New Castle Presbyterian Church October 2023 Newsletter |
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND JOIN US IN-PERSON FOR: Hybrid Worship Every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 4 at 6:00pm - Blessing of the Animals
Thursday, October 5 at 11 a.m. - Friendship House Clothing Drive Pick-Up Sunday, October 8 and 29 - Bible Presentations during Sunday Worship Sunday, October 29 - NCPC Fall Fest: Chili Cook-off and Pumpkin Party |
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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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BIBLE PRESENTATIONS When we baptize our children, we promise to guide and nurture them, encouraging them to know and follow Christ. So, when they reach later elementary school, we present them with a copy of a storybook Bible. Join us on Sunday, October 8, as we present Growing in God's Love to Maisy Turnbull, Olivia Viola, and Jackson Walter, and on Sunday, October 29, to Liam Collins. |
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PUMPKIN PARTY - SUN, OCT. 29 Put on your costumes and join us October 29th for our Pumpkin Party! Join us for worship at 10:30 a.m.; children of all ages will head over to the Fellowship Hall around 10:50 a.m. for story and craft time with our Christian Education volunteers. During coffee hour, parents and children can play games, and ALL church members will be invited to participate in our mini Halloween parade. |
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The Pumpkin Party will be held alongside our Chili Cook-off, so lunch will be provided for all ages (we will have some non-chili options as well). Guests are invited to bring toiletries and other donations for our Seaman Center's Ditty box collection. |
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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 if you have any questions. |
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YOUNG-ISH WOMEN'S GATHERING We're launching a fellowship group this fall for women between the ages of ~25 and 50. Our next gathering will be later this month. 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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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 kicks off Sunday, October 29, as we explore 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 Nov. 5 and participating in Pledge Sunday on Nov. 12. |
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Minerva Lermond's 25 Year Celebration on September 17 |
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CONGREGATIONAL LIFE COMMITTEE |
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BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS - OCT 4 Good Doggie, Kitty, Fishy, Ground Hoggie! On Wednesday, October 4th (St. Francis of Assisi Day) at 6pm, we will have a Blessing of the Animals event outside of the CE Building. Creatures of all shapes and sizes are welcome. If your pet doesn't travel well or play well with others, bring their picture or one of their accessories to be blessed. And feel free to invite one of your pet's friends as everyone would benefit from a blessing! |
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FALL FEST: CHILI COOK-OFF Chili fest is back again on October 29th during coffee hour! Come one, come all and bring your favorite crockpot of chili to share with everyone. A sign-up sheet is located on the rolling bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall. Hope to see you all for some fall fun! Contact Jennifer Dunham with any questions. |
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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 NOW! 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. Full size items are preferred and we'll collect things all during the month of October. |
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GUATEMALAN PRAYER PARTNERS More than a decade ago, a Prayer Partnership program was initiated. The premise is simple. One person from the U.S. is paired with one person from Guatemala. Partners exchange photos of each other and promise to pray for each other every day. That’s it! No letters, no emails, no gifts are exchanged. Just the powerful act of prayer. The response has been truly moving, with more than 400 people participating to date (including many of you reading this today). |
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Currently, there are a number of Guatemalans (women especially) who are waiting to be paired with a prayer partner in the U.S. We will be traveling down in November and hope to make a few more matches. You will see by our personal testimonies below, this program is really easy and extremely meaningful. Anyone over the age of 18 can participate! Please let us know by October 15 if you are interested and we will get you all set up. |
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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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The Trustees would like to share some of the projects that have been completed over the past 12 months and some things being considered now. Note, this is a partial list. |
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Completed projects include: Manse: in addition to other smaller actions, the basement walls, floors, and ceiling were HEPA vacuumed and cleaned; a new floor, range, microwave, and storage areas were added to the kitchen, uneven area in brick pathway to manse was leveled Meeting House and CE Building: new Anaconda Fire Protection/Alarm system added Meeting House ac condensers pads were replaced and leveled CE Building: floors stripped and waxed, gutters hand cleaned and tree growing in gutter was removed Churchyard Grounds: Zelkova tree thinned, Spotted Lanternfly suppression treatments applied, heavy English Ivy on fence behind CE Building removed after discussions by Read House (Delaware Historical Society) Cemetery Grounds: heavy Kudzu vines on fence removed after discussions by Medori Company
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Current projects include: Improving exit and pathway lighting during evening/early morning hours. Addressing the Meeting House basement entrance water and door issue. Prioritizing major improvements.
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CEMETERY CLEANUP DAY Join us on Saturday, October 28th from 10 to 12. Everyone is invited to come and lend a hand. There might be some bulb planting involved. Bring a rake, gloves, and dress for the weather. Coffee and trash bags will be provided. |
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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, October 6. Boxes of mix are available in the church kitchen. Thank you! |
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WELCOME NEWEST ADDITION! On September 5 Philip James Marley came into the world! |
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DIRECTORY UPDATES Please send any changes of email, phone or address to the church office. Kris will be printing new directories at the end of October. |
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