Not a Silent Night. Witnessing to our faith and serving Christ from Pine Street for 192 years!

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1 441 Pine Street, Williamsport PA (570) office Pastor Douglas M. Eberly streetpine@hotmail.com Not a Silent Night And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 Silent Night. From the carols we sing to the art on our Christmas cards, we are surrounded by images of the serene young Mary in clean, beautiful robes, holding the calm baby. We have this idealized image of that first Christmas: perfect, starlit and holy. And yet the reality for Mary was not much different than our lives. There was that undeniable joy but it was mixed with pain and sorrow, uncertainty and adversity. She would give birth to her son far from family and not in her home but a crude stable. It was a far cry from what she might have ever imagined. This Advent season we will be focusing on Mary and telling her story not from the beginning but the end. We will look through the eyes of Mary as we review the life of Jesus starting with his resurrection and working our way back to his birth. Each Sunday we ll ponder anew the meaning of Jesus birth by looking at the significance of his life, death and resurrection. Our Advent experience will be centered around Adam Hamilton s book, Not a Silent Night, which are available in the lobby and I encourage you pick up a copy and read it. There are also three opportunities to join a Bible study that takes a closer look at each week s theme. The Ladies Bible study meets Mondays at 1pm in the library, Men s Bible study meets for Breakfast on Tuesdays at 7am at Harvest Moon, and Mary Ann Vance and I will be leading a study Monday evenings at 6:30pm. I m excited about this upcoming season. Please join us for the choir s cantata, God is With Us, presented at the unified service on December 16 th at 11am and followed by a home cooked Christmas Dinner. Then on Christmas Eve join us for a family oriented service at 6:30 pm and a service of lessons and carols at 9 pm. Both services will include candle lighting. Join us this Advent as Mary looks back to Bethlehem. In Christ s service, Pastor Doug P.S. Dee and I want to thank everyone for all your prayers and expressions of love and concern following Dee s neck surgery. We appreciate all your love and support. Witnessing to our faith and serving Christ from Pine Street for 192 years!

2 UPCOMING SERVICE SCHEDULE Dec. 2 1 st Sunday of Advent/Communion Beginning with the End Dec 9 2 nd Sunday of Advent Amazed, Astounded & Astonished Dec 16 3 rd Sunday of Advent Christmas Musical Unified Service 11AM Dec 23 4 th Sunday of Advent Mary Full of Grace Dec 24 6:30PM Family Christmas Service 9:00PM Lessons & Carols Service Dec 30 A Covenant People Unified Service 11AM DECEMBER SPECIAL OFFERING ENVELOPE Among the most important gifts God sought to give us at Christmas is the knowledge that we are loved. Adam Hamilton truth will set you free. 9:45AM Sunday School 8:30AM & 11AM Worship Service We also broadcast the 11:00AM service on WWPA 1340AM and 101.3FM *Monday Thursday 8:00AM 3:00PM Friday 8:00AM 1:30PM streetpine@hotmail.com Website: Also find us on Facebook under Pine Street United Methodist Church. Give the Gifts of Joy and Love to the Young and Old! Whether we are young or old, we love presents! But even more than presents, we Love knowing that someone cares about us. Joy comes through relationships that encourage us to be all that we can be, no matter our age or stage of life. Love provides the security of knowing we are safe where we live, that we will have nutritious food, and that our medical needs will be cared for. The residents of YOUR benevolent homes are grateful for each and every one of YOU individuals and congregations who provide love and joy as you support the mission of caring for the most vulnerable among us. YOUR gifts can change the world for a child, a teen, a senior. THE POWER OF A SIMPLE GIFT Would you like to provide altar flowers in memory or honor of someone? Please contact the altar guild member below: December: Barb Flock Thank you to those who contributed to our annual Operation Shoebox ministry. We also hosted one of the three collection sites in the area. Our site collected 2760 boxes from area churches and organizations. Page 2

3 DECEMBER ECUMENICAL LUNCH Plan to join us Wednesdays this fall for a delicious lunch, warm ecumenical fellowship and an enriching program! These luncheons are every week of the school year at Pine Street United Methodist Church, 441 Pine Street, Williamsport. The lunch line opens about 11:45 a.m. and you are assured of a tasty $6 lunch. Parking will be free during that day from 11-1:30 in the lot north of the church. To help with planning please RSVP at or director@uclc.org if you are not a regular attender. DECEMBER: 5-Rev. Angelique Labadie-Cihanowyz Coordinator, Sojourner Truth Ministries, Sojourner Truth - Her Legacy Continues 12- Ms. Leatha Kieser and Mrs. Carol Waltz, Area Musicians, Christmas Goodies 19- Rev. Tom Brokaw, Chaplain, Susquehanna Health Pastoral Care, Blue Christmas Service 26- No Lunch - Hope your Holidays are wonderful! UNITED METHODIST WOMEN The United Methodist Women will have their annual Christmas Program on Wednesday, December 5 th at 1:30 PM. in the Lobby. There will be special music, carols and a Christmas story. Hostesses will be Margaret Piper and Georgina Sackandy. All are welcome. Our January meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 16 th at 1:30PM in the Lobby. Thanks to all who helped with the recent Funeral luncheons. Your donations and help were greatly appreciated. Pat Wittig DECEMBER PINE NEEDLE Please have any material for the January Pine Needle in the church office no later than Friday December 14th. Any early articles are appreciated and helpful. Articles not received by December 14th may not be included in the January Pine Needle. DID YOU KNOW? You can receive your Pine Needle sooner by visiting or by . Not only do you benefit by getting it early, you can also help the church be good stewards of their finances by helping to save on postage. If you would like to be added to the mailing, please contact the church office. Thank you. FRIDAY NIGHTERS PSUMC's Friday Nighters' will resume in January. Have a happy and blessed Christmas. See you in the New Year. CHRISTMAS GIFT GIVING In this season of gift giving to family, friends and those less fortunate, we hope you will also consider your gift to PSUMC. It is through the donations of every individual and family in the congregation that we are able to carry on our work. You can use your electronic giving option or give by envelope. If you would like more information on electronic giving please contact Gail Maurer at CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR FAMILY PROMISE FAMILIES Thank you to those who took gift tags for Christmas gifts for children, youth and parents of Family Promise. Tags need to be retuned with each gift by Thursday, December 13 th. Thank you for your generosity during this blessed time of year. Page 3

4 Those serving in December Dale & Donna Diermyer, McWilliams Family Dec 24 9:00PM Dale & Donna Diermyer, Gail Maurer, Bill Burd, Carol Porter Dec 30 Bill Burd, Pat Bailey, Gail Maurer, Larry & Glenda Breon Dec. 2 Dec 9 Dec 16 Dec 23 Dec 30 ACOLYTES Rylie French Colin Porter Juliette Grimes Ciara Beaghley Rylie French We would like to thank all who give of their time each Sunday morning. If you would like to help in any of these areas, please contact the office or make a note on your connect card and we will get you in touch with the proper person. Dec 2 Dec 9 Dec 16 Dec 23 Dec 30 NURSERY VOLUNTEERS Jenna McWilliams Katie Heaster Marion Reeser Chris Nevill Sarah Keiser Dec. 2 Dec 9 Dec 16 Dec 23 Dec 30 WORSHIP LEADERS Chris Kindon Cathy Marr Carol Lady Jim Burget Lynne Koskie ADVENT READERS Dec 2 8:30AM Service Sekel Family 11:00AM Service Bolt Family Dec 9 8:30AM Service Heaster Family 11:00AM Service Pentico/Rude Family Dec 16 11:00AM Service Jim & Mitzi Burget Dec 23 8:30AM Service McWilliams Family 11:00AM Service Grimes Family Dec 24 Both Services Pastor Doug & Dee Eberly Dec. 2 Dec 9 Dec 16 Dec 23 USHERS AND GREETERS Bill Burd, Pat Bailey, John Beauge, Kathryn Penfield, Wayne & Shari Poust Bill Burd, Pat Bailey, Larry & Glenda Breon Bill Burd, Pat Bailey, Chris Kindon, Michelle Hopkins, Gail Maurer Chris Kindon, Michelle Hopkins, Bill Burd, Pat Bailey, Wayne & Shari Poust Dec 24 6:30PM Charles & Shirley Springman. Dec. 2 Dec 9 Dec 16 Dec 23 Dec 30 CRIB NURSERY Tammy LaBarre FELLOWSHIP FOLLOWING 11:00AM SERVICE Pentico/Rude family Bolt Family Christmas Dinner Leo & Lynne Koskie Susan Swank Cashera & family PERSONALS Thank you to those who helped assemble the November Pine Needle. We could not do this each month without your help Thank you I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Outreach Committee and the Education Committee for their generous donations towards my Mission trip to Guatemala. Sincerely, Kate Thompson Page 4

5 PERSONALS (continued) To the Pine Street Youth Group and Nick and Candy Grimes: Thank you, thank you, thank you for ALL of your hard work in making the chicken corn soup. I hope you had a good time doing it and experienced good Christian fellowship doing this service. It is because of caring, giving groups like yours that the West End Christian Community Center is able to thrive. Many thanks. Todd Be sure to join us for our Christmas Eve Services. 6:30PM Family Christmas Service 9:00PM Lessons & Carols Service Pick up a few candy cane invitation cards from the basket in the lobby and invite your friends and family to join you for a service. The Pine Street Youth Group will be hosting the second annual silent auction in coordination with the December 16 th Christmas dinner. Please contact Candy Grimes at if you have items you would like to donate to the auctions. Items may also be left in the church office Thank you for your continued support of our youth programs. Christmas Dinner December 16 th This year s Christmas dinner will be on December 16 th following the unified worship service. Please sign up in the lobby by December 9 th or contact the church office if you can t make it to the sign-up sheet. The meal will include ham with mashed potatoes, vegetable, house salad, rolls, dessert and beverages. Please join us for this special time of fellowship. Page 5

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7 Calendar Thank you for supporting the Pine Street Youth Group Youth Calendar Sunday December 2 nd 9:45AM-10:45AM Sunday School 6:30PM-8:00PM Youth Group Sunday December 9 th 9:45AM-10:45AM Sunday School 6:30PM-8:00PM Youth Group Sunday December 16th 9:45AM-10:45AM Sunday School 7:30PM-8:00PM Youth Group Fly World Ugly Sweater Party Sunday December 16 th Youth Auction following Worship Service Sunday December 23rd 9:45AM-10:45AM Sunday School No Youth Group Sunday December 31 st 9:45AM-10:45AM Sunday School No Youth Group Page 7

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9 Wishing you a birthday filled with sweet moments and wonderful memories to cherish always. Joyce Clinch Conrad Mailleue William H. Kieser Dick Pewterbaugh Pat Wittig David Belzer Katie Heaster Pippy Kieser Anna Nevill Maurice Pap La Rin Eric Adams Joyce Morgan Nora Mitchell Dale Diermyer Those in BOLD signify Jubilee Birthdays (those 85 and above) 3rd 6th 9th 11th 15th 16th 19th 19th 24th 25th 28th 28th 29th 31st Steven & Carley Smith John & Mary (Dodge) Mussare Larry & Glenda Breon Lou & Jean Robbins Charles & Shirley Springman 4th 12th 20th 28th 28th Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not selfseeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. I Cor. 13:4-8

10 Pine Street United Methodist Church 441 Pine Street Williamsport PA Address Service Request NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Williamsport, PA PERMIT No. 36 December 2018 Pine Street United Methodist Church Our Vision Show Christ s Love Teach God s Truth Share the Gospel How is God calling you to fulfill our vision? Please be sure to read your newsletter for the details of the events happening at Pine Street UMC for the month of December. Have you checked out the website for Pine Street? Check out Pine Street UMC Facebook page