Omaha A&E

Our newest members are:
ANDY & MELISSA G. Melissa works for the Douglas County Attorney. Andy is a student. They have two songs, TYLER & HUNTER.
KAREN M. is a teacher with the Omaha Public Schools. Her husband BILL is a retired United Church of Christ pastor.
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We were DELIGHTED to hear Kelvin and Beth W. report that the 2007 Dinner/Dance/Auction cleared over $121,000. Mega-thanks to everyone who supported this event in any way, shape or form.
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THIS SUNDAY December 9
8:00, Steve Smith preaching: MY JOURNEY
Steve is an active member of our congregation and is currently in the process of candidacy for ministry in the United Methodist Church.
9:15 & 10:45:
THE ANNUAL INTERGENERATIONAL CHRISTMAS CANTATA.
This is one of the highlights of any year and you won’t want to miss it.

REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE NOTES FOR THIS WEEKEND’S CHRISTMAS CANTATA”.

REHERSAL SCHEDULE: SATURDAY, DEC. 8
Teachers need to be present

• 9:30 a.m. Band, Narrators, Sound Tech, Living Nativity arrive and meet in Sanctuary

• 9:40 a.m. Youth and Adult Choirs arrive and meet in choir loft

• 9:45 a.m. Preschool and Pre-K go to Sanctuary and have a seat in the front with parent. You will practice 1st and be dismissed. K-6 meet in the Family Life Center.

• 10:00 a.m. Rehearsal begins

• 11:00 a.m. Rehearsal ends. Pick up children in FLC.

Please be on time to make this hour productive!

CANTATA—Sunday, Dec. 9th

Performance at the 9:15 and 10:45
Services. Pancake feed between services.
Teachers stay with your class
*No Sunday School that day*

• 8:45 a.m. Youth and Adult choirs meet in the music rehearsal room to warm up.

• 9:00 a.m. Preschool and Pre-Kind arrive and sit with parents in designated area. After song “Child of Peace” they will go to stage to sing “Away in a Manger”. After their song, they will return to sit with parents for remainder of program.

• 9:00 a.m. Kindergarten-5th grades arrive and go directly to stage in your position where you practiced on Saturday. These children stay on stage for the entire program. Its length is 35 minutes + offertory.

Pancakes will be served between services. We’ll try to dismiss parents with children first so kids are ready to perform again for our 10:45 service!

Reminder: Required dress for youth and adult choirs is all-black. All other Christmas outfits for Pre-school—5th are welcome!
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UPWARD BASKETBALL & CHEERLEADING
Due to the inclement weather on Saturday, another evaluation is scheduled to this Tuesday, Dec. 4 from 6:00-7:00. This will be the last opportunity to get your child evaluated. Please make every effort to get here. This is difficult to reschedule as it takes a lot of people to run this. Thanks in advance…..Coaches Training is Saturday, Dec. 15 from 9:00-10:00, with Safe Sanctuaries/background check from 10:00-10:20….. Referee Training is Tuesday, Dec. 18 from 6:30-7:30, with Safe Sanctuaries/background check from 7:30-7:50. WE ARE STILL IN NEED OF REFEREES. Please contact Margie or Netta to sign up.
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Here’s our Joke Of The Day: The Bowl Championship Series.
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THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING and comes to us from Music Director LEON A.: Here is some info that I think folks might want to know for music community events that are coming up. The Confidentials will be having their 4th annual Christmas concert at Millard North High School auditorium on Sunday Dec 16th at 7:00. Admission is $10 and you can purchase the tickets online by going to www.the-confidentials.com. There will be a silent auction will be held to benefit the Omaha School of Music (which is a sponsor for the concert). Also, the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards will be held on Jan 3rd at the Holland Center at 7:00 and there are some St Andrews people who have been nominated!! I (Leon A.) was nominated in the "Best Music Direction" category for my work with the musical play "Crowns" with actor John B., the Confidentials were nominated in two categories "Best Cover Band" and "Best R&B band" (Leon A. keyboardist/music director) and Jeff H. has been nominated for the "Best Classical Musician" category. For ticket prices for the awards show, go to www.oea-awards.com. Anyway, it's good to see some representation from our own folks here at St Andrews for a big event.
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Those who have passed along e-mails about THE GOLDEN COMPASS, may be interested in an article on author Philip Pullman from the most recent edition of TIME MAGAZINE: “Pullman is the author of HIS DARK MATERIALS, a trio of fantasy novels that has sold more than 15 million copies since the first volume, THE GOLDEN COMPASS, was published in 1995. It has been turned into a radio drama and a hit London stage play. A movie of THE GOLDEN COMPASS, starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, opens in the U.S. next week and will probably take its place in the pantheon of profitable fantasy franchises that includes THE LORD OR RINGS, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and HARRY POTTER. But the most striking fact about Pullman’s work is that his characters aren’t fighting Sauron or the White Queen or Voldemort. Their enemy is the Christian church.” Huh.
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December 16
Bruce preaching: OLD MEN AND BABIES
The Praise Band will be offering “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24” and the Chancel Choir will be debuting a new song.
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December 23
Nancy preaching: THE REDEMPTION OF EBENEZER SCROOGE
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CHRISTMAS EVE, 3:00, 5:00, 7:00
Candlelight Communion Services
Featuring the Horns of Jericho, The Herald Angels Singers and other wonderful music in all three services. The Children’s Choirs will be singing at the 5:00 service.
Bruce preaching: NUTS!

Pastor Charlotte asks: Prayers for Bev, who is recovering from surgery; pray that she heals and is home very soon (Mother of Ann, Milton and Jackson G.; Jane, Rob, John and Emily W.).
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Savior of the nations come
Virgin’s Son, here make thy home!
Marvel now, O heaven and earth
That the Lord chose such a birth
Martin Luther, “Savior of the Nations, Come”
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BRD