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OPMH E Gram (Dec 23, 2007) Meeting House Worshipers: Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Morning Services (8:30 and 11:00 am) Scripture Isaiah 7:10-16 Matthew 1: 18-25 Sermon Holy Disruption — Dr. Laha Hymns Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Good Christian Friends, Rejoice Lord Christ, When First You Came to Earth Other Special Music Prelude: 8:30 am Saviour of the Nations, Come – J.S. Bach 11:00 am Ave Maris Stella – Janet Yieh, Organist Introit: Gabriel’s Message – Basque Carol Anthem: 8:30 am Panis Angelicus – C. Frank 11:00 am Nova, Nova – 15th Century English Carol Offertory: 8:30 am Noel – C. Frank 11:00 am Panis Angelicus – C. Frank Postlude: Pastoral from “The Play of Jesus” Coffee Hour: Join us in Fellowship Hall after the 11:00 am service. Christian Education. Children’s Education: All children and youth (age 3 and up) will gather with the adults in Heritage Hall to view the movie “The King is Born.” Bridges to worship, for children age 5 years through second grade, will meet this Sundays. There will not be Bridges to Worship on Sunday, December 30. Dress Rehearsal for the Family Christmas Eve Serves is this Sunday, immediately following the 11:00 worship service. Children should report to Heritage Hall for check in and lunch. We will conclude by 2 pm. Adult Education Westminster Hall: The Gospel of Matthew, Bible study continues through Dec. 23. The members of the class wish to express their deepest thanks to Ed Willis, who is stepping down after more than three years to dedicated service in organizing and leading the program. Lee Posey, Tom Roberts and Hal Collums will serve as facilitators during the spring term. Please join us in Wesminster Hall. Heritage Hall: The movie, “The King is Born” will be shown. This animated film tells the story of Jesus’ birth from the angel’s announcemen to Mary to the shepherds’ reverent adoration. Snacks will be available. There will not be classes on Dec. 31. Wednesday Night Bible Study: Joshua, Judges, Ruth. Meets Wednesdays, 7:30-8:30 pm beginning Jan. 9.in Flounder 1b. Join us for this weekly Bible study, as we dig deeper into the Scripture, and listen for how it speaks to our lives today. Please contact Ann at
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or 549.6670, x129 for more infomraiton, or to sign up. Reformed Institute: Look on the web site for these special offerings. Fellowship, Study, and Prayer Groups: Youth: We will celebrate the season today and treat ourselves to lunch out in Old Town. Please meet directly after worship in front of Elliot House. We will walk to Chadwick’s for lunch. Bring your own $$ for lunch. Youth Advisory Council: Please let Cristy Gallagher or Nancy Davidson know if you would like to be part of the Youth advisory Council. The council will be the youth “voice” for OPMH and will meet once a month before youth fellowship on Sunday. Reminder: Ski trip reservations are due today (th 23rd). Forms and $100 deposit are due to Cristy this Sunday. Ski Trip is January 25-27. Forms and $100 deposit are due December 23 to Cristy. 20s/30s: This group is open to all in their 20s and 30s (married, single, members, visitors, friends). Join us Monday nights at 913 Oronoco Street at 7 pm. For more info., call Mike Campagna at 703-785-4736 or
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Advent Sundays with the Stephen Ministers: Holidays can be hectic, stressful, lonely, and difficult times for us. We welcome you for a cup of tea and time to connect with Stephen Ministers during the month of December. We will host an informal fellowship hour each Sunday in December in the Elliot House parlor following the 11:00 am service. We hope you will join us as we all search for joy and meaning during this Advent season. If you would like more information or would like to spend one-on-one time with a Stephen Minister during the holidays, call Susan Grandy at 703-780-4134 or 703.299.4749. Married couples of all ages are welcome to join Celebration for its January event which will include dinner and a presentation entitled “The Many Faces of Love” given by Dr. Bill Phillippe on Wed., Jan. 16 in Heritage hall. The cost will be $5 per person and childcare will be available (but a separate reservation is required). The dinner will be at 6:15 pm, followed by the presentation and discussion from 7:00 to 9:00 pm Please RSVP by Jan. 22 to Gerry and Gloria Cooper at
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or 703.837.0291. Mission Alternative Giving: Thank you to all who shopped at our Alternative Giving Fair, which raised over $10,000 for local, national, and international missions. If you still have shopping to do, you may pick up a blue Alternative Giving shopping list in the Narthex or Church Office, and return your order to the Church Office. Hats-n-Mittens are being collected. Bring your donations to the tree in Fellowship Hall. They will be shared with neighbors in need in Alexandria and Washington, DC. Christmas Joy Offering Each year the Meeting House receives five special offerings that support the larger work of the Presbyterian church (USA). On Sunday, December 23, we will receive the Christmas Joy Offering. Fifty percent of this offering goes to financial assistance programs for retired and active church workers and their families; fifty percent supports scholarships and costs at historically racial-ethnic Presbyterian schools and colleges. Gifts may be made by using the designated offering envelope from you boxes or found in the pews, or by marking “Joy Offering” on your checks’s memo line. The Global Missions Committee plans to organize another trip to Bay St. Louis, MS, April 13-10 to help First Presbyterian Church with their continued resonstruction efforts following Hurricane Katrina. An information meeting for those interested in learning about this mission opportunity is scheduled for Jan. 13 following the 11:00 am service in the Elliot House Library. Music: Adult Choir rehearses on Thursdays, at 7:30 pm in the balcony. Everyone is welcome! Children’s Choir’s rehearses on Sundays, in room 22, Education Building. 12:05-12:50 pm. Concerts With A Cause: La Ménéstrandise, Early Music Instrumental Ensemble, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008 at 4:00 pm, in the OPMH Sanctuary. Specializing in music from the late Renaissance to the Baroque, La Ménéstrandise is a trio of oboe, recorders, and string bass with harpsichord continuo. The concert will benefit United College Ministries of Northern Virginia, an ecumenical Christian ministry reaching out to students at George Mason University and Northern Virninia Community College campuses. Churchwide News: News Update: 2008 Stewardship Campaign – After six weeks we have received 288 pledges, 45 of which are new. These pledges total $1,157,000 with the repeating pledges showing some significant increases. But in order to meet the identified needs for the upcoming year, we will need everyone’s pledge. So, if you have not yet turned in your pledge, please do so as soon as possible. For your convenience, you may submit your pledge online to our Administrator, Casey Naatjes at
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Pledge cards are available in the friendship pads. Thanks for your support! Pledge Envelopes: Envelope packages are available for pick up in Fellowship Hall during the coffee hour. If there isn’t a package for you and you would like to have them, contact Casey or Lily at 549.6670. On Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve), services will be at 4:30 pm (family service) and 10:30 pm (candelight communion service). On Dec. 30, there will be one service (11:00 am), and no education classes. December Offerings: If you wish to record your offerings in the 2007 tax year, your checks must be delivered or postmarked on or before Dec. 31. Give to OPMH from your IRA, save on your Taxes – If you are over 70 ½ and have an IRA, you are required to make a “Minimum Required Distribution” each year or incur significant penalties. If, however, you ask your financial instutution to designate that the distributions go to OPMH, you will pay no taxes on the amount you designate to OPMH. You must act before December 31, 2007 – so if this is of interest, check with your financial advisor. (Unfortunately, this contribution cannot exceed $100,000). Flower Dedications/Memorials – Kerri Stevens, the new point of contact for OPMH’s flower dedications, is seeking contributors for January 27 forward. Flowers dedicated during Lent will reflect the more sombor tone of the season – that is they will be less colorful and perhaps more sparse. Donation cost is $65. Please contact her at
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or 703.966.3895 to schedule your date and related dedication.
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