First Sunday of Advent

Hey Everyone,

I hope you are all well as we prepare to enter a new liturgical season. For those who like to celebrate stuff, tomorrow, Saturday, November 30th is viewed by many in the theological/ liturgical world as the New Liturgical Year’s Eve. If you want to make this Advent season (and liturgical year) more meaningful, celebrate tomorrow night with a nice dinner or a special treat. Take a moment before you go to bed and remember all that God did in our community this year.

And, if you really want to make sure this Advent season is special, print out the Jesse Tree ornaments (which you can find directly after Sunday’s order of worship below). If you’re not familiar with the practice of the Jesse Tree. It’s a schedule of devotionals and/or biblical readings that take you from the story of creation up to the birth of Jesus. The pdf below contains printable ornaments that you can color and an associated chapter of Scripture that highlights the narrative. For those of you who don’t have printers, there are card stock copies of the Jesse Tree ornaments on the table in the narthex.

Additionally, if you’d like to have a set of Advent candles for your home this year, there are a few sets of candles on the mantel in Darley Hall. There are a bunch of wooden craft kits as well. So if you don’t want to mess with candles, grab one of those sets and place it in a prominent place in your home this season.

A special “Thank You” to those of you who helped decorate the church this week. You were few in number, but you accomplished a lot. The church looks great.

Switching gears for a moment–earlier this week I received the news that my uncle on my father’s side passed away unexpectedly. Consequently, Silas and I will be traveling to Detroit tomorrow to pay our respect on behalf our family at his memorial service. We will return on Monday evening.

Given my absence, I am delighted to share that Lyn Lampert will be offering worship leadership and the sermon for this Sunday’s worship service on December 1st. This will also be the first Sunday of Advent and our colors turn to purple and pink. Join us in person and on Zoom for this special service. A link for the service and the order of worship can be found below.

Due to my absence, we’ll also be pushing our monthly communion to the second Sunday of Advent, December 8th. But, we’ll still be having our first-Sunday-of-the-month potluck this Sunday, December 1st, directly after the service. The theme for this month is thanksgiving leftovers (or whatever you want to bring).

Also, no games this week on Monday (since I’m gone), but we will still have our weekly Bible study on Wednesday at 5:00pm. For the next three weeks, we’ll look at the stories of the Jesse Tree and explore the links between Creation and Christ’s birth.

I think that’s it for this week folks. I’ll touch base early next week before I head to Texas to officiate George and Ingrid’s wedding. It’s going to be busy one. 🙂

Finally, here are your links and the order of worship for Sunday’s service:

Sunday Worship Service:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88489308747?pwd=RHVFY1BybkU0a1RXZE9GRlBZWWpNUT09

Wednesday Bible Study
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83431443393?pwd=NEFpYVlSNVloSkdCNGExU2kxMUNtQT0z

Twenty-Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Hey Everyone,

I hope everyone is well and gearing up for Thanksgiving week. It’s hard to believe that’s it’s only a week away. This Sunday, November 24th is Christ the King Sunday, also known as the Reign of Christ Sunday. Regardless of what you call it, this is the special Sunday where our colors turn to white and we remember the Lordship of Christ’s reign.

Starting Monday, November 25th, we’re going to begin a new way of gathering for games. If you’d like to play games on a Monday night, I’m asking that you text me by 5:00pm on that Monday. If no one texts, we won’t have games. And, don’t forget, from this Monday forward, all our game nights will be held in Darley Hall.

This Wednesday, November 27th, we’re NOT having our weekly Bible study so that you can get ready for all of your Thanksgiving celebrations.

Beyond those updates, here are your links and the order of worship for Sunday’s service.

Sunday Worship Service:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88489308747?pwd=RHVFY1BybkU0a1RXZE9GRlBZWWpNUT09

Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Hey Everyone!

I hope you all are well and keeping warm. It’s been chilly here in Lake City over the last week and we’ve still got snow. 🙂 Before we know it, the season of Advent will be upon us. Until then we’ve got some exciting gatherings coming up. First, this Sunday, November 17th will not only be the Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time (exciting stuff), but we will also be celebrating the marriage of Marcia Connell and Tommy Carl during the service. So plan on getting there early if you want a good seat. After the service, everyone is invited to join us in Darley Hall as we celebrate their nuptials with cake, champagne and finger foods.

On Monday, November 18th, we’ll gather in DARLEY HALL for Monday night games at 7:00pm. Then, on Wednesday, November 20th, we’ll carry on with the third part of our series on the “Lord’s Prayer,” by examining all the other prayers that Jesus prayed in the Bible. Join us this Wednesday at 5:00pm in Darley Hall.

One last reminder, We still need cookies!!!

Here are your links and the order of worship for Sunday’s service.

Sunday Worship Service:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88489308747?pwd=RHVFY1BybkU0a1RXZE9GRlBZWWpNUT09

Wednesday Bible Study
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83431443393?pwd=NEFpYVlSNVloSkdCNGExU2kxMUNtQT09

Twenty Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Hey Everyone,

I hope this post finds you well, safe, and trusting in God’s divine providence for our nation and our community. It’s been a challenging election season and I’m relieved that it is finally over. I know that some of you are happy with the results of the election, while others are struggling. These are divided times in our world, nation, and even here in our little 400 person town. During morning worship this Sunday, November 10th, we’ll consider what it means to have an expression of joy and hope in the calling God has placed upon our lives and in our common life together.

Next week, we’ll continue on with our regular gatherings–Games on Monday night, November 11th at 7:00pm and Bible study on Wednesday night, November 13th at 5:00pm. Next week, we’ll dive into the second part of our series on the Lord’s Supper. If you missed yesterday’s study, you can find it on our YouTube page

Additionally, this coming Wednesday, November 13th, the elders of CPC will gather for our November Session meeting at 10:00am in Darley Hall. 

Beyond those gatherings, it’s business as usual at CPC. Until we meet again, here are your links and the order of worship for Sunday’s service:

Sunday Worship Service:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88489308747?pwd=RHVFY1BybkU0a1RXZE9GRlBZWWpNUT09

Wednesday Bible Study
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83431443393?pwd=NEFpYVlSNVloSkdCNGExU2kxMUNtQT09

Twenty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

Hey Everyone,

I hope that this post finds you all well and in good spirits. Don’t forget that tonight we turn the clocks back a hour for Mountain Standard Time.

Tomorrow morning, Sunday November 3rd, we’ll gather for worship at 10:00am in the sanctuary and on Zoom. During tomorrow’s service, we’ll acknowledge Reformation Day and All Saints’ day during the service. We’ll also be celebrating communion, so please bring your own communion elements if you are joining us via Zoom. After the service, we’ll join together in fellowship with our first-Sunday-of-the-month potluck. Tomorrow’s theme is “Thanksgiving!”

This week, we return to our usual programs with Games Up Here on Monday night at 7:00pm in the Annex and Wednesday Bible Study at 5:00pm in Darley Hall. This Wednesday, we’ll explore the first part of the Lord’s Prayer through the Gospel of Luke (11:2–4).

Here are your links and the order of worship for the week:

Sunday Worship Service:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88489308747?pwd=RHVFY1BybkU0a1RXZE9GRlBZWWpNUT09

Wednesday Bible Study
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83431443393?pwd=NEFpYVlSNVloSkdCNGExU2kxMUNtQT09

Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all well. Here’s the skinny for this week:

We’ve got worship on Sunday this week. Business as usual. 😉

The following Sunday (November 3rd) however, is not only a return to Mountain Standard Time, but we will also be celebrating communion during our morning worship. Even more, it will also be our first-Sunday-of-the-month potluck in the theme of Thanksgiving. And if that wasn’t enough, it also signals the return of Monday night games and Wednesday Bible Study in the first week of November. Exciting stuff. 🙂

Until then, here’s your Sunday worship Zoom link and the order of worship:

Sunday Worship Service:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88489308747?pwd=RHVFY1BybkU0a1RXZE9GRlBZWWpNUT09

Twenty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time

Hey Everyone!

I hope you’re all well and keeping warm as we start this cold and rainy weekend. It feels like winter is coming sooner than we expected. Before we know it, the season of Advent will be upon us. This Sunday, October 20th, we’ll gather for our morning worship service at 10:00am in the sanctuary and on Zoom. You can find the links and the order of worship below.

Sunday Worship Service:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88489308747?pwd=RHVFY1BybkU0a1RXZE9GRlBZWWpNUT09

Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Hey Everyone!

I hope you’re all well and in good spirits on this lovely autumn Friday afternoon. This is your weekly post reminding you of the happenings (or not happenings) for the week ahead.

First, in case you forgot, tonight, Friday, October 11th, we’re celebrating Silas’s 13th birthday with a private showing of the original Red Dawn at the Mountaineer Movie Theater. Red Dawn came out in 1984 and is the first PG-13 movie in the United States. The evening starts at 7:00pm in the theater and please remember… no cards or gifts… just you!

This week, we’re back to our regular rhythms for Sunday’s worship service. Join us this Sunday, October 13th at 10:00am in the CPC sanctuary and on Zoom. The order of worship and Zoom link can be found below.

Just a reminder that there are no Monday night games or Wednesday Bible study this week.

Here is your link and the order of worship for Sunday’s service:

Sunday Worship Service:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88489308747?pwd=RHVFY1BybkU0a1RXZE9GRlBZWWpNUT09

World Communion Sunday

As we move into the Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, I’m reminded of how quickly this season of the liturgical years has passed by this summer. Before we know it, the season of Advent will be upon us.

Don’t forget that this Sunday, October 6th is World Communion Sunday. During our 10:00am worship service, we’ll celebrating communion with our siblings in Christ from around the globe. If you’re joining us via Zoom, please bring your communion elements to the broadcast. And, if you have any international clothing from another part of the world, please wear it for this special service.

After the service, we’ll carry on in Christian fellowship with our first-Sunday-of-the-month-potluck. This Sunday’s theme is “World Fare.” So, break out your international recipes from your favorite region of the world and join us on Sunday.

Just a reminder, there are no Monday night games or Wednesday Bible studies for the next few weeks. I am still available and around if anyone would like to meet. Please schedule a time with me via email or text.

This coming Wednesday, October 9th is our monthly session meeting at 10:00am in Darley Hall. If there is anything you’d like to talk about, please speak to one of our ruling elders–Ken Nall, Al Lutz, Ron Bruce, Marcia Connell, and Tom Arnold.

Finally, Silas is turning thirteen on Monday, October 7th and one of the ways we’re celebrating this milestone is by a theatrical showing of the first PG-13 movie in US cinematic history–Red Dawn. When I asked him who he wanted to invite, he responded, “the whole church.” 😉 So you’re invited to join us in celebrating this special day on Friday, October 11th at 7:00pm for a private showing at the Mountaineer Movie Theater.

Here are your links and the order of worship for the week ahead:

Sunday Worship Service:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88489308747?pwd=RHVFY1BybkU0a1RXZE9GRlBZWWpNUT09

Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Hey Everyone!

Well, there’s no denying it, autumn is here. The aspens are changing right before our eyes. The weather is growing colder and the days shorter. Transition is in the air. At CPC, we too are shifting back into our off-season rhythms as we ease out of the busyness of the summer. As we move in the month of October, please note some of the upcoming changes. 

Serving almost 950 hikers to date, the time has come to close the Trail Hiker Center. Our doors will officially shut at 5:00pm on Monday, September 30th. It’s been an incredible season of ministry for our faith community. Much gratitude for all of you who served in this ministry or any of our ministries this summer. 

This Sunday, September 29th, we’ll gather at 10:00am in the sanctuary for our Lord’s Day worship service. This week, we’ll return to the revised common lectionary to guide our preaching texts. Just a reminder, you can find the lectionary texts for each week of the liturgical year at https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu.

This Monday, September 30th at 7:00pm in the Annex/Trail Hiker Center we will be holding one more incredible night of board gaming. This will be the final Monday night Games Up Here for a few weeks. 

We are taking a little break from our weekly Wednesday night Bible study. If you missed any sessions of the Christian denominations series, you can access all our Christian formation offerings and previous Sunday sermons at: https://www.youtube.com/@communitypresbyterianchurc6145

Finally, I’d like to share a link to a documentary short called “Riding the Shadow.” This 20 minute film was produced by Alex Talley, the new executive director of the Colorado Trail Foundation. Riding the Shadow is follows Tally’s journey of grief, spiritual restoration, and recovery twenty years after his involvement in a school shooting. You can find the documentary here: https://www.wildernesstrek.org/project/riding-the-shadow/

Here’s your links and the order of worship for this week:

Sunday Worship Service:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88489308747?pwd=RHVFY1BybkU0a1RXZE9GRlBZWWpNUT09

Download the Order of Worship for September 29, 2024