PRESBYTERIAN MESSENGER

UPCOMING EVENTS. . .

Every Sunday 10:00 AM Worship

Communion served 1st Sunday of Month

Choir Practice 8:30-9:30AM

Knitting Group 2nd Sunday of Month in

Sanctuary 12-1:30PM

Every Tuesday – Bible Study 7-8:30PM

Every Wednesday – Bible Study with

Rev. Lou Kilgore 10-11:30AM

Bell Choir Practice 7PM

Thu 12/15 Personnel Mtg.10AM Session 7PM

Fri 12/16 HMPC Book Group 1-3PM

Wed 12/21 Longest Night Service 7PM

Sat 12/24 Christmas Eve Service 9:30PM

Sun 12/25 Christmas Day Service 10AM

Mon-Fri 12/26-12/30 Office Closed

Christmas Eve Service at High Mountain Presbyterian Church

Please join us on Saturday, December 24^th at 9:30PM for our Christmas Eve service celebrating the birth of the Christ Child.   HMPC Bell, Choir, Adult Choir and guest musicians will be performing on this most holy of nights Everyone is invited!

Heavenly Christmas Bells Musical Event

Friday, December 16th at 8pm, there will

be a musical event presented by Jersey

Jubilation Handbell Choir. This is sure

to put you in the Christmas spirit!

Concert will be held at Ridgewood

United Methodist Church, 100 Dayton

Street, Ridgewood. Suggested donation

is $10. Questions call 201-447-2751.

HMPC MITTEN TREE

As you are shopping, please look for warm gloves or mittens for children walking to school in this cold winter.  We have already received a whole box of beautifully knitted and crocheted scarves which the children will love.  Our Mitten Tree will be up until December l8th.  You will find clothes pins and hooks to hang your gifts on the tree.  We will be taking pictures of everything before Tom and Bill take it up to the Center for Food Action to disburse to the families.  Thank you from the Mission Committee.

Ḟaithworks

The time of waiting is almost over. This Sunday is the 4th Sunday of Advent. We’ll light the fourth candle, the candle of Peace. The lighting of the Advent candles these past three weeks have helped us to grow in the excitement and anticipation of the birth of Jesus, God with us. At Ḟaithworks, last week’s reading from the gospel of Luke, we heard a story about Jesus’ mother, Mary, being told by an angel that she would become pregnant and give birth a special child, one who would become the leader that everyone was waiting for. In this last week before Christmas, the focus Bible reading is Matthew 1:18–25. It is a story about another angel’s message, this time given to Joseph, who would become Jesus’ father. God chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus and, equally, God chose Joseph to care for them. Joseph had a difficult choice to make. His fiancée was pregnant. Had Joseph chosen to accuse Mary, the traditional punishments for her could have meant exclusion, or death. This story is marked with human vulnerability. Mary is in a fragile position. She could lose her fiancé, her family, her reputation, her life. Joseph was confronted with a difficult reality. This was probably not how he imagined starting out his marriage. What emotions might he have experienced? Anger, fear, shame, guilt, broken trust, confusion? Joseph did not want to hurt Mary. The help of the angel who comes to him in a dream offers guidance and reassurance. Joseph takes a risk and courageously, chooses to protect Mary and the baby. Christ’s entry into this world was not an easy one. God’s grace guided Joseph and Mary to find courage to say “yes,” and to take a risk to make the way for God among us possible. With support and encouragement, our young people in church can significantly shape the relationships that make up their world. We pray that they will be affirmed in making choices and decisions that help to build rela­tionships and build community.

This Sunday is our family Christmas Service. Together will learn again and remember a familiar story “The Nativity Story.” As we ready our hearts to welcome the Christ child born into the world, we hope that our fun and laughter will be signs of God’s love at work within each one of us. Last Sunday, and the Sunday before, friends and families of the church gather on the 2^nd floor to review the script of the Christmas story and check on our different assignments and acting parts.  A final info/dress rehearsal, is set for this Thursday, December 15 at 7pm in the sanctuary. On Sunday, December 18th, the day of our presentation, please make plans to be at the church no later than 9:15 am to warm-up, get into your costumes and check last minute details. Participants should promptly go the 2nd floor. Invite a friend or two. God is near… God rejoices with us.  See you at worship.

Prayer Breakfast

Saturday

January 7, 2017

8:30am

High Mountain Presbtyerian Church

Franklin Lakes

Bring in the new year with prayer, conversation and breakfast.

Bring an item to share.

Hope to see you then!!!

The Longest Night Service

December 21st is the longest night of the year. Christians often associate the darkness of the nighttime with everything that is hard in life. The coming of the night is a time of vulnerability and sometimes aloneness. When the night is long it reminds of our fears and losses.  Christmas is a celebration of light in the darkness. But sometimes we can’t get to the celebration because the grief or loss is overwhelming us. This may be the first year at the holidays without your mother or your husband. Perhaps you have lost your job, experienced a divorce, or you or a friend are fighting for life against cancer. This year we will set aside a time to acknowledge the hardship and the loss that comes in life. You are invited to come to a service of prayer, poetry, encouragement and comfort. During the longest night service you have permission to be sad, or depressed. This is a place where you can be honest about how it feels to be surrounded by the signs of wonder and joy when you just don’t feel that way. This service is not for everyone but it may be just what you need. Even though it takes place in December, it is not a Christmas service. This service may be just the thing to help you or your neighbor or your friend who is wondering how they are going to make it through the holidays.  Mostly in times of hardship and grief we need to know that we are not alone.  Come to the longest night service and you will discover that you are not alone.  Bring someone who needs some encouragement and prayer. It is on Wednesday, December 21 at 7PM. The service will last for one hour and there will be refreshments following the service.

Ladies of the Church

You’re invited to the 4^th annual HMPC Ladies Christmas Party hosted by our very own Laura Peterson!  Please come to the Covenant Room on Saturday, December 17^th at 6:30; dinner will be served but please bring Christmas cookies to share.  Also if you are able, please bring a small Christmas gift for our Christmas exchange.  RSVP to Laura Kilgore at lbp@cbltd.com or call the church office at 201-891-0511.

Book Club at HMPC

The Book Club meets on the 4th Friday

of the month and anyone is invited to

come and discuss the books. The Book

Club will meet again on December 16:

Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom

Prayers & Announcements

Announcements for the Sunday Worship

service should be emailed to the church

office. If you would like the community

to pray with you for a person or

circumstance please call the office at

201-891-0511.

       Sunday Server Sign-Up Sheet; Fourth Quarter 2016