700 N. Sheridan Road Lake Forest, IL 60045 www.firstchurchlf.org Volume XIX, No. 12 December 2016 A monthly publication of the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest Longest Night Service Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary with fellowship following The Longest Night is a service of scripture, stories, special music, silent reflection and healing prayer. It s a time to recognize that Christmas can be a bittersweet time. We need space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern. We need to know that we are not alone. We need to know God s presence during this season. So on the longest night, we invite you to experience a meditative worship service that offers time for remembering, sharing our hurting places with God, and preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ. Celebrate Advent with First Presbyterian Church Join Christians around the world as we all celebrate Advent, the season when we prepare our hearts, minds and souls for the coming of Christ! Advent is the beginning of the church year; it is a version of the Latin word that means coming. Advent is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the hope we receive from the gift of Jesus birth. It begins on November 27 this year the fourth Sunday before Christmas. This year, let s not rush through this special season straight to Christmas. Advent is a special time, and First Pres wants to help you make it an enriching experience for yourself and your family. Practices associated with Advent include lighting an Advent wreath and praying an Advent daily devotional. These practices give us time to reflect on the coming of Jesus, to slow our pace in this season of hope and to remember why we are celebrating Christmas. The Advent Wreathmaking Dinner follows the first@five service on November 27 offering the opportunity for families to join for a simple meal and make an Advent wreath for their family devotions. Signup at www.firstchurchlf.org/adventwreathdinner. A wonderful daily devotion is offered by Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. You can sign up to receive their Advent devotion by emailing your request to devotions@fourthchurch.org.
Dear friends, This is a time of year when we have a lot of things on our minds. We can easily get consumed by all the demands of the holiday season and miss out on what s most important at this time of year: focus and worship around the birth of Jesus Christ in the world. I have a friend who regularly encourages people to be sure to take time to hear the angels sing. Good counsel, I think. Advent is a season of watching and waiting. The Worshipbook describes Advent as the four week period in which the church joyfully remembers the coming of Christ and eagerly looks forward to His coming again. I d like to share with you a poem/litany that came out of a Baptist church in Upland, California, some time ago. It gives more detail to ponder about who Jesus is and what He came to do. I invite you to use it for your reflection and encouragement in this Advent season, as we watch and wait. He was all that. He still is. Alleluia! Dave Bianchin THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US He was light, coming into a world of darkness He was love, coming into a world of hate He was life, coming into a world of corruption He was peace, coming into a world of strife He was bread, coming into a world of hunger He was water, coming into a world of thirst He was righteous, coming into a world of sin He was hope, coming into a world of defeat He was God, coming into a world of humanity WE WORSHIP Sunday, Dec. 4 9 & 11am first@five 5pm Sunday, Dec. 11 9 am Pageant 11 am first@five 5pm Wednesday, Dec. 14 Longest Night Service 7 pm Sunday, Dec. 18 9 and 11 am Sanctuary Choir and Brass leading first@five 5 pm Carol Sing Saturday, Dec. 24 Christmas Eve 3 and 5 pm Family-friendly Candlelight Service 8 and 10 pm Traditional Candlelight Service Sunday, Dec. 25 One Service Only 10am Carol Sing Sunday, Jan. 1 One Service Only 10am Communion by intinction We will be back to three services 9 and 11 am, 5 pm on Jan. 8, 2017. is published monthly for members & friends of First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest 700 North Sheridan Road Lake Forest, Illinois 60045 Submission due date is the 15 th of every month. Church Office(847) 234-6250 Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Children Lead Worship with The Christmas Pageant On December 11, all children and youth are invited to lead our 9am worship with the Christmas Pageant. This tradition is a wonderful way to actively involve your family in Advent. We are looking for children age three and older to play the roles of sheep (preschoolers), angels and shepherds (grade school). Youth will have additional roles in helping to tell the Christmas Story. See the information to the right for additional details. Questions? Contact Marty Vander Velde at martyvandervelde@gmail.com. Rehearsal Calling all Kids 3 and up! Be a part of the Christmas story as a sheep (preschoolers), angel or shepherd (gradeschoolers) in the First Presbyterian Church annual Christmas Pageant. No RSVP needed, just come! Saturday, Dec. 10 9-10am/Sanctuary Costume pick-up from 8:30-9am or after rehearsal. Breakfast with Santa Saturday, Dec. 10 8-11am/Fellowship Hall Pageant Sunday, Dec. 11 8:30am Check-in 9am Worship and Pageant/Sanctuary Please arrive in costume by 8:30am. Questions? Contact Marty Vander Velde at martyvandervelde@gmail.com Women s Circle Christmas Caroling We invite you to join us as we sing carols to a few of our home-bound church families and then gather for a ladies dinner in and fellowship hosted by Amy Wells. Thursday, December 1 at 5 p.m. For meeting location and to sign up, visit www.firstchurchlf.org/christmascaroling2016 Calling All Singers & Actors! Join the Children s Choirs and be a part of our annual play. This year, children age 4 through 8th grade will present Rescue in the Night: The Story of Daniel in the Lion s Den during worship on Feb. 26th, 2017. Rehearsal for children age 4 through 5th grade will be on Tuesdays starting Jan. 3rd: Cherub Choir (age 4 - kindergarten) meets from 3:45-4:15 p.m. Carol Choir (grades 1-5) meets from 4:15-5:00 p.m. Rehearsal is on Sundays for Middle School Choir (grades 5-8) and meets from 10:20-10:50a.m. in Room 011. We will begin on January 8th. We will have a mandatory practice on Saturday, February 25th from 9:00-11:30 a.m. Help us sing about Daniel and King Darius and all those lions. For more information, contact Susan Noble, Director of Children s Choirs at snoble@firstchurchlf.org.
Giving Tree For over 10 years our church has partnered with Casa Central to provide presents for families in need on the west side of Chicago. Every year cards are placed on the tree with names of children and family members and their requests for the gifts they are hoping for this Christmas. Our middle schoolers have also gotten a first-hand look at the work Casa Central does by volunteering there for a day of our annual summer Chicago Mission Trip. They ve played with kids, taught hygiene lessons, helped with crafts and shared in much laughter as they ve gotten to know the children at Casa Central. Our youth often exclaim: These are kids just like us! Thank you to all who provide gifts to these families! May we all open our hearts to God s gifts this Christmas season! Please return your unwrapped gift and tag to the church by Monday, Dec. 12. Help Prepare the Church for Christ s Birth with Christmas Flowers Each year our Sanctuary, Parlor, Fellowship Hall and outdoor entrances are decorated to remind us that we have entered Advent, the season of preparation for the birth of our Lord, Jesus. As our space is prepared for His birth, we also prepare ourselves to welcome Him. One way we do this is by remembering or honoring a loved one through the Christmas Flower ministry. Envelopes can be found throughout the church. To contribute, please complete and turn in Christmas Flower envelopes to the church office. Please print clearly so names are reflected accurately in the Christmas Eve bulletins. Envelopes are due by Monday, Dec. 19. Upcoming Service Opportunities If you re looking for ways for you and your family to serve our closest neighbors this holiday season, we encourage you to sign up to serve at PADS and/or Soup Kitchen. First Pres provides assistance monthly to both of these organizations. This month, we will be providing food, serving dinner and breakfast, and preparing bag lunches for PADS (Providing Advocacy, Dignity, and Shelter). We need volunteers to donate food and serve on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at this overnight shelter in Waukegan serving approximately 30 homeless men. Learn more and sign up at firstchurchlf.org/serve-at-pads. On the third Friday of the month, our Soup Kitchen mission serves up to 200 people at the Holy Family Church in Waukegan. Any food or time you can donate to this ministry would be greatly appreciated. No food goes to waste as any leftovers are delivered to other locations in need. Get more information and sign up at firstchurchlf.org/soupkitchen. The next service date is Dec. 16.
Christmas Tea The Deacons are proud to sponsor the 14th Annual Women s Christmas Tea. Please come share in music and fellowship at this year s Christmas Tea, A Season of Hope, being held on Monday, Dec. 5, 2016 at 7p.m. in Fellowship Hall. The music and mission portion of the evening will be celebrated in the Sanctuary. This year we are partnering with Lake County Haven, who assists homeless women and their children in Lake County. Please consider a donation of any of the following (which you may bring the night of the event): New women s non-athletic socks in dark colors New women s underwear in various sizes Powdered laundry detergent Facial tissues Gift Cards of any denomination for Walmart, Target or Jewel RSVP at www.firstchurchlf.org/event/christmas-tea-2016 or at one of the sign-up tables before and after the 9am service on Sunday. Advent Video Series A Clear View of Jesus Birth Starting November 27 Sunday mornings at 10:10am in Parish House Conference Room Have you ever wondered why Mary and Joseph had such trouble finding a place to stay in Bethlehem, when they would have been among relatives? Sometimes old, familiar stories aren t as familiar as we think they are when seen in a new light. In this DVD series, Dr. Kenneth Bailey draws on his decades of research and teaching in the Middle East to reveal a fresh perspective on the story of the birth of Jesus. No Room at the Inn? Really? Joseph the Just or lawbreaker? Wise Men from the South? Why is the Slaughter of the Innocents Part of the Christmas Story? Join us to find out and ask more questions about this beloved story. You ll never hear it the same way again!
Stewardship 2017 Give! Kathy McFarland and Prue Beidler, co-moderators of the Stewardship Committee, express deep thanks to all who have made gifts and pledges to the 2017 Stewardship campaign. This fall we have been celebrating that we are all called to be partners in Christ s service. We are guided in this giving season by Jesus invitation to us: Do you love me? Feed my sheep. Every gift you make supports our church s life: faith formation, mission and outreach, care for each other, and tending our historic campus. Please give generously with your Pledges and Gifts. Inspired to Share Thank You for Your Support John 21:17 Every gift you make contributes to our church s work in Christ worship that inspires us, faith formation that equips us, fellowship that encourages us, and a mission that extends our reach to the world God loves. First Presbyterian Church OF LAKE FOREST S T E WA R D S H I P Partners In Christ s Service Each year, the Stewardship Committee works with the Finance Committee to determine a financial goal this year our combined total pledges and gifts goal for 2017 is $2,050,000. Every gift helps us reach this goal and we are so appreciative of all of them. Holiday Worship Schedule Dec. 24 3, 5, 8 and 10 p.m. Dec. 25 10 a.m. Jan. 1, 2017 10 a.m. 9 PM & 11 AM, and 5PM Worship All Followed by Fellowship Join Us for Sunday Worship 700 N. Sheridan Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045 www.firstchurchlf.org Church Office Holiday Hours Dec. 23 Open 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Dec. 26 - Closed Dec. 30 - Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 2, 2017 Closed