Our Celebration of Worship December 20, 2015

Paxton is a Stephen Ministry Church

WE GATHER IN GOD'S NAME

PRELUDE “Noel on ‘Oh Leave Your Sheep’” Visser OUR LIFE TOGETHER MUSIC INTERLUDE “What Child Is This” arr. Cindy Green

Paxton Chimers

GIVE PRAISE TO GOD

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE

* HYMN 133 “O Come, All Ye Faithful” (ring bells during last verse) * PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of the future, you are coming in power to bring all nations under your rule. We confess that we have not expected your kingdom, for we live casual lives, ignoring your promised judgment. We accept lies as truth, exploit neighbors, abuse the earth, and refuse your justice and peace. In your mercy, forgive us. Grant us wisdom to welcome your way, and to seek the things that will endure when Christ comes to judge the world. Amen.

(Pause for a moment of silent confession)

* ASSURANCE OF PARDON Hear the Good News. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Praise God. Amen.

* GLORIA PATRI (Hymnal Page 581)

TO CELEBRATE THE FAMILY OF FAITH

CHILDREN’S MOMENT

* PASSING OF THE PEACE The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. And also with you. MORNING PRAYER/THE LORD'S PRAYER

TO HEAR GOD'S WORD PROCLAIMED

FIRST LESSON Micah 5:2-5a (OT Page 865) This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. ANTHEM “Wexford Carol” arr. Robert Millett

Adult Choir ~ Paul Herbert, Soloist

THE GOSPEL READING Luke 1:39-56 (NT Page 57) This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. SERMON “A Town In the Hills” Pastor Green HYMN 113 “Angels We Have Heard on High” (ring bells during last verse) * APOSTLE’S CREED

TO OFFER OUR GIFTS AND DEDICATE OUR LIVES

PRESENTATION OF OFFERINGS OFFERTORY “On This Day Earth Shall Ring” Paxtones arr. Sherman * DOXOLOGY

* PRAYER OF DEDICATION

TO GO REJOICING IN GOD'S NAME * RECESSIONAL HYMN 134 “Joy to the World” (ring bells during last verse) BENEDICTION BELL RESPONSE “In the Bleak Mid-Winter” Paxtones arr. Dobrinski POSTLUDE “Ding Dong! Merrily on High” arr. Young

THE LECTOR this morning is Elder Bill Gough. Bill is a member of the Property Manage-ment Ministry.

THANK YOU FOR VISITING WITH US TODAY! We are happy to share this Sunday with

you and hope you come back soon! Please fill out the yellow card and be sure to include your name, address, and phone number for our records. If you are interested in member-ship at Paxton Church, please indicate this when the friendship folder is passed or speak to the Pastor or Lector following worship. THE USHERS joyfully serving the month of December: Stephen Brindle, Captain, Judy Frankford, Bill Gough, Thomas Leaver, Steve Miller, Gary Myers, Molly Reinhart, Marshall Snyder, Kitti Taylor, Robert Woodbridge. TODAY Pastor Green will greet at the parlor door. The lector will greet at the south door and an usher will greet at the porch door.

HEARING DEVICES are available on the table as you enter the sanctuary through the parlor door. Please see an usher if you need assistance. LOOK AROUND THE CHURCH RIGHT NOW! Notice if you haven't seen someone for the past two Sundays. Sometime this week call them and say, "We missed you at church." If you don't do it - who will?

Paxton Presbyterian Church 3500 Sharon St., Harrisburg, PA

561-0510 ~ www.paxtonchurch.org ~ office@paxtonchurch.org

The 2016 offering envelopes are available in the Gathering Room today. Please stop and pick them up to save the church the cost of postage. Thank You!

The hand-carved crèche from West Germany is placed in the parlor in memory of Kathryn Lynn Spicer by her grandparents.

~ ~ ~ THE ANGELS on the hemlock tree outside Pastor Green’s office window are placed in loving memory of the twenty-six fallen angels from the Sandy Hook Ele-mentary School in Newtown, Connecticut by the Paxton Presbyterian Nursery School.

William La Dieu Cindy Mory

Richard Peiffer Donna Powers

Michelle Signore Ron Wix

Bert Wood Bev Ziebell

PAXTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 3500 Sharon St., Harrisburg PA 17111

(717) 561-0510—Fax: 561-4052

Website: www.paxtonchurch.org Email: office@paxtonchurch.org

Ministers ~ All Members

Happy Barber Norm Daniels Dave Elder

Erin Giambrone Bill Gough

Rebecca Haner

SESSION MEMBERS

Sally Appleby Laurie Bassler Gail Burfeind

Jim Bruce Niki Corl

Nino Giambrone Ryan Horner

BOARD OF DEACONS Nino Giambrone (Moderator)

We are a Stephen Ministry Church For confidential referral, or if you are inter-ested in becoming a Stephen Minister please contact a leader.

STEPHEN LEADERS

Helen Heidelbaugh Beth Lancione*

Jane Rising Jane Sanford

* deceased

STEPHEN MINISTERS

Carol Anderson Jarred Beck

LaVerne Collins Susan DeRemer

Karen Herrold Cheryl Holtzman Janice Hutchison Annette Kilpatrick

Bill LaDieu Donna Leaver Nancy Lengler

David McPherson Steve Miller Jack Moore Gary Myers

Kathy Woodbridge

Dave Holt Jay Kealey

Don Laughery John Moyer Lisa Pletz

Diana Robertson Kitti Taylor

Merideth Staudenmaier, (Clerk of Session)

WEEKLY CALENDAR Sun 20 9:00 Church School 10:00 Worship/Bell Sunday 10:45 Angel Rehearsal 11:00 Christmas in the Cabin 11:00 Sunday Snacks 4:00 Christmas Music Program Mon 21 7:00 Advent Prayers Tues 22 10:00 Staff Meeting Wed 23 6:45 Men’s Fellowship Breakfast 9:15 Nursery School Christmas Program Thur 24 CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED 6:30 Christmas Eve Worship 10:00 Christmas Eve Communion Worship Fri 25 MERRY CHRISTMAS! Sun 27 10:00 Worship 11:00 Sunday Snacks

Paxton Church Staff

Pastor, The Reverend John W. Green Director of Music, Richard Fowler

Organist, Jeanne Bruce Alleluia and Angel Choirs Director, Kathie Zimmerman

Assistant and Accompanist of Children’s Choirs, Beckie Blazi Chimers Director, Cindy Green

Christian Education Administrator, Jo Jacoby Office Staff, JoAnn Snyder, Judy Frankford

Treasurer, Larry Kilpatrick Church Historian, Ron Wix

Wedding Coordinator, Peg Elder Custodian, Mary Bowers

PRAYER SQUARE As Christians we are called to pray for everyone in a difficult time of life. To protect the privacy of those for whom we are praying we ask that permission be received before a name is placed for prayer request. We will keep the names in the Prayer Square for two weeks. If you would like them to be included longer, please call the church office or submit another prayer request.

Please keep the following members of Paxton in your prayers: Dale Williams, John Greenwood, Natalie Smith, Donna Leaver, Jean Herrold, George and Annabel Case, Jack Moore, George Taylor

December 13 - Krista Baer, Jeanne Nelson, Virginia Toomey, Gary Shank, Frank Forsyth, The Weader Family, James Lenker, Jim Griffey, Camden Ridley

December 21— Rob & Kelly Ward, Family of Don Smith, Bob Wertz

Each week we will be praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ within our Presbytery. This week we are praying for the Hawley Memorial Presbyterian Church in Blue Ridge Summit.

The Deacons will be collecting Canned Fruit, Canned Vegetables

during the month of December for the Ecumenical Food Pantry.

(Please check the dates on the cans, the Food Pantry will not accept expired items.)

Thank You, Thank You to all who baked cookies and candies!

Our sale was our most successful ever! Customers were at the door waiting at 8:20 AM and within 30 minutes over three quarters of the cookies were gone. We had 41 varieties of goodies and sold every last cookie. Our profit was a record breaking $3,778.00 all to be used toward the debt reduction. I have the best committee any chairman could ask for and I thank them most sincerely. Thank you again Paxton members for your help, support, and baking skills.

Janice Hutchison

DOWNTOWN DAILY BREAD

We are reaching out to friends for Holiday supplies: Hams, Roasts, Ground Beef, Xmas Cookies, Coffee, Sugar, & #10 cans of soups, vegetables, and fruits. Best wishes to all for a wonderful Holiday and a very Happy, Healthy New Year!

We love you guys!! Warm regards, Elaine

.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION No Church School Classes December 27 and January 3. Church School Classes resume January 10th. Children’s Church School will need parents to help teach church school classes starting January 10th. Please see Happy Barber or Jo Jacoby to sign-up.

The Annual Pancake Breakfast will be held Sunday, January 3 at 8:30 in Fellowship Hall.

Hershey Bears Hockey Game Congregational Life Ministry is sponsoring a trip to the Hershey Bears hockey game on Saturday, January 30, 2016. We have 50 tickets reserved in section 114, which is on the main level. These are great seats located behind the goal that the Bears defend dur-

ing periods 1 and 3. Cost is $19.50 per person. Please RSVP to Tara Frank at btfrank@comcast.net or 583-1951. Hurry and reserve your tickets now for this exciting event. We will again be gathering for dinner before the game at the Pizza Hut in Her-shey. Go BEARS.

On Monday evenings during Advent, December 21 there will be an in-formal time of centering prayer held in the church parlor at 7:00 PM with Pastor Green. Centering prayers are intentionally quiet and contempla-tive moments when we focus on God’s presence in our lives. You are welcome to attend.

December 20 ~ Fourth Sunday of Advent Worship ~ 10:00 AM ~ Bell Sunday

Music Program ~ 4:00 PM

December 24 ~ Christmas Eve Worship 6:30 PM ~ with Youth Choirs

10:00 PM ~ Communion

The Season of Advent

Sunday, December 20th

At 4 o’clock this afternoon the musicians of Paxton will present their an-nual Christmas program. Participating will be the Adult Choir, Pax-tones, Chimers, Angels, and Paxton Singers. The Prelude begins at 3:45 with carols played by Janet Hitz and her father, Bernie Pitkin. The pro-gram concludes with “A.J.’s Story”, a personal, original Santa Shop re-flection by Richard Peiffer.

GIANT GIFT CARDS

For the last Sunday of the year, December 27, Giant gift cards will be sold by pre-order only. Just let Jeanne Fortino or Carol McCall know your order please. There will be a sign up sheet on the table in the Great Room. Thank you for continued support of this debt reduction program.

SERMON THOUGHTS

PRAYER NOTES