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The Chimes nline
Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta
SUNDAY Schedule
November 20 & 27, 2011 Christ at the Center
Sunday, November 20
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• Prayer breakfast for Homeless persons - 6:30 am, Fifield Hall • Communion Service 8:30 am, Winship Chapel • The Mustard Seed Bookstore 9:00 am - 1:00 pm • Cherub Choir - 9:30 am • Worship Service - 9:00 am, Sanctuary
Nov. 20 - Craig Goodrich to preach
• Sunday School - 10:05 am • Fellowship Hour - 11:00 am Fifield Hall • Worship Service - 11:15 am, Sanctuary
Sunday, November 27 • Prayer breakfast for Homeless persons - 6:30 am, Fifield Hall • Communion Service 8:30 am, Winship Chapel • The Mustard Seed Bookstore 9:00 am - 1:00 pm • Cherub Choir - 9:30 am • Worship Service - 9:00 am, Sanctuary • Sunday School - 10:05 am • Youth Contemporary Worship 10:05 am, B111 • Worship Service - 11:15 am, Sanctuary • Fellowship Hour - 12:15 pm Reception Room • Hanging of the Greens, 5:00 pm, Fifield Hall
t is hard to believe that in a few days it will be Thanksgiving. I love this uniquely American holiday. I love the memories, the gathering of family and friends, the food and football, the walks and the lazy day after Thanksgiving (unless you have to work or
rush out to the sales!) I also love the story of the origin of Thanksgiving, going back to the Mayflower and the pilgrims who in 1621, after having survived their first year in the “new world” in spite of enduring extreme hardship and the loss of half of their company, decided that instead of having a day of remembrance and mourning, they would have a day of thanksgiving. And I love the fact that the first Presidential proclamation establishing a national day of thanksgiving was issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1863, right in the middle of our Civil War. You see, the giving of thanks, the prayer of thanksgiving, need not depend on everything being “just right.” In fact, the apostle Paul writes to the believers in Thessalonica, encouraging them to, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” (1st Thessalonians 5:18). What are your traditions at Thanksgiving? For what are you thankful? Have you developed the habit of giving thanks in all circumstances? When we do, we begin to see all of life through grateful eyes. And when we give thanks, we allow God space to work in our lives and the lives of those around us. Come, let’s worship together this Sunday and give thanks to the Lord. The sermon is entitled “Practicing Thanksgiving.”
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he words below are from the Presbyterian author and poet Ann Weems, leading us in the right direction as we begin the Advent season. All of us are Bethlehem Bound, Nov. 27 - George Wirth to preach so let’s open our eyes to see, our ears to hear and our hearts and homes to receive the greatest gift ever given – God’s Son, our Savior Jesus! Beginning our sermon series, I will preach from Isaiah 9:2-7 and Matthew 1:18-25: “What the World Needs Now – Hope.” I look forward to seeing you as we celebrate communion and worship the Lord!
In each heart lies a Bethlehem, an inn where we must ultimately answer whether there is room or not. When we are Bethlehem-bound we experience our own advent in his. When we are Bethlehem-bound we can no longer look the other way conveniently not seeing stars not hearing angel voices. We can no longer excuse ourselves by busily tending our sheep or our kingdoms.
Gratefully,
This Advent, let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that the Lord has made known to us. In the midst of shopping sprees let’s ponder in our hearts the Gift of Gifts. Through the tinsel let’s look for the gold of the Christmas Star. In the excitement and confusion, in the merry chaos, let’s listen for the brush of angels wings. This Advent, let’s go to Bethlehem and find our kneeling places
Craig
-Ann Weems, “Kneeling in Bethlehem”