Contact us at December Tidings Edition. Pastor s Letter

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1 2018 December Tidings Edition First Presbyterian Church 5 Court St., Towanda PA Contact us at Website fpchurch@comcast.net Facebook - Fans of Towanda Presbyterian Pastor s Letter Usually while I am eating breakfast, I watch the Today show. On November 2, one of the hosts commented that when it came to store displays, we d all gone straight from Halloween to Christmas, and completely skipped Thanksgiving. Absolutely true. In a way, this shouldn t surprise anyone, even while it may sadden us. The more people (and culture) drift away from God, the less likely they are to give thanks in general, much less have an entire day devoted to it. Not that Thanksgiving in our society really is much about actually giving thanks. Some of us do give thanks and spend quality time with family, but for many, it s a day off from work devoted to overeating, napping, watching TV, drinking, and planning what shopping to do over the rest of the weekend. In a free nation that is the materially wealthiest country in world history, this is a tragic state. But not giving thanks, to God or others, is unfortunately part-and-parcel of our human brokenness. This is why I think it is crucial for you and me to be intentional about celebrating Thanksgiving as a genuine day of thanks to God and appreciation for those we love. All this is crucial because having a grateful mindset is the best possible way for us to prepare our hearts for the Christmas gift of a Savior. Grateful people are humble people. They recognize that they ve been shown unmerited favor -- grace. Humble people are those most likely to see their need for a Savior to forgive and renew them. They re the ones who will make room in their hearts for God to dwell and transform them. They re the ones who are most likely to make Christmas about Christ. I hope that you had a Thanksgiving that incorporated authentic thanksgiving. But even if you didn t, there s still time to ask the Lord for that humble attitude. When He cultivates it in us, you and I will find this year s Christmas celebration to be the special, poignant celebration it should be -- not about stuff, but about forgiveness and new life through faith in Jesus Christ. In Him and for Him, we must give heartfelt thanks, especially in this Christmas season.

2 Do You Have a Hidden Talent? The annual Hezekiah s Hands Program will take place on Sunday, December 2, at 6 PM. If you or someone you know would like to participate with a song, instrumental piece, reading or comedy routine, please call Nancy Hughey at Hanging of the Greens will be on Saturday, December 1, at 5 PM. This annual event of decorating the church sanctuary for Advent is a great time for fellowship, food, and fun. Everyone is invited! A light supper will be provided for everyone before we decorate. Have You Been To God s Promises Bookstore On Rte. 220 Athens? Knight Life Community Youth Presents Christmas Dessert Night Sunday, December 9th Drop in anytime between 5:00-7:00 Treat yourself to the delicious tastes of Christmas $5 donation - All you can eat Cakes - Coffee - Candy - Cocoa - Cookies Enjoy Festive Music and Buy Your Christmas Cookies Located At Towanda Presbyterian Church 5 Court Street (next to Court House) This store features Christian books, Bibles, movies, gift items, church supplies, and a kids corner! Check it out, I m sure you won t be disappointed. Join in the Christmas Celebration! On Saturday, December 1, the local Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Christmas celebration along the parkway. There will be vendors, carriage rides, pony rides, and other special events leading up to a parade. At the conclusion of the parade, Santa will be meeting children behind the court house. To take part, we will be selling coffee, cocoa and cookies as a fundraiser for Grace Connection and TACO. If you would like to bake cookies or help serve for 1 hour between 12 and 3, please sign up on the sheet in the main hallway or contact the church office. Spread the word!

3 Day of Prayer - December 5 For our Christmas activities as a church and as individuals to point us to Christ, and not lead us to be caught up in stress and busyness. For the children and youth in our ministries to take to heart the real reason for this Christmas season, and trust in Jesus as their Savior. For those who grieve during this holiday time, and those who are homebound. Brighten their day with a call, card, or visit. For each of us to be Christ s hands, feet, and mouth, serving others and telling others about Him so they too can believe. We are His ambassadors! Continue in prayer for those impacted by recent natural disasters and by mass shootings. Lord, let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with us. December Greeters 2 - Todd Carr 9 - Peg & Sharon Richards 16 - Robert Cooper 23 - Tom Neilson 24 - Tom Neilson 30 - Jack & Pearl Fox The Paraments on the Chancel will be changed to purple for the Advent Season, which starts on December 2, and will remain purple until Christmas Eve. During Advent purple is associated with the royalty of the coming of Christ. December Birthdays 5 - Nancy Neilson December Scripture Readers 2 - Amy Carr 9 - Lynn Homet 16 - Bob Cooper 23 - Emily Carr 30 - Steve Homet 18 - Mern Stroud 20 - Lynn Homet 22 - LaVaughn Chenot 23 - Craig Wollenberg 25 - Holly Keegan 29 - Mark Vaughn Community Dinner - December 18 Our monthly community dinner will be December 18 from 5:30 to 6:30 with sloppy Joe s on the menu. Special Christmas activities will be included! If you would like to cook, help serve or clean up, or prepare a dessert, please contact Danise Fairchild or Pastor Rachel. Please invite a friend or neighbor to join us!

4 Joint Meeting of the Elders and Trustees The Session will meet from 6 to 6:30 on December 4. At 6:30 a joint meeting with the trustees will begin to finalize the 2019 budget. Elders and trustees are welcome to come at 5 for lasagna and salad with lovely fellowship. Please be in prayer for all of our congregation s leaders. All in a Day s Work from Reader s Digest I m a nurse in a hospital s children s ward. One night, I was at the nurses station when I heard a little boy in his room talking. He kept the patter up for some time. Finally I got on the intercom and said softly but firmly, All right Johnny, it s time to go to sleep now. There was quiet in the room, and then he said, OK, God, I will. I didn t hear a peep from him until morning. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9 During morning worship the church choir will present Christmas Presence by Pepper Choplin. This is a musical telling of the Christmas Story and its impact on our lives and the lives of those around us. Invite your family and friends for this annual presentation. Selections include The World Awaits Your Coming, We Are Here, God Is Here, Tiny Miracle, Angels Came to Earth One Night, Call of the Magi, Still They Are Here, Hope, Love, and Joy to the World, and Go Tell It Where I Send Thee. J.C. The Magic Key The year was My first husband and I and our nine month old baby, Pam, moved from St. Louis to Fort Worth, Texas. He had a job there, and his family lived close by as well. We found a lovely apartment and settled in quickly. One chilly morning, I headed for the laundromat. I turned on the engine of our 1953 Chevy to warm up the car and put Pam in her car seat, which back then was in the front seat. I locked the car door. Then I put the basket of laundry in the back seat and locked the other door. Suddenly, I realized I had locked the keys and my baby in the car and locked myself out. I immediately went into panic mode. My neighbors had both gone to work, and there were no cell phones back then. As I looked up the street, I saw a red Ford pickup driving toward me. The driver stopped when he saw me crying and waving my hands. The man on the passenger side of the truck got out and said, I have a car just like this one; let me see if my key will open the door. It did! I have told so many people that God was the passenger in a red Ford pickup in October Evelyn Paine (From December 2018 Reader s Digest)

5 December Happenings at First Presbyterian Please remember to turn in all December expenses/reimbursement vouchers by the end of the month so they are posted for Thank you! 1 - Hanging of the Greens at 5 PM 2 - Hezekiah s Hands Christmas Concert at 6 PM 7 - Magic Touch Piano Studio Christmas Concert at 6:30 PM 8 - Chancel Choir Cantata Community Performance at 6 PM 9 - Chancel Choir Morning Worship Cantata at 10 AM 9 - Youth Group Christmas Cookie Fundraiser 5-7 PM 18 - Community Supper at 5:30 PM 24 - Christmas Eve Service at 7 PM Christmas Breakfast Sausage Casserole Ingredients - 1 lb. ground pork sausage 2 cups milk 1 tsp. mustard powder 6 slices white bread, toasted and cut into cubes 1/2 tsp. salt 8 oz. mild cheddar cheese, shredded 4 eggs, beaten Directions 1. Crumble sausage into a medium skillet. Cook over medium heat until evenly brown; drain. 2. In a medium bowl, mix together mustard powder, salt, eggs and milk. Add the sausage, bread cubes, and cheese, and stir to coat evenly. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Cover, and chill in the refrigerator for 8 hours, or overnight. 3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 4. Cover, and bake 45 to 60 minutes. Uncover, and reduce temperature to 325 degrees 5. Bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until set. CHRISTIAN CONCERT IS COMING: Matthew West, Tenth Avenue North, Matt Maher, Michael W. Smith and Leanna Crawford will be performing at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, February 23, from 6-9. Tickets start at $20 with a group discount for 15+ people. Please see Pastor Rachel if you d like to join her!

6 THE TYRANNY OF GIVING By Dr. Ralph F. Wilson There is a wonder about Christmas as well as a tyranny. There is a wondrous briskness in the air and a rosy glow on the cheeks of early shoppers. There seems a purposefulness in those in the stores, though the planned buying lists of "Thanksgiving Friday" shoppers disintegrate into a mad frenzy by December 24th. Just grab at anything that Uncle Fritz can smile at when he unwraps it, even though no one can think of anything he really wants or needs. The season also imposes its tyranny on many of us. Instead of being able to give out of thoughtfulness and love, we often give because it is "expected". I heard of one couple who had 85 people they felt obligated to remember with a gift. No wonder the joy of giving falls away to a sort of panicked despair. It is time to refresh our giving with a truth from Scripture deeply imbedded into our consciousness from hundreds of repetitions at church offerings: "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7; NIV). Can we give cheerfully this Christmas? Only in so doing can we emulate the great Gift of Christmas. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16, KJV). Was our Father cheerful that night He sent His Son to lie in the manger- hay of Bethlehem's rejection? I'm not sure. He doubtless wept as He traced Jesus' path to the cross's torture and triumph. Like Jesus, "Who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross..." (Hebrews 12:2), the Father tempered His pain with His anticipation of the happiness and freedom which would surprise the recipients of His Gift upon opening. And so God gave, not reluctantly or because He was forced by popular opinion, but because He loved. No store-bought gift would do for those He held dear, it must be homemade. Nor was His choice of Gift an optional trinket for the "man who has everything." He gave the only possession that we don't have and really need. He did not give a thing, an object. He gave Himself--a costly Gift in the extreme, so expensive that many reject the Gift because of the obligation they know they incur upon acceptance. Herein lies a Christmas mystery. Only by opening the first Gift may we truly comprehend what is the real significance of giving and receiving gifts. May this season not capture us in its tyranny, but release us in an eager cheerfulness to give.