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Nov. 24, 2021

The Spirit - November 23, 2021

The Spirit - November 23, 2021

Thoughts from Our Senior Pastor

By Rev. David Clifford

On Thursday our nation will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. While the economy is watching closely the turnout for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday to see what effect COVID and the supply chain issues might have on the most shopped days of the year, the church is preparing for the start of a new year. In the liturgical calendar, Advent is the start of the Christian year. Next Sunday, November 28, will be the first Sunday of Advent. I thought it might be worthwhile to share a little about this significance of Advent for the Christian year.

You’ve heard the song about the twelve days of Christmas with gold rings, pipers piping, and a partridge in a pear tree. There are actually twelve days in the Christmas season beginning on Christmas Morning and working its way up to Epiphany (at least if you follow the Western Church’s calendar). Many Christians mistakenly believe that Christmas starts at Advent and is over at Christmas. Of course, if you let the economy set the calendar Christmas has already started and you should buy as many things as possible. Advent is actually an entirely different season in the liturgical calendar.

Advent is a time of preparation and devoted waiting for the Christ-child that will arrive on Christmas morning. Similar to the way Lent is helpful in preparing for the Easter celebration of our Lord’s resurrection, Advent is a way for us to prepare for the coming of Christ – the incarnation of God – into the world. This is one of the reasons why we use the same liturgical colors (purple/violet) for both Lent and Advent. In this holy season we acknowledge the darkness of the world (its not hard to do with the night lasting so long), while we patiently prepare for the light of Christ that is to come.

Many may think that it is strange to wait for the birth of Christ that happened so long ago. But, as Christian, we know deeply the experience of waiting for Christ. The more existential truth of Advent is that we not only wait for the birth of the Christ-child, but we are also waiting for the return of Christ to this world. Many of us know the darkness and chaos of life. We have felt deeply the pains and the sorrows that come with living.

And yet, our faith proclaims to us the expectation of a time when Christ will return to sit on the throne of God’s Kingdom in a new heaven and a new earth. So, Advent is a time for us to enter into a glimpse of eternity in which we go back to wait upon that most important birth in Bethlehem while also waiting upon the future coming of God’s glorious kingdom. I invite you to join our church this Advent as we enter into such preparation and waiting. May our spirits be truly connected to one another and to Christ as we prepare for Lord, Savior, and King to come.

Advent Blessings and Peace,

Rev. David Clifford

 

SPECIAL EDITION: ADVENT BEGINS NOV. 28

November 28 (next Sunday) begins this year’s season of Advent, the time just before Christmas when we prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate and welcome anew the Christ child into our hearts and minds. This edition of the Spirit focuses on the Church’s activities that support this special season.

During Advent Christian Women’s Fellowship is collecting canned soups and stews for Christian Community Outreach’s food bank.

Advent is also the season during which we support our regional ministries. There are 32 regions throughout the United States and Canada. Regions are primarily known for their support of conferences and camps and individual congregations as they work to can a new minister,

The Men’s breakfast is Sunday, December 5 at 8:30

This year’s Alice P. Taylor Candlelight Service will be held Sunday December 5 live on Facebook.

The Senior Saints Christmas luncheon will be held on Tuesday, December 7,at 11:30 am. Everyone is asked to bring a small gift to exchange.  Carl and Evina Bryan will prepare the meal and request RSVPs as early as possible.

The December Board meeting has been moved to Wednesday, December 16 at 6:30.

This year’s Christmas Eve Service will be held at 9 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to join us as we gather to hear the Christmas story through Scripture and song.

The Worship Committee has purchased Advent Devotional Guides for each family in the congregation. They will be placed in the sanctuary at each entrance and the church office window. If you do not have a daily devotion period, use of this pamphlet is a good way to start. Remember to pick up a copy for your family.

 

Congregational Meeting

By Barbara Sprague

As you are most likely aware, we have been undergoing changes throughout the church for the last year. In terms of governance, we have split the Board in two groups so that each part concentrates on their area of expertise.  The old Board had 22 people which made it difficult to communicate well and get things done. So, we have gone to a Transitional Board with seven members:  Chairperson, Vice-chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Chairperson of the Elders, Chairperson of the Deacons, and Member-at-large.  This group concentrates on the financial matters of the church and setting the vision of the church, in coordination with the Elders. The balance of the old Board is The Ministry Team. This group concentrates on the various ministries of the church. They have been meeting with David frequently throughout the last year. We believe this has enabled them to work and communicate better and easier with each other. This will continue through the next year as we strive to define the roles of each of these groups and start working again toward our missions.
The Nominating Committee has presented the Transitional Board with their proposed slate of Officers for the coming year. The Board has accepted the slate. Thank you to Sandra Deitz, Chair, Ron Moore, Dina Campbell, Janie Proffitt, Jeanne Marie Gadient, and Meredith Gold for serving on this committee.
The slate of officers chosen are as follows: Chairperson:  Nicholas Womack; Vice Chairperson:  Sandra Dietz; Secretary:  Cheryl Griffee; Treasurer:  Barbara Chaney; Assistant Treasurer:  Sonny Beaven.
Instead of a Member at Large, we will have a Ministry Team Representative:  To be chosen from the Ministry Team. The congregation will vote on this slate of officers at our December Christmas luncheon.

 

Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. Proverbs 22:9

On behalf of the Elders many thanks to everyone who brought canned foods and other items, Sureway Stamps, and gave a donation toward the Thanksgiving baskets. From your generosity we were able to  fill 7 baskets. These baskets were delivered to Jefferson Street School and South Heights School.  Due to the increase cost of food, two $25 gift certificates were included in each basket (tobacco and alcohol excluded). In addition, we were able to give a gift certificate to a church member and two $25 gift certificates to Christian Community Outreach. We appreciate all that you do!                                                                                                                                Blessings,   Sandy Hester

A big thank you to each member that contributed to CWF’s country store. I appreciate the care, time and energy you gave to make your goodies. I am indebted and grateful,                                                                                                  Martha Ann Otey