Congregational Meeting 
The Session has called for a congregational meeting on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at noon following the 11 a.m. worship service for the purpose of electing elders, deacons, and members of the 2015 nominating committee and approving changes in the terms of call for Pastor Jean Pinto. We will only have one worship service on that day so that all may attend the Christmas Cantata and the Congregational Meeting. Please plan to remain following worship for this brief meeting.
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 Session Met Tuesday, Nov. 18 and took the following actions:
- Called for a congregational meeting on Sunday, Dec. 14 at noon for the purpose of electing officers and approving changes in the terms of call for Pastor Jean Pinto.
- Elected Beth Cass to be Commissioner to the Presbytery meeting on 11/22/14.
- Learned that the Youth Group made 60 lunches for TASK.
- Learned that the Facilities Committee is getting estimates to carpet the sanctuary.
- Called a Meeting of the Administration Ministry Team on Dec. 9 at 7:00 p.m.
- Called for a final report of the Growing for Tomorrow Campaign to be presented to the Annual Congregational Meeting in January.
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Our Prayers
Healing of Pat Howell; George Edwards; Donna (St. Lawrence Rehab); John; Melissa; Maria; Marianne; Ronnie; Lew Thorn (home from rehab); Ruth Sletvold (broken hip and upcoming surgery for aneurysm); Doris Worob; Jodi Adelmann (breast cancer); Rosemary Bateham (vision impairment from stroke); Terry Fouse (arthroscopic knee surgery); Gloria Rentner (cataract surgery); Louise; Lucille; Carolyn Reynolds (heart valve surgery on Nov. 24th in Indiana); Scott and family; Ed Cass (recovering from a detached retina); Nando Avila; Patty Hobson; Henry; John (home from the hospital); Dottie; Donna (home from rehab); Mariann and Anita (successful treatment for cancer); Jessica (ovarian cancer); Bill Hall (head, shoulder, and rib injuries from a motorcycle accident); Howard Stoeckel (in RWJ Hamilton Hospital following surgery for a broken femur and a subsequent heart attack); Pam (bone marrow test); Dan Rose (leukemia); Joyce (thyroid surgery for a non-cancerous mass); Frank (cold); Lisa's husband (cancer); Peachy Kozlowski.
Concern about Dave; prayers for Doris Thorn as the primary caregiver for her husband, Lew; prayers that God will be with us in all our challenges this week; prayers for a job for a family member of Don LaCrosse with a family of his own; and traveling mercies for the Chhedi family as they go to Trinidad for a Memorial Service for Harry.
Blessings on the Marriage of DeAnna and Ashley.
Thanksgiving that Michelle is well and back to church with all her friends.
Comfort for the bereaved family and friends of Peggy Ayres, George Sofield, Jean Shapiro, and Shirley; for Keri Nelson on the loss of her mother and sister; for the Rossi family upon the loss of their father; and for Kathy Thewes' neighbor, Margaret, on the loss of her husband, Jim.
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 Womanspace is our Mission Focus for the month of December.
In Fellowship Hall
you will find a Christmas tree festooned with tags. Each tag has a suggestion for a gift for a girl or a boy with and how old the child is. Please bring your gift into the church by December 14 so that we can get them to the children by Christmas.
All the gifts will be donated to Womanspace, a leading not-for-profit agency providing a comprehensive array of services to individuals impacted by domestic and sexual violence and dedicated to improving the quality of life for women and their families.
Thank you in advance for your generosity!
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 Join The Youth Group To Bring Christmas Cheer to Our Shut-Ins on Sunday, December 21, at 4 p.m.
We will meet at the church to carpool to the homes of our shut-ins to sing carols. When we are done, we will return to the church for hot chocolate and cookies. Enjoy a night of fellowship with your church friends and spread "tidings of comfort and joy" to neighbors who truly appreciate it. |
 Advent Special Music
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Please join us each Sunday in Advent for the singing of your favorite Christmas carols. Plan to arrive by 10:45 a.m. for this much loved UPC tradition each Sunday
in Advent (Nov. 30th, Dec. 7th, Dec. 14th, and Dec. 21st).
� December 7th, during the 11 a.m. service, we will have as special musical guests, Greg Foster (flute) accompanied by pianist Bill Beitmann. It is always a special treat when Greg and Bill have shared their musical gifts with our congregation.
� December 14th, there will be one worship service at 11 a.m., with the presentation of the Christmas Cantata. "Season of Wonders" is filled with classic carols as well as newly composed anthems, this hopeful work shines new light upon the miracles surrounding the birth of Jesus. In performing this work, different "messengers" announce the various narrations. Miracles and wonders are meant to be shared. The events that unfold are a series of wonders that are meant to be shared with the world so all may know the good news! Mark your calendars and plan to bring a friend.
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In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
This poem by ChristinaRossetti came to mind to me today as I read that the temperature was below freezing in all 50 states! And it isn't even winter yet.
Rosetti's poem goes on to speak of how "in the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed the Lord God incarnate, Jesus Christ." It is beyond our comprehension that the Lord of Lords and King of Kings would leave his throne in heaven to come to us as a refugee and take on our humanity that we may share in his divinity. It is like a warm ray of sunshine breaking through the winter cold.
What a joyous season Advent is as we get ready for Christ's coming! I pray that during this season we spend at least as much time preparing our hearts and minds to welcome Christ into our lives as we spend preparing our homes and our meals to celebrate his coming. As Rosetti's poem concludes:
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Jean
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Join the Deacons on Saturday, November 29th at 9:00 am to beautify the Sanctuary for the Advent and Christmas Seasons. We have a new Christmas tree for the Sanctuary which should make the process faster and easier. Get into the holiday spirit early by helping make our worship space festive!
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 ADVENT HYMN SING The Season of Advent will begin on Sunday, November 30th. Please plan to arrive by 10:45 a.m. to join in the UPC tradition of the singing of favorite Christmas hymns and carols each Sunday in Advent. |
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COFFEE HOUR
There will be a coffee hour on Sunday, December 7th at 10:15 am in Fellowship Hall, sponsored by the Youth Group. Plan to stop by for coffee, refreshments and fellowship between the services.
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The Survivors Senior Group will meet at Villa Romanza (formerly Giovi's), Route 130 South, Yardville on Wed.,Dec. 10, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. for our Christmas lunch. Following our lunch we have a tour of the Kuser Farm Mansion, 390 Newkirk Ave., Hamilton at 2:00 p.m. The mansion will be decorated for Christmas
and it will be a great way to get into the holiday spirit. If you plan to attend please make your reservation with Rita Peterson at 259-7256 or email [email protected]. If you are in need of a ride to the restaurant please feel free to give me a call. All seniors of the church and their friends are welcome to join the Survivors for a great lunch, tour and wonderful holiday fellowship.
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The United Presbyterian Women are having their annual Christmas Luncheon on Sunday, December 14th at 1 pm at Mastoris Diner in Bordentown. All women are invited! That Sunday is when we will have the Cantata in church so why not come to church and get in the Christmas mood and then continue that feeling at our luncheon? The luncheon will be held in the Patio room at Mastoris. It is such a nice setting! With the wall of windows it is warm, bright and cheery even if it's cold outside.
This year everyone will have: Fruit cup, Vodka Rigatoni, and a tossed salad. The waitresses will come around the day of the luncheon and ask for your choice of one of the nine entrees offered - Chicken Marsala, Roast Turkey, Roast Beef, Chicken Parmigiana, Broiled Flounder, London Broil, Vegetarian Pasta, Baked Ham or Shrimp Salad Platter. Everyone will receive a potato and the fresh vegetable of the day. Following the entree, there will be a dessert table. Coffee, tea, soda or iced tea is also included plus their famous cinnamon and cheese breads. The cost of the meal plus the tax and an 18% tip is $24.00. If you would like to be part of this Christmas celebration, please call Lois Dixon or the church office. The last day to sign up is Sunday, December 7th. There is seating for only 32 people, so get your reservation in now before it's too late!
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CHRISTMAS CANTATA
The choir will present the Christmas cantata "Season of Wonders" on Sunday, December 14th, during the 11 a.m. worship service. "Season of Wonders" is filled with classic carols as well as
newly composed anthems, this hopeful work shines new light upon the miracles surrounding the birth of Jesus. In performing this work, different "messengers" announce the various narrations. Miracles and wonders are meant to be shared. The events that unfold are a series of wonders that are meant to be shared with the world so all may know the good news! We hope you will make this cantata a meaningful part of your worship this Christmas season.
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Order your poinsettias from Camille Nami by December 14th. As in the past, the poinsettias are from the Yardville Florist. Cost is $6.75 each, payable with your order. Forms are on the table in the Narthex.
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Orders for gift cards are now being accepted for holiday giving. Forms are available on the table in the Narthex or from the church office. When ordering, please indicate the date you need the cards on the top of the form. Please have your orders into the church office by December 12th.
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This Christmas Eve we will have three different services. At 4:00 pm we will have our family oriented E3 service. Our traditional Christmas Communion Service will be held at 8:00 pm. Then at 11:00 pm we will have Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols. We hope you will join us for one or more of these celebrations of Christ's birth.
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Birthday greetings to the members and friends whose
birthdays are in December:
3 Shauna Guld, Alicia Houck
5 Tom Kelley
6 Peg Stoeckel
8 Jessica Bateham, Paige Bates, Ronald Castor
10 Faith Yost
11 Justin Gazzillo
12 Julius Dolci
14 Sydney Worek
15 Caroline Germond
17 Robert Machin, Irene Mason
18 Justin Clark-Weston, Jeremy Martino
20 Marilyn Machmer
21 Shaila Gomez, Gabriel Onderdonk
22 Evan Clark
24 Noelle Carpenter, Kristin King
27 Kelly Bernhard, Addie Smith
30 Kristie Casole, Weston Scully
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Our Holiday Bazaar was a success!
Despite the cold rainy weather we raised $1662.00 for the church. A big thank you to everyone who donated items to sell, made baskets for the raffle, baked goodies for our cake sale, made soup or sandwiches for our kitchen and to everyone who worked during the day of the sale--and of course all of you who purchased items. We really appreciate your help and support.
Stewardship Financial Committee
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Click on the link below to find out what's happening at UPC during December:
http://upcnj.view.events.com
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As the days get shorter, may the light of Christ brighten your path and make "the bleak mid-winter" a time of hope, peace, joy, and love.
Sincerely,
Jean PintoUnited Presbyterian Church
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