December 4, 10:30 AM –Second Sunday of Advent

“The Hanging of the Greens”

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-11: Romans 16:4-

Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon: “Do Not Be Afraid: Christ is Our Peace”

December 11, 10:30 AM– Third Sunday of Advent

THE INDUCTION OF PASTOR JOHN ALAN COX

A reception in Fellowship Hall will follow the Worship Service

Rev. Stephen Bentley officiating

Rev. Mark Damron preaching

December 18, 10:30 AM – Fourth Sunday of Advent

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25: Psalm 80:1-7

Sermon: “Do Not Be Afraid: Christ is Love”

5:00 pm – Christmas Family Worship followed by a

Birthday Party for Jesus

December 24 - 7:00 PM – Christmas Eve Service

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7

Sermon: “Do Not Be Afraid: Jesus is Coming”

December 25, 10:30 AM – Christmas Day

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Sermon: “Do Not Be Afraid: Christ is Born”

December 31, 9:00 PM – New

Year’s Eve Party followed by a Watch

Night Celebration at 10:30 PM

5:00 PM – Gospel/Praise Service Don’t miss the Gospel/Praise Service Sunday evenings at 5:00 p.m. on December 4th and 11th Come and

join us and tell others about the good news of

this Special Worship Experience.

Join Us for Worship

in December,

as we anticipate

with joy the

coming of the Lord.

Karl Road Christian Church5400 Karl Road, Columbus, OH 43229

614/888-3444 www.karlroadcc.org

contact us:

karlroadcc@gmail.com

December 2016

Volume 6

Number 12

I have really missed Thanksgiving. In the UK we have the celebration of Harvest but

it is usually in September. It is the right time for them, as the harvest comes in a bit

earlier there than here. Joyce and I even hosted Thanksgiving meals for friends

while we were living in England to help with our yearning for Thanksgiving. One of

the traditions we passed on to them was the tradition of having three kernels of corn

and sharing three things we are thankful for. It is a wonderful tradition and a way to

remind us we need to be thankful to God for the blessings we have.

Perhaps it is a happy accident that Advent follows so closely after Thanksgiving. The thing that we, as

Christians, are most thankful for is that God sent Jesus to be our Savior. The season of Advent is not the

season of Christmas. It is the season of preparation for the coming of the Christ. That is why while we are

hearing Christmas carols in the stores as we shop, we are singing songs of preparation for Christ’s coming in

Church. Sometimes I wonder if we in the Church have fallen behind the world in celebrating the birth of Jesus.

Then I remember that Advent is a time to prepare. Our world is a world of smartphones and internet and

instant access to anything and everything we could want. We have to take a little time to prepare. Our faith is

a microwave faith where we cannot take the time to adequately make a way for the coming of the Lord.

Maybe our celebration of the birth of the Lamb of God begins with us giving thanks for God’s remembered

promise fulfilled. Join us as we take the time to get ready for Christmas by quieting our spirits, opening our

hearts and challenging our minds to make space for the Prince of Peace.

Pax

Pastor John

An Invitation

You are joyfully invited to the induction of Rev. John Alan Cox as our new Pastor on December 11, 2016 at our

10:30 AM service. The induction service will be officiated by our friend, Rev. Stephen Bentley. It is also Pastor

John’s 30th

Anniversary of his Ordination into the Christian Ministry within the Christian Church (Disciples of

Christ). Please make every effort to welcome Rev. John as our New Pastor of Karl Road Christian Church.

There will be a Reception in Fellowship Hall immediately following the Worship Service.

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL AND STUDY

Advent Devotion

“Unto us a Child is Born” by Henri J.M. No-win

Our devotional book this Advent is by well-known and loved theologian, Henri No-win. This is a

daily devotion and everyone is welcomed to join us on the journey through Advent. Copies are

available. There is a basket available for donations.

Advent Bible Study

“Mary Had a Baby: an Advent Bible Study based on African American

Spirituals”

By Cheryl Kirk-Duggan and Marilyn E. Thornton

This 4 week study helps us prepare for Advent by looking at four African

American spirituals as a guide to learning and growth. Studies will begin on

November 30 at 7:00 PM at the Church. The cost is $10.00 per person.

Pastor John Cox will be leading the study. Studies continue December 7th, 14th and 20th.

Then stay for our Watch night Service at 11:30 pm in the sanctuary, as we give

thanks for the year 2013 and make commitments for the coming year.

CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR THE CONGREGATION

Do you wish you could send a Christmas Card to all your friends

here at KRCC? But it seems like a lot of work now at the time of

year you are so busy, right??? Here’s the solution. Why not make

out a Christmas Card to the Congregation and post it on the

Bulletin Board in the Narthex. Then you can take all that cash

you would have spent on postage and donate it to one of the

budget needs of the church. PROBLEM SOLVED!

Thank you for supporting this project.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18 at 5:00 PM

The Children will be presenting their annual

CHRISTMAS PLAY AND PRAISE followed by:

A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS

The Christian Education Team will be having a Birthday Party for

Jesus after the Christmas Play and Praise program, which will be

held on December 18th at 5:00 P.M. Everyone is invited to join us

after the program for refreshments, birthday cake, and goody

bags for the children as we celebrate Jesus’ birthday.

The youth of KRCC are gearing up for Christmas (and winter break from school)! In November, we began studying what it means to be a Christian in today’s world. We also served at coffee hour after church, had a mid-week Bible study and practiced our painting skills at the party studio in Worthington. We also celebrated a few birthdays in our group! December 4 Class December 17 Christmas Party 5:00 to 9:00 at KRCC. We will be making cookies

and blankets, playing games and having fun! December 18 Class December 18 5:00 P.M. - Christmas production/Birthday Party for Jesus December 20 Midweek Bible Study And don’t forget, Sarah Beth has “office hours” from 9-10 on Sunday morning (except on Christmas day) and

6-7 on Thursday evening where youth (and their parents) get first priority and full attention.

CWF ACTIVITIES

Baby Shower The CWF held a successful baby shower on Sunday, October 23rd following the 10:30 A.M. Service. Two 8 foot

tables were deeply layered with baby necessities and niceties including diapers, socks, shirts, gowns, blankets,

etc. These items were given to the Church Women United ladies at their worship service honoring World

Community Day that they held here at KRCC.

Mitten, Hat, Scarf, Etc. Tree

Watch for sales on warm winter accessories! The annual “Mitten Tree” will be going up in the Narthex very

soon waiting to be decorated with new mittens, gloves, scarves, hats and socks. You may donate these

clothing items through the end of December.

Everyone is welcome on December 6th at 1 PM when the CWF will be packing

holiday cookies for the NNEMAP Food Pantry. Bring your favorite Christmas Cookie

or just come and help us pack the many containers we have collected over the

years.

HOSPITALITY TEAM

On November 13th, the Hospitality Team helped with the Consecration Luncheon. Trixie Hyser, Pat Hibbard

and Bonnie Furr set up and cleaned up. Verna Haines provided the table decorations.

CLEVELAND CHRISTIAN HOME

The boys at the Cleveland Christian Home and the children whose families are under the care of our Social

Workers are getting excited about Christmas.

We can help fulfill some of their wishes by purchasing gift cards at Walmart and Giant Eagle. Donating these

two gift cards alone make it easier for the social workers to see that each child and his/her parents receive

appropriate and needed gifts. There is also a list of gifts requested on the bulletin board just south of the

Office. Walmart, Giant Eagle cards and gifts need to be at the church by December 9th.

BREAD REPORT We celebrated our victory in the Mental Health campaign with the reopening of Pathway Clubhouse, a place for the severe and persistent mentally ill, that provides socialization, reduces recidivism and hospital and ER visits while increasing employment opportunities. Our crime campaign, the community initiative to reduce violence that has been proven so effective in many cities, now has the full support of Mayor Ginther and the public

safety department, especially the police gang unit. Several judges are impeding forward momentum and BREAD will be meeting with them to understand why and keep applying pressure. Council member, Elizabeth Brown spoke at our Annual Assembly about drafting a hiring ordinance giving priority to city contracts to companies that agree to hire a percentage of “returned citizens”. This ordinance will be presented to City Council no later than March 1, 2017. Our jobs campaign continues its work on a longer term solution to create jobs in the Linden and Hilltop areas where unemployment is four times that of other areas of our city. Council member, Michael Stinziano spoke at our Annual Assembly about drafting legislation supporting the municipal ID that will help many vulnerable groups in our community. BREAD is working with many other organizations in a collaborative effort in this area and already has the support of Franklin county Prosecuter, Ron O’Brien.

At our Annual Assembly, BREAD leaders voted to revisit Restorative Justice. We won this campaign in our Juvenile Courts in 2012, but progress has not been as successful as we expected. We also will be researching plans to find best practices to use in our city schools to reduce bullying and ineffective discipline models and to create a more holistic community.

ADVENT RETREAT FOR WOMEN

December 10, 2016from 9am to 3pm

At the Herald B. Monroe Lodge, Camp Christian

Led by: Rev. Margot Connor & Wendy Taylor

THIS YEAR’S ORDER OF THE TOWEL

RECIPIENT -

BEVERLY S. FATIG

The Order of the Towel was presented on November 13th to Beverly S. Fatig

Bev is a charter member of KRCC and has given much of her time and talent to this congregation. She is a

retired secondary school teacher and administrator for the Columbus Public School District.

At KRCC, Bev is a former Elder and has taught both high school and post-high Sunday school classes. She has

also taught Disciples of Christ policies and practices for new members. Bev was instrumental in the addition of

ten feet of space to the Narthex when the church was remodeled. She also has made worship banners.

Bev is known for her cookie baking for bake sales and the cookie packing the CWF does every Christmas for

folks at NNEMAP.

Most of you probably do not know that Bev has held EVERY CWF office in this church and was on the State

Regional Planning Committee for Women’s Retreat in the past. She also did her share of cooking for the

Women’s Retreats. Bev has been a camp counselor at Wilmington Conference and has organized and directed

work camps twice a year at Cane Ridge, KIY for city-wide CYF Groups. She goes to Cleveland Christian Home

every year with others to make sure the children have presents from several area churches on time.

She and another Order of the Towel recipient organized the rummage sales which raised enough money to put

a baptistery in our sanctuary. She got to remove the bricks from the back wall. Ask her for more details. It’s

a wonderful story.

Bev attended the Quadrennial Assembles when they were held at Perdue University and shared with the

church in the sermon time on a Sunday following the Assembly.

Ask her about the hours she has spent volunteering at the Columbus Zoo for an interesting conversation with

her.

Christmas transformation

The earth has grown old with its burden of care, but at Christmas it always is young,

the heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair, and its soul full of music breaks the air,

when the song of angels is sung.

—Phillips Brooks

Muriel Clark - Julie Goldberg - Frank Patrick - Cameron

Smith, (Karyn Baker’s son) - Melanie Stein - Mary Weinland - George Wilburn – Jan

Curtin –Don Sexton

Marilyn Patrick; Larry McVay; Bruce Bailey (Dave Young's close friend);

Angela Rosser's friend, Michelle Gibson; Lois Haynes' daughter, Patty

Austin Francis, Air Force, son of Jolynne and Eric Francis

Jason Conley, Air Force

Joshua Corner, Air Force

Evan Cowgey, Marines

Michael Davis, Coast Guard Reserve,

Son-in-law of Marcia Hetrick.

Austin Francis, Air Force, son of Jolynne and Eric Francis

S.Sgt. Mike Kerley, USAF, Ramstern AFB, Germany, Paula and Steve

McCaw's son-in-law.

Bill Kossick, son-in-law of John and Marsha Mueller, Air Force.

Megan Long-Tothe, Louisiana National Guard, granddaughter of Bonnie Furr.

Andras Tothe, Louisiana Naval Reserve; Grandson-in-law of Bonnie Furr

Brian Mehnert, Army

Master at Arms, Emerson C. Miller, Nancy McVay's great nephew

Bryon Stumph, son of Cheryl Stumph, Army Reserve

Adam Ward, Navy

Patrick Sonnenberg, grandson of Ruth Stumph, Army

I believe this prayer list is one of the most important and informative articles in the

newsletter each month. Please help me keep it up-to-date by calling me at 614-888-3444

or emailing at karlroadcc@gmail.com if you see any corrections that need to be made or

if you have a prayer request you wish to share.

Let’s do what we can to keep all who need it in our hearts and our prayers.

Thank you for your help. Prayer works!

ON PRAYER Be not afraid to pray; to pray is right;

Pray if thou canst with hope, but ever pray,

Though hope be weak or sick with long delay;

Pray in the darkness if there be no light;

And if for any wish thou daren’t pray

Then pray to God to cast that wish away.

__E. M. Bounds

JULIETs - 9:15am Thursdays (Just Us Ladies Interested in Eating Too)

For more information on JULIETs, call June Nirote, 614-523-0733.

Dec. 1 - Steak ‘n Shake (Cleveland Ave.)

Dec. 8 – Panera (Westerville)

Dec. 15 – St. Ann’s Bistro

Dec. 15 – Bob Evans (Route 161)

Dec. 29 – Tim Horton’s (Route 161)

ADVENTURES IN DINING

December 10 – 12:00 NOON

SCHMIDTS SAUSAGE HAUS

German Village

ROMEOs - 8:30am Fridays (Retired Old Men

Eating Out)

For more information on ROMEOs,

contact Tim Beverly at 517-7370

Dec. 2- Bob Evans (Route 161)

Dec. 9 – Scramblers (Sancus)

Dec. 16 – Frisch’s (N. High St.)

Dec. 23 – TeeJaye’s (Morse & High)

Dec. 30 – Steak n Shake (Cleveland Ave.)

Glimpsing God?

A December 2014 New York Times article profiled Alberto Cairo, an Italian

man who for 25 years has run orthopedic centers in Afghanistan. Woven

throughout was the story of a chrysanthemum bouquet in Cairo’s office. He

told the reporter that his dearest friend, Sergio, had recently died. “His

birthday was a few days ago,” Cairo shared. Had he been in Italy, he

would’ve placed yellow mums, his friend’s favorite, at the grave. Instead,

that very day, an Afghan staff member had brought yellow flowers to Cairo,

saying, “I thought you might need these.”

Cairo said, “[He] had never come to my office before, knew nothing about

Sergio, and … I have never seen these flowers in Afghanistan before.” He

concluded, “I believe that when the dead are dead, they’re dead. But what

am I supposed to think about this?

I’ll never know whether Cairo comes to believe in life beyond death, but coincidence is said to be God

remaining anonymous. Maybe he’s at work through yellow mums.

—Heidi Mann

Laurie and Lisa Stover-Little

Joined Karl Road Christian Church on November 20. They come to

us from North Congregational UCC where both were active members.

Jerri J. Meyers

Jerri has been around KRCC for a while but I have not had an

opportunity to write about him. He has worked in Retail Sales and as

a security guard. His hobbies include fishing, hunting, gardening, singing with a choir, camping, biking,

reading – actually loves anything outdoors. He is from Indiana where he was head usher and a choir member

for ten years at his church.

Special Days

12/12 Daryl and Nancy Lynskey

12/23 George and Barbara Wilburn

12/02 Becky Fine 12/13 Patricia Hiestand

12/03 Carol Fry 12/19 Pamela Clifford

12/08 Pat Hibbard 12/20 Kristina Nimmo

12/09 Paula Cranford 12/24 Lisa Thaxton

12/09 Darlene Brown 12/27 Lisa Stover-Little

12/12 Cidney Barron 12/29 George Wilburn

12/31 Jan Howson

Where’s your security? When A Charlie Brown Christmas debuted in 1965, religious references were unheard of on television. Yet the show’s climax features the Christmas story verbatim. As Linus begins reciting Luke 2, he’s clutching his ever-present blue blanket. Yet, as pastor Jason Soroski points out, Linus drops it right as he utters the words “fear not” (Luke 2:10). Soroski believes the timing is intentional and that “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz sends a simple, brilliant message. “The birth of Jesus separates us from our fears ,” Soroski writes. It “frees us from the habits we are unable (or unwilling) to break ourselves. The birth of Jesus allows us to simply drop the false security we have been grasping so tightly, and learn to trust and cling to him instead.”

NEWSLETTER ARTICLES

Anyone in the congregation is welcome to submit articles and/or announcements

for publication in the KRCC Newsletter. This month, the deadline for subsubmission

for the December Newsletter will be Nov. 16th. We are also open to any suggestions you

might have for improvement of this Newsletter.

Please contact me (Sandy Young, KRCC Secretary),

with anything of interest or concern.

SAVE A TREE

Many KRCC Newsletters are being found in the Mail Folder

unclaimed each month.

IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO RECEIVE THE NEWSLETTER ONLINE,

PLEASE SEND A NOTE VIA EMAIL To karlroadcc@gmail.