Christmas Cantata warm-ups on December 10:
Chancel Choir 8:30-9:30
Youth Choir 9:30 -10:00 (including rehearsal for Christmas Eve music and planning with Donna)

Calling all kids! (Ages 2 -10) If you like singing, ringing jingle bells, and Christmas music, please meet Laura Young in the preschool classroom at 10 a.m. on December 17th to learn a simple song that we will use to announce the start of worship at 10:30 a.m. Christmas Eve.

To be completely honest, I've always been a bit leery of Bible-themed movies. More often than not, they are done on a low budget, and you can tell. This one, however, was produced and financed by New Line Cinema, and it included mainstream actors and production professionals.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing it and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD almighty will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:6- 7

Isaiah prophesied then what we know today to be the coming of Christ, whose birth we celebrate this joyful season. As we make preparations during Advent to celebrate Christmas in the comfort of our homes, with our family and friends, let us remember those in the world who have yet to hear the good news proclaimed by Isaiah. Jesus came for ALL of US to give us a life full of hope, peace, joy and love. Invite those close to you seeking Christ to come and join you in worship and celebration and let us pray together that one day ALL may know the love, joy, hope and wonder of the Prince of Peace.

Grace and peace,
Donna

Upcoming youth activities:

Sunday, December 10 ... Christmas Cantata - Bring your friends as the choir delights us in a music- filled time of worship, retelling the Christmas Story through song! NOTE: ALL YOUTH SINGING IN THE CANTATA COME TO THE SANCTUARY PROMPTLY AT 9:30 am.

Sunday, December 17 ... Youth Christmas Lunch and Gift Exchange following worship - This day will be filled with good food beginning with the all church brunch in the morning, and our lunch and gift exchange following worship. Bring a gift valued at $10 or less that can be for a boy or girl to exchange with your friends and $5 to cover the cost of lunch! NOTE to all youth and parents participating in the morning Christmas Eve service: This will also be our dress rehearsal for the Christmas Eve service following our lunch. This is an important time to be together as we will not have another opportunity to go through the service as an entire group before Christmas Eve! So mark your calendars NOW!

Youth Service Opportunities Mike’s Kids – Bring new or gently used toys and clothing to send to the children and families in the Los Fresnos Valley of Texas served by the Southwest Good Samaritan Ministry, a ministry of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ. Collection will take place through Sunday, December 10.

Samaritan Inn in McKinney – Saturday, Dec. 16th from 10 am – 1:30 pm.We will carpool from the church at 10am to tour the facility, serve lunch to the residents and return by 1:30pm.

Holy Grounds is blooming! Perhaps you or someone you know could help with some items we are needing to complete the arrangement:

• Good leather love seat
• Small end table for lamp
• Small apartment/hotel style refrigerator
• Five-gallon water container (i.e. Culligan) with hot water capability
• Small plain floor lamp

On December 17 and December 24, we will be taking a special offering in worship. This offering supports the many ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), including the work of our own region - the Christian Church (DOC) in the Southwest. To read about some of the exciting things happening with Disciples, follow these links:

• Thousands of Disciples have become a part of 10,000 Disciples Praying, a special prayer initiative that encourages Disciples and ecumenical partners to pray daily for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and its leaders. To add your name to the list, follow the link.
• The office of Disciples Volunteering is looking for 750 work groups between now and August 2008 to continue recovery work in the Gulf Coast.
• Next summer, the DOC General Assembly will be in our backyard, at the Fort Worth Convention Center!
• Here is the NTACC, the North Texas Area Newsletter. Stay "in the know" with your home area.

Also, don't forget to visit the online calendar. It enables you to send yourself reminders of upcoming events, send invitations to friends and colleagues and download the church schedule to your personal computer. You can find all of the church activities, birthdays and anniversaries on that calendar, as well as the scheduled Elders, Deacons and Greeters for each Sunday.

Also, there is a place to submit prayer requests and a new feature called "DCC TV," which includes the videos from the "Let's Grow" campaign.