Greenfield Avenue Presbyterian Church

GREENFIELD AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH -1455 S. 97^th St., West Allis, WI 53214

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM will take place during morning worship on Sun. Dec. 20. The children will treat us to special music, & there’s an original play written by Jenny Lefevre. It’s sure to be a day that’s filled with the anticipation of Jesus’ birth, lots of praise, & joy! We’ll also present Bibles to some of our youngsters: Jacob Brick, Ben Cetnarowski, Emily Crisci & Tyler Smith, on that morning. AND ... there’ll be a “Snacks & Coffee” time in the library, following the service. (Those who wish are encouraged to bring Christmas cookies & other treats to share ...) You won’t want to miss it!

CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP Our traditional Service of Lessons & Carols will begin at 6:30 PM on Thurs., Dec. 24. What a joyous time it will be! Our favorite Christmas music, special anthems by the Chancel Choir, Handbells, & God’s Guild, with scripture readings we all know & love. Would YOU like to be one of the readers? There are openings ... sign up on the sheet at the rear of the sanctuary!

WE’RE OFF TO SEE THE MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS play the San Antonio Rampage on the afternoon of Dec. 20! Mark Brodaczynski will pick up the tickets (they’re VERY reasonable); if you haven’t already signed up to go, let him know, SOON! Face-off is at 4:00 PM, & it’s an exciting hour (plus) of fun & action, cheering on “our” team, with the church family! A great escape from the pre-holiday hustle & bustle! (Meet at the church at 2:00 PM, if you wish to car pool ...)

CHANNEL 12’S “WEATHER WATCH”, if you’re concerned that church may be canceled due to weather. Barb Brunett will have the code number to call in to the station ... but if YOU think it’s too dangerous to come out ... remember: safety first! God will understand if you choose to stay home to due to snow, or the cold weather -- & so will we!

Can you believe how time flies - It’s Christmas time already! Since time flies when we’re having fun - we must be having a real ball!!!

I’m thinking that this year, the greatest gift we can give, as a faith family, to the community around us… is US!!!

A great, great majority of Americans - around 90% - believe in God. A great majority of Americans - around 60% - don’t much believe in church.

It’s not all that surprising. The church has let a lot of people down over the centuries. There has been a lot of misbehavior led by leaders of the church, and many, many people have developed a sour taste for organized religion.

So, this Christmas, we have a gift to give. We can show the neighborhood and the world that not all churches are alike. While we are far from perfect, we can be proud of our warm, welcoming and accepting nature.

We can let folks know that we are a place where the gospel takes center place: We are Christians that remember that Christ is about unconditional love and reaching out to those who have been left behind.

So, this Christmas, let’s give the gift of us. Let’s be the present. Let’s be bright, and shiny, and reaching out.

Let’s invite all our loved ones, even the ones we don’t know yet, to come and share the holidays with us. Let’s have a ball, and share it with everyone we can.

Marve Hagen passed away on Tues. Nov. 24, following a valiant battle against cancer. A celebration of Marve’s life is being planned as we go to press. Visitation is at 3:30 PM, with the service at 5:00 PM. A meal will be served in Jack Reichert Hall, following the service. Condolences to Marie & the Hagen family.

Stu Lefevre, now in rehab at Clement Manor, with the hope of returning home before long.

“Our” boys in the military -- Peter Jansen, now in Afghanistan, & Josh Kosler, completing training at Lackland AFB in Texas. And all the other men & women who are serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Continued healing for Millie Tarnowski, whose recent surgery was successful. Tom tells us that her recovery is going VERY well.

That we received 7 wonderful new folks into membership on Nov. 15! They are: Janice Borkenhagen; Bob Huck; Stephanie Jervis; Vicky Kuglitsch; Jill Lukas; Janice Pendergast; & Pam Torcivia. WELCOME! We’re so glad it’s “official”!

That Melissa Gall will appear in the Nathan Hale High School production of “A Christmas Carol”, presented on Friday - Sunday December 4, 5 & 6; and on Friday - Saturday Dec 11 & 12. Tickets are only $7.00. Wouldn’t it be great if Melissa has LOTS of church family folk present at her performances?

That several in the church family have recently undergone successful surgery for removal of cataracts.

For Kristina Tarvid, who recently passed her “Oncology Certified Nurse” exam. CONGRATULATIONS! (We KNEW you would, Kristina!)

Did you see JT Gall’s “Halloween” pictures of his granddaughter, Ava Drury? What a little sweetheart! (He’d love to show them to you ...)

ALL who helped in any way with FALL FEST! It was such an incredible event. Much work, but also lots of fun. We raised more than $5,228, which was SIMPLY FANTASTIC!!! Special thanks to Lori Johnson, Laurie Karrels & Laurie Kadunc, who coordinated the fest; & Diane Edward & Sue Pope, who organized the raffle.

EVERYONE helped with “Hanging the Greens” on Nov. 28. The chancel, sanctuary, & narthex look SO lovely!

Our new officers for the “Class of 2012”. Deacons are: Deanna DeTroye-Brown, RuthMary Gamache, & Sandy Reichert. Elders are: Eric Arenz, Barb Brunett, Lori Johnson, & Jenny Lefevre. We’re so very grateful that you’re willing to serve!

The Blood Donors in our congregation who made our Nov. 21 Blood Drive a “go”. Special thanks to Marvin Saugstad, who shepherded the event.

Everyone who raked leaves & helped with other necessary yard work on Nov. 7.

Those who helped with the coffee fellowship honoring Marve Hagen on Oct. 25, in celebration of his 90^th birthday.

Barb Brunett, coordinator of our October Kringle sale; & all who took orders from friends, & bought, Kringles. We raised $791 for the church!

The Session, & all who prepared “extra” food for our “Bring a Friend to Church” Sunday Pot Luck on Nov. 15. (Jill Lukas won the gift certificate to Applebee’s, for bringing 12 friends that day!)

Jill Lukas, Loretta Nalencz, & Janice Borkenhagen, who directed the choirs, played organ & piano, for the Thanksgiving service at Faith Presbyterian on the evening of Nov. 22.

Those who sent birthday cards to Beth Beck, (who turned 52 on Nov. 20.) Your caring really brightened her day.

THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT HOLIDAY PARTY will take place on Fri., Jan. 8, at the home of the Tarvids, beginning at 7:00 PM. It’s for EVERYONE who has provided music for our congregation during the past year: Chancel Choir, God’s Guild, Handbells, children, other musicians, and their family members (did we leave anyone out? You get the picture ...) You’re asked to bring a plate of your favorite hors d’ oeuvres, or some chips, or a “sweet treat” to share”, & be prepared to ENJOY an evening full of FOOD & FUN -- 2 of the things we do best. (Judy Dickson is our favorite “party crasher” ... we’ll be disappointed if she & Jim aren’t there ...)

Although we ask for volunteers to help clean the church in every monthly Messenger, & in all our Sunday bulletin announcement pages, there seem to be increasing numbers of weeks when no one signs up. We really need your help with this, folks! We simply don’t have money in the budget to pay for a custodian.

When we had the Linsmeier/ Edu-Care schools here, they provided cleaning service for the downstairs areas they used. Now, it’s up to US to clean those areas, as well as the upstairs. It really ISN’T that hard, & it doesn’t take very long if several people sign up.

What about making a New Year’s Resolution you can keep: to help clean the church one week a month? Or every six weeks? Please, pray & consider ... & then sign up. Ed Griffith will be glad to provide all the instructions/information you need.

We Love Our Custodial Volunteers ! For November, those dusting, vacuuming, mopping & cleaning were Barb & Bud Brunett; Anne Sheridan; Ed & Bobbie Griffith; Hugh Evans, Peter Zoeller & Kay Ulma. THANK YOU, THANK YOU! These volunteers continue to be our “Custodial Angels”, for it’s a vitally important means of keeping our expenses here at the church down! DO, PLEASE, consider helping the church in this way!

CHRIST CHURCH CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS TOY STORE - Sunday, Dec. 6 is the last day to donate TOYS & other gifts for the Christ Church “Christmas Toy Store”. This year, the Christmas store will take place on Sat., Dec. 12, from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. The “store” serves children through age 12, & items needed include: toys, games, coloring books, crayons, markers, small gifts for all ages, balls, mittens, gloves, hats, school supplies, dolls, cars, puzzles, books, etc. Your donations of money (checks should be made out to Christ Presbyterian Church”, & designated to “Christmas Store”) help in meeting ongoing needs of the people the church serves. Please bring your UNWRAPPED donations to this cause to GAPC no later than Sun Dec 6. Leave them under the tree in the sanctuary, & we’ll take it from there. We hope you’ll be generous; with the difficult economic times, the need is great. THANK YOU.

CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING - A Presbyterian tradition for almost seventy years, the Christmas Joy Offering is one of the four special offerings designated by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to provide congregations direct ways of supporting specific causes that help those in need. The receipts from the Offering are distributed equally to the Board of Pensions for assistance programs to Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/ Presbyterian Women of the General Assembly Mission Council to support Presbyterian racial ethnic education. Christmas Joy Offering funds provide scholarships to deserving students as well as help with basic operating costs. These institutions develop leaders in the church and in society, and they enable students to discover & pursue their professional goals.

Additionally, the Offering recognizes the faithfulness of current & retired church workers by providing funds to help them through difficult times. To help retired church workers and their surviving spouses, the Board offers Income Supplements to raise incomes to a level where retirees can live modestly and continue to maintain their independence. If these individuals’ incomes do not support their housing needs, the Board provides them Housing Supplements.

For additional information, go to www.pcusa.org & type in “Christm as Joy Offering” in the “Search” box.

REGULAR EVENTS

DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR

SUNDAY 9:30 AM - WORSHIP

10:45 AM - Church School for all ages

Communion 1st Sunday of each month

2nd & 4th SUNDAYS - “Penny Sunday”

MONDAYS - 6:00 PM - “Fit & Faithful Exercise”

TUESDAYS - 5:00 - 6:00 PM - TOPS in library

WEDNESDAYS 6:30 PM- Handbells

7:30 PM - Chancel Choir

THURSDAYS - 1:30 PM -People w/Arthritis Can Exercise

2nd THURSDAY of each month from 7:00 - 9:00 PM,

“Friends of Multiple Sclerosis” meet

Pastor Kevin’s USUAL “Day Off” is Friday

Fri. Dec 25 - Happy Birthday, Jesus! Our church offices are CLOSED on this day.

PLEASE NOTE: There will be NO Sunday Church School on Dec. 27 or Jan. 3. Classes resume on Jan. 10.

WITH THE ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING COMING UP IN LATE JANUARY, here’s a reminder to committee chair-persons: the DEADLINE for all reports is SUNDAY, JAN. 17, 2010. Of course, sooner is always better ... Your Administrative Assistant will award shiny gold stars (& a hearty hand-clasp) to those who get them in EARLY!

COFFEE FELLOWSHIP following worship on Sundays is enjoyed by SO many ... but we surely could use help with making coffee, (which is easy); setting out the “treats”; & clean-up, afterward. Tell Pastor Kevin “I’ll help with coffee hours” ... Bobbie Griffith will cheerfully show you what to do! Thank you.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

For the month of October, 2009

INCOME $ 8,890.93

EXPENSES $ 10,728.80

As of Oct 31, 2009

a LOSS of ($ 1,837.87)