Third Sunday in Advent 

                                                Christmas Pageant

Today’s service will be held indoors in the sanctuary as an in-person service and also live streamed at this link.  Join us!   

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Gathering Music                                          Polly Dunford

Welcome and Announcements                      Jax Collins

Advent Song “When God is a Child”   (verses 1-3)                   Handout

Words by Brian Wren; Music by Joan Collier Fogg

1989. Hope Publishing Co.  All rights reserved.

Hope is a star that shines in the night, leading us on till the morning is bright.

When God is a child there’s joy in our song. The last shall be first and

the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.

Peace is a ribbon that circles the earth, giving a promise of safety and worth.          

When God is a child there’s joy in our song. The last shall be first and

the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.

Joy is a song that welcomes the dawn, telling the world that Jesus is born.

When God is a child there’s joy in our song. The last shall be first and

the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid.

Third Sunday in Advent: Lighting the Third Advent Candle of Joy      

Jay Lyn Martin

Jerry Meehan

Voice 1: “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and shouting.” (Isaiah 35:1‒2)

Voice 2: What does joy feel like in the new world?

All: Joy feels like everlasting love. Joy feels like the freedom to be who God created me to be. Joy feels like sharing love and kindness.

Joy feels like pride.

Voice 2: Advent is the beginning of this new world, a better world, where joy boldly bubbles up in unexpected places.

Voice 1: May it be so.

Voice 2:(Third Advent candle is lit.) Amen.

All: Amen. 

Hymn and Offertory       “Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn”          Hymnal #107 

1)  Awake! Awake, and greet the new morn, for angels herald its dawning.

Sing out your joy, for soon he is born, behold! the Child of our longing.

Come as a baby weak and poor, to bring all hearts together,

he opens wide the heavenly door and lives now inside us forever.

2)  To us, to all in sorrow and fear, Emmanuel comes a-singing;

his humble song is quiet and near, yet fills the earth with its ringing;

music to heal the broken soul and hymns of loving kindness.

The thunder of his anthems rolls to shatter all hatred and violence.

3)  In darkest night his coming shall be, when all the world is despairing,

as morning light so quiet and free, so warm and gentle and caring.

Then shall the mute break forth in song, the lame shall leap in wonder,

the weak be raised above the strong, and weapons be broken asunder.                             

Prayers of the People

Pageant       “Are You Listening, God?” Director: Diane Lee

A chorus of thoughts about the birth of Jesus

Narrator 1:  Ann Blackwood

Narrator 2:  Pat Bell

Greek Chorus:  Thor Raines, Lin Hagen, Keith Ray, Sarah Shumpert, Steve Morgan, Joanne Batten, Phyllis Morgan

Soloists:  Kristin Cascio, Phyllis Morgan, Thor Raines

Actors:Mary:  Shannon Mattox

Joseph:  Rhett Mattox

Baby Jesus:  Charlotte Mattox

Gabriel:  Vicki Wright

Head Angels:

Karen Manley

Katey Shore

Caesar Augustus:  Tom Wright

Herod:  Sylvia Cheek

Lead Shepherd:  Laurie Gentry

Inn Keeper:  DuPre Calhoun

Wise Men:

Latha Howard

Bill Bailey

Ray Hudgins

Angel Host(s):  Suzy Bailey, Friends

Animal Wrangler:  Andi Nelson

Contributing Writers:  Kristin Cascio, Diane Lee, Suzy Bailey, Lin Hagen, Karen Manley, Drew Whitley, Rosie Thompson, Keith Ray

Production Staff:Director, Editor:  Diane Lee

Musical Director:  Polly Dunford

Stage Manager:  Vicki Wright

Costume Designer:  Lin Hagen

Assistant Editor:  Kristin Cascio

Backstage Crew:  Gloria Bennett, Patti Pitts

Technical Directors:  Drew Whitley, Manella Calhoun, Ed Yokley

Special Thanks to:  Cat Martin

Andi Nelson

Steve Morgan

Kristin Cascio

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Reprinted with permission under One License #A-625711.  All rights reserved.

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Calendar of Service -

December 22 - Dr. Keith Ray, 4th Sunday in Advent (Love)

December 24 - Dr. Keith Ray, Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7:00 pm

December 29 - Lessons and Carols

Keenagers Christmas Party will be held on Saturday, December 14, at 11:30.  Bring a gift to exchange.  Lunch entree is provided; bring a side dish to share.  Everyone is invited!

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We will continue our special offering for New Foundations Home for Children. The offering will be used by the staff to purchase Christmas gifts for the children.

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NACCP on YouTube.  Since the beginning of this year, a small group of NACCPers have worked to make our gatherings available on YouTube.  As of November 2024, you can find us at NorthAndersonCCP on YouTube.  You can live stream us, or see recordings.

Now we are recruiting others to be part of our NACCP AV Team.  We would like to share recording/streaming among several people.  We will offer training to anyone willing to help. Please let Cynthia (cynthiakwarner@mac.com) or Joanne (843.607.3862) know if you are interested.
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The Winter Solstice Labyrinth Walk will be on December 21 at 4 pm.
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An updated church directory is available for upload.  If you do not have the password, please send request to mhc.clemson@gmail.com
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The Carolina Bronze Handbell Ensemble, featuring our very own Cynthia Warner, will be playing a free concert on December 14, 2024, 2 pm, at Anderson County Library, Anderson, SC

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Hurricane Helene Relief News:

• The United Way of Anderson County and AIM are teaming up to ensure that local needs are met in response to Hurricane Helene. Visit their special website at  https://www.unitedwayofanderson.org/helene to learn more about making donations, and volunteer opportunities for both food distribution and clean-up efforts (especially if you have chainsaws, tools, trailers, etc.).
• To donate money for the NC storm victims, visit these sites:
  Black Mountain Presbyterian Church www.bmpcnc.org
• So that victims in the Black Mountain/Montreat/Swannanoa area get all of your donation (rather than the credit card company getting a percentage of it!), you can send a check to Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, 117 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711, and in the memo line put “Hurricane Helene Relief Fund.  Thank you!
• Presbyterian Disaster Assistance www.pda.pcusa.org
  American Red Cross www.redcross.org

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Please join Presbyterian Earth Care (PEC) for this unique monthly opportunity for community and meaningful Bible study!  The study will run for 75 minutes each session. Dates: Dec. 22nd, Jan. 26th, Feb. 23rd, Mar. 23rd, Apr. 28th, May 26^th all at 7 pm. Study Leaders: Rev. M. Courtenay Willcox and Rev. Lucy Youngblood. For more info and Zoom link: https://presbyearthcare.org/bible-study-pw-2024-2025/
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Sarah Shumpert, AIM Board member, shares this update about the AIM Food Pantry: given the increased need in the community, AIM has increased the number of food boxes distributed to 55 per day (this is up from around 35 per day prior to COVID).  The increase in distribution means that the pantry empties much faster than before.  Please keep that in mind as you bring in food items. Also, the pantry is completely out of peanut butter and they would love to restock this item!
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Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families Support Group meets each Thursday from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church, 1501 Sandy Springs Rd., Sandy Springs, SC. This is a 12-formatted program.

For more information, call 864-844-7137. Please share this with anyone who may benefit from this group.

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Bible Study meets on Mondays at 6:30 pm through Zoom.  Contact Cynthia Warner at cynthiakwarner@mac.com or Dave Johnson at ampaw2t@gmail.com

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You may have noticed the new glass “tip jar” on the piano at church that serendipitously came about when someone didn’t claim a flower vase. Feel free to drop in a dollar or five when you like the music during the service. Dave and Polly will donate the “tips” to a cause related to music, such as bringing music to schools.
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If you would like to donate to the family of Eric Childs, who was tragically killed in a car accident, please use this link: https://gofund.me/6340eb47.  Eric’s wife Jessicka Spearman heads the PFLAG group that meets at NACCP.

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Women’s clothing is needed for women coming out of incarceration. Good, gently used items please. All sizes.
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Doug Booth encourages everyone to volunteer at PAWS – there is something for everyone, from socializing with the dogs on-site to taking a dog to lunch to hosting weekend visits. There are many dogs at the facility who crave human interaction.  Additionally, don’t forget to bring in any donations of blankets to the church.
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Karen highlighted that the Prayer Tree has been moved into the sanctuary. If you have a prayer request to add to the tree, write it on one of the provided tags and hang it on a branch.
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Joanne reminds us all to keep up the food donations for AIM (Anderson Interfaith Ministries)!  Bring your non-perishable items to the church.  This is an on-going need that can easily become part of everyone’s shopping routine.

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Are you interested in becoming a member of NACCP?  Would you like to make this community your spiritual home?  Please contact Keith at keithdray@gmail.com or at 864-508-1530.

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Remember in prayer:  Cat Martin; Family of Steve Hallowell; Gloria Bennett and family; Michael Little’s friend Mark; Shea Marsden; Linda McFall; Glennie Burns; Mary Alice Mundy; Latha and Cheryl Semones; Immigrant families; Victims of all violence, oppression, and injustice; People of Ukraine; People of Israel and Palestine.