Advent Starts Tomorrow!

 Tomorrow marks the beginning of Advent!  You have several options in going deeper in your discipleship:

-Keith is leading a study based on Amy-Jill Levine's book Light of the World, a Beginner's Guide to Advent on Tuesdays, starting Dec 5-Dec 19, skipping the week of Christmas, and wrapping up on Jan 2.  Class is at 1PM in the parlor.  He still has a few books left, so let him know if you will be joining us and would like one.  For those who have picked up the book, please read chapter 1 for Tuesday.  If you have time, you can read the introduction as well.

-We only have a few copies of The Light of Grace, Welcoming God's Amazing Gift of Christ left in the back of the sanctuary.  This is an individual study by Michael Hoy.  Feel free to grab one on Sunday or stop by and pick one up when the office is open.

-If you like reading devotionals online, Austin Seminary's Advent Devotional is available.  The fun thing about this one is goes all the way to Epiphany, Jan 6.

May this be a season to connect with the coming Christ anew!

FPC Worship Info 12.3.23 First Sunday of Advent

 Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!  

Join us for worship online or in person this Sunday, Dec 3, at 9:30AM Pacific Time. This is the First Sunday of Advent. 

Pastor Laura's Sermon, Longing and Leaning Into the Promise, is based on Jeremiah 33:14-18.  You are invited to read and mediate on the scripture beforehand. 

For those joining us in person, we have masks available for your use if you wish to use one.

You can connect online at Online Worship to watch the service live and you can use that same link to access a recording of the worship service anytime.  

We invite you to add your name to our Virtual Guest Book to help us know who is watching, take prayer requests, and connect with you if you wish.  The link to the Guest Book is Virtual Guest Book.

Bulletin Info is FPC Worship Bulletin 12.3.23

Blessings,

Laura and Keith

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Alleluia Bells will join us in worship on Dec 10th

Spontaneous Christmas Pageant will happen on December 17th

Ecumenical Fourth Sunday of Advent Worship at First Christian Church on December 24, 10 AM  

FPC Christmas Eve with Communion and Candlelight December 24, 6PM in our sanctuary

Hanging of the Greens

 Come on down to the church Wednesday, November 29th, at 6PM for the Hanging of the Greens.  There will be food, fun, and fellowship.  The Hudson family will bring a pot of chili and you are invited to bring a side or treat to share with others.

FPC Worship Info 11.26.23

 Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!  

Join us for worship online or in person this Sunday, Nov 26, at 9:30AM Pacific Time. 

The Hudson Family will be on vacation.  The Cant Family will be reading scriptures and a devotional on giving thanks based on Colossians 1:1-14 . You are invited to read and mediate on the scripture beforehand. A link to the devotion is in the online bulletin.  Many thanks to Audrey and JD for filling the pulpit!

For those joining us in person, we have masks available for your use if you wish to use one.

You can connect online at Online Worship to watch the service live and you can use that same link to access a recording of the worship service anytime.  

We invite you to add your name to our Virtual Guest Book to help us know who is watching, take prayer requests, and connect with you if you wish.  The link to the Guest Book is Virtual Guest Book.

Bulletin Info is FPC Worship Bulletin 11.26.23

Happy Thanksgiving and Blessings to You!

Keith and Laura

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Announcements

Hanging of the Greens will be November 29th at 6:00pm.  The Hudsons will bring chili.  Bring a dish to share as we prepare the sanctuary for Advent and Christmas.

 

Spontaneous Christmas Pageant will happen on December 17th

 

Salvation Army Programs for Christmas are set to proceed, but if you are interested in assisting with food boxes and/or Angel tree gifts please contact the Pastors via email.

 

Interested in sharing your musical talents over the holiday season?  Let Keith or Laura know and we’ll see how we can plug you in.

Last Community Fellowship Dinner of the Season

 November 15, 2023

Final Dinner Of The Season

Multi-grain Struan Dinner Roll

Garden Salad with Chick Peas and Roasted Peppers

Garlic Roasted Chicken

Herb Roasted Potatoes

Warm Apple Crisp Ala Mode

Thank you

First Presbyterian Church of La Grande

Merlyn’s Catering

Generous Community Donors

Salvation Army Help

 Dear Friends-If you were in worship a couple weeks ago, you may recall that I made a prayer announcement about the situation happening with the Salvation Army and how the holidays might get covered to assist the folks they have been working with.

Some of those prayers have been answered!  Last week, a gathering of individuals from many organizations and community members gathered to go over this.  Funding is available, primarily from Salvation Army, to food and toys covered.  The big issue is people power.  At the end of this email is the info on task descriptions.  I have signed up to help with food boxes and plan to invite the youth and their families to help with this.  If there is an area that you would like to help, please email me at pastorshudson@gmail.com and I will get you in contact with the right people to get you on the list.

Blessings,

Keith

We have a few volunteer groups for the Christmas food box/toy box effort. We can add you to their contact list & the group leader would call you when there is work to do. Here are the groups:

• The Angel Tag group will get a Wishlist from a family in need and make up gift tags for each child to put on Angel Trees around town (adding the child’s age, size, and toy wishes). Toy donors grab these tags from Angel Trees around town to help them pick gifts for a specific child. The donor then brings the toy back to the business that is hosting a tree.
• The Angel Tag Host team is working with businesses that are hosting an angel tree. These volunteers take new tags to the tree locations throughout the season, and pick up toys and bring them back to the gym at Grace Bible Church
• The Food Box team is going to show up at Grace Bible Church and pack food boxes for families to pick up. That will happen on the 19^th.
• The Toy Box team is meeting on the 20^th and 21^st to sort toys into toy boxes for families to pick up. There may be a group on the 22^nd that is delivering toys to families with transportation challenges.
• The Clean Up team is going to arrive near the end of the day of the Food Box day (19^th) and the Toy box distribution day (the 21^st) to help clean up the gym/get extra toys and food to places where they can be used. Another Clean up crew is going to go around town and gather any remaining Angel Tags from the hosting businesses.

If any of these sound of interest to you, let me know, and I’ll get your contact information to the group leader!

The Advent and Christmas Season Are Coming!

The Advent and Christmas Season will be upon us soon!  Here are some things you should know-

Special Music: During Advent and the Christmas season, we sing some of our favorite songs and hymns.  We are looking for any interested singers or musicians who would like to share their musical talents with the congregation.  This could look like special music on one of the Sundays of Advent or an ensemble on Christmas Eve.  Reach out to Keith and Laura and let’s see what we can put together!

Mark Your Calendars:

Wednesday, Nov 29, 6PM Hanging of the Greens-Come help decorate the sanctuary to prepare for Advent and enjoy a potluck dinner!  Bring a snack or side dish to share.  The Hudsons will bring chili.

Sunday, Dec 10-The Alleluia Bells will be playing in worship.

Sunday, Dec 17-The children, youth, and young at heart are invited to participate in the Spontaneous Christmas pageant during worship. The Star Man will join us after the service to hand out this year’s stars.

Sunday, Dec 24-Join us at First Christian Church at 10AM to celebrate and Ecumenical Fourth Sunday of Advent

Sunday, Dec 24-Our First Pres. Christmas Eve service will be at 6PM with lots of singing and scripture to celebrate the birth of Christ.  We will have communion and close with candlelight. Invite a friend!

Sunday, Dec 31-Hymn Sing during worship.

Personal Advent Devotionals will be available in the back of the sanctuary starting Nov 19.  This year’s devotional is titled “The Light of Grace” by Michael Hoy.

Keith will be taking a break from leading Paul: A Biography over Advent.  Our Advent study is with “Light of the World” by Amy-Jill Levine.  In-Person Gatherings will be at 1PM on Dec 5, 12, 19, and Jan 2nd.  Let him know if you will be joining him, and he will get you the book.