This Week: November 23, 2019

EVERYONE ADVENT & CHRISTMAS DAILY PRAYER GUIDE

We invite you to join us in reading Scripture and praying together starting Sunday, December 1. Our readings will be from the Psalms and various passages in the Old and New Testaments that outline the unfolding work of God’s grace in redeeming a people for Himself. These passages establish our need for a Messiah and celebrate Jesus Christ as our Redeemer and King. May the story of God’s Word fill us with a vibrant hope in Jesus Christ this Advent & Christmas season. Our Daily Prayer Guide is available on the free PCPC App (search “PCPC” for Apple and Google mobile devices) and in a limited supply of books. shawn.davis@pcpc.org or 214-224-2710

REJOICE! CHRISTMAS CONCERT

BOXES OF BLESSING PACKING DAY

Mark your calendar for our annual Boxes of Blessing Packing Day! Bring your family, small group, and friends to help us extend the Kingdom of Christ to our city by filling 10,000+ boxes of food on Saturday, December 7, 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m., BCW Warehouse, 6100 Cedar Springs Rd. These boxes are a wonderful gift to our ministry partners that allows them to minister to their communities in a unique way. charlotte.medley@pcpc.org or 214-224-2715

VOL. XXX, NO .21 | NOVEMBER 23, 2019 PARK CITIES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TRICIA COTHRAN, EDITOR 4124 OAK LAWN AVENUE DALLAS, TX 75219-3152

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES

Celebrate the coming of Emmanuel and His marvelous light in worship this Christmas Eve with our Family Celebration Service at 4:00 p.m. and the Candlelight Service at 8:00 p.m. Please note the new time! daniel.tillman@pcpc.org or 214-224-2632

YEAR END GIVING

In order to comply with IRS regulations, Tuesday, December 31, is the deadline for donations to be receipted for 2019. Other than offerings given in worship or online, you may mail checks postmarked by Tuesday, December 31. Since church offices will be closed on the 31st, any hand-delivered contributions should be placed in the offering plate during regular worship services on Sunday. For stock donation instructions, contact Cheli Conejo by noon, Friday, December 27.

Please note that mutual fund donations can take up to one month to process.

Thank you for your generosity in supporting all that God is doing at PCPC. cheli.conejo@pcpc.org or 214-224-2608

214-224-2500 pcpc.org facebook.com/parkcitiespca twitter.com/parkcitiespca

THISWEEK@PCPC

Let the joy of Christmas fill your hearts at this musical celebration of the nativity of our Lord. Always a favorite, PCPC’s annual candlelight concert features the children’s, youth, and adult choirs with symphony orchestra on Sunday, December 15, at both 4:30 & 7:30 p.m., in the Sanctuary. A free ticket is required for entry and will be available at pcpcconcerts.org beginning Monday, December 2. We are also in great need of a large number of volunteers to welcome and serve our guests. Volunteers will be able to enjoy the concerts, as well! To volunteer, please email. performingarts@pcpc.org or 214-224-2631

WOMEN ADVENT PRAYER

THISWEEK@PCPC

VOL. XXX, NO. 21 | NOVEMBER 23, 2019

Join us for a time of prayer and worship of Christ our King on Tuesday, December 3, 7:00 p.m., 3814 Potomac Avenue. As we set the tone for the season through our time together, we will be reminded yet again of the hope that is ours in Christ, and our hearts will be filled with joy! We long to worship Him with new passion this Christmas! leslie.newman@pcpc.org or 214-224-2722

Return

The prophets had spoken the Words of God to the nation of Israel. Some to warn against sinfulness and to draw the people to repentance. Some to foretell of how God would work out His story of rescue for His people. But as the last prophet spoke, came a season of silence, a season of waiting, a season of anticipation for how God would return and keep His promises. Imagine for a second the faith and hope of the Israelites. They would have to hold on to that story passed down through those 400 years of silence through continued trial and tribulation. Imagine the difficulty in their years of captivity being enslaved by the next ruling power, seeing their way of life and worship chipped away by the prevailing culture.

So, the question for us as we begin to prepare for the season of Advent is how do we see and feel about this story? If you are like me, you can’t remember the first time that you heard about the angels, the shepherds, and the wisemen. The details about Jesus’ birth and the manger and the stable in Bethlehem have become so familiar that not only could you retell the nativity from memory, but it has now, in fact, lost some of the luster and joy that it once had when you were a child. Even the early onset of Christmas carols might make you shutter or change the radio station. So for us...

Return to Joy this Advent season. Let us marvel at how our children believe and celebrate.

See from their eyes and share in that childlike faith. They wonder with awe about the miraculous arrival of Jesus. How angels appeared to lowly shepherds and filled the sky with lights and singing. How wisemen traveled from afar to behold the truth of this new King of the Jews. You see our children see this story without the stress of Christmas expectations and all that the holiday means for our culture. Our children sit and believe with great imagination about a God who would rescue His people in the most amazing fashions.

BAPTISMS

October 20, 2019

Return to Christ, for He is coming, and He is bringing peace.

— Matthew Statham Children's Ministry

births • Mary Margaret Malloy, daughter of William & Sarah Malloy (CC#22) on October 24, 2019.

deaths • Dr. Jack T. Bell (CC#22), husband of Bobbye Bell (CC#22); father of Susan (& Frank) Bullock (CC#22), on November 14, 2019.

Marguerite Ann-Marie Cooper daughter of Lauren and Brad Cooper

Jacob William Hendricks son of Sara and Steven Hendricks

sympathies • Stan & Betsy Keith (CC#13) on the loss of her brother; John & Laura Kottlowski (CC#13) on the loss of her uncle; George & Elizabeth Kottlowski (CC#13) on the loss of their great-uncle; Caleb & Mary Grace Curry (CC#17) on the loss of her uncle, David Harsha, on November 11, 2019.

Care Clusters – pcpc.org/care/care-clusters/ GENERAL FUND

budget

2019/2020 operating budget

Margaret Andree Rowling daughter of Carrie and Blake Rowling

Travis Blake Rowling, Jr. son of Carrie and Blake Rowling

$13,500,000

July 1—November 10, 2019 budget

$3,609,652

July 1—November 10, 2019 giving

$3,573,327

Budget Variance

–$36,325

YOUNG FAMILIES

Return to Faith this Advent season. Believe with renewed eyes and ears. Read how our Messiah was foretold by the prophets of old and believe. See how even the stars aligned and the great eastern kings traveled to bring gifts. Know that our Messiah did in fact come. Look to the garden of Eden and the fall of Adam and see the narrative written for God’s people. Believe Jesus would come to finally restore and return God’s people to their promised place. God alone could undo the sin that entered through Adam.

Return to Hope this Advent season. Like the people of Israel, are we not in our own season of silence and expectation? Are we not with each benediction, lifting our heads to the sky awaiting our Savior to bring about our final rescue? Then look to Messiah with a great hope because the One who sent Him did so to fulfill a promise. And we put our hope in the One who alone can fulfill all promises and all covenants. Our God, who would send His Son into a world that was not ready to receive Him but would rather crucify Him. The hope that we share is revealed in Christ because we have hope that His coming brings about our eternal rescue and the restoration of the broken.

OUR FAMILY

FAMILY ADVENT SERVICE

James Alexander Terrill son of Margaret and Tyler Terrill

SAVE THE DATE MTW BAHAMAS DISASTER RELIEF TRAINING

PCPC Children's Ministry invites you to celebrate the Advent season as a family! On Sunday, December 1, 4:30–6:30 p.m. we will host an evening of fellowship, fun, and worship geared for the whole family. We will have a special, family-friendly interactive service in the Sanctuary, starting at 4:30 p.m. The service is followed by dinner at 5:15 p.m., fellowship and crafts in the Fellowship Hall. Dinner is at no-cost to families. RSVP online at pcpc.org/events. childrensministry@pcpc.org or 214-224-2556

PRESCHOOL ADVENT SONG & STORY

We will sing songs, celebrate Christ’s birth, and lunch will be served at no cost on Friday, December 13, 10:00–11:30 a.m., Oak Lawn West. Friends and families are welcome to join too!

Please park behind Oak Lawn West and enter through the doors facing Oak Lawn Avenue. Please RSVP online at pcpc.org/events. childrensministry@pcpc.org or 214-224-2556

Friday, January 10 | 5:00–9:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 11 | 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. hallie.powers@pcpc.org or 214-224-2510

SENIOR ADULTS

SANCTITY OF LIFE SUNDAY

All are welcome to join us for a lunch by Festive Kitchen followed by Jenni Rasberry and her talented vocal studio who will bring us a lovely, inspiring Christmas concert on Friday, December 6, 12:00–2:00 p.m., Oak Lawn West. We will also enjoy singing carols together! Bring a friend and join us for this delicious and inspiring time of food, fellowship, and heavenly voices. Please park behind the Oak Lawn West building.

Make your reservation no later than Tuesday, December 3. jane.beasley@pcpc.org or 214-224-2771

Sunday, January 19 | 9:30 & 11:00 a.m. | Sanctuary

ALL-CHURCH SUNDAY MORNING COMMUNITY

Sunday, January 26 | 9:30 & 11:00 a.m. | Fellowship Hall

ADKINS & NIELSON RECITAL

Sunday, January 26 | 5:00 & 7:00 p.m. | Cambridge Hall

CHRISTMAS CONCERT & LUNCHEON