december The Church and You

Transcription

1 december The Church and You First Presbyterian Church Inside Christmas Eve Services 2 Christmas Window Tour 3 Commitment Update Information Opportunities CareNotes for Teens Tutors Needed Volunteer Opportunity Nina Godwin Becki Walden John Edwards Kay Brown Poinsettia Orders 4 Kids Game Day Youth in Mission ADVENTure Potluck & Crafts Congratulations Merry Christmas! Angela Parks Christie Peacher Pastor David Horne Jack Lancaster Pastor Matt Meinke Kathy Rangel Puffer Jones Tish Harrison Women s Groups page 5 Christmas Gifts From the Pastor Birthdays Wednesday Classes page 6 Sunday Worship page 7 Messiah Concert Your Invitation page NW 25 th Street Oklahoma City, OK

2 Christmas Eve Lessons & Carols Worship Services Chapel 4:00 p.m First Presbyterian Church NW 25 & Western in Oklahoma City Sanctuary 10:30 p.m. (music prelude begins at 10:00 p.m.)

3 Christmas Light Window Tour Sunday, December 28 12:00 Noon Enrich your Christmas with the splendor of the colorful lights of our Nativity window and other themes of Christ s birth in our stained glass. Treat your senses of sight and sound to the entirety of God s radiant love, and be encased in the Christmas story in a unique way. Includes Christmas tales and the singing of some familiar carols. Extending Care and Compassion We now have Care Notes for Teens. These 6-page pamphlets make a wonderful gift to a young person. Subjects include: struggling with bullying, the pressures of school, depression, suicide, or grief. The Care Note for Teen display is downstairs in our youth area, just outside the Youth Game Room. Check them out. After-School Tutors Needed Our after-school program, SPARK, is in need of a few more tutors. If you could commit to one hour a month they would love to have you. Contact Tish Harrison or Elizabeth Hatcher. Mission In the City Saturday, Dec. 6 we will be serving together at Urban Mission in a very fun project - packing Christmas Meal Boxes! If you can, join us there at 3737 N. Portland at 9:00. We will be finished before noon. OPPORTUNITIES FOR INFORMATION PCUSA GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTIONS ON DIVESTMENT Sunday, December 7 9:30 a.m. Evergreen Classroom B-14 (lower level) All church. Dr. Horne and Dr. Meinke will review actions of GA, the present status and have conversation concerning the congregation. The focus is on the divestment and the Mission Responsibility Through Investment previous activity. UNITY OF THE CHURCH IN A TIME OF DIVERSITY Sunday, December 14 1:30 p.m. Chapel Childcare provided A presentation looking at the biblical, theological, and polity path of where PCUSA has been and where we are in the recent action of GA on marriage. Struggling with Scripture: What the Bible Does and Doesn t Say About Homosexuality Presentation and Conversation Leader: Dr. Mark Achtemeier Dr. Achtemeier has served the PCUSA since 1984 as pastor, writer, and theologian. He taught theology and ethics for 15 years on the faculty of Dubuque Theological Seminary. An author, member of the Peace, Unity and Purity GA Task Force, and an articulate voice on the marriage issue. For your convenience there will be a catered lunch (donations) in Watchorn Hall beginning at 12:00. Make reservations by calling or website fpcokc.org/inpevent. Co-sponsored by Indian Nations Presbytery and Session of First Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City. $ $ $ $ $ $ As of November 16, 2014: Total commitments received: 70 Total amount committed: $456, Please pray about your commitment and return your commitment cards as soon as possible. CONVERSATION ON THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH January 11, :30 a.m. Evergreen Classroom B-14 (lower level) All church. Conversation and reflections with Dr. Horne on the unity of the church in midst of the Divestment and Marriage equality.

4 Congratulations to Tara Gibson Myers, who recently received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Austin College. Tara grew up here at FPC joining the church as a teenager. Currently she and her husband John reside in Jersey Village, Texas, where she practices emergency medicine, serves as state commander for the (Texas) Disaster Medical Assistance Team, has raised two children, and competes in ballroom dancing. Dr. Myers is the daughter of members George and Dottie Gibson, who still lovingly refer to her as Tara Jo. December 14th Kids Game Day Kids K 5th meet in Tuscan Café for lunch then we will head to the gym for crazy games! Parents can pick up at 2:00. Poinsettia Orders If you would like to order poinsettias but will not be in the church building to fill out an order form, you may becki@fpcokc.org or call (405) Please include the following information: your name; if the plant is in honor, memmory of or celebration of someone; and the person s name, if applicable. Poinsettia orders are being taken through December 8. ADVENTure Potluck Lunch & Crafts November 30th right after the 10:55 service we will meet in Watchorn Hall for a potluck lunch. After the potluck, if you are not helping with the Hanging of the Greens, you are invited to stay in Watchorn Hall for the annual Christmas crafts and cookie decorating. Some of the crafts are for taking home, some will be shared with the homebound members, and the cookies are for eating on the spot! Don t miss out on the fun. Potluck Assignments: A-H Casseroles/Main Dish L-Q Sides/Salads R-Z Desserts Cedar Tree A species of evergreen used to decorate for Christmas, the tall cedar tree symbolizes Christ s majesty year-round. Cedars of Lebanon, which have grown to 130 feet, were known to Old Testament people. The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. (Psalm 104:16). David s palace and both Solomon s palace and temple were built of cedar wood. The word cedar is found 75 times in the Bible. Due to its evergreen nature and longevity, this tree is associated with eternal life. Youth In Mission Opportunities December 7 ADVENTure Potluck lunch and then help with the Hanging of the Greens and/or the crafts. December 6 PUM Christmas Boxes Help put together Christmas boxes at PUM. December 13 PUM Santa Store Help children pick out Christmas gifts for their parents. Watch for details about our assigned time.

5 Phoebe Home of Emily Parnell Epworth Villa 1:30 Tuesday Dec. 9 Priscilla Home of Krista Myers 2712 Randolph Rd. Edmond 10:00 Tuesday Dec. 9 Ruth Home of Dorothy Hays 5504 N. MacArthur 6:30 Tuesday Dec. 9 From Dr. David L. Horne, Interim Pastor Christmas will arrive in a few days. At this time, the giving of greetings, shopping for gifts, and making connections with family, friends, and work colleagues will fill the schedule.this year amid the celebration and joy of the season are feelings of sadness, loss, and anxiety with the world situation. As the Christ child comes to us, we are reminded of the peace and love of God which is present with us and in the world. Come and celebrate this good news in worship on Sundays at 8:30 a.m. and 10:55 a.m., Christmas Eve 4:00 and 10:30 p.m. The singing of familiar carols, the joyous Christmas music, the presentation of the Christmas story and candlelight are opportunities for each of us and our families to be nourished and strengthened in Christian faith. May you have a blessed Christmas! PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN - READY FOR ADVENTure We ve done it again! You loved the Christmas Spiders (and the Legend of the Christmas Spider) two years ago, and you bought every one of our painted tree decorations last year! This year, we promise you won t be disappointed. We have over 100 tree decorations - much different from those we made last year. And what a good time we had making them - knowing that you d be eager to see them - both on display AND on your tree. What great gifts they will make, too. - We ll also be selling $20 TLC gift cards. When can you buy them? At ADVENTure - in Watchorn Hall. All proceeds go to PW s mission projects. And it s a good time to remind you - when shopping at B.C. Clark, be sure to ask for and complete the church coupon at the time of purchase. They will give us a cash commission on such sales. Mary Fitzhugh 1 Scott Roberts 1 Jim Lowe 2 Janet Eselin 3 John Harris 3 Kurt Johnson 4 Emily Bunch 4 Rachel Morse 5 Debbie Pittman 6 Stacey Gettings 10 Elizabeth Sholar 10 Elizabeth Hatcher 11 Kwasi Yeboah 12 Kate Sholar 12 Sophia Smith 12 Jonathan Marcoulides 14 John Dougherty 15 Lisa Cochrane 15 Donnie Parsons 16 Abby Sholar 16 Bill Vassar 17 Carol Moorad 17 Ed Sweeney 19 Philip Rhodes 19 David Ligon 20 Shelley McCarron 20 John Vogt 20 Thomas Langdon 20 Justin Papineau 21 Jana Winfree 21 Brooks Collins 21 Bobby Cochrane 22 Everette Altdoerffer 22 Doug Hilbert 23 Lauren Teague 23 Nikki Dawson 23 Jack Snoddy 24 Ben Strednak 24 Noelle Moorad 26 Jole Schrimsher 27 Phyllis Mills 28 Jenny Vincent 28 Amy Denner 29 Oscaar Kabrick 30 Lily Keith 30 Joey McCarty 31 Cecilia Fokum Jan. 1 Kathy Rangel 1 Gayle Cox 3 Sam Borquaye 3 Ron Miller 3 5 Dan Orza 8 Wayne Osmond 8 Libby Denner 10 George Gibson 10

6 Opportunities on Wednesdays for Adults SPRING 2015 Adults meet Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m., following our all-church dinner. Please feel free to come to all that your schedule allows. As always, friends and family are welcome to attend. Nursery is provided for infants and toddlers classes and choirs for children and youth meet concurrently. So we have adequate supplies, advance registration is needed for the stained glass class. DATE CRAFT/ART LECTURE/DISCUSSION YOGA January 7 Stained Glass Uptown 23rd Yes Christina Mallory, Program Director January 14 Stained Glass Steve Lackmeyer The Future for OKC Yes City Beat Reporter, The Daily Oklahoman January 21 Stained Glass Gangs-Boots on the Ground Yes Lt. John Dawson, OKCPD January 28 Stained Glass Immigration Policy Yes Rev. Dr. Joe Meinhart February 4 Stained Glass Gangs/Prisons Yes Rev. Dr. Joe Meinhart February 11 Stained Glass Apocalypse or Eschaton Yes Rev. Dr. Joe Meinhart February 18 ASH WEDNESDAY DINNER AND WORSHIP No February 25 Lincoln s 2nd Inaugural Address Yes Dan MacLemore March 4 The Civil War Spring 1865 Yes Brian Upp March 11 The Civil War Spring 1865 Yes Brian Upp March 18 SPRING BREAK NO KIRKNIGHT No March 25 A New Hispanic Ministry in Story and Song Yes Carlos Hebbert April 1 HOLY WEEK NO KIRKNIGHT No April 8 You Too Can Paint MIO (Tentative) Yes Carren MacLemore Barbara Charlet April 15 You Too Can Paint New Advances in Medicine Yes Carren MacLemore Dr. John Pittman April 22 You Too Can Paint Movie Inside Islam: Yes Carren MacLemore What a Billion Muslims Really Think April 29 Imam Enchassi, Senior Imam and President, Yes Islamic Society of Oklahoma City May 6 & May 13 TBD Yes May 20 SENIOR DINNER No

7 The Kemp Concert Series presents Handel: Messiah Warren Puffer Jones, conductor Sanctuary Singers, with professional orchestra Featuring: Kelly Holst, soprano Courtney Crouse, mezzo-soprano Jeffrey Picon, tenor Mark McCrory, bass Saturday, December 20th 7:30 p.m. Pre-concert talk at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. FREE ADMISSION Experience the wonder and majesty of Christmas through this musical masterpiece. Audience members are invited to join in singing the choruses bring your score and sing along to one of the greatest pieces of music ever composed. November 30 1st Sunday of Advent... Prophecy Guest musician: John Allen, trombone December 7 2nd Sunday of Advent... Bethlehem Guest musician: Sophia Ro, violin Cora Winstead and the Sanctuary Singers sing an excerpt from Messiah. The Youth Chorale and Treble Choir sing in the 10:55 service. December 14 3rd Sunday of Advent... Angels Guest Preacher: Dr. Mark Achtemeier Featuring Mary s Song, an original piece by Puffer Jones. In the 10:55 service, the Sanctuary Singers sing a piece by John Rutter, and the Sanctuary Ringers play handbells. The Youth Chorale and Treble Choir sing in the 8:30 service. December 21 4th Sunday of Advent... Shepherds (Christmas Joy Offering) Guest Musicians: OCU Brass Jennifer Seal will sing Ave Maria In the 8:30 service, the Sanctuary Ringers will play handbells. December 24 Christmas Eve 4:00 p.m. Lessons & Carols for All Ages (chapel) Youth and Children s choirs & 10:00 p.m. Organ Prelude (sanctuary) 10:30 p.m. Candlelight Worship Service (sanctuary) Kelly Holst, soprano Sanctuary Singers December 28 1st Sunday after Christmas

8 Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID OKLAHOMA CITY, OK PERMIT NO. 931 First Presbyterian Church 1001 NW 25th Street Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Change Service Requested Interim Pastor -The Rev. Dr. David L. Horne Associate Pastor The Rev. Dr. Matt Meinke Director of Music & Arts Dr. Warren Puffer Jones Organist John L. Edwards Director of Children & Youth-Christie Peacher Communications Director Kathy P. Rangel Business Administrator-Becki Walden Facilities Coordinator Jack Lancaster Christmas. Advent. Peace. Joy. Hope. Love. Are you looking for a place to introduce your children to basic tenents of faith? Do you desire a safe place to worship God? Are you interested in growing deeper in your faith or maybe trying to figure out what you believe? Or simply desire to join your voice with others in song? There is a special place for all in our faith community. Please join us any Sunday at 8:30 in the chapel, 9:30 for Bible studies, or 10:55 in the sanctuary. We d love to get to know you, as we discover more about God s love for us all. Eleven photos of the Christmas Eve worship services have been hung in the church hallway, courtesy of photographer Leon Smith.