December CHURCH MATTERS 2012 MORRISVILLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 3824 Swamp Rd., P.O. Box 178, Morrisville, NY 13408 www.morrisvillechurch.org [email protected] Rev. Saunda Thomas [email protected] Sunday School 9:00 AM Sunday Service 10:30AM CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday-Friday 9 am– 12pm Office 684-3314 Pastor’s Office 684-9971 Clothes Basket 684-9970 Fax 684-7817 December Birthdays December Calendar of Events 1 Kyle Graves 14 Steven Broedel 1 Tae Kwon Do - 6-8 pm 10 Denis Jr. Mulcahy 15 Calixto Suarez 5 C.E. Comm. Mtg. - 6 pm 10 Delaney Graves 20 Greg Dutcher 5 Deacon's Meeting - 6:30 pm 12 Tara Truett 22 Cory Olney 6 O & E Comm. Mtg. - 6:30 pm 27 Shawn Merkle 8 Tae Kwon Do - 6-8 pm 12 Chris Zöelick 28 Holly Page 11 Leadership Training after worship service 12 Natalie Turner 11 PW Caroling - 4 pm - (meet in parking lot) 13 David Hobert 11 Retirement Party for Terri Becker, 2-4 pm at December Anniversaries 100 Eaton St. 14 Stephen & Jacalyn Graves 12 Finance Comm. meets - 4 pm 20 Jeffrey & Karen Gay 12 Worship Comm. Mtg. - 6 pm 20 Jason & Laurie Zbock 12 Property Comm. Mtg. - 7 pm 21 Nathan & Calla Miller 13 Toys for Tots - Fellowship Hall - 1-4 pm 13 Faith Circle - Noon - Marcia Vair's 21 Paul & Audra Mockovak 14 Toys for Tots - Fellowship Hall - 9am-1 pm 14 Renewed Hope Circle-6:45 pm-N. McPherson's 15 Book Read - Church Library - 12:30 - 2 pm - "The Christmas Sweater" 15 Tae Kwon Do - 6-8 pm 16 Set up Food Baskets - Fellowship Hall - 1 pm 17 Distribution of Baskets " - 9:30 am - 12:30 pm 17 Food Sense - 9:30-10:30 am 18 Children's Christmas Program - 10:30 am 19 Personnel Comm. Mtg. - 6:30 pm 19 Session - 7 p.m. 21 Renewed Hope Circle - 6:45 pm - Church Lib. 22 Tae Kwon Do - 6-8 pm 24 Christmas Eve Service -7 pm 25 Worship Only - No Sunday School 28 WIC - 8am - 3 pm - Fellowship Hall 29 Tae Kwon Do - 6-8 pm January 1 - Worship/Communion/Brunch - No Church School Isn't our sanctuary beautiful? The Quilted Art is scholarships. The winner of the door prize, which was hung (thank you, Ron) and is inspiring our two sewn pot holders and a table mat, was Sandy worship! The quilts were done by Ethel Crane, Jo Morris of West Eaton. A special thank you to those Purple, Nancy McPherson, Sally and Gene Larchar, who spent many hours setting up their booths and Ellen Davis, Maxine Hunter and Lorraine Maggio. those who prepared and served the delicious food for What a gift to live in the presence of continuing the luncheon. Without your willingness to help, we generations of worshipers! never would have been able to pull off such a successful event. Thanks to those who made a monetary donation Thanks to all who helped on Saturday, November too. 26th with the Hanging of the Greens. The wreaths Naydene Ames and Maxine Hunter and poinsettias are lovely. More poinsettias are Bazaar Co-Chairpersons scheduled to be delivered on Saturday, Dec 17th. Community-wide Event: The Valentine Express Tuesday, January 17, 2012, 1 pm, Morrisville Community Church's Fellowship Hall Remember the fun we had as kids making valentines? Remember how much fun it was sharing these valentines with special people? This is the aim of the Valentine Express. The purpose for this activity: to deliver the valentines to Crouse Community Center, Valentine's Day 2012. Materials for making the valentines will be provided. What participants need to bring: Scissors! However, those that want to make valentines using stamping materials will need to bring their own stamping supplies. All Aboard! Join the Valentine Express. This event is sponsored by the Presbyterian Women's FROM YOUR DEACONS.... Ministry Team of the Morrisville Community Church. Thanksgiving is over! That means that Christmas is Questions: contact Maxine Hunter, 684-9278. right around the corner. Your Deacons are preparing to supply many families with a Christmas basket. We need Note: Faith Circle will meet at 11:00 am this day your help. You can help in a couple of ways: at the Community Room across the street from the church. Irene Akers will be hostess - Thanks, Irene. 1) Bring in non-perishable food items (such as gravy, After Circle meets and eats, they will come across to the soup, canned vegetables or fruits, stuffing, tomato paste, church for the Valentine Express at 1 pm. spaghetti and peanut butter). There are families with children that might like some macaroni and cheese or some Spaghetti-Os on Christmas Day. In the Narthex GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY we have a trash can with a black bag for a "Christmas 2011 Christmas Joy Offering Can Drive". It will be there until December 11th. Like the shepherds, we are stunned to hear the news that God's love has come among us as one of us, 2) Make a check or cash donation marked "Deacon accompanying us, and working to transform us. As we Christmas Baskets". This will help for any item that we open our hearts to that love, we find it will not be need more of to fulfill each basket or can be used for a contained but yearns to be shared with others. One of certificate for a family to get their choice of meat for the ways Presbyterians have traditionally responded to Christmas. See Priscilla Suits for more information. the news of this gift is by sharing our own gifts through the Christmas Joy Offering. The Offering supports Thank You In Advance for your generosity. racial ethnic education at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges, helping students develop their gifts and find their calling. It also helps families of active and PW COUNTRY CROSSROADS BAZAAR A SUCCESS! retired church workers meet unexpected needs through A special thank you to everyone who shopped at our the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions. As Bazaar and/or attended our luncheon on Saturday, we celebrate the good news of great joy that the angel November 5th. This year's sales netted $4,000 announces - God's love in human form is now among which will be used for our PW missions and us - may our gifts bear joyful witness to that love. GET READY, GET SET, WAIT! Andrea and Keith have three delightful daughters; Hayla is For several weeks now our Adult Sunday Class and the six years old and her birthday is on September 8th, Maria is 3 Congregation have been learning from scripture how it is years old with a birthday March 2nd and little Freda is 5 that faithful Christians wait for The Christ’s second months old and her birthday is March 27. coming. The irony of receiving these lessons just before We are so delighted to have the entire Josephs Family with the Advent Season was not lost on any of us. us and feel graced again that such an excellent musician has Beginning at Matthew 24:45 through Matthew 25:46, we been provided to us! have four lessons taught by Jesus just before entering Welcome, Josephs Family! Jerusalem, that guide us and give us specifics for the active “waiting” that is part and parcel of our anticipation of the Kingdom being fully realized. It is "There's a Song in the Air"..... also part of what may guide us in our time of waiting in preparation to receive him again at Christmastide. Christmas is here. It begins with Advent and leads to We have learned that it is very important to remain Christmas Day and from Christmas Day to Epiphany. It ready, prepared, being centered on our personal is a time of preparation and expectation. It is a time relationship with God while listening for God to give to rejoice and celebrate. It is a time we await and direction to our passion, playfulness, and responsiveness. We understand that we must act on celebrate the coming of the Light of Christ into the what we hear for we dare not assume that there is no world. Indeed, there is a song in the air. such thing as accountability in faith. So we act with justice and love to care for those who are given to us; we During this season of preparation, planning and study and build relationship with God and each other to celebration your Worship Committee is diligently at the extent that we love others as much as we love work. The poinsettias and wreaths have been ordered. ourselves. And, if we have difficulty loving ourselves, we ask for help from a Christian who understands being The hanging‐of‐greens has happened. The Advent a beloved child of God and who has a gift for assisting wreath has been set up. Family Advent devotions have others to learn this grace in practical ways. been order. The Sunday School will lead the service on Yes, there is always the gift giving and purchasing that December 18. A service of Lessons and Carols is being we enter into with joy. It seems we get ready, we get things in order, get them wrapped and shipped and planned for Christmas Eve. Sunday, Christmas Day‐‐‐ delivered and then we wait. well, what can we say‐‐‐Come! Sing! Praise! It is st Friends, be ready for the season of Get Ready, Get Set, Christmas Day! Sunday, January 1 , New Years Day, if‐ and Wait (actively)! the‐way‐be‐clear, the Committee is planning a special Communion Service to take place in the Fellowship Hall WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST STAFF PERSON followed by brunch.