The Presbyterian December 8, 2019 Opportunities of the Week SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 Elders at the Door 8:30 AM Alternative Gift Market - Warner Hall (Chair) 8:45 AM Worship Service in the Westervelt-Warner Chapel Kristie Taylor (Stillman Blvd.) 9:45 AM Sunday School Jack Smalley (Rose Garden) 10:55 AM Worship Service in the Sanctuary 11:00 AM First Pres Deutsch Deacon Greeters (10:00) 12:00 PM Retirement Reception for Libby Hagler - Warner Hall Tabitha Kuria (Warner Hall) 12:00 PM Senior (Youth) Meeting - ALR Thomas Meriwether (Garden Gate) 6:00 PM Carols by Candlelight - Sanctuary Judith Sawyer (Preschool) Rain Blankenship (Early Service) MONDAY, DECEMBER 9 PW Circle 3 - Home of Jean Hinton 10:00 AM Childcare Coordinator PW Circle 6 - Dining Room 11:30 AM Maegan Biehn 12:00 PM Stewardship Committee Meeting - Brandon Parlor Haiti Mission Team Meeting - ALR 6:00 PM Godly Play TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10 Door Keeper: Becky Evans 10:00 AM PW Circle 1 - Home of Becky Evans Story Teller: Lane Sims 4:30 PM Long Range Planning Meeting - ALR 5:30 PM Christian Education Committee Meeting - ALR Acolytes 5:15 PM Mission Committee Meeting - Brandon Parlor Katherine Taylor Graham Patton WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11 Young Adult Men’s Bible Study – UPerk 11:30 AM Valets Pageant Rehearsal 3:45 PM McCain Class Tusc. Co. Mission Subcommittee Mtg. - Brandon Parlor 5:00 PM Brent Hardin Handbell Choir Rehearsal - Choir Room 6:00 PM Mike Henderson 7:00 PM Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 Ushers 12:00 PM Buildings & Grounds Committee Meeting - ALR 8:45 a.m. Karl Harbin SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14 Tommy Snow 2:00 PM Christmas Pageant Dress Rehearsal - Sanctuary Byron Latham 4:00 PM Kids’ Night Out - Family Life Center 10:55 a.m. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 Todd Vick 8:30 AM Alternative Gift Market - Warner Hall Edward Hubbard 8:45 AM Worship Service in the Westervelt-Warner Chapel John Bowers 9:45 AM Sunday School Stacy McCants 10:55 AM Worship Service in the Sanctuary - Christmas Pageant Almon Jamison 12:00 PM PW Lunch & Ballet - FPC & Bama Theatre Case McNeill 12:00 PM Christmas Caroling & Communion William Blakeney 12:15 PM Diaconate Meeting - ALR

The flowers in the Sanctuary today are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Alex and Mary Elsie Pow, Bill and Carolyn Jordan and Lois Bolton by Margaret Pow, Bill and Rebecca Pow, Tommy and Dodi Pow and their families. Order of Worship

Hymn 82 Come, Thou Long-Expected

Sermon Shoot! Rev. Michael R. Bailey

Scripture Readings Isaiah 11:1-10

Offertory Christ Hath a Garden K. Lee Scott Sanctuary Choir Kathryn Maxwell, violin

Benediction I Wait for the Lord Eric H. Thiman Sanctuary Choir

First Presbyterian Adult Sunday School Opportunities Sunday, December 8th at 9:45 a.m.

• Balancing Faith, room 204

• Pacesetters Class, room 215, will meet this Sunday. We will discuss Chapter 7 of The Biblical Canon: Its Origin, Transmission and Authority by L. M. McDonald.

• Journey Class, room 205

• Searchers Class, room 212, welcomes all who would like to learn about the words of Jesus Christ found in scripture. What did Jesus actually say? What did He mean? How can we apply His message to our lives today? Our members and visitors are all at different places in the journeys of faith. Everyone is valued. Everyone is loved. Come see us.

• McCain Class, room 208

• Fellowship Class, McGiffert Prayer Chapel, Studying The Present Word: Honoring God. This week’s lesson is “A Heart Filled with Gratitude” using 1 Chronicles 16:7-36.

• Young Adult Class, Brandon Parlor, The Young Adult class discusses and uses scripture to address some of the practical challenges of life.

• Bible 101, room 203, Joe Perkins reviews the Old Testament.

• Current Issues, room 206, Discusses a current issue through the lens of faith using The Wired Word curriculum. Congregational Information December 8, 2019 SUNDAY CHILDREN’S WORSHIP BULLETINS for ages 3-12 are available. Pick one up as you enter the Sanctuary on the Rose Garden side.

GODLY PLAY is available for Pre-K and Kindergarteners during Worship.

RETIREMENT RECEPTION FOR LIBBY Thank you, Libby Hagler, for your years of service and dedication at FPC! Join us for a Retirement Reception in her honor following the 10:55 a.m. service TODAY.

ANGEL TREE GIFTS DUE BACK by TODAY, Sunday, December 8th. For more information and to volunteer to help, visit fpctusc.org/angeltree.

CHRISTMAS ORDERS Want to purchase a poinsettia in memory or in honor of a loved one, please do so by Tuesday, December 10th. The cost of each plant is $15 and your payment must accompany your order. The will be placed in the sanctuary on Sunday, December 15th and 22nd and may be picked up after the services.

ALTERNATIVE GIFT MARKET is set up in Warner Hall today and the next two Sundays from 8:50 a.m. until 10:50 a.m. Consider a donation in honor of your loved one made to one of six local agencies. Thanks for supporting these local mission partners through alternative gift giving.

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT is TONIGHT, Sunday, December 8th at 6 p.m. This year we invite our congregation and guests to join the Sanctuary Choir, Youth Choir, and Handbell Choir for and Christmas caroling! Lector, Shelley Jones, will introduce our seasonal anthems with poetry by Christina Rossetti and FPC’s own Danny Potts.

ADVENT AT FPC Find a full listing at fpctusc.org/advent2019.

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT is next Sunday, December 15th during the 10:55am Worship Service in the Sanctuary.

FPC CAROLING & COMMUNION on Sunday, December 15th following the 10:55am Worship Service (12-2 p.m.). Youth and members of all ages meet in the Dining Room for light lunch then form small caroling groups to sing & share communion for our Homebound.

JOIN US FOR “THE NUTCRACKER” on Sunday, December 15th at 2 p.m. at the Bama Theatre. FPC has 20 tickets available - $14 each. Stop by the church office by tomorrow morning, December 1th to sign-up and leave your check (made payable to Tuscaloosa Community Dancers).

CHRISTMAS EVE AT FPC on Tuesday, December 24th 3 p.m. – First Pres Deutsch in the Chapel 5 & 11 p.m. – Communion Service in the Sanctuary (Childcare available for 5pm Service)

EPIPHANY ELEMENTARY RETREAT Sign up now for this retreat for 1st – 5th Graders on January 3rd & 4th at Living River. Learn more at fpctusc.org/epiphanyretreat.

EPHIPHANY LUNCHEON FOR M&M’S (instead of the December Christmas luncheon) will be on Monday, January 6th, of Christ, at Noon in Warner Hall. No cost to you, but reservations are required. Please note on the friendship pad or call the church office to RSVP.

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL We encourage you to use our 200th Anniversary Devotional Calendars, but if your family prefers an Advent-centered devotional, please pick one up Warner Hall. HOW YOU CAN HELP HABITAT VOLUNTEERS The 200th Anniversary Presbyterian Habitat House is finally under construction! We have reserved several build days for Presbyterian congregations and Stillman College. Sign up for a day and time that suits you best or find more info atfpctusc.org/habitat .

FPC STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN Make your pledge with the cards in the pews or online at fpctusc.org/pledge.

MEMORIALS: First Presbyterian Church for Meme Stephenson by Shelley Jones, by Lynn and Chuck Johnson, by Louise and Don Bailey, Suse and Tom Patton, by Kathie Gascoigne Mason, by Byars Family, by Bill and Susan Campbell, by D’Ann Gunn; for Seale Nicholson by Frances and Bill Pool. Living River for Seale Nicholson by Ree and Robert Almon; for Meme Stephenson by Ree and Robert Almon; for Sue Woodruff by Lora and Tony Hubbard. Music Ministry for Meme Stephenson by Lora and Tony Hubbard. Building Fund for Meme Stephenson by Babs and Bob McCurley; for Seale Nicholson by Shelley Jones. Chapel Organ Fund for Meme Stephenson by Alan and Leanne Spencer. Durham Endowment for Margaret Cook by Babs and Bob McCurley. Feed My Sheep for Margaret Cook by Tommy and Molly Snow.

THIS WEEK’S 200TH ANNIVERSARY MISSION MEMORY: The mission project known as “Dan the Mango Man” – a collaborative partnership between the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM) and the PCUSA Madagascar Mission Network - was designed to help support the Fruit and Vegetable Project (FVEE) in Madagascar. As of November 2019, the project has grafted over 1,100 mango trees out of the original stock! Through the FVEE project, each newly, graduated pastor is given ten grafted mango trees to bring to their new church home to provide trees and training for the good of the community.

OFFICER NOMINATIONS The Nominating Committee is in the process of preparing a slate of candi- dates for Elders and Deacons for the Class of 2023. The office of Elder is one of servant leadership undertaken by people of wisdom and maturity of faith. Elders are called to discern the will of God for the church and then lead the people of God in that direction. The office of Deacon is one of compassion, ser- vice and sharing the redeeming love of Christ with all - but especially with those carrying heavy burdens. All FPC Members have the right to nominate other church members. After prayerful consideration, please list your nominations and place in the offering plate, drop by the church office, or email Carl Jamison ([email protected]) or Tom Meriwether ([email protected]). ------Officer Nominations Your Name: ______

Name: ______Name: ______Elder Deacon Elder Deacon

Name: ______Name: ______Elder Deacon Elder Deacon