Week of December 17, 2023 - Third week of Advent

Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also?  Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel… The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah…”  Isaiah 7:13-14, 17a (NIV)

Christmas Services:  We will offer two services on Christmas Eve (December 24) this year:  our regular worship service at 10 am and the Christmas Eve candlelight service at 7 pm.  Both services will be held at the Etna church.  Please join us at one or both services as we celebrate the coming of Light into the world in the form of God's gift  to us, in flesh, of His son Jesus, our Lord, Savior, and friend.

Potluck this Sunday: Our annual church family "Christmas Potluck Luncheon” will be held on December 17^th following the morning worship service.  Please bring a casserole, salad, bread, or dessert to share (if you are able). Come and enjoy the fellowship and wonderful food. All are welcome!  Please join us!

Missions Committee Update: We've received the latest monthly update including Christmas greetings from the Southerlands, missionaries in Curaçao.  You may read it by clicking here.  We pray for the Southerlands and for their dynamic ministry in the Caribbean.

Bible Study Schedule:  Our Sunday morning Bible study will meet as usual at 9 am in Trumbull Hall at the Etna church on December 17^th.  The Sunday studies will then be on hiatus for two weeks and resume on January 7^th.  
Our Wednesday morning Bible study (10 am, also meeting in Trumbull Hall) will meet on Dec. 20^th, but there will be no Wednesday Bible study on Dec. 27^th.  The Wednesday Bible studies will resume on January 3^rd.

Christmas:  Listen Community Services is looking for additional Christmas meal volunteers, in particular, cookie makers and delivery drivers. Sign-up here or for more information contact Valerie at Listen.

Stewardship:  Pastor Chris has described stewardship in the context of our church family as our expression of intention, participation, and faith.  We are encouraging our church family, both regular attenders and members, to give prayerful consideration to our role(s) in the church's ministry and growth.  For more information on stewardship please click here. You'll also find a link to our stewardship form for 2024 there.  

Joyful Bells:  A big thank you to the Joyful Bells English handbell ensemble, for playing in Etna both at last Sunday's morning worship service and in a special holiday music concert in the afternoon.    If you missed Joyful Bells, or if you'd like to hear them again, click here for the full concert or here to see Joyful Bells at last Sunday's worship service.