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Wonder By Nancy Buckley There is faint music in the night,
And pale wings fanned by silver flight;
A frosty hill with tender glow
Of countless stars that shine on snow. A shelter from the winter storm,
A straw-lined manger, safe and warm,
And Mary crooning lullabies,
To hush her Baby’s sleepy sighs. Her eyes are rapt under His face,
Unheeded here is time and space;
Her heart filled with blinding joy,
For God’s own Son, her little Boy! Thanksgiving greetings!We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Mission NotesChristmas BasketsFirst Presbyterian Church is providing Christmas Baskets for 30 families through the Salvation Army. Thank you for your kindness this Christmas season. Monetary contributions are still being accepted. Mission Committee: Larry Anderson, Sally Bach, Linda Bursk, Joyce Christy, Dianne Gerber, Ted Miller, Nancy Peterson, Tom Scott, Fay Smillie, Marge Wooley. Worship NotesPresbyteryJoin a few members of Presbytery on Sunday, December 11, for a short meeting following worship to answer questions and address any concerns. Sunday MorningsUpcoming Worship scheduleDecember 4 - Josh Sweeney, Director of Children and Youth Ministry, Southminster Presbyterian Church, Dayton December 11 - Rev. Edward McNulty December 18 - Rev. Edward McNulty December 24 - Candlelight Service - Rev. Edward McNulty December 25 - Combined Service - Rev. Edward McNulty January 1 - Combined Service at St. Luke at 10:30 a.m. - Rev. Dick Sedgewick
Combined Church ServicesThis year we will celebrate Christmas Day and New Year’s worship services in combination with the St Luke Presbyterian Church congregation. We will worship together at First Presbyterian Church on Christmas morning at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Edward McNulty preaching. We will worship together at St Luke Presbyterian Church on New Year’s morning at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Dick Sedgewick preaching. Fellowship HourJoin us for Fellowship Hour in the Gathering Area before or after the worship service on Sundays. Stop by for fellowship and refreshments and snacks. Notes from the Music Ministry TeamFor a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
And the government will rest on his shoulders.
These will be his royal titles:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6) The Eleventh Annual Festival of Organ Music Concert preceded by Mocktails and Hors d’oeuvres was a great success!! Thanks to your generosity and support the proceeds from this event are $1679. This will be a great help to the Organ Support Fund. There are not enough ways to say thank you to all of the performers, Sanctuary Choir members and staff who worked so hard to create this successful event. You are all a wonderful blessing to this church! It has been requested that we sing the traditional Gloria Patri again. The Music and Worship Ministry Team feels that both the traditional Gloria Patri and We Are Forgiven speak to us in special ways. We will sing the traditional Gloria Patri during Advent and then alternate between the traditional one and We Are Forgiven beginning in January. On November 27, the first Sunday of Advent, we began our serial presentation of the cantata “The Winter Rose” with music by Joseph Martin and narration by Pamela Martin. “From the earliest Christian time, the rose has been a symbol of divine love. Today, the rose remains a vital expression of love and peace both inside the Church and the outside world. No flower holds our dreams of love more beautifully than the rose. It is our sincerest prayer that, the Rose of Sharon opens before you this Christmas. Your spirit will be encouraged by the beauty of God’s greatest gift. Let the words and music of this cantata remind you that even in the deepest winter, we are people of joy and life. . children of the garden. Quote from Joseph and Pamela Martin Each Sunday in December the Sanctuary Choir, along with a guest instrumentalist, will present another portion of the Winter Rose Cantata. The guest instrumentalists will be: December 4 - Tom Sobieski, violinist December 11 - Andrea Ridilla, oboe and English horn December 18 - Stephen Wadsack, trumpet
Sold out!! All of the beautiful Poinsettia ornaments have been purchased. At a later time, we will let you know the amount of the proceeds that will go to Hope House. Thank you for your generosity. The Music Ministry Team and staff wish everyone a very blessed Christmas! Music Ministry Team: Jim Harris, Dave Jenkins, Diana McVay, Julie Ramsey, Beth Susco, Sarah Thornbery, Joyce Zigler. Christian Education NotesShadow & Light: Cocoa, Cookies, and Carols!The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” - John 1:5 Shadow & Light devotional booklets and calendars are now available in the Gathering Area. We hope to share these resources broadly, so please consider picking one up for a neighbor, friend, or relative. Also, share the invitation to come to our Advent celebration of Shadow & Light with Cocoa, Cookies, and Carols on December 18, beginning at 6:30 p.m.! Join us in the Gathering Area for a brief celebration of the season of Advent as we prepare for the great mystery of Christmas. We will enjoy a time of fellowship, prayer, and store, and a few familiar carols. We will conclude by carrying light with us as we go out into the world. It is also the perfect night to drive through the lighted path of luminarias on Fisher Avenue in Middletown following the event! If you need a ride, please contact the office so we can help coordinate transportation with others who plan to attend. Tuesday Morning Bible Study for AdventJoin us in the Youth Room at 10:00 a.m. for Bible Study on December 6 and 13. We will study Shadow & Light through a variety of scripture passages and other resources. So many important things happen in darkness in the Bible. We’ll take a closer look as we recognize, even in the shadows of darkness, the Light is still there. . .God with us. Thanks, be! Wednesday Fellowship and KnittingAn informal group of people from the church knit and crochet at Triple Moon Coffee, 1100 Central Avenue, around 10:00 a.m. on Wednesdays. If you are interested in joining this group, contact Lisa Kaufer. Wednesday PrayerIn December, we will meet in the Memorial Room at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7, for prayer. (We will not meet on December 21.) All are welcome! In-person Nursery Care and Sunday SchoolThe Christian Education Committee continues to prayerfully consider and implement safe practices to support the full participation of all ages. We continue to require universal indoor masking in these classrooms by all individuals (age 2 and older), regardless of vaccination status. Nursery Care is available for infants and children up to 5 years old, located next to Room 110. Two childcare workers, Monique Watkins and Ingrid Cuadra, provide exceptional care for which we are grateful. (Note Nursery Care will not be provided on December 25.) Sunday School (children ages 6-12) is offered most Sundays* in the Godly Play Room following the Passing of the Peace at which time leaders will escort children to Sunday School. When worship concludes, parents/guardians will need to come to the Godly Play Room to pick up their child(ren). (*Note: This month, Sunday School will meet on 12/4, 12/11, and 12/18. We especially want to include children and youth in special worship celebrations such as Communion, etc.)
Christian Education Team: Sharon Dowden, Lisa Kaufer, Barb Nein, Martha Robertson, Ann Veith. Odds and EndsMen’s Monthly MeetingMen’s Monthly Meeting is an opportunity for the men of the church to get together and socialize over dinner. On Tuesday, December 13, the meeting will be at Wildwood Golf Club, 601 Aberdeen, at 5:30 p.m. Hope to see you there! StewardshipOur stewardship theme this year is “Sustain and Grow.” An estimated giving card should have been mailed to you. Pledge cards are still being accepted. In MemoriamWe give thanks to God for the life of. . .. . . Anne Berns, who died on November 18. Online CalendarThe church calendar is now online! Go to https://www.fpcmiddletown.com/calendar.
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