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.

We are experiencing a new season as Pastor Hannah begins her role on the HBIC staff, and this would be a great time to reach out if you are gifted in and passionate about leading and worshipping. Expressing interest won’t commit you to anything just yet - we simply want to extend an invitation to conversation to anyone who might feel called that hasn’t yet had the opportunity to get involved. Singers, instrumentalists, dancers, artists, etc. welcome! Contact Pastor Hannah to share your interest (by email, or call her at 717-507-9561)!

The following will be taking place during the week of November 29 to December 5:

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.

There will be no in-person youth group this week due to the holiday weekend. Beginning next Sunday, December 6 and moving forward, we'll be changing our meeting time to 6:30pm (still in the Open Area at the church).

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!

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.

Join us for our Pre-Council Meeting this Wednesday evening, December 2, at 6:45 pm for an initial discussion about the 2021 HBIC Budget. This year's meeting will be held virtually on Zoom. Click on the yellow button below to link to the meeting. If you'd like to connect by phone, call +1-301-715-8592. The meeting ID is 846 6288 1813.

The Preliminary Budget Draft can be reviewed prior to the meeting. Hard copies will be available on Sunday at our service check-in table. Or CLICK HERE to view the preliminary budget draft document.

Join with other young adults in service to the community! We'll be helping at the Salvation Army Food Pantry this Saturday, December 5th from 8:45 am to 12:45 pm. See Pastor Brie for more information.

All youth are welcome to join us for our Youth Christmas Party this Saturday, December 5th from 4 to 7 pm in our HBIC Open Area. We will be playing various games together and enjoying dinner and desserts! We will also have supplies to decorate gift bags for children in hospitals through Caitlin's Smiles! Please look for an email from Pastor Brie closer to the event for sign-up details.

Beginning on Sunday afternoon, each week the opening page of our church's website, HBIC.church, has the registration links for both the upcoming 9 am and the 11 am services!

Pre-registering for the services by Saturday is required. We will be closing the registration link for any service that reaches 80 registrants.

(NOTE: Due to the pandemic, plans are subject to change. Click here to see our protocols for meeting together during this time of COVID-19. )

On 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. Join us!

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.

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.

For our December service activity, we'll helping with the preparations for HBiC's Community Christmas outreach event. On Monday, December 14, we'll meet in the lobby of the sanctuary at 6:30pm. See Pastor Brie for more information.

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.

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 mornings 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.

This year, we'll be celebrating with two Christmas Eve services on December 24. These services will be held at 4:30pm and 6pm and we will offer both in-person and live-streamed options. The in-person services will be limited to 80 people each and pre-registration will be required. We will follow the same safety protocols that we have put in place for the in-person Sunday morning services. Registration will be available through the church website beginning on Sunday, December 20.

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: