A Message from Pastor Matt |
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Dear CPC Friends,
This week I was confronted with our sermon series topic for the week, 'Love.' There was no assigned passage (which always drives me crazy) and “love” is about the biggest concept in the Christian faith. And yet, a friend reminded me recently at a conference I went to, about its fundamental importance to everything we do at Columbia and individually. It is the oxygen, or gravity, that holds everything together. Without it, none of the Christmas season makes sense. Our budget doesn’t make sense. Worship would make no sense. It is the divine glue that holds it all together.
So this Sunday, come find out as you head down the home stretch to Christmas, how we might think about love through 1 Corinthians 13. It is the most important Christmas bible passage that was never intended to be, and I stumbled into it this week when I didn’t know what to preach on. I think it will give you a framework on how to celebrate this next week or so. Let’s get a little better at love this Sunday.
The scripture for Sunday is 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
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Celebrate the Christmas Season |
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Christmas Eve Services
Join us as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
- 4:00PM - Service designed for families with young children
- 7:00PM - Traditional Candlelight (childcare available)
- 9:00PM - Contemporary Candlelight
Christmas Day Service
- One service only at 10:30AM.
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The Messiah in Isaiah
Sunday, December 18
10:30AM, Fellowship Hall
This Sunday Pastor Scott will lead the adult education class on a study of a few of the Messiah passages in Isaiah. Isaiah anticipates God’s special chosen one to come fulfill many roles, including Deliverer, Priest, King, and Suffering Servant.
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Youth Schedule Reminders
There is no Youth Sunday school until January 8.
There is no Youth Group December 18 - January 4. High School kicks off January 8 and Middle School kicks off January 11.
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2023 High School Ski Retreat
February 17-20
Registration is now open for the High School Ski Retreat. Yes, even though Camas School District has changed their calendar to accommodate an earlier snow day, we are sticking with our original 4-day retreat. Costs vary depending on many factors, please read the options carefully. Register Here.
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Young Adult Christmas Dinner
Wednesday, December 21
6:00PM
Did you graduate high school in the last 4 years or so? Join us in the Youth Center for a casual Christmas gathering over a shared meal and bring a white elephant gift to exchange! The official deadline to RSVP has passed, but we'd still love you to join us! RSVP to katie@columbiapresbyterian.org no later than the evening of Sunday, December 18.
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Contribution Deadline
All contributions for 2022 must be received in the church office by noon on Friday, December 30, OR postmarked by December 31. Contributions received or postmarked after the 31st will be posted to your account for 2023.
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2023 Offering Envelopes
Offering envelopes will be available in the Gathering Area beginning Sunday, December 18, and weekdays (8:30AM – 4:30PM) in the church office.
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Tim's Bible Club - 2023
The New Year is coming and you are invited to join Tim Mauer and friends as they read through the entire Bible together in 2023.
Whether you’ve never read the Bible, or have joined every year, make 2023 the year to meet with God every day and get to know Him better through reading His Word.
Tim’s Bible Club is a virtual group that commits to read through the Bible in one year using a reading list for each day provided by Tim. There are no meetings or committees - just an occasional email of encouragement throughout the year to keep you motivated.
The reading list this year will be a traditional Old Testament to New Testament sequence with a narrative feel. You will be provided with a list of daily reading references, which will also be available on the church app and website. A paper printout of the reading list will be available in the Gathering Area.
If you are interested in joining, please send an email to Tim or sign-up in the Gathering Area. Reading begins on January 1. Your participation will be a blessing to you and to all the others who join.
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Christmas Joy Offering
This offering has been a cherished Presbyterian tradition since the 1930's.
- The offering distributes gifts equally to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and to Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color.
- The Assistance Program provides critical financial support to church workers and their families.
- Presbyterian-related schools and colleges provide education and leadership development while nurturing racial and ethnic heritage. This has been a Presbyterian commitment for nearly 140 years.
We will collect for this special offering during the month of December. Offering envelopes are available at the Welcome Desk.
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LifeKeys
Wednesdays 6:30 - 8:00 PM
January 11 - February 22
Why are you here? What do you do best? What are you passionate about? What do you value? LifeKeys is a class that helps you explore these and other questions that will help you better understand your unique, God-given, blend of gifts, and how you can best use these gifts. Registration for LifeKeys is $14, and includes the LifeKeys work book. Click the button below to register for this class.
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Circle of Friends Preschool |
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Merry Christmas from our little Circle of Friends!
We were thrilled to host in-person Christmas celebrations for the preschool families again. The sanctuary was filled with gloating parents and grandparents. Our last Christmas program was held in 2019. For many of our families, this was an entirely new experience. There is nothing like little ones dressed in their holiday attire singing festive songs. Our hearts were bursting with joy.
Classes will resume on January 3, 2023.
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The 2023 Senegal Go Team is continuing their preparations for the trip at the end of January. The team covets your prayers and will begin signing up Prayer Partners - folks who will pray for them during the final preparations, throughout the trip and once the team returns and processes what they have seen, felt and heard. Sign ups will be held in the Gathering Area on January 8, 15 & 22.
SAVE THE DATE - There will be a Senegal Dinner in the Fellowship Hall, open to the entire congregation on January 28, 2023 from 6-8PM. It will be a time of sharing about the ministry, praying for those making the trip, and for our Christian brothers and sisters in Senegal. We hope to see you there.
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Pastor Nominating Committee Update |
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With pastors all busy with Advent and Christmas, your Pastor Nominating Committee is taking the rest of December off from meetings — but not from prayer! Please join us in praying for God’s leading as we continue to seek His will for Columbia. Thank you!
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In Celebration:
- Tim & Kris Peters on the birth of their first grandchild, Emerson Rose, on December 11. Parents are John & Chelsea Peters.
In Sympathy:
- Jeff & Anna Haagenson and family on the death of Jeff's dad, Jerry, on December 13.
- Brig & Erin Lambley and family on the death of Brig's father, Craig, on December 4.
- Shirley Waltz and family on the death of her husband, Jim, on December 1.
In Concern:
- Trish Johnston - recovering from shoulder surgery
- Jeannie Vanderwal - recovering from surgery
- Mary Carlson - health concerns
- Imogene Doden - on hospice
- David Peterson - receiving immunotherapy treatment for cancer
- Angie Staley - treatment for breast cancer
- Harry Kiick - recovering from heart surgery
- Sheila Hockley - recovering from a fall and surgery
- Jim Jacobson - recovering from surgery
- Judi Trist - undergoing cancer treatment
- Barbara Van Nostern - recovering from a fall
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Ways to Give:
- By Mail or Bill Pay through your financial institution
cccccccSend checks to:
cccccccColumbia Presbyterian Church
ccccccc8715 St. Helens Ave
cccccccVancouver, WA 98664
Other Types of Giving:
- Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)
- Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)
- Stock
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The submission deadline for Columbia Weekly articles is Wednesdays at 2:00PM. |
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805 Columbia Ridge Dr.
Vancouver, WA 98664
(360) 694-7549
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