[St. John's UCC]

Merry is one of the words we use to describe the tone of the season now upon us. With enthusiasm we write cards, wrap presents and greet one another with the words “Merry Christmas!” and those who are not merry ~ that is, those who are not upbeat and cheery 24/7 ~ are often labeled “Scrooges,” party-poopers, or at the very least, lacking in appropriate holiday spirit!

I am afraid I would be one of those persons perceived to be lacking in merriment. In fact, at this time of year there are those who accuse me of being too serious and wonder why I am not drawn to all of the parties and festivities. In part it is because I am so aware of those in our midst for whom this is an incredibly difficult season. While many are celebrating, others are experiencing the holiday for the first time without a loved one whose death in recent months has left them feeling profoundly sad and alone.

Others have lost jobs or been diagnosed with a life threatening illness. Still others are caught up in family struggles that consume them and color their perception of the world. Perhaps sharing the pain and loss of church family members is an occupational hazard, although I prefer to think of it as one of the privileges of my vocation as a pastor. To be able to share in people’s lives when they are dealing with what is of ultimate importance is not a burden, but a privilege in every respect.

Weeping with those who weep at this time of year is as important as rejoicing with those who rejoice. When we’re singing the familiar Christmas carols, may we also remember these words from one of my very favorite hymns entitled Won’t You Let Me Be Your Servant: “We are pilgrims on a journey, we are travelers on the road. We are here to help each other, go the mile and bear the load. I will hold the Christ-light for you in the shadow of your fear; I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear. I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh, I’ll laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow till we’ve seen this journey through.”

While I may not always feel merry in the midst of this holiday season, I am joy-filled because I know that no matter how challenging life may be, I am not in this alone. The God who came to us in a little one, whose birth we are preparing to celebrate, has promised to walk beside us each step of the way, drying our tears when we weep, calming our fears when we lay awake at night and filling us with strength we never knew we had.

Whatever else you do this holiday season, may you make time to be the source of joy for someone who is struggling, and you will experience the peace that passes all understanding ~ a priceless gift from the One is the greatest gift of all!

Manna Needs Boxed Potatoes

St. John’s has been asked to provide boxed potatoes for Manna on Main Street’s Christmas Basket distribution. Each year Manna on Main Street helps needy families by providing them with a basket of goods for the Christmas holiday. This year, Manna on Main Street will need enough to make up 100 baskets. Please drop off your mixes at Manna on Main Street, or at the church office, by Friday, December 19^th.

Christmas Dinner

The community is invited to Manna on Main Street’s annual Christmas Dinner and Party that will be held in our Assembly Hall. The meal is served at noon on Saturday, December 20th. Santa and his helpers will be there with gifts and craft activities for children and teens. This is a free event, but registration is required. Please call Manna on Main Street at 215-855-5454 to register.

Leaders: Please provide articles as needed for the following events for the next issue of The Enlightener:

All submissions should include your name and telephone, and be typed or printed. Submissions can be placed in The Enlightener bin in the Church Office (second bin from the bottom), or emailed to Tonyfish1@dwcnet.org. For questions, call Tony Salmon at 215-393-6769.

Thirty Years Ago: A claim was filed against the contractors for damages done to the church building by blasting done while installing new sewers on Richardson Avenue.

Twenty-five Years Ago: St. John’s served as the host church for the Ecumenical event, “Prayer for Christian Unity”.

Twenty Years Ago: Winifred “Winnie” Nash was honored for her many services to St. John’s~Church School teacher, Deacon, co-chair of the Rummage Sale and founder of the church’s historical library.

Fifteen Years Ago: The new fire alarm system and fire doors were installed. Banners were displayed depicting worship themes for each Advent Sunday.

Ten Years Ago: The United Adult Class, as a result of their discussion on “Learning from Each Other about Faith”, asked St. John’s members to share their thoughts on this question.

Five Years Ago: Pastor Lori Esslinger’s ministry at St. John’s came to a close and Pastor Ryan’s was about to begin.

One Year Ago: St. John’s youth visited Koziar’s Christmas Village in Bernville, Pa.. A workday was held to get the Barn ready for the contractor.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friend’s of the following members of the St. John’s family who passed away recently:

As of the end of October, our receipts were still above last year’s to date, but just barely. With Advent, and soon Christmas, upon us, we anticipate a season of generosity, as has been the case historically at St. John’s for many years. While expenses in general are down as a result of continued careful spending and frugality, an ongoing concern is the boiler. Significant repairs are scheduled to be made on one of the two boilers, with the hope that this will put us in good stead for the next several years as we continue to pursue phasing in a new and more efficient heating system for the church.

Interest payments usually dispersed in September have not needed to be dispersed, but are available should there be a need before the close of 2008 or as we enter 2009. Having paid forward a portion of our OCWM commitment to help our Conference through a particularly challenging time, we will recover some of those funds over the next month.

As always, we give thanks for your ongoing generosity, for without you we would not be able to accomplish God’s work within and beyond St. John’s

DON’T FORGET to pick up your 2009 St. John’s Activity Calendar so you will be ready to join in all our exciting events in the coming year. Calendars can be picked up in the narthex or in the church office. We thank the following sponsors for without their financial support the calendar would not be possible:

St. John’s Annual Blood Drive will be held Tuesday, December 2nd from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the Assembly Hall. Every blood type is crucial to life and blood is in very short supply. Please consider giving the gift of life. Contact the Church Office or see one of the Parish nurses or Lillian Panachyda to make an appointment. Or you can sign up on line at, http://www. membersforlife.org/ pennj/schedule/login.php?sponsorcode=1622

We need Meeters and Greaters as St. John’s welcomes visitors who are part of the Annual Lansdale Holiday History Tour that takes place on Saturday December 6^th.Please contact Rev. Sue if you can contribute some time. We will need coverage from 9:30am to 3pm. For those wishing to take the tour tickets and other information can be obtained through the Lansdale Historical Society at 215-855-1872

White Gift Sunday will be held on December 7^th. This is a chance to share in the spirit of Christmas by giving to the less fortunate. Please bring a gift wrapped in White (please mark the appropriate sex and age/size of the gift) to be given to the Christian Network Outreach program in Norristown for distribution to families in need. This is also the time for Christmas Carols, the Nativity Scene and special music by all our Choirs and the St. John’s Handbell Ringers.

We are again having our “Christmas Cookies and Soup Sale”. It will be held in the downstairs Assembly Hall after the White Gift Service on December 7^th. Orders can be placed during the social hour in the coming weeks and/or see Judy Reitz, Barbara Fretz, Marie Boulton or Jean Roshong. Soups available at $5.00 per quart are:

Breads, pies and homemade cookies in assortments will be reasonably priced as last year. We need our good St. John’s bakers to help us. If you bake please have your goodies to us on Saturday morning, DECEMBER 6^TH, between 9 and 12am. Thanks again for your help.

All women are invited to enjoy the fifth annual Women’s Christmas Tea that will be held on Saturday, December 13^thstarting at 9am in the Corner Classroom. Come and enjoy tea, homemade goodies and a program by speaker Patti Thomas. Patti was ordained right here at St. John’s and now ministers at St. Paul’s UCC in Sellersville

v INFORMAL EVENING COMMUNION will be held Tuesday evening, December 2nd at 7:00 pm.

v NOON COMMUNIONS will be held at noon on Wednesdays December 3^rd, 10^th, 17^th and 31^st.

v CHRISTMAS EVE A Communion service will be part of the 11pm Christmas Eve Service.

v CHRISTMAS DAY A Communion service will begin every half hour Christmas morning commencing at 8:30 am with the last service beginning at 10:30 am.

Following the Noon Communion service on Wednesday December 17^th a Holiday Healing Service will be offered. For some the approaching holidays bring forth feelings of sadness, depression and anxiety with many causes, death of loved ones and illness, etc. Jesus offers to help us carry those burdens. Come and be comforted with special prayers and anointing in the company of those who travel the same road. All are invited to attend.

The Prayer Group’s Christmas Meeting will be held December 22^nd at 7:30 pm at Reverend Sue’s home at 124 Oxford Road, Lansdale.

Two services will be held Christmas Eve, December 24^thto celebrate the coming of Christ.

A FAMILY SERVICE at 7:00 PM with special music by the Sunday school classes, the Cherub and Junior Choirs and the Generations Choir.

A TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS EVE service will begin with pre-service music at 10:30 PM featuring the Chancel Choir, St. John’s Handbells and St. John’s Brass who will fill your heart and soul with the sounds and feelings of Christmas, followed by the worship service at 11:00 PM that will include familiar Christmas Lessons and carols, a Christmas Meditation and Communion.

SPECIAL ADVENT MUSIC

From now until mid-December the “Giving (Mitten) Tree” will be available in the Activity Room for you to add your blessings. The Giving Tree is really looking for gifts of clothes, un-opened toys, bottled water and gift cards. After mid-December it’s “Gifts” will be taken to our partners at Urban Promise School and Ministries in Camden for distribution to the needy.

The Winter Congregational Dinner will be held on Sunday, January 25th in the Assembly Hall after worship with a new menu ~ roast beef and all the fixings.

This years Bible Study Program resumes with the Winter Series of five sessions. The theme “The End: The Book of Revelation Unraveled”.

Reppert’s Christmas Candy Orders can be picked up Sunday December 7^th and 14^th in the Assembly Hall during the social time. There will probably be some available if you forgot to order.

Families are invited to join the Saturday December 13^thtrip to see the Bethlehem Lights. We will carpool from the church around noon that day and return no later than 6 pm. The trip involves seeing a Live Nativity scene, then lunch and a visit to the Promenade at Saucon Vally Mall. The only cost is lunch. Please call Kim Bergey at 215-368-5068 to line up carpooling.

The service trip to honor Martin Luther King will be January 18^th to 19^th. We will be staying at our partner church, Christian Network Outreach Church and will be performing our Monday Service Project in Chester along with students from Widener University. Our time in Chester will end with a Worship and Praise session. For details talk with Pastor Ryan

The December Quiet Day will take place on December 2^nd. You are invited for a day of quiet prayer and reflection from 9:30 am to 1pm, at beautiful Mensch Mill. For further information call 610-489-2056 or online at craner@psec.org

The other day I was driving, and the car in front of me had a bumper stick on it, and it said proudly “Honk, If you Love Jesus!” So I did. The driver of this car got confused and proceeded to look back at me as if to Say “What is you problem?” I waved, wanting to show my Christian support of this person’s personal zeal for faith. But I don’t think this brother in faith got the message that I was affirming their faith, and not trying to get them out of my way on the road

How often in life do we not get the message when someone tries to communicate with us. Human nature tells that there is often a secret motive or hidden agenda to why people do things. How often do we ourselves to embarrassed to talk about church or our faith, because we are afraid that people might think “We are one of those…...fill in the blank”

One of my favorite people in the bible is John the Baptist. He had a hairy jacket, didn’t shave, ate bugs and honey, while wearing a big belt. “There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light” (John 1:6-8 MSG) John showed people the light he had from God, But he never confused himself for the light. John was proud to point all people to the light and never felt embarrassed.

My hope for the column is that it will be a place for us to share some thought about faith, and what it means to be member of St John’s United Church of Christ. I welcome you to join me online for discussion on this topic at http://cuppacommas.blogspot.com Grab a cup of Fairly Trade coffee or tea, jump online and drop a comment or two.

“ADVICE”

Nineteen books have been donated to St. John’s Library in recent weeks and are now on shelves. Most of the newly added books for older youth and adults are located on the center bookcase on the porch side of the Corner Classroom, where they are identified as “New to St. John’s Library.” A few of the books are on bookstands on the windowsill.

For the season of Advent, note particularly the LifeBooks Holy Lands, One Place, Three Faiths. This book features many beautiful photographs of the land of Jesus’ birth.

Another interesting addition is a little book from Harvest House Publishers called One-Minute Prayers for Men, designed to help men “sense God’s Peace in busy times.”

New additions to the children’s library are: Faith the Cow by Susan Bame Hoover, the story of Dan West and the founding of Heifer Project International; and a series of animal stories for young readers from

Manna News

Manna Needs Boxed Potatoes

SPECIAL EVENTS

MEETINGS

REHEARSALS

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

CIRCLES

SCOUTS

SPECIAL ADVENT MUSIC

“ADVICE”