Gettysburg Presbyterian Church. The Pastor s Page. Thankvent

Transcription

1 Gettysburg Presbyterian Church The Pastor s Page Thankvent By the time you receive this newsletter, many of you will have finished up the Thanksgiving leftovers, survived family visits and Black Friday, and started thinking about Christmas decorations! We re in one of those in-between times, in this case between Thanksgiving and Advent. Perhaps we should call it Thankvent! Life presents us with many such in-between times. Old enough to drive and vote, yet still under Mom and Dad s rules. Between the time of caring for our children (and parents), and having someone care for us! Having reached the peak of our career, but not ready to retire. In-between times. That s part of what Advent is about. November 29, 2017 Inside We anticipate the wonder of Jesus first coming into the world, but remain painfully aware that all the promises of peace and justice and wholeness for all have not been fulfilled yet. We have to look ahead to his second advent for that. And that leaves us in one of those uncomfortable, in-between times. Advent reminds us of that. It reminds us that although our diseases may not be healed, our marriages may not survive, our jobs may not be fulfilling, and people may betray us, that there is Christmas Fair Baked Goods Needed Advent Schedule Heart Artificial Christmas Trees Needed Babysitter Training Blessing Box Order Poinsettias Order Fruit Boxes Contribution Envelopes good news ahead for all of us. It is found in the first and second advent of Jesus. Dave Christmas Pageant Young Adult Cookie Exchange Light in the Midst of Darkness Birthday Party for Jesus

2 Happy Birthday to... December 1 Tim Christopher Andrew Larson Brian Mora December 2 Stephanie Beamer Richard Burdge Rebecca Kiefer Drew May Alexander Shpak Edward Thompson December 4 Sharon Baker December 5 Hailey Brownley Merle Weant December 6 Maria Cushing- Daniels Hayden Garverick Austin Rucker Lucas Witherow-Doyle December 7 Rebecca Beegle Allen Knouse December 8 McKenna Kulkusky John Musselman Lee Weber December 9 John Graziano Katharine Hawkins Holly Scarbrough Ed Suplee Shawn Wagner December 11 Megan Angstadt Scott Russo Newton Stewart December 12 Mary Lynn Weaver December 13 Beth Christopher Dalton Doehring Shirley Fennimore Christopher Hall Sierra Hare December 14 Patricia Knutson Tammy Schwartz John Tschop December 15 June Powers Mike Strausner December 16 Wendy Brubaker Janet Lightner Mike Lochary Bonita Soliday December 17 Ruth Ann Fatzinger Marion Lambert December 18 Richard Lightner George Petrie Christian Priel December 19 Morgan Dennison Kurtis Harrison Sedona Wilson December 20 Sonja Brown Debbie Manning Laura Pennings December 21 Bruce Bridel Beth Freeman Mary K. Johnson Chase King Harry Winsheimer December 23 Sue Hain Jane North December 24 Bryan Beegle Lucy Breighner Jeffery Cook Emily Druckman Jan Knouse Robert Remaley December 25 JESUS Kirk Cowden Kenneth Elledge Nicholas Rucker December 26 Bronte Fennimore Mason Little Page 2 December 27 Julia Burke Laura Farnham Chuck Teague Mandy Weikert December 29 Donna Harrison Katherine Schneider Lynn Stabler Scott Zanger December 30 Sandra Breighner Carolyn Hankey Anne Warcup Kathy Wark December 31 Andy Armstrong Paul Doehring Lynne Orner Our heartfelt thanks to Montford & Betsy Illick for the beautiful Christmas Trees in the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall. We are all enjoying them! NEED A RIDE? If you are having trouble attending church services and/or church functions due to not having transportation, let the Deacons help you. We are only a phone call away. The transportation Deacon for November 13 to December 10 is Marion Lambert at and December 11 - January 7 is Benjy Conover at

3 Page Christmas Fair THIS SUNDAY December 3rd! Our 2017 Christmas Fair is HERE THIS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 from 4:30-7:00 p.m. Bring the whole family for a light supper, music, games for all ages, silent auction, craft tables, coffee, tea & cocoa sales, prizes, and the opportunity to give gifts that have potential to change (and even save) lives. If you cannot join us on the evening of Dec. 3, gifts can also be purchased in Fellowship Hall on Sunday mornings, December 3, 10, and 17. All items purchased in honor of someone on your Christmas list will be accompanied by a gift card. *This is at IAFTGPC Event (*Invite A Friend To GPC!) Baked Goods Needed for the Christmas Fair!! All types of baked goods are needed for the Christmas Fair on Sunday, December 3rd. These items will be used for the bake sale and dinner desserts. The baked goods can be placed in the church kitchen by Sunday morning, December 3rd. Please mark BAKE SALE on them. The Mission and Interpretation Team thanks you for your time and effort! COFFEE, TEA, COCOA, AND MUCH MORE FOR SALE AT THE CHRISTMAS FAIR ON DEC. 3rd! This year we will again be selling coffee, cocoa, and tea at the Christmas Fair. 7 different kinds of coffee, 4 types of tea, and 12-oz. cans of organic hot cocoa & spicy hot cocoa mix will be available through the Presbyterian Coffee Project/Interfaith Coffee Program. Also for sale will be 5 kinds of chocolate bars, organic roasted almonds, and olive oil. These items are available through a program called Equal Exchange which provides fair trade opportunities through worker-based co-ops with small scale farmers. Extra Crafts for the Christmas Fair Calling all crafters, calling all crafters! Do you love to make crafts for the holiday season? We are seeking donations of Christmas wreaths, toys, flower arrangements, paintings, needlework, or any other quality crafts you would be willing to donate for sale at the Christmas Fair on Sunday, December 3 rd. All proceeds from items sold at the craft tables will go to GPC mission projects for the upcoming year. Please, do not bring rummage sale or used household items. They will not be accepted for this event. Contact Tom Kolmer at or at tomkolmer@gmail.com if you have any questions. Please bring crafts to Fellowship Hall BY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1 ST AT THE LATEST. THANKS!

4 Page 4 HIGH SCHOOL FELLOWSHIP November / December December 3 4:30-7:00 Christmas Fair Advent Schedule December 3 First Sunday of Advent 8:15 and 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship 9:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship 4:30 p.m. Annual Christmas Mission Fair 4:30 p.m. Advent Wreath Making December 10-SecondSunday of Advent 8:15 and 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship 9:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship December 17 Third Sunday of Advent 8:15 and 11:00 a.m. Vivaldi Cantata *This is at IAFTGPC Event 9:30 a.m. Just A Little Christmas Christmas Pageant 3:00 p.m. Light in the Midst of Darkness: A Worship Service for Those Who Find Celebrating Difficult December 24- Christmas Eve Services 10:00 a.m. Blended Worship 4:00 p.m. Traditional Worship and Birthday Party for Jesus (ages 3 - Grade 3) 5:30 p.m. Contemporary Worship 7:00 p.m. Family Worship 8:30 p.m. Traditional Worship Candle-lighting and Carol singing at all services. Nursery care provided at each service. Come and Celebrate the Season with Joy and Hope! December 10 5:30-7:00 Dinner & Fellowship December 17 5:30-7:00 Christmas Dinner & Silly gift exchange December 24 NO SHIP Christmas Break MidSHIP Schedule November / December December 2 10:00-2:00 Church December 3 4:30-7:00 Christmas Fair December 10 5:30-7:00 Dinner & Fellowship December 17 5:30-7:00 Christmas Dinner & Silly gift exchange December 24 NO Mid-SHIP Christmas Break December Gathering Our December meeting on Dec. 14th will be a covered dish luncheon starting at 12:00 noon in Fellowship Hall followed by a time of singing Christmas carols with Becky Wareham. Please bring a covered dish to share that serves 8-10 people and join us for a time of fellowship and song. If here are any questions, please call Cheryl Betts in the church office at , ext. 5 or gpcdce@gettysburgpresbyterian.org

5 Page 5 A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT FOR EVERY CHILD! You d be amazed how many children don t know what a manger is, why it s such a big deal that a baby was born there or what a miracle He was. And still is. - g Your children and your children s friends are encouraged to find God in the Christmas story in a low-stress drama experience. We ll practice in the Dec. 3 rd & 10 th Sunday School classes, and present our drama in the 9:30 service on Dec. 17th. (We re the sermon!) Put those Sundays on your calendar. Call Cheryl with questions, (717) *This is at IAFTGPC Event Young Adult STEPHEN MINISTRY EYES AND EARS OF JESUS Join the young adults of Gettysburg Presbyterian Church for an evening of Bible study, fellowship, prayer and cookies. This event will take place at Mark and Kelcee Keller s house here in Gettysburg. Check your calendars for December 9th at 7pm. Please respond via by December 5th if you can make it! kellerskm@gmail.com. Donations Needed We are in need of 3-4 various size artificial Christmas trees for a winter wonderland scene for the Sunday, December 3 rd Mission Fair. The trees should be dropped off at FH during the week and picked up after Mission Fair or the next week for your use at home. We are the eyes and ears of Jesus on earth today. It is our duty to be watching and listening to people around us, recognizing when they have needs for care. If you find someone with a need, listen and care. If you find the need is something greater than you can meet, tell the person about our Stephen Ministry and put him or her in touch with Lou at the church office Jesus is depending on us to be his eyes and ears on earth.

6 Page 6 Envelopes & Contributions Please pick up your 2018 contribution envelopes on the table in Fellowship Hall. Please note that some of the envelope numbers have changed. Anyone with an envelope number over 378 has been reassigned. Also, our Church Treasurer reminds everyone to make 2017 gifts to the church by December 31 to receive credit for your donation in the 2017 calendar year. Christmas Eve Nursery Help: If you can help at 4:00, 5:30, 7:00 or 8:30 services, please contact Cheryl. We need 2 adults at each service. We can really use your help. There will be Birthday Party for Jesus for 3 years of age through 5 th Grade during the 4:00 service. Nursery will be for infants 2 years of age. Thanksgiving Blessings We hope you enjoyed your turkey, stuffing and pie at this year s Thanksgiving! Please consider purchasing an extra non-perishable food item to place in the Blessings Box at the entrance to the East High St. parking lot. What a wonderful gesture to exemplify our newest Stewardship Campaign: Blessed to be a Blessing. You can be a blessing to someone in need by dropping off a boxed or canned item in the Blessings Box or church office at anytime. Canned vegetables, gravy and cranberry sauce, boxed instant potatoes, rice or stuffing, soups, dry goods, beans or noodles, canned or boxed chicken stock, juice and dessert mixes (like: brownies, cakes and pudding) would be greatly appreciated to help add to anyone s special day. Calendar of Giving The Calendar of Giving is an opportunity for our congregation to support numerous local organizations. Through this program, we identify local organizations that are in need of smaller donations. Each month, we will be collecting specific items for the identified organization. For the month of: December We will be collecting items for Mission Bright Star Stars were previously selected to purchase Christmas gifts for children whose parent or parents are inmates at the Adams County Correctional Facility. Babysitter Training December 27, 8a-4p The American Red Cross has created a course for Babysitters includes sessions on leadership, age characteristics, problem solving, safety, communication and first aid. On top of this we will be practicing skills in the care and feeding of young children. This is in the middle of Christmas and New Year s to take advantage of no school! The class will be led by Becky Stabler in the Eisenhower Lounge, proud provider of American Red Cross classes. For registration, or for questions, please call Becky at Members get a discounted rate. Wednesday, December 27, 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. $50 members; $65 non-members

7 Page 7 December Adult Sunday School - Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas Please join us the first three weeks in December at 9:30 AM for a trio of classes designed to prepare our hearts for Christmas and celebrate the wonder and joy of the Advent season! On December 3 we will show the movie The Star of Bethlehem. This documentary tells the story of one man s personal quest to understand the star that appeared at the time of Jesus birth and the discoveries made that are both amazing and inspiring. On December 10 our own Adam Boyer will accompany us as we sing the songs of the season! Warm up your vocal cords and your heart as we sing together in celebration. Finally, on December 17, we will meditate on the season by reflecting on how we share the love of Christ at Christmas. Come prepared to share your Christmas stories and/or listen to those of others, as we reflect on how we have seen Christ and celebrated his birth in our lives. See you SUNDAY! Several years ago the Session decided that all our communion bread would be gluten-free so everyone could participate in the Lord s Supper. Our worship committees are looking at this issue again, and would like to hear from anyone who needs gluten-free bread for communion. Please contact Sheryl Suplee or Drew Stone to let us know of your need. Thank you. Poinsettias Help us decorate the sanctuary at Christmas by ordering a poinsettia in honor or memory of someone. The flowers will be used in the sanctuary December 24 th. You may pick up your plant(s) following evening worship on the 24 th. The church office will be closed Monday & Tuesday, Dec. 25th & 26th. Those not picked up by noon on the 27 th will be delivered to shut-ins. The 5-6 bloom 6 ½ pot will cost $9.50. Please fill in the following form & send it with your check made payable to Gettysburg Presbyterian Church to: Mary Lou Seamens 169 Hunters Trail Gettysburg, PA Orders MUST be in by Sunday, December 10th. We cannot accept orders after that date No extensions. **************************************************************************************** Christmas Poinsettias 2017 Given by: Phone #: In Memory of: In Honor of: # of plants you will pick up # of plants to be delivered to shut-ins

8 PW CIRCLES Page 8 Elizabeth Circle Mary Martha Circle Esther Circle Monday, December 18, NOON Thursday, December 14, 5:00 p.m. Thursday, December 21, 9:30 a.m. Paideia House, 1st floor at Nancy Cook s home: Leader: Beth Fitzpatrick Lunch provided: sandwiches, salad & dessert 465 Goldenville Rd. Lesson 4: Genesis 28:10-22; Program: bring something to share Gettysburg, PA Daniel 3:8-30; Matthew 1:18-25; ie. Reading, poem, story, item, etc. Lesson 4: Genesis 28:10-22; Daniel 3:8-30 Luke 1:5-17, 26-38, 2:8-14 Matthew 1: 18-25; Hebrews 1: 3-14, 13:1-2 Luke 1:5-17, 26-38, 2:8-14 Following the meeting, the group will go Hebrews 1: 3-14, 13:1-2 to Chez Cheri Café for Christmas Lunch Lenten Devotional Opportunity The Adult Discipleship committee invites members of the congregation to share their faith story via "God Moments: A Lenten Devotional 2018." This devotional will be compiled by congregants willing to write down and share a "God moment" from their personal journeys. A God moment is any moment you have experienced God's presence, seen his mercy, or felt his love. Devotions will be written in a format similar to Our Daily Bread: title, short scripture verse(s), two to four short paragraphs, and a one or two sentence prayer. We will also be adding a mission prayer focus to each devotion, so they can be used to prepare us for Easter and hold our mission programs up in prayer. A one-page flyer with more specific details about writing a devotion and a sign-up sheet are available in Fellowship Hall. They will be due by January 21, 2018 and submitted ideally via . If you can't type your devotion, we can accept a handwritten one if it is turned in by January 14, Lynne Graziano at lynnegraziano@gmail.com or call her at (404) for more details. You can sign up in Fellowship Hall on Sundays through December, or by ing Lynne or Cheryl Betts at gpcdce@gettysburgpresbyterian.org. Submissions will be turned in to one of these s as well. Thanks in advance for sharing your God Moments with GPC. MARK YOUR CALENDARS Sunday School Changes Sunday, December 3 rd Combined children s Sunday School class (Preschool 5 th Grade) will meet in the former stage area for first 20 minutes instead of Contemporary Worship and then pageant practice. Regular classrooms are already set up for Mission Fair Games. Sunday, December 24 th One service at 10 a.m. NO Sunday School. Sunday, December 31 st Regular Sunday School, except for MacAskill Elective Class and NO Middle & High School Classes; 3 worship services Order Fruit Boxes Fruitbelt Farmworker Christian Ministry will be doing Fruit Boxes again this year. Each box contains 20 apples, honey, peaches, apple butter, applesauce, apple juice, and cherry pie filling. The cost of fruit boxes to be picked up are $45 each. Pick up locations are: Kimes Cider Mill, in Bendersville, First Church of God in Carlisle or St. John s UCC in Chambersburg. Fruit boxes may also shipped for additional charge. Order forms are available in the church office or you can Rod Runyan at farmworker@comcast.net. Orders need to be submitted by mail or by December 3.

9 Page 9 Light in the Midst of Darkness: A Worship Service for Those Who Find Celebrating Difficult Sunday, December 17, :00PM Sanctuary Christmas and the holidays can be a bittersweet time of year for those who find themselves remembering persons and events that have been a part of their lives in the past, which are now changed or gone. As we enter into the season of the year with longer nights, we will gather to offer a quiet, meditative worship service that makes time for remembering and sharing our hurting places with God. Join us for this candle-lit time of music, scripture, stories, silent reflection and prayer. *This is at IAFTGPC Event Christmas Eve Ushers Needed! If you could help welcome worshippers by ushering Christmas Eve, please contact Rev. Nyiri in the church office, , ext. 4 or gpclou@gettysburgpresbyterian.org Service times: 4:00 - Traditional 5:30 - Contemporary 7:00 - Family 8:30 - Traditional Who: Gettysburg Presbyterian Church High School FellowSHIP Christmas Open House SHIP Alumni, Advisors, Current Senior High Youth & Friends When: December 22, 2017 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Where: Lou, Candace and Alex s House, 19 East High Street, Gettysburg Why: To relax, reconnect with old & new friends and enjoy some of Lou s famous Cheese Dip! MEN S INTERFAITH LUNCHEON will meet Dec. 6 & 13 All men are invited on Wednesday, Dec. 6th & 13th at 12:00 noon for light lunch ($3.00) and camaraderie in Fellowship Hall, followed by humor and worship in the sanctuary. This is an interfaith gathering, and is open to all men who would enjoy the time together and appreciate a message from a local minister. BIRTHDAY PARTY for JESUS!! Held during the 4:00 p.m. service on Christmas Eve. For children ages 3 Grade 3, a special Birthday Party for Jesus will be held during the 4:00 p.m. service on Christmas Eve. The party will include songs, the Christmas story, crafts, cupcakes for Jesus, and a special gift bag for each child. Children will begin the service with their families in the sanctuary and exit shortly thereafter. All children ages 3 Grade 3 are welcome to attend this meaningful celebration.

10 Gettysburg Presbyterian Church 208 Baltimore Street Gettysburg, PA Office: (717) Fax: (717) Page 10 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Gettysburg, PA Permit No. 198 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Gettysburg Presbyterian Church Mission Statement Gettysburg Presbyterian Church believes that God calls us to invite people to faith in Jesus Christ, and equip them to grow as His fully devoted followers. As disciples we: * study regularly * pray daily * witness boldly * live faithfully * serve passionately * give generously * worship weekly *********************** Next Newsletter Deadline: Noon, Wednesday, December 7, 2017 November 2017 GPC WORSHIP SCHEDULE Traditional 8:15 & 11:00 a.m. Contemporary 9:30 a.m. December 3 December 10 December 17 First Sunday in Advent Lord s Supper Christmas Fair Mission Bright Star gifts due Joyful Repentance Second Sunday in Advent 8:15 & 11:00 a.m. Vivaldi Gloria Choir Cantata 9:30 a.m. Christmas Pageant 3:00 p.m. Blue Christmas Service