Sharing the Love of Christ

Transcription

1 Sharing the Love of Christ First United Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) PO Box Douglas Avenue Las Vegas New Mexico DECEMBER 2018 On Sunday, December 2, we enter into the Advent season. Although we normally think of January 1 as the beginning of the year, Advent begins the church year. Once again, we enter into a time of waiting for the Messiah to come, we celebrate his birth, and we experience anew the events of Jesus life, his death and resurrection. We celebrate the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost, and we spend a majority of the year in joyous celebration of our life in Christ before, once again, we enter into Advent. And so, I ve been thinking about beginnings. My family is celebrating new beginnings with the recent adoption of our granddaughters (after four years in Emily and Pat s care, their place in our family is now official!) and with the anticipation of a new grandbaby s arrival in March. We are also still celebrating the new beginning of D.R. s retirement a couple of months ago. We are thrilled about these beginnings, but you know, as we get older, not all beginnings are so exciting. Some beginnings are a little bit old hat. Do you remember how, when you were a kid, you anticipated the beginning of a new year on your birthday for days or weeks, looked forward to the celebration and the gifts, and could hardly contain your excitement as the day drew near? My grandson Will s birthday is the day after mine, in late November. When we saw him over Thanksgiving, he was so looking forward to turning three. Every ounce of his kid energy was aware his birthday was approaching. Me? If D.R. hadn t wished me a happy birthday that morning, I might not have noticed it was my birthday until something about the date looked familiar when I saw it on my computer. (Or until I started receiving your many well-wishes! Thank you!) We have different kinds of beginnings when we are older. We have experienced beginnings that led to wonderful things and beginnings that didn t turn out so well. Sometimes our beginnings are not good news. A new medication to begin. New dietary restrictions. And sometimes they hurt deeply--a new day without someone we love. Advent and Christmas, too, can dull with time. We may lose our ability or our willingness to see this season as children do, to anticipate the Christmas celebration, to revel in the sparkle and bustle. And we may miss the message of this beginning because we ve been through it so many times before. But this is one beginning we don t want to miss. It brings the reality of God s presence and gives us a new beginning every day. It promises that those things we dream of peace and joy and unity will indeed come. It assures us that, no matter what our other beginnings may look like these days, this beginning brings hope for something unimaginably wonderful. Look for these promises of Advent fulfilled around you this season. See the gift of God s presence in friendships that have lasted decades and in friendships that sparkle anew. Look for the peace of quiet, unhurried morning coffee; the joy of watching birds gather around your bird feeders; the unity represented in a family celebration. Be aware of those moments when you hope for something stupendous to happen, because the Advent of Christ coming into the world is certainly stupendous. So, on each day of Advent, on Christmas, and on each day to follow, hear the good news: God comes and brings new life every day. God comes and walks with us. God comes with promises of peace on earth and great joy for all. God comes! Merry Christmas! With thanks for all of you, Pastor Katie Pastor s Ponderings 1

2 DECEMBER 2018 Worship Tidbits From Pastor Katie WE ARE GOD S MESSENGERS! That s quite an honor, isn t it? It s also a little bit scary. But, indeed, our primary job as Christians is to convey God s messages of love, forgiveness, inclusivity, hope, peace, and joy everywhere. This Advent, we ll be messengers as we explore these messages through Scripture and in worship, as we receive messages from one another, and as we send messages of God s love to each other. As Advent gets underway, look for the mailbox in the sanctuary and plan to participate in filling it with messages for one another throughout the season. Anticipate receiving messages, too. Again, watch that mailbox to see what messengers might have left there, and keep an eye out for some more personal messages as well. This Advent, let s ponder how we can best be God s Messengers in the world! Advent Credo It is not true that creation and the human family are doomed to destruction and loss This is true: For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. It is not true that we must accept inhumanity and discrimination, hunger and poverty, death and destruction - This is true: I have come that they may have life, and that abundantly. It is not true that violence and hatred should have the last word, and that war and destruction rule forever - This is true: Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, his name shall be called wonderful councilor, mighty God, the Everlasting, the Prince of peace. It is not true that we are simply victims of the powers of evil who seek to rule the world - This is true: To me is given authority in heaven and on earth, and lo I am with you, even until the end of the world. It is not true that we have to wait for those who are specially gifted, who are the prophets of the Church before we can be peacemakers - This is true: I will pour out my spirit on all flesh and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions and your old men shall have dreams. It is not true that our hopes for liberation of humankind, of justice, of human dignity of peace are not meant for this earth and for this history - This is true: The hour comes, and it is now, that the true worshipers shall worship God in spirit and in truth. So let us enter Advent in hope, even hope against hope. Let us see visions of love and peace and justice. Let us affirm with humility, with joy, with faith, with courage: Jesus Christ - the life of the world. From Testimony: The Word Made Flesh, by Daniel Berrigan, S.J. Orbis Books,

3 DECEMBER Help Wanted--Counting Skills Needed Did you learn to count and add in School? WE NEED YOU!! Two money counters are needed on a weekly basis, to count all funds that have come into the church, both in Sunday donations, and by mail. This task takes about minutes, and always comes with a comrade. It can be accomplished either after church on Sunday, or on Monday morning. Ideally we would have a enough of these number savvy folks, that you would need to count only about once a month. The schedule would be prepared on a monthly basis, and counting teams could switch off among themselves if life would prevent an individual from being available on a predesignated date. Please call or Mary , or starrschip@gmail.com. THANKS!!!!! Peace Hanukkah The Las Vegas Jewish Community invites you to join in an interfaith Hanukkah celebration led by Rabbi Chavah Carp Sunday, December 9, from 5:00 8:00 p.m. Faith Hall at St. Paul s Peace Church (Come for the entire celebration, or for the service from 5:00 6:00) Vegetarian Pot Luck Dinner Please RSVP with your pot luck item or if you have questions: 505/ WITH DEEP GRATITUDE we welcome the arrival of a new piano for the sanctuary. Given to us by an anonymous donor, this beautiful 6 11 Steinway grand piano will fill our sanctuary with music for many, many years to come. Thank you! 3

4 DECEMBER Advent Study: From Longing to Receiving While our Advent worship will encourage us to be God s Messengers with readings from the Narrative Lectionary, our Advent study gives us the opportunity to delve into Scriptures from the Revised Common Lectionary as we explore the Advent message of waiting for and receiving God into our lives. Take a look at the schedule of readings and themes! December 2: Isaiah 64:1-9 and Mark 13:24-37 Longing for God s Saving Help December 9: Isaiah 40:1-11 and Mark 1:1-8 Anticipating God s Presence Among Us December 16: Isaiah 61:1-11 and John 1:6-8, Recognizing God s Work Among Us December 23: 2 Samuel 7:1-11 and Luke 1:26-38 Receiving God s New Gifts to Us Christian Education in the New Year After taking a break on Sunday, Dec. 30, the Sunday morning class for adults and youth will begin a new six-week discussion series based on the book The Third Reconstruction by the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, a pastor called by Cornel West the closest person we have to Martin Luther King Jr. in our midst. Rev. Barber was recently awarded a MacArthur genius grant by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Books will be available in the Church Office starting Sunday, Dec. 30 for $8.00. There will be no Jump Start Breakfast or class that day. Classes will be at 9:30 starting January 6 in the East Wing, right after breakfast at 8:30. Presbyterian Women's Annual Mission Pledge Pledges for the Presbyterian Women's Annual Mission Pledge for 2019 should be turned in to Joyce by December 9th. All payments for the 2018 Mission Pledge should also be made by that date as the money needs to be submitted by PW of the Presbytery of Santa Fe by December 15th. Pledge forms are available on the Action Table or from Joyce. The Mission Pledge, PW's annual fund, supports every mission and ministry of PW. All women of the church are members of PW. "And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8 As in Ages Past, the Lord is Providing Every Day is Harvest The December newsletter goes to press with our pledge drive for 2019 largely complete, and the contributions to date show that the Spirit is clearly at work in our congregation. After prayerful consideration by our members and friends, eighty percent of the expected pledges are in. Every person and family has their own financial situation to consider, and we are fortunate that half of our pledges are up from last year. Pledge contributions, designated gifts, and some generous bequests will allow us to balance our operating budget and start some significant new missions. Our treasurer is already hard at work transforming committee requests and congregational giving into a draft budget for She will present that budget at our annual budget meeting on December 5 at 7 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. Session members, committee members, and interested members and friends of the church are invited to come and discuss the proposed budget. A continental breakfast will be provided. 4

5 DECEMBER Buildings & Grounds Lots of things are still happening in connection with B & G. We have contacted Critter Control out of Santa Fe for our bat problem. They will come in December to seal off any access holes larger than 3/8 of an inch or the size of your little finger. In really high areas they will need a lift that will get them up to the peaks or very tall ladders. Once they have worked on the exclusion of the bats they will work on clean up, concentrating on the hot spots or heavily soiled areas of the attic spaces and removal of the insulation that is saturated with guano and urine (not all the insulation). After that has been done, the B & G crew will paint over the sheetrock in the storage area ceiling to help seal it. Another area where the B & G crew has been busy is the old kid s bathroom in the East wing; it has a whole new look. Check it out after the knob gets installed, the mirror put up and a towel dispenser is reinstalled. We are looking for new homes for the old windows from the OTM. Each ½ of the window is approximately 36 wide x 45 tall with 9 panes of glass in each. Does anyone need an art project, or green house windows? Get your creative juices flowing and if you are interested call me at or yell Robin.. Thanks a bunch and have a great December. Upcoming Events - December Sunday, December 9th-- Come join us for a potluck after the church service on December 9th to say thank you and goodbye to Christie and Douglas Baskett. (Who doesn t love a good FUPC potluck?) Douglas and Christie s last Sunday will be Dec 23rd but we wanted to share this time with as many people as possible, so please stay for lunch and visit with Christie and Douglas on December 9th. Saturday, December 15th---For a great way to celebrate the season with your church family, come to Charlie s Bakery (side room) December 15th, Saturday at 12 noon. This will be a Dutch treat. Bring a small wrapped gift for door prizes. Fred Salas will be playing Christmas carols for a sing-along. Please RSVP ( so we can get a general count for set up) to the church office or Lisa Weinstein at or Judy Long at Sunday, December 16th - 3:00 p.m. in the sanctuary with a reception following in the Fellowship Hall The Chancel Choir presents: Joy! A Gospel Christmas Celebration Christmas Eve Service Tuesday, December 24 5:00 p.m.- Lessons & Carols 5

6 First United Presbyterian Church 1000 Douglas Avenue PO Box 37 Las Vegas NM Website: Facebook: Las Vegas First United Presbyterian (NM) Sunday Schedule 8:30 a.m. - Jumpstart Breakfast: 9:30 a.m. - Bible Based Study 10:30 a.m. - Sunday Worship Fellowship Hour following the worship service Communion is offered each Sunday from October 7 through Pentecost (June 9, 2019) and on the first and third Sundays of each month from June through September. We do not celebrate Communion on the fifth Sunday of a month due to the addition of the Healing Liturgy to the service. 3rd 4th 5th 8th 10th 14th 17th 20th 21st 23rd 24th 26th 27th Karlene Martinez Peter Linder Diego Trujillo Denice Spicer Gay Veit Renee Buchanan Connie Trujillo Gail Malley Harper Geng Douglas Baskett Betty Kretz Stella Pino Juli Salman Richard Lindeborg Corky Halverson Wamoth Spicer Deep and Wide A Contemplative Service at the Old Town Mission 5:15 p.m. 6:15 p.m. Second and Fourth Tuesdays at the Old Town Mission Church This is an ecumenical gathering open to all, sponsored by FUPC. Samaritan House Food Donations For December Canned Meats (Tuna, chicken, stew) Coffee and Tea are always appreciated 6