Worship Schedule 8:30 Worship 9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship

Advent Wreath Lighting December 1 December 8 December 15 December 22

Christmas Gala Dinner December 6, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Nursery care provided

Winter Blast Retreat December 13 - 15

All Church Christmas Potluck & Christmas Music Extravaganza Extraordinaire December 15, 5:00 p.m.

December 29 11:00 a.m. (one service) NO Sunday School

Peters Creek Presbyterian Church ▪ 250 Brookwood Road ▪ Venetia, PA 15367 December 2013/January 2014

This Month at Peters Creek...This Month at Peters Creek...This Month at Peters Creek...This Month at Peters Creek...

December 24, 5:00 p.m. Join us at a special service for our children with the showing and telling of a Christmas story and singing of carols. Nursery care is provided. December 24, 9:00 p.m. Join us for a traditional candlelight service with a guest brass quintet.

The Church ChimesThe Church ChimesThe Church ChimesThe Church Chimes

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J esus spoke these words to the church of Laodicea. Jesus told this congregation that He was standing at the door knocking, trying to get

inside. What a compelling thought! Christ wants to inhabit our lives and our Christmases. The irony of this text is that it pictures Jesus standing outside the church knocking on the door just so that He can come in! The question this text asks us is, “Do we have room in our lives for Jesus?” I came across this story by Melvin Newland. I think it has special meaning for us this Christmas.

Wally was a 7th grade student. He was the biggest child in his Sunday school class. His mother had been an alcoholic when he was born, and as a result, Wally just did not have all the mental capabilities that the rest of his classmates had. But somehow he managed to get by. Christmas time came, and his class decided to put on a Christmas pageant. Since he was the biggest, Wally was selected to be the innkeeper. After all, the innkeeper is kind of a villain in the Christmas drama. So they coached Wally to be just as mean as he could possibly be.

Well, the night came for the Christmas play. And in it, Mary and Joseph came to Bethlehem, went to the inn, and knocked on its door. Wally opened the door and said, "What do you want?", just as mean and gruff as he could possibly be. Joseph said, "We need a room. We need a place to stay tonight." "Well, you’ll have to stay someplace else," said Wally, "because there’s no room here. There’s no room in the inn." Joseph said, "But my wife’s expecting a baby just any time now! Isn’t there someplace where we can stay, where we are protected from the cold, and where she can deliver her child?" "No," said Wally, "There’s no room here." Then suddenly, there was a silence on the stage. It was one of those embarrassing moments when you know that someone has forgotten the lines. From behind the curtains you could hear the prompter saying, "Be gone! Be gone!"

Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,

I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Rev 3:20 NIV)

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December 1 The Breaking of a Long Silence Rev. Doug Brandt speaking December 8 Christmas in the First Person Rev. Doug Brandt speaking December 15 Mary, Mary, Not Quite So Contrary Rev. Doug Brandt speaking December 22 He’s Making a List Eric Toohey speaking December 29 (one service at 11:00 a.m.) To Go in Peace Rev. Doug Brandt speaking

Wally was supposed to speak, but for some reason he had choked up and forgotten to say, "Be gone!" Finally, after he had been coached for several long seconds, Wally managed to say, "Be gone." Mary and Joseph sadly turned to leave. But just as they did, Wally said, "Wait a minute. Wait a minute. You can have my room!" The director of the play was ready to pull out her hair because she knew that the whole Christmas pageant had been ruined. …..But had it? Maybe, Wally better than any-body else communicated the real spirit of Christmas. "You can have my room ..."

I think Wally really did understand the spirit of Christ-mas and what our response to Christ should be. Christ is knocking, let Him in! Christ came to make room for us in God's family! He wants to be part of our lives so that He can work through us to shine the light of His grace to all around. Even now, Christ stands at the door of our congregation and knocks, and He won't turn away any who open their lives to Him. Let us be joyful in our celebrations this Christmas! Let us open the doors of our hearts to our faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas! Your Pastor and Friend, Doug Brandt

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Christmas DinnersChristmas DinnersChristmas DinnersChristmas Dinners

December 6 Hinman Hall

6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Enjoy a gourmet 5-course dinner featuring Wild Mushroom Soup and Beef Wellington. There will be live entertainment and raffles. Tickets are $45.00 per person and are available by contacting the church office at 724-941-6210. All proceeds benefit the Capital Improvement Fund. Child Care is offered for newborn to third grade.

Christmas Potluck DinnerChristmas Potluck DinnerChristmas Potluck DinnerChristmas Potluck Dinner & Christmas Music Extravaganza Extraordinaire& Christmas Music Extravaganza Extraordinaire& Christmas Music Extravaganza Extraordinaire& Christmas Music Extravaganza Extraordinaire

December 15 Hinman Hall 5:00 p.m.

Don’t miss one of Peters Creek’s favorite holiday traditions, the Annual Christmas Dinner! Join us for an evening of good food and fellowship followed by a Christmas Music Extravaganza Extraordinaire in the Sanctuary. The staff will provide ham, rolls and beverages and we ask that you sign up using the red form in the front pocket of the pew folders indicating how many family members will attend and the food item you will bring. To help ensure a balanced table, we suggest families with last names be-ginning with A - H: Dessert; I - R: Side Dish; S - Z: Salad.

ChristmasChristmasChristmasChristmas GalaGalaGalaGala DinnerDinnerDinnerDinner

Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign

The Salvation Army Canonsburg/Houston Service Unit serves the following areas: Canonsburg, Houston, Hendersonville, Lawrence, McMurray, Strabane, West-land, and Muse. Did you know that all monies collected in kettles in the 15317 area remains in this area for distribution? Hopefully you donate when you see a kettle but espe-cially when you see one in the Peters Township and Canonsburg/Houston areas. When you put money in one of these kettles you may be helping a neighbor or friend. YOUR HELP IS NEEDED. If you would like to join churches in the area in volunteering on a Friday or Saturday through December 21. The kettles will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in two hour slots. Youth through age 14 MUST be accompanied by an adult. Ages 15-17 MUST be in groups of 2 or 3. To sign up please contact Tracie Sohyda at 412-841-2271.

The December Working Miracles Mission Offering will be The Giving Tree. There are a number of Christmas trees set up in the Narthex with tags that you can remove and purchase the item listed on the tag. Please return the gift items by Decem-ber 15. Monetary funds will be given to the Hal Cypher Families in Need fund.

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Young Families Light Young Families Light Young Families Light Young Families Light Up NightUp NightUp NightUp Night

Volunteers Needed

The Pastoral Care Department of Canonsburg Hospital is looking for volunteers to help staff various positions at Canonsburg General Hospital and the Outpatient Care Center in Peters Township for the hours of 8am – Noon

and Noon to 4 pm Monday thru Saturday.

Volunteers are also need to help in the Snack Shop on Tuesdays from 9am to 1 pm and 1 to 5 pm, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am – 2 pm. Substitutes are also welcome

for any day of the week.

Please contact either:

Casseroles

If you would like to help the deacons by making an occasional casserole, please contact the church office at 724-941-6210 or email office@peterscreekchurch.org with your name, phone number and email.

Rev. Cathy Peternel Director of the Pastoral Care Department 724-745-6100 ext. 4118 or Marti Clister Director of Human Resources 724-745-3914 Thank you for your consideration of this important minis-try in our community.

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Children’s MinistryChildren’s MinistryChildren’s MinistryChildren’s Ministry

December 6, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m., Hinman Hall Christmas Gala Dinner – There will be childcare pro-vided for newborns through children in third grade on the evening of the December 6 Gala Dinner. If the little ones haven’t eaten by the time you arrive for the Dinner, just bring them a brown bag- or tv-dinner, and our capable caregivers will oversee their dinner just down the hall from where you will be pampered.

December 15, 5:00 p.m., Hinman Hall

All-Church Christmas Potluck & Christmas Music

Extravaganza Extraordinaire -- Solo music- or other

talent performances are invited! (Humorous contributions

welcome!) We are looking for interested parties to per-

form a song or instrumental piece, a skit or magic trick, or

even just to tell a joke, as part of our annual church family

Christmas Dinner. The “performer” could be a child, sev-

eral children together, or even whole families.

December 24, 5:00 p.m., Sanctuary

Family Christmas Eve Service – A special audiovisual presentation of a Christmas story awaits the congregation at this annual family-oriented service. Carols will be accom-panied by a Still Manger Scene, brought to you by Peters Creek Presbyterian’s own children.

While all children are welcome during this family-oriented service, there may be some who are too young to realize what’s going on, and who may be quite happier in the nurs-ery. For that reason, childcare will be available for new-borns through children age five for those families who would like to take advantage of that.

Children’s Ministry continuedChildren’s Ministry continuedChildren’s Ministry continuedChildren’s Ministry continued

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December 24, 9:00 p.m., Sanctuary Candlelight Christmas Eve Service – Festive celebration of the Glory of Christmas with special music. (No childcare.) December 29 , 11:00 a.m., Sanctuary One joint worship service (NO Sunday School)

January 10, 5 p.m. – January 11, 9 p.m. (travel time included) -- 24 hour "Winter Blast Jr." Retreat for 9-12 year olds at Seneca Hills Bible Camp. Those of you who won’t go on this retreat are invited to pray for those who will! Maybe, some of you want to come along as chaperones?! The final price will be just $25 a boy; adult leaders will attend for free!

Bible PresentationBible PresentationBible PresentationBible Presentation

Youth

Group

News

December 2013

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Not only is it the Christmas season, but we are entering

the retreat season for the youth ministry at Peters Creek.

There are two major weekend retreats for students in 7th

-12th grade. First, our annual Winter Blast retreat is

December 13-15. We have moved it up so that we can

all celebrate Christmas together with carols, cookies,

games, and praising God for the incarnation.

Second, we are joining our local presbytery on a joint

youth retreat the weekend of January 24-26. Eleven

churches are sending students to Seneca Hills Bible

Camp for a weekend to learn how to stand for God.

I’d like to encourage students to attend both retreats

since they provide different opportunities for spiritual

growth, relationship-building, and fun!

Eric Toohey, Assistant Pastor for Youth & Young Families eric@peterscreekchurch.org

412.302.6345

Important Dates

Dec. 1 (6pm): Youth Group

Dec. 8 (6pm): Youth Group

Dec. 13-15: Winter Blast Retreat at

Pine Springs Camp

Dec. 15 (5pm): All-Church Christ-

mas Potluck Dinner

Dec. 19 (7pm): Girls Bible Study

Dec. 24 (5 & 9pm): Christmas Eve

Services

Jan. 5: Youth Group Returns

Jan. 24-26: POA Winter Retreat at

Seneca Hills Bible Camp

Feb. 2 (6pm): Youth Group Super

Bowl Party

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this

day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby

wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12 (ESV)

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Winter Blast 12

December 13-15, 2013

All I want for Christmas is Winter Blast!

Our 12th annual winter retreat is your early Christmas present. Winter Blast has been moved

up two months so that we can celebrate Christmas together as a youth group! Join your

friends as we get away for a weekend to celebrate the birth of Jesus with carols, games,

cookies, and holiday cheer. All weekend we’ll be learning about the reason for the season:

Jesus, the greatest gift of all. Students in grades 7-12 are invited to attend. The cost is $50

and is due with the registration form by Tuesday, December 3. Registration Forms are avail-

able online or in the church office.

This winter at Youth Group we are studying the Reformation

solas which is a Latin word for “alone” or “only”. These five

statements represent a rallying cry of the Protestant

Reformation which is still relevant today. The five solas are

Scripture alone, Christ alone, Grace alone, Faith alone, and to

God alone be the glory.

We are joining the Presbytery of the Alleghenies on their Winter

“Advance” the weekend of January 24-26 at Seneca Hills Bible

Camp. This youth retreat for students in 7th-12th grade will bring

together students from eleven local EPC churches for a week-

end to learn how to STAND for God. Registration forms will be

available soon.

To keep up to date check our website: www.peterscreekchurch.org/youth

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Mission Opportunity Mission Trip to Costa Rica for Feed My Sheep in February 2014

F eed My Sheep was started in 2007 by local Pittsburgh residents to provide food,

supplies, and adequate living conditions for the poor of Costa Rica. Currently Feed My Sheep runs two kitchens that serve lunch on a daily basis to over 300 children. For the past couple of years Peters Creek Church has provided regular monthly contributions from our general fund to Feed My Sheep to support this work of feeding poor and needy children. We also have previously sent a team to Costa Rica to work with the children and help upgrade the facilities which serve these children. We have recently accepted another opportunity to work with Feed My Sheep in the building a house for a 79-year old woman who cares for up to about 15 children. The photos show the deplorable conditions of the current residence of this woman. We have committed to providing both hands on assistance in building the house and 50% of the roughly $12,000 cost for building the house. We are still in the planning stages for

this trip but right now the initial plans are for a seven-day trip starting February 4th, returning February 10th. Initial construction of the house will be started by Feed My Sheep in January and we will be helping with the final stages of the project doing whatever needs to be done to finish the project including painting, minor electrical/plumbing/carpentry work, etc. The trip is estimated to cost about $1,200-$1,500 per person in total including lodging, meals, and the two legs of air travel to San Jose and then to Puerto Jimenez. This is a great opportunity to share from our abundance with those who have very little and make a real difference in people’s lives. More information will be provided in the coming weeks as we continue planning the trip. We are having our first planning meeting for this trip on Monday, December 9 at 7:00 in Youth Hall. If you have any interest in either going on the trip or in helping with the planning and/or fund raising for this trip please attend this meeting and/or contact the church office or Carl Maronde (724-941-4541).

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Adult Sunday School 9:45 a.m.

Christian Essentials Led by Denny Hutchinson Meets in Hinman Hall “Finding the Humble Church in the Psalms” Through in-depth study and discussions of the Book of Psalms, this class is aiming to learn what it means to be part of a truly God-dependent, humble Church. Sharing the Word Co-led by Carl Maronde and Margaret Weaver Meets in the CE Building, Youth Hall This group studies a book of the Bible, chapter by chapter, and at times, conducts studies of special topics searching out Biblical truths through the in-depth study of the Scriptures.

Women’s Evening Bible Study Thursdays, 7:00 p.m.

The Women’s Thursday Night Bible Study meets at 7:00 in Youth Hall. We are reading and discussing devotionals from the Women’s Devotional Bible. Each devotional is accompanied by Scriptures. Printed copies are available - no need to purchase the Bible. There will be a new devotional each week - no homework. Please join us for time of study/discussion and fellowship.

9:45 a.m.

Questors Led by Terry Toohey and Jay Mininger Meets in Hinman Hall The Questors Adult Sunday School Class is studying the book “66 Love Letters” by Dr. Larry Crabb. Dr. Crabb is a seminar speaker, Bible teacher, author, and founder/director of New Way Ministries. Dr. Crabb brings the story and message of the Bible, through 66 love letters (1 for each book of the Bible) into the story of our lives. All are welcome.

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Peters Creek Presbyterian Church peterscreekchurch@verizon.net ▪ 724-941-6210

www.peterscreekchurch.org

Publication Deadlines Articles for the Church Chimes and announcements for the bulletin should be submitted in electronic format. Submissions for the Chimes are due no later than noon on the 15th of each month for the following month’s edition. Sunday Bulletin Submissions are due no later than noon each Wednesday.

Church StaffChurch StaffChurch StaffChurch Staff

Doug Brandt Senior Minister doug@peterscreekchurch.org Doris Sawhill Visitation Minister doris@peterscreekchurch.org Brian Pappal Music & Worship Minister brian@peterscreekchurch.org Eric Toohey Minister of Youth & Young Families eric@peterscreekchurch.org Katie Brandt Director of Children’s Ministry katie@peterscreekchurch.org Eileen Dellorso Accounting eileen@peterscreekchurch.org Barb DeJohn Administrative Assistant barb@peterscreekchurch.org Jennifer Such Communications jenn@peterscreekchurch.org Paul Eiben Facilities Manager paul@peterscreekchurch.org Evan Stockton Custodian evan@peterscreekchurch.org

If you would like to purchase a poinsettia in honor or memory of loved ones to help beautify our sanctuary for Christmas, the cost is $7.25 per 6” pot. En-velopes are in the pew folders. Orders must be received by December 16th. Poinsettias may be picked up anytime after the 9 PM Christmas Eve Ser-vice or during the week after Christmas. There will be no delivery to shut-ins.

Recreation Classes Recreation Classes Recreation Classes Recreation Classes at Peters Creekat Peters Creekat Peters Creekat Peters Creek

Zumba Evening Class - Come dance your way to fitness with certified Zumba Instructor Jocelyn Main. Burn up to 500 calories in one hour! Classes are Mondays at 6 p.m. and the cost is $6.00. All are welcome and invited! Email zumbafit724@gmail.com for more infor-mation. Pilates Class - Pilates is a gentle, yet effec-tive, method of excercise used to improve strength, posture, and flexibility. Exercises are performed on a mat, and can be modified for beginners, as well as those with experience. Classes are $10 each, participants must bring a mat and sign a medical release. Classes are instructed by Becky Lipinski, Physical Thera-pist and Certified Pilates Mat Instructor. Questions? Email Becky at blipin-skipt@gmail.com. This class meets on Thurs-days from 7:00 to 7:45 p.m.