November 30, 2022
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  Sunday, December 4 – The Second Sunday of Advent
               9:30 AM Sunday School, Combined Adult Advent Study
               11:00 AM Worship Service
 
Sunday, December 11 – The Third Sunday of Advent
               9:30 AM Sunday School, Combined Adult Advent Study
               11:00 AM Worship Service
Friday, December 16
               11:00 AM McGregor Preschool Christmas Program
 
Sunday, December 18 – The Fourth Sunday of Advent
               9:30 AM Sunday School, Combined Adult Advent Study
               11:00 AM Worship Service – Adult Choir Lessons and Carols
               4:00 PM – Community Christmas Carol Sing on the Labyrinth
Come, and bring your neighbors and friends to enjoy singing Christmas Carols on the Labyrinth, followed by light refreshments.
 
Saturday, December 24 – Christmas Eve
               6:00 PM Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Worship Service
(Contact Jane Tyer at 803/261-6351 to make nursery reservations for Christmas Eve.  The reservation deadline is Sunday, December 18.) 
 
Sunday, December 25 – Christmas Day
               No Sunday School or Nursery
               11:00 AM Christmas Day Worship Service (casual)
 
Sunday, January 1 – New Year’s Day
               No Sunday School or Nursery
               11:00 AM Worship Service

  Sunday Worship Service with Communion:  Second Sunday of Advent, December 4, 2022 at 11:00 AM
Please have bread and juice/wine ready to share The Lord’s Supper together.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87675712486
Meeting ID: 876 7571 2486
When connecting by phone:  +1 301 715 8592 US
 
Sunday Worship Service:  Third Sunday of Advent, December 11, 2022 at 11:00 AM
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82869124097
Meeting ID: 828 6912 4097
When connecting by phone:  +1 301 715 8592 US

If you have not yet made your 2023 pledge of time, talent, and treasure, please return your pledge by THIS Sunday, December 4.  We are finalizing the numbers for our 2023 McGregor Presbyterian Church Stewardship Campaign.  The Session relies on the congregation’s pledges of financial support in order to craft McGregor’s ministry and mission budget for 2023.  You may place your pledge card in the offering plate, mail or drop it off in the church office or email our church bookkeeper, Carolyn Holland, at csholl01@gmail.com.  Thank you!
 
  At its October and November meetings, the Session:

• Approved Fully Human, Fully Divine (paired with Holy Disruption) as the adult Sunday School curriculum for four Advent Sundays, with books to be provided by the church
• Approved Hope as the youth curriculum for Advent
• Elected Marisa Adams as treasurer of McGregor
• Contracted with Joe Boyle to review the 2022 financial books of McGregor in early 2023
• Approved a draft of McGregor’s by-laws.  They will need to be approved by the congregation at the January congregational meeting.
• Heard a report from the Finance Committee that income is just slightly less than spending at this point.
• Heard a report from the Personnel Committee that the search for the “Discipleship Coordinator” position has been suspended for the time being.
• Approved changing the name of the church in the church’s by-laws from “McGregor Presbyterian Church of Irmo, SC” to “McGregor Presbyterian Church”
• Approved the Covenant Agreement for Interim Pastors between McGregor Presbyterian Church and Rev. Robyn Garrison for the period January 1-December 31, 2023.  The agreement now goes to the Presbytery Committee on Ministry for approval.
• Approved 6 pm as the start time of the Christmas Eve service

  Many McGregor members have already reserved or are considering reserving a niche in the McGregor Columbarium, like Belinda and I have.  We reserved our niche shortly after the Columbarium was completed in 2017.  We had made payments, but a couple of weeks ago was reminded that we still had one payment remaining.  We made our final payment shortly before Thanksgiving.  It feels good to finally have gotten “around to it.”  If anyone would like information on the Columbarium and details about a niche reservation, contact Tony Langton at 803/767-8043 or anyone on the Memorial Garden Committee.

You are invited to stop in Classroom B (across from the nursery) anytime during Advent to engage in Advent Prayer Stations.  We will add a new station each week through the four Sundays of Advent.  Instructions and guidance will be provided so you will know exactly what to do.  This is an invitation to take some time this season to be still and reflect in different ways on how Advent is speaking to you as we explore the gifts of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.  We do ask that you enter the room quietly, so as not to disturb others who may already be in there.  If you aren't able to stop in on a Sunday, the prayer stations will be available throughout the week.  We hope you will find these a meaningful added practice to the Advent season.
 
  Copies of the 2022 McGregor Advent Devotionals are available in the narthex and church lobby.  The devotionals were written by McGregor members with the theme of our 50^th McGregor Church Anniversary celebration in mind, “Our Story … Moving Forward.”  Each devotional contains a passage of scripture and insights into what McGregor Church has meant to the writer and their hopes and prayers for the future of our church family. 
 
  This Sunday, December 4 is the deadline to turn in your poinsettia designation forms and payment.  You may designate a poinsettia in honor of or in memory of a loved one for $15 per designation.  The designations will be listed on an insert in the Sunday, December 11 bulletin. 
 
  Our McGregor Holiday Mailbox is in the narthex so you may send Christmas cards to your McGregor family and friends (without paying any postage!).  Simply place your addressed cards in the alphabetized file folders in the box.  Then check to see if there are any cards for you.  The Holiday Mailbox will be available for use through Sunday, January 8. 

  Once again Parrish & Partners, LLC and Burkett, Burkett, & Burkett CPA, PA teamed up for a friendly competition for a Food Drive benefiting our McGregor Snack Packs Program.  The two companies combined to raise $3000 in food and monetary donations during this year’s challenge.  Parrish & Partners edged out the win over Burkett & Burkett for 2022.  But the biggest win goes to the school children at H. E. Corley Elementary, Nursery Road Elementary, Irmo Elementary, Irmo Middle, and Irmo High that receive McGregor Snack Packs.  We are so thankful to Parrish & Partners, LLC and Burkett, Burkett, & Burkett CPA, PA for their generosity!
  During the month of December, we are collecting cans of chicken noodle soup, microwave pasta bowls, and small individual boxes of breakfast cereal.  Please drop off your donations in the church lobby.   
 
  Sunday, December 4 – The Second Sunday of Advent
               9:30 AM              Sunday School
               11:00 AM            Sunday Worship Service with Communion
Monday, December 5
               6:00 PM               Property Committee
Wednesday, December 7
               10:00 AM            Wednesday Morning Bible Study – online
               7:30 PM               Adult Choir Rehearsal
Sunday, December 11 – The Third Sunday of Advent
               9:30 AM               Sunday School
               11:00 AM            Sunday Worship Service
 
 
Dear McGregor Church Family,
We would like to thank you for all the prayers, cards, and thoughtfulness during Dave’s recent illness.  We are so appreciative and grateful for our caring church family.
Beth and Dave Ferris
 
  12/6 Jason Adams, Hope McKinney
12/10 Carol MacNett
12/12 Austin Hines
12/13 Marisa Adams
12/16 Katrina Gibson
12/17 Becky Caskey
12/18 Benjamin Cartin
12/19 Siang Ku Chin
12/21 Emily Dale, Mary Ann Thomas
12/25 Rebecca Moody
12/27 Mickey Floyd
12/29 Karin Brockelman
 
  Children, from 4 years through 5^th grade are invited to participate in an Advent Adventure mission project to help Caroline Wildlife on Saturday, December 10 from 10:00 AM until 12:30 PM at Seven Oaks Presbyterian Church.  Participates must register by December 7 at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf_qbdC2ft7Q0B85xaf2BxpQlA_FRscxnJNnIJmc_dXG9Pd_A/viewform.  There will be snacks, stories, crafts, music, and lots of fun!  Suggested donations include:  wild bird seed; shelled/unshelled walnuts and pecans; unflavored Pedialyte; dawn dish soap; hand sanitizer; towels; blankets.