Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Have you ever wondered what we would be missing if there

was no Christmas? When you reflect on this thought you quickly

discover every thing in your life comes because of Christmas!

Sometime this month read: Luke 2:1- 40

A few years ago I had a counseling session with a person

whose wife had passed away on Christmas Eve. It had been

about a year since that tragedy had happened and this person

was in a state of hopelessness. He had a couple of small chil-

dren, and was bitter against God for what happened. In our con-

versation he shared that he has no desire to celebrate Christ-

mas any more, so there were no decorations, no gifts given, no meal, they just let Christmas come

and go.

But his wife was, I guess the best way of putting would be, “Christmas Personified.” She loved

Christmas and everything about it. Their home was always decorated beautifully, every place you

looked in their home was something pointing to Christmas, and especially to Christ Jesus. Nativity

scenes everywhere, angels, snow globes, and each had something to do with the Christmas story.

She would often say that Christmas is for us to focus in on the best gift ever given, Jesus.

When I was talking with this man, he was crying and desperate about wanting to move on but he

just could not get past her death. So I asked him this question, “Have you ever wondered what

you would be missing from your life if there was no Christmas?”

There was so much about Christmas that could be cherished in his heart. His wife and he had met

at a church Christmas Eve service. They were married, you guessed it, on Christmas Eve one year

later. Their first child was born December 26 the next year. His whole world revolved around Christ-

mas, all the blessings and even the pain from losing the love of his life.

As I write this letter, I want you to stop and ask yourself that same question: “Have you ever won-

dered what you would be missing from your life if there was no Christmas?”

There would be no “Merry Christmas”. There would be no Joy to the World. There would be no

Hark the Herald Angels Sing. There would be no Silent

Night. There would be no

Immanuel,

God With Us!

December

2019

There would be no purpose for our lives. There would be no bondage breaker. There would be

no eternal life. There would be no transformations.

There would be no healings. There would be no grace. There would be no mercy. There would

be no forgiveness.

Are you getting the picture yet? All because of Christmas our life has been given the greatest gift

ever given. A baby born in manger, and His Name is Jesus.

My prayer is that you receive this gift into your heart.

In Christ,

Pastor Don

P.S. That man came out of that time, and now he celebrates Christmas as much as his wife did.

The Worthington Ministerium that Center Hill Church is a part of will be

ringing the bell for the Salvation Army at our local Walmart on

Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 11 AM—1PM.

Come on out and support the red kettle campaign and say hello to

some familiar faces from our church!

2020 Bible Reading Guides are

available in the vestibules.

Pick one up and start renewing

your mind!

Join the Women’s Fellowship as

they celebrate Christmas with a

party on Tuesday, December 10th

at 7 PM. All Ladies are welcome!

REMINDER…. Men’s Fellow-

ship Christmas gathering at

Cabin Greens Golf Course on

Thursday, Dec. 5 at 6 PM.

Beginning January, we will

join together in praying

for one another. A basket

of prayer cards will be

available in the vestibules

for you to fill out with

your name. You can place

it in the offering plate. After all the cards

are collected, you will be able to choose a

card with someone else’s name from the

basket and begin praying for them and

their family for 2020.

Eggnog Quick Bread

Ingredients:

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom only of a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan, or three 3 x 5-inch loaf pans. Blend together the eggs, eggnog, rum extract, sugar, vanilla and butter. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg.

Add to eggnog mixture and stir just enough to moisten;

pour into prepared pan or pans.

Bake large loaf for 40 to 60 minutes, or until a tester in-

serted in the center comes out clean. Breads baked in the smaller pans require 35 to 40 minutes. Cool for

10 minutes and remove from pan. Cool completely, wrap tightly in plastic wrap or foil, and store in refriger-

ator until ready to serve. Cooking

With

Pastor

Don

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup eggnog

2 teaspoons rum flavored extract

1 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (Optional)

Christmas Advent Season at

Center Hill begins on

Sunday December 1 with a

viewing at 6 PM of the

movie “The Nativity”.

(Refreshments available.)

December 6: Church Christmas Banquet at 6:30 PM

December 8: Children’s Program during the morning

service.

December 15: Christmas Caroling at 1 PM followed

by snacks and fellowship.

December 15: Choir Cantata during our morning

service.

December 24: Candlelight service and Communion at

11 PM.

2020 is almost upon us, members and friends of the Center Hill Church of the Brethren, our 200th anniversary approaches; the new year promises to surprise and please. Get ready to celebrate with longtime members, as well as our newest friends. Do you remember the story of the founding of our church in 1820? What was happening in Arm-strong county then? Which folks from the past may enter our doors in 2020? Who might arrive to greet us from the pulpit throughout the year? What keepsake might you receive to take joy in the year of re-membering? What discoveries will be shared in the remembrance corner? Have you begun looking for sentimental finds at your house? Which events will be your favorites? Do you enjoy an old-time picnic and games of yesteryear, a formal celebration of special blessings and unexpected accomplishments, a lunch with a special pastor or his wife? Might you like to remember the past - an escape out the church windows - a long ago wedding in white, maybe your own - the flock of twins who confused their teachers decades ago - the pastor who re-ceived a gift that weighed over 2000 pounds? Maybe you like to look ahead to our future. You will want to be here for the coming remem-brances and surprises. Be a part of making memories during 2020. Make your plans, invite your friends, find a way to help out when you can. Many ways to help the celebration - there will be cooking and researching, building and singing, writing and greeting, decorating and praising. When the call comes to help, be there with your hammer or camera or gifts or memories. How many of us could try to attend every Sunday of the year 2020? You will want to experience all of the special moments. Especially come to be part of our thanksgiving to God Him-self for his blessings during the past 73,000 days. Share your vision and prayers as we look to the next 200 years.

Holiday Ornament

Exchange Party

Tuesday, December 3

6 PM

If you haven’t attended you are

missing a lot of festive fun!

Intercessory prayer

takes place at the

church each month. The

next meeting will be

December 17 at 10 AM.

If you are unable to

attend, you can write

your prayer request on

the prayer card and

place your card in

the prayer box in

the main vestibule.

The movie, The Nativity Story will be shown at 6 PM in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, December 1. Popcorn and drinks will be provided. Free will dona-tion will be received, and all the monies will go to this year’s Adopt A Family program. This event is sponsored by the Youth Group.

Christmas Caroling..

Come on out and join in some Christ-mas caroling on Sunday, Dec. 15. Eve-ryone is welcome to be a part of this special day of fellowship and spreading some Christmas cheer. We will meet at the Fellowship Hall at 1:00 PM. After

caroling we will all gather back at the Hall for a time of fellowship and refreshments. Please bring a finger food to share.

Coffee from Honduras is available. The cost is $10. Please help yourself in the main vestibule, place the money in the envelope attached to the basket. Thank you!

Can you find all 10 inside

this newsletter?

Center Hill Church of the Brethren 2039 Freeport Road

Kittanning, PA 16201

724-548-7226

Email: centerhillchurchpa@gmail.com

Web: centerhillchurchpa.org

COMING IN

All You Can Eat

Sponsored by Men’s Fellowship

Saturday, January 18, 2020

7 AM –11 AM

On Monday, January 27,

a Red Cross blood drive

will take place at the

Fellowship Hall from 1-7

PM. Volunteers are need-

ed to help as registrars,

escorts, and canteen

workers.

Register to give at

www.rcblood.org/appt.

To kick off our 200th Anniversary , we will

be hosting Bill Wenger, our District Execu-

tive as our guest speaker. He will bring the

message that morning along with his con-

gratulations from the Church of the Brethren

at large.

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