Advent

Ring the Bells
Advent 2024

SUNDAY MORNINGS

December 1: The 1st Sunday in Advent

  • Ring the Bells of Hope: Isaiah 2:1-5 & Matthew 24:36-44
  • Woody Preaching; Sacrament of Communion to be Celebrated

December 8: The 2nd Sunday in Advent

  • Ring the Bells of Peace: Isaiah 11:1-10 & Luke 3:1-6
  • Woody Preaching

December 15: The 3rd Sunday in Advent

  • Ring the Bells of Love: Isaiah 7:10-24 & Matthew 1:18-25
  • A Service of Lessons & Carols: lots of carol singing plus special music, with traditional Christmas readings and contemporary reflections by Pastor Woody

December 22: The 4th Sunday in Advent

  • Ring the Bells of Joy: Isaiah 35:1-5 & Luke 2:1-20
  • Woody Preaching; Our children will be involved in the worship by reading Scripture, playing some of the musical parts of worship, and participating in the telling of the Christmas story.

December 29: The First Sunday of Christmas

  • Ringing Out the Old, Ringing in the New: Isaiah 60:1-6 & Matthew 1:1-12
  • Woody Preaching

CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT COMMUNION SERVICE

Christmas Eve, 7:00 pm

This service is designed for those who want to hear the traditional readings from the Scriptures, learn from Woody’s meditations on the readings, sing the traditional carols, light candles of joy, and celebrate communion on Christmas Eve. Stay after the service to take family pictures around the Christmas Tree and share cookies and fellowship in Knox Hall.

BLUE CHRISTMAS

A Special Service in the Midst of Advent

Sunday Afternoon, December 15, 3:00 pm

The Christmas season often has moments of loneliness and grief, when our inward feelings fail to match the expectations of the season. Many of us are separated from the ones we love because of distance or death, and the season can feel lonely. Pastor Woody will be leading a time of worship to help us celebrate the lives of our loved ones, as we listen for God’s Word. God will be with us to shine light into our darkness. This informal service will meet in the Church Chapel.

WEDNESDAY EVENING VESPERS

December 4, 11, & 18 from 5:30 pm to 6 pm

We will gather around a center table in the Chapel for this service of prayer, music, Scripture reading, & brief homily. The service ends gathered around the table for communion. The time is short, but it is full of meaning, as a time to center ourselves in the deep meaning of the season that swirls around us.

ADVENT STUDY GROUPS

This year’s study book is The Christmas Letters by Magrey deVega, the senior pastor at Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa, FL. This is his new book, just published this year.

The study focuses on letters we find in the Bible from our spiritual ancestors. As we read them, we will see our stories intersecting with theirs. We will see how they began to formulate their beliefs about Jesus’ birth and how those beliefs impact us today. By looking back at our own stories and remembering our pasts, we can discover how we want to live our lives right now and celebrate Christmas with a depth of faith.

​Books are available from the church office for $15. Or you can order an online e-book through Cokesbury or Amazon. Or you can come without having read the lesson and hear the lesson from the leader.

The study is offered at 3 different times this Advent.

  • Sunday afternoons at 1 pm at the Church on Dec. 1, 8, 15, & 22, led by Pastor Woody
  • Sunday evenings at 6:30 at the Hofmann’s on Dec 1, 8, 15, & 22, led by Pastor Rudy
  • Tuesday mornings at 10 am at the Church on Dec 3, 10,17, & 24, led by Pastor Woody

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL BOOKS

Each year a new book of Advent devotionals is written by members of the church to help focus on learning and praying together during the whole season of Advent. The booklet will be available November 24. Individual daily devotions will also be sent by email during Advent.

Christmas Joy Offering

Supporting Past, Present, and Future Leaders

The Christmas Joy Offering has been a cherished Presbyterian tradition since the 1930s. The Offering distributes gifts equally to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and 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.

Christmas Families

Local Mission helps local families with needed Christmas gifts for children through STARS.

See the display table at church to sign up to help provide gifts.

Cards for Friends

Come sign a card for our church friends in retirement homes, and nursing homes, as well as those unable to leave home during this season, plus friends who have moved from Jefferson City. See the display table at the church to participate.

DECORATING THE CHURCH

Monday, November 25, 3:30 pm

The decorations will go up on Monday, November 25, the week before Advent begins. The Facilities Team of the Church will start putting up the big items at 3 pm. You are invited to come out and help with decorating at 3:30 pm. It will be fun, interactive, creative, fun being with others…. And then we’ll share pizza to celebrate.

LIVING WINDOWS

December 6, 6 pm to 9 pm

Come enjoy this annual community-wide celebration with the following activities at our church: Manger & Animals. Cookies, Drinks, and Hand-outs. Creche Display. Fair Trade Gift Market. Candy Canes & Poems. Music in the Sanctuary.