Advent Worship

Sundays through December 24 8 a.m. Chapel: families welcomed 10:30 Sanctuary: childcare provided for

kindergarten and younger

Advent Organ Recitals

Wednesdays, December 6, 13, and 20 12 noon in the Sanctuary

Christmas Concert and Dinner

Sunday, December 10 4 p.m. Traditional Christmas favorites

with the Sanctuary Choir, FPC Chamber Ensemble, and the Ruth Greer Handbell Choir

Dinner following the concert. The cost is $7 for adults, $3 for children 6-12. Reserva-tions required. RSVP to the church office or on the Friendship Pad

“Longest Night” Service

Thursday, December 21 8 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Christmas Eve

Sunday, December 24 8 a.m. Chapel: with Communion 9 a.m. Combined Sunday School 10:30 Sanctuary

5 p.m. Worship with Communion Families welcomed

8 p.m. Candle Service with Communion Childcare provided

Advent/Christmas Events

The “Longest Night” Service Tis the season to be jolly. But not for

some. If someone is already struggling—with financial problems, broken relationships, un-resolved grief—he or she is likely to find fur-ther alienation in the relentless joy and cheer of the Christmas season, particularly as it is often misconstrued in television specials and marketing campaigns. “Longest Night” ser-vices are one way of responding.

Far more than a “countdown to Christ-mas,” Advent is a time of longing for Christ’s peace, justice, wholeness and reconciliation—in personal and public spheres. The Longest Night service, held on the date of the winter solstice or longest night of the year, Decem-

ber 21, typically includes meditations, songs, scripture readings, reflections, an opportunity for personal prayer and anointing, and an opportunity to light a candle as a gesture of prayer or remembrance.

Our hope is that in the midst of the par-ties, the hymn-sings, the Christmas pageants, and the family dinners, this service might provide a meaningful space and time that might be otherwise difficult to find. Everyone is welcome, whether they have a personal need for healing, have a loved one suffering, or they simply need a time of silence, reflec-tion and peace.

Our annual Advent Recital Series, which began Wednesday, December 6, continues December 13 with organist Christ Widomski. Chris is the interim organist at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Plano. On Wednesday, December 20, Dr. Grady Coyle will present an organ recital. Grady has re-cently retired from active church work but main-tains an active leadership role with the AGO (American Guild of Organists). Grady will serve as FPC’s organist through the end of the year. These thirty-minute Advent Recitals are a great way to get away from the “madding crowds” that can eas-ily overwhelm us during the holiday season.

The FPC music department presents Christmas at First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, December 1o, at 4 p.m. The free concert will feature a variety of music for the holidays and showcases The Sanc-tuary Choir, The Ruth Greer Handbell Choir, The FPC Chamber Chorus, The FPC Men’s’ Quartet, soloist Dan White, and organist Dr. Grady Coyle. A Christmas dinner for the congregation will follow the concert and reservations are required. Please call the church office with your RSVP.

As Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year, the day is liturgically shared by both Advent and Christmas. Our morning worship services at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. will conclude Advent and our even-ing services will usher in the Christmas Season. The 5 p.m. service is designed for families with small children and will feature the children’s choir lead-ing familiar carols, Pastor David’s Christmas mes-sage, communion, and the lighting of candles. The 8 p.m. service features traditional carols and Christmas anthems led by the Sanctuary Choir and the Ruth Greer Handbell Choir. Pastor David will deliver his annual Christmas message, Communion will be celebrated, and the service will end with the singing of Silent Night while lighting candles.

Grace and Peace, Ralph

Epiphany is all about celebrating God’s self-revelation to the world. God promises that the divine covenant of grace is extended to everyone who be-lieves the good news of Jesus Christ. It reminds us that God in Christ did something quite remarkable: he extended his grace to those who were originally outside the covenant. As Paul reminds the Ephe-sians, we were aliens and strangers, but God has made us part of the new Israel.

Christians celebrate January 6 (or the 12th Day of Christmas) as Epiphany because it's considered the day the three Wise men (Magi) visited Jesus in Beth-lehem, with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Epiphany also focuses our attention on the magi's response to Christ's revelation. The gifts were symbolic of the importance of Jesus’ birth: the gold representing his royal standing, frankincense his di-vine birth, and myrrh his mortality.

Epiphany reminds us to look for the work of God in our natural everyday lives. It can be a time of fo-cusing on the mission of the church in reaching others by "showing" Jesus as the Savior of all people. It can also be a time of focusing on Christian community and fellowship, especially in healing the divisions of prejudice and bigotry that we all too of-ten create between God’s children.

Celebrate Epiphany: January 6

Christmas is coming, and it will be here before you know it. I know that the recent temperatures make it hard to believe that we are already in De-cember, but I am sure that will change before too long. Christmas decorations are going up. Twin-kling lights are appearing on houses throughout the neighborhood. Presents are starting to appear underneath the Christmas tree. In the midst of all of our preparations and holiday cheer, I have be-gun looking for signs of the miraculous. Perhaps you know what I mean.

As a child, there was always something in the air each December, as we approached the holy night where we all gathered with our candles lit, and our carols ringing. Even those years when Christmas promised to be thin (due to financial difficulties or family drama), there was a holiness that seemed to find us where we were. There was a crispness to the air. There was a greater twinkle among the stars. There were friends and family, neighbors and acquaintances who spread the holi-day cheer, regardless of the issues that were trying to weigh them down. There was a lightness in the air, a peace, a presence.

I have spent many a year trying to tack down exactly what it was about those days, those holy nights, and those miraculous moments that whis-pered of new life and hope. I have spent some ex-tra time thinking about it this year. And I think I have something that will preach.

The miracle of Christmas is all about incarna-tion. Embodiment. It is about making room in our hearts to let God in, but the only way to do that is to get out of our own way. Christmas is about peace and joy. Those are things that take some effort on our part. We cannot just sit around and hope that peace and joy will fall into our laps. Ac-tively sharing peace and joy takes some effort. Sometimes that is done through the exchange of gifts. But it can even be much more simple than that. Sharing joy and peace can be accomplished through a caring touch or a word of encourage-ment. These gifts often cost us very little. They are often overlooked when they are in our own posses-sion. But when they are shared with the intended recipient, look out! They often become gifts of immeasurable value.

I think back to my childhood and how there were individuals who crossed my path, with a twin-kle in their eye and a spring in their step, and it was contagious. It was loving and thoughtful and ex-pressive, in a very real way, of the Christmas spirit. Perhaps it was a card from a friend that I had not

spoken to in a while, or the friend of a family mem-ber who remembered my name and brought a big tin of popcorn for all the kids to share – because she knew that we would be there. Perhaps it was a hug on Christmas Eve from a former Sunday School teacher, or a candy cane pressed into my hand at just the perfect moment. Each of these events was, in some form or fashion, an embodiment of the Christmas spirit. Each one, a minor miracle, that I cherished and stored away for safe keeping.

Now that I look back on four decades of holy mo-ments, held in my heart, I know that miracles hap-pen. They often do not look like much, especially to outside observers. Maybe there isn’t the flash that turns heads, but there is almost always the spark that warms hearts. Maybe the word whispered into an ear is meant for that moment only. But here is

what I know: miracles and the Christmas story go hand in hand. There is a peace that is shared, a joy that is delivered, a holy instant that is made flesh. And in that second, it is pocketed away, a treasure to be brought up in due time.

This Christmas, I hope that you are a deliverer of miracles, an ambassador waging peace, a wise per-son bringing gifts to share with the Christ Child. I know that you have been preparing for just that. And while you may not think that you have the stuff to share, or will be anywhere close to Christ in the man-ger (just around friends and family), I can assure you, He is there.

May your Advent be holy and your celebration of Christmas be full of miracles.

Pastor David

By Robyn Davis Sekula | Presbyterians Today

I left my iPad on the plane. It was a gut-punch as I reached into my back-

pack my second night in Kenya to realize this ex-pensive, handy toy had been left behind. The worst part was that I’d have to tell my husband, and it would confirm what he already knows about me: While I am charming and fun, I am at the very least slightly ditzy. Ugh.

I was traveling with the charity Send a Cow, visiting western Kenya. Send a Cow works with farmers in some of the poorest parts of Africa. I serve on their U.S. board of trustees, and this was

my first visit to see their work. The group has PCUSA support, with the Presby-terian Hunger Program giving Send a Cow a grant last year. In western Kenya, Send a Cow is training farmers in better ways to grow crops and working with specific popula-

tions that need support, including those infected with HIV and AIDS. The rate of HIV infection in Kakrao, an area like a county, is twice the national average in Kenya.

On our first night in Kenya, I reached into my backpack for my iPad and realized I had left it on the flight. I said a little prayer that I’d recover it, and begrudgingly went to bed when I realized there was nothing I could do besides what I had already done — file a report with the airline.

A change of perspective The next morning, we drove out on muddy,

deeply rutted roads to a remote farm. I sat in a quiet room in a mud home, on a plastic lawn chair, and listened as Philister Njuya told us about her children and the grandchild she cares for, and how she goes without meals on some days because she can’t feed both the children and herself. Her 2-year-old granddaughter sat on her lap, clad in only a shirt, and a bare lightbulb that didn’t work dangled from the ceiling. A skinny chicken with a bum foot

hopped through the room. In Kenya the government gives out medication

to treat HIV and AIDS for free. But when taken without food, the medication may not be very effective and can make the person taking it feel awful, causing side effects such as nausea and hun-ger pains. It’s an extra dose of torture on top of a very difficult life.

The contrast between my lavish life and this woman’s need for the most basic sustenance im-mediately convicted me. How could I dare to ask God to help me find my iPad, when there were people literally starving around me? How could I waste another breath on this?

Recognizing prejudice Several days later, thanks to Kenya Airways’

careful attention, I got the iPad back. But the con-versation with Philister haunts me. I sometimes thank God for giving me certain material posses-sions. While it is good to be appreciative for what we have, what does it mean when someone else doesn’t have what we do? In America, we like to believe that means the person didn’t work as hard as we did. We like to believe that, because it’s comfortable for us to believe it.

I admit: There was a time when I believed it. It relieved me of guilt and helped me feel superi-or. Deep prejudice against people who are poor or who suffer from AIDS lives in many of us.

I don’t have any answers for this existential query. I don’t know how to rectify the fact that Philister, through no fault of her own, skips lunch most days because there’s simply not enough to go around — while I eat an abundance of prepared food I buy in an air-conditioned store. I do know that I feel a deep sense of calling to change what I can around me — and even far, far from me.

“Once you see, you cannot un-see,” said Greg Ellison, associate professor of pastoral care and counseling at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, in his landmark book, Cut Dead But Still Alive: Caring for African American Young Men.

I can’t unsee Philister. I can’t unsee her children. Neither can God. And that’s all I know for certain right now.

Robyn Davis Sekula is a consultant, writer and editor who lives in New Albany, Indiana. She is an elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and an active member of Highland Presbyterian Church in Louisville.

‘Once you see, you cannot un-see’

by Scott O’Neill Presbyterian News Service

A short walk to dinner became a life-changing experience for eight-year-old Meghan Deluca. The New Jersey native was walking with her family in Washington, D.C. and came across several home-less people, including a few who were sleeping in boxes. Instead of ignoring them or closing her eyes to their anguish, Meghan made a choice to do something about it. Four years later, with the help of her congregation at First Presbyterian Church of Belmar, she’s raised nearly $8,000 to help home-less individuals and families.

With the help of her Mom, Meghan found her calling at Cardboard Box City, a one-night, annual event held near her home that raises money for a Family Promise shelter. In Cardboard Box City, participants build their own shelters out of card-board on a Friday night, partake in a soup line din-ner, hear music, and listen to formerly homeless people convey their experiences. Participants then retire to their cardboard “homes” for the evening. But to take part, you need to raise money.

“Meghan decided she wanted to have a lemon-ade stand and sell rainbow bracelets,” said Erin DeLuca, Meghan’s mom, in a story she wrote for the church newspaper, November 2014. “All year she and her Aunt Cathy made rainbow loom brace-lets, key chains, and pencil toppers. She sold the items in her stand throughout the summer.”

In that first year, Meghan raised around $1,000 for Family Promise. In 2016, she upped that amount to approximately $4,000 with the help of donations from her congregation and the Mon-mouth Presbytery, which donated their entire $1,000 offering from a September meeting.

Meghan does not limit herself, or her family, to a one-night-a-year commitment. She recently in-cluded her mother, brother and others from her church in feeding homeless families that were staying with a local Baptist church. She helps her Sunday school prepare bag lunches that are dis-tributed to women and children who attend the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) clinic held monthly at Belmar; walks with the CROP Walk; and performs Minutes for Mission around Belmar’s hunger ministry program. Many credit her for bringing homelessness and hunger issues to the congregation’s attention.

“She motivates so many people through her experience and her love, and she just has such a big heart,” said Nancy Steel, a member at First Presby-terian Church Belmar. “If it were not for Meghan

we would not have been at the Cardboard Box City events or Family Promise. She is definitely an advo-cate for the homeless and the hungry.”

“First Presbyterian Church of Belmar is one of the 72 congregations rec-ognized this year in a brand-new initiative called Hun-ger Action Congregations. Because of its thorough approach to hunger minis-try, FPC Belmar is one of the 35 congregations that were Certified Hunger Action Congregations, be-cause of a higher level and deeper commitment to working in a multiple-prong approach including education, outreach, worship, service, and more,” explains Rebecca Barnes, coordinator of Presbyterian Hunger Program. “We are delighted to recognize and walk alongside churches making a difference in their community, and to celebrate creative, inspiring, local initiatives supported by Presby-terians like Meghan DeLuca.”

First Presbyterian Church Belmar, located in Belmar, New Jersey, was founded in 1877 in what was then called Ocean Beach, New Jer-sey. It collects a Cents-Ability offering, partici-pates annually in the Church World Services CROP Walk, the Souper Bowl of Caring, and is a Family Promise of Monmouth County Support Congregation partnering with host congrega-tions to house and feed homeless people. They participate in World Food Day and the Food Week of Action, and donate to the One Great Hour of Sharing.

Pre-teen tackles homelessness concerns

October 2017, Meghan prepares Taco Night for homeless families. (Photo by Nancy Steel)

Those who wonder if the glass is half

full or half empty miss the point.

The glass is refillable.

Sunday Book Club

We’re reading and discussing News of the World, by Paulette Jiles, at 5 p.m. at the home of Laurie Wadleigh on Saturday, December 9. Laurie will provide a main dish, drinks, and dessert for our festivities; others, bring a side dish to share. Every-one is welcome to join us. Contact Ginger (Doug) Anderson for more information.

Thursday Evening Circle

All women are invited to the annual Christmas Tea on Thursday, December 7. (Note the change of date!) Join us at 6:30 p.m. at the home of our hostess, Andrea Gray. For more information, please contact Ginger (Bob) Anderson.

Looking ahead: we meet Thursday, January 11, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the church library, as we

continue It’s Not What You Think, Lesson 4 – Show-ing Up. Linda Yeager is presenter and Ginger An-derson (Doug) is hostess. For more information, contact Linda Yeager.

Men’s Bible Fellowship

The Men's Bible Fellowship meets the first and third Saturdays of each month, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. in Room A111 across from the Chapel. Coffee and donuts are provided by the men on a monthly rota-tion basis. All men of the church, including non-members, friends, and neighbors are welcome. We begin a study of John's Gospel on January 6, 2018. Study Guides are available for $8. A review of the current study will be held at our annual biscuits and gravy meeting on December 16, at 8 a.m. in Ernst Fellowship Hall. For more information talk to Gordon Rice or Bob Puig.

U-Kirk at TCU

News You Can Use

Women's Conference, June 1-3 Theme: "For the love of God, why? For the love

of God." (Mark 12:29-31) Each year, hundreds of women gather to take a

break and recharge physically, mentally, and spirit-ually in the Texas Hill Country. Conference activi-ties include keynote presentations, worship, work-shops, fellowship, recreation, free time, and relax-ation. New this year! We've combined our sessions into one for even more fellowship.

Men's Conference, May 4-6 Theme: "He restores my soul" Explore what the restoration of your soul looks

like, how to let go and allow the Good Shepherd to lead, and the restoration of the soul of the Church. Activities: keynote presentations, worship, song, relaxation and recreation. Also Bible study, church, mission, personal development and social is-sues. This is a God-filled weekend hosted along the banks of the Guadalupe River. Hundreds of men of all ages gather for fellowship and spiritual renewal.

Mo Ranch Conferences in 2018

Do you know students attending TCU, or high school juniors or seniors planning to go there? UKirk Fort Worth meets every Monday at 6 p.m. on campus in Jarvis Hall, the TCU Office of Religious & Spiritu-al Life building, to provide an opportunity for students to engage in the life of the Church in their own setting. We hope that you will encourage all of your students wherever they may be, to look for UKirk on or near their campus. You can find more information at www.ukirk.org or contact Eric Varnon, Director of Young Adult Ministries at FPC— Fort Worth. evarnon@fpcfw.org Taken at the Arts Alive Thanks-Giving Day event.

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December 2017/January 2018

December 6, 2017

You can make a difference in the life of a PK! Children of Presbyterian pastors and missionaries annu-ally make up 10-15% of the student body at Presbyterian Pan American School. And, consistently they need the most financial assistance, as some clergy parents earn what amounts to $4,000 USD. This Advent and Christmas season, PPAS invites you to become a part of their educational journey by contributing to their scholarship needs. All gifts will go directly to support the students. Thank you in advance! Check out the FPC Angel Tree to participate in this giving opportunity.

Presbyterian Pan American School