DECEMBER 2019 , THE NEWSLETTER OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BELMONT Harbinger Gloria in excelsis Deo!

The Light of the World Upcoming Events • December 1 All of a sudden, it’s and one of the in this world and in our lives, so that Decorate the Church, most beautiful seasons of the year. Our suffering and death do not have the last 2:00, Blue children are making Advent crafts and word. God has the last word and that word service 5:00 practicing their music, our youth are going to is love. • December 8 McAdenville and volunteering for Feed the Let us wait together in all the special Moravian Love Feast - Children and adults are planning and putting services and events this Advent. This 10:30. Young at Hearts Luncheon- 11:45 final touches on our special events and Sunday at 10:30 is our “family friendly” worship services. It is a busy time! Moravian Love Feast, with apple juice, • December 11 Children’s Christmas I was reminded again at our Moravian buns and candle lighting. On Program & service this past Sunday, that while Wednesday, December 11, after Family Bound- 6:30 Christmas is a time of great joy, for many it is Night Supper, our children present their • December 15 also a time of sadness; a empty chair at a Christmas program, followed by a walk “A Ceremony of table, estranged family, job and financial through their Christmas village of Carols”by Benjamin issues leave some not feeling much like houses and other crafts, then Britten- 10:30. Joy Luncheon- 11;30. Living celebrating, but instead, they hold their we say goodbye to Mary and Joseph as Nativity- visit the animals- breath until Christmas is over. they are “Bethlehem Bound.” On 5:00; The Living Nativity- But the hope of Christmas is that every year, December 15, our Adult and Youth choirs 6:00 regardless of what is happening in the world will sing, “A Celebration of Carols.” The • December 17 or in our lives, Mary and Joseph once again Joy Luncheon follows (details inside) and Week Day School Christmas Program 11:00 make the journey to Bethlehem and the Christ the Living Nativity starts at 5:00 to visit and 7:00 child is born; Emmanuel, “God-is-with- us.” the animals and the production is at 6:00. Indeed, God is closest to us when we need On we will have our family • December 24 Family Service and Him most, especially in our suffering and and traditional services with candlelight Birthday Party for - pain. The birth of this child reminds us that and communion (details inside). 11:00. Traditional God has not abandoned us in the darkness Once again we wait for the birth of the Candlelight Worship- 5:30 but comes so close to us as to share our pain. baby who is the “Light of the World.” After all, who understands our suffering more Whatever our circumstances, may this than the One who gave his life for us? The Advent give us all a renewed awareness of baby in the is God's promise that we God's love, grace and mercy. haven't been abandoned; God is still at work Merry Christmas! Daria Feed the Children T here are children in our area who depend on Advent at FPC Belmont the breakfast and lunch they eat at school for their daily nourishment. When school is not in Sunday, December 1 session, many of them go hungry. During the 2:00 Deck the Halls- decorate the church for Christmas. Christmas Break, we will serve lunch requests 5:00 Blue Christmas Service: music, prayer, scripture, from Catawba Heights and Lowell candle lighting Elementary Schools. We will deliver on 10 days and have 4 routes each of those days. Sunday, December 8 Delivery Volunteers 10:30 The Moravian Love Feast- a family friendly service Volunteers arrive at First Presbyterian Church with warm apple juice, Moravian buns, candle at 10:30am to pick up meals and a delivery lighting route. Delivery takes about 1 hour. 11:30 Young at Hearts Christmas Luncheon at the Hixsons’. Assembly Line Coordinators RSVP Beth Geddis (704-825-4707). Assembly Line Coordinators help package the meals for the drivers to pick up. This shift is Wednesday, December 11 from 9:30am - 11:00am and does not require 5:30 Family Night Supper any driving. 6:30 Children’s Christmas Program, Bethlehem Bound Delivery Dates Sunday, December 15 • Friday, December 20th • Monday, December 23rd 10:30 Sanctuary & Youth Choirs, soloists and harp, sing • Tuesday, December 24th “A Ceremony of Carols” by Benjamin Britten • Thursday, December 26th 11:30 The Joy Luncheon: covered dish (see details below) • Friday, December 27th 5:00 Visit the animals of our Living Nativity. • Monday, December 30th 6:00 The Living Nativity Production • Tuesday, December 31st Tuesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve • Wednesday, January 1st • Thursday, January 2nd 11:00 Family Service- a short service with music, • Friday, January 3rd communion, candle-lighting. Children put animals To volunteer please contact Anne Hixson (provided) in the manger with Jesus, a birthday party ([email protected]) and indicate for Jesus. what day is convenient for you. With 10 5:30 Traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: a delivery days and 4 routes, we need your help. string quartet, music, communion, scripture, candle Thank you for your support for this mission! lighting.

Special Music for Advent The Sanctuary and Youth All our Children’s Choirs will sing C h o i r s ( C h e r u b , Alleluia, and Trinity “A Ceremony of Carols” Choirs) will present a by Benjamin Britten Children’s Christmas Program on Wednesday, on Sunday, December 15 December 11 at 6:30 during our 10:30 worship pm. Come enjoy the service shepherds telling the news of Jesus’ birth. Upcoming Events - Children & Youth

Children Youth December 4 December 7: McAdenville 4:40: PreK and K choir- dress rehearsal 5:00: Middle School- go to McAdenville 5:00: Kids Central 6:00: All youth have dinner at church 5:30 Family Night Supper 6:30: High School- go to McAdenville, back at 7:30 December 11 December 15: the Live Nativity 4:00: PreK and K- Choir Rehearsal 5:00 Visit the Live Nativity animals 5:00: Kids Central, we will feed PreK and K 6:00: The Live Nativity children (pizza) December 19: High School Bible Study 5:30: Family Night Supper Dinner Details TBA 6:30: Children’s Christmas Program: “A December 20: Confirmation Class Shepherd’s Tale”, visit Christmas Village 10:30: Feed the Children with the children’s gingerbread houses and other Advent crafts, then say goodbye to December 22: No evening youth Mary and Joseph as they are “Bethlehem December 23: All Youth Bound” 10:30: Feed the Children No Kids Central or Children’s Choirs on December 29: No evening youth December 18, 25 and January 1. Kids Central and January 15: Costa Rica Mission Trip: 2nd deposit due Children’s Choirs resume on January 8. Joy Luncheon- December 15 Join us on Sunday, December 15 for a covered dish luncheon following Worship. The church will provide fried chicken, a beverage, paper products, and serving utensils. Please bring a covered main dish, vegetable dish or dessert to serve 12-14 people. You can also bring another meat dish of your liking if you choose. Please bring your items in sturdy containers and don't forget to pick them up after the luncheon. Warmers will be available. Volunteers will receive food in the Fellowship Hall Sunday morning. Information Links Volunteer to be a Safety Greeter • "This Week at FPC" email- Friday We need two people each Sunday from about 9:15 until 11:40 to help with door management and provide assistance to our police officer. Safety • Printed materials at Connect Desk Greeters are posted at the side and back church doors and are extra help • Worship bulletin, announcements and eyes for our officer. All you need is a friendly smile and a desire to • Harbinger: emailed, website help keep our church both welcoming and safe. No special meetings are Website: www.fpc-belmont.org needed to participate, we will provide a brief orientation on your first day you volunteer. Please email David Rinehart ([email protected]) or • Calendar & Upcoming Events Kristen Monza ([email protected]) to volunteer. • Registration: sign up for programs, Family Night Suppers • Time & Talents- to volunteer Guatemalan Micro Loan Project • Update contact information We are participating in the Presbytery MicroLoan Project for indigenous • Adult programs women in Guatemala. Microloans give women an opportunity to grow in • Children's programs self esteem, hope and freedom and develop sources of income for their families. Each woman receives a loan of $125 and relevant training to • FaceBook or Instagram start a business, such as selling food, clothing, firewood, growing corn, and raising chickens or pigs. STEWARDSHIP UPDATE You can help by donating a minimum of $10. If you donate in the name of General Fund friends or relatives you will receive a beautiful card to send to notify them 2019 Budgeted Offerings $813,214 of your donation. This will be a year round project but it makes a • Pledged $478,760 wonderful . • Non-Pledged $334,454 Gifts Received (11/30) MTD $43,030 Give your donation to our project representative, Jean Wilson or drop it Needed monthly to meet budget $67,768 off at the church office. Make your check payable to First Presbyterian Gifts Received Year-To-Date $578,859 Church and write Guatemalan Microloan in the memo or donate online • includes prepaid for 2019 $40,156 at www.fpc-belmont.org/give and click on Guatemalan Microloan • includes prepaid for 2020 $7,085 Project. Gifts needed YTD to meet budget $735,020 • 71% of budget received YTD Special Designated Offerings Nickel-a-Meal December Birthdays • Month-To-Date $313 1 Mitch Benton 10 Rex Dover 20 Maryann Killen Year- to- date $4,418 • Ashley Bruce Aiden VanderMeer 21 Hudson Barringer Memorial Fund Jenny Davis 11 Charlie Gibbons Alexa Lewis • MTD $975 Evy McKee Madeline Killen 22 Ethan Broome • YTD (Susie Orr Est. $89,205) $90,205 Erica Menz Robert Knutson Wayne Durham Youth Mission Trip Will Nixon Pam Smith Isaac Rhyne • YTD $1,713 2 Lauren Downey Alex Wise Hillary Stewart Local Outreach Libby Faulk 12 Lee Cabe 23 Ann Davis • YTD $3,018 Mary Grace Pruitt Helen Fleming Bob Mack One Great Hour (YTD) $858 3 Landon Lewis 13 Paige Cromlish 24 Steve Earley Montreat Music Conference (YTD) $740 James Robinson Leah Cupp Dawn Hall Souper Bowl BCO (YTD) $368 Joe Stowe Elizabeth Lemons Beth Hunter Financial Peace University 4 Hannah Keel 14 Kimberly LeRoy 25 Tommy Knowles • YTD $1,155 5 Katherine Boiter Elizabeth McLean 26 Amanda Hinson 4th Sunday Loose (Discretionary) Paul Harris Doug Smith 27 Emily Gries Mary Walker • MTD $196 Charles Lemons Justin Sharpe 15 Emmy Dawe YTD $2,301 Jim Thompson 28 Roger Bruce • Alex Finley Hurricane Relief 6 Maggie Rhoden Wesley Knowles 7 Laura Gregory Julia Fite 29 Ben Howe • YTD $1,443 8 Travis Byrd Mary Margaret Lane Brett Menz Guatemala Microloan $980 Debby Cabe 18 William Adkins 30 Audrey Davis Capital Fund Alex Villarreal Bob Decker 31 Bill Jenkins Gifts Received 2019 Year-To-Date $1,260 Irene Wyant Hope Meadows Thurman Linker 19 Martha Stowe Total Gifts Received 2007-2019 $6,466,003 9 Sara Curry Johnny Putnam 20 Travis Cromlish