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Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support during my time in Egypt. It was a good trip. I was particularly impressed by the faith, faithfulness, creativity, generosity and vision of the faith communities I met there.

Pastor Andrew in Egypt

I began my trip in Cairo at the Evangelical Seminary. I received a tour of the seminary by Mariam Hanna, the Director of Development. Since 2007 they have seen an increase in enrollment numbers and they have been graduating more and more students, some of whom are going to serve in other nations in the Middle East e.g. Iraq.

Over the next week I visited faith communities in Zagazig (just outside Cairo), Sohag (an hours plane flight to the south of Cairo), Qena and Luxor (also in southern Egypt). We are hoping to build a relationship with the faith community in Sohag. It is about the same size as ours with about 400 people worshiping in two services on Sunday. It is important to remember Sohag is in a majority Muslim context, so Sunday is not a day of rest, but a day of work. Most employers are not sympathetic to you taking time off on Sunday. This can have an impact on your employment. For this reason more

people need to attend the evening service on Sunday. They are being courageous in their work, despite challenges.

We hope to maintain communication with the Sohag community, share stories, prayer needs and visit each other from time to time. I hope to be able to share more about my trip in an information session in the next few weeks. Look out for details!

Church Events Dec 3—Candlelight Christmas

Concert, 3 p.m.

Dec 5—Boomers Christmas

Event

Dec 5—Morning Circle Bible

Study, 10 a.m.

Dec 5—Evening Circle Bible

Study, 6 p.m.

Dec 5—SOF Christmas

Program, 7 p.m.

Dec 10—Carols, Cookies,

Cocoa, Claus & Cans-

Children’s Musical

Dec 11—Lessons & Carols

Traditional Worship Services

Dec 18—Golden Bells Concert

Dec 24—Morning Worship,

9:30 a.m.

Dec 24—Christmas Eve

Services: 3, 5, 7 & 11 p.m.

CHURCH Mouse FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, DECEMBER, 2017

The leaders and Pastor Andrew at a building

site in New Sohag City.

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FLOURISH Save the Date...

PAINT NIGHT, SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 6:30 P.M.

Save the Date for this fun night together! The women and youth of our Church will be invited to come to paint a “masterpiece” under the guidance of our resident painter, Marilyn Weidenaar! Snacks will be served.

The cost will be $20, and all profits will go to benefit Clemmie’s House. Clemmie’s House is a women’s transitional home sponsored by Inside Ministries, a non-profit organization. Their mission is to offer women who were formerly incarcerated and/or recovering addicts with

limited means, a safe environment of spiritual, emotional, and physical healing in a Faith-Based Transitional Home. Tickets will go on sale on January 7, 2018.

Combined Vine Combined Vine Study for January & February

Echoes of the Reformation: Five Truths that Shape the Christian Life

January 7 – February 18

9:30 a.m. on Sunday Mornings

Plan to attend this unique Vine Ministry hour opportunity for adults, beginning on January 7th and running through February 18th.

We will be mixing things up and taking a different format for our classes during this six week course.

The Vine hour will begin each week in the Sanctuary with all of the classes together. Come a bit early for coffee and snacks (on select Sundays)! We will watch a video teaching by Trevin Wax, Albert Mohler and Kevin DeYoung, and following the video we will

go back to the different classes for discussion.

This time together will be a great opportunity for making connections and growing as a congregation. It’s also a great chance to try attending a Vine Class if you haven’t been in a while, or to check out a new group.

Christmas Memories —2017—

The Christmas Memories Dinner was a great evening once again this year! The hostesses did a great job decorating the tables beautifully, and Susan Schreer Davis brought us into the Christmas Story in a way that reminded us of the strength, courage and character of Jesus family members, from Zechariah to Mary. Thank you to all of the men who served during the course of the evening and to Lucie Morris and Jill Clark for organizing this wonderful evening for the women of our Church!

“And Mary kept all these things and pondered them in

her heart”. Luke 2:19

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Pastor James... Is there any better time of the year than Christmas?

Theologically, Easter is equally important, but the wonder and traditions of Christmas make it a special time.

We will be celebrating it in all the usual ways. You probably know by now that Christmas Eve is on Sunday. We will have one service Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. This one will resemble a typical Sunday morning service, but with a distinct Christmas feel. For the rest of the day, we will have services in the Jeffords Center run by the Point Worship Team for kids and families at 3 and 5 p.m. We will have the traditional candlelight communion services in the Sanctuary at 7 and 11 p.m.

I hope this Christmas season ignites your love for God in a fresh way. The power of Christmas to do that is captured well in one of the first fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen. It is a sweet story about a candle that discovers new life when it encounters a little flame. The story is called The Tallow Candle. It tells the story of a candle’s birth and life. The candle was mishandled routinely and abused by people it encountered. In the end, the candle was grimy, dirty, and blemished. It was profoundly unhappy and despondent. It hated itself and had lost its sense of any purpose for existence. And then, it met a little flame. The tale concludes like this…

But then it met a little flame, a tinder box. It knew the candle better than the Tallow Candle knew itself. The tinder box had such a clear view—straight through the outer shell—and inside it found so much good. It came closer and there was bright expectation in the candle—it lit and its heart melted.

Out burst the flame, like the triumphant torch of a blissful wedding. Light burst out bright and clear all around, bathing the way forward with light for its surroundings—its true friends—who were now able to seek truth in the glow of the candle.

The body too was strong enough to give sustenance to the fiery flame. One drop upon another, like the seeds of a new life, trickled round and chubby down the candle, covering the old grime with their bodies. They were not just the bodily, but also the spiritual issue of the marriage.

And the Tallow Candle had found its right place in life – and shown that it was a real candle, and went on to shine for many a year, pleasing itself and the other creations around it.

That’s the power of Jesus whose birth we celebrate this month. If you are one of the many people who have been mishandled by others or have marred your own life, Jesus has the power to melt away our own corruption, and give birth to a new life. Worship with us this season and experience his power to heal.

Merry Christmas!

Pastor James

I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along the unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:

There is no peace on earth, I said

For hate is strong, and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men.

Till, ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Egypt Photos... Pastor Andrew (Continued)

CHRISTMAS IS UPON US ALREADY!

By the time this is published, we will already have completed the Angel Tree campaign to provide the 20 kids in foster care in Douglas County with Christmas gifts.

We will also be joining with other churches and Christian organizations with Operation Christmas. Here are some dates where we could use your help:

Friday December 8th, 9am – 11am – Assembly day: we need a team to assemble all of the gifts into gift bags for family groups.

Saturday December 9th, 8:30am – 11:30am. Distribution day at the back of the church. See the Sunday bulletin insert and sign up to help distribute gifts.

********************************

HAITI CHRISTMAS MARKET

We will also have our Haiti Christmas Market in the art corridor between the Jeffords Center and main church lobby / Narthex area for the first 3 Sundays in December. We will be displaying Haitian artwork for sale. Each purchase supports a Haitian micro business, so save some of your holiday purchase and come and see if you can bless a family member with an artisan gift from Haiti this year!

Thanks, grace & peace to you all this Advent and Christmas Season!

Pastor Andrew

Christmas Memories Dinner, 2017

The Sunday Morning Service The Faith Community

in Qena

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

A BIG

THANK YOU

TO ALL

WHO HAD

A PART IN

GREENING

THE

CHURCH

FOR THE

CHRISTMAS

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Why Lessons and Carols? While I was talking with my mother-in-law and telling her about the Christmas music events we were having at the church this year, she asked me a question, “Is Lessons and Carols a Presbyterian thing?” She said they had never done one in the Baptist church and was curious. I gave her the answer that I thought it was liturgical in origin (i.e. coming from Lutheran, Anglican, or Presbyterian roots) but was not sure. So I decided to find out.

A traditional Festival of Lessons and Carols service has nine lessons and the first one on record does come from England, from the Truro Cathedral in Cornwall, in 1878. It is traditionally a service for Christmas Eve itself and gained popularity through use at King's College at Cambridge. The first Festival of Lessons and Carols was held there in 1918, and it remains the most famous of the festivals to this day. The same lessons are used each year, though the carols will vary.

The first two traditional lessons come from Genesis. The first is the promise in Genesis 3 that the offspring of the woman would crush the serpents head. The second is the substitution of the ram when Abraham was ready to sacrifice Isaac in Genesis 22. Many festivals, including the service at King's College, no longer use these first lessons and have limited them to seven, beginning with the prophet Isaiah.

Lessons and Carols remains one of my favorite Christmas traditions. I love the beauty of the liturgy and the ceremony that sets it apart from other services. It makes me feel connected to the “great cloud of witnesses” in Hebrew 12 and reminds me of all those in the Old Testament who were justified by their faith in these promises of a Savior that we read each year.

FIRST KIDS… Two Christmas Eve Family Friendly Services

Two Christmas Eve family

friendly services will take

place in the Jeffords Center

this year. Each service will

feature slightly different

presentation forms in which

children may participate to

create the nativity picture.

Plan to stay after the 3:00

PM service or arrive early for

the 5:00 PM service to enjoy

family feast goodies and visit

with live animals between

the services.

Childcare is provided for

very young children, but all

are welcome to remain

during the services.

Your young family is sure to

enjoy creating fond

memories of the birth of our

Lord by attending one of

these services.

Service at 5 p.m. Children wishing to volunteer at the 5 o’clock service are all assigned and costumed participants. Available parts for this service include:

*Grades 1 & 2: Angels and shepherds

*Grade 3: Mary, Joseph, wise men, angels or shepherds

*Grades 4 & 5: Scripture readers

Attendance is required of all assigned participants from both services at a one hour rehearsal in the Jeffords Center on Saturday, December 23, at 9 a.m. A parent or adult must remain during this rehearsal.

Service at 3 p.m.

The 3 o’clock service will feature the traditional assigned

and costumed Mary and Joseph volunteers from 3rd

Grade. In addition, assigned scripture readers are

needed from 4th and 5th graders to provide leadership.

As they are arriving, all children in K5 – Grade 3 will be

invited to participate in the interactive retelling of Jesus

birth during the service to complete the full nativity

picture. Mary, Joseph and readers are expected to

attend rehearsal.

Glenna James, Director of Traditional

Worship

One of my favorite songs we are doing this year is Of the Father's Love Begotten. What better summation of the promises and fulfillment than this: “Of the Father's love begotten, ere the worlds began to be.” And later, “This is he who seers and sages sang of old with one accord; whom the writings of the prophets promised in their faithful word.”

May it be a blessing to you this Christmas season to hear the promises and their fulfillment proclaimed again in Lessons and Carols.

Contact Judy Derringer: 770-942-0710 or judy@fpcdouglasville.org) to volunteer for assigned parts; parts are limited. Costumes are provided for assigned parts with exception of readers.

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Seeds Of Faith! MAS CHRIST... “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” --- Luke 2:14

. Ever since performing in the 1987 production of “The Nutcracker” at High Springs Elementary School, I have loved the Nutcracker. Everything about it left an indelible mark on my psyche and soul - the music, melodies, global traversing of cultures, colorful and picturesque scenescapes, and plotline; they all seem like a story exactly what it is: ostentatiously fantastical.

To listen to the musical compositions of Tchaikovsky is to take a magical exploration where sounds become visions and wavelengths and frequencies paint pictures and cast colorful canvases. It is a sensory inundation that combines memories with imagination. Mostly though, it is a beauty all its own and within my personal experiences, it holds a nostalgic meaning and reminiscent quality.

Isn’t it strange then, in all of its heralded epic-ness, that I only really get around to listening to it during the holidays each year – say, from late October through the new year. It’s greatness is mostly appreciated within the larger paradigm of the Christmas season; it is subject to the bigger, larger, deeper, richer Advent that encompasses it.

It’s like that for a lot of things in our lives – family gatherings, feasts and extravagant meals, special outings and events, shopping and gift giving and receiving, garland and pine, festive lights and décor, flavors of peppermint and cinnamon, ugly sweaters, cinematic traditions, and those oh so indulgent Hallmark movies. I just flat out love it all.

But I have to be conscious and forthright and intentional and adamant that all of it – ALL. OF. IT. – means not one roasted chestnut, without the true meaning propelling it all forward. The exuberant joy, the sustaining spirit, the introspection and appreciation, the selflessness, the generosity, the sense of celebration, the HOPE that even if life is amuck right now, or that my heart feels three sizes too small, that there is a light in the darkness and a resolution to the madness.

Many are high this time of year; others are low. Our prayer is that wherever you are, as you step in to this ‘most wonderful time of the year’, that you let Jesus lead you. Let Him be your catalyst to truly cherish the time deeply and meaningfully (opposed to superficially and materially), and to impose His Spirit upon you - the very Spirit that drives all of the celebration around us. It really is all about Jesus, whether we realize it or not. Always has been. Always will be.

In the Light,

Huggins~

Seeds of Faith Preschool held its annual canned food drive in the month of November to benefit the Good Samaritan Center of Douglasville. The children were very excited to bring in boxes, bags and cans of food and to see their class boxes fill up! We are so thankful for our blessings and that we can bless others during this holiday season. We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends.

SEEDS OF FAITH

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

“The Littlest Angel Choir” Tuesday, December 5, 7 p.m.

Jeffords Center At the performance SOF will

be accepting children’s

pajamas, all sizes, to benefit

a local charity through the

Scholastic Pajama Drive.

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Church News… I wanted to thank everyone for

their outpouring of love on me and

my family during my dad’s illness

and passing. I am so thankful for

all the loving cards, calls, texts,

meals and all the shoulders that I have unloaded all my pain

and grief on. Thank you to each and everyone one you!!

Susan Clay & Baird Family

Our Church Family extends

our deepest

sympathies to:

Vickie Wooldridge and family in the passing

of her uncle,

Tabitha Schillinger and family in the

passing of her aunt.

Shirley Leslie & family in the passing of her

daughter, Lynette Frew.

Pressure: A burdensome,

distressing, or weighty

Are you feeling pressure right now? Is it affecting your

health, your attitude, or your relationships with your

family and friends? Would you like to have someone to

talk to, just to help you get through the next month or

two? Our Stephen Minster can help. For more

information about Stephen Ministry, please contact

one of our leaders:

Linnea Osborne-678.838.1360

Nancy Williams-770.942.5866

No Committee Meetings

in December

Session Meeting

Monday, December 11

7 p.m., Conference Room

Church office will be closed for

Christmas holidays Friday, December 22,

through Tuesday, December 26

Golden Bells of Atlanta

Monday, December 18, 7:30 p.m.

FPC Sanctuary

First Kids Choir Presents…

A Candy-Coated

Christmas Carol

You won’t want to miss this

presentation by our First Kids

Choir.

Sunday, December 10

5 p.m., Jeffords Center

CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS CONCERT

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3

3 P.M.

SANCTUARY

Come enjoy the beautiful sounds of

Christmas presented by several groups in

our church family.

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9190 Campbellton Street

Douglasville, Georgia 30134

Phone: 770-942-0710

Fax: 770-949-3481

E-mail: office@fpcdouglasville.org

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Cora Bryant 3 Linda Armour 9 Bryce Robinson 17 Tom Coughlin 24

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Ann Sherrill 6 Charlie Branson 11 Joseph Guger 19 Charles Mfortow 29

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December Birthdays, 2017