News of the Congregation of St. Matthew Presbyterian Church

Happy Advent December 2016

A Time to Consider...by Leslie Klingensmith JOYOUS ADVENT TO ALL...andHappy New Year! I know the secular NewYear is not for another month, butAdvent is the new year in the church. Thefact that we live according to a slightlydifferent calendar from the secular worldis a reminder that we are called to model

an alternative way of life.

Even as we participate in the rituals and cycles of our culture(sports seasons, the academic year, non-religious holidays, etc.), weare also living in a parallel space, seeking to follow the Way of Jesus.The church calendar is one of kairos, a Greek word for time that doesnot indicate time in the linear, quantitative way that we are used tothinking about it. Kairos is more seasonal, and indicates opportunityto contemplate how we can grow closer to God.

We are used to thinking of Advent as a season of preparation, of"getting ready" for the birth of Christ. That is certainly one of thepurposes of this special time, and I encourage everyone to find a waythat works for you to clear your mind and open your heart forChristmas. In addition, though, I hope everyone will considerAdvent a season of opportunity, a time to consider how we wish tolive in this world as children of God and disciples of Jesus.

Please look at the rest of the newsletter for all the uniqueAdvent and Christmas worship services and programs. We havemany ways that you can participate in the joy of the season, whetherfestive parties for the neighborhood children are your thing, orsomething more contemplative like a book study or Longest NightWorship Service. I hope you will find something that makes yourseason more meaningful, and look forward to experiencing thiskairos time with you!

Grace and peace,

St. Matthew 2016 Advent

Calendar Please take a look at thisAdvent listing and markyour calendar with all theexciting St. Matthew events.All of these programs aredesigned to help you getready to truly welcome theBaby Jesus into your heartsand into your lives.

All St. Matthew programsare open to the community.Come, join us, and bring a

Leslie

A note from Konni Brantner: Konni and Eddie wish to thank theSt. Matthew congregation for all of their prayers and support duringKonni's recent illness and hospitalization. We continue to hold theBrantners in our thoughts and prayers and look forward to Konnifeeling better and being back with us soon.

Bud and Peg at the 2014 Trunk or Treat.

In loving memory of

Roderick "Bud" ThompsonAugust 6, 1922 - December 2, 2016

Memorial Service to be held in early 2017.

friend. For moreinformation, call the churchat 301-598-4400.

Sunday,December 4:SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

9:00 am: Adult AdventStudy - Ongoing discussionbased on the book Namesfor the Messiah by WalterBrueggemann in the AgnesWilson Room.

10:00 am: Worship (with child care). Churchschool

Wednesday, December 7:

3:00-5:00pmPre-ChristmasRelaxation- come unwindand enjoy the Spirit of theSeason! We'll listen toChristmas music and workon some fabulous coloringposters that will be used inour Christmas morningworship service. Saturday, December 10:10:00 am - 12Noon: CommunityChristmas Party - in TheCommons. The day willfeature crafts, games, andlight refreshments

Stepping up to a tree...

...filled with thanks!

The Commons was filled for lunch

Thanksgiving Mission Project, Sunday, November 20by Karen Brown Gonzalez The Thanksgiving Mission Project generated 17 diaperbaskets for the Montgomery County Domestic Violence Shelter,the Betty Ann Krahnke Center. Each basket held disposablediapers, wipes, small toys and baby supplies. Hand knitted andstore purchased blankets as well as gift cards and cash added tothe donation. In total, St. Matthew contributed over 1300diapers and wipes with an estimated value of nearly $1000.00. The project engaged all ages with lots of help from Church Schoolattendees and teachers. Thank you for your support!

Sunday,December 11:THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

9:00 am: Adult AdventStudy - a continuingdiscussion based on thebook Names for the Messiahby Walter Brueggemann inthe Agnes Wilson Room. 10:00 am: Worship. Withspecial music by the AdultChoir. Church School.

6:00-8:30 pm: YoungAdult Gathering: Join usat Pastor Leslie's home forhearty hors d'oeuvres, livelydiscussion, and relaxing fun. Wednesday, December 14:3:00-5:00 pmPre-ChristmasRelaxation- come unwindand enjoy the Spirit of theSeason! We'll listen toChristmas music and workon some fabulous coloringposters that will be used inour Christmas morningworship service.

Sunday,December 18:FOURTH SUNDAY

CONGREGATION NOTES

Videographer Needed! by Leigh Leslie

The Ministry Commission is workingon a special project to help St. Matthewcelebrate Black History Month inFebruary. We need someone with theability to videotape interviews and thenedit the content.

This is a short term project that willonly take a few weeks. If you have these skills or know someonewho does, see Karen Brown Gonzalez, Leigh Leslie, or LeslieKlingensmith.

St. Matthew Christmas Orchestra,Sunday, December 18 by Phil Tarnoff

The famed St. Matthew ChristmasOrchestra has been scheduled for itsannual performance on December 18thimmediately following the churchservice. So if you currently play amusical instrument or have ever playeda musical instrument, we would welcomeyour participation. So get out yourinstrument and begin practicing.

We'll have a practice following the December 11th service atwhich time we'll be playing all the Christmas favorites. Let PhilTarnoff know if you'd like copies of the music in advance, andalso whether you'd like to volunteer for one of the solo spots onthe program. Better hurry up, solo opportunities are disappearingrapidly.

Theater Evening: Show Boat,Sunday, January 29, 2017 by Karen Brown Gonzalez

Join your St. Matthew Friends for an evening of fun andfellowship enjoying the musical Show Boat! The performanceis on Sunday, January 29, 2017, at

Toby's Dinner Theater5900 Symphony Woods Rd.

OF ADVENT

9:00 am: Adult AdventStudy - We will concludeour discussion based on thebook Names for the Messiahby Walter Brueggemann inthe Agnes Wilson Room.

10:00 am: ChildrenChristmas Play: It's Not About a Date.

11:30 am: ChristmasOrchestra concert (if youplay, or ever have played aninstrument and would like toparticipate, call the office301-598-4400)

4-6:30 pm: Caroling andPizza - Come meet us for pizza before we go caroling.OR, if you prefer, meet us at4:30 to go sing. We'll gatherin The Commons.

Wednesday, December 21:3:00-5:00 pm: Pre-Christmas Relaxation -come unwind and enjoy theSpirit of the Season! We'lllisten to Christmas musicand work on some fabulouscoloring posters that will beused in our Christmasmorning worship service. 7:30 pm: The LongestNight Service (The Agnes Wilson Room) This service is designed forthose for whom theAdvent/Christmas seasonsmay be a difficult time:people who have suffered aloss, who don't enjoy all thepreparation or who feelisolated in the midst of allthe festivities. It is also idealfor people who just want toslow down and experience aworship service focused onprayer and contemplation.Come enjoy a quiet eveningwith friends, reflecting on

Columbia, MD Cost: $55.00 each includes buffet dinner, coffee or tea,musical and gratuity.

SAVE THE DATE and RESERVE your seat by signing up onthe sheet in the Narthex and making a check to St. Matthewindicating Dinner Theater in Memo. Sorry, no refunds afterDecember 31. For questions, contact Glenda DeJong or KarenBrown Gonzalez

Show Boat is a 1927 musical in twoacts, with music by Jerome Kern andbook and lyrics by OscarHammerstein II. Based on EdnaFerber's best-selling novel of thesame name, the musical follows thelives of the performers, stagehandsand dock workers on the CottonBlossom, a Mississippi River showboat, over 40 years, from 1887 to1927. Its themes include racialprejudice and tragic, enduring love.The musical contributed such classicsongs as "Ol' Man River", "Make

Believe" and "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man".

Mary Martha Circle News by Millie Ames

The women of the Mary MarthaCircle hosted a luncheon for the ladiesof the Almade Muslim Association ofSilver Spring on Saturday, December 3.We celebrated Women of Faith. Our last meeting was held on November 9. The study was ledby Carolyn Whittenburg. We compared Luke's description ofJesus and his works to that of Mathew and Mark. A pleasantsocial lunch followed as we adjourned. The next meeting will beJanuary 11, 2017. We will be looking at Paul's perspective then.

YOUTH NOTES

the hope we find in thecoming birth of Christ.

Saturday,December 24:CHRISTMAS EVE

4:30 pm: Christmas EveService, designed to bemeaningful and appropriatefor children of all ages - butspecifically geared for theyoungest among us!

7:30 pm: Christmas EveService with candlelightand communion.

Sunday, December 25:MERRY CHRISTMAS

10:00 am: Worship Come in casual dress to share in achild-friendly celebration of ourLord's birth.

Sunday,January 1, 2017:HAPPY NEW YEAR

10:00 am: Worship with Communion. JointChurch School for all ages.

St. Matthew Youth Class bobbing for licorice sticks in whipping cream inthe Halloween class. John Meyer reports, "They had a good time and

Roberta said she didn't even mess up her make up."

Save The Date: Annual Vacation Bible School

June 26 to June 30, 20179:30 am to 12:30 each day.Theme: God's Power Burning Bright

Important Links

Leslie A. Klingensmith, Pastor

301-598-4400

Konni Brantner, Director of

Youth Education 301-871-6275

Jeremy Young, Director of

Music and Organist

Al Conner, Church Office

Administrative Assistant

Don't forget: We areparticipating in the Linkageto Learning gift cardprogram- (Remembering,Caring and Sharing)November 27- Dec. 11, aswell as Alternative GiftGiving, December 4 and 11.

This year our AlternativeGifts are going to Extra-Ordinary Birthdays (anon-profit that providesbirthday parties in homelessshelters) and Shepherd'sTable- a communityorganization whose missionis to provide basic servicesto people who are homelessor in need.

Liturgists by Jeanne Meyer

The Liturgists for

December are:

Dec 4 David Hartley Dec 11 Sylvia

McPherson Dec 18 Bob Warr

Dec 25 Kathleen (Kit)Boyle

301-681-8013 301-598-4400

Julia McBee, Clerk of Session

301-603-0450

Bill McBee,Newsletter Editor301-603-0450

The deadline for the January 2017 newsletter is January 6.