From:                                             Concord Presbyterian Church <concord.margaretob@20526043.mailchimpapp.com>

Sent:                                               Wednesday, December 18, 2024 7:30 PM

To:                                                  concord.margaretob@gmail.com

Subject:                                         Concord Connects - December 19, 2024

 

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concordconnects
  
December 19, 2024
  
Keeping you connected to the life and ministry of 

Concord Presbyterian Church!


Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 22 @ 10:00am

"A Song of Joy!" - Luke 1:46b-55
Pastor Eric Markman preaching

   Join us for the fourth Sunday of Advent as we listen to Mary’s song of joy, also known as the Magnificat. As the birth of Jesus nears, Mary gives voice to all God’s Kingdom seeks for our world. We will be lighting all but the final candle on the Advent Wreath and enjoying the beautiful carols of this sacred season. 

     About the Art: "Magnify" - Hannah Garrity [Inspired by Luke 1:46-55] Acrylic painting on canvas. © a sanctified art/sanctifiedart.orgThe central image in this quilt square design is of Mary’s soul, an abstract and concentric shape that begins to look like an eye. It originates as an outward spiraling abstraction of the soul magnifying God. For Mary’s soul magnifies her creator. In her song, Mary honors her God who
mirrors the life her son will live: lifting up the lowly, filling the hungry, coming to the aid of God’s people, bringing down the powerful, sending the rich away empty, and scattering the proud.
     Mary is on the verge of delivering God’s depth and beauty into the world; God will be embodied by a child. Mary, the earthly mother of our incarnate God, can see it. She can see hope, justice, and right relationships. In the Magnificat, she speaks the way of God into being, just before Jesus is born.

     Join us for IN-PERSON WORSHIP on Sunday at 10:00am; doors open at 9:40am. 

     To join in WORSHIP ONLINE this Sunday, December 22, click on the picture above to go to our Concord website. Near the bottom of the home page, click on the same picture to connect with the worship video. The worship service will be available live at 10:30am Sunday morning or later in the day to view at your convenience.

 

 

 

  • 10:00am: Children worship in the sanctuary with their family.
  • 10:15am: Children may come forward for the Wondering Time or remain in their seats and watch from there.
  • 10:20am-11:00am: Children are invited to leave the sanctuary with the J.A.M. leaders to go to the Sunday School rooms (upstairs hallway) for a time of creative response to the Bible story, prayer, and fellowship.

 

 

  • The Church Office will be closed December 24 through January 1.
  • The Preschool will also be closed December 23-27 and December 30-January 1.
  • In the event of a pastoral emergency, Pastor Eric Markman can be reached at 603-770-3239 or pastoreric@concordpc.org 
  • There will be no Concord Connects Christmas or New Year's. The next issue will be January 8.

 

 

 

 

Prayer List 
 Prayers of condolence for the family of Barbara Wise following the sudden death of her son Jim from San Diego, CA.
Prayers for Kathie Pownall's friend Sue (Lititz, PA) - suffering from terminal cancer.
Kay Jewett's friend's sister Theresa just had open heart surgery for severe mitral valve regurgitation. Doing well but needs our prayers.

A joy that Nancy Tucker's son Ray & family will be visiting for three weeks over the holidays.
Prayers for Wayne Stahl who is at Kutz Home under hospice care. Prayers also for Wayne's brother Gray, facing his own health issues.

Prayers for the following list of people who are in our hearts as they deal with ongoing health struggles - Lexi, Jo Ann, June, Ginnie M., Dan V., Duane, Craig E., Sue, Eileen, Rita & Dawn.
Prayers for peace - in our country, among nations, in our homes, and in our hearts.

*** 
If you would like to add names/needs to this list and our ministry of prayer, please email info@concordpc.org or fill out a "Prayers of the People" card at the Sunday service and hand to a greeter during the offering. 

 

 

This Sunday (Dec. 22) following worship...


 
**NEW ACTIVITY for children, youth and parents**
11am-11:30 am CODE PURPLE HELP
Friendship House has called for Code Purple this Saturday and Sunday (temperatures below 20 degrees putting unhoused folks at risk). Please join us in the Fellowship Hall kitchen after worship to assemble 50 (or more!) PB&J sandwiches. They will be dropped off at First & Central Presbyterian Church at 5:30pm Sunday evening. ( If anyone is available to do the drop off, please let me know.) Thank you for helping us care for our neighbors

 
11:30am-1:00pm Youth Group rehearsal for Christmas Eve and PIZZA
😉
We’ll meet in the sanctuary following sandwich assembly to read and walk through the play, break for lunch, then figure out costumes. See you there!!

 

 

CODE PURPLE HELP
Sunday, December 22

11:00-11:30 am

 
Friendship House has called for Code Purple this Saturday and Sunday (temperatures will be below 20 degrees putting unhoused folks at risk). Please join us in the church kitchen after worship to assemble 50 (or more!) PB&J sandwiches
 
They will need to be dropped off at First & Central Presbyterian Church (1101 N. Market St, across from the Hotel DuPont) at 5:30pm Sunday evening.

** If anyone is available to do the drop off, please let me know!**

 
Thank you for helping us care for our neighbors

 

 

We will receive the Christmas Joy Offering throughout the month of December. 
Give a gift that opens doors.
When we all do a little, it adds up to a lot!
Make checks payable to Concord, memo: Christmas Joy or donate online

 

 

New Flag in the Sanctuary

The Progress Pride flag displayed in our Sanctuary is a visual representation of Concord’s mission to be a welcoming and affirming congregation to the LGBTQIA+ community. In addition to the traditional rainbow colors, the black and brown stripes represent marginalized people of color, as well as those living with HIV/AIDS. The light blue, pink, and white stripes represent the transgender community, reflecting traditional gender colors (pink and blue stripes), as well as those who identify outside the gender binary (white stripe). The chevron (triangular) shape symbolizes forward movement, and its placement along the left edge shows that progress still needs to be made.

 

 


 

 


No Mug & Muffin - Dec. 25, Jan. 1

We will meet again via Zoom on Wed., January 8 from 10:00-11:00am, led by Pastor Eric Markman. To join the Zoom gathering ONLINE, click on this link

 

 

Advent Is the Season of Giving!

     Mission & Congregational Life invites you to take part in this Reverse Advent Calendar activity to benefit our community! Instead of receiving a little daily gift as we count down the days to Christmas, we will give back daily by placing a non-perishable food item in a bag each day at our own homes. 
     Bring your items to church each Sunday in December and place them by the empty manger in the narthex. We will be sharing these gifts with the community by placing them in the Blessing Box outside Concord Church.
     Suggestions: SPAGHETTI SAUCE, dry pasta, canned tuna & chicken, cereal, PB&J, canned fruit & vegetables, canned soup & broth, oatmeal packets, boxed mac & cheese, granola/ protein bars. Smaller containers are best, as the box provides for short-term needs and space inside is limited. (No glass or expired items, please.)

 

 

Contributions for the Flower Fund for Christmas

If you would like to contribute to the Flower Fund for the upcoming holiday season, please make your check for $20/poinsettia payable to Concord Presbyterian Church, memo: “Christmas Flowers.” Place it in a designated envelope in the offering or the Church Office mailbox. Be sure to include a note stating how you wish the acknowledgment to read in the bulletin. Contributing to the grace and beauty of our Christmas decorations is a lovely way to remember or honor a loved one.

 

 

     We are beginning work on a do-it-yourself, updated photo directory.  This Sunday, Dec. 22, Terri Jones & Marj Johnson will be taking photos in the front of the sanctuary during Gathering Time. Stop by before or after snacking to have your picture taken and to update your contact information.
     We will be continuing this process for a number of weeks, so don't worry if you can't make it this Sunday. Watch Concord Connects for future dates. Deacons will also be working on getting current photos of our homebound members. Please don't worry if you're not an "official" church member - if you are part of our Concord Family, we want to include you!

 

 


Share the Spirit!
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

      Women in Guatemala have been marginalized by a very macho culture. They are often the ones left at home when the men go to the US or elsewhere to try and find work. Through microloans, literacy training, and guidance, the New Castle Guatemalan Partnership helps women create their own businesses and support their families. 
     One such project provides young (mostly male) chickens to be raised for meat, not eggs. They grow quickly (about 3 months). The women sell them at market and keep a little for their own family.
     A gift of $250 provides a woman with a starter set of 20 chicks, feed, delivery and training. After three cycles of growing the chicks, the woman returns $125 to a fund to help other women get started and can sustainably continue the business on her own.
     Please make any contribution you wish through Concord (memo Guatemala Chickens) or at https://mailchi.mp/637434c252f3/gift-of-chicks-advent-2024.

      Beautiful gift cards are available on the table in the Sanctuary if you would like to make this donation in someone else’s honor. (A limited number of Delaware Blue Hens are also available during Gathering Time for a donation of $15. Please see Dottie Lund.)

 

 

MARY CIRCLE COOKIE BAKERS

Twenty containers of cookies were put together and delivered on Monday for the various houses of Friendship House. There were also lots for preschool and church staff. Many thanks to all who contributed cookies for the Advent Fest, the Christmas Concert, and Friendship House.

 

 

Thank you for supporting the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware over the years with your pop tab donations at Concord Church and Preschool! As of December 31, 2024, RMHD will no longer be running the Pop Tab Program due to lack of space, decreasing returns, and developing more beneficial fundraising opportunities. Please click on the picture above for more information.

Sunday, December 22 is the last day Concord will receive pop tab donations. If there is a family or individual who would be willing to deliver the pop tabs to RMHD before December 31, please email Christina Pressley at concord.christinap@gmail.com. As always, thank you for your generosity!

 

 

 Concord Photo Gallery

Show us your activities, vacations, special occasions, children or pets being adorable...! If you have photos you'd be willing to share with your Concord family, please send them to Margaret. We'll try to include your photos in Concord Connects as space permits.

 

Ashley lends a hand in the office, getting the candles ready for the Christmas Eve service, as well as making Christmas decorations and jewelry.

 

Margaret O'Boyle's grandson Reid gives his new winter jacket a thumbs up;
fortunately her grandkitty Raja has no thumbs!

 

 


Contact Marj Johnson (marjcj@comcast.net) for more information.

 

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Concord Presbyterian Church

1800 Fairfax Blvd.

Wilmington, DE 19803


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