4th Sunday of Advent

Zechariah's song

December 23, 9:30 am and 11:00 am

  Christmas Eve Children's Service Christmas Pageant

December 24, 4:00 pm

 

Christmas Eve Band Led Service

Angel's song

December 24, 6:00 pm

 

Christmas Eve Choir Led Service Angel's song

December 24, 8:00 pm

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;  for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

-Luke 1:76-79

Glory to you loving God for sending your son Jesus to teach us love and to show us how to be your people. In these last few hours before Christmas, give us the wisdom and the patience we need to slow down just for a minute to ponder what a miracle it was for you to place divinity and eternity into the human and finite. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace, and, for that, we are deeply grateful. Amen.

DONATE ONLINE ! Christmas Joy Offerin g, Peace and Global Witness Offering for ACT: Anne Arundel Connecting Together , Pledged Giving , Capital Savings Fund and more! Many opportunities await you!

I must admit that many times on this trip my faith was challenged by hearing about the oppression of women in Guatemala. It was challenged by the horrible living conditions so many people face. It was challenged by talking to people in the caravan and wondering how people faced so much violence that they had to leave their homes and country. It was challenged by hearing about the corruption that takes place in the government.

So where is the hope and joy you might ask?

Please read , Mission Elder, Cheryl Schafer's reflections on the challenges of keeping faith in the face of so much injustice, while recognizing the pockets of hope, which shone in the darkness.

If you would like to learn more about the mission trip to Guatemala, plan on attending January 22 at 7:00 pm.



Why does Ark and Dove have teams instead of committees? What’s the relationship between team leads and elders? How many teams do we have at the church? What do they do? How do new teams get started? Like any other institution, the organization of Ark and Dove can be confusing and sometimes intimidating – deacons, elders, session, and the teams, what do they all do and how? And this not-knowing sometimes makes it harder to find your role at the church. Join us at the next Equipping the Saints class on Wednesday, January 9th, where Pastors Tim and Jon will try to explain away these “mysteries” of Ark and Dove. We start with dinner at 6:30 and follow with discussions from 7:00-8:30. Childcare and special meals can be provided. Please sign up in the lobby and contact contact Bruce Sanders (brusanders@aol.com) or Steve Debus (steven.debus89@gmail.com) about any questions.

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Patrick Sise’s mother, Carol; Joan Berry’s son, Bryan Flom; James Franklin’s father, Homer; Jay Olson; Kameron and Kamarii Miller; Karen Dodson; Cliff Wellington’s father, Roy; Cheryl Walcutt’s sister, Judy Walsh; Amanda Wehage’s family; Jon Nelson’s aunt, Linda, and grandmother, Peggy; Chip Burnett; Laura Doughty's aunt, Marie; Ylonda Fauntleroy's aunt, Bernice Taylor and Ylonda Fauntleroy’s and Michelle Schoonmaker’s aunt, Alice Turner; Diane Johnson's aunt; Brooks Emrick and her sister, Susan; Vaughn Brown and his sister, Kathie, and brother, Jim; Ann Hirschy; Christy Yeager's father, Leon Jordan; Donna Anderson's brother-in-law, Tom; Frances Keyes; Dot Forloines; Helene Marchand-Stancil; Laura Willoughby's father, Norman; Julia Kirby's mother, Margaret Floyd; Amy Carskadon's nephew; Erika Sealing's son, Trip, and grandmother, Margaret Schade; Sue Hanburger's grandson, Enzo; Laura Rockwell's friend, Adam Hurst; Edie and Richard Budd; Dotty Kaufmann's grandson, Nathan; Amy Benson's family; Lisa Mezaache’s friend, Pearl McNamara; Annetta Fenstermacher’s sister, Margaret; Dorene Chen’s grandfather, Tian Tao Li; Christy Hipchen’s cousin, Corey; David Michels; Dakota Miller; Clarence Scott; Marlene and Doug DeHaven; Mike Stefanick; Jerri Webb’s friend, Mary Van Orten; Rob Yeager’s co-worker, Wayne Sweet; Mike and Charlotte Davie’s friend, Dave Page; Matthew Hagemann’s friend, Michael Prosperi; Miranda Holjes; Dough Mattingly’s mother; and Matthew Fellows.

PRAYERS OF SUPPORT go out to the guests and churches involved with Winter Relief this week: Mt. Zion UMC Magothy, St. Christopher’s Site Only, Temple Beth Shalom.

PRAYERS OF SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE for those who are struggling with challenges of health, finance, safety and liberty.

If you have prayer concerns or blessings that you would like to share, please contact Deacon Patriceo Green at patriceobgreen@gmail.com and he will add your concern to the prayer partners email chain.