Financial Secretary's Update

Financial Secretary's Update: Thank God for your generous hearts. We are on track to meet budget this year.

December contributions were enough to bring us to 100% of our budgeted income for the first 6 months of this fiscal year.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Prayer Concern

John and Anna would appreciate prayer as they
enter into marriage counseling.

Please email any prayer concerns/celebrations to Trustees@CambridgePres.com

Open Positions at FUPC

Little Folks Fellowship Board Member needed: The nursery school associated with our church needs another board member to fill the vacancy left by Priscilla Kelso. If you think you might be interested and would like more information, please contact Mara Bradford or Japa Pallikkathayil.

Treasurer Needed: We traditionally elect new officers at our annual meeting in June. This year, we will need to elect a new treasurer. Since it would be useful for the new treasurer to be able to work with the old treasurer for a transitional period, we are looking to fill this position sooner. If you think you might be interested and would like more information, please contact Japa Pallikkathayil.

No Sunday Service - December 16, 2007

Due to the continuing snowfall this morning,
the Sunday service for December 16 has been cancelled.

Please stay warm and enjoy your snowy Sunday!

Silver Celebration Poem

Following is the text of the poem composed by Priscilla Lasmarias Kelso, and read by her daughter Rachel on the occasion of the Silver Celebration service. This special service was held at First United Presbyterian Church on December 2, 2007 to celebrate 25 years of service from the Rev. Barton Kelso and Priscilla Kelso.

As Mrs. Kelso describes it, her poem "...reflects some of the highlights of the 25 years that Bart and I have shared with our Cambridge Presbyterian Church family."

Thanks for sharing this with us, Priscilla. Praise God for your gifts with language!

THE ART OF BLESSING THE YEARS

“I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you,

Plans to give you a future and a hope,” says God, the promise-maker.

Little did we know -- Bart and I -- in 1982, that the weaving of our lives

Into the fabric of this community of faith would span

Twenty-five years of living, loving, growing.

This is the art of blessing the years.

We were 40 years old then, and Cambridge Presbyterian Church was 90,

The remnant band of believers welcomed us --- some of them still here,

Others surrounding us now ---- as part of that cloud of witnesses

Who cheer us on to the finish line ---- with oil to soothe our weary feet

And arms to hold us when the race is done.

This is the art of blessing the years.

Twenty-five World Communion Sundays. Dressed in resplendent garb,

People from many nations have gathered here -----

Ghana, Cameroon, Australia, Korea, Madagascar, Brazil, the Philippines ---

Tourists, immigrants, visiting scholars, friends from afar ---

Presbyterians, citizens of the world, sojourners, pilgrims --- God’s children.

This is the art of blessing the years.

In the 25 years of gathering and scattering, of leaving and cleaving,

The Cambridge diaspora has spread out across the land, across the world..

In the Centennial Year of 1992, the map of the world showed us

That only the continent of Antarctica had no one who had set foot on this church,

This tiny place in Inman Square that spans the globe.

This is the art of blessing the years.

Eighty –six sermon series that Bart has produced from this pulpit,

Untold hours of preparation, delivered on countless Sundays.

Was it C.S. Lewis who said that sermons, like meals,

Though not always spectacular or extraordinary,

Are meant to nourish us, as bread for the journey, as water for our souls?

This is the art of blessing the years.

The poet reminds us that the art of blessing is to pay attention,

To taste the bitter and the sweet, the salty and the sour,

And to be glad for what does not hurt.

So we are here today to remember the years,

To honor the presence of God who has been here in the good and the hard times.

The good times –- baptisms, weddings, new members, a roof that no longer leaks.

The hard times –- too many goodbyes, the death of the faithful, many moving on.

We have persevered –- in the unbroken circle of birth and burial,

We have comforted one another, welcomed one another,

Grown through the years with one another –--cried, laughed, celebrated, prayed.

So on this Silver Celebration this second day of December, 2007

We gather --- friends, colleagues, neighbors, members of this faith community:

Each one bearing the marks of time, the tender mercies of God,

We remember –- the promise of plans for a future and a hope.

So let us sing the joyous possibilities, the many surprises of God’s amazing grace.

THIS IS THE ART OF BLESSING THE YEARS. AMEN.

Priscilla Lasmarias Kelso

Silver Celebration

December 2, 2007

Image of silver kiddush cup is from the Judaica Mall website.

Prayers of the People - November 25 - December 1, 2007

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thanks and Praise

"Words alone can't fully express our gratitude to you and to the Lord for all the delights of our recent Poetry Night. The poems - many of them your own creations - the presents, the laughter, the sumptuous food, the singing, the hospitality, and other expressions of love, were all such precious gifts, as you yourselves are to us. Our cup runneth over!"
Love in Christ, Bart and Priscilla

Autumn's vivid colors are still with us! Praise the Lord who made "all things bright and beautiful," and let's get outdoors to revel in Creation's stunning colors while we can.

Needs and Concerns

Pray for all those who are separated from loved ones at this time due to war, hospitalization, imprisonment or financial hardship, that they may be comforted by God through someone's act or word of caring.

On November 15, Cyclone Sidr hit southern Bangladesh with a high tidal surge and winds of 155 miles per hour. How many thousands are dead, homeless, or missing is still not known, but Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is on the scene, working with Action by Churches Together (ACT). Pray for these ministries, and for all who need relief and hope.

The deaths of so many thousands of Iraqi civilians: men, women and children, as well as the mounting casualties among U.S. and Iraqi troops, testify to the evils of this war, and to the urgent need for measures beyond military might: negotiation, protest, and above all, fervent prayer.

Announcements

A BRIEF MEMORIAL SERVICE will be held today after Sunday School, to celebrate JOAN SHEPPARD's life and to dedicate a garden bench in her memory. We will gather in the churchyard at 12:30.

"THINKING OF YOUR KINDNESS, and sending you many thanks: Hello, Everyone. I just wanted to take a minute and say Thanks to all of you for your support, prayers and presence at my first sermon on the 28th [of October]. Many Blessings to you all!!!" - text of an eCard from our Intern Rachel Freeman

PHOTOS OF FALL RETREAT: Last September, our church held a retreat on "The Seasons of Our Lives," at Toah Nipi in New Hampshire. Pictures of that gathering are on the bulletin board in the side room.

WANTED: Old photos and memorabilia of our pastor's -- and church's --past 25 years. Items will be displayed at Rev. Kelso's retirement dinner Dec. 2. Beverly will organize the display of these materials for the dinner.

AN APPEAL FROM THE DEACONS: As we have in Christmases past, the Deacons are sponsoring a collection of needed items for the Cambridge Mothers' and Children's Shelter. Please bring any of the following before December 17 and leave them in the side room: twin mattress covers, bassinette and crib sheets, bath towels, paper towels and baby products.

CAN YOU HELP? After the 3:00 p.m. "Silver Celebration" service honoring the Kelsos on December 2, there will be a cookie and punch reception in the side room for those attending. Please contact Beverly (jbshank@rcn.com or 781-861-8015) if you can bake or serve.

Image of children in Cambodia thanking God is from the webpage describing outreach to orphans at Warm Blankets.

Prayers of the People - November 18 - 24, 2007

Thanks and Praise

"Words alone can't fully express our gratitude to you and to the Lord for all the delights of our recent Poetry Night. The poems - many of them your own creations - the presents, the laughter, the sumptuous food, the singing, the hospitality, and other expressions of love, were all such precious gifts, as you yourselves are to us. Our cup runneth over!"
Love in Christ, Bart and Priscilla

Todd Billings was duly ordained last Sunday as a Minister of Word and Sacrament, in Holland, Michigan. Pastor Bart was honored to preach for the occasion. Todd continues to serve as Associate Professor of Reformed Theology at Western Seminary, a school of the Reformed Church in America. Ask the Lord to use Todd for his glory.

Autumn's vivid colors are still with us! Praise the Lord who made "all things bright and beautiful," and let's get outdoors to revel in Creation's stunning colors while we can.

Needs and Concerns

Please pray for Pastor Bart as he preaches and leads worship before the Presbytery of Boston tomorrow night, reflecting on 25 years as a member of that body.

Michael, brother-in-law of Lee, is currently at Youville Hospital for several weeks of rehabilitation. Pray for his healing, for strength to walk again, and for peace of mind for Michael and his wife Gloria.

The deaths of so many thousands of Iraqi civilians: men, women and children, as well as the mounting casualties among U.S. and Iraqi troops, testify to the evils of this war, and to the urgent need for measures beyond military might: negotiation, protest, and above all, fervent prayer.

Announcements

PHOTOS OF FALL RETREAT: Last September, our church held a retreat on "The Seasons of Our Lives," at Toah Nipi in New Hampshire. Pictures of that gathering are on the bulletin board in the side room.

A SERVICE OF THANKS TO GOD will be held here on Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, November 22, at 9:00 a.m. Please mark it on your calendar and plan to be present if you are in town for the holiday. This will be our church's 104th such service since our forbears first gathered for this purpose in 1903. Bring your family and friends, and join us for this special time of gratitude and praise.

WANTED: Old photos and memorabilia of our pastor's -- and church's --past 25 years. Items will be displayed at Rev. Kelso's retirement dinner Dec. 2. Beverly Shank will organize the display of these materials for the dinner.

AN APPEAL FROM THE DEACONS: As we have in Christmases past, the Deacons are sponsoring a collection of needed items for the Cambridge Mothers' and Children's Shelter. Please bring any of the following before December 17 and leave them in the side room: twin mattress covers, bassinette and crib sheets, bath towels, paper towels and baby products.

CAN YOU HELP? After the 3:00 p.m. "Silver Celebration" service honoring the Kelsos on December 2, there will be a cookie and punch reception in the side room for those attending. Please contact Beverly Shank (jbshank@rcn.com or 781-861-8015) if you can bake or serve.

Image of sycamore tree is from Intaglio Fine Arts