The Highlander The Newsletter of The Presbyterian Church of Punxsutawney - 106 E. Union St., Punxsutawney, PA 15767 December 2016 Mark Your Calendars December 11th Congregational Meeting & Deacon’s Salad Lunch following worship December 17th Men’s Prayer Breakfast Special Event at Clearfield Presbyterian December 18th Children’s Christmas Service at 11 a.m. with Happy Birthday Jesus cake to follow Longest Night Service Page 2 Worship & Music Page 3 Children’s Christmas Page 4 Open House Invitation Page 5 Happening Now Page 6 Fun & Fellowship Page 7 Education & Discipleship Page 8 Mission & Outreach Page 9 December Calendar Page 10 Volunteer Schedule Page 11
Transcript
The Highlander The Newsletter of The Presbyterian Church of Punxsutawney - 106 E. Union St., Punxsutawney, PA 15767
December
2016
Mark Your
Calendars
December 11th
Congregational Meeting
& Deacon’s Salad Lunch
following worship
December 17th
Men’s Prayer Breakfast
Special Event at
Clearfield Presbyterian
December 18th
Children’s Christmas
Service at 11 a.m.
with Happy Birthday Jesus
cake to follow
Longest Night
Service
Page
2
Worship
& Music
Page
3
Children’s
Christmas
Page
4
Open House
Invitation
Page
5
Happening
Now
Page
6
Fun &
Fellowship
Page
7
Education &
Discipleship
Page
8
Mission &
Outreach
Page
9
December
Calendar
Page
10
Volunteer
Schedule
Page
11
T h e H i g h l a n d e r
Christmas can be a painful time for some. It may be the first Christmas without a loved family
member who has recently died; it may be a time that has always been difficult.
The constant refrain on the radio and television, in shopping malls and churches, about the
happiness of the season, about getting together with family and friends, reminds many
people of what they have lost or have never had. The anguish of broken relationships, the
insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation - all these can make us feel very
alone in the midst of all the celebrating and spending. We need the space and time to acknowledge our sadness
and concern; we need to know that we are not alone. Our spirits sink, as the days grow shorter. We feel the
darkness growing deeper around us. We need encouragement to live the days ahead of us.
For these reasons, we will offer a special Longest Night Service, also known as Blue Christmas, to be held on
the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, Wednesday, December 21st at 8:00 p.m.
Come out and join with us in sharing and hearing prayers, scripture, and music that acknowledge that God’s
presence is for those who mourn, for those who struggle - and that God’s Word comes to shine light into our
darkness. Everyone, regardless of church background (or lack of it) is welcome.
We celebrate our outgoing Officer Class of 2016
Ben Fitzgerald-Fye, Wick Divelbiss,
Jessica Suntheimer, and Kerrin Roberts
and thank them for their service to this church as Elders and Deacons.
Their term of service ends on December 31, 2016.
Well done Good & Faithful Servant
P a g e 3
T h e H i g h l a n d e r
Our December 2016 Worship Calendar ***Worship Begins at 11:00 a.m. ***
December 4th The 2nd Sunday of Advent
and the Celebration of
the Lord’s Supper
Peace for
the Restless
Malachi 3:1-4
& Matthew 24:36-44
December 11th The 3rd Sunday of Advent
featuring our Bell Choir
Joy for
the Joyless
Zephaniah 3:14-20
& Mark 13:24-37
Congregational Meeting
immediately following worship
Thursday, December 24th
December 18th The 4th Sunday of Advent
Children’s
Christmas
Celebration with birthday cake to follow!
December 25th The Nativity of Jesus Christ
The Word Made Flesh John 1:1-14 11:00 a.m.
No Sunday School
WORSHIP & MUSIC
Christmas Joy Offering to be Collected
Sunday, December 18th
A cherished Presbyterian tradition since the 1930s, the Christmas Joy Offering is one of the four special
offerings designated by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Undesignated gifts to the Christmas Joy Offering will be distributed equally to the Assistance
Program of the Board of Pensions and to support student scholarships at Presbyterian-related racial ethnic
schools and colleges. Please place offerings in the collection place on December 18th or mail to office.
and the Celebration of
the Lord’s Supper
8:00 p.m.
Join us for Important
Rehearsals & Practice
Sunday, December 4th
9:30 a.m. & Sunday School
Sunday, December 11th
9:30 a.m. & Sunday School
Sunday, December 18th
9:30 a.m.
Sunday, December 18
11:00 a.m.
Children & Youth Christmas Celebration
Calling All Children & Youth!
Come and Celebrate
Christmas and
the Birth of Jesus Christ
by participating in the
Children & Youth
Christmas Celebration
Parts & Participation for Everyone!
If you would like your children
or grandchildren to participate,
please contact Dana Hartman
at (814) 938-5810
Join us after our
Children & Youth Christmas Celebration
for some Happy Birthday Cake
Holiday Open House
P a g e 6 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6
Our PCOP Christmas “Wish List”
In the spirit of the Holidays, here is PCOP’s 2016 Christmas “Wish List” filled
with opportunities to help and items that would help our ministry
Things We Could Use Help We Need
Wide Format Computer Printer such as the HP Officejet 7110 Wide Format ePrinter
Screen & Sound Techs
Sunday School Teachers
Website Updater & Manager
Wide Format Computer Printer such as the HP Officejet 7110 Wide Format ePrinter
Questions or Would Like to Give? See Rev. Brett Swanson
2016 Advent Devotionals Day-by-Day Journey through Advent written by the
Students, Faculty, and Staff of
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Available in the Memorial Parlor
or Contact the PCOP Office
Special December Event in Clearfield
Men’s Prayer Breakfast Saturday, December 17th - Meet at 7:00 a.m.
The December Men’s Prayer Breakfast will be a
special trip to Clearfield Presbyterian Church’s to
join them in food, fellowship, and prayer.
Carpooling is available & encouraged.
Please see Rex Lettie for Details
PCOP Youth Group’s
Donate a New or Gently Used Toy to the
Youth Group’s Toy Drive!
Donations can be placed in the blue barrel
outside the Memorial Parlor until Dec. 6th
CLOTHING DRIVE
FUNDRAISER IS
HAPPENING NOW!
DONATE TODAY! It is time once again to clean out your closets and
donate your clothes and shoes to our Clothing Drive
Fundraiser. Donations can be dropped off in the office or
on Sundays through the month of December.
P a g e 7 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6
FELLOWSHIP & MORE
19th
Kathi Cessna
25th
Jesus Christ
28th
Mykel Farley
30th
Butch Philliber
December Bir thdays 11th
Kerrin Roberts
Maryl Roberts McGinley
16th
Martha Irvin
31st
Cookie White
Are we
forgetting
anyone? Contact PCOP Office
The Board of Deacons would like to invite our
entire church family to the annual Deacon’s
Salad Lunch held on Sunday, December 11th,
following our Congregational Meeting.
Invite friends, family, and more to join us in the
Fellowship Dining Hall for a wonderful time of
food and fellowship. Make plans to attend this
wonderful meal!
Gimmick’s
Restaurant No Reservations Required
See Ann Mumper for details
Deacon’s
Christmas
Salad Lunch
Sunday, December 11th
Saturday
Friends Out
Saturday, December 17th at
12:00 p.m.
P a g e 8 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6
DISCIPLESHIP & EDUCATION
P a g e 8 T h e H i g h l a n d e r
P a g e 9 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6
MISSION & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
T h e H i g h l a n d e r P a g e 9
Help support the fight against hunger this Holiday Season by donating to
Crosstown Food Pantry Woodland Avenue United Methodist
c/o Marla Cocciomiglio 201 Woodland Ave., Punxsutawney, PA 15767
Crosstown Food Pantry
Help men, women, and families living
in nations where poverty is rampant.
Select one or more of the Giving
Ornaments from our Mission Tree
located in the Memorial Parlor, write a
check to Presbyterian Church with
“Mission Tree” on the memo line,
and then write your name on
the ornament and return to the tree.
Tuesday, January 3rd - 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Let’s continue the good work of serving
our community in the New Year!
Sign Up to help with the January 2017
Community Meal outside the Memorial Parlor
January 2017 Menu Hamburger Stroganoff over Buttered Noodles,
Glazed Mixed Veggies, Rolls & Butter, and Baklava
First Tuesday Community Meal
Our Mission Tree
December 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3
4
Sunday School at
9:45 a.m.
Worship
11:00 a.m.
5
Rev. Brett
Out of the Office
6
Tuesdays at Ten
10:00 a.m.
7
8
Rev. Brett
Out of the Office
Bells Practice
6:oo p.m.
Choir Practice
7:00 p.m.
9
10
11
Sunday School at
9:45 a.m.
Worship at
11:00 a.m.
Congregational
Meeting
& Deacon’s Lunch
12
Crosstown
Food Pantry
5:30 p.m.
13
Tuesdays at Ten
10:00 a.m.
14
15
Bells Practice
6:oo p.m.
Choir Practice
7:00 p.m.
16
17 Men’s Breakfast
Clearfield
7:00 a.m.
-
Saturday
Friends Out
12 Noon
-
Holiday Open House
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
18
Children’s
Christmas
Celebration
Sunday School
9:45 a.m.
Worship
11:00 a.m.
19
20
No
Tuesdays at Ten
21
Longest Night
Service
8:00 p.m.
22
23
24
Christmas Eve
A Service of
Lessons & Carols
and the
Lord’s Supper
8:00 p.m.
25
Christmas Day
Worship
11:00 a.m.
No Sunday School
26
27
No
Tuesdays at Ten
28
29 30 31
Rev. Brett - Out of the Office (12/26- 1/3)
Thank You to our December Volunteers
December 4th
2nd Sunday in Advent
& The Lord’s Supper
Screen Bill Cooper
Sound Bill Cooper
Liturgist Sean Fitzgerald-Fye
Acolyte B. & J. Fezell
December 11th 3rd Sunday in Advent,
Congregational
Meeting
following worship,
and Annual
Deacon’s Salad Lunch
Screen Nick Suntheimer
Sound Nick Suntheimer
Liturgist Kathi Cessna
Acolyte Riley Doverspike
December 18th Children’s Christmas
Celebration
with special time of
fellowship to follow
Screen Bill Cooper
Sound Bill Cooper
Liturgist Children’s
Christmas
Celebration Acolyte
Christmas Eve
December 24th
8:00 p.m.
Screen Ben Fitzgerald-Fye
Sound Ben Fitzgerald-Fye
Liturgist Pam Hogan
Acolyte B. & J. Fezell
December 25th Worship at 11:00 a.m.
No Sunday School
Screen Worship Leaders
Needed!
Contact
Rev. Brett Swanson Sound
Worship
Leader
Acolyte
November 2016 “By the Numbers”
Sunday Worship
Attendance
Giving
November 6 69 $2,227.00
November 13 55 $5,175.05
November 20 68 $1,603.90
November 27 72 $2,269.85
Those Needing Our Prayers Angie Barkley Avanell Bennett Betty Brumbaugh
