NEWS & NOTES

Yellow Roses
The yellow roses at the front of the Worship Center are presented by Mark & Evelyn Ewig in honor of their daughter, Katherine Ewig. Feel free to take a rose to bless someone today.
 
Thank You’s
I want to thank Todd and Basil and the congregation for all the birthday wishes last month.  I also want to thank everyone who came out last Sunday evening to sing Christmas carols with their precious children. It meant a lot and it was a pleasure for me to meet some of the new members also.  Thank you so much to everyone. Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!  With love, Daisy Miller
 
Thank you so much for your prayers, food, & kindness shown to our family during the loss of our beloved mother and grandmother, Sonia Heironimus. Thank you for the beautiful plant. Love, Sharla & Shannon
 
Thank You-Christmas Wrapping
A big thank you to the ladies' ministry who provided a Christmas wrapping service this past week. Our wrappers were Linda Chapman, Becky Russell, Shelly Calvert, Devry Smith, Jo Shelton, Celia Thomas, Barbara Hardy, Mary Crabtree, Melesa Stewart, Kimberly Helm, Kathy & Chris Reinsch.
 
The Light Has Come
This Wednesday, Dec. 17, our Children's Ministry will host an activity for all ages from 6:30-7:30. This is  an interactive celebration of the birth of Jesus told in story and songs.  Please register online at pacoc.net/thelighthascome so we can assign seating around tables to connect kids and their families with individuals, to create an intergenerational setting.
 
Blue Christmas
Waples United Methodist Church is again offering a service of hope for the holidays this Christmas this Tuesday, December 16 at 6:00 PM. This is a quiet reflective service for those who have lost a loved one.
 
Wednesday Nights in December
Our PAWS meal and DMC’s will take a break and will resume again on January 7. See Holiday Schedule opposite for more details.
 
Candlelight Service
Make plans to join us on Christmas Eve for our traditional candlelight service at 6:00 PM.  This is a special service for many here at PACOC and we hope you will join us!
 
Sunday AM Class
Sunday morning adult class will continue at 9 AM in the Ark this Sunday and next. We will take a break Sunday, December 28. Sonshine hour will follow the same schedule.
 
Family Ministry

  • New Year Celebration, Dec. 31  from 6:00-9:00 PM in the Ark!  Bring a snack food to share and games to play!
  • Marriage Retreat, Jan. 23-25th. Register at pacoc.net/family by no later than January 4th.

 
Youth Ministry

  • Sunday, Dec. 14: Christmas Party at Sam & Maddie’s house from 5-8 PM.
  • Monday, Dec. 15:  Word Up at 7:00-8:30 PM at Sam & Maddie’s house.

 
This Week’s Daily Bible Readings:
December 14:  Hebrews 1-2
December 15: Hebrews 3-6
December 16: Hebrews 7-10
December 17: Hebrews 11-13
December 18:  James 1-2
December 19: James 3-5
December 20: 1 Peter 1-2
December 21: 1 Peter 3-5
 
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
Wednesday, December 17
The Light Has Come, 6:30 in the Ark
(NO DMC’S or PAWS until January)
Wednesday, December 24
Candlelight Service at 6:00 PM
Wednesday, December 31
New Years Celebration 6:00-9:00 PM
Church Office Closed/No Church Activities
Thursday & Friday, December 25 & 26
Thursday, January 1
Wednesday, January 7
Normal Schedule Resumes
 
Prayer List
Matt Hogan, Max Williams, Dorothy Bankston, Howard Veasley, Linda Chapman, Linda Henry, Bob Corley, Kyle McAlister, Tom Coble, Patrick Mullins, Kathy Reinsch, Chris Reinsch, Peggy Porter, Elizabeth Phillips, Waymon Hinson, Floyd Clark, Lisa Cobble, Brian Karguth, Margaret Atnip
 
Homebound—Joyce Martin, Daisy Miller, Bobby & Peggy Slaughter, Arlene Joines, Tommy Todd, Larry Watson
 
Expectant Mothers—Allie Dollar
 
Missions—Hammer & Dela Afakule (Togo), Mario “Pepe” Torre (Monterrey, Mexico), Jimenez family (Cartagena, Colombia), Cristian & Ana Corrales (Bucaramanga, Colombia), Adrian & Gabriela Galvan (Paraiso, Monterrey), Rio Branco (Brazil)
 
Friends of Park Avenue—Rebekah Taylor, (great niece of the Russell’s), Becky Sanchez (wife of Gil Sanchez, former Director of orphanage in Mexico), Grady Cobble (father of Mickey Cobble), John Tillias (father in law of David Thomas), Steve Walters (brother of Donna Harrelson), Oliver Bush (father of Amyee McAlister & Ashley Tharp)
 
Please notify the church office at office@parkavenuechurch.com for updates.
 
 
TODD’S TAKE
 
Welcome to Worship.
 
Good morning and welcome! We're so glad to be together as a church family today. If you're visiting with us, thank you for being here—we'd love to get to know you.
 
This morning in the sermon time we will explore another timeless Christmas hymn, O Come, o Come, Emmanuel. Much of Christmas music is joyful and upbeat—songs like "Joy to the World" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" burst with celebration. But "O Come O Come Emmanuel" is different. It carries an ache, a longing, almost a sadness.

Why do we sing a song of yearning at Christmas?
 
Today, we'll explore how this ancient 7th-century hymn captures something essential about the Christian life. It takes us into the hearts of Old Testament believers who waited centuries for the Messiah, feeling the weight of a world gone wrong. It celebrates the incredible moment when God finally broke His silence and came to us in Christ. And it reminds us that even though Jesus has come, we still live with an ache—waiting for the day when He returns and makes all things new.
 
Glad you are here today!
 
 
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2026
 
Sunday, January 4: Covenant Sunday—Be the Light
As is our annual tradition, we will kick off the year with our special Covenant Sunday service, challenging all of us to recommit ourselves to personal holiness and service through the Lord's church. This year's theme will be Be the Light, taken from Jesus' challenge in Matthew 5:14. Make plans to join us on this special day.
 
January 18–February 1: Elder Nomination Window
Every three years as a church, we go through the process of reaffirming those elders who will continue to serve and installing any new elders who will join our leadership team. We've been blessed through the decades with great leadership and pray that God will continue to raise up men to shepherd this church. Be in prayer about who you think could serve in that capacity as we will be taking nominations from the church.
 
Sundays, January 6–May 3: Re|engage
Another session of re|engage will kick off. Re|engage is discipleship-based enrichment for every marriage—the healthy, the struggling, and the broken. This ministry provides a safe place to move toward oneness through small groups, teaching, and stories of hope.
 
January 23-25: Marriage Retreat
Invest in your marriage together by committing to the Marriage Getaway this January 23-25! This will be a great chance to relax, reflect, and reconnect with one another. The retreat will be held at the beautiful Chickasaw Retreat and Conference Center in Sulphur, OK.
Register now at pacoc.net/marriagegetaway
 
 
 

Sunday Schedule
Adult Bible Classes
9AM Room D & Youth Suite
9AM Sonshine Hour for kids 4 years old to 6th grade in ARK. Under 4 yrs old in the nursery of main building for parents attending Bible Class
Worship
10:00 AM
Children Dismissed to Bible Classes at
10:45-11:30AM
0 - 3 Year Olds—Nursery Area
Pre K-6th Grade—Family Life Center
Youth Group Activities
5:30-7:30PM
Discipleship Making Communities (DMC’s)
Meet at various times and locations

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