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Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Collect for Advent IIII, p. 212, Book of Common Prayer
What an image of God this prayer creates. It's almost as if God is resting somehow and needs to be awakened and come in a strong fashion.
Yet, maybe the issue is with us. We say God is always near. We say God is always strong. And we often find it challenging to hear God's guidance and sometimes, even, to feel God's presence. We pray for clearer direction. We pray for an obvious sign. Probably because it is so hard for us to quiet ourselves enough to hear and see what God is putting before us.
We also become so busy. We get focused on what we are doing and do not always look around to see what is going on. We miss what God is putting before us.
So we ask for God to come more powerfully to us and among us. Hmm, we might want to be careful for what we ask.
Many blessings and love,
Rebecca+
Announcements
Please include the following in your daily prayers.
Wendy, Jim, Marie, Tammy, Tootser, Wendy, Zoey, Heather, the Hernandez family, Kierra, Laura, Ken, Stephanie, Gary, Jason, Ann, Father Warne, Fran, Josh, Arthanel, Caverly, Marie, Bob, Julie, Marion, Joanne, Shelby, Will, Terrence and the family and friends of Gerald Bentley, especially his niece Nicole.
The community level of Covid in Perry County is low. Masks are optional for our service.
Flowers for Christmas.
Donations for Christmas flowers will be taken through today. If you have an envelope, you can use for the donation, including marking if they are “in honor of” or “in memory of” someone. There are also envelopes at the back of the church.
Next week we will decorate the church for Christmas after the service followed by a Potluck lunch.
Collections for Neighbor Helping Neighbor Food Bank
We will be collecting one specific item each month for the Food Bank. In December items will be Birthday kits - cake mix, frosting, candles. A can of Sprite can be used in place of the eggs and oil. Darlene will leave some in the basket along with notes about using it to prepare the cake.
Joy to the Burg Albums and Greeting Cards are for sale!
Albums and Greeting Cards are available to purchase at www.JoyToTheBurg.com and select area retailers. Karns stores are carrying the album download packages, see the Joy to the Burg website for other retailers.
The Perry County Commissioners request that all Perry County residents take this short, anonymous survey on your typical commute patterns to Cumberland and Dauphin Counties by December 15.
The results will help inform new transportation options for Perry County residents! Go to: www.perryco.org/commute or call 814-865-4014.
Help fill our community food pantry!
Items that seem to be taken first include canned pasta meals, soups, and macaroni and cheese. Vegetables don't seem to get taken. Also, please don't use this as an opportunity to clear out your pantry if at all possible.
Save the Date! Ruth and Esther | Epiphany 2023
The Good Book Club will explore Ruth and Esther, books that explore the faithfulness and courage of two remarkable women. The stories of Ruth and Esther have much to teach us about the Hebrew concept of chesed, which means sacred kindness, as well as the willingness to be in sacrificial relationship with loved ones and our communities. Mark your calendars to join the Good Book Club with daily scripture readings, reflections, and teachings, from Epiphany, Friday, January 6, to Shrove Tuesday, February 21, 2023.
Volunteers Needed to Help with Newport Public Library Secret Santa, December 1 - 24.
The Secret Santa project at the Newport Public Library lets children find and wrap gifts for their family members. Families have appointments, so there is only 1 family in the shopping area at a time. Volunteers are needed to help children with choosing gifts and with helping them wrap the gifts. Volunteers serve for 2 – 4 hour shifts, which occur during regular library hours. If you are available to help, please contact the library at 717-567-6860.
Volunteers Needed to Help with Money in Your Pocket Free Tax Prep Program
Volunteers are needed to offer free tax preparation to help working families receive the federal and state tax credits they are eligible for. The service is offered through the Money in Your Pocket (MIYP) program, a community partnership led by United Way of the Capital Region that is committed to the economic stability of local families. No previous experience is required and training is provided. Volunteers are also needed to serve as greeters. For more info, contact Heidi Neuhaus at 717-724-4055 or hneuhaus@uwcr.org
