Week of December 13-19, 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!

Note that as of December 7, all in-person services, meetings and fellowship are suspended until further notice due to the state of the Covid-19 crisis in our state and region. A letter from Pastor Hank explaining this decision can be found here. Outreach opportunities like the Food Pantry and Mission of Mercy will continue as scheduled, and other service-related events will be considered and held on a case-by-case basis. Thanks for helping us to love our community well in this way!
PRERECORDED WORSHIP SERVICE
A prerecorded worship service will be available on the HBIC YouTube Channel on Sunday morning by 9 am, as well as anytime thereafter.
ZOOM REFLECTION
At 11am, we'll meet on Zoom to reflect on the prerecorded service. We will pray together and consider some questions to help us process and discuss the week's message. To join, click the button below or use your phone to call in by dialing +1 929 205 6099 and entering the Meeting ID: 838 6007 3327.
WORSHIP RESOURCE PAGE
The worship resource page serves as a companion to the worship service on the HBIC YouTube Channel and includes the song lyrics, the sermon scripture, reflection questions, plus some links for children.
WEEKLY CHILDREN'S RESOURCES
This week's special children's message is about the third week of Advent, shared by Pastor Patty! You can access this video by clicking the button below or catching it in the full prerecorded service. We have also prepared pages for help children engage in worship.
Looking forward: Sunday morning calendar at a glance
December 13 - Prerecorded service (9am) and Zoom (11am)
December 20 - Prerecorded service (9am) and Zoom (11am)
December 27 - Zoom (11am)
January 3 - Zoom (11am)
TOMORROW, 12/13:
SUNDAY MORNING ON ZOOM

Take special note to a new gathering we're having on Sundays at 11am on Zoom! The prerecorded service will be available as indicated above at 9am and this time of fellowship on Zoom will allow us to reflect on the service we watched on our own. This is one way we can stay connected and grow as a church family though we are not physically together. We hope to see you online at 11! Click the gray button (or call in with the number provided) above or click here to join.
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.
FOOD PANTRY
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Food Pantry team is in need of volunteers who are able and willing to unload potentially heavy boxes and stock food pantry shelves every 2nd and 4th Wednesday from 11am to 1pm. For more information or to sign up, contact Pastor Carmen.
POST-SECONDARY
SCHOLARSHIP FUND

At this point in our country's history, education is as important as ever in helping students not only survive but thrive. Among other things, education offers opportunity and equity, particularly for those whose circumstances may leave them less able to afford it, whether due to family income, issues related to coronavirus, or other factors.  A scholarship fund has been set up through the church to help students cover a small portion of their college costs.  These funds can help students towards finishing their degrees so they can start jobs God has particularly gifted them to do.   

If you are a post-secondary student interested in applying, please email Pastor Brie for the application.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE

There are several positions the Nominating Committee will be working to fill for voting at the January Council Meeting. You're invited to share names of those in the congregation you feel God has equipped for the following positions:

  • Church Board 1 year term (1 open)
  • Deacon 1 year term (1 open)
  • Deacon 2 year term (1 open)
  • Deacon 3 year term (3 open)
  • Trustees 1 year term (1 open)
  • Trustees 2 year term (1 open)
  • Trustees 3 year term (2 open)
  • Regional Conference Delegate (6 open and 1 alternate open)

To share your recommendations, contact Pastor Hank, Pastor Patty or Rachel Lewis.
The following will be taking place during the week of December 13 to December 19:

  • Sunday, 9am - Prerecorded Worship Service (HBIC YouTube channel)
  • Sunday, 11am - Sunday Morning Reflection (Zoom)
  • Sunday, 2pm - Dough Holy Night (Zoom)
  • Monday, 4pm - Dough Holy Night (Zoom)
  • Monday, 6:30pm - Sr. High Youth Group (Zoom)
  • Monday, 8:15pm - Young Adult Book Study (Zoom)
  • Wednesday, 6:15pm - ESL Class (Zoom)
  • Wednesday, 5:30pm - Youth Group (Zoom)
  • Wednesday, 7pm - Prayer Meeting (Zoom)
  • Saturday morning - Community Christmas (Outside of the Sanctuary Lobby)

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.
WEEKNIGHT YOUTH MINISTRIES

Junior High
Youth in grades 6-8 are invited to join in the Zoom Youth Group gathering every Wednesday evening at 5:30 pm.

Senior High
Youth in grades 9-12 are invited to join in the Zoom Youth Group gathering every Monday evening at 6:30 pm.

These virtual gatherings are great opportunities to reconnect during the 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.
WEDNESDAY PRAYER MEETING

All are invited to join us for a Virtual Prayer Meeting on Wednesday evenings on Zoom, 7 pm.

We hope to see you at this special gathering to pray for one another, our church, community, and world! Click on the blue button below to link to the Prayer Meeting. Contact Pastor Hank for more info.

If you'd like to call in by phone (audio only), the number is 929-205-6099, and the Meeting ID is 810 3235 0433.

(Note: You'll be in a waiting room to start, not for long.)
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE

There are still volunteer opportunities if you'd like to be part of loving our community well this Christmas! We can use 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 or contact Pastor Carmen to work out another time if you are unavailable or unable to come to the pre-planned time slots. Please join us in praying that each family who receives gifts this year will feel God's presence and His unconditional love!
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'll meet together on Zoom at 6pm and reflect on the coming of Jesus through song, prayer, and reading the Word! Prepare a candle if you have one available - we'll light them together at the end of the service as we would if we were physically together!
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: