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Paradise Valley United Methodist Church
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Christmas Winter Wonderland TONIGHT
Families welcome at our annual Christmas Winter Wonderland event featuring Santa and his elves and a big-screen movie. Kids, wear your pajamas, bring your pillows and blankets, and join us for
Elf, the Christmas movie featuring Will Farrell, tonight at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Center. Free pizza and hot cocoa; popcorn too! Make a Christmas craft with the elves and sit on Santa's lap. Bring your camera!
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Pastor's Message
Dear Friend in Faith,
Family history is fascinating. Some of us enjoy genealogy and finding out about our relatives, the past and where family comes from. Our past certainly shapes our present identity and helps explain who we are, our interests and dispositions, the burdens we can carry, the qualities that we cherish.
In the gospels of Matthew and Luke, we get a genealogy of Jesus, that goes way back. It is as much a theological statement as it is a matter of family history. Every family has some history that is joyous and positive. And every family has history that is more difficult, maybe some tragedies or a scoundrel or two if you go back far enough.
We’ve been talking these Sundays about Coming Home and how for many of us Christmas is a joyous homecoming. And yet for others, it is so difficult to come home, because of family challenges. There can be stress or conflict,
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Cookie Walk Sunday / Christmas Cookies and Carols at IGNITE
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This
Sunday, December 17
, you're invited to bring cookies to sell and buy cookies to enjoy over the holidays at the PVUMC Annual Cookie Walk. Children and youth music programs benefit from this year's sale. Come to the Fellowship Center, 9-11 am Sunday (in between worship services) to shop for a variety of cookies. Bakers, thank you for delivering your cookies to the church before 8:30 am Sunday. If you are going to Ignite, pick up some extras to share at the Cookies & Carols event.
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Worship and Fellowship at PVUMC
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See the
Looking Ahead, our bulletin insert, for news, the weekly calendar, a prayer list, and more.
Invitations to Christmas Eve Worship
We'll distribute postcards again on Sunday for you to give to a neighbor or friend as an invitation to one of our
five Christmas Eve services at 9:30 am, 3 pm or the Candlelight services at 5, 7 and 9 pm. Register on
Eventbrite for the service you plan to attend and invite your friends to join you via social media. Sharing is caring, and a personal invitation is always best, even if it's on
Facebook!
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Share your Stories about Christmas Traditions on the Advent Blog
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Subscribe to the Advent Blog via email or read it online on our website under the "news" tab. Have a story to share? We still have a few days to fill. Stories should be 200-500 words and include a title, your byline, a short prayer and a scripture. Include an image if you have one to share. The theme is Coming Home. Writing prompts: Talk about a surprise visit home or describe how you feel when you're home for Christmas. What are some of the sights, sounds and smells that remind you of being home for Christmas? Email paradisevalleyumc@gmail.com.
Advent Blog
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Christmas Missions Offering
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The Christmas Missions Offering at PVUMC is one way for you to help the community and show others how the church cares for others.
GIVE NOW on our website to these Christmas Missions:
- Emergency Relief – provide assistance to those in need at PVUMC and in the community
- UMOM – support the largest AZ homeless shelter for families, women and youth
- Wesley Community and Health Center – serve low-income families in Phoenix
If you prefer to give via check, please use the offering envelope you received in the mail, or use the one provided in the Christmas Eve bulletin or in the pew pocket. We are also helping UMOM through the sale of
Holiday Tribute Cards. Thank you for being God's love in action through your generous gifts.
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Give Syrian Sweets for Christmas
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Our church has continued to support local refugees through
RAFT
(Refugee Assistance and Friendship Teams) and we are happy to join Temple Emanuel for a special sale of baked goods through the Syrian Sweets Exchange this holiday season. Order your sweets online — there are many choices — and pick them up at Temple Emanuel Sunday, December 17 or Friday, December 22, OR pay $10 more for delivery on another date and time. Visit SignUp Genius to place your order and pay (cash preferred) upon receipt/delivery. Thank you for supporting the Syrian Sweets Exchange bakers and families.
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Thank you for subscribing. Update your profile/ email preferences below.
To subscribe to the Advent Blog and Daily Devotions via email from now until December 25, Christmas Day, visit the
2017 Advent Blog page
on the website.
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Did You Miss the Sermon Last Week? Listen online.
Support Youth Missions at the Paradise Perk Sundays, 9 am-1 pm
Visit our on-site coffee shop, the
Paradise Perk, for all your coffee needs every Sunday. A 16-oz cup of fresh-brewed coffee from the self-serve cart only costs $2. The Perk also offers a wide variety of espresso drinks, smoothies, teas, and soda. All proceeds support youth missions and make the life-changing trips we offer affordable for our church families and students. In 2018, the senior high youth go to Houston on a mission trip.
Read More.
NOTE:
Childcare is availa
ble with a 48-hour reservation for all our
events and classes on campus. Call 602.840.8360, ext 134.
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