News You Need to Know! – (for the 3rd Sunday of Advent)
Happy Friday Fort King Friends!
Heres all the News You Need to Know
about whats coming up at your church home!
This Sunday at Fort King
December 14th is the Third Sunday of Advent, traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday (gau-dey-tey), which means rejoice in Latin. On this Sunday, we light the Candle of Joy, the only pink candle because it is associated with Mary, and how she rejoiced and magnified the Lord! I hope you will join us for worship at 10:30 a.m., either in person or online, as we draw explore how we might Draw Near to Joy this Advent Season.
Blue Christmas Service
But, for those who find joy elusive during the holiday season, let me invite you to stay for a brief, yet intimate, Blue Christmas Service, following the morning worship service (starting approximately at 12:00 Noon). Together, in this gentle half-hour service of Scripture, Song, Prayer and Light, we will seek Gods comfort, share hope, and remember that Christs light still shines even in the shadows.
Crossroads Class: Growing the Good
Prior to worship, let me encourage you to join us for our Crossroads Class at 9:00 a.m. Stephen and Joy Zedler, the founders of the Pearl Project (which is housed at our church), will be presenting more of their method of working with family systems in crisis. What we discovered last week was their wisdom applies not just to family systems, but to any sort of system, such as our church and the wider community. You dont want to miss this! Growing the Good, Part 2, this week at Crossroads!
Share Table Sunday
The 2nd Sunday of the Month is Share Table Sunday at Fort King. If you have any gently used items you would like to give away, bring them for the Share Table after the service. And be sure to stop by yourself after worship you might just find that perfect item you didnt know you needed!
Fellowship and Mission Event: Birthday Party for Jesus!
This annual event, sponsored by the YAK (Youth and Kids) and Congregational Care Ministries, is Sunday night at 5:30 p.m. We will begin with finger-food and desserts provided by you, the wonderful cooks and bakers at Fort King! Afterwards we will focus on two mission projects: (1) The main activity will be assembling Gift Baskets for our shut-in members – if you can, please bring small items for inclusion, such as: herbal tea or hot chocolate packets, small packages of cookies, crackers or candy, hand lotions or lip balm, warm socks or lap blankets, stationary or cards, etc. (2) We will also be taking up a monetary collection in support of the Childrens Alliance of Ocala, in support of their Christmas toy drive for children at risk. We will conclude our time together by singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and enjoying some birthday cake!
In Other News
Make plans to join us for our Christmas Eve Service on Wednesday, December 24th at 4:00 p.m. Join us as we once again tell the story of our dear Saviors birth through Scripture and Carols. We will celebrate Communion together and conclude with the always beautiful and moving Candle-Lighting Ceremony. Make plans to come, and invite your family or friends!
Christmas Joy Offering: Our offering on Christmas Eve will be split three ways: a third will go to the PCUSA fund for retired church workers, which provides assistance to ministers and laypersons who have served our churches so faithfully, but now find themselves in financial difficulty; one third will go to our own churchs Emergency Benevolence Fund, which allows us to help members of our church and persons from the community who find themselves in need; and one third will help provide scholarships for young people, primarily minority students, who would like to attend a Presbyterian school or college. If you will not be able to worship with us on Christmas Eve, you may give to this offering any time during this month.
And for your own personal prayer time, I encourage you to download this years Advent Daily Devotional Draw Near, which is attached to this email. Each day of Advent this devotional offers a gentle invitation to draw near to Scripture, to stillness, and to the heart of God, as we prepare, not just for Christmas, but for Christs presence among us.
Advent Blessings,
-Pastor Bob
Rev. Bob Scott, Transitional Minister
Fort King Presbyterian Church
13 NE 36th Ave., Ocala FL 34470
Church: (352) 694-4121
Mobile: (727) 599-6767
Email: Pastor
Advent Devotional-DRAW NEAR.pdf
