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Last day for Poinsettia Memorial Donations
Please call the church office to make arrangements if you have not yet submitted your poinsettia donation form and payment. The last day to make a donation is this Friday, December 16. Poinsettia memorials will be published in the December 18 and December 24 bulletins.
Thank You!
Thank you, Dick and Xavia Sheffield, for your generosity toward Pine Street Presbyterian Church with the donation of three beautiful new wreaths for the chancel.
Reach out to Someone this Holiday Season!
Many of us love the holidays! The special events, treasured family traditions, decorating hearth and home, and sharing wonderful times with loved ones. That togetherness and those connections make the holidays special for many of us.
However, while many of us are feeling that sense of connection during the holidays, others are feeling isolation or loneliness. Some feel lonely or isolated because they are homebound. Others may feel the same sense of loneliness because they have lost their “connection” to our Pine Street Community.
As Christians, we are exhorted, in the Gospel of John, to love one another. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34 NIV” Each of us can share the love of Christ with those who are feeling isolated or lonely this holiday season by helping them feel connected to a wider world.
As you celebrate this holiday season of goodwill, think about those in our Pine Street Community who may be feeling a sense of isolation or loneliness – whether they are homebound or not. Please consider connecting with these individuals by sending a card or note or picking up your phone and surprising that individual with a caring phone call.
Holidays can become “special” when we interact with each other in love.
If you have questions or concerns about reaching out to individuals in these circumstances, please feel free to call either Alicelyn Sleber, 717-652-7990 or Keith Perago, 717-433-5519.
Wreaths Across America
Pine Street has been invited again this year, to attend the wreath ceremony headed by Homeland Hospice. It is open to anyone who wishes to be present. The ceremony is tomorrow, December 15, at 11:30 am at the Dauphin County Cemetery, 907 Gibson Blvd, Harrisburg.
Potter’s Field is up a grassy hill and uneven ground. The parking lot is easy. This year there may be a Color Guard and someone playing Taps.
Rediscovering Christmas
Join us for our last adult forum before the holidays on Zoom at 7:30 pm this evening.
We are exploring the story of Christ’s birth and how it is celebrated in modern America. We’ll spend one session exploring the history of Christmas and how we might more faithfully celebrate the holiday today. In the next two sessions, we’ll explore the story of Christ’s birth, brought to us by the gospels of Matthew and Luke. In place of a fourth session, you are encouraged to join us (online or in person) on December 21st for the Longest Night worship service at 7:00 pm.
If you want to sign up, you can email Matt at [email protected]. By doing so, you will receive some background information ahead of time. If you do not sign up, you are still welcome to join us for any or all the sessions using the following Zoom link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89329030010?pwd=Q2loblVkN043TWlwdnlkRDNCV0J4Zz09
Chrismons at Pine Street
The word “Chrismon” is a combination of the words “Christ” and “Monogram.” The word Chrismon has been adopted to refer to special Christmas tree ornaments that have been developed to display symbols of Christ and Christianity. They were first developed in 1957 by Frances Spencer for Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Virginia. Many churches today display Chrismon trees with handmade ornaments. It is tradition that all the ornaments are created of white and gold materials.
The Chrismons hanging on the trees in Pine Street’s sanctuary were created by a very talented group of crafters:
Sandy Allen
Pam Bauer
Becky Cotich
Sharon Etnoyer
Debbie Gruver
Estelle Hartranft
Marna Holt
Eileen Kunkle
Barb Neff
Deb Olson
Xavia Sheffield
Thank you for helping to bring new meaning to our sanctuary decorations this year!
Giving Barrel
December’s Giving Barrel supports our own DDB! You can order straight from the Amazon Wish List on DDB’s website and even have it delivered to DDB. Here also is a list of especially needed items:
Underwear – men’s/women’s , tarps, blankets, Razors, Deodorant, Hand Warmers
The DDB staff and board have been doing extraordinary work in these extra-ordinary times. Let’s show our appreciation by filling this barrel to overflowing, so there’s no lack of necessities to give our clients!
A Service for the Longest Night, December 21
As in years past, we will share a worship space during the Advent season, for prayer, song, lament, and remembrance on the longest night, December 21, in person or online at 7:00 pm.
Led by our Stephen Ministers and worship staff, this service holds the complexity of this season of joy coming amid times of deep loss for some. A Longest Night Gathering is a safe and sacred space to share anguish, to plead with God to remember us, to pray for justice and restoration, and even to hope against hope, through our doubts and tears and fears, that “God will set things right all over the earth.”
Church Officer Suggestions
The Congregational Nominating Committee is beginning to work on a slate of officers to fill the next class of Trustees, Deacons, and Elders. The committee would like your help in identifying members of the congregation who may be called to a term of leadership. If you would like to suggest someone the committee might want to consider, please contact Jane Hess. In upcoming weeks, there will also be a box at the Welcome Center where you can submit your suggestions anonymously. Thank you for your help in generating a list of potential candidates!
As we enter a season of heightened illness, church leadership asks you to be aware of health recommendations. If you feel unwell in any way, we encourage you to stay home and join us online for worship. Please help us keep church members as safe and healthy as possible.
Current COVID Procedure
Pine Street Presbyterian Church will follow CDC guidelines to ease masking requirements and allow in-person gatherings, including food. While Dauphin and Cumberland Counties are in the low or medium community levels (according to the CDC’s “COVID-19 by County” page found at:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html). Masks will be optional for all Pine Street events, including worship. Session and staff will monitor the community levels and change health and safety guidelines if the local counties are high. Worshipers are welcome to wear masks if that helps them feel comfortable in worship.
Dates for your Calendar
Friday, December 16 — Last day for poinsettia memorial donations.
Sunday, December 18 — Fourth Sunday of Advent — 8:45 am Sunday School — 9:00 am Café conversations and Bible Study — 10:00 am Worship, Rev. Matt Drumheller Preaching
Wednesday, December 21 — 7:00 pm Service for the Longest Night — online and in person
Friday, December 23 — Church offices closed
Saturday, December 24 — 7:30 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service in person and online
Sunday, December 25 — Merry Christmas! — NO Sunday School — 10:00 am Morning Worship, Rev. Matt Drumheller Preaching
Monday, December 26 — Church offices closed
Sunday, January 1 — 1st Sunday of Christmas — 8:45 am Sunday School — 9:00 am Café conversations and Bible Study — 10:00 am Worship, Rev. Heather Sigler Preaching