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Text Box: “From the Frog Pond”
             We are all completely puzzled by a tiny bundle of humanity laid in a  manger in Bethlehem who is proclaimed as the Word made flesh…Emmanuel…God with us! Yet as Marva Dawn writes, “the more we live with Jesus…we can’t help but agree with the essential conviction that the Messiah was more than an agent sent by God; Christ is the Lord Himself.”
            “The Bible never defines how this inconceivable unity is achieved”, says Dawn. Instead the Scriptures show it to us through their stories. Christ cures a blind man, and he does it by applying his own spit, doing a godly thing in a most earthly way. Christ also dies on a cross for us in a fashion that somehow wins for us our salvation, doing the most human thing in a divine way.
            The Council of Chalcedon struggled with this puzzle in A.D. 451 and came up with the following language, “Christ, Son, Lord, only-begotten, made known in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation…The Lord Jesus Christ…”
            Gregory of Nanzianzus expressed his wonder of the Word made flesh in this way – a way that borders on a creed. 
            “He (Christ) hungered – but fed thousands…He was wearied, but he is the Rest of them that are weary and heavy-laden…He prays but He hears our prayer…He is sold, and very cheap, but he redeems the world and that at a great price, for the price was his own blood.
            As a sheep he is led to the slaughter, but he is the Shepherd of Israel, and now of the whole world also. As a lamb he is silent, yet he is the Word, and is proclaimed by the voice of one crying in the wilderness. He is buried and wounded, but he heals every disease and infirmity…He dies, but gives life, and by his death destroys death.”
            To be sure our modern need to control everything by scientific explanation and our postmodern need to rip away authority that is inexplicable needs to be  exchanged for awe and amazement. We need to bow humbly and bond our lives in submission to the miraculous God-Man, Jesus the Christ, our Savior and Lord.
            The fact that His Incarnation is so unbelievable in a non-believing world makes his claims to be WHO HE IS all the more believable!!
            Stand with me before Him in utter awe and amazement and experience how deep God’s love seeks to run in our veins and in our souls. Never again shall we puzzle over the meaning and the claims of a tiny bundle of humanity laid in a manger called the WORD MADE FLESH…EMMANUEL…GOD WITH US!!
 
                                                  Sincerely yours in Christ,
                                                                                               

 

Volume XIII

 

December 2007                    

 

Clen-Moore Presbyterian ChurchThe Messenger
 

 

 

IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH

Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service  

   Another opportunity to share the love of Christ at a special time is to invite neighbors, friends, acquaintances, co-workers and yes, even strangers to our Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service, , Monday night, December 24 at 7:30 p.m. Clen-Moore choir will present a mini-cantata, SING NOEL, as the prelude to this traditional service, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Please pass the word as you embrace others in the name of Jesus.

December Birthdays
 8  Emily Allshouse
15  Laura Esposito
15  Ben Matas
16  Sarah Duffy
18  Scott Ball
19  Lindsey Litrenta
23  Joshua Marshall
27  Lauren Ritz

 Greeters for December

Dec.   2:  Narthex:  Valerie & Gale Measel
                Circle Drive:  Debbie Book 
            9:  Narthex:  Dave & Sharon Esposito
                 Circle Drive:  Chris & John Karmecy
         16:  Narthex:  John & Carol Caparoula
                Circle Drive:  Bill Morrison
         23:  Narthex:  Ken & Cheri Empfield 
                 Circle Drive:  Tom Rapp
         30:  Narthex:  John & Elaine Meyers
                 Circle Drive:  John Hale

Van Driver For December

Ron Phillips

 

Deacons for December 

Ron Phillips & Jen Conrad

 

Session Hospital Visitation

December   2:  Steve Plyler & Phyllis Tanner 
December   9:  Gail Keffer & Lou Hill
December 16:  Betty Hale & Nancy Book
December 23:  Janice McConnell & Sheryl Shoup
December 30:  Bob Robinson & Tom Mansell

Nursery Schedule

Infant

December    2:  Christy Litrenta
December    9:  Barbara Cox
December  16:  Amy Plyler
December  23:  Susan Duffy
December  30:  Help Needed/Call
 

2/3 Year Olds  & 2nd Hr. Kindergarten

December   2:  Michelle Singer
December   9:  Help Needed/Call Office
December 16:  Help Needed/Call Office
December 23:  Help Needed/Call Office
December 30:  Help Needed/Call Office

            Children’s Worship

…to be announced

A SPECIAL THANK YOU to everyone who made the
 Election Dad Bake Sale a success.  Proceeds to benefit
 activities for students was $190.00

Thank You’s

A big Thank You to Nancy Book, Marilyn Girvan, Betty Hale, Gail Keffer, and Sheryl Shoup for the wonderful reception they organized for Saturday, October 20th for the congregation to meet Chris and Karen Weichman. The buffet table looked beautiful. An additional thank you to all the members who so graciously prepared the delicious trays of fresh fruit, cheese and crackers, and vegetables and dip. It was a nice healthy assortment. Over 100 members and friends of Clen-Moore came to meet our new pastor and his wife. We thank this committee for so lovingly sharing their gift of hospitality.

 

                              God Bless you! The PNC Committee

Our sincere thanks…

-          to all who packed boxes for Operation Christmas Child. We hope you found it to be a heart-warming experience.

-          to those who donated monetary gifts for postage and other Mary Circle mission projects.

-          to Jane Karski, who annually donates tooth brushes and toothpaste for the O.C.C. boxes.

                                      Members of the Mary Circle

Dear Caring Friends:

  Thank you so much for the delicious soup and cookies. I appreciate your kindness and prayers during this difficult time.

       God bless you all, Martha Keighley

 

Dear Caring Friends:

  I want to thank you for the soup and cookies. Also for the lovely visit by Carolyn McCampbell.

                   Sincerely, Iva Carbone

 My deepest gratitude goes out to the Clen-Moore members who came and raked my leaves. Their efforts were very appreciated.

                                         Dan Troxell Sr.

 Blessings From Heaven

   A daughter, NORA ELIZABETH, born 10-30-07 to David & Amy Ball.  

  A son, MAXWELL HAYDEN, born 10-27-07 to Patrick & Susan (Reese) Fisher. Grandparents are Jim & Becky Reese.

A daughter, CALLI SHAWN, born 10-25-07 to Shawn & Tammy (Remaley) Duffee. Grandparents are Richard & Sue Remaley.

 Deaths

We commend to the comfort of the spirit of God: Charles C. Lewis (father of Christopher Lewis), Vincent LaGatta Sr. (father of Louis LaGatta) and William Belknap

The Lord's Supper

 Celebrate the Sacrament of ther Lord's Supper the first Sunday of Advent, December 2. Make this service a great beginning to your Advent Journey of Faith! In particular this year, look around and see someone or another family who does not have a church home. Bring them with you to worship or some other gathering. Seek to introduce them to Jesus through your caring and loving. Enjoy the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ even more by letting someone experience his immeasurable love as well.

Living Through the Labyrinth of Change.

Questions To Ponder From Rev. Meyer’s Sermon, LIVING THROUGH THE LABYRINTH OF CHANGE, this past September 23. Many people requested the list from billboards signed by God…the top 10 in David Letterman style, starting with number 10 and proceeding to number 1. They indicate God’s continuing deep desire to get our attention and lead us through the labyrinth of life.

10. Let’s meet at my house Sunday before the  game…signed God.

 9. What part of “Thou Shalt Not” don’t you  understand?...signed God.

 8. I loved the wedding, invite me to the marriage…signed God.

 7. Keep using my name in vain, and I’ll make rush hour longer…signed God.

 6. Will the road you’re on get you to my place?...signed God.

 5. Big bang theory? You’ve got to be kidding…signed God.

 4. You think it’s hot here?...signed God.

 3. That “Love thy neighbor thing”?; I meant  it…signed God.

 2. Need directions?...signed God

 1. Have you read my No. 1 best seller? There  will be a test…signed God.

Prayer Chain

 Anyone who wants to be a member of the prayer chain or has a prayer request, call June DeEulio (724) 654-3306 or Marge McConnell (724) 654-1377.

 Year End Giving

If God has blessed you this year and you are able to give an additional year-end gift, the church would appreciate it. The generosity will help meet our budget. Thank you for considering this prayerfully.