John Calvin Presbyterian Church

• Family and friends of Rose Klimick, friend of the Ocharts
• Mark and Nadica Hillman, a former supervisor of Bill B, who were in a serious auto accident. Mark’s father is doing poorly. 
• Elizabeth Campbell, daughter of Bill B’s friend, recently lost her husband and is taking care of her four children and estate processes.
• Anita and family, part of Ashley Marler’s extended family, who was in a car accident and is in ICU. Also for her daughter, son in law, and their children. 
• For Tristen and her family, friends of Ashley Marler still trying to restore home after Ida. 

November 26th

• An unspoken request.
• Provision and guidance as the Mayfields fix up their new home, (also prayers for a lawn mower)
• The nephew of Mr. Ed, having health issues

November 19th 

• Juanita Dugas, recovering from eye surgery
• Loretta and Bob Roth, friends of Emily Garland.  Loretta is battling brain cancer and Bob was rushed to the hospital yesterday morning and is in CCU diagnosed with stage 2 Sepsis. 
• Gale Sparazza and her family, friends of the Ocharts. 

November 12th 

• Matt and Jenny, friends of the Ocharts
• Ann O’Hara, grandmother of Kelly Cuppett, has just been diagnosed with leukemia. 
• Roger Harper, a Friend of Linda Lowry, who is struggling with pneumonia. 
• Family and friends of Linda Nakamoto, a friend of Palermos, who passed away. Their sons have been friends since elementary school. 

November 5th

• The 2024 Pledge Campaign “Saved to Serve”
• Ryland Smith (20-month-old) recovering from RSV, and family.
• Curtis, son of Ernie and Dennis, is having shoulder surgery on November 7th. 

CONTINUING PRAYERS FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH HEALTH ISSUES: Zoe Gurdy, Teddy Brock, Ernest and Patricia Ellis, Neil Freudenthal,  Buddy Haw, Tony Hill, Tom Moore, Wayne Tracy, Bob Wooderson, David Russo, and others struggling with health issues.

 Announcements:

CHURCH AUCTION!!  Our Church Auction is live. Here is the link: https://www.32auctions.com/JCPChurch You all have donated so many wonderful items. Now we need people to buy them. Don’t forget to share the link or use the flyers we have provided to invite your friends and family. On Facebook go to John Calvin Presbyterian Church’s Facebook page and share the Auction post to your feed. Also don’t forget we also need volunteers to staff our drop-off days and times and pick-up days and times. So if you have available on the 15th or 16th of Dec. please talk with Sue. 

ALL CHURCH GATHERING OPPORTUNITY: Do you want to see a full solar eclipse and fellowship with your church members and other Presbyterians at the same time? We have a great opportunity to join Presbyterians from all over the country in Little Rock AR for an Intergenerational Creation Care Event culminating with the total solar eclipse at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center. Please see the insert for more information. You can register with this link https://bit.ly/creationcareevent2024. We are asking everyone to register on their own, so you can select the accommodations that best suit your family. Then let us know that you will be attending. We hope that families and individuals of all ages will join together for this wonderful all-church event. 

DEVOTIONALS FOR THE NEW YEAR: Start the new year off right, now is a great time to order your devotional for 2024. Here is this week’s suggestion: The Upper Room Disciplines 2024: A Book of Daily Devotions. Based on the Revised Common Lectionary, a three-year cycle of Sunday scripture readings, Disciplines features: a focal scripture passage for each day, short daily meditations from 53 thought leaders from diverse Christian traditions, a reflection or prayer to carry with you each day, weekly scripture overviews, an index of scripture readings, and a guide to daily prayer.

POINSETTIAS: Please fill out the form in the bulletin and place it in the offering plate by December 10th.

CHRISTMAS CANTATA: Mark your calendar for Dec. 10th to join us for the Annual Christmas Cantata and the Luncheon to follow. 

ALL CHURCH GATHERING OPPORTUNITY: Do you want to see a full solar eclipse and fellowship with your church members and other Presbyterians at the same time? We have a great opportunity to join Presbyterians from all over the country in Little Rock AK for an Intergenerational Creation Care Event culminating with the total solar eclipse at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center. Please see the insert for more information. You can register with this link https://bit.ly/creationcareevent2024. We are asking everyone to register on their own, so you can select the accommodations that best suit your family. Then let us know that you will be attending. We hope that families and individuals of all ages will join together for this wonderful all-church event. 

ADVENT DEVOTIONALS: Now is a great time to get your advent devotional ordered. Here is this week’s suggestion: Rise Up Shepherd! Advent Reflections on the Spirituals By Luke A. Powery. Valuable not only for their sublime musical expression, the African-American spirituals give us profound insights into the human condition and the Christian life. Many focus on an essential scene of the Christian drama: the coming of God as the child in Bethlehem as the hope of the world and the liberator of God’s oppressed people.

In these devotions for the season of Advent, Luke Powery leads the reader through the spirituals as they confront the mystery of incarnation and redemption. In Rise Up, Shepherd, each devotion features the lyrics of the spiritual, a reflection on the spiritual’s meaning, a Scripture verse, and a brief prayer.

ZOOM ADVENT BIBLE STUDY: Join us each Thursday evening in December at 6:00 PM for a special Zoom Bible Study for Advent. We will be studying the book: Holy Disruption. Holy Disruption presents a fresh understanding of the holiness of Christmas grounded, not in a conventional cozy Christmas message, but through Mark’s disquieting gospel which invites its readers to experience God’s disruptive but transformative love for us and our world. Each week a different teacher will walk us through one of the four advent lessons.You can purchase the book on the PCUSA store or Amazon. If you need a quick Zoom tutorial or refresher prior to the start of the Bible study let Louise or Pastor Aaron know and we will get you set up. 

PLAYSCHOOL HAPPENING AND FUNDRAISERS: Join us on Nov. 29th for a fundraiser. Eat at Reginelli’s between 11:00 am – 9:00 PM and they will donate 10% of your order when you mention the playschool.

POINSETTIAS: Please fill out the form in the bulletin and place it in the offering plate by December 10th.

1. Coat drive Nov. 2nd – 17th Drop coats of outside the playschool office
2. Nov. 29th Reginelli’s fundraiser. Eat at Reginelli’s between 11:00 am – 9:00 PM and they will donate 10% of your order when you mention the playschool

As bestselling author Dandi Mackall reflects on the events and lives of these Three Wise Women, she encourages you to: Delve deeper into what these real-life women may have experienced. Ponder a new aspect of the journey toward Christ’s birth and beyond through the voices of Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna. Meditate on Old and New Testament Scriptures that speak to women’s hearts across generations and cultures. Grow closer to God through insightful devotional readings about Patience, Hope, Faith, Trust, Persistence, Sacrifice, Joy, Grace, Love, Confidence, and more. Reflect on your own life using the daily “Pondering Questions,” as you see the story of Jesus’ birth afresh through the eyes of faithful women. (If you would like to see all the recommendations for this month check out the new reading recommendations tab on our website.) 

CHURCH AUCTION COMING UP!! We are planning an online only auction to raise money for the church and we need your donations. We are looking for good quality furniture, vintage items, gift baskets, gifts cards, and other high value items to auction off for the church. Look through your house and see what treasures you are willing to part with. Items need to have a minimum value of $25. Take up to four pictures, send them to Louise (via email) along with a detailed description and we will get it on the website ready for a buyer to find that special item. If your items have any scratches or defects please make sure to snap a picture of that and put it in the description. Items will not be brought to the church until the auction has closed and your items have been purchased. Have questions? Talk with Sue or Louise. Don’t have an item that’s okay. We will be sending the link for the auction and will need you to share it with all your friends, family, and social media outlets. 

PLEDGE DRIVE: The Annual Pledge drive is this month. Be on the lookout for your pledge letter and card in the mail. Please send in your pledge card by November 5th, even if you are unable to pledge at this time. As of Friday we have $132,000 pledged. Turn in your pledge card today and help us get to our goal of $225,000.  

ANGEL TREE: Every child deserves to experience the joy of Christmas morning. The Salvation Army Angel Tree program helps provide Christmas gifts for hundreds of thousands of children around the country each year. So grab a tag off the tree on Nov. 12th, shop for your child, and  return gifts to the church by Dec. 3rd. You can do this on your own or team up with a friend. We even have elves willing to do the shopping for you if you prefer to make a monetary contribution instead of shopping.  More information can be found on the tag and the attached information sheet, when you take one off the tree. 

FOOD DRIVE: Thank you to all who participated in the Fall Food Drive.  Twenty boxes of food were delivered to Jefferson Presbyterian Food Bank. These items will be distributed to over a hundred families who participate in their food program. This food bank is a USDA approved food distribution site which is open on the first and third Saturdays of each month. Our donation was much appreciated by the church.

HELPING HANDS: We could use a few hands to help get down the Christmas decorations and set up the Christmas tree on Nov. 19th after the church service. 

PLAYSCHOOL HAPPENING AND FUNDRAISERS: See the bulletin board for more information on any of the items bellow. 

1. Coat drive Nov. 2nd – 17th Drop coats of outside the playschool office
2. Kendra Scott fundraiser Nov. 8th and 9th. Shop online and in-store and 20% of your purchase will benefit the playschool. Use code GIVEBACK-EXYTR online or mention it at checkout in-store. 
3. Nov. 29th Reginelli’s fundraiser. Eat at Reginelli’s between 11:00 am – 9:00 PM and they will donate 10% of your order when you mention the playschool. 

MATTHEW 25: Tuesdays in October we will be presenting another program on the Matthew 25 initiative. Join us for this wonderful program at 12:30 PM in the Library. After the program you are welcome to join us in making sandwiches for Program of Hope. More information to come so mark your calendar now. 

BOOKS ON GRATITUDE: As Fall approaches, our thoughts begin to turn to the upcoming Holidays. As we start to prepare our hearts for Thanksgiving and Christmas this is the perfect time to reflect on Gratitude. How do we live a life of Gratitude for what God has done for us? As Christians our gratitude goes beyond a list of things we are thankful for and turns our hearts to action. The first three books recommended by Christian Education Director for this month will help us to learn to live a life of Gratitude and the last two books will help us to understand that being thankful leads to action to give back to God through our time, tallents, and tithe. This week’s book is Christian Wallet: Spending, Giving, and Living with a Conscience by Mike Slaughter

Every Christian knows that we are called to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. But what about our wallet? We are asked to open it every Sunday when the offering basket comes by and are told that giving is a way of being a “good steward,” but what about spending money at a restaurant or grocery store? Best-selling author Mike Slaughter offers a comprehensive look at how Christians use their money in The Christian Wallet. Slaughter explores today’s culture of consumerism and the impact of what we buy, asking difficult questions about morality and money.The Christian Wallet helps Christians grapple with important questions about stewardship: how we spend, how we live, how we save, how we give, and what it all means. Questions for individual or group study are included with each chapter. For a more in-depth study, a Stewardship Study Guide is available as a free download.

PLEDGE DRIVE: The Annual Pledge drive is this month. Be on the lookout for your pledge letter and card in the mail. Please send in your pledge card by November 5th, even if you are unable to pledge at this time. So far 85,000 has been pledged. 

CANTATA REHEARSAL: While Christmas still seems far off, rehearsals for the Christmas Canta are just around the corner. We will be starting Wednesday evening rehearsals in November. Talk to Kelly for more information. 

PROGRAM OF HOPE: October is our month for the Program of Hope. We will be making sandwiches and bagging lunches at 2:00 PM every Tuesday in October except Oct. 31st. 

MATTHEW 25: Tuesdays in October we will be presenting another program on the Matthew 25 initiative. Join us for this wonderful program at 12:30 PM in the Library. After the program you are welcome to join us in making sandwiches for Program of Hope. More information to come so mark your calendar now. 

BOOKS ON GRATITUDE: As Fall approaches, our thoughts begin to turn to the upcoming Holidays. As we start to prepare our hearts for Thanksgiving and Christmas this is the perfect time to reflect on Gratitude. How do we live a life of Gratitude for what God has done for us? As Christians our gratitude goes beyond a list of things we are thankful for and turns our hearts to action. The first three books recommended by Christian Education Director for this month will help us to learn to live a life of Gratitude and the last two books will help us to understand that being thankful leads to action to give back to God through our time, tallents, and tithe. This week’s book is Giving Together A Stewardship Guide for Families by Carol A. Wehrheim. In her follow-up to Getting It Together, Carol Wehrheim presents a concise, accessible resource to help families better understand the importance of stewardship: in the family, in the congregation, in the community, and in the world. Reminding us that stewardship is about much more than money, Wehrheim clearly illustrates a more holistic understanding of the concept to include careful consideration of the choices we make that show the role Christian discipleship plays in our lives. She skillfully analyzes biblical passages and identifies spiritual practices intrinsic to stewardship as a way of helping families respond to their call to be stewards in today’s world. Including both a participant’s section and a leader’s guide, Giving Together is ideal for group or family study.

PLEDGE DRIVE: The Annual Pledge drive is this month. Be on the lookout for your pledge letter and card in the mail. Please send in your pledge card by November 5th, even if you are unable to pledge at this time. 

CANDY, COOKIES, AND GIFT WRAP OH MY! The playschool is collecting candy, snacks, and drinks for Trunk or Treat on Friday, Oct 27th. Also don’t forget the Annual gift wrap and cookie fundraiser will be starting on Oct. 20th. We will send more information when we have it.

PICTURES: Do you have pictures of recent church events? We would love to have a copy too. Please share your pictures with Louise via email or text so we can add them to the slides.

CHURCH AUCTION COMING UP!! We are planning an online only auction to raise money for the church and we need your donations. We are looking for good quality furniture, vintage items, gift baskets, gifts cards, and other high value items to auction off for the church. Look through your house and see what treasures you are willing to part with. Items need to have a minimum value of $25. Take up to four pictures, send them to Louise (via email) along with a detailed description and we will get it on the website ready for a buyer to find that special item. If your items have any scratches or defects please make sure to snap a picture of that and put it in the description. Items will not be brought to the church until the auction has closed and your items have been snapped up. Have questions? Talk with Sue or Louise. Don’t have an item that’s okay. We will be sending the link for the auction and will need you to share it with all your friends, family, and social media outlets. 

FOOD DRIVE: The Presbyterian Women are sponsoring a Fall Food Drive from Sunday, Oct 15th – Sunday Oct 22nd. This year the food will be given to Jefferson Presbyterian Church Food Bank, an USDA certified food bank. The food is distributed twice a month – the first and third Saturdays, servicing between 120 and 140 clients each Saturday. This is the only food bank in the area that is open on Saturday. Donations come mainly from Second Harvest with other churches, groups and individuals contributing. We would appreciate your support. Should you choose to make a monetary donation please make the check out to the church and indicate that it is for the Food Drive. 

PROGRAM OF HOPE: October is our month for the Program of Hope. We will be making sandwiches and bagging lunches at 2:00 PM every Tuesday in October except Oct. 31st. 

MATTHEW 25: Tuesdays in October we will be presenting another program on the Matthew 25 initiative. Join us for this wonderful program at 12:30 PM in the Library. After the program you are welcome to join us in making sandwiches for Program of Hope. More information to come so mark your calendar now. 

Books On Gratitude: As Fall approaches, our thoughts begin to turn to the upcoming Holidays. As we start to prepare our hearts for Thanksgiving and Christmas this is the perfect time to reflect on Gratitude. How do we live a life of Gratitude for what God has done for us? As Christians our gratitude goes beyond a list of things we are thankful for and turns our hearts to action. The first three books recommended by Christian Education Director for this month will help us to learn to live a life of Gratitude and the last two books will help us to understand that being thankful leads to action to give back to God through our time, tallents, and tithe. TOct. 15th God’s Abundant Table by Cynthia M. Campbell Goodnough (Editor) According to John Calvin, the true church was wherever the Word was rightly preached and the sacraments rightly administered. Put another way, church happens when believers gather to tell the story and break the bread. In God’s Abundant Table, Cynthia Campbell begins with the premise that the Eucharist (the ‘thanksgiving meal’ of the church) is far more than a re-enactment of the meal in the Upper Room. Rightly understood, the Lord’s Supper is connected to Jesus’ entire ministry, to the entire story of God’s relationship with God’s people, to our everyday meals and to the ministry to which each of us is called as Christ’s followers.

This reflection on key biblical texts and a six-session study guide, will invite you to discover the many connections in the Bible between what we do in the Lord’s Supper, what it means to be in relationship with God, and how God would have us live every day.

Pledge Drive: The Annual Pledge drive is starting soon. Be on the lookout for your pledge letter and card in the mail. Please send in your pledge card by November 5th, even if you are unable to pledge at this time. 

Pictures: Do you have pictures of recent church events? We would love to have a copy too. Please share your pictures with Louise via email or text so we can add them to the slides. 

PLAYSCHOOL: As always the Playschool is keeping busy. Here are few ways you can get involved:

1.  We are collecting candy and snacks in the narthex, church office, and playschool office for Trunk or Treat on Oct. 27th. 
2. Oct 18th Cane’s fundraiser at the Canes 4036 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, LA 70002  Just say you are with John Calvin and the playschool will receive a portion of the sales that day. 
3. The Annual gift wrap and cookie fundraiser will be starting on Oct. 20th. So be on the lookout for more information soon.

PROGRAM OF HOPE: October is our month for the Program of Hope. We will be making sandwiches and bagging lunches at 2:00 PM every Tuesday in October except Oct. 31st. 

MATTHEW 25: Tuesdays in October we will be presenting another program on the Matthew 25 initiative. Join us for this wonderful program at 12:30 PM in the Library. After the program you are welcome to join us in making sandwiches for Program of Hope. More information to come so mark your calendar now. 

Books On Gratitude: As Fall approaches, our thoughts begin to turn to the upcoming Holidays. As we start to prepare our hearts for Thanksgiving and Christmas this is the perfect time to reflect on Gratitude. How do we live a life of Gratitude for what God has done for us? As Christians our gratitude goes beyond a list of things we are thankful for and turns our hearts to action. The first three books recommended by Christian Education Director for this month will help us to learn to live a life of Gratitude and the last two books will help us to understand that being thankful leads to action to give back to God through our time, tallents, and tithe. The Way of Gratitude: Readings for a Joyful Life – by Michael Leach (Editor), James Keane (Editor), Doris Goodnough (Editor) A hundred famous writers share their experiences, essays, fiction, poems, meditations, and inspired ideas on the joy of being thankful. These honest and heartfelt writings will add gladness to your days. Contributors include Wendell Berry, David Brooks, Joan Chittister, James Martin, Thich Nhat Hanh, Henri Nouwen, Mary Oliver, Richard Rohr, Joyce Rupp, David Steindl-Rast, Rowan Williams, and many others whose spiritual perceptions already bring joy and faith to millions

BLOOD DRIVE: We are excited to be hosting a Blood Drive for Vivian Peranio. Vivian is a 3 year old girl who was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia last year.  This drive will be around the one-year anniversary of her diagnosis. She is now in the maintenance phase, meaning the worst of the chemo is over, but the blood center and her family are continuing to host blood drives to help not only Viv, but other children in similar circumstances. Even if you cannot give blood we can use your help with snacks or registration. Please speak with Sharon or Sue about volunteering. To sign up ahead of time please use the QR code on the bulletin board.

Pledge Drive: The Annual Pledge drive is starting soon. Be on the lookout for your pledge letter and card in the mail. Please send in your pledge card by November 5th, even if you are unable to pledge at this time. 

BIRTHDAYS: Joan Albright 10/7, Larry Wise 10/9, Brendan Isham 10/9, Suzanne 10/15

PLAYSCHOOL: As usual the Playschool is keeping busy. Here are few ways you can get involved and activities to be aware of:

1. Trunk Or Treat is right around the corner on Oct 27th.  We are collecting candy and snacks in the narthex, church office, and playschool office. 
2. Oct 18th Cane’s fundraiser at the Canes 4036 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, LA 70002  Just say you are with John Calvin and the playschool will receive a portion of the sales that day. 
3. The Annual gift wrap and cookie fundraiser will be starting on Oct. 20th. So be on the lookout for more information soon.
4. The playschool will be hosting a Firetruck in the parking lot on Oct. 11th for fire safety week. 

PROGRAM OF HOPE: October is our month for the Program of Hope. We will be making sandwiches and bagging lunches at 2:00 PM every Tuesday in October except Oct. 31st. 

MATTHEW 25: Tuesdays in October we will be presenting another program on the Matthew 25 initiative. Join us for this wonderful program at 12:30 PM in the Library. After the program you are welcome to join us in making sandwiches for Program of Hope. More information to come so mark your calendar now. 

Books On Gratitude: As Fall approaches, our thoughts begin to turn to the upcoming Holidays. As we start to prepare our hearts for Thanksgiving and Christmas this is the perfect time to reflect on Gratitude. How do we live a life of Gratitude for what God has done for us? As Christians our gratitude goes beyond a list of things we are thankful for and turns our hearts to action. The first three books recommended by Christian Education Director for this month will help us to learn to live a life of Gratitude and the last two books will help us to understand that being thankful leads to action to give back to God through our time, tallents, and tithe. Oct 1st. Grateful: The Subversive Practice of Giving Thanks by Diana Butler Bass

If gratitude is good, why is it so hard to do? In Grateful, Diana Butler Bass untangles our conflicting understandings of gratitude and sets the table for a renewed practice of giving thanks.

We know that gratitude is good, but many of us find it hard to sustain a meaningful life of gratefulness. In Grateful, cultural observer and theologian Diana Butler Bass takes on this “gratitude gap” and offers up surprising, relevant, and powerful insights to practice gratitude. Using her trademark blend of historical research, spiritual insights, and timely cultural observation, she shows how we can overcome this gap and make change in our own lives and in the world. Bass reclaims gratitude as a path to greater connection with god, with others, with the world, and even with our own souls. It’s time to embrace a more radical practice of gratitude—the virtue that heals us and helps us thrive.

BLOOD DRIVE: We are excited to be hosting a Blood Drive for Vivian Peranio. Vivian is a 3 year old girl who was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia last year.  This drive will be around the one-year anniversary of her diagnosis. She is now in the maintenance phase, meaning the worst of the chemo is over, but the blood center and her family are continuing to host blood drives to help not only Viv, but other children in similar circumstances. Even if you cannot give blood we can use your help with snacks or registration. Please speak with Sharon or Sue about volunteering. To sign up ahead of time please use the QR code on the bulletin board.  

PEACE AND GLOBAL WITNESS OFFERING: We will be collecting for the Peace and Global Witness offering this week and next week. A gift to the Peace & Global Witness Offering enables the church to promote the Peace of Christ by addressing systems of conflict and injustice across the world. Individual congregations are encouraged to utilize up to 25% of this Offering to connect with the global witness of Christ’s peace. Mid councils retain an additional 25% for ministries of peace and reconciliation. The remaining 50% is used by the Presbyterian Mission Agency to advocate for peace and justice in cultures of violence, including our own, through collaborative projects of education and Christian witness.

BIRTHDAYS: Evelyn Tobey 10/1, Lauren Cali 10/2, Lousie Ochart 10/4

Calendar 

10/1 – 10:30 AM – Worship Offering for Peace and Global Witness

Children’s Church 

10/2 – 9:00 AM – Bible time for 3’s in their classroom

          1:00 PM – Staff Meeting 

           6:30 PM – C.E. Meeting via zoom  

10/3 – 9:30 AM – Bible Time PreK – TK 

          12:30 PM – Mathew 25 

          2:00 PM – Making Sandwiches for Program of Hope 

10/4 – 8:00 AM – Program of Hope 

10/5 – 10:00 AM – P.W. Council Meeting

10/6 – Office Closed 

10/7 – Fellowship Hall in Use 

10/8 – 9:15 AM – Sunday School 

         Adults in the Library 

         Fellowship Time for the Youth Fellowship Hall

         10:30 AM – Worship Offering for Peace and Global Witness

Children’s Church 

         2:00 PM – Fellowship Hall in Use  

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING: We have a brief congregational meeting after the service on Oct. 8th to elect the nominating committee.