Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and peace!
Last year we offered a "Drive Thru Live Nativity" scene as a "gift" to the community - and as a fun and interactive way of sharing God's "Good News."
An estimated 90-100 people experienced the "live nativity."
We are seeking people who would like to help "plan" for the nativity again this year.
Please contact Pastor Dave by October 16 if you would like to help make the "Drive Thru Nativity" come alive again in 2022.
If you have questions, please contact Pastor Dave. Thank you!
Mark your calendars for November 12th which will be our annual Harvest Dinner. Due to the Covid -19 Pandemic we are still unable to provide a sit-down dinner in the church dining room.
So, we will once again provide a drive thru turkey dinner in the back parking lot (just like the dinner you would get inside the church) beginning at 4:30PM.
We will need pumpkin and apple pies donated by the congregation.
More information will be provided in our next newsletter.
The Salvation Army Coat Drive will take place October 1-23rd with distribution October 28th and 29th. We are collecting gently used and clean winter coats---sizes infant to adult. They must have workable snaps, zippers and buttons.
We are also asking for snow boots of all sizes. We have a special need for children’s items.
You may drop off your items at PPC, Portage Police Dept. or the Portage Public Library (Main & Children Entrance).
During the month of October (1st-23rd ) we will again be doing a Terri Lynn Nut & Candy pre-order sale. You will pre-order and pay for what you would like.
The items will then be ordered and we should have them by Thanksgiving.
So carefully consider what you would like and order accordingly because we will not have any “left overs”.
Some of the items available will be Fancy Pecan Pieces, Light Walnut Halves & Pieces, Deluxe Mixed Nuts, Giant Cashews, Sweet & Salty Trail Mix, Milk Chocolate Raisins, Milk Chocolate Bridge Mix, Milk Chocolate Malted Milk Balls, Almond Cranberry Granola Mix, Harvest Medley Mix, Milk Chocolate Peanuts, Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels and Dark Chocolate Cranberries. These are some of the items we have picked out.
You may have other items you like so like last year we will have a colored brochure available for you to go through and order whatever you desire. You will then just add the items to your order blank.
Price lists and order blanks will be available at church on Sunday, September 25th or in the church office. You will notice that some prices have gone up and that is due to an increase from Terri Lynn.
If you have any questions contact Nancy Schaper (608-742-7242). All profits from this nut and candy sale will go to the general operating budget of the church.
We had our final brat, hamburger and hot dog sale on September 3rd at Festival Foods. It was our 3rd sale of the summer. Thank you to Larry Day for being our “Grill Master” and to Donna Mohr, Edith McElroy and Kathy Raimer for helping in the stand. Totally this year we made a profit of $1,689.11 for the church!!!
Thanks to all who supported the brat sales throughout the summer.
The report of the Nominating Committee was presented during the Congregational Meeting - with the following elected (for second 3 year terms):
Ruling Elders
Larry Day - Jarrett Foster - Nancy Schaper
Deacons
Peggy Alf-Sechtig - Joyce Meredith
Congregational Members Serving On The 2023 Nominating Committee
Liz Bellmore - Donna Mohr - Kathy Raimer - Joyce OehlhofThank you for your willingness to serve God and God's People in these ways!
We have received notice that the Portage Food Pantry will be changing the ways in which customers are provided food resources.
And, as a result, the "volunteer" work PPC does at the Food Pantry will also be changing.
Customers, beginning sometime this Fall, will be invited to come into the Pantry to "shop and choose" their own food.
So, instead of "packing boxes" - we are "stocking shelves."
If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Dave. Thanks!
Sunday, October 2 - "Traditional Worship" Service - 10:05 a.m.
17th Sunday after Pentecost
"We will share the "Lord's Supper" during the service.
The "Bread" and "Cup" will be served in the pewsSunday - October 9, 2022 - "Traditional" Worship - 10:05 a.m.
18th Sunday after PentecostSunday, October 16 - "Informal" Worship - 10:05 a.m.
19th Sunday after PentecostSunday - October 23 - "Traditional" Worship - 10:05 a.m.
20th Sunday after PentecostSunday - October 30 - "Traditional" Worship - 10:05 a.m.
21st Sunday after Pentecost
New Directions 4-H club is a very active group of young people from the area that meet together to share ideas, work on projects and learn great leadership skills.
The New Directions 4-H club meets @ PPC on the 3rd Sunday of each month, beginning @ 4:00 p.m.
Jen Martens is the advisor for the New Directions Club.
The Scout units here in Portage - Troop 70 - Troop 7070 - Pack 70 are now meeting here at PPC!
Their primary meeting times are on Sunday evenings - however, there may be other times that the "Dens" or "Patrols" or "Committees" may be using spaces.
We are making plans for storage space in the basement as well as ideas about having a display for all of the Troop and Pack plaques and awards.
This is an exciting time for all of us as we help support the young people involved in scouting and their leaders.
We will be having a "special ceremony" on Sunday, October 9 to celebrate the new relationship and "charters" - with members and leaders of the 3 scout units in attendance. Be sure to come and welcome them to the PPC community.Also, we offer our congratulations to Samuel Schonasky, who has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout - the newest Eagle Scout for Troop 70 - and the first Eagle Scout for PPC as a "chartered organization." Congratulations Sam!
As we noted over the last couple of months, the Church Office is in the process of modifying the options by which you can receive information from PPC - whether the monthly newsletter or items of information.
As a part of this process - beginning in November - we are "transitioning" from "only" paper copies of newsletters / information "mailed out" - to "either" paper copies (for those who choose to continue receiving by mail) ... OR "digital" copies (which would be emailed).
If you have not already given your "preferred email" to the Church Office, please consider doing so as soon as possible.
All emails shared with the Church Office are "confidential" - nothing is shared without your permission.
If, in the midst of this "transition" you for some reason do not receive the monthly newsletter (and you would like to), please contact the Church Office to be sure we have correct information.
If you have any questions, please contact the Church Office. Thank you!
Be sure to "mark your calendar" for Sunday, October 9!
First, during our 10:05 a.m. worship service, we will have a special "Ceremony to Recognize The Charters" that we now have with Troop 70 - Troop 7070 - Pack 70. Scouts and leaders from the scout units will be here to recognize this new relationship with PPC - and this will be our chance to welcome the Scouts to PPC!
And - after worship - there will be a "Fellowship Time" hosted by The Deacons! Rumor has it that it may involve "root beer floats?" You won’t want to miss this!
Then, on Sunday evening @ 6:00 pm - the PPC community is invited to a "Court of Honor" in the Fellowship Hall. This is a time in which scouts are recognized for special achievements, rank advancement or participation in special events.
If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Dave.
The next meeting of the Women's Association will be Saturday, october 10th at 9:00 a.m.- @ "A Place To Be Determined"
The Women's Association is organizing a work morning and wish list for Mary House. Mary House of Hospitality offers weekend hospitality to low-income women and families visiting inmates in the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) at Oxford, WI. Many families must travel long distances in order to visit. Its rural location and lack of public transportation make visiting especially difficult for many families. It is staffed by volunteers who share a commitment to easing the burden on children who must travel in order to maintain ties with an incarcerated parent. We are visiting Mary House on Saturday, October 15th. We will meet in the church parking lot at 8:15 to carpool. All are welcome!
We are also organizing a wish list for Hope House. The mission of Hope House is to prevent abuse and provide support to victims of domestic and sexual violence.
The wish list for Mary House is: small containers each of coffee, peanut butter and tea bags, mouse traps, disinfecting wipes and vinegar. The wish list for Hope House is: paper towels, dishwasher detergent, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, body wash, fruit snacks, women's leggings/jogging pants (all sizes), girl's tops, pants/leggings (all sizes) and 4T/5T toddler pullups. Thank you for helping us with this mission.
Presbyterian Women of John Knox Presbytery is looking for a moderator. If you are interested, please let Donna know.
All are invited to attend the 77th annual Welsh/English Hymn-Sing, on Sunday, October 9 - sung in mostly English, at 2:30 pm and again at 5:30 pm at the historic First Presbyterian Church at 121 W. Florence St in Cambria.
Join in and experience this traditional Hymn-Sing sung in rich 4-part harmony. It will be directed by the Rev. Joseph Corbin and accompanied by Steve Jensen. There will be special music during each set.
A supper will be served in the church between the sessions. The suggested donation for the supper is $10.00. Tickets will be available before and after the 1st session. Questions? Call Tom at 608-434-1404.
The Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is responding to the refugee crisis happening in Ukraine. Over one million Ukrainian people have already been displaced since the invasion began. As the violence continues, the number of people becoming homeless due to fighting or fleeing to neighboring countries increases by the day.
If you would like to make a donation to support PDA’s humanitarian response, please send your donation to the John Knox Presbytery.
You can include it with any other remittances to the Presbytery on the same remittance form and the same check. Please be sure to identify the PDA project in section C – Directed Mission Support on the Presbytery Treasury Service form (attached). The project number is DR000156 (Disaster Relief-International Refugee Programs).
We will forward your donations to the PDA and your donation will also appear on your quarterly statement we send to each church. For more information on the PDA’s assistance to Ukraine, please click the following link https://pda.pcusa.org/situation/ukraine//.
We are still looking for "volunteers" who might be interested in helping to "prepare" and / or "project" our Sunday morning worship services on the projection screens.
You do not have to be "in the office" to do this - you could actually prepare the slides in the "comfort of your own home" and save them on a flash drive.
For Sunday mornings, we would need to have someone who could advance the slides using a "clicker."
If you are interested in this, or would like more information, please contact Pastor Dave. Thanks!
One of the exciting new ministries that has developed is our "Sunday Morning Worship Video" option.
And we are continuing to look for additional "volunteers" who would be interested in being involved in this ministry.
If you have a "smart phone" - and a little time - would you consider helping out?
If you would be interested in participating in this ministry - or would like more information - contact Pastor Dave.
Provided that all is well, we will again provide worship for the residents at Tivoli on Monday, October 17 @ 10:00 a.m.
Anyone coming to be a part of the worship community will be asked to "check in" at the entrance and to "wear a mask" during the service (per Aspirus-Divine Savior Healthcare guidelines) - as will the Tivoli residents
"ADRC" Drivers and Volunteers Needed!
ADRC of Columbia County is looking for volunteers to deliver home meals and for "kitchen assistance." Schedules are "flexible" according to your availability - you can volunteer as much as works best for you.
ADRC of Columbia County is also looking for "paid drivers." This involves transporting elderly and people with disabilities to medical appointments or delivery of meals. Schedules are "flexible" according to your time availability. And you would get to drive an "ADRC Van."
If you are interested in either of these or would like more information, please call 1-888-742-9233.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"Sharing Supper" Information!
On Monday, October 24 - from 5:00-6:30 p.m. - Portage's "Sharing Supper" will be serving the community meal - @ Bartels Middle School.
"Sharing Supper" is organized around the idea that it is good for people to come together - in community - to "share a meal" - along with conversations. Different organizations and groups in the Portage area provide the meals each month.
The "Sharing Supper" will ordinarily be served each month - on the last Monday - at the Bartels Middle School.
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"Kwik Trip" Car Wash Cards are still available!
For $36.00 / card, you will receive 5 -
yes, that's right - 5 "Ultimate" car washes (normally a cost of $50.00)
If you would like to purchase a "Kwik Trip Car Wash Card" - contact Pastor Dave.
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It is "easy" to make a "financial" offering
for the work and ministry here @ Portage Presbyterian Church
You may choose to ....
Mail it to the Church Office or Drop it in the "mail slot"
or
Use the "online giving" option on "PPC's Website" or On "Amazon Smiles"Your financial support for the work and ministry of God in and through the Portage Presbyterian Church is greatly appreciated!
"Together" - we continue to share God's "Good News" in many ways
and YOU are helping to make this possible!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~To Contact The Portage Presbyterian Church
Phone: 608-742-6006
Church Office email: office@portagepresbyterian.com
Pastor Dave email: pastordave@portagepresbyterian.com
Website: www.portagepresbyterian.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/Portage-Presbyterian-Church-155581354519952
The Staff:
You are always welcome at The Portage Presbyterian Church!
Pastor: David Hankins
pastordave@portagepresbyterian.com
Financial Secretary:
Vanessa Chapman
(Vanessa is normally in the office Thursday afternoons from 2:00-4:00 p.m.)
Church Secretary:
Kathy Hankins
(Kathy is in the Church Office Wednesday and Friday: 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.)
The Portage Presbyterian Church
120 West Pleasant Street
P.O. Box 222
Portage, WI, 53901
Phone: (608) 742-6006
E-mail: office@portagepresbyterian.com
Support for your Portage Presbyterian Church Community through on-line giving
