to all of our Kirk Family

From the Staff

Jody Welker, Stephanie Arnold, Cathy Church Norman,
Ron McMenamin, Nancy Stokes, Mary Kay Campbell,
Frank Pittman, Bonnie Pendleton, Joel Huenemann,
Brenda Holladay, Tammy Cobb, Stephanie Thorpe,
Phillip Mogeni

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Worship Schedule

Sermon Series:
"Songs of the Season"

Saturday, December 24
5:00 p.m. Family Candlelight Communion Service
(Childcare for infants through 2-year-olds)

8:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion Service
(childcare for infants through 2-year-olds)

11:00 p.m. Candlelight Lessons and Carols Service
(no childcare)

Sunday, December 25
No Sunday School Classes held
11:00 a.m. Worship Service
(Childcare for infants through - 2-year-olds)

Sunday, January 1, 2006
No Sunday School Classes held
11:00 a.m Worship Service
Childcare for infants through - 2-year-olds)

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December 25, 2005
11:00 a.m.
Christmas Day
A Service of Music and Meditation

Pastor on Call - If you have an emergency over the weekend and need pastoral assistance, please contact
Ron McMenamin (753-6597)

Texts:
Luke 1:26-38
Luke 2:1-20
John 1:1-14

Attendance:
Sunday, December 18, 2005
8:30 a.m.: 130
11:00 a.m.: 533

Jody's Journal

Dear Family and Friends of the Kirk,

They say “good things come to those who wait.” This has an advent sound to me. For weeks now the Advent season has asked us to wait. In homes, as presents gather under a tree, we know we have to wait to open the gifts. In worship, some have been waiting to sing more Christmas carols rather than advent hymns. (Though we’ve let a few of the Christmas carols slip in from time to time!). Waiting can be difficult. But I’ve also discovered that waiting builds anticipation and excitement that culminates when the waiting is over. This weekend, the waiting is over! On Christmas Eve, we open the gift God has been telling us about for weeks as we’ve listened to prophets, John the Baptist, and many other voices. We’ll open the gift at three services: 5:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.

On Christmas Day, we will have a rare opportunity to celebrate the gift of Christ on his exact birthday. The last time that happened was 1994! I hope after you open your presents at home, you will find joy in coming to celebrate Christmas in worship with your Christian family. Our service will be informal (dress casual) with lots of Christmas carols to sing and a lighter meditation on the Christmas story.

In whatever way you choose to celebrate Christmas, I hope you will have a very merry Christmas - because you will have celebrated and experienced the joyful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ into our lives. In closing, I want to share something the mystic Meister Eckhart said:

“What good is it that Christ was born 2000 years ago if he is not born now in your heart? Lord, we do far too much celebrating your actual coming in our hearts. I believe in God, but do I believe in God-in-me? I believe in God in heaven, but do I believe in God-on-earth? I believe in God out there, but do I believe in God-with-us? Lord, be born in my heart. Come alive in me this Christmas! Amen.”

Merry Christmas to you all!

Jody

A PRAYER BEFORE OPENING PRESENTS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Lord and Giver of all good things, the magi traveled for miles to bring the Christ child the first Christmas presents. So may we, too, remember with thankful hearts the love that comes with each present we open. We also thank you for the love you have for each of us, and we thank you for the many gifts that you give us, especially the gift of life itself. Amen.

Mary Kay's Cary Days

Christmas Greetings to all!

The music is learned, the bells are polished, the microphones are in place, the processional carol is rehearsed. We now await the calendar. We have been steadily moving through the season of Advent in anticipation of Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.

The three services on Christmas Eve each offer carol singing for all, but participation by different musical ensembles and soloists.

5:00 p.m. - KirkKids Choir, directed by Elizabeth Luttrell

Adult Handbell Ensemble, directed by Katherine Brekke

11:00 p.m. – Chancel Choir and Kirk Ringers

Our organist, Frank Pittman, will be offering a half hour of seasonal selections preceeding both the 8:00 .pm. and 11:00 p.m. services. Come and allow his music to transport you from the busy-ness of the holiday to the holiness of the celebration of Christ’s birth.

Organ, brass, winds, voices, bells, choirchimes, harp - the most important ingredients in our musical preparations and offerings have been the willingness, the commitment and the great spirit present in the musicians who make it happen week by week. We are supported in great love by those of you who sing with us from the pew, who worship with us in a spirit of mutual support and who give of your energies, time and monies to this wonderful work of music ministry in the celebration of our Christian faith. We are blessed here at the Kirk in all seasons. This is my first Christmas here at the Kirk and also in the beautiful state of North Carolina. I have been touched by the gifts of love (and goodies!) not only in December but throughout the past 12 months. Thank you all. May you each have a blessed time with family and friends in this season of hope and peace.

Merry Christmas!

Mary Kay

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Krier
A reminder that there will be no Krier emailed next week. The next issue will be January 5, 2006.

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Painters Needed Are you adept with a paint brush? Can you paint neatly (without slopping all over)? We need 20 painters to come Saturday, January 14, to paint the walls of the Great Hall. We aren’t painting a pattern or scene,

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Advanced Ticket Sales to our Auction Saturday, January 28, 2006 MacGregor Country Club 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. Heavy hors d'oeuvres, wine & dessert. Cash bar. Price of tickets: $25 per person. Free childcare at the Kirk (6:00 - 10:30 p.m.) Reservations are needed to make sure we have enough staff that evening.

Auction tickets are available to the entire congregation in the church office during the week.

Thank you!

The Ramp Committee
James Crawford
Lisa Eberhart
Patty Snow

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Habitat for Humanity 2006 The Kirk has committed to provide volunteers on the following Saturdays for 2006: January 28, February 25, March 25, April 22, May 20, June 24, July 22, August 26, September 23, October 28, and November 11. There is no

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Spring Women's Retreat Registration
It’s time to reserve your spot to attend the Rockfish Women’s Retreat, April 28-30, 2006. The 24 rooms and meeting facility are all in one beautiful building, and the dining hall is within walking distance. The cost will be $115.00 (includes: $85.00 for a shared room for two nights, $30.00 for 3 meals on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday). Registration forms are on the table in the Library and in the church office and may be returned to the WIHN mailslot in the workroom. You may also contact Amy Woynicz or Sandra Clark to reserve your spot. A 50% ($57.50) deposit is due at the time of registering. Registrations are due no later than January 5, 2006. We will have some optional additional cost activities (yoga, archery, challenge course, repel tower, memory scrapbook) you can sign up for; more details will be presented at the brunch to help you decide on these options.

Co-Vice Moderators
Amy Woynicz and Sandra Clark

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Host Families Needed
There is a need for people interested in being a Host Family for a Belarussian child. These children were exposed to the radioactive debris from the Chernobyl plant explosion in Russia and most are from orphanages. A church family pays to have them brought here for donated medical and dental care. The host family has to pay the child's travel expense and would keep the child in their home for three to six weeks during the month of June. For further information contact Janet Turner.

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2006 Guatemala Mission Trip - July 15-22nd
This coming summer the Kirk of Kildaire is planning its first international mission trip to Guatemala. Jody Welker, Linda Hale and Virginia Anthony will be leading a group of 15 people to Guatemala to live, work, serve and worship within a community. We will be working with PRESGOV (a program of the National Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Guatemala). We will also be working with our own PC(USA) workers, including David Wiseman, who recently left Cary Presbyterian. During the week, you grow closer to members of the Kirk, to new friends in a Christian community in Guatemala, grow spiritually and work on a project. People who go on these trips often return spiritually renewed and personally transformed with a renewed vision for mission.

Key dates to keep in mind: January 22 at 5:00 p.m. – an Informational Meeting

February 12 – Application and deposits are due

For more information:
a) Look for a description of the trip and application in the narthex (with a hope to also add it to our webpage)

b) Contact one of the leaders:

Linda Hale
Virginia Anthony
Jody Welker (467-4944)

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Faith Quest learns about The Prodigal Son January 8 - 29, 2006

Tax collectors and other disreputable people were crowding around to listen to Jesus. The Pharisees (devout Jews who followed the law very closely) and teachers of Jewish law started grumbling, "This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them." So Jesus told this story:
Once a man had two sons. The younger son said to his father, "Give me my inheritance now." So the father divided his property between his two sons. The younger son packed up everything he owned and left for a foreign country, where he wasted all his money in wild living. After he had spent everything, a bad famine spread through that whole land. Soon he had nothing to eat. He went to work for a man in that country, and the man sent him out to take care of his pigs. He would have been glad to eat what the pigs were eating, but no one gave him a thing. Finally, he came to his senses and said, "My father's workers have plenty to eat, and here I am, starving to death! I will go home and say, `Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son. Treat me like one of your workers.' " The younger son started back to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him.
But what happened next? Come to Faith Quest to hear the rest of the story.

Memory Verse: "Be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ." Ephesians 4:32 (CEV)

Offering: Boys and Girls Club

What we will learn:
• God loves us always, even when we do wrong things.
• God forgives us when we ask.
• Making bad choices can hurt you and others.
• God doesn't want us to be jealous even when things don't seem fair.
• God wants us to be thankful for what we have.

What is happening in Faith Quest Workshops?
• In Holywood, watch the video "Prodigal Son".
• In Antioch Arcade, play a game using the Big Game Wheel to see how well you know the story of the Prodigal Son.
• In Creation Station, make a wire sculpture to show God's grace through the Prodigal Son's father.
• In Good News, hear the Prodigal Son tell his story.
• In Praising Puppets, perform and/or watch a skit that explores the feeling of jealousy.

Thank you to our Workshop Leaders:
Creation Station - Betsy Stewart
Holywood - Victoria Vojnovich
Antioch Arcade - Joan Humphreys
Praising Puppets - Ginger Espino
Good News - Marie Crawford

Thank you to our Curriculum Design Team: Carole Rhodes, Lee Smith, Sara Ridings, Allison Connors, Angela Farthing, Robin Morris, Amy Woynicz, Lori Houck, and Stephanie Arnold.

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2006 Offering Envelopes
Your 2006 offering envelopes are ready to be picked up in the office hallway. They are displayed on tables in alphabetical order. Please stop by and pick yours up.

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Christmas Eve Greeters Needed
Greeters are needed for all three services on Christmas Eve. As a greeter you simply stand at the door and welcome everyone to the Kirk. It's a great way to meet people you may not know, see all your friends and wish them happy holidays. No study or homework required. Anyone interested, please contact Dot Rascoe.

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Christmas Eve Ushers Needed
We are in need of ushers for all three Christmas Eve worship services. If you would be interested in helping in this need, please contact Jerry Bowser.

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Christmas Eve Volunteers Wanted
An additional volunteer is needed in the nursery for the 5:00 p.m. worship service on Christmas Eve. This will be a great time to share Christ's love with the little children. It is also an excellent time for confirmands or other students needing service hours to get credit. Contact Stephanie Arnold (467-4944) to volunteer.

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The Kirk Coffee Mission is serving up coffee on Sunday mornings and some gift items for the Christmas season that are available at the coffee cart.

Please consider sharing some of the goodness of our Kirk Coffee Mission during the Christmas season.

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Brother, Can You Spare A Car? Several more cars are needed for the Kirk's relocated hurricane victims and Ethiopian refugees. If you are planning to

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KOALA ESL Program We are excited to announce, that beginning in January, the KOALA program will offer English tutoring to the parents of the children in the program. We need volunteers to help the adults learn English and volunteers to provide childcare. These adults are anxious to learn. So we hope many will volunteer. If you are interested, please contact Stephanie Arnold (467-4944).

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Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network
WIHN is a community response for homeless families, whose mission is to provide shelter, meals, case management and educational services to homeless families. Additionally, it promotes action and awareness in the community regarding homelessness. The Kirk supports this program by providing temporary housing to homeless families three or four weeks out of the year.

Our next host week is coming up January 8 - 15. Please consider volunteering to setup, transport the families, cook meals, greet our guests, spend the night, clean up, or provide food.

Signup and Information sheets will be in the narthex this Sunday.

Sandra Clark, Kirk WIHN Director

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New Weight-Issues Group
Mary Droessler is starting a weight-issues group which will meet on the second and fourth Mondays beginning in January 2006. It will be for one hour...no more. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Mary.

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K-Group Celebration and Potluck Dinner
Mark your calendars for the K-Group Annual Celebration and Potluck Dinner being held on Tuesday, January 24, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. All are welcome and childcare will be provided.

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Inclement Weather Policy We seek to have the church Sanctuary open for worship every Sunday, regardless of weather conditions. In case of inclement weather, the early

However, if driving conditions are dangerous or walking is hazardous, do not come to church. Our commitment is to have a pastor at church for worship each Sunday morning, if possible, but we are not committing to have ushers, choir members or any other members involved in Sunday morning activities present. We are also not able to promise in all conditions to have walks shoveled or parking lots cleared.

Other meetings and programs other than worship services may be cancelled at anytime during the week if weather conditions become unfavorable. Chairs of committees should communicate with committee members if meetings are cancelled or postponed. The church office may close when weather conditions present a danger for travel.

Staying informed in times of inclement weather: We will keep our telephone voicemail up to date unless the telephones are not operating (call 467-4944). We also seek to keep our church website up to date and to notify television stations WRAL and WTVD. Our Building and Grounds Committee will respond to the need to shovel snow and clear parking lots as soon as possible. If you would like to volunteer for that effort contact the church office or Steve Harned, Chair of Building and Grounds.

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Our condolences to Bart Norman and family on the death of his grandmother.

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We congratulate Chris and Janet Love on the birth of their second daughter, Morgan Christine, born on October 24, 2005.

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Prayers: We pray for Pam Ayars, Page Ott, Jeffrey Earle (sinus surgery), Jewell Tice, Ruth Wagnon, Carol Bennett, Cooper Leonard (broken leg), Ted Lutz, Colleen Calwell, Van Lamb, Joe Long.

If you would like more information regarding any of our concerns, please contact the church office.

Glenaire Healthcare Unit: Martha Haake, Louise Harter, Mary Frances Webb, Betty Anne Mitchell, Lillian Soo-Hoo.

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Hurricane Katrina Prayer List
Virginia Anthony - Brother & family (Ed McGee, Virginia Bain)
Hope Brown - Tippy Tipton, Sally Rodman, friends
Linda Bruggers - family
Henry Colomb - Niece: Nanette Colomb
Lee Anne Ryan - family
Nancy Serozi - friends: Paula & John Olavesen & family

Our new evacuee families.

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Christmas Eve Offerings

On Christmas Eve, we will collect a special monetary offering as a birthday gift to causes that honor Jesus Christ. This year the Christmas Eve offering will be split between two agencies.

1) StepUP Ministry is a ministry that helps people in need make positive changes in their lives by helping them develop the life, financial and vocational skills that will help them become self-sufficient.

2) Wings of Hope is a program that supports the St. Joseph’s Home for Boys in Haiti. They help homeless children in one of the poorest countries in the world.

Please consider giving to these agencies on Christmas Eve.

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1- Mark Wickelgren, Lochlynn Wiley 2 - Carolee Nail, Martie Smith

4- Wendy Little, Shirley Pierce, John Tagg

5- Annis Lee, Sarah Munson

7- Jean Pope, Jennifer Romano, Bob Stallings

8- Barry Bloch, Duncan Cameron, Ryan Stewart,
Jeff Woodard

9- Casey Cowen, Luke Dowling

10- Deanna Babyak, Joe Peck

11- Marcia Babb, Grace Burton, Richard Jackson,
Steve Summers

12- David Beason, Bill Boyle, Heather Felter, Dave Ragan, Jack W. Shannon

13- Jeff Armstrong, Cheryl Boyle, Sydney Carmer,
Allison Deal, Noel Howard, Nichole Turner,
Kimberly Underwood

14- Pam Ayars, Jim Evans, Grant Langston

15- Jonathan Allen, Eva Godwin, Andrew Guyton,
Joey Shellabarger,Tori Tate

16- Ken Jones

17- Marybelle Jester, Steve Pogue, Mitchell Turner

18- Dewey Cassell, Nicholas Dasburg, Connor Stafford

19- Sharon Nielsen

20- Jerry Bowser, Juliette Parks, Larry Smith

21- Barry Bruggers

22- Allyson Hospers, Jack Hospers, Andrew Macom
23- Bill Allen, Justin Betz, Gabriella Bramante,
Cassandra Calwell, Debbie Eakes, Jo Nygard

24- Tom Bloomer, Elana Brown, Lynn Godwin,
Jeannie Harned, Sarah Stokes, Wade Wannamaker,
Rich Woynicz

25- Katelyn Gordon, Christian Lamb, Bob Milks, Bob Rubush

26- Candy Elder, Molly Esleeck

27- Charlie Crabtree, Evan McClure, Val Peters,
Samuel Scroggin

28- Scott Bosman, Cameron Clark, Helene Greenwood, Keegan Pierce, Evan Vojnovich, Grace Vojnovich

29- Tesfaye Degaga, Bill Eberle, Befekadu Gebremeskel, Jeanette Wilson, Juliann Zoetmulder

30- Andrew Pogue, Ted Vojnovich

31- Bill Caldwell, Cas Roberts, Matthew Rubush

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PYC - Presbyterian Youth Connection

Dinner for January 8 is Hot Dogs.

WIHN - Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network: Please consider volunteering to help with playing games with the children of our homeless guests the week of January 8-14. Please contact Sandra Clark.

Massanetta Springs Middle School Conference
• Kirk dates: June 15-18
• Theme: "OUT OF SIGHT: On the Road to Emmaus"
• Cost: $255 (Kirk Kredits can be used)
• Registration deadline: February 12
• Rising 7th, 8th, and 9th graders can attend

Mark your calendars now to join us!

Save these dates!
Feb. 3-5 - Kirk Youth Winter Retreat, Massannetta Springs, VA
Feb. 26 - Kirk Youth Sunday
Mar. 31- Apr. 2 - Presbytery Middle School Retreat, Camp Don Lee, NC

Upcoming Events

Dec. 25 -- No PYC. Enjoy Christmas with your family!
Jan. 1, 2006 - No PYC. Happy New Year!
Jan. 8, 2006 - 4:00 - 5:30 PM - CE Youth Committee meeting, room M-18
5:30 - 6:30 pm - PYC advisors' calendar meeting, rm. M-18
6:00-8:00 pm -- PYC devotion, dinner and:
MS - Wheel of Fortune
HS - Cook for WIHN & Kirk families
Jan. 9 - 7:00 - 8:30 pm - High School Bible Study

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