FIRST DAY! Weekly News and Opportunities at The First Presbyterian Church of Howard County November 22, 2015

Transcription

1 FIRST DAY! Weekly News and Opportunities at The First Presbyterian Church of Howard County November 22, 2015 TODAY DISCIPLESHIP HOUR TODAY: Thank and Tell Luncheon, following the 10:30 a.m. service, in Lyle Buck Hall. All are welcome! Next week Discipleship Hour is taking a break. Come at 9:30 a.m. and attend the Advent Festival sponsored by Christian Education LITURGIST: Jan (8:30) USHERS & GREETERS: Rod, Angela, Joanna, Shannon, Kellianne (8:30); John, Mispa, Pat (10:30); Laura, Laura, Jonathan (Tech Crew) FLOWERS THIS WEEK are given to the Glory of God by Brett and Janet in celebration and joy for the gift of marriage. The flower arranger is Jan. CHILDREN S WORSHIP: All worship begins in the Sanctuary. At 8:30 a.m.: After Welcoming One Another Children ages 4-7 may go with Ms. Kathy Moore to Godly Play. Parents can pick up their children following worship in rooms 110 & 113. At 10:30 a.m.: After the Children s Prayer and Lord s Prayer Children ages 4-7 may go with Ms. Kathy Moore to Godly Play. Parents can pick up their children following worship in rooms 110 & 113. Older children, grades 2-5, may go with Ms. Virginia Callegary to The Worship Bridge. They will return to the sanctuary later in the worship service. THE BANNERS HANGING IN THE SANCTUARY are from the Presbytery of Baltimore. They represent the five areas of work that the Presbytery is involved in. First Presbyterian hosted the 869 th Gathering of the Presbytery of Baltimore on November 14. Thank you to all who helped to make the day a success! NEWS FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE: The Church Office will be open on Wednesday, November 25 th from 10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. The Church Office and Building will be closed on Thursday, Friday, & Saturday, November 26 th, 27 th & 28 th for the Thanksgiving Holiday. PRAYER FOR THANKSGIVING DAY We give you thanks, O God, for all things food and fellowship, family and friends, all that we have and all that we are. Let our lives be a sign of great thanksgiving for the treasure of your grace. Take and use us for good in the world that you so love; we pray in Jesus name. Amen.

2 GUIDE TO PRAYER FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 22 Please pray for: Jeff & Cheri, Joan, Burta, Jean, Phil, Dorothy, Jerry, Tom, Carol, Gertrude, Steve, Robert, Paula, Maria, Jonah, Bunny, Bette, Murray, Shirley & Betsy, Shirley, Al & Beth Hospitalized: Rhydeil Recovering from Surgery: Richard, Richard, Judy, Dean Recovering at Home: Jim, Paul, Vivian Friends & Family: Bridget s friend, Stacie PCUSA Mission Coworkers: Jeff and Christi Boyd in Congo; Amanda Craft and Omar Chan with the Presbyterian Border Region Outreach (PBRO) along the US-Mexico border; Jed and Jenny Koball in Peru. Please contact the church office, , or Parish Visitor Ruth Bell, with the prayers and concerns that you would like to share. PEOPLE ON THE WAY We remember three composers who shaped the musical tradition of the Englishspeaking Protestant church. Thomas Tallis (c November 1585), Henry Purcell (10 September November 1695) and Isaac Watts (17 July November 1748). Tallis served four monarchs at the Chapel Royal as England moved from Roman Catholicism through the Reformation to the Church of England: Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary and Elizabeth I. Throughout his service to successive monarchs as organist and composer, Tallis avoided the religious controversies that raged around him. He was capable of switching the style of his compositions to suit the different monarchs vastly different demands. Two of his tunes remain in use in Glory to God: Tallis Canon (#675 & 798) and Tallis Ordinal (#477 & 776). Purcell was born into a family of musicians. He sang as a chorister at the Chapel Royal, and studied organ with John Blow, who was the organist at Westminster Abbey in London. When Blow retired, Purcell became the Abbey s organist. Most of his compositions are sacred works, but he also wrote music for plays and several operas. He is buried adjacent to the organ in Westminster Abbey. His tune Westminster Abbey is in our hymnbook as a setting #394, Christ is Made the Sure Foundation. Watts was a pastor who was also a prolific hymn writer. He is called the father of English hymnody, partly because he introduced the idea of singing extra-biblical poetry as texts in worship (as opposed to singing versified translations of the Psalms.) He was instrumental in making congregational singing an indispensable ingredient in Protestant worship. His hymns are still widely sung. Look him up in the index in the Glory to God. We sang From All That Dwells Below the Skies last Sunday. We ll sing Joy to the World in just a few weeks. THE ECUMENICAL PRAYER CYCLE focuses the prayers of Christians week by week, so that over the year all the countries of the world are prayed for. This week: Liberia, Sierra Leone. Pray for: The fullness of human life for all women, men and children of all tribes and ethnicities in these countries; Orphans, displaced children, malnourished children, and children who live in fear; For the renewal of forests, wildlife habitats and rich biodiversity. For more information about the Prayer Cycle, visit the website of the World Council of Churches: OUR MISSION PARTNERSHIP PRAYER CYCLE FOR 2015 We pray for the churches and pastors of Baltimore Presbytery. All congregations and worshipping communities of Baltimore Presbytery. The Presbytery convened for the first time in Today, we include congregations from the mountains of western Maryland to the Chesapeake Bay. Within these bound are 68 Presbyterian congregations with a combined membership of approximately 16,000 parishioners.

3 STUDENT MINISTRY CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR STUDENT MINISTRY Thursday, December 3 Confirmation Class, 6:45-8:30 p.m. Room 258 PARENTS NIGHT OUT! Friday, December 4 th from 6:15-9:00 p.m. A night of fun and crafts for children ages 4 through 5 th grade while parents have a few hours of free babysitting by Mid-Highs. Call the church office to pre-register your child by Monday, November 30 th so enough materials can be available. Contact: the church office Friday, December 4 th -Saturday, December 5 th Mid-Highs & Parents Night Out Lock-In & Cosmic Bowling Mid-Highs arrive at 6:00 p.m. for PNO Mid-High Activities, 9:30 p.m. to pick-up at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday Watch for postcard with details! ADULT EDUCATION & SPIRITUAL GROWTH SUNDAY MORNING EDUCATION HOUR 9:30-10:25 a.m. Bible in Depth taught by Doyle Continues all year Clark Parlor Join in a lively conversational study of four Old Testament texts: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther and Job. Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God taught by Angela Continues through November 22 Room 205 Praying in Color is an active, meditative, playful prayer practice that involves both process and product. Presbyterian 101: Christianity From a Presbyterian Point of View taught by Morton Harris Continues through November 22 Room 258 Presbyterian 101 will go a bit further into the basic ideas of Christian belief and practice from a Presbyterian point of view. Spirituality through Social Media & Technology taught by Virginia Callegary Continues through November 22 Room 252 Follow our resident social media expert for a look at the way technology and social media can enhance your spirituality. Mission Involvement in Local and National Concerns with special guests every week Continues through November 22 Branch Hall TODAY November 22: Sustainable Housing in Howard County GRAB AND GO COFFEE is available at the Wake Up Station on the second floor across from the Parlor. Get a cup of coffee and head to class! Please return the cups to the drop off bins. Enjoy! NEXT SUNDAY IS THE ADVENT FESTIVAL AT 9:30 A.M. All classes, 2 through Adult, will attend in Lyle Buck Hall! Come one, come all to prepare for Advent.

4 WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY WITH PASTOR SUE 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m., every week in the Parlor This year s text: The Gospel of Matthew. Bible Study will be taking a Thanksgiving Break on Wednesday, November 25. They will reconvene on Wednesday, December 2. ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP RESPONSE PROGRAM (ARP) FEARLESS GENEROSITY THANK YOU!!! Today is THANK & TELL SUNDAY!! Join us for lunch in Lyle Buck Hall at 11:30am! Also IT S NOT TOO LATE to TURN IN YOUR ESTIMATE OF GIVING PLEDGE so that your Church can thrive and grow. Submit your Estimate of Giving Card now by placing it in the Joash box in the sanctuary. You can also take it to the church office or mail your response. As another option, you can send an with your Giving Estimate to the password protected address pledges@firstpreshc.org. This should include your name, address, phone number, and pledge amount per week/month/quarter/or year. You will receive an automated response once you send the to provide instant assurance that it was received by the church. ARP Program STATUS as of 11/16: Pledges Received = 139 (Goal 210) Yours is the KEY! Pledged Gifts = $534,228 (Goal $700,000) God is generous! Let us return a portion of what God has given us, enthusiastically, earnestly and joyfully. GENERAL INFORMATION ADVENT CALENDARS FOR SALE TODAY AND NEXT SUNDAY! This year Advent Calendars filled with fairly-traded chocolate will be sold in advance of the Alternative Gif Fair so you and your family can enjoy the calendar throughout the Advent season. Stop by the Lower Commons on Sunday morning to pick up one or more. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN will host its SIXTH ALTERNATIVE GIFT FAIR on Saturday, December 5, 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 6, 10:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. In addition to alternative gifts, the Fair will feature fairly traded items and a Children s Corner (your child will be escorted to a separate section of the fair where s/he can pick out and wrap gifts for loved ones without you seeing what they purchased!) All items in the Children s Corner are $12 or less. The Presbyterian Women will be holding a bake sale on Saturday, too. The Fair is open to the public; be sure to invite your friends and family to join you for a good time for a good cause! For more information about the Fair, contact the church office, Want to volunteer? Check out the sign-up sheet in the Welcome Center. ATTENTION ZENTANGLE ARTISTS! Share your artwork with others for Christmas! Everyone who has completed a Basic Zentangle Workshop is invited to join in Christmas Zentangle on Saturday, December 19, 1:00-3:00 p.m. in Room 252. Please RSVP to the church office so materials will be there for you.

5 CAROLINE SMITH WILL BE ON VACATION, Monday, November 30 th & Tuesday, December 1 st. The Church Office will be open on Monday, November 30 th from 10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday, December 1 st from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Thank you to Melanie Fadrowski, Gloria Keesee and Alice Haskins for volunteering to work in the church office. Thanks! OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE HELP NEEDED TO HANG ADVENT BANNERS on Tuesday, December 1 st. If you are available to help please contact Woody Collins, CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS Share the spirit and joy of Christmas with families in need in our community through FIRN, The Salvation Army and Head Start. The Deacons will provide Christmas Stockings or Christmas Gift Bags for children. Distributioon will be Sunday, November 29 th through Sunday, December 13 th in the Lower Commons. Thank you for your generosity. ADVENT NEWS ADVENT IS COMING! NEXT SUNDAY, November 29 th is the first Sunday of Advent and we will light candles on the Advent Wreath every Sunday in worship. If you and your friends or family would like to lead worship by lighting the candles, speak to Pastor Sue or call the church office or sign-up at the Welcome Desk. THE ADVENT FESTIVAL is coming up on Sunday, November 29 th at 9:30 a.m. and we need your help! In addition to making Advent wreaths and stringing popcorn for the tree, you ll be able to frost cookies. But, we need some cookies to frost! If you are able to donate plain sugar cookies, please bring them to Lyle Buck Hall before the Fair starts. Or, you can label them and leave them in the kitchen. So, whether you re getting into the holiday baking spirit or just want to buy some pre-made cookies from the grocery store, we thank you in advance. Please contact christianed@firstpreshc.org if you plan to bring cookies so we are sure to have enough on hand for everyone. POINSETTIAS: Please order a poinsettia to help beautify our sanctuary this Christmas season. Poinsettias can be taken home after the midnight Christmas Eve service. Cost is $11.00 and order forms are at the Welcome Desk. Deadline for orders is Sunday, December 6 th. Contact: the church office. MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR CHILDREN S CHRISTMAS PAGEANT! The pageant will be on Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Rehearsals will take place during 9:30 am Sunday School on November 22 nd, December 6 th, 13 th, and 20 th. Speaking roles will be cast after the December 6 th rehearsal. Please encourage your child / grandchild to attend Sunday School rehearsals and participate in the pageant; all are welcome! Volunteers are needed to help the Pageant run smoothly. Visit the Sign-Up to Volunteer page on the church website to see how you can help. OUR FINANCIAL RESOURCES DOING GOD S WORK Actual Income as of November 19, 2015 $ 691, Actual Expenses as of November 19, , Total $ (46,343.25) It takes an average of $2,239 to fund the daily budgeted operation and mission of the church. The total deficit shown above is days (2 weeks and 6.69 days) behind.

6 WEEKLY CALENDAR Every Sunday 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:30 a.m. Church School The Education Hour Infant & Toddler Care is available all morning Godly Play (age 4 grade 1) during 8:30 & 10:30 a.m. services The Worship Bridge (grades 2 5) during 10:30 a.m. service 10:30 a.m. Worship 11:30 a.m. Discipleship Hour Backpack Project Packing in Branch Hall Sunday, November 22 nd THE REIGN OF CHRIST ANNUAL RESPONSE PROGRAM THANK AND TELL SUNDAY 9:30 a.m. Church School for all ages Christmas Pageant Rehearsal Blood Pressure Screening 11:30 a.m. Discipleship Hour: Thank & Tell Luncheon Backpack Project Packing Blood Pressure Screening Monday, November 23 rd 7:30 p.m. The Spirit Project & Chancel Choir Rehearsal Tuesday, November 24 th 6:30 p.m. Session Meeting Wednesday, November 25 th CHURCH OFFICE HOURS 10:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M. Thursday, November 26 th THANKSGIVING DAY CHURCH OFFICE AND BUILDING CLOSED Friday, November 27 th THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY CHURCH OFFICE AND BUILDING CLOSED Saturday, November 28 th THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY CHURCH OFFICE AND BUILDING CLOSED Sunday, November 29 th FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS DISTRIBUTED 9:30 a.m. Advent Festival 11:30 a.m. Backpack Project Packing The Church Office is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. For more events throughout the week at First Presbyterian Church, please check the calendar on our website at the current issue of Tidings, or call the church office A Weekly is sent every Friday, if you would like to receive it please contact the church office. To submit news or events for the weekly bulletin First Day! please to: churchoffice@firstpreshc.org by Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. To submit articles for Tidings, our monthly newsletter, please send articles by to: churchoffice@firstpreshc.org by Thursday, December 10, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. for the January 2016 Issue #1.