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What is Advent?
“Advent” means “coming” or “arrival.” During the season of Advent, we celebrate Christ’s coming into the world and watch with expectant hope for his coming again. The four weeks of Advent present an opportunity for communal discernment and personal examination, as the church prepares to celebrate the Nativity of the Lord and looks with hope for Christ’s return.
*Taken from Presbyterian Church (USA) Presbyterian Mission
*Taken from Presbyterian Church (USA) Presbyterian Mission
Sundays in Advent
Advent Services
Christmas Eve
December 24th
December 24th
We are having several in person children friendly Christmas Eve Services including 4:30 pm in the Sanctuary and Nativity in a Bag with live music and live animals in the outside in the Courtyard at 6:00 pm. For more information please email Susan Frost at receptionist@palmaceia.org or call Palma Ceia at 813-253-6047.
Longest Night Candlelight Service
December 21st
December 21st
Longest Night Candlelight Service in the Courtyard at the Nativity Manger: A Short Service Remembering The Lives and Needs of The Homeless
Wednesday, December 21, 6:00 pm at the stable in PCPC’s courtyard
The longest night of darkness each year tends to last around 14 hours. It occurs close to the Winter Solstice in December.
Imagine yourself on the streets with nowhere to sleep but under a bridge, by a railroad track, in a cemetery. You are homeless, cold, lonely and have trouble sleeping for fear someone may try to steal your meager possessions and/or try to hurt you just because you are homeless.
This is the 18th year PCPC (in a pattern shared by other churches and synagogues across the nation) to honor those who also are a part of our community, frequently eating at the Faith Café, visiting this church, and some have lost their lives while living on the streets this year.
The service includes candle lighting and prayers for the homeless. It lasts about 20 minutes. If they are able participants are welcomed to bring a warm piece of clothing, canned good, warm socks, or a sleeping bag which PCPC will see are distributed in care for the homeless.
Wednesday, December 21, 6:00 pm at the stable in PCPC’s courtyard
The longest night of darkness each year tends to last around 14 hours. It occurs close to the Winter Solstice in December.
Imagine yourself on the streets with nowhere to sleep but under a bridge, by a railroad track, in a cemetery. You are homeless, cold, lonely and have trouble sleeping for fear someone may try to steal your meager possessions and/or try to hurt you just because you are homeless.
This is the 18th year PCPC (in a pattern shared by other churches and synagogues across the nation) to honor those who also are a part of our community, frequently eating at the Faith Café, visiting this church, and some have lost their lives while living on the streets this year.
The service includes candle lighting and prayers for the homeless. It lasts about 20 minutes. If they are able participants are welcomed to bring a warm piece of clothing, canned good, warm socks, or a sleeping bag which PCPC will see are distributed in care for the homeless.
What's Happening in Advent?
Jolley Trolley
Join us on Wed., Dec. 14 for dinner and singing carols as we ride around the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights on the Jolley Trolley! Open to anyone for hop-on, hop-off 20-minute rides from 5-7pm.
Living Nativity
Calling all Children and Youth to be Stars, or Wise People, Shepherds, or Angels.
Living Nativity helps the community prepare for the story of Christ’s birth. A variety of nativity scenes will be set up for families to both participate in and experience the coming of Christ by journeying around the grounds. The journey begins at the preschool entrance. Park in the church lot or across the street.
Please email Allison Kelly at allison@palmaceia.org for more information.
Living Nativity helps the community prepare for the story of Christ’s birth. A variety of nativity scenes will be set up for families to both participate in and experience the coming of Christ by journeying around the grounds. The journey begins at the preschool entrance. Park in the church lot or across the street.
Please email Allison Kelly at allison@palmaceia.org for more information.
Past Living Nativity Videos
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Living Nativity 2020
This video is 20:06 minutes long
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Living Nativity 2021
This video is 17:55 minutes long
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This video is 22 seconds long
Advent Little Lending Library
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Children’s Advent Lending Library available in the Fellowship Hall beginning on Mon. Nov 28th so come and check out and take a book home to read.
Check out at book anytime from 8:30am-5:00 pm Monday-Fridays and from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Sundays during Advent.
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Check out at book anytime from 8:30am-5:00 pm Monday-Fridays and from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Sundays during Advent.
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PCPC Advent Newsletter for All of December
Cedarkirk Christmas Retreat Weekend
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You don’t have to wait a whole year to see your counselors and friends or do all of your favorite summer camp activities! The Christmas Retreat brings you a little bit of summer camp in the winter! Join us for a weekend of fun, faith-building, fellowship, and fantastic food as we learn about – and prepare for – the birth of Christ and what that means for our lives today.
Christmas cookies, 12 days of Cedarkirk, Cedarkirk activities, and plenty of joy to go around! Join us for this awesome weekend. |
Advent Articles
Article by Sarah Bessey
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Why Everything You Know About the Nativity is Probably Wrong
Or, The Joy of Being Wrong at Christmas Article by Sarah Bessey "Oh, it's fun to be wrong! It means we get to learn!" |
Advent Prayer by Rev John Debevoise
This video is 3:03 minutes long
Giving
Boxes of Hope (Dec. 1 – Dec. 21) — Build a box of hope for Metropolitan Ministries. Please pick up empty boxes around the church campus to help provide a nutritious holiday meal for a family who may otherwise be without food.
Christmas in Africa— Give the gift of hope with our Christmas in Africa program. CIA offers a wide selection of meaningful gifts for your friends and family while helping the people of Papoli, Uganda gain self-sufficiency. Shop Online Here
Giving Trees — Please support this year’s Giving Tree by selecting a tag from one of the Christmas trees in the Fellowship Hall, the Narthex, or the gym. Guardian ad Litem, FED, Created, Beth-El, and the McClain home residents will be the recipients of your generosity this year. Please return gifts unwrapped to the church office by Sunday, December 11th.
Joy Gift Offering — We will be receiving our annual Joy Gift offering from November 27-December 31. This is a denomination- wide offering that, this year, is directed to Beth-El Farmworker Ministry.
Christmas in Africa— Give the gift of hope with our Christmas in Africa program. CIA offers a wide selection of meaningful gifts for your friends and family while helping the people of Papoli, Uganda gain self-sufficiency. Shop Online Here
Giving Trees — Please support this year’s Giving Tree by selecting a tag from one of the Christmas trees in the Fellowship Hall, the Narthex, or the gym. Guardian ad Litem, FED, Created, Beth-El, and the McClain home residents will be the recipients of your generosity this year. Please return gifts unwrapped to the church office by Sunday, December 11th.
Joy Gift Offering — We will be receiving our annual Joy Gift offering from November 27-December 31. This is a denomination- wide offering that, this year, is directed to Beth-El Farmworker Ministry.
Advent Photos and Videos
Baptisms
Ryder Ownby Baptism
This video is 6:20 minutes long
Living Nativity
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This video is 10 seconds long
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This video is 13 seconds long
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This video is 18 seconds long
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This video is 23 seconds long
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This video is 23 seconds long
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This video is 43 seconds long
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This video is 42 seconds long
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This video is 32 seconds long
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Advent Wreath, Ornament, and Outreach
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This video is 9 seconds long
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This video is 9 seconds long
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This video is 7 seconds long
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This video is 11 seconds long
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PCPC Children's Ministry
3501 W San Jose St
Tampa, Florida 33629
3501 W San Jose St
Tampa, Florida 33629