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LET HEAVEN & NATURE SING

Highlighting the ways Second-Ponce joins worship & community with everyday life.

December 4, 2019

2019 SECOND-PONCE ADVENT DEVOTIONAL

Have you invited your

Advent is here! Have you been following along with the devotions in Let Heaven & Nature Sing, our 2019 Second-Ponce Advent devotional? We've themed the book around the carols of Advent and Christmas. A limited number of hard copies are still available at the church for pick up. Our online version, found at spdl.org/advent, includes links to our Spotify playlist and YouTube

Daily devotions inspired by the carols of Advent and Christmas

recordings. We're also sending each day's devotion via email. If you haven’t received them and would like to, email Candice Young at cyoung@spdl.org to be added to the list. We love spending Advent and Christmas with our Second-Ponce family!

DECK THE HALLS Honor a loved one this Christmas by making a donation to decorate the halls of Second-Ponce. Donations will be used to purchase greenery, Christmas trees and poinsettias to beautify the church for the holiday season. A donation of $25 is suggested for each memorial or honorarium. Complete the form inserted into the Sunday Order of Worship and return it to the church office no later than Monday, December 16. If you have questions, contact Vicki McCaskey in the church office at 404.591.4344 or vmccaskey@spdl.org.

SPEND THE CHRISTMAS SEASON HERE

December

4, 11 & 18 @ 6 p.m. | SPdLU Advent Series

18 @ 9:30 a.m. | Preschool Christmas Program

8 @ 11 a.m. | Christmas Cantata Followed by a Community-Wide Christmas Reception

21 @ 4 p.m. | Children’s Christmas Celebration

8 @ 5 p.m. | Christmas Dinner for College & Seminary Students

21 @ 5 p.m. | Youth Christmas Party & Lock-In

12 @ 6:30 p.m | Women’s Ministry Christmas Fellowship

24 @ 6 p.m. | Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

15 @ 11 a.m. | Children’s Christmas Music Presentation

29 @ 9:45 a.m. | Churchwide Breakfast

15 @ 7 p.m. | Young Adult Christmas Party

HOPE, PEACE JOY & LOVE

18 @ 9:30 a.m. | Preschool Christmas Program 404.266.8111

TO THE WORLD

2715 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305 contactus@spdl.org www.spdl.org

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Find this month’s events online at spdl.org/churchcalendar.

JOIN US FOR WORSHIP

DECEMBER 1 Traditional service Sundays at Second-Ponce Message: Do We Know When Jesus is Coming? Copyright Information & Author Credits Emmanuel: Lyrics by Bob24:36–44 McGee (1975) Traditional service: 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary Scripture: Matthew Now the Heavens Start to Whisper: Lyrics by Mary Louise Bringle (2005) 2715 Peachtree Road NE The Hands thatDock First HeldHollingsworth Mary's Child: Lyrics by Thomas H. Troeger (1985)All Together: 4 p.m. in the Second-Ponce Theater (downstairs) Preacher: Dr. The Little Drummer Boy: Based on a traditional Czech Christmas song and published by Katherine Kennicott Davis (1941) Atlanta, GA 30305 The texts included in this publication are either in the public domain or quoted in part under CCLI License #98389. 404.266.8111 | www.spdl.org All Together Message: What Does Christmas Mean to Us? Preacher: Rev. Josh Scott SHARE THIS WITH

COLLEGE & SEMINARY STUDENTS

DECEMBER 8 Traditional service Christmas Cantata & Reception All Together Message: Is Christmas Important to the World? Scripture: Isaiah 9:6–7 Preacher: Rev. Josh Scott DECEMBER 15 Traditional service Message: Why Talk About Repentance at Christmas? Scripture: Matthew 3:1–12 Preacher: Dr. Dock Hollingsworth All Together Message: Lessons from the Birth of Jesus Pt. 1 Scripture: Matthew 1:18–25 Preacher: Rev. Josh Scott DECEMBER 22 Traditional service Message: Is This the One We’ve Waited For? Scripture: Matthew 11:2–11 Preacher: Dr. Dock Hollingsworth All Together Message: Lessons from the Birth of Jesus Pt. 2 Scripture: Matthew 2:1–15 Preacher: Rev. Josh Scott DECEMBER 24 Candlelight Christmas Eve Service 6 p.m. | Sanctuary DECEMBER 29 Traditional service Message: Reading the Light Scripture: Luke 2:22–40 Preacher: Rev. Heather Webb There is no All Together this week

Our Christmas Hope dinner is THIS SUNDAY, December 8 after the All Together service. You can sign up to bring a side or dessert or volunteer to serve the meal. If you can’t be with us in person, we ask you to pray for this vital outreach effort.

SUPPORTING MISSIONS THIS CHRISTMAS Missions Offering

100% of your gifts to the Christmas missions offering support missionaries who are making disciples and multiplying churches among unreached peoples and places around the world. To give, use the designated envelopes provided in the pew rack and place them in the offering plate. Children’s Missions Post Office You are invited to send Christmas cards to your church family using the Children’s Missions Post Office located near the North Bridge Welcome Center. You can leave your Christmas cards for church members by dropping a donation for missions in the box (suggested offering is 25 cents per card). Make sure to check the post office regularly to pick up cards that have been sent to you!

CHRISTMAS CANTATA & RECEPTION Sunday, December 8 | Cantata @ 11 a.m. & Reception to follow

This Sunday, the Sanctuary Choir and SPdL Orchestra will present their Christmas Cantata during the 11 a.m. worship service and after, we'll host a festive community reception for a time of fellowship with the whole congregation. It's the perfect opportunity to invite guests to church. We hope that by having a post-Cantata reception instead of a lunch newcomers will feel welcomed to stay with us a little longer and experience the warmth of the Second-Ponce.

Find church events online at spdl.org/church calendar

ADVENT SPdLU SERIES

Wednesdays | December 4, 11 & 18 | 6 p.m. | Fellowship Hall

WOMEN’S MINISTRY CHRISTMAS FELLOWSHIP

Join us for three Wednesdays in December to take a closer look at Advent. • 12/4: The Coming of Advent with David Hull • 12/11: The Songs of the Angels with Dock Hollingsworth

Thursday, December 12 | 6:30 p.m.

• 12/18: Lessons and Carols with Bill Gabbard

Maggie Roberts’ Home All will be merry and bright at the Women’s

COMING UP FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES

Ministry Christmas Fellowship! Bring your favorite

Children’s Christmas Music Presentation

holiday dessert or appetizer to share. RSVP to womensministry@spdl.org.

Sunday, December 15 | During the 11 a.m. worship service Come hear our children proclaim the Good News during their Christmas presentation, Sunday, December 15. During the 11 a.m. worship service, they will share "What Do You Remember?" which uses drama and music to present firsthand accounts of what happened the night Jesus was born.

YOUNG ADULT CHRISTMAS PARTY Sunday, December 15 | 7 p.m.

Children‘s Christmas Celebration Saturday, December 21 | 4–7 p.m. | Children's Area (Rooms 303–305) SPdL children! Come enjoy crafts, playtime, dinner and games as we celebrate Jesus’ birthday together! We will also watch “The Star,” an animated retelling of the Christmas story. Bring a friend and join us! RSVP to Heather Webb at hwebb@spdl.org.

SPdL young adults, put this on your calendar! Invite your friends to a fun night celebrating Christmas and each other. Details are coming. In the meantime, email Josh Scott at jscott@spdl.org for more information.

YOUTH FIND REFUGE & COMMUNITY HERE Last month: Thanksgiving Progressive Dinner

This month: Lock-In & Christmas Party Saturday, December 21 | Beginning at 5 p.m. in the Youth Area The Christmas season is busy, and our youth are carving out time to not only celebrate the season but have fun together. Email Josh Scott at jscott@spdl.org for more information.

FELLOWSHIP SUPPER DECEMBER MENU

Join us Wednesdays @ 5 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall

DECEMBER 4

DECEMBER 18

Regular: Baked and breaded tilapia, zucchini, squash,

Regular: Fried chicken, potato salad, mixed

rice, salad, rolls & ice cream

vegetables, salad, rolls & banana pudding

Kids: Fish sticks, French fries, fruit & dessert

Kids: Fried chicken wings & legs, potatoes, fruit

DECEMBER 11 Regular: Virginia ham, mac & cheese, garden vegetable medley, salad, rolls & cobbler Kids: Hot dogs, mac & cheese, fruit & dessert

& dessert DECEMBER 25 No Fellowship Supper on this night. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

LITE OPTIONS Chicken Harvest Salad: Grilled chicken, mandarin oranges, pecans & dried cranberries over fresh greens Turkey Garden Club Wrap: Turkey, cheese, cucumbers, lettuce, tomato & ranch dressing in a wrap with fruit Salmon Plate: Baked salmon with fruit

@secondponce on Instagram & Facebook Second-Ponce youth were all smiles fun during their annual Thanksgiving progessive dinnerapples at Jaemor Farms. SPdL senior adults had another (and delicious!) trip to stock up on fresh

THIS WEEK IN SECOND-PONCE HISTORY By John Roma, Church Historian

On December 12, 1939—80 years ago this month—our historic church bell was moved from the old Second Baptist Church across from the state capitol and raised into the steeple of Second-Ponce. The bell, which weighs 764lbs, was cast in 1860 in Sheffield, England and cost $500. It rang during the Civil War to warn Atlanta of the approach of General Sherman and his army in 1864. A ceremony was held at the installation of the bell and was attended by Dr. Ryland Knight, the first pastor of Second-Ponce and Mrs. John S. Spalding, the daughter-in-law of Dr. A.T. Spalding, former pastor of Second Baptist Church and the granddaughter of Georgia Governor, Joseph E. Brown who was also a former member of Second Baptist. Dr. Ryland Knight with the church bell, 1939

STEWARDSHIP AS OF DECEMBER 4

So far, we received 146 pledges representing $1,024,918.56 of our $1.7 million goal. Again, we say THANK YOU but we still have a ways to go. There’s still time to submit your pledge card if you have not already done so. You can mail or drop it off to the church office or complete the online version at spdl.org/pledge. If you have questions about giving or the SPdL budget, email Jeff Miller at jmiller@spdl.org.

WELCOME, SALLY

SYMPATHY TO

Sally Angevine

Josh and Lauren Scott, in the death of his uncle, Ronald Wilkins, on October 22

December 1

Andy Rainer & Diane Rainer, in the death of his mother, Laverne Rainer, on November 9.

IN LOVING MEMORY Laverne Rainer

Romola Kent Eaton

Virginia Jackson

November 9

November 30

December 4