First Presbyterian Church
Morehead City, North Carolina
Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs. - 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.; Fri. -9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Church Website:   www.firstpresmhc.org
THIS WEEK AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN 
November 30 - December 6, 2008
Sunday Services:
    SCRIPTURES:
      1st Scripture -   Isaiah 64: 1-9
      2nd Scripture -  Mark 13: 1-4; 24-37
     
   GOD’S WORD IN MUSIC:  
              11:00 -

    SERMON :   Watching and Waiting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bart Edwards   

       

Sunday - November 30   - 2¢ a Meal
  8:30    Worship
  9:40      Sunday School for all ages
 11:00     Worship
   5:30    Advent Dinner - Wreath Making
Monday - December 1
   9:30     Prayer Group
 11:00     Circle #1 and Circle #2 meet at Mrs. Willis Restaurant
   1:00     Cards and Games  
Tuesday - December 2
  9:00       Library workers
10:30    Circle #4 meeting at church followed by lunch at Floyd’s Restaurant
            Circle #3 will meet in the fellowship hall to host the 1st Advent Luncheon
               (Chairpersons:  Karen Askew and Debbie Wolfe)
11:00    Ministerial Association in Youth Room
12:10    Advent Luncheon
5:30 - 7:30 Boy Scout troop meeting
  8:00      AA meeting
Wednesday - December 3
   9:30      Hope Mission Volunteers
   4:00     Physical Plant meeting
   5:15      CHILDREN’S CHOIR PRACTICE
      Cherub Choir (ages 3yrs - 1st grade)- Drama Room
        Music Makers (grades 2-5)-Music Room
   5:15      At Home in Faith  - Youth Room
   6:00      Wednesday Night Dinner
   7:15      Disciplers Bible Study of Hebrews -  Evening Class
  Thursday - December 4
      10:00      Disciplers Bible Study
      10:30      New Horizons (Cook: Mary Jane Rogers  Helper: Eleanor Bisbee )
     4:00 - 9:00   Boy Scout Leader Banquet - Westminster Hall
Saturday - December 6
     10:00 - 2:00 - Art of the Season - Westminster Hall              

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER:
     Dec.   6 -  10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. -  Art of the Season
     Dec. 12 -    6:30 p.m. - Baby Boomers Christmas Party at the Aquarium
     Dec. 13 -  11:00 a.m. - Christmas Parade - PFC float
     Dec. 13-14 - Nativity Display in Westminster Hall
     Dec. 14 -   3:00 p.m. - Christmas Cheer Concert - Carteret Chorale
     Dec. 17 -   4:00 p.m. - Afternoon Gathering for children - Gingerbread House
     Dec. 20 - 12:00 noon - Christmas Cheer Luncheon
     Dec. 30 -   9:40 a.m. - Church-wide Holiday Gathering for all generations
                                                   
STEWARDSHIP DEDICATION SUNDAY WAS  LAST WEEK. 
    Have you  prayerfully considered God’s call upon your heart as this church family plans for the future?  If not, please do so today and join our church in fulfilling Christ’s visions for our congregation by returning your pledge card today.

NURSERY WORKERS:   Catherine Howell

NURSERY VOLUNTEERS (5th  Sunday): 8:30  Sara Simpson
                                             11:00 Kylee & Cyndee Mroz
USHERS:   8:30 - Steven Taylor, Jack Warrender, Stan Stanonis,  Beth La Brie
                  11:00  - Jack Warrender, Joe Pressly, Linda and Fred Bronaugh

VISITATION COMMITTEE:   Becky Blankenship

PARLOR COMMITTEE: Lois Hutchinson

HOSPITAL VISITOR:   Bill Schrock

FELLOWSHIP HOUR:  Alyce and Scott Kelly

GROCERY PICK-UP FOR HOPE MISSION: Fifth week
                    Thurs. - Judy and Stan Warlen

VAN DRIVER:   November 30: Bill Woolard;    December   7: Bill Capps
                       
VISITORS are invited to stay and join in the fellowship of our congregation for  coffee in the parlor after the 8:30 worship service and for refreshments and coffee following the 11:00 a.m. worship service in Westminster Hall.

FLOWERS  IN THE SANCTUARY are given to the glory of God by Ann and Peter Hale in celebration of their 40th wedding anniversary today.

 2¢ a Meal will be collected today!

ADVENT DINNER-TONIGHT AT 5:30  in Westminster Hall
For all of our church family…Everyone is invited!   Please join us on this first Sunday in Advent when we gather together for fellowship, dinner, and the opportunity to make advent wreaths.  We will make wreaths after dinner. If you haven’t signed up yet, please call Suzy at 646-5697.
    Everyone is encouraged to bring some fresh, cut greenery from your yard. We will be sharing “greens” with one another.   Dinner: Hearty Soup, Bread, Dessert and plenty of kid friendly food - $5 adults $3 children
   
FLOWER CHARTS FOR 2009 are on the bulletin board across from the nursery.  Sign up if you wish to have flowers placed in the sanctuary or narthex.

2008 NATIVITY DISPLAY - DECEMBER 13 and 14 - Please contact the church office if you have a Nativity that you would like to display or if you are interested in helping in this event that is open to the church and to the public.

ALTERNATIVE GIFT GIVING at it’s best!  This is our third year to offer alternative gifts as a way of celebrating the birth of Christ. Alternative gift giving is a way of blessing someone you love this Christmas with a gift that keeps on giving.  You will be able to make a donation to one of the local missions that our church supports. Beautiful gift cards are available with each donation.. ALL donations go directly to the local mission. Alternative Gifts are available after both worship services and in the church office during the week. 

Our CHRISTMAS CHEER luncheon guests are dreaming of a white Christmas - napkins, paper towels, toilet paper, and tissue.  The above items are not covered by Food Stamps. Beginning  Sunday, November 30th, please bring in some of these much needed items to put in the Christmas Cheer boxes.

HELP! WE NEED MORE ELVES!  The Christmas Cheer Luncheon is on December 20th and we still need more elves.  Please sign up on the list posted on the Columbarium door.  There are lots of other needs to make the luncheon a success.  Please sign up on the lists posted on the bulletin board across from the nursery.  This is an effort that takes the work of the entire church.  Thanks to  everyone for your willingness to help.
              
WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNER - December 3 at 6:00 p.m. is being prepared by Deanna Easter.  This week’s menu is Enchilada Suiza, Mexican rice, corn relish and flan for dessert.  Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children.  Please make your reservation by filling out the GREEN “Request and Reservation” slip in the pew rack and placing it in the offering plate.  Please make your reservation by noon, Monday, December 1st.   
                
PRESBYTERIAN COFFEE PROJECT:  Today is the last day before Christmas to order coffee, chocolate bars, and other fairly traded products (in the parlor after the first service, in Westminster Hall following the second).  Products ordered by today will be delivered to you at church December 14.  Thank you for joining more than 2300 other Presbyterian churches in supporting fair trade prices for small farmers around the world.

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL BOOKS are available on the narthex table.


PRAISE AND PRAYER CONCERNS

IN THE HOSPITAL THIS PAST WEEK - Joan Samuelson (now in rehab at Crystal Bluffs - Room 503)

AT HOME:  Catherine LaBianca, Rene Ingram,  Doris Robinson, Macy and John Fusaro, Carolyn Cohen,  Frances Cooper,  and Andy Andrè

PRAYERS FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP CHURCH IN SLOUPNICE, CZECH REPUBLIC A MEMBER OF THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF CZECH BRETHERAN.

PRAYERS OF SYMPATHY to the family of Karolyn Cleveland who died several weeks ago in Cary.  Karolyn was a member of First Presbyterian from 1974 to 1993 when she moved to Glenaire Retirement Community in Cary.

REMEMBER OUR SHUT-INS: 
    Harborview Health Care - Irene Doremus and (Bob Harned)       
    Heritage of Newport - (Hazel Fodrie)
    Sterling House -  Bill Schneider
    Somerset Court - (June George),(Sandy Dunn) and (Richard Baccus)
    Carolina House - Josie Smetana, (Irene Epperson)  and (Shirley Toler)
    Crystal Bluffs - (Lorena Joyner), Joan Samuelson
    Taylor Extended Care, Sea Level - Ed Lewis
    Out-of-town -  Pat Adams
    Snug Harbor on Nelson Bay - Rowland Jones

PRAY FOR OUR FRIENDS STATIONED AROUND THE WORLD:
    SSG William D. Harper           Capt. Kevin Riley
     S-3 HHT ,                             C Troop, 6/17 CAV
    1/3 ACR,                                FOB Diamondback
    APO AE 09351                        Iraq
                                                APO AE 09334


Mark your calendars -
REVISITING “THE SHACK” by William P. Young
Led by Debbi Harvell   A three session study exploring the scripture based concepts as they are addressed in the book will begin on January 9, 2009 at 12:00 noon in the Library here at First Presbyterian.  Bring a brown bag lunch.  Open to the community.  For more information, call Debbi at 726-7010.

With sadness we announce to the congregation the resignation of our Director of Music, Rick Smith, effective December 31, 2008, as he assumes the position of Director of Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Beaufort.  Please give thanks for Rick’s ministry here with us.