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Northmont's redesigned Web site is once again functioning. We invite you to check us out at
northmontchurch.org to stay up to date on happenings in the Northmont community.
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Holiday Bulletin Deadline
All information to be included in the church bulletin for December 17, 24, and 31 is due in the church office no later than Tuesday, December 12.
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The church office will be closed from December 25 through January 1. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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Advent Family Nights
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Come one and all Wednesday evenings during Advent (remaining dates are December 13 and 20) and join us for a light dinner, Bible study, and fellowship, as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus. There will be activities for all ages. Pastor Jane is leading the adult study, "Christmas Accounts in the Gospels." Steph will lead the middle school and youth. Barb will be leading the elementary school children. Dinner will be served each evening at 5:30, and the evening will conclude at 7:30. See you there!
.
Advent Calendars
Advent calendars are available
on the table in the narthex. We have adult/family as well as children calendars. Bookmarks are also available. Please take one or two.
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The Second Sunday of Advent
God Under Wraps,
Rev. Jane Esterline
.
Liturgist:
Pat Kelly
Music:
David Daugherty, Director of Music, Chancel Choir; Northmont Bells
Chancel flowers are provided to the glory of God by
Daryl Scott Rahenkamp, in honor of her parents, Bernard & Eleanor Dusenberry
Stephen Minister
Jody Sebben
will be available for prayer near the chancel after worship
Fellowship Time immediately follows worship, hosted by: Spiritual Formation
Need a ride to church?
Call the church office (412) 364-0105 or email before 4pm, Thursday, and we will arrange for a church member to pick you up for Northmont's Sunday service.
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This Sunday
God Under Wraps
Rev. Jane Esterline
.
I recently saw the movie,
The Shack
. I was already a huge fan of William Paul Young's book,
The Shack
, so
I was reluctant to see the movie in case they ruined the story line. They did NOT ruin the story line. When the main character Mac, who had known multiple terrors in his life, asked Octavia Spencer (who played God so wonderfully!!) where "he" was during the recent tragedy, "God," with tears replies, "I was right there with you, Mackenzie; right there with Missy." When does God seem under wraps, hidden yet in plain view? Sometimes God is easy to discern. Other times, like a present wrapped up when we do not know what is inside, we can wonder where God is at work.
Join us this Sunday for the second week of Advent.
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In case you missed it ...
Last Sunday, our worship service revolved around the Hanging of the Greens, decorating our church for the Advent season. You can check out audio from the service by clicking on the image to the right.
Audio from all of our recent worship services may be found by clicking here.
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Bill Markus returns to Northmont
This Sunday, we welcome the return of a Northmont favorite, Bill Markus. Bill is joining us for a special set of 2 classes, today and next Sunday, speaking both weeks on the the subject of North Korea. The classes will be held in Fellowship Hall and will run from
8:45am to 9:45am
.
Note that the Adult Bible Class will not be held today or next Sunday so that everyone can enjoy our time with Bill.
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Produce to People
The sign-up sheet is full! Praise God! If you missed your opportunity, look in 2018 for the next Produce to People sign-up!
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If you signed up for next weekend, please arrive at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School on the North Side, Saturday, December 16 at 8:30am to prepare the site and package some produce. The actual distribution starts at 10:00am and
lasts till 12:00 noon, with clean-up done by 12:30pm. Dress for the weather! We are under cover but otherwise exposed to the elements.
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Ear Candy & Inspiration for a Sunday (or any) Morning
The Piano Guys visit the set of the motion picture,
Jerusalem to offer their piano and cello duo rendition of
Veni Emmanuel, one of the best-known hymns of the Advent season. This instrumental version of the tune is stunning in its contemplative beauty.
Click the link to the right and enjoy!
If you have a musical selection you would like to have featured in this space, we'd love
to hear from you! Please send the title (and artist, if it's important to you that we find a
specific version of the music) to Bob Addleman.
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From the Interim Pastor
.
You are invited!
Join us for
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary's
annual Christmas Open House hosted by President David Esterline this Friday (tomorrow), Dec. 8, from 3:30-6:30 p.m.
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Enjoy arts and crafts for kids of all ages, caroling, food, drink, and cheer! The Kelso Museum will be open for you. Come and go as you please. It would be my joy to greet folks from Northmont.
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Advent devotional on Northmont Facebook Page
The seminary has shared a daily advent devotional that is being posted onto our Facebook page daily. Follow along and be inspired.
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Name that carol!
The challenge awaits. On the bulletin board in the office hallway are a number of verses from various carols. They are intentionally out of order and random. The first challenge is to write the title of the hymn below the verse given. The second challenge is to identify all carols by Christmas Eve morning.
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Christmas Eve, Sunday December 24 
at 10:00am and 7:30pm
-
A NEW TIME
Northmont will host only one evening Lessons and Carols service this Christmas Eve at 7:30pm. Our family Christmas Eve service will be held Christmas Eve morning at 10:00am. The Family Service will involve the children and characters from within and behind the scenes of the first Nativity. Invite friends to join you at worship.
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New members class
- Six people have expressed an interest, so far, in joining Northmont. A New Member's class is being planned for January before the annual meeting at the end of the month.
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As your preparations for the celebration of Jesus's birthday continue, both at church and at home, please remember the beloved message of Christmas: God is present with you and the ministry of your life is a present to the glory of God.
.
Jane
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Doc's Clef Notes
Watch this space for news and notes about music programs and programming at Northmont. All of our ensembles are hard at work preparing music for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany.
This week, the Northmont Bells and Chancel Choir will glorify God with music during our worship service.
See
you in church,
David (Doc)
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From the Spiritual Formation Associate
Youth Corner ...
This past weekend our Northmont Youth went up to Crestfield Camp and Conference Center in Slippery Rock, PA for a weekend retreat. We lucked out with a gorgeous, dry, sunny weekend full of worship, games, learning, and fellowship. The theme for the weekend was #NoFilter and our speaker talked about the ways that we filter ourselves when we are around different groups of people. We wrestled with questions about why we filter ourselves, what different filters we use in different contexts, and what filters to use to look at the world. We looked at numerous verses in the Bible to help us understand God's hopes for us and the filter through which God sees us. Finally, we discussed using our "God filter" to look at others and the things going on around us in the world. And when we weren't talking about filters we got to play with nylon balls full of colored chalk powder in the Color Wars! We had a fun and colorful time.
Our next event will be our Big Christmas Party with the 3-19 churches! On Wednesday, December 20, we will have a Christmas Party with the youth groups of Wexford Pres and Hiland Pres (together we are the 3 churches on Rt. 19). Meet at Northmont at 7:20pm to carpool to Wexford. Wear an ugly Christmas sweater if you have one! The party should wrap up at 9pm. Make sure to let me know if you plan on coming so we make sure we have space in cars!
Steph
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From the Spiritual Formation Director
for Children's Ministry
Children's Footprints ...
 Advent is here, the children are excited, and it is a great time to talk with them about the season leading up to Christmas. I was having a conversation with the Preschool kids during chapel this week. I asked them if they had ever heard of the word Advent and what it means. We talked about Advent being the time of preparation for the coming of the Christ Child and that Christmas was truly only one day: December 25. They looked at me like I was crazy.
Wouldn't it be lovely to sit and actually prepare our hearts, to take a quiet moment every day to be in communion with our Lord. I have tried this many times and fail almost every year. Between baking, shopping, and visiting with friends, it seems to be almost overwhelming. I have a friend who once was in an unfortunate time of unemployment during the holidays. She sat her two young children down, and they created a plan. They made cookies together to give to others. They gave each other gifts they made, but the best part was they spent Christmas at the park feeding the animals at the preserve near our town. They love animals and this fit their family in an unbelievably joyous way! They came away from that Advent season much stronger as a family unit. I have never forgotten how blessed they were that year, and how much stronger they came out of the season.
There are many ways of communing with God without sitting quietly. Pastor Jane's sermon November 26th was on Jesus saying to his disciples "when you fed me......." The disciples then asked "Ummmmmm......... When WE fed YOU Lord????? Can you tell us when that was because we don't quite remember that?" Maybe you won't be sitting down in quiet, but if you are looking for a few ideas here are a few suggestions. Take cookies to a nearby nursing home, rake leaves for a neighbor, shovel someone's driveway as a family and surprise your neighbor! Get creative! I totally love the Salvation Army red buckets! I have taught my children NEVER to go past without putting money in. My grandkids ask me for money to add to the red bucket every time we go to the store. Talk about gratitude, my heart swells! My blessing this week was the woman at the bucket was playing her horn. She was playing a little off key but how wonderful, that she then blessed us with a song and a smile! Grateful! God is so good! Be thankful for what you have and give thanks fpr God's blessings as you add that change into the bucket.
Do you have family traditions? We have many, and one is the red bucket. Another one of my favorites is talking about the tree decorations. We have decorations dating back to the Great Depression in the early 1930's made out of small, clear, drink stirrers and glass beads. My grandkids love to decorate with me, and they are learning about the family as we go. It always reminds me of the importance of sharing the Bible stories with the children. That may be the most important job we have as adults. Jesus said" let the little children come to me ..." and it is how the stories will continue.
Take time for your families and for praise to God from whom ALL Blessings flow! Even if you can't sit quietly like one might think, do something that gives you peace as well as a grateful heart. Merry Christmas!
Joyfully,
Barb
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Sunday School
Session has approved the recommendation from Spiritual Formation to suspend only
the Elementary Sunday
School hour for the ages of
Pre-K through grade 6
.
All other Sunday S
chool programming will continue as normal for grade 7
through adult.
Children, please join us for Kids Kirk, immediately following
Time with the Children
or Wednesday
evenings for Kids Club
from 5-7pm.
These programs are thriving in the life of the church, and we are very thankful.
If you have any questions, please contact
Barb Clark
.
Impact Bible Study
meets Sundays at 9am in the Berean Room.
Adult Bible Study
meets Sundays at 9am in the Mangochi Room (replaced by Topics Class, 12/10 & 12/17).
Kids Kirk
Children from pre-K through grade 6 are invited to join us after Time with the Children (during worship) Children from Pre-K through grade 6 are invited to join us after Time with the Children (during worship) in the Christian Education wing for Kids Kirk. Follow along with the Advent season as we explore the coming of the Christ Child. Our teachers will be leading Kids Kirk during the worship hour. We are so thankful for their continued blessings of teaching the Bible stories to children.
Nursery
Worship time childcare will be available in the nursery.
Wednesday Club
Our fall session has come to an end. Come join us in December for Advent Family Nights, and mark your calendars for Wednesday, January 10, when we'll kick off our Winter session with pizza and a movie! All kids in Kindergarten through 8th grade are invited to join us from 5-7pm. as we have an evening of faith, food and fun. If you have any questions, please contact Barb Clark at 412-605-7984 or
Youth Group
We had an amazing weekend of fellowship as we contin
Youth Group will meet at 4:30pm in the Youth Lounge. Come join us for fellowship and Bible Study ... and snacks! Make plans now to attend and be sure to sign up for the Big Christmas Party for 3-19 Youth, Wednesday, December 20.
.
Call or text
Steph
if you have questions.
Hey, College Kids!
Are you home for the holidays and want to reconnect with your Youth Group friends? Join us at Youth Group, Sunday, December 17, at 4:30pm. We will be baking Christmas cookies (from scratch!), talking about Advent, and enjoying fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. If you have questions, feel free to contact me at [email protected], or text me at
804-614-5515
. Hope to see you there!
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Make the holiday brighter for a child in need
Deacons Christmas Gift Ministry
Our Deacons are collecting new, unwrapped gifts for children served by North Hills Community Outreach. If you'd like to help, please bring your donation to the Church Library now through December 10. Check our posters located by the doors for some great gift ideas.
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How would you like to give a gift that is just the right color and size. . . a gift that suits the
recipient's taste to a tee. . . a gift that is sure to bring a smile? Now is your big opportunity! This year our Christmas trees are decorated with tags showing the name and address for every household of our church family. Pick a tag and send your favorite scripture passage or a prayer or a note or a Christmas card. There are many ways to show you're thinking of someone. This is one special gift that is sure to be appreciated.
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Luke taught us in the Book of Acts with his chronicle of Paul's travels to Rome that Jesus is talking to us. If you are in Target looking at your shopping list and notice a 25% off sign for pain pills or vitamins in front of you, perhaps Jesus is reminding you that Ken Yoest is going to Honduras the first week of February and needs medicines to serve some of the poorest people on this earth. If you don't have the following list to buy from, then trust that Jesus just guided you to this product. I am often asked, "What do you really need the most from the list?" The donations come from so many churches in the North Hills that it is hard to predict. We will let Jesus control that as well.
Needed: Tylenol (all ages, adult, children, infant) ... Motrin ... Advil ... Ibuprofen ...Tums ... Calcium ...
Lomotil ... Imodium ... Vitamins (adult
and children) ... Prenatal vitamins (really need these) ... Iron ...
Antibiotic ointment ... Anti-fungal cream/lotion ... Hydro-cortisone cream ... Canes, first aid supplies such as sterile dressings, band-aids, ace bandages, tape and eyeglasses and dental items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes and floss.
The collection box will be in the coat rack area across from the church offices. Collection will start Sunday December 17
and end January 7
. You may donate as well to: Honduras Hope Mission, Inc., P.O. Box 463, Mars, PA 16046
Thank you for your past generous support.
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Triangles Christmas Luncheon
Triangles and friends of Triangles, our annual Christmas luncheon and gift raffle to benefit North Hills Community Outreach will be held, Friday, December 15, at 11:30am in Fellowship Hall. We hope you can attend. Please email Mary Lou English or call her at 412-487-6619 with any questions.
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Tuesday mornings at 8:30
Fellowship Hall
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Our Stephen Ministers ...
C
reate an
A
tmosphere of
A
cceptance,
R
eassurance (of God's Love) and
E
ncouragement
If you would like to talk to a Stephen Minister who "CAARES,"
STEPHEN MINISTER JEAN STULTZ
is making hospital calls this week.
She can be reached at
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Messiah Sing!
Pittsburgh Concert Chorale & St. Brendan's Episcopal Church invite you to come with family and friends to recreate selections from Handel's sacred masterpiece, Messiah, this Sunday, December 10 at 2:00pm, with a 14-piece orchestra and soloists under the baton of PCC Music Director Susan Medley. This event features the audience performing choruses (and some solos) singing with great fervor and robust sound ---without rehearsal! Music scores will be loaned to those who do not have a copy. A cookie reception at intermission will provide a time to rest the voice and to mingle with the singers and instrumentalists. No tickets, no admission fee, no reservations. (Baskets will be provided for a freewill offering.) Come early and sit with your voice section or join others just to listen!" St. Brendan's is located at 2365 McAleer Road, Sewickley.
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Please remember in your prayers:
All those affected by the recent tragedy in Sutherland Springs, Texas
All those affected by hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires and other natural disasters
All those who must, literally, today pray for their daily bread
Our sister church, Mangochi CCAP, in Mangochi, Malawi
Our sister church, Second Presbyterian Church, in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania
Our global mission partners, the Ludwig family, the Weller family, and Kay Day
The NUPC Pastoral Nominating Committee
Members of the congregation who are seeking employment
The leaders of our federal, state, and local governments
All the men and women of our Armed Forces and our Veterans
Our enemies, as God has called us to pray also for them, even as we may not understand why
As The Piper is posted to the World Wide Web, privacy concerns dictate that we no longer publish the entire weekly Prayer Chain. If you would like to receive the Prayer Chain by email, please contact Jane Nicola or the church office.
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Sunday
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December
|
10 |
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8:45
|
am |
Topics Class - Bill Markus |
Fellowship Hall |
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9:00
|
am |
Sunday School |
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9:15
|
am |
Chancel Choir rehearsal |
Sanctuary |
|
10:00
|
am |
Worship |
Sanctuary |
|
11:00
|
am |
Fellowship Time |
Fellowship Hall |
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11:00
|
am |
Confirmation Class |
Library |
|
4:30
|
pm |
Youth Group |
Youth Lounge |
|
8:00
|
pm |
Alcoholics Anonymous |
Fellowship Hall |
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Monday
|
December
|
|
|
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10:30
|
am |
Staff Meeting |
Library |
|
7:00
|
pm |
Boy Scouts
|
Fellowship Hall, Mangochi Room, Sanctuary |
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Tuesday
|
December
|
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|
|
8:30
|
am |
NBC
|
Fellowship Hall |
|
7:00
|
pm |
Deacons |
Mangochi Room |
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December |
13 |
|
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9:30
|
am |
Knitters |
Mangochi Room |
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4:15
|
pm |
Bell Choir rehearsal |
Bell Room |
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5:30
|
pm |
Advent Family Night |
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7:00
|
pm |
Chancel Choir rehearsal |
CWG Suite |
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Pleasant Valley Shelter
|
Bill & Mary Lou English |
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Thursday
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December
|
14
|
|
| 10:30 |
am |
Praying the Psalms |
Berean Room |
| 7:00 |
pm |
Stewardship & Finance |
Library |
| 7:00 |
pm |
CDPC Christmas Program |
Sanctuary |
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Friday
|
|
15
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|
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9:15
|
am |
Stretch 'n' Grow |
Child Development Center |
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11:30
|
am |
Triangles Christmas Luncheon
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Fellowship Hall |
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Saturday
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December
|
16
|
|
|
8"30
|
am |
Produce to People |
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Sunday
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December
|
17
|
|
| 8:45 |
am |
Topics Class - Bill Markus |
Fellowship Hall |
| 9:00 |
am |
Sunday School |
|
| 9:15 |
am |
Chancel Choir rehearsal |
Sanctuary |
| 10:00 |
am |
Worship
|
Sanctuary |
| 11:00 |
am |
Fellowship Time |
Fellowship Hall |
| 11:00 |
am |
Confirmation Class |
Library |
| 4:30 |
pm |
Youth Group |
Youth Lounge |
| 8:00 |
pm |
Alcoholics Anonymous |
Fellowship Hall |
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We'd love to hear from you!
Rev. Jane Esterline, Interim Pastor
David Daugherty, Organist & Director of Music
Steph Martin, Spiritual Formation Associate
Barb Clark, Spiritual Formation Director for Children's Ministry
Linda Allerton, Office Manager
Rose Dragan, Part-Time Secretary
Northmont Child Development Center
Amy Beiber, Director
©
Copyright 2017 Northmont United Presbyterian Church. All rights reserved.
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