2013

Rome Presbyterian ChurchP O Box 189939 Main StreetRome, PA 18837

“I have a better Caretaker than you and all the angels. It is He who lies in a manger, but at the same time sits at the right hand of God, the

almighty Father. Therefore, be at rest.”

---Martin Luther

December Worship

Advent is upon us! The season leading up to Christmas which invites us to wait and anticipate. Here are the Sunday Lectionary readings for the month. Be encouraged to read them all and think about what God is saying through them to you. As of this writing, I am thinking I will base the preaching out of the prophets, but sometimes the Holy Spirit has other ideas . . .

Dec. 1 First Sunday of Advent – Hope

Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 26:36-44

Dec. 8 Second Sunday of Advent – Peace

Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7,18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12

Dec. 15 Third Sunday of Advent – Joy

Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

Dec. 22 Fourth Sunday of Advent – Love

Isaiah 7:10-17; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 18:18-25

Dec. 29 First Sunday after Christmas Day

Isaiah 63:7-9; Psalm 148; Hebrews 2:10-18; Matthew 2:13-23

From the Pastor

Well, we did it. We crossed the bridge and are now living within a new entity called ECO. Do you feel any different? Probably not. But, we have chosen to live differently, more deliberately as disciples of Jesus Christ, in this new place.

We claim as our mission: To build flourishing churches making disciples of Jesus Christ.

We claim the Essential Tenets as the basis of our faith and function:

God’s Word, the authority of our confession. God is Triune – Father, Son and Holy Spirit Incarnation – God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ God’s Grace in Jesus Christ – we are sinners in need of redeeming and that redemption comes

through the death and resurrection of Jesus, not because of anything we do or don’t do Election for salvation and service Covenant life in the church – we really do belong to each other! Faithful Stewardship of all of life Living in Obedience to the Word of God

Maybe all of this at once this seems overwhelming? Maybe it is difficult to figure out what it means for you personally to live these things out. Well, keep at it! Talk to one another. We are in this together!

Maybe the first, most important commitment we can make as individuals is to keep Jesus at the center of our lives. This is especially a challenge as we prepare to be hit with the commercialization that comes with the Christmas season. (I don’t know about you but seeing Halloween and Christmas in the same aisle at the store is a little disconcerting!) My encouragement to you is that you keep Jesus in the center of it all.

During this season of Advent, live in the anticipation that Jesus is coming again. Celebrate the season with Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Rejoice in who you are in Jesus – for with him lies our true identity, no matter what the world says.

I’ll share the Psalm that I’ve been stuck in over the past week. (It took me three days just to get past the first verse!)

Psalm 37:1-7

Don’t be upset because of sinful people.

Don’t be jealous of those who do wrong.

Like grass, they will soon dry up.

Like green plants, they will soon die.

Trust in the Lord and do good.

Then you will live in the land and enjoy its food.

Find your delight in the Lord.

Then he will give you everything your heart really wants.

Commit your life to the Lord.

Here is what he will do if you trust in him.

He will make your godly ways shine like the dawn.

He will make your honest life shine like the sun at noon.

Be still. Be patient. Wait for the Lord to act.

Don’t be upset when other people succeed.

Don’t be upset when they carry out their evil plans.

Oh, that last bit about “be still” . . . that’s a great recommendation for this very busy season. If we choose to be still, we will encounter Christ in ways we otherwise wouldn’t. Don’t miss the opportunity!

Peace,

Pastor Karen

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN!

If you are female and part of this congregation, this is for you!

On December 9, the women will gather at the home of Gladys Abell for a brief business meeting and then their Christmas program featuring Andy Boardman. All women are welcome to come.

Starting January 13th, Pastor Karen will be leading a study on “bad Girls of the Bible”. This book by Liz Curtis Higgs looks at some of the women of the Bible who, still today, have a “reputation for being naughty”. There is a book we will be reading through and discussing. If you’d like to get in on the conversation, see Lisa Lewis to put in an order for your book. Cost will be $10.00.

Hope to see you there!

On Saturday, December 21st, we will once again be working with the North Orwell Community Church and Rome UMC to present to the community a Living Nativity. We will be serving soup and hot chocolate, dressing as characters of the nativity and singing carols. If you are willing to help in any way, please see Peggy Hughes.

12/4 Lori Roshak 12/18 Jeanne Gamble 12/26 Lily Poust12/9 Jordan Shumway 12/22 Ruth Carrington William Shipp12/14 Heather Edsell Jim Crawford 12/27 Madison Close12/12 Suzanne Holbert 12/25 Linda Robinson

12/20 Barney & Bev Singer12/29 Marty & Kathy Weaver

We will be starting a nursery during Sunday worship for young children. The nursery is for babies through preschool aged children and will serve as a place for children to go so that parents can focus more on the sermon. The children would go to the nursery after the Children’s Sermon and would return to worship during the last hymn. We need two adults in the nursery each Sunday. Persons ages 16 and up can volunteer to be in the nursery. There will be a sign up sheet in the back

of the church if you wish to volunteer and we would like to begin the nursery in December. Thank you !

8134 New LaGrange Road Suite 227 Louisville, KY 40222 502.425.4630 www.eco-pres.org

November 18, 2013

The Congregation Rome Presbyterian ChurchPO Box 189Rome, PA 18837-0189

Dear Friends in Christ, Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus! On behalf of our Synod Executive Council

and staff I want to officially welcome you to ECO! We have been praying for you in your journey of discernment and transfer, and are thrilled that you found ECO to be a place where you feel you can best thrive in mission and ministry.

You join over 90 other congregations who have made the transition to ECO, and over 100 others who are on their way to becoming official ECO churches. We also have dozens of potential church plants on the map, including a pipeline of potential church planters waiting to be released into planting. It is certainly an exciting time for our denomination.

I know that the transition into ECO was not easy. You probably feel like you need to take a deep breath! I would encourage you, however, to not spend too long catching your breath, as there is a lot of work to be done for the Kingdom of God. As I tell all of our churches, transferring to ECO isn’t the goal. As you know, our vision is to “baptize more than we bury” by 2018. This goal is going to take the full partnership and ministry of all of our congregations! You are an important part of that mission.

I hope to find an opportunity sometime to visit you face to face so that, as Paul said to the Romans, we would be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith. Again, welcome to ECO and may God bless you deeply as you continue to faithfully serve Him! In Christ,

Dana

Building flourishing churches that make disciples of Jesus Christ

If you would like to purchase poinsettias to help decorate our church for Christmas, please fill out the order form below and return it along with your correct money or check. Please leave your order and money in my mailbox or you may put it in the collection plate. Your flowers may be picked up following the Christmas Worship service. THE DEADELINE FOR ORDERING IS DECEMBER 1 ST .

Peggy Coleman

SIZE QUANTITY COLOR COST TOTAL

6 ½” SINGLE STEM _________ RED, WHT,PINK,SPECKLED $ 7.50 _______

8”TRIPLE BRANCHED _________ RED,WHT,PINK,SPECKLED $16.75 ________

Name________________________________________________________________________________

In Honor of:___________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

In Memory of:_________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

ECO Retreat Birthdays Debbie Shipp Lucille Pennay Families coming homeFamily days Bill Ransom Delores Wheaton Bev Singer Julie Larnard NewburyPat Coon & Family Eulie Hurley Jackson God Family Pregnancy’s Nellie DickR.O.C.C. Travels Prayers for Mission Committee as they discern VeteransAnna Bowen Family Phillipine Victims Tyler & Laura People looking for jobsWhalon Smith Mike Ricci Persecuted Church John Lipsey Hunting Trips JohnMarilyn for her beautiful music Engagements Shelba Peggy Chambers Moving into new homesLucille Pennay

To My Family of Faithful Followers:

I have lost a husband and my best friend and that is a hard place to be in. I can’t express with words how much the love and support of all of you has meant to Claude and I as we journeyed through his illness. We felt God’s love around us through the love of all of you. Thank you for loving God and sharing that love with us.

Sincerely,

Pat

Library News -- December 2013

Advent – a time of waiting. It’s another opportunity to choose to deepen your relationship with the Almighty. Perhaps you get up a half hour earlier and read a Bible passage and pray before others in the house are up. Perhaps you turn off the TV for an hour (instead of channel surfing in hopes of finding a decent program) and do some Bible study. Free workbooks for Bible study can be found on a table in the hall outside the library on the first Sunday in December. We also have a few hymnals. Spending an hour reading favorite or new hymns can refresh your dragging spirits. Help yourself.

There were two book sales in November. Some sixth grade boys helped me choose titles from the NEB Scholastic Sale. The “I survived….” Series looked especially interesting, even for an adult. These books are ready to circulate and can be found in the blue crates. Christmas books for kids are in the red and green crates. The Penguin Group book sale was equally interesting and some popular adult authors are represented. Books by Clive Cussler, Robin Cook, Jack Higgins, and Catherine Coulter may be found in the library after the first of January. We received a number of DK’s Eyewitness Series books as a donation. Look for them in the YA (Young Adult ) section. With the arrival of the new shelving, YA may end up interfiled in the Adult section.

The last section of metal wall shelves has been ordered and should arrive by the end of January.

May Jesus, Light of the World, The Way, The Truth, the Sacrificial Lamb, dwell in your heart and mind this Christmas along with the fresh start of a newborn baby.

Grace and Peace to you.

Hey kids! Don’t miss out on special participation in worship during the Advent and Christmas season. All children Pre-school through 6th grade are invited to come to Sunday School at 9:00!

Thanks

Men’s Breakfast

The next Men’s breakfast will be on December 21st. We begin preparing our feast at 5 a.m and eat at 7. What is your gift is this month’s topic.

Chuck’s pancakes are fluffy and brown, Jim and Casey bring gluten free, Keith flips some terrific eggs, Perry whips up a mean bacon, egg, onion, cheese bake, and the fellowship is like being fed twice.

Please join us if you enjoy good food and great camaraderie.

Any questions please contact Ed

Session Meeting Summary

Elders met on November 21, 2013, at RPC library at 6:30pm. A quorum was present. Pastor Ballard opened with prayer followed by all singing, ‘Jesus At the Center’,’ followed by reading and reflecting on Psalm 98:1 and Psalm 145:1-3. Pastor ask Elders to share their thoughts on what new thing God is wanting to do in each of their personal lives. Lexio Divino was based on II Corinthians 5:17-20 with a time for reflection, sharing, and praying for one an other. Elders then continued by discussing the following:

Current roll is 108 members on active list 6 Shut-ins - Reuben and Jenny Brimmer, Marion Jones, Ethel Parks, Charlotte Sandor, and

Virginia Wilson – please keep them in your prayers. Accepted with regret the resignation of Gladys Abell and Claire Allen from the Memorial Fund

Committee effective January 1, 2014. Trustees report: flooring in CEB will be replaced starting in December, Karin LeFever has started

painting dining room, runners have been laid in annex hallways in anticipation winter ‘salt’ and snow”, water tested in CEB (a-ok), music license paid, exterior siding completed on township building, will place ECO sign on the wishing well, as well as hang the ECO banner

Mission committee report: approved monetary support to Tiffany and John Hundley in their Boston Mission, approved scheduled contribution to Samaritan’s Purse, approved donation to send a seasonal box to Thomas Dent stationed in Afghanistan (Thomas is a good friend of the Ballard family), church will adopt 4 families (12 people) through Grace Connection Adopt a Family Program for Christmas, and continue to give gas cards to aid individuals in need.

Pastor Karen and Sylvia Abrams (clerk) have sent our notarized ECO Membership Agreement to be placed on file

Session approved 2014 Proposed Budget Will recommend to the congregation our official name be Rome Presbyterian Church Approved convening Congregational Meeting on December 8 for the purpose of voting on

Pastors Terms of Call, to review budget as approved by Session, vote on official church name, and elect 2014 Slate of Officers

Pastor Karen, Judy Madill, and Dan Williams attended “Equip 2013”, a gathering of the Northeast ECO, on October 26-27, in Lewisburg, PA. Each gave a report on the various sessions they attended; sharing insights about what it means to be a Covenant Partner, church planting, and community outreach.

Personnel, chair Ed O’Connor, met with Pastor Karen, Peggy Coleman, and Marilyn Brainard for annual reviews. Each reporting on job satisfaction and goal setting for 2014.

Friday Night Fellowship dinner – 77 people attended dinner on October 26th – lots going on with those attending the fellowship dinners – next dinner in early December

Men’s fellowship breakfast will be on December 21, What is your Gift? Praying that many men will attend this joyous fellowship

Chow for Children serves 21 families who are being supplied with 2 meals weekly. Each family expressed heart felt appreciation for the $25 gift card from our congregation to purchase their Thanksgiving turkey.

Adult Study is Sunday mornings @ 8:30 – currently studying the book, Radical, on discipleship XFA Christmas program is scheduled for December 12th (snow date December 19th.

Santa’s Sleigh Ride has designated proceeds for new flooring in CEB. Thanks to Pat Coon for all the hard work organizing this event.

Elder/deacon serving team for December is Tom LeFever and Liz Kline. 72 people were served Communion on November 3 Lackawanna Presbytery voted to dismiss RPC to ECO denomination. It’s official! Friends and Family of RPC will receive letter regarding what each person would like to do with

membership – i.e. become a covenant partner, etc. Approved Ed O’Connor to fill pulpit December 29 (Pastor Karen’s final vacation week for 2013)–

College Sunday Pastor is currently researching study leave options for 2014. Along with her regular schedule

Pastor Karen reported making hospital visits, visits to shut-ins, other visits, working on by-laws, and serving with Hospice group.

Congregation will again decorate sanctuary December 1 for Advent Next Session meeting: December 17 @ 6:30 @ Abrams home

Respectfully submitted,

Sylvia Abrams, Clerk of Session

The Rome Fire Company members would like to thank you for all the work you did at Roman Holiday again this year. Thank you.

Dear Friends, Thank you for your generous donation to Grace Connection. Your kindness will certainly be appreciated by many families who are in need of assistance.We cannot express how appreciative we are for your gift.

Sincerely yours,Jackie Pyznar, treasurer

SPECIAL DATES

December 1 First Sunday of Advent

December 8 Second Sunday of Advent

December 15 Third Sunday of Advent

December 21 First day of Winter December 22 Fourth Sunday of

Advent December 24 Christmas Eve December 25 Christmas Day December 31 New Year’s Eve