November 21, 2021 Weekly News

November 21, 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.

LOOKING TOWARD SUNDAY: A MESSAGE FROM REV. HORTON:Dear Beloved Community,The world around us gears up for the start of festivities, yet, this Sunday, we celebrate endings.  

We complete our sermon series, “A Life that Matters”.  We also mark the ending of the liturgical Church Year, whose rhythms reminds us that no matter what month or decade it may be, we live, always and forever, in the wonder of God’s perfect timing

November 21 is Reign of Christ Sunday, wrapping up a year’s worth of worship by claiming whose we are. 

Reign of Christ Sunday puts an exclamation point on the fact that our allegiance is to Jesus Christ.  We do not follow the winds of the world, and we are not left on our own.  

We are disciples of Jesus Christ, the one who was and is and is to come….and who calls us to love our neighbor, work for justice, and show mercy,  
Seeking to serve faithfully with you,
Elizabeth 

SERMON TITLE FOR NOVEMBER 21, 2021:
“A Life that Matters: Courage”
Scripture: John 18: 33-37
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SPECIAL REQUEST FROM THE EVANGELISM AND
COMMUNITY OUTREACH BOARDS

In conjunction with the Saturday take-out lunch on Christmas Day, the Evangelism and Community Outreach Boards would like to distribute “Treat Bags” to those picking up meals. We’d like to include items such as socks, toboggans, gloves, etc. along with small lotions, candy canes, etc. Hoping to fill 100 treat bags, there is the need for donations. Please consider making a monetary donation to support this project before December 13th. Donation by cash or checks will be greatly appreciated. Please write “Saturday Treat Bags” on the memo line of checks. Pastor Evan, with our Youth and Children, will assemble the bags prior to Christmas Day, so this will, indeed, be an intergenerational First Reformed gift to the community!

REMINDERS:ITEMS FOR THE DECEMBER 2021 NEWSLETTER ARE DUE BY NOON ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO ACCEPT 2022 PLEDGE CARDS UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER

  • A Pledge card is NOT a binding contract; it is an estimate in good faith.
  • If you can’t estimate an amount to pledge, PLEASE still turn in a card to show support. 
  • Only the Financial Secretary has access to the pledge cards.  Your privacy is maintained.

Ways to return your pledge cards:

  • Place your pledge card in the offering plate.
  • Drop off your card at the church office
  • Email your card to paula@frucc.org
  • Mail your card to the church at 104 East Center Street, Lexington, NC 27292

SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY 
“From Worship to DiscipleshipA Life That Matters”
The theme is intentional. By connecting the themes and scriptures from corporate worship to the small-group experience, we will be more fully formed into disciples of Jesus Christ. Our discussions for the first three weeks will be based on the Gospel of Mark.                             
November 21st   
Everyone Who Belongs…
John 18:33-37 (Facilitator: Eddie Yates)
                           
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
 

DECEMBER 4th & 7th

We still have volunteer slots to fill for the Salvation Army Kettle Bells. Please review the options and sign up to help. Location is Lanier’s Ace Hardware at the back entrance on North State Street in Lexington. USE THE SIGN-UP GENIUS LINK BELOW.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49A5AA28A7FBCE9-salvation

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!

ANGELS FOR OUR ANGEL TREE
Again, this year you may place an angel on our Angel Tree in memory or honor of someone. Donations can be made that will be used for our church benevolences. Acknowledgements will be sent from the office and names of the “angels” along with names of those who donated will be listed in the January 2022 Newsletter.
To place an angel on the tree, fill out the form that will be included in the church bulletins and the December 2021 Newsletter or contact the church office. Angel Tree donations should be made by Wednesday, December 22, 2021.

SOMEONE WILL BE IN THE NARTHEX SUNDAYS TO HELP WITH SIGN UP AND WITH GIFT CARDS FOR YOU TO MAIL. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ACCEPT GIFTS FOR OUR BENEVOLENCES THROUGH ALTERNATIVE GIFTS UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE:
LITURGIST: Doris Sink
DIGITAL MEDIA TECHNICIAN: 
Jeremy Peterson          
SOUND TECH: John Gray      
USHERS: John Smith, Eddie Yates
ACOLYTE: Emma Hartle                                             
BIBLE STEWARD:  Jacob Hartle
 
PLEASE PRAY FOR…
OUR MEMBERS: 
*Edgar Miller (upcoming knee replacement surgery), *Marge Doty, Lee Ann Peele (recovering from surgery at home), Janette Neal, Ellen Bouchard, Jeff Hutchens
 
AT HOME AND IN CARE FACILITIES: Peggy Bates, Sherry Bonner, Ruth Essick, Pattie Everhart, Vogen Everhart, Lib & Jimbo Hinkle, Marguerite Leonard, Deanna Michael, Lib Sink, Carolyn Spivey, Adena Wall
 
OUR FRIENDS: 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)

NOVEMBER CELEBRATIONS
BIRTHDAYS:                                                   ANNIVERSARIES:
21stVance Walser                                         16th …Pat & Amy Golden
22ndJo Hudson                                              23rd …Stacey & Sarah Potts
23rdFrank Leonard
24thJohn Maze
25thWebb Fulton
27thJames Gray…Ava Miller…Cathy Waitman

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, NOVEMBER 21: REIGN OF CHRIST SUNDAY
9:30AM           
Bible Study: In-Person & via Zoom

From Worship to Discipleship: Everyone Who Belongs
John 18:33-37 (Facilitator: Eddie Yates)
                                                    
10:30AM          
Worship Service
 In-Person and Livestreamed Online (YOUTUBE)
 
10:4AM           
Children’s Church 
(Theater Room)
 
Following Worship:
Congregational Meeting to accept nominees for 2022 Consistory
Prayer Circle
 
3:00PM            
DECORATING COMMITTEE: Decorating the Sanctuary for Christmas

 
6:00PM            
Youth Group
 (Fellowship Hall)
 
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23:
12:00PM          
2CFAR Crucial Conversations of Faith and Race 
via Zoom

1:30PM            
Meals on Wheels Board Meeting 
(Fellowship Hall)

7:00PM            
Book Study Group via Zoom: 
“Strangers No More”
 
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24:
NO WEDNESDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES
 
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
 
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26: HOLIDAY
CHURCH OFFICE IS CLOSED
 
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27:
12:30PM           Carry-Out Lunch Ministry
 
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28: FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
9:30AM           
Bible Study: In-Person & via Zoom

                                                    
10:30AM          
Worship Service
 In-Person and Livestreamed Online (YOUTUBE)
 
10:4AM           
Children’s Church 
(Theater Room) ASST. Smithie Parrish
 
Following Worship:
Prayer Circle
 
6:00PM            
Youth Group
 (Fellowship Hall)