RIDGLEA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

4350 River Oaks Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76114 (817) 732-3388

www.RidgleaPres.org December, 2019

9:00 A.M. SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:00 A.M. WORSHIP SERVICE - SANCTUARY

CHRISTMAS EVE PAGEANT 6:00 P.M.

CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE 8:00 P.M.

SESSION MEETING THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 7:00 P.M.

DECEMBER NEWSLETTERS ARE

AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX AND

FELLOWSHIP HALL

Caroling on December 8 Pizza after Worship. Caroling 12:00 - 4:30 p.m. Hot chocolate and cookies at Fellowship Hall afterwards

THE CHURCH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED DECEMBER 25, 26, AND 27, 2019 AND JANUARY 1,

2020.

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Adventures Back in 2006 a warehouse was hit by a tornado, exposing nearly 25,000 surviving barrels to the elements for a few months. When those barrels were opened in 2011 there

was a realization that the bourbon inside had different characteristics than others of the same vintage, because of the additional evaporation, temperature swings, and wood interactions. The company decided to market the contents of 100 such barrels as “tornado-surviving” bourbon, bringing much profit and delight.

Reading about those barrels had me thinking about the difficult times that many of us move through, and how those difficulties season, strengthen, and inform us. Not that we give thanks for the tornado while it is swirling around us; instead, once the dust has settled and a new time or routine can be established, we start to understand that we have attained a depth of character, of faith, of fortitude, through personal travails.

What also caught my attention in this story was the tenacity of the barrels. Each single piece of wood – called a stave – forms both a longitudinal arch, bulging in the middle, and a latitudinal arch, bulging through their width to create circumference. The effect of both arch and bulge mean that, if a barrel falls, the impact is shared by all of the staves. When standing upright a barrel can be tilted and rolled on edge, and when on its side only a small portion of the barrel touches the ground, meaning they are easily maneuverable and portable.

The tenacity of those bourbon barrels and the added character instilled through their travails reminds me of the watchful, waiting weeks of Advent. The season anticipates Christ’s return and bids us to lean into the call and response of discipleship, together. Because together we are more stable, supportive and responsive. Peace, Roger H.

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Staff

Roger Harwerth, Interim Pastor interim@ridgleapres.org Patricia Taber, Office Manager patricia@ridgleapres.org Jody Maas, Interim Director of Youth Ministry jody@ridgleapres.org Pier Crenshaw, Accountant pier@ridgleapres.org John Sauvey, Director of Music Ministries john@ridgleapres.org Dale Bench, Organist dalepipeorgan@sbcglobal.net Thomas Rodriguez, Church Custodian building

Church Office #817.732.3388

Making contact...

Ridglea Presbyterian Church is a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA). It is governed by the Session, an elected body composing of elders and pastors. Our committees, led by elders, oversee our ministries. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Email: Clerk@RidgleaPres.org. Our deacons oversee our ministries of care and compassion. Email: Deacons@RidgleaPres.org

RPC SESSION Class of 2020 Class of 2021 Class of 2022 Blythe Lee Julie Ritz Delaine Godwin Bill Long Butch Saxton Katrina Little Will Stallworth Tom Sisolak George Tischler Marsha West Renee’ Stuart Reeve Van Nostrand Clerk of Session: Karen Landon

RPC TRUSTEES Class of 2019 Class of 2020 Class of 2021 Andi Ferreira Ed Chandler Jean Hadley Mike Strange Ken Kibler

2019 RPC DEACONS Betsy Kibler – Funeral Reception Coordinator

Dean Phillips and Nancy Ritts– Hospital Care Coordinators Jane Johnson – Homebound Care Coordinator

RPC FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Class of 2019 Class of 2020 Class of 2021 Class of 2022 Elizabeth Duncan Ann Shelton Thylis Chambless Micky Severson Will Stallworth, Designee

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Please help us help others!! There are sign ups for sandwich makers for the Pres-

byterian Night Shelter in the hallway on the bulletin board with the Flower Calendar. If you have any questions, please contact

Nancy Aprilant nAprilant@charter.net

Wednesday mornings at 8:00 a.m. Fellowship Hall

NO DINNER FOR 8 FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, BUT WILL RESUME IN JANUARY

AFTER THE HOLIDAYS.

NOVEMBER, 2019 DINNER FOR 8

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Christmas Caroling to our Homebound members will take place on Sunday, December 8 after the 10 am service. Pizza will be served immediately after service and then off to caroling. If you wish to participate in the caroling, please contact Jane Johnson. Hot Chocolate and Cookies at Fellowship Hall following caroling.

RPC Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve Pageant 6:00 p.m. Sanctuary Fellowship Meal 7:00 p.m. Fellowship Hall Candlelight Service 8:00 p.m. Sanctuary

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RPC FUTURE NEW HOME

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WOMEN'S RETREAT February 21 - 23, 2020

Fairfield Inn, Weatherford

(More info to follow at later date)

RPC Youth & Children’s News……... December 1: TBD

December 8: Churchwide Christmas Caroling (No Messengers fellowship)

Pizza following worship service, caroling to homebound and

back to church for cookies and hot chocolate.

December 15: Youth Christmas Party for middle and high school 4-7:00 p.m. at the Duncans. December 22: TBD December 29: TBD

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Session Notes • The RPC regular stated session meeting took place on

Thursday, November 21, 2019. The Reverend Roger Harwerth moderated the meeting.

• The Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) provided an update to the Session. The committee is beginning to re-ceive and review Personal Information Forms (PIFs) from pastors seeking a call.

• The RPC Relocation Central Commission (RCC) reported that construction and renovation of the 5000 Southwest Blvd. property is progressing. A Space Utilization Plan for the building has been drafted, and discussions will contin-ue about how to best use the classrooms, offices, and storage space in the new facility.

• The RPC 2020 budget draft was presented by the Fi-nance & Budget Team. Elders discussed the proposed budget and provided input. It is hoped that more pledge cards will be received during the next few weeks. A final 2020 budget will be presented for approval at the Decem-ber session meeting.

• RPC continues the search for a Director of Youth and Children’s Ministries. There are postings for the position in Grace Presbytery announcements, and other job search websites (indeed.com) may be used for advertis-ing the position.

• The next Grace Presbytery meeting is at Trinity Presby-tery in McKinney on Saturday, December 7, 2019.

• The next stated session meeting will be Thursday, De-cember 19, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall.

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DECEMBER, 2019 Thank you to PW members and guests who came to our October meeting to hear Sharen Wilson, Tarrant County’s Criminal District Attorney, speak to us about Elder Fraud. We were so pleased to welcome many men of our congregation and neighboring PW groups. It is an important and frightening issue. Sharen is a dynamite and compel-ling speaker. We were shocked to learn in 2018, her office had 50,000 complaints filed. That is only those who came forward for help. Her list of common scams were recog-nized by many: Missed jury duty Problem with your computer Faulty contractors Charity scams Grandson needs bail money Need to verify your account “How do we stop this?” we all asked. Sharen advised us not to be silent, talk about it to friends, ask questions. If you need help, call 817-720-6556. In December, all Circles will gather in the Fellowship Hall on December 10 at 10:30 a.m. for our annual Christmas celebration. We have again invited the Gold Tone Singers to entertain us with their wonderful holiday songs and fun. After the ho, ho, ho’s, we will eat, eat, eat at a potluck luncheon. So don your best Christmas sweatshirt, bring your yummiest delight and join us. Only Circle Three will meet for Bible Study at Laura Saxton’s, December 3 at 6:30 p.m. ALL Circles will resume in January! We could not end the year without again thanking the congregation for their gener-ous support of “Just Bring It”. Many have been helped because of your generosity. In December, we will be supporting the children’s stocking ministry for P.C.H.&S as our “Just Bring It” opportunity.

All Women of the Church Always Welcomed

BIBLE STUDY - MISSION - FELLOWSHIP

Presbyterian Women

We Welcome. We Witness. We Work (and play!).

Putting faith in action is what we do!

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Service Session Work Group: Primary task is to provide for the service of the people of God, focusing on the external

life of the church. 2nd Tuesday of the Month (as needed)

December 10, 2019 Ministry Teams meetings

Outreach Team: Focus on Mission Marsha West, Chair (6:00 p.m.) Commitment Focus on Guests Renee’ Stuart, Chair; Katrina Little, Vice Chair (as needed)

Your Session Invites you to Follow these simple steps:

1. Find your passion

2. Find your Ministry Team 3. Identify your meeting night

4. Get Involved!

Government Session Work Group:

Primary task is to provide support &

resources for the church.

2nd Thursday of the Month

December 12, 2019

Ministry Teams meeting

• Building & Equipment (as needed) George Tischler & John Godwin, Co-Chairs Personnel (as needed)

Blythe Lee, Chair and Julie Ritz • Clerk of Session Karen Landon

Worship & Nurture Work Group: Primary task is to provide for the service of the people of God, focusing on the internal life of

the church. 2nd Tuesday of the Month

December 10, 2019 Ministry Teams meeting

•Worship Team: Reneé Stuart, Chair and

Tom Sisolak (as needed)

• Christian Nurture: Blythe Lee, Chair; and Julie Ritz

(6:15 pm) • Fellowship Team: Bill Long, Chair; Butch Saxton,

Vice Chair (as needed)

Session Meeting December 19, 2019 7:00 pm Tuesday of the week of Session Meeting

Ministry Team meeting Finance & Budget (6:30 pm) (as needed)

Ken Kibler

1st Wednesday of the Month December 4, 2019

Ministry Team meeting at 10:30 a.m. Care Team: Focus on Members

Betsy Kibler, Chair (as needed)

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RIDGLEA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

4350 RIVER OAKS BLVD.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76114

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

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