BEDFORD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

NEWSLETTER Deember 2018

e-mail: adminassist@bedfordpresbyva.org

telephone: (540) 586-5284

fax: (540) 586-5284

www.bedfordpresbyva.org

Christmas 2018 marks the 200 Anniversary of "Silent Night" German: "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, "composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria. It was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2011.

In 1818, a roving band of actors was performing in towns throughout the

Austrian Alps. On December 23 they arrived at Oberndorf, a village near Salzburg

where they were to re-enact the story of Christ's birth in the small Church of St.

Nicholas.

Unfortunately, the St. Nicholas' church organ wasn't working and would not be repaired before Christmas.

(Note: some versions of the story point to mice as the problem; others say rust was the culprit) Because the

church organ was out of commission, the actors presented their Christmas drama in a private home. That Christ-

mas presentation of the events in the first chapters of Matthew and Luke put assistant pastor Josef Mohr in a

meditative mood. Instead of walking straight to his house that night, Mohr took a longer way home. The longer

path took him up over a hill overlooking the village.

From that hilltop, Mohr looked down on the peaceful snow-covered village. Reveling in majestic silence of

the wintry night, Mohr gazed down at the glowing Christmas-card like scene. His thoughts about the Christmas

play he had just seen made him remember a poem he had written a couple of years before. That poem was about

the night when angels announced the birth of the long-awaited Messiah to shepherds on a hillside.

Mohr decided those words might make a good carol for his congregation the following evening at their

Christmas eve service. The one problem was that he didn't have any music to which that poem could be sung.

So, the next day Mohr went to see the church organist, Franz Xaver Gruber. Gruber only had a few hours to

come up with a melody which could be sung with a guitar. However, by that evening, Gruber had managed to

compose a musical setting for the poem. It no longer mattered to Mohr and Gruber that their church organ was

inoperable. They now had a Christmas carol that could be sung without that organ.

On Christmas Eve, the little Oberndorf congregation heard Gruber and Mohr sing their new composition to

the accompaniment of Gruber's guitar.

Weeks later, well-known organ builder Karl Mauracher arrived in Oberndorf to fix the organ in St. Nicholas

church. When Mauracher finished, he stepped back to let Gruber test the instrument. When Gruber sat down, his

fingers began playing the simple melody he had written for Mohr's Christmas poem. Deeply impressed, Mau-

racher took copies of the music and words of "Silent Night" back to his own Alpine village, Kapfing. There, two

well-known families of singers — the Rainers and the Strassers — heard it. Captivated by "Silent Night," both

groups put the new song into their Christmas season repertoire.

The Strasser sisters spread the carol across northern Europe. In 1834, they performed "Silent Night" for

King Frederick William IV of Prussia, and he then ordered his cathedral choir to sing it every Christmas eve.

Twenty years after "Silent Night" was written, the Rainers brought the song to the United States, singing it

(in German) at the Alexander Hamilton Monument located outside New York City's Trinity Church.

In 1863, nearly fifty years after being first sung in German, "Silent Night" was translated into English (by

either Jane Campbell or John Young). Eight years later, that English version made its way into print in Charles

Hutchins' Sunday School Hymnal. Today the words of "Silent Night" are sung in more than 300 different lan-

guages around the world.

Article by Howard Culbertson (edited for brevity). For more original content like this, visit: http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert

December, page 2

December 24th- at 7pm, Church Sanc-

NOVEMBER CLERK’S CORNER

Another added to the fold! Lynne Palmer, who moved from California this

summer, was accepted as a member by reaffirmation by faith.

With the death of Bob Abbott on October 15, 2018, membership is now at 137.

Elder Russell Stevens and the Pastor attend the Presbytery meeting at First

Presbyterian Danville that had been postponed until November 29 due to inclement

weather.

Did you see it? Session approved a half- page ad going into the Bedford Bulletin mailing distributed to all

Bedford County residents on the day before Thanksgiving.

Painless giving: The church will look into registering with Amazon’s non-profit Center as well Food Lion

and Kroger.

Donated devotion and prayer books will be placed in the library to be distributed to shut-ins.

Middle schoolers will meet on Thursday afternoons.

Heather Poindexter is ready to start the MOPs group. Motion from committee to fund needed materials

was approved.

Coming in January: upgrades for the sanctuary lighting and fire alarm up-grades will be worked along

with a sanctuary heating system up-grade.

Do you feel called to serve? The Nominating Committee is still looking for candidates to fill the Property

and Communication elder positions.

Committee has found candidates for the Administration and Missions positions.

Santa is coming soon—but stewardship cards are coming sooner! Those that can’t be distributed on Sun-

day December 2nd and 9th will be mailed out.

175th Anniversary Celebration is starting! The first event is our entry in the Bedford Christmas Parade on

December 1. Please support this.

The next event is a combined communion with Peaks, Pisgah, and Cool Springs; using communion sets

from each church. A pot luck will be held afterwards.

Want a memento? 175th commemoratives will be offered to the congregation.

Mark your calendar for upcoming Congregational meetings:

Sunday, December 9—elect officers

Sunday, January 27— receive year end and 2019 Budget reports; vote on pastor’s terms of call

December 2018, page 3

December 2018 Praise God from whom all blessings flow! It’s that time of year when your acts of financial steward-ship, which certainly benefits the church, can also grow your faith and enrich your personal relation-ship with God. Here are five principles to consider regarding giving. First is the principle of relationship. When your giving ceases to be a transaction between you and the church treasurer and becomes a transaction between you and God, who gave it all to you in the first place, then you signify, symbolize and confess that all you are and all you have comes from God. What a statement of faith! Secondly, prioritize giving. Take God’s share off the top and not off of what’s left over. This may cause you to reorganize your life. All that beautiful language, “God is first, others second and I’m third” becomes concrete and actual. Thirdly, make a habit of giving regularly. Weekly giving trains us to spend more time thanking God for his blessing us. Fourth is the principle is faith. If we actually give God the priority, take his share off the top, then we begin to live adventurously! You can trust that God will not let you go bankrupt or starve. A gift that does not make you step out in faith is hardly a gift at all. Giving should bring joy and excitement to your life! Fifth is the principle of proportionality. Jesus talked a lot about money but only mentioned the tithe twice – both times critical of those who thought a tithe was sufficient proof of their faith (Matthew 23:23, Luke 18:11-12). In the freedom that Christ gave us, we are responsible for fixing our own percentage, based on what we can joyfully afford to give from our personal sense of abundance (2 Corinthians 8:11-15, 9:6-12). There are some who tithe in the sense of giving regularly, with a pri-ority on God, and at great personal sacrifice, with a proportion far less than 10%. There are others who will not be tithing in that sense until they give much more than 10%. Please consider pledging this year. It will help the session with the budget and help you grow your faith. Here’s my prayer that your faith will grow and your love of God increase as we head into a new year. May the peace of Christ be with you! John Blair/ Stewardship chair

December 2018, page 4

THE PERFECT PASTOR FOR THE NEW YEAR! (A chain letter)

The perfect pastor does indeed exist – you’ve never met one, but you know they are out there.

Here is a sure-fire way of guaranteeing that you will find that perfect pastor just in time for

new year. Note the following checklist to help you in your quest:

1. They are that unique church elder who will please everyone.

2. They preach exactly 15 minutes and then sit down.

3. They condemn sin, but never steps on anyone's toes.

4. They work from 8 in the morning to 10 at night, doing everything from preaching to

setting tables in the Fellowship Hall.

5. They make $400 per week, give $100 a week to the church, drives a late model car,

buys lots of books, wears fine clothes, and has a nice family.

6. They always stand ready to contribute to every other good cause and to help panhandlers who drop by the

church on their way to somewhere.

7. They are 36 years old and have been preaching for 40 years.

8. They are tall on the short side, heavy-set in a thin sort of way and handsome; having eyes of blue or brown

(to fit the occasion), wearing their hair parted in the middle, left side, dark and straight, right side, brown

and wavy.

9. This pastor has a burning desire to work with the youth, and spends all their time with the senior citizens.

10. This pastor smiles all the time while keeping a straight face, because they have a keen sense of humor that

finds them seriously dedicated.

11. They make 15 calls a day on church members, always out evangelizing the unchurched, but can be found

anytime in their study if needed.

12. The Perfect Pastor always has time for – never misses – any church or committee meetings or any other

church organization.

If your pastor does not measure up, simply send this notice to six other churches that are tired of their pastor too.

Then bundle up your pastor and send them to the church at the top of your list. If everyone cooperates, in one

week you will receive 1,643 pastors from which to choose. One of them should be perfect. But beware! One

church broke the chain and got its old pastor back in less than three months.

Bedford Hiking Club marches into the New Year! Keep your hiking boots warm under your bed! On New Year’s Day, Tuesday, January 1

st at 11am, the Bedford Hiking Club will once

again gather at the Peaks of Otter Lodge for our traditional BRISK stroll around Abbott Lake followed by a hurried retreat to the Lodge for a warm meal. This is an easy walk along a level paved trail, but if the day is cold you will want to protect your face from the wind. We’ll see you up at the Lodge! -- Junior Walkmaster John Salley

HOPE FOR TOMORROW COUNSELING LADIES GROUP (Part of Patrick Henry Family Services) Hope for Tomorrow Counseling us offering a safe, supportive, en-couraging, closed group for women. This small group is dedicated to helping women overcome the traumatic events and relationships that they have experienced.

Women can expect a relaxed, comfortable and educational environment where they can engage at their own pace. Contact: Katelynn Jones at 434-376-2006 1621 Enterprise Drive Lynchburg, VA

December 2018 , page 5

Bedford County Nursing Home

Betty Abbott- Room 114

Elks Home – 931 Ashland Ave.

Anna Latimer, Room B-208 Frankie Latimer, Room H-205 Nat Harvey, Apt F-103

Frank & Tinkie Avery, Apt E-202

Quarry Hill

Anne Tiedeman 30 Community Dr., #312

Camden, ME 04843

Runk & Pratt

Frances Childress Liberty Ridge

30 Monica Blvd. Room 349 Lynchburg, VA 24502

Bentley Commons Pat Clarke

Bentley Commons, 1604 Graves Mill Rd. Room 210

Lynchburg, VA 24502

In Tennessee

Polly Turner C/O Steve Turner 12 Riverside Dr.

Oak Ridge, TN 37830

In Our Prayers Diddams: Betty Lou- (sister-in-law)

Dills: Kathy’s father

Foster: Betty Dudek- (friend)

Blanton Bryant- (former member)

Sue & Ron -(Ellen’s sister & brother in law)

Gile: Pastor Gary

Goodman: David Abbott-(Betty’s nephew)

Barry Owen-(friend)

Gould: Muriel Ryder- (Friend’s wife)

Heinrich: Steven - (grandson)

John Primrose-(brother)

Barbara Lore- (Helen’s sister)

Kibbey: Joy Byrne-(friend)

Nancy Milton-(friend)

Rachel Rutledge- (granddaughter)

Troy- (friend)

Koch: Doris

Bill

Long: Bradley

Mauser: Joyce Reese- (friend)

Steven-(son’s boss)

Jim- (friend)

Pat- (Al’s sister)

Ann-(niece)

McManis: Matthew McManis (grandson)

Morris: All first responders and police officers

Cleta Weitenthaler- (sister -in-laws mother)

David Bateman- (friend)

Richwine- Brent’s (nephew) wife

Riley: Carolyn Borsini-(niece)

Rumpf: Mildred Daniels -(sister)

Frances

Rutledge: Bordeas family

Salley: John Solon-(Betty’s brother)

Saunders: Colin Bridges- (grandson- 12yr old)

Saunders: Nelson

Scheurer: Stephanie Hale- (friend of Sandy’s)

Mickey- (friend’s daughter)

Schubert: Gerda & Ed

Stetson: Dave’s Boss’ wife

Gwen Witt- (friend)

Nick

Stevens: Larry Johnson -(friend)

Jackie Landis

Toney: Karen Hyde- (friend)

VanDyke: Jeff-(son)

Webb: Raymond (father)

Weeks: Mary Lohmeyer-(friend)

Wilkes: Marty Ponder- (friend)

Wilkerson: Ricky Wilkerson-(Dan’s cousin)

Prayers for those affected by Hurricanes

Prayers for affected by mass shootings and wildfires

Prayers for persecuted Christians

In Our Prayers Barnes: Jane (friend)

Pete Dudding (brother)

Angie Crouch- (friend)

Benton: Britany (granddaughter

Blair: James Thorne

Boone: Ron Hackman-(neighbor)

Jim Hedrick- (friends)

Kay Bailey-(friend)

David Grant- (Sam's cousin)

Chapman: Winston

Chryssikos: Phillip-(son)

Cram: Winslow’s-(friends of Sally’s)

Janice Campbell (friend)

Nancy Holmes- (Friend)

Sergeant Dan- (friend)

DeWitt: Shirley Magann- (friend of family)

Gerald

Janet Morris- (cousin)

December 2018 , page 6

Members in the Military

Nick Stetson- Navy

Deployed

Ben Daniel- Army

Deployed- Iraq

Joy Byrne- Army

Deployed- Afghanistan

Land of the Free,

Because of the Brave

December Birthdays

Nancy Dwyer - 4 Anna Latimer - 5 Al Toney - 9 John Blair - 10 Janet Eagler - 16 Bill Mitchell - 17 Shawn Webb - 18 Kathy Chryssikos - 24 Jade Creasy - 28 Gayle Mauser - 30

December Anniversaries

Ken & Charlotte McManis - 3 Ed & Gerda Schubert - 8 Scott & Patty Meyers - 9 Al & Gayle Mauser - 12 Roy & Libby Monk - 20 Raymond & Emilie Citty - 21

MISSIONARIES SUPPORTED BY THIS CHURCH: Lee and Gracie Murphree, La Ermita, Honduras

website: heartofchristhonduras.org

Our Friends in Turkistan

(Central Asia)

Devotionals Do you have any small inspirational, devotional or prayer books that you no

longer need or use? If so, the Pastors and Deacons can use them to take to our shut-ins and those with medical issues that can’t make it to church. Please see Ellen Foster.

1. One 20 oz can of crushed pineapple in syrup. 2. Six slices of white bread. ( I leave the crust on) 3. One cup of sugar. 4. Three eggs. 5. One quarter pound stick of butter.

Melt the butter. Tear the bread into small pieces and place in a bowl. Add the eggs, butter and sugar and mix well. Add the crushed pineapple. NOTE: The pineapple should the drained, but I like to leave some of the pineapple juice and add that to the items above, it gives the "Stuff" a little more flavor. Mix all of the above well so the bread is soaked, the sugar is dissolved, etc. After mixing all of the ingre-dients well, place the mixture in a GLASS baking dish. USE ONLY A GLASS BAKING DISH!! Bake for 1 hour. Dad also said that sometimes he would add a few raisins, but not all the time. On occasion he might also add two jiggers of brandy, but he rarely did that, also for taste.

NOTE: This dish can be served as either part of the other dishes for the meal or it can be served as a dessert. It can also be served either hot or cold, good both ways! Ron Morris.

“Pineapple Stuff." Heat oven to 350 degrees

while mixing the "Stuff." Baking time is one hour after everything is mixed, poured in a glass baking dish and ready to go into the oven.

December 2018 , page 7

December 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

2

10 am Service

Communion

Prayer Meeting

Abendmusik ,7pm

3

Quilters,6pm

4 Something

More,

4:30 pm

Cubs, 7 pm

5

Deacons

Meeting, 5 pm

Joyful Noise,

6:15 pm

Choir, 7 pm

6 Small Group,

2 pm

7 Office closed

8 Quilters,

all day

9 10 am Service

5¢ a Meal

Congregational

Meeting

Worship Team

Meeting,

11:30 am

Prayer Meeting

Small Group, 5pm

10

Shepherds’

Table

Quilters, 6 pm

11 Something

More,

4:30 pm

12

Joyful Noise,

6:15 pm

Choir, 7 pm

13 Small Group,

2 pm

14 Office closed

15

16 10 am Service

Session

Small Group, 5pm

17

Quilters, 6 pm

18 Something

More,

4:30 pm

Cubs, 7 pm

19

Joyful Noise,

6:15 pm

Choir, 7 pm

20 Small Group,

2 pm

21 Office Closed

22

23

10 am Service

Prayer Meeting

Small Group, 5pm

24 Christmas Eve

Service, 7pm

25 He Is Born!

26

27 Small Group,

2 pm

28 Office Closed

29

30 10 am Worship

Prayer Meeting

Small Group, 5pm

31 Quilters, 6 pm

112 Center Street Monday- Scouts 6:30 pm , Tuesday- Narcotics Anonymous , 12 pm, Wednesday- Narcotics Anonymous , 8 pm

Sundays: Narcotics Anonymous 6 pm

December 2018 , page 8

D e c e m b e r 2 018 N ews l et t e r

Bedford Christian Ministries is in need of household items for their pantry.

The following list will help guide you to fulfill their needs. Mops Diapers (sizes 1,2,3,4) Brooms Detergent (laundry & dish) Queen Size sheets Bleach Towels Toilet Paper Wash Cloths Paper Towels Dish Cloths General hygiene products Rugs (bath & home) Silverware Microwaves Toasters Mixers Can Openers Blenders Pots & Pans

Please prayerfully consider how you can help, especially during the holiday season.

The Sounds of Christmas

During this holiday season we are surrounded by the sounds of Christmas, especially the beloved carols announcing the birth of

Christ. But do we know who wrote them and why they were composed? Through music, drama and narration, we would like to

take you on a joyous journey through sight and sound. We’ll discover the story behind some of our most beloved Christmas carols, as well

as several that may not be so familiar. The Sounds of Christmas written by our own Philip Parker,

will be presented December 15th and 16th at 6 pm at Hunting Creek Baptist.

Hunting Creek Baptist is located on Route 122 in the Big Island community.

Christmas Eve Communion Service

Invite your friends and family to join with you in worship on Sun-day, December 24th at 7 pm as we celebrate God’s greatest gift to us all at our traditional Christmas Eve Communion Service.