[Members] FW: Weekend Messenger

Sat Dec 15 09:47:10 PST 2007

From: Paul Reiter [mailto:preiter at glpby.org] 
Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 11:33 AM
To: Paul T Reiter
Subject: Weekend Messenger

Dear Colleagues:

The time with Phillip Newell, former Warden with the Iona Community was rich
last weekend.  Phillip was in town for a lecture at Eden Seminary on Friday
night, and then led a workshop on Saturday at the Mercy Center in St. Louis.
On Sunday he preached at First Presbyterian Church in Kirkwood. The theme
for his time with us was "The New Birthing of Christ for Today". Phillip
suggests that we all have an appointment with life and it is now.  If we
miss the present we will miss God.  My prayers for you are that in this
Advent season you will have time to be present and to be with the Presence
that comes once more at Christmas.

Howard Thurman in his The Mood of Christmas writes:

"The symbol of Christmas - what is it? It is the rainbow arched over the
roof of the sky when the clouds are heavy with foreboding. It is the cry of
life in the newborn babe when, forced from its mother's nest, it claims its
right to live. It is the brooding Presence of the Eternal Spirit making
crooked paths straight, rough places smooth, tired hearts refreshed, dead
hopes stir with newness of life.  It is the promise of tomorrow at the close
of every day, the movement of life in defiance of death, and the assurance
that love is sturdier than hate, that right is more confident than wrong,
that good is more permanent than evil."

May the joy hope, love and peace of Advent be yours!

Paul

Prayer Concerns

OUR SYMPATHY

To the family of Rev. William (Bill) Waddell, an Honorably Retired member of
our presbytery who died on Friday morning.  Services will be held at the
College Avenue Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, December 18, 2007, at 11:00
a.m. Visitation will be held at Elias-Smith Funeral Home; 2521 Edwards St.;
IL from 4-8 p.m. on Monday. Please remember Bill's wife Mary in your
prayers.

To the family of Katherine McGaffin, a member of St. Charles Presbyterian
Church and a ormer commissioned missionary for the World Wide Ministry
Division of the PCUSA who died on Wednesday, December 12, 2007.  Visitation
will be held on Sunday, December 16, 2007, from 3-5 pm at Baue-Jefterson St.
(St. Charles).  Services will be held on Monday, December 17, 2007 at 12:00
Noon at Baue-Jefferson St. (St. Charles).

Rev. Linda Anderson-Little, spouse of Rev. Dan Anderson-Little (Trinity,
University City) continues her recovery from surgery for breast cancer. She
is making good progress and the further updates this week have been
encouraging.  Dan writes in their journal, "One change is our doctor
schedule: we will meet with medical oncologist this coming Tuesday (instead
of Christmas Eve) so it is possible that chemo will start toward the end of
next week." 

For further updates please go to:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lindaandersonlittle 

Please keep Linda and Dan and their family members in your prayers.

Debbie Woolverton, spouse of Rev. Art Woolverton (Member at Large) had
surgery, came home, and then had to return for a further hospitalization.
Today she is at home enjoying her husband and one of her daughters as she
watches the snow fall. Chemotherapy is planned and will begin in about 3
weeks. Please keep her in your prayers, as well as Art and other family
members.

Elder Sarah Mitchell (Bonhomme) has had knee replacement surgery and is
recuperating at home.

Rev. Helen Fabre, Honorably retired clergy is at Barnes Jewish Hospital
after being released from the hospital.  A corrective surgery was performed
this week following a long period of physical weakness.  

Barbara Olson, spouse of Rev. David Olson, Twelfth Street in Alton, IL has
had a recurrence of cancer. As treatments begin again and as future plans
are made, please keep them both in your prayers.

Rev. Robert Falconer, HR, is recuperating at home following a lengthy
hospitalization. Please keep him in your prayers.

Rev. William Russell is recuperating from a fall on his bicycle which
resulted in four broken ribs.  Additional tests are underway as some
complications have set in. Please pray for Bill and Barbara as recovery
continues.

Rev. Tom Bass continues to face medical challenges. Please keep Tom and Mary
Lou in your prayers.

Rev. Bob Landes is still recovering from eye surgery. Please keep Bob and
Sherry in your prayers.

Rev. Jennifer Horton's father has been diagnosed with renal cancer.  Please
keep Jennifer and her family in your prayers.

Elder Roy Myers (Northminster) has asked for prayers for his son Reginald
Myers, who has had a recurrence of Hodgkin's disease. He is going to have
kidney surgery before they begin further treatment.

Rev. David Holyan's (Kirkwood) mother, Judi is recovering from lung surgery
in Seattle. 

Rev. Chris Keating's mother, Lois Keating continues her recovery after a
fall. 

Elder Barb Lewis (Westminster, St. Louis) is at home still working toward
pain management and has received good news that her application for
disability was approved! Please keep her in your prayers.

Elder Barb Stupp, Glendale, is still in need of prayers as she continues to
have health challenges.

Presbyterian Women would like our prayers as they seek to reach out to
younger women and find creatie ways to build fellowship and enrichment in
their Christian service.

Happenings

Partners for Just Trade, our economic development component of Joining Hands
in Peru has a new web site.  It is not too late to do your Christmas
shopping.  Go to www.partnersforjusttrade.org

Don't forget for the Calendar of Presbytery activities go to: www.glpby.org
and click on CLAENDAR

May the grace, love, joy and peace of Jesus Christ surround you!
Have a Blessed Third Sunday in Advent!

Faithfully, 

Paul

Rev. Dr. Paul T. Reiter

Executive Presbyter

Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy

2236 Tower Grove Avenue

St, Louis, MO  63110

(314) 772-2395 x 110

"Serving the churches of the Greater St. Louis area, Southeast Missouri, and
West Central Illinois

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