Deck the Halls This Saturday

Transcription

1 November 27, 2018 vol. 21, issue 40 Join us for Sunday Service, first Sunday of, at 10:00 a.m. on December 2 9:00 a.m. - Adult Education 10:00 a.m. - Sunday Service 5:30 p.m. - Stone 6:00 p.m. - Prayer and Visioning meeting at the Yarbroughs Called to Serve Elders: Don Yarbrough, Beth Baird Home Communion: Lisa Yarbrough Preparing Deacons: Myron McMahan, Bob Young Serving Deacons: Prill Zobel, Don Zobel, Mary Frederick, Tom Frederick Coffee Cart and Snack: The Stinsons Flowers: na Greeter: Prill Zobel, Mary Frederick Sunday Worship Accessibility: Large print bulletins and hymnals are available. Deck the Halls This Saturday This Saturday afternoon Deck the Halls on December 1 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Prepare the sanctuary for our hanging of the greens - trees, garlands, lights, banners, and so much more. We need your help! Snacks and beverages will be served. The more the merrier! Harvest Dinner Photos by Allan Doerksen Stone Count Tuesday, 11/ Saturday, 11/ Sunday, 11/ Church Staff Rev. Matt Gordon... Senior Minister Matthew Clark...Choir Director Alicia Cheng... Pianist Ruth Chadd... Office Manager Jill Shinkawa...Communications Manager Christa Schmeder...Director of Youth Ministry Lucas Teeter...Disciples House Resident Advisor Contact Us Phone: (541) office@heartofcorvallis.org Facebook: Sign up for our newsletter, Disciples Dispatch, at our website: New Members Photo by Allan Doerksen On Commitment Sunday we welcomed three new members to our church - Ray and Nancy Williams and Joshua Sayre!

2 Matt s Minute Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. -Psalm 27:14 This Sunday begins the season of, a time of waiting and watching for the birth of Christ. This is a pregnant time and we are ready for the birth of a new thing and we are told to watch, to wait, and to prepare. is the spiritual waiting place. The truth is, no one likes waiting. To quote Dr. Seuss, the waiting place is a most useless place. For most of us, waiting is a drag, waiting is a nuisance, and waiting is something most of us would rather skip right over. We can fill our waiting time with useless things. Checking our phones (for the 100th time). Drinking another cup of coffee. Watching another television episode. Waiting can invoke anxiety. What s next? Is my to-do list done? What did I forget? What is for dinner? Are the kids okay? Are my parents okay? What are the test results? What will the doctor say? When will the mail come? When will the phone ring? Waiting, however, can be an opportunity to open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts for what is in store for us. Waiting is an opportunity to take a breath, meditate, pray, or write in a journal. Waiting can be a time of watching and preparation. This Christmas season, consider waiting a gift. Look for opportunities where you have to wait and consider it an opportunity to welcome love and the Lord into your heart. Put the phone down. Turn off the television. Drink more water instead of more coffee. Wait patiently. Peace and love, Pastor Matt and Christmas 2018 Saturday, December 1 Deck the Halls from 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Our preparation begins this day as we put up the trees, garlands and greens in our sanctuary and around the building. There will also be an origami star making party for all ages to participate in. Lunch will be served. Sunday, December 2 First Sunday of - Hanging of the Greens Sunday, December 9 Second Sunday of - Fair - an interactive and hands-on event to explore the meaning of for children and youth during Sunday school time. After church, kids of all ages are welcome. Rev. Matt Gordon Senior Minister Church phone: matt@heartofcorvallis.org Open Office Hours: Mondays and Tuesdays from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. or schedule an appointment to come by and chat. Sunday, December 16 Choir Vespers Service. The choir will lead us in a morning of festive music and songs. Festive refreshments after service. Walk at 5:00 p.m. Join us for a traditional German/Bavarian Christmas lantern walk. It is a time for quiet reflection on the coming of the Christ. We will begin our walk Continued on page 3 Relying on the spirit and story of the Gospels, First Christian Church is supported primarily by donations. There is no charge for any event. We rely on freely given offerings to support our various ministries and opportunities. Your contributions and gifts allow us to continue to be a radically inclusive, justice-driven community of faith every day of the week. Thank you in advance for your gifts.

3 and Christmas 2018 continued from page 2 at the Bald Hill parking lot on Oak Creek. There will be about 45 minutes of walking and a short program and singing. Bring a lantern that provides a soft light, such as a candle or kerosene lantern. Bright lights, such as Coleman type lanterns and large flashlights are discouraged. Small kerosene or candle lanterns can be purchased at sporting goods or variety stores. Please plan to join us on this special walk and for refreshments in the parking lot after. Sunday, December 23 Children s Christmas Pageant Monday, December 24 Candlelight Christmas Eve Family Folk Service at 5:00 p.m. Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at 8:00 p.m. In Our Prayers Janet Chenard is recovering from gallbladder surgery Sandy Landis son-in-law is battling cancer Viv Ellsworth Carol Bailey would really appreciate visits and calls to the Regent Jean Thayer Tricia Martin s husband, Bruce Larry Holder Rev. David McCracken Prill Zobel s mother, Betty and Don s sister For all affected by the California wildfires For all those impacted by gun violence and for progress on how to alleviate the problem Joys Bill Smart s successful cataracts surgery California Wildfire Update November 15, 2018 The church was thought to have burned. Given its location within an early evacuation zone, First Christian Paradise was assumed among the buildings destroyed by the Camp Fire in Butte County, CA. With the town under mandatory evacuation, Pastor Janice McCollester and other church leaders were unable to return to the church to confirm. Eventually, Pastor McCollester was able to get in contact with firefighters who went by the location of the church and reported it was still standing, unburned. The report comes as a bit of light among all of the grief and loss, as Regional Minister LaTaunya Bynum describes it. Among the nearly 9,000 destroyed structures, however, are most of the houses in Paradise, including the homes of most of the members of the church. The exact extent of the damage will not be known until evacuations are lifted and members are able to return, but the effects will be widespread. Due to likely smoke damage, the church building will be unusable for some time to come, and in the meantime, FCC Chico continues to provide space for their neighbor congregation. Week of Compassion has already begun providing solidarity grants for affected families in the Paradise and Chico congregations and are in touch with ecumenical and area partners to support relief efforts. FCC Chico is in conversation with the area Interfaith Council to identify options for longterm assistance, while FCC Paradise is first focusing on accounting for and caring for their members. Representatives from Northern California VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) told Week of Compassion staff on Thursday that this is the first time they have seen this percentage of fire damage in a single municipality. Long-term recovery, especially restoration of infrastructure and housing, is of major concern. Another significant concern they note is the high percentage of elderly residents and residents with disabilities and access and functional needs. Your prayers and gifts help Disciples respond now--with solidarity grants through our local congregations--and throughout the months and years to come.

4 Looking Ahead December 1 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Deck the Halls December 2 First Sunday of - Hanging of the Greens during service 6:00 pm Prayer and Visioning for the Future at the Yarbroughs. December 3 9:00 am Due Knots meet in room 35 December 9 Second Sunday of - Fair December 10 7:00 pm Finance Cabinet December 12 1:00 pm Women s lunch at McGrath s and white elephant gift exchange December 16 Third Sunday of - Vespers Service 5:00 pm Walk December 17 7:00 pm Program Cabinet December 23 Fourth Sunday of - Children s Christmas Pageant December 24 5:00 pm Christmas Eve Service 8:00 pm Christmas Eve Service closed from December 24 - January 2 December 30 Lessons and Carols Service Happy Birthdays! 11/17 Bob Schulz Jr. 11/18 Beth Crawford 11/19 Samantha Arnst 11/23 Frank Griswold, Dow Yeh 11/26 Cullen Wright 11/27 Ann Smart, Joyce Miller, Adam Vanderford 12/4 Susan Cooley 12/6 Miranda Gordon 12/11 Don Coon Happy Anniversaries 12/4 Peggy and Steve Fuller 12/8 Linda and Jim Stinson 12/16 Cherie and Neil Reynolds What s Happening Deck the Halls This Saturday afternoon Deck the Halls on December 1 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Prepare the sanctuary for our hanging of the greens - trees, garlands, lights, banners, and so much more. We need your help! Snacks and beverages will be served. The more the merrier! Prayer and Visioning Meeting On Sunday, December 2 at 6:00 p.m. come to a prayer and visioning team meeting at the Yarbroughs house. Everyone is welcome. RSVP to Don in person or yarbrough.don@gmail.com Due Knots Meet Due Knots meet on Monday, December 3 at 9:00 a.m. in room 35 (upstairs). Please join us as we tie quilts for kids at risk in our community. Have some sweets, tea, and conversation. Cold Weather Donations Please bring new or gently used mittens, gloves, socks, and/or hats to the office for those who are without - many can use a little extra warmth. Bring your donations to the church office or put them in the big white box in the narthex. Gloves, socks, and hats will be distributed at Stone Soup meals. We could also use donations of new toothbrushes and toothpaste as well as feminine hygiene products. Announcements December Regional Newsletter The December Oregon and SW Idaho newsletter of the Christian Church is out: Around Town Become a SMART Reader Volunteer an hour or more per week with kids in our community! Inspire a love of reading and books Read one-on-one with PreK or Kinder 3rd graders Help students select books to take home and keep Training and support provided! Where: A Head Start program or elementary school near you in Benton, Lane, or Linn County When: Programs run during school hours, October - May. Time commitment is one or more hours per week Apply online at or call (541) Heart of the Valley Runners, 10th Annual Resolution Run, January 1, th Annual Resolution Run Start your year in an active way with friends, family, and the community. Heart of the Valley Runners presents the 10th Annual Resolution Run, a 5k and 2K run/walk on January 1, This event is free. The course starts and finishes at the Thompson Shelter on the south side of Avery Park. The out and back 5K course winds through the park, follows the bike path past Pioneer Park and the Skate Park, and turns around at the Madison Ave. Plaza. The 2k circles Avery Park on park roads and sidewalks. Refreshments will be provided. A clock will display the official time, but there will be no awards. Join in the fun. Register at or on the day of the race between 9:00 and 9:45. Race and walk begin at 10:00 a.m.

5 25 10 am-folk and Intergenerational Worship, no Sunday School November/December 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday December 1:30-4:30 pm- Deck the Halls 2 1 st Sunday of 10 am-worship, Hanging of the Greens, w/sunday School 6:00 pm-visioning for the Future 3 9:00 pm-due Knots meet 4 3:30 pm-fcc s turn to prep/serve Stone nd Sunday of 10 am-worship, Fair 10 7 pm-finance Cabinet pm-women s lunch at Mc- Grath s and white elephant gift exchange rd Sunday of 10 am-choir Vespers Service, w/sunday School 5:00 pm- Walk 17 7 pm-program Cabinet th Sunday of 10 am-folk Worship, Children s Pageant, no Sunday School 24 5 pm-candlelight Folk Service 8 pm-candlelight Service 25 Merry Christmas!

6 First Christian Church 602 SW Madison Avenue Corvallis, Oregon RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Our Vision The First Christian Church of Corvallis is a diverse inclusive community providing a living witness to the compassionate Christ. From our central location in the heart of Corvallis, we seek out, develop, and support ministries to meet the human needs for physical and spiritual wholeness. On the basis of our Disciple heritage, we embrace the ecumenical movement, develop lay leadership, and promote intellectual freedom in the pursuit of truth. All are welcome to participate. Inclusivity is one of our most important values. Help us save paper, postage and money - receive the newsletter electronically. Go to and click Subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of the right column or send an to jill@heartofcorvallis.org and put Subscribe Dispatch as the subject. If you are not receiving the Disciples Dispatch please inform the church office. Please recycle this newsletter.