The Seed Newsletter
November 28, 2021
THIS SUNDAY AT CHRISTIAN TEMPLE- Advent is HERE!!!
It's hard to believe that Advent 2021 has arrived. But, here we are! And, while we aren't back to the normal we might like to see, we will be featuring a variety of cherished traditions and new wrinkles during the next four weeks.
THIS WEEK, please plan to be in worship as we begin to decorate the sanctuary with the Advent wreath and the Nativity Scene, Of course we will sing one or two songs of the season, as well as listen in on the prophecy of Isaiah. What does it mean that God plans to raise every valley and bring every mountain down low? Isaiah will appear to us courtesy of a "Progressive Journey to Bethlehem" that will unfold each week (see below):
SECOND ANNUAL LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTIAN TEMPLE CHRISTMAS TREE
SUNDAY AFTERNOON, NOVEMBER 28TH
Last year, out of Pandemic necessity to stay outside, we instituted a new tradition here at Christian Temple! On the afternoon of the first Sunday of Advent, we all gathered in the front of the church to light the big tree in our front yard. AND, we brought our Chrismon tree out to the front porch to be decorated. It was fun singing a few carols and imagining what it might be like to be a "Who" in Whoville singing praise to Christmas, or being one of Peanuts' gang standing around Charlie Brown's tree that only needs a little love.
So, this year we are repeating the tradition by gathering at 4 pm on Sunday, November 28th in front of the church. We'll have the Chrismon tree on hand to decorate, along with a little hot chocolate, the Church band will be on hand to lead us in singing, and we may even have a visit from the Grinch who stole Christmas!
So, since we aren't all sure about gathering indoors for advent worship, grab the kids and wander over to Christian Temple on Sunday, November 28th at 4 pm. You'll be glad you did!
THANKSGIVING OFFERING
Before we leave Thanksgiving completely behind, please take note that each year, the Thanksgiving Special Day Offering goes to fund Institutions of Higher Education affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Among those colleges, universities and seminaries are several that have touched the lives of many members and friends of Christian Temple. We've had plenty of folks attend and graduate from Bethany and Lynchburg College, and Chapman and Transylvania Universities. And, among the seminaries we've had people who've attended and graduated from the Disciples Divinity House of the University of Chicago and Vanderbilt University, and Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis.
Anyone who is so inclined to support what has always been a value of our denomination- namely higher education- is invited to make a gift to the Thanksgiving Offering either by making a check out to Christian Temple and marking "Thanksgiving Offering" in the memo line, or by clicking the donate button on the Christian Temple website and finding "Thanksgiving". Thank you!
THANK YOU EVERYONE!!
A big thank you goes out to everyone who brought in canned goods when they came to worship last Sunday. Rest assured that these food items will find their way to the Grace AME Food Pantry in Catonsville over the course of the next month. Here's a photo of all the food bagged up and ready to go!
Also, thank you to everyone who responded to the call to support the Holiday Gift Program of the Catonsville Children's Home. Thanks to your generosity, the CYF purchased gifts for six young people (three boys and three girls) on Sunday and we had so much left over that we will be able to purchase a "cottage gift" to be used in one of the residential cottages- most likely a nice "gaming chair". What a great response from a great congregation that is "hungry to give"!
POINSETTIAS, PLEASE?
UPDATE: ORDERS DUE BY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19TH!
We have been able to extend our due date! There is still time now to help make our Sanctuary both pretty and seasonal for our in-person and livestream services, won't you please consider contributing for poinsettias to on the Worship Center and baptistery?
If you are willing to give a poinsettia in honor of memory of a loved one, please let the office know! Online order forms are now available as well as printable forms to bring (or mail) in to Christian Temple. The price will is $11 per plant. We will also publish the names of those honored/remembered. If we get enough, we might even be able to create our poinsettia tree! Thank you for your support.
CLICK HERE FOR AN ONLINE FORM Once you complete this easy online form and submit your information, it will go directly to the church office. No need to mail it in to Christian Temple! You may pay for your poinsettia(s) on our Online Donation Site, located on the left-hand side of our Home page. You are also more than welcome to drop your payment off at church or send it in the mail!
IT'S COLLEGE CARE PACKAGE TIME!
WE need your help!
1. We need to know who the college students are! Please call or email Robin in the office and let her know where your college student will be the first 2 weeks of December as we hope to mail them out on November 30th. Give Robin an address and, if they are local, we might hand deliver.
2. We need STUFF to put in the boxes! Homemade goodies, toys and trinkets, candy of all kind, hot chocolate packets, popcorn packets, etc...There will be a box in the Gathering this week. You can drop stuff off when you come to worship or anytime before November 29th.
3. We can use donations to help pay for shipping.
This is a fun and meaningful way for us to tell our college students we support them and love them! Can you help us out? (Not sure how many we have...probably around 15).
NINE O'CLOCK FORUM
This week we begin a new Nine O'clock Forum session which will be led by Joe Pettit. Joe will be using the advent book, "Honest Advent", by Scott Erickson. Join us as we talk about the real issues that confront the world and the church during this celebration of Advent.
Joe says that, while folks are welcome to purchase the book (which is a wonderful resource) reading the material beforehand is not necessary!
KIDS CHOIR WELCOMES ALL KIDS!
Each Sunday from 10:15-10:45, the Kids Choir meets on Zoom to learn about Jesus through music. We'd love to have your child join us! The link is posted each week in the Sunday information. Also, the choir will be singing IN PERSON this week at worship! ALL kids are welcome to join us! We'll be singing "So Much", so even if you haven't been to practice, you can join us! Rather than our regular 10:15 practice, we'll be in person at church at 10:45 to sing. See you there!
And we'll be singing again on Sunday, December 19th...we'll be learning our Christmas songs beginning on the 29th of November.
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO ISN'T RECEIVING THE SEED?
Our email distribution lists are almost up-to-date, but we are concerned that we may have missed a friend or two during this process. If you know of anyone who isn't receiving the J&C and/or The Seed, please ask them to let the office know. Contact Robin at 410-747-2041 or at office@christiantemple.org. Thank you!
ZOOM LINKS!
Wednesday Bible Study, Wednesdays (9:30 AM)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89678926477?pwd=Yno4ZW01RER0a00zNGlnWUFyWE9wQT09
The Well, Thursdays (6:30 PM)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89200881845
9:00 Forum, Sundays (9 AM)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/602793616
Children's Choir, Sundays (10:15- 10:45 AM)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87001372088
