We have entered into the Season of Advent, the four-Sunday period of time used to help us prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth on Christmas Day. It is a time when we are to wait with active anticipation, for in many respects we are in a time between the ‘now’ and the ‘not yet.’ 

Concerning the meaning of Christmas itself, many progressive Christians have trouble interpreting the gospel birth narratives of Jesus literally. However, while there are justifiable reasons for that perspective, it should not keep us from reflecting upon the question: “What significance does the birth, life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth have for you and your life?”

Here’s one response that I have shared before. In Jesus we have come to see that God is with us and for us. To quote Delwin Brown, author of What Does a Progressive Christian Believe?

”God is somehow incarnate in the entire creation – the ordinary and extraordinary, the broken and the whole, the known and the unknown, the familiar and the mysterious world in all its dimensions… In Jesus Christ we believe we see intimations of a God who is incarnate – a God who is with us fully, and fully, too, with all creation.”

Note that the Chancel Choir Christmas program will be presented during worship on Sunday, December 4.

A Memorial Service

Work Day - November 5

Stop by Fellowship Hall (before or after the worship service) to have a quick picture taken and provide updated contact information for our upcoming online church directory.

If you have not already done so, please return your Stewardship pledge card to the church office as soon as possible, so that the church’s 2023 budget can be finalized. Pledge cards are available on the information table in the Narthex. 

If you have any questions concerning the proposed budget, please contact our Finance & Stewardship Ministry Team Moderator, Charles Stanford at 918-760-4093.

The Chancel Choir of College Hill Presbyterian Church rehearses Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in the second story choral room (next to the church office) for singing, fellowship and fun!

BELLissimo Handbell Ensemble of College Hill Presbyterian Church rehearses Wednesdays at 6:15 pm in Fellowship Hall (1st floor).

Please (click name to) contact our

Director of Music, Kim Childs.

In the Bleak Midwinter ~ Harold Darke

O Natu Lux ~ Morten Lauridsen

Do You Hear What I Hear ~ Arr. Noel Regney

A Garden of Carols ~ Linda Spevacek

DEC 11 ~ Still ~ Jean Anne Shafferman

DEC 18 ~ Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

DEC 24 ~ Christmas Eve Service

DEC 25 ~ Christmas Day - No Chancel Choir

Our First Sunday Food Collection for the Kendall Whittier Food Pantry is in need of breakfast cereal (Cheerios, Corn Flakes, or other less sweet cereals) and 1-2 lb. bags of rice. 

Cash donations are also accepted and appreciated!

A meaningful way to celebrate your Birthday, is to donate an amount equal to your new age to the Endowment Fund.

This donation is also a wonderful way to honor others such as children, grandchildren and friends and allows the church to have funds available for special projects.

1 - Jay Lockhart

  

 Remember the 

More information later about both of these services. And please note the time change to 10:30 am instead of 11:00 am.

Hey, girls, let’s inspire some Christmas spirit by learning to decorate Christmas cookies! Barb Nole will be sharing her expertise with us, so you know we will have the skills to create beautiful holiday treats for our families.

These cookies will be distributed to the congregation at our Christmas Eve service. This spirited good time will be garnished with spirited drinks and a spirited reindeer game.

College Hill proudly supports a new monthly women’s group, promoting bonds of friendship and support through fun activities. The group’s primary goal is to promote inclusiveness and bonds of friendship and support through fun activities, so feel free to bring friends and family (or any non-church member). Anyone who identifies with this group, or a particular event, is always welcome!

The location of this event will be determined by the number of participants, so please (click name to) email Cynthia Fox, text her at 918-810-6608, or speak with her after worship on Sunday, so we will have a headcount to finalize plans.

There will be a Called Congregational Meeting to elect John Gammie as an incoming Ruling Elder for the Class of 2025.

Sunday, November 13

Sundays~through December 18

Make a contribution to one of four local, national or global causes. Stop by Fellowship Hall and “buy” a card with any size monetary donation for one of the following:

   ~ Kendall Whittier, Inc. Emergency Food Pantry, GROW Garden, etc.

   ~ Heifer International: farm-type animal donation for international family to benefit community

   ~ Housing Solutions, LLC: development of local high-quality housing from underserved community

   ~ Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: (national and global help for shelter, food and comfort for  disaster victims

We have four cards to select from, with inserts for each of the above-mentioned causes. Please see Mark Thurston, our Outreach & Mission Ministry team Moderator, after worship.

by Yascha Mounk 

The group will meet at the home of Sue Haskins to discuss Part 3 of the book, thus completing this study. A new book will be selected for the next gathering in early 2023.

Please contact Sue (918-557-0497) for questions, or if you are interested in joining this fun group!

Our usual November dinner has been moved to Saturday, December 3, to accommodate another group. Menu stays the same: Subway sandwiches, slaw, pickles, oranges, instant tea/lemonade, homemade cookies, plus 4 gallons of milk for breakfast. 

If you would like to contribute homemade cookies or milk, please text Caroline Johnson, 918-629-2882.

Sunday, November 27

One of the meaningful elements of our ministry that has been missing for so long is the causal gathering around a cup of coffee, etc, in the Fellowship Hall before the service of worship.

We are looking for volunteer(s) to help setup and prepare the coffee each Sunday morning before gathering around 10:30 am. There are many options to help make this happen, depending on the availability of one or several volunteers taking turns.

If interested, please contact/text Emily Oldham at 918-237-9592. Thank You!

Along with other reunion activities, the Outreach & Mission Ministry team has reopened our Equal Exchange store, (on the 1^st and 3^rd Sundays of each month, in Fellowship Hall), offering products such as coffee, tea, chocolate bars, chips and cocoa. These products are not only delicious, they also make great gifts. (and we all know the holidays will be here before we know it.) But most importantly, they provide a double impact on communities!

If you would like to bring flowers to decorate the sanctuary for an upcoming worship service, please sign up on the Flower Chart on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall.