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News & Updates from Your CPC Family
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Worship Services and Pageant
Third Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 15, 2019
PLEASE NOTE STARTING TIMES
Worship Service: 8:30 a.m.
Sunday School: 9:29 a.m.
Worship Service and Pageant
Light of the World: 10:30 a.m.
8:30 AM Worship
Ministers: Rev. Lori Pistor, Rev. Mitzi Lesher-Thomas
Reflection: Expectations, Lori Pistor
Scripture Reading - 8:30: Psalm 146; Luke 1:39-56
Director of Music: Ed Yasick
Choir: Chancel Choir
10:30 AM Worship and Pageant
Advent Wreath Participants:
10:30 -
Hannah Pierce, Haley Pierce, Juliet Riffle
Light of the World
Pageant Directors:
Julie Henry and Richard Wood
Choirs: Youth Choir, Chancel Choir
Vocal Ensemble: Sister Act
Accompanist:
Sarah Dickson
Sister Act Accompanist:
Nancy Neubauer
Chancel Choir Accompanist
: Ed Yasick
Set Design:
Jen Pierce
Thanks to the Youth Choir, Chancel Choir,
and Sister Act for their leadership in worship Sunday.
The beautiful paper lace banners over the pulpit, designed by the Sanctified
Art Team, were patiently and carefully created by CPC members/artists:
Jane Dunbar, Sandy Hutchinson, Ann Johnson,
Pauline Leveille, Jen Pierce, and Kecia Simmons.
Read about the Chrismons
on the purple bookmarks in the pew rack.
Read
What Can't Wait Advent Poetry for the week at this link
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Pastor Nominating Committee minutes and reports
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HONORING MANDY NESTER
Please join us this coming Sunday in the Fellowship Hall
following the 10:30 Pageant
as CPC honors Mandy.
Everyone is invited to come and greet and thank Mandy for her 7 years of Parish Ministry.
There will be
refreshments along with the accolades!
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Poinsettia Orders due in Office by Monday, Dec. 16
There is an order form for Poinsettia plants for the church, with space for your dedication on the form, available in the Narthex. You will also find a form
at this link, which you may print and use.
All orders must be received in the church office no later than Monday, December 16.
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Gifts for Church Staff
CPC traditionally receives financial gifts from the congregation to thank our staff! This year, please consider including an extra Love Offering designated for Mandy Nester, our Parish Nurse, who is leaving CPC at the end of the year.
Members and friends can donate with the envelopes in the friendship pads, in the regular offering plate or by dropping a check by the church office.
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Generosity Reminder
Thank you to everyone who has returned a planned giving card for 2020.
If you haven't returned your goldenrod envelope, please do so as soon as possible. You may put your envelope in the offering plate, return it to the church office, or
pledge online here. Your response is important; the Budget and Finance Team and Session will be finalizing the 2020 operating budget in early January, and every member's gift does really matter.
If you are up to date with your planned giving commitment for 2019, we thank you. If not, we graciously ask that you become current by the end of the year.
Thank you.
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Christian Faith Formation
For Sunday, December 15.
Faith Together Class:
Faith Together and the Preschool class will not be having a regular class so that preparations can be finalized for the Christmas pageant. Even if you have not attended rehearsals, we will find a spot for you if you'd like to participate.
Adult Classes
This week: December 15
Adult I:
meets in the parlor
Bible and Beyond:
continuing with The History of Christianity from The Great Courses until Christmas. Lisa and Alan Ward, facilitators.
NEW MEETING LOCATION!
Faith Hall of Fame: the former computer lab at the parking lot end of the hallway.
Faith & Families & Faith Today:
Will meet together Dec. 8 & 15 in Rm.100 to discuss Luke Powry's
Rise Up, Shepherd! Advent Reflections on the Spirituals
. Powery is the Dean of Duke Chapel and brings the spirituals and Advent together in a double blessing of hope. Teaching this Sunday: Alan Bancroft
All adult Sunday School classes welcome you at any time, are not concerned about entering late or leaving early, and understand if attendance is occasional. We thank you for participating as you are able.
Children in Worship
Children in Worship will not be meeting this week so that the children have an opportunity to attend the Christmas pageant. Nursery care will still be provided downstairs in room 120 if needed for your child.
Anyone is welcome to join us at any time for listening to the stories, responding to the stories and learning them by retelling. Would you like to be a leader? Children in Worship begins at the same time as Sanctuary worship does. We finish during the hymn following the sermon and return to 'big church' to join the rest of the congregation. Please contact Jen Pierce if you are interested. jlpierce@carypresbyterian.org
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Remember FairTrade this Christmas
Fair Trade coffee, tea and chocolate this Sunday, December 15.
Look for our festive table next to Fellowship Hall between services, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. (and after the 10:30 service). We offer a variety of coffees (regular and decaf), tea (regular and herbal), chocolate bars and minis, and hot cocoa mix. We have some homemade Guatemalan bracelets and scrunchies for just $2. And we are selling pottery mugs and teabag holders donated by Todd and Melinda Crouse.
All of these items make wonderful Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers. We accept cash, checks and credit cards. Questions or special requests? Contact Betty Boyd or Jeanne Bolick.
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CPC Social Justice Group Meeting
The next meeting of the CPC Social Justice team will be held on Friday, December 13 from 10:30 to noon in the Parlor. All who want to join us are welcome!
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The Carying Place Holiday Meal:
Thursday, December 19 at 6:00 p.m.
Loved Be The Hands?
Wanna keep that feeling of community & service going?
December 19th, 6:00 p.m. Fellowship Hall
Help serve a holiday dinner to the families, volunteers,
staff and board members of The Carying Place!
Each December, Cary Presbyterian Church, under the leadership of Presbyterian Women, hosts The Carying Place for a holiday dinner.
Any and all hands are welcome!
Volunteers are needed for food, set-up, serving, and clean up.
Please use this SignUpGenius link to volunteer
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Alternative Gifts for Christmas
It's that time of the year to be thinking about alternative Christmas gifts for family and friends. The Missions team decided we would hit pause on an all-out Alternative Gift Market and offer a more low-key opportunity this year.
As such, you will find in the Narthex, copies of the PCUSA Alternative Gift catalogue AND a special insert that highlights your favorite CPC Missions that you can also give as a gift. We hope you will consider these wonderful gifts this Christmas season and provide hope to those in need.
Peace and joy from the Missions Team
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Cary Area Community Service
Longest Night Service
A reflective service offering a sacred space for people
living through difficult times during the holidays.
Sunday, December 22, 4:00p.m.
St Francis UMC
2965 Kildaire Farm Rd.
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Cool Books Club News
The Cool Books Club will meet
on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, at 7 p.m.
at the home of Peg Giesbrecht.
During December we are treating ourselves to a light but meaningful read, and we encourage others to join us
if they so desire.
Our choice this time is
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,
a children's novel written by Barbara Robinson in 1971. It tells the story of six misfit children who volunteer to star in their town's Sunday school Christmas pageant, and end up teaching the town the true meaning of Christmas.
The book was written as a children's book and is on the 4th to 8th grade reading level. It should be enjoyable
on many levels.
If interested or if you need more information,
please call Peg Giesbrecht at 919-859-3951 or Ellen Cline at 919-469-1456.
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Nominations for Nominating Committee Wanted
The CPC Nominating Committee is receiving recommendations of church members to
serve on the 2020 Nominating Committee.
This committee is responsible for
discerning the slate of elders and deacons to be elected by the congregation.
Please
contact chairperson Tim Farless with nominations or email nominations to
office@carypresbyterian.org
Thank you!
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SAVE THE DATE: ASP 2020 JUNE 21-27
Registration Opens Sunday, January 5
On this 30th year of ASP trips from CPC, we're off to Virginia and we'd love to invite first-timers, as well as returnees, to join us!
The cost is $225, paid at time of registration, and scholarships are available, if needed. Questions about the trip? Contact Alan Bancroft at 615-540-9124 or alan.bancroft@carypresbyterian.org.
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'Be the Hands' 2019 Home Creation Report
We received word from Church World Services this week that a refugee family from Afghanistan was "very excited" to move into their new, fully furnished and stocked Triangle home! Thanks to all who supported this effort by donating furniture, bedding, sheets, towels, kitchenware and so much more! And, thanks to all who helped move furniture, buy groceries and work to make this house a warm and welcoming home! Thanks for Being the Hands! (See pictures of some rooms in the home below.)
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Be the Hands Home Bedroom
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Be the Hands Home Living Room
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Be the Hands Home Kitchen
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Christmas Angel
by Jim Hobbs
If you know what Christmas is, if you really do believe,
then listen to what some say about the magic of Christmas Eve.
I did not see, I was not there, I really do not know,
but gather round and hear a little tale of long ago.
With Christmas only a day away, a tree so green and tall
was finally decorated in the small church's hall.
The little congregation stood around the tree so bright,
well almost, you see, the Angel was a sorry sight.
She was nearly shapeless, you could only see one wing,
brought there by a little child, made of shucks and string.
Perhaps it did not matter much how she came to be,
for there she was alone atop the Christmas tree.
As the Church choir sang the carol "Silent Night",
no one in attendance there could find that unseen light.
No human eye could see it; it traveled so very far,
shining on that Christmas tree from a distant star.
So the little angel there, made of shucks and string
in the glow of that unseen light became a glorious thing.
And no one ever understood how one so crude and small
became the most glorious Christmas Angel of them all.
Some said she looked like silver tied with strings of gold.
Some said she looked like a child, some said wise and old.
But all agreed not the same as when put upon the tree,
And no one ever knew just how this came to be.
When the Angel was taken down, she was only shucks and string,
the simple gift of a loving child, not at all a wondrous thing.
A gift that was made magical by that light from up above,
Like the gift of baby Jesus, a gift of purest Love.
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Send Your News and Announcements
Bulletin and e-Link announcements
for an upcoming newsletter or bulletin
need to be received in office email
by 12:00 noon on Wednesday
prior to the first day they need to run.
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CPC Website Calendar
If you're interested in the dates of services and events at CPC or need
to know what rooms are available at the church at specific times on specific days, you can find that information on the
CPC website calendar at this link.
(When you go to the CPC website, find a link at the top of the home page.
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An Important Safety and Security Notice
The wooden doors in the front of the church have recently been left unlocked overnight more than once. This has resulted in people entering the church and walking around without knowledge of the church or preschool staff. Unfortunately, open access to the church building by unknown persons potentially puts not only the facility and staff members, but preschool children at risk.
The wooden doors in the front of the church should not be unlocked except for Sunday worship services and for all-congregation events.
(For other groups and events, entry and exit should be made through doors with keypad access.)
Glass doors should never be propped open.
Church entry should be made by entering an entry code on one of the doors with a keypad. If you need a code, you must come to the church office and sign the security notebook to choose one from the randomly generated list of numbers.
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The CPC Church Directory is Online
Remember - the CPC Directory
is linked on the church website!
You can access our directory by clicking the Member Directory link at the top of our website home page.
Correct your info, add pictures, etc. online by following that link.
If you have not accessed the directory yet, an invitation will have to be sent to you by Servant Keeper. If you need this new invitation, email office@carypresbyterian.org with your name and an invitation will be requested for you. All invitations are good for only two weeks.
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BE KNOWN!
Wear your name tag!
Need a name tag? Need a new name tag?
You can do one of these things:
- Write "Need a name tag" next to your name in the Welcome Book
- OR sign up for a name tag at the table by the TV in the Narthex. As soon as yours is ready it will be on that same table. (Keep it where most convenient on one of the name tag racks.)
THANKS!
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CPC Church Service Podcasts
CPC Service podcasts are added weekly to Soundcloud and for posting to the website
on this page. They appear with the most recent service featured at the top of the page, with the illustration from that week's bulletin as an identifier (as shown above).
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The public CPC Facebook page is a great continuing source of information about what is upcoming and what has happened at CPC. Visit it frequently for news and pictures you won't see elsewhere, and share the posts with your friends and on your own Facebook page!
Follow the links to the public page and the CPC family page below:
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CPC Calendar for December 15
through December 22
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Did You Know?
Cary Presbyterian Church is a part of a larger family of churches comprising the New Hope Presbytery.
From Efland to the Outer Banks, spanning 33 counties, with 122 congregations representing 28,314 members, we are a Mid-Council of the Presbyterian Church (USA) serving eastern North Carolina.
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