First Presbyterian Church January 2024
Pastor Walter's Annual Report Thoughts
Sometimes it can be hard to maintain an “attitude of gratitude” once the New Year starts. The credit card bills for the holidays are always more than we expect. The news is no longer about Christmas cheer, but about Covid, bad weather forecasts, and politics to name just a few. In the life of our church, a new year also means that an Annual Meeting is coming up on Sunday, January 21st,
The average person at an Annual Meeting skims through most of that information in hopes of getting home fairly quickly. As long as the budget is balanced and things seem to be going fairly well, then the meeting is mostly a formality. However, that packet of papers is also a theological reflection on what we have done and who we have been in the past year, for which we should feel grateful. Even the budget itself is an unwrapped gift to God of what we hope to do and to be in the year ahead. I do not know yet what those reports will say, but I will make some educated guesses so that you can catch a glimpse of what is to come.
Christian Education/Youth will lift up that we had good Sunday School attendance this year, and we had a Christmas pageant with many children in it for the first time in three years. We also had a great Vacation Bible School with the Council of Churches for the second year in a row since we paused for Covid. Pastor Darrel Brown coordinated it, and he, Pastor Bob Searle and I alternated doing the Bible lessons. The Council of Churches Christmas Eve service was well attended, too, and we had beautiful organ music from Terry VanFleet. Beth Clingerman led the Christmas joint choir, and they blessed us with wonderful music, as have the “pop up choir” on a monthly basis.
The Session report will have our official member rolls, which will remind us of some of our church family who passed away in 2023: Helen Sharpe, Beth Dunton, Howard Elwell, Laurie Crane, Pat Bauer, Nick Kilmer, Jerry LaDue, Harlow Everett, June Parton, and Bessie Bishop. They will be missed. On a positive note, we have received Tom Cahoon and Chantel Lockwood as new members. Tom’s daughter Grace, and Chantel and Mike Lockwood’s children Eliana and Harrison are regulars, too. You have probably seen many other DeMay and VanFleet children and grandchildren regularly attend church as well. Last, but not least, I officiated the wedding of Lisa Everett and John Cool here at the church.
So here’s the bottom line: We kept going despite all the other craziness of the last few years. May we approach this New Year with thanksgiving and hope in this spirit.
Rev. Walter Stuber
First Presbyterian Church
11988 W. Main St., Wolcott, NY 14590
585-217-6030 stuberman1@yahoo.com
www.wolcottpresbyterian.com
Nominating Committee Meeting
The Nominating Committee will meet following worship on Sunday, January 7. Committee members are John Gingerich, David VanFleet, Cheryl Gilbert, Sue Mitchell, Tom Johnson, Bob Lockwood, Noah Gingerich, and alternate Marvin Tryon.
Quilting Group
The Quilting Group will begin meeting weekly again starting on Thursday, January 4.
2023 Christmas
Thank you so much to everyone who helped in any way. This year we helped 174 families. 375 children received gifts. 91 elderly received a food bag.
Wolcott Food Pantry Year End Totals
Households 1479
Adults1615
Children1781
Elderly 581
Upcoming Dance Recital
The Steps of Faith Dance Studio will be presenting “Goodness of God” Dance Recital on Saturday, January 27, 2024. at the Wolcott Presbyterian Church. The performance begins at 5 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the event - $5 donation – proceeds will benefit the Wolcott Presbyterian Church.
Financial Report
Contact Walter for information
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, January 10: Reports due for the Annual Meeting
Sunday, January 21: Annual meeting following the church service
Saturday, January 27: 5 p.m. Steps of Faith Dance Studio Recital
January Anniversaries
Lee & Linda Bastian1/25/69
Roger & Myrna Voelker1/21/61
January Birthdays
Pastor Walter Stuber1/24
Carol Douglass1/9
Terri Fitzmaurice1/6
Vaughn Fursman1/20
Tanner Urban1/12
Sharon Roberts1/22
Wendy Sipes1/30
Karen Tyler1/6
Roger Voelker1/11
ArleneYoungman1/9