The Newsletter DECEMBER 2017 VOLUME 124, ISSUE 12

VIDALIA

PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH

400 Church Street Vidalia, GA 30474 Tel: 912-537-3500 Fax: 912-537-8252

www.vidaliapres.org

Office Hours: Monday-Friday

9:30 am to 3:00 pm

Pastor’s Office Hours: Wednesdays 9 am - 5 pm

or by appointment

STAFF

Rev. Ron Gilreath Interim Pastor

Pam Langston Office Manager

Beccy Champion Bookkeeper

Rebecca Smelser Director of Choir/Music

Sarah Montford Organist

The Newsletter

The Newsletter is a monthly publication of

Vidalia Presbyterian Church and is free to members and

friends of the church.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

BLESSING BOX 3 B IRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES 6

DAILEY DEVOTIONAL 5 CHURCH CALENDAR 7

V IDALIA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

A MESSAGE FROM OUR INTERIM PASTOR Dear VPC Sisters and Brothers,

It’s December, and as we prepare ourselves for the birth of the Savior, I keep thinking about

the message that the angel of the Lord announced to Mary and

Joseph when Jesus was born. “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great

joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David

a Savior, who is the Messiah,

the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

Christmas is, indeed, a

time of joy; ‘tis the season to be jolly. But for many in our local community and world,

Christmas is, as Thomas Hardy put it after hearing that darkling

thrush, “so little cause for

carolings.”

In Tuesdays with Morrie,

Mitch Albom tells of the day that Morrie Schwartz, his teacher and friend, was told by his

neurologist that he had ALS. “Outside, the sun was shining

and people were going about their business. A woman ran to put money in the parking

me t e r . Ano ther ca r r i ed

groceries.” Morrie was stunned

by the routineness of the day around him. “Shouldn’t the

world stop? Don’t they know

what has happened to me?”

Christmas is a season of

great joy as we celebrate and give thanks for the birth of the Christ. But amid the routine joy

of the season, I’ll be on the lookout for those for whom the

world has stopped: the grief-stricken, the fearful, the sick, the depressed, the poor, just to

name a few. And I pray that I will allow my world to stop for a while and be with them.

Only then will I be prepared to experience the true joy of

Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Ron

PAGE 2 THE NEWSLETTER

OUR CHURCH

LEADERSHIP

Building & Grounds–

Glenn Goode (2017)

Christian Education–

Congregational Care & Fellowship/Witness &

Service–

Linda Page (2018)

Elizabeth Wilkes ( 2018)

Stewardship Committee–

Blythe Wilcox (2018)

Mike Walton (2019)

Worship & Music–

Communications–

Clerk of Session -

Blythe Wilcox

Oaks Assisted Living: (The Oaks-Bethany, 1400 NE Main St, Vidalia, GA 30474) Leone Johnson- mother-in-law of Cissy Alderman Martha Davis

Oxton Place of Douglas: Irmie Rocket – 1360 W. Gordon St., Douglas, GA 31533

At Home: (all addresses are Vidalia unless otherwise noted Dr. Lloyd Darby (303 Kissingbower Rd.)

Our College Students: (will update with school addresses as they become available) Anna McIntyre – Georgia Southern (P.O. Box 506, Vidalia 30475) Abbie Chesser - Kennesaw State (616 Julie Dr., Vidalia) Sarah Payne Maddox – University of Georgia (823 Center Place, Vidalia) Elizabeth Holman - Berry College (1101 Center Drive, Vidalia) Nicholas Owens – University of Georgia (1700 Irene St., Vidalia) Ashton Craft – East Georgia (5010 Hwy. 15, Vidalia) Alex Downie – Mercer University Law School (228 Amberwood Dr., Vidalia) Jansen Killian – H.S. Junior @ MCHS taking 3 classes at Brewton Parker (107 Cherrywood Dr., Vidalia) Jordan Davis—University of Georgia Meagan Millsaps—University of Georgia Bekah Hilton—Georgia Institute of Technology

Our Friends and Family: Our Church Our Community Our Schools Carol Anne Claxton Baker Dr. Ralph Claxton, Jr. Pastor Nominating Committee & the search for new pastor Bart Davis—working overseas 12/5 Lynn Weber-Had a stroke Friday December 1st and has been in Augusta University Hospital. Trans-ported to Community Hospice December 5th.

PRAYER LIST @ VPC

Please remember the members of your Pastor

Nominating Committee in your prayers as they

begin their work: Mary Ellen Davis, Kyle Montford,

Rob Hilton, Claudia Walton, and Blythe Wilcox. If

you would like to assist in the search or have

thoughts or ideas about our next pastor, please

contact a Committee member.

Our Congregational Dinner is an enjoyable way to dine with old, new, and soon-to-be friends in the congregation. The next Congregational Dinner will be December 10th following the Morning Worship Service. Guests are always welcome.

Congregational Dinner

PAGE 3 THE NEWSLETTER

Help us fill Our Blessing Box

Bring items to the church and place them in the stor-age bins located in the hallway outside the nursery door.

Suggested items are:

food with pop tops – Vienna Sausages or Beanie Wienies, Lance type peanut butter crackers or other flavors, juice boxes, bottles of water, raisins and other fruit in boxes, granola/cereal bars (basically any pre-packaged/canned food that a person could eat immediately without cooking). We also are in need of other items that would be helpful in a homeless situation, wet naps, germ –X, Zip Lock bags (all sizes), etc.

Our Wednesday Night Dinner and Bible Study continues on Wednesday, December 13, 2017, 6:00 – 7:15. We meet in the Ewell Nelson Classroom.

Adults and high school youth are invited. Dinner will be Pizza and a Salad If you would like to join us and need childcare please call by church office by Tuesday. We look forward to seeing you there.

This is the last Dinner of 2017, we will resume in January 2018.

Howard Hill, our late friend and dedicated follower of Christ, was honored on November 16 when the Boys and Girls Club of Toombs County dedicated its new Howard G. Hill Teen Center in his honor. Howard was a longtime member of the Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors.

Howard G. Hill Teen Center

PAGE 4 THE NEWSLETTER

The Session has called a Congregational Meeting for Sunday, December 10th, immediately following worship, for the purpose of electing a new class of elders to serve on the Session beginning in January, 2018.

Sunday, December 18th

Meet at the church at 4:00 pm.

Followed by an after caroling party

Service

December 24th 6:30 pm

Candlelight Christmas Eve

Thank you for your great and many gifts to the church during the 2017 year. Your generosity allows the church to do many great ministries in our community and congregation.

With 2017 quickly drawing to a close, the time for contributions to count for the 2017 giving year is running out. The deadline to have gifts into the office and still have them count for 2017 is Wednesday, January 4, 2018. Donations must be dated (or postdated if mailing) December 31st and please specify “2017” on the memo line.

Friday, December 1 Morning: Ps. 84; 148 Evening: Ps. 25; 40 Isa. 24:14–23 1 Peter 3:13–4:6 Matt. 20:17–28 Saturday, December 2 Morning: Ps. 63; 149 Evening: Ps. 125; 90 Micah 7:11–20 1 Peter 4:7–19 Matt. 20:29–34 Sunday, December 3 1st Sunday of Advent Morning: Ps. 24; 150 Evening: Ps. 25; 110 Amos 1:1–5, 13–2:8 1 Thess. 5:1–11 Luke 21:5–19 Monday, December 4 Morning: Ps. 122; 145 Evening: Ps. 40; 67 Amos 2:6–16 2 Peter 1:1–11 Matt. 21:1–11 Tuesday, December 5 Morning: Ps. 33; 146 Evening: Ps. 85; 94 Amos 3:1–11 2 Peter 1:12–21 Matt. 21:12–22 Wednesday, December 6 Morning: Ps. 50; 147:1–11 Evening: Ps. 53; 17 Amos 3:12–4:5 2 Peter 3:1–10 Matt. 21:23–32 Thursday, December 7 Morning: Ps. 18:1–20; 147:12–20 Evening: Ps. 126; 62 Amos 4:6–13 2 Peter 3:11–18 Matt. 21:33–46 Friday, December 8 Morning: Ps. 102; 148 Evening: Ps. 130; 16 Amos 5:1–17 Jude 1–16 Matt. 22:1–14

December 2017 Devotional Calendar

Saturday, December 9 Morning: Ps. 90; 149 Evening: Ps. 80; 72 Amos 5:18–27 Jude 17–25 Matt. 22:15–22 Sunday, December 10 2nd Sunday of Advent Morning: Ps. 24; 150 Evening: Ps. 25; 110 Amos 6:1–14 Luke 1:57–68 2 Thess. 1:5–12 Monday, December 11 Morning: Ps. 122; 145 Evening: Ps. 40; 67 Amos 7:1–9 Rev. 1:1–8 Matt. 22:23–33 Tuesday, December 12 Morning: Ps. 33; 146 Evening: Ps. 85; 94 Amos 7:10–17 Rev. 1:9–16 Matt. 22:34–46 Wednesday, December 13 Morning: Ps. 50; 147:1–11 Evening: Ps. 53; 17 Amos 8:1–14 Rev. 1:17–2:7 Matt. 23:1–12 Thursday, December 14 Morning: Ps. 18:1–20; 147:12–20 Evening: Ps. 126; 62 Amos 9:1–10 Rev. 2:8–17 Matt. 23:13–26 Friday, December 15 Morning: Ps. 102; 148 Evening: Ps. 130; 16 Hag. 1:1–15 Rev. 2:18–29 Matt. 23:27–39 Saturday, December 16 Morning: Ps. 90; 149 Evening: Ps. 80; 72 Hag. 2:1–9 Rev. 3:1–6 Matt. 24:1–14

Sunday, December 17 3rd Sunday of Advent Morning: Ps. 24; 150 Evening: Ps. 25; 110 Amos 9:11–15 2 Thess. 2:1–3, 13–17 John 5:30–47 Monday, December 18 Morning: Ps. 122; 145 Evening: Ps. 40; 67 Gen. 3:8–15 Rev. 12:1–10 John 3:16–21 Tuesday, December 19 Morning: Ps. 33; 146 Evening: Ps. 85; 94 Zeph. 3:14–20 Titus 1:1–16 Luke 1:1–25 Wednesday, December 20 Morning: Ps. 50; 147:1–11 Evening: Ps 53; 17 1 Sam. 2:1b–10 Titus 2:1–10 Luke 1:26–36 Thursday, December 21 Morning: Ps. 18:1–20; 147:12–20 Evening: Ps. 126; 62 2 Sam. 7:1–17 Titus 2:11–3:8a Luke 1:39–48a (48b–56) Friday, December 22 Morning: Ps. 102; 148 Evening: Ps. 130; 16 2 Sam. 7:18–29 Gal. 3:1–14 Luke 1:57–66 Saturday, December 23 Morning: Ps. 90; 149 Evening: Ps. 80; 72 Jer. 31:10–14 Gal. 3:15–22 Luke 1:67–80 or Matt.1:1–17 Sunday, December 24 4th Sunday of Advent Morning: Ps. 24; 150 Evening: Ps. 25; 110 Isa. 60:1–6 Gal. 3:23–4:7 Matt. 1:18–25

Monday, December 25 Nativity of Jesus Christ / Christmas Day Morning: Ps. 2; 145 Evening: Ps. 98; 96 Micah 4:1–5; 5:2–4 1 John 4:7–16 John 3:31–36 Tuesday, December 26 Morning: Ps. 116; 146 Evening: Ps. 119:1–24; 27 2 Chron. 24:17–22 Acts 6:1–7 Acts 7:59–8:8 Wednesday, December 27 Morning: Ps. 34; 147:1–11 Evening: Ps. 19; 121 Prov. 8:22–30 1 John 5:1–12 John 13:20–35 Thursday, December 28 Morning: Ps. 2; 147:12–20 Evening: Ps. 110; 111 Isa. 49:13–23 Isa. 54:1–13 Matt. 18:1–14 Friday, December 29 Morning: Ps. 96; 148 Evening: Ps. 132; 97 2 Sam. 23:13–17b 2 John 1–13 John 2:1–11 Saturday, December 30 Morning: Ps. 93; 149 Evening: Ps. 89 1 Kings 17:17–24 3 John 1–15 John 4:46–54 Sunday, December 31 1st Sunday after Christmas Morning: Ps. 98; 150 Evening: Ps. 45; 96 1 Sam. 1:1–2, 7b–28 Col. 1:9–20 Luke 2:22–40

Children’s Church List

Date Name

12/3/17 TBA

12/10/17 Charlie Lane

12/17/17 Garrett and Blythe Wilcox

12/24/17 TBA

12/31/17 Charlie Lane

PAGE 6 THE NEWSLETTER

Publication Deadlines:

Articles for The Newsletter are due by 2:00 pm on the

Wednesday before the publication date. The next

Newsletter will be published on

December 22, 2017

Bulletin Insert information is due by 1:00 pm on

Wednesdays

Email: vpcoffice@bellsouth.net or call Jody at 537-3500

November budget needs -

$12,468.00.

November budget received

- $16,898.00

Nov. 5 $ 3,377.00

Nov. 12 $ 3,055.00

Nov. 19 $ 7,401.00

Nov. 26 $ 3,065.00

Congratulations to all of you who are celebrating birthdays and anniversaries this month. May God bless you on your special day.

Surprise someone you may not know very well and send them a card.

If your birthday or anniversary is not listed or is incorrect, please let the church office know.

-Your Church Family

Larry McDonald 1 Ethan Davis 1

Lettie McArthur 3 Sarah Foerster 3

Charles Page 4 Mary Ann Wade 4

Tommy Branch 8 Lisa Davis 8

Don Weber 8 Avery Kate Montford 10

Gail Durden 13 Rose Anne Holman 17

Natalie Parker 17 Bea Daniloff 18

Tom McArthur 18 Judith Smelser 21

Patrick Arnette 22 Carol Rice 23

Karen Mobley 24 Mary Stanley 27

Regan Morgan Foley 27 Vicki Mixon 27

Frances Price 29 Nell Adams 31

Mike & Cheri Jones 8th 44 years

Garrett & Blythe Wilcox 14th 17 years

Mike & Dianne Holland 27th 47 years

Don & Lyn Weber 30th 55 years

Jack & Jessica Downie 31st 2 years

PAGE 7 VOLUME 124, ISSUE 12 Take your calendar out and place on your refrigerator

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PAID

VIDALIA, GEORGIA

PERMIT NO. 88

400 Church Street Vidalia, Georgia 30474 Phone: 912-537-3500

Fax: 912-537-8252 E-mail:

vpcoffice@bellsouth.net Web Address:

www.vidaliapres.org

V IDALIA PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH

RETURN SERVICES REQUESTED

You are invited to join Vidalia Presbyterian Church as its Choir lends soaring voices to beloved songs of the season and stories of Jesus’ birth in its

Christmas Cantata

December 17, 2017 at 11:00 am during the Morning Worship Service .