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The Acorn
Starr Presbyterian
Church News  
October 2016

From Your Pastor
Dear Church,
We are preparing for the Year of the Bible in 2017. We are inviting our members to commit to reading four chapters of the Bible every day, such that we will read the entire Bible in a year. Why is reading the Bible important?

· The Bible is God's way of speaking to us today.
· The Bible contains ancient wisdom for daily life.
· Through the Bible we come to know Christ, and if we follow His teaching we will become better, kinder, more Christlike people.
· Many people, including many Christians, believe they know what the Bible says but have not studied it deeply.
· Studying the Bible is the most effective path to spiritual growth.
· There is always something new to discover in God's Word, even if you've read it many times.


Having a daily quiet time is the most effective way, for most people, to focus on Bible reading and prayer. If it's part of your routine, it's easier to do it every day. For me, I am currently taking about half an hour in the early morning while I snuggle with my son and he watches Thomas the Tank Engine! My mind definitely wanders away from my devotion at 6:30 in the morning, but I had a spiritual director once who told me "every time your mind wanders, it's an opportunity to return to God." That helps me not to be too hard on myself.

Here are a few simple questions that can help you focus your Bible study on almost any passage:


· What questions do I need to research about this passage?
· Where is the Good News in this passage? (I had a professor once who said, if the Good News isn't in the verse, it's in the chapter; if it's not in the chapter, it's in the book; if it's not in the book, it's in the Bible!)
· How could God be speaking to me/us today through these words?
· What can I learn/take away from this passage?


Beginning your day with a quiet time will help you count your blessings, focus on what God wants for you in the day ahead, and fix your eyes on Christ. For me, it's an opportunity to hear God's voice speaking through the Scriptures and in my heart. I follow the old model of prayer, A-C-T-S: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. I praise God, humble myself by admitting my faults, thank Him for all the good things in my life, and ask Him for those things that are on my heart and in the church's prayers. It's a very simple prayer, but it's enough for me to focus my heart and speak to the Divine.

I would love to hear about your spiritual disciplines. There are many ways to encounter the Lord. I believe artwork, knitting, woodcarving, walking, yoga can all be forms of prayer if done with the intention to connect with God. For some people, simply having a quiet, calm time, breathing deeply, watching a candle burn down, can help them to reconnect with God. Following a daily spiritual discipline of any type will help us live more intentional, thoughtful lives, as we try to live more and more by the Spirit as followers of Christ.

Peace and love,

Pastor Marianne 


Seeds of Faith Capital Campaign·
Lounge Project:                                 $4000·
Chapel Recarpeting:                           $2600·
Projection System:                             $3500·
Sanctuary Flooring:                            $8000·
Cross Façade reconstruction:             $6000·
Faith Evangelism Program:                   $200·
Outreach Project:                              $3000·
Mission Project:                                 $2700  (10%)
Total:                                               $30,000

 
 

Serving in the Lord’s House October 2016
 
Thank-you to all who are assisting this month!
 
Liturgists:
October 2:    Don Reinke
October 9:     Andy LeCureaux
October 16:   Janie Castle
October 23:   Susie Regula
October 20:  Andy LeCureaux
         
 Please contact a member of Session if you are interested in serving as a Liturgist during our Sunday Morning Worship.
 
Greeters:

October 2:    Velma Wills
October 9:    Mandy Reinke
October 16:   Jim & Charlotte Alex
October 23:   Margaret Rossnagel
October 30:   Mike Woodcox

 
See Margaret Rossnagel if you would like to be a greeter.

Sunday School Teachers:
October 2:
Linda Finn, Debbie Collins
 
October 9:
Linda Finn, Debbie Collins
 
October 16:
Sue Smith, Garry Smith
 
October 23:
Don Reinke, Becca Castle
 
October 30:
Sue Smith, Garry Smith

 
 
We are seeking an additional Sunday School teacher for:

1st Sunday of the month and 4th Sunday of the month
 
If you are interested in helping out, please contact Pastor Marianne at m.grano@yahoo.com or Linda Finn at lindafinn@yahoo.com. You do not have to have great Bible knowledge, only the desire to help our children!

October Birthdays
 
2   John Mays
4   Shari Alston
8   Velma Wills
14 Taryn Peoples
19 Shirley Albright
22 Fred Judd
25 Denise Angle
27 Drake Dixon
31 Susie Regula

 
 

October Anniversaries

24       Mark and Cindy Stamat



PRAYER PAGE
Please keep the following members and friends in your prayers:
· For our nation, world and leaders, especially during these times of tension and turmoil.
· For those who travel.
· For those who mourn.
· For those suffering/recovering from natural disasters.
· For our military members; those deployed; veterans; for military families; first responders/their families.
· For pastors, church leaders and those
who serve tirelessly with mission work. We think especially of  Steve & Marge Doty and Amy.
· For families that struggle or need patience.
· For all concerns not articulated or spoken, but on our hearts and minds.
· For persecuted Christians.
· For our shut-ins.
· For the medical concerns of: Dave, Dick, Gail, Harvey, Linda, Marion, Richard, Rosemary, Sally, Sarah and Graham, Scott, Peggy Beal, Rosemary Beauchamp, Wayne Bridgeland, Esther Chaney, Bill Gleason, Richard Horn, Betty
Kingstrom, Robert Mertz, Michelle Nesbitt, Don Ols0n, Bev Schell and Lisa Somers.
· For our shut-ins.
· For those fighting cancer: Andy, Evonne, Ethan, Robin, Michelle, Steve, Carol Anderson,  Gloria Farris, Christine Fetterhoff, Marian Johnson, Sheila Judd, Carol Kaiser, Dennis Kennedy, Zoe Marcus, Tom McCullough and Mark Stamat.
· For those experiencing personal struggles: Those needing comfort during transition and change; those seeking employment, the homeless; those who are losing their homes;
· families experiencing effects of natural disasters/bad weather.
· For those struggling with addictions and those recovering, that they may continue to heal.
 
Note: To add someone to the Prayer List, please contact the church office at (248) 288-3230 or via email: office@starrchurch.org
.
 
 
 
Prayer Chain
If you have a concern that you would like us to put on the prayer chain, please contact Deb Collins at  248-649-3692 or Sandy Woodcox at 248-320-3182.
 Starr Presbyterian Church Contacts
Session 
Janie Castle   248/961-6565 
email: janiecastle@aol.com

Ken Groh       248/585-6153
email: grohken@yahoo.com

Andy LeCureaux   248/225-7372
email: alecureaux@gmail.com

Linda Finn            248/221-7252
email: lindafinn@yahoo.com

Shari Alston           248/545-6157
email: sharbear641@sbcglogal.net

Michael Woodcox     248/320-3179
email: mikewmi26@aol.com
 
Mandy Reinke (Clerk of Session) 248/224-0067                       
email: mandyreinke@sbcglobal.net  

Don Reinke              248/399-9053

Norm Rossnagel       248/585-7417
email: nmrossnagel@sbcglobal.net

Rick Crawford         248/548-4878
 

Office
Jennifer Taub, Administrative Assitant
email: office@starrchurch.org 

Rev. Marianne Grano:
(home) 313/649-4040
(cell) 313/585-1211
email: m.grano@yahoo.com
 
Web Address: www.starrchurch.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starrpres

 


 
 
 

Communion servers for October:
 
Ken Groh, Andy LeCureaux, Michael Woodcox and Janie Castle
 

Preaching This October
 
10-2: Switched On Courage ~Acts 6-7

10-9: Switched On Sight ~Acts 9

10-16: Switched On Grace ~Acts 10

10-23: Switched On Power ~Acts 16

10-30: Switched On Purpose ~Acts 17
 

 

Would you like to run the screen at church? This is a great way to give of your time to the church family and be involved with the worship service, and does not involve a large time commitment; we are looking for substitutes when Dan the Man is out of town. We will be running Screen Presentation Training workshop on October 9 at 9:30am. Let Dan Grano know if you are interested.
 
 

 

There will be a follow up meeting from Parents' Relief Week for all interested on Sunday, October 9 after church, to review how it went and discuss options and possibilities for next year.

From Your Session

Summary of pertinent actions
the Session took at
the September meeting.
 
• Set date to celebrate Reverend Grano’s 10th anniversary of her ordination for Sunday, November 6, 2016 following worship.
 
• Reviewed the membership rolls.
 
• Approved replacement of the door in the chapel.
 
• Approved purchase of fifteen new 72” round tables for the church.
 
• Approved new office hours for Jennifer Taub on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am - 1pm.
 
• Set Session meetings for the 4th Monday of the month for the future.
 
• Next Session meeting date: Monday October 24, 2016 at 6:00pm.

 

Women’s
Association News
October 2016
 
Circles will meet on
Tuesday, October 4 at 10 a.m.
 
Abigail/Dorcas will meet at Peggy Beal’s
Mary Martha will meet at Velma’s 
***
The Women’s Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 11 at 10 a.m. at the church
***
The Women’s Gathering will be held on Tuesday, October 18 at 11:30 a.m.
at the church. 
 
Bring your lunch. 
Dessert will be provided
by Mary/Martha Circle.
***
KnitWits will meet on Tuesday,
October 25 at 10 a.m.
 

KnitWits

Join us the fourth Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m.!
 
Do you knit, sew, or crochet, or can you roll a ball of yarn? KnitWits creates prayer shawls and items for people in need. If you can't meet at that time but want to participate, patterns will be available on the welcoming table. Just bring your finished projects to the church! Contact Grace McCullough or Deb Collins for more information.
 

Mark your calendars!

Sunday, December 11

The Joy of Christmas

*Cookie Exchange *Music*
*Christmas Feast*

To see what is coming up at Starr Church, click the link below: 

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=office%40starrchurch.org&ctz=America/New_York

 

Online Giving!

Online donations are up and running! You can give to any of our ministries including:

· General Fund
· Warming Shelter 
· Capital Improvements
· Gideons
· Flower Fund    
· Children and Youth
· *Wycliffe Bible Translators
· *PCUSA Special Offerings
(One Great Hour of Sharing)
 
Simply visit the church website, www.starrchurch.org, and click on "Gifts and Tithes." You can set up an automatic payment for your convenience or if you are sometimes out of town or miss church. You do not have to create an account to use this service!

 

Bottle and Can Returns
 
Please donate your returnable cans and bottles here.
 
Proceeds will be given to:
 
* Second Mile Center
* Detroit Rescue Mission
* Starr’s rotation of
   the Warming Shelter.
Collection boxes are in both kitchens.
 
Thank  you!
 

Recycle Your Ink Cartridges Here
 
Please bring in your ink cartridges to help defray our office expenses.  We turn in the ink cartridges to Staples and in return we get store credit that helps pay for the paper that the bulletin and other church publications are printed on.  There is a basket in the church off ice to deposit the cartridges.  Thank you! 

 

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