November 21, 2018
Paradise Valley United Methodist Church
Christmas Concerts
The Dueling Divas perform Noel, a four-hands Christmas Concert, on Saturday, December 1 at 7 pm in the sanctuary. Donations at the event will go toward the PVUMC Piano Fund, and Andria Fennig and Ashley Strawser's NEW Noel CD will be available for purchase. On Sunday, December 9, at 6 pm, we host our annual PVUMC Christmas Concert, featuring choirs, bells and instrumentalists. Following the concert, we have a dessert reception. Stop by the patio table this Sunday or next to sign up to bring your favorite cookies to share.
Pastor's Message

  Dear Friend in Faith,

I pray there will be a large helping of gratitude for you this week. I know Thanksgiving is a mixed time for many. If we’ve had a good year it’s easy to be thankful. If we’re grieving or struggling mightily with life then it’s a bit harder to feel the gratitude. Some of us are alone this time of year, which leaves us feeling out of step with the rest of the culture. Sometimes the best we can do is thank God for the basics: for life, breath, a place to worship. Psalm 100 says about God “enter his gates with thanksgiving…” a reminder it is good to enter God’s presence first with a thankful word, and then we offer our needs to God. The Apostle Paul, who had faced torture, homelessness and major health issues would say to the Christians in Philippi: “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Making our requests to God, surrounded by thanksgiving helps both our faith and our response to the difficulties of life.

I also know that we’re entering a time of year that is full with holiday activity. Sunday we’ll read the story of two friends of Jesus’, Mary and Martha. Many of us identify with Martha, the more Type A personality, trying to get things done, like prepare a meal for Jesus and his entourage. We’re the type that doesn’t shirk responsibilities. We step up to them. Let’s face it, the church needs Martha’s who care for all kinds of people and ministry. But there’s an insight for the holiday season...



Giving Tuesday Invites Generosity
As Black Friday and Cyber Monday fade, Giving Tuesday rises, inviting you to give to nonprofits, charities and churches. On this Global Day of Giving, Tuesday, November 27 , we invite you to give to your church. Dedicate your donation to a loved one and help fund PVUMC ministries. If you're online, tell your networks how you gave on this Global Day of Giving, tagging the church and using the hashtags #Godsloveinaction and #GivingTuesday.
Sunday Worship at PVUMC
Paradise Valley United Methodist Church (PVUMC) invites you to worship with us at 8, 9:30 or 11 am this Sunday.


Download your Looking Ahead for this Sunday and see what's on the schedule for this week. We include news and events as well as Prayers of Intercession so you can pray for others. Advent study books will be available at Serendipities, our campus gift and book store. Read more about the two book choices and see which Journeys groups will be discussing them.

Please note that the church office will be closed Thursday and Friday in observance of Thanksgiving. We wish you all a blessed holiday. We are grateful for you!

We are very thankful for our experiences at Change the World Day last week too. Thank you for being God's love in action! If you have photos to share, please email them to paradisevalleyumc@gmail.com.
See the website calendar at pvumc.org/calendar for all our children's, youth and adult activities, during the week and all year long.

Prayer Requests
 Submit prayer requests using our online request form, email prayer@pvumc.org or call the church office at 602.840.8360. Your request will be shared with our 200+ list of prayer warriors on email. If you haven't been receiving prayers, and are already on the prayer team list, please make sure you add " prayer@pvumc.org" and our new prayer chain coordinator's email, " ddoran@pvumc.org" to your safe sender and recipient lists. To make sure the E-News gets to you, add " paradisevalleyumc@gmail.com" to your email list of safe recipients.
Pack Meals Downtown at FMSC Hope-filled Holiday MobilePack
Paradise Valley United Methodist Church is a Bronze Sponsor of the Hope-filled Holiday MobilePack Feed My Starving Children event November 30-December 2 . For 3 days, volunteers will work around the clock to pack 2 million meals for hungry children and you can be a part of it! PVUMC has reserved 125 spaces -- 100 on Saturday, December 1 and 25 on Sunday, December 2 for the 3-5 pm time slot. PVUMC has participated in these downtown MobilePack events since 2013 and it's exciting to mobilize so many people to do so much good in one place! Register today!
Join a Journeys Group for Advent
You’re invited to join a Journeys small group at pvumc and experience the season of Advent together. The clergy has recommended two books, which are available at online booksellers OR at the church gift shop, Serendipities. During the month of December, the shop will be open Sundays, 9 am-12:30 pm, and on Tuesdays, 10 am-1:30 pm through December 18. The church office also has copies of the books for purchase.

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Give to Others This Christmas
You are invited to be a light to someone else this Advent season through the UMOM and Wesley Adopt-a-Family and Adopt-a-Child programs and by donating gifts to children, seniors and families on the Navajo reservation. Stop by the patio tables after worship this Sunday, complete the registration process, choose and wrap your gifts and deliver them to the church office no later than December 2 . Navajo gifts must be received by THIS SUNDAY.

PVUMC Christmas Concert
Paradise Valley United Methodist Church is excited to present the PVUMC Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 9 and is asking for desserts to provide at the hosted dessert reception following the concert. See the tables outside worship on Sunday to sign up.

Register for this concert and ALL the PVUMC Community Concerts on Eventbrite, invite your friends, and share our concerts on Facebook. Visit our Facebook page to see and share this concert. And if you're on Instagram, we have a "Get Tickets" link on our @pvumc profile. Check it out!

Donations welcome at each event. Make your childcare reservations at least 48 hours before the concert by calling 602.840.8360, ext 134 or emailing childcare@pvumc.org.

Give Blood. Save Lives.
Paradise Valley United Methodist Church (PVUMC) has partnered with The American Red Cross again on Sunday, December 2, 2018 for its annual blood drive. This is just one way for us to be God's love in action. Sign up to participate ONLINE NOW. Appointments usually take one hour.


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  Did You Miss the Sermon Last Week? Listen online.
If you missed last week's sermon, you can listen online at LISTEN: Previous Sermons.

Make Christmas Merry by Donating Gifts to Children and Seniors
This Sunday, look for information on how to adopt a family at UMOM, a child served by the Wesley Community Center or a Senior in an assisted living facility or nursing home. We also have an opportunity to provide gifts, food and toiletries to families and seniors on the Navajo reservation. You can be an angel this Christmas by donating gifts to them. Stop by the patio tables on Sunday to find out more or call Frieda Bateman, 480.361.9371.


NOTE: Childcare is availa ble with a 48-hour reservation for all our
events and classes on campus. Call 602.840.8360, ext 134.