NOVEMBER 2015 VOLUME 125

Session Update 2

Breakfast Buddies 3

Worship 3

Ladybug Luncheon 3

Youth News 4

Ladies’ Christmas Luncheon

4

From the Music Director

4

Volunteers/Month 5

Santa’s Sneakers 5

Note From Pastor Tom

5

Birthdays 6

Hospitality 6

Preschool 6

Calendar 7

Save the Date 8

Thank Offering 2

Poinsettias 5

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Pastor Tom Dendy

PASTOR’S ARTICLE PASTOR’S ARTICLE PASTOR’S ARTICLE PASTOR’S ARTICLE By Pastor Tom

A NOVEMBER CHALLENGE: THIRTY DAYS OF PRAISE AND GRATITUDE

OK Celebration friends, I’ve got a personal challenge that I will be following and want to invite you to join me in. Let’s make the entire month of November a day-to-day offering of PRAISE and GRATITUDE! Start each day with thanksgiving. Look for opportunities to praise your family and coworkers and friends and store employees and service workers and even strangers you encounter along the way. God will see us in action and be blessed as we practice intentional PRAISE and as we make a daily effort to show GRATITUDE in little and big ways throughout these thirty days. I have a personal pet peeve that THANKSGIVING as a national holiday gets shortchanged by the crowding encroachment of Halloween and Christmas. Retailers have already rolled out their seasonal best with hardly an honorable mention for THANKSGIVING. To me, every day is a day for giving thanks and expressing my gratitude to GOD by showing the same to all God’s children. So will you accept my NOVEMBER CHALLENGE? Will you consciously and deliberately live these days with your eyes wide open and your heart overflowing with PRAISE and GRATITUDE? If you choose to join me in the NOVEMBER CHALLENGE, you may wish to document your day-to-day PRAISE and GRATITUDE with a Facebook daily status update or a personal journal entry throughout these thirty days!

THANKS BE TO GOD FOR EACH OF YOU -- MY PRECIOUS PARISHIONERS!

Pastor Tom

“The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.” -- Henri J M Nouwen “A lot of us religious types go around saying thank you to God when we find a good parking space, or locate the house keys or the wandering phone, or finally get a good night's sleep. And while that may be annoying to the people around us, it's important because if we are lucky, gratitude becomes a habit. You say "Thank you" when something scary has happened in your beloved and screwed-up family and you all came through (or most of you did), and you have found love in the intergenerational ruins (maybe a lot of love, or maybe just enough). Or you can look at what was revealed in the latest mess, and you say thanks for the revelation, because it shows you some truth you needed to know, and that can be so rare in our families, let alone in our culture, our world, and in our marriages, and in our relationships with our teenagers and with ourselves.” -- Anne Lamott, from Help Thanks Wow “To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.” -- Thomas Merton

FOR THORNWELL HOME FOR CHILDREN

PAGE 2 VOLUME 125

Holy Communion will be served November 1

Next Session Meeting is Sunday, November 15 at 12:30pm

The Session met for their monthly stated meeting on October 18.

Following are the latest happenings with the Session:

♦ Jan Coulter reviewed the church’s property insurance and reported the church has adequate coverage; flood insurance, as well as coverage if there is a named storm in place.

♦ An update on the Stewardship Campaign showed 50 pledges received so far. Sixty percent of those received increased their last year’s pledge by 10% or more. If you haven’t sent in your pledge card, we encourage you to prayerfully consider doing so. To all those who have already pledged, your commitment to CPC is greatly appreciated.

♦ The Session approved entering into a relationship with Neighbor to Neighbor, a non-profit group that provides free rides to seniors over 60 for medical appointments or grocery store trips. N2N provides insurance coverage for volunteers and has an established network. Some of our members may be able to take advantage of receiving rides, and other members may choose to volunteer. We will have an

informational and training meeting with N2N in the near future.

♦ Celebration will not participate in the Meal Mania program this year.

♦ A $200 donation was approved for a group of our members who volunteer at a Conway nursing home.

♦ The Sneakers for Santa project will be handled this year by Ken and Gretchen Deubler. Members are encouraged to donate sneakers of any size (children through adult). The sneakers are given to the Salvation Army who passes them out to families in need throughout the year.

♦ Elder Terry Baker attended a seminar on church security conducted by the FBI and local Sheriff Department. He is updating our security procedures for church and preschool, and more information on this topic will be forthcoming.

♦ The Session noted with gratitude the beautiful pariments (linens for the communion table and pulpit) made by Jeanne Bredbeck.

♦ Pastor Tom is planning a Blue Christmas service for December 8 at 6pm. The service is designed for those who are feeling loss or sadness and may not want to participate in a traditional, more joyful Christmas service. Please invite any friends or

family that may find this time of worship a blessing.

♦ The Nominating Committee has finalized the slate of new Elders for 2016. A congregational meeting is called for November 1 following worship for the purpose of the election of Elders.

♦ Elder Bernadine Lamar was elected to be our delegate to the New Harmony Presbytery meeting on October 20. She will attend the Presbytery meeting with Pastor Tom.

♦ The Youth Group is sponsoring a Breakfast with Santa event on Saturday, December 5. Tickets will be available for sale shortly.

♦ The Session reviewed three proposals for resurfacing the church parking lot. A proposal was selected and approved.

♦ A proposal to replace the front doors of the church was also approved.

♦ We still need your pictures for the new website! Email them to torcgrif@sccoast.net.

♦ A recommendation will be forthcoming on how to spend memorial gifts given in honor of Sally Herstine.

♦ Please continue to pray for the Session, for Pastor Tom, and for our church.

SESSION UPDATE SESSION UPDATE SESSION UPDATE SESSION UPDATE By Nancy Torcivia

Sunday, November 22, 2015, we will receive a special Thanksgiving Offering for Thornwell Home for Children in Clinton, SC, during morning worship. Founded as a Presbyterian ministry in 1875, Thornwell Home for Children is a joyful Christian

community, offering hope and wholeness to children and families. Its goals are to provide loving homes for abused, abandoned and neglected children, to offer an opportunity for healing by providing proper healthcare and mental health counseling

for every Thornwell child, and to offer Thornwell’s children hope for a successful future by providing educational support and teaching self-advocacy. Remember to save your Box Tops for Education. They help purchase items for Thornwell children.

NEWS OF CELEBRATION PAGE 3

WORSHIP WORSHIP WORSHIP WORSHIP By Bernadine Lamar

Enjoying an excellent break-fast, good service and fun-filled fellowship is exactly what the breakfast buddies did at the Olympic Flame. The weather was cooler, the sun was shining and a nice group of people were laughing and enjoying each other's company. Thanks to Judy Leonard for being our

hostess and making the arrangements. Our next get together is at the Woodhaven Pancake House, on 2600 S Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, November 20 at 9am. Carol Butler is our hostess, and invites all to come. Please sign

up in the front narthex so we know how many will attend.

LADYBUG LUNCHEONLADYBUG LUNCHEONLADYBUG LUNCHEONLADYBUG LUNCHEON By Carol Butler

Our October luncheon took us down to Murrells Inlet to Ger-shons NY Deli. It was our first time there and it definitely won’t be our last. There were 12 Ladybugs in attendance. Sadly, Pat Teal and Marilyn Wallace were not able to come. It was typical NY deli-style food with Reuben pastrami sandwiches, corn beef and bo-logna, along with gyros and a wide assortment of other selec-tions. The ladies that ordered the soups loved them. Our waitress, Colleen, was very nice but a little harried as the

restaurant was completely full and they were understaffed. The ladies had an opportunity to read thank-you notes from Sally Herstine’s family and Shepherd’s Table for the dona-tion that we made in her name. Mary Ann Bowie spoke to us about her daughter, Tiffany. and the company she works for, Pulte, regarding the home that they will be building for the military veteran, Sgt. Whitmore and his family, in the Berkshire community. We all agreed that the $80.00 we collected will go toward mak-ing up a basket to be included in a community-wide event

being held at Longbeard’s on November 5. As always these luncheons pro-vide the ladies of Celebration along with friends and family the opportunity for lots of fellowship and laughter. The next lunch will be Thurs-day, November 5, at the Old Bull and Bush located at 4700 US 17 bypass. Judy Leonard will be our hostess. Sign up in the Narthex if you know you can make it. Let me know if you need a ride. All Ladybugs, their friends and family (female of course) are invited…..hope to see you there.

The next Breakfast

Buddies will be held on

November 20 at the

Woodhaven pancake House

9am

The Next ladybug

luncheon will be at

Old bull and bush

on Thursday, November 5

12noon

Can you hear us now? We have new choir microphones that give us a more balanced sound since they are specifically designed for choirs.

We are fortunate to have received gifts from friends and family in memory of Sally Herstine the last few months that allowed us to purchase the microphones. Sally was a big

supporter of our choir and now we can lift our voices to the heavens in a big thank you for these donations.

BREAKFAST BUDDIES BREAKFAST BUDDIES BREAKFAST BUDDIES BREAKFAST BUDDIES By Pat Teal

VOLUME 125 PAGE 4

The fall has flown by with Game Night and the Lock-in in the record books. The first church-wide Game Night was held on October 9. Church members young and old enjoyed a tech-free night while playing Pictionary, Jenga, Monopoly, and Happy Family, to name a few. At the end of Game Night, five youth participated in a Lock-in. The group enjoyed Minute to Win It games, a movie, snacks, and even a little sleep. When you think of November,

it is time to start preparing for the holidays. What better way to get a head start on your shopping than purchasing a Belk Charity Days ticket from the youth. Your $5.00 donation not only gets you additional discounts on Saturday, November 7 from 6-10am but you receive $5.00 off your purchase. Not an early bird? Belk has pre-sales the week before. The great news is that 100% of the ticket purchased from Celebration youth goes toward youth programs. Tickets will be

available before and after church on November 1. On Sunday, November 15, after church the youth will be wrapping presents for the December 5 event Breakfast with Santa. If anyone has wrapping paper they would like to donate for the event please bring to the church by November 15. Breakfast with Santa is $8.00 per person and advanced registration is requested. Please return forms by Sunday, November 22. Please see Cecilia or Jackie for a registration form.

YOUTH NEWSYOUTH NEWSYOUTH NEWSYOUTH NEWS By Cecilia Evans and Jackie Sinnet

He~Brews Café is now open on the 2nd

and 3rd Sunday of

each month

FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR By Sarah Abushakra

December 12 is the Ladies’ Christmas Luncheon. This year we are heading back to Pine Lakes Country Club. By now you should have gotten the flyer with all the particulars. Please sign up on the sheet in the narthex with your choice of meal. Laurie Andrews is

collecting the money for your meal. We are again asking those attending to bring an unwrapped gift for a child between the ages of newborn to 11 years old.

Christmas is coming!!! I know, I know. No one is ready to think about Christmas yet. It’s still October. However, Walmart has started putting out their Christmas products and musicians all around the world are beginning to work on music for the holidays. This year, the Celebration Presbyterian Choir will be

teaming up with Kingston Presbyterian and St. Anne’s Episcopal choirs to present an evening of Christmas music Wednesday night, December 16th. We are looking forward to working with our neighboring churches and members of the Long Bay Symphony to bring to the community a night of music that will promise to get you

into the holiday spirit (in December…the appropriate time for holiday cheer!). If you would like to join the fun in the choir, we rehearse every Wednesday night at 7:30 in the sanctuary.

Y outh of Celebration

LADIES’ CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON LADIES’ CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON LADIES’ CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON LADIES’ CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON By Laurie Andrews

PAGE 5 NEWS OF CELEBRATION

THE FINISH OF FOUR AND THE START OF MANY MORE!

Sunday, November 22, Christ the King Sunday, marks the end of my fourth year of shared mission and ministry with you here at Celebration Presbyterian Church.

It seems that time really has flown by as we have worked and worshipped and celebrated and commiserated together. We have a wonderful church and community and I count myself blessed to be a part of this fine church family. Let me say a huge THANKS BE TO GOD

AND TO YOU for all the shared blessings of our journey over the last four years and may God continue to bless and guide us as we lean into the future and many more years of mission and ministry at Celebration. Love, Pastor Tom

Elder of the Week Nov 1—Carol Butler Nov 8—Jan Coulter Nov 15—Cheryl Dulin Nov 22—Bernadine Lamar Nov 29—Bernadine Lamar Liturgist Nov 1—Carla Baker Nov 8—Paula Jansson Nov 15—Cheryl Dulin Nov 22—Cheryl Dulin Nov 29—Kathy Wechter Visitors Table/Greeter Nov 1—Sharon Hills Nov 8—Betsy Hughes Nov 15—Mary Ann Hughes Nov 22—Cindy and Chelsea Bramble Nov 29—Nanette Kelly

Ushers for November Jesse Wallace, Beth Bruton, Terry Baker Nursery-Trudy Miller and Nov 1—Vicki Simon Nov 8—Vicki Jacobs Nov 15—Betsy Hughes Nov 22—Nanette Kelly Nov 29—Donna Woodard Pre K –Kindergarten Children’s Church– Tonja Paolini and Nov 1—Mary Ann Bowie Nov 8—Emmy Cicala Nov 15—Sharon Hills Nov 22—Cindy Bramble Nov 29—Tiffany Bowie Children’s Church Grades 1-5 Mary Cait Jones and Nov 1—Rich McIlrath Nov 8—Leslie Eckert

Nov 15—Deborah McIlrath Nov 22—TBA Nov 29—TBA Sound Board Nov 1—Harvey Dulin Nov 8—Neil Carter Nov 15—Harvey Dulin Nov 22—Neil Carter Nov 29—Neil Carter Media Shout Nov 1—Katrena White Nov 8—Bernadine Lamar Nov 15—Bernadine Lamar Nov 22—Bernadine Lamar Nov 29—Katrena White Communion (full service) Jan Coulter, Jim Coulter, Cheryl Dulin, Jeanne Bredbeck

VOLUNTEERS SERVING THIS MONTHVOLUNTEERS SERVING THIS MONTHVOLUNTEERS SERVING THIS MONTHVOLUNTEERS SERVING THIS MONTH

NOTE FROM PASTOR TOMNOTE FROM PASTOR TOMNOTE FROM PASTOR TOMNOTE FROM PASTOR TOM

We are collecting SANTA’S SNEAKERS for male and female teens. Our goal is to collect 150 pairs of athletic shoes by Sunday, December 13. The Salvation Army will distribute the shoes, along with the Socs for Santa that were collected earlier this year.

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS Celebrate the season by enhancing our sanctuary with a Christmas Poinsettia.

It is now time to place our order for the Christmas Poinsettias. This year we will be ordering a red poinsettia for $10.00 per plant. Deadline for orders will be November 22. The poinsettias will decorate the church for the Christmas season and will be available for pickup after he Christmas Eve Service on December 24. Order forms will be available in the bulletins each Sunday.

I cannot believe that it is already November. Time sure flies when you are having fun! We have been very busy at the preschool. During the month of October, we all enjoyed a trip to the Thompson Family Farm. All of the children enjoyed a hayride, had the chance to feed some animals and even received a pumpkin to take home. This is a great place to take your family. I would recommend spending some time out

there if you have the chance. I hope everyone came through the flood without any major problems. We had one preschool family that lost almost everything. We have been collecting gift cards and cash to assist in helping them rebuild. If you are interested in donating, please drop your donation off at my office and I will pass it on. Thank you in advance.

This month we are getting ready for Thanksgiving. It is a time for the children to share all the things they are thankful for. Each child will bring a piece of fruit to make a friendship fruit salad. Together, they will dress up as Pilgrims or Indians and share a feast. I hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving.

VOLUME 125 PAGE 6

Take a moment to wish those who have a birthday this month birthday wishes or send them a card. If your birthday is not listed in your month, please contact Linda in the office to be included.

Nov 5—Dylan Brennan

Nov 8—Karolyn Davey

Nov 10—Donna Woodard

Nov 19—Dalton Coleman

Nov 20—Bob Miller

Nov 21—Martha Schmidt

Nov 22—Ken Deubler

Nov 22—Carol Mitchell

Nov 25—June Marcus

Nov 27—Charlotte Bruce

Nov 28—Fred Wetherell

BIRTHDAYS FOR OCTOBERBIRTHDAYS FOR OCTOBERBIRTHDAYS FOR OCTOBERBIRTHDAYS FOR OCTOBER

HOSPITALITY HOSPITALITY HOSPITALITY HOSPITALITY By Laurie Andrews

PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL By Susan Spraker

Our first Wednesday Night Supper was attended by 54 people who brought many yummy dishes to sample. We were disappointed that Farrah Dickerson from Neighbor to Neighbor was unable to come and present her program due to illness. We hope to reschedule her in the future. The time was spent in fellowship which made for a great time for all of us. We hope to see even more of you next month. Our next Wednesday supper will be on November 4, at 5:30. The theme is Crockpot Potluck. You are invited to bring in your favorite crockpot recipe for

us to try. Of course, if you don’t have a crockpot, any other type of food is welcome too! The Program for November will be brought by Sarah Pace, MSW, who will explain the South Carolina Vulnerable Adult Guardian Ad Litem Program (SCVAGAL). This is a new program here in Horry County. Sarah is looking for individuals interested in making a difference to protect and serve exploited, abused, or neglected vulnerable adults. As a SCVAGAL volunteer, professional training will be provided to prepare volunteers to represent a vulnerable adult

in court hearings. Come learn more about this vital program that helps protect and serve vulnerable adults here in our own community! December 6 is Celebrate the Child. We host the 4-year-old preschoolers at our service with them lending their singing talents. Punch and cookies are served at the conclusion of the service. We are in need of volunteers willing to make about two dozen cookies each for the event. If you can help, please contact me at 843-957-1991 and I’ll give you more information.

NEWS OF CELEBRATION PAGE 7

NOVEMBER 2015

Sunday Schedule: 9:15 am—Adult Sunday School 10:30am - Fellowship and Coffee 11:00 am Worship—Nursery and Children’s Church

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME

ENDS 2am Adult SS 9:15am

Worship 11am Elder Elections Children’s Choir Rehearsal 12pm

Combined Choir Rehearsal at

Kingston 4pm

2

Bible Study “Tool Time”

10:30am

3 Quilters

10am

4 Men’s Breakfast

IHOP 8am 1st Wednesday

Fellowship Supper 5:30 pm Program 6pm

Choir Rehearsal 7pm

5 LadyBug Luncheon at Old Bush and Bull 12noon

6 7

8 Adult SS 9:15am

Worship 11am

He~Brews Café for Youth Youth Military Appreciation

9

Bible Study “Tool Time”

10:30am

10 Quilters

10am

11

Choir Rehearsal 7pm

12 13

14

15 Adult SS 9:15am Worship 11am

He~Brews Café for Youth

SESSION 12:15pm

Youth Social Gift Wrapping

16

Bible Study “Tool Time” 10:30am

17 Quilters

10am

18 Choir Rehearsal

7pm

19 20

Breakfast Buddies at

Woodhaven Pancake House

12pm

21

22 Adult Sunday

School 9:15am

Worship 11am

Offering for Thornwell

Pasta with the Pastor

23

Bible Study “Tool Time”

10:30am

24 Quilters

10am

25 Choir Rehearsal

7pm

Preschool Closed

26

THANKSGIVING OFFICES/

PRESCHOOL CLOSED

27

Offices Preschool

Closed

28

29

Adult SS 9:15am

Worship 11am

30 Bible Study “Tool Time” 10:30am

PRAYER OF JABEZ —“Oh that You would bless Celebration, indeed, and enlarge our territory, in your name. That your hand would be with us and that You would keep us from evil, that we may not cause hurt to others.” I Chronicles 4:10 (Adapted for Celebration)

ORDER POINSETTIAS

ORDER POINSETTIAS

ORDER POINSETTIAS

2300 Carolina Forest Boulevard Myrtle Beach, SC 29579 Phone: 843-903-0308 Fax: 843-903-0345 celebrationpresbyterianmb@gmail.com www.celebrationpresbyterianchurch.org Facebook— Celebration Presbyterian Myrtle-Beach Dr. Tom Dendy—Pastor Ms Sarah Abushakra—Music Director Mrs. Linda Berry—Office Administrator

SAVE THE DATE: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2015 AT 6:00PM BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE AT CELEBRATION

The Christmas season can be a painful time for many who have experienced loss of a loved one, employment

or good health. Perhaps you need a space and time to acknowledge your sadness and to know you are not

alone. Join us for a BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE IN CAROLINA FOREST at Celebration Presbyterian

Church, 2300 Carolina Forest Blvd., Myrtle Beach, on Tuesday, December 8, 2015, at 6:00pm. This service

will include beautiful music, readings, candle lighting, prayers and anointing. ALL ARE WELCOME!

Contact 843-903-0308 or celebrationpresbyterianmb@gmail.com. FOR THOSE WHO FIND REJOICING HARD WORK!

Save your IHOP Restaurant receipts and turn them in to the church office. IHOP is giving back to the church a percentage of your total bill. Eat at IHOP and in turn support Celebration. Thank you in advance.

Also, we are still collecting the BoxTops for Education.

CELEBRATION PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OUR IDENTITY STATEMENT

We are Christ followers who are open, accepting, loving and welcoming to all!