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Happy Thanksgiving
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 "Come,
ye thankful people, come. Raise the song of harvest home. . . . God, our
Maker, doth provide...for our wants to be supplied. . . . "
Your family's Thanksgiving celebration can extend love and fellowship
beyond your own dining room table. We can practice our faith by being
mindful of the true spirit of "thanksgiving" and by engaging in
true Christian hospitality. We can take time to relax, pray, play and
spend time with those we love. Alternative Thanksgiving ideas are offered
at the website below. Every year at Thanksgiving we are asked to remember
Thornwell Home for Children in Clinton, SC. With the support of the
PC(USA) the home nurtures more than 400 children, many of whom suffer
emotional problems. This is one of the most successful schools of its
type, and the care of residents is based on sound Christian principles
and a warm, loving atmosphere.
Enough for Everyone
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Presbyterian Women Attend Synod
Gathering
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Presbyterian Women,
Esther King, Jane Frost, Heather Taylor, Molly Chappell-McPhail, Minnie
Thomas, Mary Beck, Viola Willis, Jeanette Reeves, Katherine Sippola, and
Vernetiah Felder, of Foothills Presbytery attended the 2007 Synod
Gathering at Epworth by the Sea in St. Simons Island, GA, October 26-28.
Approximately 445 women from across the Synod of South Atlantic attended
the triennial gathering to sing, pray, and worship. There were numerous
workshops, training classes, and business meetings as well, along with
several bible study sessions led by the Rev. Dr. Carol Bethtel. Dr.
Bethtel is the author of this year's Horizon Bible Study. A love offering
of $4,100 was collected to benefit Rabun Gap and the Duvall Home. The
theme was "Here am I, Lord, " and the Bible verse for the
weekend was Isaiah 6:8. Worship leader was the Rev. Chineta Goodjoin from
Los Angeles, California, formerly a Candidate under care of this
presbytery and a former member of Bethesda Presbyterian Church in
Gaffney.
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Outstanding High School Seniors
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The nomination form for
Outstanding Church Youth Leader Award (OCYLA) is now available at the
Presbyterian College website below. Nominees must be endorsed by their
Session, and the nomination form must be received by PC by December 15,
2007. All of the nominees will receive a $2,000 scholarship ($500 per
year) to attend Presbyterian College, and the winner will receive a
$10,000 scholarship.
Outstanding
High School Seniors
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Help Hispanics Learn English
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 The
Presbytery's ESL (English as a second language) program at John Calvin
Presbyterian Church is going strong. About 30 students are coming to the
beginner class, and four each to the intermediate and advanced classes.
Hispanics want and need to learn English. The beginner class needs to be
divided into two classes, and two more teachers are required. You do not
need to know Spanish. If you have a heart for people and feel led to
help, please call Jan Culpepper, coordinator of volunteers, at 864-415-
1160. You would be welcome to come observe the classes. Come on Sunday
evening at 5:00 p.m. to the John Calvin Church in Berea. The address is
1801 W. Parker Rd. Come to the parking lot in the back. The beginner
class meets in the fellowship hall.
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Christmas Ideas & Events
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 GIFT
SUGGESTION
If you need a Christmas gift for someone, there still are a few CDs
available featuring piano and organ music by Anda Mobley and Margaret
MacKay. This wonderful collection of sacred and classical pieces was
produced and is being sold to benefit InDwellings. The music is fabulous,
and it is for a good cause. The CDs are available from Charlie Blakely
(947-4103 or cblakely@hughes.net)
or from the presbytery office. The cost is $20.
CHRISTMAS PROJECT
If you would like to be involved in a meaningful Christmas project, you
should consider Operation Santa Claus sponsored by Mental Health America.
This organization does 400 gift bags containing items such as toothpaste,
tooth brushes, socks, lotion, etc. for the mentally handicapped. If you
are interested, contact Becky Kay at Providence Church (605-1011 or becky@providence-church.com.)
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
As you begin shopping for holiday gifts and decorations, remember that
items purchased at Ten Thousand Villages benefit both the purchaser and
the artisan. Give a gift that gives twice!! Holiday hours are expanded to
include Sundays 1:00 to 5:30 from Nov. 18 to Dec.23. Children can shop at
the Little Village, open only on Sunday afternoons. Gifts for parents and
friends can be selected for $10 or less, wrapped and tagged so they are
ready for the tree. Ten Thousand Villages is located at 2 W. Lewis Plaza
in Greenville.
CHRISTMAS EVENTS
Christmas at Presbyterian College
The Departments of Music and Theatre at Presbyterian College will present
ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING December 1, 7:00 p.m., and December 2,
3:00 p.m. Performances will be held in Belk Auditorium, and tickets are
available at 1-864-833-8317 (1-5 p.m.)
The Foothills Retirement Community invites you to join them for a holiday
"Christmas Tea" on Friday, December 7, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. The
Retirement Community is located at 205 Bud Nalley Drive in Easley. Make
plans to drop by for delicious refreshments, festive Christmas music, and
tours of beautifully decorated homes and apartments. If you plan to
attend, RSVP by Nov. 31 to 864-859-3367.
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Concerns
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 Please
keep these people in your prayers:
Mike Turner, member of First Spartanburg Church, had a heart/lung
transplant in Charleston this week. The surgeries were successful, and at
this time he is doing well. Mike is also Commissioned Lay Pastor at Unity
Church in Boiling Springs and a member of presbytery's Committee on
Preparation.
Sara Payne, a member of Westminster Greenville Church, lost her grandson,
Travis Cale, in the fire at Ocean Isle Beach recently. Sara is known to
many people throughout the presbytery because of her valuable work with
presbytery, Synod and G.A. committees.
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Campus Ministry News
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TROUPE '08
College and university applicants are needed to be a part of Troupe '08,
a group that will interpret Presbyterian campus ministry's mission,
advocate for campus ministry, and enjoy travels and experiences with
peers. This Troupe is a mission outreach and evangelism initiative and
will involve as many as 8 students and 2 advisors. It will meet in
Tallahassee, FL, on June 14, 2008, for organizing and planning
interpretive presentations to share with Presbyterians en route to and
from and while in San Jose, CA. Participants must be willing to ask home
congregations, campus ministries, presbyteries, or individuals to
contribute up to $350 in funding support. Applications are available at www.pucfsu.com
and must be completed and postmarked no later than January 7, 2008.
Notifications will occur by Feb. 1, 2008.
PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE
BULLETIN INSERT
Presbyterian College Director of Church Relations has prepared a bulletin
insert for Thanksgiving that is available at the website below. This
insert includes offerings of thanksgiving from various students at PC.
Students at PC
are thankful for . . . . .
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Choir Robes for Sale
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Grace Covenant
Presbyterian Church in Mauldin is selling 25 choir robes, plus a
Director's robe. The robes are in very good condition and are washable.
They are dark green with reversible green/ivory stoles, and the stoles
have the Presbyterian Church logo on them. They are asking $35 per robe,
and they will pay to ship them to you. If interested, please contact
Paulette Plaster at 864-288-3951 or pplaster@gcpcmauldin.com.
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Flooding Devastates Mexican Town
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Floods struck the Mexican
town of Villahermose, Tabasco, on October 30, causing one of Mexico's
largest natural disasters in recent history. The state of Tabasco, which
is located on Mexico's tropical Gulf Coast, has the largest concentration
of Presbyterians in Mexico, and some 1.3 million people have been
directly affected by flooding with major damage to water and sanitation
infrastructure, crops and livestock. Many people were left homeless, and
many Presbyterian churches have been destroyed. There is a tremendous
need for basic things such as food, water, and clothing.
The Rev. Clifton
Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the PC (USA)'s General Assembly, expressed
his support for flood victims and compared the level of devastation in
Tabasco to that of Hurricane Katrina, which decimated the United States
Gulf Coast in 2005. Part of Kirkpatrick's letter reads: "We are
remembering you in our prayers as you race around the clock to minister
directly to the countless needs arising from the situation - providing
shelter and sustenance to thousands of victims, helping to control the
outbreak of disease. . . . . . . The Presbyterian family is worldwide. We
pray that our common bond in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gives you
hope and comfort in these present, difficult days."
Hoping to ease some of
the suffering in this flood- soaked area, Presbyterian Disaster
Assistance has sent $30,000 in aid. The money, from One Great Hour of
Sharing and designated funds, was forwarded to the National Presbyterian
Church of Mexico (INPM) to purchase bottled water, food and bedding for
emergency shelters. Six INPM presbyteries are housing more than 1,000
people forced from their homes in Tabasco after days of heavy rains last
week which put most of the low-lying, oil-rich state under several feet
of water.
Chuy Gallegos, Hispanic
Ministry Coordinator for Foothills Presbytery, has many friends and
colleagues in the stricken area and joins us in asking for prayer for all
those affected. Contributions for Mexico flood relief may be sent through
normal mission-giving channels by designating gifts for Mexico-DR000014.
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