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The Christmas Season December 2018
Advent: What to Expect When Mary’s Expecting
Like most ancient treasures, the origins of the Advent season are mysterious. It may have been a time for Christians to express gratitude for the harvest or to prepare those who were to be baptized at Epiphany or Christmas. Not until the 6th century did Advent become a time connected to Christmas as a season of preparation. But in our country today, as Christmas music starts playing as soon as Halloween costumes come off, it may be that the purpose of Advent is past-due for reevaluation.
Perhaps the changes in Advent’s meaning reflect the changing needs of the church in the generations since Christ lived among us. It’s not hard to imagine the church falling into easy and comfortable rhythms, making it necessary for the faithful to take a moment and consider again what being a Christian is all about. What does it mean to hope for Christ? When we look for the Messiah, what exactly are we expecting?
In worship, it is easy to become so familiar with what we do that we forget why we do it and what it means. This Advent, we are taking a step back to remind ourselves what it means to give thanks and praise God. You’ll notice our bulletins have changed into worship booklets. In the margins are notes on each piece of the liturgy: where it came from, what purpose it serves in worship, and how it expresses our faith in God. By taking time to reflect on what our words and actions mean, we open the door to consider how our lives have been transformed by the coming of Christ. We will use the same booklets all four weeks of Advent to help create a sense of continuity and exercise our stewardship of creation.
May this season of Advent be an opportunity for you to take a step out of time and consider what the promise of Christ’s birth holds for you, and how receiving that sure promise can help you be a light that shines in the darkness.
Vicar Miles Hopgood
Thank you to Our Guest Organist, Ron Hemmel
Throughout the fall months as we searched for a new organist and director of choirs, we have been blessed by the musical gifts of Mr. Ron Hemmel. Ron provided musical leadership for the early service liturgy, rehearsed and directed the adult choir anthems and performed wonderful prelude and postlude offerings. We are particularly grateful for his flexibility given the unknown duration of our search process. Thank you, Ron!
Christmas Eve:
4:00pm Children’s Pageant
6:00pm Candlelight Service music by Rejoice!
9:00pm Candlelight Service music by the Adult Choir
Christmas Day:
Worship 10:00am
Sunday, December 30: One Worship Service 10:00am
Tuesday, December 11 from 2pm – 7pm Fellowship Hall To make an appointment go to www.redcrossblood.org Thank you. Kathy Bauer, Coordinator
God's Caring Stitchers
Join us for our end-of-year luncheon at 12:30pm on Friday, December 7. Good food, good conversation.
We will resume our stitching in January 2019. Questions? Contact Cindy Sundstrom at [email protected] or 215-493-2484.
Our Special Offering for the month of December will be donations for the Pet Ministry. Donations will support four local organizations: Bucks Country SPCA in Lahaska and Quakertown, the Women’s Animal Center in Bensalem (formerly the Women’s Humane Society), C.A.T.S. Bridge to Rescue (Caring About the Strays) in Trevose, and Four the Paws in Yardley.
All of these shelters have desperate needs for animal care items as well as volunteers and financial contributions. Please check out the bulletin board in the commons for information about specific needs. Please remember our animal friends in need this Christmas. Your generosity could make a difference not only in their lives but their survival! NOTE: As much as we want shelter animals to find forever homes, the Pet Ministry does not encourage adoptions during the Christmas season since statistics show a high rate of return.
Questions: Contact Sandy Anthony [email protected] or Diana Pazicky [email protected].
Do you want to participate in either the 6:00pm or the 9:00pm services on Christmas Eve? We have opportunities for youth or adults to serve as acolytes, crucifers, torch bearers and communion assistants. Consider serving as a family and making it a holiday worship tradition! Instruction will be provided at a time that fits your schedule. For more information or a
link to the online sign-up, contact Sandy at 215-757-4709 or [email protected], or call the church office.
Sunday, December 23 at 10am in the sanctuary. This is an interactive program for all ages, celebrating the birth of Christ through readings, carol sing-alongs and decoration of the sanctuary. Children will enjoy hanging ornaments on the tree and learning about the real reason for Christmas. There will be no Sunday school that morning so that all can participate in this fun, intergenerational event.
Our next breakfast event will be Saturday, December 22 at 8:30am in Room A1. Join us for food and fellowship. Men of all ages are welcome, newcomers, too.
A free-will offering will be collected.
We will help set up decorations for Sunday’s “Hanging of the Greens”.
Monday, December 17 at Noon
Where can you get a hot lunch for only $6? Our seniors will meet in Fellowship Hall andn enjoy delicious food prepared by our chef, Amy Carr and her volunteers. Please call the church office if you are new to the group and would like to attend.
Seniors: Consider Donating Through Your IRA Distributions
Under the new tax laws, the standard deductions have increased substantially, and many people will no longer itemize deductions. This will reduce the tax benefit of charitable giving, but there are ways to regain those benefits within the new rules. If you have an IRA and have reached the tender age of 70 ½, you can transfer a portion of your mandatory IRA distribution directly to a qualifying charity such as God’s Love. You will pay no tax on the donated portion of the distribution.
Note that the funds must be transferred directly from the IRA to the charity. This is accomplished
through the trustee of your IRA (the financial institution holding your IRA). Usually you only need to provide the name of the church and the address.
So, if you haven’t received your mandatory distribution for 2018 yet, consider transferring a portion of it to God’s Love to fulfill this year’s pledge. And for 2019, consider making your contribution in this way during the month of January to help God’s Love with cash flow and budgeting in a way that is tax-efficient for you. If you have any questions, call your trustee or financial advisor to discuss this and other ways to maintain the tax benefits of charitable giving. —Ed Pazicky
Thursday mornings during Advent ending on December 20. Join us at 8:30am in the lounge for a study of scripture, led by Pastor Dan.
Coffee and Fran’s delicious baked goodies provided.
The Ministry Resource Table has been updated for the season of Advent. Two different Advent booklets are available with daily devotions and reflections to guide your spiritual journey through these next few weeks.
Please take one per household.
Welcome!
PreSchool News • December 2018
The holiday season is upon us! Amid all the excitement and joy of the season, we encourage our children to think of those who are less fortunate. The annual Hat and Mitten Tree is one way we try to foster the spirit of giving. The children bring in donations of new hats, mittens, gloves, scarves and socks to be taken to the Bucks County Housing Group.
During this Advent season, the children are learning about the Nativity, and counting down to Jesus’ birthday. The 4s are “traveling” to different countries to learn about Christmas traditions around the world. On the last day before the Christmas break, the children will have birthday cake and sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus.
Thank you to the many church members who supported our recent Styer’s pie and cheesecake fundraiser—it was a big success!
Looking ahead, registration for the 2019 – 2020 school year will be held January 2 – 10 for church families, current enrollees and alumni. Registration to the community will open January 10. Please visit the church website or contact Nikki Hendricks at 215-497-0506 or [email protected] for more information.
All of us at the preschool wish you and your families a blessed holiday season, a Merry Christmas, and good health and happiness in 2019!
“Boar’s Head and Yule Log” Epiphany Pageant St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Lafayette Hill, PA
A festival of concert and theater production including acting, medieval dancing, and Epiphany pageantry. The festival is held on Saturday, January 12 at 1pm, 4pm, and 7pm and Sunday, January 13 at 1pm and 4pm.
Visit www.stpeterslafayettehill.org for tickets or more information.
We recently received two letters from the ELCA expressing their gratitude for donation checks we sent:
$1,540 to World Hunger
$267 to Lutheran Disaster Response
This congregation proves over and over to be benevolent toward the greater church. Thank you!
Somehow, not only for Christmas,
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others,
Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart’s possessing
Returns to you glad.
—John Greenleaf Whittier
Each year we decorate the altar area with poinsettias for Christmas Eve. Would you like to make a contribution to defray the expense? You can designate names of loved ones (in honor of, in memory of, to the glory of God, etc.) that will be listed in a bulletin insert.
The cost for each poinsettia is $15; you may take your plant(s) home after the 9pm service on December 24. To order, look for a green half sheet in your church mailbox. The deadline is December 19. Kay, Office Manager
180 161 152 143
November 4 November 11 November 18 November 25
Worship Attendance 2018
Our Harvest Social was a lovely evening thanks to our talented and hardworking students and teachers! Thank you to Vicar Miles, who opened the program with a prayer.
Lutheran Church of God’s Love 791 Newtown-Yardley Road Newtown, PA 18940 215.968.4335 www.godslovenewtown.org
Rev. B. Daniel Whitener [email protected]
Will Toppin, Council President [email protected]
Kay Rozolis [email protected]
Susan McDonnell [email protected]
December’s Non-perishable Food Collection will benefit the food pantry of Family Services Bucks County Homeless Shelter in Levittown. Suggested donations include bottled water, healthy single-serving snacks, bulk snacks for kids (animal crackers, pretzels, etc.), cereal, tomato sauce, juice boxes and paper products. Place your donated items in the collection
box in the Commons. Visit www.fsabc.org/wish-list-shelter for more information.
Sundays at 10am in the Lounge
December 2, 9, 16 and 23: “Angels of God”
We’ll explore biblical descriptions of angels, Lutheran and other Christian teachings about angels, as well as stories and evidence of angels among us.
Pray for Worship Leaders December 2: Larry Zetterberg
December 9: Bob Loven
December 16: Andy Senft
December 23: John Shultz
December 30: Larry Zetterberg
December 3: Janet & Ruth
December 10: Fran & Kathy
December 17: Ed & Bud
December 26: Janet & Eileen
December 31: Nancy & Joyce
December 2018
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
“To you” — to me! to us all! — “is born this day ... a Savior” Thank you, Lord!
Luke 2:11
1 Fellowship Dine 6:30pm
2 St Nicholas Day Worship 8:45am Education 10am Worship 11am
3 Counters 9:30am
4 Rejoice 7:30pm
5 Preschool Bd 7pm Adult Choir 7:30pm
6 Bible Study 8:30am GL’s Book Club 7pm
7 Knit & Crochet Lunch 12:30
8
9 Worship 8:45am Education 10am Worship 11am BCWC Concert 3pm
10 Counters 9:30am
11 Blood Drive 2 – 7pm Rejoice 7:30pm
12 Bell Choir 6:30pm Adult Choir 7:30pm
13 Bible Study 8:30am
14 15 Philadelphia Bronze Concert 2pm
16 Worship 8:45am Education 10am Worship 11am
17 Counters 9:30am Seniors Lunch Noon
18 Rejoice 7:30pm
19 Bell Choir 6:30pm Adult Choir 7:30pm
20 Bible Study 8:30am Church Council 6pm
21 22 Men’s Breakfast 8:30am
23 Worship 8:45am Hang Greens 10am No Education Hour Worship 11am
24 Christmas Eve 4pm Children’s 6pm Rejoice! 9pm Traditional
25 Merry Christmas 10am Worship
OFFICE CLOSED
26 Counters 9:30am
OFFICE CLOSED
27 28 29
30 Worship 10am No Education Hour
God’s Blessings in YOUR New Year.
