Category: Uncategorized

Palm Sunday Procession
Begins at 9:00 a.m. at Powderhouse Park, marching to Davis Square. (should be done by 9:45 a.m.) If you’d like to walk, please meet the pastor at the church by 8:30 a.m. Rev. Allen will be blessing the palms.

Sermon: “Gathered at Hope’s Gate”
Scriptures: Psalm 42:1-6, Mark 11:1-11
While much can be said about the political hopes that the Palm Sunday parade into Jerusalem represented, these gospel passages are also (and more essentially) a prefiguring of the deeper, eternal hope that is to come (and is also present now). We are people gathered at the gate, waiting for our salvation, waiting for our deliverance. As the psalmist notes, we find ourselves longing and thirsting for God. Palm Sunday is a reminder for us to always hope in God, for God is at work in our lives then and now, and forevermore. What do we do when our hopes seem dashed?

Join us for worship on Sunday, October 12th at 10:30 a.m., and for coffee and fellowship after the service.

Presentation: Water and Spirituality in Palestine/Israel
Sunday, March 29th during Coffee Hour, we will host Nidal al-Azraq, along with our own Paul Beran, for a discussion about “Spirituality and Water”. Nidal al-Azraq has been working on a water conservation project in one of the refugee camps in the West Bank. He is affiliated with the Boston Alliance for Water Justice. The presentation with be after coffee hour, in the fellowship area, from 12:15-1:15 p.m. If you’d like, please bring a dish to share; especially a Middle Eastern dish. ( Due to serious allergies, we have to ask for NO NUTS in your dish.) All are welcome to join us on Palm Sunday for this presentation.

One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) Offering
Concluding on Sunday, our Focus on Mission during the service will be the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering. The offering will be collected on Palm Sunday (March 29th). Donations are split equally between Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), Self Development of People (SDOP) and the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP). Come find out more about the worthy work that the OGHS supports, and please give as generously as you are able.

Interested in free Red Sox tickets? Fill those Fish Banks! The Fish Banks are a way to contribute to the OGHS offering. A member of our congregation has Red Sox tickets to give away, in exchange for filling and turning in your Fish Bank. Make sure you mark your Fish Bank with your name so we will know who the bank belongs to. You can find the empty banks on the table in the narthex.

Maundy Thursday Service
Thursday, April 2nd at 7:00 p.m. in the church sanctuary.
We will have a fellowship/last supper type of worship service, with readings surrounding the last night of Jesus before his crucifixion. Various food items will be available as part of the service and fellowship time (nut-free only). All are invited to gather at 6:30 in order to “prepare” the upper room for our common meal, with a meal and service at 7:00 p.m.. After our time together we will cover the cross and shut off the lights in the sanctuary, and leave in silence.

Easter Sunrise Service
Begins at 6:00 a.m., at Nathan Tufts Park, Powderhouse Square. If you’d like to attend the service on Easter morning, meet the pastor at the church by 5:30 a.m. Rev. Allen will be leading the prayers of the people at the service.

Please bring your Easter plants and flowers to church on Sunday, April 5th. Easter lilies, hyacinths, tulips, daffodils or other spring flowers would all be welcome decorations for our sanctuary as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection.

Easter Sunday
Join us for worship and the celebration of Communion and Easter on Sunday, April 5th at 10:30 a.m., and for coffee and fellowship after the service.

If you would like to bring a sweet or savory snack to supplement our coffee hour spread for Easter Sunday, we would love to have you share them with us. Due to serious allergies, we have to ask for NO NUTS in your treats. Unless it needs to be refrigerated, the dish can be left in the Nave Gallery.

Members Per Capita
Clarendon Hill is a member congregation of the National Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., the Synod of the Northeast, and the the Presbytery of Boston. As part of our membership in this connectional church, our local presbytery, our regional Synod and the national General Assembly ask each church to contribute a certain amount to cover administrative costs. This amount is determined according to the size of a church’s membership – it’s per capita. The per capita amount is not a church tax, nor in any way is paying per capita a requirement of membership. While the total amount due from our church is covered by our church budget, we ask members who can pay the “per capita” (or a portion of it) to do so as a way of recognizing our connection to and appreciation of the larger Presbyterian Church, as well as supporting our church budget in a particular way. The per capita amount this year is $52.00 per member – $40.00 of which goes to support the Presbytery of Boston. Please give as you can to this. If you have offering envelopes, please use the blue envelope marked “per capita”.

New Hymnal Donations
Our new “Glory to God” hymnals are here! If you’d like to help “give our congregation the gift of song”, you ‘ll find envelopes out on the table in the narthex. For a $20.00 donation, you can help to pay for a hymnal, and have a bookplate placed in the hymnal in memory or in honor of a loved one. Envelopes can be placed in offering plates during the service, or handed to a member of the congregation.

Deacons Meeting
The Deacons will meet in the Green Room after coffee hour on Sunday, March 22nd

CHPC Bible Study
The Clarendon Hill Bible Study will meet at Mr. Crepe in Davis Square on Thursday, March 19th at 6:30 p.m. (Please note change in date and location.) For more information, please contact Kevin, Josh, Solimar or Pierre.

Session Meeting
Session will meet on Wednesday, April 8th at 7:30 p.m.

The Horizons Bible Study Group for Women
Meeting in the home of a member at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 10th. If you are interested in learning more, or attending, please contact Salam at salamlebos@hotmail.com.

Adult Education Group
Sunday, April 12th, the Adult Education group will meet in the Green Room after coffee hour. We will discuss Sabbath Economics, using two books: The Biblical Vision of Sabbath Economics by Ched Myers and Sabbath Economics: Household Practices by Matthew Colwell. See Pastor Allen if you’d like books, or more information. Everyone is welcome to join us!

Sermon:”What Are You Lookin’ At?!”
The scriptures for this Sunday speak directly to our deepest fears, whatever they may be. Let us explore how they might be helpful for us as we approach the darkness of Good Friday.
Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9
John 3:14-21

Join us for worship on Sunday, October 12th at 10:30 a.m., and for coffee and fellowship after the service.

Worship Location
Please note that we are worshiping in the basement fellowship area of the church (over by the kitchen) due to work that is taking place in the sanctuary.

Somerville Early Head Start: Emergency Food Pantry
This Sunday is the first Sunday of the month, so we will be collecting food for the emergency food pantry run by Somerville Early Head Start. You can deposit your non-perishable items in the baskets in the entry, outside the sanctuary doors. Thanks for helping to reduce food scarcity in Somerville.

Members Per Capita
Clarendon Hill is a member congregation of the National Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., the Synod of the Northeast, and the the Presbytery of Boston. As part of our membership in this connectional church, our local presbytery, our regional Synod and the national General Assembly ask each church to contribute a certain amount to cover administrative costs. This amount is determined according to the size of a church’s membership – it’s per capita. The per capita amount is not a church tax, nor in any way is paying per capita a requirement of membership. While the total amount due from our church is covered by our church budget, we ask members who can pay the “per capita” (or a portion of it) to do so as a way of recognizing our connection to and appreciation of the larger Presbyterian Church, as well as supporting our church budget in a particular way. The per capita amount this year is $52.00 per member – $40.00 of which goes to support the Presbytery of Boston. Please give as you can to this. If you have offering envelopes, please use the blue envelope marked “per capita”.

New Hymnal Donations
Our new “Glory to God” hymnals are here! If you’d like to help “give our congregation the gift of song”, you ‘ll find envelopes out on the table in the narthex. For a $20.00 donation, you can help to pay for a hymnal, and have a bookplate placed in the hymnal in memory or in honor of a loved one. Envelopes can be placed in offering plates during the service, or handed to a member of the congregation.

Focus on Mission: One Great Hour of Sharing
Beginning this week, our Focus on Mission during the service will be the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering. The offering will be collected on Palm Sunday (March 29th). Donations are split equally between Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), Self Development of People (SDOP) and the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP). Come find out more about the worthy work that the OGHS supports, and please give as generously as you are able.

Family Fellowship Event: Bowling and Pizza at Flatbread
Join us Saturday afternoon, March 21st for bowling and pizza at Flatbread Pizza in Davis Square. Get out of the house, get some exercise, celebrate the arrival of spring (on the calendar at least!), eat yummy pizza, and fellowship with us. All are welcome. Look for more information closer to the date – but mark your calendars now.

Deacons Meeting
The Deacons will meet in the Green Room after coffee hour on Sunday, March 22nd

CHPC Bible Study
The Clarendon Hill Bible Study will meet at Mr. Crepe in Davis Square on Thursday, March 19th at 6:30 p.m. (Please note change in date and location.) For more information, please contact Kevin, Josh, Solimar or Pierre.

Presentation: Water and Spirituality in Palestine/Israel
On Sunday, March 29th we will host Nidal al-Azraq, along with our own Paul Beran, for a discussion about Water and Spirituality in Palestine/Israel. Nidal al-Azraq has been working on a water conservation project in one of the refugee camps in the West Bank. He is affiliated with the Boston Alliance for Water Justice. The presentation with be after coffee hour, in the fellowship area, from 12:15-1:15 p.m. All are welcome to join us on Palm Sunday for this presentation.

Session Meeting
Session will meet on Wednesday, April 8th at 7:30 p.m.

The Horizons Bible Study Group for Women
Meeting in the home of a member at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 10th. If you are interested in learning more, or attending, please contact Salam at salamlebos@hotmail.com.

Adult Education Group
Sunday, April 12th, the Adult Education group will meet in the Green Room after coffee hour. We will discuss Sabbath Economics, using two books: The Biblical Vision of Sabbath Economics by Ched Myers and Sabbath Economics: Household Practices by Matthew Colwell. See Pastor Allen if you’d like books, or more information. Everyone is welcome to join us!

 

Sermon: “Sabbath Discipleship”
Scriptures: Exodus 20:9-11 and John 2:13-22

Join us for worship on Sunday, October 12th at 10:30 a.m., and for coffee and fellowship after the service.

Worship Location
Please note that we are worshiping in the basement fellowship area of the church (over by the kitchen) due to work that is taking place in the sanctuary.

Somerville Early Head Start: Emergency Food Pantry
This Sunday is the first Sunday of the month, so we will be collecting food for the emergency food pantry run by Somerville Early Head Start. You can deposit your non-perishable items in the baskets in the entry, outside the sanctuary doors. Thanks for helping to reduce food scarcity in Somerville.

Adult Education Group
Next Sunday on March 8th, the Adult Education group will meet in the Green Room after coffee hour. Everyone is welcome to join!

CHPC Bible Study
The Clarendon Hill Bible Study will meet at Mr. Crepe in Davis Square on Thursday, March 12th at 6:30 p.m. (Please note change in date and location.) For more information, please contact Kevin, Josh, Solimar or Pierre.

Session Meeting
Session will meet on Wednesday, March 11th at 7:30 p.m.

The Horizons Bible Study Group for Women
Meeting in the home of a member at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 13th. If you are interested in learning more, or attending, please contact Salam at salamlebos@hotmail.com.

Family Fellowship Event: Bowling and Pizza at Flatbread
Join us Saturday afternoon, March 21st for bowling and pizza at Flatbread Pizza in Davis Square. Get out of the house, get some exercise, celebrate the arrival of spring (on the calendar at least!), eat yummy pizza, and fellowship with us. All are welcome. Look for more information closer to the date – but mark your calendars now.

Deacons Meeting
The Deacons will meet in the Green Room after coffee hour on Sunday, March 22nd

New Hymnal Donations
Our new “Glory to God” hymnals are here! If you’d like to help “give our congregation the gift of song”, you ‘ll find envelopes out on the table in the narthex. For a $20.00 donation, you can help to pay for a hymnal, and have a bookplate placed in the hymnal in memory or in honor of a loved one. Envelopes can be placed in offering plates during the service, or handed to a member of the congregation.

Focus on Mission: One Great Hour of Sharing
Beginning this week, our Focus on Mission during the service will be the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering. The offering will be collected on Palm Sunday (March 29th). Donations are split equally between Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), Self Development of People (SDOP) and the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP). Come find out more about the worthy work that the OGHS supports, and please give as generously as you are able.

Sermon: “Food Justice as a Sacramental Act”
As we celebrate the ministry of our Young Adult Volunteers this Sunday (and their ministry around Food Justice), it is good to focus on what it means for us to gather around the Table for Communion Sunday. I think in the passage from First Corinthians this week, it is not an accident that Paul simply reminds the Corinthian church that Jesus said “This is my body that is for you” — not, as we usually hear it, “that is broken for you” … Paul’s version raises questions about who constitutes the “body of Christ” and what is being given to each of us. As always, we serve a God of grace, and the Table is at the least a reminder of the greatest gift that Christ has offered to us.
Scripture: First Corinthians 11:17-34

Join us for worship on Sunday, October 12th at 10:30 a.m., and for coffee and fellowship after the service.

Coffee Hour with Boston Food Justice Young Adult Volunteers
Come to coffee hour on March 1st to hear from our Boston Food Justice Young Adult Volunteers, Hope Seggelink and Amanda Moak. They will share some of their knowledge and experiences about their time here, and the work they are doing.
The Young Adult Volunteer program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) provides young adults with the opportunity to spend a year in full-time mission service while living in intentional community. There are sites across the United States and around the world.
The Boston Food Justice Young Adult Volunteer (BFJYAV) Program gives young adults the opportunity to engage in the mission of Presbytery congregations and their partner non-profits to secure healthy and sustainable food for all people. YAVs are intended to serve as catalysts of connectional partnerships for either the development of new relationships between congregations and non-profit organizations in their community, or to bring new life to pre-existing partnerships of the same nature.
Hope is serving with the Church of the Covenant and the Women’s Lunch Place (a day shelter for women) in Boston. Amanda is serving with the Presbyterian Church in Burlington, People Helping People (a food pantry), and the Chamber of Commerce Charitable Foundation.

Worship Location
Please note that we are worshiping in the basement fellowship area of the church (over by the kitchen) due to work that is taking place in the sanctuary.

Somerville Early Head Start: Emergency Food Pantry
This Sunday is the first Sunday of the month, so we will be collecting food for the emergency food pantry run by Somerville Early Head Start. You can deposit your non-perishable items in the baskets in the entry, outside the sanctuary doors. Thanks for helping to reduce food scarcity in Somerville.

Fellowship Event: Christian Rock Concert
The christian rock band Red (www.redmusiconline.com) is playing a concert at the Palladium in Worcester on Sunday, 3/1/15 @ 6 PM. Several church members are going to go. If you are interested in attending, please contact Josh (joshua.herzig@gmail.com).
Event Details: http://www.thepalladium.net/event/768619-red-worcester/

Adult Education Group
Next Sunday on March 8th, the Adult Education group will meet in the Green Room after coffee hour. Everyone is welcome to join!

CHPC Bible Study
The Clarendon Hill Bible Study will meet at Mr. Crepe in Davis Square on Thursday, March 12th at 6:30 p.m. (Please note change in date and location.) For more information, please contact Kevin, Josh, Solimar or Pierre.

Session Meeting
Session will meet on Wednesday, March 11th at 7:30 p.m.

The Horizons Bible Study Group for Women
Meeting in the home of a member at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 13th. If you are interested in learning more, or attending, please contact Salam at salamlebos@hotmail.com.

Deacons Meeting
The Deacons will meet in the Green Room after coffee hour on Sunday, March 22nd

New Hymnal Donations
Our new “Glory to God” hymnals are here! If you’d like to help “give our congregation the gift of song”, you ‘ll find envelopes out on the table in the narthex. For a $20.00 donation, you can help to pay for a hymnal, and have a bookplate placed in the hymnal in memory or in honor of a loved one. Envelopes can be placed in offering plates during the service, or handed to a member of the congregation.

Sermon: “Servant Leadership”
Scripture: Mark 1:29-34

Join us for worship on Sunday, October 12th at 10:30 a.m., and for coffee and fellowship after the service.

Deacon Meeting
The Deacons will meet during coffee hour on Sunday, February 22nd.

Somerville Early Head Start: Emergency Food Pantry
Beginning this month, on the first Sunday of every month, we will be collecting food for the emergency food pantry run by Somerville Early Head Start. You can deposit your non-perishable items in the baskets in the entry, outside the sanctuary doors. Thanks for helping to reduce food scarcity in Somerville.

New Hymnal Donations
Our new “Glory to God” hymnals are here! If you’d like to help “give our congregation the gift of song”, you ‘ll find envelopes out on the table in the narthex. For a $20.00 donation, you can help to pay for a hymnal, and have a bookplate placed in the hymnal in memory or in honor of a loved one. Envelopes can be placed in offering plates during the service, or handed to a member of the congregation.

Fellowship Event: Christian Rock Concert
The christian rock band Red (www.redmusiconline.com) is playing a concert at the Palladium in Worcester on Sunday, 3/1/15 @ 6 PM. Several church members are going to go. If you are interested in attending, please contact Josh (joshua.herzig@gmail.com).
Event Details: http://www.thepalladium.net/event/768619-red-worcester/

CHPC Bible Study
The Clarendon Hill Bible Study will meet at Mr. Crepe in Davis Square on Thursday, March 5th at 6:30 p.m. (Please note change in date and location.) For more information, please contact Kevin, Josh, Solimar or Pierre.

Session Meeting
Session will meet on Wednesday, March 11th at 7:30 p.m.

The Horizons Bible Study Group for Women
Meeting in the home of a member at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 13th. If you are interested in learning more, or attending, please contact Salam at salamlebos@hotmail.com.

Sermon: “Singing in the Gospel Choir”
Scripture: First Corinthians 12:1-11
Join us for worship on Sunday, October 12th at 10:30 a.m., and for coffee and fellowship after the service.

Adult Education Study
“An Exploration of Frederick Buechner’s Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy and Fairy Tale.”
Sunday, February 8th, after coffee hour.
Buechner, a Presbyterian minister, has written many books that have influenced both lay and clergy over these last few decades. He has an engaging way of helping us to see the extraordinary aspects of our ordinary lives. In this volume, we can explore the gospel through the lenses of tragedy (of God’s seeming absence), comedy (of God’s unpredictability and unexpectedness), and of fairy tale (of God’s “too good to be true” truth). During the season of epiphany, when we seek to be intentionally open to the ways that God’s Light is present for us, let us use Buechner’s offering here to deepen our ability to see God at work in our too often humdrum, humbug lives.
Book Availability: A few books will be ordered. Please let Allen know if you would like one of these books or will be finding your own copy.

New Leaders
This week, Chris Roll and Diana Santiago will be ordained and installed to the office of Elder, serving for a three year term. Paul Beran will also be installed for a three year term of service. Currently serving elders on Session include Liz Cavano, Josh Herzig and Craig Milanesi. We heartily thank Ruth Allen, Ellen Schemerhorn and Randy Winchester for their years of service on Session.

Next week, on Sunday, February 15th we will install the Deacons. Ellen Schemerhorn will be installed to the office of Deacon, serving for one year. Also to be installed as Deacons for a one year term of service are Anne Camelio, Jenny Herzig, Kevin Kim and Salam Lebbos. We heartily thank Val Donovan for her many years of service as a Deacon.

Somerville Early Head Start: Emergency Food Pantry
Beginning this month, on the first Sunday of every month, we will be collecting food for the emergency food pantry run by Somerville Early Head Start. You can deposit your non-perishable items in the baskets in the entry, outside the sanctuary doors. Thanks for helping to reduce food scarcity in Somerville.

New Hymnal Donations
Our new “Glory to God” hymnals are here! If you’d like to help “give our congregation the gift of song”, you ‘ll find envelopes out on the table in the narthex. For a $20.00 donation, you can help to pay for a hymnal, and have a bookplate placed in the hymnal in memory or in honor of a loved one. Envelopes can be placed in offering plates during the service, or handed to a member of the congregation.

The Horizons Bible Study Group for Women
Meeting in the home of a member at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, February 13. If you are interested in learning more, or attending, please contact Salam at salamlebos@hotmail.com.

Worship Location
Please note that beginning on Sunday, February 15th, we will be worshiping in the basement fellowship area of the church (over by the kitchen) due to work that will be taking place in the sanctuary.

Ash Wednesday Service
Wednesday, February 18th, at 7:00 p.m. Please join us as we begin our journey in to Lent.

CHPC Bible Study
The Clarendon Hill Bible Study will meet at Mr. Crepe in Davis Square on Thursday, February 19th at 6:30 p.m. (Please note change in date and location.) For more information, please contact Kevin, Josh, Solimar or Pierre.

Fellowship Event: Christian Rock Concert
The christian rock band Red (www.redmusiconline.com) is playing a concert at the Palladium in Worcester on Sunday, 3/1/15 @ 6 PM. Several church members are going to go. If you are interested in attending, please contact Josh (joshua.herzig@gmail.com).
Event Details: http://www.thepalladium.net/event/768619-red-worcester/

Guest Preacher
We welcome the Rev. Patricia Budd Kepler as our guest preacher and worship leader this coming Sunday. We also welcome the Rev. Thomas Kepler. The Keplers have a decades-long relationship with Clarendon Hill. Pat was the pastor here before Karl Gustafson, and she recently served as Interim University Chaplain at Tufts Tom served here before Pat did, and he was also a valuable member of the choir. Pat and Tom currently serve as pastors at First Presbyterian Church in Waltham. It is always a blessing to have them with us.
Join us for worship on Sunday, October 12th at 10:30 a.m., and for coffee and fellowship after the service.

New Leaders
Last week we elected some of our leaders for the next few years. Ellen Schemerhorn will be installed to the office of Deacon, serving for one year. Also to be installed as Deacons for a one year term of service are Anne Camelio, Jenny Herzig, Kevin Kim and Salam Lebbos. We heartily thank Val Donovan for her many years of service as a Deacon.
Chris Roll and Diana Santiago will be ordained and installed to the office of Elder, serving for a three year term. Paul Beran will also be installed for a three year term of service. Currently serving elders on Session include Liz Cavano, Josh Herzig and Craig Milanesi. We heartily thank Ruth Allen, Ellen Schemerhorn and Randy Winchester for their years of service on Session.

Somerville Early Head Start: Emergency Food Pantry
Beginning this month, on the first Sunday of every month, we will be collecting food for the emergency food pantry run by Somerville Early Head Start. You can deposit your non-perishable items in the baskets in the entry, outside the sanctuary doors. Thanks for helping to reduce food scarcity in Somerville.

New Hymnal Donations
Our new “Glory to God” hymnals are here! If you’d like to help “give our congregation the gift of song”, you ‘ll find envelopes out on the table in the narthex. For a $20.00 donation, you can help to pay for a hymnal, and have a bookplate placed in the hymnal in memory or in honor of a loved one. Envelopes can be placed in offering plates during the service, or handed to a member of the congregation.

The Men’s Bible Study
Meeting at Panera Bread in Porter Square on Wednesday, February 4th at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Kevin, Josh, Solimar or Pierre.

Adult Education Study
“An Exploration of Frederick Buechner’s Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy and Fairy Tale.”
Sunday, February 8th, after coffee hour.
Buechner, a Presbyterian minister, has written many books that have influenced both lay and clergy over these last few decades. He has an engaging way of helping us to see the extraordinary aspects of our ordinary lives. In this volume, we can explore the gospel through the lenses of tragedy (of God’s seeming absence), comedy (of God’s unpredictability and unexpectedness), and of fairy tale (of God’s “too good to be true” truth). During the season of epiphany, when we seek to be intentionally open to the ways that God’s Light is present for us, let us use Buechner’s offering here to deepen our ability to see God at work in our too often humdrum, humbug lives.

Book Availability: A few books will be ordered. Please let Allen know if you would like one of these books or will be finding your own copy.

The Horizons Bible Study Group for Women
Meeting in the home of a member at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, February 13. If you are interested in learning more, or attending, please contact Salam at salamlebos@hotmail.com.

Ash Wednesday Service
Wednesday, February 18th, at 7:00 p.m. Please join us as we begin our journey in to Lent.

Sermon: “If You See a Good Fight, Get in It”
Scripture: Mark 1:14-20; Jonah 3:1-5, 10
The sermon this week is about how we are called as Christians to engage the world, and the kind of world we are asked to lift up for people. The sermon title is a quote from the Rev. Vernon Johns.
Join us for worship on Sunday, October 12th at 10:30 a.m., and for coffee and fellowship after the service.

Annual Meeting
We will hold our annual congregational meeting after church, on Sunday, January 25th. We will have a potluck lunch after the service, and then conduct the meeting. For the potluck, please bring an appetizer, soup, salad, main dish, side dish, dessert or beverage to share.
This is the time when we look back on 2014 to note what we have accomplished, elect officers, elders and deacons, and approve a budget for 2015. We will also look forward to begin to decide what we would like to accomplish during the coming year. All are welcome to attend and participate, but only church members may vote on church business.

New Hymnal Donations
Our new “Glory to God” hymnals are here! If you’d like to help “give our congregation the gift of song”, you ‘ll find envelopes out on the table in the narthex. For a $20.00 donation, you can help to pay for a hymnal, and have a bookplate placed in the hymnal in memory or in honor of a loved one. Envelopes can be placed in offering plates during the service, or handed to a member of the congregation.

The Men’s Bible Study
Meeting at Panera Bread in Porter Square on Wednesday, February 4th at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Kevin, Josh, Solimar or Pierre.

Adult Education Study
“An Exploration of Frederick Buechner’s Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy and Fairy Tale.”
Sunday, February 8th, after coffee hour.
Buechner, a Presbyterian minister, has written many books that have influenced both lay and clergy over these last few decades. He has an engaging way of helping us to see the extraordinary aspects of our ordinary lives. In this volume, we can explore the gospel through the lenses of tragedy (of God’s seeming absence), comedy (of God’s unpredictability and unexpectedness), and of fairy tale (of God’s “too good to be true” truth). During the season of epiphany, when we seek to be intentionally open to the ways that God’s Light is present for us, let us use Buechner’s offering here to deepen our ability to see God at work in our too often humdrum, humbug lives.

Book Availability: A few books will be ordered. Please let Allen know if you would like one of these books or will be finding your own copy.

The Horizons Bible Study Group for Women
Meeting in the home of a member at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, February 13. If you are interested in learning more, or attending, please contact Salam at salamlebos@hotmail.com.

Ash Wednesday Service
Wednesday, February 18th, at 7:00 p.m. Please join us as we begin our journey in to Lent.

Sermon: “Under the Fig Tree: A Vision of Peace”
Scripture: John 1:43-51
The fact that Nathana-el was sitting under a fig tree was significant for his encounter with the Christ (cf. Micah 4:1-4; a vision of peace). And it is very significant that Jesus told him that he “saw” him – a very key Greek word in the New Testament. What did Jesus see about this man that made him astonished to see Jesus? What does Jesus see in us What does this vignette tell us about peace of Christ for our world?

Join us for worship on Sunday, October 12th at 10:30 a.m., and for coffee and fellowship after the service.

New Hymnal Donations
Our new “Glory to God” hymnals are here! If you’d like to help “give our congregation the gift of song”, you ‘ll find envelopes out on the table in the narthex. For a $20.00 donation, you can help to pay for a hymnal, and have a bookplate placed in the hymnal in memory or in honor of a loved one. Envelopes can be placed in offering plates during the service, or handed to a member of the congregation.

Adult Education Study
Sunday, January 18th, After coffee hour in the Green Room: “An Exploration of Frederick Buechner’s Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy and Fairy Tale.” Buechner, a Presbyterian minister, has written many books that have influenced both lay and clergy over these last few decades. He has an engaging way of helping us to see the extraordinary aspects of our ordinary lives. In this volume, we can explore the gospel through the lenses of tragedy (of God’s seeming absence), comedy (of God’s unpredictability and unexpectedness), and of fairy tale (of God’s “too good to be true” truth). During the season of epiphany, when we seek to be intentionally open to the ways that God’s Light is present for us, let us use Buechner’s offering here to deepen our ability to see God at work in our too often humdrum, humbug lives.
Book Availability: A few books will be ordered. Please let Allen know if you would like one of these books or will be finding your own copy.

The Men’s Bible Study
Meeting at Panera Bread in Porter Square on Wednesday, January 21st at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Kevin, Josh, Solimar or Pierre.

Annual Congregational Meeting
Mark your calendars now for Sunday, January 25th. We will have a potluck lunch after the service, and then conduct the meeting. This is the time when we look back on 2014 to note what we have accomplished, elect officers, elders and deacons, and approve a budget for 2015. We will also look forward to begin to decide what we would like to accomplish during the coming year.

Sermon: “Utter Trust”
Scripture: Luke 1:26-38
Second Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Comments: I have been struck in preparing for this week’s message about Mary’s utter trust in what was happening. Nothing reluctant is happening here. It would not have been lost on any listeners of this story in the ancient world that she was perhaps as young as 12 years old. But somehow she was struck by God’s Presence in a way that inspired a great trust in her about what was going to happen. An incredible experience of grace enshrouded her, and she knew something essential about God and how God relates to us. Let us explore this passage, and God’s transforming power for us, this coming Sunday.

Join us for worship on Sunday, October 12th at 10:30 a.m., and for coffee and fellowship after the service.

The Advent Meditations are here…
Pick up your copy in the narthex, or check our Facebook page to read them daily!

Advent/Epiphany Study
“An Exploration of Frederick Buechner’s Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy and Fairy Tale.”
uechner, a Presbyterian minister, has written many books that have influenced both lay and clergy over these last few decades. He has an engaging way of helping us to see the extraordinary aspects of our ordinary lives. In this volume, we can explore the gospel through the lenses of tragedy (of God’s seeming absence), comedy (of God’s unpredictability and unexpectedness), and of fairy tale (of God’s “too good to be true” truth). During the seasons of advent and epiphany, when we seek to be intentionally open to the ways that God’s Light is present for us, let us use Buechner’s offering here to deepen our ability to see God at work in our too often humdrum, humbug lives.
Book Availability: A few books will be ordered. Please let Allen know if you would like one of these books or will be finding your own copy.

Times: From 7 to 8:15 p.m. In the Green Room
Wednesday, December 3rd (focus on chapter 1)
Wednesday, Dec. 17th (focus on chapter 2 — tragedy)
Wednesday, Jan. 7th (focus on chapter 3 — comedy)
Wednesday, Jan. 21st (focus on chapter 4 — fairy tale)

The Christmas Joy Offering
Collecting on Sunday, December 21st. A gift to the Christmas Joy Offering helps provide financial assistance to current and former church workers and their families and also enables deserving students to attend Presbyterian-related racial ethnic colleges and schools. Please give as generously as you are able.

Christmas Eve Service
Wednesday, December 24th at 4:00 p.m. Child are welcome in the service, but childcare will be available as well. We invite you to join us for cookies, beverages, and fellowship in the Nave Gallery (next door to the sanctuary) right after the service.

Session Meeting
The Session will meet on Wednesday, January 14th in the Green Room at 7:30 p.m.