PASTOR’S PEN . . .
by Pastor Dave Templin

“Money, Money, Money…” goes the ABBA song.  We have a kind of love-hate relationship with money.  We work hard to get (more of) it.  All the while we grumble about our job and the extra effort demanded if we are to get ahead.  We will even go so far as to steal time from family, friends, and even our own health (rest and re-creation) in our dash for the cash.  We dream of life on “Easy Street.”  Only “Easy Street” seems always to be a couple more streets over.  We tire of the rat-race even while we can’t seem to bring ourselves to give it up.
 (continued)

by Kurt Imbach

It was early on a Thursday morning, and I was calmly sitting there, minding my own business, mildly connecting with the Men’s Bible Study, when I was forcibly struck with a powerful thought. 

We were discussing Matthew 18:10-14 and though we did not spend much time discussing it, I couldn’t wriggle away from the intense concern of the shepherd for the one sheep that got lost.  There were 99 that were safe, appreciated and probably well cared for, but one strayed away and just had to be found.  So the shepherd left the 99 and searched until he found it.  He was ecstatic!  Luke 15 tells the same story adding a lost coin and a lost son, and even more detail about the wild, rejoicing celebration of recovery.  (continued)

Youth News From Justin . . .
by Justin Ross

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervitisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist ans lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae.  The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.  Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

 (continued)

Stephen Ministry Needs YOU!

At age 28, John thought of himself as invincible.  A former high school football player, he was enjoying life as a healthy, single man with a good-paying job.  Everything seemed to be going well for him.  However, over the course of just three years, it all eroded away.  He lost his job, developed a serious illness, lost his father to a heart attack, and had to place his mother in a nursing home.  "Things had been going so well, but the rug was pulled out from under me.  Not just once, but again and again.  I felt like there was a big hole in my life," John recalled.   (continued)
 

Christmas Eve
Family Service—5:00 P.M.
Traditional Service —9:00 P.M.
(Both services are candlelight communion services)

Christmas Day
10:00 A.M.  (Single service)

New Year’s Day
10:00 A.M.  (Single service)

You are invited to join us in worship as we celebrate our Savior’s birth

The church office will be closed on Dec. 26, 27, 28 and Jan. 2 in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
 

Christmas is coming and so is the opportunity for each of us to make it a joyous event for the children of five families in our community who will receive very little if anything without our help.  Gift requests will be attached to decoration balls (yours to keep) on the little tree at the back of the church.  Please plan to have the gifts wrapped and returned to the Blue House by Friday, Dec. 16, to allow us time to distribute them in time for Christmas Day.  Questions should be directed to Bob M. or the church office.
 

The Christmas Joy offering will be received on Dec. 18.  This special offering supports assistance programs for church workers and families with specific needs within the Presbyterian Church.  The offering also goes to Presbyterian-related ethnic schools and colleges.
 

Plan to attend our annual Christmas program on
December 18th at 4:30 P.M.

The program will be led by the youth of the church, and will be followed by a dinner in Fellowship Hall.
 

'Tis the joyous time of year when we share the spirit of Christ’s love — so bring a friend or neighbor to church on Friendship Sunday, Dec. 18.  We wish to share the fellowship of our church family with your friend, neighbor or your dear one.

Whew!  Another successful Boutique!  Thank you and applause to everyone who helped in any way:  Organizing, crafting, cooking, serving, selling bidding, purchasing, setting up and cleaning up.  Good job.  We’ve made $9,028.90 to be spent with love and care.  Of that amount, $891.50 was for the Rwanda Partners mission.

Our meeting in December is on Thursday, the 15th.  Marilyn is making soup for us and we are each to bring 3 dozen homemade cookies.  The cookies will be dessert.  The leftovers, and there should be a lot, will be gifts for shut-ins.  Also, at our Dec. 15th meeting, we will be collecting warm hats, mittens and socks for our giving tree.  The Opportunity Council distributes these winter survival items to all ages who need them.

The morning Bible study is starting December well.  We meet next on  Dec. 1 at 10:30 A.M. in the Blue House.  Romans is proving to be a very strengthening study.  The evening Bible study will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 7:00 P.M.  The evening group is using a good study of the Liturgical calendar and we are enjoying it during the regular meetings also.

May the peace of God’s love be with us all during this busy season.
 

Thanks to everyone for contributing to Operation Christmas Child.  The Sunday School kids packaged and wrapped and delivered 23 shoeboxes filled with toys and useful items for needy kids.  They also saved enough in their offerings to cover the requested postage donation for each box.
 

The Whidbey Presbyterian family is so fortunate to have a vibrant and dedicated Fellowship Team.  As we learned during the 40 Days of Purpose, we were formed for God’s purpose — we were formed for God’s family.  The Fellowship Team’s mission is to create a warm and loving atmosphere at Whidbey Presbyterian and to encourage more meaningful relationships among our spiritual family.  The Fellowship Team promotes ways for the congregation to become connected by coordinating events such as potluck dinners and other social gatherings.

Future plans include:

—Disciple 201 class lunches on Nov. 12 and Feb. 18
—Advent wreath making on Nov. 26
—Tall Timber Family snow camp Feb. 3-5
—More Dinners for Seven or Eight
—Mariners’ baseball game
—Summer/fall picnic

Many, many thanks, Fellowship Team!  You’re the greatest!
 

Our M.A.F. missionary family, Jonathan, Cindee, and children Aaron, Stephen, Elena and Elisa will be returning to Papua, Indonesia on December 29.

Hundreds of last minute arrangements are the focus of prayer needs during this busy and stressful time.  Of most concern are medical issues with Cindee. She has been suffering energy loss and it seems there is a problem with her blood being too thick/clotting as well as adrenal and hormonal imbalances.  She is taking daily heparin injections to thin the blood.  Pray that corrective treatments are found and successful and if necessary, can be continued once overseas.
 

December 13 will be the last Barnabas Group meeting for 2005.  Don Mowat, a Director for World Concern, will be here to share the prayer needs for North Korea, The China Home Church, Bosnia, and World Concern itself.  Join us at noon in Heritage Hall for a wonderful time.
 

Come and join your church family for a fun weekend in the snow at our beautiful church camp in the Cascades!  This is a great opportunity to live together, eat together, play together, and get to know one another better.

Whidbey Presbyterian Church Family Snow Week-end at Tall Timber Ranch — February 3-5, 2006.  Call the church office at 679-3579 for more information.

Sincerely, Geri Bintliff
 

Life Lessons with Max Lucado Books of Ruth & Esther
Life Lessons with Max Lucado Book of John
Desiring God’s Own Heart, 1 & 2 Samuel/1 Chronicles
That I May Know Him, Philippians/Colossians
The Holy Spirit Unleashed in You, Acts
Trusting God in Times of Adversity, Job
Discover the Bible for Yourself by Kay Arthur
Your Best Life Now:  7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential (with study guide) by Joel Osteen

New books for teens are:

Mark: a Double-edged Bible Study
The Book of Cool:  Cool Questions.  Cooler Answers.
The Jennie McGrady Mystery series (Books 1-15) by Patricia Rushford
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

New children’s picture books added to the collection are part of Max Lucado’s “You are Special” series:

Punchinello and the Most Marvelous Gift
Best of All
You are Mine
Another new Max Lucado title, The Crippled Lamb, is a special Christmas story.

Other new titles available for checkout are:

The Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren
When Duty Calls: A Handbook for Families Facing Military Separation by Carol Vandesteeg

The church library is open between services and checkout is self-service. 

What would you like to see in the church library?  Contact Nancy H. or Becky B. with your thoughts and feedback.