Christmas 2009

Click on the above picture to see photos  from past Christmas seasons

Christmas 2009 EVENTS AND SPECIAL MUSIC

Daily Scripture Readings for Advent The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some of the hectic business of the holiday season, and to quietly reflect on the promise of the baby born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. Bible readings at this time of year relate to the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, light in the darkness, and the coming of the promised Messiah. Take the time to gather in quiet, alone or with your family to read, contemplate and pray.  (Read online each day).  For more go to the "Resources for Advent and Christmas Resources" page on the PCUSA web site.

The "Birth of Christ" window in the balcony of our church ALTERNATIVE GIVING: Are you still looking for the perfect gift for that person who has everything? The Deacon’s will again this year offer our Alternative Giving Cards in support of Jubilee Christmas. If you would like to give a contribution to Jubilee Christmas in someone’s name in lieu of giving them a gift, you may do so by filling out one of the cards near the mailboxes in the conference room. Your contribution then can go in an envelope and be handed to a Deacon or to Tammy in the church office. You may send your card, noting that a donation has been made to Jubilee Christmas in his/her name, to the person of your choice. Honor Someone & Support Helping Hands at the Same Time. During this holiday season, you can honor a friend, colleague or loved one with a donation to Helping Hands. A festive gift card will be available to announce the donation to the recipient. Contact Jane Wells at 268-0633 or send in your donation and request to Helping Hands, PO Box 92, Hannawa Falls, NY 13947. Here are some more ideas, besides our own Jubilee Christmas: The Advent/Christmas season does not have to include fighting crowds and traffic at the shopping mall. Here are some other resources for alternate giving as well as for making your celebrations simpler and more meaningful: Give to our own Jubilee Christmas program Donate to a variety of mission efforts of the Presbyterian Church (USA) www.pcusa.org/give Give to relief and development efforts supported by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. www.pcusa.org/pda -- Church World Service. Donate to ecumenical relief and development projects around the world. www.cwsbestgifts.org Heifer International. Give a pig, chicken or other animal to help a poor family become self-sufficient. www.heifer.org -- Give to help end hunger and bring hope to those striving to overcome poverty. www.pcusa.org/hunger Purchase fairly traded and sweat-free products from global vendors. www.pcusa.org/globalmarketplace Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? a booklet produced by Alternatives (www.SimpleLiving.org), begun in 1973 as a protest against the commercialization of Christmas, and supported by the Presbyterian Hunger Program. Free from www.pcusa.org/marketplace or by calling 800-524-2612. Ask for item 7436506302. The sanctuary dressed for the Christmas season Practicing for the Christmas Season The Christmas quilt Brass Quintet Concert in the Sanctuary December 8, 2006             (More about Chrismons...) Our Chrismon [CHRISt+MONogram] Tree Brass Quintet Christmas Concert 11/30/09 Christmas star atop the steeple

ANNOUNCEMENTS Christmas Joy Offering The Christmas Joy Offering is one of the four special offerings designated by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to provide congregations direct ways of supporting specific causes that help those in need. The receipts from the offering are distributed to the Board of Pensions for its assistance programs and to the National Ministries Division to fund education at Presbyterian-related racial-ethnic schools and colleges. There are special offering envelopes in the pews if you wish to make a contribution. The offering will be officially received on Sunday, December 20, however, you may contribute before then (please use the special envelope and note on your check: "Christmas Joy Offering."  Memorial Pointsettias Needed There are order forms in the pew racks for memorial poinsettias this holiday season. They are $8.00 per plant and can be picked up after the Christmas Day service or delivered to one of our “friends at home”. You may purchase a plant in memory of or in honor of loved ones, etc. Please indicate this on the order form.  Last day to order is December 16. Please make checks payable to the First Presbyterian Church and do not include them in your weekly contribution. (A listing will appear in the December 20th bulletin.) THANK YOUS! - To the Ladies' Guild and their helpers for decorating the Sanctuary - setting up the Christmas tree and decorating it with Chrismons.  - To the steeple climbers - Devon Shipp and Dick Partch, with ground help by David Powers; and to Lauren and Ryan Shipp for replacing the burned out bulbs.  Our steeple star will be lighted each evening from 4:30-11:00pm throughout Advent.  Look and enjoy the star, along with the many people in the community that have lives brightened by it. Potsdam Brass Quintet Concert Monday, November 30, 2009 6th Holiday Brass & Organ Concert  7:00pm in the Sanctuary The annual concert of The Potsdam Brass Quintet was held Monday, Nov. 30th at 7 pm in our First Presbyterian sanctuary. The program included a variety of sacred and secular favorites for all ages, plus a carol sing-a-long. Laura Toland (organ) and Julie Miller (piano) were guest artists for the program. Donations were accepted for Jubilee Christmas. A reception followed in the Center.. Jubilee Christmas  Link to 2009 Jubilee Photos Jubilee Christmas 2009 On December 12th the Deacons hosted their annual Jubilee Christmas celebration for families in need. The morning was festive with music and activities to engage both parents and children. The specially planned activities included crafts for children to make for Christmas gift giving, cookie tables for the parents to choose special treats to take home for the family, distribution of hats and mittens and age appropriate books for the kids and gift certificates to parents for Christmas shopping for their family. A holiday luncheon  followed which to provide fun and fellowship for the families and the volunteers. Contributions to next year's Jubilee Christmas funding can be made by placing your donation in the envelopes provided for you in the pews. Thank you!  Thank you! The generosity of our Church community for sharing our wealth with 30 children from 12 less fortunate families was very much appreciated on December 12. They gathered for food refreshment, spiritual craft and singing/dancing activity, cookie, hat and mitten selection, and to receive gift certificates to purchase needed clothing and to be given age-related children’s books. It was an exciting and successful morning for all. The cookie table was spectacular! In random order the following from the congregation were on hand that morning : Wanda Paro, Sue, Beth and Kate Waters, Dianne Morrison, Jane Wells, Joyce Yianoukos, Meg and Chatham Borsh, Rosalie Hunter, Tom Longshore, Barbara Baker, Zachary Samelski, Helen Brouwer, Jean Dawson, Connie Zelinski, JoAnne and Dick Partch, Shirley Baylash, Ben and Sarah Miller, Avery Raymonda, Elisabeth Eno, Mary Ellen and Art Frackenpohl, Eva Barrett and Radka Zuman. Thanks to all others who made and donated cookies, hats and mittens. The Deacons The Fifth Festival of  Lessons & Carols Tuesday, December 15, 7:00pm at Trinity Episcopal Church This festival is modeled on the service of nine lessons and carols, which has been popularized by the King's College Choir, Cambridge.  This joint service with Trinity Episcopal also featured the Crane Children's Chorus. Those who came enjoyed the celebration of Christ's birth in scripture and music. Children's Christmas Program Sunday December 13 (in the sanctuary) Worship service (in the sanctuary) followed by a potluck luncheon in the Church Center One of the special events of the season! Link to 2009 Christmas Pageant Photos  After a brief 20 minute coffee hour while the children and teachers prepared the sanctuary, many returned to the sanctuary for the Children's Christmas Pageant.  The pageant included familiar songs and a surprising setting to bring the real Christmas message. Set in a shopping mall, it reminded us that the real meaning of Christmas lies not in Santa and gift shopping, but in the gift of God's son. Thanks to all the children and to the adults who helped out, especially the director, Danielle Grant. Lunch was then served in the Church Center Many people brought a dish to share - so there was plenty of food for everyone! Volunteers helped set up and clean up.   December 22 5:30pm, Christmas Caroling. Meet at the chruch at 5:30pm. Let Julie Miller know if your are coming, if you can: millerjw@potsdam.edu Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (worship bulletin) Thursday, December 24 8:00pm - Church Sanctuary It has become a tradition of this church to invite your singing relatives and congregation members to join us on Christmas Eve.  We welcomed all who came  to make music with us on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day Carol Festival & Brunch Friday, December 25 10:00am - Church Sanctuary Followed by a light brunch in the Church Center  On Christmas Day we will celebrate Christ's bithrday with an historical look at some of our favorite carols, followed by a singing of those carols.  Afterwards there will be a light brunch in the Church Center.  (Worship Bulletin)