P O
STUARTS DRAFT VA 24477
FINLEY
FOCUS
January
2006
Founded 1891
Picture by
From
the Pastor’s Desk
Happy New Year! It's hard to believe another year has passed and
a new one has begun. For me, with the
start of a new year there is always a sense of new hope and a new
beginning. I know God has some amazing
and wonderful things planned for Finley for 2006, and I am excited about seeing
the new things God will do in our ministry and mission realized.
With the start of a new year there is
always talk about New Year's resolutions–those things we say we are going to
start doing or stop doing come January 1.
I hear people all the time say that people should not make New Year's
resolutions, but I disagree. It is good
to have New Year's resolutions. It is
good to have some goals to work toward, and even if we don't succeed, it is
never a failure. I can do all things through him who strengthens
me. Philippians 4:13
Okay, here are my New Year's resolutions:
1. Spend more time in prayer. I will set out a specific time of day when I
can devote myself to be in communion with God, to listen for God's voice, and
to be attentive to God's will for me. Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with
thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2
2. Have faith in a "BIG God." I think sometimes we have too small a view of
who God is and of what God is doing in our lives and in the world around us. Our God is an awesome God, who is doing
amazing things for us and in us. Our
image of God needs to be big, not small.
For the LORD your God is God
of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome… Deuteronomy 10:17
3. Be more holy.
This is what we have been created to be, and it is God’s will for
us. I will continue to devote myself to
the work of glorifying, enjoying, and serving the God of our salvation. I
appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to
present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is
your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1
4. Find time to rest. We work too hard and too long. I'm going to be content with what I get done and
with what I don't get done, and make sure that I take a day to find time to be
with my family and commune with God. I'm
going to keep one day holy, so that I might find rest for my soul. Observe the sabbath day and
keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Deuteronomy 5:12
5.
Remember my calling. Sometimes it is
easy to forget whose we are and what we are called to do. We can easily get ourselves bogged down in
the routines of the day and forget that God has given us a mission and a
purpose as God’s people. I will continue to be open to new opportunities for
service in the church and in the world with a willing and joyful heart ready to
proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ as his loving servant and faithful
witness. He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what
does the LORD require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and to walk
humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
6.
Find time for personal and communal Bible study. It is our confession that the Bible – God’s
word – is our only rule of faith and life.
It is the Bible through which we learn about God’s incarnate Word, Jesus
Christ, and the good news of the Gospel.
I will be more intentional about spending time immersed in the
Scriptures, so that I may more fully know God’s will and purpose for us.
Always be prepared to
give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that
you have. 1 Peter 3:15
7. Live in the Truth, for the Truth will set you
free. I will continue to remember that I
am a disciple of Jesus Christ, that I am devoted to him above all else, and
that I serve only him. Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth,
and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
8. Give thanks to God. We have been blessed beyond measure, given
more than what we deserve, and loved without condition. With the love of God, the grace and peace of
Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, I have all that I could
ever need.
Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor
me; to those who go the right way I will show the salvation of God. Psalm 50:23
As
we begin 2006, I hope you will join me in setting your own New Year’s
resolutions as I have, and I also hope that you will continue to keep me
accountable to the ones I have made. In
doing so, we will help each other to continue to grow in faith and
righteousness, build up the body of Christ, and give glory and honor to the
Lord our God.
May
God’s blessings and peace be with you in this new year.
Dan
Presbyterian Women
Presbyterian women will meet Tuesday, Jan,
3, at
Library News
As 2005 ends, your church library is always
a good place to donate nice spiritual and family oriented books you no longer
need and would like to share with your church. More books are needed,
especially in the Children’s and Youth categories. The congregation is
making good use of the library. However, overdue books remain a
problem. At this time there are 14 overdue books. Many of these
books are a year or more overdue. An overdue book list is posted on the
bulletin board under Windows Three. Please search your bookshelves at
home if you think one of these book titles sounds familiar. If you are
not through with the book, please stop by the library and update the
card. If you have returned the book and shelved it without putting the
card back in the pocket or book, please tell me since I do not search the
shelves when reviewing the cards for overdue books.....Please help me by
returning the book to the drop box. Happy reading in 2006.....Your
Grinchy Librarian
From The Fellowship Committee
Our Januarys' Men's breakfast will be on the 8th at
We will have a coffee after worship on
Sunday, January 29th. Everyone is welcome
to join us for refreshments and fellowship.
Our Active Youth
Middle School Youth Group:
January 1 – no meeting
January 8 – Movie TBA
January 15 – Regular meeting at the Nelson’s
January 22 – Regular meeting at the Nelson’s
January 29 – Regular meeting at the Nelson’s
High School Youth Group:
January 1 –
January 8 – Movie & Dinner We'll meet at the church at
January 15 –
January 22 –
January 29 –
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Nursery
Schedule |
Visitation
Schedule |
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Jan 1 |
Sarah & |
John Gibson & Gloyd
May |
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Jan 8 |
Dawn & Jay Christian; |
David Wenner & |
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Jan 15 |
Greg & Amy Allen; |
Darlene Bowles |
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Jan 22 |
Darlene Bowles, Jill Matthews,
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Jan 29 |
Jan & LeAnne Wenner;
Shirley Meijer & Alicia Alcala |
Marjorie Shreckhise |
Usher List
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Don Splaun (CH) |
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Don McClure |
David Brubaker |
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Faye Wellborn |
Elspeth Splaun |
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Caitlin Brady |
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Josh Coble |
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Leigh Anne Coble |
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January
2006
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Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
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1 4Cents a Meal Offering |
2 |
3 Presbyterian Women |
4 PJ Willey’s Birthday Bells Chancel Choir |
5 |
6 Epiphany of the Lord |
7 |
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8 Men’s Breakfast 8:30 Bells to play at worship Baptism of the Lord |
9 Session |
10 |
11 Heather Allen’s Birthday Chancel Choir |
12 Chris Moneymaker’s Birthday Jessica Steele’s Birthday |
13 Mason Seaman’s Birthday |
14 |
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15 |
16 Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday |
17 |
18 Chancel Choir |
19 |
20 |
21 |
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22 |
23 |
24 |
25 Dan Matthews’ Birthday Chancel Choir Deadline for Finley Focus articles |
26 |
27 Ann Willey’s Birthday |
28 Martha Moneymaker’s Birthday |
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29 Coffee after worship |
30 |
31 |
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Finley Memorial Presbyterian Church
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Presbytery
of Shenandoah, Synod of the Mid-Atlantic, Presbyterian Church ( |
Stuarts
Church Office
Telephone: (540) 337-3561
E-mail:
finleypc@cfw.com
Web address:
www.finleypres.org
Pastor’s
e-mail: dmatthews@ntelos.net
Reverend Dan Matthews
Session
Members
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2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
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Andy Wenner |
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Dan Hatter |
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Beverley Ellis |
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Jane Schumin |
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Steve Nelson |
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Lisa Seaman |
Paul Swink |
Donnie McCormick |
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Treasurers |
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Ann E. Willey, Receiving
Jack R. Blacka, Disbursing |
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Trustees
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Jack R. Blacka James L. Wellborn Donald Splaun |
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Presbyterian Women
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Nancy Southworth, Secretary Esther Winton, Treasurer Shirley Hendrickson, Historian |
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Secretary – Ann Willey |
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Music Director – Kelly Hughes |
Librarian – Art Hendrickson |
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Choir Director – Elise Blacka |
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Stated Meetings
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Morning
Worship 11:00 am |
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Session – Second Monday of the month Chancel Choir – Wednesday |
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Presbyterian Women – First Tuesday of the month |
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Youth Fellowship – Sunday evenings |
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Finley Men – First Sunday of the month |
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