Combined Sparkle Day/Share-the-Care a Success
About 30 folks of all ages gathered on November 3rd to help care for our building and grounds. Leaves were cleared from the hedges, raked and bagged, windows were washed, lights were repaired, refrigerators were cleaned, countertops were scrubbed, sills were dusted, the pews and communion table were dusted, the supply room, FNO storage room, and the audio visual rooms were cleaned and organized, and many other projects were completed. Fellowship was liberally sprinkled among those who gathered, and we shared a pizza lunch courtesy of Earl Dunham. Thanks to all who were able to join in this activity, especially our Latino neighbors who joined in this activity for the first time. It was such a productive day that we’ll certainly do it again in the spring! Plan to join us then!
ADVENT-
A TIME TO GET READY
In the Christian Calendar, the New Year begins with Advent. It starts with the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends with Christmas Eve. The color of Advent is purple or blue. We use blue.
For more than eleven centuries, Christians have been observing advent as a season of celebrations and self-examination. The word Advent means “coming.” We celebrate the “coming” of the Son of God in human form.
Advent is a time to get ready to celebrate Christmas in a way that will be spiritually renewing to ourselves. It is a time for worship of soul-searching, of repentance and contrition. It is also a time of Thanksgiving and joy: Thanksgiving for what God has done for us and a joyful anticipation of the Christmas Day celebrations.
This Advent season, as we prepare for the coming of Christ, let us take seriously our lifestyles, our priorities, and our values in light of the message of hope, peace, love, and joy given to the world by God at the birth of his son.
We begin our Advent Celebration on Sunday, December 2nd.
ADVENT EVENT
We have a wonderful opportunity due to the hard work of our choir soprano section leader, Laura Anderson. Part of her PHD fulfillment will be directing Amahl and the Night Visitors in our sanctuary Friday, December 21st at 7:30p.m. This is being promoted as a family event and a benefit for Heifer International. Laura reports,
“The genesis of this project came out of discussions about this year’s University academic forum for community engagement through the arts. Opera, perhaps the most collaborative of the classical arts, seemed to me the perfect medium for exploration of community involvement and collaboration. I am honored to lead this project forward and anticipate much fruitful and fulfilling collaboration from all aspects of our diverse communities.”
For more information on Heifer International, please check the bulletin board outside the church office.
JOYS & CONCERNS
-Please keep in your thoughts and prayers the family of Roland Anderson, uncle of Ron Anderson. Roland, a former member of Portland Ave. Church died on Sunday, November 11th. Please pray that the family and friends will get through this difficult time, especially Roland’s wife, Georgia, who is also suffering from severe cancer.
-Word has been received that Tom and Anne Shifflet (former pastor and wife) became Grandparents mid-August! Benjamin Thomas was born to Michelle & Jim Bachman-
304 W. Mirre St. Alpena, MI 49707
The Liturgical Year
As we approach the Advent season, the worship committee thought it would be a good time for me to write an article on the Liturgical Year of the church. Now, for CC(DoC)’s this is not necessarily something we are use to highlighting. We usually do Advent, Easter and Fall Kick Off. Okay the last is not part of the Liturgical year. However, over the years we have been celebrating and highlighting more of these Holy days. So, here is a quick look at the Christian Year. ADVENT: This is the beginning of the year. Advent is the time when we prepare ourselves for the coming of the Christ Child. It is not to be confused with Christmas. CHRISTMAS: is the celebration of the birth of the Christ child.
EPIPHANY: this is the celebration of the manifestation of the Christ Child to the World. Historically, this marks the time the Magi appeared before the Christ Child. In many cultures, especially the Latin culture, this is celebrated as Three Kings Day. There are parades and festivities to mark this Holy day. ASH Wednesday: is the beginning of Lent. This Holy day calls us into a time of reflection and personal discipline. Lent simulates the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness and was tempted. Lent is 40 days before Easter. (side note; don’t count Sundays) In some faith traditions the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday is celebrated. This day is known as Shrove Tuesday or by its more popular name Fat Tuesday. (Mardi Gras) HOLY WEEK: This is the celebration of the days before the Resurrection. Depending on the Faith tradition everyday of this week is honoring a certain aspect of one’s faith. For CC(DoC)’s churches Thursday is the Holy day we focus in on, it is Maundy Thursday. The day Jesus met with the disciples in the upper room and celebrated the Passover meal, which we call the Last Supper (communion). The Friday of this week is called Good Friday. The day Jesus was hung on the cross. Many churches cover their sanctuaries in black on this day. Sunday is EASTER: The day we celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Then 50 days from Easter we celebrate PENTECOST. This is the day where the Spirit descended upon the people as “tongues of fire” Pentecost is considered the birthday of the church, for this is where the gathered were consecrated to go forth. After Pentecost we enter into what is known as either, Common Time, Kingdom Time or Ordinary Time. There are no Holy Days within this time period, which ends at the beginning of Advent.
MARK's ARTICLE
For those who attend FCC worship on a regular basis you might have noticed some tweaking of our service. The worship committee, the Elders and the Church Cabinet have been in discussions on ways to enhance the worship experience. The changes that have happened and the ones in the future have all been discussed from preference to theology to practicality. For example, Communion: Communion for CC(DoC) is the focus of our worship service. Historically and traditionally communion is the most important piece of our worship, and for the same reasons the way and place in which communion is in a worship service is probably the most “discussed” among members of the CC(DoC). The saying goes; “Communion is a part of every (DoC) church, and no two do it the same way.”
With that said, there does seem to be two main issues involving communion. 1) The order in which communion is in the worship service, and 2) Is the minister at the table? Let us look at the latter with a brief history lesson. Ministers were few, resident ministers were fewer; elders are the Spiritual leaders of the church, elders would preside at the table. When resident ministers became more popular, the issue of presiding at the table came down to theology and tradition. Thus, being good Disciples, depending on one’s understanding of theology and tradition decided who presided at the table. We have churches where the Elders preside (as here) and others where the Minister and Elders preside.
As for the placement of communion in the order of the service it is basically decided on one’s interpretation of “focus and importance.” There is no argument within the CC(DoC) that communion is the focus and of the utmost importance of our worship. Again it is how we view and experience this focus. There are two basic philosophies: 1) is to take a theatrical point of view. In a play you have the build up, the climax, the follow up and then the end. So, if communion is our focus, this translates that communion is the climatic part of the service and is then placed in the middle, the sermon is the follow up and the benediction is the end. 2) The other view is based more on a “go forth” philosophy. Communion being of such importance is placed at the end so that it motivates and boosts us into going forth into the new week with a surge of energy and excitement. Because of its importance everything that comes before it, is building up to this final climatic event.
Here at FCC we have experienced communion in the middle and at the end of our service. However, no matter where it is, Communion is the focus of the worship service.
“Remember, that wherever you go or whatever you do, I love you!”
Love always
Mark