TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2024

Some browsers require readers to click READ MORE to view all content.

Christmas Eve Service Times

4pm family friendly, 9pm candlelight

Piedmont Church provides two opportunities to celebrate Christmas Eve. at 4pm, we'll have a family-friendly service. Our traditional candlelight service will be held at 9pm. 

Both services will be available to watch LIVE online.

Alternative Gift Market Sunday

We celebrate the 21st anniversary of our Alternative Gift Market with an in-person gathering this Sunday, December 15 after worship.

Come and meet representatives from local and international organizations who are helping those in need. All of the organizations have been vetted by the church mission team. 

Barbara Crawford is preparing special food for the event; 30 different items - both sweet and savory - including hot soup. 

Don't Miss A Beat!

Our church calendar is updated almost daily to include all meetings, worship times and special events.

2024 Christmas Eve Offering
CityTeam is This Year's Recipient

The recipient of this year's Christmas Eve offering will be CityTeam - in support of their 19 mobile food pantries serving families in need in Alameda County.

There is an added bonus to your generosity in the form of a matching gift. Donations from Piedmont Church will be matched by a dollar-for-dollar grant.

The mobile mission currently serves 8,000 people each year, delivering 43,000 pounds of food each week. Our Christmas offering will provide the potential for a much-needed expansion of this program to serve a larger number of people in our community.

You can donate during our Christmas Eve services, or online now by clicking the button below.

Christmas Poinsettias
Deadline to purchase is this Sunday

Now an annual tradition, Christmas Poinsettias are available to purchase in honor or in memory of a loved one. The donated plants will beautify the Sanctuary for our Sunday December 22 service, adding holiday color through Christmas Eve.

Cost is $15 per plant (limit 2 names per plant, please). To purchase a poinsettia in honor or in memory of a loved one, click the link below.

2nd Annual Snow Day Friday, Dec 20

Celebrate the season with a winter wonderland at the 2nd Annual Snow Day at Piedmont Church. On Friday, December 20, 4-7pm, experience the joy of over 20 tons of snow right here in town. Race down sledding hills, explore a snow playground designed for little ones and enjoy bounce houses, games, face painting and so much more.

This festive event is completely free of charge, making it the perfect opportunity to gather your family and friends for an evening of fun, laughter and community spirit.

Angela Guidici's non profit, Baking Wellness, will be selling treats. Funds raised will support 2025 programming, where Angela leads small group baking lessons in the church kitchen. Baking Wellness offers a unique therapeutic baking program designed specifically for teenagers. All goodies will be $5 (cash and Venmo accepted).

Snow Day Volunteers Needed

Help make this year’s Snow Day unforgettable. With over 20 tons of snow, sledding hills, games and more, there are countless ways to serve and bring joy and hope to our community.

• Game attendants

• Santa and Elf (needs to be able to wear hot chocolate 

thermo backpack)

• Mrs. Claus and helper - assist Santa and Elf with hot 

chocolate distribution

• Sled hill guides

• Clean up post event

Be part of the magic and sign up today.

Christmas Gathering Friday

You are invited to a Christmas Gathering cocktail reception fireside in Guild Hall on Friday, December 13 from 5-8pm.  

Wine, hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps, catered heavy hors d’oeuvres and dessert will be served. Wear a Christmas sweater or casual cocktail attire.

Kirk Miller will lead us in singing Christmas carols.

If you have not yet signed up for this event, contact Kathy Hurd at (916) 343-1519 for availability.

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

Couples Workshop

On Friday, February 7, 6:30-8:30pm and Saturday, February 8, 9am - 12pm, Piedmont Church will host a workshop for couples and those in long-term committed relationships - Making Love Thrive: The Art of Fulfilling Communication and Deep Connection

The presenter will be Laura Taggert, an experienced couples therapist, author and presenter. The theme for Friday night is 'What is your love style in your relationship?' Learn more about how attachment or love style can impact your relationship.

For Saturday morning, the focus is 'How to have more open-hearted communication and deepen our connection with our spouse or partner.'

The cost per person is $60. Refreshments will be served, and childcare is available if a request is made by February 1. Contact Don Ashburn at Don@PiedmontChurch.org

Registration deadline is January 14

Online Bible Study

Bible Study won’t meet on December 23, 30 and January 6. 

On Mondays at 10am, Don Ashburn leads an online study. Staring in January, the focus will be on the Book of Revelation. To participate fully, no previous experience in Bible study is expected or required. Just come with an open heart and mind and see where the Spirit leads you. The Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83211177073

Life Groups Adds Virtual Option

Life Groups return on Thursday, January 16. And now, there are 2 ways to participate — in person and online.

Groups meeting in person get together starting at 6:15pm in Guild Hall for a shared meal, then meet in separate rooms in the church. There will be two online groups meeting at different times during the day. Once we know who can participate in online groups, we’ll finalize the days and times.

If you’ve never participated in a Life Group before, it is a way to participate in small group discussion and support. Discussion usually focuses on the previous week’s sermon, but at other times addresses books or other topics. It's a great way to learn about the Bible while finding fellowship and support.

While we believe it's important to meet in person, we recognize that for many reasons, some may need to participate remotely. That’s why we now offer virtual Life Groups. All participants need to sign up to be part of a Life Group. Contact Don Ashburn at Don@PiedmontChurch.org

Registration deadline is January 14

NEXTGEN

Our NextGen ministry is very active, with lots of events throughout the month. Visit the NextGen web page by clicking below.

Two Sessions, Confirmation 2025

Confirmation Session 1:

We invite 7th graders and above to join our 9-week Confirmation Class, which starts on January 12 and concludes with a special overnight retreat on March 28, 29.

Class Details:

• When: Sundays, from 12-1pm (starting January 12)
• Where: Youth Room, C.E. Building
• Duration: 9 weeks, plus an overnight retreat

What to Expect:

In this class, students will:

• Explore the core beliefs of the Christian faith
• Wrestle with deep questions about life and spirituality
• Craft their personal Statement of Faith as they grow in understanding

Confirmation Session 2:

We invite 7th graders and above to join our nine-week Confirmation Class, which starts January 12 and concludes with a special overnight retreat on March 28-29.

Class Details:

• When: Wednesdays, from 3-4pm (starting January 8)
• Where: Youth Room, Piedmont Community Church
• Duration: 9 weeks, plus an overnight retreat

At the conclusion of the classes, students will have the opportunity to be introduced to the congregation during the Palm Sunday service if they choose to pursue membership with Piedmont Church.

FELLOWSHIP

Women Decorating Cookies Saturday

Get into the spirit of the holidays by joining a cookie decorating party. Have fun socializing with other women while creating some fun cookie designs. And, if you’re up for a challenge, you can try your hand at a couple techniques: flooding and wet-on-wet. Whatever you decide, you’ll leave with about 4 - 6 cookies. 

Put on your creative hat and meet in the Kettlewell room on Saturday, December 14, 1-3pm. Cider and light snacks will be served. A $5 donation requested to help cover costs.

Registration deadline is December 9

New Beginners, Gentle Pickleball

Are you interested in playing, or learning to play, pickleball but without the seriousness or competitiveness that you may feel is associated with our current Sunday Pickleball Fellowship? 

If so, you'll enjoy this new gathering of Beginners and Gentle Pickleball Fellowship Saturdays from 2-4pm in the indoor gym, second floor of the Christian Education (C.E.) Building, beginning January 11, 2025. Equipment is provided. No experience required.

A more serious version of pickleball (slam, lob and dinking battles) takes place Sundays from 1-3pm, also in the indoor gym.

Contact Lucille Yee at lucilleyee@gmail.com or Suzanne Latham at suzlatham3@gmail.com

SERVICE

Ride Coordinator Needed

In seeking to meet the needs of people in our community who cannot - or no longer - can drive to church on Sunday mornings, we are seeking a volunteer Ride Coordinator. The responsibilities consist of finding out who may need a ride to church, what their physical capacity may be and arranging for people to drive them to church.

This task would be done in coordination with the pastoral staff and the Board of Deacons. We’ll start by offering a limited amount of rides, then decide if we need to build our capacity. Contact Don Ashburn at Don@PiedmontChurch.org

WEEKLY REMINDERS

Staying Well While Gathering

Although many of us have begun to travel and widen our social lives in the past months, COVID and other respiratory infections have kept up with us, as you may have noticed in recent months.  We have learned a lot since 2020 about the consequences of these infections, which continue to impact the health of the most vulnerable and those we love.

To keep everyone we love well when gathering, we should take advantage of multiple effective strategies developed since 2020: 1) get updated COVID, influenza, and RSV vaccines that strengthen our individual and community immunity;  2) use rapid home antigen tests that are now free and available again by mail from the USPS; 3) take Paxlovid and other early antiviral treatments to reduce the risk of severe complications; 4) mask to protect yourself and prevent transmission; 5) use proper hand hygiene; and 6) ensure good ventilation wherever you gather.  For more information here are trusted sources:

Updated Vaccines: 

https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html

Free tests:

https://aspr.hhs.gov/COVID-19/Test/Pages/default.aspx

Messenger and Sunday Bulletin Deadlines

The Messenger

Piedmont Church’s online newsletter, The Messenger, is the primary source of communication. The Messenger is published digitally and distributed via email weekly.

Deadline for Messenger articles is 12 noon Monday

Michael Barber edits copy and designs the layout of each Messenger with careful consideration of article placement. Placement is determined based on relevance to the congregation and the wider community. 

Sunday Bulletin

Sunday bulletin and worship announcements are decided by Michael based on Tuesday discussions with Staff and lay leadership.

Print deadline for Sunday Bulletin is 12 noon Tuesday

Church Calendar

All information regarding the church calendar, including event dates, setup times and meetings, should be sent to Jay Foreman at Jay@PiedmontChurch.org

Please consider making an online offering by clicking below, or give while watching Sunday services on our website.