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In This Issue
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When I Was Hungry
Worship Notes
Mission Giving
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| Special Weather Alert! | We plan on gathering for worship Sunday morning, but are also mindful of the current forecast which calls for up to 10 inches of snow.
I will post any announcement changing worship plans on the church phone (703-527-9513) by 8:00 a.m. Sunday.
Praise God for the goodness of creation, and let it snow, let it snow, let snow.
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| Sign Up Now: New Members, and Lent! | We plan a gathering for folks interested in exploring membership at CPC in the new year. Signing up does not commit you to joining, but it will help us prepare for the conversation. If you are interested in being part of a small group conversation during January, please let me know at revdocdee@gmail.com.
It may seem ridiculously far down the road at the moment, but the season of Lent begins in less than two months. We're working on a couple of Lenten studies right now. One will be a book study of Harvey Cox's new work, The Future of Faith. The second will be a series on peacemaking. Watch this space for details. If you think you'd like to join one of these study groups for Lent, please send a note to: revdocdee@gmail.com.
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Your NAME Here
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We are making new names tags. If you would like one, please zip me an e-mail (revdocdee@gmail.com) and your own brand new tag will magically appear! Wear it with pride!
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PLEASE: Let Us Know What You Think
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We are making plans for the coming year! Please help us focus our
Mission and Outreach in 2010 by filling out a quick survey (9 multiple
choice questions) on Survey Monkey. We appreciate your help and your
comments! Thanks, Molly & Wes
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Pastoral Notes & Words of Thanks
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Please hold Dar Davis in your prayers. Dar's mother died last week in Arizona.
Keep Fred Regetz and the entire Regetz family in your prayers as they walk the difficult path of Alzheimer's.
Thanks to Cheryl (and the cookie crew) for a delicious coffee time Sunday. This week we look forward to the culinary arts of Carol DeFord.
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Special Worship Notes
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Christmas Eve at 7:00 p.m. we gather in the quiet beauty of the sanctuary for a service of lessons and carols.
Sunday, Dec. 27, we will worship primarily in song, singing lots of carols and sharing a bit of wisdom we've collected in gifts we've received.
Sunday, Jan. 3, the Rev. John Green will join David in worship leadership offering that morning's meditation.
Sunday, Jan. 10, Union Seminary student Allison Unroe will join us in worship leadership. Allison is one of the emerging young church leaders David has worked with at Camp Hanover during the past several summers.
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This Week @ CPC
Progressive ... Inclusive ... Diverse
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December 2009
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Greetings!
First off: Read the whole thing! 
Generally speaking, that is good advice, whether it's a note from your doctor, an unexplained bill, an important news story, or your weekly news from CPC. There's important news below, and to the left in the side column. If you skip that, you will miss something important, so please take a moment. (This message brought to you by the folks who provide copy for the left-hand column!)
Moving right along, then. We mark the fourth and final Sunday of Advent this weekend, which raises the simple question: are you ready?
Are you ready for Christmas morning?
Are you ready for what comes after?
Are you ready for God to invade your life?
For that is what Christmas is really all about: God coming near, and inviting you into a relationship that transforms everything.
So, are you ready?
Grace and peace,
David
P.S. Many folks have asked about recent sermons. They are all posted on the sermon blog. You may have noticed the link in THE LEFT HAND COLUMN.
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CPC Worship Week
This Sunday is the
fourth Sunday of the season of Advent. The texts for the day include Mary's Song, from Luke 1:39-55, and Micah 5:2-5a. The sermon is "Our Needs and God's Desires."
We will light
the fourth candle of the Advent circle, and listen as Toni Bissessar shares reflections on the season.
We also receive and dedicate our monthly food offering for the Arlington Food Assistance Center this Sunday in worship.
Remember
that we have begun a few new aspects of worship, as well. At 10:00
a.m., the chimes will sound as usual, but rather than a call to
worship, we will share the news of the community and welcome everyone
to worship.
Then we will prepare our hearts for worship and begin to praise the Lord.
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Tis the Season for Giving
The annual pledge drive for the 2010 budget continues through the end of the month. As with everyone else, we are feeling the pinch of the recession, and deeply appreciate your continued generosity.
If you have not pledged yet, please prayerfully consider doing so. Your pledges make it possible for us to plan reasonably and responsibly for the coming year.
You do not need to be a member of the congregation to make a pledge to our budget.
There are numerous considerations that go into each person's pledge. The Biblical tithe remains a good point of comparison for each of us. Giving is a spiritual practice that transforms our own lives even as it contributes to the transformation of other lives.
Statistically, given the average income in our area, if each of us managed to tithe we would more than double our goal for the year. As Jesus knew, where our treasure goes our hearts will follow. The answers to all of our budget issues can be found in what we are willing to give.
Pledge forms are available at the church office, or print this news and use the coupon form below.
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Holiday Mission Giving
We will be supporting the families of Doorways again this season. They welcome gift cards from Target, Safeway, or Giant, and are in particular need of new twin bed sheets in neutral colors. In addition to our work on behalf of those families, we will receive the annual Christmas Joy offering on the final Sunday of Advent.
We will gather for our annual service of lights and lessons on Christmas Eve at 7:00 p.m. We will receive contributions that evening to support AFAC.
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Honoring Madeline Jervis
As we've noted the past several weeks, our pastor emerita the Rev. Madeline Jervis was honored this month by Arlington County as a recipient of the James Hunter Human Rights Award. The county's web site hosts a lovely six-minute video about the awards and this year's winners. Once again, congratulations to Madeline and to all the others in Arlington who continue to stand up for the rights of all of us.
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When I Was Hungry ...
We bag groceries at AFAC on Monday, Dec. 21, at 7:00 p.m. Last week, 1,377 children received food from AFAC. The need in Arlington is real, and it continues to grow. Two years ago this week AFAC served 685 children. The hungry children of Arlington need our help. Come down to AFAC, 2708 S. Nelson Street, and lend a hand.
As you can see from the photo above, bagging is an opportunity to serve that includes all ages. Following our work we meet at Cheryl and David's for a simple meal. This month that meal is a potluck.
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Wii Kirk Returns!
Mark your calendars for the return of Wii Kirk. We'll have the next evening of food, fun and fellowship on Friday, Jan. 29.
If you've never been to a Wii Kirk then you don't know that you've missed hours of fun and games. Wii Kirk is an open house style pizza night that begins at 6:30 and runs till 9:00. Clark Chesser and Cheryl Lederle-Ensign lead the kitchen crew in creating amazing homemade pizzas. The rest of us chip in with anything else we care to share. The Wii is up and running on the big screen TV, and other games abound. Twister anyone?
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