Christmas Eve Service
A Family Tradition with Crèche, Carols and Candlelight
Saturday, December 24 – 7:00 p.m.
It’s a long-lived tradition at BPC. There will be nativity tableaux vivants (or living scenes) featuring young folks in the roles of Mary and Joseph, angels, shepherds and wise men. Choir and congregation will join in many carols. The service will end with a spreading of candlelight throughout the sanctuary. Mr. MacDonald will give a brief message. The Christmas Joy Offering will be received. This service is a wonderful way to introduce friends and neighbors to the church – and maybe to make a difference in their lives.
Deacons Corner
People Helping People
We will be participating in the pajama and underwear collection for People Helping People. This helps provide clothing for low income families. We have cards showing the items needed. The clothing needs to be brought to church by December 9, and should be unwrapped. Please see Anne Denier if you would like a card.
The final day to order Christmas poinsettias is Sunday, December 2nd. The money raised will be going to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
“Wish Tree” Volunteers Needed
Our church is asked to provide volunteers for the Wish Tree table at the Burlington Mall on 3 days: Thurs., Nov 29; Tues., Dec 4; Sat., Dec 8.
There are 2-hour shifts from 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
The “Wish Tree” gives shoppers the opportunity to provide gifts for children in need in Burlington.
To everyone who brought Thanksgiving food donations, helped staff the wish tree and purchased pajamas, underwear and sweatshirts, thank you for helping to make this a happy holiday season for everyone in our community.
Community Christmas Sing-a Long
December 1, 2012
6:30 p.m.
Please come! Invite family, friends and neighbors!
Family Advent Event
December 2, 2012 after Worship
All Sunday School families invited! There will be a hearty coffee hour for everyone that day. Then Sunday School children, youth and parents may help create a “homemade” Nativity scene (crèche) for the church.
Come A-Caroling!
Sunday, December 16 2:45 p.m.
Fun for all Ages
The rallying time will be 2:45 p.m. in the church parking lot. Join a caroling caravan that will take us to various places such as senior residences, nursing homes, and homes of shut-ins. If you have suggestions for places to carol this year, speak to Rod soon! We will finish by 5:00 or 5:30 with a simple but nose-and-toes warming supper. If you’d like to be our host for supper this year, and you live not far from the church, we’d love to have an invitation. Otherwise we will share a meal at the church. It’s a truly intergenerational and heartwarming time. Look for signup on church bulletin board.
Good News of Great Joy
A cherished Presbyterian tradition since the 1930s, the Christmas Joy Offering is one of the four special offerings designated by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Because Advent and Christmas shine a light not only on our world’s greatest hope but also on our world’s greatest need, the PC(USA) provides this timely opportunity for congregations to support causes specifically designed to bring Good News of Great Joy to the poor in circumstance or spirit. Alongside the message of promise and fulfillment in Luke’s Gospel, we also hear the clear call to God’s people to respond in faith as Christ calls us: “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded” (Luke 12:48).
Undesignated gifts to the Christmas Joy Offering will be distributed equally to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and to support student scholarships at Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges.
What is the Christmas Joy Offering?
For more than 70 years, Presbyterians have given generously at Christmas to support the unmet needs of families who have devoted their lives to the mission of the PC(USA). Today this Offering is shared equally by the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions, which provides critical assistance to Presbyterian church workers and their families, and Presbyterian-affiliated racial ethnic schools and colleges, which enable students to develop their gifts and find their calling. The Offering dates back to the 1930s, when the former Presbyterian Church in the United States began an offering to supplement inadequate retirement income and provide supplemental medical insurance for former ministers, missionaries, church workers, and their families.
Although its roots trace back many years, this special offering remains just as essential today. Equally important to the financial help provided is the spiritual benefit received. Again and again, the individuals and families helped by the Offering say that as crucial as the financial assistance is, what really sustains them is the knowledge that the church is standing with them in their time of need.
Our Christmas Eve offering will go to “Christmas Joy”. There will be envelopes in the pews for use at other times.
Presbyterian Church in Burlington 