Peter's Message
Dear Friends,

By now we’re all used to having major holidays announced by mail. No sooner is Halloween past than our mail boxes are filled with green-and-red-colored catalogs prompting us to get going with our Christmas shopping. How many days left until the 25th? I’d rather not know.

I hope that for you worship during Advent is a counterweight to the pressures of this season. Advent’s promise is the coming of Christ: his gracious presence among us, his promise of peace to us. Advent is a season of joy – a joy that takes its time in arriving. As we get closer, we see it more clearly. For this reason, we need each of Advent’s four weeks. It takes time to prepare for joy.

How do you prepare for the coming of Christ? Does quiet time during the day open your heart and mind to his arrival? Does decorating your home in festive colors and family ornaments cause you to reflect on God’s rich blessings? Does the familiar and beautiful music of Advent and Christmas connect you to Christian hope?

Advent is personal; its four weeks bring out in us a host of hopes and emotions. Advent is also for family, for friends, for being together with those we love. Deep memories come close in December. For this reason these weeks are a season for caring deeply, for showing compassion toward those who have endured loss.

Christmas catalogs stick with Santa. As a grandfather-to-be, I can relate to him. He’s the jolly old soul who brings gifts. He’s the one who comes and goes and doesn’t have to do the hard work of parenting. Jesus, however, comes and stays. He lives among us, giving himself completely for us. He is our comfort and joy. He is our hope. When we are together in worship he is present. When we reach out to others he is there. When we open the doors of our church, he is our guest and our host.

May you be blessed in Advent and in these weeks of worship.

Grace and peace,

Peter

Advent Dinner and Workshop Opens the Season!
On Sunday, November 29th, we held our annual Advent Dinner and Craft Workshop in the CFC. After a delicious pot luck dinner, we visited the tables that were set up to make wreaths, ornaments, and many other delightful Christmas craft projects. A HUGE thanks to Susan Croshaw and the many dedicated members of the Children and Youth Ministries Team for all of their hard work in setting up the craft tables and all of the other preparations!

.
.
.
.
.

Head Custodian Dick Butze Retires after Twelve Years of Service
On Tuesday, December 1, the church hosted a retirement luncheon for Dick Butze. Organized by Dan Cross and Joy Hinn, the event was a wonderful tribute to Dick's faithful service and dedication to our church. Many spoke of ways he had been helpful, and all wish Dick and Barrie much happiness in retirement!
.
.
.
.
.

WINTER LIFE GROUPS BEGIN WEEK OF JAN. 3
WATCH FOR SCHEDULE AND SIGN-UPS ON THE PATIO

STEADFAST  STEWARDSHIP  SATISFIES, By  Alfred Noreen, Chairman 2010 Stewardship Campaign
As of November 16, 2009, following Commitment Sunday plus one week, 130 pledges had been received for  total of $408,728.  ( This compares with 123 pledges totaling $393,654 at the same time in last year’s  Stewardship Campaign.)   Outstanding are 46 pledgers for 2009, who have not yet submitted their commitment for 2010.  The total of these last year’s pledges is $124,507.   Adding these probable pledges to the actual pledges received gives a total probable number of pledges for 2010 of 176 with a  total amount of $533,235.    (This compares with 179 pledges totaling $544,566  at the conclusion of the 2009 Campaign.) The 2010 result is essentially the same as that of 2009.    Considering the troubled financial climate over the past year, being able to maintain our corporate level of giving is gratifying, when many institutions and individuals are forced to contract. If you have yet to submit your pledge for 2010,  consider the opportunity  afforded to assure the viability and vitality of the “body of Christ” in First Presbyterian church through making your commitment  in a pledge dropped in the offering plate, in the Church Office, or delivered by mail.    To be useful in planning for 2010 programs, your pledge should be received by December 31, 2009.

A Letter from Jim Witty:
Dear Friends, I am in N Uganda along the Sudan border training the missionaries and mission workers bringing the Good News and the care for the children who were abducted by the rebels, child soldiers and child mothers. I wanted to send this video of this Children's Care Program (Care Corps is a validated mission of our presbytery) so you can make this available to your congregation. You can go to this site http://gallery.me.com/carecorps and find the movie at the bottom of the page of photos. For those who need a short video for the mission moment in your worship services you can download the video. Take a look at the other pictures of various missions of Care Corps International.  Please include us in your prayers during this advent season. Your support of this mission is vital.
Jim Witty
Care Corps International
USA Office - Dallas,Texas

Unity Shoppe Invites Us to See Parade of Lights (From Tom Reed, Director)
Here is some information on a very fun event we are doing here at Unity for this year's Parade of Lights on Sunday, December 13th.  We will board at the SB Sailing Center at the harbor at 5 pm. and will off-load after  the fireworks, probably around 8:30 pm.

Charlie Munger's crew very gratiously offers the Channel Cat to us every year for the Parade of Lights in an effort to assist Unity.  They really like what we do and this is their way of donating.  If you haven't done this in the past, you need to know how special an event this is!  The yatch is unbelievable, the food and wine are fantastic, cruising along in the middle of the Parade of Lights is great fun, riding past Stearns Wharf with all the crowds cheering is a hoot and then watching the fireworks from the ship is the perfect icing on the cake!

Due to the economic downturn, Unity is struggling to come up with enough food, warm clothing and toys for the 3,000 families that are scheduled to come to us through Christmas Eve.  So this event, hopefully, will help us purchase food in bulk to meet the need.

LIFE OF THE CHURCH

THE FLOWERS this morning are dedicated by Arius Schiff in honor of Eric Schiff. Following worship the Deacons will take the flowers to those who are ill or homebound.

THE LOOSE OFFERING THIS MORNING will go to the Deacon’s Fund to aid in their ministry of caring.

CLIPPER CLUB – PAIRS & SPARES: Friday, December 11 begins at 5:30 p.m. with Christmas punch, a delicious dinner by Kay at 6:00 with the program to follow. The program is a comedy play by Stuart MacMillan, “Blackie at Christmas.” Blackie, a Labrador Retriever is a life-like, full-sized stuffed dog. The cost is $13 per person and “A Reservation Made is a Reservation Paid.” Call Stuart & Irene for reservation: 898-1548.

THE CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING will be received December 20. Half of this offering goes to support active or retired ministers with unexpected financial needs, the other half to students at one of our historically Black or Hispanic colleges. Thanks to your past gifts, both of these ministries remain strong. Give generously on December 20.

ASTONISHED! “Jesus was astonishing!” Rev. Bart Tarman is astonished when he sees Jesus as he is revealed in the Gospel accounts. In this workshop on evangelism, he will give you tools to share this astonishing life with others. Rev. Tarman, former Chaplain of Westmont College and currently associated with the National Prayer Breakfast, will offer this workshop, one of eleven, at the S.B. Presbytery Missions Conference, Saturday, Jan. 16, at FPC. Go to www.sbmissionconference.org.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND YOUNG ADULTS!! Josh Murray will be meeting on the Patio on Sunday mornings at 10:30 for a pilgrimage to a nearby coffee shop or restaurant for a time of discussion, prayer, and fellowship.

THIS WEEK AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Sunday, December 6 – 8:30 a.m. – Contemplative Worship in Chapel; 9 a.m. - Informal Worship in CFC; 10:30 a.m. - Worship in the Sanctuary; 3:00 p.m. Westmont Christmas Concert in the Sanctuary.

Monday, December 7 -  5:00 p.m. – Transition House there, call Sandy for information (682-8569); 6:00 p.m. – Willbridge Concert in CFC

Tuesday, December 8 -  7:30 a.m. – Men’s Bible Breakfast in Anderson Lounge; 6:30 p.m. – Mission Team in Anderson Lounge,

Wednesday, December 9 – 12 noon – Bible Study with Pastor Judith in Anderson Lounge, bring your lunch; 7:00 p.m. Sr. Hi Group in Youth Lounge (Josh 279-2391)

Thursday, December 10 – 3:00 p.m. – PW Christmas Tea in Anderson Lounge; 7:00 p.m. – Choir (Nelson, nchuber@cox.net)

Friday, December 11 – 10:00 a.m. – Senior Activities Program begins in Garden Room; 5:30 p.m. Clipper Club – Pairs & Spares in the CFC, reservation required (898-1548); 6 p.m. – Jr. Hi Group Youth Lounge (Josh 279-2391)

Saturday, December 12 – 7:00 p.m. Inner Light Gospel Choir Christmas Concert – in the CFC (tickets at the door).

Sunday, December 13 – 8:30 a.m. – noon – Craft Boutique Reprise  in Fireside Lounge; 8:30 – noon – PEANUT BUTTER SUNDAY, boxes in the office & Narthex; 8:30 a.m. – Contemplative Worship in Chapel;  9 a.m. - Informal Worship in CFC; 10:30 a.m. - Worship in the Sanctuary; 12 noon – Sunday Circle in Anderson Lounge, bring your lunch

THE PRAYER CHAIN is available to pray for your needs. Lounge Prayer Boxes in the Narthex and Fireside are provided by the Congregational Care Ministry. Please place a request form in the box, contact Chuck Curtis at: ccurtis@fpcsb.org or call 687-0754 x102. Requests are kept confidential.

PRAYER AND INTERCESSION

Pray for:

· Missionary Dan Stevens and the staff at Lifewater International

· Those who are sick, hospitalized or recovering and need our support

· Our military personnel serving in the Middle East: Tech Sgt. Donald Adams (nephew of Jay and Marilyn Torrey); Capt. Sean Gardner, (grandson of Jeannette Klingler); Kyle Lauth, (grandson on Dolores Crisp); SSgt. Erich Johnson (grandson of Beverly Smaniotto); Nicolas Jones (grandson of Allen & Ann Braithwaite); Andrew Gaston (brother of Leah Gaston); the people of the Middle East, the pastors and people of the churches and for all those working for peace in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world

· Presbytery Moderator Rev. Jay Licata, Past Moderator Rev. Jan Armstrong, Moderator Elect Ruric Nye.