8/3/2019 First Press 11-12

1/10

Dear friends,

As most of you know by now, I have tendered my resignation, effective December 31. As I stated inmy letter to you, it was a difficult decision to even begin looking for another position. When the posi-tion in Tempe, Arizona, came up and they offered my the nomination to be their next pastor, I wasshocked at how quickly it happened.

We do not have housing secured in Tempe just yet. But, for those who would like to keep in touch,

here is my contact info at the church:

University Presbyterian Church139 E. Alameda DriveTempe, AZ 85282-3597(480) 966-6267

We will not be moving until the first week of February, and my start is February 14. My e-mail willremain the same (eoledermann@gmail.com) as well as my Facebook and Twitter contacts, and wewill probably not change our cell phone numbers for a little while: (909) 289-9668.

Thank you to each and every one of you for an amazing three years, and I know for sure that God isvery present among you and in this community.

Peace and blessings,

Pastor Eric

.

Volume 48, No. 11 November 2011

FIRST PRESSFIRST PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH OF

SAN BERNARDINO

1900 North D StreetSan Bernardino, CA

92405Office 882-3308FAX 882-0888

www.fpcsb.net

It is the Mission of First Presbyte-rian Church of San Bernardino,

inspired by the Holy Spirit, to pro-claim the good news of the Gospel

of Jesus Christ through worship andcelebration, and teaching and learn-

ing, so that lives are transformedand members are encouraged touse their special gifts to care for

and value, as God's Beloved, eachother and the community in which

we live.

The Rev. Dr. Sandy TicePastor

The Rev. Eric LedermannAssociate Pastor

The Rev. No FalconiMelinda Rueda

Ministry of VisitationThe Rev. Jim Huffstutler

Pastor Emeritus

SUNDAY SCHEDULE:

Adult Ed. & Sunday School

9:30 a.m.

Worship

10:30 a.m.

Coffee Fellowship

11:30 a.m.

A Fond Farewell

Preparing for the Prince of PeaceBy SANDY TICE

As we move into what our culture understands to be the season of shopping and of frenzy, Godsinvitation to us is to slow downand attend to things that are silent, quiet, and deep. At First Presthis advent, we will have several opportunities to encounter the Light that darkness cannot over-come, and to prepare to welcome the Prince of Peace.

Come join us (and invite a friend?) at our annual Longest Night Service, intended for those whofeel sorrow as well as joy as they enter the holiday season. (Thursday, December 1, 6:00 p.m.)

Consider coming to the chapel on Tuesdays at noon to listen to advent texts using a prayer prac-tice called lectio divina.

Come enjoy our Church Family Christmas on December 4 right after church. It is a potluck (neednot be home-made) lunch where we will sing carols and play together. The event will be festive,inviting us to delight in the Church Family that is a gift to us in every season.

Pick up a copy of our devotional guide, Preparing for the Prince of Peace, which includes reflec-tions from 24 members of this community, and pray along with the rest of us each day of Advent.

Advent Quiet Nights on December 8, 15, and 22 are a time to gather in the Chapel, hear scripture,and be together as we wait.

Our hearts long for the peace God offers. My prayer for you this season is that you might find thetime, the quiet, and the space to rest in that Peace and be renewed for love and service.

8/3/2019 First Press 11-12

2/10

PAGE 2 FIRST PRESS VOLUM E 48, NO. 11

Pastors Page

Whats ChangingBy SANDY TICE

When Bethany opened her email from Eric that described his departure, she read it solemnly. I sat and waited for her reaction. Andher first question startled me:

So no more youth group?

For three years now (a lifetime for a teenager) Pastor Eric has helped define our youth ministry. Before that, Jennifer Butler providedleadership. Now what?

Her question helps me hear the many questions that will be asked by adults as well as youth and children as we move toward thistransition. As Eric leaves, what will happen in the many areas that have been his responsibility? How will things change? What can weexpect?

I cannot say exactly what things will look like, but what I keep hearing from God when I pray is Dont be afraid. .. the One who be-gan a good work in us will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6)

I am sure of three things:

We will continue our mission as disciples of Jesus.

We will decide together how to do that.

We will rely on God, who will never leave us or forsake us.

Of course there will be youth group. And we will continue to have deacons and a food ministry. There is no doubt we will still pursuemission both locally and far away. And ministry to children and their families will remain central to what we do. The church and its

ministry are never about one person. Gods work in this place will continue. In the weeks and months ahead, Session and Deaconswill continue to listen for Gods voice. They will continue to lead us in the way of Christ.

"To live in this world, you must be able to dothree things: to love what is mortal; to hold itagainst your bones knowing your own lifedepends on it; and, when the time comes tolet it go, to let it go" - Mary Oliver

December 4 (2nd Sunday of Advent)

Isaiah 40:1-11

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

2 Peter 3:8-15a

Mark 1:1-8

December 11 (3rd Sunday of Advent)

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

Psalm 126:1-6 or Luke 1:47-55

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

John 1:6-8, 19-28

December 18 (4th Sunday of Advent)

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Luke 1:47-55 or Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26

Romans 16:25-27

Luke 1:26-38

December 24 (Christmas Eve)

Isaiah 9:2-7

Psalm 96:1-13

Titus 2:11-14

Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

December 25 (Nativity of JesusChrist/Christmas Day)

At Dawn:

Isaiah 62:6-12

Psalm 97:1-12

Titus 3:4-7

Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20

Christmas Day:

Isaiah 52:7-10

Lectionary

Down In Front!By CURTISS ALLEN

You are all about to witness a grand experiment in oursanctuary during this Advent Season! The SanctuaryChoir, who has been joyfully filling the air with its musicfrom the balcony in the back of the church for lo thesemany years, will be relocating to the Chancel duringAdvent! You ask why? One word: Accessibility. As weage, our bodies dont handle climbing several flights of

stairs like they once did. As music director, I want eve-ryone to have access to singing in our choir regardlessof their physical limitations. Moving down to the Chan-cel will also give the choir members a chance to feelmore included in the Worship experience as they willbe able to see your faces, and you theirs!

Now is your chance. If you happen to be one of thepeople who have been reluctant to sing with us be-cause of the need to climb many stairs, wait no longer!Those who wish will process into position during theopening hymn. Others may wish to position them-selves in their new choir seats prior to the proces-sional. We will sing our usual Introit afterthe proces-sional hymn in order to accommodate everyone.

One special note: On December 18, the choir will bedispersed among the congregation as the children willlead worship with our annual pageant. The choir andwhoever else wishes to participate will be invited tocome down front and stand for the Halleluiah Chorusat the end of the service. Carol will play the organfrom the back so we will simply follow her!

The choir practices on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Fire-side Lounge.

Peace to you all this Advent Season and lets continueto make beautiful music together as we lead Worshipin a new and exciting way!

8/3/2019 First Press 11-12

3/10

PAGE 3FIRST PRESSVOLUME 48, NO. 11

Financial ReportAs of

31 October 2011

Actual: Budgeted: Over/

(Under):

Pledges $ 349, 904.24 367,500.00 (17,595.76)

Other Income $ 27,832.21 25,791.64 2,040.57

Net Income $ (1,375.39) 5,024.50 (6,399.89)

Expenses $ 379,111.84 388,267.14 (9,155.30)

With The Eyes of a ChildBy LYNETTE DuCLOS ADELSON

Happy Holidays! Experiencing Christmas through the eyes of children is a great gift andwe, at First Presbyterian ChildCare Center, are grateful for the opportunity.

December is so full of excitement and anticipation that we want to include everything in

our monthly curriculum and yet keep it as stress and anxiety free as possible. The firstweek will be spent exploring winter. Well do lots of science experiments with ice. We'llfreeze water in shallow pans, cupcake tins and even surgical gloves and create sculptureswith different shapes. Well make our own snow..cones with our hand crank ice shaver! Ifthere is snow in the mountains we'll ask someone to bring us down a pick-up full. We'llmake gingerbread people and share them with our families during our Christmas Programin Fellowship Hall.

The next weeks we will emphasize the true meaning of Christmas. We will read about thebirth of God's son including books that focus on the preparations in the stable and in thefields. Our dramatic play centers will be transformed with mangers, scarves, swaddlingcloths and robes. We will sing traditional Christmas hymns as well as simple, moderntunes. And we will create art depicting the story of Christs birth. And if that's not enough,we will explore the concepts of gift giving, sharing and being thankful for all that God givesus.

The last week of December will be full of discussions and activities about endings andbeginnings as we prepare for 2012.

Longest Night ServiceBy SANDY TICE

My friend Elizabeth Nordquist wrote on herblog:

So how does the Holy One come to speak tothe loneliness we as humans have as part ofour journey? The Psalmist laments (a goodplace to start): I am like an owl in the wilder-ness, like a little owl of the waste places. I lie

awake; I am like a lonely bird on a housetop.(Psalm 102: 6,7). Naming our loneliness inthe Presence of the Holy One is a beginningto moving from the despair of loneliness tothe safety of solitude. The Psalmist turns be-reft attention to the action and nearness ofthe One who, according to St. Augustine, iscloser to us than our very breath, the God ofMany Names, and finds the beginning of sol-ace there.

The Longest Night service that we hold eachyear is a chance to name that loneliness, andto lament our sorrow, and to be touched byGods powerful healing presence in contem-plative prayer.

It will be December 1 at 6 p.m., and is anideal place to bring a friend who has had adifficult year, or is entering the season with aburden. It is also an ideal place to pray forthe sorrows of a world that waits for the finalcoming of the Prince of Peace. I hope you will

join us.

The rest of Elizabeths blog can be found at:http://www.patheos.com/blogs/amusingamma

/2011/11/all-the-lonely-people/

Save the DateThere are a great many exciting things happening in our church worship services this

month as we celebrate Advent and we would hate for you to miss anything!

Dec. 1 Longest Night Service.

Dec. 4 Church Family Christmas.

Dec. 18 Christmas Pageant during worship.

Dec. 24 Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m.

Dec. 25 Christmas Day service - Come as you are, sing for joy, and feel free to bringleftover holiday baked goods to share during Coffee Hour!

John 1:5 The light shines inthe darkness, and the dark-ness has not overcome it.

ConsecrationSundayWas Amazing!By SANDY TICE

It was a joy to listen to our guest, Dr.

Robert Cave, Dean of Faculty and VP ofAcademic Affairs at Harvey Mudd Col-lege, speak to us about courage andgratitude and giving, and about howencountering Jesus transforms us.

It was a delight to sit down to lunch to-gether, and to hear the sounds of laugh-ter and recognition, to see some folkswe havent seen in a while, and to breakbread together.

And it was magnificent to receive thepledges that indicate that we all have astake in the future of our ministry here.Thanks to all who made the day possi-ble, especially the Pledge Team of MarkEdwards, Nora OToole, Deb Law,Shannon Nolin, and Cindi Pringle.

By the way- if you have not yet beenable to pledge, we would love to hearfrom you. It would be an enormous helpto the Session as they build the budgetfor our ministry in 2012.

Thanks be to God!

8/3/2019 First Press 11-12

4/10

PAGE 4 FIRST PRESS VOLUM E 48, NO. 11

DECEMBER

CELEBRATIONS

Dec 1 Elaine SaenzDiana & Mike Panelli

Joseph Panelli

Dec 2 Sarah Godby

Dec 3 Cindi Pringle

Dec 4 Michael Panelli

Dec 5 Bobbie Terrell

Curtiss & Rebecca Allen

Bob & Mary Drage

Dec 9 Maddie Ramirez

Cyndi Dallas

Dec 10 Sindy LedermannColleen Paris

Dec 11 Christi Showman Farrar

Deagan Belle

Esther Fenton

Dec 12 Bob Drage

Dec 14 George, Robert &

Tiffany Biddlecombe

Dec 15 Mark Cousineau

Dec 16 Jon Horstmann

Ron Skipper

Dec 17 Bill & Doris Nord

Dec 18 Patrick Garcia

Dec 19 Jim & Carol Coyne

Kristin Arellano

Dec 20 Melodee Kistner

Dec 21 Danielle Garza

Dec 23 David Hackleman

Ray Nelligan

Dec 24 Carolyn Getchell

Dec 25 Renee Kern

Dec 26 Howard & Nancy Le RoyDorothy Strum

Dec 28 Lillian Franklin

Blaine & Renee Kern

Eunice Olsen

Dec 29 Nick & Karen Davies

Dec 30 Thelma Knea

A Church Family ChristmasBy WANDA SKIPPER

The holiday spirit will be flowing with singing, table activities and sharing a meal right afterworship on Sunday,. December 4..

It is a potluck, and you can certainly fix your favorite dish ...or simplify and pick up

something ready made.

There are lots of choices too. Well need main dishes, side dishes and desserts. Dessertsshould be finger food cookies, brownies, etc.

Dont stress out let the deli, the store, the frozen food section do the work for you.

The joy and fun is in the sharing. There will be people in the kitchen to keep items warm

and have everything ready following worship.

There will be communal singing and fun interactive table games for all ages. Come andenjoy the fellowship of your church family as we kick-off the holiday season.An Alternative Christmas MarketBy DEBBIE LAW

Along with angels and stars, a heart sums up the inspiration behind Christmas. Shiningthrough the decorations and celebrations of the holiday is the simple message: God has aheart for the world. The message of Christmas rings loud and clear: everything has aplace in Gods heart of love. He treasures each and every one, and He longs for each toknow the fullness of life that comes through the life, death and resurrection of His Son,Jesus. He has a heart for the world, a heart that is animated with hands and feet that fedthe hungry and hands that healed the world. This is the heart of Christmas.

The heart of our Alternative Christmas is found in; Habitat for Humanity, The Heifer Pro-ject, First Presbyterian Churchs Child Care Center, and The Pencils and Prayers Projectof Curtis Middle School. Each has reclaimed the love and heart of Jesus, extending life-giving opportunities to the people of our community as well as around the world. Alterna-tive Christmas, provides gifts of materials and goods for Habitat for Humanity and TheHeifer Project, while providing school supplies and games to the Child Care Center ofFirst Presbyterian Church and The Pencil and Prayers Project of Curtis Middle School.

Join Presbyterian Women on Dec. 11 in Fellowship Hall as we, as a congregation, givethe heart of Christmas to the world and our community.

Time For GoodbyeBy SANDY TICE

Saying goodbye is hard to do, especially if you love the person to whom you are saying it.But saying goodbye is important- it is an opportunity for blessing and for healing. Good-bye is actually a contraction of the phrase God be with ye, which is exactly what wehope for Pastor Eric, as he begins ministry with a new congregation, and what he hopesfor us as we remain here.

We will celebrate and pray for the Ledermanns in worship on December 18, and there willbe a reception in Fellowship Hall afterward where you can greet them, and say goodbye. We will give Eric a basket full of remembrances, and if you would like, you mayparticipate in that gift. Simply tear off the last page of this newsletter (or print it out, if youare reading it electronically, or pick up a paper copy in the office) and select one of theblessings to complete. What will you remember about Eric and his ministry among us?What gifts have you seen in him that you know he will take to University Pres.?

Jot down a note about a moment where you saw Christ at work in him, or name one of thegifts and graces you have noticed. You may send or bring it to the office, or simply bring itto the celebration. We will gather all the notes into a basket of blessings for him to takeinto the next chapter of his ministry.

8/3/2019 First Press 11-12

5/10

PAGE 5FIRST PRESSVOLUME 48, NO. 11

Sprits Raised As Well As FundsBy LYNETTE DuCLOS ADELSON

The FPCCC fundraiser at El Torito was a great success. We received $269 from El Torito which beat our last two fundraiser totals.Add that to the $285 donated by folks who wanted to support FPCCC but couldn't attend and we have a total of $554 to put in theParent Activity Fund! In the past the FPCCC parents have given that money for special equipment or projects in the classrooms.Thank you all for eating well in support of this mission of our church and for your continual encouragement and prayers.

Dear Friends at First Presbyterian,

Thank you for all of the love and comfort that you have

given to our family after the passing of our dear Mother.

We especially thank Pastor Sandy for the wonderful Me-

morial Message and special prayers for us, Pastor Noe for

visiting and praying with Mom in the hospital, Carol for

the beautiful music (especially Thy Word is a Lamp Unto

My Feet, Moms favorite), Pat, Roy, and Irene for Moms

last coffee party, and special thanks to all the office

staff who put it all together!

Mom was blessed with 103 years on this earth. Thank

you for being an important part of her life for over 30

years. Hugs and kisses to all of you!

Love and Blessings from,

Leona Strunks Family.

Congratulations to Cyndi Dallas Temple andKendall Voris, who were married during worshipon Nov. 20! We wish them a joyful and happy lifetogether as Cyndi and Kendall Dallas. (You readthat right- they have agreed to share her name) .

Keep Military Membersin Your Prayers

Seaman Mark Munz, US Navy, San Diego, CASgt. Andrew Bonine, US Army, Ft. Riley, KSPvt. Rachael Bonine, US Army, Ft. Riley, KS

Staff Sgt. Robert Bentley Wilson, US Army Schofield Barracks, HIWO2 James Bentley Wilson, US Army, Iraq

8/3/2019 First Press 11-12

6/10

Earleen&DonDudley9093810206

GARDENPARTYCENTRAL.COM

7223 Church Street A6, Highland CA

909.425.0606

Jim and Sheila CiminoResidential Home Specialists

27255 Messina StreetHighland, CA 92346Cell 909 499-9730 FAX 909 499-9730

B bbittbbittbbitt

Memorial Chapel

1299 E. Highland Ave., San Bernardino909 882-3761 License #FD-1133

San Bernardinos OldestFamily-Owned Mortuary Specializing in: Kitchen & Bath Remodels

Room Additions

Home Improvements

Granite Countertops

New Home Construction

909-882-4436909-229-4744General Contractor

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Patricia Bobbittatricia Bobbittatricia Bobbitt424 W. Highland Ave24 W. Highland Ave24 W. Highland AveSan Bernardino, CA 92405an Bernardino, CA 92405an Bernardino, CA 92405909 88509 88509 885-0317 884317 884317 884-0445445445FAX 882AX 882AX 882-6358358358

Lic# 360910854,

36912055

SERVICE REPAIR REPLACEMENTS

NEW INSTALLATIONS

RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL

MONDAYFRIDAY8864440CA Contr. Lic #312683

8/3/2019 First Press 11-12

7/10

8/3/2019 First Press 11-12

8/10

8/3/2019 First Press 11-12

9/10

I will remember your ministry;especially the time when . . .

Your new congregation will be blessed to haveyou because . . .

8/3/2019 First Press 11-12

10/10