Somerset Church of the Brethren. Crossroads. From the Pastor s Desk LUKE 2:1-14 KJV. Merry Christmas, Pastor Martha

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1 Crossroads PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IN WORD AND DEED Somerset Church of the Brethren From the Pastor s Desk LUKE 2:1-14 KJV And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. May Christ Be in Your Christmas, Joy be in your hearts and love be in your homes! Merry Christmas, Pastor Martha

2 SOMERSET CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN PAGE 2 DECEMBER Heifer Project collection boxes due 2 Social Hall/Kitchen rental, 9am-8pm Chorale practice in sanctuary, 9:30am Faith Promise dinner at Camp, 5pm 3 1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENT Last day to sign up for Women s Fellowship Christmas party Chorale concert, 3:30pm 4 Chorale concert, 7pm 5 Quilters & Knotters, 9am Wheelers & Dealers, 7:30-9:30pm 6 Chancel Choir rehearsal, 7pm Bell Choir rehearsal, 8pm 7 Christian Education meeting, 6:30pm 8 Kitchen rental, 12-9pm 9 Children s Christmas party at Camp, 9am Social Hall rental, 12-6pm 10 2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Praise & Worship, 10am Soup & Salad after worship Social Hall rental, 4pm 11 Chorale practice, 7pm 12 Quilters & Knotters, 9am Women s Fellowship Christmas party at Kings Restaurant, 6:30pm 13 Chancel Choir rehearsal, 7pm Bell Choir rehearsal, 8pm 14 Stewardship & Finance meeting, 6:30pm Youth Night Out at War Memorial 15 Newsletter articles due 16 Caramel order pick up, 11am-1pm 17 3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Kids CONNECT meeting after worship SCOB caroling, 1-4pm 19 Quilters & Knotters, 9am Wheelers & Dealers, 7:30-9:30pm 20 Chancel Choir rehearsal, 7pm Bell Choir rehearsal, 8pm 21 1ST DAY OF WINTER 22 Senior Food box distribution, 8-10am 23 SCOB Bell Ringing at Walmart, 8:30am- 7:30pm 24 4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT/ CHRISTMAS EVE Christmas Eve/Candlelight Service, 7pm 25 CHRISTMAS DAY (Church office closed) 26 Quilters & Knotters, 9am 27 Chancel Choir rehearsal, 7pm? Bell Choir rehearsal, 8pm 31 NEW YEAR S EVE Men s Fellowship meeting at Mostollers, 7am

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5 SOMERSET CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN PAGE 5 1 Nicole (Tomko) Sanner Louis Sredy, TJ Watkins 2 Nancy Gasswint 5 Debbie Baker 6 Kelsey Watkins 8 Amanda Van Breman 12 Millie Maust 13 William Lambert 16 Cara Custer 19 Terry Shaffer 20 Bella Baumgardner 22 William Barron, Kate Shaffer 24 Lonnie Ream II 28 Christopher Flick, Robert Sembower 31 Jane Brandt, Earl Yoder DECEMBER SUNDAY SCHOOL OUTREACH Somerset Food Pantry SALVATION ARMY KETTLE RINGERS We will be participating in the Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army Red Kettles on Saturday, December 23rd from 8:30am to 7:30pm for their fundraising. There is a signup sheet on the round table. Please help us help them - signup today! NEW ARRIVAL Lainey June Berkey was born November 7, 2017 to Jeff & Melissa Berkey. She was 8lbs. 7oz. and 20 1/2" long. She will join big sisters, Kacey & Hayden at home. Proud grandparents are Jeff & Sherry Berkey. CHANGE OF ADDRESSES Emma (Berkey) and Doug Gebhart P.O. Box 1369 Mammoth Lakes, CA Sara Berkey th Street Pittsburgh, PA Bernie Saylor - Room 210 C/O The Heritage 228 Siemon Drive Somerset, PA YOUTH NIGHT OUT! Youth Night Out will be held on Thursday, December 14th. We will be attending the "Big Church Night Out" concert at the War Memorial in Johnstown. Tickets are $18.00 if we get 10 or more; half will be paid for so your cost will only be $9.00. Let anyone on Christian Ed. know if you would like to go ASAP. This is open to the church; so come on out and worship with the youth.

6 SOMERSET CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN PAGE OFFERING ENVELOPES The 2018 offering envelopes are on the table in the gathering area in alphabetical order. Please take envelopes for your family. If you currently do not have envelopes and would desire to have them, please put your request in the offering plate or call Kimmy at the church to request them. Thank you. Mary Schrock, Financial Secretary CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE You are invited to join us for the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7pm. SALVATION ARMY KETTLE RINGERS We will be participating in the Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army Red Kettles on Saturday, December 23rd from 8:30am to 7:30pm for their fundraising. There is a signup sheet on the round table. Please help us help them - signup today! WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP CHRISTMAS PARTY The Women's Fellowship Christmas Party is Tues., Dec. 12, 2017 at 6:30pm at King's Restaurant. We will be collecting nonperishable items for the Somerset Food Pantry. A sign-up sheet is on the table in the gathering area. Last day to sign up is Sun., Dec. 3rd Please join us for a fun-filled evening! WORSHIP HOSTS: Would you like to be one of our Worship Hosts? This would include greeting folks before the worship service and handing out the bulletins. If you would like to join our growing team, please let Kimmy in the church office know so your name can be added to the 2018 schedule. Thank you! 15 Tim & Janet Resh 27 Brock & Kelly Hemminger 2018 CHURCH DIRECTORY: The church secretary will be updating the church directory for If you have had a change of address, or phone number in the past year, please let her know by December 31st. Also, if your birthdate and/or anniversary date have not been showing on our lists and you would like it included, please give her a call at Thank you! STAFF INFORMATION: Pastor Martha Beach (Short-term Pastor) mbeach1215@aol.com Kimmy Hixson (Secretary) kimmyscob@hotmail.com Regular church office hours are: 8:30am-12:30pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Fridays and 8:30am-3pm on Mondays & Thursdays.

7 SOMERSET CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN PAGE 7 CAMP, DISTRICT AND OTHER NEWS BRETHREN HOME CHRISTMAS TREE OF STARS Please help us decorate the Christmas Tree of Stars. Your donation will not only honor or memorialize a loved one or friend, it will help us provide benevolent care for our residents in need. Forms may be found in the gathering area. Thank you for showing your love and concern by supporting this campaign in this 34th year of our program. MESSENGER ORDER/REORDER TIME!: Inspiration, information, connection not only are these our promotional themes, they are the heart and soul of MESSENGER magazine, the thread that binds our Brethren family. Please use the order/renewal form in the gathering area for your subscription. All order/ renewal forms, along with payments, are due into the church office by Sunday, December 17th. THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS CHORALE PRESENTS Christmas Memories Sunday, December 3 at 3:30pm With an encore performance Monday, December 4 at 7:00 pm In the sanctuary of the Somerset Church of the Brethren Tickets are available from any chorale member or at the door. For more information, contact Dorene Friedline at or SENIOR FOOD BOX DISTRIBUTION The next Sr. Food Box Distribution is set for Friday, December 22nd from 8am- 10am. Come share in the merry fellowship that goes along with helping the community. CHILDREN CHRISTMAS PARTY Camp Harmony will hold the annual Children's Christmas Party on Saturday, December 9th at 3pm for ages 5 to 5th grade. Registration forms are in the gathering area. COMMUNITY ADVENT SCHEDULE 12 pm at 1st United Methodist Church on Patriot Street in Somerset with light lunch provided: DATE PREACHER LITURGIST MUSIC 12/6 Tony Myers Mike Dunlap Jan Burkett 12/13 Rick Helsel Rick Younkin Nerita Brant & Lori Hogan 12/20 Lenny Anderson Arnie McFarland TBA

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9 SOMERSET CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN PAGE 9 WWJD? Kids CONNECT WWJD - four letters that remind us to ask in every situation we encounter, What would Jesus do? We have kicked off Kids CONNECT 2017 and a year of opportunities to explore the way Jesus responded to the world around Him! Children ages 4 - Grade 5 are invited to participate in Kids Connect at the Somerset Church of the Brethren each month. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall immediately following morning worship on December 17. (Dates for Kids CONNECT in 2018 will be announced later.) Lunch is always provided, and we will play, create, serve, and discover together WWJD. Parents can pick up their children at 12:45 pm on Kids CONNECT Sundays. Questions about Kids CONNECT can be directed to a Kids CONNECT leader: Sherry Berkey, Kim Huet, or Kathie Shaffer. What would Jesus do? Come to Kids CONNECT to find out! HOSPITALITY: The Watkins DECEMBER SCHEDULES: EARLY GREETERS: Men s Fellowship WORSHIP HOSTS: 3 Jessica Schomer & Ann Yoder 10 David & Virginia Hay 17 Dave & Julie Stanton 24 Michael & Trudy Saylor 31 Melissa Smith ACOLYTE: Aaron Deffenbaugh WORSHIP LEADERS: 3 Michelle Custer 10 Praise Team 17 Tim Resh 24 AM Adam Shaffer 24 PM-Carol Walker 31 Diane Barron STORYTELLERS: 3 Diane Barron 10 Jessica Schomer 17 Vickie Watkins 24 AM Ann Yoder PM Earl Yoder 31 Carolyn Willoughby-Deffenbaugh USHERS: Fred & Kim Huet (Lead), Alice Gary, Dean Barron, Jason Custer, Carolyn Willoughby Deffenbaugh, Charlie Rhodamer, and Drew Deffenbaugh NURSERY ATTENDANTS: 3 Kate & Adam Shaffer 10 Liz & Nick Kovach 17 Kim & Fred Huet 24 NEEDED morning & evening volunteers 31 Sid Haines & Valerie Woy DEACONS OF THE MONTH: Dave Walker, John & Vickie Watkins, Jim & Barb Yost, and Terry & Kathie Shaffer

10 DECEMBER SERMON/SCRIPTURES 3 Hope Isaiah 64: Peace Isaiah 40: Joy Isaiah 61:1-4, Love Luke 1:26-38, Romans 16:25-27 Good News Luke 2:1-14 Christmas Evening, 7pm 31 Light For All Nations Luke 2:22-40