NEWS & NOTES
Christmas Eve Service
There will be an in-person Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on Thursday, December 24th at 6 PM. We are also planning an online service for Christmas Eve. More details will follow. 

Flowers
Mark and Evelyn Ewig have provided roses at the front of the auditorium in memory of their daughter Katherine’s birthday. Please take one of these and share it with a friend or family member to spread the joy that Katherine embodied.

Thank You
Thank you to Tanya Tesseyman for donating the poinsettias on the sides of the stage in memory of Barbara and Gerald Locke.
 
Sympathy
We extend our sympathy to Ralph Baldwin at the loss of his brother-in-law, Rex Heavin. 

Community Prayer Gathering
Western Heights is hosting a community prayer gathering this Sunday, December 13th, from 3:30-4:30 PM, on the Sherman Municipal Lawn (where Hot Summer Nights is located). Come join us for a time of community prayer as we seek God’s guidance to seek reconciliation in the Texoma community. Prayers will be offered, and Bible passages will be read by various Christian ministry leaders in our area. Please bring your own chair. 
 
Volunteers Needed
We are looking for additional volunteers to assist in facilitating our online worship experience! If you are interested in running slides, operating cameras, or facilitating discussion on Facebook during the service, please contact Cina Catteau. 

Youth Ministry

  • December 13th: Park Avenue youth Service Project. We will start right after morning worship (11:45ish). Pizza will be provided for lunch and then we will begin to bag and deliver bags. Hopefully will take around 2-2 and 1/2 hours.
  • December 16th: Park Avenue Youth Christmas Party from 6:15-7:45pm in the Gym. Students please bring a $10 gift card for a game. 

 Children’s Corner

  • Classes for kids age 2-6th grade will be dismissed during the sermon at 10:45. 
  • There will be no children’s classes on Sunday, December 27th. 
  • The Way in the Manger Activity: We are currently out of the Advent and Devotional Sticker books but we have some on order. 
  • Dough Holy Night Children’s Activity: We are hosting “Dough Holy Night” on Sunday, December 13th. This is a fun and interactive experience designed for your family to do at home. Together you’ll bake a batch of Christmas cookies and, along the way, hear the story of the very first Christmas. There’s a video that walks you step-by-step through the entire experience. If you would like to participate with your kids or grandchildren, please inform Rachel McClure or sign up at pacoc.net/dough


PRAYER LIST
Betty Clark, James Hawk, Dewey Martin, Bob Corley, Sandra Aynes, June Washburn, Nancy Richard, Sarah Carroll
 
Ongoing Needs
Jim & Jane Scroggins, Terry Waggoner, Pat Ardis, Kay Skelton, Lisa  Cobble, Bobby & Peggy Slaughter, Sandra Thomas,  Larry Long, Corky Armstrong,  Judy Shelton, Mary Pope, Gene Stogner, Kimberly Pendergrass, Kaile Williams (Norris), Peggy Parkey
 
Homebound
Barbara Corbett, Ray & Marsha Jones, Chris Keene, JD Huffman
 
Missions
Hammer & Dela Afakule (Togo), Mario “Pepe” Torre (Monterrey, Mexico)
 
Friends of Park Avenue
Rebekah Taylor (great niece of the Russells), Becky Sanchez (wife of Gil Sanchez, Director of orphanage in Mexico), Betty & Misty (family of Pat Chandler)

TODD'S TAKE
Good morning and welcome to our worship services.  Today I will conclude our series on What Scripture Says about Gender. I know this is a complicated topic and realize that as we discover truths from Scripture there are also many questions raised. If you have concerns, questions, or comments I am more than willing to sit down with you individually or through Zoom to talk.

Next Sunday is our last Sunday before Christmas, so I’m asking everyone to wear their best and brightest holiday attire. Although our Christmas celebrations may be a little different this year, that does not take away from the significance and meaning of the birth of Christ. In fact, the events of 2020 may even amplify the significance and meaning of Christmas. As the Hebrews writer says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” - regardless of our personal or global circumstances.

Park Avenue will offer two opportunities to observe Christmas Eve this year. We will have our traditional Christmas Eve service in-person at the building at 6 PM and we will post a pre-recorded Christmas Eve service on Facebook and YouTube that will premiere at 6 PM on Christmas Eve.  The in-person service will not be streamed but I assure you the pre-recorded service will be meaningful and reflective. We hope that you will join us in either one of those services and ask that you invite others.

For all our Daily Bible Readers, we are approaching the end of the year-long journey.  Kudos to all who stuck with the readings and blessings to all who participated to any extent. Even as the calendar turns to 2021 let us all continue to devote ourselves daily to the reading of the Word. Although our children’s classes will not meet on Sunday, December 27, we will meet to wrap up our class.

On Sunday, December 27 we will pause and remember the Park Avenue members who have passed away in 2020. We’ve had to say goodbye to many this year, but look forward to a great reunion. Blessings and peace to all who are dealing with loss during the holidays. 

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