Sunday Morning Worship
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| 12/18/2011 |
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The Season of Advent in Christ Church
December 16, 2011
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Stars keep watch, when night is dim, one more light the bowl shall brim; shining beyond the frosty weather, bright as sun and moon together. People look East and sing today, Love the Star is on the way!
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Sunday, December 18--The Fourth Sunday of Advent
9 AM--The Holy Eucharist, Hymns and Sermon
10:10 AM The Forum Advent and Apocalyptic
11 AM--The Holy Eucharist, Sermon, Hymns and Choral Music by the Christ Church Choir
2 PM The First City Troop's Annual Prayer Service--All are welcome
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Friends:
This Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we sing one of my favorite hymns to mark the end of Advent and coming of Christmas: People look East, the time is near of the crowning of the year. Make your house fair as you are able, trim the hearth and set the table. People look East and sing today, Love the Guest is on the way!
You can make Christ Church as fair as able by coming to the Parish Work Day Saturday morning 9 AM to 11 AM, when we'll scrub and polish to make all things beautiful for Christmas.
Haven't figure out what service you're coming to on Christmas Eve or Day. Check it here.
 The war in Iraq officially ended this week, thank God. This Sunday at 2 PM, the First City Troop, an active unit of the Pennsylvania National Guard whose many members served in Iraq, hold their annual prayer service at Christ Church. All are welcome, or stay for the beginning. You can thank a soldier, as well as see them arrive on horseback and process into church in colonial uniforms worn by General Washington's guard.
A couple of months back, I "talked turkey" about parish finances in this difficult year, so maybe a "Christmas goose," is better today. Our pledgers and regular givers have responded generously and quickly over the last two months. We are still expecting $30,000 in pledge contributions by Saturday, December 31st. If at all possible, please bring your pledge up to date this Sunday so we can get it all deposited and accounted for without having to bite nails for the next two weeks. If you would like to do that online, click here.
Today, I put in the mail a Christmas Offering envelope for you to bring to services, or send in. Each year, we count on our friends and parishioners generosity (beyond their pledge) at Christmas. Last year, the Christmas offering was $11,267, which is very good! I just asked our accountant Ed what we'll need at Christmas to make our budget. The answer: $15,000. If every one reading this will bring or send a Christmas gift, we'll make it. Don't worry about the amount. Your church needs you, and every one of us, to give something extra this year.
Timothy Safford
Notes:
- Great job, Christ Church, on the Advent Angel Tree. 120 gifts were delivered to Episcopal Community Services on Monday. Thanks to all who contributed and coordinated.
- The Rev. Kate Spelman will be ordained a priest (currently, she's a deacon) on Saturday January 14, 10 AM. Here is your personal invitation. Would you like to share in an ordination gift for Kate from the parish? Drop a check in the plate or mail, or go online, and mark it "Kate's Ordination."
- Lent is just around the corner. Help us plan the weekday Lenten Program by taking the very short survey found here.
- Here's a great video telling the Christmas story:
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| The Christmas Story |
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This Week's Announcements
MAKE YOUR PLEDGE TO CHRIST CHURCH
Thank you to the 154 individuals and families who have pledged $358,561 for the year 2012. There are 62 pledge renewals still outstanding. If you have not made your pledge, new or renewed, please do. Pledge letters are available in the back of the church, or you may use the online pledge card here. Need to check your pledge balance for 2011 and bring it up to date? Or just contribute? Online giving is here.
CHRISTMAS COOKIES FOR THE COFFEE CUP
Attention all bakers! Adorn your aprons, turn on your ovens, mix your dough and get started. You can help in this annual project as we provide homemade cookie gift boxes for "Coffee Cup" seniors. Our unique gift is the homemade cookies, which are not available to "Coffee Cup" patrons through any other means. We would love to receive your favorites and invite you to join us for packing the boxes. Baking the cookies and packing the boxes is a project in which children love to participate.
Date: Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Time: 4:30pm
Place: Neighborhood House 1st Floor
We Need Cookies!
If you are unable to attend the packing, please deliver your cookies to Neighborhood House before the 21st . Thank you for your help. For more information or questions,
please call Helen Niedermayer at 215-592-8238.
Youth Group
Youth Group meets each Sunday at 10AM. It is led by Assistant Minister Kate Spelman and loosely follows the acclaimed Journey to Adulthood curriculum. This group for ages 11 -17 yr olds continues to explore a range of topics affecting the spiritual and social lives of youth. Please join us on the 1st Floor of Washburn House.
Join the Christmas Pageant
At the Family Eucharist at 5P.M. on Christmas Eve, kids of all ages are welcome to participate in the telling of the Gospel by dressing up as a character or an animal in the Christmas story; visiting family and friends are also welcome to join in. Please bring your child to the Great Hall at 4P.M. to choose a costume and prepare for the service. We'll have snacks and caregivers on hand. Use one of the church costumes, or bring one of your own - there's always room for more! Questions? Contact Robin Parke at rmparke@gmail.com.
Christmas Day Eucharist
Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year and Christ Church will have just one service that morning at 10:00A.M. Please join us for this lovely Holy
Eucharist Service with Christmas Carols.
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