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.

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.

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.

A CHANGE FOR THE WEDNESDAY KNITTERS!
On December 3, at 12:30, it’s back to Libbie Greer’s at 800 Harmony Lane, for lunch. You don’t have to sing a carol or dance, or even knit, but you must RSVP, 488-8528.

“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).

Ashland Community Thanksgiving Potluck
Everyone is invited today 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.

On Sunday December 21st, we will receive the last of our PC(USA) special churchwide offerings. This year the Christmas Joy Offering is entitled "Good News of Great Joy".
Fifty percent of the receipts to the Christmas Joy Offering are distributed to the Board of Pensions for assistance programs that provide support to retired and active church workers and their spouses and families. The other fifty percent supports Presbyterian-related racial ethnic education through the National Ministries Division of the General Assembly Council.
Please give generously! If you choose to, you can give directly through the PC(USA) website: www.pcusa.org/cjoffering. Thank you from the Mission Committee.

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.

There will be no choir practice on Thursday, November 27.

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Medford, would like to invite our congregation to their Golden Jubilee celebration. Westminster was chartered December 1, 1958 and they are celebrating the occasion on Sunday, December 7 at 2 p.m. The afternoon will open with their annual Christmas concert, followed by a 50th anniversary ceremony. Following the formal events there will be cake and finger foods. Westminster is located at 2000 Oakwood, Medford.

Thank you to Food Bank Volunteers
The Ashland Institute of Massage is offering 15 minute back massages to volunteers on the Wednesday afternoon before Thanksgiving. They will be bringing six chairs and are offering this as a thank you for all we do. What a gracious gift to people that deserve a little extra appreciation! Come by the food bank between 1:30 and 4:30 on Wed., November 26th.

This Christmas season the Worship and Music Committee invites the congregation to help decorate our lovely sanctuary with poinsettias. Each plant may be purchased for $10.00 each. If you would like to dedicate your plant in memory or honor of a loved one, those names will be listed in the bulletin on Christmas Sunday. If you wish to take your plant home after Christmas services, you may do so or you may leave it to be distributed to shut-ins. Further information along with an order form can be found in the December Dialogue. The deadline is Sunday, December 7th.

"Greening of the Church" will take place on December 7th after the Advent Faire when greenery is plentiful. We invite any and all to participate in making swags and garlands that will be placed around our church and sanctuary on that day. Please contact Judy LaNier at 512-0510 if you have any questions.