What does God require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. —Micah 6:8 Pullen Update November 27, 2016 Advent Worship Begins Today This year we are celebrating this season by opening each worship service with a quiet reflective lighting of our Ad- vent wreath. We want each person to see the light that is flickering to give us hope in a very personal way. Also, each Sunday we will pray using some very special art on our worship guide cover. Come away from your busy lives and walk in the light of God. The Worship Council Are you geng any "bang for your buck"? It's an over-used phrase, isn't it? But when you pledge and give to Pullen, you can know where your money goes—to support the programs and min- istries that matter to you, and to make a difference in our community and beyond. Nothing goes to waste. No gift is unneeded. Every gift counts. If you have already pledged for 2017, THANK YOU!! If not, there is still time. Blue pledge cards are in the pew racks, or you can use the QR code at the bottom of this Weekly Update. Additional- ly, you can go to pullen.org/donate, or just call the Church Administrator. Help us "Do Justice, Love Kindness, and Walk Humbly with God" in 2017. Jim Hodge, Stewardship Committee Interested in a Pilgrimage to the Republic of Georgia? We are planning a Pullen visit to our partners in the Republic of Georgia in the early summer of 2017. If you are interested, join us December 18 after worship in room 203 for a brief discussion of this opportunity. We’d love to have you join us on this adventure to deepen our rela- tionship with our friends in Georgia. If you are interested but can’t attend the meeting, feel free to email me at [email protected]. James Crook, Georgia Partnership Facilitator Help at Christmas If you’d like to give a special gift to someone this Christmas, consider providing gift cards or bus passes for a young person served by the Hope Center at Pullen. They have about 45 young people to support at Christmas and would be thrilled to receive $25 gas cards (Shell, BP), 7-day or 30-day bus passes (available at Harris Teeter Customer Service), $25 Food Lion gift cards, or $25 Target or Walmart gift cards. Small donations in other amounts are also greatly appreciated. Their party is December 14, although gift cards will be gladly received after this date. These gifts help young people leaving the foster care system as they learn to navigate the world independently with the help of the Hope Center staff. You can place these items in the Hope Center’s mailbox in the church office or deliver them to the Hope Center during business hours. Contact Pat Hielscher at [email protected]. Missions and Outreach Council and The Hope Center Staff Pullen Young Adults Pullen Young Adults meet Tuesdays 7—9:30 PM at Brian’s (400 W. North Street, 718). The group engages in discussions about faith, socializes over food and drink, plans activities and participates in community service and social justice. Sign up for the YA listserv at ( http://bit.ly/PullenYA) or con- tact Brian Crisp at [email protected]. Brian Crisp Help is sll needed Many thanks to everyone who brought in items for the Round Table Minis- try snack bags! There is still desperate need for cans of Vienna sausages, juice pouches/boxes, and cereal/granola bars. Please place items outside Cathy's office if you can help. Nancy Bradley 2015 Advent Mission Offering Advent begins today. As you make plans for Christmas gift-giving, please remember our Advent Mission Offering. Once again our offering will go to places around the world where your contributions can make a big difference, including our partners in Cuba, Georgia, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe, Heifer In- ternational and Plenty International. Simple gift cards are available in the information areas to use in notifying loved ones of gifts to our partners in their honor. Our partners and friends will be grate- ful for your help in supporting their im- portant ministries. The offering will be re- ceived each Sunday in Advent. Offering envelopes can be found in the pew racks. Missions and Outreach Council Where’s the Heat? Our new boiler is on order and, fingers crossed, we hope to have heat in the sanctu- ary and first floor by December 4. Thank you for your patience and for bundling up in order to be present in worship. Brooks Wicker Walshes’ Visit to Jordan on WRAL A number of Pullenites were present on a recent Wednesday evening when members Ned and Marian Walsh reported on their recent visit to a Syrian refugee camp in Jor- dan. If you missed this event, you can hear about their experiences on WRAL on Satur- day, December 3 at 7 PM. David Crabtree will share their presentation on “On the Record,” his weekly television show. Missions and Outreach Council Children’s Christmas Play Rehearsals for K-5th children: December 4, 12:15-1:30 PM December 11, 12:15-1:30 PM Rehearsal for Pre-K—5th: December 17, 9-11 AM Performance at Christmas Breakfast: December 18, 9-10:30 AM Libby Stephens One Can Every Sunday Please consider bringing one can of food to church each Sunday to put in the grocery cart at the back door or in the information center. Pullen Mission Women will deliver the food to Urban Ministries. If enough of us make this a habit, we can make a signifi- cant impact in reducing the hunger in our midst. Thank you for your generosity! Pullen Mission Women 2017 Pledging Status 2016 Budget: 1,034,189.00 Pledged to Date: $543,244 / 53% Totals as of November 22, 2016 To pledge from your mobile de- vice, you can scan this QR code.