Annual Christmas Pageant
Sunday, December 23 - 10:00 a.m. - Sanctuary

The Pastor's Ponderings

Listening for Advent

       It seems that during Advent I find myself doing a lot of listening. Shhh - can you hear it? There’s the quiet listening in the silence of the first snowfall covering the ground. I hear the quiet tear that falls when I sing the words from Hark! the Herald Angels Sing: “Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings.”

   There’s the loud listening as we go from place to place lustily singing our favorite hymns while caroling. I listen for the laughter and the greetings of friends and family. No Advent/Christmas season would be complete without hearing the clash of the cymbals during Handel’s Messiah as again we hear that familiar refrain: “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

   And then there’s the listening that has nothing to do with my ability to hear. It is that inner sense of peace as my heart skips a beat and I am caught up in the moment of knowing “Love Came Down at Christmas.”

            Love came down at Christmas,
            Love all lovely, love divine;
            Love came down at Christmas,
            Star and angels gave the sign. 
                                    (Christina Rosetti)

   Can you hear it? Listen for it…. The Savior of the world is born and is now in our midst. Christ the Lord has come and will come again. May Christ’s love be born anew in all of us.

Listening for the Savior,
Denise

November in our preschool was filled with Thanksgiving activities.

• We made Indian necklaces, turkey headbands, pumpkin play dough and both classes had a Thanksgiving feast.  The four- year olds actually prepared their own food and set their tables. Parents joined us as well. Pastor Denise read a story to the children and led them in a blessing.
• Fireman Bart returns this Friday to talk with the children about poison control.
• On Tuesday, December 18, the three-year olds will have a cookie exchange before going on Christmas break.
• The four-year children will put on a Christmas program on December 19 at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary.
• We say good-bye to one of our teachers, Christiana Rigney who is moving to Charlottesville. We wish her the best.

We’ll be back on January 3.

  Kim Szydlowski, Preschool Director

Presbyterian Women Circle Meetings

• The Morning Circle will meet Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at the home of Nancy Crowder (134 Red Hill Road, Orange) for a covered dish luncheon. Please bring an unwrapped gift for a woman or child at the abuse shelter. For directions or questions call Nancy at 672-2965.
• The Luncheon Circle will be meeting on Thursday, December 6, 2007, at 12:30 p.m. in the East Room at the church. Any questions call Elinor Vasquez at 672-3292.
• The Evening Circle will meet on Thursday, December 13, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in the East Room. Any questions call Lynne Clements at 672-1120.

News from our Missionaries - the Haningers

We recently received a letter from the Haningers describing some of their work with the neediest Congolese indigents in nearby villages. Congolese Christians from two Tshikaji Presbyterian Churches are purchasing and packaging subsistence items to distribute to 200 villagers. These are people in greatest need: those who are old and infirm, the widows and orphans. They are neglected, rejected and abandoned by their families. The last week of each month these people come to the church where elders and church members read scripture and pray for and with them. As each person’s name is read, they are given rations of manioc flour, corn flour, soap, salt, palm oil, fish and matches. They wrap their gifts in ragged bandanas and often helped home by neighbors.

A second program is a village women’s sewing circle. Most village women have had no schooling or training in simple homemaking tasks such as sewing. The ladies are taught by volunteers who have gained sewing proficiency. Needles, thread, fabric and instructions are provided.

Women in the Congolese culture are considered inferior to men. Learning new skills and providing attractive clothing for their families has given these women a new and greater sense of self-worth and pride in their accomplishments. These programs promoted by the Haningers encourage Congolese Christians to reach out to extend God’s love to their own people. more

We are truly blessed to be associated with the Haningers and we will continue to support them with our gifts and prayers.

The Martha Guild

The Worship Committee is looking for help with a new group which we call The Martha Guild. This an opportunity for you to serve in an important way by helping with the worship preparations that take place behind the scenes.

We are looking for two or three people who will have responsibility for our sanctuary. Some of the duties l include keeping the sanctuary ready for services and preparation of communion. A manual is being prepared. .

We’re asking those interested to sign on for a year. Speak to Joanna Davies (854-6603) or Pastor Denise for more information.

SAFE House News

Thank you for your generous contributions to the SAFE House (Service to Abused Families) during the month of October. At Christmas the Presbyterian Women will provide presents to help stock a “store” so that mothers and children can select presents to give each other. We will have opportunity next spring to donate needed items.

   The SAFE House is located in Culpeper, but their services also cover Orange County. They are a non-profit organization and receive United Way funding.
         Elinor Vasquez

These Days - Coming in 2008

The Congregational Care and Commitment Committee is providing copies of a new devotional booklet, These Days, published quarterly by the Presbyterian Church USA. (This replaces the Upper Room Devotional which has been used for the past several years.)  

   Copies of These Days for the first quarter will be placed in the narthex in mid-December. Begin the new year with daily devotional readings or continue your practice of daily devotions.

Treasurer's November Report

We will continue to do the Lord’s work but need your financial gifts to carry them out. Please speak to me if you have any questions. 
Gail Chapman, Treasurer

October Session Highlights

At its stated November meeting, the Session:

• Welcomed H. Carson Rhyne, General Presbyter, Presbytery of the James for a conversation about our support of the larger church.
• Most congregations decide to give money to the larger church under “Mission & Outreach.”70% of money given for larger church support goes for the work of Presbytery, 30% goes to the Synod and General Assembly. Presbytery recommends 10% of a local congregation’s budget go to support this mission. Orange Presbyterian Church is well over that amount (13%).
• Suggests renaming budget items to reflect accurately mission work. For example (“M&O—Local Mission” instead of “M&O—miscellaneous mission expense”)
• Unanimously approved removing “Benevolence” from line items in budget and replace with more accurate names to reflect how the accounts are used.
• Gave unanimous approval for a request from the Presbyterian Men for Christmas Caroling, Sunday, December 16, at 5 PM.
• Approved unanimously an updated contract for Director of Music Ministry and the Church Organist to reflect salary increases in 2007 and to give one additional week of paid vacation (five total) for 2008.
• Unanimously approved pastor vacation from December 25 through January 2.
• Prayed for members of the congregations and friends of the church in need.

Respectfully submitted,
Marc A. Hogan, Clerk

Christmas Caroling

The Presbyterian Men are delighted to be sponsoring Christmas caroling this year.  Men, women, and children are needed for the event which will take place on Saturday, December 15th.  Cars will take carolers to this year’s singing locations. Hot chocolate will be provided in the East Room to soothe tired vocal chords and warm chilled bodies. Tear off sheets, found in upcoming bulletins to notify Rod McLeod of your interest, can be placed in the offering plate. May our voices express profound appreciation for the gift of Jesus Christ. Plan to arrive at the church at 6 pm.

                              Rod McLeod

Stamps for Missions

We continue to collect cancelled stamps. You can leave them in either the envelope on the kiosk in the narthex or on the bulletin board beside the church office. Mrs. Reinhold is once again collecting a limited selection of stamps for the mission in the Congo. They need to purchase a press to print Christian Educational materials. They also need help to hold continuing education events in remote parts of the Congo.

Please SAVE large commemoratives, computer-generated stamps, fish and wildlife service stamps, all air mail, express mail, priority mail, all foreign stamps, pictures postcards with foreign stamps, old U.S. stamps (if before 1920 the whole envelope is helpful), old records, deed, etc. with stamps. Famous Americans stamps in a series such as, Photography, Artic Tundra, Isamu Noguichi, Perfect Union, Let’s Dance, Motorcycles, Aviation, Scientists, Children’s Books, Wonders of America, Baseball sluggers, Comic Book Superheroes, Gee’s Bend Quilts, X-Plane, $4.05, and $14.40, Capital $13.65, etc.

Please do NOT include stamps with flags, snowflakes, Madonnas, vegetables, flowers, lovebirds, birds, non-profit, or pre-sorted first-class.

Please cut out stamps and leave 1/4 to 1/2 inch margin around the stamp.
Thanks a lot and God bless you!
Presbyterian Women

College Care Packages

The Congregational Care and Commitment Committee mailed and/or delivered seventeen boxes of goodies to our college students as they are preparing for final exams. Please remember them in your prayers.

• Claire Crane, James Madison University, Box 1762, 800 S. Main St., Harrisonburg, VA  22807
• Jeanie Crane, 257 Boxley Lane, Orange, VA  22960 attending Piedmont Valley Community College
• Eva Graves, 1105 - C Downey Street, Radford, VA 24141 attending Radford College
• Beth Haberland, 8800 Hunter Mill Road, Apt. E, Blacksburg, VA 24060 attending Virginia Tech
• Elsa Haberland, 8800 Hunter Mill Road, Apt. E, Blacksburg, VA 24060 attending Virginia Tech
• Theo Haberland, Delaware Valley College, Box 6679, 700 E. Butler Street, Doylestown, PA 18901
• Sarah Hassmer, Randolph-Macon College, Campus Box 336, 2500 Rivermont Ave., Lynchburg, VA 24503 
• Robin Kendall, 314 Kent - University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904-2028
• John Mohrmann, Hampden-Sydney College, Graham Hall, Box 1761, Hampden Sydney, VA 23943
• Penn Mohrmann, P. O. Box 1218, Hampden Sydney, VA 23943 attending Hampden-Sydney College
• Neale Nickels, 604 - D Cabell Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22903 attending University of Virginia
• Betsy Reid, 600 Appalachian Drive, Apt 12, Blacksburg, VA 24060-2982 attending Virginia Tech
• Jenae Richardson, 106 Landon Lane, Orange, VA 22960 (back in class in the spring)
• Mika Richardson, UVA School of Nursing, 817 Elliott Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22902
• Sierra Richardson, 388-322C Dillard, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904
• Erin Roop, 340 Mimosa Lane, Orange, VA 22960 attending Piedmont Valley Community College
• David J. Sanford, James Madison University, P.O. Box 1978, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

Commitment Season -Time, Talents and Treasures

 The Congregational Care and Commitment Committee is ever thankful for those of you who have taken the time to fill out your Time and Talents commitment form as well as your financial pledge cards and have gotten them to the church office.  The Administrative Committee of the Session is ready to plan the budget for the coming year and needs all the information from our pledges in order to plan the budget. 

At their next meetings, Committees will have information from the congregation from our commitment conversations, as well as information on what activities each member reported that they are willing to help with.  So if there are any remaining Time and Talents forms as well as pledge cards out there, we need them in the church office as soon as possible.  Thanks to all of you for your help.    
Carole Sue Graves

Needs at Love Outreach Food Pantry

The Love Outreach Food Pantry, is trying to help with the needy. Each month they are collecting different items.  Items can be bought to the narthex of the church and will be taken periodically to the Food Pantry. Look for a basket to place your items.  The items for the rest of the year are: 

• December:  cake mix and frosting.

 Thanks in advance for your generous support of this important ministry!

Acolytes

Fedie McClung

Steven, Tanita, Drew and Ella Stancill

Miranda Hogan

Rod McLeod

Elinor Vasquez

If you are unable to help on the day assigned, you are expected to obtain your own substitute and call the church office so that the correct information will appear in the Bulletin each Sunday.
If you are unable to serve on your scheduled Sunday, please secure your own substitute.
Thank you for sharing in our common ministry.