The Messenger Newsletter

Deep appreciation to the retired Class of 2004:
John Brown, Ralph Gifford, Bob Johnson, Cinda Koch and Bill Miller

Committee Chairs for 2005

Nominating — Hollis Jacobie
Personnel — Sammye Wood
Property — Ralph Gifford
Property Development — Martin Vernon
Stewardship & Finance — J. B. Pendergrass
Child Development Center — Sammye Wood
Christian Education — Chuck Ramsay
Congregational Care — Martha Boyd
Fellowship — Cris Emrich
Missions — Missy Rodgers
Worship — Ginger Williams
Reach Out — Jan Gifford & Dan Wadley

The following letter was enclosed in an offering envelope:

December 5, 2004

Lord,

I know I got behind a week on my giving (check enclosed).
I need to ask you for some plumbing skills ‘cause my hot water heater has gone kaput.
Yes, I know you have asked for a 10% increase next month.
OK, OK, so I have a fixed income. All I ask for is a fixed water heater.
Thank you, Lord.

(unsigned)

Upon first reading this letter from a long term and very faithful member, I wondered if he was “losing it.”  But upon subsequent readings, I began to wonder if I were the one who was “losing it” because his letter clearly contains profound messages of faith and stewardship.  I hope these profound messages reveal themselves to you as well.

—J.B. Pendergrass, Chair of Stewardship & Finance Committee.

If you would consider giving a faith/stewardship testimonial, either in your name or anonymously, please contact J.B. Pendergrass or the church office.

By the time we receive this, the end of 2004 will be only days away.  But there still will be time to bring our 2004 giving program up-to-date and even to consider a special year-end gift.  Early in 2005 we will be occupying our renewed and expanded facility.  With leadership by the session & others.  we have been asked to increase our regular giving by at least 10% to help finance our expanded operations.  Please contact Tammy Mackesey or J.B. Pendergrass with an estimate of Giving for 2005 if you have not already done so.  Our continued and dedicated support of our church is greatly needed.  In the words of Chuck Ramsay, ”It’s the right thing to do.”

The federal tax law currently encourages charitable bequests by providing a charitable estate tax deduction for such bequests.  Your bequest often reduces estate taxes as you continue to support mission beyond your lifetime.

The appropriate provision in your will for making a gift depends on the type of gift.  The following bequests might serve as a guide to assist you:

Unrestricted bequests allow you to designate a specific sum or percentage of your estate or to designate a piece of property for the general use of your charitable beneficiaries.

Gifts for a specific purpose can be included in your will naming a charitable beneficiary and choosing a specific amount or a percentage of your estate and the purpose for which it is to be used.

Memorial gifts can be designated in your will with a specified amount or a percentage to establish a permanent fund.  The income from this fund can be designated for a specific charitable purpose or left unrestricted.

Residuary gifts provide a way to make a gift once family and heirs are properly provided for in your will.  You indicate that the residue of your restate is left to the charities of your choice.

Final contingent beneficiaries provide an opportunity to name several beneficiaries as recipients of shares of your estate, while designating your charity of choice as the final beneficiary if your named beneficiaries do not survive you.

One the unique (and wonderful) characteristics of the Presbyterian Church is its form of representative government at all levels, with provision for members to have a voice in many ways.  One of the most important committees in the local church is the Church Nominating Committee, which is required by the Book of Order to be representative of the congregation.

The Church Nominating Committee is charged each year with the responsibility of identifying members to be nominated for church officers, so it is very important that the Nominating Committee be composed of church members who know the congregation and are willing to serve in a thoughtful, prayerful and conscientious manner to select nominees to serve as elders on the session, after being duly elected.

The Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church Nominating Committee is required to be made up of three elders currently serving on the Session, a representative elected by LHP Women, a member elected by the Youth group, and two members elected by the congregation at the annual congregational meeting, none of whom can currently be serving as a church officer.  Now is the time for our members to give thoughtful consideration to this duty and responsibility for wise government by thinking ahead and being prepared.  If you plan to make a nomination, you must secure permission from the nominee that he or she will serve if elected.

When the annual congregational meeting is held, do plan to be present to exercise your rightful duty and privilege!

Thank you to everyone who provided poinsettias in the sanctuary during Advent.

Ed & Rita Boyer (2), Doris Bruner, Bill & Grace Cooper, Clyde & Doris Forrester, Kathryn Forrest, Cal & Johnie Foster, Ralph & Jan Gifford (2), Chuck & Jo Marie Goldsberry (2), Martha Green, Marian Grubbs, Bert & Nancy Hager, Don & Betty Heaton, Bob & Ione Humphrey, Bob & Lin Johnson, Gene & LaJoyce Golmon, Pamela Leutz, Eloise Love, Rich & Tammy Mackesey, Dorothy Mackey, Jack & Billie Martin, L.V. & Pat Massengale, Jim & Mary Melton, George & Robbie Meusel, J. B. & Mary Lou Pendergrass (2), Puckett Family, Sara Secor, Mary Simpson, Rosemary Smith (2), Velma Smith, Jack & Barbara Sudderth,, Dale Talley, Tom, Lisa & Tommy Teschner (2-In memory of Margaret & Edward Saemann,& Raymond Teschner), Marilyn Thomas, Titus Family, Tony & Joy Valderas, Doug VanWey, Ginger Williams (2), Larry & Gladys Williams, Sammye Wood (2), Jane Young (2), & Collene Ziegenfuss

A special Thank You to Mary Lou Pendergrass for ordering the poinsettias

Circle l will meet Monday, January 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Rosemary Smith, 9629 Highland View Drive.  For information call Joni Kern at 972-412-1059.

Circle 2 will meet Tuesday, January 18, at 9:30 a.m. at the home of Glenn Eva Riggs, 9437 Highedge Drive.  For information call Velma Smith at 214-328-8949 or Harriet Dingman at 214-348-2317.

Circle of Hope will meet Wednesday, January 18, at 7:30 p.m.  The meeting place is to be announced.  For information call Sara Secor at 214-348-7628.

Circle of Joy will meet Tuesday, January 18, at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the home of Kathy Eversole, 10119 Kirkhaven Drive.  For information call Meg Richardson at 214-763-1359 or Rebeka Stephens at 214-673-4759.

Other Opportunities
Women’s board meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 12, at the home of Eula Watterson, 4414 Lake Hills, Rowlett.

Keep watching for the date of the Stone Soup Luncheon and Style Show.

Living Our Faith Today
(LOFT)
9:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 19
Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church, Dallas
Registration deadline: Febraury 11, 2005
Theme: Christian Faith & Popular Culture
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Russell Dalton, TCU

Worshop Options
(choice of two)

Faith Journey Through Fantasy Lands:
   Harry Potter, Star Wars & The Lord of the Rings
   God’s Voice on the Big Screen
   Reading with a “Reformed“ Eye
   Reality TV and the Reformed Faith

Registration forms may be obtained at the church office or Grace Presbytery.

How does my garden grow?  With silver bells and cockleshells And pretty maidens all in a row!

Well, maybe we don’t need quite that much but we do need your help in placing flowers in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings. This past year you have been wonderfully generous and now we are calling on you to be that way once again. The flowers that appear in the sanctuary on the chancel area on Sunday mornings are part of your gifts to the glory of God. They are placed there by you in honor or in memory of someone near and dear to you or some occasion special to you. The cost is only $24 payable any time during the year that’s convenient for you. After services the flowers are yours if you want them or if you leave them, they will be taken to one of the local nursing homes or to someone in the hospital.

So, with all this in mind, please consider one of the following dates:

   January 9 or 23, 2005
   March 6, 2005
   April 3, 10 or 24, 2005
   May 1, 2005
   June 5, 19 or 26, 2005

You may take part in this by signing the Flower Calendar posted on the wall in the sanctuary, by calling the church office, or by notifying the office through the link on the webpage.

Children & Youth & Activities
January 9  Youth Fellowship- New Year Party!
Bring your favorite snack to share and a gag gift under $5!
January 15-16  Red River/ Trinity Presbytery Winter Retreat @ Camp WOW in Oklahoma. $45 This is a retreat for ALL youth group members. See Meg for details.
January 23  Youth Fellowship
January 30  Youth Fellowship

Upcoming
2005 Camp & Retreat Dates...Mark Those Calendars!

January 15-16  Red River/ Trinity Presbytery Winter Retreat
January 28-30  Grace Presbytery Senior High Youth Connection
February 25-26  Mission Mania with Eastminster Presbyterian Youth
July 10-15 CPYC  Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference
July 23-28  Red River Presbytery Senior High Camp & Jr. High Camps

More opportunities available through Grace Presbytery. More info to come

Thank You,
     People, people who need people, are the luckiest and that’s the way I feel because of all of you.

     Thanks loads and many hugs.

     Annabelle Schmieman

Memorial Gifts Charles Smith Eloise Love Honorary Gifts Jennifer & Justin White Robert & Peggy Signall CDC Recovery Gifts Anonymous Cal & Johnie Foster Ralph & Jan Gifford Mac Hubbard Jim & Cinda Koch Steve Moore Conor Puckett Mason Puckett Ann Shelton Contemporary Worship Gifts Steve Moore J.B. & Mary Lou Pendergrass

The best thing about the future is that it comes only on day at a time.

Greg Signall and Sarah Jones were married on Saturday, December 18th in Owensboro, Kentucky.

As we begin a new year let us each make a resolution to reach out to others in our church and outside L.H.P.C.

Take time on Sunday morning to look around you and find someone you do not know and greet him or her and introduce yourself.  You may discover that they are a new visitor, a regular visitor or a member that you do not know.  Please make this a weekly commitment.

Begin in 2005 to invite people you come in contact with to visit L.H.P.C . Someone who does not have a church home may really appreciate your invitation.

Throughout the year there will be friendly reminders for you and explanations of the existing programs of Reach Out.

Dan Wadley & Jan Gifford

The following persons visited worship during the months of November:

Patti Williamson, Ashley Vernon, Bill & Irene Keil, Ciocan Family, Leslie Durham, Jeff Higgins, Sarah Jones, Cindy Wood, Maxie Hardin, Dorothy & Roland Mackey, Nic Santangelo, Roy & Vivian Sayler, Bonnie & Robert Thiebaud, Doug Van Wey, Pat West, Paul & Jill Schreiber, John Conley, Bob & Kathy Hull, Christopher Ramsay, Mark & Irene Washam, Ellen Smith