Thought of the Week...; Sunday, November 29...; Sunday forum: legislative update...; Please read...; Stewardship Update...; Pastor on Call...; Fall Retreat...; Saturday, November 28...; Spend the Night at Shearith Israel...; New Member Sunday...; Holiday Shopping...; Did you know...

eNews@Morningside        November 23 - November 29, 2009

November 29, 2009
First Sunday of Advent

9:30 a.m. Coffee and Conversation

9:45 a.m. Church School
Adult, We will begin our annual Advent series, this year titled, "Advent Through the Eyes of Those Who Waited."

Children, Today, the preschool classes hear about David, the Shepherd boy, who protected his sheep just as God protects us. (1 Samuel 17: 34-37) On this first Sunday of Advent, the elementary classes learn about Isaiah's promise that a new king will restore and fulfill God's covenant with the house of David. (Isaiah 11: 1 - 12)

11:00 a.m. Worship/Baptism
Joanna Adams preaching, "Unexpected Angels"
Texts: Luke 1:26-38; Hebrews 13:1-2

12:00 p.m. Fellowship

12:15 p.m. Sunday Forum

2:00 p.m. Harmony

Thought of the Week...We can never say that we have been born too late. We can never say that we missed God's coming, for our awesome encounter with him is still ahead of us. In a real sense, the holy night of Christ's coming still lies ahead for our world. His hour and his day are still on the way. Our hearts and souls awaken to each new day with the possibility that God's advent may dawn. The New Testament does not close simply with an amen to what has already passed. It also pronounces an amen to what is yet to come: Maranatha, "Come, Lord Jesus!" - Johannes Metz, The Advent of God

Sunday, November 29...We light the candle on the Advent wreath today. Start the season by picking up an Advent Devotional today in the Narthex, Welcome Center or Fellowship Hall.

Sunday forum: legislative update...One hallmark of our Presbyterian/Reformed tradition is an emphasis on engagement with the important issues facing the wider community. Today after worship, we will have the opportunity to hear about some of those issues from two community leaders. Our speakers will be State Senator Nan Orrock, who will give a preview of what will come before the Georgia General Assembly in 2010, and Mindy Binderman, Advocacy Director for Voices for Georgia's Children. Mindy will talk about JUSTGeorgia, a coalition working for a complete overhaul of the state's juvenile justice code. Please plan to join us at 12:15 in Room 201.

Support Adopt-a-Grandparent by bringing in today a $10 CVS card for low income seniors for Christmas. For more information, contact Debbie Fox at debfox@deloitte.com.

Please read...Elder Sarah Beth Gehl's excellent op-ed piece from the Atlanta Journal Constitution in the following link http://beyondthetrestle.com/node/4. She invites us to think beyond ourselves and our families this Thanksgiving, following Jesus' greatest commandment - to love both God and neighbor.

Stewardship Update...More than 125 households have made their pledge for 2010 giving. This is a good start toward what we can do for our children, for support of our wonderful staff and programs, for stewardship of our worship and educational space, and for extending the mission of the church as Jesus taught us to do. But, so far, we are not there yet. If you have not been able to make your pledge, it is not too late. If you need a pledge card, contact the church office. If cannot be here next Sunday, mail it in. The time for deciding about what we can do in 2010 will soon be upon us. Let's move forward by faith.

Pastor on Call...If there is a pastoral emergency over the Thanksgiving holiday (Wednesday through Friday), The Rev. Glenn Small, Jr., an affiliate member at Morningside, is pastor on call. Glenn is an ordained Presbyterian minister and a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice. He can be reached at 770.414.5957 or 404.862.7340.

Fall Retreat...50 Morningsiders had a fabulous time at our first annual fall retreat in Montreat, North Carolina, last weekend!

Saturday, November 28...Provide a dish and/or sign up to serve dinner to 30 men at Clifton Sanctuary Ministries this Saturday. For more information, contact Tony Fishpaw at 404.597.5485 or tonyfishpaw@me.com.

Spend the Night at Shearith Israel...Volunteers are needed to serve dinner, stay the night, and spend some time with the women at Shearith Israel Shelter, December 3-6. For more information, contact Amy DeBaets (amy.debaets@gmail.com).

New Member Sunday...If you have been thinking about joining Morningside on our next New Member Sunday, December 6, plan on coming to the Inquirers' Class at 9:45 a.m. in the Session Room. The Session will meet immediately afterward to receive new members. Please be in touch with Joanna Adams (joannamadams@bellsouth.net or 404.876.7396 x 11) to let her know of your interest.

Holiday Shopping...Support the Mission Ministry of MPC and save yourself a trip to the store for gifts. MPC Cookbooks ($12) and Christmas cards ($15 a box) are on sale throughout the week in the church office.

Did you know...that AJC arts critic Pierre Ruhe wrote a piece in the Thursday Journal about Atlanta Opera's Orfeo ed Euridice and said "Walter Huff's chorus, which danced sweetly, also touched the sublime in 'Torna, o bella' (Is there a better opera chorus in America?)"

More Information
For more information about these events, please contact the church office at 404.876.7396 or office@morningsidepc.org.