Dear Church Family,

Because of the International Date Line (which I have crossed several times) you can fly from the USA on December 24th and arrive in Australia on December 26th, completely missing Christmas Day. But you can also stay home and miss it, end up exhausted, broke, glad it’s over, and not experience the joy it brings.  I hope that hasn’t happened to you this year.  There’s still time to experience Christmas the way God intended.  So, why not celebrate Christmas the way Mary, the shepherds and the Angels did in the Christmas story.

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A big “Bravo Zulu” to our Building and Grounds team who fixed, what I was told, was a 30 year old problem.  One of the pedestals on the north side porch was rotted out and in disrepair and last week a team of expert renovators (who just happen to be Judy’s brothers) came and fixed it.  Macwayne Williams told me today that for 3 decades that pedestal had many temporary repairs but had never been “fixed.”  Now it is and the B&G team deserve our gratitude.

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Return of On-Line Services:

Starting on Sunday December 27th we will temporarily halt our public worship services in the church.  In light of the Covid-19 virus surge and after discussion with the staff and medical advice from Jean Satterwhite who consulted with the county health department, it is prudent that we return to streaming our CWS as an on-line service and discontinue in house worship services.  We’ve all been paying attention to the news regarding the virus and know that this spike in the virus has made public meetings even more riskier than they were earlier this year when the Governor mandate closures.  And while there is no requirement to cease holding public worship services, the Commonwealth is strongly encouraging that.  More to the point, it is incumbent upon me and all our church leaders to put the safety and security of our congregation first.  This is why we will temporarily halt our public worship services.  However, we will continue with our December schedule for this Sunday, December 20th and December 24 (see below.)  We will continue to monitor the spread and impact of the virus and will consult with proper medical authorities regarding the timing of returning to our public worship services and re-starting other Sunday morning activities.

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Sunday, December 20:  4th Sunday in Advent

Regular Sunday morning schedule

 

  • Thursday, December 24th: Christmas Eve
    • 5pm – Contemporary Worship Service in the FMC
    • 6:30pm – Traditional Worship Service in the sanctuary
    • Both services will include carols, readings, communion, Christmas message and “Silent Night” candlelighting.
  • Sunday, December 27
    • 9:30am – Live streaming of CWS (no TWS).

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Church Family News

Congratulations – New Baby. 

Congratulations are in order for Nick and Elizabeth Daniels and the birth of their daughter MADISON who arrived on November 19th.

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Remember in prayer:

  1. Jamie Schumann’s mother, Joyce facing surgery on the 18th, and Father also facing surgery on January 13.
  2. Paige Carter diagnosed with Covid-19.
  3. Sherry Brillhart’s daughter, Emily diagnosed with Covid, and husband Billy with cardiac issues, also brother, Paul, in ICU.
  4. Margaret Lewis back in the hospital with cardiac issues.
  5. All those in our congregation known and unknown who need prayers for a variety of issues.
  6. All our frontline workers, in and out of our church, who work hard each day serving and protecting us during this pandemic.

I love you all,

Pastor Frank