The Open Door

Cape May Presbyterian Church

The Visitors' Church for over a century: Obedient in faith we intend to work together to touch the lives of others and be disciples of the Lord.

December 7, 2023

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Advent Devotional

Looking for ways to enrich your experience of the holy season of  Advent?  Our friends at A Sanctified Art have provided a special e-reader version of this year’s Advent devotional, which you can access on your computer and mobile devices: online.flippingbook.com/view/136123036/
In order to protect their work, please refrain from sharing this link or posting it on social media.

The devotional is full of lovely artwork and interesting perspectives on the scriptures and themes of the season.  If you would rather read a paper copy, stop by and get yours at the church office! 

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Monday Afternoon Bible Study:

Join us on Monday for the next chapter in our Markan Advent series.   For that series, we'll be reading Holy Disruption: Discovering Advent in the Gospel of Mark.  Ask Pastor Nicole to borrow a copy, or buy your own online. 

Join us any Monday at 4 pm, by Zoom or in person.
Topic: Bible Study
Time: Nov 27, 2023 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
      
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87447195219?pwd=cWVRUWZ4RTZIRk1wM1FSVis4R3BhQT09

Meeting ID: 874 4719 5219
Passcode: 999770

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Celebrate the season of giving

As always at this time of year, our hearts turn toward our neighbors in need.  Your mission committee has organized these four opportunities for us to care for our neighbors through the challenging months of winter. 

The Mitten Tree, a tradition continued in honor of Presbyterian saint Dolly Nash, is accepting mittens, gloves, socks, and hats!  All these warm, cozy items will be given through local helping organizations to keep folks warm through the winter. 

Two things that Branches clients always are in need of are sweat pants (all adult sizes) and towels.  For the next couple of weeks, we are collecting new or gently used examples of either, so please put aside those sweats that no longer fit (no judgement!), or the towel that no longer matches anything, or stick that one more item in your shopping cart and bring them to the narthex!

Our local police department collects toys for children from families that could use a little help with Christmas this year.  Please take a tag from the display in the narthex and bring back an unwrapped toy to participate.  This is a great way for our police to build a positive relationship with the community and to bring a little Christmas cheer. 

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Operation Fireside Christmas Edition



Hosting 24 Coast Guard recruits for Thanks-giving through Operation Fireside was a joyous and rewarding experience! Those same recruits and many others are in desperate need of host families for Christmas Day.  Could you share your Christmas Day celebration with a couple of recruits who are far from home and family?
 
Here are some facts about hosting recruits:
- You don’t have to take them by the dozen, you can host as few as 2 recruits. 
- You don’t have to be in Cape May. Hosts can live within an hour drive of the base. 
- Recruits are picked up at a specific assigned time, generally about 9am, and need to be back at the base by 8 pm
- Drivers do need a quick background check (just with your driver license info) to drive on the base and you need to have a vehicle that safely seats the number of recruits you have requested
- Participating in Operation Fireside is a great way to support our Coast Guard Community and the mission of the Red Cross, while also making a significant impact in the lives of the individual recruits and their families who are missing them at the holidays. 
- Coast Guard recruits are the easiest guests you will ever host!  They are so glad to be able to eat sweets and use their phones and have a day of not being yelled at, it is very easy to make them happy!
 
To participate in Operation Fireside, contact Ken Ballan no later than December 15th at  opfiresidenj@redcross.org or 732-534-4296



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Be a part of our Path of Peace!



Donate to add one light or several,  $7 Each or 3 for $20.
In Memory of loved ones who have passed and in Honor of those who are precious in your life or community.

Credit Cards and PayPal accepted on website.

Together we will light up our corner of Cape May this Christmas!
Our plan is to have the Path all aglow from Dec. 22nd until Dec. 28th. 
Come between services or any time you're available to help make it happen! 
Dottie has instructions and supplies in the nursery, so it's self-explanatory!

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Christmas Eve and December 31

Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year, so we will be worshiping at 11 am on the morning of Dec. 24th for our fourth Sunday in Advent and then again at 11 pm (well, 10:45 pm to be precise) for our Christmas Eve service.  No 9 am service that day!

December 31st at 9 am you will want to be in church for Carol Obligado's last worship service as our organist, choir and bell choir director!  She will have to scoot off as always after the service, so that she can do her grand finale at Church of the Advent. We will find a time and place to celebrate her 21 year ministry with us, never fear!   There will be no 11 am service that Sunday. 

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Holiday worship schedule
Our worship schedule for the next several weeks is as follows.

Dec. 10 and 17th:
                 9 am Traditional Worship with choir and occasional bell choir (also on
                           Facebook and Youtube)
                 11 am Jazz Worship with keyboard, bass, drums, and sax.
                3:45 pm Lessons and Carols Service at Church of the Advent
                           (featuring combined choirs and bell choirs from Cape May Pres
                           and Church of the Advent)

Dec 24     11 am Jazz Worship service (no 9 am worship service!)
                 10:45 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight service

Dec 31       9 am Traditional Worship Service (no 11 am service)
                            Carol Obligado's final service as our music director!

Jan 7          11 am Hymnsing service with communion
                             Ony Randrasana on keyboard!
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Miss church last week?  The text of recent sermons are available on the church's website, and of course videos of the 9 am service are always available on YouTube and Facebook.
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Our Church Staff:
Pastor: Rev. Dr. Nicole Wilkinson
Organist/Choir and Bell Choir Director: Carol Obligado
Keyboardist/Jazz Leader: Greg Pordon
Office Administrator: Nancy DeSantis