Maysville Presbyterian

Advent marks the beginning of the church year. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. This year the first

Sunday of Advent falls on December 2. Advent ends on Christmas Eve. The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." Advent anticipates not only the birth of Jesus but also the coming of Christ at the end of time, to fulfill God’s intention for creation and to bring “a new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1) into being.  When the celebration of Advent first began, the focus was on the coming of Christ in the future more than on the birth of Jesus. Early liturgical calendars placed Advent at the end of the church year rather than at the beginning for this very reason.

The Color of Advent

The primary color of Advent is purple, although it can also be blue. Purple is the color of penitence and fasting. It is also the color of royalty, a fitting color to display as we welcome the Advent of the King.

Advent Symbols

The Advent wreath is a circular evergreen wreath with five candles, four around the

wreath and one in the center. The circle of the wreath reminds us of God, of God’s eternity and endless mercy,

which has no beginning or end. The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life. Candles symbolize the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His son. The four outer candles represent the period of waiting during the four Sundays of Advent, which themselves symbolize the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Christ.   We will light the candles on the Advent wreath during each of the four Sundays and on Christmas Eve.

Here is the schedule:

December 2-Candle of Hope

December 9-Candles of Peace and Hope

December 16-Candles of Joy, Peace and Hope

December 23-Candles of Love, Joy, Peace and Hope

December 24-the Christ Candle and the candles of Love, Joy, Peace and Hope

My Prayer for You

I pray this Advent will be a joyous time for you, marked by celebration and reflection. May the candles and evergreens evoke the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Each day of Advent may you grow in understanding and wonder of His birth. By Christmas day may your hearts overflow with rejoicing and thanksgiving.

Peace be with you all.

Blessings,

Pastor Jim

Examen

Consider ending your day with a spiritual exercise created by St. Ignatius known as Examen or more fully

The Examen of Consciousness.

The Examen is a simple prayer directed toward developing a spiritual sensitivity to the special ways God

approaches, invites, and calls. St. Ignatius recommends that the examen be done at least twice, and suggests

five points of prayer:

_ Recalling that one is in the presence of God.

_ Thanking God for all the blessings one has received.

_ Examining how one has lived the day.

_ Asking God for forgiveness.

_ Resolution and offering a prayer of hopeful recommitment.

Feel free to structure the Examen in a way that is personally most helpful.

Frontier Christmas: Students from the Mason County Intermediate School, along with Nick Denham

will perform Sunday, December 2nd from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. at the Old Church Museum in Washington.

Volunteer Training Hospice of Hope: Hospice of Hope will have volunteer training Tuesday, December

4th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at 909 Kenton Station Drive, Maysville. There is also a sign-up sheet in

the fellowship hall for anyone interested in training for Hospice at another time. Their needs are

companionship visits; sitting with patients in their home; visit patients in nursing homes and assisted living

facilities; cooking and/or delivery of meals and data entry.

New Year’s Day Open House 2019: Pastor Jim and Jennifer invite everyone to their open house on

Tuesday, January 1st. The hours are from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The address is 567 Circle Drive,

Maysville.

The “Daily Bible Reading Schedule for One Year” cards are on the back table in the sanctuary.

There is a basket on the table in the back of the sanctuary with note cards, envelopes, pens, labels and

stamps. These cards will go to people on the prayer list and the homebound. If you know someone’s address

on this list please give it to Gwen in the office so she can make labels with their name and address

for your convenience. Thanks!

Pickers and Grinners: The Pickers and Grinners is Friday, December 7th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Margaret’s Angel Tea has been postponed until Spring.

The Christmas Joy Offering will be Sunday, December 23rd. Please write “Joy Offering” on the memo

line of your check. Thank you!

Community Sing-a-long: The community is invited to join in singing selections of “The Messiah” led by

the Limestone Chorale and accompanied by Jim Clarke on Sunday, December 9th at 3:00 p.m. at the First

Presbyterian Church. Bring your copy of the music if you have one. Thank you!

The Limestone Chorale will perform here on December 16th at 4:00 p.m.

Christmas Dinner and Children’s Program: The annual Christmas dinner will be on Sunday, December

16th at 5:30 p.m. The meat will be provided and you are asked to bring side dishes and desserts. The children

will present a Christmas play before the meal. Santa will arrive at 6:30 p.m.

The Salvation Army desperately needs volunteer bell-ringers on Fridays and Saturdays. Proceeds benefit

the food bank, the schools, and other local programs. They are just one-hour shifts so it should be simple

and easy. Here’s the link from the Community Care of Mason County FB page: https://tinyurl.com/

yb75ju2h. Thank you for your help!

TYGs will be Salvation Army Bell-Ringers on Saturday, December 8th at the Maysville Walmart from

2:00 to 3:00 p.m. They will also be Bell-Ringers on Saturday, December 15th at the Maysville Kroger

store from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Thank you for your help!

Christmas Family: See sign-up sheets in the fellowship hall for the family we are adopting this Christmas

 providing gifts (clothes and toys). All gifts need to be wrapped and brought to the church office by December

7th. There is also a sign-up sheet for groceries used in preparing a Christmas dinner for this family.

Thanks as always for your generosity.

Poinsettia Orders: The poinsettias are $15 each. Please fill out your poinsettia order form and place it in

the offering plate or drop it off at the office. There is an order form in the newsletter and also one on the website here you  can print out  if you wish to use it.

You may also mail it to P. O. Box 490. The orders need to be in by December 10th. Please write

“poinsettia order” on the memo line of your check. Thank you!

The Session has called a congregational meeting for Sunday, December 2nd following worship for the

purpose of answering questions about the hiring of the pastor.

Per Capita for 2019 is $38.44. Please write “per capita” on the memo line of your check. Thank you!