December 2013

PASADENA COVENANT CHURCH

Christmas Eve Service

Take time to quiet and prepare yourself. Come join us for our Christmas Eve service, Tuesday, December 24th at 5:00 pm, in the sanctuary. Its a time to celebrate together as a church the coming of the Christ child, the Word made flesh, the light of the world, Immanuel, God with us.

Sunday, December 15th, at 6:30 pm in the sanctuary

Come and enjoy this Amazing Christmas program. It involves more than 50 members of our Pasadena Covenant family who share with us their musical, artistic and other gifts, as writers, Childrens Choir, Miriam Singers, Cast, Crew, set designer, technical support and musicians. This Christmas story is told through the eyes of the Innkeeper and his granddaughter as they reflect together about the most amazing night at the inn.

Page 2

Sunday Morning Happenings For Adults at 9:00 am

Couriers
Repeated Exposure to Gods Word will enrich and change your life. In-depth Bible Study Sundays at 9:00 am in the Fireside Room, Gym building. John Wipf, teacher; Marilyn Hanks, facilitator. Coffee and good fellowship. For further information contact Marilyn Hanks (626) 7913782.

Companions in Christ
Our adult Companions in Christ group meets at 10:30 am Sundays in the room located upstairs off the west side of the balcony. We will be discussing the sermon and Scripture passage, and praying for one another. Newcomers are welcome. For more information, contact Lisa Leeger at bd1431@pmbx.net.

Life Together
We meet on Sunday mornings, at 9:00 am in the Corner House. We are reading An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor. We welcome visitors and look forward to all that God will stir up in us this new year! If you have any questions, please contact Anita Sorenson at anitasor@pacbell.net.

Closing Out the Year Financially

Bottom-line for me this year as Ive monitored our giving throughout the year is that Ive said to myself more than once, I didnt expect that! First of all, early in the year we were uncharacteristically lagging way behind in giving. (Whoops, oh no!) Then in early summer and for the next few months we strongly re-bounded to be ahead of our budget. (Wow, I cant believe this!) Typically summer is where we can fall way behind, so I was doubly amazed at Gods provision. Then even more gifts continued to flow in this fall, keeping us ahead of our budget until recently. (Ok, God, this is amazing!) My sense in all this is a huge Thanksgiving. So the good news is that we dont have the huge make-up in giving that we typically need to do in December, but on the other hand, we need to give strongly to finish out the year in the black. But its not just finishing in the black though that we need to do. As we prepare for the 2014 budget, we need to realize a sense of commitment to the ministries of Pasadena Covenant and see an encouragement to sustain our growth. Thank you for taking time to discern with God how you can support the ministries of Pasadena Covenant. - Jim Tyberg, Executive Pastor

Page 3 5

Womens Book Club

The annual Koinonia Christmas Party will be at the home of Ed and Carol Corser (14 Hidden Valley Rd., Monrovia) on Saturday, December 14th at 5:30 pm. To coordinate your potluck item, and for more information, please contact Judy Pruitt at dapruitt@earthlink.net. The Womens Book club will meet from 7:309:00 pm, Tuesday, December 10th at Dorothy Patzias home (2380 Cooley Place, Pasadena, 91104) for our annual Christmas reading and Cookie Exchange. Please bring a poem, story, or childrens book to read aloud and Christmas cookies to share. (Note the change of date). If you have questions, please contact Jennifer

Mawhorter at jmawhorter@pomona.edu. Greeters and Ushers are needed to serve at the 9:00 am and 10:30 am services. Adults, teens, male and female volunteers are welcome. Greeters are at the Kiosk (Welcome) table with the red umbrella to welcome all. Ushers need to hand out bulletins and give a warm welcoming smile. If you can serve, please contact Cindy Moseley at cam90546@yahoo.com.
The Mens Book Club will meet at the Corner House on Thursday, December 12th, at 7:30 pm. We will discuss The Cellist of Sarejevo, by Steven Galloway, a story about finding ones humanity and moral center against the horrors of the siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s. We are continuing to select titles for 2014. Please bring a title that interests you or send it by email. For more information, contact Tom Andrews at thomasfandrews@gmail.com or Rich Doyle at DoyleRJRB@aol.com. Sarah Circle will not meet this month, but will resume meeting on January 21st, 2014. For more info, contact Julie Maljian at (818) 790-5911. The Peace & Justice team invites you to join us at our Monday, January 6th meeting at 6:45 pm in the Santa Barbara Room . For

Upcoming Trustee Meeting

Monday, December 16th, 2013 7:00 pm, Corner House

more info, contact Mindie Moore at mmoore@pasadenacovenant.org.

Page 4

Sunday Morning Classes

9:00 am Classes
Infants from 0 - 35 months meet in the nursery Children 3-5 years old meet in the downstairs preschool room Children in 1st-3rd grades meet on the 2nd floor of the gym building, in the Club room Children in 4th-5th grades join in the Edge program that meets in the Edge room on the 2nd floor of the gym building

10:30 am Classes
Infants from 0 - 23 months meet in the nursery Children 2 -3 years old meet at 10:30, just off the courtyard behind the sanctuary. Children 4-5 years old begin in worship at 10:30 am, with their parents, and are dismissed around 10:50 to go to their PreK/K class, upstairs in the building just off the courtyard behind the sanctuary. Children in 1st - 5th grades being in worship at 10:30 am, with their parents, and are dismissed around 10:50 to go to Club 125 (2nd floor of the gym building), except for the first Sunday of each month when they are invited to remain in the service with their parents.

PCC Kids Ministry Need

Do you have any Christian picture books geared toward 3-6 year olds that your kids have outgrown? Or do you have any matchbox cars that your kids wouldnt mind sharing with young friends from church? Our growing preschool ministry would greatly appreciate any donations in good condition! You can leave donations in the PreK/K room or give them directly to Brittany Burian. Thank you!

PCC Kids Ministry Christmas Shoebox Project

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Samaritans Purse International Relief Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Project. We collected 63 shoeboxes that will be sent to children in war-torn countries, refugee camps, and in developing nations.

Page 5

Advent Brunch
We has a wonderful time at the Advent Brunch. We shared food that the youth and their parents prepared (as a fundraiser for youth scholarships), as well as a family craft and devotional.

Page 6

Advent Brunch (cont.)

Page 7

Weekly Programs
Sunday Mornings, 9am 10:15am
Our Sunday morning time, Oikas, meets at 9:00 am in the youth room. Then all can attend the 10:30 a.m. worship service.

The Hub
Every Sunday, from 9:45am-10:45am, and immediately following the second service, The Hub will be open in the courtyard (or gym) for students to grab a drink and a doughnut, touch base with adult leaders, and even register for events! This way, no matter what service students attend/serve during, there will always be a home base for PCSM on Sunday mornings.

Selah: Wednesday Night Worship & Small Groups, 6:30pm 8:30am

Selah is a great starting point for plugging into PCSM! Selah is a word that is used throughout the book of Psalms to remind us to Pause or Stop and listen and thats exactly what we want to do on Wednesday nights! At Selah we take a break from our busy week to play crazy games, worship though song, and get to know each other on a deeper level in gender and age specific small groups.

Upcoming Events
Winter Camps: Middle School, January 10th - 12th; High School, February 21st - 23rd (Registration deadline for both camps is Dec. 16th)
All the information about price, this years theme, and registration can be found at pasadenacovenant.smartevents.com! Registration for both camps close December 16th and space is limited!

PCSM Christmas Party: December 18, 6:30-9pm in the Youth Room, $2 for dinner and bring a White Elephant Gift
Join us for a very special Christmas Party! Wear an ugly Christmas sweater, bring a hilarious White elephant Gift, and get ready to enjoy a delicious dinner together as a group!

Pasadena Covenant Church 539 North Lake Avenue Pasadena, California, 91101-1217 Return Service Requested

Page 8

December 2013
1 Sunday 9:00 a.m. Classes for all ages 9:00 a.m. Worship Service 9:00 a.m. Family Advent Bruch 10:30 a.m. Worship Service 12:00 p.m. Miriam Singers 2 Monday 3 Tuesday 4 Wednesday 5:45 p.m. Childrens Choir 6:30 p.m. Selah (PCSM) 5 Thursday 6 Friday 7 Saturday 8 Sunday 9:00 a.m. Classes for all ages 9:00 a.m. Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Worship Service 12:00 p.m. Miriam Singers 9 Monday 10 Tuesday 7:30 p.m. Womens Book Club 11 Wednesday 5:45 p.m. Childrens Choir 6:30 p.m. Selah (PCSM) 12 Thursday 7:00 p.m. Mens Book Club 7:00 p.m. 13 Friday 14 Saturday 6:00 p.m. 15 Sunday 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Cross-Cultural Team Meeting 24 Tuesday Offices close at 12:00 noon 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service 25 Wednesday CHRISTMAS DAY Koinonia Christmas Party Offices closed 26 Thursday Classes for all ages 27 Friday Worship Service 28 Saturday Worship Service 29 Sunday Miriam Singers 9:00 a.m. Classes for all ages Amazing: The Christmas 10:30 a.m. Worship Service Story in Word, Art 12:00 p.m. Miriam Singers and Song 30 Monday 16 Monday 31 Tuesday New Years Eve; Offices close 7:00 p.m. Trustee Meeting at 12:00 noon 17 Tuesday 18 Wednesday 5:45 p.m. Childrens Choir 6:30 p.m. PCSM Christmas Party 19 Thursday 20 Friday 21 Saturday 22 Sunday 9:00 a.m. Classes for all ages 9:00 a.m. Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Worship Service 12:00 p.m. Miriam Singers 23 Monday