Abundant Life News and Notes
November 30, 2017
Weekly message from Pastor Chris ~ pastorchris@abundantlifewyckoff.org
A Season of Waiting
This Sunday marks the start of a new church year and the season of Advent. Advent is a season of preparation, not only for the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas, but also for the long-awaited day when Christ returns to bring about a new heaven and a new earth. Our scripture lessons in this season will be from the prophets, who give us words of anticipation for the coming of the Light of the World.
Last night, I had the opportunity to lead a memorial service for families who have lost loved ones in the last year. It was a tender evening, filled with both grief and hope, loss and expectation, death and resurrection. It was a wonderful way to prepare for the start of this Advent season, as it drew together so many themes and feelings that I feel as we approach Christmas. I think about family members that have died, church members that are no longer with us, and friends who have passed away. Sitting with grieving families last night, we talked about how we go about celebrating these holidays when the ones we love are not there to celebrate with us.
Our culture wants to rush us through to Christmas, putting our thoughts more on the gifts we need to purchase than the preparation that we need to make in our hearts. Christmas will come soon enough, but let’s take these next few weeks to slow down and focus on what we need to do to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ. If Christ were to return today, would you be ready? Is your heart right? Have you confessed your sins? Are you at peace with others? Shopping is easy; slowing down long enough to be right with God is much harder in a busy world. So let’s take advantage of this Advent season, and wait for the Lord. I look forward to waiting with you this week in worship!
In the name of Jesus,
Pastor Chris
|
|
|
|
|
This Week's Events:
12/1 - Youth Group Service Event, Cedar Hill Reformed Church, 7 pm
12/3 - Pageant Rehearsal and Sunday School , 9:15 am
Worship Service 10:30 am
12/4- AA/Pos. Thinkers, 6:30 pm
12/5 - Choir Rehearsal, 7:30 pm
12/6 - Bible Study, 7 pm
For full Abundant Life calendar, visit our website.
|
|
|
|
Serving this Week:
Hospitality: Cheryl Cohen
Nursery: Kaitlyn Cohen & Sam VanderWall
Transportation: Mike and Sharon Hansen
Children's Sermon: Ruth Weiss
Scripture Reader: Mike Cohen
Liturgist: Bill Galloway
If you are unable to serve this week, please contact Beth in the office.
|
|
|
|
|
|
This Sunday at Abundant Life
Rev. Christopher L. Jacobsen
"Keeping the Faith"
based on Daniel 3:1-30
|
|
|
Youth Group Service Event : Feeding the Homeless Dinner (and breakfast and lunch!) - The Youth Group will be meeting at Cedar Hill Reformed Church in Wyckoff tomorrow, December 1st at 7 pm. You can still donate a $10 gift card to Dunkin Donuts to distribute to the homeless at this event. They can be brought to the office on Friday between 9:15 am and 1:45 pm. Thank you to all who have already donated! Contact Cheryl Rozema for more information.
Poinsettia Orders - Orders are being collected for Christmas Poinsettias. The plants are 8 inches wide and come in red or white. The plants cost $15.50 each. Order sheets can be found in the church office or in the narthex. Orders can also be placed with Beth in the office. The deadline for orders is December 17th.
Donations Sought -Heritage Manor Nursing Home at Christian Health Care Center (CHCC) in Wyckoff is in need of bingo prizes for resident activity sessions. Items requested include small picture frames, note cards and stationery, crossword puzzle and word-find books, socks, scarves, ties, costume jewelry (necklaces, clip-on earrings, pins) and other knickknacks. Four-ply yarn and crochet hooks larger than size G would also be appreciated for our crochet group. Items may be dropped off at CHCC at the Commons reception desk (use 700 Mountain Ave. entrance). If you have any questions, call Diane Barbera, RN, RAC-CT, at (201) 897-5305.
Christmas Song Fest - On Sunday December 3rd at 6:00 PM at Living Word Reformed Church, 21 Pleasant View Drive in North Haledon, several area churches will again be joining together for an evening of praise and celebration of the beginning of the Advent Season. The music will be accompanied by a blend of piano, organ, and praise band instruments. The offering will be for the work of New Hope Community Ministries. Plan on joining in and bring a friend that likes the carols of the season. Light refreshments will be served following the service.
Holiday Bazaar- The GEMS Girls' Club of Covenant Christian Reformed Church will hold their annual Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, December 2 from 9:30am to 2pm. Shoppers are invited to browse a wide variety of gift items and decorations for the Christmas holiday. Oliebollen will be available for purchase. Located at 400 North Haledon Ave, North Haledon. Purchases help benefit Covenant’s GEMS ministry for girls in 1st through 8th grade.
Work as Worship Retreat - On February 23, Abundant Life will be hosting the "Work as Worship" retreat. God has a purpose for us on this earth. That calling is to be on mission for God where He has placed us. And since many people spend the majority of their waking hours on the job, we have to stop compartmentalizing life into “spiritual activities” and “work activities.” How are we living examples of the gospel while we work? Abundant Life will be hosting a local 2017 Work as Worship Retreat, where eleven influential business leaders and pastors will discuss what it looks like to connect faith and work. Taking place as a live event in Dallas, it will be web-streamed to over 2,000 churches around the world, including Abundant Life. Registration is open! Please check out workasworshipretreat.org more information or visit our registration site here.
December Benevolent Offering: Christian Health Center
December Food Bank Donation: Center for Food Action
If you or a loved one has a need to be placed on the Prayer List please call or email Pastor Chris (pastorchris@abundantlifewyckoff.org) or leave a message on the office answering machine.
|
|
|
|
|
