RAFFLE BASKET DONATIONS for the PW Christmas Brunch are due this Sunday, Nov. 30th. Please place your donation on the table in the Assistant Pastor’s office (next door to Ben’s office). Thank you!

This year's Advent devotional is one complete booklet that covers the four weeks in Advent, Christmas Eve, Christmastide, and Epiphany. Click on the button below to access your online copy. For those interested, there are hard copies available in the church Narthex.

NEXT SUNDAY, Dec. 7th, we welcomeThe Rev. Dr. Daniel B. Merry as our final Centennial Celebration Guest Preacher.

The Rev. Dr. Daniel B. Merry is an Honorary Retired Pastor in the Pittsburgh Presbytery. Pastor Dan has served the Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh faithfully for decades prior to his retirement.



He was the senior pastor of Southminster Presbyterian Church in Mt Lebanon, PA and John McMillian Presbyterian Church in Bethel Park, PA. He also served on staff at Pittsburgh Presbytery for many years supporting medium-sized congregations. Dan has a heart for missions and established a partnership with the Synod of Blantyre in Malawi, Africa.

You may find Pastor Dan at Camp Crestfield, where he is the President of the Board of Directors. There he encourages young people to grow in their faith in that beautiful setting.

Clef Notes

Music Director, Stephen Schall

stephen@northmontchurch.org

A new season is upon us: Advent. It’s the shortest of the liturgical year — only four weeks — and it conveys many important themes. Sadly, it often is turned into a means of elongating or extending Christmas. This is unfortunate, as Advent has its own character: joyful expectation. 

Advent leads us to ponder the coming of Christ at the end of the world, at the end of our lives, and, finally, at the very end of Advent, as the coming as the Christ Child in history. A good illustration of the theme of early Advent is found in the hymn we will sing this Sunday after the sermon, “O Day of Peace.” It’s number 450 in The Presbyterian Hymnal, and we sing it to the famous tune, JERUSALEM, which many associate with the film, “Chariots of Fire.” Here is the text for you to ponder and pray:

O day of peace that dimly shines

Through all our hopes and prayers and dreams,

 Guide us to justice, truth, and love,

Delivered from our selfish schemes.

May swords of hate fall from our hands,

Our hearts from envy find release,

 Till by God’s grace our warring world

Shall see Christ’s promised reign of peace.

Then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb,

Nor shall the fierce devour the small;

As beasts and cattle calmly graze,

 A little child shall lead them all.

Then enemies shall learn to love,

 All creatures find their true accord;

The hope of peace shall be fulfilled, 

For all the earth shall know the Lord. 

We’ll sing this hymn again next Sunday, so it will be a mini Hymn of the Month. It’s a beautiful poem about the end of the violence that hatred and war bring into our troubled world. It is certainly timely. 

Come, Lord Jesus!

BILL MARKUS RETURNS IN DECEMBER

December always brings us the great joy of anticipating and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. For many years now, December has also brought us the pleasure of hearing our good friend, Bill Markus, speak on topics of current interest and concern. We will continue that tradition this year.

Bill joins us on Sundays, December 7 and 14, from 8:45 to 9:45, in Polley Fellowship Hall to speak on the topic of “Venezuela and the USA Today.” We hope you'll be able to join us.

- The Mission Ministry Committee

There are still some gift tags left on the Angel Tree!

Pastor Ben will lead an Advent Bible study based on the themes of our Advent sermon series. All are welcome!

Thursday, December 4, 11th, and 18th at 11 AM,

in the Berean Room.

Hey folks! To help manage the costs associated with snow shoveling around the building this winter, we are asking for some weekly volunteers throughout the winter months to help us keep things clean. 

Those interested will sign up for a particular week on the calendar, (minus Sunday, we have that covered) and be the person to keep things shoveled if need be. Please talk with Ben or Cheryl English if you can help - thanks!!

Specialized Ministry

Click the picture to learn more about each ministry.