The Advance

West Side Moravian Church of Bethlehem, PA

Our Mission: “We are disciples who nurture each other,

pray with love and share the joy of Christ.”

Published Monthly December 2011 Volume XX Issue No 11

December at West Side

Christmas is a busy time. There are lots of things to do both at home and at church. Here is a reminder of some the church activities in December.

December 4 –After worship we will Trim-a-Tree in Fellowship Hall.

December 6 – There is an Elders, Trustee and Joint Board Meeting.

December 11 – All are invited to go Christmas caroling. We plan to have a light dinner at 5 p.m. followed by caroling in the neighborhood.

December 18 – During worship the Sunday School will share its Christmas Program. After worship we will share in our church family Christmas Dinner.

December 24 – The traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7 p.m.

December 25 – We will gather for Christmas Day worship at 10:00 a.m.

That’s a quick trip through December.

Mark your calendar, and come join us!

Operation Christmas Child – Update

Each year, Samaritan’s Purse Christian relief organization ships gift-filled shoeboxes to children in the developing world. Church groups and caring individuals lovingly fill these boxes to share the spirit of the season. This year members of West Side contributed 53 gift-filled shoeboxes to Operation Christmas Child. The boxes were delivered to a local drop-off point, where they joined thousands of others from the Lehigh Valley community on their way to impoverished children throughout the world. Thank you to all who participated!

Senior Friends

Please come to a time of fellowship and uplifting entertainment at Senior Friends on Thursday, December 1 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. The program, led by Jane MacDonald, will be “Christmas VBS for Seniors” – lesson, games, crafts, music and snacks. Please bring a bagged lunch and a friend. Call the church office at 610-865-0256 if you need a ride or can provide transportation.

Here We Go A-Caroling!

On December 11 we plan to have a light hot dog dinner at 5 p.m. followed by Christmas caroling in the neighborhood. If you are interested in participating, please contact Karen Palmer.

Morning Star Soloist

If you are interested in auditioning for the Morning Star solo performed during our Christmas Eve Candlelight Vigil, please contact Jane MacDonald.

Unity Prayer Watch

West Side is scheduled for the Unity Prayer Watch December 1, 2011. We share the day with Advent Moravian Church and Calvary Moravian Church. If you missed the prayer sign-up sheet in church, please call the church office for a scheduled time and a copy of the prayer concerns.

Information Update

We are updating membership information. Please let us know if your address or phone number has changed or if your birthday or anniversary has been missing from the Advance listing, so we can change/update the information in our membership records. Please leave a message with the church office at 610-865-0256, or email us at mail@westsidemoravian.org.

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Those Who Are Serving

Sunday	Flowers Given by	Counters	Sacristans	Liturgist	Fellowship
12-04-11	Available Please contact Barbara Richards	Shirley Leh Bill Hassler	Ralph Wanamaker, Jr. Don Richards Curly Wiles	Karen Palmer	Moravian Women
12-11-11	Available Please contact Barbara Richards	Phil Pinkerton Sam Velez	Greg Clugston Mike Palmer Fred Kline	Doug Yochum
12-18-11	Available Please contact Barbara Richards	Shirley Leh Terry & Jim Kleintop	Don DeWalt Doug Yochum Sam Velez	Phil Pinkerton
12-25-11	Richard Kleintop	Shirley Leh Phil Pinkerton	Ralph Wanamaker, Jr. Don Richards Curly Wiles	Pastor

November 2010

11/7 11/14 11/21 11/28

65 55 50 58

November 2011

11/6 11/13 11/20 11/27

48 63 53 51

Food Bank Sunday,

December 25

Donations of non-perishable foods and cash are always appreciated. The food bank also accepts infant items, such as diapers and wipes, hygiene items, and household items, such as toilet paper and paper towels. Those who use the food bank also need these items. The West Bethlehem Area Food Bank does not use cash donations to purchase these items. Please remember to bring a donation with you to church.

Your financial gifts to the Food Pantry enabled it to distribute more than $3,700 in food store credit cards to needy families during the winter holidays in 2009. Please assist this year by sending a check made payable to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and noted “Food Pantry.”

The West Bethlehem Emergency Food Pantry is located at and sponsored by Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (514 3^rd Ave.). Volunteers for this worthy ministry are always welcome. Please call 610-865-2684 and leave your name and phone number for more details on how you can help.

Unitas Chorale

Do you like to sing? Want to sing with other Moravians? Want to sing Moravian music? Join the Unitas Chorale (the Northern Province performing arm of the Moravian Music Foundation) for its sixteenth season of Moravian-music-making! Follow the 2011 retirement of its founding director, Jill Bruckart, the group will continue under the direction of Gwyneth Michel, Assistant Director of the Moravian Music Foundation, with Donna Ambler, Director of Music at Advent Moravian Church and MMF-trustee, as accompanist. Anyone interested in joining should contact Gwyn Michel (gwyn@moravianmusic.org or simply show up at the first rehearsal! All voice parts are needed and no audition is required. With the exception of the first meeting, all rehearsals take place January through April at College Hill Moravian Church from 3 to 5 p.m. on the first, third, and fifth Sundays of the month. [NOTE: the first rehearsal will be held on Sunday, January 8.] Next year’s concert is scheduled for Sunday, April 22, at Advent Moravian Church. Please join us as – together – we make Moravian Music.

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MORAVIAN WOMEN

Meeting Schedule for December:

Moravian Women’s Executive Board – Monday, December 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Kathy Gramley Circle – Monday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.

Gift Bags for Shut-Ins

Moravian Women will meet Monday, December 12 at 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall to fill Christmas gift bags for our shut-ins. All women are invited to come and help. After we’re finished, we will have our regular Kathy Gramley meeting at 7:30 p.m. All women are invited to this also!

Holiday Sale

On December 4 during Fellowship Time/Trim-a-Tree after church, Moravian Women will have cookies, candy and crafts for sale. We will also have Christmas items available.

Singstunde – December 6

There will be a German-English Singstunde on Tuesday, December 6 at 7 p.m. in the Old Chapel on the campus of Central Moravian Church.  No tickets are needed (no admission), but there will be a goodwill offering.  It is jointly sponsored by the Moravian Archives, Moravian Music Foundation and Central Moravian Church.

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The Intercessor December 2011

“A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, ‘Wonderful Counselor,’ ‘Mighty God,’ ‘Eternal Father,’ ‘Prince of Peace.’”

Isaiah 9:5&6 (Good News Bible)

Prayers for December

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased.”

Luke 2:14

“Glory to God! Glory to God! Glory to God!

It rings again; peace on the earth!

Goodwill to men!

MBW 284

Prayer for those who are ill or suffering: Pray for God’s healing presence to be with Betty Jane and Fred Heller, Marvin Kirst, Denise Lindenmuth, Alan Sapp and family (grandson of Barb Kepner), Barbara Senick, George Senick and Chris Speck (surgery).

Pray for West Side: Lord, watch over our congregation and keep us safe from moral and financial divisions and meddling problems. Give us unity, love and peace.

Lifting up our shut-ins: God of us all, share your love with us all. We ask a special blessing for those who are not able to get to church. Bless Marian Benner, Edna Fatzinger, Jeane Ferguson, Judy Fluck, Betty Jackson, Judy Jessup, Edward Masten, June Sommers, Gertie Smull, Rae Steward, Harrison Wheeler, George Yochum and Richard Yochum.

Prayer for our world: Pray for Christians in North Africa. There have been attacks on Christians and churches.

Prayer for those within our denomination: Pray for young people who are serving in the world through the Antioch Project.