The Second Sunday of Advent is all about HOPE.  Hope for the future reign of God in the world, a reign marked by justice and righteousness.  This hope is not an empty hope, but a hope based in the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises made by the prophets.  Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of those promises!

Elder David York of Morningside Presbyterian commented on the lovely banners that hang in the front of the sanctuary.  PEACE, LOVE, JOY  David asked, "Where is HOPE?"  I  said to him, "Well it hasn't been made yet." Which is technically true; Clif hasn't sewn it all together yet, since she is working on the bibs for the Frasier Center, but she has the pattern, the cloth, the needles, and the thread. 

This is how it was for the Old Testament prophets.  They knew God's promise of a Messiah, an Anointed One, was coming together in the Old Testament. They saw God's pattern throughout history and they knew that the coming King would be clothed in righteousness.  They knew that he would be pierced in order to be made whole again.  They had HOPE because they knew that God was going to be delivering us a Savior.  In Jesus Christ, God's Word revealed, we have our HOPE. It is under God's banner of HOPE, Jesus Christ, that we love and serve our Lord.  Thanks be to God!

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, December 5, 2010, the Second Sunday of Advent (Year A)

• First Reading Isaiah 11:1-10
• Psalm Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
• Second Reading Romans 15:4-13
• Gospel Matthew 3:1-12

A PROJECT OF SAMARITAN'S PURSE

It is time to get the Christmas Shoe Boxes ready.  These boxes are distributed all year long by Samaritan's purse.  Over seven million are given to children all around the world not only at Christmas but when hurricanes, earthquakes, floods etc. strike as well as refugees of civil war.

You take an ordinary shoe box (cardboard or plastic) ; and fill it with toys and other presents and it will be given to a child in need of joy and hope.  The most important item to pack in your box is prayer for the child who will receive your shoe box.

If you are not sure of the age group you want to give to, consider the 2-4 or the 10-14 as the majority of the boxes are for the 5-9 group.

If you have children or grandchildren, be sure and let them help you.  They may want to put in a letter or a picture.

Here are some hints to help you: 

A dollar store is a good place to start.

Also please include $7.00 for shipping charges.

This is the last week to turn in your boxes. 

December 3 from 6 pm - 9 pm in the Jim Guess Activities Building. 

This celebration of traditions from around the world will be a wonderful opportunity for our families and neighbors to come together in fellowship and fun.  Families will purchase a Taste Passport for $20.  This will entitle them to 12 tickets, drinks and desserts for a family of four and enter them into a holiday drawing.  Please contact Yvonne Trammell at 678-469-2135 for more information.

We will meet on Saturday, December 4 at 6:30 pm at the Grace's Residence.

For more than a quarter century, MDPC has provided food boxes for needy families.  This year we will once again combine our efforts into one special day of packing and delivering 100 boxes, on Saturday, December 11 at 8 am.  Each box of food costs approximately $35.  Please make your checks payable to MDPC and notated "Holiday Boxes". 

It is crucial that we also have enough volunteers to pack and deliver boxes. 

Please click on the link below to volunteer to pack.

Holiday Boxes
 

Wednesday, December 8 at 6:00 pm

Jean Abney's home

All women of the church are invited

R.S.V.P.

Jean Abney 404 292 9582 or

Carol Grace 404 294 1368

Jean will provide the meat and drinks.  Please bring a side dish to share.

We will also welcome any food for the food bank, money for the lunch box program, hats and gloves for the cold, or toys for tots.