November/December 2016

Volume 265, Issue 9

A Message From the Pastor— Neal Carter

Continued on page 2

What Is Advent? Minister types (like me) can often talk about the liturgical calendar

(or the Church calendar) as if everyone else knows of which we speak.

This time of year we are approaching the Advent/Christmas season.

Folks like me sometimes just assume that everyone else in the church sit

around and contemplate such notions all the time. But, in reality, many

Christians are unfamiliar with the liturgical year; moreover, Advent can be a

bit confusing. So, if you don’t completely know about the Advent season, it

is okay, you are not alone.

The word Advent is derived from the Latin that means coming, which is a

translation of the Greek word parousia. Advent focuses on expectation; it

serves as an anticipation of Christ’s birth in the season leading up to

Christmas. Advent is also the time of anticipation of Christ’s second

coming when the kingdom of God is known in its fullness.

The church is in a similar situation to Israel at the end of the Old

Testament: in exile, waiting and hoping in prayerful expectation for the

coming of the Messiah. Israel looked back to God’s past gracious actions on

their behalf in leading them out of Egypt in the Exodus, and on this basis

they called for God once again to act for them. In the same way, the church,

during Advent, looks back upon Christ’s coming in celebration while at the

same time looking forward in eager anticipation to the coming of Christ’s

kingdom when he returns for his people.

Today, the Advent season lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas.

At that time, the new Christian year begins with the twelve-day celebration

of Christmastide, which lasts from Christmas Eve until Epiphany on

January 6 (Advent begins on the Sunday that falls between November

27th and December 3rd each year). The Advent Wreath with its four

candles are a great symbol of Advent. Each week an additional candle is lit

as we draw closer to Christmas day. Advent begins dark and gets brighter

as Christmas day comes closer. It is only in the shadow of Advent that the

miracle of Christmas can be fully understood and appreciated; and it is

only in the light of Christmas that the Christian life makes any sense.

While Israel would have lived in expectation of Christ’s first coming, the

church now lives in the good news of the first coming and in expectation of

the second coming in the future. To balance the two aspects of Advent,

remembrance and anticipation, the first two Sundays in Advent (through

December 16th) look forward to Christ’s second coming, and the last two

Sundays (December 17th – 24th) look backward to remember Christ’s first

coming.

Inside this Issue:

Youth Group News

2

Children’s News 3

Children’s News

Confirmation

Christmas Pageant,

Holiday Schedule

Godly Play

Advent Posters

4

Women’s Retreat Circles

Prayer Requests GriefShare

5

Rocky River Readers

Building and Grounds

Capital Campaign

Stewardship

Healing Touch

6

Holiday Happenings 7

Birthdays 8

Community Meal WNF

Men’s Breakfast Service Volunteers

9

Calendar of Events Nov/Dec 10

Scripture Readings

Nov/Dec

11

Page 2

Message from the Pastor—continued from front page

Over the course of the four weeks, Scripture readings move from passages about Christ’s return in judgment, to Old Testament passages about the expectation of the coming Messiah, to New Testament passages about the announcements of Christ’s arrival by John the Baptist and the Angels.

While it is difficult to keep in mind in the midst of holiday celebrations, shopping, lights and decorations, and joyful carols, Advent is intended to be a season of reflection: reflection on the violence and evil in the world cause us to cry out to God to make things right—to put death’s dark shadows to flight. Our exile in the present makes us look forward to our future Exodus. And our own sinfulness and need for grace leads us to pray for the Holy Spirit to renew his work in conforming us into the image of Christ.

The promise for Israel and the promise for the church is Jesus Christ; he has come, and he will come again.

The church’s cry during the Advent season is perfectly represented by the Advent hymn, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel:

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appears. Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Could I say that I am proud of you all? Well, I am. No doubt about it - proud of you. Sunday night (November 13) the middle school youth went to the soup kitchen and it was "Chaos Café" but awesome at the same time. Orders being taken. Plates being made. One bowl crashing to its final destiny. Tea and water being served. Salads with "thousand island" - nope, I'm sorry, you wanted "ranch" dressing. Ice cream and brownies to top it off. The people

we served that night may not be used to being treated in such a "restaurant style" way. Most restaurants would ask them to leave. You guys however set a different tone that helped them to feel welcomed in this chaotic café. Yes we served a meal and smiles came out and I could see that they enjoyed it. So Bravo to you guys for all your hard work Sunday night. Bravo to you!

Over this next month we will be serving more people in our community. As we do, it is my hope that we treat others with the upmost respect. So that all may feel welcomed into this "chaotic café" that we call RRPC.

Peace, JD

November 19—HS Youth serve dinner at homeless shelter November 20—Carillon and Frisbee Golf December 4 - 5pm Shopping for Christmas mission and wrapping!!! December 7 - Bible Study after dinner December 10 - Christmas mission; 4:30pm December 11 - Advent Walk (for whole church) + hot chocolate and cookies December 16 - we seriously need to go see the new Star Wars movie this weekend!!!! December 17 - Youth Christmas party December 18 - Lunch and Carillon after worship

YOUTH NEWS JD McNutt

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CHILDREN’S NEWS Sharon Vanpelt

From the DCE’s Corner

It’s that time of year again. While others are marking time until Thanksgiving and Black Friday, the church is counting the days until the First Sunday of Advent. This involves weeks of pre-planning, scheduling, recruiting, making lists, and organizing for the many activities that occur here during the Advent/Christmas season. Many events are included in our church’s celebration of Advent—the Chrismon Tree and Advent decorations, Advent devotionals, Children’s Christmas pageant, Christmas cantata, Advent Walk, Christmas Tea, caroling, and more.

Why do we have these activities? Why go crazy for the month before Christmas when life (especially life with children and life in the Church) is crazy enough? Because it is adorable and nostalgic? Because it builds cherished memories? Or can Advent and Christmas programs actually proclaim the Gospel?

In these programs, the familiar story of Jesus’ birth is presented not simply as a vehicle for concepts about God, but as powerful, miraculously strange, and powerfully formative in the life of a remembering and worshiping community. We hear the story told and retold, again and again, and it is incorporated into the participants’ and hearers’ hearts and bodies through humor, ritual, music, and prayer.

Diana Butler Bass in her book, Christianity After Religion, (2012) has great optimism about the future of Christianity. She outlines four steps or actions that can draw us into the spirit of the season. She says, “At its best, church is holy performance…. sacred communities of performance where the faithful learn the script of God’s story, rehearse the reign of God, experience delight, surprise and wonder, and participate fully in the play.” The four steps are: 1. Prepare by learning the overall religious story of our time. Read scripture, attend Sunday School or Bible study, gather with others in worship. 2. Practice our faith intentionally in order to embody the story and help others experience compassion and justice. Get involved with the church’s mission. 3. Play with laughter and lightness, irony, improvisation, self-deprecation and satire. Churches and Christians are not always seriously “gloom and doom.” We can have fun together. 4. Participate. The more you attend, the more you want to attend. Advent and Christmas programs are inviting and interesting for all ages.

Belief comes at the end of the process, as faith grows over time. To talk about faith formation in today’s world means that everyone needs to prepare, practice, play and participate if we are to be a faithful community, living together and passing on the story in a changing world.

So children and youth will again work with the Christian Education committee to produce a pageant for this year. The church will get decorated in purple and gold. Carols will fill the halls and food will overflow as we gather in various programs and activities through-out December. We will be busy, and yet we will make time for these important rituals and traditions because we know that it is important to immerse ourselves and our families in the Nativity story that changed everything centuries ago. This is how we share the faith. It’s a good thing.

Confirmation Class Jon Dickason—son of Ted and DeDe Dickason

Savannah Dickason—daughter of Ted and DeDe Dickason

Catherine Garmon—daughter of Jerimy and Jeni Garmon and great niece of Stephen and

Cathy Jewett

Chase Tipton— son of Phil and Nancy Tipton

Caleb Watson— son of Ed and Theresa Watson

These young people have completed the Confirmation class and have been approved by the

Session to be confirmed into full church membership during the worship service on Nov. 20th.

Please congratulate these young people on this important milestone on their faith journey.

Children’s Christmas Program “The Backwards Christmas Pageant”

The Children of Rocky River Presbyterian Church are pleased to present “The Backwards

Christmas Pageant” by Dennis Hartin for the congregation on December 18th, during the 11:00

worship service. Parents, please be on the lookout for information regarding upcoming

practices. This program is filled with humor and excitement as we tell the traditional

Christmas story backwards. People say when something new or dramatic happens in their life

that “this will change everything,” and that is often true. The birth of a baby two thousand

years ago did change everything. As our church family gathers for worship we will be invited

to engage once again in the familiar story that affects all of our lives.

Advent coloring posters

Special coloring posters will be available in the fellowship hall for anyone to color on

Wednesday nights and on Sunday mornings. This set of 5 posters will make wonderful

additions to our Advent celebrations in the church, but your help is needed to take them from

black and white to colorful proclamations of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When each one

is completed, they will be displayed on the wall. Stop by for a few moments and spend some

time experiencing again the joy of coloring!

Special Holiday Schedule for Sunday School

In order for all families to have more time to celebrate Christmas morning, there will be no

Sunday School on December 25th. But plan to join with your church family at 11:00 for a

special Christmas Day worship service with the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. On January

1st, youth and adult Sunday School classes will meet as usual; children (age 4 – grade 5) will

have a combined class in the Fellowship Hall.

Godly Play needs more teachers

Both of our Godly Play Sunday School classes are going well. These classes provide time for

children to engage in scripture stories and experience them as part of the whole collective of

the Bible. We are blessed with a group of leaders committed to this program. We are

also in need of more adults to help teach these classes, especially grades 3-5. If you are

interested in teaching Godly Play, please contact Sharon Vanpelt or JD McNutt.

Children’s Chimes practices have been going really well. We have been blessed to have one of our children chime the hour at worship service each week and look forward to having them all perform in the near future. If your child would like to learn to play the chimes, we rehearse on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 6:50 in the choir room.

MORE CHILDREN’S NEWS

Page 4

PRAYER REQUESTS

Page 5

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN MORNING AND EVENING CIRCLES Morning Circle will meet for a Christmas lunch on Tuesday, December 6th at R&R BBQ. We will meet at the church at 11:00am and carpool to the restaurant. Evening Circle will meet for a Christmas dinner on Tuesday, December 6th at Union Street Bistro in Concord. Contact Niki Schneider if you have any questions. All of the women of the church are invited and encouraged to be a part of the Presbyterian Women Circle and Bible Studies. We strive to minister to the congregation as a whole and to the women in particular through Bible study, prayer and fellowship. We hope you will join us.

WOMEN’S RETREAT 2016—Montreat

Our third GriefShare series has ended and was quite successful. We will begin another 13 week program in the Spring. This is a Christian based program and involves a video, discussion and workbook to help individuals work through difficult times. Many thanks for everyone who has helped with this program at Rocky River Presbyterian Church.

GRIEFSHARE

Please Keep in Your Prayers: Alan Cochran, brother of Neal Cochran; Mike Harazim; William King (Shorty) McCachren; Ann Jones, daughter of Ray and Priscilla Clawson; Drew Powell, in-fant nephew of Martha Ann McConnell’s sister-in-law; Ruth Samuelson, friend of Martha Ann McConnell; Thad Efird; Karen DeCarlo, co-worker of Alice Williams; Linda Long, friend of Dee Davis; Sonya Moorehead, friend of Jerry Clark; Richard Hoover, brother of Harlan Hoover; Ellie Wagoner; Helene Linenberger; Johnston Howie; Anita Whitley, neighbor of Pat McDonald; Jim & Louise Murray; Wilson Byrum; Kristine Way, co-worker of Alice Williams; Elizabeth Thomas; Ouida Harman; Dana Drye and her son Benjamin Nixon; Jim Busse, friend of Stephanie Campbell; Amy Hicks; Kimmie Shano, coworker of Dale Ritchie; Maxine Phillips, friend of Dale Ritchie; Tommy Flowe, brother of Ann Glosson; Brendan Milliken; Cheryl Brooks, friend of Janet Little; John Byrum, brother of Elaine Tankersley; Seville Funk; Marlene Howard; Ruth McCachren; Kay Nalbone; Jimmy McDonald; Linda Modzelesky; Bob Brombacher; Teresa Williams; Zackie Moore.

The Women’s Retreat at Montreat was a success once again. We had a wonderful weekend with the sun shining and the air crisp and cool. Just like fall is supposed to be. Thirty one women attended this year, and Amy and Sara-Bailey were there to give us inspiration. The fellowship and food was delightful as usual. We made over 100 encouragement cards for breast cancer patients. The love and thoughtfulness that went into the cards will be appreciated, as they all turned out beautiful. We also made some for our shut-ins. Thanks again to all that participated.

Lovely Group of Women at the Retreat Maggie Linker counting cards

NEW EDUCATION BUILDING

Education Building

Loan as of 10/24/2016 $ 501,080.10 Minimum Monthly Payment $ 5,110

Education Building—We are truly blessed here at Rocky River to have the new education building. We would ask everyone to pray we will get the additional funds needed to pay down what we still owe. If you have not had a chance to make the pledge like we did three years ago it is not too late for you to join the others in this adventure. Write “ Building Fund” on your check and it will go towards paying off our debt. Bless you all, The Follow-up Team

STEWARDSHIP SUMMARY

Page 6

2016 STEWARDSHIP SUMMARY TOTAL AMOUNT PLEDGED $315,000.00 PER MONTH $30,288.50 PER WEEK $6,057.69 Date wk giving pledged diff(+/_) mt gving mt pledged dif(+/-)

10/02/2016 $5,768.00 $6,057.69 -$289.69 $5,768.00 $30,288.50 -$24,520.50

10/09/2016 $10,769.00 $6,057.69 +$4,711.31 $16,537.00 $30,288.50 -$13,751.50

10/16/2016 $5,593.66 $6,057.69 -$464.03 $22,130.66 $30,288.50 -$8,157.84

10/23/2016 $3,778.00 $6,057.69 -$2,279.69 $25,908.66 $30,288.50 -$4,379.84

10/30/2016 $5,568.17 $6,057.69 -$489.52 $31,476.83 $30,288.50 +$1,188.33

ROCKY RIVER READERS Rocky River Readers book club will meet the 4th Monday night in November (the 28th) at 7pm in

church parlor. All are welcome to come discuss books. The book for November will be Spirit of

Steamboat by Craig Johnson. Rocky River Readers meet the 4th Monday night of each month

January through November. We hope more readers will join us.

HEALING TOUCH CLINIC: We began the first Healing Touch Clinic @ RRPC In August and have treated anywhere from 4 to 12 clients during these clinics. Evaluations indicate that the experience is relaxing and helpful in most cases and was generally rated a 10 on the 0-10 scale. We will take a break in the month of December and will begin again in January. Call Julia Alexander if you have any questions at 704-455-9753.

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS NEWS – We have a WORK MORNING scheduled for

Saturday, December 3 at 8 a.m. to install landscaping plants at the East entrance to the parking lot. If you have an hour or two to spare, we can really use your help. An information monitor has been installed in the lobby of the new building to keep you posted about all that is happening. Thank you King for grading the parking lot ahead of Fall Festival, and thank you as well to Baxter for cleaning up the downed tree behind the manse. And to those of you who turned out to help with the work day October 15, thank you for your hard work fertilizing and seeding. As always, if you have energy, talents or gifts to share we can always use volunteers, so please talk with Dave Murray or Jim Rockel. Dave can be reached at 704-455-9469 or dmurray16@carolina.rr.com and Jim can be reached at 319-850-1335 or jlrockel@hotmail.com.

We need more followers on Twitter. Find us at rockyriverpc and follow us!! The more followers we get the more exposure our church gets!!

The Church Office will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 24 and 25 and will have limited hours the week of December 26th. Please call before

coming to the office .

Angel Tree— Tags will be available Sunday, November 20 on the tree in the vestibule. This year we are supporting Thompson Children’s Home. We will donate gifts for their clients to “purchase” for their families. All unwrapped gifts must be returned to RRPC by Sunday, Dec. 4th.

Sunday November 27th—The Piedmont Men’s Choir will perform in the Fellowship Hall at 6:00pm. Light refreshments will be served and a love offering will be

collected. Start the Advent Season with beautiful music!

Saturday, December 10th—JD and the Youth are helping with a Christmas Mission for the homeless. A dinner will be served in the Fellowship Hall for homeless

families in our area. More information will follow on how you can help.

Sunday, December 11th— The Cantata will be sung during Worship Service at 11:00am. Caroling to the shut-ins at 3:00pm (see Jerry Clark to participate)

Advent Walk at 6:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. A quiet time of reflection to help prepare our hearts for Christmas.

Saturday, December 17th—Youth Christmas Party 6:00pm Sunday, December 18th—Children’s Pageant during worship service.

Rocky River Presbyterian Church will be ringing the bell for The Salvation Army on Friday and Saturday - December 16th and 17th outside of Lowe’s Foods in Harrisburg. We are looking for a couple people or a family for one hour slots from 10:00 am to 9:00pm. There is a sign up sheet in the vestibule or you can contact Niki Schneider.

Christmas Tea— Sunday December 18th at 4:00. Join us for a fun afternoon of music, refreshments and fellowship. We

encourage you to invite your friends and neighbors to join us! Music provided by local school choirs!

Christmas Eve Service, Saturday, December 24th @ 5:30pm Christmas Day Service, Sunday, December 25th @ 11:00am

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December Birthdays

November Birthdays

Name Name Birthday

Amanda Culp Linker 11/01 Ree Abernethy 11/15

Greg Krypel 11/02 Rosangela Baczewski 11/15

Kathy Dulin 11/03 Mimi Reynolds 11/16

Teri Stafford 11/03 Carol Mullis 11/17

Thomas Linker 11/05 David Lovendahl 11/17

Macey Fairchild 11/06 King McCachren 11/17

Anna Linker 11/06 Courtnery Drakulic 11/19

Gail Thompson 11/08 Kathy Hoover 11/19

Matt Hancock 11/08 Edd Glosson 11/20

Catherine Garmon 11/09 Dylan Cagle 11/21

Kevin Harris 11/09 Scott Sinclair 11/23

Chris Bechtol 11/10 Don Mott 11/25

Elizabeth Thomas 11/11 Frank Emmerich 11/26

Hunter Gary Linker 11/13 Jake Farrell 11/27

Kristina Sievers 11/13 Elizabeth Charlotte Murphy 11/28

Lora McCachren 11/14 Emily Tipton 11/29

Victoria King 11/30

Donkey Race Dianne Savelle leading the lesson

If anyone is interested in getting more information on

Contact Jason Schultz

Name Name Birthday

Lauren Wells 12/01 Ann Glosson 12/19

Frank Reynolds 12/04 Maggie Linker 12/20

Matthew Straatmann 12/04 Jakob Krypel 12/21

Bethaney Wells 12/07 Ken Young 12/21

Steven Mott 12/08 Scottie McDonald 12/21

Brooke McDonald 12/09 Wes Abernathy 12/22

Helene Linenberger 12/09 Butch McDonald 12/22

Kenneth Freeman 12/11 Kim Sinclair 12/23

Dan Farrell 12/12 Megan Brown 12/24

Leslie Porfeli 12/12 Blaise Smith 12/24

Harlan Hoover 12/13 Matt Jenkins 12/27

Laura Linker 12/14 Jim Lyerly 12/27

Ted Dickason 12/16 Mick Wakeman 12/27

Harold Melvin 12/17 Katelyn Bechtol 12/28

Ryan Farrell 12/17 Priscilla Clawson 12/29

Timothy McDonald 12/18 Lynn Query 12/30

MJ Joann Jones 12/18 Trent Savelle 12/31

Kim Burr 12/19

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MENU LINEUP FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT FELLOWSHIP MEALS IN NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

November 16th — Bistro Grilled Chicken

November 23rd — Thanksgiving—NO MEAL

November 30th — Mac and Cheese

December 7—Community Meal

December 14—Pintos Ham

December 21—Christmas Week—NO MEAL

December 28—New Years Week—NO MEAL

To RSVP—Just fill out a yellow card located in any pew in the sanctuary during our next worship service.

We are happy to share in fellowship with our church community every Wednesday@ 6pm. The cost is $5 per

meal with a maximum of $15 per family.

FREE COMMUNITY MEAL The Free Community Meal we have in the fellowship hall the first Wednesday night of each

month is grow ing in popularity! We have had some participation from the community, and appreciate that you all make everyone feel welcome. We are making great strides to truly make this a community meal by seeking out those who are unfamiliar to us, sitting at their table and eating with them and making them feel part of the Rocky River family. Please continue to invite anyone in the community that you meet. The Free Community Meal is served from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Some people cannot come until after 7:00 due to work schedules. We will not start putting away the food until 7:00.

During these cold winter months we will plan to serve Hot Soup, Salad and Bread at the Free Community Meal. We will be looking for volunteers to prepare soups, stews, salads and desserts for these meals and to help with set up and clean –up.

Ushers—Head Usher Bill McDonald

1ST SUNDAY: Lead; Robin Hartsell, Butch McDonald, Michael McDonald, Ruth McDonald, Danny Tankersley and Garrett McDonald 2ND SUNDAY: Lead; Thomas Linker, Jon Dickason, Ted Dickason, Eric Linker, Dave Mowery 3RD SUNDAY: Lead; Chip Wells, Baxter Coble, Joey Dulin, Steve Jewett and Joe Novobilski 4TH SUNDAY: Lead; Dave Miller, Chris Bechtol, Bill McDonald, Jimmy Stafford and Kevin Harris 5TH SUNDAY: Lead; JD McNutt and youth

Infant Nursery November 20 Maggie Linker and Brenda Horton November 27 Joseph and Rose Baczewski December 4 Jacob and Christa Murray December 11 Edd and Ann Glosson December 18 Beau and Jane Talton December 25 Heather Linker Toddler Nursery November 20 Allison and Aydenn Harris November 27 Rex and Ashley Carriker December 4 Chris and Magan Bechtol December 11 Laura Milliken and Carol Lyerly December 18 Dave and Phyllis Miller December 25 Libby Coble

Worship Assistants: 1ST SUNDAY— KATHY LINKER 2ND SUNDAY– GIGI HUNNICUTT 3RD SUNDAY—EMMA WAKEMAN 4TH SUNDAY—CANDICE SHEPARD 5th SUNDAY— BEN BURR

A Time for Children

November 20 JD McNutt November 27 Tommy Heavey December 4 Julie Alexander December 11 Vance Horton December 18 Jerry Clark December 25 Neal Carter

Bread Ministry

November 20 Shirley Rockel November 27 Pam Sciascia December 4 Alice Williams December 11 Julie Alexander December 18 Traci Bird December 25 Linda Clark

MEN’S FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST

Men’s Breakfast will be held on November 20th and December 18th at 9:00am in the fellowship

hall. We meet the third Sunday of every month and encourage all of the men of the church to

attend. Please contact Bill Smart or Jerry Clark if you plan on coming.

Calendar of Events November & December 2016 Thursday, November 17 6:00pm Surviving the Holidays Fellowship Hall 6:30pm Cub Scouts Sunday, November 20 9:00am Men’s Breakfast Fellowship Hall 10:00am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Service (Communion, Confirmation, Eagle Scout) 5:00pm Pageant Rehearsal Tuesday, November 22 6:00pm Girl Scouts, Daisies, Boy Scouts Wednesday, November 23 NO ACTIVITIES Saturday, November 26 9:00am Decorate the Sanctuary (All are welcome to help) Sunday, November 27 10:00am Sunday School 11:00am Worship 6:00pm Piedmont Men’s Choir Fellowship Hall Monday, November 28 7:00pm Rocky River Readers Church Parlor Tuesday, November 29 6:00pm Girl Scouts, Daisies, Boy Scouts Wednesday, November 30 6:00pm WNF—Mac n Cheese Fellowship Hall 6:30pm Chimes Practice Choir Room 6:45pm Youth Bible Study 7:00pm Choir Practice Thursday, December 1 6:30pm Cub Scouts Saturday, December 3 8:00am Private Party Fellowship Hall Sunday, December 4 10:00am Sunday School 11:00am Worship Monday, December 5 6:30pm Building & Grounds Mtg Tuesday, December 6 11:00am Morning Circle meets for Lunch 6:00pm Girl Scouts, Daisies, Boy Scouts 6:00pm Evening Circle meets at Union St. Bistro for dinner 7:00pm Scout Committee Mtg History Room Wednesday, December 7 6:00pm Community Meal (need soups, salads and desserts) 6:30pm Chimes practice Choir Room 6:45pm Youth Bible Study 7:00pm Choir Practice Thursday, December 8 10:00am Worship Team Mtg 6:30pm Cub Scouts Saturday, December 10 4:00pm Mission Dinner (JD and Youth) Fellowship Hall 5:00pm Troop 83 Court of Honor Sanctuary 6:00pm Troop 83 Lock-In Downstairs Sunday, December 11 10:00am Sunday School 11:00am Worship 12:30pm Session 3:00pm Caroling to Shut-ins (Jerry Clark) 6:00pm Advent Walk (JD) Tuesday, December 13 6:00pm Girl Scouts, Daisies and Boy Scouts Wednesday, December 14 6:00pm WNF—Pintos Ham 6:30pm Chimes 6:45pm Youth Bible Study 7:00pm Choir Practice Friday, December 16 9:00am (all day) Ring the Bell at Lowe’s Foods for Salvation Army Saturday, December 17 9:00am (all day) Ring the Bell at Lowe’s Foods for Salvation Army 2:00pm Private Party Fellowship Hall Sunday, December 18 9:00am Men’s Fellowship Breakfast 10:00am Sunday School 11:00am Worship (Children’s Pageant) 4:00pm Christmas Tea with School Choirs Wednesday, December 21 NO ACTIVITIES Saturday, December 24 5:30pm Christmas Eve Service Sunday, December 25 11:00am Worship - Christmas Day Week of Dec. 26 thru 31 NO ACTIVITIES AND LIMITED OFFICE HOURS

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Scripture Readings for the month of

November/December

Wednesday, November 16 Malachi 1:1, 6-14 and Luke 17:11-19

Thursday, November 17 Malachi 2:1-16 and Luke 17:20-37

Friday, November 18 Malachi 3:1-12 and Luke 18:1-8

Saturday, November 19 Malachi 3:13-4:6 and Luke 18:9-14

Sunday, November 20 Zechariah 9:9-16 and Matthew 21:1-13

Monday, November 21 Zechariah 10:1-12 and Luke 18:15-30

Tuesday, November 22 Zechariah 11:4-17 and Luke 18:31-43

Wednesday, November 23 Zechariah 12:1-10 and Luke 19:1-10

Thursday, November 24 Zechariah 13:1-9 and Luke 19:11-27

Friday, November 25 Zechariah 14:1-11 and Luke 19:28-40

Saturday, November 26 Zechariah 14:12-21 and Luke 19:41-48

Sunday ,November 27 Isaiah 1:1-9 and Matthew 25:1-13

Monday, November 28 Isaiah 1:10-20 and Luke 20:1-8

Tuesday, November 29 Isaiah 1:21-31 and Luke 20:9-18

Wednesday, November 30 Isaiah 2:1-4 and Luke 20:19-26

Thursday, December 1 Isaiah 2:5-22 and Luke 20:27-40

Friday, December 2 Isaiah 3:1-4:1 and Luke 20:41-21:4

Saturday, December 3 Isaiah 4:2-6 and Luke 21:5-19

Sunday, December 4 Isaiah 5:1-7 and Luke 7:28-35

Monday, December 5 Isaiah 5:8-17 and Luke 21:20-28

Tuesday, December 6 Isaiah 5:18-25 and Luke 21:29-38

Wednesday, December 7 Isaiah 6:1-13 and John 7:53-8:11

Thursday, December 8 Isaiah 7:1-9 and Luke 22:1-13

Friday, December 9 Isaiah 7:10-25 and Luke 22:14-30

Saturday, December 10 Isaiah 8:1-15 and Luke 22:31-38

Sunday, December 11 Isaiah 13:1-13 and John 3:22-30

Monday, December 12 Isaiah 8:16-9:1 and Luke 22:39-53

Tuesday, December 13 Isaiah 9:2-7 and Luke 22:54-69

Wednesday, December 14 Isaiah 9:8-17 and Mark 1:1-8

Thursday, December 15 Isaiah 9:18-10:4 and Matthew 3:1-12

Friday, December 16 Isaiah 10:5-19 and Matthew 11:2-15

Saturday, December 17 Isaiah 10:20-27 and Luke 3:1-9

Sunday, December 18 Isaiah 11:1-9 and John 3:16-21

Monday, December 19 Isaiah 11:10-16 and John 5:30-47

Tuesday, December 20 Isaiah 28:9-22 and Luke 1:5-25

Wednesday, December 21 Isaiah 29:9-24 and Luke 1:26-38

Thursday, December 22 Isaiah 31:1-9 and Luke 1:39-48a

Friday, December 23 Isaiah 33:17-22 and Luke 1:57-66

Saturday, December 24 Isaiah 35:1-10 and Luke 1:67-80

Sunday, December 25 Zechariah 2:10-13 and John 3:31-35

Monday, December 26 2 Chronicles 24:17-22 and Acts 7:59-8:8

Tuesday, December 27 Proverbs 8:22-30 and John 13:20-35

Wednesday, December 28 Isaiah 49:13-23 and Matthew 18:1-14

Thursday, December 29 Isaiah 12:1-6 and John 7:37-52

Friday, December 30 Isaiah 25:1-9 and John 7:53-8:11

Saturday, December 31 Isaiah 26:1-6 and John 8:12-19

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7940 Rocky River Road

Concord, NC 28025

Phone: 704-455-2479

Fax: 704-455-2489

E-mail: secretary@rockyriver.org

www.rockyriver.org

R o c k y R i v e r P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h

Non Profit Org. US Postage PAID

Permit No. 31 Harrisburg, NC 28075

Rocky River Presbyterian Church has a Facebook Group! For those who use Facebook this is a great way to virtually connect to what's happening at RRPC. Look for the Rocky River Presbyterian Church group. We are also on Instagram and Twitter. Look for rockyriverpc on both apps and follow us!