We are entering the homestretch of the Advent season, as we look forward with joy to the day we welcome the Christ Child! Last Sunday, in spite of the messy weather, we had a nice turnout for church, including two guests, Nancy Barlow and KC Keefer, friends to the Blue Swallow, visiting from Colorado! We also lit the third candle - the candle for Joy, which David Goldston reminded us in his reading also comes with some perseverance. Have you ever considered the ways perseverance and joy intersect in your life?
Here's a little rundown of what's happening this week:
Today at High Noon - Yoga in Fellowship Hall. We have new videos!
Tonight @6:00PM - come to THS Auditorium and see Ricky Sursa and his classmates in their Holiday music program. These programs are really good and they're free!
Wednesday and Friday at 9:00AM Exercise, Eat and Pray
Wednesday
@ 5:30PM - Sometime Singers (women only) gather to practice in the Sanctuary. Bring your music, if you've been given some. If you don't have it, you'll get your copy tomorrow night.
@6:30PM - Cantata Practice at Center Street UMC.
Thursday - Happy Birthday, Sharon Huffman!
Friday @7:00PM Christmas Cantata Performance at Center Street. Come early to get your seat. Reception afterwards.
Saturday
@11:00AM Jubilee Ringers Practice in the Sanctuary
@5:00PM White Elephant Christmas Party at First Pres in Fellowship Hall. Bring an inexpensive gift (or two) to exchange and a treat to share. Bring a friend too!
Sunday
9:30AM Sunday School - continuation of our Advent video and discussion
10:30AM Catch Up and Coffee
11:00AM Fourth Sunday in Advent, including our reception of Theresa and David Goldston into membership
12:00 - ish Potluck Supper Day!
Please note - this month my schedule is going to get increasingly abnormal. The best way to contact the pastor is by cell phone 575-708-0860, or you can send an email to this address: [email protected]. If you send it to my private email ([email protected]), I will miss it since it's too full of Christmas spam and advertisements!
This week, I hope to visit Quail Ridge today after the yoga class, since Thursday will be very busy with other responsibilities.
Presbyterian Women in Brief:
The PW met on Saturday, December 12th to celebrate the birth of our Lord, for fellowship and to elect officers for next year. Elected officers are: Moderator Kenna McKenzie-Young, Vice Moderator Robin Cherry, Secretary Sharon Huffman and Treasurer Betty Ragan. We scheduled our 2016 meetings and gatherings and synced our calendars. We also affirmed a "re-write" of the 3-2-1 Mission Grant to include other local mission concerns, such as providing home improvements to local residents. The Session will review this re-write on December 27th.
I am putting the final touches on the Christmas Eve Service. There will be a number of readings - if you would like to be one of the readers, please tell me! There's always plenty to go around.
May God bless your week. See you round town.
Love,
Pastor Amy
dec_13_2015 sermon Mary Said Yes.pdf |