Logos Begins on February 14th

Mark your calendars!! This year Logos will begin on Tuesday, February 14 and conclude on March 21. The hours will be from 3:30 to 6:30.

For those of you who don’t know The Logos Program is for children in grades K-8. Logos is “the theology and practice of Christian relationships in a disciplined, midweek, four-part context.”

The Program creates an arena in which young people and adults experience living together in Christian community.

• Logos meets mid-week. This is the time of the week when family schedules are most stable, making regular attendance possible.
• Logos consists of 4 parts in which everyone participates every week.
• Logos assumes parent participation in the program.  This does NOT mean that parents participate every week in the program.  It does mean that they agree to take responsibility for some aspect of the program during the 6 weeks of Logos. 
• Logos also includes members of the congregation who share their gifts and talents with the young people as they take part in Logos.

We need teachers for K/1 and 2/3 grades. Registration forms have been mailed to last year's participants, but can also be found in the narthex. Forms need to be returned to the church office by February 1. Any questions and people can call Jill Crowder at 672-9497.

Special Guest on Sunday, February 5

Bob Pryor, Director of Camp Hanover (our presbytery’s camp for children, youth and adults located near Mechanicsville), will be our preacher on February 5th. Bob will also be available after the service to answer questions and to talk to kids and parents about camping opportunities for next summer.

The Camp Hanover website explains that: “Camping is an integral part of the total church's program of Christian Education… Camping provides a living situation in which Christian principles can be discovered, practiced and tested. The out-of-doors, though it is to be discovered and enjoyed, is not an end in itself, but a means to bring campers and counselors to an awareness of God as Father, Creator, and Redeemer and to help respond in a living way to God's love as revealed through Christ.”

Please join us in worship on the 5th to learn more about outdoor ministry and the excellent programs at Camp Hanover.

THE PASTOR'S CORNER

Dear Friends,

This year, February is something of an ‘in-between’ time in the life of the church. The Christmas season is over and the season of Lent does not begin until March. But that certainly doesn’t mean that nothing is going on!

• On February 5th, Bob Pryor, Director of Camp Hanover, will be with us to preach and to let us know about summer camping possibilities for kids and youth. In addition to our guest preacher, we will celebrate the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper during worship that day.
• The 5th will also mark the culmination of the Souper Bowl Can Drive sponsored by the Senior High Sunday School class. (If you haven’t yet brought in your canned food for the Food Bank, please remember to do so. And thanks to the Senior Highs for coordinating this terrific project.)
• On February 12th, a new adult Sunday School class begins. Watch the bulletin to see what topic or article will be covered on each Sunday.
• And speaking of education… the LOGOS Program begins on Tuesday, February 14th. (See a related article above.)
• We will celebrate the sacrament of baptism on February 19th; and February 26th is Transfiguration Sunday. That’s the last Sunday before the beginning of Lent.

Throughout February, the Pastor Nominating Committee will also continue its work. By mid-February, they hope to have the C.I.F. (Church Information Form) approved by the session and by the presbytery. That should allow them to start receiving P.I.F.’s (Personal Information Forms) very quickly.

I look forward to working and worshipping with you in this very active and lively ‘in-between’ time.

In Christ,
Beth

Pastor Nominating Committee Update

The Pastor Nominating Committee has successfully completed phase one of its work, involving completion of the Church Information Form and related decisions. The report was shared with the Session in advance of its January 28th meeting. Bill Chapman will attend the session meeting to answer questions and provide any further information needed for Session approval. The information will then be sent to Presbytery for approval by the Committee on Ministry. When approval is granted, we may begin publicizing the position and seeking applications.

While we are awaiting approval, the Pastor Nominating Committee will continue to prepare for the interview process by undergoing a second round of orientation from our General Presbyter, Reverend Carson Rhyne.

A New Adult Sunday School Class

A new adult class will begin on February 12th in the library.

During this session, we will be reading and discussing articles written by leading Christian authors and ministers on a variety of subjects including funeral practices, baptism, worship and others. Articles will be available in the narthex each week prior to the discussion. You are invited to pick up an article and join us for one or all of the sessions.

The class will meet on the 12th, 19th, and 26th of February. Following this session, we will offer a Lenten Bible Study.

If you have questions, please call Beth at the office, or Lynne Clements at 672-1120.

Heifer Project on February 5

On Sunday, February 5, during the Sunday School hour, Sharon Mohrmann will present a program about the Heifer Project.

Heifer Project International is an organization that provides livestock to farmers in poor countries. This is an excellent way to combat hunger and help people help themselves.

The money our Sunday School classes will be raising and giving to Heifer Project will not only provide animals for poor families, but will also help pay for an aide to deliver them and oversee their care. Heifer Project also requires that anyone who receives an animal must share some of the offspring with their neighbors. In this way a wider circle of individuals is helped.

All members of the congregation are invited to attend this special program in the fellowship hall at 9:45 on February 5th.

Notes From The Church Office

Some quick notes to help keep everyone updated and organized:

1. Please do not put any cash on the church office desk. It should be put in an envelope and put in Karen’s mailbox; or it can be given to Gail Chapman; or to the tellers on Sunday morning. Everything you have for the church office should be put in Karen’s mailbox and not on her desk.
2. If you need reimbursement for expenses you have paid, or have a receipt or bill to turn into the office, please fill out a “Check Request Form”. Attach any receipts to the form and leave it in Karen’s mailbox. The forms are in the blue rack, top tray, next to the mailboxes in the office.
3. Committee chairs are requested to keep a record of their expenses. Any request for reimbursements or payments must be accompanied by a “Check Request Form”. This gives us a way to reconcile information during the year with the computer’s information and to make sure all of our bills are paid. Thank you!!

From The Treasurer

• Our December Income was: $21,647.28.
• December Expenses and Benevolent Gifts totaled: $17,833.69.

The income as of December 31st has been sufficient for ordinary expenses. Our largest monthly expenses are our salaries and associated costs; a $1,000 monthly contribution to the Presbytery of the James; and the fuel oil bill. We’re hoping for a continuing mild winter, as our total payment for fuel oil during last winter was just under $9,000.

If you have any questions about the church budget, or our expenses, please speak to me .

Gail Chapman, Treasurer

Lynne Clementser

Earle Breeden

Calvin & Mildred Butts