Christmas Christ CALVIN COMMENTARY. In This Issue: BEGINS WITH

Transcription

1 CALVIN COMMENTARY JOHN CALVIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH December TRANSCONTINENTAL DRIVE METAIRIE, LA In This Issue: THE STUDY WINDOW MUSIC CORNER COMMITTEE NEWS PLAYSCHOOL BIRTHDAYS/EVENTS Christmas Christ BEGINS WITH FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL. COUNSELOR. THE MIGHTY GOD. THE EVERLASTING FATHER. THE PRINCE OF PEACE. ISAIAH 9:6

2 From The Study Window From the Study Window Christmas Love We live in a time of vast skepticism. People no longer trust many of the institutions that have long held public confidence. Politicians have disappointed us. Journalists lift up the sensational rather than reporting facts. Even the judicial system has been affected by sensationalism. We find it difficult to tell fact from fiction, reality from exaggeration, and truth from sensationalism. As we approach Christmas many see it simply as a nice tradition. But the world we live in is much like the world at the time of Jesus birth. In our world, poverty is the norm rather than the exception. The Christmas story is about poor people. In fact, it s about poor people caught in bureaucracy. Mary and Joseph were forced to travel to a distant city to satisfy bureaucratic regulations. It was important to take a census, so taxes could be assessed. Mary was pregnant before she married Joseph and people being people had likely made her the subject of a good deal of gossip. Although Mary knew the wondrous mystery of her pregnancy, she carried the stigma of being an unwed mother. In the midst of their forced journey, a suspicious innkeeper thought it would be better for them to stay in the barn than a warm room. Yes, he assured them the inn was sold out. Sound familiar. The couple with the newborn baby was told that they were under suspicion of trying to overthrow the king. Herod the King threatened to slaughter all male infants to remove a perceived potential threat to his throne. So the family fled their homeland and in essence became refugees. When we put on glasses that can penetrate the sentimental legends of Christmas we find that it was a hard, desperate, fearful time. We need to look no further than our own neighborhood s to find analogies to the gospel story. And it is into this troubled skeptical world that Jesus was born, and it is into our troubled skeptical world that he continues to come. It is into our troubled skeptical world that the remarkable declaration of Christmas comes, Do not be afraid. (Luke 2:10) Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). This is not an abstract principle. We understand it through the mixed emotions of a family Christmas. We sense it when we extend our care to those in need. We proclaim it when we repeat the ancient Christmas proclamation God is with us (Matt. 1:23). Christmas is the announcement that the incredible love of God has been loosed in the world. This love overcomes fear, and in the process changes us and the world around us. In Christ s Service, Rev. Harry Brown

3 THE By: William R. Memmott, Organist/Choir Master M U S I First, the Choir Music boxes are filled with music. The orchestra scores are ready. So are the music stands, choir risers, seating, video monitors and microphones. The singers, soloists and musicians have prepared and so have Julie (harpsichordist and organist) and myself (conductor and all-around handyman). Second, the pipe organ has been tuned and the harpsichord will receive its final brush-up tuning before the concert on the 11th Third, Eleanor has run the programs and inserts. Fourth, the dress rehearsal will take place on Saturday, December 10 at 10;00 a.m. And I m certain the ushers are lined up and ready. C MESSIAH by George Frideric Handel The Christmas Section C O R N E R Sunday, December 11 at 10:30 a.m. (The orchestra, chorus and soloists gathering at 10:00 a.m.) Luncheon by the Presbyterian Women (In Fellowship Hall following) George Frideric Handel ( ) composed this singular masterpiece in Although German by birth, he spent most of his life in England, Most of his oratorios and operas are in English. Messiah contains many of his most famous and most beloved Christmas pieces.. CHRISTMAS EVE NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS December 24 at 7:00 p.m. The Traditional Choral Carol Service Following the Family Service at 5:00 p.m.

4 Holy Smokes! Thank you everyone for helping out with the White Elephant Sale! We made over $2000 for Program of Hope to be used for vouchers for an overnight stay at the Salvation Army Homeless Shelter, and for bus tokens. That s 200 nights! Sandy Cranfill, Sue Crawford, Julie Etland, and a friend of Julie's each had their own booths with wonderful items to tempt the customers! Diane Kleinfeld from First Presbyterian, Lesley Paine and friends from Parkway Presbyterian, and Ann Van Horn from St. Charles Presbyterian all had booths of goodies. Hurray for getting Presbyterians working together! Our own Grace Circle and Lydia Circle sponsored and ran a wonderful booth with lots and lots of very nice things. Just fabulous! Thank you to all of you who donated items to sell, who set-up our circle booth, priced items, and stayed to sell to customers, who helped out with setting up tables and carrying items for our guest churches, who made tasty baked goods and stayed to sell them, who obtained and made hotdogs to sustain us all. You are wonderful. Oh, yes, and a huge THANK YOU to all of you who came a bought something!

5 You are invited to the John Calvin White Elephant Party! Friday, December 9 at 7:00 pm This year s hosts are Ann and Michael Trapani 13 Platt Street, Kenner Please bring an appetizer or dessert and your wrapped gift. one gift per person adults only.\ Come enjoy an evening of fun and fellowship!

6 Snippets From Presbyterian Women N Garland Lorraine Hicks Evelyn Tobey, Emily The PW "Cookie Swap" will be held on Sunday, Dec. 4th from 3-5, in the Library. Everyone is invited members, non-members, males and females!

7 We are WILD about learning through PLAY at John Calvin Presbyterian Playschool. This month we are celebrating Christmas and teaching our students about the birth of Jesus and the importance of giving to others. A couple important Playschool dates to note: December 2: Santa Pictures in FH December 5: Atomic Burger Fundraiser from 11-9 December 13: Angel, Angel! Christmas Program in the Sanctuary December 9, 12: 3 s Christmas Programs in the Sanctuary December 19- January 3: Christmas Holidays January 4: School Resumes Do you like to eat burgers or hot dogs? What about delicious milkshakes? Please take a night off from cooking and Join us for our Playschool s Atomic Burger Fundraiser on Monday, December 5 from The address is 3934 veterans. Just say you re with John Calvin and our playschool gets 20% of sales!!

8 Coat Drive November 28- December 7 Benefitting the Feeding the Homeless Project of First Presbyterian Church Please bring us your gently used or new coats/ jackets and help keep someone warm and cozy this winter!! Children & Adult Sizes Welcomed

9 BIRTHDAYS Corley, Travis 12/1 Reeks, Emilie 12/1 Wiederspahn, Nell 12/3 Fernandez, Caroline 12/4 Cox, Raymond 12/5 Walker, Maggie 12/9 Russo, David H. 12/10 Schaefer, Alexandria 12/11 Craig, Suzie 12/15 Lowry, Linda 12/15 Hebert, Julie R. 12/17 Tracy, Judy 12/19 Tracy, Wayne 12/19 Frank, Ben 12/28 Corcoran, Margaret 12/29 Nelson, Maureen 12/31

10 2nd: P/S Practice: Angel/Angel 1st: NY s Day Service 10:30 only 4th: Service PW Cookie Swap 3:00-5:00p (Lbry) All Invited Worship 7:00p (CR) $-P/S Atomic Burger Fundraiser / say John Calvin 5th 8th: P/S Practice: Angel/Angel (Sanc) 6th: 7th: 9th: PW 10:00 (Lbry) Pearl Harbor Day P/S Christmas Performance (Sanc) P/S Movie Night Christmas Concert Set-up White Elephant 7:00p- A. Trapani s Home 10th: Choir Dress Rehearsal w/ 10:00 11th: 10:30 Service only Christmas Concert Following Service Christmas Luncheon C/E CM after Service 12th: 13th: P/S Christmas Performances (Sanc) P/S noon Outreach 6:30p (Lbry) P/S Angel/Angel Performance (Sanc) Resource 7:00p (CR) 3rd: 4th: 5th: 8th: 9th: 10th: 16th: 17th: 19th: 22nd: 23rd: 24th 30th: PW CM 10:00-noon (Lbry) P/S 1st Day Back PW Fun & Games 10:00-noon (Lbry) Elder s Ordination & Installation C/E CM after Service P/S noon Outreach 6:30p (Lbry) Worship 7:00p (CR) Lydia Circle 7:00p (Lbry) Resource 7:00p (CR) P/S No Schl MLK Day Session 7:00p (Lbry) Grace Circle 9:30 (Lbry) PW Fun & Games 10:00-noon (Lbry) Congregational Mtg after Worship (Sanc) P/S TK Registration Belly Laugh Day...LOL! P/S Church Member Reg. 16th: 19th: 24th: 25th: P/S Last Day Session 7:00p (Lbry) Christmas Eve Services: 5:00p / 7:00p Christmas Day Service 10:30 only 26th&27th: Church Ofc Closed Christmas Holiday 28th: 30th: 31st: ***NO Choir*** Practice Church Ofc Closed New Year s Holiday New Years Eve!!! Note: Committee Mtg. time changes may not be reflected, above times are based on a reoccurring schedule only. Note: Committee Mtg. time changes may not be reflected, above times are based on a reoccurring schedule only.

11 OUR PRAYER FOR YOU THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON IS THAT YOU WILL KNOW THE RICHNESS OF CHRIST S COMING DEEP IN YOUR HEARTS.

12