FROM THE PASTOR
This week, my apartment looked like Christmas blew up in the middle of the front room. Boxes from Amazon, presents purchased while on vacation, new wreaths for the front doors of the church and boxes of ornaments and decorations covered every possible surface. The fake snow and glitter falling off the wreaths added a little extra pizazz to the mess. I loved it!
I am so excited about being able to gather with family, friends and church this year to share food and laughter and presents. I’m sure all of you are equally excited about spending the holidays rekindling those traditions of baking Christmas cookies and singing Silent Night by candlelight on Christmas Eve.
This year, I need an extra dose of Christmas to make up for what we missed last Christmas, maybe we all do. I hope you enjoyed the Hanging of the Greens service last week. As our Season of Traditions continues, I hope the worship services bring us great joy.
This week, we will have a Lessons and Carols services. I think what we will most enjoy about this service is that we will be able to sing 10 of our favorite Advent and Christmas songs. So, do whatever you need to do to warm up your voice before worship so that you can make a very joyful noise.
Pastor T
ADVENT
THEME FOR ADVENT WORSHIP SERVICES: The Season of Traditions
This season will be a season of traditions of the church during Advent and Christmas that bring us comfort, inspire wonder and awe and help us look at the past through the gift of nostalgia.
Third Sunday of Advent: 12/12 **SPECIAL GUEST PREACHER** The Christian Church in Kentucky regional minister Rev. Dr. Don Gillett will join us for worship on Sunday, December 12th followed by lunch.
Fourth Sunday of Advent: 12/19 **Christmas Pageant**
The most beloved service of the Advent season is the pageant of young people. It is my hope that our children and young adults will lead this service.
OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS
YOU’RE INVITED
The Leadership Council has called a congregational meeting for Sunday, December 19th following worship. The meeting will be a hybrid meeting for those who have worshipped in person and a Zoom meeting that will be integrated into the media in the sanctuary. No matter where you are you will be able to comment, ask questions and vote on presented business.
At this time, the agenda includes the following recommendations from the Leadership Council and Elders: extend the trial period of the Leadership Council for 1 year and extend the 2021 budget for 1 year. All current leaders are invited to remain in their current roles – no new nominations will be made for the coming calendar year.
HELP WITH OUR HOME IMPROVEMENT
In an effort to do some much needed improvements, we are launching the Home Improvement project. There are 2 ways to get involved.
First, we have $3,800 pledged or received toward our need of $15,000 for the Home Improvement Fund. You can make a gift through the end of the year. You can write in the memo of your check or online gift “Home Improvement.”
Second, there is a list of home improvement projects that need completed in the sanctuary or one can be emailed to you upon request. You can work on these projects at your convenience.
**Immediate Need** Panorama Food Pantry’s Shelves are empty, please help: More donations are needed: Any food is appreciated, but we really need the following: Jars of peanut butter, pudding cups, tuna, soup/stew, instant rice mixes, instant mashed potatoes, saltine crackers, spaghetti and spaghetti sauce , carrots, green beans, peas, hot chocolate packs, spam
CHRISTMAS OUTREACH PROJECTS
JOHN G. CARLISLE CHRISTMAS
Presents due back on 12/12. Questions? Please call Sue and Steve at (859) 817-1263.
WELCOME HOUSE GIFT CARDS
Gift cards may be purchased for: $25 for Walmart, Kroger, Dollar Tree, or Target or $5 – $10 for any fast food restaurants. You can leave your gift cards in the offering tray or mail them to the church.
REGULAR OUTREACH PROJECTS
**Please place your contributions in the bins at the back of the sanctuary or contact the office to arrange a pick up from your home.**
Panorama Food Pantry: peanut butter, all kinds of soup, stew, pudding cups, mac & cheese, rice-a-roni, instant potatoes, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, and hot chocolate packets
Blankets: The Emergency Shelter of NKY and Mental Health America have requested blankets for their outreach and shelter.
Recycling with Cincinnati Reuse & Recycle Hub: Styrofoam (clean and dry) and election yard signs.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Sun 12/5 – Leadership Council 7 pm
This will be the last meeting of the 2021 calendar year of the Leadership Council. As always, all Leadership Council meetings are open meetings.
Join Zoom Meeting: Contact office for details.
Tue 12/7 – Elders meeting 7pm Join Zoom Meeting: Contact office for details.
Leadership Council Meeting November 21, 2021
- Old Business
- Leadership Council Experiment
- Congregation Meeting December 19 at noon, following morning service
- Financial Report
- Home Improvement Fund – $3,800 received
- October report
- 2022 Budget
- A proposal to carry 2021 budget into 2022
- Alex stepped up to lead an Ad Hoc committee to discuss Cost of Living pay increase for church employees
- Pledge cards for 2022
- As of this meeting, pledges for 2022 are at $5,000
- Giving increased for the month of October
- $15,000 received from giving
- $14,000 in expenses
- 2022 Budget
- Front Door
- Project completed
- Pastoral Evaluation
- Scott proposed that a new constitution and by-laws on the church be updated due to the creation of the Leadership Council and old/incorrect language.
- FIAT (Faith In Action Together)
- Blanket project for MHA and Emergency Shelter going well
- Next FIAT meeting November 24
- Affirming Discernment
- Team will begin with training on December 11
- Leadership Council Experiment
- New Business
- Hanging of The Greens service discussed
- Adjournment
- Next meeting will be December 5
- Richard – Chair
- Pastor Tracy – Notetaker
- Next meeting will be December 5
CHRISTMAS OFFERING
Our gifts support the work of regional ministries this Christmas. Your regional ministry works to:
- Connect congregations to each other
- Foster faith development
- Gather Disciples in camps, conferences, and assemblies
- Nurture the development of a new generation of pastors
- Assist churches in calling new ministers
- Interpret the global mission of the Church
- Represent the Church in ecumenical gatherings
- Counsel and pray with those who are troubled of spirit
- Lead the Church to address racism
- Inspire leaders to experiment and create
- Witness to the power of God to make things new
The Christmas Special Day offering supports all of these and many other ministries of our regions. You can donate here: Christmas Special Offering – https://disciplesmissionfund.org/special-offerings/christmas/
A Conversation with Rev. Dr. Don Gillett
CCK’s General Minister, Rev. Dr. Don Gillett, is inviting everyone in the region involved in Youth and Childrens’ Ministry to join him for a conversation on Monday evening, Dec 6th, at 7:30pm. The Zoom link is below. Please forward this invitation to everyone you know that participates in these ministries. We look forward to speaking with you Monday.
CCK Staff is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Youth Ministry Meeting
Time: Dec 6, 2021 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85756060731?pwd=eFc3V0pDVTNqZDJNVTZ3SGVadUhwdz09
Meeting ID: 857 5606 0731
Passcode: 005416
Let’s take a moment to laugh!
What’s the difference between a poorly dressed man on a unicycle and a well-dressed man on a bicycle?
Attire
Why were they called the Dark Ages?
Because there were lots of knights.
Two goldfish are in a tank.
One looks at the other and says, “You know how to drive this thing?!”
Why aren’t koalas actually bears?
They don’t meet the koalafications.
What did one toilet say to the other?
You look flushed.
Bulletin Blunders
“The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not afflicted with any church.”
“A cookbook is being compiled by the ladies of the church. Please submit your favorite recipe, also a short antidote for it.”
“At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be ‘What is hell?’ Come early and listen to our choir practice.”
“Diana and Don request your presents at their wedding.”
“Twenty-two members were present at the church meeting held at the home of Mrs. Marsha Crutchfield last evening. Mrs. Crutchfield and Mrs. Rankin sang a duet, The Lord Knows Why.
Jokes from our very own Joe Pro
How do dog catchers get paid?
By the pound.
A five dollar bill walks into a bar, the bartender says “Hey, this is a singles bar!”
Mother: How did your first day of school go?
Daughter: Not very well, I have to go back tomorrow.
Why did Herbert swim with a backstroke?
He just had lunch and his mother told him not to swim on a full stomach.
A turtle was crossing the road when he was mugged by two snails.
When the police showed up, they asked the turtle what happened.
The shaken up turtle said “I don’t know, it all happened so fast!”
First Christian Church 
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