SEASON OF ADVENT

ADVENT REMINDERS FOR NEW SEASONS

ABOUT THE THEME

Advent is a season of endings and beginnings. As the calendar year comes to a close, a new church  year begins. Christ’s birth ushers us into new ways of living and loving; and yet, the world as we  know it spins madly on. In many ways, pregnant Mary was surrounded by endings—large and small,  personal and political. But Mary proclaimed hope in a God who was and is making all things new.  Christ’s birth offered a beautiful new beginning for shepherds and Magi alike—all the while, King  Herod tried to bring Christ’s story to an end. When we ourselves navigate seasons filled with  endings and beginnings, we need reminders. We need words that can feel like steady ground, like a  path for our feet to find as we step forward into the unknown.  

We have crafted an Advent series filled with blessings, with the words we need to hear again and  again as we begin a new season. We imagined the words Mary would speak to her newborn son.  What scriptures and stories would she impart to him? What lessons would she teach him as he  grew? And so, our weekly themes may feel like the lessons we teach to children, but in reality,  these are lessons we continue to learn and relearn as adults. They may sound like the messages  we impart to loved ones during special ceremonies or sacred rituals. We intentionally selected  scriptures that may be frequently used in weddings, ordination services, or baptisms. And so, we  invite you to enter this Advent season as if you are entering a sacred new chapter, holding fast to  the reminders that will bolster you for the journey ahead.  



As you journey through this season, may you find words for belovedness and hope. May you find  words for beginning again. For no matter what you are facing, no matter what this new day brings,  love is your beginning.

2024 ADULT OFFERINGS UPDATE



ASE REMEMBER NORTHMONT in this season of giving when you are making your year-end payments to charity. We appreciate your generosity, which benefits our church family and our communities, near and far.

BOY SCOUT TROOP 335 set up the nativity scene in front of the church on Saturday, Nov. 30. They also bought and placed more LED lighting to illuminate it from dusk to dawn. We again thank the Scouts for their service to Northmont.

Clef Notes

Music Director, Stephen Schall

stephen@northmontchurch.org

This Second Sunday of Advent the choir will sing what is truly an Advent classic, E’en so, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come. This beautiful piece was written by the American composer Paul Manz in 1954. It has become immensely popular and has been sung throughout the world, most notably as part of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King’s College Cambridge. It has a fascinating history as cited on Wikipedia:

Paul and Ruth Manz wrote "E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come" in 1953 during a time when their three-year-old son was critically ill. Reflecting on the time, Ruth Manz reported, "I think we'd reached the point where we felt that time was certainly running out so we committed it to the Lord and said, 'Lord Jesus quickly come'". During this time, she had prepared some text for Paul for a composition based on the Book of Revelation. While at his son's bedside, Paul Manz began drafting the composition, which later became the current piece. Their son did recover, which the couple attributed to the power of prayer.

With text drawn primarily from the 22nd chapter of Revelation, it is a perennial favorite of the Chancel Choir. We hope you enjoy it too.

Our hymn of the month is a beautiful setting of “Ye Who Claim the Faith of Jesus.” The words were written by the English Anglican priest and educator, Vincent Stuckey Stratton Coles (1845-1929). The original title and first line was "Ye Who Own the Faith of Jesus," but most more-recent publications have used the word "Claim" instead. 

The lovely tune JULION was composed by David Hurd (b. 1950) in 1974. (Some of you may be familiar with his tune for the hymn, “A Stable Lamp Is Lighted.”) 

“Ye Who Claim the Faith . . .”  encourages us to honor Mary, the mother of Jesus. In the third stanza, we are called to join in her song, the Magnificat, as we remember that God has cast down the mighty and raised up the lowly. The fourth stanza, a masterful paraphrase of the Magnificat text, was not in the original hymn but was supplied by English hymn writer Fred Pratt Green (1903-2000), a Methodist minister. Hurd includes a descant for the fourth stanza that uses the Latin text of the Magnificat.

COOKIE DONATIONS are still being accepted for the December 12th Pittsburgh Presbytery meeting that Northmont is hosting. If you’re willing to help out, email Dianna at churchoffice@northmontchurch.org

Thank you for your help!

Please deliver to the church kitchen, in an airtight container, on any of the following dates:

Sun, 12/8, prior to 10am service.

Tues, 12/10, 12-4 

Wed, 12/11, 9-11

Thurs, 12/12, 9-11

Calling All Youth!

Grades 6 and up

NORTHMONT DEACONS’ ANGEL TREE gifts should be returned to the church no later than this Sunday, Dec. 8. Please put gift cards in the wrapped shoebox in the church office; place other items (unwrapped) in the marked box in the church library. Thank you for your generosity!

THE MISSION COMMITTEE is pleased to update our announcement regarding this year's "Bill Markus at Northmont in December!" series. Bill will be joining us from 8:45 to 9:45 in Fellowship Hall on December 8th and 15th.

On the 8th, he will be speaking on the topic “A prediction of major changes in U.S. Foreign Policy in the new U.S. presidential administration.”

On the 15th, "A major change in the Syrian Civil War" is the topic.

We hope you'll be able to join us at this special two-week annual event with Bill. Please help us spread the word. Thank you. — Ted Mills

Specialized Ministry

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