Congregational Life

December 13, 2009

Today: Advent Christmas Prog/Dinner

This Week:

December 14^th 7PM – Session

Looking Ahead:

December 20^th 11:15 – Deacon’s Meeting

December 24^th 7PM - Christmas Eve Service December 24^th Communion

December 25^th Merry Christmas!

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Prayer Concerns

Craig Mallett: Prayers for healing and strength. (8803 2^nd Ave. – Murray, 68409)

Gladys Hauschild: Prayers for healing and strength. (7606 McKelvie Rd. – Nehawka, 68413)

Kyle Nickels: Prayers for healing and strength. (5312 12^th Ave. – Murray, 68409)

Fay Jose Family: Prayers for Fay’s family as they mourn his passing. (Konfrst: 312 N. Loughridge Ave. – Murray, 68409; Ayers: 310 N. Loughridge Ave. – Murray, 68409; Deterding: 3613 Buccaneer Blvd. – Plattsmouth, 68048)

Nickey Johnson: Prayers for Nickey and her family as they mourn her dad’s passing. (922 N. 9^th Street – Plattsmouth, 68048)

Betty Tepner: Prayers for healing and strength for Betty and strength for Dixie Craft. (5309 Crogans Way Road – Council Bluffs, IA 51501)

Don Loftin: Prayers for continued healing. (9500 Milford Road – Beaver Lake, 68048)

Dave, Jenny, Sammy & Ella Cook: Prayers for continued healing for Ella and strength for the family. (9923 12^th St. Murray, 68409)

Dennis Gochenour: Prayers for healing and strength. (404 N. Elm St. – Murray, 68409)

Nessie Swedlund: Prayers for healing and strength. (P.O. Box 61 – Murray, 68409)

Cathy Balfour: Prayers for strength.

Additional Prayer Concerns:

Janelle Sorenson: Prayers for her mom.

Thoughts & Continual Prayers for our shut-ins:

Lottie Johnson: Ambassador, 1800 14th Ave. #208, Nebraska City, NE 68410

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Remember the members of our Armed Forces who are serving overseas and stateside.

Dave Cook

CDR Dave Cook

N-1

FPO, AE 09363-9998

Troy Froistad

Kris Kidd

Philmore Williams

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To Our Sunday School Teachers

By: Dania Hann-Lachapelle

There’s a time and a place that’s special each week,

Where we’re eager to learn of the Word that we seek.

The lessons are studied and scripture is read

But let us go back a few days, instead.

Your week is so busy and filled with “to do’s”

Like everyone else not a minute to lose.

Your family, your business, work never ending

Your precious few moments you’re ever still lending.

But you make the time to prepare for Sunday

When you know someone will listen to the words that you say.

So with God’s special guidance, with prayer and with time

You prepare for each Sunday, the Word we can find.

Thank you for giving us an hour each week

Knowing it is the Word of the Lord that we seek.

And today we are blessed and grow more each day

Because you dedicate your love to the Lord in this way.

We wouldn’t have Sunday School if it weren’t for you.

So today we say thank you for all that you do.

Have a Merry Christmas

We will see you again after the First of the year.

Murray Presbyterian Kids

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~Thank You~

Anna and Craig Mallett wish to say “thank you” for all the cards and prayers.

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**Christmas Party**

Please join us TODAY after the service for our Christmas Party!

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Annual Reports – Session Members

The end of the year is approaching. Please start working on your committee report so it can be submitted to the office by January 7^th.

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~Poinsettias~

Christmas is on its way and so are the poinsettias! If you are interested in ordering a poinsettia “In Memory of” or “To Honor” someone you love, please complete one of the forms on the table in the back of the church. The flowers will be available around the 18^th of December and are $7.00 each. Please return the form with your money to the church office.

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Prayer Chain

Please call(235-3323)or e-mail(Harold-laverne@inebraska.com) LaVerne Ebner if you have anything to put out on the prayer chain – no matter how small you may think it is!

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Murray Presbyterian Church

T-Shirts

Please see one of the Deacons if you would like a Murray Presbyterian t-shirt. The sizes still available are Youth small and large; Adult small and extra large. The cost to you is $3.00.

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Liturgist Sign-up

If you would like to volunteer to be a liturgist, please sign-up on the sheet on the back table.

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Pastor Jeff’s Cell Phone Number

(402) 682-1439

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Please visit our website at:

www.murraypresbyterian.com

each week to see the church bulletin and the congregational life insert. The newsletter is also posted there monthly!!!

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The Lighting of the Third Advent Candle

Advent Reader: We call the third candle of Advent, love. As the candle of love is lighted, let’s think about how much God loves each of us. Through God’s own self-revelation of Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible we are now drawn here to worship Him by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Congregation: For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Advent Reader: The Christmas hymn “O Little Town of Bethlehem” was written by Phillips Brooks, the pastor of a church in Philadelphia, who had visited Palestine. One evening as he was riding on horseback past the trees outside Bethlehem to the fields where it is believed the shepherds watched their flocks and heard the angel’s message, he was inspired to write the song.

He thought about the wonderful gift of love God gave to the world that night. He tried to imagine what it had been like in those fields when angels told the shepherds that, because of God’s love for us, God sent His Son to save us from our sins.

When Phillips Brooks returned to Philadelphia, he often remembered the quiet beauty of that night he had stood in the shepherds’ fields near Bethlehem. He thought of how God’s love has continued through the centuries since that first Christmas long ago.

Prayer (Unison): Dear Lord, thank you for the Christmas songs that still inspire and move our hearts today. They continue to remind us of Your great love for us. We offer our hearts and minds as we come to worship the one who was born in “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Lighting of the Third Advent Candle

Congregation: For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).