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Rachel Clark, (630) 607-9938 [email protected] New Monmouth Presbyterian Church’s adult and children’s choirs presented their Christmas cantata on Sunday morning entitled “Do you hear what I hear?”
Thank you to Dianne Swink and Laura Hotinger for leading the choirs. Thank you to Calvin Clark and Clementine Clark for accompanying on the handbells. And thanks to Calvin Clark and Nathaniel Hackett for running sound.
The prelude was provided by Calvin and Cordelia Clark, playing horn and clarinet respectively. Thank you to Laura Shell who read the advent devotional and lit the third candle of the advent wreath, the Shepherd’s candle of joy. The flowers were placed by Janet Drake in memory of Bill and Margaret Drake.
The new choir microphones were given by Marsha Mayhew in memory of Jesse Mayhew who worked wonders with our sound system for many years. Thank you Janet and Marsha!
This coming Sunday is Christmas Eve. New Monmouth will have its Sunday morning worship service at 11 a.m., during which the fourth candle of the advent wreath will be lit. There will be an “insta-Christmas pageant” for all to participate in. Just grab a costume and follow the instructions in the bulletin about when to come forward. No lines to memorize. No rehearsal required. We will collect our 4-cents-ameal offering, but because we missed last month, it will be an 8-cents-a-meal collection!
We will have a candlelight service on Sunday at 7 p.m.
Collections for Natural Bridge Elementary (sweat pants, socks, and underwear) and RARA (food and toiletries) continue until Dec. 31.
Dec. 31 is a fifth Sunday, and we would love to have extra musical offerings for a music Sunday. Let Casey or Rachel know if you would like to play and/or sing. We will not have a fellowship lunch.
The New Monmouth session met for their monthly meeting on Dec. 10. They voted to send the church’s fourth quarter tithe on investments to Young Life and Community Table. Each ministry will receive $375.
Our next celebration of communion will be Sunday, Jan. 7. That same day we will have a congregational meeting following the service to vote on elders, a deacon and to approve the 2024 budget.
We will host our annual pancake dinner on Feb. 13, the Tuesday prior to Ash Wednesday.
The session also voted to approve the “NMPC music education fund” that New Monmouth members may apply for. The fund’s purpose is to help offset the cost of music lessons or other musical educational programs that will in turn enhance the music program of New Monmouth Presbyterian Church.
