Dear Fellow Travelers,
Ahh, Advent is here. Instead of being frantic about Christmas, we can focus on the themes of the four Sundays of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love. One leads to the next, moving from the glimmer of hope to the unfolding promise of the coming of Jesus, the Christ child on Christmas Day.
Our plans for Christmas Eve service are forming now. We are deciding whether to do it at 5 PM or 11 PM. Let me or the elders know if you have a preference. We will announce our plans in the coming weeks. Also, if you would like to participate in music for Advent, please contact Laurel who is putting an ensemble together.
Bible Study is on the “Names for the Messiah.” Join us Sundays (11:30 AM in the Library and also on Zoom!) and Tuesdays (10 AM on Zoom). Log in information is on the back of this newsletter.
Games Night on the 2nd Saturday of each month continues. The next one is December 13th at 7 PM. Crafternoon is a great success. We will have it again on the 3rd Sunday after worship on December 15th. Men’s Group is very active. They meet at 9 AM on Saturday Mornings. Women’s Association meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 11:30 or Noon, depending on whether it is at Pancake Haus or at the church.
Please tell your friends and family about our Online Streaming Worship. We are averaging about 30 views per week and would love to see it grow! Please go to the www.epc-pcusa.org website for the latest links.
This is what I am planning for worship in December.
Sunday, December 1st. Advent starts in the dark. There is only a small glimmer of hope. If you have lost hope, “Lift Up My Soul” is the cry of the Psalmist. Hope Sunday is the beginning of a new start.
Sunday, December 8th. Sometimes Peace Sunday feels off, like an illusion. Paul found peace in prayer while in prison. In “Rough Places Plain,” I will explore how we pray and why we pray for peace.
Sunday, December 15th. Winnowing forks and refiner’s fire don’t seem peaceful, but it is the beginning of Joy, when we “Let Peace Become Joy.” This is when abiding and rest turn into resolve and action.
Sunday, December 22nd. Love Sunday is the focus of “This Singular Moment” when we prepare for the coming of Jesus. We can ignore the chaff and the confusion and focus on redemption in Christ.
Tuesday, December 24th. Christmas Eve will focus on the “Names for the Messiah.” Isaiah’s prophesy is about the deep longing we have for God to make things right and bring about the peaceable kingdom.
Sunday, December 29th. The glow of Christmastide continues, but we are beginning to think about the future in “Back to Business.” 2025 will be a pivotal year for the Christian witness. Let us prepare.
It is a joy to serve God with you! I look forward to worshiping with you in December!
Grace and Peace, Pastor Rob
Ahh, Advent is here. Instead of being frantic about Christmas, we can focus on the themes of the four Sundays of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love. One leads to the next, moving from the glimmer of hope to the unfolding promise of the coming of Jesus, the Christ child on Christmas Day.
Our plans for Christmas Eve service are forming now. We are deciding whether to do it at 5 PM or 11 PM. Let me or the elders know if you have a preference. We will announce our plans in the coming weeks. Also, if you would like to participate in music for Advent, please contact Laurel who is putting an ensemble together.
Bible Study is on the “Names for the Messiah.” Join us Sundays (11:30 AM in the Library and also on Zoom!) and Tuesdays (10 AM on Zoom). Log in information is on the back of this newsletter.
Games Night on the 2nd Saturday of each month continues. The next one is December 13th at 7 PM. Crafternoon is a great success. We will have it again on the 3rd Sunday after worship on December 15th. Men’s Group is very active. They meet at 9 AM on Saturday Mornings. Women’s Association meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 11:30 or Noon, depending on whether it is at Pancake Haus or at the church.
Please tell your friends and family about our Online Streaming Worship. We are averaging about 30 views per week and would love to see it grow! Please go to the www.epc-pcusa.org website for the latest links.
This is what I am planning for worship in December.
Sunday, December 1st. Advent starts in the dark. There is only a small glimmer of hope. If you have lost hope, “Lift Up My Soul” is the cry of the Psalmist. Hope Sunday is the beginning of a new start.
Sunday, December 8th. Sometimes Peace Sunday feels off, like an illusion. Paul found peace in prayer while in prison. In “Rough Places Plain,” I will explore how we pray and why we pray for peace.
Sunday, December 15th. Winnowing forks and refiner’s fire don’t seem peaceful, but it is the beginning of Joy, when we “Let Peace Become Joy.” This is when abiding and rest turn into resolve and action.
Sunday, December 22nd. Love Sunday is the focus of “This Singular Moment” when we prepare for the coming of Jesus. We can ignore the chaff and the confusion and focus on redemption in Christ.
Tuesday, December 24th. Christmas Eve will focus on the “Names for the Messiah.” Isaiah’s prophesy is about the deep longing we have for God to make things right and bring about the peaceable kingdom.
Sunday, December 29th. The glow of Christmastide continues, but we are beginning to think about the future in “Back to Business.” 2025 will be a pivotal year for the Christian witness. Let us prepare.
It is a joy to serve God with you! I look forward to worshiping with you in December!
Grace and Peace, Pastor Rob
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