Letter From the PastorDear Friends in Christ;

     Fred  and  Georgia  didn’t  have  much,  a  small  well-­‐loved,  run-­‐down  house  they  had  lived  in  since  they  were  married  50  years  ago;  and  each  other.

     Fred  went  out  to  get  the  mail  and  discovered  a  strangely  addressed  envelope  among  the  bills  and  Christmas  ads.  Showing  it  to  his  wife,  he  opened  the  leBer  and  read  aloud:

Dear  Fred  and  Georgia,I  would  love  to  be  your  guest  for  dinner  tonight.  I  look  forward  to  seeing  you.   Your  friend,   Jesus.

     Fred  and  Georgia  couldn’t  believe  their  eyes.  Their  hearts  leapt  with  excitement.  And  then  doubt  crept  in  -­‐  Why  would  Jesus  be  coming  to  their  liBle  house  and  what  would  they  feed  him?  

With  that  thought,  Georgia  remembered  the  empty  kitchen  cabinets.  "Fred,  we  don’t  have  anything  to  offer.  We'll  have  to  run  down  to  the  store  and  buy  something  for  dinner."  They  didn’t  have  much  money  between  them."Well,  Elizabeth  we  can  get  some  bread  and  cold  cuts,  at  least."  They  threw  on  their  coats  and  hurried  out  the  door.  A  loaf  of  French  bread,  a  half-­‐pound  of  sliced  turkey,  and  a  carton  of  milk  ...  

leaving  the  two  with  grand  total  of  twelve  cents  to  last  unPl  Monday.Nonetheless,  they  felt  good  as  they  headed  home.

     "Can  you  help  us?"  The  couple  had  been  so  absorbed  in  their  dinner  plans,  they  hadn't  even  noPced  two  figures  huddled  in  the  alleyway.  A  man  and  a  woman,  both  of  them  dressed  in  liBle  more  than  rags.  “Listen  I  don’t  have  a  job,  ya  know,  and  my  wife  and  I  have  been  living  out  here  on  the  street,  and,  well,  now  it's  geXng  cold  and  we're  geXng  kinda  hungry  and,  well,  if  you  could  help  us  we'd  really  appreciate  it.”  Fred  and  Georgia  looked  at  them  both.  They  were  dirty,  they  smelled  bad  and  frankly,  they  were  certain  that  they  could  get  some  kind  of  work  if  they  really  wanted  to.

     Georgia  responded;  ”Sir,  I'd  like  to  help  you,  but  we  don’t  have  much.  All  we  have  is  a  few  cold  cuts  and  some  bread,  and  we’re  having  an  important  guest  for  dinner  tonight  and  I  was  planning  on  serving  that  to  Him.”

     "Yeah,  well,  okay,  I  understand.  Thanks  anyway."  The  man  put  his  arm  around  the  woman's  shoulders,  turned  and  headed  back  into  the  alley.  As  she  watched  them  leave,  Georgia  felt  a  familiar  twinge  in  her  heart.

     "Sir,  wait!"  The  couple  stopped  and  turned  as  the  older  couple  came  down  the  alley  a]er  them.  Fred  said;  ”Look,  why  don't  you  take  this  food.  we'll  figure  out  something  else  to  serve  our  guest.”

(Con%nued  on  page  7)

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH VOL 33, NO 9 DECEMBER 2014

We Need Your Help!We all love to see and know about the amazing things going on at First Pres. It connects us and helps us grow. So PLEASE!Take pictures! Tell us about it! Write articles! Submit artwork! You can email it to Kate kmh6599@gmail.com

THE EPISTLE

Entryway to a Sacred Christmas

The more quiet and reflective Season of Advent that Christians observe each year coincides – and contrasts in many ways – with the generally frenzied and consumption-focused season of holiday preparation for a secular Christmas. This,itself, makes Christians countercultural in the face of generally prevailing commercial values and pressures.

This year, we are invited to look at the coming Christ Child as a clear call to engage in doing justice and, in the process, opposing the very Empire that drives the large commercial and secular celebration around us.

In these seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, we will ponder the many “isms” of Empire, and are encouraged to place ourselves in a very different position – squarely beside Godand others among God’s people who yearn for justice and peace to be alive and evident in all relationships between God, people, and creation.

The yearning for justice, as well as for peace and love, caused God to act and provide a voice and model for God’s desired realm in Jesus of Nazareth.

This is an approach that challenges our usual December perspective, traditions, and activities. It changes our preparation (Advent), our celebration (Christmas), and our perspective on all the days that follow (Season after the Epiphany).

We do these things in the belief that they will contribute to a more meaningful Christmas celebration, and a life to follow that is more open to being the beloved community, Body of Christ, and redeemed creation, all under God’s – rather than any empire’s – rule.

So let us enter Advent – the season of expectation and preparation to meet the Holy One and participate in turning the empire on its head.

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS12/2 - Ruth Sanderson

12/2 - Mary Weedon

12/3 - Greyson Wellman

12/7 - John Nord

12/8 - Cheryl Love

12/9 - Casey Pawelski

12/10 - Steven Tigner

12/11 - Elizabeth Hallberg

12/13 - Ryan Malarkey

12/14 - Oliver Hagel

12/15 - Porter DeMink

12/15 - Ruth Schrek

12/16 - William Hennon

12/16 - Barbara Knisley

12/17 - Dee Dee Schuver

12/18 - Molly Colburn

12/18 - Mark Hanson

12/18 - Barbara Potter

12/18 - Arlene Saff

11/23 - Clive Wright, IV

11/23 - Marie Anderson

12/20 - Liam Clementi

12/20 - Henry Malarkey

12/21 - Norma Willard

12/23 - Merrillie Schmidt

12/24 - Dianne Eisenhardt

12/25 - Myra Blasius

12/25 - Mary Ruth

12/26 - Jaunita Walter

12/27 - Connie Wright

12/28 - David Bargar

12/29 - Mark Hampton

12/29 - Barbara Josephson

12/30 - Marilyn Lindquist

12/31 - Helen Campbell

12/31 - Beatrice Hinton

12/31 - Carolyn Whitehead

Liturgists12/7 - Gynneth Tigner

12/14 - Tom Stuart

12/21 - Susie Stuart

12/28 - Catherine Willard

Acolytes12/7 - Sophie Kreinheder

12/14 - Emylia Halberg

12/21 - David Marshall

12/28 - Fiona Hagel

NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH

Kimberly Lindquist is the 2014 recipient of the Robert and Barbara Josephson First Presbyterian Church Scholarship.  Kim is the daughter of Greg and Patty Lindquist and granddaughter of Marilyn Lindquist.  Currently, Kim is attending Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA, majoring in Biology.  Her hope is to become a pediatrician someday.

December Usher Schedule12/7 - Greeter: Betsy Shepherd

Ushers: Paul Hedin, Anne Hedin, Kate

Hagel, Julie Dudgeon

12/14 - Greeter: Elaine Gallup

Ushers: Paul Bentley, Judy Bentley, Pat

Kinney, Joanne Nelson

12/21 - Greeter: Hope Marshall

Ushers: Heidi Marshall, Lee Marshall,

David Marshall, Ed Sanderson

12/28 - Greeter: Cornelia Hennon

Ushers: Jack Bailey, Diane Bailey, Gregg

Kellogg, Gayle Schutte

PC(USA) Stated Clerk responds to Ferguson grand

jury decisionOffice of the General Assembly

Gradye ParsonsStated Clerk

• • •

Today the community justice system of Ferguson, Missouri, told the parents of Michael Brown that his killing was justified. We grieve with the family and community about the decision, and encourage support for their continued quest for justice.

This decision calls the whole church to reflect seriously about the communities and the racial climate we have created in this country. We need a society where everyone is treated with dignity and valued, where there is no fear of walking down the street. We and the places where we live have fallen short of that.

We call the church to pray that God will give us the courage and strength to have honest

conversations about race where we live, work, and worship. We pray for safe spaces in Ferguson and in all communities for people to voice their views. We hope for lessons learned, lives changed, and inequitable systems across the United States dismantled in order to bring about the kind of world God has called us to co-create.

The last healing miracle of Jesus is in Luke 22. It is the story of Jesus’ capture in the Garden of Gethsemane. One of the disciples reacts, and in defense of Jesus slices off the ear of a servant of the high priest. Jesus says “No more of this!” and heals the servant. May “no more of this” and healing be the church’s response. Amen

WOMEN’S ADVENT BIBLE STUDYLadies, Join us Tuesday evenings this Advent

for a women's study to get us centered and ready for Christmas. We will gather at members' homes and share food, wine, and spiritual wisdom. The next meeting will be at Judy Bentley's house December 9 7:00p-8:30p.

Bring something to share!

We will be using the book Simply Wait: Cultivating Stillness in the Season of Advent by Pamela Hawkins.

Please email Kate if you have any questions. kmh6599@gmail.com (You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon.)

Are you on Facebook? Hey! So is First Pres! Go Like us!

www.facebook.com/firstpresjamestown

We’ll be posting lots of great stuff and building community on our page. The great thing about Facebook pages is that whenever you “like” or leave a

comment or picture on our page, it shows up to all your friends. What an easy way to let your friends and family know what you love about First Pres! You can even share our posts and invite friends to come to events!

See you on Facebook!

Serendipity Performing Holiday Concert for the Community

Join the Crowd this

#GivingTuesday 

On December 2, 2014, (after Black Friday and Cyber Monday) the world comes together to give.  Join in and participate. 

One way is by using the 2014 PRESBYTERIAN GIVING CATALOG that is now available in the literature racks in the Narthex.  Each of the special gifts listed in the catalog exemplifies the work carried out by ministries supported by the Presbyterian Church’s four Special Offerings through the Presbyterian Mission Agency. 

Your extra donation can purchase a mule or a family of chickens, a rainwater catchment system or a sand dam, bunk beds for children or fishing boats.  Donations can be made by mail, online or by phone.  “Your gift makes a difference.”

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20 AT 4:00 PM JOIN US AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF JAMESTOWN FOR AN EVENT THAT IS SURE TO GET YOU IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT!

Serendipity will be gifting the community

with a concert here in our sanctuary.  This

wonderful female vocal group contains

four talented members of First Pres;

Cyndi Lorenc, Melanie Gritters, Carolyn

Whitehead, and Sue Huther. I’m told you

won’t want to miss “Love Came Down at

Christmas.”  Admission is free and a

portion of the free will offering will be

donated to Community Helping Hands.

LOVE FEAST

DECEMBER 14

Join us for this beloved First Pres tradition!

The LoveFeast is a service of music and

readings fashioned after the Moravian Love Feast. Including an

Agape Meal; sharing God’s love at the table, not with Communion

elements but with comfort food.

From the Choir Loftby Cindy Hanson

• • ••

It is not only the early arrival of winter that has sent my thoughts humming songs of the season. As a musician, I need to think of such things ahead in order to plan and prepare for Advent and Christmas. And although it would be absolutely impossible for me to choose a “favorite” hymn or carol, I have one in particular that has been lingering with me for at least the past month now. That is usually a clear sign that I should listen carefully to what it is saying (singing) to me.

The tune and the harmonies are haunting, but it is the text that captures my attention, and then demands my thoughtful intention.

Advent, as the beginning of the Church year, is the perfect time to ponder our intentions for the coming year. Mary had many months to ponder the birth of her son; and with all the hustle and bustle that must have been going on around them, her attention was solely on her son, her beloved, who she worshiped with a kiss.

HOLD IN OUR PRAYERSPaul Bentley on the death of his father

Donna Beal

Those cong reg a t i on members that are unable to be with us on Sunday mornings because they are confined to bed and/or home or live far away.

For those in the world living under conflict and war at the beginning of this Advent season. 

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always ke e p o n p r a y i n g f o r a l l t h e saints.” (Ephesians 6:18)

Please submit your prayer requests to Pastor Bob

Dear Fred and Georgia,I would love to be your guest for dinner tonight. I look forward to seeing you. Your friend, Jesus(continued from page 1)

• • •

Fred  handed  the  man  their  grocery  bag.  "Thank  you.  Thank  you  very  much!"  "Yes,  thank  you!"  It  was  the  man's  wife,  and  Georgia  could  see  now  that  she  was  shivering.

     "You  know,  I've  got  another  coat  at  home.  Here,  why  don't  you  take  this  one."  Georgia  unbuBoned  her  jacket  and  slipped  it  over  the  woman's  shoulders.  Then  Fred  wrapped  his  arms  around  Georgia  and  they  turned  and  walked  back  to  the  street  ...  without  her  coat  and  with  nothing  to  serve  her  guest.

     Fred  and  Georgia  were  worried  as  they  reached  their  front  door.  The  Lord  was  coming  to  visit  and  they  didn't  have  anything  to  offer  Him.  Georgia  fumbled  through  her  purse  for  the  door  key.  As  she  did,  Fred  noPced  another  envelope  in  the  mailbox.

     "That's  odd.  The  mailman  doesn't  usually  come  twice  in  one  day."  Fred  took  the  envelope  out  of  the  box  and  opened  it.

Dear  Fred  and  Georgia,    It  was  so  good  to  see  you        again.  Thank  you  for  the  lovely  meal  and  thank  you,  too,  for  the  beau?ful  coat.

Love  Always,   Jesus

MATT.  25:40,  Jesus  said,  "Whatever  you  did  for  one  of  the  least  of  these  brothers  of  mine,  you  did  for  me."

Peace,Pastor Bob Hagel

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM If you have children in your family, we hope that you will involve them in the First Presbyterian Children’s Christmas Message to be enjoyed on Sunday, December 21st during worship!  Deborah Sunya Moore Kushmaul will be directing a simple and short Christmas Message. 

Children of all ages that are able to attend regularly will have speaking and singing roles.  Children that are not able to attend regularly may still be a part of this Christmas message on the 21st.  Simply show up on the 21st between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. for costumes (with a parent to help put it on) and they can join the fun. 

Rehearsal Schedule:

December 7, 10:30 during Children’s Church (please have older children join us),

December 14, 9:30 for older students during Sunday School, 10:30 during Children’s Church (please have older

children join us).  We will also have a rehearsal in the sanctuary at 11:30 following worship.  Lunch for families will be provided after rehearsal around 12:30.  This is the day it would be great to have parents help to go through

the costumes while we rehearse.  

December 21, 9:00 a.m. rehearsal for all in the sanctuary!

Christmas Mission

Opportunities

Christmas Angel Tree Our annual Christmas Angel Tree will be located in the Cloister and this year you will have two opportunities to help others this holiday season.  Like last year, the tree will have ornament gift tags for warm hats, gloves or mittens and socks that will be distributed to area school children and others in need of warmth.  Take a gift tag, purchase the item, then return the gift (unwrapped) with the tag attached and put it under the tree by December 14.  These gifts will then be delivered in time for Christmas. The second opportunity to give involves the 2014 Presbyterian Giving Catalog.  On a table set up next to the tree, you will find some colored tags with the most popular gifts from the catalog that you can pledge to.  You then hang the ornament on the tree and put the pledge portion of the tag in the basket near the tree.  The bottom portion of the tag can then be given to the person you want to honor with your gift.  Payment instructions for your pledge will be on the table next to the Christmas Angel Tree

 Poinsettias Our traditional display of the red Christmas poinsettias are a wonderful way for you to remember or honor a loved one during the holiday season.  This year, please call Barb in the church office (487-1984) before December 17 with the name(s) of those you wish to honor and then send your check ($10.00 per plant) marked “Christmas Flowers” in the memo line to the church office.  After the service, these plants will be taken to our members who can’t join us during the special Christmas services.

Christmas Joy Offering One of the four special offering that the Presbyterian Church (USA) does during the year is the Christmas Joy Offering.  This offering will be

dedicated on Sunday, December 21.  You will receive the special envelope for this offering in the mail in the next several weeks.  Part of the offering is sent to support to support the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions which helps active and retired church workers who have unexpected expenses they can’t meet.  The other part of the offering is for education and leadership development at Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges.  The portion of the offering that stays with our congregation will go to a local community mission.  If you cannot be in worship on December 21, please mail your donation to the Christmas Joy offering in the special envelope to the church office.  Thank you.

The Flower Committee invites you to join us as we “Deck the Halls” of First Pres on Wednesday, December 3.  We will start at 2:00 p.m.  It is great time! And in the end, our church building will be beautifully decorated for the holiday season.  You don’t need to have a special talent, just a willingness to participate.  Come join the fun!  (If you have a pair of wire cutters and can bring them that would be a great help.)

STEWARDSHIP STATS

Wed Dec 3rd ✤ STARTING AT 2PM

• FIRST PRES CHURCH

✤ BRING WIRE CUTTERS AND CHRISTMAS CHEER

✤ EVERYONE WELCOME

Percent of congregation who have turned in the

stewardship pledges

40%Current Pledge total for 2014 stewardship drive

$203,701

If you haven’t been able to turn in your pledge card one of the last three Sundays, please either send to the church business office via snail mail or bring it this Sunday and place it in the offering plate during worship.  The church budget meeting will be held on December 2nd so it is very important that we have pledges counted so session can develop their planning for 2015.

Youth and

Family Events

Youth in grades 5-12 are encouraged to join the First Presbyterian and First Lutheran Youth Groups as they team up for fun and fatih-filled YOUTH NIGHTS that will challenge you and help you grow into the person God intends you to be.

Families with children of all ages are invited to join in all the fun, family activities planned.

December 2014Youth and

Family Events

Youth in grades 5-12 are encouraged to join the First Presbyterian and First Lutheran Youth Groups as they team up for fun and fatih-filled YOUTH NIGHTS that will challenge you and help you grow into the person God intends you to be.

Families with children of all ages are invited to join in all the fun, family activities planned.

7YOUTH NIGHT 5:30-7pm at First Lutheran, 120 Chandler Street

Youth and

Family Events

Youth in grades 5-12 are encouraged to join the First Presbyterian and First Lutheran Youth Groups as they team up for fun and fatih-filled YOUTH NIGHTS that will challenge you and help you grow into the person God intends you to be.

Families with children of all ages are invited to join in all the fun, family activities planned.

14YOUTH NIGHT CHRISTMAS PARTY 5:30-7pm at First Presbyterian ChurchBest Gift Exchange Ever and Cooking Making

Youth and

Family Events

Youth in grades 5-12 are encouraged to join the First Presbyterian and First Lutheran Youth Groups as they team up for fun and fatih-filled YOUTH NIGHTS that will challenge you and help you grow into the person God intends you to be.

Families with children of all ages are invited to join in all the fun, family activities planned.

21YOUTH NIGHT 5:30-7pm at First Lutheran, 120 Chandler Street

Youth and

Family Events

Youth in grades 5-12 are encouraged to join the First Presbyterian and First Lutheran Youth Groups as they team up for fun and fatih-filled YOUTH NIGHTS that will challenge you and help you grow into the person God intends you to be.

Families with children of all ages are invited to join in all the fun, family activities planned.

JAN 25First Presbyterian Church goes Tubing!

More info to follow!

A Children’s Place News  

In order to comply with new NYS regulations, we will be adding some more layers of security to our facility.  In early2015 we will be building new entry structures that will include changeable coded access in addition to security cameras. This work will not only bring ACP into full compliance with current regulations but also provide a new level of comfort to our ACP parents.

SAVE THE DATE: Feb 28 & March 1

PEER MINISTRY TRAINING EVENT for youth grades 6-12

Lyle Griner from Peer Ministry Leadership will lead a training event to show us how to care, welcome, and affirm others every day, everywhere in every relationship! If you are interested in attending please see Pastor Bob.

from Seasons of the Spirit• • •

December 7Isaiah 40:1–11A truly discouraged people look to their God, the sourceof comfort and strength, to help them turn their lives fromconflict and unfair behaviours toward justice and peace.A word of comfort comes from Isaiah, “See, it is God thatis mighty. It is God that gives life meaning. Like a courierwith a life-giving message, God tenderly tucks us into herpouch and carries us close to her heart”This week, have a conversation with a friend. Share your “picture” of what peace and justice look like. Listen carefully as your friend shares theirs. Remind each other thatwe are all in life and community together and with God.

December 14

John 1:6–8, 19–28John the baptizer, like the prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures, proclaims a time when the upside-down reign of God will be present; when the poor, vulnerable, and oppressed will have their dignity restored and their needs taken seriously. Understandably, this made the comfortable and significantly “compromised” religious leaders of

Jesus’ time, who also had heard of God’s plan, anxious. John’s puzzling words – as well as his very being – kept them on their toes.This week, as well as your general readiness in this third week of Advent to celebrate a truly sacred Christmas, take some time to conduct an examination of your priorities (use of time, wealth, abilities, influence over others) and your expectations of yourself as a person of faith. Examine, also,your readiness for sharing and serving, empowering others,advocating, and the other aspects of living that contribute to more peace and justice in your community and world.

December 21

Luke 1:26–38, Luke 1:46b–55God’s plans are revealed to Mary; she’s carrying the very one who will continue the work of liberation in the lives of the poor, the marginalized – and really, in the lives of all people. While acutely aware of the possibility of persecution herself, Mary turns toward God in faith and followsthe path before her, proclaiming her devotion to God, God’sopposition to empire, and the “great reversal” to come.This week, consider what steps you might take to opposethe force of empire that works injustice on those Jesus

called “the little ones,” as well as injustice on the naturalworld. How might you express and/or explain what youare doing so others can be touched and moved to discoverGod’s ways and plans – and participate?

December 28

Isaiah 61:10—62:3With rich language and images, we are invited to move into acelebration of the coming of God’s righteousness – glimpsed in these days after Christmas Day in an innocent child born in a context of simplicity and shared humanity, as well as oppressive powers that seek to squelch all of it. Against that and all oppression, the new reality of righteousness is proclaimed without wavering. The vindication and restorativeaction God takes for God’s people is celebrated.This week, while playing music (perhaps carols or otherChristmas music) that speaks to you, stretch, twirl, and dance each and every day – alone and/or with others. In your dance, express the sheer joy you realize because God dwells in and around us with absolute love. In that joyful dance, create and/or mime gestures that convey the justice, peace, and new community that accompanies and actualizes this coming of God’s reign.

December Lectionary Readings

First Presbyterian Church519 Prendergast Avenue

Jamestown, NY 14701

Church Office: 716-487-1984

A Children's Place Day Care Center: 716-487-2238

Pastor: Rev Robert Hagel

Music Minister: Cindy Hanson

Pastoral Associate: Rev. Don Ray

Business Manager: Peggy Ambrose

Secretary: Barb Brown

Sexton: Jason Hobbs

Clerk of Session: Julie Dudgeon