CHURCH COMMUNITY NEWS

1. What We’re Doing This Month:

This is the season of Advent when we wait with great expectation for the birth of Jesus. At this time we celebrate the miracle of Incarnation and God’s love for us all, expressed by being with us in human form. Our series this year is called “Peace on Earth”, and we will be celebrating the peace and wholeness of life that Christ brings to us. We will be celebrating the incarnation through valuing people more than things, letting go of anxiety that the holidays can often bring and by loving others through simple acts of service. In fact on Sunday, December 11, we will hold an Advent Day of Service with just one brief worship service for all ages at 10AM, and then we’ll all go out to serve on projects in our community.

Each Sunday during Advent, we will also provide a single page of Advent Reflections for that week. These can be collected from the Information Desk in the church commons. These simple reflections are ideal for families or groups of people and each week include devotional Christmas readings, prayers, lighting of the advent candle and suggestions for service.

On Christmas Eve we will have one special candle-lit service at 5PM. This will last one hour and will be suitable for all ages, so bring along family and friends as we celebrate the birth of Christ together. At the end of the service there will be Christmas boxes full of edible treats to deliver to people who have to work on Christmas Eve. These boxes will be prepared by our children on Sunday, December 18, and are a simple way for us to share God’s love with others. Think of hospitals, fire stations, police stations, restaurants and stores that you pass on the way home and bring a little of God’s light into someone’s Christmas.

There will be no services on Sunday, December 25, but there will be special Advent Reflections available to help everyone hold a simple service in their own home with family and friends.

May this be a season of love, joy and peace for everyone as we celebrate the magic and mystery of Christmas!

2. Sunday Morning Book Discussion Group

Sunday Morning Discussion of Eugene Peterson’s Living the Resurrection: The Risen Christ in Everyday Life begins Sunday, December 4, in the barn from 9–10:30AM. Questions?  Contact Fred Morse or Jim Paraboschi.

3. Christmas Tree Pickup

Please remember to pick up your pre-ordered Christmas Trees outside the old house after the 9 and 11AM services on Sunday, December 4.

4. Advent Reflections

During the “Peace on Earth” series our whole community (adults, children and teenagers) will be looking at how we can bring God’s peace, love and light into the lives of other people; we hope this will lead to lots of conversations at home about Advent and the arrival of Jesus. Each Sunday during Advent we will be producing a new Advent Reflections: readings, questions and suggestions for action that are suitable for families, friends and groups to discuss at home together. It will be available at the Welcome Desk in the commons and on the website.

5. Advent

• Advent Coffeehouse

On Friday, December 2, we will be celebrating the beginning of the holiday season with music, coffee, and food.  The whole evening will have a special focus on Guatemala. Bring a special homemade creation to share with others. Please be sure to bring your dessert in its own dish (to reduce waste) and take it with you when you leave. Consider making a donation if you are unable to bring a dessert.

• Sing in the Cedar Ridge Choir this Christmas

We are calling for volunteers to join in with the Music Team this year as members of Cedar Ridge's developmental choir. We plan to have three rehearsals (December 6, and 13) and sing December 18 and 24 (two services on December 18 and one service on December 24). All are welcome to join in!! This is a great opportunity to do something with your children, family and other Cedar Ridgers and get into the Christmas Spirit. In addition, this Christmas group will continue to meet after the holidays - for those interested - as a developing addition to Cedar Ridge's Music team. Please contact Tommy Tavenner and/or Alfia Robinson for more information or to simply sign up.

• Christmas Eve Outreach Boxes

Each year at the Christmas Eve services everyone takes a Christmas box of goodies to give to someone they pass on their way home. We stop off at gas stations, hospitals, fire stations, restaurants, etc. to show God’s love to anyone who has to work on Christmas Eve. On Sundays,  December 4, and December 11, you can drop off donations for these boxes at the table in the commons; our children will pack these boxes on Sunday, December 18, ready for Christmas Eve distribution. Please check our website or get a list of required items from the table in the commons.

• Sunday, December 11: Advent Day of Service

One single service at 10AM for all ages. We will gather to sing and pray and then go out together in groups to serve our local community on various projects. This year we will not be returning for lunch so as to give more flexibility and time for the service projects (we’ll share stories together the following Sunday). If you are in a discipleship group, think about how you could serve in your own neighborhood. There will be projects for individuals, groups and all ages. Don’t miss this wonderful Advent experience. Contact Matthew Dyer if you would like to help lead or coordinate a service project.

• Holiday Services at Cedar Ridge

Christmas and New Year’s fall on a weekend this year so our traditional holiday schedule for services will be slightly different:

• Christmas Eve: one candlelit service for everyone at 5PM on Saturday, December 24. We’ll sing carols, light candles and give away our Christmas boxes on our way home as we celebrate the birth of Christ
• Christmas Day: no services on Sunday, December 25, in light of the service the previous day
• New Year’s Day: service for all ages together at 10AM on Sunday, January 1

GETTING CONNECTED: OPPORTUNITIES TO LIVE, LEARN, AND GROW WITH CEDAR RIDGE

6. Prayer Practice on Thursday, December 15

The third Thursday of each month is an opportunity to take time to ease life’s stress. We engage in different methods of prayer that help us to be more deeply aware of God in our lives. Everyone is invited.

GETTING INVOLVED: MEETING NEEDS IN OUR CHURCH, COMMUNITY, AND WORLD

7. Opportunities to Serve

Children's Ministry:  We're currently looking to fill a few openings in our winter schedule. Please contact Bryan Peterson if you're interested in learning more.

Property Workdays: Every other Saturday (December 3 and 17) from 8AM-noon. Contact Mark Hartley to join us.

Greeters: Greet and meet people (one or more times a month) as they arrive for church on Sunday mornings. Contact Kirk Hoffman for more information.

POSTSCRIPT 

Contact Information
Cedar Ridge Community Church
2410 Spencerville Road, Spencerville, MD 20868
Phone: 301-384-7444

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