Friday, December 16, 2011
Fairlawn West UCC newsletter Dec 16, 2011
Hi folks...dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Here are some updates for the next weeks of our life within the body of Christ as Fairlawn West United Church of Christ.
POTLUCK AND LONGEST NIGHT/WINTER SOLSTICE SERVICE
On Wednesday December 21st we will be having our monthly congregational potluck supper at 6:00 pm. At 6:45 pm we will have a service called "The Longest Night" and in recognition of the solstice, that not everyone feels the joy of Christmas in this season often due to pain and loss in their life. We have hosted this service here many years ago.
CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP SERVICE
Our Christmas Eve service on Saturday, December 24th will be at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary. This year we will have a time of singing with the children of the gospel carol "Children, Go Where I Send Thee." Also, the younger kids will be given glow lights at the time that the older children and adults will be lighting the candles for the singing of "Silent Night."
NO WORSHIP SERVICE ON DECEMBER 25TH
We will not have a service on Sunday December 25th. There will be a service on Sunday, January 1st at 9:30 am.
REV LOAR ON VACATION
David Loar will be on vacation with his family visiting Martha's family in Crossville, Tennessee December 25 to December 31.
ALISON OSWALD ON MATERNITY LEAVE
Alison, our office secretary, will be on maternity leave from December 19th to the middle of March for the birth of her daughter in January. We have lined up people to be in the office for each day of the week during that time. Monday-Mary Austin, Tuesday-Clare Llewellyn, Wednesday-Jake Nash, Thursday-Karen Myers, Friday-Pam Reid & Susan Kolarick.
PRESCHOOL
The Preschool Christmas Party is Wednesday, December 21st at 11:00 am. Feel free to drop in. Our new ad in the Westside Leader is posted on the main bulletin board. You can see it in this week's edition and it will run again next week.
EVENING BIBLE READING AND REFLECTION
For 11 years we have had a Bible reading and reflection group that met for over 10 years at the food court at Summit Mall and now meets on Thursdays at 9:30 am in the Vista Room in our building. On Thursday, January 5th/12th Night, we will begin an evening group at 6:30 pm in the Vista Room. We meet for one hour to read through and reflect on books of the Bible. We will start with the Gospel of Matthew.
OUTREACH SERVING FUTURE DATES
hosting Family Promise families in our building January 15-22
meal for Miller Ave UCC "5th Sunday" at 4:00 pm on Sunday, January 29th
SABBATH a book by Wayne Muller
"Sabbath requires surrender. If we only stop when we are finished with all our work, we will never stop, because our work is never completely done. With every accomplishment there arises a new responsibility... Sabbath dissolves the artificial urgency of our days, because it liberates us from the need to be finished."
ADVENT/CHRISTMAS QUOTE by David Loar
in this last week of Advent, it is now time to slow down and listen and wait even more. the demonic tempts us through the culture around us to speed up and become more anxious, especially in the week before Christmas. to be a follower of Jesus in this culture is to be counter-cultural as it was in the time of Jesus. The institutions and governing claim to be part of the movement, but they only have a thin veneer and tip of the hat recognition of this time in God's true time. It is not easy to be a follower of Jesus in this culture at this time of year, but it is very rewarding.
Fairlawn West United Church of Christ, 2095 West Market Street, Akron, OH 44313; 330-864-2179; office@fairlawnwest.org
http://www.fairlawnwest.org
