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PEACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Email Newsletter - November 23, 2016
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 NOVEMBER 27, 2016
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
NEW WORSHIP SERIES - Come Home for Christmas
SYNOPSIS: Advent Lessons and Carols & Hanging of the Greens
To begin the sacred season of Advent, the holy time of anticipation for the appearance of the promised Messiah, we will share a service of lessons (Scripture passages looking ahead with hope to the coming of Christ) and carols (music, both solos and congregational singing, that beautifully captures this season of expectation). What does it mean to wait with hope-filled hearts for the revelation of God's promise that we know has already been fulfilled? With our senses and our hearts fully attentive, we begin this season again, anticipating new discoveries of God's grace.
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Wednesday Connect "Giving Thanks" - November 23
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 TONIGHT we'll be hosting a special Thanksgiving Eve edition of our once-a-month Wednesday Connect gathering. This time of food, fellowship, and gratitude is especially geared for those who don't have family with which to spend  Thanksgiving day and would like to share a Thanksgiving meal with their church family. We'll provide the main dish (turkey this month!) and you bring along your favorite sides and desserts. The serving line opens at 6:00 p.m. (we know many of you can't make it there quite that early, but come along when you can). We also know some of you have schedules that make it difficult for you to bring a dish to share-that's okay-come along anyway. There will be plenty.
We promise fun and surprises for all ages, a Thanksgiving craft for the kids, and a way to have a low-key night out with friends before the big holiday. Somewhere around 6:45 p.m. we'll have some fun together (the first two months have been a blast) and we'll share a brief worship component, giving us an opportunity to give thanks as a community for all our blessings.
We are also having a PIE EXCHANGE. If you feel like making (or buying) a pie, bring it along, and we'll share pies and have a way for you to exchange pie slices and take some home!
No advanced sign-up necessary. Bring along folks who might otherwise spend Thanksgiving alone. This is a FREE event for all ages (donations always welcome, of course). |
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"Come Home for Christmas" - Peace Advent Events
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Advent Lessons & Carols Services & Hanging of the Greens - Sunday, November 27 - 8:15, 9:30 & 11:00 a.m.
UM Women's Christmas Luncheon & Program - Saturday, December 3 - 11:45 a.m.
Traditional Christmas Cantata - Sunday, December 11 - 11:00 a.m.
Christmas Under the Stars - Wednesday, December 14 - 6:45 p.m. Dinner (soup, salad, and bread) at 6:00 p.m.
Young Adult Throwback Lock-in - Friday, December 16 - 7:00 p.m.
Praise Team Christmas Cantata - Saturday, December 17 - 7:00 p.m. & Sunday, December 18 - 9:30 a.m.
Peace Youth Christmas Party - Sunday, December 18 - 5:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve Worship Services - Saturday, December 24
5:00 p.m. Children's Service
6:30 p.m. Contemporary Candlelight Service (Nursery)
8:00 p.m. Contemporary Candlelight Service (Nursery)
9:30 p.m. Traditional Candlelight Service with Communion
Christmas Day Worship Service - Sunday, December 25 - ONE COMBINED SERVICE at 10:00 a.m.
New Year's Day Worship Service - Sunday, January 1 - ONE COMBINE SERVICE at 10:00 a.m.
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Fall Stewardship Campaign -
Bring your Commitment Cards to Worship
or Submit them Electronically
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 Fall is traditionally the season in which we undertake our annual stewardship focus here at Peace UMC. This means that we take time to prayerfully consider how we will support the ministries of this church in the coming year through our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.
We are asking all people who desire to support the work of this congregation to submit their pledge cards in the offering plate during worship (cards are available on the back table) or
you may also submit your pledge electronically via our website. These statements of commitment are one of the key points of guidance we use in developing our budget for the coming year, and thus a critical part of the process.
If you'd like to more about this process, if you have questions,contact the
church office.
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Susanna Wesley UMW Circle Meeting - November 29
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Susanna Wesley Circle, a United Methodist Women Bible Study Circle, will meet
Tuesday, November 29 at 9:30 a.m.
at Peace. We are engaged in a Bible Study (Study #9) entitled "Friendships of Faith: A Shared Study of Hebrews." All ladies of the church are invited to join us. Please call Deanna Greenman at 407-812-5499 or Roberta Jones at 850-819-5234 for more information.
The UMW is community of women whose purpose is threefold: to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative and supportive fellowship; to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.
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UMW Potluck Luncheon & General Meeting - December 3
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"Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings." Even if you haven't seen
It's a Wonderful Life
(and why haven't you?) you have probably heard this saying. But is it true?
One of Advent's most beloved Scripture passages is the angel Gabriel's visit to the Virgin Mary. Joseph had his own angelic encounter, of course. An angel visited him to assure him that Mary's child was from the Holy Spirit. So it was through angels that news of Jesus Christ's coming into the world was first revealed.
Then after Advent, on the holy day of Christmas itself, angels were everywhere around the birth of Jesus. An entire host of them visited the shepherds in the fields outside of Bethlehem. They sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace amongst those whom he favors!" (Luke 2:14). Around the time of the Epiphany, an angel shows up again. Joseph is visited by an angel in a dream. The angel warns him to take Mary and the baby Jesus to Egypt following the visit of the Wise Men.
We don't talk that much about angels these days. Perhaps we should. Join us on
Saturday, December 3rd at 11:45 a.m
. to celebrate the birth of Christ. Please bring an angel and your favorite dish to share.
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Kids' Day AND Night Out - December 3 & 11
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There are two Kids' Night Out/Kids' Day Out in December.
Take a much needed break OR get some Christmas Shopping done while the kids are having fun. Kids PreK-5th grade can join us for crafts, games, and dinner too. Fun is guaranteed. Cost is $15.00 for the first child, $10.00 for the second child, and no more than $30.00 max for the family. Check out the schedule below:
*Saturday, December 3rd: 6:00-10:00 p.m. - Let it Snow
*Sunday, December 11th: 1:00-4:00 p.m. - Christmas is Here
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Second Saturday Campus Workday - December 10
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In the spirit of stewardship season, the Trustees and Church Leadership are asking you to consider making a small commitment of your time in service to your church home.
Starting on December 10th, we are going to hold a monthly second Saturday campus workday
. Our commitment is to have a specific list of chores or projects to complete each month, and that our work will begin at 8:00 a.m. and finished no later than 12:00 noon each month. Service areas include:
*Remove weeds from various flower beds and other areas on property
*Check/fix stained or misplaced ceiling tiles
*Check dumpster enclosure and make sure area is clean and clear
*Power wash the portico/sidewalks
*Patch holes in drywall & touch up paint
*Cleaning/organizing building rooms, closets & the church bus
This will be an opportunity for many people to contribute their gifts and time in a way that will be rewarding and fulfilling. And you might meet some great people along the way! No obligation to show up every month. No skill set or handy man capabilities required. Just love for our church and the desire to serve. In the spirit of stewardship, we hope you'll consider pledging some of your time!
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Be Part of an Advent Tradition: Light the Advent Candles
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As we're "Coming Home for Christmas" during worship this Advent season, at every service we would like to have groups lighting the Advent candles together. Who means "home" to you? It can be people you're related to, people you study the Bible with, people who you do ministry with together, or just people who are your friends. One of the great things about Peace is the surprising ways we get connected to one another, and one of our great seasonal traditions is lighting the Advent Candle during every Advent worship service.
Sign up at the Welcome Table or preferably ONLINE HERE!
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Annual Peace Christmas Gift Card Drive
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Once again this Christmas season, we'll have an opportunity to have a direct impact on local families who could use some extra help through our Christmas Gift Card Drive. You can donate gift cards to major retailers (Target, Wal Mart, Publix, etc.) and we will distribute them to families from our congregation, as well as others connected through our Meals Assistance Program. Gift cards give families the dignity to make decisions for themselves-they are the most knowledgeable about their greatest needs. We get to be a generous part of sharing God's love in a meaningful way. We suggest small denomination gift cards ($10 or $20 amounts), so we can distribute them more easily (but as many of those as you like). You may also designate contributions to this cause, and we'll purchase the gift cards for you! Here are the many ways to contribute:
*Bring in actual gift cards (if put them in the designated envelopes on the Gift Card Tree and fill out the envelopes, you can get tax deduction credit from the church - if you just drop them in the offering plate, that's okay too, but we can't credit you with the donation).
*Make a donation by text. Text 407-269-8307 with the amount and the word, Christmas (example: $25 Christmas). Keep in mind, a small service charge will be deducted from text donations, and if this is your first time donating by text, you'll have to take a couple of minutes to set up your account-it's easy!
*Use a traditional check or offering envelope to make a donation, specifying Christmas Gift Card Drive.
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Share Your Christmas - December 11
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Do you have
NEW or GENTLEY USED
items that you would like to give away for someone to use as Christmas gifts? Then this event is for you! As part of our "green" Christmas, Peace is sponsoring a day of sharing where folks can bring in items and others may take them to give to their families and friends (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).
On Sunday, December 11th,
simply bring in gifts to donate and place them on the tables located on the church portico. Everyone is then welcome to "shop" in between worship services. This is re-gifting with purpose. Remember, this is Christmas without money, but only open hearts.
If we have any leftover gifts - they will be donated to local charities. For more information contact the Church Office.
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Candy Cane Reindeer for Sale:
The candy cane reindeer are back again this year. The Children's Ministries will be selling the cute little hand-crafted canes perfect for adorning your Christmas gifts or sending along in Christmas cards. They are only $1.00 and this year all proceeds will go to our Christmas Gift Card Drive. Set aside some money to support this cause and creatively dress your packages. The reindeer can be pre-ordered through
[email protected]
or you can pick them up that the Welcome Table on the portico starting on Sunday, December 4th.
45s Update:
Kids ages 4th and 5th grade are always welcome to join us every Sunday from 4:00-6:00 for games, Bible Lessons, small group and dinner. Meet on the portico to participate in this wonderful pre-youth group experience. Bring $3.00 to help cover the cost of dinner. We will be going Caroling on Sunday, December 12th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. and then take Christmas (12/25) and New Years Day (1/1) off. For more information contact Julie Chatfield at [email protected]
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THIS WEEK AT PEACE...
Congratulations to our 2016 Confirmation Class!
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| Thanks to Hilda Hofmann who decorates the Church Office for all seasons! |
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| Advent starts this Sunday - come help us hang the greens (during all worship services) |
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 Peace United Methodist Church
Church Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday 8:30 a.m - 3:30 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. - Noon
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE TIMES: 8:15, 9:30 & 11:00 A.M.
The Church Office will be closed November 24th and 25th for Thanksgiving. For emergencies this holiday weekend please 407-438-8947
Ext. 203 and follow the instructions to reach our Pastor on call.
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