S������ �� �� L� ’� D��

S�� ��, D������� 14, 2014

3� S�� �� �� A ���

F���� P��������� C�����, W���������, V�������

S����, D������ 14, 2014

8:30 & 11:00 A.M.

T�� C����� G������ �& P����� G&�

W����� �� A����������

P���� �: “Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn”

Se�ing by Mark Sedio

Cris Fazenbaker, soprano

L�"���" � �� A ��� W����

Scripture Reading: I Thessalonians 5

Reflection

Lighting of Wreath

Response (sung by all): “Emmanuel”

Emmanuel, Emmanuel, His name is called Emmanuel.

God with us, revealed in us, His name is called Emmanuel!

C��� W����$

There will be a highway in the wilderness,

A holy path for the people of God.

The messenger of God prepares the way.

Let us walk in the light of the Lord.

A Prayer for Shopping During Advent :

Dear God, as I look through my gift shopping list, I hold up to you each

person listed on it. Slowly, one by one, I ask that the fire of your abun-

dant love burn within each of them. I pray that the gift I find for each

person will bring joy into that life. But help me to keep a balance this

season, Lord. Let me keep my buying in perspective, not to spend more

than I need to or can afford. Let me not give in to the pressures of this

world and not equate love with money spent. Let me always remember

the many, many people who have so much less in material things. Help

me to buy wisely, so that my choices will not burden those in other

countries who are so deeply affected by this countryʹs economy. And

finally, loving God, help me to find time in the frantic moments of each

day to become centered on you. Walking through a store, riding on the

bus, hurrying down a street: let each of these times be moments when I

can remember your incredible love for me and rejoice in it. Amen.

Today is Gaudete

Sunday for the word

“rejoice.” The pink

candle is a reminder

that in this season of

reflection and

penitence, there is

joy ahead, the

coming of Jesus to

earth.

The Prelude is based

on the Advent

hymn, “Rejoice,

Rejoice,” found in

the new Presbyteri-

an Hymnal. Text

and tune were

wri�en by Marty

Haugen in 1983.

Please join in

reading those parts

of the service

printed in bold.

When this symbol

(�) precedes an ele-

ment of the service,

please rise in body or

spirit.

Ushers will collect

prayer requests

during the first

hymn. Blue prayer

cards are located in

pews.

�H��� 3: “Comfort, Comfort You my People” P��S� 42

�P����� � C�������

Holy God, we confess that we do not walk in your light. We praise

the high and mighty and look down upon the lowly. We have great

faith in human efforts and li?le patience for your way. Forgive us;

deliver us; strengthen our hearts by your Spirit, so that we may be

ready to greet the Savior you send, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

�S���� C�������

�A�������� � P�� �

�C���� R��$���: Hymn 40, v. 3

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make his blessings flow,

far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found,

far as, far as the curse is found.

T�� C����� L������ U&� G&�’� W&��

(11 a.m.) C��� ���’� M����"� (Children may leave for Wee One’s Worship)

P�����" �� P���� � C����

C���� P��$�����:

(8:30 a.m.) Hymn 9 v. 1 “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”

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

(11 a.m.) Festive Peal on “Adeste Fideles” Douglas Wagner

Righteous Ringers Handbell Choir

S���$��� R�� ��": I Thessalonians 5: 16-24 New Testament, p. 205

S����: “Rejoice, Pray, Give Thanks” The Rev. Dr. Richard W. Reifsnyder

T�� C����� R��[&��� �� F����

P������ � T���G�"����" �� I���������

Wee One’s

Worship (W.O.W)

Parents are

welcome to escort

children ages 3

through

kindergarten to the

W.O.W room (108)

for the remainder of

the worship hour.

T�� L� ’� P����� p. 16 in the Hymnal (Traditional)

�H��� 145: “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart” M���&�

T�� O������" � G��� �� T����

O������: “Do You Hear What I Hear?” arr. Simeone

�T�� DK�"� �� P����� � D� �����

T�� C����� D��[����� �& S��]�

�H��� 11: “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You?” V�S�� W�SS I�� D�� G���

�B��� ����

�C���� R��$���: “While We Are Waiting, Come” Cason

P��� �: “Rejoice, Rejoice Believers” Se�ing by Paul Manz

Ushers at 8:30: Terry & Diane Sinclair, Bob & Sandy Cleaver

CHURCH CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 14:

Sunday, December 14: 7:30 a.m. Worship Service in Boyd Chapel (with communion) 8:30 a.m. Contemporary worship service in Fellowship Hall 8:30 a.m. Traditional worship service in Sanctuary 11:00 a.m. Traditional worship service in Sanctuary 5:00 p.m. Music Ministry Concert—Sanctuary 6:00 p.m. Concert Dinner - Fellowship Hall 6:00 p.m. Youth Fellowships Caroling & Progressive Dinner Monday, December 15: 9:15 a.m. Weekday School Rehearsal—Sanctuary 11:00 a.m. Staff Meeting—Graham Room 5:30 p.m. Winchester Day Nursery—Donegal House 6:30 p.m. Cub Scouts—Scout, Stine & Rumble Rooms 6:30 p.m. Girl Scouts—Loudoun Hall 7:00 p.m. WATTS Board Meeting—Graham Room

Tuesday, December 16: 8:15 a.m. Men’s Coffee—Chick-fil-A 9:30 a.m. Weekday School Christmas Program—Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall 11:00 a.m. Ageless Adventurers Program—Boyd Chapel 7:00 p.m. Session Meeting—Graham Room

“Do You Hear What I

Hear?”

Said the night wind to

the li�le lamb

Do you see what I see?

Way up in the sky li�le

lamb

Do you see what I see?

A star, a star

dancing in the night

with a tail as big as a

kite,

with a tail as big as a

kite!

The Doxology is Hymn

592 in the Hymnal.

The Choral Benediction

this morning is an

Advent hymn found in

the new Presbyterian

Hymnal, Glory to God.

THE FLOWERS ON THE WORSHIP CENTER ARE GIVEN BY SANDY & RON MILLER

IN HONOR OF THEIR 51ST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY DECEMBER 15TH & ALSO IN HONOR OF THEIR DAUGHTER & SON-IN-LAW,

STACEY & ALEX IDEN ON THEIR 21ST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ON DECEMBER 19TH

7:00 p.m. New Stone Gathering Rehearsal—Fellowship Hall 7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts—Scout, Stine & Rumble Rooms

Wednesday, December 17: 9:15 a.m. Women’s Bible Study—Graham Room 11:30 a.m. Weekday School Christmas Program—Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall 1:00 p.m. Christian Believers—Westminster/Canterbury Chapel 4:30 p.m. Children’s Ministry Advent Event—Fellowship Hall 6:30 p.m. Venture Crew—Scout Room 7:00 p.m. Cancer Support & Stephen Ministry Groups—Graham Room Thursday, December 18:

7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal Friday, December 19: 7:00 a.m. Men’s Bible Study—Graham Room Sanctuary Decorated for Christmas

Saturday, December 20: 8:00 a.m. Men’s Breakfast—Perkins’ Restaurant 9:30 a.m. Jubilee Kitchen—Fellowship Hall 12:00 noon Schultz Event—Loudoun Hall

AN OLD TOWN CHRISTMAS Today at 5 PM the Music Ministry of FPC will present a program of Christmas music favorites in our Sanctuary entitled, "An Old Town Christmas." The concert will feature our Children's Choirs, Middle School Music Ensemble, High School Praise Band, New Stone Worship Team, Chancel Choir, Handbell Choir, and instrumentalists. The concert is FREE! THE NEW MUSIC STANDS that the Bell Choir are using this morning were purchased with money lovingly donat-ed in memory of Jean Rodgers & Mikie Jones. Choir members are wearing their vests, gold side out, in memory of Mikie all this year. POINSETTIAS will be used again this year to decorate the church. If you would like to order one in memory of a loved one of in honor of someone special, please contact the church office (662-3824), place your order in the offer-ing or email patsnapp@fpcwinc.org by tomorrow, Monday, Dec. 15. Each poinsettia ordered is $8.00. COFFEE, CHOCOLATE & TEA FOR CHRISTMAS To accommodate Christmas shopping, our Equal Exchange Fair Trade volunteers will be in the Gathering Space on the following Sundays at 9:30 a.m.: today and next Sunday. We also have some single packages of coffee available for purchase, as well as a variety of delicious chocolate bars—great for stocking stuffers and those last-minute gifts! Question or won’t be here on the order date? Contact Susan Kagey (susan.kagey@verizon.net) or 678-8616)or Carolyn Thalman (cjthalman@comcast.net). GREENS & HELPERS NEEDED to decorate the church on Friday, Dec. 19, 9:00 a.m. Sign up on the bulletin board outside the sanctuary or contact Brookie Phillips at 662-1652. HELP WITH WATTS CHRISTMAS WEEK As many of you may have noticed, there is a WATTS bulletin board located outside the sanctuary door. On that board are post-it notes listing the volunteer opportunities available to help with WATTS on December 25 & 26. Please consider taking a post-it note if you haven't already. When you do, please email or call Sarana Donaldson to let her know which volunteer opportunity you have taken. Sarana's email address is on the post-it note and her phone is (540) 542-1893. Thanks!. 2015 OFFERING ENVELOPES Using your envelopes and completely filling out your giving information greatly helps the accuracy of recording your contributions. The booklets are in alphabetical order on the tables between the sanctuary and gathering area. If you do not already have envelopes assigned to you and would like a set, please sign up on the sheet on the table.

2014 DONATIONS For a donation to be included in your 2014 Contribution Statement, it must either be received in the church or postmarked by December 31, 2014. If you are planning to donate stock, please let Jennifer White know. You can call the church office at 662-3824 or email her at jennifer@fpcwinc.org. CANCER SUPPORT GROUP will be meeting at 7PM on Wed., Dec. 17, in the Graham Room. The meeting will be for providing support and spiritual reflection. This will be a joint meeting with the Stephen Ministry group. All cancer patients (current or previous) and their families are invited. Feel free to come to just this one meeting or attend other meetings based on your needs. Questions: contact Mark Johnson at 540-723-4262. STEWARDSHIP NOTES It is a great joy to report than $60,000 in building fund loans were paid off on December 1. The remaining balance of our debt is now $162,000. Thanks for your ongoing generosity. We have received 197 pledges for the 2015 operating budget, totaling $632,027. If you have not already done so, please prayerfully consider making a pledge. Not only does that help in the church’s planning, but is an important way of being intentional in our personal stew-ardship. Our theme for 2015 is If Not Us, then who? Taking a leap to faithful stewardship.

GIVE A FAITH-FILLED CHRISTMAS GIFT Through today there will be faith resources available for you to preview and purchase through the church. We are promoting resources for youth, children, and families like: Chil-dren's Bibles, individual devotional books, family devotional books, family prayer resources, parenting books, etc. Perhaps there might be something you find as a gift for yourself or loved ones. This Christmas, share the gift of a

new opportunity for greater faith! FIRST NIGHT WINCHESTER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED here at First Presbyterian Church from 6:00 p.m. till midnight. Volunteers will work 2-hour segments and you will receive a free admission badge. If interested contact the church office, Debbie Lawall or Becky Bush. WATTS Please confirm your participation in WATTS for 12/25 & 12/26. The WATTS bulletin board has been updated to show who registered for which activities. If you took a sticky note and did not notify Sarana, please add your name to the sheets on the bulletin boards. Many sticky notes were taken but few people contacted Sarana. As such, it is hard to know which volunteer positions still need to be filled.

SET THE CAPTIVES FREE! Did you that there are millions of people around the world who are enslaved, most of them women and children? Did you know that there is a significant human trafficking crisis happening right now in our area? The Peacemaking Team of First Presbyterian Church has secured a peacemaking grant to create a Commu-

nity Forum on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking on Sunday, January 18th, 4-7:30pm in Fellowship Hall, with workshops led by experts in the field on Monday, January 19th 9-11:30am. The cost to attend is $10 and in-cludes a dinner on Sunday night and refreshments on Monday. We will have speakers from International Justice Mis-sion, Central Virginia Justice Initiative and Shenandoah Valley Abolitionists. We will have a table starting in January for ticket sales, and check out the library display for a large number of resources regarding slavery. We will also have online registration available on the church website and we can take payment by credit card. Questions? Contact Ma-ren Spray (maren@fpcwinc.org), June Hess (junehess232@comcast.net), or Rossi Selzer (rselzer@ntelos.net). THE AGELESS ADVENTURERS’ December program will be Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 11:00 a.m. in Boyd Chapel. The program will feature musical traditions of Christmas led by our Minister of Music, Josh O’Dell. Following the program, everyone is invited to gather for lunch at Perkins Restaurant on Millwood Avenue. FAITH STRETCHERS This monthly religious book discussion group will look at Housekeeping, Pulitzer prize winning author Marilynne Robinson’s first novel. The book treats the subject of housekeeping, not only in the do-mestic sense of cleaning, but in the larger sense of keeping a spiritual home for one's self and family in the face of loss. All are welcome to meet on January 26 at 7:30 at the home of Sarana Donaldson, 116 O’Keefe Drive, Win-chester. Copies of the book are on the Faith stretchers shelf in the library. FOOD WASTE: A DISGRACE Lynette Johnson from the Society of St Andrew will be joining the Wed. Women's

Bible Study on Dec. 17th to talk with us about food waste. Lynette poses this question: What would happen if we stopped considering hunger as a problem of scarcity of food and, instead, began looking at it as the result of inequita-ble and inadequate food distribution systems? The congregation is invited to join us on Wed the 17th at 9:30 in the Graham Room to talk about this important question of stewardship.

ART IN WORSHIP:

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

Children’s Sunday School (9:45-10:45) Children will meet in their respective Sunday School areas as listed below. Nursery care is available during the Sunday School hour in room 109. 2-Year Old Class—Room #107 3-Year Old Class—Room #209 4-Year Old Class—Room #212 Kindergarten through 4th Grade —Begin in Stine Rm-dismiss from 2nd floor children’s wing (Today Kindergarten will dismiss from Stine Room) “unFROZEN” FAMILY CHRISTMAS EVENT Children and their families are invited to join us on Wednesday, December 17, 6-7pm as we participate together in games, crafts, and other activities to celebrate God's great love made known to us through Jesus. "Only the act of true love will thaw a frozen heart"---- we will discover that the GREATEST act of love in all of history was God sending Jesus to earth. There will be a potluck meal before the event beginning at 5:00, if you'd like to join us for the meal, just bring something along to share. Register at CM Table today!

4:00 FAMILY CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE PARTICIPATION Our Family Christmas Eve Service is both for and led by children!! There are many ways for children to be involved in this special service including Greeters, Ushers, Readers, Lead Characters, and Singers. We also have ways for adults to help as well. If you have a child or younger youth who would like to participate in the service or you'd like to know more about what is involved in each role, please view the CM weekly email or http://goo.gl/62fnvm. FPCWEDS programming resumes January 4th– March 25th!

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL

iDisciple: Graham Room - Tara & Chris Holmes, facilitators A gathering of adult learners to discuss and explore the common threads of Christian faith for daily living. In the fall, the class will view and discuss faith-themed TED talks featuring Karen Armstrong, Billy Graham, Rick Warren, and Lesley Hazleton. Monday Connections: Kent Room - Sharon & Don Winstead, facilitators A small-group opportunity for Bible study, discussion, and fellowship among Christian friends who seek to understand how a transformational faith requires us to become engaged in providing hands-on assistance to people in our local community beyond the walls of our church on Sunday morning. Service projects and topics for discussion during the Sunday School hour are selected by participants. The class especially welcomes new church members. Sycamore: Donegal House South - Cindia Stewart & Marge Toxopeus, facilitators A class dedicated to intensive studies of books of the Bible, classic Christian literature, and historic doctrines of the Christian faith. The class will explore the writings of C.S. Lewis, beginning with Mere Christianity. Thoughtful Christian: Donegal House North - Rich Reifsnyder, facilitator An exploration of the Christian faith biblically, theologically, and historically in pursuit of a better understanding of the faith and an obedient application of the faith. The topic for fall 2014 is “Why do we Believe That?” The class will explore Mark Noll’s book Turning Points, which examines significant turning points in Christian history and the basic beliefs of the Christian faith.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances… (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NRSV) In the sanctuary, the art in worship this week has been hung in the chancel. The two rectangular banners depict parallel im-ages of the final two weeks of waiting in this Advent Season. The Luke text (Luke 1:26-38) for Sunday, December

21 is visualized at the top of each banner with the angel, Gabriel, and the Holy Spirit conversing with Mary. Blended below this image, people in prayer and praise poses portray the Thessalonians text for Sunday, December 14. Finally, the central banner reveals the story of the birth of Jesus, with Mary holding her precious Child. The two at the back of the sanctuary unite with these three banners complete the five part visual representation of the Advent texts. Similar-ly, a banner for each text will be placed in the fellowship hall. There, they will be added each week in a circular pat-

tern to parallel the lighting of the Advent wreath.

CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP SERVICES 4:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. This is a service for families with younger children.

7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. This service is planned and led by the youth of the congregation.

10:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. This is a traditional candlelight service of lessons and carols.

Special music begins at 9:30 p.m.

YOUTH MINISTRY

TODAY:

YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:45-10:45!! High school meets on the 2nd floor of 12 East Cork in the large common area 8th grade meets on the 2nd floor of 12 East Cork in the classroom 7th grade meets on the 1st floor of 12 East Cork 5-6th grade meet in the NEXT room located in basement near the children’s music room PROGRESSIVE CAROLING PARTY!! For 7-12th graders on Sunday, December 14th! We will travel around Winchester, stopping at houses along the way to carol and eat dinner!! 6-8pm!! Drop off and pick up is in the church parking lot (you can attend the Christmas concert at 5pm and then join us at 6pm!) SUMMER MISSION TRIP INFO:

For youth currently in 4th through 6th grade*:

HANDS IN SERVICE (HIS) LOCAL MISSION WEEK Monday, June 15th through Friday, June 19th 9:30am-3pm. Each day we will gather at First Presbyterian Church and then head out into Winchester and beyond to serve! Service projects might include: working in the fields at the Volunteer Farm of the Shenandoah Valley, sorting food and clothing at CCAP, setting up for vacation Bible school, and helping and playing at the Winchester Day Preschool. Cost is $50*** (this covers the cost of a T-shirt, snacks, travel, and supplies). More information will be sent out in a few months but MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! *Older youth are welcome to come and help as leaders-in-training!

For youth currently in 7th grade through 12th grade: Marshall, North Carolina —Saturday, July 11 through Saturday, July 18 We will be doing construction and repair on houses, working with The Community Housing Coalition of Madison County (http://www.chcmadisoncountync.org/) We will be sleeping/eating at Calvary Worship Center (http://calvaryworshipcentermarshall.com/) (camping is also an option!). This trip will also include some great opportunities to explore the area about Asheville and attend worship at Montreat! There will be fundraisers and four preparatory meetings throughout the winter and spring which you are expected to participate in. The cost of the trip is $375***. ADULTS: We always need handy (or just enthusiastic) men and women to join us – the greater our amount of skill, the more we can accomplish!! And the church covers the cost of your participation. *** We have made a commitment that no one gets left out because of finances – if you have concerns about this, PLEASE contact Maren! Scholarships are available!