ePulse from Second Presbyterian Church

December 13, 2012

ARE WE NORMAL YET?

We believe that being part of a community of believers is God's plan for us, and that together, we grow spiritually. Our recent all-church study, featuring John Ortberg's book Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them, reminded us how it pleases God when we love and serve one another.

This Advent, as we prepare our hearts to receive Christ's presence afresh, we look back on this study with thankfulness and forward to the upcoming year at 2PC. We are at a crossroads facing ongoing challenges and searching for our future pastor. Yet we are astonished at the wonderful things God is doing at 2PC.

Based on what we learned during the study, we carry these hopes for 2PC:

May 2PC be a safe place for honest sharing.
May all who come here feel included in this family of God.
May we appreciate our 2PC family, staff and building through generous sharing of our prayers, presence, gifts and service.
May we have compassion for those carrying challenges and griefs.
May we pray for and encourage each other.
May we realize that conflict is inevitable, but that anger and bitterness have no place here.
May we treat each other with the patience of Christ and believe the best about each person.
May we forgive as Christ has forgiven us.
May we remember that the promise is that we will be with Christ, and we will be like Him: not just normal, but complete.
May we look forward to being the people and the community that God intended us to be all along.

So, what comes from such a study? We pray that being part of a small group will become as important to your faith walk as Sunday morning services and your personal devotional time. We are all called to community, and we believe we are called to this community. We are called to invest in a small group, called to give and serve. These things are done within the family of believers. John Ortberg shared this conclusion: "Community is what you were created for. It is God's desire for your life. It is the one indispensable condition for human flourishing."

Let's flourish here at 2PC!

Barby Pratt-Mecherle and Sue Taulbee
Co-Coordinators of the 2PC Small Group Ministry

2PC News

Sermons on YouTube

You can click on the date below to watch that morning's sermon.

December 2
November 25

November 18

2PC Stewardship

The stewardship campaign is well underway. Progress updates will be in the Attendance and Stewardship section of Sunday's Pulse. As always, to assist those who can't regularly attend worship, reminder letters will be sent as the campaign progresses. Whether or not you are able to pledge, please return your pledge card so you can be removed from the follow-up list.

Christmas - New Year Season Service Times
Sunday, December 23 | 8:15, 9 and 11:11am
Monday, December 24 | 5, 7 and 9pm
Sunday, December 30 | 10 am worship (only one service that day)

Sunday, January 6 | 8:15, 9 and 11:11am

JOY Fellowship | December 14

A ladies quartet from Calvary UMC, The Amazons, will sing at the Friday, 10:30am fellowship. Mary Scott will also present a Christmas story at this event. All are welcome to attend. You may also stay for the Friday Prayer lunch ($6). Contact Kim Pare to make a lunch reservation.

Puppet Show | December 16

You're invited to Good Evening Jerusalem, a puppet show produced by the 2PC puppet team, Sunday, December 16, at 10am in Grace Hall. This is a wonderful opportunity to invite friends with children or grandchildren. Contact Ann Lamkey with questions.

Christmas Eve | December 24

The 5pm service will be family-friendly with an expanded children's message and a short message for adults. The Cherub and Covenant Choirs will sing. There will also be singing of traditional carols and the lighting of the Christ candle. Childcare for children age 0-2 years will be provided.

The 7pm service will be a candlelight service with traditional carols and special music by the Chancel Choir and soloists. The 2PC worship band and the organ will lead the service. Childcare for children age 0-5 years will be provided.

The 9pm service will be a candlelight service with the organ, traditional carols and special music by the Chapel Choir, the Quartet and soloists. No childcare will be provided.

Separation/Divorce Small Group | January

Growing in Grace through Separation or Divorce is a new small group that will begin meeting in January. Peggy Jones, a 2PC member, will lead this Bible-based group. This group will meet for 12 Wednesday evenings, starting in mid-January, at 2PC and childcare will be available. For more information contact Small Group Co-Coordinators Sue Taulbee or Barby-Pratt Mecherle.

Prayer Vigil | January 11-12
To start the new year and continue 2PC's new pastor search firmly grounded in prayer, there will be a Prayer Vigil from Friday, January 11, at 10am to Saturday, January 12, at 10am. Sign-up sheets will be at Connection Point this Sunday.

Adopt-a-Family | From the Local Mission Team The 2012 Adopt-a-Family project with Western Avenue Community Center was a success! These statistics confirm how this program affected the lives of the families served by 2PC sponsors. Nineteen individuals or small groups served 7 senior citizens (a first this year), 26 adults, 52 children and 6 infants in 23 families. This means that 91 individuals served by 2PC sponsors will know that God did indeed make provision for their Christmas. The Local Missions team is grateful to our sponsors for a job well done in His name.

Kids and Youth
Kids epulse logo

December 19 and 26 | No KOK
December 23 | No Sunday School classes
December 30 | No Sunday School classes or Kid's Worship

December 16 | Chancel Choir Practice, 5-6:30; High School Fellowship Christmas party, 6:30-7:45
December 19 and 26 | No Powerhouse, Carillon Choir or Chancel Choir
December 23 | 11:11am service | optional attendance for current Chancel Choir and alumni with a 10:15am call time
December 23 and 30 | No High School Fellowship

Christian Education Information

10:10 - 11am
Adult Christian Education

The Gospel of Mark led by Dr. David Webb | F100A

Is it Rational to Believe in God?led by Dr. David Anderson |F201

Real Christianity by William Wilberforce led by Cindy Johnson &
Marjorie Hauge | Parlor

The Music and Message of Handel's Messiah led by Ron
and Doris Hill | Marquis Chapel

On Sunday, December 23, only Dr. David Webb's
Christian Education class will meet.
On Sunday, December 30, no Christian Education
classes will meet.

Children and Youth

Preschool | Martin Hall lower level

Elementary | Martin Hall main floor

Junior High and High School students | Breakfast in Java Post at 10am

Junior High Sunday School | Java Post at 10:15am

Chancel Choir Rehearsal | Choir Room at 10:15am

Calendar

Sunday, December 16

8:15am | Worship | Marquis Chapel

9am | Worship | Sanctuary

10:10am | Christian Education Hour

Monday, December 17