PresbEnews December 18, 2019

A mid-week newsle er of First Presbyterian Church - Jody McDevi & Dan Krebill, co-pastors Willson at Babcock, PO Box 1150, Bozeman, MT 59771 (406) 586-9194 - www.fpcbozeman.org - Editor - [email protected] To unsubscribe, email [email protected] and type “Unsubscribe” in the subject line. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Church Staff PresbEnews will be on Holiday on December 25 and January 1 and will start the New Year with a Good News edition on January 8.

Special Services during the Christmas Season Please join us for all the celebrations Saturday, December 21 5 pm Christmas at Rockhaven Sunday, December 22 3 pm Messiah Community Sing Tuesday, December 24 5 pm Christmas Eve Family service 8 pm Christmas Eve Traditional service 10pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Sunday, December 29 10:30 am Blessing of the Animals (one service)

Christmas at Rockhaven There’s something magical about Christmas, and there’s something magical about Rockhaven. Put the two together, and you have MAGIC! On Saturday, December 21, join the mystery and magic in the Rockhaven Chapel at 5 pm. A special service will prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ into the world. Following the service, a chili supper will be provided in the dining hall, hosted by the Rockhaven Operations Board.

Enhancing Our Conversations With God Lord God, in the middle of this Advent season we sing joyful songs in honor of the birth of your Son. In the midst of all the celebra- tions keep us centered on the greatest gift of all -- Jesus. Amen.

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First Presbyterian Church Mainly Music Messiah Community Sing December 22 at 3:00p.m.

Director: Lukas Graf Concertmaster: Shannon Smith Organist: Matthew O'Sullivan Soloists: Erin Henke, Mandy Bowker, Reggie Mead Logan Henke

Community Choir rehearsal is Saturday, December 21 from 1:00pm - 3:00pm Scores are available to borrow

No admission charge but donations are gladly accepted For more information call 586-9194 or Kathy at 539-3491

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Christmas Joy Offering The Perfect Gift Gifts are wonderful thing. Giving them and receiving them, large or small, gifts can bring a smile or even a tear of happiness. The perfect gift reflects something about the person that receives it--it answers a deep need or recognizes something about them that very few people know or see in them. The perfect gift--that give has power, the power to bring you closer together. We recognize Jesus Christ as the perfect gift for all of us and we can help others to know and understand that because Jesus loves us, we love them through giving to the Christmas Joy offering. We walk beside them as they seek education or help in an emergency or help with the high cost of care in their senior years.

Through your generosity, you change lives. Please prayerfully consider giving to the Christmas Joy offering to help students become leaders and church workers to have security in their lives.

Offering envelopes are in the pews or mark your online donation, Joy offering.

Rent-a-Cat is on semester break

Many thanks to those who have used Rent-a-Cat this fall for help with projects, transportation, babysitting, etc. Because nearly all of our Presby Cats members are away from Bozeman during the Christmas break, we’re unable to take on any jobs until next semester. Beginning January 10, please keep us in mind for any help you need. Your financial support of our spring break mission trip to Cuba coming up in March is very much appreciated. Please contact Andrew Chauvin at 425-328-5765 or [email protected] to arrange for help.

Giving to First Presbyterian Church In addition to traditional methods, First Presbyterian Church offers the option of making financial contributions to the church electronically via the web or by texting. Contributions via the web can be made from the online giving link on the church’s website, www.fpcbozeman.org or by scanning this QR code with your Smartphone. To give by text, simply text the amount of your gift and any designation to 406-278-6267. Thank you!

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FIRST FRIDAY JANUARY 3, 2020 FELLOWSHIP HALL - FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

QUARTET

Join us at 5:30 for a spaghe dinner, movie, popcorn, and ice cream for dessert as we discuss the implica ons in our lives from a Chris an viewpoint of the movie for the month, Quart. It is a 2012 Bri sh comedy-drama film based on the play by Ronald Harwood and filmed in 2011 at House, . The film is actor Dus n Hoffman's directorial debut. , , Gwyneth Jones and Michael Gambon star in this film about a home for re- red musicians “Moving, amusing, and truthful, the film is a modest, not unduly sen mental work that touches in a light but far from slight way on subjects that will eventually be faced by all of us.”

Bells of the Bridgers Holiday Concert Birthdays this month Bells of the Bridgers annual holiday concert will be 12/19 Ashley Hickert Friday, December 20th at 7:00 p.m. in the beautiful 12/20 Lynda Kroeze sanctuary of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 220 W. 12/23 Alan Bond Main. Concert selections include holiday favorites Rhoda McCormick “Deck the Halls”, “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”, Ed Sedivy “We Three Kings”, “The First Noel”, “Ukrainian Carol Mike Roser of the Bells” and more! Soprano Mercedes McCann Debbie Ernst joins Bells of the Bridgers in the classic “O Holy Night”. Other selections include “Hark the Herald Heather Overton Angels Sing” with Tim Bell, organ, and a fresh twist 12/25 Ruth Steele on “The Little Drummer Boy” features Jacob Yocom Doug Babcock and Taryn Morris, percussion. The concert is free; a 12/26 Terry Schaplow good-will offering will be received. Mary Demro 12/27 Elliot Johnson 12/29 Joanna Ellison LOVE INC needs volunteers Kelly Meredith Our Love INC ministry is in need of volunteers for the 12/30 Jim Hall Spring 2020 Change Your Life classes: Faith & Finances and Resolving Everyday Conflict! There are various 12/31 Sammylu Parsons opportunities to serve as allies/coaches, childcare providers, or meal providers. If you would like to make a difference in the lives of neighbors in need, please contact Jane at Love INC 587-6395 or email [email protected]

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by Dan Holland Holland-days…

I went and opened my big mouth. Again. Last Thursday morning at the men’s bible study I more or less called myself out. I mentioned to the fellow attendees that the following night (last Friday) I would be doing something in the midst of the Advent season that was contrary to the spirit of Advent — I would be going to the Bobcat football game. It was a rather half-hearted condemnation of myself (and by association anyone else attending the game), as I was actually trying to make a larger point. But still it was out there. I had voiced a thought out loud, and there was no taking it back. This is not the first time Bobcat football has been mentioned in this space, and I am fully cognizant of the fact not everyone is as “down” with this sport as I am. I suspect there are many people reading this that view football as a violent and unnecessary waste of time, energy, and money. And those people are right. One person at church on Sunday confessed they didn’t know much about the sport other than it seems to be a bunch of people chasing after a ball who occa- sionally fall on top of each other. Nevertheless, I invest a fair amount of my own time, energy, and money following the sport. And so it was that my comeuppance occurred the very next night. I was parking my car in the lot adjacent to the stadium. This parking lot is used during business hours by the profes- sionals that occupy the buildings in the development — lawyers, dentists, insurance agents, en- gineers, etc. But on game days the lot is opened up to the footballing public, who pay a modest fee which is actually donated to local charities. It is a noble gesture by these business owners and normally means that for six Saturdays each fall they have limited access to their own offices. Friday night, however, marked the eighth time this has happened this year, because the Bobcats have advanced farther in the playoffs than in many years. It was also a Friday afternoon and technically during business hours. Giving up their parking lot was a definite inconvenience for these business owners, and one of them let me know it as I exited my car. This person used a very condescending tone to express their feelings about me and my ilk, and I was taken aback. I was speechless. I couldn’t think of a single thing to say in reply, so I just kept walking toward the stadium, feeling transparent and, well, guilty. This brief encounter has obviously been on my mind all week (although I must confess that during the game I didn’t pay it much heed.) Later as I reflected, I tried to put this silly form of entertainment into the greater context of the Advent narrative. So I asked myself the timeless question, what would Jesus do? I imagine Jesus would have thanked the professional for allow- ing their parking lot to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to pro- claim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners. Then I imagine Jesus would have taken that same message to the tailgate gatherings where I was headed. After all Jesus always seemed to enjoy good food and lively conversation. I’m not sure Jesus would have then actually gone into the stadium to watch the game along with me and my fourteen thousand compatriots. Perhaps he would have just wandered through the tailgate section, gathering excess food, taken it to the food bank, and proclaimed the year of the Lord’s favor.

Church Facebook page a source of up-to-date info! Even if you’re not a Facebook member yourself, you can still access the church’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fpcbozeman to get in on regular breaking news. If you’d like to interact with the content and others on the page, click the “Like” button at the top of the page if you’re a Facebook member. Facebook–just one more way for us to interact with today’s world!

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