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Dear families,

Advent begins this Sunday. Our Advent season at Nassau Presbyterian is packed with preparations and wonderful traditions. From Wee Christmas (flash pageant!) to the Advent Craft Fair (can't wait!), Advent devotions (with stickers, of course) and a super-sized flannelgraph on Christmas Eve (come and see), each year we enthusiastically tell the story of Jesus' birth and our own salvation. We joyfully pass this legacy to the next generation.

But this community has an even stronger tradition of welcoming new families, strangers, visitors into our midst.  This year, consider inviting neighbors, your own friends, or your children's friends to join in our celebrations and festive programs. We enthusiastically welcome first-timers to all events! Advent celebrations make an appealing invite and an easy-entrance point for new families. 

My heart leaped for joy when they said to me,
"Let us go to the house of the Lord!"

Psalm 122:1 (The Message)

with Advent joy,

Take Home Questions 

December 3 - Advent I
Paul thanks God for the Corinthians ( 1 Corinthians 1:3-9)
Paul writes that everyone has received spiritual gifts, such as gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, patience.
1. What spiritual gifts do you see in your family members?
2. How do you use them to help others?

December 10 - Advent II
Proclamation of John the Baptist ( Mark 1:1-8)
1. What is the special job for John?
2. What special jobs might God have for you or for your family? 

Wee Christmas
Wednesday, December 6
5:00 - 6:30 PM
This special tradition helps our youngest celebrate the birth of Jesus. Hear the Nativity story read by Pastor Davis and join a low-expectation, high-participation flash pageant (costumes provided!). The evening concludes with a family-friendly dinner for all. Wee Christmas is intended for families with children age 2 - grade 2.  Older siblings are welcome to participate or assist.
Advent Craft Fair
Wednesday, December 13
4:00 - 6:00 PM
Children,  age 3 and up,  join us for this festive afternoon of crafts, treats, & Christmas stories by the tree.  There will be a variety of projects suitable to every ability, and childcare is available for younger siblings. 

Parents are encouraged to stay and participate with preschool-age children. Parents of children kindergarten and up may take advantage of the drop-off option.

Music Notes from Ingrid
Dear Families,
 
This week in choirs, we are focusing on finding the quiet place where breath begins, where thoughtful choices lead us, and how we work together to make our music beautiful. Our homemade music is like giving and receiving a "musical hug" - a way for us to reach out to each other, and to our congregation with our voices. This is what I hope your children carry with them each week. 

I pray for us to know the joy of singing, the togetherness of singing, and to know deep inside that God is with us, everywhere we go, always. And, we can always sing a song to help us remember.  Happy Advent to you all.
 
Coming up soon:
  • Your children are more than welcome to invite friends to join us in choir.  We would love to welcome them!
  • Carol Choir, Choir 345, and the Middle School Choir will sing "Antiphonal Deck the Hall" at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday, December 10. It's a pageant sneak peek! Arrival at 8:45 am.
  • All children in our children's choirs (& Middle School Choir) will be in our Christmas Pageant at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 17. The dress rehearsal for Choir 345, Middle School Choir and the costumed cast will take place on Saturday, December 16, 9:00-12:00 p.m. Please mark your calendar, and be in touch with any questions. Please note: Joyful Noise and Carol Choir will not need to attend this Saturday dress rehearsal, but please plan to arrive on December 17 by 3:00 pm. Thank you!
Please join me in wishing Nassau's own Adeline Edwards a wonderful month playing "The Ghost of Christmas Past" in McCarter Theater's A Christmas Carol! Dickens' powerful tale shows the impact a changed heart can have on an individual and a community. As we as Christians watch, we are reminded to be grateful for Jesus, the true heart-changer.  Break-a-leg Adeline!!

With Gratitude for All,