Happy Advent December 2017

News of the Congregation of St. Matthew Presbyterian Church

A Time of Waiting by Leslie Klingensmith "I don't know why it is given to us tobe so mortal and to feel so much. It isa cruel trick - and glorious." Thosewords are from Louise Erdrich's latestnovel titled Future Home of the LivingGod. I'm currently reading the book inpreparation for reviewing it for theEnglewood Review of Books. It's a stunning, thought provokingstory - and the two sentences quoted above took my breath for amoment.

Erdrich is so right, and in two pithysentences she has articulated the pain andthe delight of the human condition. I don'teven want to elaborate on her words, asshe has already expressed it so well. WhatI will say is that as people of faith wehave hope even in our brokenness. We arestarting the season of Advent - the churchnew year. Advent is a time of waiting,expectance, and hope - as we await thebirth of Christ, we remember that hecame to redeem each of us and all of

creation. The biblical promise is that our sorrows will be turnedinto joy and our mourning into dancing. Many of us feel a lot ofsadness - either for our own losses or about the tragedies thatcontinue to pile up in our world. But Advent is an annualstatement of our conviction that the end of the story has notarrived yet, and that when the story ends we will find thefulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy: "The wolf shall live with thelamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the

In This Issue

Stewardship Update

Xmas Orchestra

Alternative Giving

Opportunity to Share

Mary Martha Circle

Thanksgiving Sunday

Mystery Meal

Community Party

Christmas Play

Christmas Pageant

Dec. Liturgists

Columbarium

Food Pantry

lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them." As you read this issue of the newsletter,you will see many opportunities forfellowship, study, worship, and service, allof which can make your Advent andChristmas more meaningful. Let meespecially note a change in the AdventBook Study: It turned out the book I hadoriginally chosen was not available, so wewill have to read it another year. The bookis now Watch for the Light, a collection ofAdvent and Christmas essays by manynoted theologians and authors. Examples of contributors to thebook include Annie Dillard, Thomas Merton, and GustavoGutierrez. We will meet on Thursdays December 7, 14, and 21 atnoon in the Agnes Wilson Room to discuss the readings. Bring alunch and enjoy a time of study and fellowship! I look forwardto moving through this sacred time with each of you.

Advent blessings,Leslie

CONGREGATION NOTES

We Need to Hear From You! by Paul Neal Many thanks if you have already turnedin your pledge card. If youhave an outstanding pledge,please try to let us know assoon as possible yourintentions for 2018.

As of December 1 we are$65,000 short of our goal.Should we not hear fromyou we must count that pledge as $0 for 2018 when creating ourbudget. Just as you plan your household budget, your pledgehelps us plan our path doing God's work.

Please help us to open the doors wider in 2018. Feel free tofill out a pledge card and drop it in the collection plate (there arepledge cards in the pews), turn it in the Narthex, or fill out apledge card on line which goes directly to our FinancialSecretary. Link for St Matthew ONLINE PLEDGE CARD

St. Matthew 2017 Advent

Calendar All St. Matthew programsare open to the community.Come, join us, and bring afriend. For moreinformation, call the churchat 301-598-4400.

Sunday,December 3:FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT 10:00 am: Worship (with child care). Churchschool. This Sunday we willbe celebrating new borns,grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren who havebeen born or adopted in thepast year or are due to beborn soon.

Thank you for your consideration,The Stewardship Committee

Attention Musicians:St. Matthew Christmas Orchestra by Jim Lessig

Next Sunday, December 10, the St. Matthew Christmas Orchestrawill gather to rehearse for its annualChristmas concert. Musicians of allages and skill levels are encouraged toparticipate. If you've ever played aninstrument and would enjoy performing for our congregation,plan to attend the rehearsal and the December 17 performance. Both the rehearsal and the performance will take place followingmorning worship services. See Phil Tarnoff for a copy of themusic if you would like to practice in advance.

Alternative Christmas Market,Sundays, December 3 and 10 by Emma Leffingwell

The Mission Commission issponsoring several opportunitiesduring the Advent season to shareChristmas blessings with ourneighbors nearby and far away. TheAlternative Christmas Market is away for us to buy gifts for families inother parts of the world who are inneed. Catalogs from Church WorldService will be available that show a

range of items from school supplies to chickens to health andhygiene items. You can order items in honor of a familymember or friend and receive an attractive card that you cansend, letting the honoree know you have remembered them.

The market will also collect donations for Extra-OrdinaryBirthdays and Shepherd's Table. This is a wonderful way to getinto the spirit of Christmas and help our neighbors at the sametime. Contact Emma Leffingwell for more information. Therewill be tables in the narthex after church tomorrow and nextSunday, December 10, to accommodate your generosity. Plannow to make Christmas special for someone else!

Remembering, Caring, Sharingby Amy Hartley

You have an opportunity to honor or remember your loved

Thursday, December 7: 12 noon: Pack a lunch andjoin us for the AdultAdvent Study (AgnesWilson Room). Thediscussion is based on thebook Watch For the Light:Readings are Advent andChristmas.

Sunday,December 10:SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

10:00 am: Worship. Withspecial music by the AdultChoir. Church School.

5:00 pm: Mission MysteryMeal: All ages will enjoy afun evening, with allproceeds going to supportour disaster relief missionfund. Wednesday, December 13: 10:30 am: Mary MarthaWomen's Circle Meetingand Christmas Luncheon

Thursday, December 14:12 noon: Pack a lunch andjoin us for the AdultAdvent Study in the AgnesWilson Room. Thediscussion is based on thebook Watch For the Light:Readings are Advent andChristmas.

Saturday,December 16:10:00 am - 12 noon: Community Christmas

ones this Christmas and at the same timeextend the spirit of Christmas to ourneighbors. You can donate $10 per nameto have people acknowledged in theAdvent and Christmas bulletins. Proceedswill be used to buy Target and Giant giftcards for Linkages to Learning families.Contact Amy Hartley for furtherinformation.

Mary Martha Circle Christmas Meeting and Luncheon, Wednesday, December 13 by Millie Ames

The members of the Mary MarthaCircle are hosting a Christmas luncheonon Wednesday December 13. We willgather at Julia McBee's home for ameeting at 10:30 and then lunch at11:30. The women of the Circle willprovide lunch. Other women of thechurch are invited for the 11:30 luncheon.

Contact Julia McBee (301 603-0450) with any questions or ifyou need a ride. Her home is at 5307 Crestedge Lane, Rockville20853. The members of the Circle look forward to sharing thisevent with you.

The Harvest Table in the sanctuary

The Sunday Before Thanksgiving,Sunday, November 19

Party in the Commons. Theday will feature crafts,games, and lightrefreshments.

Sunday,December 17:THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

10:00 am: ChildrenChristmas Play: Looking for Baby Jesus.

11:30 am: ChristmasOrchestra concert (if youplay, or ever have played aninstrument and would like toparticipate, call the office301-598-4400).

4-6:30 pm: Caroling andPizza - Come meet us for pizza before we go caroling.OR, if you prefer, meet us at4:30 to go sing. We'll gatherin The Commons.

Wednesday, December 20: 7:30 pm: The LongestNight Service (The Agnes Wilson Room). Thisservice is designed for thosefor whom theAdvent/Christmas seasonsmay be a difficult time:people who have suffered aloss, who don't enjoy all thepreparation or who feelisolated in the midst of allthe festivities. It is also idealfor people who just want toslow down and experience aworship service focused onprayer and contemplation.

20 diaper baskets were preparedfor the Betty Ann Krahnke Center

Kaspar Kankondo receives hisBible from Pastor Leslie

November 19 was a busy Sunday - even by St. Matthewstandards. A potluck luncheon recognized the ThanksgivingMission Project which generated 20 diaper baskets for theMontgomery County Domestic Violence Shelter, the Betty AnnKrahnke Center. Each basket held disposable diapers, wipes,small toys and baby supplies. The project engaged all ages withlots of help from Church School attendees and teachers.

In addition St. Matthew's 3rd and 4th graders werepresented with their own New Revised Standard Version bible.The children who received bibles were... Hannah Ayuk Grace Kuhlman

Ryann Berry Gabby Lindiere

Declan Gallagher Anya Lynch

Kaspar Kankondo Julianna Thompson

Callum Winter

Thanks to everyone who made this day possible!

YOUTH NOTES by Konni Brantner

Come enjoy a quiet eveningwith friends, reflecting onthe hope we find in thecoming birth of Christ. Thursday, December 21:12 noon: Pack a lunch andjoin us for the AdultAdvent Study in the AgnesWilson Room. Thediscussion is based on thebook Watch For the Light:Readings are Advent andChristmas.

Sunday,December 24:FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

10:00 am: Worship service for all ages.Including the Children'spageant: Trouble, the Angel

7:30 pm: Christmas EveService with candlelightand communion.

Monday, December 25:MERRY CHRISTMAS Sunday,December 31:SEVENTH DAY OFCHRISTMAS10:00 am:Worship and a JointChurch school for all ages

Monday,January 1, 2018:HAPPY NEW YEAR

Sunday, January 7:

Mission Mystery Meal,Sunday, December 10

Mark your calendars for Sundayevening, December 10. You won'twant to miss this! The MissionCommission is sponsoring aChristmas themed mystery dinner(prepared by the St. Matthew youngadults and served by the youth) toraise funds for the Presbyterian Church's Hurricane ReliefProgram. The dinner will be held at 5:00 PM in The Commons - allages are welcome and encouraged to participate. A free willoffering will be collected. Bring your friends, and come on out tocelebrate the season and support a great cause!

Community Christmas Party,Saturday, December 16

Our annual community Christmas party will be onDecember 16. Children (accompanied by an adult) from ourchurch, neighborhood, Harmony Hills, Bel Pre Day Care and the7th Day Adventist congregation will gather in the Commons tocreate Christmas artwork, play some games, and enjoy somelight refreshments.

Plan now to attend - invite your friends and neighbors andcount on having a a great time! Of course, we need lots of helpto make this happen - so please volunteer! Call Konni for moreinformation.

Christmas Play,Sunday, December 17

Worship on Sunday morning,December 17th will include the childrenand youth of St. Matthew presenting anoriginal play entitled Looking for BabyJesus. Come support our talented youngpeople as they help us discover what isreally important during this wonderfulseason of the year.

Christmas Pageant,

6:30 -9:00 pm: YoungAdult Gathering Join us atPastor Leslie's home. Bringyour favorite hors d'oeuvresand games. Join us for anevening of lively discussionand relaxing fun.

Liturgists by Jeanne Meyer

The Liturgists for

December are:

Dec 3 Janet Froom Dec 10 Nell Taylor

Dec 17 Chuck Gonzalez Dec 24 Kit Boyle

Dec 31 Bob Warr

Columbarium by Millie Ames

Some busy bees havebeen seen at work in theColumbarium giving it aseasonal cleanup. Thecommittee has beenweeding, mulching, clippingand transplanting.

New plaques have beenadded to the wall. Officeforms have been reviewedfor corrections.Improvements have beenrecommended. On work daya number of our youth grouploosened and pulled weedscreating a smooth look alongthe walkway. Many thanksto all who have helped.

Sunday, December 24

We are still looking for angels,shepherds and kings... We are recruiting children to bein the Christmas pageant. This yearthe pageant will be held during the10 a.m. service, Sunday, December24th. This requires two rehearsals. It is a very low pressure,casual type of service. Any child three years old or older iswelcomed to participate. Please contact Konni if you areinterested.

Save The Date: Annual Vacation Bible School

June 25 to June 29, 20189:30 am to 12:30 each day.Theme: God's Puzzle

Important Links

Leslie A. Klingensmith, Pastor

301-598-4400

Konni Brantner, Director of

Youth Education 301-871-6275

Jeremy Young, Director of

Music and Organist 301-681-8013

Al Conner, Church Office

Administrative Assistant 301-598-4400

Janet Froom, Bill and Julia McBee,

Annual ReportsAre Due Now

It's that time of yearfolks! All Commission,Committee and BoardTrustee Chairs are remindedthat their 2017 report ofactivities is now due in thechurch office.

If you'd like to have acopy of what you submittedlast year, give Al Conner acall and he will provide youwith an electronic or hardcopy of last year'ssubmission. Your attentionto this matter will be muchappreciated.

Our In-HouseFood Pantry

The cupboard is bare -well almost - and once againwe must appeal to yourgenerosity to help us stockup, particularly at this timeof year when the needs ofthe community increase. We can use just aboutanything. Spaghetti sauce,pasta, canned tuna/salmon,canned meals (ChefBoyardee), corned beefhash, breakfast cereals,Ramen noodles, mac &cheese,jams/preserves/peanutbutter and breakfast cereals.Of course, any donation willbe gratefully received, theprevious list being only ourmost popular items. Donations can bedropped off at the churchoffice. Please pay particularattention to the expiration

Clerk of Session 301-871 -7239

Newsletter Editors301-603-0450

The deadline for the January 2018 newsletter is January 5.

date on the items youcontribute. We cannot giveout anything past itsexpiration date.