Hello there,
Well, ‘tis the season to be busy, and this weekend certainly is. The December First Press is available by clicking here. There you can see all that is going on throughout the month, but here is what is going on this weekend.
If you want to give a gift to someone that does not need more “stuff” the Alternative Gift Market will be this Saturday from 9:00 to 2:00 at the Unity Center (3791 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE). There you can make donations, in someone’s name, to a number of worthwhile charities. This year our church is supporting the Wheelchair Ramp Accessibility Program (WRAP) a local organization that builds wheelchair ramps for those with disabilities. We are also supporting Echo Home for Tribal Families that helps build homes for Native Americans on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
At 1:00 on Saturday, the Rockwell Collins Chorus will be presenting their Friends and Family Christmas concert in our sanctuary. A reception will follow down in the social room.
The youth group will be sponsoring a “Parents Night Out” on Saturday from 3:00 to 8:00. Children may be dropped off at the church allowing parents to do some shopping or go out to dinner. Donations will be accepted to benefit their summer mission trip. Contact our youth director, Abbie Parker or Pastor Beth if you are planning on bringing your children on Saturday.
Then at 5:00 on Saturday, we will be hosting the First Light Ministries Potbless Christmas Feast. First Light Ministries works at racial reconciliation by having members of various churches, sitting down and eating together and then worshipping together. We call it a “potbless” and not a potluck because it is all about blessing and luck has nothing to do with it. So bring a dish to pass and a food item for the food pantry. We will eat at 5:00 and worship at 6:30. Youth choirs from three other churches will provide special music. We hosted First Light back in April and had an absolutely wonderful time, so you really do not want to miss this if you can at all help it.
Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent and we will be celebrating with the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. The Chancel Choir will be singing and we will begin our Advent sermon series we are calling “Do Not Be Afraid!” This week it is “Do Not Be Afraid, Zechariah!” and I will be preaching on the story of the birth of John the Baptist found in Luke 1:5-24, 57-66.
In between services I will be leading an adult forum on writing an “ethical will.” This is a document you might leave to your loved ones explaining your beliefs and values, and what makes you into the person you are. It will begin at about 10:15 in the chapel and be over around 11:00.
Let me remind you of a few other things that are going on. This Sunday is the deadline for ordering poinsettias. We are looking for volunteers to light the candles on the Advent wreath at the services on Christmas Eve, December 24th. Contact Pastor Beth if you are interested. Finally, we are looking for some volunteers for our Wednesday night LOGOS program starting in January.
Stay in One Peace,
Howard