Announcements – November 27, 2024 – Christ Presbyterian Church (PCA)

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

On this Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day, I wanted to introduce our 2024 Advent sermons and our text for this coming Lord’s Day Worship.

This year I will be preaching a series of messages that I have entitled, ‘The Hymns of Christmas.’ The title comes from some of the wonderful Advent hymns that are found in our Trinity Hymnal. However, I have chosen from among those hymns that are least familiar to us.

As you know, the great hymns of the Church have typically been based upon a specific text of Holy Scripture. The editors of our Trinity Hymnal have also been very careful to pair each of the 742 hymns with a Scripture reference (you will find the Biblical text listed just after the title of each hymn).

Our Advent sermons for each of the next four Sundays, including our Christmas Eve service, will come from the Biblical text associated with five unfamiliar Christmas hymns. The plan is as follows:

First Sunday of Advent, December 1

Hymn: #221, ‘Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming’

Text: Isaiah 11:1-5

Second Sunday of Advent, December 8

Hymn #197, ‘Comfort, Comfort Ye My People’

Text: Isaiah 40:1-2

Third Sunday of Advent, December 15

Hymn: #230, ‘Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendor’

Text: 2 Corinthians 8:9

Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 22

Hymn: #212, ‘Within a Crib My Savior Lay’

Text: 1 John 4:10

Then on Christmas Eve, Tuesday December 24

Hymn: #227, ‘On Christmas Night All Christians Sing’

Text: Luke 2:10

In order to gain the most from our messages, let me suggest a couple of things you might want to do beginning this week.

First, use the link below to access the free online version of the Trinity Hymnal. Then before each Sunday of Advent, use the hymn and its Biblical text as your devotional guide for the week. Read the Biblical passage very carefully, then prayerfully reflect upon the meaning of each stanza of the hymn.

https://hymnary.org/hymnal/TH1990

Secondly, each Sunday during our time of Preparation for Worship, Dr. Carol Bart will be playing the Advent Hymn we have assigned for each message. As she plays, open the hymnal to that song and follow along with the music silently in your heart as we ready ourselves for worship.

I hope you all have a most wonderful Thanksgiving Day, and I can’t wait to explore the glory of our Savior’s incarnation with each of you beginning this Sunday morning!

I love you all with all my heart and soul,

Mike

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Second Sunday Lunch – Please make plans to join us for our Second Sunday Fellowship meal on Sunday, December 8th.

Church Cookbook Orders – Please order by using this link (in the email sent this week) or by signing up in the narthex. The order deadline is Sunday, December 8th. Contact Tina Alhorn for details.

Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center – Christ Pres is collecting needed items for HPRC. There is a donation bin in the foyer of the church through Sunday, December 1st. Contact Tina Alhorn for more details. Immediate need items are: All boy clothing – all sizes (sleepers, onesies, pants, shorts, socks), baby towels and washcloth sets, bottle sets, baby bath and lotion, and baby blankets.

Children’s Ministry – RSVP for Christmas caroling on December 18th. Please see email or Anne Swanner for details.

Women’s Ministry
• Women’s Ministry Christmas Dinner – Tuesday, December 10th at the Cooper House. Deadline to register is December 3rd. If you need assistance getting registered, please see Cynthia Keen.
• The ladies first Thursday luncheon will NOT meet on December 5th. We will resume the luncheons in January.
• Tuesday morning study meets at 9:30am at the church (Childcare provided).
• Senior Sisters monthly meeting is on the third Thursday from 10-11:30am.
• Senior Sisters weekly exercise class meets Tuesdays at the church, 10:00 to 11:30am.

Men’s Ministry
• Men’s Devotion/Prayer meets Tuesdays at 6:30am at the office of Paul Matheny. Please contact Adam Turnbull with questions.
• Men’s Friday Bible study meets 11:30am – 12:30pm studying The Revelation.
• Senior Fellows – Next breakfast will be at 9:00am on Tuesday, December 3rd.

Youth Ministry – The annual Providence Presbytery youth Roots retreat will be on January 24th – 26th at CampToKnowHim. Please contact Gannon Miles for details and registration.

Career Ministry – December 1 – No regular meeting, December 8 at 7:00pm – regular meeting, December 14th at 4:00pm – Christmas party, campfire, & chili supper at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry. No meetings December 15, 22 & 29. Resume regular meetings January 12, 2025

See christpreshamptoncove.org for detailed news and upcoming events.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Care and Healing – Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Collins Bailey, Maurice Belrose, Bill Cowley, Amy Fortenberry, Ken Galecki (brother of Leon Galecki), Sonny Henry, Elizabeth Holton, Ned Nuwayhid, Joe Sims, and Steve Terry

Expecting – Please pray for the Bucks and Butlers due in April.

Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries:
• Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland)
• Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand)
• Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand)
• Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH)
• Marcus and Jessica Nobles (RUF at Alabama A&M)
• Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA)
• Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada)
• Dieter and Marty Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL)
• The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center
• Adam & Lisa Venable (Southside Presbyterian Church)