Love lives here, Love flows from here… December 2015

Hello Members and Friends of Head of Christiana,

Rev. Bob Undercuffler Pastor

While we are waiting, come …

Yes, there is a place for you, your family and friends at Head of Christiana.

Younger and older, we will delight in the Advent season and Christmas. In the spirit of

Head of Christiana and this hope-filled season, let us join in worship and fellowship.

Sunday, Sunday, November 29th: This day we light the first candle of the Advent Wreath, enjoy the choir’s singing “What Can I Give Him” and celebrate with Holy Communion. Bob Undercuffler will preach. Sunday, December 6th: Advent II the choir will sing “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly. “ Bob will preach. Sunday afternoon (Dec. 6) at 4:00pm, we return to the sanctuary for a Concert in Candlelight, featuring the Brandywine Harp Orchestra. Bring the family and invite some friends. Sunday, December 13th: Advent III the choir will sing “Walk in the Light.” Bob will be preach. A brief congregational meeting after worship will be held for the election of new officers and the presentation of Session’s budget for 2016 and will be followed by delicious treats in Chapel Hall prepared by Care and Fellowship. Sunday, December 20th: Advent IV, amid flowers and a sparkling Christmas tree decorated with hand-crafted Chrismons and other decorations, we travel closer to Bethlehem with Bob preaching. The choir will sing “Advent Gift” and the Joy Offering will be received. At 12:45pm, Debbie Harper will present “A History of Christmas Customs.” Thursday, December 24th, Christmas Eve at 7:30pm: Follow luminaries to the sanctuary and worship in candlelight for a service of scripture and carols with meditation by Bob. Christopher Braddock on guitar and Jean Marie Kolka Braddock on violin join with our choir to offer special music. Music begins at 7:15pm. The service will include the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Sunday, December 29th at 11:00am: Christmas worship with abundant carols.

Remember, each Advent Sunday begins with Sunday School for all children, youth and adults at 9:30am. Nursery and toddler care is available for little ones. Rosi White continues the Topics class, “Sacred Journey” through Sunday, December 29th.

A long-awaited ramp to the entrance of our sanctuary is presently under construction. It will be in use by Sunday, December. 6th. Thank you, church donors, Bill Witt, and construction crew.

A special conversation with members and friends of HoC is being planned for Sunday, January 10th so ways of investing Marion Shirkey’s generous bequest can be discussed.

May this Advent time and Christmas be days to practice peace and goodwill for all.

Grace to you, and peace,

Bob

NEW CHRISTMAS TRADITION Mark Mankin

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES Mark Mankin

POINSETTIA ORDERS Mary Jo Mankin

Volume 5, Issue 11

Page 2

Orders for Poinsettias are now being taken. They will decorate

the sanctuary from Sunday, December 20th through Christmas Eve

when they can be taken home. To order, use an order form that

was inserted in Sunday bulletins and also placed on the table in

the Narthex, or contact Mary Jo Mankin.

Orders must be in by Dec. 13th.

Special giving opportunities abound through Head of

Christiana which spread Christmas joy to many: our Christmas

Joy Offering provides an important safety net for pastors (many retired) when financial needs exceed personal and other available

resources. In addition, The Joy Offering provides opportunities for deserving students to attend Presbyterian-related racial ethnic colleges and schools.

The Worship Commission is planning a new tradition for celebrating the Christmas season in a special, though very traditional, way. On December 20th, the Sunday prior to Christmas Eve, we invite everyone to bring to church a few of your own nativity figures for a display in the front of the sanctuary that will showcase a diversity of sizes, shapes, places of origin, and elements in the depiction of Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus and all those present for the manger scene. We feel this will be a way to involve as many folks as possible in making the sanctuary truly a unique place that represents the lives and spirit of those who worship here every Sunday. After the Christmas Eve service is over, the figures will be available to the owners for their own Christmas Day displays. Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first nativity scene in 1223 having been inspired by his own visit to the Holy Land where he had seen Jesus’ traditional birthplace. “O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.”

See the story of the first nativity scene starting on the next page…

Our Mitten, Cap & Scarf Tree supplies the Elkton Help Center and Flannel Shirts (x-large sizes)

are distributed by Settlement House. In addition, our donations of Food — including Turkeys — for the

Christmas Baskets distributed by the Newark Area Welfare Committee. And we are also collecting

Cookies for dessert for guests served by the Elkton Community Kitchen. Bring your cookies, (4 to5 cookies per bag) on Sunday, December 13th. We expect to serve 125 guests on Friday, December 18th.

St. Francis of Assisi is credited with staging the first nativity scene in 1223. The only historical account we have of Francis’ nativity scene comes from The Life of St. Francis of Assisi by St. Bonaventure, a Franciscan monk who was born five years before Francis’ death. According to Bonaventure’s biography, St. Francis got permission from Pope Honorious III to set up a manger with hay and two live animals—an ox and an ass—in a cave in the Italian village of Grecio. He then invited the villagers to come gaze upon the scene while he preached about “the babe of Bethlehem.” (Francis was supposedly so overcome by emotion that he couldn’t say “Jesus.”) Bonaventure also claims that the hay used by Francis miraculously acquired the power to cure local cattle diseases and pestilences. The nativity scene’s popularity took off from there. Within a couple of centuries, nativity scenes had spread throughout Europe. We don’t know if people actually played Mary and Joseph during Francis’ time, or whether they just imagined those figures’ presence. We do know that later scenes began incorporating dioramas and life actors, and the cast of characters gradually expanded beyond Mary, Joseph and sweet baby Jesus, to sometimes include an entire village. Continued on page 6…

Volume 5, Issue 11

Page 3

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Meet Betsy VanCulin

I was born and raised in a small village near Goshen, New York. We had a store, two gas stations, a bar, a two-room school house and the Presbyterian Church. After high school, I joined the Army to see

the world, but spent my time in Alabama and Maryland. While in the service I married, was transferred to Aberdeen Proving Ground, and had my son, Lee at Kirk Hospital (APG).

Besides allowing me time to mature, my military service opened the door to my education through the GI Bill. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Towson University, Master’s

in Psychology from Washington College, and a Master’s degree in School Counseling at West Chester University. I spent my entire working career with Cecil County Public Schools, first as an elementary

teacher and then as a Child Development Counselor. I retired in 2005 and have been busy ever since doing the things I love.

Twenty-eight years ago I met my soul mate, traveling partner, and the love of my life, Chuck. We are blessed with three adult children and eight grandchildren. When not traveling, enjoying our boat,

or volunteering, we spend time at soccer games, school events, and time with our FAMILY – our most

precious gift.

THE FIRST NATIVITY SCENE Rachel Nuwer, Smithsonian.com

Volume 5, Issue 11

Page 4

Brandywine Harp Orchestra

Sunday, December 6, 2015 at 4:00pm

with Refreshments following

Head of Christiana Presbyterian Church

1100 West Church Rd, Newark, DE 19711

302.731.4169 ♦ hocpc.org

Goodwill Offering

Somehow the trees just seem to grow bigger in the Brandywine Valley than anywhere else in the Delaware Valley region…at least in the opinion of this writer. Set in a backdrop of huge oaks and other trees stands Rockwood Mansion, a testament to an earlier time, struggling to stay relevant as the forest tries it’s best to reclaim the land it was built on. It was grey and raining lightly as we approached, but the brilliant fall foliage failed to make it gloomy, which was good since a person could easily imagine being surrounded by ghosts in this rambling old structure.

Page 5

The “HOP” Event

November 12, 2015

Rockwood Mansion

“Hoppy”

Alex Oakes, HOP Event Coordinator, Outreach Commission Chair

Fifteen Happy Older Presbyterians (shortened to “Old Pres” by the lady checking us in who said she couldn’t spell “Presbyterian,” but was OK spelling “Methodist”…harrumph!) ventured through this marvelous old place which is all decked out in period furnishings (most are original) and which seemed to have limitless rooms. Built in the English manor house style one could easily imagine an episode of Downton Abbey being filmed there. Rockwood Mansion is another fascinating place that is right in our own back yard. Of course, following our tour, it was necessary to adjourn to a suitable eating establishment where we could evaluate the morning’s events and Harry’s Savoy Grille did nicely. So well, in fact, that most of us forgot the time altogether and we were among the last customers to leave when lunch was over. That’s exactly as it should be when you’re a Happy Older Presbyterian!

Next Month: The American Music Theater’s Christmas Spectacular!

THE FIRST NATIVITY SCENE continued…

Nativity buffs will know, however, that the familiar cast of characters relied upon today — the three wise men and the shepherds — is not biblically accurate. Of the New Testament’s four gospels, only Matthew and Luke describe Jesus’ birth. Matthew mentions wise men, while Luke comments on shepherds. But nowhere in the Bible do shepherds and wise men appear together. What’s worse, no one mentions donkeys, oxen, cattle or other farmyard friends in conjunction with Jesus’ birth. But what would a nativity scene be without those staples? In addition to the basic set (five pieces: stable, manger, Christ child, Mary and Joseph), it is not uncommon to add the star of Bethlehem, the Angel Gabriel, the shepherds, the Wise men, and various barn animals. Germans traditionally don’t include the baby Jesus in their home Nativity scenes until after Christmas Eve, because he had not been born yet. Displaying the Nativity scene through the Christmas holidays is a great way to remind us of the true message of Christmas.

DONATE A TURKEY/CANNED GOODS Rosi White & Judie Alwine

The Newark Area Welfare Committee’s Holiday Food Box Program is on! Your help is requested in acquiring frozen turkeys and/or non-perishable food for the estimated 400+ food boxes we expect to assemble for local families in need this season. Our goal is for the centerpiece of each box filled with canned goods and other non-perishable food will be a nice 10-15lb frozen turkey. Local grocery stores have their lowest prices and coupon campaigns before Thanksgiving. Please pledge a turkey and/or canned goods soon by taking advantage of the November bargains. You can store the non-perishable food items and/or frozen turkey in your home, or you can contact either Rosi White at 302.731.1573 or Judie Alwine at 302. 738.4239 and they will be happy to store it for you. If you purchase and store a turkey, please bring it to First Presbyterian Church of Newark, 292 West Main Street between 8:30am and 9:30am on Saturday, December 19th. If you are collecting non-perishable food for this program, please deliver it to First Presbyterian Church by 1:00pm on Thursday, December 17th OR you can simply contact Rosi or Judie and they will pick it up . If you would like to volunteer with sorting, assembling or assisting with pick up, please volunteer for one time slot only (see below). We have numerous volunteers and would like to give everyone a chance to help with this worthwhile cause. If you would like to make a monetary donation to this project, please mail your check made out to: Newark Area Welfare Committee, PO Box 951, Newark DE 19715-0951. You can also donate online at their secure website at www.newarkareawelfare.org

Cut here and give bottom form to Rosi or Judie

MY / OUR PLEDGE

Name: Phone #:

Address: Email:

PLEASE CHECK YOUR PREFERENCES

Will bring a turkey to First Presbyterian Church-Newark between 8:30-9:30am Saturday, Dec. 19th

Will bring non-perishable food to First Presbyterian Church-Newark by 1:00pm Thursday, Dec. 17th

Would like to arrange storage/pickup for our donation: Turkey Non-perishable/Canned goods items

Please accept my/our monetary donation enclosed: $25.00 $50.00 $100.00 Other $

Want to volunteer: First Presbyterian Church-Newark (CHECK ONE ONLY)

December 17th — Sorting food 9:00am-11:00am or 12:00pm - 2:00pm

December 18th — Assembling food into boxes 9:00am-11:00am or 12:00pm - 2:00pm

December 19th — Clients pick up food 9:00am-11:00am or 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Volume 5, Issue 11

Page 6

December Birthdays

Dec 5 Nicole Gill

Dec 5 Richard Murray

Dec 11 Ruth Montgomery

Dec 21 Andre Gill

Dec 28 Annabelle Huffman

Dec 28 Jillian Gillespie

Dec 28 Carolyn Brunner

HOC CALENDAR — December Happenings Tuesday Dec 1 6:00pm Mission Commission Wednesday Dec 2 1:00pm Worship Commission Sunday Dec 6 4:00pm Brandywine Harp Concert Monday Dec 7 7:00pm Admin and Finance Commission Tuesday Dec 8 11:30am HOP trip to American Music Theatre Thursday Dec 8 N E W S L E T T E R D E A D L I N E (for Jan—early publication because of holidays)

Wednesday Dec 9 11:30am Nifty-Wifty @ Wesley’s Wednesday Dec 9 4:00pm Care and Fellowship Commission Friday Dec 11 12:00pm Hope Dining Room Saturday Dec 12 9:00am Session/Deacons Retreat Sunday Dec 13 12:00pm Congregational Meeting following worship Sunday Dec 13 3:00pm Newark Community Band Concert @ 1st Presbyterian Church Monday Dec 14 6:30pm Session Sunday Dec 20 12:45pm Debbie Harper’s presentation: “A History of Christmas Customs” Thursday Dec 24 7:30pm Christmas Eve Service at HoC (Bob preaching) Friday Dec 25 M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S

CHOIR PRACTICE — THURSDAYS — 7:30PM

Page 7

Our choir welcomes a new tenor, Zachary (Zach) Doimi,

a freshman at UD who hails from Flemington, New Jersey.

We gratefully welcome his beautiful voice to our wonderful choir.