Dear Friends, 

 

I hope that your Thanksgiving celebration was both joyous and meaningful. Although Thanksgiving is a secular celebration in the United States, it has its roots in the Jewish and Christian traditions of harvest festivals, where God was thanked for bounty, and the first fruits were brought to places of worship. Deuteronomy 26:1-11 is worth reading for some perspective.

The Session is offering its thanks for the 41 families who have already pledged to Prelude, our fall stewardship effort.  Twelve households have increased their giving for 2018, and five pledges were brand new, which is wonderful because we hope to significantly increase our mission giving. This Sunday we will again have the opportunity to lay our Prelude pledge cards, and our tithes and offerings, on the communion table as an act of community and faith.  And please remember that if you give by EFT, which nearly half of us do, you can take one of the cards that are in the church chairs, which read like this, I contribute by Electronic Funds Transfer and or Online Giving.  The physical act of laying the card on the table, or next week in the basket, is deeply meaningful, community-building and prayer in motion. 

This year for Advent, we are visiting an old friend known as the Advent Conspiracy. Our worship themes will be Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, Love All.  Pastor John and I will explore these themes in our sermons in December.

Save the date! Christmas Revels, December 3, 6:00 pm.  Music, poetry, band, choir, Mark, Rebecca, readings and great fun.

 

Please be sure to read Rebecca's note, below, about foster care.