Cherry Tree Alliance Church

640 Cherry Tree Lane Uniontown, PA 15401

(724) 437-6850

email: ctallch@verizon.net website: www.cherrytreealliance.org

Exalting Jesus Christ!

Please turn off all pagers, cell phones and other electronic devices, or switch to silent alert.

December 21, 2014 10:00 AM

WINTER SCHEDULE

SUNDAY SERVICES 9:00 AM Sunday School

10:00 AM Worship Service

WEDNESDAY ACTIVITIES 11:00 AM Morning Prayer Time

6:15 PM AWANA 6:15 PM Women’s Small Group

6:15 PM Youth Group

Today’s Message:

A Character Study for the Christmas Season and Beyond

Shepherds: Audience of the Drama of the First Christmas

A Message from Luke 2:8-20

Speaker: Rev. Stan Sanger

GIVING

Operating Fund Giving for December: $10,534

(Amount needed monthly: $22,352) Last Week’s Great Commission Giving: $279

LAST WEEK’S ATTENDANCE 9:00 AM Sunday School: 35

10:00 AM Worship Service: 132 10:00 AM Children’s Classes: 45 Total 10:00 AM Attendance: 177

WELCOME ON THIS 4th

SUNDAY IN ADVENT

As we celebrate the Advent or “coming” of Jesus Christ,

we light the fourth candle of the Advent Wreath on this fourth

Sunday of Advent. This candle represents the shepherds.

As the children’s story is shared we will be reminded that on the night of Jesus’ birth there were

shepherds living out in the fields nearby (Luke 2:8).

This Sunday we will also be blessed with the Children’s Christmas Program. Jesus, indeed, does love the little

children. He knows all about what it is to be a child. He grew

up and faced the challenges and the joys of childhood.

Let’s thank God for our children and youth! They are a vital part of our congregation. They are

the future of the Church that our Savior, Christ the Lord,

is building.

The shepherds heard the Good News of Christ’s birth. They went to the manger to experience Him. They left

glorifying and praising God (Luke 2:20).

May we do the same! Enter into the sanctuary of His presence, experience the joy of the Lord, and leave as His witnesses to a world that needs to experience

the glory and praise of God.

10:00 AM

WORSHIP SERVICE

December 21, 2014

Welcome and Announcements

Prayer of Invocation

Mary’s Boy Child

Friendship Greeting

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

Children’s Christmas Program

Lighting of Advent Candle / Children’s Story

(Kids are dismissed to Children’s Church)

Offertory Prayer

Giving of Tithes & Offerings Special Music by

Bob & Deana Dennis

Pastoral Prayer

Message: Shepherds: Audience of the Drama of the First Christmas

Prayer of Commitment

Benediction

Prayer of the Day

THIS WEEK

Dec. 30 7:30 AM Men’s Breakfast at Eat‘n Park Youth Lock-In Jan. 1 New Year’s Day Jan. 3 Quiz Meet at Norwin

COMING EVENTS

Tues. 7:30 AM Men’s Breakfast at Eat‘n Park Wed. Christmas Eve 6:30 PM Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Thurs. Christmas Day

Pray that many will choose to receive the Best Gift this Christmas and will invite Jesus into their lives as their

Lord and Savior.

Looking for a Christmas gift idea…? Let us help! We will be selling some “leftover” Scrip cards this Christmas,

with all Scrip rewards going to support our short-term missions team’s upcoming trip to Ecuador. Below is a list of the cards we

have in stock (we have one of each unless otherwise noted). If you’d like to purchase a card as a Christmas gift for a loved one

or just as a treat for yourself, please stop by the church office following the worship service today where Andrea Taylor will be

selling the cards. American Eagle, $25 KFC, $5 (3 available)

Bruegger’s Bagels, $10 Kohls, $25 (3 available) Family Christian Stores, $25 Payless Shoes, $20 (2 available)

Our Faith Promises Faith Promise commitments to The Great Commission Fund

supporting our C&MA missionaries so far have come to $7,660 for 2015. Extra cards are available on the literature table.

Sermon Notes

Pastor Stan Sanger December 21, 2014

A Character Study for the Christmas Season and Beyond

Shepherds: Audience of the Drama of the First Christmas

Text: Luke 2:8-20 (Page 1591, Pew Bible)

Introduction: Nothing of importance happened today.

- Diary entry of a Frenchman on July 14, 1789

1. The way of life of the shepherds (Luke 2:8) 2. The watchfulness of the shepherds (Luke 2:9-14)

3. The witness of the shepherds (Luke 2:15-20) What do we learn from shepherds that should impact our way of life? Conclusion: On whom should you focus your prayers for conversion and your witness for Christ over the next year?

The Good Shepherd

Christmas Poinsettias 2014

In Memory Of Given By Joseph & Pearl Bala (parents) Louis & Sylvia Goodwin Elmer & Clara Balza (parents) Stan & Cheryl Sanger Julius Barbai The Barbai Family Walter & Melva Bauer Marnie Williams Mr. & Mrs. BC Bell Ted & Sharon Genovese Sam & Bernice Carr The Carr Family Charles Forcheck (husband) Harriet Forcheck Mildred & Clyde Fuller (parents of Lil) Lillian & Bob Thomas Mr. & Mrs. Ted Genovese, Sr. Ted & Sharon Genovese Edger & Francis Goodwin (parents) Louis & Sylvia Goodwin Barbara J. Gordon Brenda Fike & Kenneth Gordon Alvin Kizina Ted & Sharon Genovese Doris Koncheck Karl & Christopher Koncheck, Thelma Lane, & Marlene Seighman Mr. & Mrs. RJ Lance Ted & Sharon Genovese Josie Miller & son, Michael Ted & Sharon Genovese Wilbur & Evelyn Sanger (parents) Stan & Cheryl Sanger Kraig D. Sholtz Andrew Sholtz Family Burton E. & Betty Tarr Jill King Elmer Thomas Joe Thomas Elmer Thomas, Jr. Joe Thomas Mary Thomas Joe Thomas Robert Thomas Joe Thomas Ken & Dorothy Trimble Trimble, Rockwell, & Coffman Families Chuck Wolfe, Jr. Chuck, Christy & Eli Wolfe

In Honor Of Given By Ovada Barbai The Barbai Family Alex & Jen Genovese Ted & Sharon Genovese Brenna, Ethan, & Elliot Genovese Ted & Sharon Genovese Lisa & Vin Genovese Ted & Sharon Genovese Ted Genovese Ted & Sharon Genovese

Please pick up your poinsettia(s) following the Christmas Eve service or anytime after that, including Sunday, December 28th.

C&MA Year-End Offering Please prayerfully consider this special offering to support ministry

to areas being regularly highlighted in the international news. Please see the “We Are There” pamphlets on the welcome table

in the foyer for more details.

Christmas Card Exchange Are you planning to send Christmas cards to your friends who attend our church? If so, please feel free to save a few stamps by dropping

off your cards for your church friends in the plastic boxes on the table in the foyer. Please sort your cards by the first letter of the recipients’

last names and place them in the appropriate folders in the boxes. Please be sure to check the boxes yourself periodically to see if

there are any cards waiting for you!

Interested in Offering a Ride to Church? A woman living in the Marshall Manor High Rise in Uniontown is looking for transportation on Sunday

mornings to attend worship services at Cherry Tree Alliance. If you might be interested in helping out,

please call the church office at 724-437-6850.

Christmas & Christmas Eve Offerings Please note that all monies collected in this year’s

Christmas offering will be given to the Center of Hope crisis pregnancy center in Uniontown. All money

received through the offering in your colored “Christmas” envelopes along with those clearly labeled

“Christmas offering” will go to support this cause.

We would also like to announce that all monies given at our Christmas Eve service will go to support our other local crisis

pregnancy center, Alternatives.Yes, located in Connellsville.

New Offering Envelopes Offering Envelopes for 2015 are now available on the table in the foyer. If you do not see a set prepared for you and you would like one, please contact Andrea in the church office. Thank you!

We will be holding our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service,

A Celebration of the Christmas Story

with Scripture & Song

on Wednesday, December 24th

at 6:30 PM

Please join us for a time of worship to celebrate our Savior’s birth!

Missions Trip Meeting - TODAY For those who are planning to attend the short-term

missions trip to Ecuador: please note that there will be a meeting today immediately following the worship service. Please see Kristy & Jason Clements with any questions.

We hope you enjoy our special Children’s Christmas Program this morning as we celebrate our Savior’s birth! A huge thank-you to Lori Page for organizing & directing

this presentation! Many thanks also to those who assisted her with the rehearsals & performance!

We want to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas! It is a joy to serve with you at Cherry Tree Alliance Church. May your celebration of Christmas at church and home bring

peace to your heart and glory to God. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.

(Luke 2:14)

~ Pastor Stan & Cheryl ~ Pastor Travis & Judy, Evangelina, Micah, & Josiah

~ Worship Director John & Lorie

~ Administrative Assistant Andrea & Bryson

Christmas Card Box Don’t forget to check out the

Christmas card box in the foyer to see if you might have some cards

waiting for you!

Special Music Next Sunday We are happy to announce that next Sunday, December 28th, the music in our worship service will be led by our youth band.

We are looking forward to joining them in praising the Lord in song!

Please note that the church office will be closed Wednesday, December 24th through Friday, December 26th in observance

of Christmas. Thank you!