Week of December 8, 2024 - Week 2 of Advent

Crafting Together: This long-running fellowship group meets this month on Monday, December 9, at 1 pm in Trumbull Hall. Bring a craft and enjoy the company of others while you knit, sew, or pursue some other way of making things.

Joyful Bells: The Joyful Bells (English Hand Bell) Choir will be joining us for a special concert this Sunday a 1 pm. They’ll also be giving us a little preview of the concert in the Sunday worship service that day.  We invite you to join us to see and hear them at one or both opportunities.

Thanksgiving Updates:  THANK YOU to everyone that helped to make our Christians in Action  “Thanksgiving Cheer Bag” project a great success this year. We delivered 23 bags and collected 75 pounds of food items for the Lebanon Listen Food Pantry. Thank you again, for your faith in action!

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING and caroling in front of the Hanover Center Church.  Join friends and neighbors on Saturday, December 14 at 5:00 pm for carols, readings, hot chocolate, cookies and the lighting of the Christmas tree.  Free, donations gratefully accepted. First Congregational Church of Hanover Center 6 Parade Ground Road.

Community Creches: A New Tradition for Etna

1. Share your creche!
Church folks will be in the sanctuary, ready for you to come set up your creche, on the following dates and times:
Monday, Dec. 9 :  noon - 4:30 pm and 6 - 7:30 pm
Tuesday, Dec. 10:  3:30 - 5:00 pm and 6 - 7:30 pm
Wednesday, Dec. 11:  noon - 1:30 pm  
*** Please remember to also provide a short note about how, when or from whom you got your creche!  Visitors enjoy reading these as they stroll around the sanctuary.  
*** PLEASE also plan to pick up your creche on SATURDAY DEC. 14, between 10:30 - 3:00!  This gives us time to put away the tables, etc. in time for Sunday's worship service.
******* NOTE: the doors to the sanctuary will be locked when no one is present.

2. Enjoy the display!
Bring your family, and neighbors.  Come to the sanctuary to experience some quiet contemplation while viewing the various artists' renditions of the birth of Christ.   Members of our church family will be there to greet you, while soft music fills the room, at these times only:
Wednesday. Dec. 11, evening:  6:00 - 7:30 pm
Thursday, Dec. 12, afternoon:  1:00 - 4:00 pm
Friday, Dec. 13, evening:  5:00 - 8:00 pm
Saturday, Dec. 14, morning:  9:00 - 10:30 am

Note:  We could still use some help with clean-up Saturday  between 10:30 am - 3:00 pm.  Please let Laurie Wadsworth know if you can spend even a short time serving then.  

Holiday Potluck Luncheon MARK YOUR CALENDARS:  We will have our annual church family luncheon in Trumbull Hall on Sunday, December 15, following the Sunday Morning Service.  Please bring a main dish, salad, bread(s), or dessert to be shared -  but you are also welcome to join us for lunch if you happen to forget to bring something! This is a wonderful time for fellowship and to share a meal with your church family.

Bible Discussions:   Our Sunday morning Bible discussion group concludes our reading and discussion of Hebrews this Sunday, December 8.  We'll then take a break for the rest of December, and resume in January.  

On Wednesday mornings at 10 am in Trumbull Hall, join Pastor Chris for deep and lively, Scripture-based discussions sparked by the previous Sunday's sermon.  The Wednesday study will meet every Wednesday through Advent, but will not meet on Christmas Day (December 25) or on New Year's Day (January 1, 2025).

No previous Bible study experience required for either group! Interesting and stimulating conversation is guaranteed. Both discussion series include coffee and time slot-appropriate snacks.  We look forward to seeing you at either or both!