YEAR-END SACRIFICIAL GIVING TO CHRIST’S CHURCH AS THE YEAR CLOSES

A large portion of the church’s contributions are received in the last 2 months of the year, and are annually needed to end the year fiscally sound as a church. Please remember that your tithes and offerings must be received by December 31. Sacrificial giving to the General Fund and also to Missions is deeply encouraged by all as we model our Savior whose gifts to us are eternally priceless. We are equipped to handle gifts of stock also. Please prayerfully make Christ’s Church the recipient of your heartfelt and generous giving.

Lessons and Carols

Join us on December 16 at 8:30 or 11:00 a.m. for our Lessons and Carols service entitled "The Glory of the Incarnation." This service of worship will be led by our Sanctuary Choir accompanied by chamber orchestra and will feature scripture readings, congregational carols and a homily on the indescribable gift of Christ coming to earth for us.

Congregational Meeting on January 13, 2019

At the Session meeting last week, the elders approved men to stand for election by the congregation. These men are recommended for the office of Deacon: Jamie Murphy, Austin Stewart, and Charlie Upton. These men are recommended for the office of Elder: Phil Ethridge; Brad Ingram, Steve Morris, John Slater, and Rob Waltzer. The congregational meeting to elect officers will be held during the Sunday School hour on January 13, 2019. The ordination/installation service of those elected will be on the following Sunday evening (January 20). More information about each of these men will be coming soon.

Operation Christmas Child success

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Many THANKS to all who participated in Operation Christmas Child this year. We had a great year with collections of over 20,000 shoeboxes at POPC and over 41,000 shoeboxes in our area! Praise the Lord for his gracious provision and for allowing us the privilege to serve Him in this ministry. Please continue to pray for the children who will receive the boxes, and all involved in the process of getting the boxes delivered. May this be a tradition that our church family participates in annually to prepare our hearts for the season. Merry Christmas!

Hurricane Relief Trip

There is a Hurricane Michael relief trip planned to assist Mission to North America’s Disaster Response teams in Panama City, FL. The plan is as follows: • Leave Thursday, December 6th at noon from POPC • Work Friday and Saturday • Return Sunday, December 9th by 5pm Volunteers of at least 15 years of age and of all skill levels are encouraged to consider the trip. Any volunteers under the age of 18 will need to be accompanied by an adult. Please e-mail sethwinchester@gmail.com for more information.

Sonbeams/JAF Jackson delivering Christmas Packages to families with special needs

Sonbeams and JAF Mississippi will deliver Christmas packages to families with special needs on the evening of Tuesday, December 11. We are now accepting donations for purchasing gifts for these families. If you would like to give, please make your checks payable to POPC and denote "Sonbeams/Christmas" on the memo line. Checks may be placed in the offering plate or given to John Kwasny. For more information, or to sign up to help with deliveries, please contact Morgan Vitart (601-717-4058).

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Youth Christmas Party on December 5

All 7th-12th graders are invited to our annual Youth Christmas Party on Wednesday, December 5! We will meet in the Multi-Purpose Building from 5:30-7:30 p. m. for pancakes and hot chocolate. Wear your PJ’s and bring a $5, wrapped gift for the White Elephant exchange. There is a $5 fee at the door for food! This will be our last Wednesday night meeting for the semester.

Poinsettias benefiting Palmer Home for Children

If you are interested in purchasing a Palmer Home poinsettia for the Christmas Eve worship service, please sign-up in Sunday School or complete an order form located near the entrances, and place in the offering plate. The cost is $18.00. Orders must be placed by December 2. You may get your poinsettia after the Christmas Eve service on the 24th.

Grown in the Hope Grows greenhouses at Palmer Home for Children, each poinsettia purchase you make will go toward rescuing and restoring children who have had their childhoods stripped away, providing them with a home and a family this holiday season.

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Coats for Mission First/Neighborhood Christian Center

Pear Orchard has supported Mission First (and Neighborhood Christian Center) in downtown Jackson for the past several years. One of the ways we have supported them is by helping with their Christmas store each December.

Mission First/Neighborhood Christian Center sponsors a Christmas store for the children who attend their after-school program. Many of the parents are unable to provide essentials for their children, so they are given the opportunity to shop (for a small fee) for their child. Each child is provided with a new school uniform, book bag, devotional, some toys and essentials such as underwear, socks, pajamas, and coats.

This year we will be providing coats for the students. If you would like to help please visit https://buff.ly/2zLhp7k to sign up to donate coats or read more about giving money toward a coat. Please note: in the past, we have donated fleeces, but they are wanting winter coats this year.

November 11 is Operation Christmas Child Sunday!

Sunday, November 11th is Operation Christmas Child Sunday! On that Sunday, we will be putting together Operation Christmas Child boxes in all children’s Sunday School classes. Empty boxes will be placed in the classrooms for packing.

The students are encouraged to bring toys, toiletries, and other appropriate items to their classes to pack in the boxes. It is very important to include a $9.00 check (or more if felt led) to help cover the shipping cost the attached brochure gives you all the details or you can pay for your shoebox shipping online at Samaritanspurse.org.

If you do not have a student but would like to donate items for the shoes boxes in the Sunday School classes please leave your items and checks in the Children’s Ministry office during the week or on Sunday morning.

Youth Retreat

Youth Fall Retreat is November 9 -11! We would love prayers for our speaker, Elliott Everitt, as well as prayer for all of the 73 students and chaperones attending the retreat. Please be sure to have health/t-shirt forms turned in no later than November 9. The link is on the POPC Youth page on the website.

Orphan Sunday: Moses Basket collecting funds

In honor of orphan Sunday, November 11, Moses’ Basket will be collecting funds for The Boys’ Home Project in Odessa, Ukraine. This project headed up by our POPC supported missionary, Michelle Maly, provides rent-to-own housing for orphan graduates. Each home costs $36,000 to build. Currently, 3 homes are occupied and 3 more are under construction. Please pray for these graduates and consider donating to help these orphans transition into independent living. Moses’ Basket will have a table on the first floor of the education building on November 4 and 11 with more information. Throughout the month of November, donations will be taken in Sunday School and online under the giving option “Orphan Sunday”.

Operation Christmas Child Collection Week

Operation Christmas Child National Collection Week: November 12-19, 2018

What can you do?

Pray: No ministry is possible without the fervent prayers of all involved- for the collection, processing, and delivery of the Gospel Opportunity boxes around the world and for the children and families receiving them. Pray that they will come to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus and Christ and be able to share that same love with others.

Prepare: Help enlist families, schools, other churches, scout troops, neighborhoods, community groups and businesses to take part in creating many shoebox gifts for needy children all over the world.

Pack: Pack a shoebox! Don't forget to include your donation of $9 to cover the costs of shipping, distribution and training. Give online through Follow Your Box to discover the destination of your shoebox. Step-by-step packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org.

Volunteer: Many volunteers are needed at POPC during National Collection Week. Sign up to help pack shoeboxes into cartons, greet people as they drop off boxes, and pray with over the boxes received. Children over 10 are welcome. If you or your family are interested in volunteering or have questions, contact Jenny Murphy at 601-906-9776 or jmurphy61@yahoo.com.j

Annual Fall Retreat for 7th-12th graders

All 7th-12th graders are invited to attend our annual Fall Retreat, November 9-11, at Central Hills Baptist Retreat Center. So far, we have 61 students that have signed up! This is a great time of fellowship, fun, and study of God’s Word. Elliott Everitt, from MSU RUF, will teach through Philippians. There is still time, so please bring a $110 (total cost) check made out to POPC by Wednesday, October 31, to secure your spot. Scholarships are available. Please email Dottie at defird@ccs.ms for more information, to sign up, or hear about scholarship opportunities.