~~~ The Steeple ~~~

December 2011

Preach. Teach. Evangelize. Serve.

Guided by His Holy Spirit,

First Presbyterian Church celebrates God's glory by reaching others for Christ through preaching the Gospel, teaching discipleship, respectful evangelism, and serving God's people.

~~~Many Thanks!!!~~~

·       To the Presbyterian Women for the new high chair and booster seat in the Fellowship Hall.

·       To everyone who brought food for the feast at the Stewardship Potluck on November 13 – give yourselves a round of applause.

·       To those who donated food during the ‘Food for Families’ drive at the Copperas Cove HEB on November 18.  Cove House’s share of the donations was approximately 8,700 pounds of food.

·       To the person who volunteered to fill and mail Christmas boxes to the congregation’s deployed members and friends.

~~~ The 12 Days of Christmas ~~~

What do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and a partridge that won’t come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? 

Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly from 1558 to 1829.  During that time, this carol was a catechism song for young Catholics.  Each verse is a code which the children could easily remember; and each verse has two meanings: a surface meaning and a hidden meaning.

·        The partridge in the pear tree = Jesus Christ

·        Two turtle doves = the Old and New Testaments

·        Three French hens = faith, hope, and love

·        Four calling birds = the four Gospels

·        Five golden rings = the first five books of the Old Testament (the Torah or Law)

·        Six geese a-laying = the six days of creation

·        Seven swans a-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (prophecy, serving, teaching, exhortation, contribution, leadership, mercy)

·        Eight maids a-milking = the eight beatitudes

·        Nine ladies dancing = the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control)

·        Ten lords a-leaping = the Ten Commandments

·        Eleven pipers piping = the eleven faithful disciples

·        Twelve drummers drumming = the twelve statements of belief in the Apostles’ Creed

~~~ Christian Education & Worship Ministry Team ~~

·       The Adult Sunday School class will not meet on December 25 and January 1.

·       December 4 & 11 – The sign-up list for “In Memory Of / In Honor Of” poinsettias is on the table in the narthex.  The cost is $10 for each poinsettia.  Please get money in by December 11.

·       December 4, 11, 18 – Please sign the Congregational Christmas Card in lieu of sending cards to each other.

·       December 17 – Meet at the church at 6:30 pm to join us for Christmas caroling.  We will leave at 7:00 pm to go caroling then return to the church for cider, hot cocoa, and cookies.

·       December 18 – Communion will be celebrated at the 4:00 pm Christmas Resurrection Service.

·       December 24 – The traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight service will be at 7:00 pm.

·       December 25 – The Christmas Day worship service will be at 11:00 am.

·       The Ministry Team will not meet in December.  The next meeting will be January 10, 2012, at 1:00 pm.

~~~ Presbyterian Women ~~~

·        The December meeting will be Monday, December 5 at 10:00 am and will be followed by lunch.

·        As of early November, the sale of the cookbooks collected $395.00.

·        PW Christmas Mission Projects include Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services, which will bet one-third of the monies from the sale of the cookbooks; Rainbow Room, which will get diapers, bottles, wipes, etc.; and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, which will get one-third of the monies collected from the sale of the cookbooks.

~~~ December Calendar ~~~

Services, meetings, and events are held at the church unless otherwise noted.

All are open to anyone who wishes to attend.

Sundays

9:45 am                       Sunday School

11:00 am                      Worship service //  Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday each month

Pastor's Office Hours

Tuesdays                      10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Weekly Events

Tues & Thurs            10:30 am            Exercise Group meets

2^nd and 4^th Mon 9:30 am            Needlework Group meets

Date           Time          Event

            Sun 4^th             12:15 pm            Property & Stewardship Ministry Team meets

Mon 5^th            10:00 am            Presbyterian Women meet

Tues 6^th            1:30 pm       Acts 16:5 Vision Team meets

Wed 14^th            6:30 pm            Christmas caroling

Sun 18^th            4:00 pm            Christmas Resurrection service

Sat 24^th            7:00 pm            Christmas Eve service

Sun 25^th            11:00 am            Christmas Day worship service

First Presbyterian Church

704 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Copperas Cove, TX 76522

254-542-4884                                                                              www.fpccc.net