Church of Christ Uniting

Like many of you, our family marked the changes and seasons of life in both significant and small ways. Before our children could even talk we would play the game “How big is the baby?” and they would grin and stretch out their arms saying, “SO BIG!” One of our favorite traditions became recording in a doorway each child’s progress every birthday…how much they had grown was measured and marked on the wall with initials and date. It broke our heart to leave our home in Syracuse after ten years and no longer have that innocent record of how big we had grown as a family.

In many small and large ways each of us sees how we ‘measure up’ in this world. So big as a baby becomes how tall we have grown, then how independent we are, then how big is our house, our car, our income; so many ways we measure our worth through external markers and signs of success. Yet we know no matter how big we grow in the world, we never quite measure up to the need to have more, be better, shine brighter, have more toys, than our neighbors or friends. If our worth is only measured by what we have, in comparison to others, there will always be something more we are missing.

True worth is measured not by what we have or who we are, nor by the things we buy. It’s a good thing to remember as we enter this hectic season of annual holiday giving. The rush to buy and wrap and give gifts and good cheer is often overwhelming. If we don’t do it right we may not measure up to expectations, and risk losing the admiration we seek. Even more stressful is trying to always have more with less…income, time, energy. I invite you to get off the treadmill this year and take a break. The good news is that we don’t have to ‘measure-up’ at all. Advent promises us that we already have been accepted by God who “so loved the world that he gave the gift of his only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall have life” (John 3.16)…all the life we will ever need.

Our Thursday lunch bunch is discussing “What do you want for Christmas this year?”

James Moore will lead us to look for gifts that don’t come from a store; The gift of Hope, the Gift of Freedom, the Gift of Christ, the Gift of Salvation. I hope you will take a break from hectic shopping, or baking, or wrapping and take a moment to share with your family the ways we can grow together in the Spirit of Love and Grace through knowing Christ as our Lord and Savior. Come to our Tree Trim November 29 and create a decoration of a symbol of Christ to hang on your tree at home, reminding us of the reason for the season. Explore what a community village might have been like when Jesus was born to his human family at ‘a Night in Bethlehem’ on December 6. Come celebrate Jesus’ birth in story and song in our children’s pageant December 13 and stay for a festive holiday brunch in fellowship hall.

This is one of the most festive times of the year! Don’t miss an opportunity to grow ‘so big’ in your faith as we learn together how to measure our journey in discipleship together.

I’ll see U in CH_RCH.

Pastor Carol

Visitors of all ages visit A Night in Bethlehem to experience what it was like on the night of Jesus’ birth. Participants wear period costumes and tour Bethlehem’s shops and stable. Admission and all activities are free, with light refreshments provided.

Stations

The Bethlehem Village Entrance
Build excitement long before visitors actually see the shops and smell the baking bread! As guests approach your building, they’ll hear festive music and the buzz of a bustling village.

The Registration Station
Each family or group receives a photo keepsake, along with a Family-Time Devotions booklet that’s packed with easy, faith-building activities that families will love doing.

The Marketplace Shops

Welcome to an unforgettable experience — exploring the busy Marketplace in Bethlehem. Here, guests might create a toy top, craft a laurel wreath, or design an authentic Roman bulla. Each experience helps guests better understand what life was like when Jesus was born.

• Metalworking Shop
• Wreath Shop
• Scribe Shop
• Carpentry Shop
• Pottery Shop
• Bakery
• Leatherworking Shop
• Candy Shop
• Painting Shop
• Stonemason Shop

The Stable
An excited group of shepherds will lead groups of guests to the stable, where guests can interact with a very special — but weary — couple and their newborn. This isn’t your typical “living Nativity” because guests will talk with Joseph and Mary, ask them what it was like to stay in a stable, and discover that God used regular people to fulfill his promise. What a remarkable reminder of God’s amazing love for us!

Get into the Holiday Spirit by coming to the Christmas Tea sponsored by the Women’s Fellowship. All are welcome. The tea will be held on Tuesday, December 1, beginning with punch at 6:30 p.m. followed by the tea at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. A musical program will be presented by the Wyoming Valley West Select Chorus under the direction of Mr. Chris Wilski.

Decorated tables and a festive dessert will complete the evening.

Attendees are requested to bring food items such as peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, cereal or canned goods for the Al Beech/West Side Food Pantry in lieu of an exchange gift.

Please reserve your seat by calling the church office.

Come join all your friends and family from the congregation in trimming the tree in Fellowship Hall. We will be making ornaments, participating in a mission project, enjoying some pizza and snacks, and you will get to make a craft that you can take home with you. So come on out and spend time with some friends and maybe make a new friend while having some fun!

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Work off those extra Thanksgiving calories! Two able bodied men are needed to join in the raising and lighting of the Christmas Tree in Fellowship Hall at 10am on Friday, November 27.

We also need contributions of vegetable of cookie trays and bottled drinks. If you can help please contact Laine Little or the Church office by Wednesday, November 25.

Church of Christ Uniting is again providing Christmas presents for needy children in our area through the Angel Tree Ministry (ATM). On the first Sunday of Advent, a Christmas tree on display in the Narthex will be decorated with Angel ornaments listing the name, age, size and Christmas gift wishes of individual children. This partnership with Prison Fellowship Ministry gives us the opportunity to comfort and minister to children and families with a parent who is in prison during the Christmas season.

On November 29, we are asking the COCU family to volunteer to sponsor approximately 25 Angel children. You can select one of the Angels from the tree and purchase two gifts for each child at $20-$25 per gift. This may seem a bit steep but chances are that these young people will receive little else. Why not share a child with a friend?

When you select your Angel, please remember to complete the attached white contact Angel with your name, phone number and the Angel’s code number and leave in the basket provided next to the tree. The wrapped gifts should be left under the tree in the Narthex on Sunday, December 13, or in the Church office no later than Friday, December 18, at 12:00 noon. We will again need volunteers to help deliver the gifts. Please join in for a very rewarding Christmas experience!

For further information or to volunteer, please contact Mike Little or the Church office.

The Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service will be held on Wednesday, November 25, at 7:30pm in our sanctuary with combined choirs. Rev. John Hartman will be preaching.

Church of Christ Uniting is seeking to fill the position of Nursery Care Giver beginning December 6th.  If interested please call the church office at

288-8434 or send an email to cocu@cocu4u.org.

Job Description

NURSERY CARE GIVER

Job Title:                                Nursery Care Giver

Qualifications:                        Have and maintain current clearance with Pennsylvania Act 34, or successor statue, and child abuse clearance from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.  (For persons who have been non-Pennsylvania residents, a Federal Bureau of Investigation clearance.)

Have and maintain current certification in a basic First Aid course and CPR Certification, and a current physical.

Time Commitment:                Each Sunday from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM, with two (2) Sundays of vacation time throughout the year.

Accountable To:                     Senior Pastor, Director of Christian Education/ Christian Formation, and the Personnel Task Force

Duties and Responsibilities:

A.            Child Care

• Maintain a log to insure children are released only to the appropriate adult.
• Maintain safety and wellbeing of children.
• Attend to personal hygiene of children if necessary.
• Clean up any toys or other materials, which may have become soiled.

B.            Communication

• Contact the ushers, and/ or otherwise seek aid in the event of an      

emergency.

•  Inform parent of any unusual happenings.

C.            Maintenance of Nursery

• Dispose of any broken toys.
• Replace toys as needed, submitting bill to Education Task Force.

D.            Other duties as assigned by the Senior Pastor or directed by the Personal Task Force.

 (Revised May 2006)