December 7, 2018
Paradise Valley United Methodist Church
PVUMC Christmas Concert Sunday Night
Join us for the PVUMC annual Christmas Concert at 6 pm on Saturday, December 9 in the sanctuary. No tickets are needed for this Community Concert but we welcome donations at the event. Sing Christmas Carols and listen to our choirs and musicians perform a variety of music to get you in the holiday spirit.
Pastor's Message

  Dear Friend in Faith,

Centuries ago, the prophet Isaiah wrote words that still speak to our faith: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined…For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:5-6)

The early Christians saw Jesus as “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Our ancestors in faith came to see Jesus as a decisive revelation of God for our world. We think of how God is mighty, what the power of God can do in our lives: transform us into a new way of living and being in the world; help turn us from evil, towards the light, towards the right direction of God. God’s power can bring healing, of body and spirit. God’s might can...


Christmas Wonderland / The Star
On Friday, December 14 , you're invited to bring your family to church for a Christmas Wonderland! We'll have hot cocoa, cookies, pizza, popcorn, Christmas crafts, and Santa and his elves! Spend time together with your church family and watch The Star (PG), a delightful animated movie about the first Christmas. We may not have snow, but we'll have fun!

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. Pick up a jumbo Christmas postcard after worship this Sunday, and invite a friend or neighbor to join you for a Christmas Eve service. We'll also have small invitation cards for you to use to invite others.


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 are available at Serendipities, our campus gift and book store. Read more about the two book choices and see which Journeys groups are discussing them.

Check our Calendar Online
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.
Thank You for Turning Hunger into Hope at the Holiday MobilePack
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Feed My Starving Children Hope-Filled Holiday MobilePack at the Phoenix Convention Center last weekend. We had 40 people sign up and donated $1,000 as Bronze Sponsors. Over the three days, volunteers packed more than 1.7 million meals which will help feed more than 4,700 children for a whole year! Thank you for being God’s love in action! Thank you! 

Give Gifts of Shelter, Food and More to Families at UMOM
UMOM Holiday Tribute Cards are the perfect Christmas gift for family and friends as we remember the birth of a child needing shelter so long ago. Cards range from $15 for a day of meals to $360 for a month of shelter. Stop by the patio table after worship this Sunday or next to purchase yours. PVUMC Member Marge Dennis is also collecting Christmas stamps to help families served by UMOM stay in touch with loved ones during the holidays. Leave your donations in the small gift bags in the chapel and sanctuary. Thank you!
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Pottery Painting Party Sunday
The Young Adult Lifegroup or YAL is hosting a Christmas Pottery Painting Party on Sunday, December 9 , 12:30-2 pm in H1. Choose from a variety of ready-to-paint pottery pieces ranging from $10-$30 each. Invite your friends to join you, and get creative together! Lunch is available and donations are appreciated.

RSVP to Rev. Brenda Smith via email: brenda@pvumc.org .

Serendipities will also be open Sunday morning 9 am-12:30 pm and later in the afternoon, 5-7:30 pm, for holiday shopping. Also look for Handmade for the Holidays on the patio after worship and at the Christmas Concert. They are selling hand-knitted and crocheted holiday items to raise money for a church van.
PVUMC Christmas Concert
Paradise Valley United Methodist Church is excited to present the PVUMC Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 9. Thank you to everyone who signed up to bring cookies to share at the dessert reception, hosted by the Welcome Ministry Team following the concert.

The church gift shop, Serendipities, will be open from 5-7:30 pm that evening and during the month of December, the shop will be open Sundays, 9 am-12:30 pm and Tuesdays, 10 am-1:30 pm through December 18. Special shopping days are December 19 and 20, when the Preschool has its Christmas program.  

Register for the Christmas 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. On Instagram, we have a "Get Tickets" link on our @pvumc profile. Check it out! Donations welcome at each event.

Saguaros' Christmas in Hawaii
Join the Saguaros for their December program and potluck on Thursday, December 13 at 10:30 am in the Fellowship Center. Sway to the rhythm of an island beat as Sean Mireau creates a lively Hawaiian Christmas atmosphere with his steel drum music. Wear a Hawaiian shirt, bring $3, and a dish to share. If your last name begins with A-C, bring dessert; D-M, main dish; N-Z, salad. 

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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.

Dedicate Your Donation to a Loved One
This Sunday, look for an insert in the Looking Ahead with information about how to submit a donation to the Christmas General Fund. With each $20 donation, you're encouraged to include a dedication to someone special, which will be printed in the Christmas Eve bulletin. If you can't wait until Sunday, or just want to make your donation online, visit GIVE NOW, choose "Christmas-General Fund" from the drop-down menu, and include your dedication in honor of or in remembrance of a loved one. The gifts you make will be used to provide poinsettias for our homebound as well as purchase flowers for our sanctuary and chapel during the Advent season. Thank you for your generous gifts.

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