What does God require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. —Micah 6:8

Pullen Update November 27, 2016

Advent Worship Begins Today

This year we are celebrating this season by opening each worship service with a quiet reflective lighting of our Ad-vent wreath. We want each person to see the light that is flickering to give us hope in a very personal way. Also, each Sunday we will pray using some very special art on our worship guide cover. Come away from your busy lives and walk in the light of God.

The Worship Council

Are you getting any "bang for your buck"? It's an over-used phrase, isn't it? But when you pledge and give to Pullen, you can know where your money goes—to support the programs and min-istries that matter to you, and to make a difference in our community and beyond. Nothing goes to waste. No gift is unneeded. Every gift counts.

If you have already pledged for 2017, THANK YOU!! If not, there is still time. Blue pledge cards are in the pew racks, or

you can use the QR code at the bottom of this Weekly Update. Additional-ly, you can go to pullen.org/donate, or just call the Church Administrator. Help us "Do Justice, Love Kindness, and Walk Humbly with God" in 2017.

Jim Hodge, Stewardship Committee

Interested in a Pilgrimage to the Republic of Georgia?

We are planning a Pullen visit to our partners in the Republic of Georgia in the early summer of 2017. If you are interested, join us December 18 after worship in room 203 for a brief discussion of this opportunity.

We’d love to have you join us on this adventure to deepen our rela-tionship with our friends in Georgia. If you are interested but can’t attend the meeting, feel free to email me at jamesacrook@gmail.com.

James Crook, Georgia Partnership Facilitator

Help at Christmas

If you’d like to give a special gift to someone this Christmas, consider providing gift cards or bus passes for a young person served by the Hope Center at Pullen. They have about 45 young people to support at Christmas and would be thrilled to receive $25 gas cards (Shell, BP), 7-day or 30-day bus passes (available at Harris Teeter Customer Service), $25 Food Lion gift cards, or $25 Target or Walmart gift cards. Small donations in other amounts are also greatly appreciated. Their party is December 14, although gift cards will be gladly received after this date.

These gifts help young people leaving the foster care system as they learn to navigate the world independently with the help of the Hope Center staff. You can place these items in the Hope Center’s mailbox in the church office or deliver them to the Hope Center during business hours. Contact Pat Hielscher at phielscher@hopecenteratpullen.org.

Missions and Outreach Council and The Hope Center Staff

Pullen Young Adults Pullen Young Adults meet Tuesdays 7—9:30 PM at Brian’s (400 W. North Street, 718). The group engages in discussions about faith, socializes over food and drink, plans activities and participates in community service and social justice. Sign up for the YA listserv at (http://bit.ly/PullenYA) or con-tact Brian Crisp at bcrisp@pullen.org.

Brian Crisp

Help is still needed

Many thanks to everyone who brought in items for the Round Table Minis-try snack bags! There is still desperate need for cans of Vienna sausages, juice pouches/boxes, and cereal/granola bars. Please place items outside Cathy's office if you can help.

Nancy Bradley

2015 Advent Mission Offering

Advent begins today. As you make plans for Christmas gift-giving, please remember our Advent Mission Offering. Once again our offering will go to places around the world where your contributions can make a big difference, including our partners in Cuba, Georgia, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe, Heifer In-ternational and Plenty International. Simple gift cards are available in the information areas to use in notifying loved ones of gifts to our partners in their honor.

Our partners and friends will be grate-ful for your help in supporting their im-portant ministries. The offering will be re-ceived each Sunday in Advent. Offering envelopes can be found in the pew racks.

Missions and Outreach Council

Where’s the Heat? Our new boiler is on order and, fingers crossed, we hope to have heat in the sanctu-ary and first floor by December 4. Thank you for your patience and for bundling up in order to be present in worship.

Brooks Wicker

Walshes’ Visit to Jordan on WRAL

A number of Pullenites were present on a recent Wednesday evening when members Ned and Marian Walsh reported on their recent visit to a Syrian refugee camp in Jor-dan. If you missed this event, you can hear about their experiences on WRAL on Satur-day, December 3 at 7 PM. David Crabtree will share their presentation on “On the Record,” his weekly television show.

Missions and Outreach Council

Children’s Christmas Play

Rehearsals for K-5th children:

December 4, 12:15-1:30 PM

December 11, 12:15-1:30 PM

Rehearsal for Pre-K—5th:

December 17, 9-11 AM

Performance at Christmas Breakfast:

December 18, 9-10:30 AM

Libby Stephens

One Can Every Sunday

Please consider bringing one can of food to church each Sunday to put in the grocery cart at the back door or in the information center. Pullen Mission Women will deliver the food to Urban Ministries. If enough of us make this a habit, we can make a signifi-cant impact in reducing the hunger in our midst. Thank you for your generosity!

Pullen Mission Women

2017 Pledging Status 2016 Budget: 1,034,189.00 Pledged to Date: $543,244 / 53% Totals as of November 22, 2016

To pledge from your mobile de-vice, you can scan this QR code.

Sunday, November 27 11:00AM Worship—Advent I, Sanctuary

Monday, November 28 9:00 AM Affordable Care Act Enrollment, Room 122 6:30 PM Education Council, Youth Room Tuesday, November 29 2:00 PM Round Table Fellowship, Finlator Hall

7:00 PM Young Adults (get weekly details: http://bit.ly/PullenYA) Wednesday, November 30

12:00PM Lectionary Lunch, Library 5:15 PM Wednesday Dinner, Finlator Hall 5:45 PM Children’s Choir & Micah Kids 6:00 PM Music Discovery & Children’s Playtime 6:00 PM Youth Programming 6:30 PM Adult Programming—Raleigh Sai Center 6:30 PM Chancel Choir, Room 128-B

Thursday, December 1 10:00 AM Katharine Freeman Circle, Springmoor (*note location change) 2:00 PM Round Table Fellowship, Finlator Hall Saturday, December 3 10:00 AM Bea Anderson Circle, 203 Sunday, December 4

9:30 AM Sunday Groups, 3rd Floor 10:30AM Coffee Time, Finlator Hall 10:30AM Choral Worship Preparation, Room 128-B 11:00AM Worship—Advent II, Sanctuary 12:00PM Christmas Play Practice, Finlator Hall 12:15PM Peace & Justice Mission Group, Room 310 12:30PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Room 128-B and Poteat Chapel 1:30 PM Triangle Gay Men’s Chorus Concert, Finlator Hall 3:00 PM Coordinating Council, Room 122

November 27-December 4

Wednesday Evening Dinner & Program Meet the Raleigh Sai Center

Pullen has been graced by our growing relationship with the Raleigh Sath-ya Sai Center in Morrisville through the free health fair the Sai Center’s members offer at Pullen each September. The members of Sathya Sai Centers all over the world are united by a common bond – love of God – and a common goal – spiritual growth. Their main objective is to help individuals recognize their inherent divinity. Members of our local Sai Center will be with us on this evening to tell us about their faith and their work in our community.

Join us during our program hour from 6:30-7:30 PM. All are wel-come. Dinner is from 5:15—6 PM. The cost of the meal is $6 for youth and adults and $3 for children K-5th Grade. The family maximum is $20. If the cost of these meals is a hardship, please contact one of the ministers.

Menu: potatoes, chili bar and brownies.

Wednesday Night Committee & Staff

Isaiah 2:1 - 5

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw about Judah and Jerusalem. 2 In the days to come the mountain of the House of God Will stand firm above the mountains, and tower above the hills; and all the nations shall gaze upon it with joy. 3 Many peoples will go and say, “Come, let us go up to the Divine Mount, to the house of the God of Jacob; that God may teach us Divine Ways and that we may walk on Divine Paths.” For instructions will come forth from Zion, Divine Words will come forth from Jerusa-lem. 4 God will judge between the nations, and arbitrate for the many peoples; And they will beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation will not take up the sword against na-tion, They will never again know war. 5 O, House of Jacob, Come, Let us Walk in such Divine Light.

Pullen Youth—Food Bank Pullen Youth will volunteer at the Food Bank on December 17 from 1 - 4 PM and would like to invite the congregation to join us. We will meet at Moe’s in Cameron Village at 11:45 for lunch and then head to the Food Bank. This is a great way to get to know the youth and to help supply food to many agencies in Raleigh. RSVP to Brian Crisp if interested.

Brian Crisp

December 4 Lectionary

Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 Romans 15:4-13 Matthew 3:1-12

The sanctuary will be decorated with greenery and poinsettias for Advent and Christmas. You may make a donation of $11 to request a poinsettia in memory or in honor of a loved one. If you would like to make a donation in remem-brance or honor of someone dear to you, please complete this form and return it with your check or cash to the church office by December 9.

Your name__________________________________ Phone # _______________________________

In honor or memory of (1) _____________________ Relationship to you __________________________

In honor or memory of (2) ______________________Relationship to you __________________________

In honor or memory of (3) ______________________Relationship to you __________________________

In honor or memory of (4) ______________________Relationship to you __________________________

Christmas Greenery and Poinsettias

LGBTQ Christmas Potluck Sunday, December 4, 6 PM

At the home of Pat Hielscher & Brooks Wicker

1333 Diehl Street, Raleigh 919-833-4950 or mobile 919-418-0924

Bring a dish or two to share. Children welcome.