Swift Creek Presbyterian Church

Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. John 7:37-38 Volume 25, Issue 12 Swift Creek Presbyterian Church www.scpcva.org From the pastor s desk Friends, We have developed quite a series of traditions in the way we celebrate Christmas at Swift Creek Presbyterian Church; these events are things that we look forward to each year and know we can count on enjoying again. The Living Nativity is the one that comes most readily to mind. But there are also the children s Christmas musical, the hanging of the greens and the lighting of the advent candles, Angel Tree, the youth Christmas party and the kid s Christmas cookie decorating event. (Did I forget any? Probably!) Traditions become cherished aspects of the season over time and they help to give us some structure that can be helpful in celebrating important themes. Indeed, traditions of various kinds have long been a part of God s church in all of its various expressions. Then there is the other side of the coin. Jesus often railed against the man-made religious traditions of the Pharisees. The traditions had supplanted the truth, he said. People had become more faithful to the traditions than to the living God behind the traditions. You might say that they had forgotten the reason for the season. Lately, I have been a part of some conversations that have centered on the need to regularly call ourselves as a church back to the why behind the what. Traditions can be very helpful, very positive, if we are continually reminded of the reality behind the form. I m a big fan of our many Christmas traditions at Swift Creek. I think it s a wonderful season at our church and we celebrate it in some ways that we share with Christians around the world and in some ways that are unique to us thus giving our church its own distinctive Christmas flavor. I m certainly not advocating jettisoning any of the above noted traditions. However, let s make 2015 a season of celebration where, no matter what the event, we remind one another that each event points to the celebration of God becoming flesh. The Incarnation, God becoming flesh in Jesus Christ, has so many profound implications that it changes the very way in which we think about God and the very way we think about ourselves. The Incarnation has changed the direction of all human history. The Incarnation assures us that the great, mysterious, unseen God wants to be known and can be known he has drawn very near. So let s continue to celebrate in grand style at Swift Creek, but let s also keep pointing to those profound spiritual truths that are life changing because he took the initiative and came to us as one of us! Merry Christmas, Tuck

2 Angel Tree Reminder Dates It is such a joy to know the many children and families we will serve this Christmas in our Angel Tree participation at SCPC. Please remember all gifts need to be wrapped and returned to church no later than Sunday, December 6 th. The gifts need to be checked in and organized for delivery so the earlier they are under our Angel Tree the better! We will deliver the gifts on Saturday, December 12th between 9:00 AM and 12:00. Dear Swift Creek Family, We would like to thank everyone in the SCPC family for your support and love during the recent loss of Kristi's mother. Your calls, cards, visits, meals, kind words and prayers meant so much to us during this time and provided a great comfort and blessing to our family. David and Kristi Crews and family Operational Budget for October 2015 YTD Revenue: Expenses: YTD Net: 2015 Budget $455,730 $455,730 $0 2015 Actual $442,063 $444,540 ($2,477) Set up electronic giving at scpcva.org.

3 SWIFT CREEK YOUTH YOUTH FELLOWSHIP Join us on Sunday evenings for a time filled with fun, food and fellowship! Middle School: 5:00-6:00 p.m. Combined Dinner: 6:00-6:30 p.m. High School: 6:30-7:30 p.m. We will meet on the following Sundays: December 6, 13 & 20 No meeting on Dec. 27 (Christmas) CHRISTMAS PARTY This year s Youth Christmas Party will be on Sunday, December 13. We will have a gift exchange, some music and students are encouraged to wear ugly Christmas sweaters. The party will be from 6:00-7:30 p.m. It is for all 6-12 grade students. FUTURE DATES Please mark down the dates of these events on the youth ministry calendar! Next Capernaum Club: Dec. 3 Living Nativity: Dec. 4 & 5 RockFISH: Mar. 11-13 WINTER RETREAT This January 22-24, the youth will go on a retreat to Camp Willow Run in North Carolina for a weekend of fun and spiritual growth. This weekend is open to current 6 th through 12 th graders. The cost for the weekend is $110. We hope that everyone will get the chance to join us for this great weekend of fun and fellowship. You can sign up on the church website. Please contact Kevin with any questions. CONNECT Website: SwiftCreekPresbyterian.org Twitter: twitter.com/scpc_youth Facebook: facebook.com/groups/ SCPCYouthGroup

4 From Superheroes Family Worship Night 10/30/15 POWERSOURCE Swift Creek Presbyterian Church Wendy Hicks - Children s Director whicks@scpcva.org 739-1183 Try New Christmas Faith Boosters The most wonderful time of the year is a wonderful time to share Jesus and why he came to earth with your children. Instead of getting caught up in the holiday rush, focus on what Christmas truly means. Use the Advent season (the weeks of preparation before Christmas) to engage in old and new traditions, make simple crafts, have discussions, and worship Jesus, our newborn King. Faith-boosters needn t be elaborate or time-consuming. Instead, use materials you already have to reinforce the good news that the angels shared on the first Christmas Eve: Jesus, our Savior, is born! ASK GOD: 1. To bless your Christmas preparations and to ready your hearts for his arrival. 2. To help your family stay focused on Jesus during the holidays. 3. To replace stress and busyness with calm and peace, so you can treasure family time. After you ve shared this message with your children, look for simple ways to spread Christmas joy as a family. From caroling and delivering cookies to sending cards and inviting neighbors to programs or concerts, the possibilities are endless for letting your light shine as you celebrate Jesus, the Light of the world. While engaging in Christmas festivities, start a conversation by asking these questions: 1. What are your favorite Christmas traditions, and why? How do our traditions help us remember the real meaning of Christmas? 2. What are some ways we can add service and outreach to our Christmas celebrations? 3. How would you explain Christmas to someone who didn t know anything about Jesus?

5 Date & Time Event Information - For more information on any of these activities, please contact Wendy Hicks 739-1183 or whicks@scpcva.org Sunday 12/13 9 & 11 am Sunday 12/13 10 am Monday 12/21 10 am - noon Thursday 12/24 5:30 pm An Unplugged Christmas (Children s Christmas Musical) Birthday Party for Jesus Shop and Drop Christmas Eve Family-friendly Service Join Lindsey and her friends as they participate in the contest for "The Best and Brightest Christmas Show Ever!" They've planned a great show that is, until all the lights go out. It is in the quiet of a small shining star that they are reminded that Jesus is the true Light of Christmas. Children s Worship and Preschool are both canceled this Sunday so that the entire family can enjoy this together. Who doesn t enjoy a birthday party? And whose birthday is more important than that of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? K 5th graders are invited after the Children s Christmas Musical to join us to celebrate Jesus birthday. We ll be upstairs in the large classroom enjoying cake, games, and fun. Don t miss it! Drop the kids for Christmas Across America, a fun, evangelistic and innovative event for kids! Christmas Across America is a national effort that provides the means to celebrate one of the most amazing events in all of history the birth of Jesus! We will also be decorating gingerbread people. This Christmas Eve, bring your friends and family to a wonder-filled evening of music, media, and memories that the whole family will enjoy! We will finish off the evening with Silent Night and our child safe glow sticks. Join us for Kids Sunday Club at 10 am. Spark for Preschoolers will explore key stories from Genesis to Paul s letters. Holy Moly for our K - 2nd grade class will ignite a Bible imagination that lasts a lifetime. Connect for 3rd - 5th graders will engage them in God s big story through videos, Bible exploration, and hands-on projects. For December 9 & 11 am 6th God s Promise Through the Prophets 13th Birthday Party for Jesus 20th Mary Visits Elizabeth 27th Jesus Was Born Join us and bring a friend! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5dby3bo_na)

6 Join us for 9 weeks of Dave Ramsey s life changing teaching filled with humor, practical steps and common sense advice on how to win the battle of personal finances. His teaching is based on sound biblical and financial concepts. Previous groups here at Swift Creek Presbyterian have collectively eliminated hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of consumer debt and began to save for college and retirement. More than anything else it allowed us as a couple to get on the same page financially. The course forced us to confront our different views of money and come to an agreement on how we would handle finances as a family. recent participants Classes begin Monday January 25 th at 6:30 p.m. Kid$ and Ca$h program for elementary aged children and childcare for younger ages are also available. Contact Doug DeSimone at 337-4779 or dougdesimone@concast.net This course is open to all so bring a co-worker or neighbor! Bring your whole small group! For more information contact Bob Seibert at 687-2235 or Liza Seibert 739-1183 or lseibert@scpcva.org December Birthdays 3 David Sweat Amelia Walker 5 Greg Moody Kathryn Ruch 6 Nancy Crenshaw Bob Seibert 7 Harold Rymer James Wrenn 8 Jane Smyser 9 Carol Brown 10 Adam Chin Bill Gregg 11 Melody Beam 12 Joan Crow Justin Wrenn 13 Ryan Osborne Lew Thompson 15 Kristi Crews Betty Jean Lavergne 22 Brad Murawski Elizabeth Robinson 24 Austin Power Luke McAuliffe 26 James Lescault Crissie Nicklow Bill Ruch Mike Sowers 27 Liz Heuple 29 Herb Foster Dennis Walker 30 Lindy Sellew

7 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 29 1st Sunday of Advent ANGEL TREE Signups Percy Strickland 9:00 AM Contemporary Svc 10:00 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Traditional Svc 12:30 PM Children s Musical 30 6:30 PM Living Nativity 1 9:45 AM Community Bible Study (CBS) 6:30 PM Living Nativity 2 10:00 AM MOVING ON Group 6:30 PM Living Nativity 6:30 PM Praise Team 3 10:00 AM Ladies Bible Study 12:30 PM Young at Heart Christmas Party 3:00 PM Good News Club/ Clover Hill Elementary 6:30 PM Adult Handbells 7:30 PM Adult Choir 4 7:00 PM Living Nativity 5 7:00 PM Living Nativity 6 2nd Sunday of Advent ANGEL TREE Gifts Due COMMUNION SUNDAY Poinsettia Ordering 9:00 AM Contemporary Svc 10:00 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Traditional Svc 12:30 PM Children s Musical 7:00 PM Living Nativity Raindate 7 8 9:45 AM Community Bible Study (CBS) 7:00 PM Called Session Mtg 7:00 PM Deacon s Mtg 9 10:00 AM MOVING ON Group 6:30 PM Praise Team 10 3:00 PM Good News Club/ Clover Hill Elementary 6:30 PM Adult Handbells 7:30 PM Adult Choir 11 12 Angel Tree Deliveries 9:00 AM Children s Musical 13 3rd Sunday of Advent Children s Musical Poinsettia Ordering 9:00 AM Contemporary Svc 10:00 AM Sunday School 10:00 AM Trustees Mtg 11:00 AM Traditional Svc 5:00 PM Youth Christmas Party 14 Poinsettia Order Deadline 15 9:45 AM Community Bible Study (CBS) 7:00 PM Session Mtg 16 17 NEWSLETTER DEADLINE Melinda Spencer 6:30 PM Praise Team 3:00 PM Good News Club/ Clover Hill Elementary 6:30 PM Adult Handbells 7:30 PM Adult Choir 18 19 9:30 AM Quilter s Group 20 4th Sunday of Advent 9:00 AM Contemporary Svc 10:00 AM Blood Pressure Screening 10:00 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Traditional Svc 12:30 PM Friends Feeding Friends 5:00 PM Middle School Youth 6:00 PM Youth Dinner 6:30 PM High School Youth 21 10:00 AM Kids Drop and Shop Event (10-noon) 22 23 24 5:00 PM Family-friendly Christmas Eve Svc 7:30 PM Candlelight Christmas Eve Svc 25 Christmas Day 26 27 Children s Message 10:00 AM Traditional Svc 11:00 AM Congregational Mtg/Pastor s Terms of Call 12:00 PM Taking Down the Greens 28 29 30 31 1 New Year s Day 2 Please check the online calendar for updates: Go to scpcva.org, then click Church Calendar at the bottom of the Home page.

Invite Your Friends and Neighbors! Living Nativity Friday & Saturday December 4 & 5 at 7 p.m. Live Outdoor Production Music, Animals, Petting Zoo, Hot Chocolate, Cookies and Cider. Free admission. (Raindate: Dec. 6) You are also invited to... Sunday, Dec. 13 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. Children s Musical Production An Unplugged Christmas Thursday, Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Services Family Service, 5 p.m. Candlelight Service, 7:30 p.m. SWIFT CREEK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Passion for Christ, Compassion for People Pastor David Tuck Knupp Worship Service 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. Sunday School All Ages 10 a.m. Nursery provided. Your Neighborhood Church located on 5900 Woolridge Road, Next to Foxfire. www.swiftcreekpresbyterian.org 739-1183 Check out SCPC on Facebook!

8 Meals On Wheels Would you like to help by opening doors to people in need? This wonderful task takes approximately 2 hours of your time from the time you leave your home until you return. You serve only one morning each month. For information or to schedule a ride along, please contact DeAnna Edwards at 739-5803 or dndkedwards@aol.com. This is a golden opportunity to serve others and to open a door in your life. Next newsletter deadline is Wednesday, December 16 for the January issue. Please submit articles to Melinda Spencer smrrspencer@verizon.net 639-2553 Articles for the newsletter may be placed in the newsletter box located in the church office or e-mailed to the above address. Swift Creek Presbyterian Church 5900 Woolridge Road Moseley, Virginia 23120 Phone: 804-739-1183 Fax: 804-739-9987 We re on the Web! www.scpcva.org Worship 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. Church School 10 a.m. Open to All Ages Address Correction Requested