CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE Wednesday, December 24 7:00 p.m.

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1 First Presbyterian Church Volume XVVVI Number 12 December th Avenue, Kearney, NE (308) PASTOR Rev. Dr. Stephen Price-Gibson SESSION Clerk: Scott Matteson ELDERS 2014 Shirley McCammond John McKirahan Ben Nonhof Lissa Woodruff 2015 Heidi Cobb Jacob Hild Scott Matteson Steve Rothenberger 2016 Georgia Byrn Steve Case Steve Miller Sharon Rees DEACONS 2014 Kit Alff Robin Bowers Mike Bryson Sally Olsen Dirk Shultz 2015 Richard Asher Jill Gealy Dwayne Hibbs Bev Pickens Paulette Wagner 2016 Barb Friskopp Jill Hurt Mary Jo Morrow Jordan Nelson Mark Nelson HANGING OF THE GREENS Saturday, December 6 10:00 a.m. Breakfast (coffee, juice and donuts) will be provided by the Congregational Life Committee for those helping prepare the sanctuary for the Advent season. Everyone is welcome so come join the fun!!! Window design painting is available for the youth. CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE Wednesday, December 24 7:00 p.m. COMMITTEE MODERATORS Christian Education Heidi Cobb Congregational Life John McKirahan Evangelism Lissa Woodruff Finance Steve Case Memorial Steve Rothenberger Mission Steve Rothenberger Nominating Personnel Shirley McCammond Property & Grounds Steve Miller Worship & Music Shirley McCammond

2 A NOTE FROM STEPHEN: When I was a child, I used to think of Christmas as an annual event, quickly over and done with. At that time of my life, I thought Christmas was only the brief time spent opening gifts. The caroling and baking and decorating and church services and cards arriving in the mail seemed to be merely prelude. The Christmas meal with family seemed to be a postlude to the main event, which was opening presents. Even when I was blessed with everything I had hoped for and much more, Christmas afternoon always seemed a blah time. I wallowed in the thought that I would have to wait a whole year before Christmas came again. My life seemed suddenly empty. In church we talk about getting ready for the birth of the Christ Child. We spend Advent preparing for the big event. We ask one another if we are ready for Christmas, as if Christmas were an exact moment in time. Everything we do to prepare for Christmas is actually a part of Christmas. Lighting the advent candle, reading the advent devotions, singing again the ancient carols are all part of Christmas. Christ is born when we open a card from a friend or buy a pair mittens for a needy child. Christ is born when we share a special meal with loved ones and invite someone who is alone to join us. Christ has come when we take down the decorations and face whatever the New Year will bring. Our faith tells us that Christ is present with us, in us, and through us in the times of excitement and in the times when we feel empty. When I was a child it seemed that on Christmas afternoon the mystery was gone. The presents inside the beautifully wrapped boxes had been revealed. The excitement leading up to the great event was over. Soon the decorations would disappear into the attic for another year. I did not then realize that the love of Christ can fill us more readily when our own hearts are empty and we feel no excitement. I forgot that Christ was born in Bethlehem at a time which was far removed from excitement and joy. His parents probably knew more of shame and disappointment than hope and high expectations. The world of his time was no stranger to fear and terror. Yet, somehow in the midst of all that God s Word to us is a word of Peace, Hope, Joy and Love. The Christmas season gives us a time to experience again God s profound love, given to us in the midst of all the worries and disappointments of life. I wish you each joy and peace this Christmas! Stephen

3 WORSHIP NOTES ( for those who want to know more about what is happening in worship this month.) We are about to enter the Christmas cycle of the church calendar, which includes the four Sundays of Advent and the two Sundays of Christmas. Advent is the four Sundays before Christmas. Advent means coming. The church remembers both the first coming of Christ when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and the second coming of Christ when he shall come to judge the living and the dead. (Apostles Creed) The liturgical color for Advent is purple, which is both the color of royalty and repentance. The second coming of Christ calls for repentance as we meet the Christ our King. The four Advent Candles positioned around the Advent Wreath are lit each of the four Sundays. They represent Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. It is traditional that the candles are purple, except for the Joy candle, which is pink. The white candle in the middle of the wreath represents Christ, and is lit on Christmas Eve. The wreath represents God s perfection with its circle and everlasting life with its evergreen branches. Christmas actually begins on Christmas Eve and goes through January 5 (the twelve days of Christmas). Its liturgical color is white, the color of purity, representing the sinlessness of our savior. Advent marks the beginning of the year on the church calendar. We are going to be doing something special during the Affirmation of Faith this year. The Presbyterian Church (USA) has recently adopted a Study Catechism with 134 questions and answers. Each Sunday in the coming year (beginning with the first Sunday in Advent, November 30, 2014) we will have one or more of these questions as our Affirmation of Faith. For example, on November 30 the Affirmation of Faith will be: Q. 1: What is God s purpose for your life? A: God wills that I should live by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the love of God, and in the communion of the Holy Spirit. [2 Cor. 13:13] Like many traditional catechisms, the questions will use the Apostles Creed, the Ten Commandments the Lord s Prayer to arrange a survey of what our church affirms as the gospel and the Christian life. On the first Sunday of Advent, the Advent Wreath will be in the front of the church. The church will be decorated for Christmas on Saturday, December 6, at 10 a.m., under the direction of the Worship and Music Committee. The Congregational Life Committee will be provided doughnuts and coffee for those who participate in the Hanging of the Greens. If there is something you would like to know about what we do in our worship service, and why, let the church office know and your question will be answered in a forthcoming Worship Notes feature in the Chimes.

4 ALL IN THE CHURCH FAMILY Thank Yous: Dear Church Family, A lovely surprise to have Kit Alff and Scott Matteson deliver the lovely fall arrangement in honor of Mary Kulhanek s parents to Mom. Appreciate the many prayers and visits while in St. Johns. Blessings, Joan Hartman and Helen Marshall Dear Church Family, Thank you so very much for helping us celebrate our 67 th wedding anniversary. A very special thanks for opening your arms and welcoming our family and friends. Our church family means the world to us and we couldn t imagine a better day. Also thanks for all the beautiful cards and well wishes. God s Blessings to all, Gayle and Wilma Woodruff Dear Church Family, I am grateful to belong to a most congenial congregation. So many of you expressed your good wishes for my 90 th birthday in various ways. I even received two chancel bouquets. Thank you very, very much for being you. With humility and love, Bev Kimball First Presbyterian Church, Thank you so much for your generous donation, prayers and hours of volunteer hours you and your congregation have given and shared with our ministry. You are the reason we are able to connect and reach out to our UNK students and the surrounding community! Grace and Peace, United Campus Ministry Our Sympathies to: The Family of Gary Zaruba who passed away on Thursday, October 16, A memorial service was held for Gary at the Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA) on Monday, October 21. Phil Shade and Family with the passing of Kathy Shade on Thursday, November 13, Kathy s memorial service was held on Saturday, November 22. Directory Changes: Amanda Badgley and Nathan Badgley, 709 East 3rd Street, Minden NE Larry & Patricia Deutsch, 572 Ranch Drive, Eagle ID Kelly & Jill Koch, 4309 Dove Hill Avenue, Kearney NE 68845; Ingrid Orsted, 620 West 27th Street, Apt A, Kearney NE 68845; Vern Plambeck, th Avenue, Northridge #281, Kearney NE 68845; Gary & Ruth Smith, 903 Avenue F, Kearney NE 68847; Julia & Mike Tye, 4911 Linden Drive Place, Kearney NE A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHRISTMAS Sometimes Christmas is just overwhelming, it seems, as we rush around buying up stuff. We spend without end, and we rack up those bills, but it feels like it s never enough. So this Christmas, let s all take a different approach: Let s try to be more in accord with God s Christmas gift, the best one of all Our sweet Jesus, our Savior, our Lord. We ll be gentle and patient, and loving and kind, and we ll keep our priorities straight; the gifts of the Spirit, the gifts of the heart are the ones that we ll all celebrate. And our stress will decrease, and we ll feel more at peace, as we decorate, package, and trim; our new Christmas will be a pure joy and delight, as we try to be much more like Him. By Joanna Fuchs

5 CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS MARTHA CIRCLE BIBLE STUDY NEWS Greeting to all of you this Holy Season! May the birth of Jesus, the Christ, continue to amaze us and renew our worship and love of God. Thanks to all of you who have supported our women s mission projects throughout the year. Thanks for your support of the Crossroads Homeless Shelter in November. In December we will remember the East Lawn Food Bank with boxes of mac and cheese, tuna, cake mixes, canned vegetables and fruit, and diapers. Don t forget the Christmas Tea on December 14 after church during the coffee hour. Come and enjoy the festivities and thanks to all those who helped make this memorable occasion. December dates to remember: December 10 Lesson Four Preview at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Stephen in Classroom December 14 Christmas Tea December 16 Martha Circle at 1:30 p.m. in Classroom A quote: Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, And they bless the giver. Grace and Peace, Annabelle Wells, Moderator CONGREGATIONAL MEETING UPDATE Meet our new Ruling Elders, Deacons, and Nominating Committee members elected at our Congregational Meeting on November 2nd. CLASS OF 2017 CLASS OF 2017 ELDERS DEACONS Karen Diestler John Icenogle Rodger Payne Sara Sup Leslie Abegglen Kit Alff Josh Hofer Beth Johnson Emily State 2015 NOMINATING COMMITTEE Kevin Badgley Gary Feind JoAnn Rademacher Annabelle Wells DIMES FOR MISSION The Help Clinic is the designated recipient of the Dimes for Mission for the Winter (December 2014-February 2015). Please keep donating those dimes!

6 WHAT S ON THE BOOKSHELF? "A Deepening Love Affair" by Jane Marie Thibault (09 E Thi)) can be read by persons of any age but is best suited for an older person. This book is for all of those who yearn for "something more" in their life, in their relationship with God. That something more is the gift of an intimate relationship with God. Dr. Thibault explores the topics of vocation in later life, discontent, awareness, greed, the inner work required to fully receive the gift, and the radical freedom that age can bring. "The Shack" by William P. Young (09 D You) is where tragedy confronts eternity. In a world where the question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" is asked so often, "The Shack" wrestles to find the answer. Mackenzie Allen Phillips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Does he go? Would you? CHURCH OFFICE HOLIDAY HOURS The church office will be CLOSED for the Christmas Holidays Thursday, December 25, 2014 through Thursday, January 1, Regular office hours will resume on Friday, January 2, WEEKLY WOMEN S BIBLE STUDY Monday Nights January 5 - April 27 7:00 pm The Weekly Women s Bible Study will start a new course on Monday, January 5, 2015 at 7:00 pm and run through April 27. The new study is called Simple Devotion by Judy Brower. The book and workbook will be available at The Solid Rock. The study is described as: There are seven challenges common to most women. Hindrances. Roadblocks. Emotional strongholds. Spiritual hurdles that we minimize, avoid, or overtly fear. If we will take courage to face them, to stare them down, to bring them to Jesus, He will give us freedom. He will give us life. He will invite us into a truly simple version of devotion never imagined. The companion workbook prompts anyone seeking freedom from women s seven most common heart-hindrances to intimacy with Jesus. This is your invitation to press through an authentic process inviting you on a journey toward a simpler devotion. IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION A tax consultant has advised us to inform you that any contributions to be credited to this year 2014 must be received in the church office on or before Wednesday, December 24 th OR have a postmark on the envelope of December 31 st or prior to that date. The church office will be closed for the Christmas holidays -- December 25 th through January1 st. Thank you!

7 CHIMES DEADLINE Just a reminder if you would like something published in The Chimes, the church s monthly newsletter, deadline is the 15th of each month. Thank you! 2015 COFFEE HOST The Congregational Life Committee Need YOUR Help! Wanted: Coffee Hosts for January If you are one of the many who enjoy the coffee fellowship time after church, then WE WANT YOU! Please sign up on the chart in the narthex. January 2015 Coffee Host signups are available on the current 2014 coffee host chart. The new 2015 Coffee Host chart will be available soon OFFERING ENVELOPES Your 2015 stewardship envelopes for your pledges will be available in the Narthex starting the second week in December FLOWER CHART The new 2015 Flower Chart will be up soon on the bulletin board by the church office. January 2015 flower signups are available on the current 2014 flower chart. Please take a few moments to sign up to contribute flowers to glorify God s house on Sunday and to honor or celebrate your loved ones! Taize Worship Service Sunday, December 14, :00 pm A TAIZE Worship Service will be held the Second Sunday of each month The TAIZE Community was first developed in Taize, France by Brother Roger Shutz in the 1940 s with an ecumenical group of church people from all over the world. It is from this community that TAIZE worship has come. Our faith begins and ends in worship; yet so often our worship can be submerged in a welter of instruction, edification and moral exhortation. In many churches on a Sunday morning there is little opportunity for corporate quiet, for reflection, for focusing in on the God who speaks to us in the silence of our hearts. The great contribution made by the TAIZE Community has been the popularization of a more contemplative approach to worship. TAIZE worship includes candlelight, prayers, readings, soft music, and silence. The service is very meditative and offers a wonderful opportunity to be silent and center on the Lord. The service is open to the entire community. Come as you are and bring your friends.

8 HANDBELL CHRISTMAS CONCERT December 7, :00 p.m. Merryman Performing Arts Center The handbell choirs from First Lutheran, First United Methodist, First Presbyterian, and Holy Cross Lutheran Churches will participate. There will also be handbell solos and small ensembles. A freewill offering will be collected to help support the handbell ministries at the four churches. A cookie reception will follow the concert. CHRISTMAS TEA Sunday, December 14, 2014 Following the Worship Service Everyone is welcome!! Hosted by the Martha Bible Study Circle

9 OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING The Christmas Joy Offering provides tangible support to church workers who have faithfully served the church for many years and to the eight Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges where the gifts of students are being developed. Contributions should be clearly marked Christmas Offering. The Christmas Joy offering will be accepted on Advent Sundays and Christmas Eve. Christmas Joy offering envelopes are available in the Sunday worship bulletins. SAVE LABELS Best Choice, Box Tops and Campbell s Labels for Education Please save your Best Choice barcodes (UPC symbol) and bring them to the church where a shoebox is located in the church office. Best Choice products are available at Grand Central Apple Market. Some Best Choice products excluded are aluminum soda cans, aerosol cans, and cigarettes. The Menaul School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is collecting General Mills Box Tops for Education and Campbell's Labels for Education (UPC product code and Labels for Education coupons). This program helps them "buy" classroom supplies. One of our former members, Ima Stapleman, worked for the school for a period of time. Please put your Box Tops and Campbell s labels in the Best Choice collection box in the church office. MORE THAN A WREATH AND CANDLES The Advent wreath is a symbol of watchfulness and increasing joy as Christmas approaches. Lighting its candles is a common practice on the four Sundays leading to Christmas. Different color combinations for the candles are used depending upon the church or denomination. Some churches use four blue candles around the wreath with one white candle in the center, while some use all white candles. Many denominations light purple candles on the first two Sundays, pink on the third, purple again on the fourth Sunday and a large white candle on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The wreath, the candles and the colors all have symbolic significance. Here are just a few of the many and various interpretations: The circular green wreath symbolizes the everlasting love of God, having no beginning or end. Green represents eternal life. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. Purple, in ancient times, was expensive and was considered the color of royalty and kings. On Christmas, Christ is proclaimed King of Kings. Purple represents humility and penitence.

10 DECEMBER VOLUNTEER LIST LITURGISTS December 7 Al Oldfather December 14 Mark Nelson December 21 John McKirahan December 28 Charlie Pickens ACOLYTES December 7 Ethan Kinney and Lauren Dillon December 14 Zak and Kason Nicol December 21 Brian Barua and Kennedy Cobb December 28 Hewitt Moyer and Kennedy Hurt COFFEE HOSTS December 7 Jill Sage and Carol Smith December 14 Christmas Tea December 21 Pickens Family December 28 Jill Gealy and Marda Sheen HOSPITAL CALLERS December 1-7 Jordan Nelson December 8-14 Lorraine Feind December JoAnn Lilly December Judy Rothenberger Dec. 29-Jan. 4 Pat Hild FLOWERS December 7 Poinsettias December 14 Poinsettias December 21 Poinsettias December 28 Earl & JoAnn Rademacher USHERS/GREETERS December 7 Tim & Ivy Hanson Vern Plambeck Eldin & Annabelle Wells Shawni Wright December 14 Dwayne & Vianne Anderson John & Barb Icenogle Earl & JoAnn Rademacher December 21 Leonard & Sue DeBrie Alan Rees Robert & Evelyn Vohland Lissa Woodruff December 24 Robin Bowers Cynthe Johnson Alan Rees Ken & Lyn Shaffer Tiffany Tarvestad December 28 Jon & Leslie Abegglen Gordon & Jill Gealy Doug Giles Joan Giles COMMUNION SERVERS December 7 John McKirahan Mark Nelson Ron Panowicz Pete Peterson Bev Pickens Charlie Pickens REMINDER If your schedule does not permit you to be here on your assigned Sunday, please trade with someone else and notify the church office at

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12 First Presbyterian Church Non-Profit Organization th Avenue U.S. POSTAGE PAID Kearney, NE Kearney, NE Permit #6 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED ADVENT SEASON SCHEDULE Saturday, December 6 10:00 a.m. Hanging of the Greens Sunday, December 7 9:00 a.m. Church School 10:30 a.m. Worship Service with Communion 7:00 p.m. Christmas Handbell Choirs Concert Sunday, December 14 9:00 a.m. Church School 10:30 a.m. Worship Service with Youth Christmas Program Christmas Tea Following Service 7:00 p.m. TAIZE Service Sunday, December 21 9:00 a.m. Church School 10:30 a.m. Worship Service Wednesday, December 24 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Worship Service Thursday, December 25, 2014 Thursday, January 1, 2015 Church Office Closed for the Holidays Sunday, December 28 10:30 a.m. Worship Service

13 DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS Sara Sup... 12/2 Paulette Wagner... 12/5 Kaid Byrn... 12/7 Cade Nicol... 12/7 Kent Lilly... 12/9 Kevin Badgley... 12/11 Patricia Deutsch... 12/11 Janet Pickens... 12/11 Kelsey Cobb... 12/12 Fred Krause... 12/13 Charlotte Wence... 12/13 Jarrett Johnston... 12/15 Audrey Zuerlein-Johnson... 12/16 Kara O Connell... 12/17 John Cahill... 12/18 Jill Gealy... 12/18 Elmer Holzrichter... 12/18 Marc Regenos... 12/18 Barbara Meyer... 12/20 Donna Larson... 12/22 Kaiya Diestler... 12/23 Anne Peterson... 12/23 Barb Friskopp... 12/24 Chet Wallace... 12/25 John Icenogle... 12/26 Zachary Kounovsky... 12/26 Katherine Keifer Lindsay... 12/26 Ellis Martin... 12/27 Connor Nonhof... 12/28 Jane Stoppkotte... 12/2 Jeff Lindstrom... 12/30 If your birthday is not on our list, please contact the church office. Thanks!