Week of Nov. 20, 2011

Hello Friends,

I hope this finds you celebrating your Thanksgiving with the ones you love. I am blessed to have family in town and to be enjoying the blessing of family and friends. This week in worship we will be beginning our Advent series, "No Parking." I seem to always see those signs just as I think I have done the impossible and found a place to park by the beach or in LA. That's the way it is with our faith sometimes; we want to rest in the joyful or comfortable times in our faith, but when we do that we don't move on to the next thing God has for us. For the season of Advent we will talk about four biblical stories where people had the choice to follow God or stay where they are. 

Church  

Decorating Party  

This Friday, November 25^th

10 am - noon(ish)

Help decorate the sanctuary for Advent.  Drop in when you can to hang garland, lights, and ornaments in the worship space. Light snacks will be provided. This is a great way to escape "Black Friday" craziness. For details, please contact Doug Nason.  And this is only the beginning... check out all of our other Christmas events!  

'Round the Table Carol Sing 

Are you ready to sing? Can you smell the Christmas cookies? It's time for the annual 'Round the Table Carol Sing! It begins with soup and rolls, and then the good stuff; hot chocolate, cider, and Christmas cookies. As usual, we'll sing all your favorite holiday songs, and hear a selection from the Chancel Choir and special guests from the Mission Viejo campus. The evening will conclude around 7 pm with a visit from Santa and a reading of "The Night before Christmas." We're looking for cookie bakers and other helpers, so please sign up at the Message Center. Questions? Please contact Kim Nason.

Our Christmas "Adopt a Family" Program 

It's that time of year again!!  We as a church are sponsoring 7 families this Christmas with presents and much needed household items!!  Please take as many tags as you would like from the tree and return all gifts, wrapped and labeled, by December 11^th. If you would like to read about some of the families we are sponsoring, please take a look at their family profiles at the message center!  Questions? Please contact Michelle Buessing at michellebuessing@hotmail.com or 949-584-7027.  Thank you so much for being a part of making someone's holiday full of Hope and Love!  

Help 55 Alive "Change the  World" and send goats to needy families!  

"With all the money donated to help fight famine around the world, with all the grandiose plans conceived to conquer poverty, sometimes all it takes to save a child is a goat."

~ 60 Minutes, CBS News Magazine Program

South County Outreach
Holiday Food Drive 

Help those in need this holiday season by collecting non-perishable food for families in South Orange County. Families receive the fixings to prepare a holiday meal at home. Most needed holiday food:

Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, Boxed Potatoes, Gravy, Green Beans,Cream of Mushroom Soup, Yams, Broth, Canned Milk, Pumpkin