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December 2017 Discovery Navigator
Understanding the Unknown
Somehow or other, the Advent, Christmas, Epiphany theme team got to thinking about God's Eyes this season.  You know--  the cross-shaped craft or artwork that
 gets wrapped in yarn or string.  When we were looking up information about God's Eyes we ran across the phrase "the power to see and understand things unknown."  Wow!
So with a bit more thought and consideration that phrase has become our season's theme.
During Advent we yearn to see and understand things unknown.  Th is is especially true every four years when we focus on the Gospel of John.
The Gospel of John has no manger, no shepherds, no angels and, actually, no baby Jesus!  The Gospel of John features a mysterious, cosmic Word which as been around since the dawn of time.  Suddenly this Word breaks through into life on the planet Earth - a life seen and experienced by other people.  The Word becomes the human being Jesus Christ.
The Gospel of John lacks details of the Word's birth as a baby but is long on wonder and poetry.  This Gospel stretches the mystical and cosmic parts of our brains and points to "belief" as a spiritual bridge by which heaven and earth are linked.  Through a gift of faith we see what before was largely unknown.  Wow!
Many times our lives are unknowns and we don't particularly like it.  We often experience the unknown as pain:   Why are certain things happening?  What am I supposed to do?  What will the future bring?  How will this ever sort itself out?
Advent and the Gospel of John teach faith amid waiting and seeing amid darkness.
Jesus is with us in spirit every single moment of every single day.  This Word regularly becomes Flesh for our unknowns.  When we seek Christ and share our pain,  Jesus becomes flesh.  He is our daily bread, feeding us with new insight, peace, guidance.  He directs us to people, ministries and resources.  He restores us and soon leads us to serve others.  He turns us into his hands, his feet, his heart.  We become his flesh as the Body of Christ, the church's mystical nickname.  With the Spirit's help we are part of the mystery being made visible.
This Advent season may we all glimpse things formerly unknown.  May we receive healing we did not know was possible.  And may we become part of Christ's Word made real for others.
Come explore the mystery and the power of the Spirit at church this sacred season.  Through Christ the Eternal Word,  Pastor Sarah 
Thank you!
Thank you for supporting 2018 ministry through Discovery!
We have had a wonderful response to our invitation to ple dge financially.
If you haven't done so, we encourage you to
 send in your green pledge card or pick one up at church.  We especially invite those who've never pledged before.
As always, keep pledging your life to Jesus Christ!
And may Christ continue to use us for his amazing mission.
Discovery is Christ's hands, feet and loving presence in the world!
Youth Snapshot
Wednesday Youth Fellowship Groups
December 6 and December 20
5:30-6:30 6th-8th graders
6:30-7:30 Shared meal
7:30-8:30 9th-12th graders
We meet in the new Lower Hall.
Youth are welcome to come early or stay late and do homework or practice instruments.
It's great when the o lder group a rrives early & helps get the meal and set up going.  And it's great when the younger group stays until all the dishes are done!
Our individual group time is spent in the youth lounge - next door to the nursery.
 
Are you on the Youth Email Newsletter List?
More pictures and information are there. 
For youth, households and youth ministry supporters
Contact the church office to get on this special list.
Young Adults - December 31 
December 31st  
7:00 PM - 12:15 AM
All Church Game Night
All are welcome!  Young Adults hosting.
Recent Ministry
 


   Burning Bush #2                          Crossroads Clothing & Item Drive
    Crossroads Meal & Worship Crew        The 10 Commandments
Sacred Journey
Welcome Adalynne Grace!  November 10

















We Give thanks for the life of Rev. Dick Headen
1942-2017

Dick was the pastor at Mosher-Pilgrim Presbyterian Church, one of the Discovery predecessor churches from 1980-1999.  He passed away on November 6 in Minnesota.  We keep his wife Evelyn and their daughters in our prayers. 
Exodus Study:  Remember and Keep Moving
We have now begun a study of the extraordinary Book of Exodus!

Everyone is welcome to take a study booklet.
Study on your own or join one of the study groups:
Thursdays 12-1
Fridays 1:30-2:30
Sundays 9:15 AM
Let Michelle know if we need to mail you a copy.
Discovery Calendar!
December 2017 Calendar     
Date Start Time Event Description
1 1:30-2:30 PM  Bible Study
2 11:00-2:00 PM Seafarers @ Church lower Fellowship Hall
3   1st Sunday of Advent
3 9:15 AM Bible Study for all Ages
  10:30 AM Worship
    Potluck & Activities after Worship
    Band Practice after Worship
5 No  Fellowship & fun Meeting on Break
  6:00 PM Deacon Meeting @ Dickinsons' Home
6 5:30-8:30 PM Youth Groups Meet
  6:15 PM  Chime Choir
  7:00 PM Chancel Choir
7 Noon-1:00 PM Bible Study
8   Michelle is out of the Office
  1:30-2:30 PM Bible Study
9 9:00 AM Communion Bread making 
10   Advent 2 Sunday
  9:15 AM Bible Study for all Ages
  10:30 AM Worship with Communion
    Fellowship after Worship
    Band Practice after Worship
12 6:00 PM Session Meeting @ Dickinsons' Home
13 6:15 PM Chime Choir
  7:00 PM Chancel Choir
14 Noon-1:00 PM Bible Study
15 1:30-2:30 PM Bible Study
17   Advent 3 Sunday
  9:15 AM Bible Study for all Ages
  10:30 AM Worship with Special Music
    Fellowship after Worship
    Band Practice after Worship
  3:00 PM Book Club @ Dickinsons' Home
20 5:30-8:30 PM Youth Groups Meet
  6:15 PM Chime Choir
  7:00 PM Chancel Choir
21 Noon-1:00 PM Bible Study
22 1:30-2:30 PM Bible Study
24   Advent 4 & Christmas Eve Sunday
  10:30 AM Worship
    Fellowship after Worship
  4:00 PM Christmas Eve Worship with Carols & Candles
  10:00 PM Christmas Eve Worship with Carols & Candles
27 No Chime Choir on Break
  No Chancel Choir on Break
28 No Bible Study on Break
29 No Bible Study on Break
31 10:30 AM Worship - Casual Comfortable Clothes Welcome!
    Donuts & Hot Cocoa after Worship 
  7:00-12:15 PM Game Night @ the Church All Ages Welcome! 



January Up Coming Events
January 7 - Epiphany & 12 Days of Christmas Snack Luck
January 14 - Ordination and Installation of Officers

Sunday December 3 - Advent Begins!
10:30 Advent Worship
Sacred words and music for the season.
Potluck Fellowship Lunch
All are welcome!  Bring something to share if you are able
Activities after lunch
Make a fresh wreath.  
(Bring fresh greens if able.  Gloves & clippers, too)
Or, make a wreath that is more kid-friendly.
Make a God's Eye (part of the mystery of the season)
Or, make something to feed the birds.
Advent Christmas Epiphany 2017
The Power to See
and Understand
Things Unknown
Advent - Christmas -  Epiphany
1st Sunday of Advent - December 3
Worship, Potluck, Activities
Wreath making for all ages (2 kinds this year!)
God's Eyes, & feed the birds
2nd Sunday of Advent - December 10
God's Eye Communion
Help with baking on Saturday 
Dec. 9 @9  AM
3rd Sunday of Advent - December 1 7
Special Music
4th Sunday of Advent - December 24 - 10:30 AM
The Mystery of the Word
December 24 Evening - Christmas Eve Celebrated
4:00 PM & 10:00PM
Carols & Candles
The Word becomes Flesh and Lives Among Us!
John 1:14
December 31 10:30 Worship
Comfy clothes, PJ's welcome
Donuts & Cocoa fellowship

December 31 7:00PM - 12:15 (Midnight)
All ages game night
sponsored by the young adults

Please consider who you might invite  into this sacred season.  All are Welcome!

Advent   is the sacred season that readies our hearts for the connection between heaven and earth.  This year we prepare with the texts of Exodus and poetry of the Gospel of John which features the arrival of the Word made Flesh in Jesus Christ.
Christmas Eve & Sunday December 24
.
Christmas Eve - December 24  
is a Sunday this year!

10:30 AM Sunday Worship - Advent 4
then
4:00 PM & 10:00 PM - Christmas 
Candles & Carols 
Mission:  School Angel Tree
Angel Tree
Thank you so much for your support of children and families in need at our local elementary school!  If you feel like you missed out.  As of this moment every single name/gift tag has been taken!  You may still make a donation toward food if you wish.
As you turn in the gifts, here are some reminders:
Before you return your gift to the church, please attach the 
BLUE TAG  to your gift.  If you have two packages, please tie them together.  Also, put your own gift tag on the gifts.  
When you return your gift to the church, please check the line with your name on the "Returned Gift Sheet". This will show that your gift is ready to be delivered.  
Please return gifts no later than December 10th.

Christmas Joy Offering
Our annual special offering which supports Presbyterian church workers and students is underway soon.  You may use special envelopes for your offering.
Body of Christ Notes and Thank Yous!
Don't forget to check the church office window for updates, notes, news stories of interest, and other tidbits! 
Special Thanks

It takes a village to....
          Do mission!
Thanks to those who donated clothes, shopped for food, donated desserts, cooked, loaded vehicles, transported, led worship, setup, served, did dishes, even did a little emergency kitchen plumbing repair.  Crossroads is making a difference. You are making a difference.
   

Our congregation received thanks from the Stephen Center for a recent contribution of $514.00 to support their mission helping vulnerable  people overcome homelessness, addictions, & poverty.  This offering was received at the October MRV presbytery meeting, hosted by Discovery. 
God's grace spurs our presbytery forward in Mission.
Mission Prayers
Nicaraguan Partners of the Month
.
Church Name                                            Name of Pastor

New Jerusalem LINO RAMIREZ
God is My Shepherd MILTON VELAZQUEZ
 
Akobo West Presbyterian Church - South Sudan. 
This is Samuel and Mary's home area.
 .
For peace and healing amid violent situations near and far
Discovery Book Club

December 17
at
3:00 PM
For our next Book Club we will be reading
"I am a man" by Joe Starita
Meet @ the Dickinsons' home.  
Come even if you didn't read the book.
Music Snapshot

Wednesdays
6:15 Chime Choir practice
7:00 Chancel Choir practice
Sundays
Christmas Band after Worship 
Meet in the sanctuary
All are Welcome!
Office Notes from Michelle
 

You are always welcome to e-mail the office or you can give me a call from 
10:15 AM until 3:15 PM 
Monday through Friday. 
If you have something on your mind, or when you would like to put something in the Navigator I'm here for you.

Thanks and God bless!!   
Michelle's Fun Side

I love winter! Winter is cold. 
It's Christmas with sleds. It's warm snugly beds.
It's silver snowflakes. It's skating on lakes. 
It's snowman that stand  in a snowy white land.
It's blue jays that feed on sunflower seed.
It's angels that pose in wintertime clothes.
It's a polka-dot sky. It's winter.....
That's why!  I love winter.
Discovery on Social Media!


 


 

 The joy is here on the Discovery Twitter Page!

We're tweeting! Follow us HERE!   

 

You can tweet to us also using 

@DiscoveryPC in your 140 characters!
"LIKE" and "Share" our Facebook Page!
This is an easy thing to do that could help us make even more of an impact in our community.
  Invite your friends and family to "like" our Facebook page so we can reach more people! INVITE! INVITE!! INVITE!!
.
If you would like to get this via e-mail or have a friend that would like to have it via e-mail go to our Facebook page and click on "Join my List" and put your name and e-mail in the boxes and you're done.  It's that simple!
Discovery Presbyterian Church | newsletter@discoverypc.org | http://www.discoverypc.org

Grace Spurs Us Forward!
2017-2018

Discovery Presbyterian Church
4622 Monroe Street
Omaha, NE 68117
  Pastor:  Rev. Sarah K. Dickinson

Sundays
10:30 AM Worship     9:15 Study for All Ages

Copyright © 2013. All Rights Reserved.