Presbyterians Today’s Advent devotional embraces the observance of the Celtic Advent, which begins NOVEMBER 15 (earlier than our traditional Advent), encompassing a full 40-days which mirrors the season of Lent.
Presbyterians for Earth Care's new Daily Advent Devotions based on the Revised Common Lectionary texts from Creation Care Perspectives: We hope this devotional will help preachers, lectionary Bible study groups, families and individuals with new insights on these beloved texts during this special season. We hope the devotions will inspire more people to help care for God's creation in these challenging times.
Tips from our friends at Eco-Cycle:
Wrapping paper is mostly clay and has very little paper fiber content, so paper recycling markets are not a fan of the stuff, making it very difficult to recycle. But there are some great recyclable and reusable alternatives! The easiest is to just go for paper gift bags instead of wrapping paper. They’re reusable, so when you get a gift in a paper gift bag, keep it for next season. Once it’s worn out or ripped, it’s fully recyclable in your curbside recycling cart. You can also get creative and use other recyclable options like maps, blueprints, posters, newspaper, or reusable options such as fabric, pillowcases, or tea towels. If you are shipping gifts, replace foam or bubble wrap with balled-up, recyclable paper.
MISSION AND EARTH CARE UPDATES
There are still some Angels to be selected on our Angel Tree in Fellowship Hall. We invite you to take an Angel card(s) and purchase a gift for a child on behalf of their incarcerated parent. Incarceration can strain family ties to the breaking point. By providing Christmas gifts on behalf of incarcerated parents, Prison Fellowship Angel Tree allows us to extend the hope of the Gospel to families with loved ones in prison.
Important Dates:
Nov 27 - Dec 4 - Select Angel card(s) from tree. Shop for gift(s) (around $30) for Angel from suggestion on card(s). Wrap gift, affix Angel label to wrapped present.
December 11 - Bring gift(s) to CENTRALongmont.
December 18 - Help deliver gifts to children's homes (in Longmont, or within 15 miles of Longmont).
The November/December Mission and Earth Care News has been published! This combined issue takes a look back at our fall with Mission and let's us look ahead to the season of Advent. Read updates on our Missional and Earth Care ministries and find ways that you can love our neighbor and care for our world. We also share news about the work of our mission partners and how you too, can get involved.
At their stated monthly meeting on November 22, 2022, the Session:
adopted the following Session Goals for 2023:
Create a standing committee of Session responsible for updating, implementing, and monitoring the Safety and Preparedness policy;
Identify ways that CENTRALongmont can be of lasting benefit to children and youth in the community;
Create and adopt a comprehensive plan to revitalize CENTRALongmont’s grounds and buildings, including the use of the former nursery space;
revised the current building use policy relative to use of facilities by outside groups;
voted to reinstate the celebration of the Lord’s Supper by intinction beginning December 4, 2022;
approved the allocation of 2023 mission funds as recommended by the Mission Committee;
reviewed and received the Financial Report for October, 2022;
received an update on the letter to the congregation, re: contributing to Staff Christmas bonuses;
affirmed that all church policies should be reviewed by the appropriate committees and Ruling Elders on a regular basis;
received a report from Elder Phil Goerner on the meeting of the Presbytery of Plains & Peaks, October 27, 2022.
Fall Generosity Campaign
So far, we have received 61 pledges totaling $216,446.
If you intend to make a pledge for 2023, please submit it by December 4th.
You can complete your pledge card online (click on the tree to the left), OR go to the mobile app and tap on Giving and then Special, OR drop it in the regular old hard-copy mail, OR place it in the offering plate. Call the office if you need a pledge card mailed to you.
Thank you, Gerry!
A big shout-out and huge thank-you to Gerry Starnes who has served in so many ways, including volunteering in the church office. She is truly a woman of many talents and we are so grateful for her service over the past several years.
Office Volunteer
Do you have office skills and can you volunteer to help for a half day once a week? We're looking for someone to help with mailings, phones, special projects and errands. If you are interested, please call Laura at the office: 303-776-6833, or e-mail: laura@centralongmont.net.
Click on the picture to go to the online order form.
Pastor David's Book Give-Away
David has culled a number of books he no longer needs and has put them on a table in Fellowship Hall. These are FREE—take as many as you want!
Women's Bible Study Group
The Women's Bible Study Group meets on Fridays at 9:30 am in the Office Conference Room.
Tuesdays at 8:00 am in the church conference room, and on Zoom.
We are diving into the Great Courses course: Lost Christianities: Christian Scriptures and the Battles over Authentication. Each lecture is 30 minutes which allows for ample time for discussion. Believe it or not, just like now, Christians of the second and third centuries had widely differing beliefs. Of course, all early Christians believed they were right. So, how did certain books get included in the church’s canon of Scripture? Who decided what was appropriate to include and what was heresy?
Thanks to Rick Goldmeyer for this opportunity.
Please join us for this weekly time of discussion and fellowship.
CENTRALongmont Presbyterian Church acknowledges that public witness on behalf of the Kingdom has been central to the Judeo-Christian tradition from the beginning. Such witness is deeply rooted in Scripture and given voice over the centuries through the church universal, the Reformed Tradition, Presbyterianism, and the polity and practice of the Presbyterian Church USA.
The practice of such witness must be pursued faithfully and prayerfully, always in service to the Kingdom and Lordship of Jesus Christ, and never in service to an individual or group seeking to use the authority of the church to further their own agenda.
Individuals who think of CENTRALongmont as their church home are encouraged to exercise the freedom of their own conscience in taking any public position vis-à-vis a given issue that they wish, providing they not do so in the name of CENTRALongmont. Positions in the name of CENTRALongmont on behalf of the congregation can only be taken by Session.
Session has adopted a policy to guide faithful public witness. It can be found here.
LIVESTREAMING SUNDAY SERVICE
Four ways to access:
website YouTube Facebook mobile app
A recording of the service will be posted on the website as soon as it is available.
mer-cy noun - kindness or help; disposition to be compassionate; benevolence The Mercy Fund is a ministry of Central’s Board of Deacons. Its purpose is to show God’s love to our church family in times of personal crisis or hardship, through direct provision of basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter and transportation.
Click on the picture to go to the website and find out more about the Mercy Fund.
CAFÉ JUSTO
Click on the picture to place a Café Justo order:
Choose your variety (Arabica or Robusta, decaf or blend), grind (whole bean or ground) and roast (medium or dark) using the online form. Pay when the order is placed using an electronic check, debit or credit card. You can even create an automatically recurring order, so you won't need to remember to place a new order every month.
Cost:
One Pound Regular Coffee $11/lb.
One Pound Decaf or Mix $12/lb.
Five Pound Regular Coffee $45/5 lbs.
Five Pound Decaf or Mix Coffee $50/5 lbs.
Orders are fulfilled monthly, and the deadline to place an order is the first Sunday of the month. Your coffee will then usually be available for pick-up by the end of the following week, and we will contact you to make arrangements for pick-up. Questions? Contact Karey Carbaugh.
Bring Angel Tree gifts to CENTRALongmont
Worship (in person and livestream)
5:00pm
Latinx Service (Loft)
5:00pm
Latinx Youth (Fellowship Hall)
Mon Dec 12th
5:30pm
El Comite ESL (306)
Tue Dec 13th
8:00am
Men's Bible Study (Office Conf Room/Zoom)
10:30am
El Comite ESL (Behrenke)
1:30pm
El Comite ESL (306)
6:00pm
Deacons (Lee's Home)
Wed Dec 14th
9:00am
El Comite GED (Berhenke)
6:00pm
El Comite Citizenship (306)
7:00pm
Chancel Choir rehearsal (choir room)
Thu Dec 15th
9:30am
Faith Sowers (Fellowship Hall)
10:00am
Priscilla Circle (location varies)
5:30pm
El Comite ESL (306)
Fri Dec 16th
9:30am
Women's Bible Study (Office Conf Room)
5:30pm
ESL (306)
Sat Dec 17th
9:00am
Musical Celebration rehearsal
Sun Dec 18th
8:00am
Personnel and Admin (Office Conf Room)
9:15am
10:30am
Worship (in person and livestream)
Help deliver Angel Tree gifts to children
2:00pm
Fiddle Club (Choir Room)
5:00pm
Latinx Service (Loft)
5:00pm
Latinx Youth (Fellowship Hall)
You can benefit CENTRALongmont just by shopping and searching the internet! Click on one of these logos to go to our website, and learn about how our programs with these organizations allow for a percentage of the purchase price on qualifying sales, or a penny for every time you search the internet, to be donated to CENTRALongmont. It's an easy way to give!
2022 Session (Elders)
Lisa Bechard
Cheryl Bodin
Carol Edwards
Phil Goerner
Ashley Inguagiato
Linda Parker
Martha Ramos
Diane Roggow
Greg Smoot
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A big shout-out and huge thank-you to Gerry Starnes who has served in so many ways, including volunteering in the church office. She is truly a woman of many talents and we are so grateful for her service over the past several years. 
