New Castle Presbyterian Church October 2024 Newsletter |
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We will be updating the Directory this month. Please send us any updates to your address, email, phone, etc. |
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND JOIN US IN-PERSON FOR:
Hybrid Worship Every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, October 6 - World Communion Sunday Young(ish) Womens Gathering from 12-2
Sunday, October 20 - All-Ages Sunday School (12-1) and Youth Group (12-2) Monday, October 21 - Men's Gathering @ Iron Hill Brewery Saturday, October 26 - Cemetery Cleanup from 9-12 Sunday, October 27 - Fall Fest during Coffee Hour |
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Click below for September Highlights |
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SUNDAY MORNING LEADERSHIP We are in need of ushers and worship leaders throughout October and November!
Take a moment to check your calendars and to sign up today. |
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BIBLE STUDY WITH THE PASTOR Gather on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall with Pastor Miriam for a weekly Bible Study. We'll read and discuss the upcoming Sunday's Scripture passages. No need to RSVP; come and join the conversation! |
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WORLD COMMUNION SPECIAL OFFERING – OCTOBER 6 Join us in worship October 6 as we celebrate World Communion Sunday, recognizing our oneness in Christ with our siblings around the world. We will collect our Peace and Global Witness Offering, which encourages the church to cast off anxiety and fear and embrace God’s mission of reconciliation to those around the corner and around the world. Learn more about this offering here: https://specialofferings.pcusa.org/offering/peace-global-witness/ |
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE |
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SUNDAY SCHOOL & NURSERY In Sunday School this Fall, we are studying the brave men and women of the Old Testament. The children are learning about these incredible people through music, games, crafts, and stories. Don’t miss out on all the excitement as we read God’s word and learn how we, too, can be brave. Sunday School and Nursery |
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registration forms are available to fill out Sunday morning and on our website. If you’re interested in serving as a Nursery volunteer, please contact Molly Shaw. If you’re interested in serving as a Sunday School volunteer, please contact Melissa Boris. |
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ALL AGES SUNDAY SCHOOL - OCT 20 Every Third Sunday from 12-1, we'll offer Sunday School for all ages in the Fellowship Hall! On October 20, we'll see how dogs can teach us new tricks! We'll share lunch together, watch the episode Keepy Uppy, and explore how Scripture teaches us to work, play, and live together. Come learn, PLAY, and grow in God's love! November 17 - The Gospel According to Bluey December 15 - Advent Programming |
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NCPC YOUTH GROUP - OCTOBER 20 from 12-2 Hey middle and high school youth! On October 20, Greg and Susan Fogarty will host us for a campfire lunch, then we’ll head to Battery Park to do some trash pick-up and talk about how we care for God's creation. If you are a youth or know a youth interested in participating, contact Pastor Miriam or Melissa Boris to learn more. Additionally, if you're interested in volunteering and supporting the youth group, let the CE Committee know. |
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FALL FEST Mark your calendars! The NCPC Fall Fest will be on Sunday October 27th following the service. Children are encouraged to wear their costumes and participate in the costume parade, crafts, and games. Come for fun, food, and fellowship as we celebrate this beautiful harvest season and all of God’s blessings this year. |
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FALL BOOK DISCUSSION We're planning a Fall Book Discussion on Debie Thomas' A Faith of Many Rooms: Inhabiting a More Spacious Christianity. On October 30th at 3 p.m. we will meet in the Fellowship Hall for our book discussion. Depending on the size of the group, we may decide to have "small table" discussions to enable everyone a chance to share their thoughts. |
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Refreshments will be provided. Please let Pastor Miriam know if you plan to attend. Author Debie Thomas is a writer, journalist, and contributing editor for The Christian Century. She is a self-proclaimed "Writer, Seeker, Wonderer." To learn more, you can go to her website www.debiethomas.com as well as listening to YouTube live interviews. A question for possible discussion: "What sort of ruptures and revisions would it take to find a more spacious faith and then inhabit it with authenticity and joy?" |
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CONGREGATIONAL LIFE COMMITTEE |
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FALL CHILI FEST Chili fest is back again on October 27th 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! |
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The City of New Castle has talent galore! Plan on coming to the next Open Mic on October 20 @ 6:00pm and hear it for yourself! |
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NCPC MEN'S GROUP Men's Group will meet for food and fellowship at Iron Hill Brewery on the Riverfront in Wilmington on Monday, October 21 at 7:00. Come join the conversation! Please RSVP to Steven Foltz to share ideas and get involved. All ages are invited to attend. |
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Father Shannon Kearns We welcomed guest preacher Father Shannon TL Kearns last month as he helped us breathe God's message of resurrection hope in Ezekiel 37. He shared his wisdom and perspective as a transgender pastor, theologian, scholar, and writer. If you'd like to learn more from Father Shannon, check out his podcast, Queer Theology, and his writings! |
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M&O CLOTHING DRIVE IN SEPTEMBER September marks our popular annual clothing drive for Friendship House. Refresh your life (and your closets!) by donating your new or gently used, clean clothing and school uniforms to Friendship House. Donations can be brought to the church and left in the second room on the right on the second floor of the CE building, or if that's difficult, in the entryway. |
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We'll collect donations through October 9. The Friendship House van will come October 10 at 11am. If you would like to help load the van please let Scott Selheimer know. |
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Women plant 15,000 trees in Guatemala By Carol and Bruce Shumway, Trinity Presbyterian Church One morning about two weeks ago, board members of the Association set out from the office at 5:30 am to begin a massive endeavor: deliver 15,000 tree saplings to five groups of women in nearby communities. Each woman was then responsible for planting the 125 trees she received near her home. These women are learning to become true arborists and serve as reminders that we are all called to be environmental stewards within our communities. |
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Guatemala, “The Land of Eternal Spring,” is also know as the “Land of Trees.” Thirty-five percent of the country is covered by forests that foster a very diverse ecosystem. Having visited Guatemala and climbed to 10,000 feet elevation to witness the restoration of forest land first-hand, we have been inspired to encourage our church to continue to fund this environmental stewardship project. Reforestation is essential to Guatemala and all of Central America as forests continue to disappear due to clearing for agriculture, firewood supply, population expansion, and climate change.
Thanks to the support of Trinity Presbyterian Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church this project continues year after year and is literally putting down roots to help reforest the Western Highlands of Guatemala. Both congregations are committed to promoting environmental justice and stewardship around the globe. This partnership is grateful for their ongoing support.
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Do You Know the Bible? Women Flourish Reading the Bible with New Eyes In this year 2024, the Association of Mam Christian Women for Development offered a new course to its members called Knowing the Bible. We started with our first group of 20 women who came from many different villages. This four-part diploma course is taught by our partner CEDEPCA and begins with a class called Introduction to the Bible. |
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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 Coordinator. | | |
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GIFTS OF LOVE In Romans 12:13, Paul urges us to "Share with God's people who are in need”. Thanks to all of you for the Christian love you've shown for your neighbors-in-need. With your generous giving in August, we raised an additional $740 bringing our 2024 contributions to $3,140. (Amazing!) This has been a difficult year for many of our neighbors and for the organizations that help them. Many organizations have seen their treasuries depleted. As you know, we collaborate with the St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVdP) of St. Peter's Catholic Church and they too have come very close to being out of funds. They are no longer able to offer rental/mortgage assistance and are limiting utility grants to $150. SVdP is very thankful for NCPC support and they are grateful that we are part of the community of good neighbors. The food pantry continues to operate with the generous donations from the St. Peter's community, NCPC and others. |
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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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RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE NEWS |
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Membership The Resource Development Committee is looking for one (or more!!) members to join RD as a "member at large." Are you interested in the budget? Policies? The inner workings of the church staff? Resource Development is for you! Please reach out to Peter McCurdy if you are interested and / or if you have any questions! |
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DEACONS NEWS & MEMBER UPDATES |
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BROWNIES We are grateful for all of the devoted brownie bakers who month after month bake brownies for the Emmanuel Dining Hall. If you are not a baker, but would like to help, consider buying a box or two of brownies when grocery shopping. (They are frequently on sale) The purchased brownies can be placed in the cabinet by the refrigerators. (We make 12 boxes of brownies each month.) |
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KITCHEN UPDATE If you are putting food/drink items in the kitchen, please label what event they are being used for and the date of the event. Please take leftovers from coffee hours and other meetings, etc. back home or offer them to the congregation. |
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The Deacons have provided sandwich and zip lock bags if they are needed. We are trying to keep counters clear of all food items to avoid unwanted "critters" and refrigerators clear of expired foods. |
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DIETARY NEEDS If you have special dietary requirements, please let a deacon know. We will keep food items that are gluten free, sugar free, and non-dairy in stock. |
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TRUSTEE UPDATE Enhancements and Upcoming Opportunities to Help |
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The NCPC Trustees have been hard at work making important repairs and improvements across our historic campus. Here’s a brief update on what’s been accomplished recently and how you can lend a hand in the coming weeks! Save the Date: Grounds Clean-Up Days! We are organizing two upcoming opportunities to help spruce up our beautiful church grounds. Mark your calendars for these important dates: Cemetery Clean-Up: Saturday, October 26 Church yard Clean-Up: Saturday, December 7
For both events, please bring work gloves, rakes, and safety glasses if you have them. We will provide leaf bags, along with coffee and donuts to keep you fueled! Rain dates will be announced as needed. Recent Repairs and Enhancements CE Building We are exploring options to upgrade the thermostats in the CE Building, as the current ones are outdated and difficult to program or override. The ceiling lights in the Trustees' office (2nd floor), as well as Kris' office, have been repaired.
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Meeting House The sound system has been upgraded by John Denzel, and Gary Graham will be offering training to those who need to know how to operate and adjust the new system. The heater has been repaired, with a new ignition board and hot surface igniter, and a new burner has been ordered.
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Anaconda Alarm System On September 4, Anaconda completed an inspection and battery replacement, which should last for the next 1.5 to 2 years. |
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That’s all for now! We hope you’ll join us for one (or both) of our upcoming clean-up days to help care for our church grounds. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to any of the Trustees - we’re always happy to connect! |
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MEMBER UPDATES Dean & Lynn MacEwen's service will be held on Saturday, October 19 @11:00am at Westminster Presbyterian, 1502 W. 13th St., Wilmington, DE 19806. |
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