Notes from the President…

Naoma Nelsen

Advent is a time of waiting, anticipating and preparing for the com-

ing of Christ. The Jesse Tree is a wonderful way to tell the story that

leads to Jesus‟ birth. Representing the genealogy of Jesus, it tells the story of

God‟s plan of salvation: beginning with creation, continuing through the Old

Testament, to the coming of the Messiah. A free Jesse Tree devotional, in-

cluding printable ornaments, can be downloaded at the link below.

http://www.aholyexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/

Jesse_Tree_Advent_Celebration1.pdf

From the Pastor’s Desk

So many things your pastor does not know and I am still learning; such as, I do know what the name “John” means, “God is gra-

cious” (surprise, know my own name‟s meaning, WOW!). But, either I have forgotten or never knew the meaning of John the Baptist‟s

parents, Zechariah (or Zacharias) and Elizabeth. God led Zechariah‟s parents to name him not because it was a pretty name; but it had

meaning, “Jehovah remembers”. When this father and this mother named their son Zechariah, it was God‟s plan to encourage him all

his life that God still remembers him and does not forget about him. Zechariah married a woman whose parents named her, Elizabeth.

Her Mom and Dad may have been disappointed in those days that she was not a boy! But, they gave her a name, a great name, again

with significant meaning, “the oath of God” reminding Elizabeth that God‟s promises to her would never fail, Amen!

What kind of folks were John‟s parents? They were blessed with a “priestly heritage”; meaning both his parents had parents from a line of priests, Abijah

and Aaron (Lk.1:5). They were both righteous before God, “both of them were upright in the sight of God walking blamelessly in all the command-

ments” (Lk.1:6). Here were two of God‟s elect, part of His holy remnant; yet, up until now, “well along in years”; had no children, some would use the word

“barren”, meaning empty (Lk.1:7). In those days considered a tragedy, as they looked on children as a heritage from the Lord and having none were seem-

ingly without hope; but, they continued to hope, pray and worship (Lk.1:8-10)

They had hoped, they had prayed, they continued to worship and while doing the “ordinary” and the “natural” an angel appeared on the very day Zecha-

riah had been chosen to offer incense at the altar (Lk.1:9). This privilege (offering incense) came to no priest except once in a lifetime (verified in several

sources). Amazingly, Luke does not take time to defend the existence of angels; but, describes visit by Gabriel as “natural”. Luke was writing down all the

details in an orderly fashion inspired by God, Himself. Again, amazing to me, the very first communication by an angel from God, since Malachi was written

400 yrs. ago, is, “Do not be afraid”. Old in age, performing his normal duties, upright (by God‟s grace) and first words to this childless pair, well beyond

child-bearing age, is, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, your prayer has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you are to give him the

name John” (Lk.1:13)

John is not “The Light”! He is only a forerunner, a herald, which bears witness to The Light, Jesus Christ! Jesus said of Himself, “I Am the light of the

world”(John 8:12;9:5). We are commanded to let our lights (the light of Jesus) shine before men (Mt.5:16). You may say my life has been too darkened by

my own sin, I am cut off from God, too far away! That must have been what David felt like when he prayed and was heard by God, “In my alarm I said, „I

am cut off from Your sight!‟ Yet, You heard my cry for mercy when I called to You for help.” (Ps.31:22)

Now, for whatever reason you may be like Zechariah and Elizabeth, startled, gripped with fear; maybe, over things that happened or could happen.

Please meditate on Psalm 34, written by David fleeing King Saul and finding himself before the King in Gath pretending to be insane because, “he was very

much afraid of (him)” (ISam.21:12ff):

“I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears…This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his trou-

bles…those who fear Him lack nothing…but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing…a righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers

them from all their troubles”

Psalm 34:4,6,9,10,19 (underlining mine)

Read and meditate again for “the first time” on Luke 1 and 2 along with Psalm 34 and I will be praying, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in

Your law”(Ps.119:18)

This month, during our special times together in worship and service, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in

Him.” (Psalm 34:8)

Celebrating Christ‟s birth among us and in us, joyfully yours, only by grace, your pastor, John

A Publication of New Hope Presbyterian Church (PCA), Abbeville, SC December

The Rev. John R. Fastenau, Pastor 2011

OUR MISSION IN WORSHIP To glorify God by exalting Christ while using Biblical elements as interpreted in the rich tradition of the Reformed Faith.

By Reformed, we mean that we are of the Calvinistic heritage and ever seeking to conform our beliefs and lives to the Word of God.

Congratulations Bruce and Eva Gamble

Bruce and Eva Gamble’s adopted daughter

Child of the Covenant

Julienne Marina Gamble was born on

November 16, 2011

Weighing 6 lbs. 3 oz.—Length 19”

Praise God from Whom ALL Blessings Flow

New Hope Presbyterian Church

Presbyterian Church in America

136 Highway 71

Abbeville, SC 29620

(864) 366-5684

Email: newhopepca@wctel.net

www.nhpres.org Opportunities for Worship & Service

Sunday 9:30 a.m. Prayer Meeting

9:45 a.m. Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Fellowship Time

11:00 a.m. Morning Worship

12:00 noon Church-Wide Lunch

1:30 p.m. Afternoon Worship

Wed. 6:30 p.m. Various Meetings & Ministries

BELOVED OF GOD,

CALLED TO BE SAINTS

“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called

to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of

God which He promised before through His

prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning

His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born

of the seed of David according to the flesh,

and declared to be the Son of God with

power according to the Spirit of holiness, by

the resurrection from the dead. Through

Him, we have received grace and apostleship

for obedience to the faith among all nations

for His name, among whom you also are the

called of Jesus Christ.”

Romans 1: 1-6

Officers

Session

John Cook

Pat Hodge Barry Jones

Wayne Sears

Deacon

Richard Culbreth Glenn Ellis

Owen Uldrick

THOU INCOMPREHENSIBLE BUT PRAYER-HEARING GOD,

K nown, but beyond knowledge, revealed, but unrevealed,

my wants and welfare draw me to thee, for thou hast never said, ‘Seek ye me in vain’. To thee I come in my difficulties, necessities, distresses; possess me with thyself, with a spirit of grace and supplication, with a prayerful attitude of mind, with access into warmth of fellowship, so that in the ordinary concerns of life my thoughts and desires may rise to thee, and in habitual devotion I may find a resource that will soothe my sorrows, sanctify my successes, and qualify me in all ways for dealings with my fellow men. I bless thee that thou hast made me capable of knowing thee, the author of all being, of resembling thee, the perfection of all excellency, of enjoying thee, the source of all happiness.

O God, attend me in every part of my arduous and trying pilgrimage; I need the same counsel, defence, comfort I found at my beginning. Let my religion be more obvious to my conscience, more perceptible to those around. While Jesus is representing me in heaven, may I reflect him on earth, While he pleads my cause, may I show forth his praise.

Continue the gentleness of thy goodness towards me, And whether I wake or sleep, let thy presence go with me, thy blessing attend me. Thou hast led me on and I have found thy promise true, I have been sorrowful, but thou hast been my help, fearful, but thou hast delivered me, despairing, but thou hast lifted me up. Thy vows are ever upon me, And I praise thee, O God.

God Enjoyed Submitted by RE John Cook, Taken from:

The Valley of Visions ~ Puritan Prayers and Devotions

NOTE FROM THE SESSION

The Session and Deacons will meet December 21

at 7 pm. Please let the officers know of specific

prayer request or any spiritual needs you may have.

A Monthly Devotion Submitted by John Latham

GOD’S CHRISTMAS GIFT ...the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Well, have you opened yours yet? I’m talking about your Christmas gift from God! It’s what people have always wanted. For centuries people have searched for the fountain of youth, wondering if something somewhere can stop aging and give life anew. The search for immortality...has this been your quest? Once we open God’s Christmas gift, our search is over. What is this incredible gift that satisfies our deepest longings? Eternal Life. God gives it to us as a Christmas gift, totally free because it’s priceless. If it weren’t a gift, who could buy it? How could anyone pay for eternity in Paradise...in a new body that never aches...in a new world without sorrow, weeping, or death? Nobody could pay even on billionth of one percent of the value of this gift. If you had received all the presents you ever dreamed of and even a thousand-fold more, but you lay in your bed with your hands cold and your heart stopped, then it doesn’t matter what’s under the Christmas tree. But God’s gift is eternal life. It can’t be snatched away by death. But, or course, you have to open your gift, which you can do by trusting in Jesus for your salvation. And unlike many gifts we buy for those we love, God’s Christmas gift has been paid for already. Despite the incredible expense of the gift, He hasn’t charged it—Jesus paid the full price once and for all. Upon that cross of agony, Christ endured in body and soul the wrath of God, which is the wages of sin. Christ paid the price, not with silver or gold or precious stones, but with His own blood. If you have already opened your Christmas gift from God, then point someone else to the gift this Christmas. Someone near you might not know the true joy of Christmas, un-wrapping material gifts while the most beautiful gift in all of heaven and earth lies un-opened. God loves us so much that He gave us His Son. That’s why we give gifts to each other. That’s why we celebrate Christmas. Merry Christmas!

“God’s gifts put men’s best dreams to shame.” ELIZABETH BROWNING

From: New Every Morning by Dr. D. James Kennedy

Pray without Ceasing

First and foremost, when we pray God says to “keep asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, that He may give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, SO THAT WE MAY KNOW HIM BETTER.” Ephesians 1:17

Pray for our nation and its leaders; for true spiritual revival; for conviction of sin; and turning back to God.

Pray for our missionaries: Guillermo & Jennie Salinas & fam-ily, Gary & Robin Alward & family, Rick Brawner, Stephen Speaks, Rob Hamby, Will & Martha Faires, Gary Watanabe, Paul Henry, Mo Montenegro, Kristen Trace .

Pray for those in the Nursing Home: Ruby Link, Elise Kroeze, Henry McCord and Bea Finnan.

Pray for Gin Bailey, Anna Lou McCord, Howard Culbreth, Irene Ellis, Joyce Cooper, Sunni Wickiser (cancer) ,and Terry Love in their various struggles.

Pray for New Hope : Session, Deaconate, and Committees.

Sharing Notes We have witnessed again God's Faithfulness to hear and an-

swer the Prayers of His people! You'll never know how much

we Uldrick's appreciate our NH Family, the many acts of

love and kindness y'all have shown during and after Jackson's

accident and surgery. Jackson is doing well, please continue to

pray as he continues through this lengthy healing process.

Pastor John, we really appreciate your extra measure of

encouragement to Jackson and being with us.

Kay Jones Takes An “Honor Flight” With World War II Veterans Submitted by Kay Jones

Last February I read an article in the Little River Electric Co-op magazine about an organization called "Honor Flight". Honor Flight Network's purpose is "to do whatever it takes to fulfill the dreams of our vets and help our senior vets to travel absolutely free" to Washington, DC. The article went on to say that our WWII vets are dying at a rate of approximately 1000 per day. Many of them never got the chance to see the WWII Memorial since its dedication in 2004. Since the first Honor Flight in May, 2005, more than 63,000 vets have been flown to Washington to see "their" memorial. The article really touched my heart and I saw this as an opportunity for me to show respect to these wonderful vets that are truly the "Greatest Generation". I immediately completed my applica-tion. The months went by and aside from letting me know that they received it, I never heard another word. Fast forward to November 2011. I received a call that a Honor Flight was leaving on November 8, and would I like to be a guardian for two Navy vets from Greenwood? Would I ever!! There were approximately 140 people in our group, including 3 doctors who would provide medical attention, if need be. We met for an orientation meeting in Greenville and had a conference call to help us know what would be necessary for "our" vets to have a safe and comfortable trip. John and I picked up my two vets in Hodges early on the morning of November 8. We met our group at GSP International Airport and flew out about 8:30 am. On the runway, 2 fire trucks were waiting. As our plane passed by, they squirted large streams of water over us, forming an archway. We received a similar welcome when we arrived in Washington. We were told that this was a sign of respect to our veterans from the firemen and EMS workers. Arriving in Washington, DC about 10:30 am, we were met by groups of VFW, American Legion and active duty service members. These precious vets received a "rock star" welcome complete with banners, flags, hugs and salutes. Many of them smiled broadly while some were teary and couldn't speak. I know I was at a loss for words! Our first stop was the WWII memorial, where we were met by Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator and Mrs. Bob Dole. They circulated among the group, speaking to each one and posing for pictures if asked. Later we went to the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean and Vietnam Memorials, Iwo Jima and saw the changing of the Guard at Arlington Memorial Cemetery. We had a police escort with flashing lights all through the city and never had to stop for a red light or stop sign. Finally, we boarded our plane at Reagan International for the return flight. Hundreds of people were waiting for us at GSP. Upon the arrival home our guys received a hero's welcome bigger than anything I have ever seen. Each man was escorted one at a time down the stairs by a deputy or police officer in full dress uniform. The applause was thunderous! Patriotic music played, flags waved wildly and cameras were everywhere. It was overwhelming, to say the least. I also had a chance to make two new friends. Giles Daniel and George Dexter were my responsibility on the trip, but they were more energetic than I was! They looked out for me! I made scrapbooks for them with pictures of our trip and they were so grateful. Honor Flight's website is "Honor Flight.org" if you would like to read more about this worthy organization or help sponsor future trips. Subsequent to the WWII vets, their efforts will focus on the Korean War and Vietnam vets. I am so thankful that the Lord blessed me with this opportunity. Brave men and women in uniform have put their lives on the line for us so that we might wor-ship and live freely. We owe them our respect for what they have done for our wonderful country.