SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH AT 9:15 A.M.
This is our last Sunday morning prior to leading worship on November 22nd! I have created an "almost complete" script for us to use to rehearse. Please come straight to the youth center at 9:15 a.m. for a light snack, then we'll move to the sanctuary for a "run through." Preachers and musicians, please have titles ready so I can create a bulletin for the congregation for the 22nd.

 
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST FROM 1 UNTIL 3 P.M.
Come straight to the sanctuary for a final rehearsal. Preachers and musicians, please be as ready as possible, so you don't have the extreme Saturday night stress that I usually experience!

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22ND
Youth will lead worship both at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. You are / will be great! I will provide doughnuts (the "good" kind!) and milk/juice for breakfast in the youth center between services.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH FROM 6 TO 9 P.M. - PARENTS' NIGHT OUT
Help! Your help, that is, is needed for a "Parents' Night Out" program on the 27th. We were counting on a group of Elementary Education majors from Millersville University to do the lion's share of the work for this one. Their leader contacted me today to tell me that, unfortunately, they are all going home for Thanksgiving and will not be available to help. They will, however, prepare a craft and drop it off the week before.
So, here's the plan: children will arrive at 6 p.m. for a pizza supper; after supper, the kindergarten through sixth-graders will have a rehearsal for their Christmas Eve children's pageant, while younger brothers and sisters will remain with us for childcare. After rehearsal, all children will make their craft, enjoy some playtime and watch a brief children's movie. There is at least one third-grader, maybe two, who want to be acolytes, so I will take them to the sanctuary for training after their music rehearsal.
I will find as many adults as are available to help us that evening, but will be counting on youth group members to be involved, too. Please let me know if you can help.

SUNDAY MORNINGS - NOV. 29, DEC. 6 & 13 - 9:15 A.M. IN THE YOUTH CENTER
We'll continue our study of "The Way of Pilgrimage" - remember? We started this in October but we've been involved in planning and implementing worship leadership since.

SUNDAY MORNING, DEC. 20TH - CHRISTMAS PARTY BREAKFAST & "CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS" AT 9:15 A.M. - in the Youth Center

NO SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ANYONE ON DECEMBER 27TH! SLEEP IN, THEN JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL, INFORMAL WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10:30 A.M. (NO 8 A.M. WORSHIP THAT DAY - We're all just slacking off after the big Advent and Christmas Eve season!)

SATURDAY AFTERNOON, DECEMBER 5TH
We are signed up to prepare and serve dinner at Crispus Attucks Center on Saturday, Dec. 5th. Meet at the church at 4 p.m. to load up food to transport to CA; we serve beginning at 5 p.m. BRING: A dessert, preferably one you make yourself, such as brownies, cookies, cupcakes, etc. Parents are invited to participate, too, as well as other church members. Our menu is lasagna, green beans, dinner rolls, applesauce and desserts. We'll purchase all foods except the desserts. Let me know, please, if you can help. Another great service opportunity.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6TH - A WHOLE-CHURCH EVENT = ADVENT FELLOWSHIP NIGHT
Bring your whole family for an Alternative Gift Fair (4 to 5:30 p.m., then 6:15 to 7:10 p.m.), potluck supper (5:30 to 6:15 p.m.), and crafts (you can make your own or help the younger children with theirs while their parents shop the Alternative Gift Fair. We'll wrap up by 7:30 p.m. with a brief story and prayer.

"COOKIE WALK" ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12 - 9 TO NOON
The Mission and Stewardship Committee is holding a Cookie Walk in the chapel on Saturday, Dec. 12th, to raise money for their mission trip this coming spring. We've been invited to participate and share the profits for our Regional Youth Event in July. What must we do? Bake cookies! Then, come help with the sale on the 12th. Do you think each of you could bake a couple batches of cookies prior to the 12th, get them to me (I can store them in the youth center freezer if you make them too early to keep them fresh), then show up to help with the sale? Let me know.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON - DECEMBER 13TH - OUT TO LUNCH, THEN NARTHEX CHRISTMAS TREE
Immediately after the 10:30 a.m. service on December 13th the youth group will go out to lunch together (Fudrucker's on Lincoln Hwy. E. was requested by several of you), then we'll do as we did last year and cut down a Christmas tree for the narthex. After we set it up, we'll decorate it with lights and Crismons (I'll explain later, if you forget what Crismons are!).

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH AT 6:30 P.M. - CHRISTMAS CAROLING AT HOMESTEAD VILLAGE
The Family Life Ministry Team is hosting a Christmas caroling event at Homestead Village Health Unit (3 HPUCC members are residents) at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 16. It would be wonderful to add youth group voices to this event. Let me know if you can participate - we'll leave church at 6:15 p.m. Cookies and lemonade after singing!

JANUARY 1 THROUGH 3, 2010 IS ANNUAL HPUCC YOUTH RETREAT AT HARTMAN CENTER
Since it begins on January 1st (we'll depart HPUCC at 3 p.m.) let's call it a "New Beginnings" retreat! More details later, but put it on your calendars now. You won't want to miss it; a good time is guaranteed. Return to Lancaster is 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 3rd. 

OTHER DATES FOR YOUR CALENDARS - NOT A CONCLUSIVE LIST, BY ANY MEANS, BUT THE "GUTS" OF THE SCHEDULE AS IT STANDS NOW
February 7 - "Souper Bowl" Sunday - Canned soup collected for the Food Bank
March 19 - 21 - Penn Central Conference Winter Youth Event at Hartman Center
April 2 at 7 p.m. - Good Friday "Reverse Advent" Service
April 17 at 5 p.m. - Spaghetti Supper; Mission Auction begins at 6:30 p.m.
June 11 - 13 - Penn Central Conference Annual Meeting - Any HPUCC youth (grades 10-12) interested in serving on the Youth Service Team for this meeting at Susquehanna University?
July 21 - 25 - Regional Youth Event at Lebanon Valley College - Like National Youth Event, but closer to home!
Another opportunity - Anyone currently in grade 12 interested in working as an SST at Hartman Center for the 2010 summer camping program?
 
 
That's what we've got scheduled for sure right now. We're working on scheduling a ski event in February, as well as a "gym night" locally, and we're on the waiting list for the Nightwatch program at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. If we don't get to go this spring, we're definite for fall of 2010. Call me if questions or suggestions.
In the meantime, get that schoolwork done so you can come out and play!
Peace,
Cathy