November 2013

UP on the Hill
Newsletter of The Hill United Presbyterian Church Butler, PA

And now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your glorious name. 1 Chronicles 29: 13
PASTORAL MINISTRY

Worship, Study and Fellowship With Us!

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP, STUDY AND FELLOWSHIP
9:15 A.M.J.A.M. Session and Adult Study 9:30 A.M.30 Minutes (!) For Youth 10:30 A.M.Worship Service 11:30 A.M.Coffee / Fellowship Time in the Fellowship Hall

Rev. Clark T. Sawyer

PROGRAM MINISTRY
Kathy O. Sawyer

MUSIC MINISTRY
Kathy O. Sawyer, Director of Music Margaret E. McGuirk, Organist Thomas P. Walters, Director of Handbells and Instrumental Music Nancy Slezak, Memorial Handbell Director and Assistant Organist Jessica E. Sanzotti

CHURCH OFFICE
Jennifer Gilliland, Financial Secretary Lyn Goehring, Treasurer

CUSTODIANS

Deacons Boat Cruise, Moraine State Park, October 19, 2013

John Whittington Bobby Jo Sullins

The Hill United Presbyterian Church 501 Second Street Butler, Pennsylvania 16001 724-287-5427 E-mail: hillup@zoominternet.net www.hillup.org

WORSHIP SCHEDULE
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICES 10:30 - 11:30 A.M.

NOVEMBER 3, 2013
24th Sunday after Pentecost Consecration Sunday Lords Supper - Traditional

Sermon: The Response Of Consecration Rev. Clark Sawyer Scripture: Habakkuk 1: 1-4 and 2: 1-4; Luke 19: 1-10 NOVEMBER 10, 2013
25th Sunday after Pentecost

Sermon: God Of The Living Rev. Clark Sawyer Scripture: Exodus 3: 1-6; Luke 20: 27-40 NOVEMBER 17, 2013
26thSunday after Pentecost

Sermon: The Importance of Endurance Rev. Clark Sawyer Scripture: Isaiah 65: 17-25; Luke 21: 5-19 NOVEMBER 24, 2013
Christ The King Sunday

Sermon: If You Are The King...Save Yourself! Rev. Clark Sawyer Scripture: Jeremiah 23: 1-6; Luke 23: 32-43

FROM THE PASTORS DESK

NOVEMBER

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Members and Friends of the Hill United Presbyterian Church: The last three weeks of October I have been preaching on our Stewardship Emphasis for 2014 with the theme from Jesus words, I am among you as one who serves! I have spoken about three gifts: the gift of being called to follow Jesus; the gift of the challenge to grow spiritually in Jesus; and the gift of being sent to serve in Jesus love. I am grateful to God for you as you give your Estimate of Giving Cards for 2014. These cards are a sign of our giving of our time, our talent, our spiritual gifts, our service and our money for the advance of the Kingdom of God into the surrounding world societies. In this upcoming time of Thanksgiving, as St. Paul says, Let us give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us. Yours in thankfulness For our stewardship life In Jesus Christ, Pastor Clark Rev. Clark Sawyer
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WORSHIP ATTENDANCE IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 2013

Sunday 9/01 9/08 9/15 9/22 9/29 10/06 10/13 10/20 10/27 104 96 115 133 105 117 100 121 98

Please take a moment and thank God that God gives the opportunity to worship our Lord Jesus Christ and that we have the freedom in our country to attend worship regularly. With that in mind, please invite and bring friends, neighbors, family members or relatives to worship with us along with our gatherings for study, fellowship, service and outreach. Thank you very much!

FINANCIAL SUMMARY Receipts and Disbursements

FOR MONTH ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

BIBLE READING FOR NOVEMBER

Morning
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Jer. 24, 25, 26 Jer. 27, 28, 29 Jer. 30, 31 Jer. 32, 33 Jer. 34, 35, 36 Jer. 37, 38, 39 Jer. 40, 41, 42 Jer. 43, 44, 45 Jer. 46, 47 Jer. 48, 49 Jer. 50 Jer. 51, 52 Lam. 1, 2 Lam. 3, 4, 5 Ezek. 1, 2 Ezek. 3, 4 Ezek. 5, 6, 7 Ezek. 8, 9, 10 Ezek. 11, 12, 13 Ezek. 14, 15 Ezek. 16, 17 Ezek. 18, 19 Ezek. 20, 21 Ezek. 22, 23 Ezek. 24, 25, 26 Ezek. 27, 28, 29 Ezek. 30, 31, 32 Ezek. 33, 34 Ezek. 35, 36 Ezek. 37, 37, 39

Evening
Titus 2 Titus 3 Philemon Heb. 1 Heb. 2 Heb. 3 Heb. 4 Heb. 5 Heb. 6 Heb. 7 Heb. 8 Heb. 9 Heb. 10: 1-18 Heb. 10: 19-39 Heb. 11: 1-19 Heb. 11: 20-40 Heb. 12 Heb. 13 Jas. 1 Jas. 2 Jas. 3 Jas. 4 Jas. 5 I. Pet. 1 I. Pet. 2 I. Pet. 3 I. Pet. 4 I. Pet. 5 II. Pet. 1 II. Pet. 2

Variance Favorable (Unfavorable) Actual Envelope Offerings Other Offerings & Receipts Total Receipts Budget

Receipts
$164,312 $175,323 ($11,011)

91,349 255,661

80,247 255,570

11,102 91

Disbursements
Personnel Buildings & Grounds Capital Improvements Office Operations Stewardship Mission Support Christian Education Nurture Worship Discipleship Total Disbursements Net of Receipts over Disbursements 153,150 31,456 0 6,686 12,912 14,596 12,825 2,003 6,903 13,868 254,399 152,749 31,402 0 7,200 8,629 17,940 12,750 4,350 8,400 12,150 255,570 (401) (54) 0 514 (4,283) 3,344 (75) 2,347 1,497 (1,718) 1,171

Session Highlights
October 14, 2013 The Session, with joy, approved a motion from Worship and Discipleship to authorize the baptism of Lena Nicole Provident on Sunday, November 24, 2013, at the 10:30 a.m. worship service. Lena is the daughter of Chad and Kelly 1,262 0 1,262 Provident, born September 14, 2013 at the Butler Memorial Hospital, Butler, Pennsylvania. The Session also approved a motion from the ($33,002) 23,885 (9,117) Stewardship and Mission Support Committee to receive a bequest of $4,367.92 from the Mary Esther Bauer Estate.

Fund Balance
Unrestricted (Deficit) Designated Total General Fund

The above amounts represent the 2013 financial Clark Sawyer, Moderator transactions in the general operating fund. This summary does not include any of the special and The next newsletter deadline is NOVEMBER 15, 2013 endowment funds.

2014 Stewardship Campaign

By now, members of the Hill Church family of faith should have received our 2014 stewardship letter and pledge form. Our 2014 stewardship lesson comes from Luke 22:27 and reads: I am among you as one who serves." It is a lesson that challenges us to honor God by giving and serving others as He has done by using our time, talent and treasure. As of October 29th, we have a total of $118,712 pledges to support the ministries and programs of Hill Church for 2014. If you have not already done so, please prayerfully consider how you can support the work of Hill Church through the sharing of your time, talent and treasure. Once you have decided how to support the mission and ministries of Hill Church, please complete the pledge form that came with your stewardship message and return it in the envelope provided. You may return your pledge form by mailing it to the church office or placing it in the offering plate during worship. If you have misplaced your stewardship letter and pledge form please contact Elean at the church office and another one will be sent to you. During the next two months, the Session will continue our stewardship emphasis and prepare the 2014 Hill Church budget. We are hopeful that even in these tough economic times our family of faith will continue to share their time, talent and treasure for the building and uplifting of Gods kingdom now and in the future. Thank you for honoring God with your support of the ministries and mission of Hill Church. Your generosity is deeply appreciated. The Stewardship and Mission Support Committee

2014 ESTIMATE OF GIVING CARD*

I want to help support the work of my church. I estimate that during the next year I will give my church:
$________ per week, or $ ________per month, or $________per year

NAME _____________________________________ ADDRESS___________________________________

*I understand that this giving estimate may be raised or lowered anytime simply by calling the church office.

Stewardship Report
As many of you know, this past year Hill Church received a gift from the estate of Ruth Bauer in the amount of $90,000. This gift was given with the stipulation that it be used to provide financial support to students. At its June 2013 meeting, the Session approved the following motion from the Stewardship and Mission Support Committee describing how the distribution of this gift from Ruth Bauers estate would be managed: To use the proceeds of the $90,000 gift from the Ruth Bauer estate to fund educational gifts for: (a). Hill Church members who are graduating from high school in June, 2013 and each year thereafter, and who plan to attend an institution of higher learning, a vocational training program, or to enter the military; (b). Hill Church members currently enrolled in the educational programs listed above, who graduated from high school 2007-2012; (c). Women who are members of one of the five churches of the EPC Bubiashie District of Accra, Ghana, and who are pursuing secondary or post-high school education; (d). Youth currently active in Hill Church ministries who need help meeting expenses (i.e. Youth Mission trip payments or Hill Youth Chorale dues). As part of the discussion regarding this motion, it was explained to Session that any student would be eligible to receive a one-time gift from this fund by completing a one-page request form and submitting it to the fund oversight committee. For groups (a) and (b) above, the one-time award would be in the amount of $1,000 and would be given to members currently enrolled in an education program. For group (c) above, $1,000 per year would be allocated to the Bubiashie District for scholarship help. This money would be used in conjunction with other budgeted amounts and gifts from the congregation given for this purpose. For group (d) above, financial assistance requests would be taken to the committee and would be based on need. The oversight committee would be made up of an elder from the Christian Education Committee, an elder from the Stewardship and Mission Support Committee, a representative from the Ghana Mission Partnership Task Force, the Director of Program and Music Ministries and the Pastor. Marsh Miller, Carolyn Street, Jim Ihlenfeld, Kathy Sawyer and Pastor Clark Sawyer are the current committee members. Since receiving this generous gift from the estate of Ruth Bauer, Hill Church has used as follows: In July, 2013 educational gifts in the amount of $1,000 per person were awarded to the following students who are members of Hill Church: Robin Schmeider, Glenn Brennen, Nathan Moses, Ethan Brady, Miranda Brady, Michaela Brady, Lauren McElhaney, Megan McElhaney, Emily Lyons, Morgan Miller, Natalie McCaw, Michael Lyons, Thomas Walters, Cara Moses, and Casey Arn. In September, 2013 $1,000 was taken from the fund and with other monies collected was awarded to the Bubiashie District for scholarships for women. In October 2013 $6,000 will be taken from the fund and transferred to the Hill Youth Chorale to support the request for assistance for 20 students at an amount of $300 per student. This money will help the Hill Youth Chorale members cover the cost of their upcoming trip to Nashville, Tennessee in June 2014. At the October session meeting, session voted to accept a bequest from the Mary Esther Bauer estate for $4,367.92. Esther Bauer was a long time faithful member of Hill church.

GHANA MISSION TASK FORCE REPORT Christmas is just over the next blustery, cold, and snowy hill. We will all need to get our greeting cards ready to mail (if you still do that). The Task Force will be doing this for our Bubiashie scholarship students by asking you, the members of the congregation, to assist by signing the cards we have placed on the Deacons Table. Please check each and every Sunday from October 27th through November 17th. There will be different cards every week as we have over 30 cards to send. In the past, the girls have appreciated our thoughtfulness. How about Christmas presents? We are blessed with so much in this country. Instead of a material gift for a family member or friend, consider honoring them with a contribution to the scholarship fund. It would be a gift of lasting duration and appreciation and would be over and above your usual church contributions. Did you know that the youth in Kids Club donate each week? This is a teaching moment where Miss Kathy influences our kids to think outside of their own lives and about the lives of young people in Ghana. They respond very well and with some excitement. We hope to soon give you updates on the new crop of scholars next month. Again, thank you so much for your contributions of this past year. The Bubiashie committee was very appreciative. As always, please keep the Bubiashie District churches, Bernard Daddy, chairperson of the Bubiashie scholarship committee, as well as the students in your prayers.

As the Christmas season quickly approaches, we would like to remind you all to consider shopping through Amazon.com where a percentage of your purchases will go to OUR church! Simply visit our website at hillup.org and click on the Amazon icon, which can be seen at the right hand side of the page when you click on the Church News tab at the top of the page. No other action is needed on your part. If you are planning on shopping on Amazon this holiday season or anytime at all, please remember to do this, and tell your family and friends too!

Shop Through Amazon.com!

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITH YOUR CHURCH FAMILY Please join your church family at the annual Christmas dinner on December 8th at 6:00 P.M. in the Fellowship Hall. Following the dinner, the Hill Church Instrumental Ensemble will lead us in singing Christmas carols. Look for more information and a reservation form in Church bulletins this month. Please reserve the date and plan to celebrate with us this holiday season (along with a special visitor!)
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hristmas

oinsettias

Dont forget to order your Christmas poinsettia this year! Order forms will be available on the Deacons table in midNovember. The greenhouse requires that our entire order be placed by December 9th, so December 8th Will be the last Sunday to turn in your order form. Poinsettias are $8.50 this year and will again be ordered from Gumto Greenhouses.

HARVEST HOME 2013

It is that time of year when the Deacons will be collecting food for the community for the Thanksgiving season. The food will be distributed through Covenant Cupboard in time for the November holiday. For three weeks food will be collected in the southeast corner of the sanctuary near the organ. The following are suggestions of food items by weeksthough it's not a strict guideline, just a suggestion. It is the Deacons hope that our congregation will continue to be generous in bringing in food items and/or money donations to support our Harvest Home Project, and as a result, benefit Covenant Cupboard. November 3: Canned and jarred foods; vegetables, fruits, soup, jelly, spaghetti sauce, tuna, salmon, peanut butter, beef stew, pumpkin. November 10: Boxed and bagged food; flour, sugar, macaroni and cheese, pancake mix, cereals, rice, cake mixes, pie mixes, crackers. November 17: Three-pound bags of apples and five pound bags of potatoes which require the least cold storage time. Other fresh vegetables and fruits cannot be collected due to the lack of cold storage areas.

Keep Me Warm Trees We will once again this year be asking for contributions to decorate our Keep Me Warm Trees. We will have one set up in the Church Annex and another in the Fellowship Hall downstairs. Your gifts of mittens, hats, scarves, socks, sweaters, and other warm winter clothing will be greatly appreciated. They will be taken to local organizations to be given to folks in need. Bless each of you for your generosity. - Presbyterian Women

The Presbyterian Women wish to thank those who contributed health kits and items for the kits. We appreciate your help. At our Circle meetings in October, we prepared 46 kits and delivered them to the Fall Gathering at Center Church in Slippery Rock. They will be taken in November to New Winsor, Maryland where they will be distributed through Disaster Assistance to areas of need in the United States and around the world.
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The 2014 Pulpit Flowers sign up sheet is now available on the bulletin board in the Overflow Room. Please note that the florist has increased the price of the flowers to $30 (instead of the $27 it has been). Please be sure to fill out your form(s) clearly and attach your payment. Thank you!

Hill Church Christmas Musical The Night Shift Before Christmas

Join us Sunday, December 15th at 7 p.m.! Director: Kathy Sawyer Assistant Directors: Keeley Mohn and Nancy Birckbichler Technical Director: Declan Graham The rehearsal schedule is as follows (no absences, please):
Sun, November 1 Noon - 2 p.m. Red Group Wed, November 13 5 - 5:30 p.m. 5:30 - 6:15 p.m. 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Sun, November 24 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Blue Group Yellow Group Red Group Red Group Blue, Red, Yellow Red, Blue Groups Everyone Show at 7 p.m.

Wed, November 20 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Wed, December 4 Sat, December 14 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Blue, Red, Yellow Red Group Blue, Red, Yellow Red Group

Wed, December 11 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Sun, December 15 5:30 p.m.

10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Dress Rehearsal - All 11:30 - 12:30 p.m. Red Group

Invite friends and family to come hear Night of the Fathers Love on Sunday, December 22nd at the 10:30 a.m. worship service presented by Hill Church Chancel Choir, Hill Youth Chorale, Orchestra Westminster College, Slippery Rock University, and Hill Church Instrumental Ensemble!

ITS SHOEBOX TIME!

Our Church will once again be collecting filled shoeboxes for girls and boys for Operation Christmas Child. We will have more information in an upcoming Church bulletin insert about ideas for filling the shoeboxes with goodies for needy children, or you can visit the Operation Christmas child website at www.samaritanspurse.org/ occ for ideas, boy and girl box labels, and an informative video. All shoe boxes need to be collected on or before November 24th to make sure that the children receive them in time for Christmas. If shopping and filling shoeboxes are not for you, we will also accept monetary donations.

LETTER TO INCLUDE IN YOUR OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOX

Christmas is about sharing the gift of God's Son, Jesus Christ, with the world. Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to poor children around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of Gods love. You can share Gods love with needy children in Honduras, Kosovo, or another country by participating with other members of our church. You can start by filling out and coloring the enclosed letter to put in the shoebox. Also consider if you want your shoebox to go to a boy or girl and what age group for which you would like to buy. Wrap the lid and the bottom of your shoebox in colorful Christmas paper, and look for a brochure in church or visit the website www.samaritanspurse.org/occ for gift ideas to fill your box. Don't forget to bring your shoe box gift to church on or before November 24th, 2013. What a perfect gift to give in honor of Jesus' birthday!

THANKSGIVING WORD SEARCH

D G G B N C V G T J P G R H Z J U L W O E A A X D P N Q B Z U K Q O N M B T X T S I A C I W Y U J R L E H B H F V H I P S R V B N I R E M A L I K S P R O J I C Q O R G N H G E S R O A B Q N C T U V K D S S D W O C Y N S M K Z S F E K N N F W W U E L A D H E U E N M E O I H R N R Q X W K L B A V I B K I N Y R Y G M U I U H N R R H E J T N O Z Y Y J Q T P F S D A M R I I C V Y Z S F Y L I M A F H B I X D J J E S Y U B E T A R B E L E C A R H Z W L V D W J C P E T Y K N R U W P B L E S S E D A W C L J C T A X BLESSED CELEBRATE CORNUCOPIA FAMILY FRIENDS GATHER GLORIOUS GOBBLE HARVEST NOVEMBER PRAYER THANKFUL THANKSGIVING TRADITION WORSHIP

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VOLUNTEERS for NOVEMBER 2013 SUNDAY

USHER TEAM GREETERS BEFORE GREETERS AFTER (DEACONS) COUNTING ELDERS NURSERY ACOLYTE COFFEE HOUR

NOV. 3

Ladies Team

Gebrosky Family

Sharon Montag Jack Montag Chad Provident Janet Edinger Carole Hall Judy Birch Kim Selfridge Patti Donaldson

Marsh Miller Louise Evans for Diane Olenic Arlene Roth Lois Minich Carolyn Street Nancy Daugherty Jim Kamerer Bill Ellis Diane Olenic for Louise Evans Anne Miller Nancy Daugherty Carol Gadsby Bryce Hawk

Barb Kamerer

NOV. 10

Bob Scotts Team

Bea Welch

Mason Montag

Mike and Shirley Winship

NOV. 17

Junior Team

Anne McCaw

Ruby Waggoner

Janet Edinger

NOV. 24

Don Lanes Team

Audrey Nossokoff

Aiden Wach

Volunteers Needed

COMMUNION TEAM Team C NEWSLETTER TEAM in NOVEMBER (for December) Team B (Willing Workers) VAN DRIVER for NOVEMBER ~

CHAD PROVIDENT 724-256-5908

PULPIT FLOWERS
NOVEMBER 3 Donated in memory of Craig Daugherty by Nancy, Stacie & Sue NOVEMBER 10 Donated in honor of Grier Lamont Lyons 1st birthday by Tommy Walters NOVEMBER 17 Donated in memory of Elroy and Crystal Beisheim by Richard and Maxine Beisheim NOVEMBER 24 Donated in memory of Ruth Brookhart by Helen Knauer and Family

PEW GREETERS
Hill Church for many years was known as The Glad Hand Church. The Nurture Committee wants to continue this tradition. Pew Greeters will now welcome visitors, encourage them to sign the guest registry, and invite them to Fellowship Hour on Sunday.
MIDDLE SECTIONBRADY STREET SECTION NOVEMBER 3 NOVEMBER 10 NOVEMBER 17 NOVEMBER 24 Sharon Montag 724-285-3231 Nancy Daugherty 724-285-1013 Lois Minich 724-283-1875 Dennis Hawk 724-285-6355 PEARL ST. SECTIONOVERFLOW AREA Karen Shultz 724-283-2413 Janet Edinger 724-282-7782 Barb Bishop 724-282-2737 Peg Dumbaugh 724-789-7331

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

1
9:30am - Hill Quilters 6:00pm - Wedding Rehearsal

2
11am - AA Meeting 2:30pm - Wedding in Sanctuary - Kaib-Wach

3
9:15am - Adult Sunday Sch 9:15am - JAM Sessions 9:30am - 30 Minutes! 10:00am - Chancel Choir 10:30am - Worship Rev. Clark Sawyer Preaching 11:30am - Fellowship 12:15pm - HYC 12:15pm - Womens Book Club 6-9:00pm - Amedisys Hospice Remembrance Service in Sanctuary 8:00am - Women @ Macs Caf 5:30pm - Last Kids Club 6:30pm - Jubilation Ringers 7:00pm - Last Delve 912 7:00pm - Joybells 7:30pm - Instrumental Ensemble HYC Election Day Bake Sale - All Day 9:30am - Women's Bible Study 7:00pm - Deacons Mtg

Communion Harvest Home

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7
9:30am - Willing Workers 3:30pm - New Haven Service 6:30pm - Memorial Bells 7:30pm - Chancel Choir

8
7:30am - Stewardship & Mission Support @ Clearview Mall Eat N Park

9
11:00am - AA Meeting

10
Harvest Home Veterans Day 6:30-8:00pm - Master Classes in Sanctuary 6:45pm - Session Mtg. 6:30-8:00pm - Master Classes in Sanctuary 9:15am - Adult Sunday Sch 9:15am - JAM Sessions 9:30am - 30 Minutes! 10:00am - Chancel Choir 10:30am - Worship Rev. Clark Sawyer Preaching 11:30am - Fellowship 9:30am - Women's Bible Study

11

12

13
8:00am - Women @ Macs Caf 5:30-7:30pm - Christmas Musical Rehearsal

14
6:30pm - Memorial Bells 7:30pm - Chancel Choir

15

16
11:00am - AA Meeting

9:15am - Adult Sunday Sch 9:15am - JAM Sessions 9:30am - 30 Minutes! 9:30am - Memorial Bells 10:30am - Worship Rev. Clark Sawyer Preaching 11:30am - Fellowship 12:15pm - HYC at Sawyers 7:00pm Club 56 5:30-7:00pm - Senior Night Out - Fellowship Hall

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Harvest Home

18

9:30am - Women's Bible Study 1:00pm - Betsy McCormick Circle 7:00pm - Handbell Reh. 7:00pm - Lupus Support

19

8:00am - Women @ Macs Caf 1:00pm - Mary Lou Boyer Circle Meeting 5:30-7:30pm - Christmas Musical Rehearsal

20

6:30pm - Memorial Bells 7:30pm - Chancel Choir

21

22

11:00am - AA Meeting

23

Operation Christmas Child Boxes Due

24

25

26
9:30am - Women's Bible

27
8:00am - Women @ Macs Caf

Thanksgiving Office Closed

NOVEMBER 2013

9:15am - Adult Sunday Sch 9:15am - JAM Sessions 9:30am - 30 Minutes! 10:00am - Chancel Choir 10:30am - Worship Rev. Clark Sawyer Preaching 11:30am - Fellowship 12:15pm - HYC 7:00-8:30pm - Christmas Musical Rehearsal

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Office Closed

29

11:00am - AA Meeting

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