Dawn Draws Near
Advent & Christmastide @ FPCH
Advent Devotionals
Prepare your hearts and minds for Christ's arrival with the help of these resources specially crafted and chosen just for you!
How Does a Weary World Rejoice?
For our adults, our Christian Education Team has selected a devotional created by the pastor-artists at A Sanctified Art, LLC who also create the artwork that we use each week in worship. From their creative team: "This devotional is designed to help you practice joy in a weary world. Each week offers art, reflections, poetry, and hymns. Beginning with the start of Advent and concluding with Baptism of the Lord Sunday, journey through these pages at your own pace." Click here to request your copy now!
Advent Calendar
This year our Christian Education Team has selected a simple and fun resource that children and parents alike will love as you count down the days to Christmas together! From the creative team at Illustrated Ministry: "An Illustrated Advent Calendar provides you, your family, and/or your community with twenty-five activities to enjoy together. These activities will help get you into the Advent and Christmas spirit. Each calendar comes with a black-and-white copy as well as a full-color version. You may want to print out the full-color version for a fun and colorful display in your home during Advent. Or you may want to print out the black-and-white version and color in the shapes as you complete each activity." Click here to request your copy now!
Sunday, December 3
Crafts & fun for kids from one to ninety-two!!!
5:30 p.m.
Smith Hall
The Sundays of Advent
My heart shall sing of the day you bring...
wipe away all tears for the dawn draws near
and the world is about to turn!
Advent I:
What a Morning
Sunday, December 3
Mark 13:24-37
Isaiah 64:1-8
Artwork: "Make Your Face Shine"
by Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity
Advent II:
That One
Sunday, December 10
Isaiah 40:1-11
Mark 1:1-8
Artwork: "Comfort, O Comfort"
by Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman
Advent III:
Nativity Play
Sunday, December 17
Artwork: "What Wonder Turns Into"
by Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity
Advent IV:
Jacob's Gift
Sunday, December 24
Artwork: "Prophecy"
by Hannah Garrity
Christmas Concert Series
Sounds of the Season thronging the air...
Altoona Brass Collective
Saturday,
December 9
7:00 p.m.
Fantazia & the Chamber Strings
Tuesday,
December 19
7:00 p.m.
Then woe is me, poor child for thee,
and ever mourn and say,
for thy parting, neither say nor sing,
by, by, lully, lullay...
Blue Christmas Worship
Wednesday, December 13
7:00 p.m.
A very special worship service for everyone who needs a break from the mad rush of the holiday season. This service of healing and wholeness also gives space for those who may find that this season is not necessarily “the most wonderful time of the year” and who look for the peace the child of Bethlehem offers even in the most challenging of times.
Artwork: "Watercourses"
By Hannah Garrity
Children's Nativity Play
Experience the wonder of the journey to Bethlehem through the eyes of our children and youth!
Sunday, December 17
10:00 a.m.
Christmas Eve Worship
Candlelight Lessons & Carols
7:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m.
Christmas Joy Gift
Each year during the Advent and Christmas season, we turn our eyes to Bethlehem and celebrate the wondrous gift of Jesus Christ, our Savior. God has blessed the Church with incredible leadership in every time and place, but those leaders often need to be supported by their communities as well. By giving to the Christmas Joy Offering, you honor God's gift of Jesus Christ by providing assistance to current and retired church workers in their time of need and developing our future leaders at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color. We will take the Christmas Joy Gift Offering on Christmas Eve Night at both worship services.