Monday, December 8th

9am - Preschool (M-F)

Tuesday, December 9th

8:15am - Men’s Gathering

9:45am - PW Circle 6 meeting

12:30pm - Knitwits & Happy Hookers

7pm - Personnel Committee meeting

Wednesday, December 10th

6:30am - High School Youth Breakfast & Beliefs at Chick-fil-a

5:30pm - Wednesday Night Supper

6pm - 2nd Street Ringers rehearsal

6:15pm- Christmas Cheer Sing Along

6:30pm- Kairos Band rehearsal

7pm - Chancel Choir rehearsal

Thursday, December 11th

9:30am - Art Class

10am - Morning Silence Meditation group

6:30pm - Beyond Belief Meditation group

Friday, December 12th



6:30am - Men’s Bible Study

8pm - Middle School Youth Christmas Lock-in

9:15am - Kairos worship in fellowship hall

10:15am - Faith Formation for all ages

11:15am- Sanctuary worship

12:15pm - Stated Session meeting

12:30pm - Sabbath Soup

Isaiah 35:1-10

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and shouting. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be opened; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp; the grass shall become reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Matthew 11:2-11

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What, then, did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What, then, did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

December 8

 Laura Urruty

December 9

Olivia Broster

Justin Cooper

William McComb

December 10

Sandy Brown

Matt Schrum

December 12

Betty Brindell

Ray Turner

December 13

Lucy East

December 14

Pearson Yount

ANGEL TREE

Thank you to everyone who sponsored a child through our Angel trees. Our church satisfied 124 Christmas wishes which is about 50 more than our usual amount. Thanks for your generosity, FPC!!

ADVENT DEVOTIONALS

We hope you are enjoying our weekday audio devotionals again this December. Thanks to everyone who signed up to share one!

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTERS

Sign up online to light the Advent candles during one of our worship services in Advent. Sign up as an individual or a family.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT ADVENT ACTIVITIES

For the next two weeks, we will have a meal followed by an Advent activity for all ages. This Wednesday, December 10, we’ll gather in the sanctuary for a “Christmas Cheer Sing-Along” (wear something festive), and on the 17th, we’ll have our Live Nativity under the porte-cochère.

POINSETTIAS WITH A PURPOSE

Honor or remember a loved one while helping others. This year, each “poinsettia” is $30 and will benefit the Hickory Soup Kitchen. The due date Is December 15, and the sign-up is on our website.

LONGEST NIGHT SERVICE

We will have our Longest Night Service on Thursday, December 18 at 6:30pm in the fellowship hall. This season can be difficult for many, and this service makes space to name the darkness of the season, to pray for ourselves and our world, and to lift up the hope we have in the coming Light.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES

On Wednesday, December 24, we will have our Family Candlelight service at 4pm in the fellowship hall and our Traditional and Late Candlelight services in the sanctuary at 7pm and 11pm.

STEWARDSHIP SEASON

We invite you to make your pledge for next year as soon as possible. Thank you for your support of FPC!

FPC BOOK CLUB

The book club will discuss The Measure by Nikki Erlick on January 12 and The Wounded Generation: Coming Home After World War II by David Nasaw on March 9. All are welcome to join us!

SIGN UP TO USHER AT FPC

We are currently in need of Sunday morning ushers, especially in our 11:15am Sanctuary service. This volunteer opportunity is a great way to meet people and only requires a friendly smile! More details are online.

FPC PHOTOS

We love pictures of everything going on around the church! Please share any pictures you have or take with beth@hickoryfpc.org

REMOTE LOCKING SYSTEM

We now have a keyless entry system on most of the doors into our main church/administrative building. Please make sure your events at church are on the church calendar to ensure safe access for everyone. Contact Sarah (sarah@hickoryfpc.org) or Beth (beth@hickoryfpc.org) to add anything to the church schedule.

REALM

We invite you to sign up for Realm, our church database that will allow you to have access to our online directory. We would love for everyone to sign up soon to make sure the information we have is correct. Please contact Beth Taylor (beth@hickoryfpc.org) if you need help signing up or have questions.

Church Office: (828) 322-6343

237 2nd St. NW

Hickory, NC 28601