First Things

A Newsletter of the First Reformed Church, Schenectady, New York December, 2015

Advent and Celebrations

Sunday, November 29 Thursday, December 24 Sunday, December 27 5 PM ...... Festival 10 AM ...... Morning Worship The First Sunday of Advent! Come 5 PM ...... Family Service Join our regular celebration with for dinner and craft activities See the story of ’ birth lived- extra carols and Christmas joy. including making advent wreaths. out by children and youth. To include joyful music and personal Sunday, December 6 testaments from high school Advent students. Festival Nov 8:45 AM.... Saint Breakfast Join us for a Dutch breakfast 8:30 PM ...... Music of the Season 29 followed by a visit from the The Chancel Choir will present generous and just Sinterklaas, accompanied by On the evening of the first Sunday telling stories and giving gifts. flute, oboe, cello, and violin, and of Advent, all ages gather in our organist will offer selections for Friendship Hall for a covered 3 PM ...... Community Carol Sing this extended Prelude to our 9pm dish dinner and crafts. For dinner Carol singing, bell ringing, holiday service. at 5pm, bring food to share (seasonal antlers, blinking noses, plus a suggestion: anything that begins with special guest. Joyful voices 9 PM ... Carols and Candles Service the letter A, for Advent, or food that is encouraged. Our traditional Christmas purple or blue, Advent colors.) After celebration will include the warm our meal, we will make unique Advent Friday, December 11 hope of tiny candles and familiar wreaths from natural materials and songs. Plan on staying and hand-dipped candles! We'll conclude 7 PM ...... An Advent Word chatting with friends at the good at 7pm with a brief liturgy around our Hear stories of faith and anti- cheer to follow. candlelit wreaths. cipation from Joe Doolittle, Paige Convis and others. 11 PM ...... Christmas Jazz Vespers This year our late service will Breakfast feature quiet jazz renditions of Sunday, December 13 classic carols. Azzaam Hameed with Saint

and Pete Toigo will be playing. We Nicholas 2 PM ...... Advent Lessons & Carols will still have Silent Night, Candles, The choirs of St. George’s and a communion opportunity. No matter your Episcopal and FRC will come age or faith together for a traditional service of tradition, join us Advent Lessons and Carols at Sunday, St. George’s in the Stockade. December 6 from 8:45-9:45am for a complimentary Sunday, December 20 Dutch breakfast of chocolate sprinkle sandwiches, strong coffee, oatmeal, 6 PM ...... Unrehearsed Christmas and speculaas , followed by a Pageant visit from the just and generous Join us for this fun, all-ages event, Sinterklaas, telling stories and giving followed by donuts and hot cocoa gifts! in Friendship Hall. The Choirs Combine for Chrismon Advent Lessons and Carols Tree The choirs of St. George’s Episcopal Chrismons and First Reformed, Schenectady, will are come together on Sunday, December a type of 13 at 2pm for a traditional service of Christmas Advent Lessons and Carols at St. tree 91st Annual Carol Sing George’s in the Stockade. Music of decoration Brahms, Poston, Sumsion, and used in many The Thursday Belles invite you to join Gardner will be included. Andrew st churches and often in the homes of the festive 91 Annual Carol Sing on Krystopolski will be the organist and Christians. They were first made by Sunday, December 6 at 3pm in the Julie Panke will direct the choirs. The Frances Kipps Spencer at the church sanctuary. This family event is Klokken Tower Ringers will assist. Ascension Lutheran Church in a lovely way to start your holiday Danville, Virginia in 1957. season with Handbells and Carols Chrismons are white with gold galore. It is a fun event to which the Music of the Season entire community is invited. Blinking decorations of beads and ribbon. noses, , and holiday voices 8:30pm Christmas Eve “Chrismon” is a word comprised of Christ and monogram. The symbols are encouraged too! There will also be a special guest! The Thursday Belles Beginning at 8:30 pm, prior to represent a variety of Biblical concepts Christmas Eve service at 9pm, the that are well known to most believers. may be the longest consecutively- ringing community handbell choir in Chancel Choir, will present a variety of Mrs. Harrison Todd made the first Christmas anthems. They will be Chrismon tree for a tree decoration the nation! Come and hear why they continue to be strong and bring joy to accompanied by: Avery Tunningley, festival at the Schenectady Museum. organist; Olivia Cox, cellist; Abby After the festival, she donated the so many! -Judy Moore, Director Norton Levering, violinist; Amy Selkirk, ornaments to the First Reformed oboist; and Sarah Horaczek, flautist. Church, where they have decorated the Chrismon tree in the Dirck Romeyn room. How to Give Memorial Since the early 1990’s the tree has Flowers for Christmas been donated and delivered by the Welch family. Prior to that, trees were As we prepare for the Holiday season, given by the Schweizer family. remember or celebrate a loved one by Recently, Carolyn Jones-Assini has participating in the Christmas Memorial also participated in donating the tree. Flowers. Each year the church is Decorating has been done by Carolyn decorated with plants and greens Jones-Assini and Carol Welch with Thursday Musical Club Christmas Concert during the holiday season. Your loved help from other church members. ones will be remembered in the

Several years ago, Mary Carlson bulletin on December 24. The donation Join the Thursday Musical Club all refurbished the Chrismons to extend is $20. Even if you have donated in women’s chorus directed by Julie their life. previous years, you must place a Panke and accompanied by Elinore new order for Christmas 2014. Anyone wishing to help decorate the Farnum, for a Christmas concert on Please call the church office no later Chrismon Tree please contact Carol Saturday, December 5 at 2:30pm in than Thursday, December 18, to Welch, 372-6571. The tree will be the church sanctuary. The Thursday make arrangements. Send payment to decorated Friday Dec 18. We Belles, directed by Judy Moore, will be Chancel Guild, c/o Marlene Risseeuw, encourage everyone to stop in the guest artists. Music of Mendelssohn, 2140 Niskayuna Drive, 12309. Dirck Romeyn room to admire the tree Handel, and Michael Haydn will be between Sunday, December 20 and included in the program. Sunday, January 3. Complimentary tickets are available for all church members from Julie or the church office. Midweek Feast: good food Unrehearsed Christmas for body, mind, & soul most Pageant Dec 20 Wednesdays in Advent!

Dinner at 6--bring edibles you like and wish to contribute to the table set in Assembly Hall where food and friendly conversation are shared.

Study at 7--delve into discussions led December 4 at 7pm I will be showing by Stacey Midge on significant This year instead of the Living Nativity, the 1987 movie Babette's Feast. This subjects in church and culture (see we invite you to participate in an All is a heartwarming story of two sisters article below for further details.) Church Unrehearsed Christmas who take in a cook, Babette, as a Pageant. All are invited to come at refugee from war torn France. When Worship at 8--end your evening with a 4:30pm to run through the program Babette decides to host a French brief, reflective service of song, with the performance at 6pm. Come dinner for the members of the town, scripture, silence, communion, and and be in it, or come and watch! It will people find unity with each other spoken prayers for those in need. be a fun night of story and song! through her act of generosity. A message from the movie might "never underestimate the power of a really Study at Midweek Feast great meal!" First Forum after Worship For this Advent season, while we This is a foreign movie with subtitles. prepare to celebrate the incarnation of After worship most Sundays at Although it has a soundtrack I will be God, we will be discussing issues of 11:15am in Poling Chapel, playing it "as" a silent movie, with live the physical body and Christian suggestions for programs are welcome accompaniment. It is in color and is spirituality. from any committee or member; simply beautiful in appearance and content. I contact Amy Brule 785-8201, Peggy hope you will join me for another night Dec. 2 - Body and Soul - Christianity King 370-1885, or Joe Doolittle 384- out at the movies! has tended to separate physical and 1700. spiritual matters but centers around December 6: Christmas Offering – Faith Bookshop the opposite: God becoming human, Mission & Benevolence Committee spirit merging with body. Learn about December 13: City Mission – Mike

strands of Christian faith that embrace Saccocio Some new reasons for church goers of an integrated view of the whole self, December 20: LGBT General Synod – all ages to browse the Bookshop: You and spiritual practices that celebrate Rev. Stacey Midge will find very reasonably-priced our physicality. December 27: Coffee & Conversation Christmas ornaments and jewelry donated by church members (keep Dec. 9 - Broken Mirror - Our culture them coming; proceeds benefit a local communicates many messages about worthy cause,) CDs of church music what our bodies should look like and Christmas Displays by Front provided by Bill Levering, books at how they should behave, but the Church Entrance discounted prices, prayer cubes, expectations of advertisements and "And a little child shall lead them" stocking-stuffers and more. media are often not the reality. Address the body shame and work Take a moment to view this Advent Flower Delivery toward a more hopeful vision of the season’s Narthex displays. See the human body - even your own! beautifully hand carved ARI Kuolt Volunteers are needed on Sunday, wooden figures of the David Coons December 13 to deliver poinsettia Dec. 16 - Other People's Bodies - Van Voast Memorial Crèche and other plants to homebound church Warped ideas about bodies sometimes special Christmas items. members. The plants, along with lead to practices that exploit the bodies Narthex Display Cases addressed cards for each recipient, will of others. Tonight we'll talk about be available after the service. This is a human trafficking, prostitution, meaningful opportunity to extend our pornography, and other ways people care and support to church members objectify and use each other, and how not able to join us for worship. we can uphold the image of God present in each person. Men’s Breakfast Fellowship Luncheon

The Men's Breakfast group will meet Our next meeting will be January 29. Groups on Saturday, December 12 at 8am in Our hosts will be Ellie & Gene Assembly Hall. Our speaker will be Rowland and Sally & Bob Clark. Jenna The Rev. Victoria Brooks. Viki is the Riley from Mabee Farm will be our Horizons Bible Study Protestant Minister at Union College, speaker. The topic is Secrets of and she will talk about the trends in the Mabee House! Watch for more During Advent, we’ll do a three-week spiritual lives of Union College information in the January First Things. Upper Room Advent devotional students. Breakfast will be served at Please join us, bring a dish to share, study called "Light of Lights." We will 8am, and the program will follow soon and enjoy the fellowship, good food, meet on December 1, 8, and 15 at after. There will be a signup sheet in and an interesting program. All are 10am in Poling Conference room. Assembly Hall. For further information, welcome! Study guides are $8, available from contact Gene Rowland at 250-4302 or Peg Miller. All are welcome. [email protected]. Call for Submissions

The Women’s Group Stitch Group The Beverwyck Anthology is now accepting submissions for its March Women's group get-together (formerly Our church stitch group meets every 2016 issue. Fiction, nonfiction, Group V) will be December 7 at 11am Thursday at 10am, except Dec. 24 and essays, memoirs, and travel pieces not for Christmas stories in the Dirck Dec. 31, in Poling Conf. room. Work exceeding one thousand words are Romeyn room. Bring a sandwich for on whatever project you have. All are acceptable. Poetry of less than 100 your lunch and we will have Christmas welcome! For more info, contact Joan lines is also acceptable. Submissions cookies, coffee, & tea. We encourage Lindsay, 399-3153. should be appropriate for a church the women of the church to come to publication. Please email submissions our small group. to Rudy and Kathy Petersen, Editors- Tuesday Ladies in-Chief, at [email protected].

Daily Devotional Books Meetings are every third Tuesday of

the month in the home of Connie Group V has their Devotional books Young. We will be meeting again New Book Club - The New Jim available again this year. These make Tuesday, December 15. Hope to see Crow, Mass Incarceration in the Age great holiday gifts, hostess gifts, and you then. Please call Connie at 393- of Colorblindness just thoughtful gifts for friends and 7061 if you have any questions or for family. There are copies available in more information. The Justice Action Council and the the book shop. These books can be Adult Education and Nurture used over, year after year. The quotes Committee are forming a book club to come from religious and non-religious Group VII discuss and examine this poignant sources. If you have any questions, work by Michelle Alexander. contact Maria G. Todd, 372-9522, who Group VII will have our Christmas Newsweek comments, "Alexander is will also have books. The cost is $7 Luncheon on Friday, December 18 at absolutely right to fight for what she each or 3 for $20. 11:30am in Assembly Hall. Hostesses describes as a 'much needed are Marilyn Leach, Amy Brule, and conversation' about the wide-ranging The Short-Short Writing Mary Jewett. Any questions, contact social costs and divisive racial impact Ronnie Bartholic at 393-7679. of our criminal justice politics."

Group Evening Circle Our first meeting is Sunday November A writing critique group meets on the 29 at noon on the Mezzanine. We will second and fourth Wednesday of the Evening Circle will not meet again in schedule future meeting dates at that month in the Walton Conference room 2015. Our next meeting will be on time and will publish in the bulletin. at 7pm. Short-Shorts are stories, January 20. Please mark your The book is available now at a essays, memoirs, or other non-fiction calendars and join us!! We will be discounted rate in the church book works told in 1,000 words or less. For discussing the book A Man Called Ove store (more can be ordered if needed). more info, contact James Gonda at by Fredrik Bachman. It's an easy read. Contact either Mary Alice Jewett or [email protected]. Jeanne Shoulder with any questions.

Youth Schedule Congregational Meeting Endorses Building Project The youth group is open to all students in Principle Youth in grades 6-12, including friends who

do not normally attend FRC. It meets The congregation met after worship on every Sunday night from 5-7pm unless November 22 and heard the action Advent & Christmas other indicated, for discussion, food, from the consistory and a description Church School learning, fellowship, games, and of the project from the architect and service. the committee. November 29: Grades K – 5 regular church school; important Ringer/Singer Upcoming Schedule: After more than an hour of discussion, rehearsal 11:15 – noon Nov. 29 - Attend the Advent Festival the congregation voted 70 to 27 to December 6: Grades K – 5 regular Dec. 6 – Regular Mtg/Advent Activity move ahead with the action of the church school; important Ringer/Singer Dec. 13 – Regular Mtg/Advent activity consistory in principle. There are still rehearsal 11:15 – noon Dec. 20 – Unrehearsed Christmas many decisions to be made, but the December 13: Grades K – 5 regular Pageant 6pm; arrive at church at scope and general direction of the church school; important Ringer/Singer 4:30pm for costuming and final run- project was set. rehearsal 11:15 – noon through.

December 20: Grades K – 5 regular Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve Family Many people had interesting ideas and church school; MANDATORY Service at 5pm; youth may perform perspectives after the meeting that will REHEARSAL for all participants in the and serve as readers, liturgists, and be valuable to explore. If you have an Christmas Eve service 11:15 – noon. ushers. idea you think will help in the This includes actors, speakers, Dec. 27 - No meetings. implementation, please put it in the musicians, and parents please! Merry ! form of a short paragraph and email it December 24: Christmas Eve; every to [email protected] and we will participant in the early service must be The youth will also be doing some have them collected for everyone to in the sanctuary at 4pm sharp for fundraising during December for their look at. For instance, someone instructions. Please do not be late! annual mission trip. This year's trip is suggested we could have much more December 27 Grades K – 8 regular to Palermo, Italy, where they will be flexibility in the Christian Education church school. serving the immigrant and refugee rooms if we designed in some movable population with our mission partners, walls instead of fixed walls. JJ and Tim TenClay, and the

Waldensian Church Diaconal Center. Kirk Ringers & Singers Regular rehearsals for Kirk Senior Moments Ringers/Singers at 11:15 - noon each What to Do With Those -Dr. Bill Levering Sunday are VERY important as we will Bottles and Cans be covering all the Christmas Eve On behalf of the staff and consistory, I Service music. Please make every Turn in your redeemable recyclables at would like to wish the congregation a effort to attend each week!! Creating Change Redemption Center peaceful and holy Advent and at 309 Saratoga Rd. in Glenville, and Christmas. In the midst of fear, we are Parents' Nights Out tell them to donate the deposit to the called to be a community of hope. First Reformed Church of May each of the touchstones of your Finding it hard to shop for presents or Schenectady Youth Mission Trip. preparations for Christmas bring a attend those holiday parties this year? The youth group has an account there sense of peace that helps with the Our youth will babysit your children and will collect donations until the pressures of your life. and give you an evening free for mission trip in February. The Youth errands or frivolity! Proceeds will Group is heading to Palermo, Italy to This is a special year for Abby and I as benefit the Youth Group Mission Trip do mission work with refugees. we look forward to a new child in the to Sicily. clan. We want to thank all of those well wishers in our venture and look forward to a new chapter of God’s grace. May your joy deepen and God’s peace spread. Lunn Resource Center Lynne Gilgore, Director

Mission A joyous Advent and Merry Christmas Support from the Lunn Resource Center!

Twelve months ago, I came to my Entered into Eternal Rest position at Lunn with high hopes and Dolph Ebeling – 11/16/15 anticipation of helping the Lunn Center John “Jack” Fitts – 11/16/15 become the go-to place for non-profits Earl Wainwright – 11/19/15 to find training, office help, and support Service 11/28 at 10am from others who share similar goals Mary Jane Fleming – 11/21/15 and challenges. Many hours were Service 11/24 at 2pm Christmas Offering spent contacting leaders of local non- United Prayer Ministry Soap & Toilet Paper Ministry profits to get the Lunn message out to

the community. I listened to their Prayers for Healing: The Mission and Benevolence stories, learned about their challenges, Father of Carol Troost committee of FRC has selected the and made note of their successes and Father of Christina Walthers following ministry to receive the funds skills. As the months progressed, it Prayers of Joy: collected in our Christmas offering. has been exciting to see agencies Birth of Giada Bailey-Yavonditte, The First United Methodist Church working together, sharing their news, granddaughter of Marey and (FUMC) Soap & Toilet Paper Ministry finding collegiality. Joseph Bailey provides a vital service to many in our Prayers of Comfort: community through the distribution of Best of all, I hear from new people The Ebeling, Fitts, and Fleming toilet paper, soap, diapers, feminine every week who have heard about the Families hygiene, and adult incontinence work we do and want to participate. Nancy Wainwright and Family products, and when available, other More than 35 non-profits are personal care items. Most public participating in Lunn events, with more assistance funds (i.e.: SNAP, WIC, being added all the time. Stephen Ministry etc) cannot be used for the purchase of these items so the need is great and If you have thoughts, questions or This can be a busy time of year for growing. This year, we have seen an suggestions, my office is located in the many of us. Perhaps you find yourself increase from approximately 350 State Street Presbyterian Church, 5 anxious and not really looking forward people served per month to Catherine Street. I’m there Mondays, to the holidays. You may say to approximately 600 people a month. Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 yourself, “I miss him/her so much; it Supplies for this ministry are am – noon, and other times by just won’t be the same.” Or you may purchased at low cost from the appointment. 925-0815, or be going through declining health Northeast Regional Food Bank. [email protected]. which keeps you from doing what you Distributions are run by a team of like. Perhaps broken relationships or volunteers and are held from 1-2pm at other difficulties have entered your life. FUMC on the second and fourth Christmas You do not need to suffer alone. Jesus Wednesdays of each month. For more Eve promised, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will information or to volunteer, please Refreshments contact the FUMC office at 374-4403 give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28). A or email Beth Long-Velasquez at Stephen Minister is equipped and We need volunteers to bring finger [email protected]. ready to provide comfort and food, and helpers for set-up and clean- encouragement. up for shared fellowship after the 9pm Home Furnishings Program service on December 24. If you are Perhaps you could give yourself, or interested in volunteering, contact the someone you know going through a Your giving helps us give basic Taart Baas, Karen Gonda, at 607-725- difficult time, the gift of a Stephen household items to individuals and 4521, [email protected]. Minister. You or your referral will be families in need. As one of our clients blessed by compassionate Christian put it, "Thank you! Every little bit caregiving. Contact Stephen Ministry counts. (HFP) definitely provides a leaders: Daniel Carlson, 377-2201; good start for families that can't afford Maria G. Todd, 372-9522; or Vernetta it, or got robbed, moved from another Thuener, 355-2543; for assistance. state, or are just starting over...." Sister Cities: Nijkerk, the Capital Community Voices Creation Corner Netherlands and Presents “Heaven and We are the first generation to feel the Schenectady, USA Nature Sing” sting of climate change, and we are the last generation that can do The Schenectady/Nijkerk Council Capital Community Voices, directed by something about it. -- Governor Jay invites all interested in the Sister Cities Julie Panke, will present a program of Inslee exchange program to this year’s classical and popular holiday songs on Holiday Potluck Supper at 6pm, Saturday, December 19 at 7:30 pm at Tuesday, Dec. 15 in Assembly Hall. Genet Elementary School, Route 4, Please bring a casserole, salad, or East Greenbush, NY. Notes and News dessert to share. Participants of our thirty-two years of student and adult The chorus will be accompanied by exchanges will share experiences and Joanna Towse and John Norton, favorite memories. Next year Nijkerk piano, Tony Riccobono, bass, and Pledge Update adults will visit Schenectady. In 2017, James Iacketta, percussion.

Schenectady youth go to Nijkerk. Our pledge response has been good Nijkerk youth come here in 2018 and Ticket prices for the concert are $10 so far. Have you made your pledge for Nijkerk will welcome Schenectady for general admission and $8 for 2016? The easiest way to do it is to adults in 2019. Nijkerk, the seniors and students. A reception will go online at 1stReformed.com and you Netherlands, is the birthplace follow the performance. will see a link on the left. It takes less of Schenectady's founder, Arendt van than 30 seconds. Curler.

Offering Envelopes Senior 2016 Offering Envelopes will be available after December 27. The church office will be closed Pastor’s Thursday, Nov. 26 and Friday, Nov. 27, and also closed on Friday, Dec. 25 Open House Membership Check In and Monday, Dec 28. We will re-open on Tuesday, December 29. January 2, 2016, 4 – 9pm In the next month, we will be sending 923 Northumberland Drive notes to folks who may wish to move to the inactive membership list. Since our classis assessment is so high, we try to keep our active membership list accurate.

December Preacher Reader 10 am Music Forum Vespers at 5pm Bill Ellie Helderberg Christmas Offering 6 Nat Phipps Trio Levering Rowland Madrigal Singers Soap & Toilet Paper Ministry Bill Jim Route Fifty 5 City Mission 13 ‘Azzaam Hameed, piano Levering Miller Brass Quintet Mike Saccocio Bill Barbara LGBT Update 20 Organ Peg Delaney Trio Levering Walton Rev. Stacey Midge Bill George Musicians of 27 Coffee and Conversation Dave Gleason, piano Levering Trimarco Ma’alwyck

First Reformed Church Address Service Requested Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid 8 North Church Street Albany, NY Schenectady, NY 12305 Permit No. 736 (518) 377-2201 [email protected] www.1streReformed.com

December Birthdays December 2015

1 Betty Bumgarner 14 Daniel Carlson Every Sunday Monthly Meetings Elizabeth Gallagher Walter Clark Early Bird Study, 8:30am Women’s Group, 1st Mon., 11am Liesl Tobin Aurora Phillips Choir Rehearsal, 9am Creation Care, 4th Mon., 7pm Johnny Willis Arthur Shultes Orff, 9am Support & Care, 1st Tues., 11:30am 2 Christine Boger- William VanAlstyne Kinderwyk, 9:45am Archives, 2nd Tues., 6pm Walthers Carol Welch Worship, 10am Tues. Ladies, 3rd Tue., 7pm 3 Sarah McCullough 15 Hans Erickson Church School, 10:15am Consistory, 2nd Tues., 7:30pm Charles Tobin 16 Catherine deSalle Refreshments, 11am Archives, 2nd Wed., 1pm 4 Richard Bennett Carol Troost Kirk Ringers & Singers, 11:15am Writers Group, 2nd & 4th Wed., 7pm 5 Meghan Collins 17 Kenneth Rimany Forum, 11:15am Stephen Ministry, 3rd Thurs., 7pm 6 Claudette Martin 18 Jerry Griggs Vespers, 5pm Group VII, 3rd Fri., 10am Courtney Kayla Herrington Youth Group, 5pm First Friday Performance, 1st Fri., 7pm VanNorden Natalie Pizzolo New Word Service, 2nd Fri., 7pm 7 Arthur Hudak 20 Linda Witkowski New Member Class, 1st Sun., 3pm 8 Cox 21 Beverly Ebeling Weekly Robert Dickson 22 Raymond Beland Monday: Upcoming Events Rachel Hewitt Pat Countermine Men’s News Group, 9am 1: Support & Care Elizabeth Taft Brenda Langdon Klokken Tower Ringers, 7pm 5: Christmas Concert 10 Connor McDermott 23 Leah Fernandes Tuesday: 6: Breakfast w/Saint Nicholaas Sophia Swain Cathleen Wisniewski Morning Prayer, 10am Carol Sing 11 Daniel Bailey- 26 Richard Gardner Horizons Bible Study, 10am 7: Women’s Group Yavonditte 27 Karen Dickson Wednesday: 8: Consistory Duane Ball 28 Maxwell McKenna Kerygma, 9:30am 12: Men’s Breakfast Sean Collins 31 Holly Davison Thursday Belles, 1pm 13: Poinsettia Flower Delivery Hudson Walthers Scott Ebeling Midweek Meal, 6pm 17: Stephen Ministry 12 Elena Gieseler Margaret Norton Midweek Class, 7pm 18: Group VII Luncheon Laura Lee Walter Yang Midweek Worship, 8pm 20: Unrehearsed Christmas Pageant Jason Rickard Thursday: 24: Christmas Eve Services 13 Dan Ipsen Bible Bunch, 7:30am Stitch Group, 10am Chancel Choir, 7:30pm