Emmanuel

What is your deepest need during this Christmas season? The good news is the promise that God is with us at our own deepest point of NEED. Not only is God at the center of all that is significant, God (Emmanuel) is with you and me at our deepest point of need. What is your valley now? Christmas can be one of the loneliest times of the year. We are so exhausted by all that others expect of us that we can wear ourselves out trying to live up to their expectations . . . when we are empty within ourselves. We all have our needy areas in life. We all have our fears. I have my struggles, too, just as do you.

God doesn’t want you to live in denial. He doesn’t want you to have to fake a smile with Him when your heart is breaking inside. Jesus knows your trials. Jesus knows your temptations. Jesus knows your unfulfilled aspirations for yourself and for your loved ones. He is inviting you to bring your needs to Him. May we not forget that Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us, at our deepest point of need!!

Sunday Worship

Pastor Glen’s sermon on this Third Sunday of Advent is entitled, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” based upon the hymn of the same name and Isaiah 7:14. Please read this text in preparation for worship.

Adult Sunday School

Our Adult Sunday school class will meet this Sunday immediately after worship in the large Sunday school room. Please join Janet Coiner and others for a wonderful time around God’s Word!! We will be continuing a study of the Gospel of Luke. This Sunday we will study Luke 6:1-11: Honoring the Sabbath. Please bring your Bible!!

Church Choir

Our Hope Choir will be singing 12/18/22. If you love to sing, please join us for any of our practices on Saturday, December 10th at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 17th at 10:00 a.m., or Sunday, December 18th at 8:45 a.m. You do not have to attend all the practices to sing with us. We will be doing 2 familiar carols! Come on out!!

Christmas Caroling

All are welcome as we go out to sing to some of the folks in our congregation. We will meet at 12:30 p.m. this Saturday (December 10th) at the church.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will be at 5:00 p.m. at the church facility! Please come and invite your unchurched friends to join you!!

Church Administrator

Part-time volunteer church administrator opportunity. This would be a person who could help in the church office for 2-4 hours per week with general administrative duties. Please see Pastor Holman for more information.

Women’s Ministry Christmas Coffee

Tithes and Offerings

An offering box is available when you enter or exit the sanctuary. Additionally, online giving opportunities are available on the website.

Prayer Concerns and Praise Reports

If you have any concerns you would like to add to the Prayer Concerns and Praise Reports list or give an update, PLEASE contact our prayer coordinator, Janet Coiner (540.447.0918) by THURSDAY at NOON!! Thanks so much!!

Purchase of Church Building

On November 30th we closed on the church building! Bill Watkins was instrumental in facilitating the closing!! We are grateful for all his work in this important process. We now have two outstanding loans, which will be paid over time: a loan from the previous owners of the building and an EIDL loan through the Small Business Administration. May God continue to pour out His blessings, as we continue to be a blessing in our community!!

Mission Corner

Giving Tree for Love INC

There is a special Christmas tree in our sanctuary with hearts, identifying various items to be purchased and then given to those needing assistance through Love INC.

Missions Team is active keeping in touch with our missionaries and other ministries. Please keep updated! You can visit our website and go to the Outreach page

October Financial Report

Offerings: Monthly: $15,674.00 YTD: $157,432.60

Expenses: Monthly: $13,048.84 YTD: $153,814.04

We have also received monies designated for our capital campaign and restricted giving. In October we received $650.00 for our capital campaign.

Open House

The Holmans are hosting an open house on Sunday, December 18th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. (152 Boyington Blvd.) All are welcome, as we celebrate Kristen’s graduation from James Madison University School of Nursing!

Sent Lab

Lebanon Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Greenwood will be hosting an 8-week SENT LAB, beginning Wednesday, January 4. Equipping opportunity for ways to witness to the Gospel and make disciples in the context of community. The facilitator will be Pastor Shane Lilly, former associate pastor of Church on the Hill in Fishersville, who is currently practicing the principles of the LAB to bring non-church people into the Kingdom to be equipped to make disciples. Cost is only $12 for the Send manual.

December Birthdays

Gail Fisher (12/14); Ron Layne (12/18); Kate King (12/21); Cliff Scott (12/28)