“She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them” (Luke 2:7).
Wishing you a safe and happy journey into 2022. Merry Christmas —Revs. Rodger and Laurie
December 5 Worship: The second Sunday in the season of Advent, including the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.
FOR YOU DURING ADVENT
The season of Advent, when we prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus, runs from November 28 to December 24 this year. We have a variety of Advent daily devotional booklets displayed on the table in the hallway, and invite you to take your pick! We also have daily open-a-window Advent calendars for the children. Or here is another option: Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is offering a daily online devotional. You can find it at: www.pts.edu. Or an online devotional from the Presbyterian Church (USA), at pcusa.org/2021Advent.
2021 Christmas Joy Offering
It has been the Presbyterian tradition to give a special offering during the Advent season for over 70 years. This offering is one of the four special offerings designated by the General Assembly of the PC (USA) to provide congregations direct ways of supporting specific causes that help those in need. Those who are helped by the offering:
1) Retired pastors and church workers and surviving spouses through the Board of Pensions receive 50% of this offering. The Board recognizes that some church workers don’t make enough to save adequately for retirement. By offering them income supplements, they can live modestly and independently.
2) The PC (USA) has long promoted education through establishing and supporting racial/ethnic colleges and schools. They receive the other 50% of this offering. The Christmas Joy Offering provides much needed scholarships to racial/ethnic colleges including schools like Cook College and Theological School in Tempe, AZ and Knoxville College in Knoxville, TN.
You can give by using the envelopes provided in the Sunday bulletins December 12 and 19, or the envelopes on the big table in the hallway, or by marking any envelope “Christmas Joy Offering.” Please make out your check to Paris Presbyterian Church, and write “Joy Offering” on the memo line.
The Christian calendar
December brings two of the most well-known and treasured seasons of the Christian worship year:
ADVENT begins on November 28 and runs until December 24. In this season before Christmas, we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ anew into our lives.
Favorite Scripture texts include Isaiah 7:14: “Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, God is with us;” and John the Baptist’s words in Luke 3: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.”
We remind ourselves that “getting ready for Christmas” doesn’t mean only shopping, wrapping, decorating, baking and sending cards; but also examining our hearts and lives to make sure we are prepared to greet the Lord when he arrives. In worship the main feature of this season is the lighting of an Advent Wreath.
CHRISTMAS is also a season, not just a day, in the worship calendar, running from December 25 until January 6.
Now we celebrate the birth of the Christ Child and the beginning of God’s saving activity in Jesus of Nazareth.
The Bible stories we concentrate on are Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 2:1-12, and John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.” Or as one of the favorite carols puts it, “Christ was born to save!”
Once again we will have our church doors and a Christmas message of hope at the: Holiday in the park (Twin Lakes Park) yearly light festival. Don’t miss out on warming your heart for the holidays. Each year more and more lights are added.
December 24 at 11 P.M.
Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols service is so meaningful. It features wonderful special music and the telling of the Christmas Story through a series of lessons read from the Bible, as well as a candle lighting ceremony sung to “Silent Night.” What a way to bring in Christmas day as we finish at midnight (An offering plate will be available, with all gifts going to the Paris Ministerial Fellowship Assistance Fund). If you are willing to take a reading, please tell Rev. Rodger. All ages are welcome to read.
GREETINGS
Please remember, as you send your Christmas cards this year, members and friends of the Paris Presbyterian Church who are at least temporarily unable to join us for worship:.
Alice Sprague
305 S. Jefferson, Paris, IL 61944
John O’Bannon
Marshall Rehab & Nursing Center
410 N. 2nd St., Marshall, IL 62441
Camille Foley
403 Grandview, Paris, IL 61944
CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS – 2021:
Deacons Fundraiser
______I/We will give $ ________ to the
Deacon’s Fund with the understanding
that the poinsettia will be delivered to a special person.
______I/We will give $ ________ to the Deacon’s Fund and would like to take a poinsettia to a special person following the Christmas service.
Please note: the deadline for ordering is Sunday, December 12th.
If your gift is a memorial or in honor of a loved one, please list the person(s) below for inclusion in the Christmas bulletin.
Memorial/In Honor:
____________________________________
____________________________________
Signed: ____________________________________
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS:
1 Charles Ruff
2 Ryan Clawson
3 Jane Asher
4 Debbie Benefiel
5 Serena (Hoff) Rush
Jillian Hebermehl
14 Caitlin Blair
Zane Blair
17 Isaac McVicker
18 Melany Kimball Waggoner
Christie Russell
21 Morgan Jipp
22 Jane Blair
Brad Boland
Kathryn Franklin
24 Ken Gough
26 Carol Collier
27 Kathy Smilie
Fred Kreckman
29 Michael Hebermehl
DECEMBER
ANNIVERSARIES:
24 Alvin & Juanita Kimball
27 Robert & Jani Howrey
SANCTUARY CHOIR NEWS
Five of our choir members (plus Susan) will be participating in this year’s Community Advent Service, to be held in our sanctuary at 3 P.M. on December 5. The Community Choir is much smaller in number this year but is still representative of several area churches. The smaller size allows us to spread out more comfortably in the choir loft, and that’s a good thing in this “Covid time!”
We will miss the participation of bell choirs in this year’s program, but the Paris Brass will play several selections before and during the service. Susan Hiddle will also perform special flute numbers. Please plan to attend this service – a tradition in our community.
There will of course be wonderful Advent and Christmas music all through the month of December. Busy schedules and other factors make it difficult to plan too far in advance – these days we tend to take one week at a time!
Thank you to each choir member for sharing his/her talent; thank you to the congregation for your appreciation and support. We sincerely hope the music you hear in church will nourish the Christmas spirit in your heart during this hectic season.
BABY SHOWER/OPEN HOUSE
The congregation is invited to attend a baby shower/open house in honor of Revs. Chris and Karol Farris Schilling. This gathering is planned for 2-5 P.M. on Sunday, December 26 in the Assembly Room. As many of you know, Karol and Chris are expecting twins in February.
We realize many of you will be busy with family Christmas celebrations on that date. This will be a very informal event, and you are encouraged to stop by at your convenience, whether you wish to bring a gift or simply visit for a few minutes.
We will keep you updated if weather or Covid forces any changes in plans. Masks will certainly be encouraged for everyone’s protection, particularly the mother-to-be and the babies.
NEW ADDRESS!
Virginia Collier
Bloom Senior Living
60 Oak Forest Rd., Rm. 119
Bluffton, So. Carolina 29910
NEWS FROM SESSION
Business at the last meeting of the church Session included:
- Members volunteering to take on the various Clerk of Session responsibilities.
- A decision of whether there should be any further “back to normal” steps, yet, in our worship services
- The discussion that we would like to go to our annual outdoor worship service at New Providence.
- Agreement that this year’s “free rummage sale” went well, and preliminary planning for one next year
- A report that the new Betty Jane’s Kitchen would like to use china place settings, and the fact that we haven’t used ours in many years. After a short discussion, it was voted to give the Kitchen 75 place settings, in return for a donation and the assurance that we can borrow them back if we need them.
THANK YOU NOTES
“As we embark upon the season of Thanksgiving, we give thanks because of your sharing the gospel. On behalf of Presbyterian Mission, we express our appreciation to you for your gracious and faithful support during October: to Jonathan and Emily Seitz; and to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for earthquake relief in Haiti.
Rev. Chris Roseland, Presbyterian Mission”
“On behalf of the children and staff of Kemmerer Village, we would like to express our sincere appreciation for your recent gift. Today we are caring for over 200 children from all over the state of Illinois, celebrating our 107th year of helping children and families.
Autumn Warren, Kemmerer Village”
“Dear Sisters and Brothers, I always appreciate the honor of sharing God’s Word with you. Thank you for inviting me to preach on Nov. 28, and the generous gift as well. Much love to you all, Jeanette Levellie”
“Thank you for making Presbyterian Disaster Assistance a priority out of many opportunities to give and serve. Your gift for Disaster Relief- General Relief and Support is perfect, a blessing from God above where it is most needed here below.
Rev. Laurie A. Kraus, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance”