No Navigator will be sent out next Saturday, December 26. |
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Advent Worship Series
This Week's Scripture Readings:
Luke 1:26-45 | 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 |
Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26
Check out the Advent Section below for more details on this church season and holiday worship service opportunities.
Faith United posts worship at 8am Sundays via YouTube, Facebook and our Website. Missed a week? Find it here. To give your offering electronically, use this link: Tithes & Offerings
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Get your Christmas shopping taken care of and support Faith United at the same time!
Cokesbury is a great resource to purchase Bibles, devotionals, gifts and more! If you order from Cokesbury, please use this link. The church receives credit and a rebate from your purchase.
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Virtual Lobby
Sundays at 9am
Grab your coffee and morning treats and join us for conversation and fellowship on Sunday mornings.
The Zoom link is sent with Sunday's Worship by Wire email, or you can watch live on our Facebook page.
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Make sure to check out last Sunday's Virtual Lobby sharing Nativity Sets from around the world. |
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Centering - A Service of Prayer and Presence
Spots are available for this Sunday's Centering Service. Centering is different from our Traditional and Modern services. It is a socially-distanced, 30-minute service of prayer and reflection with acoustic music accompaniment. Attendance is limited to 20 households. Follow this link to register.
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Help Needed:
Faith Kitchen will be setting up on Monday, December 21 for a grab and go distribution on Saturday, December 26. They are looking for extra volunteers. They will meet at Faith at 8:45am to load up, and plan to be at Crystal Park around 9:30. Contact Cheryl Froelich for more information.
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Year End Giving Reminder
We welcome your online donations made through our website. Online donations should be made on or before December 26 in order to be processed and received by December 30. If you choose to make a year-end donation by check, it must be received on or before December 30 to receive credit for 2020.
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Get Connected at Faith! Check out our Programs & Groups page for our current group offerings. Find the group for you and enjoy the time together with others. |
Group Book Discussion
Go back to 1965 and the Vietnam War as we review “Two Souls Indivisible,” by James S. Hirsch. This book gives a riveting account of how 2 POW’s forged a strong bond and friendship despite racial differences and horrific living conditions. Join our discussion by Zoom on January 28 at 7pm.
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The Walk: Five Essential Practices for Christian Living
Groups are now forming for our January Church Wide study series.
Contact Kathy Schmucker to learn about coordinating a group to connect, learn, and grow together. Books are available for pick up at the Book Table in the Gathering Area. Find out more here.
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Continue watching our Sunday Night Youth Videos below as the youth (and anyone who wants to watch) study the book of James and what it means to live the Christian life. Read more
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Check out our December 16 Caroling Night WNL below.
Our next WNL will be Jan. 6, 2021.
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Spiritual Practices
& Worship Engagement
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Trying a new way to pray and study scripture helps us stay close to God and is vital to our growth as disciples of Christ.
Watch below to learn
about Chrismon Ornaments.
Check out more videos here. |
Celebrate Wonder activities are designed to guide children and their families from Nursery to 5th Grade through Bible stories, creative experiences, and spiritual practices. Read more.
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Kids, make sure you check out last week's
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We want to hear from you!
Share pictures or videos of how you are celebrating Advent and Christmas with your families, by engaging in Worship by Wire or our Children's activities. Email them to Kathy Schmucker.
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The season of Advent marks the beginning of the Christian year. Advent is a season of waiting and watching as we prepare our hearts and lives to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. It is a hopeful time as we anticipate and experience the wonderful gift of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. |
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Advent Devotional: Check out this daily devotional based on our Advent Series, Those Who Dream. The devotional includes devotions for Christmas and Epiphany. Limited print copies by request.
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Family Story Time - Story telling is a beautiful and creative way to pass down family tales and share stories with family and friends. Try reading a story each day leading up to Christmas. Remember the words of Psalm 78:4, “…we will tell the next generation the praise worthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.”
Share the story of Christ’ birth. Read Luke 2:1-20 as a family, taking turns reading the verses. Be creative in the way you tell the story. Get out bathrobes, sheets, and towels, put on costumes, and act out the story. What would it have been like if you had been one of the shepherds, the inn keeper, or the wise men? Share how Jesus makes a difference in your lives.
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Holiday Service Opportunities |
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The Longest Night Service - A Holiday Service of Remembrance & Grief for loved ones lost in 2020.
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The Zoom can be accessed here on Dec. 21.
- Participants are encouraged to have scrap paper & pens, markers, or colored pencils available to use.
Online Christmas Eve Services
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Christmas Eve Service - Combining the best of our modern and traditional services for Christmas Eve Celebration
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Family Nativity Story Service- Experience the Christmas Story and participate at home as we create the Nativity together.
In-person Christmas Eve Service
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Outdoor Service Under the Stars – Thursday, December 24, 7-7:30pm by the Pavilion. Bundle up and join us as we celebrate the birth of Jesus during this outdoor worship experience of lessons and carols! A soloist will be singing our favorite carols and the scriptures of the season will be read. Glow sticks will be provided. Masks and social distancing are required. Check our website, Facebook or call the church on December 24th after 12:00 to confirm the service is still on as planned. This service may need to be canceled in the event of severe weather or due to heightened COVID-19 concerns.
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Live Nativity for Outdoor Christmas Eve Service
We have opportunities for 3-6 families to be part of a socially distant Live Nativity before and during this year's outdoor Christmas Eve service. If your family would feel comfortable and enjoy being part of this experience, please contact Kathy Schmucker as soon as possible. Costumes will be provided or you can wear your own.
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Shine Christ's Light in your Neighborhood
On Christmas Eve, grab a flashlight, a candle, or even your cell phone, and go outside at 8pm. Let your light shine, sing Silent Night, and share the Good News of Jesus in your neighborhood. Invite others to do the same from their porches and share the light of Christ in your community and around the world!
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Prayer Requests
Email requests to Amanda Englehart for the weekly Thursday prayer list. The prayer list is distributed via email, not available to the public. If you would like to receive the weekly prayer list to pray for those lifted up, let Amanda know.
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How to Pick up books for a Group Study:
- Visit the table inside the Gathering Area on weekdays.
- Sanitize hands, find your book, & complete the sign in sheet.
- Suggested donations by cash/check can be left in the envelope on the table, or pay through online giving by selecting 'book study' fund.
- Do not let the book cost prohibit you from participating in a group.
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Resources to help enhance your viewing and using of Faith United's digital offerings can be found below.
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The Youth Mission Team takes orders year round for gift cards. A percentage of each order benefits the Youth Mission Fund.
Check out this listing containing hundreds of gift cards available. Email Amy Ferguson with your order and you will get your cards soon after. Simply send a check to the church or pay online here, select Youth Summer Mission Fund.
Amy is no longer taking orders in December for arrival by Christmas.
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Amplify Media:
A multimedia subscription free to our members featuring thousands of videos for Bible study, reflection, and inspiration of all ages. Access these resources anytime on a computer, using the Amplify App on a tablet or phone, or using the Roku or Amazon apps on a smart TV. To sign up for Faith United's subscription channel, check out these instructions. Questions can be directed to Kathy Schmucker.
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Defying Gravity books make a great Christmas gift! We have several copies avaiable from our church-wide series that we are unable to return. Pick up a copy to gift a friend from the book table in the Gathering Area. Suggested donation $11 |
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As of Thursday, December 17, Stark County is in Red Level status.
Calendar events are subject to change or cancel based on status level.
In General, the church building is closed, but Centering will continue as scheduled.
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Sunday, December 20
8:30am-9:30am Worship by Wire - Fourth Sunday of Advent
9am-9:30am Virtual Lobby by Zoom
9:45am-10:45am "Incarnation" Study - Kim Reynolds (Zoom)
10:30am-11am Centering - A Service of Prayer and Presence (Sanctuary)
7pm-8pm McLaughlin Study Group (Zoom)
Monday, December 21
2:30pm-3:30pm Men's Emmaus Accountability Group (Zoom)
6pm-7pm Longest Night Service (Zoom)
6:30pm-7:30pm Book of James Study-Luikart (Zoom)
Tuesday, December 22
2:30pm-5:30pm Worship by Wire Recording (Sanctuary)
6:30pm-7:30pm "Because of Bethlehem"-Bell/Schillings (Zoom)
7pm-8pm SPRC (Zoom)
Thursday, December 24
7pm-8pm Outdoor Christmas Eve Service (Pavilion)
Friday, December 25
All Day: Church Office Closed
Sunday, December 27
8:30am-9:30am Worship by Wire
10:30am-11am Centering - A Service of Prayer and Presence (Sanctuary)
Monday, December 28
All Day: Church Office Closed
Thursday, December 31
All Day: Church Office Closed
Friday, January 1
New Year's Day - Church Office Closed
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