Advent Worship
A Candle in the Dark: A Season of Hope
Advent is that time of the church year when we wonder what it must have been like to wait for the Messiah, the special person chosen by God to come and save God’s people. Perhaps this year, more than most years, we sympathize with the anxious waiting of the Jews as we face our own feelings of struggle and fear and oppression.
No Matter what our situation, the candles of Advent remind us that with God there is always light in the darkness, hope in the midst of fear and uncertainty.
But Advent is about more than remembering Christ’s birth and how it fulfilled the promises of God. Advent is also about the way we are still waiting, living in the kingdom now but waiting to one day see the kingdom fill the whole earth when Jesus comes again.
First Sunday in Advent
Sunday, November 29
I. The Candle of Hope (1 Corinthians 1:3-9)
Second Sunday in Advent
Sunday, December 6
II. The Candle of Peace (2 Peter 3:8-15)
Third Sunday in Advent
Sunday, December 13
III. The Candle of Joy (John 1:6-8, 19-28)
Fourth Sunday in Advent
Sunday, December 20
IV. The Candle of Love (Luke 1:26-38)
Christmas Eve Worship
5:00 pm (via Facebook Live, Live Stream, and YouTube)
Christmas Eve Worship will be offered online only this year. Even though we can’t be together in person, we can still bring Trinity’s Christmas Eve traditions to your family. Sing along with carols, listen as Pastor Woody tells the Christmas story, and join us in lighting your candles at home as we sing Silent Night together virtually, remembering that even in dark times Christ’s light burns bright.
Connect
Advent Wreath Activity
Each Sunday, online or in person, we will light one additional candle on the Advent Wreath. We invite you to join us with a wreath of your own. All you need is three purple candles, one pink, and one white candle for the center of the wreath to light on Christmas Eve. Candles and circular candle holders are available online at craft and general stores.
Advent Devotions
Each week beginning Sunday, November 29, we will email a set of daily devotions for the week beautifully written by Jill Duffield of the Presbyterian-Outlook. If you are not on our email list, sign up at tpcmckinney.org/contact
Cookies and Milk with Mrs. Claus
Dec. 6, 12:00 to 1:30 pm
All are invited for our outdoor drive-through Milk and Cookies with Mrs. Claus event on December 6 from 12 – 1:30 pm. This event is to help Trinity’s youth group raise money for World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine. To help us stay socially-distanced, all treats will be individually wrapped and photos with Mrs. Claus will be taken at a distance and made available on Trinity’s Shutterfly page. A donation of $5 or more per serving is appreciated.
Sing Christmas, A Christmas Choral Experience
Dec. 13, 11:00 am (via Facebook Live, Live Stream, YouTube)
Join Trinity’s Choir for a virtual Christmas Cantata, Sing Christmas, A Christmas Choral Experience. Arranged by Mary McDonald and Joel Raney, this cantata includes original music combined with favorite carols, creating a perfect blend of familiar and new.
Drive-Through Live Nativity
Dec. 20, 6:00 to 7:30 pm
Save the date for our special Drive-Through Live Nativity performed by the TPC Youth.
Serve & Give
Christmas Giving Tree
The annual Christmas Giving Tree mission project looks a little different this year due to the pandemic. We will be supporting families from the Community Lifeline Center, Scott Johnson Middle School, and Presbyterian Children’s Homes & Services. Local families need our help more than ever this year!
To help us stay socially-distanced, all Angels can be adopted online via Signup Genius, where you can adopt an Angel and view the guidelines on shopping and gift return. We also need volunteers for our drive-through reception for the families to receive their gifts. Thank you for making Christmas special for local families in need!
Heifer International
Trinity is proud to support Heifer International each year. Heifer’s mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth. For more than 70 years, Heifer International has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income. Heifer is currently working in more than 25 countries, including the United States, to help communities become more self-reliant and lift farming families to a living income. For information about Heifer International, click here.