If you would like a DVD of Sunday Service, please contact Butch Howard.

I would like to send a special thanks to the anonymous donor of $100 to the handbell choir. We are very grateful for the support! We are also blessed to have such an appreciative congregation. Sharing our music ministry means a lot to us and ringing for all of you brings us much joy...except perhaps when we are ringing a piece that has a lot of key changes...we keep smiling though!

We wish you peace, joy and love this Christmas.

~Linda Patten and the HOL Handbell Choir

(Copied from a shared Facebook post.)

This is how it happened...I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree. He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out.

"What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat, and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement. "TEACH THE CHILDREN!"

I was puzzled; what did he mean? He anticipated my question, and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten."

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness."

Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."

He then pulled from his bag an ornament of himself. "Teach the children that I, St. Nick (Santa Claus) symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December."

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly represents the blood shed by Him."

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON... Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift. Teach the children that the wise men bowed before the Holy BABE and presented HIM with gold, frankincense and myrrh. We should always give gifts in the same spirit of the wise men."

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper."

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang 'Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."

Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return."

Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship HIM, our LORD, our GOD...... Praise Jesus!!!"

Click here to make your order: https://givebutter.com/honeyformeals2021

Email Katie here: katie@lmow.org (subject line: Honey)

If you wish to donate to this month's compassion offering, you can do so online by clicking here and navigating to the Monthly Compassion Offering tile. Or, you may send a check to the church office with "Compassion Offering" on the memo line.

We are looking for a few volunteers who would be willing to fill the box a couple of days a month. If you would like to help, contact Jo Lloyd at mjolloyd1@msn.com or 303-775-2884.

Now that colder weather is upon us the blessing box needs are a bit different. We are in need of the following items.

Canned goods/drinks are always welcome and will be placed in the box (weather permitting).

Thank you for your donations to support this ministry.

Charitable giving during the holiday season this year takes on a new, happier meaning when it comes to tax deductions.

Typically, most people aren't able to get a tax break when they donate money to a charity if they're claiming the standard deduction on their federal income tax returns. And nearly 9 out of 10 taxpayers are taking that standard deduction these days.

Yet pandemic relief in Congress created a special but temporary break for giving money to a qualified charity that applies to people who do not itemize.

A married couple taking the standard deduction is allowed to claim up to $600 for cash contributions made to qualifying charities in 2021, if filing a joint return. It's a temporary break, which is set to expire on Jan. 1.

A single individual, including married individuals filing separate returns, can claim a deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions.

If you are wondering who are qualifying charities…just ask them; and ‘yes’, the Heart of Longmont UMC is a qualifying charity.

What a great way to make the holidays a bit more special for others.

While the holiday season is a wonderful one for many, to others it's one of the most difficult times of the year. 2021 has been a particularly hard year for LGBTQIA+ people, being one of the deadliest and dangerous years for trans* people, and seeing many intersections of injustice against marginalized identities overall.

If you have some extra room in your holiday giving budget this season and would like to donate to organizations that support and empower LGBTQIA+ individuals and the LGBTQIA+ community, here are a few suggestions:

PFLAG was founded in 1972 and the Boulder County chapter was established in 1993. Their mission is to provide support, education, and advocacy for the families, friends, and allies of lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people, as well as for the LGBTQIA+ community itself.

Originally established in 1998 as Boulder Pride, Out Boulder County changed its name in 2016 to reflect the organization's broadening outreach and support. Working independently and in collaboration, they facilitate connection, advocacy, education, research and programs to ensure LGBTQIA+ people and communities thrive in Boulder County and beyond.

Run by and for trans people, Trans Lifeline is a hotline and microgrants organization that offers direct emotional and financial support to trans* people in crisis and connects trans* people to community support and resources needed to survive and thrive. Originally established in 2014, Trans Lifeline has answered over 100,000 calls and disbursed $1 million to trans* individuals in need.

The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQIA+ young people. They offer crisis services and peer support to LGBTQIA+ youth and have research, education, and advocacy programs.

Launched in 2016, the Trans Empowerment Project has provided direct aid for over 1200 trans* people across the US, including folx who are queer, trans, non-binary, two-spirit, gender non-conforming, and of other identities. Their main focus is on the liberation and success of disabled trans* people of color.

Each year our United Methodist Women like to remember students in our church family who are pursuing post high school training and undergraduate degrees with a care package. These packages are sent out in late February. Parents – please submit your student’s name and address to Becky Vancura no later than January 10th.

Contact Becky at: 720-771-7746 or becky.vancura@gmail.com

Send you questions to Pastor David at searching-for-answers@heartoflongmont.org

If you are a faith-filled, mission-minded woman in the United Methodist Church you will not want to miss an opportunity to join and meet thousands of other like-minded women from around the world. The theme for this gathering is “Turn It Up!”

The Heart of Longmont (HOL) United Methodist Women (UMW) organization has funds set aside to assist every HOL member who attends. You do not have to be a current member of UMW to get assistance or to attend. Watch for more information in the next 2 weeks and go to the website: www.assembly2022.org. 

Questions? Contact Lynn Greenhalge (303-651-3911, halge@aol.com) or Mary Ann Watson (720-684-6546, maw22744@gmail.com).

Watch the promo video here:

Send them to communications@heartoflongmont.org

Do you have a prayer request? Send your prayer requests to prayers@heartoflongmont.org.

Topic: Adventurers Sunday School

Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime

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Meeting ID: 836 9574 6852

Passcode: 964142

Topic: Faith & Reason Sunday School: Heart of Longmont

Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime

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We'd love to share your stories! Send your submission to communications@heartoflongmont.org with "Pulse" in the subject line.

December 31 (New Year's Eve)

If you come to the office you will need to wear a mask and use the hand sanitizer inside the office doors. We may need to limit the number of people in the office at any one time. 

You can call Carol at the church office, 303-776-3523, during those days and times. Or you can email her anytime at office@heartoflongmont.org.