NEW DUBLIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH NEWS DECEMBER 2014 We often speak of spiritual practices during the season of Lent—the forty days that lead to Easter. This Advent, however, I am praying the same prayer each morning and I would invite you to do so as well. It is written by one of my favorite preachers, Frederick Buechner, and I offer it as nourishment for your spirit as you look for the coming of Christ: Thou son of the Most High, Prince of Peace, be born again into our world. Wherever there is war in this world, wherever there is pain, wherever there is loneliness, wherever there is no hope, come, thou longexpected one, with healing in thy wings. Holy Child, whom the shepherds and the kings and the dumb beasts adored, be born again. Wherever there is boredom, wherever there is fear of failure, wherever there is temptation too strong to resist, wherever there is bitterness of heart, come, thou blessed one, with healing in thy wings. Savior, be born in each of us who raises a face to thy face, not knowing fully who thou art, knowing only that thy love is beyond knowing and that no other has the power to make whole. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen Your pastor and friend, Andrew ADVENT EVENTS AT NEW DUBLIN Saturday, November 29, at 5 pm—Hanging of the Greens Sunday, November 30, at 11 am—Music from NRV Flute Choir Sunday, December 7, at 11 am—Instrumental Music Sunday, December 14, at 11 am—Instrumental Music Sunday, December 21, at 11 am—Music from the PCHS Percussion Ensemble Sunday, December 21, at 6 pm—Potluck Dinner and Joy Gift Program: “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” Wednesday, December 24, at 8 pm—Christmas Eve Service with Communion Also, the New River Community Chorus will present Handel’s Messiah at the Pulaski Theater on Saturday, December 13, at 7:30 pm & Sunday, December 14 at 3 pm Page 2 NEW DUBLIN PRESBYTER IAN CHURCH NEWS PRAYER LIST Continued prayer for the following: Danny Tolbert, ALS; Sundy Warf, stage 4 cancer; Lucy Roop (granddaughter of Carmen Roop), leukemia; Denise Blakeney’s brother, JT; Ray Spaulding, cancer; Anne Oakman (Susan Dobyns Oakman’s mother-in-law); Virgie Richardson, recovering from surgery; Hazel Shouse, at Friendship Manor Rehab recovering from a fall; Lexie Schleich, complex health issues; Wendy Schleich’s brother, cancer; Martha Tolbert, recovery; John Jones’ mother; Jimmy Quesenberry, continued recovery; Joe Worrell; Kitty Vaughn, back; Andrew Taylor (neighbor of the Millars), cancer; Tori Hale (Jody Minnich’s niece), recovering from serious car accident; Margaret Powers, also her brother, John, her grandson, Jeremy, and her niece, Susan; Frances Guthrie’s brother; Rodney Gearheart’s friend, Russell, cancer; June Webster; Larry Gilmore, prostate cancer; Jackie Childress (daughter-in-law of Mary Catherine and Jim Stout), recovering from surgery; Rob Taylor, bladder cancer; Helen Chandler’s niece, Laura, multiple health issues; Jennifer Bowen, recovering from back surgery; Tom Pitzer’s sister-in-law, cancer; Jimmy Quesenberry; Marge Marquis, recovering from a fall; Cynthia Andrews’ daughter, Hope; Brenda Bell’s mother, dementia; Ginger Burress, broken arm Those who have lost loved ones: family of Jim Stout, after the death of his uncle; family of Leo Workman, following the death of his brother-in-law; family of Jim Cook, following the death of his mother With Joy and Thankfulness: for our new church members: Allison Taylor, Helen Chandler, George Melanie, and Martha Hemingway Those serving our country through active military duty: Bruce Gannaway, Fort Benning, GA CHURCH MEMBERS AND FRIENDS NOT ABLE TO WORSHIP WITH US ON A REGULAR BASIS Please remember the following with prayers, cards, and visits: Kearfott Boyd 201 Lillian Lane #103 Lynchburg, VA 24502 Cornelia Dobyns 12401 Gayton Rd, Apt 139 Richmond, VA 23238 Dawn Earles 12433 Mt. Hermon Rd Ashland, VA 23005 Dot Gooch 2815 Reunion Plaza Rd Apex, NC 27539 Jerry Killen #1066924 Augusta CC 1821 Estaline Valley Rd Craigsville, VA 24430 BJ Millar 6568 Kent Farm Rd Dublin, VA 24084 John Porterfield Highland Ridge Rehab Dublin, VA 24084 Arlene Reed Pulaski Health & Rehab Center 2401 Lee Hwy N Pulaski, VA 24301-2325 Peggy Reinhold 1089 Hickory Cove Harrisonburg, VA 22801 Virgie Richardson Pulaski Health & Rehab Center 2401 Lee Hwy N Pulaski, VA 24301-2325 Hazel Shouse Salem Terrace Rm 12A 1851 Harrogate Drive Salem, VA 24153 (temporarily at Friendship Manor Rehab) Bobbie Stevens Showalter Center, Apt 218 Warm Hearth Village 1060 Showalter Rd Blacksburg, VA 24060 June Webster English Meadows 1140 W Main St Christiansburg, VA 24073 Page 3 DECEMBER 2014 COMMITTEE REPORTS The following is a list of committees that met on Monday, November 24, and a summary of what was discussed: BUILDING & GROUNDS—Termite inspection status; fellowship committee recommends installing a coffee bar in the fellowship hall; winterization inspection; HVAC inspection of church and manse systems; remove water from attic condensate pipes in manse FELLOWSHIP—Hanging of the Greens on Nov. 29—5 pm pizza, 6 pm decorations; Joy Gift potluck and play on Dec. 21 MEMBER CARE—Filled four “care packages” for our college students to have while studying for exams—all have been delivered WITNESS—To Our House meal plans (provide meals on Dec. 6, 7, 8, 13, 17, & 18); Alternative Christmas cards (Nov. 30, Dec. 7 & 14); Angel Tree tags—due by Dec. 14, will deliver gifts on Dec. 17 WORSHIP—Christmas Eve Service; polished brass on communion table Christian Education, Personnel, and Stewardship committees did not meet. NEWS AND EVENTS Alternative Christmas Giving begins Sunday, November 30, and runs through December 14. This year’s giving opportunities include Presbyterian Children’s Home of the Highlands, Women’s Resource Center, Daily Bread, Dublin Backpack Program, Heifer International, Pura Vida, and Emergency Needs Task Force. More information about each of these is listed on the bulletin board. Members of the Witness Committee will be in the choir room each Sunday after worship to assist you with your donations. Angel Tree tags will be available on the Christmas tree in the sanctuary beginning Sunday, November 30. Please pick a tag, shop for a gift and wrap it. Be sure to place the Angel tag on the wrapped gift and place it under the tree by Sunday, December 14. The gifts will be delivered on December 17. New Dublin will be providing meals for To Our House on December 6, 7, 8, and again on Dec. 13, 17, and 18. We need more people to sign up to bring food and to serve. Look for a sign-up sheet in the vestibule or see Roxie Reed. The NRV Flute Choir will be performing for the Cheerful Adults luncheon at Dublin United Methodist Church on Thursday, December 4, at noon. Lunch is available for $3. The program will follow the lunch. If you are interested in attending, please call the DUMC church office at 674-5128 to make a reservation. The NRV Flute Choir will also be performing at Dublin Presbyterian Church on Sunday, December 7, at 4 pm. There will be Christmas music, followed by a reception. Frances Guthrie and Ann Brockenbrough preparing lunch recently at Daily Bread in Pulaski. Kellen and Taylor (left), the Ely’s grandchildren, and John and Jan Woodward (right) having some fun at this year’s Fall Festival. Page 4 NEW DUBLIN PRESBYTER IAN CHURCH NEWS N EW DU B L I N P R E SB Y T ER I A N CH UR CH 5331 New Dublin Church Road Dublin, VA 24084 Phone: 540-674-6147 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.newdublinpres.org GREETERS/USHERS: December 7 Evelyn Handy / Blair & Grace Hurst December 14 Debbie & Aaron Akers December 21 Tom Pifer / Tom Pifer & Martin Kegley December 24 Dale Flory / Dale & Scott Flory December 28 Susan & Joe Shrewsbury / Hunter & Joe Shrewsbury Pastor’s Cell Phone: 540-239-7060 Pastor’s Email: [email protected] Pastor’s Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday-Friday...9am to noon We’re on Facebook! Please visit the New Dublin Presbyterian page and “like” us to keep up with what’s happening at our church! PLEASE NOTE...     Session Meets on Monday, December 1, at 7 pm. No committee meetings in December. No Wednesday morning Bible study on December 24 and 31. Choir will not practice from December 24 through January 7 (resumes January 14). The church office will be closed December 24, 25, 31, and January 1. Merry Christmas! De c e mb e r 20 14 Sun 7 Play practice Mon Tue Wed 1 Session, 7pm 2 Circle #1, 8 Fri Sat 5 6 10:30am 3 Bible Study, 4 Circle #2, 10:30am; Play prac- 1:30pm tice, 5:30pm; Choir, 7pm 9 10 Bible Study, 11 12 13 18 19 20 25 Office closed 26 27 after worship 14 Two Cents-a- Thu 10:30am; Play practice, 5:30pm; Choir, 7pm 15 16 Meal; Play practice after worship 17 Bible Study, 10:30am; Play practice, 5:30pm; Choir, 7pm 21PCHS Percus- 22 Daily Bread, sion Ensemble, 8:30am 11am; Joy Gift potluck & play, 6pm 23 28 30 29 Daily Bread, 8:30am 24 Office closed; Christmas Eve service, 8pm 31 Office closed