PCPC Life: Advent-Christmas 2023

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

-Luke 2:14

PCPC LIFE

palma ceia P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h

3501 San Jose • Tampa, Florida 33629 • 813.253.6047 • www.palmaceia.org

Advent 2023

Advent Calendar Wednesday, Nov. 29 5:15-6:15pm Wednesday Night Dinner Friday, Dec. 1 9am: Decorate the Sanctuary & Chrismon Tree for Advent/ Christmas. All helping hands appreciated!

Sunday, Dec. 3: 1st Sunday of Advent 5:30-6:30pm: Living Nativity Stroll Monday, Dec. 4 AND Tuesday, Dec. 5 TOS Messiah Concert in Sanctuary at 7:00 pm TOS Messiah Concert in Sanctuary at 7:00 pm Wednesday, Dec. 6 5:15-6:15pm: Wednesday Night Dinner Saturday, Dec. 9 10am-12pm: Presbyterian Women’s Christmas Coffee at Jeanne Rowe’s House: 2430 W Watrous Ave. Sunday, Dec. 10: 2nd Sunday of Advent 10am-12pm: Rise Against Hunger for those who have signed up Wednesday, Dec. 13 5:15-6:15pm Wednesday Night Dinner 6:15-6:45pm Trinity Handbell Concert in Sanctuary Sunday, Dec. 17: 3rd Sunday of Advent 10am: New Members Class 6pm: Longest Night Service

Wednesday, Dec. 20 5:15-6:15pm: Wednesday Night Dinner Jolley Trolley & Christmas Carols during Wednesday Night Dinner!

Sunday, Dec. 24: Christmas Eve No 8:30am service 9:00 am: Sunday Morning Contemporary Service 11:00 am: Sunday Morning Traditional Service 4:30 pm: Family Lessons & Carols Christmas Eve Service in Sanctuary with Junior and Joyful Noise choirs 6:00 pm: Family-Friendly Courtyard service with Paper Bag Nativities and Live Animals 7:00 pm: Contemporary Christmas Eve Service in the Gym with Candlelight and Carols 8:00 pm: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service in the Sanctuary with Communion and Chancel Choir 11:00 pm: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service in the Sanctuary with Communion and Chancel Choir Sunday, Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve 8:30 & 11am: Traditional Service in the Sanctuary 9am: Contemporary Service in the Gym 6pm: New Year’s Eve Service Come casual or dressed up! This worship service will end with steeple bell ringing, sparkling grape juice, and fireworks in the courtyard.

Advent: A Season of Hoping, Waiting, and Preparing

By Rev. Nicole Partin Abdnour

Beginning Sunday, December 3rd you will notice changes in our worship spaces: the paraments (the word for the hangings on the pulpit and lectern) and pastor’s stoles (the strip of fabric worn around the neck over the robe) become blue. Blue is the color for Advent because it is the color associated with Mary and it is the color of hope, expectation, confidence, continued on page two

Advent continued from page one and anticipation. The advent wreath comes out, followed by poinsettias, wreaths, and a tree adorned with Chrismons (ornaments of Christian symbols) the next week. The reason for these changes is it is Advent, a season which begins our preparation for the birth of Jesus and marking the start of a new liturgical year for the Church.

Advent is the time in which the church, rejoicing in Christ’s first coming, eagerly looks forward to Christ’s coming again.

The Advent season lasts four weeks and is observed the four Sundays prior to Christmas. This year the 4th Sunday in Advent is also Christmas Eve. The advent wreath often evokes questions as to its purpose and meaning. The wreath is round, with no beginning or end, testifying to the eternity of God’s creation, and of God’s love and care for people. The wreath is of evergreen, recalling that our faith, hope, and love are always alive when they spring from God and God’s Son. The candles represent the One who said, “I am the light of the world,” and provide a countdown to Christmas.

As Christians, Christmas is more than one day. The Christmas Cycle begins the first Sunday of Advent, includes the twelve days of Christmas (yes, twelve days to celebrate the justice and peace that God brings into the world through Jesus Christ), and ends with Epiphany (January 6). On Christmas Day we celebrate the entrance of the Light into the world, and at Epiphany we celebrate the appearance of the Light to the world. Within our tradition this is demonstrated in remembering the coming of the magi (the three wise men).

PCPC has many worship, learning, service, and music opportunities to help you and your families prepare your hearts and minds to welcome and celebrate God’s presence in the world. We hope you will join us. Have a blessed Advent and Christmas season.

2 | www.palmaceia.org

Presbyterian Women Christmas Coffee All women of the church are invited to attend the Presbyterian Women’s Christmas Coffee on Saturday, December 9th from 10am-12pm at the home of Jeanne Rowe: 2430 W Watrous Ave. Members of PCPC’s Presbyterian Women Bible studies will be providing light snacks. Feel free to drop in for seasonal fellowship!

Poinsettia Dedications Deadline: December 12

Dedicate a poinsettia in remembrance or in honor of a loved one! Dedications are $10 each and can be made by going to www.palmaceia.org/poinsettias, by calling the church office, or by emailing susanfrost@palmaceia. org with your dedication. You can mail in payment, drop off payment to Church office, or put it in the offering plate. To have your dedication printed in the bulletin, the deadline is Tuesday, December 12. The PRINT version will run in the bulletin December 17.

Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”

-Luke 1:38

Grateful for your Generosity; Committed to our Future Friends, we cannot adequately express our gratitude for the pledges you have made during this year’s Stewardship Campaign. As of this printing, and thanks to the 314 pledges which have been made thus far, we are at 89% of our goal of $1.9M. So, specifically, we want to thank YOU. Clearly, we have a congregation which cares deeply about its faith, its commitment to God, and the future of PCPC. For those of you who haven’t pledged yet, we know that this year’s Campaign goal is a mighty one! So, we really do need each one of YOU. We look forward to your commitment as we make this final push to reach our goal in time to prepare the 2024 budget. Achieving this goal will require all of us, though many, to work as “one body in Christ.” Hand in hand, we can, and we will, accomplish our goal. If you have not pledged to the 2024 Stewardship Campaign, we ask that you prayerfully consider doing so now. When we are generous together, it creates a bond of fellowship that cannot be broken. By pledging today, you can help strengthen the beautiful mosaic that is PCPC. Let’s build our community together.

You can still pledge at palmaceia.org/pledge, by turning in a pledge form to the office, or by scanning the QR code.

A Note From the Finance Office If you intend to donate stock to be credited for 2023 tax purposes, please initiate your transfer to our broker by early December. Contact Kelley Fowler at finance@palmaceia.org for instructions.

Thank you for your generosity.

New Members Classes at Palma Ceia Presbyterian November 26, 10-11am December 17, 10-11am

PCPC’s New Member Class is for anyone who has an interest in learning more about Palma Ceia Presbyterian, its ministries, and membership. All are welcome in the Hospitality Room next to the chapel (bottom floor, facing the Courtyard), and we look forward to seeing you. Email susanfrost@palmaceia.org if you have any questions or to let us know you plan to attend. Please reach out to us as well if Sunday mornings at 10:00 am won’t work for you.

Wednesday Night Dinners are served every Wednesday in the Fellowship Hall between 5:15 and 6:15.

All are welcome, and no reservations are needed. The cost is $5/adult, $3/child, or $15 max per family. Cash is still accepted, or you can pay online at palmaceia.org/give.

Upcoming Menus (always subject to change pending grocery availability!)

Nov. 29: Beef/Veggie Lasagna Dec. 6: Beef Stroganoff with Egg Noodles Dec. 13: Stone Soup & Cornbread Dec. 20: Chili/PBJ’s Jan. 3: Roast Pork, Black Eyed Peas, & Collard Greens Jan. 10: Beef Stew

Silver Connections Fitness We now are offering Simplified Tai Chi every Thursday 2:15-3:00 in the Game Room: Westminster 202/204. Our instructor, Annet, has been teaching Tai Chi for over 20 years. She currently teaches at the YMCA and Memorial Hospital. Annet teaches simplified Tai Chi. Tai Chi is great for stress relief, relaxation, meditation as well as balance. You can sit in the chair or stand throughout the class. If you haven’t made it to the first few classes, it’s ok — Annet will catch you up! Come join us; everyone is welcome!

We also continue to invite each of you to Silver Fitness, PCPC’s very own exercise class. We are so blessed to have our own Tom Little, Silver Sneakers Coach, leading us every Tuesday from 2:00 - 3:00 in the Game Room of the Westminster building. This is a complimentary class for members and their friends. Currently we are pleased to have men and women ages 65 to 91 participating; however, any age is welcome! All the equipment you need is available as well as chairs for those who are more comfortable exercising while seated. We work on developing our strength, coordination, balance and endurance!

PCPC Life Advent 2023 | 3

Children & Families Ministry November 26: Service Hour Sunday 10am-10:50am in WM202

All ages are welcome to decorate mini-trees for “seasoned” adults in the congregation. Everyone is invited to also create and take home Advent wreaths, crafts, and pick up a devotional guide to practice to draw close to God. The Middle School LIFT class will join this service hour as well.

Play Group on the Playground Tues., Nov. 28, Tues., Dec. 5, & Tues., Jan. 9, 4-5:30pm

Come to the Stable: A Living Nativity Stroll Sunday, December 3rd Arrive anytime between 5:30-6:30pm Wander freely this year throughout the Living Nativity set outside the church campus. We encourage you to arrive at different times to allow for a comfortable space for all. Stroll around with your hot chocolate and cookies to five different aspects of the story with special live music at each location, accessing the story from any location.

The playground is open to anyone and everyone on the above dates. This is simply an opportunity for children to burn energy and for parents to enjoy fellowship. To receive reminders when future playgroups are happening, contact Anna Shuford.

Music and Movement Music and Movement has its last session of the year Dec. 13th. It will then resume on January 10th.

Sunday, December 10: Rise Against Hunger 10-12:30 pm in Fellowship Hall

The Christmas story will be shared at the stable every 10 minutes in the courtyard with live animals and costumed characters.

If you want your child to participate or if you want to sign up to help with the event go to palmaceia.org/Christmas

Christmas in the Four Gospel Homes December 3-24, 2023 at 10am in EM 307/308 and on Zoom How might a house look for Christmas based on what each Gospel says about it? Join us in Advent, as we explore the distinctive perspective of the birth of Jesus offered by each Gospel. Christmas in the Four Gospel Homes by Cynthia Campbell will serve as our text for this creative study. Email DiannaWilliams@palmaceia.org for the Zoom link.

Faith and Fiction Children and adults alike can join us to pack 10,152 meals to fill the empty stomachs of children around the world and to use for disaster assistance. This event can only accommodate 45 people, so you’ll want to sign up quickly!

Sign up at palmaceia.org/Christmas

Faith and Fiction meets on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 7:30pm in a hybrid fashion — in-person in Room CH 310 (PW Room) and on Zoom. The group reads a wide range of fiction and (occasionally) non-fiction books, looking for evidence of faith in the lives of the characters. We are always looking for new folks to join us. Contact Charlene Tobie at at ctobie@tampabay.rr.com with any questions.

Faith & Fellowship Hour

Upcoming Books:

Faith & Fellowship Hour for PreK-3 through 5th grade meets through Dec. 17th, and then takes a pause, resuming January 7th.

4 | www.palmaceia.org

November 21: The Latecomers by Helen Klein Ross December 19: Inciting Joy by Ross Gay

Children & Families Ministry Third Grade Bible Presentation Elders and youth wrote messages and highlighted favorite passages. Each child received a stamp when they completed the afternoon sessions.

The sessions were: • How did the Bible Come to Be? (with Sara Mickelson) • Knowing Your Way Around Your New Bible (with Allison Kelly) • Seeing from Different Perspectives - Synoptics Gospels (with Martin Miller) • The Power of Applying the Bible to Our Lives (with Teri and Jeff Willis) • Old Testament Overview (with Anna Shuford) • Adults - Bible Overview (with the Rev. Dr. Nicole Abdnour) • Reading the Bible with My Child or Grandchild (with Allison Kelly)

8:30 am Traditional Service Bible Presentation

Here are just a few of the messages written in the Bibles given to 3rd graders: Your Bible is something that will help guide you throughout your whole entire life. Value and treasure it! Use it to Grow!

This Book is really big and a little scary but God is with you and it gets easier so keep going.

May God bless you on your journey reading this book and hope you think about God from a different perspective. Live, laugh, love.

This is the Best Book! May it bring you love, peace, strength, and comfort. Lots of examples of love, kindness, care and friendship. God loves you very much!

11:00 am Traditional Service Bible Presentation

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. -Isaiah 40:1 9:00 am Connection Service Bible Presentation

PCPC Life Advent 2023| 5

Compassionate Outreach CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD For almost two decades, PCPC has supported a Christmas giving program initiated by Bill Wallof, Dean of the Chapel, to “purchase” gifts for others in need in Africa. This year, we are expanding this important program to reach the villages our church works with in Mombin Crochu, Haiti, and San Francisco, Honduras, where medical clinics serve those often unseen in the world today.

Since 1995, we have sent groups to Haiti, and, more recently, to Honduras, to support small medical clinics there, sharing hope and healing.

Starting November 24 and going through December 24, tables will be set up in the courtyard each Sunday where you share the gifts of Christmas with others and receive an even greater gift for your heart. You may “purchase” goats, chickens, support clean water, medical and prenatal care, support malnutrition, offer school support, and more. Online orders will also be possible. These “purchases” will be given to those most needy by village leaders, as the love of this time is shared near and far.

Thank you for loving. Thank you for caring. Thank you for sharing with those so in need this season that celebrates unconditional love.

FED and Electronics

Thank you for your support of the FED ministry!

Your faithful generosity has provided once-a-month supplemental groceries to seven local families (with 22 children!) through our Feeding Every Disciple (FED) program. These staples help prevent food insecurity from impacting these families during the month.

In addition to groceries, the FED Ministry continues to provide occasional emergency support to keep the lights

6 | www.palmaceia.org

on and water running for these families. Most middle schoolers are involved in Tampa Urban Young Life, also with your support. You’ll find the children’s tags on the Giving Trees as well between November 12 and December 9.

These children face tremendous obstacles in overcoming the poverty into which they were born. Your blessings give them a better chance to succeed! Thank you so much for your faithfulness!

And The Beat Goes On! Thanks to all that donated electronics in the first All Electronics Collection at PCPC November 5! It’s not over yet – if you missed the collection Sunday and still have computer equipment or other electronics to donate in the future, we’re accepting them in the Church Office in support of local students and our commitment to Earth Care. Thanks for your effort and continuing concern!

Christmas Joy Offering 2023

Collected December 3 - 24 Among the most important holiday traditions at PCPC is the Joy Gift Offering, and Beth-El Farmworker Ministry will be the recipient again this year. For over 46 years, Beth-El Farmworker Ministry has been a source of hope, encouragement and resources for the farmworker community near Sun City, Florida.

By donating to the Joy Offering, you are enabling BethEl to provide services such as: •

Supplemental groceries, fresh fruit & veggies to over 1,000 people a week

•

A monthly dental clinic with health screenings

•

Access to legal and emergency services

•

Career counseling

•

Mentoring for students in their Step Up for Success program

•

A Presbyterian Spanish-language worshipping community

•

A hot lunch delivered to the local farms or packing houses on many weeks

•

A clothing and household goods pantry

• And much more!

Don’t miss Executive Director Teresita Matos-Post when she speaks to all worship services at PCPC on December 10th!

Please give generously in support of the Joy Gift Offering again this year! Starting December 3, you can do that by going to www.palmaceia.org/give, and select “Joy Offering” from the dropdown menu. For questions about donations, you can contact the Finance Office: finance@palmaceia.org.

You shall eat your fill and bless the LORD your God for the good land that he has given you.

-Deuteronomy 8:10

The Giving Tree Please support this year’s Giving Tree by selecting a tag from one of the Christmas trees in the Fellowship Hall or the Narthex. The recipients of your generosity this year will be Guardian ad Litem, FED, Created, Beth-El, and the McClain home residents. You can also mail or drop off monetary donations/gift cards at the church office. We are also in need of large gift bags and tissue paper.

Please return gifts unwrapped, with tag attached, to the church office by Sunday, December 10.

You can contact Shannon Pierson at spierson22@yahoo.com or 813-731-1910 if you have any questions.

Metropolitan Ministries Boxes of Hope We are handing out empty boxes and asking church members to fill the box and return the boxes to PCPC by Wed., December 20. Metropolitan Ministries will be picking up the boxes to hand them out by Christmas Eve. Please include a $25 Gift Card (Walmart, Target, Publix) so families can purchase a turkey/ham/chicken for the holiday to go along with the rest of their meal that will be in this box: Vegetables (Canned) Macaroni & Cheese Beans (Canned) Yams (Canned) Potatoes (Boxed/Canned) Cereal Rice Cranberry Sauce Dessert Mixes Soup Fruit (Canned) Stuffing Gravy Packets

Please tape the gift cards inside the box with the other purchased groceries by December 20.

Youth At PCPC Middle School Youth Group meets on Wednesdays from 6:00pm-7:30pm in the Gym. Last month we started a new series called Me, Myself, and iPhone with a focus on the screens that surround us and how our faith should influence our relationship/boundaries with technology.

High School Youth Group meets on Wednesdays from 7:30pm-8:45pm in the Youth Room and will continue to rotate through lessons on Mind, Heart, and Community.

MnMs (for High Schoolers) meets Monday evenings from 7:30pm-8:30pm in the Couch Room (Eastminster 204).

LIFT (for Middle Schoolers) meets Sunday mornings from 10:00am-10:45am in the Couch Room (Eastminster 204).

Summer 2024 Trips: We know it’s a help when we can offer you the dates for our amazing trips in advance, so this year we are doing our best to provide dates as in advance as possible! While we

are still nailing down some of the specifics, we can assure you of the following in the meantime: Our Disciple Now Service Week for Middle School students will be June 3rd-7th.

Our Great Adventure Trip (aka the Georgia Retreat) for High School students will be Tuesday, June 11th - Monday, June17th.

Our High School Service Trip for High School students will fall somewhere between June 21st-29th, location TBD. (Yes, June!)

Our Middle School, ‘Great Escape at Southwind’ Sleepaway Camp will be July 16th-21st.

You can expect another communication from us that highlights these trips in greater detail along with sign-up forms. Sign-ups for all of our trips will begin on January 10th. To make sure you’re on the email list, email Kate@palmaceia.org.

PCPC Life Advent 2023| 7

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT NO. 104 TAMPA, FLORIDA

3501 San Jose • Tampa, FL 33629 Phone: (813) 253-6047 Fax: (813) 254-5274 www.palmaceia.org

ADVENT 2023 Follow us on: Facebook www.facebook.com/PalmaCeiaPresbyterianChurch Twitter @palmaceiapres Instagram @PCPChurch Website www.palmaceia.org

Scan me!

Prayer for Advent God of Expectation, fill us with your hope.

We, your people, are fragile.

Vulnerable.

Weary from waiting.

We’ve been waiting Lord… for test results, reconciliation, a break from Mother Nature, healing, for war and violence to cease, for so many things…

We’ve been waiting Lord.

Grant us the patience, the humility, the courage, to enter this Advent season with hopeful expectation.

May every shimmering light serve as a reminder… we are not alone, we are loved, some things are worth waiting for.

Faithful God, thank you for waiting for us.

When are the children’s choirs singing?

This is the plan, but dates are subject to change; please confirm with your child’s choir director!

Joyful Noise (PreK4-1st Grade) December 10 at 11:00 am December 24 at 4:30 pm January 21 at 11:00 am Junior Choir (2nd – 5th Grades) December 3 at 11:00 am December 24 at 4:30 pm January 28 at 11:00 am

www.palmaceia.org/Christmas has our Christmas Eve Services Calendar + all other Advent/Christmas event info!