FPC News

First Presbyterian Church Announcements

Bulletin
Our weekly bulletin News and Reminders page is [here]

CARElink Update - Volunteers Needed
A renewed partnership based on an ecumenical coalition of Chippewa Falls area churches will soon be opening its doors. This vital partnership will be known as the new CARE-LINK and the intent of this ministry is to help people needing emergency assistance with one-time immediate needs. This includes, but is not confined to gas, food, utilities, rent, and networking with area social services. The CARE-LINK effort will be housed out of First Presbyterian Church-Chippewa Falls. Its doors will be open on Monday mornings and Thursday afternoons for a period of three hours (subject to change as the ministry evolves). As a participating congregation we are required to provide a number of volunteers to this effort. Presently, congregations are gathering a list of interested people who may be able to volunteer one or maybe more days a month as intake volunteers.

A CARE-LINK coordinator will be responsible for training and scheduling all volunteers. Intake volunteers will gather general information, listen to the request and determine need among other basic tasks. If you are interested in hearing more about CARE-LINK and/or possibly volunteering for this community effort please contact Jon Behling after service or @ 828-5115 or email at Frobe@wwt.net.

CARElink Update
CARElink is an effort by several churches to do what we have been doing with our Deacon’s Fund (formerly the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund) and, hopefully, more. By pooling resources and volunteers we hope to offer assistance to more people. Particular needs include rent, fuel, gas for vehicles and groceries. This kind of assistance is not available from any other agency. And other important services provided by government agencies are shrinking as funding sources disappear.

There is a board of directors that is planning how it will work. Jon Behling, our mission team chair, is a member. Brad Crocker, pastor of Landmark Christian Church, is leading the group. The CARElink board hopes to have a dozen or more churches on board very soon.

Our session has approved the use of our facility as a home for CARElink. We would be the site for the distribution of assistance. Donations and volunteers from many churches, including ours, will make it work.

Several years ago there was a similar effort to create this shared ministry. We participated for awhile. But, without a board and a volunteer coordinator, it withered and died. This time a strong core of supporters is taking a different approach and hopes are high. If all goes well, it may begin operations in January.

CARElink will not distribute groceries. We still need to decide how or if we will continue our food pantry. We will need to have a few volunteers step up to help. The search for a volunteer coordinator continues. Perhaps you would like to be that person! And we will need to continue our generous financial support of the Deacon’s Fund. Money then would be forwarded to CARElink to continue our part in this most needed ministry.

Wednesday Night Meals
Wednesday Nite Meals return this Wednesday, September 16, serving from 5:30–6 pm. Bring the whole family and invite your friends to join us. Donations invited. If you have questions, contact Kathi Mandelert (park140@charter.net) or Margi Kohl (margikohl@hotmail.com).

Faithquest Teachers Needed
As we start a new year of Sunday School we are in need of volunteers to work with our Faith Quest children. This is an exciting chance to be involved with the children of the church. You can volunteer for individual Sundays and everything will be set up and ready to go for you. The program is very easy to administer and a lot of fun!

This is something everyone can do and your participation is greatly appreciated. Please call Noelle Chaltry, 456-2684, to sign up and with any questions.

Come Together to Pray
A few are gathering for prayer on Tues and Fri mornings at 7:30 a.m.  We meet at the back of the sanctuary in the choir area. Just half an hour, come and go as you can. We are praying for our church, our choir, our staff, our leaders, and for those whom we may introduce to Jesus’ love. Contact Barry Boyer or Reid Kennedy.

(Feel free to suggest other times to gather for prayer.)  

Please Submit Bulletin Info to the Office by 8:00 AM Wednesday
We want the congregation to know about everything that is happening in the church. Please get your information to the church office by Wednesday morning. Email is the preferred means of delivery.

To Cherie - fpc1admin@sbcglobal.net  Also, please get in the habit of emailing to Eric for the website and Kathi for the BELL at the same time (see additional announcement below...)

Check Church Website for Calendar Information
We are working hard to make our church website the place for church calendar information. To that end, we are using a new calendar service. See the new web calendar from our site at www.fpcchippewafalls.org

Please email any church calendar additions or changes to Cherie.

Group all three: BULLETIN, BELL, and WEBSITE under the name CALENDAR, and send your news and calendar items simultaneously to:
Cherie – fpc1admin@sbcglobal.net ; Eric - haglunderic@hotmail.com and
Kathi - park140@charter.net