December 5, 2021 Weekly News

December 5, 2021 Weekly News

WEEKLY EMAIL from FIRST REFORMED UCC
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LIVESTREAMED ONLY ON OUR 

YOUTUBE PAGE USING THIS LINK.
Service will be uploaded to view later onto our Facebook page HERE.

SERMON TITLE FOR DECEMBER 3, 2021:
“Closer to Home: LAYING THE FOUNDATION”
 Scripture: Luke 3: 1-6
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Click here for the worship bulletin. 
Click here to give securely on our website.

ATTENTION CURRENT COLLEGE STUDENTS!
It is time to apply for the Hinkle, Sink, Swing Scholarship. Applications are available in the church office or can be emailed by contacting paula@frucc.org. Applications should be completed and back in the office by DECEMBER 31, 2021. 
 LOOKING TOWARD SUNDAY: A MESSAGE FROM REV. HORTON

“What then, will you become?”

Dear Beloved Community, 
We celebrate the 2nd Sunday in the Advent season, lighting the Candle of Peace.  In the miraculous birth of John the Baptist, we see the foundation set for what is to come in the birth of Jesus.  We meet John’s father,  Zechariah as he prepares for the birth of his baby boy.  Zechariah gives praise to God and casts a hopeful vision for his child, asking the question, “What then will this child become?” 

As we celebrate Holy Communion together, we remember the foundation set for us in the love and life of Jesus Christ.  How can we strengthen this foundation in our service, in the mercy we show, and in the peace we seek to bring into the world?  

Berakah, by Hannah Garrity, inspired by Luke 1: 57-80.  
Zechariah holding his baby boy, John the Baptist.  Speaking a blessing , (a berakah)
A blessing for you…Words for the Beginning
If I could give you words
for the very beginning—
for the stretches
and the yawns,
and the opening of eyes,
for the first hiccups,
and the first smiles,
and the first purse of your lips,
I would say,
“Oh, dear child,
how you are loved.”
But the thing about love
is you can’t stop there,
so I would go on to say,
“You are strong,
stronger than you think.
And you are not alone—
look at these parents who adore youand these doctors and nurses fighting for you.
And you are enough, already enough.
You haven’t done anything yet.
You’ve just been here,
breathing,
sleeping,
and already, you are enough.
And then I might say,
“This world is a mess,
but it is your home,
and you can make it better,
so always try to make it better. And maybe most important of all:there is a love
that is bigger than my understanding,
that moves through this world,
and I call that love God.
And that love is here,
here in this room,
and that love knows
your name by heart.”
Those are the words I would say to youas you stretch and yawn and open your eyes
on the very first morning
of your very first day.
Let that be your foundation,
like Zechariah did for John.
Let love be your beginning.
                                             written by: rev. sarah speed | sanctifiedart.org

Grateful for you and to serve with you, 
Elizabeth

GRATITUDE FOR GIVING

As of December 3, 2021 we have received 32 pledge cards, totaling $105,620.  This means we are 33% toward our total goal of $319,762.

If you have not yet made a pledge for 2022, please consider doing so before the end of December.  Remember,
A Pledge card is NOT a binding contract; it is an estimate in good faith.
Only the Financial Secretary has access to the pledge cards.  Your privacy is maintained.

 Ways to Pledge:

  • Place your pledge card in the offering plate in worship.
  • Drop off your card at the church office (MWF from 8-Noon)
  • Email your pledge to paula@frucc.org
  • Mail your card to the church at 104 East Center Street, Lexington, NC 27292

WAYS TO SERVE OTHERS THIS ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS

  • Sign up to ring the bell for Salvation Army
  • Donate gloves, scarves, toboggans, and socks to worship on Sundays beginning November 28 or during the Advent Prayer Walk for the Christmas Day Treat Bags for Saturday Lunch recipients 
  • Contribute money towards the Christmas Day Treat Bags for the Saturday Lunch recipients
  • Bring a Christmas Card to church for our members who are sick, homebound, or in Care Facilities
  • Volunteer to deliver fruit baskets and Christmas cards to our members at home
  • Bring a side dish or dessert for the Christmas Day Lunch Ministry
  • Give Alternative Gifts for Christmas OR Place and angel on our Angle Tree 
  • Donate to The Christmas Fund (formerly The Veterans of the Cross and The Emergency Fund)
  • Volunteer to serve or cook for Saturday Lunch Ministry
  • Sort clothes or fill orders in Clothes Ministry

Contact the church office if you have questions. More details may be found in the December 2021 Newsletter.

BIBLE STUDY THROUGH JANUARY 2, 2022
The gospel of Luke will provide the text for the adult education Sunday morning Bible study on the theme “Come Home for Christmas.” The new study begins with advent and continues through Epiphany.
WEEKLY TOPICS
December 5th
“The Fear of Home”…Luke 3: 1-6
Facilitators: Jay and Cathy Whitley
December 12th
“The Joy of Home”…Luke 3: 7-18
Facilitator: TBD
December 19th
“The Blessing of Home”…Luke 1:3 9-45
Facilitator: June Grubb
December 26th
“Lost at Home”…Luke 2: 41-52
 Facilitator: TBD
January 2nd
 “The Light of Home”…John 1:1-9, 10-18
Facilitator: Eulene Shepherd
                    
USHERS NEEDED
Please consider signing up to serve as an usher on Sunday mornings. Open slots are available on most Sundays. You may use the Sign-Up Genius link below to pick a Sunday to volunteer. Feel free to sign up for more than one Sunday of service!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050f44abae28a7fe3-usher

LEXINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY ANNUAL CONCERT
Our own Ellen Peterson is the director of Lexington Choral Society and it’s upcoming Welcome to December concert. Some of our church’s choir members are also a part of this group. Come join Ellen, Walter Hoffman, Christopher Kiser, Mike Price and Carolyn Robbins for some beautiful music that will certainly get you in the Christmas spirit!

DECEMBER CALENDAR OF ACTIVITES IN OUR CHURCH
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5:
6:30PM             Youth Group: Christmas Program Practice (Fellowship Hall)
 
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8:
6:30PM             Youth Group: Christmas Program Practice (Youth Room) Asst: Jeremy Lovell)
 
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12: THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
10:00AM          Special Music prior to Worship
10:30AM          Worship (Performances this morning include music by
                         the Center Street Saxophone Quartet and Organ/Piano Duets

6:30PM            Youth Group: Christmas Program Practice (Fellowship Hall)
 
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15:
4-7:00PM          Advent Prayer Walk and Holy Communion (Sanctuary)
6:30PM             Youth Group: Christmas Program Practice (Youth Room) Asst: Jeremy Lovell)
 
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16:
4-7:00PM          Advent Prayer Walk Stations and Holy Communion (Sanctuary)
 
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17:
4-7:00PM          Advent Prayer Walk Stations and Holy Communion (Sanctuary)
 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18:
9AM-12PM  Advent Prayer Walk Stations and Holy Communion (Sanctuary)
2:00PM Christmas Program Practice (Fellowship Hall)
 
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19: DEADLINE TO BRING CARDS FOR OUR MEMBERS AT HOME
Help deliver fruit baskets and Christmas cards to members at home. You may pick up items from the Fellowship Hall following worship this morning or after the Christmas Program this evening.
10:30AM           Worship
6:00PM             Youth Christmas Pageant (Fellowship Hall)
 
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24: CHRISTAMS EVE
3:30-5PM        Drop off food items in the kitchen for the Saturday Take-out Lunch
7:30PM            PRE-CANDLELIGHT SERVICE MUSIC BEGINS
8:00PM CANDLELIGHT SERVICE
 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25: MERRY CHRISTMAS!
9-10AM            Drop off food items in the kitchen for the Saturday Take-out Lunch
 
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26: DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS WORSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, FOOD & FUN!
10:30AM           WORSHIP IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL
FOLLOWING WORSHIP, GIFT EXCHANGE…BRING A $10 GIFT

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE:
LITURGIST: Joe Browder                                      
DIGITAL MEDIA TECHNICIAN: Kivi & Jia Miller             
SOUND TECH: Dave Fulton                                  
CHILDREN’S CHURCH: Cathy Browder    
ACOLYTE: Lucas Peterson    
BIBLE STEWARD:  Ethan Lovell      
USHERS: Raeann Allred, Ann Hoffman, Clifton Murphy, Lisa Nelson
  
PLEASE PRAY FOR…
Edgar Miller (recovering from surgery at home), Marge Doty, Lee Ann Peele (recovering from surgery at home)

HOME/CARE FACILITITES:
Peggy Bates, Sherry Bonner, Lee & Ellen Bouchard, Ruth Essick, Pattie Everhart, Vogen Everhart, Gerri Hill, Lib & Jimbo Hinkle, Merle Hodges, Jeff Hutchens, Myrtle Latimer, Marguerite Leonard, Deanna Michael, John Potts & Janette Neal, Lib Sink, Carolyn Spivey, Adena Wall, Carolyn Yocum
 
OUR FRIENDS:
Amanda Fulton and Nancy Zimmerman (daughter-in-law of Dave and Glenyce Fulton and her sister whose mother passed away on November 29), Lacy Belcher (Cathy Waitman’s aunt), Glenda Kiser (Christopher Kiser’s mother), Nicole Holste (Alane Holste’s sister-in-law), Joe Carpenter and Chuck Woodson (neighbors of Eugenia Holste), Mike Frick (friend of the church), Marc Frye (son of the late Doris Frye, Ashley Thomason (Ron & Heidi Hutcheson’s daughter-in-law)

CELEBRATIONS         
December  Birthdays
7…Ruth Essick (104 years old!!!)

CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRIES:
YOUTH MINISTRIES
SUNDAYS at 6:00PMYouth Group (Fellowship Hall)
 
WEDNESDAYS at 6:30PM: Youth Study (Youth Room)
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT YOUTH STUDY  HERE
 
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES
SUNDAYS at 10:30AM: Children’s Church (Theater Room)
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER FOR CHILDREN’S CHURCH HERE
 
WEDNESDAYS at 6:30PM: Children’s Fun & Activities (Fellowship Hall)
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT CHILDREN’S FUN & ACTIVITIES HERE

WEEKLY CALENDAR
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5: SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT…HOLY COMMUNION
9:30AM           
Bible Study: In-Person & via Zoom
“The Fear of Home” (Luke 3: 1-6) Facilitators: Jay and Cathy Whitley
 
10:30AM          
Worship Service In-Person and Livestreamed Online (YOUTUBE)
 
10:45AM          
Children’s Church (Theater Room) Asst. Cathy Browder
 
Following Worship:
Prayer Circle
 
11:45AM          
Consistory
 
6:00PM            
Youth Group (Fellowship Hall)
 
MONDAY, DECEMBER 6:
10:00PM          
AltarScape Committee Meeting (Sanctuary)
 
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7:
12:00PM          
2CFAR Crucial Conversations of Faith and Race via Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87341918684?pwd=RmlVeWIvTlNXSnRnUktwdWg3cklYdz09 
Meeting ID: 873 4191 8684     Passcode: FaithOne tap mobile: +187341918684# US (New York)
 
6:00PM Parlor Committee Meeting (Fellowship Hall)
 
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8:
6:30PM
Youth Group (Youth Room) Asst: Jeremy Lovell
Children’s Fun & Activities (Fellowship Hall) Asst: Patti Lovell & Renee White
Choir Practice (Chapel Annex)
 
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9:
4-6:00PM         
Clothes Closet Workday with Kidz Dream Klub
 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11:
12:30PM          
Carry-Out Lunch Ministry
 
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12: THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
9:30AM
Bible Study: In-Person & via Zoom
“The Joy of Home” (Luke 3: 7-18) Facilitator: TBD
 
10:00AM
Special Music prior to service
Performances this morning by:
Center Street Saxophone Quartet and Organ/Piano Duet
 
10:30AM          
Worship Service In-Person and Livestreamed Online (YOUTUBE)
                       
10:45AM          
Children’s Church (Theater Room) Asst. TBD
 
Following Worship:

Prayer Circle
 
6:00PM            
Youth Group (Fellowship Hall)

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