3501W.SanJoseSt.Tampa,FL33629
www.palmaceia.org 813-253-6047
PCPCLIFE PALMACEIAPresbyterianChurch
Instagram: @pcpchurch
Thanksgiving-Advent 2024 Calendar Thanksgiving-Advent2024
Sunday, November 24: Kirking of the Tartans
Single piper at 8:30; full pipe & drum band at 11 6pm Vespers Service of Remembrance
Participants are invited to light a candle and call the names of those they miss. This service is particularly meant to support the actively grieving at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Wednesday, November 27
No Wednesday Night Dinner, Music Ministries, or Youth Group
6pm Thanksgiving Eve Service
Thursday, November 28: Thanksgiving Day Church office closed (also closed Nov. 29)
Sunday, December
1: First Sunday of Advent (HOPE) 10am Advent Service Hour
Sunday with Children & Families in Fellowship Hall
Monday, December 2 4-5:30 Play Group on the Playground
Wed., December 4
5-6:15 Wednesday Night Dinner: Lasagna
Friday, December 6
9:00am Presbyterian Women (and anyone else!) help decorate the Sanctuary for Christmas
Sat., December 7 10:00am Presbyterian Women Christmas Coffee at Becky Charles’ Home: 3617 Jetton
Sunday, December 8: Second Sunday of Advent (PEACE)
4:00pm Tampa Oratorio Singers Carols of the Season Concert in Sanctuary 5:30-6:30pm Living Nativity
Monday, December 9
7:00pm Tampa Oratorio Singers Messiah Concert in Sanctuary (Doors open at 6)
Tuesday, December 10 4-5:30pm Play Group on the Playground 7:00pm Tampa Oratorio Singers Messiah Concert in Sanctuary (Doors open at 6)
Wednesday, December 11
5-6:15pm Wednesday Night Dinner: Beef Stroganoff
6-6:45pm Florida Wind Band Ensemble “Joy to the World” Concert in Sanctuary
Sunday, December 15: Third Sunday of Advent (JOY)
10-12pm Rise Against Hunger (sign up at palmaceia.org/christmas)
6:00pm The Longest Night Vespers Service
Wednesday, December 18
4pm Children’s Choirs ride the Jolley Trolley
5-5:45pm Children’s Choirs do rehearse as usual
5-6:15pm Red Chili/Green Chili/PBJ’s and Bring a batch of Christmas cookies to share!
5-7pm Jolley Trolley offers Christmas Caroling rides around the neighborhood
Sunday, December 22: Fourth Sunday of Advent (LOVE)
6:00pm Communion and Carols Vespers Service with Trinity Handbell Choir Ensemble and Nancy Callahan offering a Medley of Carols
See Christmas Eve Calendar Below
Wednesday, December 25: Christmas Day! Church office closed
Tuesday, December 31: 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.
Adult Faith Formation
Wednesdays Sundays
All Things Financial
Sunday, November 24
10-10:50am in Eastminster 307/308
Have you ever wondered how the church budget is crafted, how funds are allocated for the various ministries and outreach of the church, the role of the Covenant Circle, or the importance of pledged gifts? Led by members of the Stewardship and Finance Committees, this special class will explore all things financial in the life of the PCPC Bring your questions!
Stay Awhile: Advent Lessons in Divine Hospitality
Sundays, December 1-22
10-10:50am in Eastminster 307/308
Taught by John Reiter
Using the text by Kara Eidson, this class will consider how Advent is a time of preparation that takes intentionality and care We will explore the value of slowing down & making time for the long-awaited birth of Christ
CHRISTMAS COFFEE
December 7 at 10am
Home of Becky Charles: 3617 Jetton Ave.
This festive occasion provides a wonderful way to celebrate the Christmas season and meet and visit with women of our church.
Calling All Angels: An Advent Study of Fearlessness and Strength
Wednesdays, November 20 & December 4-18
6:15-7:15pm in the Hospitality Room
Taught by John Reiter
Exploring this text by Erin Wathen, we will contemplate what would change in our relationships, vocations, congregations, and communities if we had the courage to overcome our fears like Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, and the Shepherds in the story.
The December meeting will be Dec. 17 at noon, where we will have a time for fellowship and to select the reading list for next year. Contact Charlene Tobie at ctobie180@gmail.com for the meeting location.
The book for January 21 is True Biz by Sara Novic.
Children & Families
December 1st is Service Hour Sunday in the Fellowship Hall from 10-10:50am. Children, families, and all ages can join us to create Nativity jars for seasoned adults.
The Living Nativity is Sunday, December 8th around the church grounds Arrive anytime between 5:30 and 6:30pm and come to one of the Welcome Tables either in the Parking Lot or on San Jose. From there, we’ll direct you to wander through six story scenes with costumed characters at your leisure. There will be live manger animals in the Courtyard! The Stable Scene with the Holy Family will act out the Christmas Story at 5:45, 6:00, 6:15, and 6:30 pm.
Sign up to participate!
Ages Birth to 5th Grade: Sign up to be a star, angel, or shepherd. 6th-12th graders: Sign up to be a narrator Adults: Sign up to serve as a guidepost or to bring cookies!
Sign up through our One Church App or at palmaceia.org/christmas.
On Sunday, December 15th, we’ll have our annual Rise Against Hunger service project in the Fellowship Hall from 10-12 for all ages Sign up to help pack over 10,000 meals in two hours. Event has a maximum capacity, so sign up today at palmaceia.org/christmas!
Play Groups on the Playground upcoming dates are Mon, Dec 2; Tues Dec 10; Mon, Jan 6; Tues., Jan. 15, and Thurs., Jan. 23. All are from 4-5:30.
“Touch the Water” is a one-hour, hands-on class for first graders to learn about baptism Parents, mark your calendars for Sun, Jan 12 at 10am
a message from Meg Pabst, Preschool Director
OnDecember16th,we'llcometogetherasapreschool familyforourspecialAdventFamilyChapel.It'sa beautifultimetocelebratetheseason’smessagesof hope,peace,joy,andlove.Seeingthechildren participateinthesechapelmomentsisheartwarming —theybringsuch innocenceandwonderto eachgathering,reminding usallofthejoyofthe season.
MaythisAdventseasonbe filledwithblessingsfor yourfamilyaswecelebrate togetherinjoyful anticipation!
Tampa Oratorio Singers
SUN., DECEMBER 8
4:00 PM
Carols of the Season Concert
Limited number of complimentary tickets available to the PCPC congregation in the church office Or purchase at tostampa org
MON., DECEMBER 9 and
TUES., DECEMBER 10
7:00 PM
Handel’s Messiah no tickets required
MUSIC
Extending the Table
This year, PCPC began a program of elders taking communion to members who are unable to get to church.
If you know of a member who would like to have communion brought to them, please call or text Jeanne Rowe at 813-833-5270. If you are an elder (you don’t have to currently be on the Session) and would like to be part of this mission, reach out to Jeanne as well.
Florida Wind Band Ensemble
WED., DECEMBER 11
6:00 PM
“Joy to the World” Concert
Secure your free ticket at floridawindband.org
Trinity Handbell Choir Ensemble
SUN., DECEMBER 22 6:00 PM
Special Communion and Carols Vespers Service
Longest Night Service at the Stable
Sun., Dec. 15 at 6:00pm
In this 30-minute service, we gather at the nativity stable on the lawn, praying for those who are homeless on a night close to the longest night of the year. Here we also recall those in Hillsborough County who have died homeless and on the street in 2024 We light a candle and call the name of each one. Children are welcome with families at this service, and attendees are invited to bring new socks or underwear, canned food, sleeping bags, and flashlights for distribution to the homeless.
Pictured above: The Peace Trio is comprised of 3 PCPC choir members who sing at Hospice in Temple Terrace and for PCPC shut-ins once a month.
The GIVING TREE CHRISTMAS around the WORLD
For almost two decades, PCPC has supported a Christmas giving program to “purchase” gifts for others in need in Africa Last year, we expanded 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.
From Dec. 1 - Dec. 22, tables will be set up in the Courtyard each Sunday where you may “purchase” goats, chickens, support clean water, medical and prenatal care, support treatment of malnutrition, and more A card will then allow you to give that gift in the name of a friend
Giving Trees are up around the church campus! Please support this year ’ s Giving Tree by selecting a tag from one of the Christmas trees in the Fellowship Hall, Narthex, or the gym. 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
Online orders will be available at villagepartnersinternational.org.
The Bel-Mar Fund Opens Grant Portal
Please return gifts unwrapped, with tag attached, to the church office by Sunday, December 8. You can contact Shannon Pierson at spierson22@yahoo.com or 813-731-1910 if you have any questions
The Bel-Mar Committee at PCPC is pleased to announce the opening of the Bel-Mar Fund "grant portal" for the upcoming year. When the Bel-Mar Presbyterian Church merged with PCPC, there was a sizeable influx of funds from the sale of the Bel-Mar church property that accrued to the BelMar Corp under the guidance of PCPC. That property is the site of the soon-to-open Casa Bel-Mar which will provide 100 units of much-needed affordable housing in South Tampa. The funds are being put to use in a thoughtful and measured philanthropic way each year in order to align with the visions and missions of our church:
To promote the charitable, religious and Christian educational purposes of PCPC
Over the next 4 -5 months, the Bel-Mar Committee will consider requests from organizations familiar to members of our congregation that do work aligned with this mission and that would benefit from incremental funding. If you know of such an organization and would like to receive the Grant Application - or if you have questions about the Bel-Mar Fund process - please contact Rick McClintock at rick.mcclintock@verizon.net. Thank you, and the Committee looks forward to putting these funds to good work!
YEAR-END GIVING TIPS FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
If you make any payments on your 2025 pledge before the end of this 2024 year for tax purposes, PLEASE be sure to note “2025 General Fund.”
If you are planning to donate stock to be credited during this 2024 year, PLEASE begin the process in early December. Contact Kelley in the finance office for transfer instructions: finance@palmaceia.org. Your broker does not always attach your name to the stock at transfer and this will ensure we have no mystery stock donations!
Online Givers: If you set up recurring credit/debit card or ACH payments to the 2025 General Fund, please have your payments end in “December 2025.”
Thank you for your generosity and continuing support of PCPC.
It’s Not Too Late to Pledge! We Are Still Sharing Our Blessings At The Table! Your place at the table is important to the whole family.
Why Pledge This Year? Your generous financial gifts are the fuel for PCPC's ministry. Through your generosity, PCPC has provided opportunities for PCPC's congregation, visitors, and the greater community to worship, praise, pray, learn in Christ, foster fellowship, and provide compassionate outreach. PCPC cannot manage God’s gifts without your support. In today’s uncertain times, pledging informs church leadership in advance what financial resources will be available for planning our critical ministries this coming year.
As such, we invite you to prayerfully consider your ability to participate in our stewardship ministry by sharing your pledge as you are able anytime between now and the New Year.
Jesus is the host of this table, and Christ is the one who calls us into his family.
Help us continue our ministry by making a pledge for 2025. www.palmaceia.org/pledge
3501W.SanJose,Tampa,FL33629
Phone(813)253-6047
www.palmaceia.org
THANKSGIVING-ADVENT 2024
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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 8 at 11:00 am
December 24 at 4:30 pm
February 2 at 11:00 am
Junior Choir (2nd – 5th Grades)
December 15 at 11:00 am
December 24 at 4:30 pm
February 9 at 11:00 am
