4th Sunday in Advent

 The weekly Newsletter of 
ALL SOULS ECC 
A Welcoming Family of Faith!
December 17, 2015

Advent Prayer
Come Lord Jesus,
come and be born into my heart.
Time seems to go by fast, especially at the holidays.  But here we are at the fourth Sunday of Advent – the Sunday of LOVE.

Thanks to everyone who came out to our Cookie Bake/Pizza Party on December 11 – we had fun, baked cookies, and built ginger bread houses!   If you can, please come help with greening the chapel on Sunday, December 20 at 7:00 pm.   And be sure to be a part of our Christmas Eve/Midnight Mass celebration with a special musical guest, harpist Phyllis Ensher-Peters.  Our service will begin at 11:30 pm.

Please take the time to read the articles and information in this week’s “GOOD NEWS” including clicking on our prayer list and pray for the requests there. Feel free to forward this newsletter to a family member or friend, or share it on your facebook page or twitter by using the “like” and “share” icons at the top of the page.

This weeks readings and question of the week:

Take time to mediate on God’s word and prepare for worship this Sunday.  And as you meditate on them, consider the Question of the Week:

How can I “go out of myself” this week and throughout the Christmas season to bring the “balm of God’s tender mercy”? Think of a specific person or situation.

Isaiah 9:2-7
Psalm 96
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-14
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
In theological terms, there are two types of grace: common grace and saving grace. Common grace is the favor that God gives to all people. Generally, it is manifested in the way God takes care of all people by providing for them sunshine, rain, shelter, food, government, laws, general health, etc. Common grace extends to every human alive.
On the other hand, saving grace is that favor from God expressed upon those whom He has chosen. This expression of grace results in salvation, hence, we have such verses as:
Ephesians 1:11: “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.”
We, the chosen, have had the blessing of saving grace bestowed on us in abundance. Saving grace is based upon the love of God manifested in the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins.  –MATT SLICK

SPECIAL GUEST HARPIST FOR CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT MASS
We welcome Phyllis Ensher-Peters as a guest musician for our Christmas Midnight Mass.  (SERVICE BEGINS AT 11:30 PM)
Phyllis Ensher-Peters, a graduate of the harp class of CARLOS SALZEDO at the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia, has been performing as a professional harp soloist since concluding studies there in 1957.  Since then she has performed as a soloist and been in orchestras all over the U.S. and the world.
Ms. Ensher-Peters is currently principal harpist of the Binghamton Symphony Orchestra, the Binghamton Pops, and the Tri-Cities Opera, Binghamton, New York.

Christmas Poinsettias – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20 is Deadline for flower envelopes.

Donations are now being accepted for the poinsettias that will be displayed in the chapel during Christmas. Donations can be made in honor of or in memory of a loved one. The list of names will be published in the Christmas bulletin. When making a donation for the poinsettias, please use one of the Christmas flower envelopes.

CHILDREN’S EDUCATION THIS SUNDAY

December 20 is Children’s Ed Sunday!   So we invite your kids and grand kids to join Joan for Children’s Ed after church this Sunday!

TWO MORE WEEKS!!!!
 
BUY PRODUCTS FOR YOURSELF:  Can use this link to buy candles, gifts, wrapping paper, centerpieces, and so much more!  40% will come back to ALL SOULS!   When you click on the link, you will see a “START SHOPPING” box in the lower corner.  Put the All Souls Group # in the box 99006893  the click “start shopping”.  https://www.yankeecandlefundraising.com/home.htm

HOSPITALITY COORDINATOR      AND   HELPERS NEEDED!!!!

 

As shared at the annual meeting, we are looking at hospitality coordinator or co-coordinators and helpers.   This is for the fellowship hour after the Sunday services but also for pot-lucks and other social activities we might have.   There were a lot of great ideas presented and we would love to have people to help out; plan; coordinate etc.  If you want to be part of this team please see Wendy or any board member for more information or to volunteer!

 

How are you doing answering this  past week’s 
question of the week? 
How can I answer the Gospel question “What should I do?” in a way that shows my heart “beats in time” with God’s?