Hello Church,
We’re now just barely halfway through the Advent season, and things are starting to pick up! This coming Sunday is the kids Christmas Program! Its going to be a lot of fun, and we’ll have lunch afterwards, so make sure you join us for 🧑🎤🎭🍕🥪
We’ll also be taking up our special offering for Betula UMC in Mozambique. This has been a long term partnership that we have been a part of, and that our Conference has been a part of. You can read more about that partnership by clicking on the link.
Covenant Partnerships | Mozambique Initiative
I also mentioned in worship another project that the Mozambique Initiative is working on. You can read more about that below
Solar Panel Project: Empowering Pastors for Ministry | Mozambique Initiative
You can get a Poinsettia in honor of someone, in memory of someone, or with love from. They are $8. You can reply to this email with that info, or fill out a form from the Sanctuary. You can put the money in the offering plates, just be sure to mark on your check or envelope that its for a poinsettia.
Also, don’t forget that this Sunday, our Adult Sunday School class will be meeting! If you get a chance come on in, and then join us for the Kids Program (or come early for the program and join us in Sunday School).
Parting Shot
Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas! At least the start I can see tells me so. The kids are working and getting ready. They’ve been practicing during Sunday School, and then been staying after worship for a couple of weeks. Take a look at the start at the end of this email..
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Have a great week!
Peace,
Pastor John
Below, take a look at some important announcements and sign-ups. The first one is an announcement from our Pastor Parish Relations Committee
Important Announcements
PPR - Staff Gifts
We appreciate our UMC staff all year, but this is the time when we have traditionally given them a little something extra to celebrate the Christmas season. There will be envelopes at the back of the sanctuary for any donations, which can be dropped in the offering plate or left at the church office. Please note any desired division of funds to Mary Beth, Beth, Crystal, or Pastor John.
Below is a calendar of events (at least that we have scheduled so far). Join us for all the great things that are going on during this season!
Add Dec. 22nd to your calendar! That’s our day to ring the bell at Walmart. Sign-Up by clicking on the link, or signing up in the back of the Sanctuary. We’ve only got a few hours left!
On Dec. 18th our Choir will be leading us in worship. That’s also cookie Sunday! You aren’t limited to only cookies, but any Christmas treat will do. We’ll have a basket for donations if you want to take something home with you. You can also make a swap of something. If you bring in some cookies, but want to take some others home, go for it! All donations will go to our Christmas Giving.
Dec. 11th is also March to the Manger Sunday! Bring your gifts for our covenant church in Mozambique.
Take a look below for the list of items for the Giving Tree. We’ll also have a basket out for donations for Christmas baskets. If you’d like to donate a ham or turkey, let Janet Daniels know.
Please note the items that are most in need this year. They’re in the bolded text and are the pants and t-shirts. If you have questions, talk to Cindy Lindbloom.
We’ll have two Christmas Eve services this year, a Family Friendly 4pm service and a Traditional 7pm service. Its going to be a great evening of worship and fun. Both services will end with Silent Night and either candles or glow sticks!
Our offerings on Christmas Eve will go to our Christmas Giving opportunities and to the organizations around the state that we support through the Sharing Table. Gifts above what we need for those opportunities will go into our Mission Fund that goes to help folks throughout the year.
Christmas Day
We will have worship on Christmas day at our normal 10:10am time. We’ll also be online at the same time. It’ll be a relaxed service, and a great way to spend part of your Christmas morning.
Going On This Week
Community Calendars
Marceline School Calendar
My Country 99.1 Community Calendar
Worship Links
Youtube Services, Messages
Worship Music Lists: YouTube, Spotifiy
Send a note or a message to these folks!
Get caught up!
You can always get caught up on sermons if you’re behind. We try to have them posted on Monday morning, so check back if it hasn’t been posted yet.
Prayer & Devotions
The Hours
Prayer Guide - PDF (book format), Online Format
Morning | Evening | Night Prayers
Daily Devotions
Seedbed Devotions, YMI
The Upper Room, Our Daily Bread
GPS Guide from Church of the Resurrection
Daily Meditations from the Center for Action & Contemplation
Other Resources
Bible Project great Bible Study resource for really engaging the Bible
Five Day Bible Reading - Read through the Bible in a year
YouVersion Online Bible
Prayer List
Groups: Church: Denomination, Conference, Area UMC's, Area Churches
Schools: Students, Teachers, Administrators, Employees, Parents
Community: Food Pantry, Ministries in Linn County, Ministerial Alliance
Government: Leaders, Local, County, State, National
Situations: Pandemic, Racism, Economic Disparity, Mental Health, Natural Disasters
Individuals: Rick Freeman family, Shelly O’Dell family, Ron Wiggins family, Susan’s friend with cancer, Estella Cupp, Junior Logue, Crystal’s friend Hannah, Gene Taylor, Richard Terrell, Marla Stubbs, Kyle & Carol Lake, Erica Pamplin, Pat Watkins, Vivian Dunn, Kim Corbin, Shirley Oliver, Rick Freeman, Jeff Linebaugh, Dorothy Downing, John Smith, Brenda Lain, Jake Jacobs, Ron Klingsmith, Wayne Sisson, Mark Ewigman, David Munson, Goldie Cupp, Tony Tucker, Linda Ewigman, Angie Builder, Bob & Pat Magee, Zoe Tolliver, Dan Brooks, Ruth Farris
Pioneer: Mabel Worley, Marylin Mears
Military Service: Patric Munson, Nick Cain, LTC John Casey Welch, Tyler Nanneman, Jeffrey Tucker, Kelly Tucker, Brandon Wellman, Heath Floray, Steve Graves, Michael Pyrtle, William Leukenotte, Kerry Lowrey
Parting Shot
We’re going to have a program, some special music, and a march to the manger this Sunday. Its going to be a good one, and the whole thing is going to end with lunch! You can’t get much better than that.