New Castle Presbyterian Church November 2023 Newsletter |
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND JOIN US IN-PERSON FOR: Hybrid Worship Every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, November 5 - All Saints' Sunday and Communion
After worship: Stewardship Presentation, Seaman Center Ditty Box assembly,
and Young-ish Women's Gathering
Sunday, November 12 - Stewardship Sunday Sunday, November 19 - Celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism
Thursday, November 23 - Bountiful Bagel Breakfast Sunday, November 26 - First Sunday of Advent |
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WORSHIP & RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES |
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SUNDAY MORNING LEADERSHIP We are in need of ushers and worship leaders throughout this Fall. Take a moment to sign up today! Coffee Hour fellowship resumed on Sept. 10, so we’re in need of volunteers for First Sunday coffee hours.
Sign up in the Fellowship Hall! |
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STEWARDSHIP SEASON Our Stewardship Season kicked off Sunday, October 29, as we explored the many gifts we have been given. What gifts of time, talent, and treasures, has God blessed us with? Join us in learning what gifts members of our congregation have discovered throughout their life. Mark your calendars for our Stewardship Report after worship on November 5 and participating in Pledge Sunday on November 12. |
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ALL SAINT'S DAY During Sunday worship on November 5, we'll celebrate the saints who died this past year and hold fast to the hope of Christ's resurrection. We'll collect name submissions via paper slips on Sunday morning, but if you'd like to share names ahead of time or can't be present with us in worship, use the link below to submit names. We'll include them during our worship service that morning. | | |
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THE SEASON OF ADVENT Our Advent Devotionals will be available in mid-November, with both an interactive family version and an adult version. As we explore Scripture's imagery of holy light and sacred darkness, we'll gather for a book discussion in mid-December of Barbara Brown Taylor's - Learning to Walk in the Dark. |
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SPECIAL SEASONAL SERVICES We’ll gather for our Longest Night Service on Wednesday, December 20 at 7 p.m. Our Christmas Eve services (on a Sunday!) will be a 10:30 a.m. Family Service and a 7 p.m. Traditional Service. We look forward to welcoming the Christ Child together this season! |
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE |
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SUNDAY SCHOOL & NURSERY Sunday School and Nursery care has resumed. We are in need of volunteers for the months of November and December so we can continue to offer this programming! If you are interested in volunteering, please contact: For Sunday School: Melissa Boris & Stephanie Foltz For Nursery: Molly Shaw |
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PUMPKIN PARTY PICS: CLICK FOR THE SLIDESHOW! |
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BIBLE PRESENTATIONS
Congratulations to our elementary-aged students who received their Growing in God's Love, Story Bibles, this month - Griff Anderson, Liam Collins, Maisy Turnbull, Olivia Viola, and Jackson Walter. |
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BIBLE STUDY WITH THE PASTOR Our weekly Bible Study gathers on Wednesday at 2 p.m. in person in the Fellowship Hall. This fall, we are studying the lectionary passage for the upcoming Sunday. Reach out to Pastor Miriam for more information. |
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YOUNG-ISH WOMEN'S GATHERING We've started a fellowship group this fall for women between the ages of ~25 and 50. Our next gathering will be Sunday, November 5 after coffee hour. Let Pastor Miriam know if you're able to attend or would like to be included on the list for future gatherings. |
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CONGREGATIONAL LIFE COMMITTEE |
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THANKSGIVING MORNING AT NCPC Gather with NCPC on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 23 at 8am for bagels, coffee, and a short devotional time together as we give thanks for God's many blessings. We'll gather in the Fellowship Hall, and all are welcome! Signup in the Fellowship Hall bulletin board. Any questions, contact Miranda Matthews at thecatmagnet@yahoo.com |
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SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS In October, NCPC members met to begin planning our Fellowship Hall happenings for Spirit of Christmas on Saturday, December 9, in support of Friendship House.
Sign up sheets are posted in the Fellowship Hall for before-hand opportunities (baking bread, making soup, decorating), as well as day-of opportunities (greeters, servers, etc.). Help us extend Christ-like hospitality and support Friendship House's mission that our neighbors would find a way home this season. Mark your calendar for Saturday, December 9! The Spirit of Christmas has a new separate site at https://www.SpiritOfChristmasDE.com for all the up-to-date event happenings! |
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Members of New Castle Presbytery are organizing a "Covenant Conversation" event to support the people and congregations of New Castle Presbytery as they seek to become more authentic and creative in their welcome, affirmation and support of LGBTQIA+ people. The date has been set for Saturday, November 11, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Presbyterian Church of Dover! If you are interested in attending, let Pastor Miriam know and sign up here today. |
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MISSION AND OUTREACH COMMITTEE |
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MEALS ON WHEELS One week each month, NCPC volunteers deliver meals to our homebound neighbors. The route takes about 60-75 minutes and covers just the New Castle area. We are looking for a few additional volunteers to deliver meals one day a month or on a substitute basis. Please give this volunteer opportunity your prayerful consideration; together, we get to do Christ's work of feeding and visiting our homebound neighbors. If you want more information, please contact me at 302-328-7346 or email me at suzieflook@hotmail.com. Thank you! - Susan Flook, Meals on Wheels Coord. |
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CHRISTMAS AT SEA – DONATE BY NOVEMBER 5! Our annual Christmas at Sea program provides seafarers with a shoe box filled with essential gifts. The gifts provided to them by the Seamen's Center are often the only reminder to those who are at sea, away from family and friends, that others care about the important job they do. You can help by filling a shoe box at home or donating some of these needed items: |
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Knitted hats and scarves, toothpaste and toothbrushes, combs, razors, deodorant, shampoo, playing cards, chapstick, cough drops, hand lotion, sewing kits, hard candy (no chocolate), soap, stationary, pens, socks, gloves You can fill a box at home or drop donations off in the boxes in the entry of the CE Building M-F until noon. We'll assemble the boxes at the end of Coffee Hour on November 5. |
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A CHILD NEEDS YOU! Our mentoring program with local schools was put on hold during the pandemic, but we're gearing up to get started again this fall. Creative Mentoring provides the needed training for you to make a difference in a child's life. |
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Mentoring involves only half an hour to an hour once a week with a child who may be in need of only a caring adult to listen, play games, talk to or help with school work or organizational skills. This is not tutoring, it's more of an opportunity for a child to connect with a caring adult. |
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If you are interested in becoming a mentor, email Candy Dunson. If we have 3 or more new mentors, we can arrange for the training to be done as a group at our church. |
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EPIPHANY HOUSE DINNER SIGN-UP Epiphany House (722 N Union St.) is one of Friendship House's transitional homes for women. NCPC provides a dinner on the second Thursday each month. Two volunteers are asked to arrive with food at 5 and plan to stay for the meal. Dinner is over by 6, and residents clean up! For meal inspiration and dates, the sign up sheet is in the Fellowship Hall. Contact Scott Selheimer with any questions. |
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CLOTHING DRIVE Friendship House picked up over 100 bags of clothing donated by the congregation for their clothing bank in October. |
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DEACONS NEWS & MEMBER UPDATES |
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BROWNIES Open call for brownie bakers for Emmanuel Dining Room! Ten batches of brownies needed in the church’s freezer by Monday, November 6. Boxes of mix are available in the church kitchen. Thank you! |
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MEMBER UPDATES Congrats to Laurie Bell for completing her medical assistant degree. Many prayers as she begins a new job! |
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