Announcements – December 6, 2024

By AdministratorUncategorized
Beloved Ones in Christ Jesus,
In our Trinity Hymnal there is a wonderful Advent hymn that you may not be all that familiar with. It is entitled, ‘Comfort, Comfort Ye My People.’ Its title and its four beautiful stanzas come directly from the words of Isaiah 40:1-2.
Isaiah 40 marks a dramatic shift in the message of Isaiah to the sinful people of Judah.  For the first thirty-nine chapters of his book, the prophet has confronted Israel’s sins with an almost frightening level of directness.  He has made it clear that exile is in their future, sooner rather than later. Yet, as chapter forty commences, the tone of the prophetic message shifts in a blessedly new direction.  God’s Word, given to the prophet to proclaim, is now one of divine “comfort”!
The first two stanzas of the hymn capture the amazing reversal that God’s grace will cause:
‘Comfort, comfort ye My people, speak ye peace, thus saith our God; Comfort those who sit in darkness, mourning ‘neath their sorrow’s load; Speak ye to Jerusalem of the peace that waits for them; Tell her that her sins I cover, and her warfare now is over.’
‘Yea, her sins our God will pardon, blotting out each dark misdeed; All that well deserved His anger He will no more see nor heed. She has suffered many a day, now her griefs have passed away, God will change her pining sadness into ever springing gladness. ‘
Our text for Sunday’s second Advent message will come from Isaiah 40:1-2. As we examine the inspired words of the great prophet Isaiah, we will learn the wonderful secret of how our gracious God will bring about such a reversal of Israel’s condition.  And, as you might suspect, it has a lot to do with a manger in Bethlehem!
I love you all so very much,
Mike


ANNOUNCEMENTS

Christmas Eve Service – Please make plans to join us for our Christmas Eve service at 5pm.

Second Sunday Lunch – Please join us for our Second Sunday Fellowship meal this Sunday, December 8th immediately after worship.

Care Center Pantry Collection – The Care Center pantry shelves are a little bare right now.  The pantry feeds the needy in our area. Let’s help fill the pantry for Christmas with a church-wide collection on December 8 and 15. Non-perishable food, self-care items, and cleaning items are needed. Collection boxes are in the narthex with a detailed list of requested items.

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

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

Women’s Ministry
 • Ladies’ Bible Studies have concluded for the fall and will resume in January. Details coming soon.
• Women’s monthly luncheon is the first Thursday of the month at Timbers Edge Clubhouse at 11am.
• 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 will visit our cherished veterans at Tut Fann State Veterans Home at 10am on Tuesday, December 10th. Others are welcome. Contact Alan Cockrell for information.
• Senior Fellows – Next breakfast will be at 9:00am on Tuesday, January 7th.

Youth Ministry
• Sunday Night Youth Fellowship meets Sunday from 4:30 to 6:30.
• 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 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)