Week of December 6-12, 2020
Thank you for checking out our Journeying Together email where we share many church happenings and updates! We continue to pray that you will experience the riches of the Lord's presence during this time in which many of us are not able to be present with one another!
-- HBIC Pastoral Staff

IN-PERSON SERVICES
If you didn't register yet for one of our in-person services for Sunday, December 6 (in the sanctuary) and would like to attend, please register on our church's website, HBIC.church. We will have a cap of 80 people for attendance in the sanctuary for each service. If we reach that cap, registration will be closed for that service.

Click here to see a video that walks you through the check-in process for our worship services in the sanctuary and highlights some of our procedures.

LIVE-STREAM SERVICES
As long as technology cooperates, we'll be live-streaming both the 9am and 11am in-person services. You'll be able to link to either of the live-stream services on our HBIC YouTube Channel at the time of the service, or you'll be able to watch the recording of the live-stream anytime. We appreciate your patience and grace as we navigate new equipment and audio challenges. We are working diligently to improve in these areas!

WORSHIP RESOURCE PAGE
The Worship Resource Page serves as a companion to the weekly worship service live-streams on the HBIC YouTube Channel and includes the song lyrics, the sermon scripture, reflection questions, plus some links for children.

WEEKLY CHILDREN'S RESOURCES
Children attending our in-person services will remain in the sanctuary with their parent/guardian.

You can click here to view this week's special children's message about the second week of Advent and a really interesting instrument from Biblical times, shared by Pastor Patty!

Also, click here for access to the children's activity pages for this week.
2020 CHRISTMAS
LOVE GIFT

From Emerson Lesher, Chair of the HBIC Church Board:
An important Christmas tradition at HBIC is to give a Love Gift to the pastors and staff. This tradition seems particularly important to continue this year when many traditions have been disturbed. Pastors and staff give much of themselves during “regular” years, but during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, increased focus on racial injustice, and responding to financial setbacks, they have particularly stepped up their service to the congregation and its ministries. In a matter of days in March they converted to a virtual format and over the past months have developed new ways to carry on congregational life and outreach both virtually and in person. They showed commitment, creativity, and compassion. They carried on the ministries of HBIC in the midst of many uncertainties including how the virus might impact their health and the health of their families. All this while also tending to ongoing spiritual care, life transitions, and medical, and social needs of the congregation. 

So, in this year of disruption, need, and opportunity, we invite you to help carry on this wonderful tradition at HBIC of giving a Love Gift to our pastors and staff. If you cannot give this year, please send them a card or email to express your appreciation. 

The gifts can be given using the online options (on the church website) or by mailing a check marked “Christmas Love Gift” to Harrisburg Brethren In Christ, 2217 Derry Street, Harrisburg, PA 17104. Please give by December 13, 2020. Gifts are considered tax deductible.
PRAY FOR THOSE WHO MOURN

Pray for Beatriz Quintero, who is grieving the passing in the last week of an elderly cousin and also two middle-age children of other cousins.

Pray for Lin and Joe Taylor, as they grieve the passing of two of Lin's aunts, Martha Lady and Mary Olive (Lady) Bundy.
The following will be taking place during the week of December 6 to December 12:

  • Sunday, 9 & 11 am - In-Person Worship Service (Sanctuary)
  • Sunday, 9 & 11 am - Worship Service Livestream (HBIC YouTube Channel)
  • Sunday, 11 am - Youth Sunday School (Open Area)
  • Sunday, 6:30 pm - In-Person Youth Group (Open Area)
  • Monday, 4 pm - Creation Kids on Zoom (Zoom)
  • Monday, 6:30 pm - Property Committee Meeting (Zoom)
  • Tuesday, 6:30 pm - Finance Committee Meeting (Zoom)
  • Wednesday, 6:15 pm - ESL Class (Zoom)
  • Wednesday, 5:30 pm - Virtual Youth Group (Zoom)
  • Wednesday, 7 pm - Missions Spotlight (Zoom)
  • Friday, 10am to 3 pm - Blood Drive (CE Room)
  • Saturday, 2 pm - Family Paint Party (Zoom)

If you'd like more information, contact any of the pastors or the
church office. And please keep these groups, gatherings,
and meetings in prayer this week as you pray for the church.
SUNDAY & WEDNESDAY YOUTH MINISTRIES

YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL
All youth in grades 6 to 12 are invited to join in the Youth Sunday School Class which is meeting during the 11 am service. We'll start out in the sanctuary for the opening of the service, then we'll meet in the Open Area til 12 noon.

IN-PERSON YOUTH GROUP
Beginning this Sunday, December 6 and moving forward we'll be changing our meeting time to 6:30pm on Sunday evening (still in the Open Area at the church).

ZOOM YOUTH GROUP
Youth are invited to join in the Zoom Youth Group gathering on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, 5:30 pm. It's a great time to reconnect mid-week for fun and spiritual food!

Contact Pastor Brie with any questions about any of our Youth Ministries!
CREATION KIDS ON ZOOM

Pastor Patty and some of our children's ministry volunteers are looking forward to hanging out with your children on Zoom, Monday afternoons at 4 pm, catching up with one another, playing some games, and praying together. Contact Pastor Patty for the link that your child will need for these times of connection designed especially for kids.
MISSIONS SPOTLIGHT

This Wednesday evening, December 9, in place of our regular Wednesday Virtual Prayer Meeting, we will have a Missions Spotlight... P & H have a ministry of hospitality among international students in the US, and we'll have a chance to connect with them on Zoom, from 7 to 8 pm, to hear more about this significant ministry. Click the blue button below to join the Zoom meeting!
BLOOD DRIVE AT HBIC

On Friday, December 11, 10 am to 3 pm, the Red Cross will be holding a Blood Drive at our church. Donors are needed - CLICK HERE to access the Red Cross registration site, or call 1-800-RED-CROSS in order to make an appointment.
FAMILY PAINTING PARTY

Our Children's Ministry has made plans for a special Family Painting Party for the Christmas holiday, which will be held on Saturday, December 12 on Zoom at 2 pm!

Lanette Johnson will be leading children and families through creating the "O Holy Night" painting included in this announcement. You'll need to sign up, choosing whether you'd like to do one large 16x20 family painting or have each child work on smaller paintings (2 sizes available). The canvas and all of the supplies needed for this fun time will be provided ahead of time, either for pick up at the church or by delivery to your home. CLICK HERE to sign up! And contact Pastor Patty if you have questions.
"DOUGH HOLY NIGHT"

Our Children's Ministry Team is sponsoring an online Christmas activity for children and families - cookie baking together, while also celebrating the birth of Jesus! There are two options for participating: a Zoom session, making cookies with others; or making cookies on your own. Cookie-kits will be provided, either for pick up at the church or by delivery to your home. Details regarding the Zoom dates are included in the registration form - CLICK HERE to sign up! For questions or more information, contact Pastor Patty.
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE

Our annual Community Christmas event will be held on Saturday, December 19th. In preparation, we are holding a Toy Drive from now through Sunday, December 13th. Feel free to drop off donations in the lobby on Sunday morning or in the church office, Tuesdays through Fridays, 9 am to 3 pm. Both toys or gift cards would be welcome. Contact Pastor Carmen with any questions. Click here to see more info about donations.

We'll also need volunteers to help with things like moving and sorting inventory, toy selection and running toys at curbside pickup at various times between December 14 and 19. To sign up, click here.
CHRISTMAS EVE
SERVICES

In this unconventional year, we're choosing to love our community well by celebrating Christmas Eve together through an online service experience on December 24. We hope you'll join us as we reflect on the coming of Jesus in this special way and keep an eye out for more information!
MCC CHRISTMAS GIVING PROJECTS

Each year our church invites the congregation to participate in a Christmas giving project that reaches around the world. Rather than collecting specific items this year as we have done in years past, we are sharing with you Mennonite Central Committee's (MCC) Christmas Giving Project List.

MCC makes it easy for individuals and families to choose Christmas gifts full of purpose and practicality. From tangible gifts such as fruit trees, wells and goats to broader gifts of hope and welcome, each gift helps people to improve their life in some way. Check out the online 2020 MCC Christmas Giving Project List by CLICKING HERE!

You have two choices about how to be involved:
  • Pick one or more projects that you'd like to give toward this year, and give your donation directly to MCC.
  • Give a donation to our church, between now and December 20th, marked for MCC Christmas. All donations that the church receives (either by check or in our online giving) will be forwarded to MCC toward the "Food to Fight Hunger" Project for Zambia.
STAFF CONTACT INFO

We welcome you to contact us by email or by phone if you have a need.
Here is the E-Mail & Phone Contact information for our pastoral and office staff: