Our next Wishing Well ministry will be to collect donations for the Day of Smiles, which is an annual day of giving to five charities in memory of the short, but fulfilling, lives of Erin and Max Nusbaum. Donations will be collected for Milagro and Clare Houses, Mom’s House, Brereton Manor, and the Pet Pantry of Lancaster. All of these recipients provide wonderful services to our local community. Please consider donating by taking a Smiley Face from one of the two posters (above the Wishing Well and on the Outreach bulletin board), buying that item listed, and putting it in the Wishing Well by February 4^th.

The Church of the Apostles Book Club meets every second Tuesday of the month at 2:00 pm in the Parlor. On Tuesday, January 9th, we will discuss Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea. We are happy to have new people join us! If you have any questions, please contact the church office at (717) 392-5718.

On Wednesday, December 27 at 9:30 am, the Widows Group will meet to discuss the life changes that follow the loss of a spouse. Recognizing that everyone’s journey is different, we thought this may be an outlet for you to find support and to support others in their respective experiences. Refreshments and pastries will be served. Members and non-members are welcome, so please feel free to invite someone you think might benefit from this discussion. Please call the church office at (717) 392-5718 if you would like to join us.

Food Bank
Needs: cold cereal, potatoes (dry or canned), mac ‘n cheese, tuna or hamburger helpers, cookies, canned items including: tuna, fruit, soups, and canned meat

Apostles Assistance Fund
Needs: laundry detergent, women’s deodorant, paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes

Market Basket
During the first three Sundays of each month, you have the opportunity to buy grocery cards in the office after service. You can buy cards for the following month and pick up the ones you ordered last month. Remember, the discount we earn from purchasing cards in bulk from Giant, Stauffers, and Weis provide food for the Saturday Breakfast downtown once a month. Helping others is easy, as well as a wonderful thing!

Nursery Changes
The Education Commission is in the middle of reorganizing the Nursery. We are currently searching for a paid staff member, but, in the meantime, we are looking for extra volunteers who already have their clearances on file with the church. For the 9:15 service, we will need to have two volunteers for the Nursery for ages 0-3. For the 10:45 service we will have the Nursery open as a crying room only without volunteers.

Lifetouch Photos
If you did not order a photo package to be delivered to your home, your free 8×10 is now available to pick up in the lobby.

December 24 Services
There will be one worship service on Sunday, December 24 at 10 am. Our 3 pm and 7 pm Christmas Eve services will recall the birth of the Christ Child and provide the opportunity to sing beloved carols. The afternoon service will be a traditional service with candlelight and communion and will feature our children’s choirs, solo instrumentalists, and vocalists. The evening service will be a traditional service with candlelight, and feature an orchestra plus our adult choirs. Let’s celebrate the gift of our Savior!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!
All classes are welcome to gather in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, December 24 during Sunday School to celebrate Jesus’ Birthday. Come join the party!

Pajama Party
Our annual Pajama Party will beheld on Sunday, December 31 during normal Sunday School time in the Fellowship Hall. Come to church wearing your PJs! We will have games, crafts, and food to get ready for the new year!

Bethany and Hoffman Homes
As in the past, our Christmas Eve offerings will be dedicated to UCC affiliates Bethany and Hoffman Homes, which serves young people with residential and mental health needs. Donations to these special homes provide safe, comfortable, and spiritually- nurturing environments. Please use your special offering envelope on December 24^th to give generously to support these homes.

Crown Volunteers
If you have a few hours once a month to help prepare the Crown for mailing, please contact Audrey Markle at (717) 368-2409. The next date volunteers are needed is December 28 at 9 am. Your help would be greatly appreciated!

Congregational Meeting
Please join us for a Congregational Meeting to vote on current Council members to serve another term on Sunday, December 31 between services in the Sanctuary.

Wishing Well
Many thanks to everyone who participated in our Holiday Gifting Ministry! It was a huge success! We partnered with the Preschool to gift 61 students at Martin Elementary school and made their holiday more joyous! We also gifted five children who were in need in our community. Warm hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves collected went to the school district of Lancaster for students who were displaced from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands due to hurricanes. Thanks to your continued generous support, we have been able to brighten the holiday season for many children!

Join us on Sunday, December 24 in celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3:00 pm
Candlelight Communion Service with children’s choirs and instrumentalists

7:00 pm
Candlelight Service with adult choirs and orchestra

Our services will recall the birth of the Christ Child and provide the opportunity to sing beloved carols.
Come to remember the spirit of Christmas in word and song
as we celebrate the gift of our savior!

The children’s mission project for the month of December is collecting hats and mittens for needy families in the School District of Lancaster, including the Puerto Rican families displaced by the hurricane. Children may bring their items to the Christmas tree near the altar during the children’s message on December 17, 24, and 31. Thank you so much for your support of this important project, and for teaching the children, especially during this Christmas season, that it truly is more blessed to give than to receive.

Food Bank
Needs: cold cereal, potatoes (dry or canned), mac ‘n cheese, tuna or hamburger helpers, cookies, canned items including: tuna, fruit, soups, and canned meat

Apostles Assistance Fund
Needs: laundry detergent, women’s deodorant, paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes

Market Basket
During the first three Sundays of each month, you have the opportunity to buy grocery cards in the office after service. You can buy cards for the following month and pick up the ones you ordered last month. Remember, the discount we earn from purchasing cards in bulk from Giant, Stauffers, and Weis provide food for the Saturday Breakfast downtown once a month. Helping others is easy, as well as a wonderful thing!

Nursery Changes
The Education Commission is in the middle of reorganizing the Nursery. We are currently searching for a paid staff member, but, in the meantime, we are looking for extra volunteers who already have their clearances on file with the church. For the 9:15 service, we will need to have two volunteers for the Nursery for ages 0-3. For the 10:45 service we will have the Nursery open as a crying room only without volunteers.

Lifetouch Photos
If you did not order a photo package to be delivered to your home, your free 8×10 is now available to pick up in the lobby.

“Blue Christmas” Service
If Christmas is difficult, come to this quieter Christmas service on Wednesday, December 13 at 7 pm to still remember the wonder of God’s gift in Jesus Christ and acknowledge that Christmas no longer feels the same.

Apostles Community Preschool’s Christmas Performance: Step By Step
Apostles Community Preschool would like to invite everyone to join them for this year’s Christmas program, Step By Step. Performances will be held on Tuesday, December 19th and Wednesday, December 20th. Doors will open to the Sanctuary at 10:15 am, with performances starting at 10:30 am.

Additionally, they will also have a very special abbreviated preview performance following the 9:15 am morning service on Sunday, December 17th. Please join us for fellowship at approximately 10 am in the Narthex for coffee and pastries. At 10:30 am, the Preschool children able to join us will sing several of the songs from their program in the Sanctuary, being sure to bring smiles to the faces of all who join us.

December 24 Services
There will be one worship service on Sunday, December 24 at 10 am. Our 3 pm and 7 pm Christmas Eve services will recall the birth of the Christ Child and provide the opportunity to sing beloved carols. The afternoon service will be a traditional service with candlelight and communion and will feature our children’s choirs, solo instrumentalists, and vocalists. The evening service will be a traditional service with candlelight, and feature an orchestra plus our adult choirs. Let’s celebrate the gift of our Savior!

Bethany and Hoffman Homes
As in the past, our Christmas Eve offerings will be dedicated to UCC affiliates Bethany and Hoffman Homes, which serves young people with residential and mental health needs. Donations to these special homes provide safe, comfortable, and spiritually- nurturing environments. Please use your special offering envelope on December 24th to give generously to support these homes.

9:15 Service Lay Readers
Glenn Ebersole is beginning to plan the schedule for Lay Readers for the 9:15 am services in 2018. If you are interested in volunteering to be a reader for this service, please contact Glenn at jgepsu21@gmail.com or at (717) 575-8572.

Wishing Well
It’s time for our Holiday Ministry of gifting Martin Elementary School students for Christmas. Please consider helping to make a youngster’s holiday brighter this season. Please take a gift tag from the poster on the Outreach bulletin board in the Narthex and return the wrapped gift with that gift tag attached no later than December 17. We are also collecting new hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves for the students in the School District of Lancaster who have been displaced due to the hurricanes.

Food Bank
Needs: cold cereal, potatoes (dry or canned), mac ‘n cheese, tuna or hamburger helpers, cookies, canned items including: tuna, fruit, soups, and canned meat

Apostles Assistance Fund
Needs: laundry detergent, women’s deodorant, paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes

Market Basket
During the first three Sundays of each month, you have the opportunity to buy grocery cards in the office after service. You can buy cards for the following month and pick up the ones you ordered last month. Remember, the discount we earn from purchasing cards in bulk from Giant, Stauffers, and Weis provide food for the Saturday Breakfast downtown once a month. Helping others is easy, as well as a wonderful thing!

Nursery Changes
The Education Commission is in the middle of reorganizing the Nursery. We are currently searching for a paid staff member, but, in the meantime, we are looking for extra volunteers who already have their clearances on file with the church. For the 9:15 service, we will need to have two volunteers for the Nursery for ages 0-3. For the 10:45 service we will have the Nursery open as a crying room only without volunteers.

New Beginnings
Kick off the yuletide season by attending our annual Christmas Banquet on Friday, December 8 at 12 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Following the banquet, we will enjoy a time of Christmas Caroling. Van transportation will be provided for Homestead residents. Cost is $20 per person. Please RSVP and submit payment to Cathy Bernhardt (717-299-3605) by December 3.

Breakfast with Santa & Children’s Christmas Shopping
Have breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 9 from 8:30 am – 10:30 am. Story time begins at 9:30 am. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, juice, milk, and fruit. Adults $6. Kids 2-10 are $3. Bring your camera for a picture with Santa!
The Parent Council of Apostles Community Preschool will again be offering its annual Christmas Shopping Room from 8:30 am—12:00 pm. During this time, children will be able to secretly shop for inexpensive gifts for family members.

Lifetouch Photos
If you did not order a photo package to be delivered to your home, your free 8×10 is now available to pick up outside the church office.

“Blue Christmas” Service
If Christmas is difficult, come to this quieter Christmas service on Wednesday, December 13 at 7 pm to still remember the wonder of God’s gift in Jesus Christ and acknowledge that Christmas no longer feels the same.

December 24 Services
There will be one worship service on Sunday, December 24 at 10 am. Our 3 pm and 7 pm Christmas Eve services will recall the birth of the Christ Child and provide the opportunity to sing beloved carols. The afternoon service will be a traditional service with candlelight and communion and will feature our children’s choirs, solo instrumentalists, and vocalists. The evening service will be a traditional service with candlelight, and feature an orchestra plus our adult choirs. Let’s celebrate the gift of our Savior!

Bethany and Hoffman Homes
As in the past, our Christmas Eve offerings will be dedicated to UCC affiliates Bethany and Hoffman Homes, which serves young people with residential and mental health needs. Donations to these special homes provide safe, comfortable, and spiritually- nurturing environments. Please use your special offering envelope on December 24th to give generously to support these homes.

Financial Pledges for 2018
If you have not yet handed in your pledge card for 2018, please get one today at the Welcome Center. Please complete the form and place it in the offering plate or in the large white envelope marked “2018” Pledges at the Welcome Center. Thank you.

9:15 Service Lay Readers
Glenn Ebersole is beginning to plan the schedule for Lay Readers for the 9:15 am services in 2018. If you are interested in volunteering to be a reader for this service, please contact Glenn at jgepsu21@gmail.com or at (717) 575-8572.

Wishing Well
It’s time for our Holiday Ministry of gifting Martin Elementary School students for Christmas. Please consider helping to make a youngster’s holiday brighter this season. Please take a gift tag from the poster on the Outreach bulletin board in the Narthex and return the wrapped gift with that gift tag attached no later than December 17. We are also collecting new hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves for the students in the School District of Lancaster who have been displaced due to the hurricanes.

Preschool Registration
Children of church members may register for Apostles Community Preschool’s 2018-19 school year (starting in September 2018) by calling Linda Lewis, Registrar, at (717) 392-5598, or you may email her at LLewis.acp@gmail.com.