ABOUT THE SEASON OF ADVENT
Preparing Our Hearts and Our Homes For Christmas

Advent is a season of anticipation and hope.  During these December days we look forward with great excitement to celebrate the birth of Christ.  We also anticipate the final coming of Christ, bringing completion to all of creation at the end of time.  We’re leaning forward during Advent, looking ahead, hoping, anticipating. 

The Advent wreath points our attention forward to Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. (John 8:12)  These December days (in the northern hemisphere) are days of increasing darkness.  The days are shorter and shorter, the nights are longer and longer.  The candles of the Advent wreath bring increasing light as we light another candle each Sunday.  The growing light dispels the growing darkness.

There is much darkness in our world today – violence, poverty, hunger, isolation, fear, greed.  This is the darkness scattered with the Light of Christ.  As we anticipate the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, let us pray for the Light of Christ to chase away the darkness we live with each day, bringing us to full joy as we celebrate Christmas and the birth of our Savior.  And, let us pray for and look forward to that time when Christ will come again, in full and final glory, bringing everything to its completion, wholly dispelling the darkness of this world.

As we light the Advent candles each week, we rejoice – for we walk and live in the light of the Lord, the light no darkness can overcome. (John 1:5)

During Advent, the pastors will be happy to take communion
to homes or hospital rooms upon request.

ADVENT 2011

FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT
Sunday, November 27

8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Services of Worship

• Lighting of Advent Candle
• Holy Communion
• The Reverend Emily Berman D'Andrea, preaching
• Choirs:
  • 8:30 am - Westminster Choir
  • 11:00 am - Chancel Choir
• Fellowship Hours after each service

9:30 a.m. - Alternative Gift Giving between worship services.  The organizations highlighted are Homestretch, Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center, Friends of The Lewinsville, SHARE, and the United Orphanage and Academy in Kenya.

SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT
Sunday, December 4

8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Services of Worship

• Lighting of Advent Candle
• Service of Holy Communion
• The Reverend Deborah McKinley, preaching
• Choirs:
  • 8:30 am - Alleluia Ringers
  • 11:00 am - St. Andrews Ringers
• Fellowship Hours after each service

9:30 a.m. - Alternative Gift Giving between worship services.  The organizations highlighted are Homestretch, Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center, Friends of The Lewinsville, SHARE, and the United Orphanage and Academy in Kenya. - St. Andrews Hall

9:30 a.m. - Fair Trade Fair in St. Andrews Hall.

9:30 a.m. - Youth Breakfast Bar

10:00 a.m. - Preschool "Angel" Breakfast in Fellowship Hall

7:00 p.m. Taizé Contemplative Service of Worship -Chapel

Monday, December 5
7:00 p.m. Presbyterian Women Advent Reflection and Dessert. Rev. Stephany Crosby. Fellowship Hall

THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
Sunday, December 11

8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Services of Worship

• Lighting of Advent Candle
• Rev. Deborah McKinley, preaching
• Choirs:
  • 8:30 am - Jubilate Ringers
  • 11:00 am - Chancel Choir
• Fellowship Hours after each service

9:30 a.m. - Alternative Gift Giving between worship services.  The organizations highlighted are Homestretch, Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center, Friends of The Lewinsville, SHARE, and the United Orphanage and Academy in Kenya. St. Andrews Hall

6:00 p.m. - Youth Christmas Party and Gift Exchange (College students welcome). Prepare Lewinsville Retirement Residence gift bags and stockings.

FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT
Sunday, December 18

8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Services of Worship

• Lighting of Advent Candle
• Service of Advent Lessons and Carols: Prophets and Angels
• Westminster Choir
• Fellowship Hours after each service

9:30 a.m. - Alternative Gift Giving between worship services.  The organizations highlighted are Homestretch, Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center, Friends of The Lewinsville, SHARE, and the United Orphanage and Academy in Kenya. St. Andrews Hall

9:30 a.m. - Annual Holiday Bake Sale. All proceeds will help support the Winter Mission Project in January. Participants will be returning to Hartsville, South Caroline, to work with Darlington County Habitat for Humanity. St. Andrews Hall

9:45 a.m. - Beyond the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Hymns and Carols of Christmas. Intergenerational Christmas Education event led by Betsy Bishop and Ken Weiss.

12:30 p.m. - College Lunch at Rocco's in McLean.

6:00 p.m. - Youth Fellowship. Delivery of Lewinsville Retirement Residence gift bags/stockings as well as game night/brick painting.

Wednesday, December 21

7:30 p.m. - Service of Worship: The Longest Night

• Reverend Deborah McKinley, preaching

CHRISTMAS EVE
Saturday, December 24

4:30 p.m. Family Service of Worship

• Choirs: Joyful Noise/Cherubs/Chimers/Genesis/St. Andrews
• Childcare will be provided from 4:15 until 8:15 p.m. There will be no volunteers in the PS/K room so children ages infant through five years who need care should be dropped off with the ladies in the infant room. For Christmas morning service there will be no care provided in either room and parents are encouraged to bring their children to worship.

7:00 and 9:30 p.m. Candlelight Communion Services
Prelude Music 20 minutes prior to 7:00 and 9:30 p.m. services.

• Rev. Deborah McKinley, preaching
• Childcare will be provided from 4:15 until 8:15 p.m. There will be no volunteers in the PS/K room so children ages infant through five years who need care should be dropped off with the ladies in the infant room. For Christmas morning service there will be no care provided in either room and parents are encouraged to bring their children to worship.
• Choirs:
  • 7:00 - Chancel/Jubilate Ringers
  • 9:30 - Westminster/Alleluia Ringers

CHRISTMAS DAY
Sunday, December 25

11:00 am Service of Worship

• Service of Lessons and Carols

Updated December 8, 2011