ADVENT

The central message of Advent is expressed in the words of John's Gospel:
"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." Advent looks both backward to Jesus' first coming, at Bethlehem, and forward to his coming again at the end. Truly Advent is a season of mystery and paradox. The mystery involves the Almighty God who chose to become one with us. The paradox is that God came to us as a king born in a stable, to spend his life serving rather than being served and finally, to die on a cross wearing a crown of thorns.

Advent… a time to get ready… a time to wait… a time to hope.

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL BOOK

There is a daily devotional booklet filled with activities, prayers, conversation starters, and Scripture readings to enhance family time together during this important season of our lives. If you have not received your booklet, they are on the counter in fellowship hall. Please pick one up.

ADVENT CALENDAR OF SUNDAY ACTIVITIES

Sunday December 8th
Presbyterian Women's Red Stocking Tea, 3:00 PM.
Caroling Hayride, 5:00 PM, followed by dinner.

Sunday December 15th
11:00 AM Worship. "Lord of the Dance". Our Worship will be a review of the entire life of Christ in Scripture, song, and dance.
7:00 PM Christmas music program with bells, choir and soloists followed by dessert and coffee.

Sunday December 22nd
11:00 AM Worship. The choir will present their annual Christmas cantata.
7:00 PM A Service of Healing and Remembrance.

Christmas is a joyful time. It is a time of family gatherings, parties, and gift giving, but it is not always joyful for everyone. People who have experienced a loss over the last couple of years find Christmas to be a particularly difficult season. Sadness comes to us in death, divorce, job loss, loss of health and independence, and loss of dreams.
This will be a service for all of us, and we ask you to invite someone to come with you who you feel would benefit from a time of prayer and healing.
Dessert and coffee will follow the service.

December 24th
Christmas Eve Communion Service at 7:00 PM

JOY GIFT

The Christmas Joy Offering will be received on December 22nd. With grateful hearts and generous gifts, Presbyterians reach out hrough the Christmas Joy Offering to members of our Christian family as God reaches out to us.

One-half of these gifts support the Board of Pensions' assistance programs, while the other half helps to support eight Presbyterian racial ethnic schools and colleges.

MORNING CIRCLE: will meet Thursday, Dec. 12th at the home of Wilma Foster, 10:30 AM. A salad luncheon will follow the meeting.

EVENING CIRCLE: will meet Thursday, Dec. 19th, 7:00 PM at the home of
Susan Bee, One Bright Meadow. . . gift exchange.

RED STOCKING TEA: All women of the church and guests are invited to the home of Janet Catlin on Sunday, December 8th at 3:00 PM.

DONATIONS: The Presbyterian Women are preparing a box of personal care items for the patients at Terrell State Hospital. Donations of items and/or money/checks to "Volunteer Services, Terrell State Hospital" may be left in the box in fellowship hall.

BAKE SALE: The Presbyterian Women will hold two bake sales in December: Sunday, December 8th and December 15th.

ANGEL TREE: The Presbyterian Women are inviting the congregation to participate in the Angel Tree Program for Rockwall County Kids in Need/Rainbow Room. We are sponsoring 5 children this year. If you have selected an ornament off the tree, we ask that you bring the gift, with the ornament attached, to church by December 12th. The gift should be unwrapped. On larger more expensive requests, you may wish to "buddy up" and co-sign with a friend to grant a wish.

The Presbyterian Women thank you for your support.

EDDIE COKER IN ROCKWALL

The Presbyterian Women are also sponsoring "The Eddie Coker" concert. Eddie Coker is a Texas-born musician, who after a 12-year opera career began writing music for children and their parents. Since 1993, he has averaged 250 concerts per year nationwide, created his own radio show for Disney, and made numerous albums and videos. He is often featured on the big screen at Chuck E. Cheese. Eddie's shows are fun-filled musical events that are interactive and promote good values.

Children's Age Range: typical age at Eddie's show is between 2-12 years old.
Location and Time: the show will be on Friday December 13th, 7:00 PM at the Utley Freshman Center located at 1201 Townsend Dr. near I-30 and HWY 205.
Cost: tickets are $5.00 in advance and $6.00 at the door. General admission seating. No reserved seats. Advance tickets may be purchased at First Presbyterian Church.

Pass this information on to your neighbors, friends, and family. Help make this a successful endeavor for the Presbyterian Women.

SESSION MEETING: The regular stated meeting of the Session will be Tuesday, December 17th at 7:30 PM in the conference room.

C.E. MEETING: Tuesday, December 10, 7:00 PM.

CONFIRMATION/JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH DECEMBER SCHEDULE

December 8 5:00 PM Caroling.
6:00 PM Brief Meeting.
6:30 PM Dinner with the congregation/ Fajitas by the Reeves.

December 15 6:00 PM Meeting. No Dinner.
7:00 PM Christmas Music Program. All are encouraged to attend!

December 22 No confirmation for Junior High Youth Group.

December 24 7:00 PM Communion and Candlelight Service.

Readers for December 8th Worship Service
Mandy Adams
Matthew Lensch
Elinor Rowan

All confirmation students are to be in Sunday school, worship, and youth meetings.

Volunteers from First Presbyterian will man the Salvation Army kettles in front of Target on Saturday, December 7th. Your help is needed. There is a sign up sheet on the counter in fellowship hall. 100% of the funds collected remain in Rockwall and are administered by Helping Hands.

Susan Bee
Cassi Clinton
Jill Culmo
Joanie Mehl
David Powell
Bill Proudfit
Bobbye Ray
Bob Reeves
Laura Slackney
Norma Wilck

If you know of a December Baby who's not listed here, please contact the church office.

STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN SUMMARY

With 80 families responding as of Sunday, December 1st, pledges for 2003 exceed $241,000. Our target for pledge income is $250,000, and the current amount represents 96.4% of our goal. We are still accepting pledges.

The amount we have pledged for next year exceeds current year pledges by 21%. That is a remarkable increase. Based on the number of responses, it is apparent that the vast majority of our members want to be personally involved in the growth of the church through adoption of the programs proposed in the 2003 challenge budget.

We have made the commitment for next year. Now it is up to us to keep our pledge. The session works to be an effective steward of the financial resources of the church. However, the focus is on spending wisely, not accumulating money. We on the session expect that pledges will be honored, although we realize that circumstances may arise that prevent some of us from doing all that we may have intended. Please make every attempt to fulfill your pledges for 2002 and 2003, because your support is important in enabling First Presbyterian Church of Rockwall to fulfill our mission for Christ.

Thank you and God bless you for your overwhelming support of the 2003 challenge budget.

Greg Blair, Stewardship Committee Moderator

We will be using Poinsettia Plants to decorate the sanctuary during the Christmas season. If you would like to order a plant, please fill out the following form (CLICK HERE for printable form) and return it to the church office with a check for $10. Orders must be in by Friday, December 6th

                  (PLEASE PRINT)

OUR PRAYERS FOR: Phyllis Urquhart who is recuperating at home.

CONGRATULATIONS: to Mike, Kelli, and Amber Kersey on the birth of Christopher Michael. Christopher was born November 26th.

LAY LEADER FOR DECEMBER: Erika Nannis
USHER: Sue Sinclair
GREETERS: Chris and Steve Rinner