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Pastor Amy's Thoughts...

12/3/2015

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Advent Greetings!
      The beginning of Advent often brings with it two conflicting sets of emotions. I feel a little hurried and a little stressed – there’s a lot to do in December. But I also feel a touch of wonder, a feeling of anticipation and a sense that time is not what I think it is.
         December is a time when our routines change. There are fewer hours of daylight, which may mean that there is more time spent at home with friends and family. Vacations are often taken around Christmas, and special worship services remind us that this is a holy time of year.
            We can think of time in two ways. In fact, the Greeks have two words for our one word, ‘time.’ Chronos is the word they used for calendar and clock time. Minutes, seconds, hours, years and days are Chronos time. Kairos is the other word for time. Kairos time is that opportune time, the season for something, a holy time. Kairos is when the time is right for something to happen.
          I’ve been thinking about time because time is one of the gifts God has given each one of us. We can choose to use time, waste time, spend time, share time, or even enjoy time. I wonder, how are we good stewards of the time given to us?
            William C. Martin in his book, “The Art of Pastoring,” has an observation about time. He writes, “One of the first things I look at when I begin spiritual direction with someone is his or her daily planner. It reveals volumes about that person’s spiritual condition, values, fears, and ambitions. It tells me who their bosses are, who their lover is, and how much value they place on their soul.”
         Approaching Christmas is a good time to assess how we choose to allocate our time. Mary and Martha entertained Jesus in their home – do you remember the story? Martha was so busy with the serving and the hosting that she wasn’t able to sit and listen to Jesus. Martha was caught up in her “to do” list. Mary set aside her list in order to be with Jesus.
How would you like to use your Kairos time this Advent season? What is a priority for you?
            If you would like to sit with Jesus during Advent, the church offers a variety of devotionals, daily thoughts and prayers, available on the back table in the sanctuary. I invite you to join me and take a few moments each day to learn and pray.
My prayer is that this Advent season may be blessed with many moments of Kairos time, as the author of Ecclesiastes writes (Ecc 3:1-8 selected verses),

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:  a time to be born, and a time to die; … a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; … a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”

​Blessings,

Pastor Amy
 

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​Sunday school for Elementary aged students

12/3/2015

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Aaron and his teachers are having a blast on Sunday mornings! If you know an elementary-aged student who would love to join this small group and learn more about the bible, please invite him or her! December’s only date for the class is 12/13.
 

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​Calling all interested persons…

12/3/2015

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Are you curious about Edmonds Presbyterian Church and what we believe? Come and join Pastor Amy for a morning of study, conversation, and dialogue about Christianity, the Reformed branch of Christianity (which is where Presbyterians fit in the Christian family tree) and how that is uniquely expressed in the work and mission of Edmonds Presbyterian Church. Members, friends of the church, and visitors are all welcome. Our tentative date/time is Saturday December 5, 10AM-12 PM.
 

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​Adult Education Sunday Classes

12/3/2015

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December 13 and 20-- these Sundays are the last two classes in Doug Daniel's "The Bible in Historical Context".  Come and learn the difference it makes to our understanding of the Scriptures when we know what was happening in the wider world when these events were recorded for us.  
 

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​Wednesday Night Bible study – Ken Bailey & the Christmas story

12/3/2015

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The Wednesday evening bible study has been enjoying the Videos by Dr. Ken Bailey. Dr. Bailey gives us a historical and cultural understanding of the biblical text from his over 30 years of teaching in the Middle East. In December, we will finish our study of the Lord’s Prayer on December 2nd, then look at Dr. Bailey’s insights into the Christmas story on December 9th. We will resume the study in January with three more videos related to the Christmas story, beginning on January 6th.
 

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​Women’s Bible Study Circles

12/3/2015

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Come join in the women of the congregation as we study scripture together using the “Come to the Waters” curriculum of the Presbyterian Women. You may join the Wednesday afternoon circle (December 16th) or the Thursday evening study (December 17th at the church at 7:00PM). All women are welcome.
 

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​Thank-you for your Mission Giving.

12/3/2015

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Did you know that every year we give 10 % of all undesignated giving to mission causes? This year we have already allocated $12,200 toward our six mission partners and eleven mission connections. A full list of all our mission causes is posted on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall. We give at least $100/ year to each cause. Our partners receive $1500 or more a year from us. Those include Eagles Wings Disability Ministries, Opening Blind Eyes prison ministry, Presbyterian Missionary Rev. Debbie Blane (South Sudan), Missionary Jan Griffith (Sweden), and Renewal Ministries Northwest. Thank-you for your faithful giving to the general fund that allows us to continue to support these and other mission causes.
 


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​Yes, we have Girl Scouts!

12/3/2015

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We just approved the use of the building for our third Girl Scout troop! Welcome, girls! We now have Girl Scouts here on Tuesday evenings every week and Thursday evenings (back classroom) twice a month.
 


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​Women’s Association

12/3/2015

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Wednesday December 16th the Women will gather for a meeting at 11:30 followed by lunch together. Our Christmas program will include communion around the tables and a Christmas Carol sing-a-long. All women are welcome – and bring a friend!
 

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​Pledges

12/3/2015

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Thank-you for your financial commitment to the church for 2016! We do this ministry together, and it takes each one of us sharing our resources of time, talent, and finances to make it happen. Look for an update on our financial situation and any necessary budget cuts later in the month. If you have not turned in your pledge form, please put it in the offering plate or mail it to the church office.
 
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