Crossroads Notes:

Gingerbread House Extravaganza is coming!           "On Sunday, December 3 the Cool Comings and Young Families Ministry will gather for the annual Gingerbread House Building project. We'll start right after worship with pizza and finish by 3:00 p.m. Parental accompaniment is required for children in 3rd grade or younger. Please bring a bag of candy for personalizing your house. Please also let Jane McIninch (781-272-8466 or jane.mcininch@comcast.net) know you are planning to come so there will be enough gingerbread house kits.           Houses will be displayed in the church during the following week, with a bank in which people will be invited to make donations to Habitat for Humanity. Those who choose may designate their houses to go to shut-ins, etc." Come A-Caroling ! Sunday, December 17 – 3:00 p.m. Fun for all Ages           Three o’clock will be the rallying time in the church parking lot. Join a caroling caravan that will take us to various places such as senior residences, nursing homes, and homes of shut-ins. If you have suggestions for places to carol this year, speak to Rod soon! We will finish by 5:30 or 6:00 with a simple but nose-and toes warming supper. If you’d like to be our host this year, and you live not far from the church, we’d love to have an invitation. Otherwise we will share a meal at the church. It’s a truly intergenerational and heartwarming time. Look for signup on church bulletin board. Christmas Eve Service A Family Tradition with Crèche, Carols and Candlelight Sunday, December 24 – 7:00 p.m.           It’s a long-lived tradition at BPC. There will be nativity tableaux vivants (or living scenes) featuring young folks, in the roles of Mary and Joseph, angels, shepherds and wise men. Choir and congregation will join in many carols. The service will end with a spreading of candlelight throughout the sanctuary. Mr. MacDonald will give a brief message. The Christmas Joy Offering will be received. This service is a wonderful way to introduce friends and neighbors to the church – and maybe to make a difference in their lives.           Notice the time of the service will be 7:00 p.m. this year. Come early for a good pew! Children of all ages are welcome; the nursery room will be warm if any little ones need a ‘change of scene.’

Deacons’ Corner           The Deacons would like to thank everyone who purchased a poinsettia or made a cash donation. The money collected will be dedicated on December 10th. Half of the money will go to the church Emergency Fund, to help church members and friends with short-term emergency needs. The other half will be sent to support mission work in the village of Cabanlutan in the Philippines.           The first Sunday of each month is both Communion Sunday and “Pantry Sunday”, the day we collect food for the Burlington Food Pantry. There are baskets at the front of the church for your food offerings. Food may be placed in the baskets before the service, or if you have children, they can bring it up when they come for the Word for Children. Please be sure to check the expiration dates on any food that you bring. Christmas Joy Offering           The Christmas Joy Offering is one of four special offerings sponsored by the Presbyterian Church (USA). For the recipients of the offering - racial ethnic schools and colleges and the Board of Pensions - these funds provide scholarships for students who might otherwise have few educational opportunities, and serve as a safety net for active and retired clergy families and other church workers.           The offering received on Christmas Eve is used for the Christmas Joy Offering. Envelopes will be available and can be used at other times if you are not able to attend that service.