Bulletin for Sunday, December 8- Living Christmas Cards

Centering Our Hearts
Josephine Kasinga

Opening of the Word
Katie Moore, Tegan Carter, Nicki Joynes, & Andrew Atkinson

Prelude: "Sing Hosannas"
Children & Chimes

Greeting & Welcome
The Heath, Crawford, & Lawson Families

Fellowship Song: #393 "The Family of God" 

Lighting of the Advent Candle of Peace
The Wilson & Peters Families

Lighting Song: "Hope, Peace, Joy, Love"

Living Christmas Card: "Havenly Holiday Duet"
Dom & Darcy Havens

Melrose Ministry Focus: Children in Action
Patty Huffman

Offertory Prayer
Timmy Markham

Song: "We Three Kings"
Sonshine Choir & Ringers

Pastoral Prayer
Pastor Mark

Scripture Reading: Numbers 24:17a, Matt. 2:2b, 5-6
Benjamin Kasinga

Special Music: "Silent Night"
Bethesda

Living Christmas Cards: The Nativity
Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

"Knock, Knock, Knock"
Master's Music Makers Children's Choir

Scripture: Luke 2:8-15

"Angels We Have Heard on High"

Scripture: Luke 2:16-20

"Away in a Manger"
Master's Music Makers Children's Choir

Hymn: #201 "Emmanuel"

Acknowledgements & Announcements
Pastor Mark

Living Christmas Cards: "Go Tell it on the Mountain", chorus only
Sonshine Choir & Ringers with congregation

Postlude
Susan Matney

A special thank you to Passha and Nicole Huffman for their work as stage managers, to Patty Huffman and Kathy Malloy in the work of preparation, to Steven Kennedy for his set design, to Jay, Rick, and Stevie, our audio visual team, and Susan Matney, our accompanist. 

Living Christmas Cards Participants
Josephine Kigazi
Heath Crawford
Willow Spencer
Mairead Markham
Timmy Markham
Donya Stokes
Benjamin Kasinga
Gedeon Kasinga
Brooklyn Taylor
Thalia Engebretson
David Crawford
Lilian Richerson
Clara Richerson
Pascal Kasinga
The Perdue Family 

Our youth have been working hard preparing a production of The Skit Guy’s “Give the Gift Back”. This comedic play tells us the story of the birth of Jesus and teaches is where the Christmas spirit can be found when the manger is put into storage for another year. The youth will perform their production during worship on Sunday, December 15 starting at 10:45 AM and will also be live streamed.

Pastor Greg invites children, youth, and their families to join him for an evening of caroling on Sunday, December 15 starting at 5 PM. Together the group will go to The Park at Oak Grove nursing home and some homes of our church members. If you are planning to come, please meet at the church at 5 PM so everyone can ride together in the church vans.

12 Days of Christmas: An at home worship experience
We invite families and individuals to participate in this new at-home worship experience that we have cultivated to help families and individuals extend their celebration of Christmas and focus on the gifts that God has given us. Starting on December 15, families and individuals can pick up a “12 Days of Christmas” bag from the table outside the Sanctuary. Inside the bag you will find 12 letters with devotions and instructions for various activities for each day to encourage reflection and prayer.

For more information, go the church website HERE.

Church Library Update
If you are interested in Christmas themed puzzles or books, make sure to go check out the church library where our media center directors have placed out a wide selection of Christmas themed books and puzzles for checkout! The church library is located  at the end of the main hallway by the Conference Room.

2025 Giving Envelopes
If you need giving envelopes for the coming year, they will be available for pick-up starting on Sunday, December 15. NEW THIS YEAR is that instead of looking for a box with your name on it, please just take a any box of giving envelopes and use those!