Updated Advent-Christmas Celebrations in Local Communities

  The following known special events and worship celebrations

are planned by our region’s congregations in this season, listed by town:  

Beckley, First.  Sunday Worship at 10:45 a.m. 

Choir presents The Splendor of Christmas at 5 p.m. on Dec. 13.  Parsonage Open House is Dec. 20.  Christmas Eve service of Carols, Communion and Candlelight at 7 p.m. 

Beech Bottom, Community.  Sunday Worship at 10:45 

Chancel Choir Concert, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.  Breakfast with Santa will be Dec. 19 at 9:30.  Candle-Light Christmas Eve worship is at 7 p.m. and includes a play by Dr. Grimes:  Merry UnChristmas by the youth of the church, and will include any interested children attending.

Bethany, Memorial.  Sunday Worship at 10:45 

Outreach-Palooza following worship on Dec. 13.  Christmas Dinner, Dec. 20 at noon.  Christmas Eve worship at 7:30 p.m. 

Bluefield, First.  Sunday Worship at 11 a.m. 

Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. 

Cameron, Big Run.  Sunday Worship at 11 a.m. 

Christmas Dinner follows worship on Dec. 20 (covered dish).  Christmas Eve worship at 6:30 and 11 p.m. (also at Fork Ridge at 8 p.m.). 

Charleston, United. Sunday Worship at 11 a.m. 

Christmas Cantata will be presented Dec. 13 in worship.  Loving Relationships Dinner  Dec. 20 following worship.  Christmas Eve worship 7 p.m. 

Fairmont, Central.  Sunday Worship at 10 a.m. 

Christmas Concert by Rev. Josh Patty, tenor,  and Brooks Parker, accompanist:  The Memory of Christmas is Sat., Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. (no admission charge; offering will be taken).  Christmas Eve worship at 7 p.m. 

Glen Easton, Fork Ridge.  Sunday Worship at 9:30 a.m. 

Christmas Eve worship at 8 p.m. (also at Big Run at 6:30 and 11 p.m.). 

Huntington, Central.  Sunday Worship at 10:45 a.m. 

Advent Studies with the Pastor, Sundays at 5 p.m.  Christmas Dinner, Dec. 13 at 6:30 (covered dish).  Caroling and Pizza Party, Dec. 20 at 6 p.m.  Christmas Eve worship at 7 p.m. 

Huntington, Madison Avenue.  Sunday Worship at 9:45 a.m. 

Choir Cantata is Sun., Dec. 13 at 9:45.  White Gift and Children’s Program Dec. 13 at 5 p.m.  Christmas Eve worship at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. 

Logan, First.  Sunday Worship at 11 a.m. 

Dare 2B (youth) Christmas Caroling Dec. 13 at 5 p.m.  Advent Luncheons Wednesdays at 12:05.  Christmas Cantata,  Dec. 20, and Let it Snow Tea Party with Santa after worship.  Living Nativity Dec. 20-22, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.  Christmas Eve worship at 11 p.m. 

Mannington, First.  Sunday Worship at 11 a.m.  

Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. 

McMechen, First.  Sunday Worship at 11 a.m.

All-Church Christmas Dinner will follow worship on Dec. 20.  Christmas Eve worship is at 7 p.m. 

Morgantown, First.  Sunday Worship at 10:45 a.m. 

“Birthday Party for Jesus” for youth, Dec. 12.  Christmas Music Program during Morning Worship Dec. 13^th at 10:45 a.m.  Entitled “Unto Us a Child is Born,” the music program features several Christmas anthems, interspersed with Scripture lessons, and congregational participation.  Soup and sandwich luncheon follows the service.  Christmas Eve worship at 7:30 p.m. 

Moundsville, First.  Sunday Worship at 10:30 a.m. 

All-Church Christmas Dinner, followed by A Dickens of a Christmas performed by youth, begins at 5 p.m. on Dec. 20.    Brent Vernon concert, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. (www.brentvernon.com).   Christmas Eve Candles, Carols, and Communion  begins at 7 p.m.

New Martinsville, First.   Sunday Worship at 9 (Contemporary) and 10:45 (Traditional) 

ChiRho Christmas Dinner Dec. 13 at Price’s home.  Choir Cantata will be presented during 10:45 service on Dec. 20.  Christmas Eve worship at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. 

Parkersburg, First.  Sunday Worship at 10:45 a.m. 

Christmas Cantata will be offered by the choir on Dec. 13 in worship.  Rev. Thaddaeus B. Allen, Regional Minister, will be preaching on Dec. 20.  Christmas Eve worship at 7 p.m. 

Princeton, First.  Sunday Worship at 11 a.m. 

All-Church Carry-In Dinner Dec. 13 at 5 p.m.  Christmas Caroling Party Dec. 20 at 2 p.m.  Christmas Eve Service 7 p.m.  

Ravenswood, First.  Sunday Worship at 10:45 a.m.

Church Christmas Dinner on Dec. 20 following worship.  Candlelight Observance of Christmas  on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.

St. Albans, First.  Sunday Worship at 11 a.m.

Christmas Eve service is at 6 p.m.

Shinnston, Charles Street.  Sunday Worship at 10 a.m. 

Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. at Mannington First. 

Weirton, First.  Sunday Worship at 10:45 a.m. 

All-Church Family Christmas Dinner & Program start with Hors d’oevres at 5:30.  Choir Cantata Dec. 20 in worship.  Mandolin Concert (Kirk Morrison) Dec. 20 at 3 p.m.   Christmas Eve Communion 7 p.m.  

Wellsburg, Chapel Hill.  Sunday Worship at 11 a.m.

Christmas Eve service of Candle Light, Carols, and Communion at 7 p.m.

Wheeling, First.  Sunday Worship at 10:45 a.m. 

Prayer Workshop led by Bonnie Thurston, Dec., 6 at 5:30 p.m.  Youth Group Christmas Party Dec. 20 at 6 p.m.   Christmas Eve Service of Nine Lessons and Carols with Communion at 7:30 p.m.  

Wheeling, Island.  Sunday Worship at 9:30 a.m. 

Christmas Lunch and Fun is Dec. 20 after worship.  Christmas Eve worship is at 7 p.m. 

Worthington, Worthington. 

Christmas Eve service at Mannington, First, 7 p.m. 

Please help us keep your special events before the eyes of those who may be traveling

around the region during Advent by emailing David Chafin now.  

We will update this list and repost it weekly until Christmas.

 

Midwinter Youth Retreat Info Available

Promotional materials and registration forms for Midwinter Youth Retreat (Feb. 12-14) are now available online.  They will also be sent to any congregation requesting them in paper form. 

Please advise if your church will be printing copies of the forms and flyers, or if you would like them sent by U.S. mail.  You’ll find the necessary forms at  www.wvdisciples.org/youthph  

Direct links to the forms, for your convenience, are as follows:

Registration Packet (2-page form and welcome letter)  Participants must complete both pages of the form, all signatures are included (including the parent and the pastor), and the form should be received in the Regional Office by Feb. 3.  Churches may aggregate payment for all of their youth in one check, if that is helpful.  The forms are most time-sensitive.
      
 Adult Volunteer Packet (1-page form and welcome letter)   The welcome memo on this one is the same as the youth memo, but may be helpful to first-time volunteers.  Remember, we need adult leadership.  If your volunteers have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.  Again, the deadline is Feb. 3 and the same rate applies to adults as youth ($90).

Promotional Flyer – help us spread the word!   The color flyer will be a help to getting the event before the congregation.  Churches without access to a color printer, please contact us  right away and we will send you as many flyers as you can use.

Thank you for helping us grow our ministries with persons in all ages and stages of life and faith.  It is through your generous support and the encouragement you give to young people that lives are touched and empowered for faithful service to God.

 

Fairmont Christmas Concert to Feature Pastor

Rev. Joshua Patty, pastor of the Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Fairmont, will present a concert of The Memory of Christmas at the church on  Saturday, Dec. 19. at 7 p.m.   Rev. Patty, a tenor, will be accompanied by Mr. Brooks Parker, the congregation’s organist, and will feature Leigh Anne Bolyard, soprano, and trumpeter Nathaniel Patty.  You can view the  concert flyer for more details.

 

Regional Minister Emeritus – From Jerusalem

The following was received from the Keystone Online, a communique from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Pennsylvania, with a greeting from our Regional Minister Emeritus, Dr. William B. Allen, who writes today from Jerusalem.  You are encouraged to keep him and his traveling companions in your prayers, and to write to him, if you desire.

To:          The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Pennsylvania and Our Friends Everywhere

From:    Your Regional Minister, William B. Allen

I am writing to you from the holy city, Jerusalem , having visited this morning (December 07) the shrines and places where Our Lord walked.  This is truly an exciting pilgrimage that I am undertaking on your behalf and to be doing so in company with other Regional Ministers of our church and under the auspices of our Global Ministries is certainly a significant moment.

During the past few days we have spent time in Beirut , Lebanon , and Damascus , Syria , visiting people and places that will mark our lives and ministry in profound ways.  I am eager to share these experiences and insights with you and to proceed to deepen our Region’s involvement in Global Ministries as we develop our plans and mission for the future.

As I went to the Temple Mount today and the Wailing Wall, the Mount of Olives and Gethsemane, Calvary and the Holy Sepulcher, I have had you in my prayers as I always do.  Needless to say, I request your continuing prayers for this pilgrimage and the fruits that we trust God will bring forth from it.

You can follow the progress of our group at: http://bagmrmep.blogspot.com/.

The Advent themes of the past two weeks: hope and peace, are very poignant from this perspective, given all that is taking place in the Middle East .  Certainly this will be true of the theme of joy that we lift up this coming third Sunday in Adventide. (That is why we light the pink candle this week, to mark the breaking of joy into the contemplative mood of the season.)  And then of course we will conclude the season with the theme of love which is so fundamental to the gospel.  Many of the church leaders with whom we have been meeting throughout the visit have lifted up these themes in word and through their leadership of their churches in marvelous ministries of compassion to those whom they serve.

I look forward to returning to Pennsylvania later this week and to sharing this transformative experience with you all.

Rich blessings to one and all for a happy and holy Christmastime.

God bless you all.

 

Upgrade to Our NewsWire and Prayerscapes Sites

Thanks to WordPress, which hosts our regional NewsWire and Prayerscapes sites, we are able to offer an improvement to those of you who appreciate the ability to do email subscription.  Previous subscriptions to our email service for these 2 sites, which were handled through Google FeedBurner, will continue to be available for the time being, but it is hoped that the new email service will be more reliable, especially for those who want to read the daily devotions.

Visit the NewsWire and/or Prayerscapes now, and see the subscription form in the right column of the page.  Give them a try, and then feel free to unsubscribe to the Google Feed, if you are currently receiving it.  For those who have not previously subscribed to either of these services, you should have no problem getting this email convenience for yourself.

 

“Legacies Online” Year-End Edition now Posted

If you aren’t a regular subscriber to our Bulletin (the former “Regional Minister’s Point-of-View”), you may have missed the year-end edition of Legacies Online – our planned giving periodical, published in partnership with the Christian Church Foundation.  You can see the Bulletin version here, or read a print-friendly pdf here.

Anyone may subscribe to the Bulletin, which may contain news of immediate importance that might not make it onto the NewsWire quickly, by sending an email  with “Bulletin” in the subject line, and including your name and home church.  We’ll be glad to add you to the list.

 

Advent Devotions – Final Reminder

Advent has begun, and we hope you’re well engaged in the 4-week “looking forward” season in worship and in your devotional life.  This is one last reminder of our Advent Prayerscapes publication.  If you haven’t subscribed, it’s not too late.  Visit the site now and read today’s posting by Rev. Scott Thayer, or join us any time along the Advent journey for another of our minister’s writings.  You are also welcome to download the whole season’s devotions for print from our Publications page.

 

Good Press for Parkersburg Congregation

The Parkersburg News and Sentinel  Thanksgiving Day edition featured a prominent photo of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on its cover, noting it as one of several congregations in the city offering an open table for Thanksgiving Day meals.  About 150 folks from the congregation and the neighborhood around were on hand Thursday to enjoy a full-blown down-home holiday dinner for this fourth annual celebration, according to Rev. Sandy Downs, pastor of the Mid-Ohio Valley Parish. 

It’s great to see the chalice (and the sign for the Regional Center) featured so prominently on such a positive piece of news!  Photos will be featured soon on the parish website:  www.movpdoc.org.

 

Ravenswood Invites You – Tuesday Service

You are invited to the Community Thanksgiving Service, Tuesday, November 24, 7:00 p.m. First Christian Church, Ravenswood, W.Va. The preacher for the evening is the Reverend Dennis Sparks.  The choir from the First Baptist Church, Ravenswood will be singing. 

 Exit the Ravenswood exit off of I 77, exit 46.  Follow U.S. 33 to first light, turn right for a mile.  When the road (County Rd. 2/19) enters into the town you are on Walnut Street. Turn left on Gallatin Street one block to Sand Street.  The church is at the corner of Sand and Gallatin Streets.

 

Former Bethanian Celebrates Ordination “at Home”

Bethany Memorial Church (Disciples of Christ) was the site and yesterday the date of the celebration affirming the ministry of the Rev. Carol Cook, a former member, who was ordained by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Capital Area last Saturday in Baltimore.  Carol began her journey into ministry while a part of the Bethany community and was under care of the WV Commission on Ministry before entering seminary in Baltimore.

A liturgy of affirmation and celebrative reception marked the afternoon, following Rev. Cook’s preaching at the morning service at Bethany.  She is shown in this photo with Bethany Memorial Church’s pastor, the Rev. Scott Thayer.

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in West Virginia rejoices in Carol’s ministry and is grateful to have shared in her spiritual formation.