The Seed Newsletter
November 21, 2021
THANKSGIVING SUNDAY AT CHRSTIAN TEMPLE
This Thanksgiving Sunday, November 21st, are going to sing the great old hymn "Bringing in the Sheaves" AND invite everyone who has been a little hesitant to be among the "sheaves" who gather for in-person worship to make this the day for your return! Bring yourselves. Bring your kids. Bring a friend. Bring all the sheaves! Oh, and let's also do one thing that is impossible while worshiping online- bring in a can or two of food from the following grocery list:
You will have an opportunity to drop off your canned "offering" in the Gathering as you make your way into the sanctuary. Then, when we sing our hymn, these offerings will be brought forward to be placed at the foot of the cross.
Make plans to join us on Sunday, November 21st to give thanks to the God who has journeyed with us during this season of trials, loss, and growth by offering a token of our appreciation!
CYF IS SHOPPING FOR CHILDREN'S HOME KIDS!
This Sunday after worship, the CYF group will be going shopping for kids from the Children's Home. Because they are all teens, the items tend to cost a little more so we'd love to get donations to help us purchase for more kids. You can donate online through Christian Temple's Website by clicking on the Donation Tab (located on the lower left-hand side of our Home page). Just follow the directions and enter your donation to go toward the CYF- Children's Home Christmas Shopping Trip fund. You can also bring cash on Sunday or drop it off at the office.
We hope to be able to make Christmas special for a few of the kids who find hope at the Children's Home. We will be making a card that you can use to give your donation in honor of someone. That person who has everything? How about donating a hoodie or cool t-shirt in their honor? Cards will be available soon. Just let Jayna Powell know if you'd like one...
POINSETTIAS, PLEASE?
ORDERS ACCEPTED THROUGH NOVEMBER 29TH!
This year in order to make our Sanctuary both pretty and seasonal for our in-person and livestream services, won't you please consider contributing for poinsettias to on the Worship Center and baptistery?
If you are willing to give a poinsettia in honor of memory of a loved one, please let the office know! Order forms will be available online and in the Gathering area. The price will be $11 per plant. We will also publish the names of those honored/remembered. If we get enough, we might even be able to create our poinsettia tree! Thank you for your support.
IT'S COLLEGE CARE PACKAGE TIME!
WE need your help!
1. We need to know who the college students are! Please call or email Robin in the office and let her know where your college student will be the first 2 weeks of December as we hope to mail them out on November 30th. Give Robin an address and, if they are local, we might hand deliver.
2. We need STUFF to put in the boxes! Homemade goodies, toys and trinkets, candy of all kind, hot chocolate packets, popcorn packets, etc...There will be a box in the Gathering this week. You can drop stuff off when you come to worship or anytime before November 29th.
3. We can use donations to help pay for shipping.
This is a fun and meaningful way for us to tell our college students we support them and love them! Can you help us out? (Not sure how many we have...probably around 15).
SECOND ANNUAL LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTIAN TEMPLE CHRISTMAS TREE- SUNDAY AFTERNOON, NOVEMBER 28TH
Last year, out of Pandemic necessity to stay outside, we instituted a new tradition here at Christian Temple! On the afternoon of the first Sunday of Advent, we all gathered in the front of the church to light the big tree in our front yard. AND, we brought our Chrismon tree out to the front porch to be decorated. It was fun singing a few carols and imagining what it might be like to be a "Who" in Whoville singing praise to Christmas, or being one of Peanuts' gang standing around Charlie Brown's tree that only needs a little love.
So, this year we are repeating the tradition by gathering at 4 pm on Sunday, November 28th in front of the church. We'll have the Chrismon tree on hand to decorate, along with a little hot chocolate, the Church band will be on hand to lead us in singing, and we may even have a visit from the Grinch who stole Christmas!
So, since we aren't all sure about gathering indoors for advent worship, grab the kids and wander over to Christian Temple on Sunday, November 28th at 4 pm. You'll be glad you did!
KIDS CHOIR WELCOMES ALL KIDS!
Each Sunday from 10:15-10:45, the Kids Choir meets on Zoom to learn about Jesus through music. We'd love to have your child join us! The link is posted each week in the Sunday information. Also, the choir will be singing IN PERSON this week at worship! ALL kids are welcome to join us! We'll be singing "So Much", so even if you haven't been to practice, you can join us! Rather than our regular 10:15 practice, we'll be in person at church at 10:45 to sing. See you there!
And we'll be singing again on Sunday, December 19th...we'll be learning our Christmas songs beginning on the 29th of November.
NINE O’CLOCK FORUM NEWS
Vaughn Ouellette will be leading a discussion based on the book “Stamped From The Beginning.” This book is about the history of racism and the individuals who defined it, used religion and science to justify it, and built profitable endeavors by it. The author tells how racist ideas have historically sprung from racist policies and how it was used for self-preservation of the ruling class. The book spans the period from Aristotle to Cotton Mather to Angela Davis. The book is divided into five sections with five to eight chapters per section. We plan on doing on section each Sunday.
While buying and reading the book is certainly an option, it is not a requirement to participate in the discussion. Summary materials are available in the Church Office or by requesting a copy at: vaughn.ouellette@verizon.net.
Join us on Zoom for our Nine O’Clock Forum starting Sunday, October 24 through Sunday, November 21.
9 O’Clock Forum (Sundays) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/602793616
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO ISN'T RECEIVING THE SEED?
Our email distribution lists are almost up-to-date, but we are concerned that we may have missed a friend or two during this process. If you know of anyone who isn't receiving the J&C and/or The Seed, please ask them to let the office know. Contact Robin at 410-747-2041 or at office@christiantemple.org. Thank you!
ZOOM LINKS!
Wednesday Bible Study
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89678926477?pwd=Yno4ZW01RER0a00zNGlnWUFyWE9wQT09
The Well, Thursdays (6:30 PM)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89200881845
9:00 Forum, Sundays (9 AM)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/602793616
Children's Choir, Sundays (10:15- 10:45 AM)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87001372088
