As you will recall, we suspended in-person worship in mid-November due to the spike in the number of cases of COVID-19. We set January 17 as a possible date to resume in-person worship, thinking that three weeks past the Christmas holiday the numbers of infections might be in decline. Unfortunately, our COVID numbers locally remain quite high and show no decline in recent weeks. Hood County remains at “substantial” risk for COVID transmission. Additionally, several of our church members have had or currently have the virus. The ad hoc committee charged with evaluating the pandemic numbers and reporting to the Session has continued to meet regularly to review weekly statistics.
We feel the safety of our congregants is of the utmost concern and that with no decrease in the number of infections it is unwise to resume in-person worship at this time. We also think it prudent to suspend small group gatherings – PW, Men’s Study and Sacred Space, etc. – until we can more safely be together. We will continue to review the situation weekly and will return to in-person gatherings when a decline in case numbers and an increase in vaccinations indicates that we may do so safely. Please know the decision to suspend in-person gatherings is not one we take lightly and it’s disappointing to have to do so. We simply feel it is the safest way to proceed to ensure the safety of each member of First Presbyterian.
We will continue to monitor the situation and we will keep you posted on decisions going forward. Your support in these past many months has been tremendously gratifying. Thank you. Please continue to join us for worship Sunday mornings via YouTube and Facebook.
Epiphany is the celebration of God’s manifestation or self-revelation to the world in Jesus Christ. The word “epiphany” (from the Greek epiphaneia or theophaneia) means “appearance” or “manifestation” of God, and has roots in the word for sunrise or dawn. In ancient times, an epiphany meant either a visible manifestation of a god or the solemn visit of a ruler venerated as a god.
For Christians, Christmas marks the coming of God to us; Epiphany celebrates the appearance of the Lord in the midst of humanity. The Christmas stories of the birth of Immanuel declare the divine entry; Epiphany extols the revelation of God to the world in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.
In our celebrations of Christmas and Epiphany we rejoice in the dawning and the arising of Light in darkness. … Epiphany not only discloses the Savior to the world but also calls the world to show forth Christ, to be witnesses to God’s true Light. The timeless mystery of the incarnation, God in flesh, leads us forth to show and tell of Christ as God’s gift of grace and salvation for all persons. Some call this ongoing epiphany the work of Christmas.
God of endless light, you sent a star— rising from darkness, guiding seekers and sages, overwhelming us with joy. Let the splendor of your dawning light grow in us and in all the world until the whole creation shines with your glory; through Jesus Christ our light.
God of light, shining in darkness, through a little child, born in Bethlehem, you open to us the treasure of your grace. Help us to search diligently for him, so that we may offer our lives to you with thanksgiving, joy, and praise; through Jesus Christ, the rising star.
Shepherd of Israel, you sent a star to enlighten the wise and a child to topple the tyrant. Make us wise enough to seek you among the least of your children, wise enough to trade our treasure for the gift of overwhelming joy. Amen.
Join us for an encore presentation of last year’s Christmas Eve worship service with all the traditions and carols we’re accustomed to. The video premiere on both Facebook and Youtube on Christmas Eve. The video will premiere at 3:00 on December 24th and will be available for replay at any time. We can’t share our traditional service this year but hope you’ll gather in your homes and join us online!
The Christmas Joy Offering reflects that God is with us, through the generous gifts that support church leaders among us, retired, present and future, who have pointed us to God. Even as we support our current and former church leaders through the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions, God is calling new leaders for our Church and world, through the ministry of Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color — offering students the means for a brighter future and enhanced opportunities to use their talents and skills to serve God, the Church and the world for years to come.
The Christmas Joy Offering has been a cherished Presbyterian tradition since the 1930s. The Offering distributes gifts equally to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and to Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color.
OR you can write a check to the church with a note designating it Christmas Joy Offering.
The Christmas Joy Offering is one of four annual special offerings. The church-wide Special Offerings of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) play an important role in defining what it means to be a connectional church in the 21st century, bringing together the diversity of the PC (USA) to focus and take faith-based action on shared concerns. The Special Offerings offer opportunities for partnership, learning, and witness and they profoundly affect the life of the church as a collective witness to Jesus Christ’s love for the whole church.
Join us Christmas Eve in the main parking lot for a service of lessons, carols, and candlelight. Bring your own bread, juice and cups for communion, masks, and the Christmas Spirit. Bring your own chairs or remain in your car. We will gather at 5:00 to celebrate our Lord’s birth and share God’s love at the table. Come sing and celebrate with us. The weather forecast looks fine but watch your email and our website for news in case of inclement weather. “For unto us a child is born.”
85 wreaths 17 family gift bags 71 gift bags for elderly residents The missions and outreach committee has been busy. Thank you to everyone who donated blankets, hot chocolate and snacks for the gift bags!
Thank you to Stephanie M, Beverly M, Gwen C, Kaila W, Tim and Nancy B. It was a very joyful morning loading up and delivering our Christmas gifts. Thank you to all who gave in donations and work to give this gift from our congregation.
I want to share with you and the committee some of my experiences while shopping. It was so unusual to be buying so much of an item that I would explain that my church was gathering items for families in low cost housing so they could have a family nite watching a movie together. I ran into so many wonderful and helpful people. While in FW I bought as many blankets as possible at the Ross on Hulen which was 3 huge Ross shopping bags that filled my car. A family saw my dilemma – they didn’t fit in one basket – and the teenage boy of the family offered to help me get then to the car.
The next day I headed to Ross in Granbury with the same experience of filling a basket so high I could not see over it. It was busy and I waited in line for awhile before making it to checkout where a tall young man began to ring up all those blankets. He told me he was not from Granbury but was here taking care of his grandparents who had taken care of him. He said if I needed someone to help to give him a call and gave me his phone number.
Then I was off to Walmart. I started with a manager telling him the quantities of popcorn and nuts I would need hoping they had some in the back, but no, everything they had was on the shelf, so I began loading. A young employee came by and asked if he could help. Thank goodness! He ended up crawling on the floor to reach the popcorn boxes at the very back on the bottom shelf. Then on to add the cans of peanuts. The basket was overflowing and strange looking. Someone took pity on me and helped me steer it to checkout. Some dear soul checked out every single item and was then told the tax exempt info has to go in first. So it all went back into the basket and a fresh checkout person took over. Of course they decided someone needed to help me get it to the car and unload.
The world is full of wonderful individual people and I met several while gathering our gifts. So our mission project for Christmas has double blessed me.
A Pastoral Letter from the Session of First PresbyterianChurch
Dear Members and Friends of First Presbyterian:
At its November 17 meeting, the Session voted to suspend in-person worship beginning Sunday, November 29, until at least Sunday, January 17. We will hold in-person worship this Sunday, November 22, as planned. We regret the necessity of making this decision but after reviewing trends in cases, hospitalizations and deaths, especially in neighboring counties, we determined that this was the correct course to take. You will note that the suspension begins immediately after Thanksgiving and is planned to end two weeks into the new year. Predictions are that holiday related travel and gatherings may pose significant additional risk.
Our concern has always been the health and safety of each person in our worshiping community. We did not make this decision without thoughtful and prayerful consideration. We had no idea when 2020 began how COVID-19 would impact each of our lives and how our community of faith would be challenged. During the past 8 months, your pastors and elders have dealt with matters we never dreamt would be on our agenda. Your gracious and faithful support has meant much to us during this time. We thank you.
We will continue to provide our online worship services in the weeks to come as we have since the beginning of this pandemic. You are encouraged to continue to worship with us via Facebook or YouTube. Our small groups and committees may continue to meet under the protocols Session adopted and approved earlier.
We will remain diligent in monitoring the situation and reviewing the advice of health professionals. Our hopeful prayer is that vaccines will become available to many of us by January 17 and the holiday surge will be behind us. May that be the prayer we each pray.
God is with us and the Christ Child makes his way as Advent approaches. That is always our hope and assurance.
As you will recall, we suspended in-person worship in mid-November due to the spike in the number of cases of COVID-19. We set January 17 as a possible date to resume in-person worship, thinking that three weeks past the Christmas holiday the numbers of infections might be in decline. Unfortunately, our COVID numbers locally remain quite high and show no decline in recent weeks. Hood County remains at “substantial” risk for COVID transmission. Additionally, several of our church members have had or currently have the virus. The ad hoc committee charged with evaluating the pandemic numbers and reporting to the Session has continued to meet regularly to review weekly statistics.
