DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015

VOLUME 62, ISSUE 10

412 West Pioneer Puyallup, WA 98371

253-848-7243 www.fpcpuyallup.org

Rev. Sue Watkins, Pastor

First Presbyterian Church of Puyallup

Join us on December 14 at 10:30 am as our

Youth & Children present:

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Join us this Christmas Eve Join us at First Presbyterian for

two very special Christmas Eve Ser-vices at 7:00 & 10:00 pm on Decem-ber 24. Both services will include the singing of favorite Christmas carols, the lighting of the Christ candle on the advent wreath, com-munion and candlelight as we sing, “Silent Night.”

Pastor Sue will share a special Christmas message dur-ing both services. Nursery care will be offered at the 7:00 pm service only. Be sure to invite your friends, your family and your neighbors to share Christmas Eve with us.

Can Christmas Still Change The World? The Christmas story is a story of love, hope, redemption and

relationship. So, what happened? How did it turn into stuff, stress and debt? Somehow, we’ve traded the best story in the world for the story of what’s on sale.

It starts with Jesus. It ends with Jesus. This is the holistic approach God had in mind for Christmas. It’s a season where we are called to put down our burdens and lift a song up to our God. It’s a season where love wins, peace reigns, and the King is celebrated with each breath. It’s the party of the year.

Entering the story of ad-vent means entering this sea-son with an overwhelming passion to worship Jesus to the fullest.

Scriptures for December

December 7, 2014

2nd Sunday of Advent

Holy Communion Isaiah 40:1-11

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

2 Peter 3:8-15a

Mark 1:1-8

December 14, 2014

3rd Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

Psalm 126

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

John 1:6-8, 19-28

December 21, 2014

4th Sunday of Advent

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26

Romans 16:25-27

Luke 1:26-38

December 28, 2014

1 Sunday after Christmas

Isaiah 61:10—62:3

Psalm 148

Galatians 4:4-7

Luke 2:22-40

You are welcome to read the lessons in

preparation for Sunday Worship.

I think that the first candle I was ever allowed to light was on the advent wreath my sister and I had made in Sunday school. We made one every year by sticking random greens from our teachers’ yards into a Styrofoam ring into which four candles were also jammed. They were the same candles I later recognized at the Christmas Eve worship service, each stuck through a paper circle to keep the wax from dripping on the pews or on the floor.

I remember that our teachers also issued us a devotional guide with readings for each of the four Sundays in advent. Sharon and I took this responsibility very seriously. The family would gather together as we lit the candle (or candles) for that week and read the reading and prayed the prayer. I’m not sure that I understood exactly what it all meant other than the fact that there was something more to Christmas than presents under the tree.

A lot of our early faith teaching comes from going through the motions long before we can grasp the meaning. What happens is that the practice of our Christian faith is already familiar by the time we are old enough to understand. Then, the practice comes into its fullness when the lighting of the candles are recognized as a reflection of our hope in Jesus Christ as the light of the world. Children who simply enjoyed lighting a candle now see how a candle breaks into the darkness. The fear of the unseen and the unknown is replaced with the assurance of His presence.

As we grow older, we think about the people who waited long centuries for a Messiah and the darkness in which they lived. Does our joy at Christmastime match the joy of the shepherds? Would we travel as far as the wise men to see the light of the world? Do we, like Joseph and Mary, witness God’s story unfolding right in front of us and ponder these things in our hearts?

Go get a Styrofoam ring, some random greens and some candles and make your own advent wreath this year. Gather your family, light the candles and pray for Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.

Page 2 | Dec 2014/Jan 2015

“Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord.”

– Luke 2:11

Scriptures for January

January 4, 2015

2nd Sunday after Christmas

Holy Communion Jeremiah 31:7-14

Psalm 147:12-20

Ephesians 1:3-14

John 1:10-18

January 11, 2015

Baptism of the Lord

Genesis 1:1-5

Psalm 29

Acts 19:1-7

Mark 1:4-11

January 18, 2015

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Samuel 3:1-10

Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

John 1:43-51

January 25, 2015

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jonah 3:1-5, 10

Psalm 62:5-12

1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Mark 1:14-20

You are invited to a Bible Study with Pastor

Sue each Wednesday at 9:30 am in the Parlor.

Dec 2014/Jan 2013 | Page 3

Donations will be accepted for

the church’s Scholarship Fund

Presbyterian Women of

First Presbyterian Church of Puyallup Invites you to:

Monday, December 1, 2014Monday, December 1, 2014Monday, December 1, 2014Monday, December 1, 2014

12:15 pm Silent Auction for Gift

Baskets, Stockings & Quilts

1:00 pm Music & Entertainment by the

Puyallup High School Norselanders

Tacoma Youth Chorus in Concert The Tacoma Youth Chorus Chamber Choir and Chorale will

present a concert in our Sanctuary on Friday, December 7 at 7:00 pm. The Tacoma Youth Chorus is a choral education program of seven select choirs, grade 1-12, serving more than 240 young people in the Puget Sound region. The public is welcome to the FREE outstanding performance.

Youth Group News Announcing the 2015 Mission Trip :

SAN FRANCISCO! July 18SAN FRANCISCO! July 18SAN FRANCISCO! July 18SAN FRANCISCO! July 18----24, 201524, 201524, 201524, 2015 December 14, 2014 - Youth Bake Sale-

All proceeds goes for the San Francisco youth mission trip. December 31, 2014 - Youth Lock-In! All 7th - 12th graders

are invited to attend! Lock-in starts at 6 pm!

Page 4 | Dec 2013/Jan 2014

End of the Year Contributions Every year, the Christmas season becomes busier & busier. Soon

the days of ‘Peace on Earth’ will give way to ‘Tax Season.’ Here are a few reminders before December 31st rolls around.

� All monetary contributions for 2014 must be received on or be post-marked by December 31, 2014 to be included on your 2014 tax statement.

� Any contributions postmarked January 1, 2015 or later will be added to your 2015 giving record. Example: Your check is dated Decem-ber 28, 2014, but is postmarked January 2, 2015; that donation will be on your 2015 statement. If you have any questions, please contact Christy Galan, Financial

Secretary at 848-7243 or firstpresoffice@fpcpuyallup.org.

Office News The church office will be closed at noon on

December 24 and will be closed December 26. The office will close at

noon on December 31st and will be closed on January 1 & 2 for the New Year’s holiday.

The office will also be closed January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day.

Church Receptionist The months of December

& January are the busiest times in the

church office with Advent & Christmas prepara-tions, producing the

Annual Financial and Ministry Reports for the

congregation! Beginning January 12,

we will have a volunteer church receptionist

in the office. Our Office Manager,

Christy will be working in another office while she

gets these projects completed.

News from the Alleluia Ringers Thank you for your support of our iris bulb sale this fall. The sale and

donations totaled $225. This will allow us to purchase a replacement bell for one of the small ones that does not ring correctly.

We are so grateful for the generous support the congregation gives to this Music Ministry. We hope you will have beautiful iris flowers in your gardens next spring.

The Alleluia Ringers have been asked to come back to the Puyallup Library to share Christmas music again this year. We invite you to come to the library December 13th at 1 PM for an assortment of seasonal mu-sic. The Ringers are preparing many of their favorites from the past, in-cluding "Carol of the Bells" and "Ding Dong, Merrily on High", along with several new arrangements. Please join us as we ring and celebrate the holidays with handbell music.

VBS Needs Winter Decorations! The theme for Vacation Bible School 2015 is “Everest” That means a

snow covered Mountain adventure. The Children’s Ministry would like to encourage you to pick up any snowflake/winter decorations (window clings, felt, etc.) Many items can be found at the dollar store.

If you have any questions, please contact Nicole McKnight, Chil-dren’s Ministry Coordinator at 848-7243 or nicole@fpcpuyallup.org.

Dec 2014/Jan 2015 | Page 5

1st-Aubrie Moyer 3rd-Jacob Crain

6th-Dave Campbell 10th-Anita Dawkins

11th-Janet Barclay

11th-Emily Couture

16th-Nick Crain

16th-Steve Wheless

20th-Marty Vaughan

21st-Kathy Guimond

21st-Lloyd Morgan

23rd-Mattie Lou Bell 24th-Lynn Arthur 24th-Cy Hanson

December Birthdays

15th~Jordan & Emily Cockle, celebrating 2 years

19th~ Joe & Marjorie Harrison, celebrating 22 years

21st ~ Todd & Julie Giltner, celebrating 29 years

27th ~ Cliff & Myrna Laycock, celebrating 57 years

27th ~ Clayton & Mary Ellen Sparks, celebrating 51 years

27th ~ Jim & Linda Webber, celebrating 28 years

December Anniversaries

3rd-Ernie Zeiger 5th-Claire Campbell

6th-Tim Downs

8th-Alex Byrd

8th-Chris Byrd

8th-Sheila Rinker 11th-Jane Carden

14th-Alice Repp

15th-Judy Scheer 15th-Vaneda Stonack

16th-Maine Schwinn

17th-Elsie Zak

17th-John Brooks

17th-Wendy Couture

18th-Geoff Zeiger 21st-Joanne Hackett

21st-Jim Webber 23rd-Bronwyn Lyons

26th-Mason Crain

26th-Pat Hodgson

27th-Cindy Carriveau

28th-Doris Pederson

January Birthdays

11th ~ Bill & ErrolLynne Marsh, celebrating 46 years!

11th ~ Wes & Rebecca Price, celebrating 46 years!

28th-Ryan & Stephanie Johnson, celebrating 3 years!

29th ~ Ray & Anne Coleman, celebrating 49 years

January Anniversaries

“I bring good news to you—wonderful,

joyous news for all people.” – Luke 2:10

We’re Having A Caroling Party Sunday, December 21, 3:30 pm We will meet in the church parking lot

and then we visit various members of our congregation. Please RSVP to Joe, Mar-jorie or Kelsey Harrison at 253-841-0270

or by email jjmmkk@comcast.net.

Annual Congregational Meeting

The Annual Congrega-tional meeting will be Sun-day, January 25. Join us for an all church potluck following worship and the Annual Meeting is sched-uled to begin at 12:15 pm.

Christmas Gifts for Preschoolers Christmas gifts for the Puyallup

Bates Early Learning Program is a tradi-tional event sponsored by the Board of Deacons. This year the Preschool staff has named 30 most needy of the 76 children.

The tags with child’s name and item needed are now on the gift tree, located in the sun room. Each child will receive clothing, socks, and a toy or game. Shoppers, choose a tag, and return the unwrapped item with the tag by Decem-ber 7th. If you would rather help by giv-ing money, that is also welcome. Addi-tionally, a family from FPCP for the third year will give a new pair of shoes to each child in the program.

Do You, or Have You Ever Sponsored a Child?

If so, let us know, and look for the display on the Missions bulletin board in January. We would like to see just how far the love and care from FPCP reach-es. Please contact Jan Morgan with the following information: Child’s name; Country or State; What years did you sponsor, and child’s age; and program/ministry.

Our Deepest Sympathy is extended to the family of

Dan AndrewsDan AndrewsDan AndrewsDan Andrews passed away on Nov 19. A

memorial service will be held at FPC on Nov 26 at 11:30 am

Special Services this Christmas

December 14, 10:30 am Children & Youth Christmas Pageant!

December 24 7:00 pm & 10:00 pm Christmas Eve Services

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

First Presbyterian Church of Puyallup

412 West Pioneer Puyallup, WA 98371-8625