December Pastor s Report

Transcription

1 1516 Edison Street Uniontown, Ohio Phone: Web:// Bringing Christ to others through love and service. December 2018 Inside this issue: Holiday Worship Schedule 2 Book Club 5 Kid s Page 6 Birthdays & Anniversaries 7 Pastor s Report The season of Advent begins on Sunday, December 2; it is a time when we prepare for the long-awaited birth of Christ. A central theme during the season of Advent is darkness as the days grow shorter and we move toward the winter solstice. More significantly though, for many, it is a time of darkness because of suffering, loss, separation and depression. Advent is also a time of hope, preparation, and watchfulness as we prepare the way of the Lord. Perhaps if we can quiet ourselves from the anxiousness and busyness of our culture, we will experience the dawn from on high. Maybe if we can calm ourselves even just a little bit, the light of Christ will pierce through the darkness. All of us want an experience of God and yet it does take initiative on our part for that to occur. During the season of Advent, we'll focus on experiencing the holy in worship and in our lives. The ritual of worship is crucial because through that time, we are drawn to become more aware of God's presence and the focus on ourselves diminishes. Worship can and should guide us to more fully experience God. However, often worship becomes rote, mundane and void of sensing the holy. Special Points of Interest: Everyone is invited to join Martha Circle & Reflections for Christmas program (p. 2) Don t forget to order you poinsettias (p. 2) Mark your calendars for the children s Christmas play ( p. 4) Ladies...join us for our Advent Bible Study (p. 5) The worship committee has made a few subtle changes to the services in an effort to foster more fully an encounter with God. They've developed a questionnaire to get your input on how to assist you to more fully connect with God. The questionnaires will be in the bulletin each Sunday to get your input. Fill them out and place them in the box located on the welcome center counter. Join us for worship during Advent as we anticipate the birth of Christ who pierces our darkness and radiates the love of God to the entire world. See you in church, with hope and anticipation. Pastor Bob

2 Ne w s & Notes Adv en t Lu th er an Church Page 2 Holiday Worship Schedule On Christmas Eve we offer three different worship services. All of them include traditional carols, the singing of Silent Night, candle lighting and Holy Communion. At 5:00 p.m. our Family Worship service has become a popular alternative for families with children elementary age and younger. At 7:30 p.m. the Festival of Lessons and Carols is one of the most beloved traditions of Christmas from England as the story is retold with the reading of nine lessons and music. The Choir provides the special music. At 11:00 p.m. the Choir sings for this service also with Handel's Hallelujah Chorus included. At 10:30 p.m. a half-hour of pre-service music will be presented, which includes vocal and instrumental favorites of the season. Please note: There are no Sunday school classes December 23 and 30. Martha Circle Martha Circle will again sponsor the visit of the Lake High School Reflections select vocal group who will present a program of seasonal music. This special group of students is directed by Mrs. Debra Bordo. The date is Monday, December 3 at 12:00 p.m. This will be followed by audience participation in Christmas caroling. Refreshments and fellowship will end the event. All are welcome and you are invited to bring friends and family. If you have questions, contact the church office at Poinsettia Orders We are now taking orders for poinsettias to adorn our chancel on Christmas Eve. To order one, please inform the church office if you would like to give the flower in honor of or in memory of someone. They are $15.00 each; payment may be made through the offering or by mail. Order forms are available in the Sunday bulletins or you may call the church. The deadline for ordering is December 16th.

3 Youth Notes Adv en t Lu th er an Church Page 3 NO Sunday School Classes on December 23 and 30. Wishing you and your families a blessed Christmas! C ONFIRMATION & HIGH SCHOOL Fun Activities & Service Opportunities Dec. 01 Dec. 02 Dec. 09 Dec. 12 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Helpers Needed: 8:30 a.m. Noon Following 2 nd Service 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 4:00 8:00 p.m. Santa Breakfast Lots of helpers needed! [service project] Lunch and going to decorate Christmas trees at St. Luke Lutheran Community Christmas Play [musicians needed, speaking parts for older age groups, helpers with props, ushers, etc.] Prep & serve food/clean-up for the youth spaghetti dinner fundraiser night at Advent God & Country Program Once again, we will be offering the God & Country Program at Advent however, please note only for certain age groups. Only the God & Family class (grades 4 & 5) and the God & Life class (grades 9-12) will take place during the four Sundays in January All classes begin at 1:00 p.m. and end at 2:30 p.m. (God & Family) or 3:00 p.m. (God & Life). (This program helps obtain the religious award for both boy and girl scouts for their uniform. Please note however, your child does not have to be involved in scouting to participate in this program!) The registration fee is $25 per child to cover the cost of the workbooks, materials, awards and the closing pizza party. The registration fee must be turned in by January 3rd so the material can be ordered in time. Each child will need an adult mentor to join them in the class. If you have any questions about this program or would like to register your child, please contact Becky Popio at or by at BPopio@adventuniontown.org.

4 News & Notes Adv en t Lu th er an Church Page 4 Children s Christmas Play We would like to invite everyone to this year s Christmas play performed by the Sunday school children on Sunday, December 9 th titled The Inn Crowd. The children should arrive at 6:00 p.m. to get their costumes on. Special Christmas music will begin at 6:10 p.m. followed by the play at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments and fellowship time will then conclude the evening. Christmas Play Practice Schedule Special practices have been set up for all children participating in the play: Thursday, Dec. 6 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 from 9:30-11:00 a.m. We hope your children can join us for these opportunities to run through the play together in the sanctuary and get their costumes coordinated. We will see you there! Please let Becky Popio know if you would like to play a song before the play. There will be opportunities for the children participating in the special music to practice before our play practices on Thursday evening and/or after play practice on Saturday morning. Adult Christmas Skit Practices for the adult Christmas Skit is set for the following dates/times: Tuesday December 11 6:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Saturday December 15 10:00 a.m. 11:00 p.m. Sunday December 16 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Thursday December 20 6:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Saturday December 22 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Get ready... is coming on December 1 at 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in the Fellowship hall. Don t forget to tell your family and friends and bring your cameras! Christmas Eve Luminaries Young and old alike love to see our driveway and walkway lit with flickering candles. Gallon water jugs or milk jugs that have been washed are needed to make this year's luminaries. Please bring the jugs in and leave them in the coat room by December 16.

5 Ne w s & Notes Adv en t Lu th er an Church Page 5 FISH Food Pantry The FISH cupboard is low on many items. Please consider donating one or more of the following items in December: Soup Crackers Soap Women s Bible Study Ladies...join us on Monday mornings at 10:30 a.m. in the library as we continue our Advent series Not a Silent Night by Adam Hamilton. Please note we will be meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 3 only instead of 10:30 a.m. due to the Reflections concert starting at noon on that day. Book Club will meet on Tuesday, December 4 at 6:30 p.m. at Grinders to discuss The Good Goodbye by Carla Buckley. This is an enthralling domestic thriller about the lies we tell, and let ourselves believe, in the name of love. ANNUAL REPORTS The deadline for all material to be included in our Annual Report is January 7th. Thank you for your cooperation. Mark your calendars for a great night coming up next month! Wednesday, December 12 th from 5:30-6:45 p.m. we will be hosting a spaghetti dinner followed by a concert performed by December 12 5:30 p.m. the Walsh Chamber Choir from 7:00-8:00pm (Pre-sale tickets will go on sale on Sunday s beginning 11/18 at the welcome center counter.) Tickets are $8.00 adult ticket (or 2 tickets for $15) $5.00 children (12 and under) Tickets sold at the door will be $10 each. All money raised will go towards the youth funds. Thank you in advance for your support!

6 K i d s P a g e Adv en t Lu th er an Church Page 6

7 Celebrations & Thanks Adv en t Lu th er an Church Page 7 December Birthdays 02 Stacy Batchik, Matthew Calcei, Brent Monastra 03 Dick Estep 04 Rileigh Stephenson 05 Lauren Reed 07 Daniel Dague 09 Luke Potashnik 10 Lori Richards 11 David Potashnik 13 Kaitlin Lawrence, Michael Miller, Edward Montgomery 14 Nancy McCauley 16 Russ Bennett 18 Elizabeth Etherton, John Giffin 19 Dominic Calcei 22 Jeffrey Scott 23 Noel Moen 24 Luke Rogers 26 Samantha Cheyney 27 Joshua Smith 28 Bill Dague, Rori Kendall Zoey Luciana 29 Patricia Crano, Emma Montecalvo, Nathan Montecalvo, Nicole Sivy, Mackenzie White 30 Amelia Namey, Janet Smith, Karen Taucher 31 Emma Hensler, Mallory Moss, John Smerglia Thank you for your kindness and sympathy at a time when it was deeply appreciated. The Overlow Family Funeral Dinner Committee, Thank you for such a wonderful act of kindness. The dinner was wonderful! God Bless, Kay Berger on behalf of the Mildred Hall December Anniversaries 01 Jerry & Karen Reese 02 Rick & Debbie Fritz 05 Steve & Amy Brooks Robert & Marianne Cheyney, Sr. Lou & Linda Stange Harry & Phyllis Stewart 08 Larry & Kathryn Sheets 11 Gary & Jan Smith 16 Bob & Debbie McNamara 18 Dick & Nancy Estep 21 Ken & Kaye Millard 28 Robert & Bonnie Schaadt 29 Roger & Kay Weinert 30 David & Nancy McCauley Tom & Susan Rollins 31 David & Susan Kamerer THANK YOU NOTES Advent Lutheran Church, Thank you for your kindness in supporting Lake Township FISH. Your generous contribution of $ permits us to purchase food and provide necessary assistance to our neighbors in need. May God bless You, Dale Sprout, Director To our Advent Family, It is with gratitude and thanks for those who delivered meals, made telephone calls and texts. We thank God that we belong to this community of faith. A special thank you to Pastor Bob for his unending calls of concern and support. Also for his many visits and offering of prayer for both Grace and Russell. By the grace of God we will find our way through our grief and rejoice in our memories. In Christ s love, Steve, Karen and Libby Etherton

8

9 Advent Lutheran Church 1516 Edison Street Uniontown, Ohio Phone: Fax: OUR VISION To be a vital presence and asset to the community. ADVENT CHURCH STAFF Robert D. Cheyney, Jr., Pastor John Lauby, organist & choir director Steve Etherton, music leader - The Lighted Path Becky Popio, children's ministry coordinator Terri Leymon, secretary Sara Kantorik, Adventure Place - director