December 9, 2021
A Note From Pastor Dave
At Christmas, we celebrate God’s breaking into our world. This message carries the tone and messages of hope, peace, joy, and love. But our ease of celebration might make us think this happens naturally and with ease. The voice of John the Baptist during Advent reminds us that we are called to repent (change directions), to make ourselves ready, to reorient our patterns and priorities so that we might discern and participate in this divine inbreaking. We will be thinking about and listening to John this Sunday. I hope you’ll join us!
Christmas:
Celebrating Christmas Eve @ Providence: Celebrating Christmas Eve @ Providence: Please join us for a service of lessons and carols on Christmas Eve at 7pm, in-person and over Zoom. If you would like to participate as a reader, please jot Pastor Dave a note. We hope it will be a meaningful evening for everyone as we reflect on the great gift of Jesus’ birth.
Spreading Christmas Cheer for the Homebound: The women of Providence would like to give some Christmas and holiday cheer to the shut-in members of congregation who are not able to attend regular church services or other holiday events. On Wednesday, December 15th at 1:30 p.m. we will meet in the Sanctuary to sign cards and make gift boxes of cookies and Christmas candy for each of our homebound members. Please bring a box of Christmas cards and either 3 dozen of your favorite Christmas Cookie recipe or some bags of your favorite Christmas candy. Addresses, stamps, and gift boxes will be provided.
Poinsettias: If you would like to purchase a poinsettia to decorate our sanctuary during the holidays, the envelopes to order one are now available on the table in the narthex. The cost is $10.00 for each poinsettia. Dedication information can be written on the envelope. You may place your envelope in the collection plate on Sunday mornings or leave it on Alaina’s desk in the office. The last date for ordering will be December 19th, and you may take your plant home after the Christmas Eve Service.
Upcoming Sundays:
Collection for the Parker Task Force: Our November collection for the Parker Task Force was one of the most successful collections we’ve ever had! In addition to nonperishable goods, we received 4 full size turkeys and multiple cash and grocery gift card donations. Our next collection for the Task Force will be December 19th, 2021. Donations can be brought in to the church during the week beforehand if you are participating in the service via Zoom. If you plan to make a gift card or cash donation, please make sure you keep it separate from the food donations. If you have any questions, please contact the church office. Thank you for continuing to faithfully support this important ministry in our community!
Annual Congregational Meeting: On January 9th, 2022, we will hold our annual congregational meeting to receive the annual report, approve our Session elders and Deacons, and receive the 2022 ministry budget. Please plan on attending this important meeting and let’s get excited for the new year!
Missions/Church Life: Ways to volunteer at church and in our community:
Bookkeeper: Providence is looking for help with our financial bookkeeping. Heather Krause has served as bookkeeper for the last several years and is looking to step down. We express our gratitude to her for her faithful work in this role. If you have experience with bookkeeping and QuickBooks and would be willing to consider this role, please contact Pastor Dave, Diane Schmidt-Vaughn (Treasurer), or Heather Krause. Training will be provided.
Serve as a Greeter on Sunday Mornings: The primary role of a greeter is to welcome people at the entrance to the church and take attendance. For more information or to volunteer please contact the church office.
ZMP Winter Drive: Christmas and Hanukkah greetings to you, from the volunteers of the Zimbabwe Mission Partnership and the 800 orphans and vulnerable children you have been so diligent to support. The children have returned to school now, and the HCOC feeding centers are back in full operation. The crops are planted and, so far, the rains have been ample. The poultry and moringa processing operations are continuing to progress. Construction of the new clinic has continued (slowly) in spite of the pandemic, and it is now being partially utilized. Completion is expected in early 2022. As the year draws to a close, we’re hoping you’ll find it in your heart to make a generous year-end donation to help us keep everything rolling along till our next big fundraiser: the Team Zimbabwe Elephant Rock Ride in June of 2022. Please know that every dollar you donate goes directly to the support of these amazing children. And they are more grateful than you will ever know.
Upcoming Events & Announcements:
Women’s Support Group: The women’s support group will meet on the second and fourth Thursday of the month in the Providence Fellowship Hall at 3:30pm. The next meeting is on December 9th, 2021. Questions? Contact the church office.
Men’s Breakfast: The men’s breakfast will meet on December 16th at 7:30am at the Egg & U. Come join us for a meal and fellowship. Questions? Contact the church office.
PPC Book Club: Our book club will meet Thursday December 16, 2021 at 2:00 at church and on ZOOM. The book we are reading is The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey. Everyone is welcome.
Coffee and Conversation: Weekly on Tuesday mornings from 9 to 10am. We connect, reflect on Sunday’s sermon and scriptures with observations and questions, and close in prayer. It is a chance to get to know each other more, to grow together, and to linger longer with the scriptures. Come join us!
Providence Financial Update: At the end of October 31, 2021 the Income and Expenses are as follows:
| Income | Expense | Variance | |
| Month of October | $10,898.05 | $12,161.28 | (1,263.23) |
| YTD | $100,485.44 | $131,976.06 | (31,490.62)* |
| Per Capita | $1,803.00 | $2,500.00 | (697.00) |
*This deficit will be made up by transfers from several CD’s.
King Soopers Fundraiser: Our Kings Soopers fundraiser earned $325 for Providence in the 3rd quarter. Thank you to all the individuals and families that are continuing to support the church in this way. It’s now easier than ever to support Providence Presbyterian Church when you shop at King Soopers and City Market! King Soopers has changed its charitable fundraising program and no longer requires you to purchase a gift card from us. Simply register your King Soopers/City Market loyalty rewards cards and link it to support Providence. Then King Soopers will donate to us based on the purchases of our supporters. If you don’t already have a rewards card, they are available at the customer service desk of any King Soopers or City Market. Here’s how to link your King Soopers/City Market loyalty rewards card to support Providence:
- Login to your King Soopers or City Market account (or create an account) at www.kingsoopers.com or www.citymarket.com.
- Click on Savings & Rewards, then King Soopers Community Rewards, then Enroll Now.
- Search for Providence Presbyterian Church or enter our organization number YJ207 and click Enroll.
Your King Soopers/City Market loyalty card will be linked to Providence and you’ll be helping us every time you shop! Please feel free to contact the church office if you have any questions.
Heather Chimhoga Orphan Center (HCOC) Updates: HCOC Poultry Project – HCOC has established a poultry project, growing and selling poultry. The project is performing well and managing to be self-sufficient with all salaries coming from the earnings of the project. Additionally, the poultry project paid $500 toward efforts to help and support some of the female children at HCOC and also help to supplement the feeding centers. They are currently only using 40 – 50% capacity due to the market for chickens right now (which is down), and that providers are limiting the number of day-old chicks available to HCOC right now.
Pledge Cards
While we have brought our stewardship season to a close, we still encourage and welcome your pledges. If you plan to pledge for the upcoming year but have not turned in your pledge card yet please send it to the church office as soon as possible. If you need a new card CLICK HERE to download one and print it out. Thank you for re-investing again in this community and what God is doing and is going to do in and through us as a church!
Online Giving
You can now give online! Providence Presbyterian Church has partnered with the Presbyterian Foundation to offer a convenient, safe and secure way for our community to give online. Visit our giving page on our website for information on how to donate to Providence electronically.
Prayers
This week at Providence please keep the following people in your prayers:
Jim and Judy Nash, Laurie Schmidt, Paul White, Betty Holum, Ken Stabler, Phyllis Christensen, Pat Schwartz, Renee Mastriona, Lea Marot, Evan & Janell Totten, Donna Hoyt, Jacqueline Murphy, Kris Fairbanks, Higgins Family, Sharyn Horvath, Shari Reese-Wilson, Robert McCown, Betty Lutz, Vanessa Pierce, Sherry Flohr, Cindy Roth, Deanna, Patsy Slack, Renee and Mark. We would also ask you to keep those suffering from COVID-19 in your prayers. Thank you for your prayers.
Phone: 720-851-6881
MidWeek Update Deadline:
NOON on Tuesday
ppcmwu@providencepcusa.org
Hearing Loop is available in our Sanctuary
MidWeek Scripture Reflection
Philippians 3:3-11
3 I thank my God every time I remember you, 4 constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, 5 because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight 10 to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, 11 having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
Luke 3:7-18
7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11 In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.” 15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
