December 2016 Monthly Newsletter Hodge Presbyterian Church

tells us, “The Word became flesh and lived among us, . . . full of grace and truth.” Christmas proclaims that God has come in flesh, has come “to save us all from Satan’s power.” Christmas celebrates far more than a birthday; Christmas acclaims the advent of the messianic salvation. Christ was sent among us in order to save us. Note how the biblical “sending formula” (“God sent Christ in order to . . .”) always reveals Christ’s saving purpose. (The above two paragraphs are from the Companion to the Book of Common Worship) We care about the incarnation, about little baby Jesus sleeping in the manger of our minds and hearts precisely because of the meaning behind it. There is an evergreen Christmas cross in our basement storage room that I think will be put together this year. I am aware that a few people might not think it is very “Christmassy”. But the symbolism is almost iconic. Christmas (from a non-consumeristic/theological viewpoint) is only truly meaningful in light of Easter. So as we are running around doing, shopping, preparing, and participating in all of the hectic, meaningful, tedious, joyful, nostalgic, busy business of this season… let us not forget the reason for this season (sorry for that cliché, but it is right on target)! Have a Merry and Meaning-filled Christmas and a Happy New Year! In Christ, Pastor Steve Merrin

MESSAGE FROM

PASTOR STEVE

Dear Members and Friends of Hodge Presby-

terian,

I just took a few minutes to look back

at the previous five front page articles I have

written for the December issue of the Hodge

Podge, and in them all I talk about the mean-

ing and importance of Advent! So for this

article I want to talk about Christmas

(though I do have a second article in this

newsletter about Advent)!

On December 25, Christmas Day,

more Christians pause in their frenzied lives

to acknowledge Christ than on any other day

of the year. Images of “the baby in the man-

ger” and “peace among all on earth” (Luke

2:14) fill our minds. On Christmas Day, Chris-

tians unite in celebrating the birth of the

Christ child.

What is “Christmas”? It is three words: God

in flesh; or four syllables: incar-na-tion. The

Gospel According to John (1:14)

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called,

them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

– Romans 8:30

Pastor’s Spotlight: Advent Bible Study: Tuesdays, November 29, December 6, 13, & 20; from 5:15

– 6:15. We will meet in peoples home’s (sign-up sheet in Gathering Room) at 5:15 for a brief time of Fellow-

ship, then the study will start promptly at 5:30 and will end at 6:15. In Isaiah 9:6, a divine utterance is given to

us using four royal titles- Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. We will

look at each royal designation and how the people understood it then, how Jesus did or did not fulfill the title,

and how Christians interpret Jesus as representative of that title.

Blue Christmas Worship gathering: In our Sanctuary on December 15 at 5:30. While Advent and Christmas is a

time of great festivity and joy for the majority of people within the Christian Community, it must be recog-

nized that Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for people who may be grieving a loss, for those who

are living alone, or those who have painful associations with this time of year. This service is for you. There

will be appropriate music, prayers, scripture readings, and times of remembrance. Anyone from the church or

the community is invited. If you are a member or friend of Hodge and you know of someone that might need

this service: why don’t you invite them and then support them by coming along with them?

Christmas Morning Worship: That is right: Christmas Day is on a Sunday this year! We will meet at our regu-

larly scheduled time at 10:30 am (there will be no Sunday School). The tone of the service will be joyful, full of

Christmas music (if you would like to share your talents (and I have not already called you) please let me

know), and casual. Children are invited to come in their PJs after their families Christmas morning traditions…

for that matter even if you are an adult, feel free to wear your PJ’s (if you dare)! What better way to spend a

Christmas Sunday morning than to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior with your church family?

*There is so much more going on this month at Hodge Presbyterian Church… carefully read this newsletter for

those details!

ADULT CHRISTMAS TRIVIA

After leaving Bethlehem, to which country did Joseph, Mary, and Jesus

travel?

Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December. Who is the patron

saint remembered on the 26th of December?

Every elf has this ornament on the tip of their shoes. Which ornament

are we talking about?

Everyone is familiar with the mistletoe tradition. What is the color of the

berries of the plant?

How does Santa Claus go back up the chimney to continue his journey of

delivering gifts?

How many points does a snowflake traditionally have?

Name the eight original Reindeer.

One of the most famous Cola companies in the world used to have ad-

vertisements featuring a happy, smiling Santa Claus. Name the company

Red and green are the two colors most associated with Christmas.

Which are the two other colors, according to Christmas holiday trivia,

that are also extremely popular in this season?

Traditionally, kids leave out snacks for Santa Claus. What are these

snacks?

Traditions of Christmas around the world will tell you that Santa Claus is

known by many names. What is the French name for Santa Claus?

Two of the reindeers are named after weather phenomenon. Name the

reindeer.

What are the gifts that the Three Wise Men gave baby Jesus, according

to Christmas history?

What is the name of Ebenezer Scrooge’s partner, from the play, A

Christmas Carol?

What two phrases will you almost always find on Christmas gift tags?

When does the Russian Orthodox Church celebrate Christmas?

Which country can be credited with the creation of the Christmas bever-

age, eggnog?

Which country does St. Nicholas originally belong to?

Which is the most popular ornament used to place at the top of the

Christmas tree?

Egypt , Stephen , Bells ,White, He places his finger on the side of his nose, gives a smile and a nod. , Six ,

Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Dasher, Prancer, Vixen, Dancer, and Donner ,Coca Cola , Gold and Silver ,Cookies and

milk ,Pere Noel , Donner, which means thunder in German, and Blitzen, which means lightning ,Gold, Myrrh,

and Frankincense ,Jacob Marley ,To and From ,January7th ,England ,Turkey , ,Angel CHILDREN’S TRIVIA

Santa has nine reindeer, can you

name them all?

What gifts did the three kings

take to baby Jesus?

Which meat do we traditionally

eat with Christmas dinner?

What food is typically left out for

Santa on Christmas Eve?

What two things do we tradi-

tionally give to our friends and

families on Christmas Day?

What are Santa's helpers called?

How many doors would you open

of an advent calendar before

Christmas Day arrives?

In 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'

song, how many lords are leap-

ing?

In the famous Christmas song,

which plant was Mummy kissing

Santa Claus under?

ANSWERS: Rudolph, Prancer, Dancer, Donner,

Blitzen, Dasher, Vixen, Commet and Cupid .

Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh—Turkey—

Cookies & Milk—

Cards and presents—

Elves—Twenty-four

(24) - Ten (10) -

Mistletoe

Prayer Concerns

. These persons are on the current list. PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE WITH ANY UPDATES ON ANY OF THESE PERSONS. *Our elderly & shut-ins, C.S. & Jean Endecott, Jeniene Towns, Shirley Foland, Dude Lankford, Linda Mason, Riley Bails, Finas Brundage, Charity Taylor, Shawn & Denise McNabb, Lisa Moore, Linda McNabb, Beth Wilson Gross, Russel Bowe, Earl & Renetta Teegarden, Everett Thies, Dean Harp, Mason Barnard, Tammy Hanes, Jenny Batson, Lisa Aonecme, Pat Klaver, Peter & Sue Brewer, Glenda Gibson, Rick Mason, Ann Trombley, Howie Lynch, Cindy Gott, Annaliese Benson, Gary Beverlin, Tara Beth & Charles Jack Hoffman, Ethel Mae Bretz Sympathy to family of Bob Clem *Our church leaders, local, state and national leaders, our military & families, Sonrise Children’s Home, Sonrise Transition Home, WACKY Wednesday

COOKIE / CANDY WALK

Trenton Downtown Christmas Celebration Friday December 9th 5:00 - 7:00 Proceeds support Hodge Youth activities Please bring 3 dozen CHRISTMAS Cook-ies/Candy to Hodge by 1:00 or "The Space" 1013 Main by 4:30 on Friday De-cember 9th. Please label your cookies or candy. Besides Christmas Cookies or candy, you can donate cup cakes (.50) or small loaves of bread ($1.00) to the sale. Thank you for your dona-tion.

NOVEMBER MISSION & OUTREACH HIGHLIGHTS

Haiti hygiene bags—need assembly gathering before Dec 9

when group from Hodge may be going to Haiti

Peace Offering collection completed. $1044 total with $261

staying local

To date $153 collected in backpacks at rear of sanctuary

FFDD Banquet served 87 —12 Hodge servers/workers

140 residents at NCMC will received goody pkgs in Dec

“Welcome Back” movie night in Jan planned for NCMS students

Hodge to serve lunch at BSU at NCMC

Joy offering to be collected Dec 18th

Deacons to handle gifts for families; M&O handling Sonrise

Transition Home

M&O sponsor Hodge Café in Feb-funds to TAMA Good Samari-

tan Fund

Merry Christmas from Linda and

Roger Antle, Church Secretary. You

have all been wonderful to work with

this year!

“Advent” means “coming” or “arrival.” During the season of Ad-

vent, we celebrate Christ’s coming into the world and watch with ex-

pectant hope for his coming again. The original Advent calendar was an

ancient Latin hymn called the O Antiphons. Starting on December 17 and

continuing through the day before Christmas Eve, this series of seven mes-

sianic titles is sung at evening prayer to mark the week leading up to the

celebration of the Nativity of the Lord.

If you read the first letter (not counting the O) of each antiphon from

bottom to top, the group of antiphons forms a backwards acrostic poem in

Latin: ero cras, or “tomorrow I will [come].” In many congregations, the O

Antiphons are best known as the source for the popular Advent hymn “O

Come, O Come Emmanuel.”, (the full words of this hymn may be found in

this Hodge Podge)!

As you experience the joys and set backs common to this season I chal-

lenge you to pray about it! In the box to the left is a simple prayer for Ad-

vent that follows the imagery of the O Antiphons. As we move forward

into this season of Advent, and then on into a joyful celebration of Christ-

mas, let us remember that: Christ has come! Christ is risen! Christ will

come again!

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The Gospel Is…

The Love of Christmas

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The Gift of the Cross How to share the best gift of all.

Advent and the O Antiphons

“Advent” means “coming” or “arrival.” During the season of Advent,

we celebrate Christ’s coming into the world and watch with expectant hope

for his coming again. The original Advent calendar was an ancient Latin

hymn called the O Antiphons. Starting on December 17 and continuing

through the day before Christmas Eve, this series of seven messianic titles

is sung at evening prayer to mark the week leading up to the celebration of

the Nativity of the Lord.

If you read the first letter (not counting the O) of each antiphon from bottom to top, the group of antiphons forms a backwards acrostic poem in Latin: ero cras, or “tomorrow I will [come].” In many congregations, the O Antiphons are best known as the source for the popular Advent hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”, (the full words of this hymn may be found in

this Hodge Podge)! As you experience the joys and set backs common to this season I chal-lenge you to pray about it! In the box to the left is a sim-ple prayer for Ad-vent that follows the imagery of the

O Antiphons. As we move forward into this season of Advent, and then on into a joyful celebration of Christmas, let us remember that: Christ has come! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!

O Antiphons

O Sapientia -> Wisdom O Adonai -> Lord O Radix Jesse -> Root of Jesse

O Clavis David -> Key of David O Oriens -> Sunrise O Rex Gentium ->King of the Na-

tions O Emmanuel ->God with us

O Antiphons Advent Prayer

Come, Jesus Christ, our savior—

teach us your way, Sapientia / Wisdom

lead us to freedom, Adonai / Lord

grow in our lives, Radix Jesse / Root of Jesse

open our minds, Clavis David / Key of David

shine in our actions, Oriens / Sunrise

rule in our hearts, Rex Gentium / King of the Na-

tions

O come, O come Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, thou Wisdom from on high, who orderest all things mightily; to us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go. Refrain O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan’s tyranny; from depths of hell thy people save, and give them victory over the grave. Refrain O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight. Refrain O come, thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery. Refrain O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height in ancient times once gave the law in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain O come, thou Root of Jesse’s tree, an ensign of thy people be; before thee rulers silent fall; all peoples on thy mercy call. Refrain O come, Desire of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind; bid thou our sad divisions cease; and be thyself our King of Peace. Refrain O come, O come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the son of God appear. Refrain

Hodge Presbyterian Church

315 West Crowder Road

Trenton, Mo. 64683

DECEMBER MARK YOUR CALENDARS 6 10 a.m. TAMA Meeting @ Hodge 5:15 p.m. Advent Bible Study 9 Downtown Christmas-Hodge Cookie Walk 10 Grand River Valley Program 11 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship 5:00 p.m. Family Dinner & Christmas Program 12 Noon Ladies Luncheon 13 5:15 p.m. Advent Bible Study Deadline—Gifting Tree 14 Last WACKY Wednesday before holidays 15 5:30 Blue Christmas service 18 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship Vesper Service 20 5:15 Advent Bible Study 24 6:00 p.m. & 11 p.m. Christmas Eve Service 25 10:30 Worship Service (No Sunday School

DECEMBER Session

Meeting date to

be announced.