Today 8:00 a.m. Worship/Sanctuary
8:30 a.m. Childcare Begins
9:00 a.m. Inquirers’ class meets/Chapel
9:00 a.m. Spiritual Gift Inventory class/Calvin Hall
9:00 a.m. End of Life Issues class/Fireside Room
10:00 a.m. Worship/Sanctuary
Church School for Children
11:15 a.m. Congregational Meeting
11:30 a.m. Fellowship in Calvin Hall
2:00 p.m. Shelter Training/Calvin Hall
4:30 p.m. SKIPY/Calvin Hall
6:00 p.m. Senior Highs/Calvin Hall
Tuesday, 11/18 6:30 p.m. Writing Group/Mt. Meadows
6:30 p.m. Adult Education/Fireside Room
Wednesday, 11/19 11:00 a.m. Contemplative Prayer Group meets in Fireside Room
1:00 p.m. Knitting Group/Fireside Room
5:00 p.m. Worship and Music Committee/Calvin Hall
6:30 p.m. Christian Education Committee
Thursday, 11/20 10:00 a.m. Westminster Circle
1:45 p.m. Youth Sub-Committee/Fireside Room
4:30 p.m. Dance small group/Calvin Hall
7:00 p.m. Choir practice/Chapel
Dialogue Deadline
Friday, 11/21 CPYA

Special Meeting of the Congregation. By action of the Session a Special Meeting of the congregation is called for today, immediately following the 10:00 o’clock service of worship for the purpose of electing officers, and electing members to serve as the Pastor Nominating Committee.

The Contemplative Prayer small group is back! We meet Wednesdays, at 11:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room. As a group we will engage in a brief, but critical look at Scripture in a attempt to discern what the Biblical Witness offers us. This occurs in tandem with reclaiming the power of prayer. Anyone is welcome to come at any time. Previous knowledge and experience is not required; only a desire to grow in the Spirit. Contact Nikki for further information.

Thanksgiving Food Drive for the Ashland Food Bank. The Youth of the congregation are sponsoring a food drive to benefit the Ashland Food Bank. Today paper grocery bags will be distributed among worshipers, with the request that the bags be used for donated non-perishable food and paper products, and returned on Sunday, November 23rd On that “Thanksgiving Sunday,” when we dedicate our pledge commitments of time, talents and treasure for the coming year, we will also bring forward our offerings of food as sign and symbol of our gratitude for God’s bounteous blessings in our lives.

Deacons’ Holiday Baskets. This is the time we set apart to try to voice the gratitude we feel deep within our hearts. Your generous contributions to the Deacons’ Fund are very much appreciated. Your monetary offerings will help us prepare for our Thanksgiving and Christmas giving. Food purchasing certificates are given to families in need. Please write your check to the first Presbyterian Deacons’ Fund and mark it “Holiday Food.” Let gratitude be your constant companion.

Reminder: Sunday, November 23 is Stewardship Dedication Sunday. If you have not already mailed-in or hand-delivered your pledge cards, please bring them with you next Sunday to be placed upon our Thanksgiving table.

A chance to share with Living Opportunities – Our church has once again been invited to help make Christmas special for our friends at Living Opportunities, an organization that serves adults with developmental disabilities. A decorated tree will be in the narthex on November 30. Each ornament will have the name of a person for whom we can buy a gift. Please take a nametag from the tree and sign up on the list for the name you have taken. Suggestions for items (in the $10 range) that the person would like are on the back of the tag. These are suggestions and not all the items need to be purchased. Please use this tag to identify your gift. Gifts must be brought to the church office no later than December 14 to be in time for their Christmas party. Thank you for your participation in this giving of love and compassion. If you have any questions call Linda in the church office, 482-3536.

The church will provide wreaths for hanging during the Advent lessons and carols service on December 7th. We are looking for four (4) individuals, couples or families who would like to hang a wreath as part of that Sunday's service. In interested please contact the office, 482-3536.

“ADVENT FAIRE” coming soon! Get ready to celebrate the Advent season with crafts, food, fellowship! Mark your calendar for Sunday, Dec. 7th from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. following the 10 a.m. service. We need your help to: donate evergreen boughs, holly, pine cones (especially small ones), mistletoe, moss, shoe boxes, travel soaps and shampoos; make soup or desserts for the lunch; help with set-up on Saturday, Dec. 6 (9 a.m.-2 p.m.) or clean-up on Sunday, Dec. 7 (1:30-3 p.m.); work at a table on Sunday, Dec. 7; spread the word about this event! For more information contact: Jill Turner 482-4475 (greenery), Peg Blake 482-2564 or Kathy Sager 488-1020 (crafts), or Debbie Pool 488-0633 (lunch).

WOMEN’S BOOK GROUP – November 25, 2008
The next meeting of the Women’s Book Group will be held on Tuesday, November 25th at 7:00 p.m. at Kathy Campbell’s home, 785 Beach Street, Ashland. The book we will discuss is “All I Did Was Ask: Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians and Artists” by Terry Gross. Please join us! Snacks and beverages will be provided. For more information, please contact Kathy at 482-2819.

Ashland Community Thanksgiving Potluck
Everyone is invited on Sunday the 23rd of November to a time of Thanksgiving and socializing. held from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Pioneer Hall across from Lithia Park. Please contact William Hayes – 499-9294 if you are interested in helping with the dinner or would like to bring a salad or dessert.

Homeless Shelter -- Session has again approved the use of Calvin Hall for use as an emergency shelter during this winter's coldest nights. Those in need will have a place to spend the night when the temperature drops below 20 degrees. We are asking for volunteers to be on-call to act as hosts should the need arise. One man and one woman will be needed to spend the night and act as hosts for the evening. Responsibilities include opening the doors, explaining the rules which include: placing all their belongings except bedding in a separate locked room, those who choose to leave after the doors are closed at 9 pm may not return that night, no alcohol or drugs allowed. Ashland's Community Emergency Response Team, the Congregational and Unitarian churches will also be providing on-call hosts. C.E.R.T. will provide a short training session for those interested in helping out today, Sunday, November 16 at 2 pm in Calvin Hall. We need more people to be on the on-call list. Please contact me if you are interested. Ruth Coulthard initiated this much needed program two years ago at the Congregational Church. Please help us to help some of our more needy neighbors as we partner with several of our local churches. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks - Barbie Breneiser 326-5599 or breneiseb@sou.edu or barbiebren@jeffnet.org.

The Uth group has put together an “Angel Tree” for the children of Miracle Ranch Children’s Home. This is the orphanage the high school Uth worked with this past summer at Rancho Genesis. In our efforts to stay connected with these children (ninos), we’d like to help make their Christmas special by sending gifts. Our hope is that you will consider supporting these efforts by selecting a tag from the tree. To become more familiar with Miracle Ranch, I encourage you to check out their website at www.miracleranch.org. Any questions, contact Joanne Costantino 482-1110, or cozfam@mind.net. Thank you.