Midweek for December 11, 2024

 

This Sunday is the Third Sunday of Advent.

Important Dates

Bell Practice: 7pm Thurs Dec 12th

BYOB: 11:30am Fri Dec 13th

Bible Study: Not Meeting in December 

Called Congregational Meeting: after service Sun Dec 15th

CCC Community Christmas Festival: 3:00pm Sun Dec 15th

Last Day for Toy Drive: Sun Dec 15th

Birthday’s

Nancy William: Sat Dec 14th

Nancy Kincaid: Mon Dec 16th

Scott Hutcheson: Mon Dec 16th

Anniversaries

John & Arlene Quinn: Sat Dec 14th

Singers and Ringers

If you would like to offer any special music during the Advent and Christmas season (or any service), Please email Lisa Hutcheson at lisahutcheson@yahoo.com or talk to her at church.

 

Christmas Joy Offering

Each year during the Advent and Christmas season, we lift up our past, present and future leaders of the church. We’ve been blessed with incredible leaders but those leaders often need to be supported by their communities as well. We will continue to collect this Offering until  December 22nd. Make sure to put Christmas Joy on the memo line of your check.

Note on Matthew 25 Church

There have been some questions about Matthew 25 Church (hereafter M25C). I’ve also been asked about Matthew 25 Ministries, a separate organization based in Blue Ash, Ohio, which has no connection or affiliation with the PCUSA. Despite the similar names, M25C and Matthew 25 Ministries are unrelated.

As I understand it, identifying as an M25C is akin to a form of self-identification. For instance, many Taylor Swift fans (known as Swifties) wear friendship bracelets. These bracelets not only signify their identity as fans but also strengthen their connection to Taylor Swift. Similarly, becoming an M25C signals to others that we are a church striving to follow Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25. At the same time, it inspires us to persevere in our good works as His followers.

To become an M25C, a church must focus on at least one of three core areas:

    Building Congregational Vitality
    Dismantling Structural Racism
    Eradicating Systemic Poverty

Our church is already engaged in the first and third areas. Becoming an M25C doesn’t mean we are required to address all three or take on additional responsibilities. And also there are no financial responsibilities. We can continue the good works we are already doing or choose to expand them if we feel led.

Another point to clarify is the relationship between M25C and the Black Lives Matter movement (hereafter BLM). Simply put, there is no formal relationship between the two. PCUSA and M25C affirm the principle behind BLM—acknowledging the reality of racism and the truth that Black lives matter. However, PCUSA is not affiliated with BLM as an organization and does not partner with them. Of course, Black lives matter. As an Asian man, I also affirm that Asian lives matter. Just as Black lives matter, so do White lives. To me, and I believe to God as well, all lives matter.

That said, acknowledging the existence of racism compels us to do what we can to address and improve this reality. However, our church is not, nor will it be (unless decided otherwise by the session or a congregational vote), formally affiliated with any external movements or organizations.

For now, our focus remains on the vitality of our congregation and our local community. This is why we partner with organizations such as The Caring Center, Live for Life Indiana, Teen Challenge, Sylvia’s Place, the United Methodist Children’s Home, and others.

This Sunday, we will vote on whether or not to officially become an M25C. The vote will be conducted via paper ballots. Regardless of the outcome, one thing will remain unchanged: as a church in Jesus Christ our Saviour, we will continue our good works. Our ultimate goal is to live as a Matthew “5” church, taking to heart Jesus’ command: “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

Respectfully, Pastor Je

Toy Drive

Myrtle Bailey’s Boone County Toy Drive is here again! The list of items needed is below. The mission committee will have a big box wrapped in Christmas paper in the foyer for you to drop your donations in. Sunday, December 15th will be the last day to donate. Monetary donations can be mailed to: Myrtle Bailey’s Boone County Toy Drive, 614 Elm St., Lebanon, In. 46052.

Needs List:

·        Toys, games, sports equipment

·        Hygiene items, and school supplies for infants through 18 years old.

·        Teens: fairy lights, storage crates, razors, shaving cream, mirrors, wallets, cosmetics, perfume, cologne

·        Diapers, diaper bags

·        Books, craft supplies

·        Shampoo and conditioner

·        Cold weather clothing

PPM News

Happy December. We started the month off with two amazing Christmas Programs. The PPM kids performed Friday morning and Sunday afternoon. We had over 300 people attend both programs. With the help of Miss Natalie our Pre 5 classes learned Silent Night in Spanish, accompanied by Miss Mea on the guitar. A huge thank you to both of these ladies for all the extra time and energy they put into this program. Another huge thank you to Neal Crouse. Neal is always ready to help assist with the Christmas program and this year added some fun elements to the videos. 

We are having fun learning about Christmas in many ways in our classroom. This sweet story from a teacher this week sums it all up;

Last week we introduced stars as our shape for this month and I asked my class why stars were important for Christmas. No kiddos knew, or offered. So I told them how the wise men followed a star to find baby Jesus. How special he was and they wanted to see him. Today a child brought me a star and said, "a star to find baby Jesus!"

How lucky we are to be able to teach these little ones the true meaning of this season, and that they can go home and share with their families. 

Hope you find the spirit of Christmas, and follow the star

Blessings, 

Miss Lori Rowe

CCC Community Christmas Festival

This Sunday, December 15th at 3pm. The last joint choir practice will be at 7pm this evening at CCC. Please park in the back. An elevator is also available.

The Called Congregation Meeting

Don’t forget, this Sunday, December 15th  in the sanctuary after Worship Service. The purpose of this meeting is to elect new Elders to serve a 3 year term in Session and to vote on “Becoming Matthew 25 Church”.

Saturday Bible Study

Will meet not meet in December. Our studies will continue with Genesis starting January 4th.

Coming Sunday Hymns

·        As With Gladness Men of Old #150

·        Oh, Come All Ye Faithful #133 (v.1-3)

·        Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee #611

 

Prelude: Following Yonder Star (FPC Bell Choir) Rogers

Postlude: LHS Madrigals performing

Sunday Scriptures and Sermon Title

·        OT Lesson: Jeremiah 31:15-17

·        NT Lesson: Matthew 2:1-8

Third Advent Sunday Theme: Joy

Monologue of King Herod: Bruce McConnell

Third Advent Candle Lighting: The Piper Family

Voice Actor Needed

Don’t you love hearing the dramatized Scripture Readings during the Sunday Worship Services? You can join the bliss of being part of it. If you are willing, let Neal know before the Worship Service on Sunday.

Communion Server Sign-up

Do you want to serve the Communion by distributing the elements during the regular Communion on the first Sundays of each month? Please sign up or contact the church office. By the session’s approval, you don’t have to be an ordained elder to serve the Communion.

January Communion Servers

·        Lynna Shaw

·        Amy Morrison

·        Cyndy Gibbs

·        Your Name

Wanna Be on the Visit Team?

The sign-up sheet for the rest of November and the month of December is blank. If you want to help pastor Je visit our home-bound members, please sign up on the bulletin board outside the church office.

Prayer Request?

If you have a prayer request, please contact Phyllis Duff at raduff2@att.net.

Got News?

Do you have something you wish to share with the church family? Sharing good news will double it. Sharing sad news will halve it. Is your child or grandchild excellent? You can boast about them. Contact the church office if you want your story in the weekly Midweek or monthly Newsletter.

This Week’s Humor



Serving This Week

·        Visiting team:

·        Liturgist: George Piper

·        Elder of the Month: Dennis Brannon

·        Pianist: Lisa Hutcheson

Contact the Church

·        Address: 128 E. Main St., Lebanon, IN 46052

·        Tel: 765-482-5959

·        Website: http://lebanonfpc.org

·        Office: office@lebanonfpc.org

·        Pastor: pastor@lebanonfpc.org

·        Blog: https://pastorje-lebanonfpc.blogspot.com/

·        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firstpreslebanon

·        YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@firstpresbyterianchurchofl3509

 

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