Parents, for only $15.00 per child you can get 5 hours of babysitting by our teens here
at the church. Please provide a nut-free dinner for your child. Sign up in the
Gathering Space by December 8.
Dear Faith Des Peres Family,
More and more I hear people say that Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday, and I understand why. Even with a big meal to prepare, it’s one free of the stress that goes with gift giving. At its very core, Thanksgiving is quite simple – it’s about gratitude and giving thanks. It’s about “praising God from whom all blessings flow.” This Sunday, we’ll celebrate Thanksgiving at church, both in worship and afterward with a Thanksgiving lunch. We’ll have turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pie. Yum! This is the time we also kick-off the Christmas giving tree that has gift selections for children and families of Southside Day Nursery and Lydia’s House. Regardless of whether you’re staying for lunch, you can take an ornament from the tree to purchase a gift for a child or his/her mom. Someone will be in the Gathering Space at 10:15 if you want to take an ornament before church – just make sure to let them know which one you take. We have many ornaments, so feel free to take more than one! This is, after all, the season of giving and giving thanks. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!”
On November 27, we’ll celebrate the first Sunday of Advent. The tree will be up and the sanctuary decorated. We’ll sing “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”. We’ll anticipate the birth of the Christ child by looking at the various names we call Christ, and what those names mean for us today. I hope you’ll join us. Think about inviting someone to come with you. Many people are looking for a spiritual “center” at this time of the year, especially given the state of our country. Let them know they can find peace, joy, love, and hope here.
Blessings,
Annie
PS: Be on the watch on our Facebook page for a video about Advent that you can share with friends.
Starting your Christmas shopping? Do you shop on Amazon? If so, you can support Faith Des Peres when you go to www.smile.amazon.com and choose Faith Des Peres as your charity of choice. That’s all you need to do! A percentage of your total bill is then donated to the church. You can also click on the banner. Don’t forget to bookmark it!
The annual Christmas giving tree project returns this year, starting November 20th in
conjunction with the Let us Give Thanks luncheon. Our tree will be up and decorated with ornaments. Each ornament will have the "name" of a child or mother, and a gift idea they would like for Christmas. We are partnering with Lydia's House and SouthSide Day Nursery, to help provide a more meaningful Christmas to these families. Also several ornaments will just have a request for gift cards to Walmart or a grocery store - (Shop n- Save) if that is easier for you. We hope you will take several ornaments and help bless these families, like your family has been blessed. Presents need to be back at church by Sunday December 4th.
Also we are in need of a couple/few volunteers: We could use help sorting the gifts and gift cards on December 4th. Additionally, we need someone to deliver the gifts to SouthSide (date flexible) and someone to deliver the gifts to Lydia's House delivery location. (Designated day is December 16.) If you could help in any of those roles please contact Diane Modrell at dmodrell@sbcglobel.net or Elizabeth Pribor at efpribor@gmail.com
Raising children in the digital age is challenging. With new technologies, websites, and apps appearing everyday, parents feel overwhelmed. In this talk we will look specifically at why children so easily gravitate toward digital tools, what are the benefits that should be embraced by families, what are the true dangers families need to be on the lookout for, and what resources exist for parents to help their families use media in a God pleasing way.
Please take your copy of the Advent book home on Sunday after church. They are in the Gathering Space.
Join us before church (November 27, December 4, 11 and 18) for some coffee and coloring. It's a good way to relax during this busy season! We'll gather at 9:30am in the Gathering Space and color until worship starts. The beautiful posters we’ll color represent the different names for the Messiah we're covering in the sermons. When we're done, we'll find a nice place to hang them. Invite your friends!
Join us on Saturday, December 3 from 10 am to noon in Fellowship Hall to decorate gingerbread houses. The cost is $14.00 per gingerbread house. All children and adults are welcome. Please sign up in the Gathering Space no later than November 28. Please pay Leslie Barnes directly on December 3.
The annual Women’s brunch and cookie exchange will be on Wednesday, December 7 at 9:30 am. Annie Epling will be hosting. Bring 2-3 dozen cookies to exchange. Please RSVP to Annie or Yolanda at adminasst@faithdesperes.org.
Parents, for only $15.00 per child you can get 5 hours of babysitting by our teens here at the church. Please provide a nut-free dinner for your child. Sign up in the Gathering Space by December 8.
If you would like to contribute to the poinsettia and wreath fund to decorate the church
during the Christmas season, you may do so by signing up in the Gathering Space. The
suggested donation is $10.00. You may honor or dedicate your donation to a loved one. Please note on your check that your payment is for poinsettias. Thank you.
Congratulations to Ashley and Ben Law who were married October 28 at the Old Meeting House. Ashley’s dad, Joe Marting, performed the ceremony. We wish you a lifetime of happiness and love!
Dear Faith Des Peres Family,
Like many of you, I stayed up very late Tuesday night watching the election results come in, and it won’t come as a surprise to many of you that I was disappointed. I’m still processing what happened, and I expect we will all be processing it for some time. Today, though, as I sit down to work on this Sunday’s sermon, I am reminded of what I said last month during the Faith and Politics series: “Before we are Democrats or Republicans, Independents or Libertarians, we’re Christians.” And: “For those of us who call ourselves Christians, we are saying that for us, we are committed to the ways of Jesus, which means we will work for peace and justice, we will care for the poor and vulnerable, we will work to care for God’s creation, and we will see the image of God in everyone we meet.” The last one can be especially difficult after a long and rancorous election, but we were never promised our calling be easy.
As I listened to CNN late Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning, I reached for the book on my bedside table, knowing that I was preaching on grace and gratitude the next two weeks, to see what wisdom can be gleaned from our scriptures. As I read, I was reminded that saying "I'm grateful" can be counter-cultural because it pushes back the tide of resentment and complaint. In our blame and shame and complain culture, gratitude can be a very powerful response to all of the voices that shout at us.
Whether you are a member of Faith Des Peres or not, or even think of yourself as Christian or not, I want to invite you personally to join us November 13 and 20 at 10:30am for a sermon series on Grace and Gratitude. Even if gratitude is difficult for you to feel right now, that's OK. It will come and God understands. In the meantime, others will do it for you, because this is what a caring Christian community does.
I hope to see you Sunday for worship, for healing, for strength, and for hope.
Blessings,
Annie
The annual Christmas giving tree project returns this year, starting November 20th in
conjunction with the Let us Give Thanks luncheon. Our tree will be up and decorated with ornaments. Each ornament will have the "name" of a child or mother, and a gift idea they would like for Christmas. We are partnering with Lydia's House and SouthSide Day Nursery, to help provide a more meaningful Christmas to these families. Also several ornaments will just have a request for gift cards to Walmart or a grocery store - (Shop n- Save) if that is easier for you. We hope you will take several ornaments and help bless these families, like your family has been blessed. Presents need to be back at church by Sunday December 4th.
Also we are in need of a couple/few volunteers: We could use help sorting the gifts and gift cards on December 4th. Additionally, we need someone to deliver the gifts to SouthSide (date flexible) and someone to deliver the gifts to Lydia's House delivery location. (Designated day is December 16.) If you could help in any of those roles please contact Diane Modrell at dmodrell@sbcglobel.net or Elizabeth Pribor at efpribor@gmail.com
Please join us after church on 11/20 for a thanksgiving turkey luncheon! We will provide turkey, gravy, green beans, and mashed potatoes, but would appreciate volunteers for stuffing, pies, drinks, or rolls. This Sunday will also be the first week for the Christmas giving tree, so come and join us for food, fellowship, and to choose your ornaments! Let us know you are coming by signing up in the Gathering Space. Please see Whitney Payne if you are willing to bring a dish for the luncheon.
Raising children in the digital age is challenging. With new technologies, websites, and apps appearing everyday, parents feel overwhelmed. In this talk we will look specifically at why children so easily gravitate toward digital tools, what are the benefits that should be embraced by families, what are the true dangers families need to be on the lookout for, and what resources exist for parents to help their families use media in a God pleasing way.
Congratulations to Ashley and Ben Law who were married October 28 at the Old Meeting House. Ashley’s dad, Joe Marting, performed the ceremony. We wish you a lifetime of happiness and love!
Join us on Saturday, December 3 from 10 am to noon in Fellowship Hall to decorate gingerbread houses. The cost is $14.00 per gingerbread house. All children and adults are welcome. Please sign up in the Gathering Space no later than November 28. See Leslie Barnes with any questions.
The annual Women’s brunch and cookie exchange will be on Wednesday, December 7 at 9:30 am. Annie Epling will be hosting. Bring 2-3 dozen cookies to exchange. Please RSVP to Annie or Yolanda at adminasst@faithdesperes.org
Parents, for only $15.00 per child you can get 5 hours of babysitting by our teens here at the church. Please provide a nut-free dinner for your child. Sign up in the Gathering Space by December 8.