The Octagon
December 2005
Mission Minded, Small Group Centered
Christmas Gifts
What do you want for Christmas?
For the past few months, I’ve been dreaming of a new Director of Music, Organist, and Youth Director. But even as our search committees have been doing their work of finding these staff members, I have been deeply grateful for the gifts that God has given us in a number of talented and committed individuals.
Judy Viccellio stepped forward to lead our Summer and Sanctuary Choirs and arrange for organists to play each Sunday through the end of October. Her enthusiasm, talent, and deep spirituality proved to be an inspiration to our choir and congregation, and enabled us to continue our joyful praise of God after the departures of Andrew Dobos and Brenda Weiser.
Adrianne Knight agreed to direct our Children’s Music Program at the start of the school year, and has been working with Sheri Zimmerman to provide excellent leadership to our young people’s vocal and handbell choirs. Along with Carrie Yearick and a host of volunteers, they are now working to prepare the children for their program on Christmas Eve. In addition, our adult handbell choirs have made progress through this interim period because of the leadership of Karen Hammond and other committed volunteers.
Now we are benefiting from the gifts of Beth Corry, our Interim Director of Music through January 1, 2006. She is providing oversight of the entire music program, including coordination and scheduling of choirs, and is directing the Sanctuary Choir and playing the organ for Sunday morning worship and our Christmas Eve services. She is also directing the Joyful Ringers handbell choir, providing accompaniment for the children's musical on Christmas Eve, and directing an Abendmusik Advent Festival of Music and Lessons on December 18 at 4 p.m. Carrie and I are grateful for Beth’s musical leadership, and we hope that you will express your appreciation as well.
On the youth front, we were disappointed to learn in October that the search committee's candidate for Youth Director declined our offer because he was not ready to leave his current position. But then Susan Wisseman, our intern from last year, agreed to serve as a Youth Program Coordinator until we secure a full-time Youth Director. Since mid-October, she has been working to support the work that the advisors are doing in our Junior and Senior High Fellowships — managing the program calendar, communicating with youths and families, and answering questions about permission slips, logistics and administrative matters. We have also been blessed to have Nicola Kerlin working as the coordinator of our Junior and Senior High Sunday School classes, supporting our teachers and communicating with our young people. I have a great deal of confidence in Susan and Nicola, and believe that they will help keep the program on track until a Youth Director is found.
Clearly, we have received many wonderful gifts. And it is not even Christmas.
Yours, Henry
To Be Noted
Holiday Office Hours
THE CHURCH OFFICE will be closed on Monday, December 26 in observance of Christmas and on Monday, January 2 in observance of New Year’s. The office will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Tuesday, December 27 through Friday, December 30. If you have pastoral concerns during this time, please call Michelle Fincher at 703 273-5300 during office hours; at all other times, call her at home at 703 378-4731. If you have concerns regarding property management or access to the building during non-office hours, please call Joe Cardassi at 703 280-4083 or 703 303-9373.
52 WEEKS OF FAITH AND FITNESS:
Close to 30 members of FPC are now signed up to participate in a year-long program of faith and fitness provided by Henry Brinton and fitness coach Vik Khanna. The group will meet monthly, and members will offer each other support and accountability as they pursue spiritual and physical fitness. Meetings begin in January, and it is not too late to join. Contact Henry at hgbrinton@aol.com if you are interested.
BAPTISM CONFERENCE:A conference for all desiring baptism for themselves or their children will be held onMonday,5 at 7 p.m. in the library. Please call the office at 703 273-5300 by the preceding Friday to let the pastors know of your interest.
ALL-COMMITTEE NIGHT is Tuesday,6, beginning with devotions at 7:00 in the sanctuary. All are invited to become involved in a ministry of the church.
THE GLEBE GUILD has Christmas greeting cards available again this year. A box of 20 cards is $15; $10 of that is tax deductible and the entire amount goes to the Glebe Fund for the purchase of annual flowers in the spring and for gardening work done by hired professionals. You may purchase the cards from the church office or call Margie and David Ralston at 703 978-9636.
A WORLD AIDS DAY concert to benefit 25:40’s work with AIDS orphans in South Africa, “One Child at a Time,” will be held at Abiding Presence Lutheran Church at 6304 Lee Chapel Road in Burke on Thursday, December 1. Musicians from Abiding Presence, Peace Lutheran, St. Matthew's Lutheran and St. David’s Episcopal Church will be featured.
Christmas Schedule at FPC
Sunday, December 18
8:45 and 11:15 a.m. - Two Services of Worship - Sermon, Baby Boom
4:00 p.m. - Abendmusik “Advent Festival of Music and Lessons”
Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24
5:00 p.m. - Family Christmas Eve Service,
Children's Musical, A Shepherd's Story
7:30 p.m. - Service of Lessons and Carols - Sermon, Jesus Eyes
10:00 p.m. - Christmas Communion - Sermon, Jesus Eyes
Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25
11:15 a.m. - Single Service of Worship - Sermon, St. Nicholas Nicked
New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1
11:15 a.m. - Single Service of Worship with Communion,
Sermon, Triple Nines
Prepare Ye the Way
An Advent Festival of Music and Lessons
On Sunday, December 18 at 4:00 p.m., come bear witness to the unfolding seasons of Advent and Christmas as the Sanctuary Choir, Little River Brass Quintet, Joyful Ringers, and other musicians and readers present a musical testimony to the joy and beauty of God’s plan to bring His Son into the world. Music by John Rutter and George Frederick Handel and rich settings of hymns and carols arranged by the renowned John Willcocks are among the highlights of this program. Following the festival, everyone is invited to a reception in the narthex. Make the season and this event special by inviting your friends and family to this musical feast to prepare the way for the Christ child.
Henry Brinton to Offer Class
On His New Book, Balancing Acts
Congregations are more divided than ever on a range of difficult theological and social issues, but now there is an innovative way to understand and address these contemporary conflicts. This class will offer the tools to find Christian unity in the middle of political, cultural, and theological diversity. Participants will read and discuss Henry's book, Balancing Acts: Obligation, Liberation, and Contemporary Christian Conflicts, which presents the two major spiritual themes that animate life in America today: obligation and liberation.
Increasingly, the key to managing tension in the church and community will be to strike a balance between those who focus on the obligations of religious life and appreciate moral clarity, and those who see religion as a liberation movement and stress God’s love for the oppressed of the Earth. Whether the issue is women in ministry, presidential politics, immigration, homosexuality, or war, common ground can be found by people of faith willing to perform a balancing act between obligation and liberation.
Henry will offer this class on Sunday evenings at Vienna Presbyterian Church’s CenterPoint adult education program from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., January 8 to February 5, 2006. Registration forms are available on line at www.viennapres.org, or pick one up from Henry’s office.
Greetings from Carrie
With so many exciting things happening here at FPC, November just flew by!
And we still have December ahead of us! So, what does December hold?
In December we are called to be different in our routines and in our spiritual lives. It is a time of preparation for the coming of the Christ Child, a time when the world is at its most frenzied and we are called to be at our most calm . . . Hmmmm. Do you have any idea how to even begin to prepare, without getting too caught up in the chaos of secular glitz and glitter? One of my preparations is to bracket my day with three short times of devotions. I have found three resources that I will be using to help focus those devotional times: Stations of the Crib, by Joseph Nassal, On the Way To Bethlehem, by Hilary McDowell, and While We Wait: Living the Questions of Advent, by Mary Lou Redding.
It is my hope your December will be filled with peace and joy, not stress!
Blessings to All! Carrie
Christmas Eve Family Service
Come and enjoy the sights and sounds of Bethlehem as the children of the FPC lead us in worship with A Shepherd’s Story, a musical based on Luke’s version of the birth of Christ. Relive the Christmas story in a fresh and moving way and journey with us as we encounter God in this holiest of seasons. This service will be held at 5 p.m. in the sanctuary.
Communion Class
Does your child wonder or have questions about communion? Parents, do you struggle in your attempts to answer your child’s questions? Well, the Christian Education Team invites you and your child to a communion class on Saturday, January 7, 2006 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the multipurpose room. An interactive and informative event is planned to help both kids and parents to experience communion with a renewed understanding of the presence of God. After this wonderful event, dinner will be served! A follow up communion service will be held at the 8:45 a.m. Jubilee service on January 22, where a special celebration will highlight those that attended the communion class.
A Report from Session
The Session met on October 18 and 30 and conducted the following business:
Respectfully submitted,
ValAnna S. Bruton,
Clerk of Session
All About FPC’s Trustee Funds
By Margie Ralston
Trustee Funds: what are they, who administers them, how are they used, and how can members of FPC add to them?
I began to answer these questions in last month’s Octagon with a description of the Permanent Endowment Fund. Another fund that FPC trustees are responsible for is the General Memorial Fund.
The money in this fund comes from the “consolidation of numerous small personal funds.”
The session of the church determines how money from this fund is to be used.
The remaining funds to be discussed are the designated funds. These include the Henry A Baumann Education Fund. This fund was established in 1992 to honor retiring pastor Henry Baumann. The initial source of the funds came from surplus contributions to Henry’s pastor emeritus retirement gift.
The purpose of the fund is “education assistance for seminary students who are members of the congregation.” At least two members have been assisted by this fund, and others may have benefited from it as well. Session also must approve the expenditure of money from this fund.
The William E. Naeher Memorial Endowment Fund for Mission was established in September 1997 by an act of session. This fund is named for the son of Will and Doris Naeher, whose initial contribution established the fund for use in “mission projects determined by session.”
Money can be contributed to these funds at any time. Both are invested and managed by a broker at Johnson Lemon.
Making Connections:
Presbyterian Women’s Circles
Presbyterian Women. All women desiring to meet in small groups with others for Bible study, prayer, support, and socialization are cordially invited to visit one of the following circles that meet in December and monthly through June.
Hannah Tuesday, December 6 at 10 a.m. at the home of Louise Wilke
Esther Restaurant dinner, date, time, and place TBA.
Martha Monday, December 12, restaurant lunch, time and place TBA.
Sarah PW Christmas dinner at FPC on Friday, December 2.
Rachel Tuesday, December 13 at 10 a.m. in the church parlor.
Mary Wednesday, December 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Kris Richmond
Ruth Tuesday, December 6 at 10:00 a.m. at the home of Linda Belger
Elizabeth Monday, December 12 at 7 p.m. at the home of Elizabeth Bowen
Do Your Christmas Shopping With the Presbyterian Women!
Items for sale include:
Throw blankets, $40
Tote bags, $22
Cookbooks, $15
FPC ornaments, $25
Note cards, $5
Pictures of these attractive items can be seen on the bulletin board next to the
college map, where you can also indicate the items you wish to purchase on the list provided. The items will be delivered to you at a later date.
FPC’s Annual Christmas Dinner
Sponsored by the Presbyterian Women
Featuring The Annandale Brass
Friday, December 2, 7 to 9 p.m. in the fellowship hall
Tickets at $20 per person will be on sale in the narthex in November.
Presbyterian Women Learn About
Operation First Response at October Retreat
FPC’s Presbyterian Women held a one-day retreat in October which featured Peggy Baker, the founder and president of Operation First Response (OFR), who spoke about the history and purposes of this all-volunteer organization devoted to supporting wounded soldiers and their families.
Those attending the retreat packed about 70 hygiene bags, with will be sent to combat hospitals in Iraq and the Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany.
In addition to hygiene bags, OFR also provides monetary assistance, arranges air flights for families and wounded soldiers from donated frequent flyer miles, transports family members to and from DC airports and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, donates groceries and other items to soldiers being cared for at Walter Reed, and facilitates communication between family members and soldiers at Landstuhl Medical Center.
If you would like to help OFR, Presbyterian Women will be packing more hygiene bags and needs donations of playing cards, pens, Q-tips, body wash, shaving cream, pocket-size tissues, Chapstick, Wet Wipes and hand sanitizer, shampoo, conditioner, and mouthwash. Please put these items in the box in the narthex.
You can also help by making direct monetary donations to OFP, 20037 Dove Hill Road, Culpepper, VA 22701 or online at www.operation
firstresponse.org, or by purchasing vitamins, sports and fitness, home, and personal care products online at www.givingprofits.com/operation firstresponse, where 33% of the retail purchase price will be donated to OFR.
To donate frequent flyer miles, call 540 547-9011 or 843 537-6348 or donate online at the web address given above.
Equal Exchange Cocoa and Chocolate
Mean a Happy Christmas for All!
“The weather outside is frightful But the fire is so delightful And since we’ve no place to go . . .” how about some great Equal Exchange hot chocolate to help you stay warm and cozy, along with some chocolate bars to satisfy that sweet tooth? Both make great Christmas gifts, too. Equal Exchange organic hot cocoa mix and organic chocolate bars are both delectable. And both are fairly traded, just like Equal Exchange coffee. The chocolate bars come in milk chocolate, dark chocolate with almonds, and very dark chocolate. All are organic and packed in boxes of 12 for $23.40. Last year some people divided a case with friends, which worked well for both parties. The cocoa mix is also available in bulk, 5 lb. bags, just the thing for dividing up into plastic bags and tying with a ribbon—perfect for tasty, chocolaty stocking stuffers. Check the price list on the sheet on the kiosk for cocoa prices, and place your order soon to be sure you have lots on hand for the holidays.
FISH Notes
From Fairfax FISH Representative Serena Mercer
Thank you very much for your generous response to the October food drive. It supplied many items we were low on or out of at a time when we expect greater use of the FPC FISH resources with the closing of Calvary Baptist’s pantry. We may make additional requests for specific items if we run low on them this winter.
The FISH Clothing Closet in our church is now open from 9:30 a.m. until noon on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and the first Saturday of each month. Clients do not need referrals to use the closet. Because space is tight, donations are limited to specific kinds of clothing. Right now, we need men's fall and winter clothing (shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts, pants, sports jackets, suits, and outerwear). Donations must be made during the hours of operation.
DO NOT LEAVE CLOTHES AT THE CHURCH. Please contact Serena Mercer at 703 352-1515 or smercer2@verizon.net. to make arrangements to accept your donation. Clients are grateful for the help this closet gives them.
ADOPTING A FAMILY for the holidays is a wonderful way to share what we have with others less fortunate. Donors are needed to provide the basics for a holiday meal and/or gifts for individuals and families at Christmas. The need is especially great this year. If you, your family, or group would like to adopt-a-family for Christmas, or if you would like more information, please contact Serena Mercer at the phone number or e-mail address above.
Needy Fairfax Area Families Grateful to Donors,
Volunteers at October Food Drive
The success of the October Food Drive meant that groceries and diapers were delivered to more than 30 needy families, the FPC FISH pantry, and the Lamb Center.
As important as your gifts of food and diapers to the success of this drive was the time, talent, and energy of the junior and senior high and adult volunteers. Special thanks to these helpers: Kent Ashley; Ginger Avery and Brian Watt; Ashleigh, Deb and Jared Berman; Val Bruton; members of the David Bush family; Michelle Coon; Charlene Griffiths; Brian Hess; Frances and Kristin Larsen; Tyler McKee; Tyler Measell; Julie and Danielle Moskowitz; Ibem and Ndidi Obasi; Debra and Charles O'Connell; Timothy and Mark Schroeder; Amanda Sparacino; Angela Stallman; Joyce, Shelly, Shyla and Kevin Strickler; Cameron Thurman; Heidi and Bob Whitesel; and any others who may have been overlooked inadvertently.
The recipients of your gifts are truly very appreciative.
PSST! Looking for Some Fun?
Let Our FPC 5-Year-Olds Show You How!
If the creativity of five year olds continues to astound you, just imagine the conversations you could have in a Sunday School kindergarten class as you help your students build a block structure or dress baby dolls, or read them a Bible story.
The Preschool Sunday School team (PSST) is searching for a few more kindergarten teachers and helpers. You will be provided the new Hands On Bible curriculum with clearly written, engaging lessons and easy-to-follow activities. Quarterly teacher fellowship meetings help you brainstorm the lessons and address learning issues.
The helper role is even easier—just assist the teacher in preparing for activities, cleaning up after, and hugging the children.
Both teacher and helper roles involve a once a month commitment. Chose your desired role and join the PSST team. Interested youth are also welcome. The only requirements are loving arms and an enjoyment of children. Contact Carrie Yearick at 703 273-5300 or carrie@fairfax presby.com or Liane Measell at 703 266-7722 or ljmeasell@cox.net.
FPP Kids Enjoy Pumpkin Patch Days
Giggles, wiggles, pumpkins and spiders! It must be the Fairfax Presbyterian Preschool
Pumpkin Patch! The children of FPP enjoyed two pumpkin patch days in October. The weather may have dampened the grass and kept us inside, but the spirits were high as children took wagon rides, had their faces painted, and found that special pumpkin to take home. They also enjoyed the juggling skills of one of our FPP dads, Pete Terenelli. Many parents helped make the day special; we even had a former student come by and pull wagons for the younger students. Thanks to Jake Kittelberger!
This year some FPP students and families participated in trick or treating for UNICEF. We are happy to report that FPP will send a donation of over $65 to UNICEF this year.
FPP families are also participating in two community service projects during November and December. Stay tuned for the results.
Don’t Miss Breakfast With Santa . . .
on Saturday, December 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in fellowship hall. Santa is making his list and checking it twice! Don’t miss your chance to sit on Santa’s lap and have your picture taken with the Jolly Old Elf himself!
The price of admittance is $3 for children under 6 years of age and $4 for everyone else. There will be caroling, crafts, a cake raffle, a present from Santa, and more.
For tickets and other information, contact Jaimee Nygaard at 703 968-5799 or call the preschool office at 703 273-4333. Hope to see you there!
Dealing with Grief and Loss
By Ralph Surette, Ph.D.
Dr. Surette is a Psychologist in Alexandria. Comments may be sent to ralphsur@gmail.com.
In the course of our everyday lives we all are confronted with the problem of dealing with the grief associated with a loss. Whether it is a personal loss, such as the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or the dissolution of a marriage, or a communal loss of innocence, safety and security, we all need to process grief constructively. Here are a few suggestions to assist in making sense out of and coming to accept loss and the grieving it engenders.
Forgot The Octagon Deadline AGAIN?
Articles for every month’s Octagon are due in to kathy@fairfax presby.com by the second Tuesday of the month preceding. Therefore, information for the January Octagon should be received by Tuesday, December 13. E-mailing your submissions is the most expeditious method and much appreciated by the editor!
New Address? Don’t Keep it a Secret!
Please report address changes to the church office in advance if you plan to move! Every issue of The Octagon returned due to an incorrect address costs us 70¢ that could be put to a much more worthwhile cause. You can easily increase your giving by the simple act of letting us know before you move what your new address will be or that you wish to suspend your Octagon “subscription.” Thank you!