New Castle Presbyterian Church December 2023 Newsletter |
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND JOIN US IN-PERSON FOR: Hybrid Worship Every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 9 - Spirit of Christmas, more information at www.SpiritofChristmasDE.com Sunday, December 10 - Congregational Meeting Thursday, December 14 - Advent Book Discussion
Wednesday, December 20 - Longest Night Service Friday, December 22 - New Castle Caroling
Sunday, December 24 - Christmas Eve Services |
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WORSHIP & RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES |
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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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CALLED CONGREGATIONAL MEETING The Session has called a Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday, Dec. 10, for the purpose of reviewing the 2024 Budget as approved by Session at their December meeting and to vote on the pastor’s terms of call for next year. The meeting will begin at the conclusion of worship; copies of the docket and budget will be available. |
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CHRISTMAS EVE POINSETTIAS For our Christmas Eve service, the Meeting House will be decorated with poinsettias. Donate a poinsettia for $15 in memory or in honor of a loved one by returning the order form to the Church Office by Monday, Dec. 11. | | |
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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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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE |
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ADVENT WREATH LIGHTING NCPC children between the ages of 2 and 5th grade are invited to lead worship on Sunday, December 10, by singing and signing a song for the Advent Candle Lighting. Join us in the Fellowship Hall at 10 a.m. on December 10 to rehearse together. After we light the Advent Candle during the Call to Worship, they will return to sit with their families. Please RSVP or reply with any questions to our CE Committee member, Stephanie Foltz. |
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SUNDAY SCHOOL & NURSERY Sunday School and Nursery will be offered through the Advent season but be on hiatus on December 24 or 31. As we begin a new year of learning on January 7, we are iin need of volunteers 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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ADVENT DEVOTIONAL + BOOK STUDY WITH THE PASTOR Our Advent devotionals – In Light and Darkness – come in both adult booklet and family packet form (complete with shadow box storytelling supplies!) Pick up your copy in the CE Building entryway now. |
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During Advent, to accompany our devotional, we’ll be reading Barbara Brown Taylor’s Learning to Walk in the Dark, and gather for a discussion on Thursday, Dec. 14 from 2-4 p.m. at Connie Reese’s house. Please RSVP to Connie or Conchita Showell by December 10. |
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CONGREGATIONAL LIFE COMMITTEE |
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SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS Please help NCPC welcome guests and support Friendship House this Saturday. Volunteer your time for a shift to sell soups, bread, and other treats. Volunteer your time for a shift at the free cookie table. Show off your cooking talents by making soups and/or breads and/or cookies. Soup containers, bread bags and labels are in the kitchen. Sign up on the posted sheets in the CE Building. And come and enjoy the music in our Meeting House and the other activities and open houses throughout the town. The Spirit of Christmas has a new website at https://www.SpiritOfChristmasDE.com for all the up-to-date event happenings! |
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CAROLING IN NEW CASTLE Join us on Friday, December 22nd at 7pm for caroling around Old New Castle; we’ll begin to walk from the CE Building. We’ll provide sheet music, but please bring a flashlight. Christmas lights and other festive attire is encouraged! Come back to the Mayhews home for refreshments at around 8:00pm. You are welcome to come even if you don't participate in the caroling! |
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YOUNG-ISH WOMEN'S GATHERING Our fellowship group for women between the ages of ~25 and 50 will gather next on Sunday, January 7 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. Childcare can be available; RSVP to Pastor Miriam for more information. |
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GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP NCPC will offer a six-week grief support group this winter. Beginning on Tuesday, January 9 and running through February 13, gather in the library at 2 p.m. with Minerva Lermond and Toni Marley to discuss Your Particular Grief (Oates). Some copies will be available for purchase from the church office, or order your copy here. If you are struggling with grief, but can't attend the in-person sessions, go ahead and read the book, then reach out to Pastor Miriam or a Deacon for further assistance. |
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JANUARY 21 SPEAKER ON SUICIDE AWARENESS Mark your calendars for a Coffee Hour talk on January 21 by New Castle resident Leah Reynolds. Beyond her day job running Kennett Area Community Service, Leah is a passionate campaigner for suicide prevention, awareness, and change. Recognizing the intersectionality of suicide, we will provide information about different resources in our area. In Christ's name, we are called to remove the stigma around mental illness and addiction, encouraging compassionate support for individuals and their families. This event is co-sponsored by the Deacons and Congregational Life.
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COVENANT CONVERSATION Over 70 folks from around the Presbytery - and six folks (and a a baby) from NCPC - gathered at the Presbyterian Church of Dover on November 11 for worship, education and the celebration of LGBTQ+ leadership in our Presbytery. Reach out to Pastor Miriam if you'd like to be involved in our ongoing ministry of inclusion and allyship. |
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GUATEMALA FUEL-EFFICIENT STOVES A HOT COMMODITY! Many of us will prepare holiday feasts standing at a fancy stove-top, with double ovens and microwaves at the ready. But for many people around the world, their cooking reality is an open fire on a dirt floor and a smoke-filled kitchen. This Christmas, please consider giving the gift of a fuel-efficient stove to an indigenous family in Guatemala. |
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These new stoves are great because they: Are cost-effective and use far less wood Reduce respiratory and eye diseases caused by smoke Eliminate the risk of young children contacting open flames Offer a comfortable working height for women Serve as a table for families to eat together on cold mornings Often provide the only source of heat in the home Are manufactured in Guatemala, by Guatemalans, using local materials
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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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DITTY BOXES SHIPPED OFF TO SEAMAN'S CENTER Boxes filled with much needed personal supplies like toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, deodorant, socks, gloves and much more were filled and delivered to the Port of Wilmington's Seaman's Center in November. Along with the filled boxes, additional items were donated to the center, which holds wrapping parties through out the month to fill more boxes. All of them will be delivered to the sailors who come into port for sometimes the only Christmas they may have during months at sea. Thank you to the many hands who made light of the tasks, and also to those of you who dropped off your generous donations! |
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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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CEMETERY CLEAN UP On October 28th, a small but mighty group of church members did a spruce up of the New Castle Presbyterian Church Cemetery on Umbrella Row. There was leaf raking and bagging, bulb planting, schrub pruning, vine removal, coffee and water drinking, and donut enjoying. Thanks for all those who helped out in this special way. A few participants are photographed below. |
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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 Friday, January 5. Boxes of mix are available iin the church kitchen. Thank you! |
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DECEMBER 3 – HOLIDAY COOKIE KICK-OFF There was fun and fellowship during coffee hour last Sunday as we decorated hundreds of Christmas Cookies for the Emmanuel Dining Room! Many thanks to all of our fabulous decorators! |
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WELCOME TO MICAH FOLTZ Micah, son of Pastor Miriam and Steven Foltz was baptized by Rev. Miriam Lawrence Leupold (his great aunt) on Sunday, November 19. Welcome, Micah, to the family of God! |
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WELCOME, CHILD OF GOD! Congratulations to Dave and Rachel Handy-Hayes and big sister Nora on the arrival of Charlotte Elizabeth Hayes! Charlotte was born on November 29, and the whole family is doing well. Welcome, beloved child of God! |
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