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December 2020
Waterville UMC Ambassador
Dear Church Family,

God’s blessings be upon you. 

As you read this we are likely at COVID Purple, level 4, ‘Public Emergency: severe exposure and spread, only leave home for supplies and services.” 

No one wants to stay at home, shut down a business or not gather together for worship. I would guess many are like myself, tired of all the restrictions and news reports. While praying about all these things this hymn kept coming to mind.

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace;
in ev'ry high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil. 

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, his covenant, his blood support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay.
 
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.

When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found, dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.

This hymn was written in 1834 by Edward Mote, a Baptist pastor. It captures the heart of the gospel; reminding us all that our only real hope is in Jesus. 

The second verse seems most fitting for our current situation, “When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace; in ev'ry high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil. "

Is Jesus your “anchor”? Jesus came to give all a sense of hope and peace. No matter what unfolds in our world or in our lives, God sent his Son so that we can experience a relationship that will lets us know that God is with us.

We will make it through these difficult times. God tells us to not be afraid. This is the gift we can depend on. In this season God’s peace be with you. For this is the time to grow closer to God as there is nothing in our world that anchors us against the storms of our time.

Peace be with you,
Pastor Mike
Our Vision – Share, Celebrate, and Teach God’s Love
Our Mission – Serve. Connect. Love. Give.
Worship with Waterville UMC

Even though we are not holding in person worship services at this time, we do have the several opportunities to worship and praise the Lord. They are listed below.

Live Stream at 11 AM Sunday via You Tube at www.watervilleumc.org.

Park in car within a block of the church at 11 AM Sunday and listen to the service on FM 90.5.

Watch the recording of the worship service on-line when available at www.watervilleumc.org.
Also, please watch our website and eBLASTS as we get closer to Christmas for details on our Christmas Eve worship opportunities.
Our children are also playing a special role in our Advent Season worship services.

They are designing the bulletin cover, lighting the Advent Candle and reading the Advent Reading and possibly singing a solo or playing an instrument.

Join us in every worship to see the wonder and celebration of Jesus' birth through our children's eyes.
Our children and their teachers, as the "Project with a Purpose" team created 55 Scarecrow Goody bags for the staff at Waterville Primary School. The bags were each uniquely hand designed and filled with cookies, crackers, a Keurig, and some chocolate. The kids also used fall stickers to decorate an encouraging and inspirational note for each bag. Thank you to all who participated in this outreach ministry!
LEAF RAKING Thank you to Youth Alive for providing the annual leaf raking service!!! We had 7 Youth and 4 adults and lots of leaves!!!

The Youth continue to meet via Zoom and stay connected.
We have included the December HomeTouch in this Ambassador. Click on HomeTouch picture to open.
DECEMBER'S MISSION FOCUS
Susie's Coats for KIDS!
Our December Mission Focus is Susie's Coats for KIDS. Their mission is to provide NEW coats, hats, scarves, gloves and blankets to needy children in NW Ohio and SE Michigan.

There is a box by the community room door to put the items in.

Money is also needed to purchase items as needed. For more information go online at www.susiescoats.org
Susie will be speaking to WUMC on Sunday, December 6th. Watch her on LIVE STREAM or listen at FM 90.5!

Susie writes that to date, over 1,200 new coats for children have left my hands and our inventory is markedly low right now. Due to the pandemic, we are providing curbside service to the schools, curbside, drop and go service to Lucas County Children's Services Center, Toledo Day Nursery Centers, pick up service for all area families thru the Salvation Army's drive thru for their food pantry and more! Big fun!

Children are most deserving of a new coat and we understand there are many smiles when the children notice that their new coat still has the tags on it. For most, this is their first brand new item of clothing. We also try hard to match up the new coat with a matching hat for them to make them feel special.  

All in service to God!
2020 Collection Update

  • Year 24 of WUMC packing shoeboxes
  • Year 9 as Drop Off Site
  • WUMC collected 178 boxes
  • As a drop off location we filled 105 cartons = 1,194 OCC BOXES!!
  • We had 19 volunteers with over 87 volunteer hours.
Dear Lord,
 
We give thanks for each and every shoebox gift packed in 2020 and pray for the children who receive them – that they may know God’s comfort and protection at this time.
 
We give thanks for everyone who volunteered at our WUMC Collection site during National Collection Week- that their hearts are blessed with your goodness.

We pray for the hurting children and their families whose lives will be impacted by these boxes and the contents we’ve packed with love.

We pray especially that through these gifts the hearts of the children and their families will be opened to your love and the message of your grace through Jesus Christ.

Dear Providing God, we pray that you would open the way for these shoeboxes to be delivered to people who need to know of your love for them. To this end, in faith, we ask for your blessing. 

Amen.
Thank you to all who helped make this year's Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Curbside Collection a wonderful blessing to children across the world.
Volunteer Bell Ringers - A reminder this coming Saturday, December 5th at Kroger. Ring a bell……help change a life. We still need to fill the 10 AM to 11 AM time slot and the 6 PM to 7 PM time slot. If you can volunteer, please contact Karen Wiggins at 419-350-1211. Thank you from the Missions Team!
The prayer team is asking for the support of the rest of the congregation to join them in praying specifically for the the Prayer focus of the month.

Jesus comes with The Gifts of Peace, Joy, Love, Hope

*Extra commentary by Pastor Rich Lammay from December 2019
1.) The Gift of Peace
2.) The Gift of Joy
3.) The Gift of Love
4.) The Gift of Hope
         
We had to order had to order early and cannot change our order so please order yours today! Email, call, drop off in mailbox! You may use the envelope picture displayed below or in recent eBLASTS. The deadline to order is Monday, December 14th. The cost is $7.00 each.
Click on the picture to listen to
Christmas Day with Chris Tomlin and We the Kingdom
NOVEMBER ATTENDANCE

November 1...127
November 8...116
November 15...90
November 22...127
November 29...125
FOR DAILY SCRIPTURE READING CLICK ON PICTURE
The Staff Parish Relations Ministry would like to wish you and your family a blessed and joyous Christmas. As we approach the celebration of the birth of our Savior, we also pause to give thanks for the many gifts that we have been given. In that Spirit, we would like to remember our church staff with a gift at Christmas. Please help by showering our staff with cards and a thank you during this season of hope, peace, joy and love.

Blessings,
The Staff Parish Relations Committee
Luke Kirby December 1
Karen Caldwell December 3
Lily Croy December 4
Doug LaRue December 4
Douglas Box December 7
Kim Breen December 7
Millie Hires December 8
Ann Dalton December 10
James Page December 10
JoAnn Lucas December 15
Natalie Przybylski December 16
Joel Sobecki December 16
Penny Greenlese December 17
Neil Westfall December 19
Kevin Abbey December 20
Charlotte Pritchett December 26
Dan Breen December 25
Anne Stevens December 27
Rachel Studer December 28
Benjamin Varner December 28

Happy Birthday to you!

(If you have an December Birthday that isn't listed here, please call the church office so we can add you to our birthday list!)
Office hours are generally Monday through Friday 9 AM to Noon.
Please call ahead at 419-878-3645.
If you have an immediate need or a Pastoral need,
please call Pastor Mike Denman at 419-469-0156 .
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