Sunday, December 7 is the second Sunday of Advent. 

Every week of Advent we will post a devotional here.  I hope you find this helpful for you and your family.  Pass along word to your family and friends.  God bless you this Advent season.

Week 2 - This week we light the second purple (or blue) candle on the Advent wreath.
“We light this candle in peace; Jesus is our peace.”

Questions:
When you think of the word peace, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
What would it mean for the world to have peace?
What would it mean for you to have peace?

Scripture:
Isaiah 40:1-11
“Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. 
“A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. 
“Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.”

Discussion:
What does this passage have to do with peace?
Isaiah writes, “Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins…Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.”
What might these words mean?
What would it be like to receive this promised comfort from God?
How can you bring this comfort to those around you?

Activity:
Sometime before Sunday, write down a list of those in your life who need comfort (don’t forget to include yourself in this list).  Consider how you might be someone who brings comfort and peace to these people.  How can your family work together toward peace? 
Find a service project to participate in that brings comfort and peace to those in need.

Christmas Benevolence:
Christmas Benevolence needs a lot of help!  This week, there are opportunities to shop with some of those who will benefit from Christmas Benevolence.  In addition, we need people to help with Turkey Drop off on Sunday morning.  Click here for a full calendar

Amahl and the Night Visitors - special presentation this coming Sunday, December 7 at 6 p.m.  Please plan on coming for this amazing event.  Amahl features Kurt Green, Ben Johnston and the Youth Ensemble at Second as well as Mitzi Westra, David Mannell, Kevin Trager, Haward Baetzhold,  and the Beecher Singers.

Sunday, November 30 is the first Sunday of the Advent season. 

Every week of Advent we will post a devotional here.  I hope you find this helpful for you and your family.  Pass along word to your family and friends.  God bless you this Advent season.

Week 1 - Today we light the first purple (or the blue) candle in the Advent wreath.

“We light this candle in hope, bright hope; Jesus is our hope!”

Questions:
Who do you think of when you think of a hopeful person?
In this world, where can we find hope?
For what do you hope?

Scripture:
Isaiah 64:1-5
“O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence—as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed.”

Discussion:
What does this passage have to do with hope?
Isaiah writes, ”O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence—as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence!”
What do you think these words mean?  Does this relate to hope?  What do you wish God would do?

Activity:
Sometime this week, write down a list of your hopes for yourself, for your family, for our world.  Share these with another member of your family.  Then consider ways that you and your family might work together toward these purposes.
Find a service project in which you can all participate this week.

Christmas Benevolence:
This week, your family could…
Take a turkey tag, gift tag or clothing tag for someone from McFarland Hall and go shopping for someone in need in the Spirit of the coming Christ.

Who? Middle School Youth grades 6-8

Where? Great Wolf Lodge, Mason, Ohio

When? Saturday, January 17-Sunday, January 18, 2009

What? Swimming, splasing, jumping, FUN!

How Much? $135 per student. (price includes lodging, transportation,  waterpark access and some meals)

NOTE: After January 7th,  the per person price goes up $25.
No registrations will be accepted after January 12th.

Details: Meet on Saturday, January 17 in the church parking lot at Noon ready to head for Mason, OH by chartered bus. Please be sure to eat lunch before coming!  On Saturday afternoon we will spend time in the water parks. Saturday evening will be spent enjoying a meal together as a large group as well as other activities! Sunday will be spent swimming and enjoying more time in the water parks! At the end of the day, we will load up the bus and head home.  We will arrive back at the church by no later than 6 p.m. on Sunday, January 18.

This whole trip will only cost you $135.  This includes everything except one meal in the water park.  Also, bring spending money for souvenirs, snacks and the arcade.

Download the brochure | Register Online

When: Sunday, November 16
Where: Second Church Shelter (far north parking lot)
What time: 5:45-7:30 p.m.
How Much: At LEAST 1 canned good
What’s Happening: S’mores, Fun and Games, Hot Cocoa, Warm Cider…..the person with the most friends gets HALF OFF the winter trip!

Remember…Food Pantries in our community have bare shelves! Please remember your canned goods as admission so that they may be donated to food pantries in need! 

Bring your friends and be a part of the easiest service project you will ever be a part of.  Let’s fill their shelves.

Register Online Now for the Fall Retreat. 

Do not miss this opportunity to get away from it all! 
It may even change the way you see God’s world! 

Saturday, October 11, 7:00 a.m. through Sunday, October 12, 4:00 p.m. at Camp PYOCA in Brownstown, Indiana.  PYOCA is an awesome Presbyterian camp hidden away in southern Indiana.   This promises to be a weekend full of ADVENTURE, RELAXATION, FUN, LAUGHTER, LEARNING and FRIENDSHIP.   
Participate in adventure activities (ropes are limited to the first 20 middle school and 20 high school students) and fun group activities.   
Each grade level will meet separately to discuss and discover how they fit in God’s world and where they can make a difference.   
The entire group will meet together for meals, worship and a bonfire.   

$75 gets you transportation, food, lodging, and more fun than you can possibly stand!  Invite your friends and please plan on being a part of this weekend.  The price goes up to $90 on Saturday, October 4.

For more information on the retreat, all necessary release forms (release form and medical form) and packing list go to the Forms and Downloads page to view/print the documents.