Dear friends,

Epiphany is celebrated January 6 each year. This is the part of the biblical story where the magi visit the newborn Jesus bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They followed a star to find Jesus. Last Sunday we tried an Epiphany practice in worship for the second time called “star words.”

Everyone gets a star with the hope that the word on the star is just a tad providential for you. The word is a gift. It is not a resolution or a prophecy; it is simply a one-word prayer for you to ponder throughout the year. May the word on your star be a spiritual marker for you. May the word on your star expand your world. May the word increase your awareness of the mystery of Christ. May this word open you up to the vastness of God’s world, so that you can see God at work in new ways.

I pondered my word “fulfil.” I immediately noticed the word was misspelled, at least in American English. It is missing an “l” at the end, and what powerful word to leave incomplete. How do I flesh out these letters into something full and abundant? That’s my first step for 2022. What’s yours?

If you were not at in-person worship on January 2 and would like a star, let us know and we will mail you one right away!

-Michael Isaacs

An Epiphany Prayer

Everlasting God, the radiance of faithful souls, who brought the nations to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising: Fill the world with your glory, and show yourself to all the nations; through him who is the true light and the bright morning star, Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

A Prayer for Peace

This prayer is from the Rev. Diane Moffett, Executive Director of Presbyterian Mission Agency.

Holy God, you are our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. We ask for your continued wisdom and strength for the leaders of our nation and world, and those who are under their governance. May you be our strength in this moment of prolonged sickness, suffering, and sorrow. And may we be a source of light and hope in what feels like a dark and hurting world. Incline our hearts to you and guide our feet into the way of peace. Through your Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.

Session Notes

January COVID-19 changes

Session is temporarily requiring masks in worship until the next Session meeting on January 25. The number of people testing positive in the congregation is on the rise, and we would like to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Masks will be available for those attending worship.

Please keep these COVID-19 provisions in mind as we gather for our worship and ministry:

• Masks are temporarily required in worship.

• Social distancing is enforced in the sanctuary by the use of alternating pews.

• The length of the worship services is forty-five minutes, and worship does not include the passing of any materials.

Worship & Music Notes

• January 2 – Epiphany and the Lord’s Supper

• January 9 – Luke 3:15-22 and Reminder of Baptism

• January 16 – John 2:1-11 with Lisa Kaufer preaching

• January 23 – Luke 4:14-21

• January 30 – Luke 4:21-30

Note from the Director Music Ministries

May the faith, hope, peace, love and joy that we celebrated during Advent and Christmas season sustain us and guide us during the New Year.

My personal thanks to all of the choirs, soloists, instrumentalists, choir directors, special guests, sound techs, church staff, custodial staff, who have worked so hard to make the Advent and Christmas season such a blessing. Your proclamation of God’s Word through music was glorious each Sunday of Advent worship and during the Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve.  Thank you for your hard work, dedication and love of Christ!!

We look forward to serving God and this congregation with more wonderful music during the coming year.

Tom and I wish to once again thank everyone for the many prayers, cards, love and support during our very difficult journey this past year.  We especially want to thank Janet Scott, Brian Shepard, and Lara Moon for keeping the Music Ministry program alive and well.  Our faith in God and your friendship have helped to make our journey a successful one.  You are such an incredible blessing to us. As the journey continues, we know that God is always walking with us.

-Joyce Zigler

Christian Education Notes

In-person Nursery Care and Sunday School

The Christian Education Committee continues to prayerfully consider and implement safe practices to support the full participation of all ages, especially since children under the age of 12 do not yet have access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Two Childcare Workers provide consistent care for our youngest children in the Nursery. We practice physical distancing in Sunday School, and as much as is practical in providing care in the Nursery. Both spaces are equipped with hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, and disposable masks in a variety of sizes. Furthermore, due to the circulating and highly contagious Delta variant, we continue to follow the CDC’s recommendation by requiring universal indoor masking in these classrooms by all individuals (age 2 and older), regardless of vaccination status.    

• Nursery Care is available for infants and children up to 5 years old every Sunday, located next to Room 110. 

• Sunday School (children ages 6-12) is offered most Sundays* in the Godly Play Room. Leaders will escort children to Sunday School. When worship concludes, parents/guardians will need to come to the Godly Play Room to pick up their child(ren). (*Note: In January, Sunday School will meet on 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, and 1/30. We especially want to include children and youth in special worship celebrations such as Communion, etc.)

Stories of God at Home

We continue to offer resources for you to share Godly Play stories at home! Email Lisa (lisa@fpcmiddletown.com) to borrow a story kit. Story videos are easily accessible online (https://www.storiesofgodathome.come/events).

Tuesday Morning Bible Study

Tuesday Morning Bible Study will meet at 10:00 a.m. in the Youth Room. We are reading one chapter of the Gospel of Luke each week.

Finance Notes

2021 Financial Update

We did it! At the end of 2021, we ended with a balance. Last year’s budget had about a $49,000 budgeted deficit and we ended with a positive balance over $20,000. This is a wonderful expression of our commitment, generosity, and stewardship.

Odds & Ends

Men’s Monthly Meeting

Men’s Monthly Meeting is an opportunity for the men of the church to get together and socialize over dinner. On Tuesday, January 11, the meeting will be at The Clubhouse Sports Grille, 250 N. Main St., Monroe, at 5:30 p.m. Hope to see you there!

Pre-Kindergarten Readiness: We have openings! Perhaps you know a child who could benefit from this opportunity. The Pre-Kindergarten Readiness Program of First Presbyterian Church is a licensed early childhood program which is available to children who are four years of age and who will be turning four years old by August 1, 2022. As a mission of the church, it serves those children who do not qualify for any other subsidized early childhood program and whose parents feel that they are unable to pay tuition for a private preschool program. The program is a well-balanced offering of age-appropriate early learning activities - language arts, math, science, music, art - and strives to prepare the children for kindergarten experiences in today’s world. Classes are held in the morning hours (9:00 - noon) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from September through May. Please call the church office for additional information and/or to register your child.

Online Calendar

The church calendar is now online! Go to https://www.fpcmiddletown.com/calendar.

We give thanks for the life of. . .

• Mary Jo Burns, who died on January 3.