Join us this Sunday (weather permitting) for worship.  Tom Sooy will be telling us about our Chrismon Tree.  Our bell choir will be playing two pieces, and Tom Piccirilli will be accompanying the Chancel Choir on the flute.  Pastor will be preaching from Luke 1:39-45.

* * * * *

SNOW CLOSINGS – CALL THE OFFICE

Virtually all church activities have gone on uninterrupted by snow the last few years, but there is always the possibility.

Our church does not advertise on the radio, but we do make every effort to put information on the answering machine and in The Presby Post.  Please note the following:

1. Snowfall less than 3” does not generally close the church, but if you don’t feel comfortable coming out then please stay home.
2. If the police declare a snow emergency or close the roads to all but emergency vehicles you don’t have to call.  We will be closed.
3. If schools are closed on a day youth group meets, these groups are generally closed as well.
4. The pastor lives on church property so he will nearly always make it in.  Tom Sooy lives in Egg Harbor.  There may be circumstances we will meet for worship without a choir or music.
5. We reserve the right to modify any way necessary in the snow.  Sunday School classes may consolidate, breakfast may be cancelled, we may have just one service at 10:00, etc.  The only way to know for sure is to call the office or the person in charge of a particular activity.
6. We do not pay people to shovel, and our custodial help is not here on Sundays.  If you can help shovel, we do have several snow shovels and ice melt compound.

* * * * *

The Christmas Eve service schedule for this Thursday is as follows:

5:00 Family Worship & Pageant

7:00 Traditional Worship with Chancel and Handbell Choirs

There will be candle lighting and a live baby at both services.

* * * * *

The Good News deadline for the January issue is this Sunday!  Also, all reports for the Annual Report booklet are due in the office on Monday, January 4.

* * * * *

Our traditional Christmas Caroling event has been expanded to include Sunday night as well as Monday.  Be at the church by 5:30 either night (or both if your schedule allows).  Carolers will be delivering the gift bags prepared by our deacons. 

* * * * *

The church office will be open on a regular schedule Monday through Thursday through the end of the year.  The office will be closed Christmas and New Year’s Day. 

Merry Christmas!

* * * * *

Copies of our Christmas musical, Ebenezer Jr, are now available for $5 each.  (Parents of participants will receive one complimentary copy.)  See Louise if you’re interested.

Louise also has the commemorative sets of 6 DVDs from our 150th anniversary available for $15 and the Sunday School group photo for $2. 

See Carol Thomas if you would like to purchase our church Christmas ornament (also $15).

KFC and the Senior High are selling their handmade grave blankets Sunday before and after the 9:30 service.  Cost is $10 each.

* * * * *

Please remember in prayer ~

Eddie Haldeman

The Wong Family – loss of Don’s mother

Frances Weir – home after brief hospital stay

Ida Juhrs

Those who are alone or in need this holiday season

* * * * *

May Christ Be Born In You

Sue Monk Kidd, in one of her books, recalls her youth and how she would prepare for Christmas. In early December, she would sit by the wooden nativity set clustered under their Christmas tree and think over the last year of her life. She would think deeply about Christmas and the coming of Jesus.

She remembers, one time, visiting a monastery. It was a couple of weeks before Christmas. As she passed a monk walking outside, she greeted him with, "Merry Christmas." The monk's response caught her off guard a bit. "May Christ be born in you," he replied.

His words seemed strange and peculiar at the time. What did he mean, "May Christ be born in you?" At the time she was unsure of what he meant, but now all these years later, sitting beside the Christmas tree, she felt the impact of his words. She discovered that Advent is a time of spiritual preparation. It is also a time of transformation. It is "discovering our soul and letting Christ be born from the waiting heart."

King Duncan, Collected Sermons

* * * * *

This Week in Our Church . . .

Sunday            Good News Deadline

              8:45 Breakfast

              9:30 Sunday School & Worship

            10:45 Refreshments

            11:00 Worship

            Deacons make fruit baskets

              5:30 Christmas Caroling

Monday           First Day of Winter

12:00 Bible Study meets at Phoenix Dinner

  5:30 Christmas Caroling

              6:00 KFC/Senior Youth

Tuesday         

Wednesday              

Thursday         Christmas Eve          

              5:00 Family Worship

              5:30 Bell Choir Rehearsal

              7:00 Traditional Worship

Friday              Merry Christmas!

Saturday

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. - I Corinthians 13:7

 

The Presbyterian Church at Absecon
208 New Jersey Avenue
Absecon, New Jersey 08201