Week of December 15, 2024 - Week 3 of Advent

"Sing, O daughter of Zion;
    shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
    O daughter of Jerusalem!
For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment
    and will disperse the armies of your enemy.
And the Lord himself, the King of Israel,
    will live among you!
At last your troubles will be over,
    and you will never again fear disaster."

Zephaniah 3:14-15 (NLT)

Community Creches: A New Tradition for Etna
The chreches are up!  
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:
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.  
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.
Holiday Potluck Luncheon: We will have our annual church family luncheon in Trumbull Hall this 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:   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).

Our Sunday morning Bible Discussion group will not meet for the remainder of December.  We'll start again after the new year. Check our weekly updates for more information coming soon.
Here's some feedback we've received via email about the creche display this week.

Wow!!!!
 That was really wonderful!!!!

[We] enjoyed the visit to see the crèches!!
 They are all so beautiful and precious.
 The notes with each one were so interesting and made it so meaningful.
 We are already looking forward to seeing them again next year!!!!!!
 And maybe some more.

 Thank you!!!! Thank you!!!!


Editor's note: 
I concur wholeheartedly! Our creche display, spearheaded by Laurie Wadsworth,offers a lovely and significant collection of artistry and craftsmanship dedicated to making God's incomprehensibly generous gift to His people a bit more concrete as we celebrate the Advent of God's new covenant with us and Jesus' saving work on our behalf.  We hope it's a blessing to all who visit us. 
 

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