Pine Street Pine Street Presbyterian Church
VOLUME 32 | ISSUE 11
Happy New Year! Dr. Russell Sullivan, Pastor
Happy New Year! That should be the greeting on the First Sunday of Advent, December 2, 2012, because it is indeed the beginning of a new year, not a calendar year, but a liturgical year. But what is this season of Advent all about? Because the term itself means “coming” or “arrival,” and because it precedes Christmas, many have misunderstood Advent to be exclusively a time to prepare for the coming celebration of the child at Bethlehem. In fact, our culture – increasingly pagan and secular – does not recognize the nature of Advent and instead wants a full blown celebration of Christmas – and commercialism – during this time. But Advent is first of all not about the infant Jesus who was God incarnate, but about the end of time. It concerns the future of the Risen Christ. As Christ came once in humility at Bethlehem, so Christ, the one who has conquered death, will come again in power and glory to bring about
his New Creation. Advent is the celebration of the promise that Christ will bring an end to all that is opposed to the ways of God; the resurrection of Jesus is the first sign that a new day is on the way. And so it’s kind of strange. The beginning of a new liturgical year draws our thinking to the very end of all things. History and creation are headed somewhere, and this time of year with its emphasis on waiting and penitence forces us to think: “Where are we on that journey to the end? On whose side are we?” The texts of the season resound with the promise that the Reign of God is coming and that we must prepare. I know that may sound a little too cosmic when you’re wrapping presents and fussing about tinsel and mistletoe and looking forward to reunions with friends and families. But the end is always there. It is a See ADVENT on page 4
THANKSGIVING by Cheryl A. Goode
When we think of Thanksgiving we typically think of a day to get together with loved ones, eat turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin pie and ridiculously large amounts of food. We watch football, and last but not least give thanks for all the blessings in our lives. We also think of the feast the pilgrims had with the Wampanoag Indians as being the first Thanksgiving. But was it in fact the first Thanksgiving? See THANKSGIVING on page 3
NOVEMBER 1, 2012
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Session Notes. . . . . . . . . . . 2 Trustee Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . 3 DDB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 November Calendar. . . . . . . 7 November Scripture . . . . . . 8
November At A Glance MAPS Evensong. . . . . . . Nov 2 Stewardship Breakfast. . Nov 4 Family Retreat. . . . . . . . . Nov 9 Veterans Breakfast . . . . . Nov 10 Pine StreetWalkers . . . . . Nov 11 Consecration Sunday. . . Nov 18 Giving Tree Begins. . . . . Nov 25 Hanging of the Greens. . Nov 28
PSL Deadline Articles, photos and items of interest for the December issue of Pine Street Life are due by November 15, 2012. Please e-mail to Sue Black at BL3COL@aol.com