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Gracias! Lots of Notes of Thanks that We Should Share ... and a Call for Help!
| Thanks to Karen Kimmel for last Sunday's coffee time.
Thanks to Tom Hull, whose recommendation saved the church a bundle on a repair to the front door!
Thanks to everyone who helped deck the halls!
Thanks to Dr. Carl Ruck for music leadership Sunday. We look forward to your gifts again this Sunday.
We look forward this Sunday to sharing the fruits of the labors of many hands at Saturday's cookie bake open house at the Lederle-Ensign home.
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Milestones
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Don Hodgen asks prayers for his mother, who faces a lengthy recovery following a car accident.
Your faithful scribe turns 52 this Sunday! Hm, woe to the scribes?
In this space we celebrate moments and milestones in the lives of members of the community. So, if you have a birthday, an anniversary, a graduation, a promotion, a retirement, or other milestone to celebrate send me a note and we'll shout it out right here.
Likewise, if you have a prayer concern that you'd like lifted up in the prayer lives of the the community, let me know and we'll list that here, as well.
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Staff Design
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The staff design task force, which includes Gordon Hawthorne, Karen Kimmel, Grant Mandsager, Dave Norman and Travis Reindl with consulting help from the Rev. Peg True, held an organizational meeting last week to chart its work plan through February. Members of the task force will report to the congregation regularly during Sunday morning announcements and in the weekly e-news. They also be soliciting congregational input at points along the way. In the meanwhile, please hold the group in your prayers as they work to discern the Spirit's call to the church at Clarendon.
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Mark Your
Calendars! | |
Coming soon to the wee kirk:
Cookie bake open house, Saturday, Dec. 10, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Advent worship, Sunday, Dec. 11, 10:00 a.m.
GSA Party, Saturday, Dec. 17, 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Advent worship, Sunday Dec. 18, 10:00 a.m.
A-SPAN sandwich making, Sunday Dec. 18, 11:00 a.m.
Session meeting, Sunday, Dec. 18, 11:45 a.m.
AFAC grocery bagging, Monday, Dec. 19, 7:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve service, Saturday, Dec. 24, 7:30 p.m.
Christmas Day worship, Sunday, Dec. 25, 11:00 a.m.
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The Spirit of the Lord Is Upon Us!
Progressive ... Inclusive ... Diverse |
December. 2011
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Greetings!
 Sometimes technology is my friend; sometimes, no so much. Most weeks the electronic production of this e-missive goes off without a hitch. This week it was one glitch after another, such that whatever it was that I really wanted to share with you is out there in the ether somewhere. But that's OK. Out in the ether -- or, more properly, the aether, that medium the ancients used to describe the space between earth and heaven -- out in the aether is the space of spirit. This Sunday's readings underscore the work of the spirit in human life, and, in particular, in the call of the spirit to us to participate in the great turning around of all things that is announced in Advent. We'll hear again this Sunday the words of Isaiah that Jesus quoted in his first teaching (in Luke's gospel): the spirit of the Lord is upon me for God has anointed me; God has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners." That is the calling we share as we follow the way of Christ. Whatever it was that I thought was so important yesterday it was not nearly as important as that. The spirit of the Lord is upon us, for God has called us to bring good news! Come and hear the good news proclaimed again this Sunday, and, because the news is so good bring a friend to share it with! Come. Let us worship. David |
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Thanks to all the Hall Deckers!
 | | Clark & Molly were among the joyous hall deckers! |
Last we we noted that the tree in our sanctuary is not going to be quite as tall as the Washington Monument, but it turned out to be every bit as beautiful as the national tree! Come and see!
Thanks to a lot of wonderful work by a large crew, the sanctuary looks spectacularly beautiful for this season of lights.
A special thanks to Karen Kimmel for setting up coffee hour in the rear of the sanctuary (and to all the worshipers who resisted temptation throughout the service).
Poinsettias! We will continue to make the space festive through Christmas as we add poinsettias for Christmas Eve. If you'd like to order a plant in honor or memory of a loved one, please let Toni Bissessar know. The plants are $10 each, and the people you honor will be named in the worship bulletin for the Christmas Eve service. |
Stewardship Season Update; We're Getting Closer
Our annual pledge drive continues this month. In our few weeks we have received approximately 20 pledges totaling $53,100, toward a 2012 goal of $85,000. It's an excellent start, and we give a huge thanks to every one who has responded to the invitation to make a financial commitment to the mission and ministry at Clarendon. We'll use this spot in the coming weeks to keep you posted on progress. In the meanwhile, please bring your pledge card to church Sunday and drop it in the offering plate or use the return mail card and send it to church. Every pledge matters greatly to our common work, and every pledge is deeply appreciated. |
Dance, Dance, Dance!
 Saturday, December 17, CPC will host a dance party for the Gay-Straight Alliances of Wakefield and Washington & Lee High Schools. We're feeding and hosting several dozen teenagers that evening from 7:00 - 10:00, and can use your help. Cheryl and Clark will be whipping up pizzas, and we're happy to accept any snack or soft drink donations. We'd also love to have some grown ups on hand. So, if you enjoy spending time with teenagers, please join the party! A year or so ago some polling outfit discovered that a majority of teenagers know what the word "abomination" means. This is an opportunity for a faith community to teach something else to the young people of our community. |
Invitation to Cheer!
 | | The Spirit of Cookie Bake Past! |
Saturday, December 10, you are cordially invited to the Fifth (or Sixth, but who's counting) Annual Great Christmas Cookie Baking Open House! Come over to Cheryl and David's (2017 S. Randolph Street) any time between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Bake some cookies or eat some cookies, or just hang out and watch the joyous craziness that ensues when several dozen people gather to see just how much fun it is possible to have with sugar, flour and butter! All are welcome! It's an all ages show. Bring a friend if you like. Chili and black bean & sweet potato stew will help take an edge off your sugar buzz. Christmas tunes will fill the air, and a splendid time will be had by all. |
Special Services and Special Times for the Holidays
 Christmas Eve we gather at 7:30 for our traditional service of lessons and carols and we tell the story of Christmas and sing the songs of the season. We close the service in candle light as we walk out in to the silent and holy night. The service includes many worship leadership opportunities, so if you would like to read or lead parts of the liturgy, please send me a note. Christmas morning, Sunday, Dec. 25, we'll gather for a service more casual than most, and one hour later than usual, too. We'll begin at 11:00 a.m., and invite you to come in whatever is most comfortable for you on Christmas morning. Sweats, PJs, and robes are welcome. Some of us may wind up sitting on the floor around the Christmas tree. We'll share the Christmas stories, sing carols, and talk about the gifts we have received that have brought us the deepest joy. Feel free to bring them along for show and tell! Begin the New Year in Worship!New Year's Day also falls on Sunday this season, and we'll acknowledge the reality that many folks will stay up late December 31 to ring in the new year so worship on Sunday, January 1, will also begin at 11:00 a.m. |
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