Midweek: Wednesday, December 14th, 2022

 

Midweek 12-14-22

Christmas Calendar of Events

• Dec. 21: Service of Comfort & Peace, 7pm
• December 24: Christmas Eve service, 7pm
• Dec. 25: Christmas Day service, 10:30am

In This Issue:         

·         Reminders & Music Notes

·         Connections Meeting                         

·         Advent Devotional

·         Candle Lighting for Advent

·         Summary of General Assembly Actions

·         Website! & Celebrations

·         Congregation. Meeting Reminder

·         Toy Drive & Live and Learn

·         PPM Break

·         Christmas Song Rewrite

·         The Christmas Attic, part 3: Considering Hope

“. . . that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” Romans 1:12

Reminders: This Sunday the greeters will be the Brannons. Whether you’re here to greet or to share a treat, the real treat we enjoy is you!

 

Music Notes: Presbyterian Ringers, Thursday at 6pm. Chancel choir, Thursday at 7pm. Flute ensemble, Sunday at noon. 

Connections Meeting the 20^th! The Connections Group will meet this Tuesday the 20^th at 11am in the church library. This is round 2 for trying to get folks together! Thanks for your patience! We do love each of you and hope we can make schedules and health situations work for this coming week!

Advent Devotional:, There is an advent devotional we would like to share with you. If you have not received a copy and would like one, please contact Gretel in the office. Digital and paper copies available.

Candle Lighting for Advent: The following are the people currently signed up to light the Advent candles:  December 18^th: Amy Morrison    ~ December 24^th: Piper family         Thank you for your involvement, whether it is by helping light a candle or quietly worshipping in your heart.

Summary of General Assembly Actions: Copies of the General Assembly Actions are still available. Contact Gretel in the office if you would like a copy and have not received one. 

Website! Our website is up and running! It looks great! Pastor Je and Neal have put in super work on this. You can find a calendar of events, Midweek newsletters, sermons – both written form and video form, and more. Hop on to the internet and check it out at www.lebanonfpc.org

“Congratulations to you! We celebrate with you! Know that we love you, and God loves you too!”   Happy birthday to: Emily Weddington, 12/15; Scott Hutcheson & Nancy Kincaid, 12/16!  Happy Anniversary to: Dennis & Teresa Brannon, 12/18; Jerry & Nancy Jones, 12/20!

Congregational Meeting on the 18^th! The Congregational Meeting to Elect the Elders to serve in the Session will be right after the worship service in the sanctuary on Sunday, December 18th.

Toy Drive! The last day to collect for the toy drive is Dec. 18! Thanks so much for your generosity. It is fun to give, isn’t it? All which has been brought will be collected and delivered by Neal & Debbie Crouse on Dec.19

Live and Learn on Saturdays: Senior Exercise @ 10:30am with lunch following. Bible study/discussion with Gretel @ 12:30pm.

PPM Break: PPM will have winter break from December 19 through Jan. 2^nd. They will resume class on Tuesday, January 3^rd.

 

Christmas Song Rewrite (Preschool Style): Sing to the tune of “Here Comes Santa Claus”

There Goes Sanity

There goes sanity, there goes sanity, right down Holiday Lane!

With all the trappings and all the lists, I’m pulling out my hair again!

Bells are ringing, children screaming, all’s not merry and bright!

I’ll hang my hat and walk on past, ‘cause my sanity’s leaving tonight.

There goes sanity, there goes sanity, d’ya see it driving by?

I’ve no magic to extend my hours, I’ve no reindeer who can fly!

My assistant got sick but kids came coughing and the coffee pot just quit.

I lost my lesson, (I thought I lost a child!), I’m about to throw a fit!

There goes sanity, there goes sanity, I’m hanging by a thread!

If one more child jangles one more bell, I think I’m gonna lose my head!

The noise won’t stop but the clock keeps ticking; it doesn’t matter anyway:

Once this day is done I’m hitting the hay and not rising for the sun!

There goes sanity, there goes sanity - wave, my children, wave!

My schedule’s so off and my head’s such a buzz, this day cannot be saved:

There’s too much clatter and too much chatter (and that is just from me!)

I can’t make heads or tails, am I coming or going? God, just help me please!

There goes sanity, there goes sanity – watch it, now it’s gone!

Now I feel free, just take it from me at the end now of this song:

The children’s little hands and the children’s little heads all bowed together for prayer,

One of them prayed, “Help Teacher today, so she doesn’t lose her hair!”

The Christmas Attic, part 3: Considering Hope

When we first visited the attic, we found a group of folks who felt forlorn, forgotten, cast aside. One in particular, a rag doll, was really struggling, but she was not left to wander in misery for long. From a corner of the attic, news of hope arrived. An angel spoke to them about the sound of peace, and this message stirred their hearts and sparked their curiosity. Could there be more to life than what they had become accustomed to? Was the peace, hope and joy the angel spoke of real or just a tale? She told them that there is life when all seems lost and light when all looks dark. She encouraged them to hold on to “light’s sweet song”. Could they? Would they? What happens next in the attic? Come with me and let’s take a peek to see what’s happening today in the Christmas Attic:

Old Teddy looked to the angel and winked his one good eye,

The rocking horse shook his mane, of course, and let out a soft neighing sigh.

The tin dollhouse seemed to settle, more level, and opened wide its front door.

But what of the rag doll? And her swing? Could their hearts be restored once more?

The rag doll thought on the message of the angel with the wings,

She wondered what about that sound and the peace and joy it brings.

Could she know peace, even there, in that old attic spot?

Despite dust, rust, and an absence of fluff, was lonely misery not her lot?

As the rag doll pondered and wondered, the angel surveyed the scene.

They cannot grasp what they have not known, so let’s bring them the sounds they need.

She had been watching the sky through one window up high,

Tucked into the eaves, looking straight to the sky.

She knew that dusk had fallen, and what would begin for those below:

Very soon the sounds would waken and slowly they would grow.

These friends in the attic, they needed to hear that song.

They needed to hear news of that for which their hearts did long.

The angel gathered up her robes and took a deep, deep breath.

She shook off the binding trappings of weariness and leapt.

It was just one small leap, it did not take her far;

Her feet barely left the shelf, ‘twas not magnificent like that star.

But a small leap she could do and with it lift her wings

And stir the air down the stairs to open the door to hear ring . . .

The song! Yes, the song! So sweet. So clear.

It sang of silence but it’s sound was the loudest hope the friends could hear.

They all listened. They scarcely took a breath

While to their ears, on angel’s wings, God’s hope and peace came yet.

Have you known this peace? Has God spoken to your heart and birthed hope? Do you remember a day when God shook off the binding trappings of weariness, despair, loneliness, misery? Or do you need that hope yet? Do you need His peace? We sing at Christmas time of that “Silent Night, Holy Night”, but the peace Jesus brings lasts forever for those who have received him into their hearts. We sing at Christmas time of the coming of Emmanuel. His name means that He is with us, God is With Us, not just during the advent or on Christmas Day but every day, all year. The peace birthed with Jesus lives on forever. Hallelujah! God be praised! Amen!                                                                                  

Interested in joining the prayer chain? Contact Phyllis Duff at (765)482-1485/ raduff2@att.net.

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel . . . Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel . . .” Hallelujah! Hear the prayer and praise of our hearts, O God.  Amen.