunter for the US Marshall Service in exchange for his freedom. He's got plenty of work. In this version of America, slavery continues in four states called "the Hard Four." On the trail of a runaway known as Jackdaw, Victor arrives in Indianapolis knowing that something isn't right—with the case file, with his work, and with the country itself.

Underground Airlines is a ground-breaking novel, a wickedly imaginative thriller, and a story of an America that is more like our own than we'd like to believe.

We will sort Christmas cards on December 3, 10, & 17. We will offer an afternoon of FREE CHILD CARE on Sunday, December 3rd from 11:30 am to 3 pm. Fruit Basket assembly with the Deacons is on Friday, December 15th at 5:30 pm.

ccc

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

7 pm

Just Older Youth Those aged 50 and over are invited to a Christmas Party in the Fellowship Hall at 10 am on Thursday, December 21st. Fun, food and fellowship provided. Bring your smiles and appetite for some festive food and entertainment.

Each 5th Sunday in 2018, the Family Ministries Team will sponsor a noon meal. Each meal will feature a different culture so watch for specific details closer to each event. Dates for 2018 are: April 29, July 29, September 30 and December 30th. An activity will follow each meal.

Everyone is invited to the 10th Alternative Christmas

Gift Bazaar at Stone Church of the Brethren, 1623

Moore Street, Huntingdon, on Saturday, December 2

from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. This year give gifts that

have a local and global impact. A large selection of

SERRV products, hand crafted items, homemade

scones, soups and bread available for

purchase. Come and share the spirit of Christmas—

free beverages, music and good fellowship for all!

Shepherds may pick up fruit

baskets for your “sheep” on

Friday, December 15th from 6:30

-7:30 pm or Saturday, December

16th from 9:30 – 10:30 am

FINANCE AND FACILITY

FINANCE

Income - Our Total income at week 46 (November 15) remains right at target (100 percent)

and the Giving component remains a little lower than target, around 97 percent, about the same

as shown in the last newsletter.

Expenses - At the end of October Team expenses are at 81 percent of budget.

ATTENDANCE

Average attendance for church service at week 46 is steady at 128 and Sunday School is at 62.

OTHER

The 2018 budget has been completed and is available at the Welcome Center.

“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a

cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV

You are encouraged to consider your own safety as well as the safety of others when determining

whether or not to make the drive to Bloomfield Street and safely navigate the parking lot. IF worship

is cancelled, you will receive a call from our OneCallNow automated calling system. Bulletins may be

found on our website and near the rear entrance.

CHRISTMAS CARDS - The Senior High Youth will again help you "mail" Christmas Cards to

regular church attendees. We will accept cards on December 3, 10 and 17th. Church

members will receive their cards in their mailbox in the hallway.

Steve and Wendy Wertz have requested their membership be transferred to Martinsburg Grace Brethren. May the

blessing of God go with them as they unite in membership with a new church family.

Angel Tree Cookies are needed! Please sign up in your Sunday School Class or contact Darlene Wyland with how many

dozen cookies you can provide for this outreach project. We need 92 dozen cookies so each child in the program will

receive a dozen cookies with their gifts. Please have them to the Fellowship Hall/Kitchen by 6 pm, Tuesday, December

12th, then join us as we bag them.

December 2017

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2

3 9:25 am Worship

10:45 am Sunday School 11:30 am -3 pm sr. Youth child care 12 pm Older Servants Dinner 4 pm Generation Hope in FH

4 1:30 -7:30 pm Raulin Dick Raffle 4-7 pm Raulin Dick Fundraiser Dinner

5 5 pm Relay for Life Meeting

6 9 am Ladies Aid 1 pm Prayer Shawl Ministry 6 pm Jr Youth 6 pm Venture Club 6:30 pm Choir

7 9 am Bulletin Deadline 9 am Breakfast Fellowship at Spring House Grille 6:30 pm Knitting Group

8

9

10

Food Bank Collection Hoss’s Fundraiser

9:25 am Worship

10:30 am Fellowship

Time

11 am Sunday School

11 7 pm District Disaster Response Meeting in FH

12 6 pm Angel Tree Cookie bagging

13 9 am Ladies Aid 1 pm Prayer Shawl Ministry 6 pm Jr Youth 6 pm Venture Club 6:30 pm Choir

14 9 am Bulletin Deadline 9 am Breakfast Fellowship at Spring House Grille 6:30 pm Knitting Group

15 Newsletter submissions due 5:30 Fruit Basket Assembly 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Fruit Basket Pick up

16 8 am Men’s Fellowship Breakfast 9:30 am – 10:30 am Fruit Basket Pick up

17

9:25 am Worship

10:45 am Sunday School 11:45 am Deacon Prayer

18 10 am Book Group

19

20 9 am Ladies Aid 1 pm Prayer Shawl Ministry 6:30 pm Choir

21 9 am Bulletin Deadline 9 am Breakfast Fellowship at Spring House Grille 10 am J O Y Christmas Party 6:30 pm Knitting Group

22

23

24 9:25 am Worship

7 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship

25

OFFICE CLOSED

26 OFFICE CLOSED 6:30 pm Leadership Team

27 OFFICE CLOSED

28 9 am Bulletin Deadline 9 am Breakfast Fellowship at Spring House Grille 6:30 pm Knitting Group

29 OFFICE CLOSED

30

31 9:25 am Worship

10:45 am Sunday School 12 pm Family Ministries Meal

Notes:

The giving of gifts is not something man invented.

God started the giving spree when he gave a gift beyond words,

the unspeakable gift of His Son. - Robert Flatt

The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable. -- Ralph W. Sockman

Read more: https://www.christianquotes.info/top-quotes/top-25-christian-

quotes-about-christmas/#ixzz4yc6pg4no

The most incredible thing about miracles is that they happen.” —G.K. Chesterton, by way of Father Brown When I feel frazzled amid all the Christmas preparations, God, calm my heart and remind me of the season’s true meaning. Hark the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born king." Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! - Charles Wesley

Our greatest need If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness and acceptance, so God sent us a Savior. —Author unknown

FIRST CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN 901 Bloomfield Street Roaring Spring PA 16673 814.224.4113 Fax: 814.224.4923 Email: churchoffice@rsfirstchurch.org

www.rsfirstchurch.org Interim Pastor Dale Dowdy dalewdowdy@gmail.com

Roaring Spring

First Church of the Brethren If you wish to be removed from mailing list or correct your address, please contact us through an above means. Address Service Requested