115 youth and chaperones arrived to MAKEMIE WOODS Camp and Conference Center on NOV. 15 for the eagerly awaited PEVA FALL YOUTH RETREAT. We kicked off the night with energizers, music, and a great keynote from Christopher Tweel. The next day featured two keynote gatherings, a mission project, and recreation time for the youth. We packed 55 boxes for Operation Christmas Child during the retreat! We were also able to canoe, do crafts, and play games during recreation time. We ended the night with a huge bonfire and s’mores event! The next morning we woke up for worship and communion, and then left the wonderful time of fun and fellowship. During the retreat, youth workers gathered to brainstorm where we wanted to go with youth ministry in the Presbytery and came up with some great ideas about things to do in the spring!  -Amanda Markham

WINTER CAMP at MAKEMIE WOODS will be held from 4 PM on MON., DEC. 30 - WED., JAN. 1 (until 1 PM).  Give yourself and your children a treat this Christmas break.  All children enrolled in 1st - 12th grade can enjoy camp fun and meaningful worship, campfires, a "pool" party, "snow" fight, canoeing, archery, crafts, Bible study and zip lines (for campers 6th grade and older) while celebrating the New Year!  Parents get to take a deep breath and enjoy a different sort of peace.  Visit www.makwoods.org for more details and registration.  CLICK HERE for a full-color flyer!  REGISTRATION DEADLINE: DEC. 20!

The Rev. Dr. KEITH CURRAN, pastor of ST. ANDREW PC, has created an ADVENT CHAIN activity that he would like to share with all PEVA congregants and churches!  This document can be easily downloaded, printed, and cut up to create a thoughtful series of reflections throughout the Advent season.  Perfect for the classroom and the home!  CLICK HERE to download!  Many thanks for sharing this thoughtful activity!

As we approach the end of another fiscal year, please remember that any checks sent to PEVA that are to be counted toward 2013 obligations (such as UNIFIED GIVING) MUST BE DATED by DEC. 31, 2013.  A "Received By" date will be determined soon and published here, based on PCUSA deadlines.  All PERSONAL DONATIONS to specific causes (for 2013 tax consideration) must be RECEIVED by DEC. 31, 2013.  2014 UNIFIED GIVING PLEDGES are DUE DEC. 15! We're all in this together!

Every week we will post 5 BIBLE QUESTIONS on the home page of the PEVA website and provide answers on another page.  You may  appreciate the mini-brush-up, be inspired to seek greater detail from your Bible, and/or congratulate yourself on being a Biblical scholar extraordinaire!

1. When the twelve who were with Jesus were buying their supplies, who commonly paid the bills?
2. The words epha and ephod: distinguish between their meanings.
3. Are such sports as were witnessed in the Roman Colisseum ever referred to in the New Testament?
4. To what Bible story do we owe the expression, "the handwriting on the wall"?
5. What man, when under arrest, told his captors, "I am free born"?  Peter?  Paul?  John?

Answers on the "BUSINESS MATTERS" page!  Source: Know Your Bible Better Quiz Book, Frederick Hall, 1947, Baker Book House Company.

PEVA Hunger Action Enabler Jessica Fitzgerald, assisted by two Old Dominion Campus Ministry students, loaded her truck with almost 1000 POUNDS OF FOOD and delivered it to the SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA FOOD BANK this morning!  This donation resulted from food collected among many of our churches and individuals within PEVA.  She will continue to accept food through the holidays and will make the next delivery to the Peninsula Food Bank.  Now that the food stamp program has initiated cutbacks, the Southeastern Va. Food Bank has helped 100 ADDITIONAL FAMILIES this past month alone.  Let us be especially mindful of ‘the least of these’ during these holidays, as we all are able to share at least something with our fellow humans.  If not the PEVA program, please generously donate to your church or community food support systems!