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From: "Holly Presbyterian Church" <[email protected]>Subject: Newsletter
Date: November 18, 2010 9:53:42 AM GMT-05:00To: "" <[email protected]>
Reply-To: "Holly Presbyterian Church" <[email protected]>
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December 2010
From the Seminarian'sDeskby Cassie Todd
As we move toward the Season of Advent in theChurch calendar, we come to a time ofremembering and waiting. We remember how theIsraelites waited for their Messiah to come. Theyhad a hopeful expectation that their Savior wouldcome and save them from Roman reign. In Advent, we not only remember the waiting for thefirst coming of Christ, but also we activelyparticipate in the waiting for Christ to come again.We say the Lord’s Prayer asking God for “ThyKingdom come”. We remember God’s promise to usfor Christ to come and a new kingdom to come. Wehave a hopeful expectation of this. But what does this hopeful expectation look like?Are we stumbling? Is our expectation of a newkingdom similar to what the Israelites wereexpectant of in a Messiah? When Jesus came intothe world, he brought a completely different idea
December CalendarDec 4 Family Christmas FairDec 5 Teens/Adult Sunday School 9:15am Children's Sunday School 9:30am Worship with Communion 10:30am Fenton Ambassadors Concert 7pmDec 6 Stewardship Meeting 7pmDec 8 AYSO 7:30pmDec 12 Teens/Adult Sunday School 9:15am Children's Sunday School 9:30am Worship 10:30am Family Christmas Caroling 6pmDec 13 Session Meeting 7pmDec 15 Newsletter DeadlineDec 19 Teens/Adult Sunday School 9:15am Children's Sunday School 9:30am Contemporary Worship 10:30amDec 21 Knit-Wits Meeting 6:30pmDec 24 Christmas Eve Service 8pmDec 25 CHRISTMASDec 26 Worship 10:30am (No Sunday School)
Also, feel free to visit our online calendar.
of Messiah, a Savior of the world, not a politicalking to reign over the Jewish people. To a point, we are in the dark of what this kingdomwill look like, and what the second coming wouldbe. Historically, our expectations tend to fall short.Yet we are still to have this hopeful expectation ofChrist coming. We learn how to look forward, by looking back andremembering Christ’s coming into the world. Wewere in the darkness, and Christ’s light came intoour world. We light candles each week of Advent asa sign of Christ’s light coming again into our worldand read passages of Isaiah to remember what thispromised kingdom looks like, learning how to havea hopeful expectation for the kingdom andrevising us when we fall short in that expectation. May God help us to have a revised more hopefulexpectation that leaves no one out of the Kingdomthis Advent season, and may we be open to theHoly Spirit working within us to work towards thisnew Kingdom.
--Cassie
The Pastors' Corner"Advent" The word advent means “coming” or“arrival.” In the church, Advent marks thebeginning of the liturgical year while it preparesus for the end of time. In many churches andhomes, people light candles during each of thefour Sundays symbolizing progression -- amovement toward something grand. We movetoward the day of the coming of Christ, the Child,Messiah and Light of the World.
During each of the Sundays of Advent, thescripture readings exemplify the two-edged swordof the season – the coming of the Christ child andthe coming of God’s final realm. While we holdfast to hope, we see that we also must be readyand on the watch. Ann Weems writes in her book Kneelingin Bethlehem, This Advent let’s go to Bethlehemand see this thing that the Lord has made knownto us. In the midst of shopping sprees let’s
Prayer Shawl/Chemo CapMinistry - The "Knit-Wits"The Knit-Wits need donations! Because this issuch a vibrant (and productive!) ministry, manyprojects are in the works. In addition to theongoing knitting projects, the group is workingon several sewing endeavors including LittleDresses for Africa and neck warmers andneck coolers for US Soldiers in Afghanistan.As such, we are in need of supplies -- mostimportantly fabric. Donations can be droppedoff in the Narthex (where there is also acomplete list of fabric types needed.) If youhave any questions, contact Bev Ponton orRev. Ann.
Make the World a Better Place One Stitchat a Time
Family ChristmasFairMark your calendars andbring you friends to churchon Saturday December 4th
from 2pm - 5pm for our Family Christmas Fair! We'll have craft and activity stations, a craftbazaar, a mission project, storyteller and a"Happy Birthday, Jesus!" celebration completewith cake.
Found CoatA woman's beige (lined) raincoat was foundand returned to the church. It is now locatedin the upstairs coat closet for the owner toretrieve.
Food PantryAs the food need for people in our communityis still growing, we will continue collecting foodfor the pantry at Holly First Baptist Church. Please remember to bring your canned orboxed food and place it in the Narthex.
Our Life Together Please pray......for Ardath Regan, Dan Nash, JoshBanks, Pat Frank, Jerry Studer, Edith Sargent,Jack Smith, Beth Foss, Harriet Striggow, BevPonton, Alice Horak, Cristy Banks, TerrySizemore, Amie Davis and all of the membersof the church who are facing health problems.
...for the families of the congregation and for
ponder in our hearts the Gift of Gifts. Through thetinsel let’s look for the gold of the ChristmasStar. In the excitement and confusion, in themerry chaos, let’s listen for the brush of angels’wings. This Advent, let’s go to Bethlehem andfind our kneeling places. Luke 2:1-21, which tells of the birth of Jesus,contains some of the most beloved passages ofthe Bible. Angels and shepherds serve as theones to announce the Messiah’s birth, and Marytreasures and ponders what they say about hernewborn son. Mary has opened her life to God,so that others too may be blessed. Through noconscious choice of her own, a baby emergesfrom the quiet, cushiony warmth of the wombinto an entirely strange environment filled withharsh temperatures and textures. There is nogoing back. This first Christmas, as has beentrue from the beginning, is laced with contrasts. Even from the glorious story of Jesus’ beginningswe know that Christ was born into the world sothat He could die and save the world. Even deathis where life is found, for death is not the finalword but the beginning of a new and gloriouslife. “Do not be afraid: for see – I am bringingyou good news of great joy for all the people.” The Good News is that in spite of ourfaithlessness God is faithful and Jesus Christ wasresurrected, for God so loved the world that hegave his only begotten Son that whoever believedmight have everlasting Life. Listen, you whohave ears to hear. Listen, and sit down to breadand wine with strangers. Feed his sheep … Loveone another, and claim new life in his name. --Kneeling in Bethlehem, by Ann Weems Blessings, Revs. Ann and Bill
those who are living alone. Pray that we cantreat each other with care and compassion.Pray for members of the church who facedifficult times or decisions.
...For our Session as they continuously seekGod’s leading for the life and future of ourchurch....for the leaders and peoples ofAfghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine. Pray forpeace in those nations and in our world. Andplease remember the men & women in ourarmed services in your prayers.
Office HoursRegular office hours are Monday-Thursday9am-2pm.Pastors Ann and Bill Robertson's hours are onMonday afternoons and Wednesday mornings.The office is closed on Fridays.Up-to-date information is available atour website under "Church News" or you maycontact the church at 248-634-9494.
Our MissionariesPlease pray for our missionaries. Up to dateinformation on them can be found on thebulletin board in the Fellowship Hall:
Allen and Deedee IobstAPDO de Correos 18811201 Algeciras-Cadiz [email protected]
Colby and Sarah Keefer4695 Sycamore DrYpsilanti, MI [email protected]@athletesinaction.org
Mission StatementHolly Presbyterian Church is a community offaith in God that values peaceful, loving andjust relationships in our church, families, andthe world. Our Mission is to :
Worship God in a faithful and joyfulmanner;Teach the Good News of the Christianfaith, share that faith with each otherand reach out to those beyond thechurch;Be a loving family dedicated to thebiblical values of peace, love, faith,and justice;Develop a dynamic presence in ourcommunity under the guidance of theHoly Spirit.
Visit our website.
