GPS: Guide to Prayer and Study this Thanksgiving |
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The Thanksgiving holiday is usually dedicated to spending time with family, eating your weight in the best roast turkey, and Grandma's famous stuffing, and perfecting your Thanksgiving table setting. But given the fact that we are in the midst of a global pandemic, this year's Thanksgiving may be different.
So this year, why not take the opportunity to tap into a more reflective mindset and spend a quiet moment with scripture. After all, Thanksgiving itself is a tradition rooted in gratitude! The Bible is filled with verses about gratitude that can encourage you to have Thanksgiving in your heart all year-round, not just on Thanksgiving! Whether read aloud by the fireplace with blankets and Thanksgiving cocktails, or even shared around the dinner table in turns, these scriptures emphasize exactly why we celebrate Thanksgiving in the first place.
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"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15
"I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus." 1 Corinthians 1:4
"You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." 2 Corinthians 9:11
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
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This week's joys and concerns |
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- Scott Mead lost his coworker Rick to COVID-19, and requests prayers for his wife Jodi and their family.
- Diane Hammond requests prayers for her friend Margaret who is fighting cancer and in a lot of pain; and for continued prayers for her sister-in-law Lisa with stage IV breast cancer.
- Deanna Deason shares joys that she will be a great grandma again, and asks for prayers for Jessica during this time
- Susan Lee requests prayers for two friends who are positive with COVID-19
- Brooke Jetmund requests prayers for educators who are pivoting and transitioning their teaching plans once again
- Charlotte Loter requests prayers for the family of her childhood friend Roger who died recently.
- Rhonda George asks for prayers for a friend who is recovering from foot surgery, and for Scott's brother who is recovering from back surgery.
- Jackie Cook requests prayers for a friend's husband who has asthma and is hospitalized with COVID-19.
- We extend our sympathy and prayers of comfort for Souane Mumma and family on the loss of her sister Maxine Peterson.
- Prayers for family members who have been exposed to COVID-19 and may not be able to spend Thanksgiving with family.
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View last week's worship service, and download a discussion guide based on the movie "It's A Wonderful Life" |
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Advent begins this Sunday, Nov. 29 |
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Online Worship: Sundays at 9:30 AM
November 29th "Hope Can't Wait"
December 6th "Peace Can't Wait"
December 13th "Joy Can't Wait"
December 20th "Love Can't Wait"
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*Beginning this Sunday, Nov. 29, you can join ZOOM online with a computer, smartphone or tablet - or dial in by phone - for a time of fellowship before worship. Then stay on ZOOM to worship together, or switch to Facebook Live.
Sunday morning "Coffee & Fellowship" begins on ZOOM at 9:15 AM.
JOIN ZOOM ONLINE: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86236822821
CALL BY PHONE: 1-312-626-6799 &
enter Meeting ID when prompted: 862 36822821
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Blue Christmas Service
Sunday, December 20th at 5:00PM
an online service to name the people and things we miss and are grieving this year
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Christmas Eve Worship
Thursday, December 24th at 5:00PM
ZOOM worship that includes a live interactive "Silent Night" candlelighting
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Did you know that lighting a candle each week to mark the passing of time from Advent to Christmas originally began as a home worship ritual?
This year we are going to bring this practice back into our homes!
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We are inviting everyone to gather together 4 candles (of any size or color) for the 4 weeks of Advent and one "Christ" candle for Christmas Eve & the season of Christmas to make your own version of an Advent Wreath. Then, we encourage you to light the candles with us during online worship on Sundays, and to make this a weekly or even daily devotional practice.
We would love to see a photo of your home advent wreath! We're also collecting videos of individuals & families reading the liturgy and lighting the candles so we can share them in online worship!
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Advent bags are available for individuals and families to help you celebrate advent at home!
The bags are filled with materials for making your own advent wreath, the candle lighting liturgy, an advent devotional and an advent gratitude journal. Plus, for families with children at home, we've added a children's activity packet with family devotions, coloring sheets and a kindness calendar.
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After you request a bag, you can pick them up curbside at the Church:
Wednesday, Nov. 25 from 5:00 - 6:00 PM or Sunday, Nov. 29 from 11 AM - Noon.
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We're asking everyone to send us a short video giving a "Holiday Hello" to the congregation! You can even include yourself/your household singing a favorite Christmas song (secular or sacred) OR sharing in one or two sentences your favorite Christmas tradition or Christmas memory. These will be shared in worship throughout Advent and Christmas. |
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- Drop off new or used, indoor or outdoor Christmas Decorations in the red tub outside the church entrance for residents of Polk City Nursing and Rehab
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Donate $20 Walmart Gift Cards to help fill the Comet Cupboard food bag giveaway in December. You can contribute by purchasing a $20 Walmart gift card and drop it off at church when you pick up your advent bags, or mail it to PCUMC 1421 W. Broadway; or contact Mai Golbuff (515-984-9149) or Linda Pennington (515-480-9610) for pick up. We would like to have all gift cards collected by Dec 12th.
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