First Presby’s Weekly News
December 17, 2017
Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Worship is broadcast at 11:00 a.m. on WCHS-580AM
304-343-8961
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Sympathy of the congregation is extended to:
- The family of Doug Pride, friend of Bill McCoy
- The family of Harold Wright, cousin of Kay Propst (Parish 31)
- The family of Mary Williams (Parish 24) and long-time member of FPC who passed away days after celebrating her 100th birthday
About the Advent Wreath: During the four weeks leading up to Christmas, we use our Advent wreath to help us celebrate a special season called “Advent”. We light a new candle on the wreath each week as we move from the darkness into the light. The four candles on the outside of the wreath remind us of the four thousand years from Adam to Jesus, when humanity was waiting for a Savior. Some Lutherans call their candles the Prophecy Candle (Hope), the Bethlehem Candle (Preparation), the Shepherd Candle (Joy) and the Angel Candle (Love). Some reformed Christians use them to represent Faithfulness, Hope, Joy and Love, or sometimes Prophets, Angels, Shepherds and Magi. Some Catholic Christians use the candles to represent Hope, Faith, Joy and Peace. If a fifth candle is placed in the center of the wreath, it represents the Light of Christ. At First Presby, our first four Advent candles represent Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Last week, our Presbyterian Women lit the Candle of Peace as we prayed for Christ’s peace to enter our hearts, our family of faith, our city and every corner of our troubled world. Today is the third Sunday of Advent, “Gaudete Sunday”. “Gaudete” is the Latin word for “rejoice”, and this morning, First Presby Youth light our Candle of Joy.
Tableau Rehearsal is today from 2:00-4:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. The Christmas Tableau will take place at 4:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve. All participants need to meet in the chapel 3:00 p.m. prior to the Tableau.
The Christmas Joy Offering is received during the 10:30 a.m. Worship Service on December 24: Promises Made, Promises Kept. Supporting past, present, and future leaders. How is my gift used? A gift to the Christmas Joy Offering helps provide financial assistance to current and former church workers and their families and also enables deserving students to attend Presbyterian-related racial ethnic colleges and schools. Consider how you will give to this PC(USA) special offering.
The Urgent Needs Offering is received during the Tableau and Candle Light Serves on December 24: During the Christmas Eve worship services, you will have the opportunity to give to “Urgent Needs.” This offering goes directly to the Emergency Assistance Program operated by Covenant House to provide rent, utilities, travel, medicine, clothing or food for people in the Kanawha Valley who are in a crisis situation. A small portion remains at First Presby to provide assistance to our families experiencing these same difficulties. The Urgent Needs Offering is received just twice a year. Please give generously.
What’s Coming Up?
Christmas Eve Services: This year’s Christmas Eve services will take place at 10:30 a.m. (Worship), 4:00 p.m. (Tableau Service) and 7:00 p.m. (Candlelight Service) in the Sanctuary. For more information, call the church office at 304-343-8961.
Make sure your face is in the First Presby Directory! Lifetouch will be at First Presby January 4-6 and 11-13 to take photos for the 2018 directory. You can register for a time slot by going to www.firstpresby.com and clicking on “Register for Directory Photo” or see Amberlee Elmore after worship today.
First Presby MOPS will begin on January 10 at 9:30 a.m. Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) is a place where moms can meet to share their hopes, fears and insights in a format that works with their schedules, that doesn’t neglect their faith nor womanhood, their motherhood nor their purpose, their heart nor their mind. For more information, contact Amberlee Elmore at amberlee@firstpresby.com or call the church office at 304-343-8961.
Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University, a nine-week course, is coming the First Presbyterian Church beginning January 16th. The classes will take place on the first and third Tuesday of each month (January through May), run from 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and require pre-registration. Please call the Church to register for the course or for more information.
In Other News
Wee People Report: Mary and Joseph are very close to Bethlehem now. The shepherds and sheep seem to have joined the congregation. Look for the appearance of the star. It was not only the Jews who were looking for a great king, promised by God, the wise men are also on a journey to find the Christ child, the one who would rule the world in justice and peace. They pause to rest in the main church hallway as they follow the star.
We’re 10 chairs away from meeting our goal! – Help us reach our goal of 100 chairs to refurbish the sanctuary of 1st Presbyterian Church of Dickinson: We’ve reached 90% to our goal of 100 chairs. We would like for them to have all of the chairs in time for Christmas Worship services. Each chair costs $40. Sign up to purchase a chair using the bulletin board in the church hallway, or simply place a check made out to First Presby (note: “Chairs”), and place it in the offering plate.
LOGOS begins the winter/spring semester on Wednesday, January 10 at 5:00 p.m. Registration forms are in the main hallway for pre-k through high school students. Please call Janet Chambers or email janet@firstpresby.com.
Youth Group meets tonight and does not have any more scheduled meetings or activities for the remainder of 2017. Be sure to check your email in case this changes.
More about the music: Below is an excerpt from “Glory to God: A Companion” about the tune of this morning’s opening hymn, “The People Who Walked in Darkness”: “The tune continues the work of clarifying and illuminating the Scripture by setting the stanzas in a minor tonality that in the course of the refrain resolves to the related major key. In so doing, the melody itself portrays and reaffirms the movement from darkness to light. In contrast to the setting of the stanzas, which correspond to human searching with many ups and downs, the refrain characterized by cascading, sequenced three-note figures supporting the divine names, a musical shower of blessing. The tune name (Isaiah 9) provided a reminder of where to find the biblical text paraphrased here. For more tidbits about our music and hymn texts, visit a church copy of “Glory to God: A Companion” by Reverend Carl P. Daw, Jr. M.A., M.Div., Ph.D in our church library, or look through the copy on the piano at the front of the sanctuary after worship.
Do you love working with children and babies? If so, there is an opportunity for you to serve! First Presby is looking for childcare volunteers to help with the nursery, toddler and preschool rooms. If you are interested in volunteering, call the church office at 304-343-8961.
In Case You Missed It
Today is the last day to reserve Christmas Memorials: Envelopes are in the pew racks for contributions to our Worship Memorial Fund in honor or memory of loved ones. Names will be printed in a special insert for the Christmas worship bulletins. These Christmas Memorials are given to enrich worship at the church.
Hope Village is open today and Wednesday! Time is running out for you to pick up your unique, handmade treasures! We still have clothing, household goods, jewelry, baskets, nativity sets, olive oil, purses, scarves and much more. Every single item has a story behind it–a story of how lives are being transformed and hope is provided by your purchase. Hope Village is a mission outreach of First Presby-100% of the proceeds go back to the artisans. Share the good news of what First Presby is doing to provide help and hope throughout this world. Store hours 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Support First Presby by shopping at AmazonSmile: Are you looking for a way to give back this holiday season? By selecting First Presbyterian Church Charleston, WV as your charity of choice, Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase to First Presby! To find out more information, visit our website at www.firstpresby.com.
There’s an app for that!: Did you know you can access our hymnal from your mobile device using the free mobile edition? Versions of Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal are available from Google Play and also from the App Store for your Apple device. The free versions will give you all the public domain hymns, including favorites such as “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” and “Take My Life and Let It Be.” In-app purchases will give you copyrighted as well as public domain hymns. There are powerful search capabilities, sample piano recordings of hymns, interesting information about hymns and their authors, and the ability to access several different versions of hymns including pew, accompaniment, large print, lead sheet and instrumental (strings, brass and woodwinds).
This week’s food pantry needs: Spaghetti noodles and sauce
Daily Scripture Readings for December 2017
Friday, December 1
Matthew 20:17-28
Saturday, December 2
Matthew 20:29-34
Sunday, December 3
Luke 21:5-19
Monday, December 4
Matthew 21:1-11
Tuesday, December 5
Matthew 21:12-22
Wednesday, December 6
Matthew 21: 23-32
Thursday, December 7
Matthew 21:33-46
Friday, December 8
Matthew 22: 1-14
Saturday, December 9
Matthew 22:15-22
Sunday, December 10
Luke 1:57-68
Monday, December 11
Matthew 22:23-33
Tuesday, December 12
Matthew 22:34-46
Wednesday, December 13
Matthew 23:1-12
Thursday, December 14
Matthew 23:13-26
Friday, December 15
Matthew 23:27-39
Saturday, December 16
Matthew 24:1-14
Sunday, December 17
John 5:30-47
Monday, December 18
John 3:16-21
Tuesday, December 19
Luke 1:1-25
Wednesday, December 20
Luke 1:26-36
Thursday, December 21
Luke 1:39-48a (48b-56)
Friday, December 22
Luke 1:57-66
Saturday, December 23
Luke 1:67-80 or Matthew 1:1-17
Sunday, December 24
Matthew 1:18-25
Monday, December 25
John 3:31-26
Tuesday, December 26
Acts 7:59-8:8
Wednesday, December 27
John 13:20-35
Thursday, December 28
Matthew 18:1-14
Friday, December 29
John 2:1-11
Saturday, December 30
John 4:46-54
Sunday, December 31
Luke 2:22-40
What’s Going on This Week?
| Sunday 12/17
3rd Sunday of Advent Joy Offering
9:15 Sunday School
10:30 WORSHIP
11:30-12:30 Hope Village Open
1:00-3:00 Elementary Girls B-Ball; Gym
3:00-5:00 MS Boys B-Ball; Gym
6:00-8:00 Youth Group |
Monday 12/18
5:30-9:00 CCRA Basketball; Gym
|
Tuesday 12/19
9:30-11:00 Bible Study Group; A-203
10:00-12:00 Knitting/Crocheting Group (Laura Ceperly); E-406
5:30 Fellowship & Rec. Div.; Library
|
Wednesday 12/20
8:00 Wednesday Work Crew
10:00-2:00 Hope Village Open
3:00-5:00 Brotherhood of Senior Basketball, Gym
6:00-8:00 Elementary Girls B-Ball (Grishaber); Gym
|
Thursday 12/21
7:30 Bible Study; Downtown Shoney’s
5:30-7:00 Capella Bells Rehearsal; Choir Rm.
5:30-9:00 CCRA Basketball; Gym
7:30-9:00 Geneva Choir; Choir Rm.
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Friday 12/22
8:30-10:00 Aerobics; Rec. Room
3:00-5:00 Brotherhood of Senior Basketball, Gym
5:00-6:00 K-2 Basketball Practice, Gym
6:00-8:00 Elem. Boys B-Ball, Gym
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