Quick links and announcements:

• Click here for the calendar.
• Click here for the link for the usher sign up.
• Click here for the history timeline.
• Click here for Advent events.
  

Advent Wednesday Worship

Stop in, breathe deeply, and step away from all the craziness of commercial Christmas with the 7:30 pm worship service each Wednesday during Advent: December 4th, 11th, and 18th.  This Wednesday will feature Trinity Brass.  Hope to see you there. 

Gift Wrapping Fundraiser  to benefit Baclayan Ambulance Boat
Celebrate the Advent season with one less chore in your hectic schedule - have your gifts wrapped at Trinity. A team led by Trinity’s Child Care Supervisor, Nenita Pisigan will offer gift wrapping services with donations accepted to benefit ongoing maintenance of the charitable Baclayan Ambulance Boat (the “Joseph A.” in memory of Joey Abramo) serving 8 villages of Nene’s home island Baclayan Island, Philippines. You are welcome to drop off gifts and pick up the wrapped gifts at times below.  Please make a donation per gift for wrapping services by cash or check to Trinity Presbyterian Church, with note: for ambulance boat. 
Dates:                     Times and Drop Off Location
Dec. 8, Sunday        9:00 to 1 pm (Narthex Table with Alternative Christmas Market
Dec. 15, Sunday      9:00 to 1 pm  ( Education Wing, Table near the Godly Play Rm)
Dec. 22, Sunday    5 to 7:30 pm (Narthex during the Chili/Caroling event)

     Times of Pick Up:
Dec. 8th - by 1 pm
Dec. 15 - by 1 pm
Dec. 22 - by 7:30 pm

      Gift Wrapping Materials:   Bring your own wrapping paper, bows, and tags, OR Pay for choices offered at the wrapping table ($3/gift)

Angel Stars Due Sunday
Please  support "Child of Mine" and "Bridges to Independence" with the Angel Star program.  Please pick up a star in the Narthex stairwell or preschool and place wrapped gifts with the star attached in the Narthex no later than Sunday, December 8th.    Please remember to keep toys and games in the $25 range so that there is not a disparity in what is given to the children. Thank you so much for your generosity in this season of blessing and thanksgiving.  We put up more stars as they are taken, so please check out the boards.   For more information, please contact Casandra Merkel or Sabrina Brassard.

Sign up for Advent wreaths today for Advent Workshop Dec 8th

Make plans to attend Trinity’s Annual Advent Workshop on December 8 in the Narthex from  4-6.m. There will be plenty of craft opportunities for kids, as well as the popular living greens Advent Wreath station.  The cost for the event is a $5 flat fee per family, with an additional charge of $10 for those interested in making the Advent Wreath.  Please sign up in the Narthex (or email the church office) to reserve your Advent wreath supplies.  The workshop is a great way to make some wonderful gifts while getting in the Christmas spirit.  Thank you to the Tabitha and Deborah circles for hosting this Workshop.

Find the perfect gift at the Alternative Christmas Market Dec 8th

On Sunday, December 8th from 8:30-12:30 you will have a wonderful opportunity to purchase gifts that make a difference in the world. Heifer International-where you gift initially helps a family who in turn gives back by providing support to their community, Ten Thousand Villages-where you can purchase crafts and other wares from artisans in developing countries who through this enterprise are provided an opportunity to earn income and provide for their families and communities, Zatoun Olive Oil from Palestine- where we are able to support efforts for Peace in the Middle East, Serving at the Crossroads-offering heath care and hope of a better future at Manos Amigas clinic in La Entrada, Honduras. The Restoration Immigration Legal Aid organization is a new opportunity you can support this year. Gift cards that describe your donation are available for each contribution. Bring your checkbook! Contact Jocelyn Hunn with questions.

Carols and Cookie Exchange on Monday, Dec. 9th

Trinity’s Annual Carols and Cookie Exchange will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary on Monday, Dec. 8th with a Christmas Carol sing-along. The cookie exchange will begin at 8 p.m. Please bring 6 doz. to share and a container to take home your cookies.  All bakers and singers are welcome! Come even if you just want to sing; no baking required! Contact Jocelyn Hunn for more information.

Youth
10:10 this Sunday.  High school retreat this weekend.  Middle schoolers have small groups form 6:30-8pm.  The Whittakers are hosting the girls.  Please email Stuart if you can host the middle school boys.

Adult Advent Education: Starting this Sunday: Christmas Hymns and the Christmas Story

Christmas Hymns 
Every year we sing these wonderful hymns but have you ever stopped to dig a little deeper into their meaning? Have you ever lingered a while on an image to get a better sense of the message that the song is trying to convey?

Join Michelle Edwards this Sunday in the Lewis Room and spend some time in the classic carols, O come, O come, Emmanuel and What Child is this?

The Christmas Story: the one with Jesus in it.
It is the story we hear every year but how much do you remember? How much is tradition and culture? When was the last time you read the stories about Jesus' birth?

Join Ben Stewart this Sunday in the New Mediation Room for the start of a three-week class looking at the first two chapters of Matthew and Luke.

Coat Drive through Sunday

Trinity is collecting new or gently used winter coats for kids (K through 5th grade) at Randolph Elementary School in south Arlington between now and December 8, 2019. This request came from an employee at Randolph who noticed that some students do not have adequate coats for the winter. Please drop the coats in the clear plastic bin in the Narthex, which has a label for Randolph Elementary. You can contact Steve Gillard with any questions.

Little Moments in Advent.

Each Monday Ben is sending out a link to Little Moments in Advent. This page is a little resource that you can use daily during Advent to help you stop, breathe and think. It isn't all serious, it isn't all Bible verses, some are calls to action, some are podcasts to make you think about fun things but hopefully, all of them will help you create some sacred time in your day. Click here.

Christmas Poinsettias

Please click here to fill out a form to honor a loved one with a poinsettia in the sanctuary and Narthex during Christmas. Their name will be listed in the bulletin on December 15, 22nd and on Christmas Eve services.

NEW: Carols and Desserts with our Neighboring Church: Dec 15th

Mark your calendars to sing carols at the LDS church next door at 5:30pm and then come to Trinity for dessert and fellowship at 6:30pm. Make plans to come and enjoy. Please sign up if you can set up, clean up, or bring desserts. Please email Judith if you would like to be involved hosting the event.

Advent Soup Dinner before December 18th Advent Worship
We will offer a light soup dinner before the December 18th Advent worship service. Soup, salad, bread, and dessert will be available from 6-7:15 (ending at 7:15 so we can clean up before service). We are asking for casual RSVPs so we have a general idea of the number of people coming (however, please come even if you have not RSVPd). Please email Courtney if you are pretty sure you are coming.

NEW: Sandwich Making Thursday, December 19th
We will be making sandwiches on Thursday Dec. 19th at 7:30pm for Headstart families in Arlington. Make plans to come on Thursday.  Please note: we will also be making our traditional lunch project on December 26th and distributing them to day laborers as the schools’ needs are met at that time. We need your help! Please plan to come make sandwiches. Please email Laura McDonald if you can deliver sandwiches on the 20th before 11am and on the 26th upon completion of the sandwich making (which is usually around 11 as well). We also need supplies and will have a sign up genius for those items.

Chile, Caroling, and the "Living Nativity" December 22nd
The annual youth interpretation of the Living Nativity will take place on Sunday, December 22nd. The evening begins with all carolers meeting in the Narthex at 5 pm to head out in the neighborhood to sing .Lyric sheets are provided, so come sing even if you only know the chorus to Jingle Bells. A delicious chili supper hosted by Sarah circle will follow in Fellowship Hall at 6pm (see below). The youth production of the Living Nativity, a unique interpretation of the Christmas story, is in the Sanctuary at 7 p.m. 

Belize Mission Trip — Need Adults to Sign Up Early
Doug Gardner has agreed to organize next year’s Belize Mission Trip, but only if a cadre of adults sign up for the trip before the middle of January.  With Doug heading off in an RV early next year, we will need several people at TPC to help with organizing, planning, recruiting, and fundraising.  The trip is tentatively scheduled for June 27th - July 5th, 2020.  Doug is planning to attend the trip and will be available to make sure the accommodations and logistics are in place for the trip.  If you have any questions or want to know more about what’s required to support the preparations for the trip, please contact Doug at 571-230-7700 or douggardner@alumni.rice.edu.