Ashland Church News

December 2019 — January 2020

Clerk of Session Bob Williams

Church Treasurer

Pamela Caras

Financial Secretary Cathy Griffiths

Session

Members 2018-2020

Jerry DeBoer Rene Florendo Tom Griffiths

Will Nassau JoAnn Ruther

Betsy Segelken

Pre-school Director Anne Auvil

Organist & Music Director

Sheila Slade-Lee

Office Manager Cecil Weber

Ashland Presbyterian Church

@AshlandPresbyterianChurch

Ashland Presbyterian Church 116 Ashland Road Cockeysville, MD 21030 Phone: 410-527-1844 The Rev. Shannon Meacham, Pastor On the web at: www.ashlandpc.org

Pulpitshenanigans

God Bless Us, Every One!

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a holiday favorite and has been since its first publication in 1843. The legendary story of the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge…. From “Bah-humbug!” to “God bless us, every one!” … is as much a part of Christmas as mistletoe and Santa. Dickens originally wrote A Christmas Carol to revive the joyful traditions of Christmas and of the yuletide. The three spirits who whisk Ebenezer Scrooge away on a journey through time and space show him his own life from different vantage points, causing him to awake to the truth about who he is, his place in the world, and the options open to him. By the time the spirits leave him, Scrooge is a changed man. What would happen if we read the Advent Story as a story of transformation? Inspired by Dickens. We will celebrate this season by embarking on our own journey. Perhaps they will do for us what the spirits did for Scrooge and open new possibilities for real change in us and in our world. This means you will need to do a little bit of homework - reading and/or watching A Christmas Carol (I know, twist your arm)! My favorite is the A Muppet Christmas Carol, but to each their own. Did you know there are 24 movie adaptations - going back to 1901? (maybe watch one a day…. or not).

Continued on Page 2

The story is broken into 5 sections or “staves” as they are called in the literary world. With limited time this season in worship, we will divide the story into three sections.

December 15: “Bah Humbug! Making Change”

December 22:

“Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come”

December 24:

“God Bless Us, Every One!”

Just as God’s presence was born anew into this world, we too can be born anew, woken up and redeemed into renewed life, joy, passion, generosity, humility, and love.

Join us this Advent season.

God Bless,

Pastor Shannon

Pulpitshenanigans

(continued)

To aid in our Advent journey, daily devotions

booklets, “God Bless Us, Every One!, are on the

table in the hallway. If you cannot make it to

church but would like a booklet, call the church

office at 410-527-1844 or email at:

office@ashlandpc.org

Special Music

Brass Reflections, under

the direction of Jim

Wharton, will play prior

to Christmas on

December 22nd at

Worship Service. The Brass Quintet is

composed of Chris Bennett, Trumpet; Tom

Edge, Trumpet; Leslie Wharton, French

Horn; Mike Wirtanen, Trombone and Jim

Wharton, Tuba. They are all accomplished

musicians and we are very pleased to have

them provide festive music for the

Christmas season.

On January 12, 2020, The Kuznik Duo

[Violin and Cello] will return with their

children to play for us. Violinist,

Swiatoslaw Kuznik earned his Master of

Music in Violin Performance at the

Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in

Warsaw. He received his doctorate in

Violin Performance at the University of

Maryland, College Park. He has received

many awards and played abroad as well as

here in the United States.

Aneta Otereba Kuznik, Cellist received her

Bachelor's and Master's degrees from

Towson University and went on to College

Park where she received her Doctorate in

Cello Performance. She,also, has played

abroad as well as here in the United States.

-Peg Paterson

December 8 2nd Sunday of Advent: Cantata Sunday School 9:30 am December 15 3rd Sunday of Advent Sunday School 9:00 AM Happy Birthday Jesus Celebration Breakfast Party December 22 4th Sunday of Advent Special Music With Brass Reflections Sunday School 9:30 am December 24 Christmas Services 5:00 pm Family Service 7:00 pm Candlelight Service December 29 1st Sunday after Christmas: Lessons & Carols No Sunday School

Advent/Christmas Worship Schedule 2019

All Services at 10:30 am unless otherwise noted

December 1 1st Sunday of Advent: Hanging of the Greens Service NO Sunday School

Rev. Harry Cahill will lead a mini Advent

Series on Thursday, December 5 and

Thursday, December 12, both days at

10:00 am. These two one hour classes

explore Matthew & Luke’s perspectives of

Christ’s birth as well as John’s approach. The sessions will be held at the

Wegman’s Food Court. Please bring your bible. All are welcome!!

From the Nominating Committee:

The Ashland Church Nominating Committee has begun its work, seeking those in our congregation who are ready, willing, able and CALLED as elders to serve on the Session, the governing and spiritual leadership body of the church. At present there are two positions to be filled for one year in the Class of 2020, and three three-year positions in the new Class of 2022. Just to refresh your memory, here is the roster of those elders currently serving:

CLASS OF 2019 CLASS OF 2020 CLASS OF 2021 Jerry DeBoer Rene Florendo Will Nassau Tom Griffiths (vacant) JoAnn Ruther Bob Williams (vacant) Betsy Segelkin

This process is a prayerful one, during which questions and comments from the congregation at large are always welcome. Please feel free to contact any member of the Committee, or Pastor Shannon who serves as advisor.

Yours in Christ’s Service,

JoAnn Ruther, Chair Betsy Segelkin Debbie Nassau Fred Wagner Julee Ward

ANNUAL ADULTS’ CHRISTMAS PARTY Friday, December 13, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.

Home of Penny & Jerry DeBoer 16004 Baconsfield Lane

Monkton, MD 21111

Sign up to let us know if you will attend and if you can bring an appetizer, side dish or dessert. A sign up sheet is on the table in the hallway. You can also indicate if you would like a ride if you want to attend but are not comfortable driving at night. You can also RSVP to Cecil in the office (410-527-1844 or at office@ashlandpc.org ).

Mr. Chris P. Bacon, our mascot and master composter, along with the kids and teachers in the Ashland Church "One Room School House”, is inviting EVERYBODY - members, family, strangers and friends - to our …

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS

CELEBRATION BREAKFAST PARTY!

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15

9-10:30 AM

in Fellowship Hall

We’ll have a variety of yummy breakfast treats,

hot and cold beverages, fun and games, and displays

of creative, earth-friendly gift ideas for the holidays.

AND, starting on December 1, we’ll have a “Giving Tree”

set-up in the narthex, so we can all help make the season

merry and bright for an adopted family this Christmas.

’tis the season to be jolly, fa-la-la-la OINK fa-la-la-la!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

Please SIGN-UP in the church hallway,

So Chris and his helpers can plan!

Presbytery/CEDEPCA Partnership Returns from Guatemala

A delegation from churches throughout the

Baltimore Presbytery recently returned from

Guatemala for a week-long excursion focused on

“The Migrant Crisis: Root Causes and Christian

Responses.” Instead of presenting a dismal and

hopeless picture of despair, they described an

extremely enlightening trip to this beautiful

country. In the words of one participant

“ What we saw were the most positive and

optimistic programs partnered with CEDEPCA

and ranged from job training for young adults, a

total revitalization of a community outside Xela,

incredible outreach from one church in Xela

covering everything from prison and hospital

outreach to programs in nutrition and health care to not only migrants but those who might be

considered the lost and the least Jesus asked us to care for. We also visited two different migrant houses

that provide food and shelter on a short-term basis for those traveling on and those who have been

deported back from the border.

The efficiency and compassion exhibited by those working in these facilities was nothing less than

awesome. The one house in Guatemala City, which typically serves up to 60 at a time, was dealing with

over 8,000 at the height of the caravans coming through. ”

CEDEPCA (The Protestant Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America) was started for Biblical and

theological studies, and since its origin 30 years ago, has expanded programs into Disaster Relief,

Women’s Ministry, and Intercultural Encounters. The Encounters are centered on a particular theme but

focused on specific regions.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

and ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lowly exile here,

until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Sunday School 9:30 am

Worship 10:30 am

Fellowship after Worship

WEEKLY EVENTS ... Sundays Church of the Nazarene 5:00—7:00 p.m. Mondays Daisy Troop #1623 6:00-8:00 pm Tuesdays Daisy Troop #625 6:00-7:00 p.m.; Church of the Nazarene Choir Practice 7:30—9:30 p.m. Wednesdays Chancel Choir: 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.; Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings 8:30 p.m. Thursdays Contemporary Worship Practice 6:30 p.m.-7:30 pm; Fridays Church of the Nazarene 7:30 pm -9:30 p.m.—2:00 a.m. Saturday Alcoholic Anonymous Svc. Mtg. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Church of the Nazarene 7:30-9:30 p.m.

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 1st Sunday of Advent

9:30 am Sunday School

10:30 am Worship Service

2

Project Linus

9:30 am

3 4 6 6

7

8 2nd Sunday of Advent 9:30 am Sunday School

10:30 am Cantata Service

9

10

Session

6:30 pm

11 12 13

Adult

Christmas

Party 6:30 pm

14

15 3rd Sunday of Advent

9:00 am Sunday School:

Happy Birthday Jesus

Breakfast

10:30 am Worship Service

16 17

18 19 20 21

22 4th Sunday of Advent

NO Sunday School

10:30 Worship w/Brass

Reflections

23

24 Office Closed Christmas Services 5:00pm Family Svc. 7:00 pm Candlelight Service

25

Office Closed

26

Office

Closed

27

Office

Closed

28 Sarah’s Hope 2-5 pm

29 1st Sunday After

Christmas

NO Sunday School

10:30 Lessons & Carols

30

31

New Year’s Eve

Pastor Shannon Away

Pastor Shannon & Cecil Out of Office

Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:30 am

Fellowship after Worship

WEEKLY EVENTS ... Sundays Church of the Nazarene 5:00—7:00 p.m. Mondays Daisy Troop #1623 6:00-8:00 pm Tuesdays Daisy Troop #625 6:00-7:00 p.m.; Church of the Nazarene Choir Practice 7:30—9:30 p.m. Wednesdays Chancel Choir: 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.; Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings 8:30 p.m. Thursdays Contemporary Worship Practice 6:30 p.m.-7:30 pm; Fridays Church of the Nazarene 7:30 pm -9:30 p.m.—2:00 a.m. Saturday Alcoholic Anonymous Svc. Mtg. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Church of the Nazarene 7:30-9:30 p.m.

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1Office Closed

2 3 4

5 2nd Sunday of

Christmas

9:30 am Sunday School

10:30 am Worship Service

6 Epiphany of

the Lord

Project Linus

9:30 am

7

8 9 10 11

12 Baptism of the Lord 9:30 am Sunday School

10:30 am Worship Service

13

14

Session

6:30 pm

15 16 17 18

19 2nd Sunday After

Epiphany

9:30 am Sunday School

10:30 am Worship Service

20 Office Closed 21

22 23 24 25

Sarah’s Hope 2-5 pm

26 3rd Sunday After Epiphany 9:30 am Sunday School 10:30 am Worship Service

27

28 29 30 31

Pastor Shannon Away

Pastor Shannon Away

ASHLAND CHURCH FAMILY CELEBRATIONS

BIRTHDAYS Deacon/Elder Ordination Anniversaries

December January (continued) 12/3 Kathy Nicht 1/6 John Walter 12/15 Tom Griffiths Nancy Starr 12/27 Lillian Holland Peg Paterson 12/28 Barbara Crow 1/7 Lillian Holland Jennefer Thomas 1/8 Nancy Stickles 12/30 Bill Clarke 1/13 Deb Miller Sandy Losemann Jacquie Sasser 12/31 Barbara Crow 1/14 Sandy Losemann 1/16 Bill Kobokovich

January Bonnie Clarke 1/1 Barbara Porter 1/17 Carla Ulgen Will Nassau Gene Ruhl 1/19 Tom Griffiths Kim Aspden 1/22 Bill Kobokovich Steve Swift Penny DeBoer Sue Ruhl 1/23 John Walter 1/24 Jennefer Thomas 1/2 Dick Uhler Sue Ruhl Priscilla Barrett 1/25 Butch Zink 1/3 Bob Williams 1/26 Debbie Modisette

Kim Aspden 1/27 Amy Cavolo 1/4 Jerry DeBoer 1/28 Debbie Berlin Kim Bednarik 1/29 Amy Rudai Julee Ward 1/30 JoAnn Ruther 1/31 Fred Wagner

DECEMBER

12/2 Lee Shang

Cheri Wheeler

12/3 Jerry DeBoer

Kathy Nicht

12/4 Deb Miller

Will Nassau

12/9 Kaylin Bending

Christine Swift

12/10 Cathy Griffiths

12/12 Don Williams

12/15 Katie Zhu

12/17 Kim Bednarik

12/19 Greg Merrill

12/22 Bob Hensley

Dick Uhler

12/23 Gene Ruhl

12/24 Natalie Wagner

12/28 Barbara Porter

12/29 Luke Wagner

JANUARY

1/8 Grey Benzak

1/10 Cerys Beckwith

1/12 Sue Ruhl

1/15 Andrew Bednarik

1/18 Will Sasser

1/21 Butch Zink

1/22 Brenda Holland

1/23 Trish Deimel

1/25 Zachary Ciemian

1/26 Morgan Hensley

1/27 Elyssa Ruth

1/28 Betty Grubb

1/31 Kathy Aspden

ANNIVERSARIES DECEMBER

12/10 Butch & Marcie Zink

12/20 Jim & Sandy St. Germain

12/31 Thomas & Sarah Beckwith

Do we have YOUR family’s important dates to share and celebrate? Have we made any mistakes?

Please contact the Church Office at 410-527-1844, or office@ashlandpc.org with additions and/or

corrections for the database.

ASSIGNMENTS

2019/2020 December January

USHERS/

GREETERS

12/1 Laura Ward/Joanna Shang 12/8 12/15 12/22 12/29

1/5

1/12

1/19

1/26

SERVERS 12/1 Tom Griffiths 1/5

LITURGIST 12/15 JoAnn Ruther 12/22 12/29

1/12

1/19

1/26

VAN

DRIVERS

12/1 Butch Zink 12/8 Bob Hensley 12/15 Derrick Weston 12/22 Jerry DeBoer 12/29 Butch Zink

1/6 Bill Kobokovich

1/13 Bob Hensley

1/20 Derrick Weston

1/27 Jerry DeBoer

As the New Year begins, why not become more involved in Worship? Sign up to be an usher/greeter, liturgist or server. Sign up sheets are on the table in the hallway.

Ashland Presbyterian Church 116 Ashland Road Cockeysville, MD 21030

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees

Oh hear the angel voices

Oh night divine

Oh night when Christ was born

Oh night divine Oh night divine

In case of inclement weather please call the church office (410-527-

1844) or check our webpage (www.ashlandpc.org) or our

Facebook page for closing information