Celebration Service!

Second Sunday in Advent

Masks are recommended, but not required for those attending services in person.



ADVENT WREATH LIGHTING Mort Butler and Frank Springer

CHILDREN'S MESSAGE

SCRIPTURE READING: Micah 4:1-5

Lay Reader: Mort Butler

ANTHEM: "Lo, In the Time Appointed"

SCRIPTURE Luke 1:26-38

MESSAGE: "Let It Be" Rev. Dan Haugh

STEWARDSHIP MOMENT Charlie Burnham

COMMUNION

Youth Group Meeting!

The new Youth Group will meet this Sunday during the regular 9:30am service. we will be spending the next two Sundays (Dec. 4th & Dec. 11th) working with the indomitable Taryn Noelle in the fellowship hall rehearsing for our Christmas pageant on December 18th. We can't wait to work with you! It's going to be a blast.

All Middle School and High School students are invited and urged to bring a friend!

Children's Worship!

For this week, we aren't doing any Children's Worship Curriculum, because we will be rehearsing for the Pageant on both this Sunday 12/4, and 12/11. With an additional rehearsal on Saturday morning 12/17, from 9:00-10:30 am, and then the actual Pageant is on Sunday December 18th!

If any parents would like to be involved as volunteers, please get in touch Taryn Noelle, at: taryn@stowecommunitychurch.org. 

Christmas Fair Bake Sale 

Just a reminder to please make a bake sale item and take it to the church fellowship hall on this Today, Friday, December 2nd. Thank you so much for your help.

Denise, wentzda@gmail.com

Penny, penny.mcgaughy@gmail.com

Holiday Gift Basket Auction and Raffle

Auction

The gift baskets have been generously donated by local merchants and parishioners. The auction runs from Friday 12/2 to Sunday 12/11 2:00pm. The auctioned baskets will be on display in Fellowship Hall. 

Raffle 

We are also raffling some of the baskets at our Christmas Fair this Saturday. These are beautiful gift baskets and the women spent incredible amount of time putting these basket’s together. Tickets are 5 for $10. Customers can group their tickets into one jar to optimize their chances or they can spread them out to many jars. The raffles will be drawn at 2:00 this Saturday. 

Last Chance for the "Blue Lagoon" Quilt Raffle!

Saturday is your last chance to enter the raffle for this gorgeous throw quilt (5'x5') which was hand made by Nancy Tooley!  

Raffle ticket prices are $5 for 1 ticket and $10 for 3 tickets.

The drawing will be on Saturday at the close of our Christmas Fair.

Gift Cards for Teens!

Stowe Community Church is collecting $25 gift cards for Lamoille County families who need help purchasing Christmas gifts for their teens or children. 

The gift cards can be purchased from local or online businesses that have gifts for teens or kids. 

The gift cards can be put in the Offering Plate or brought to the church office M-F, 9-2:30 up until December 20th. Many thanks for making Christmas a little brighter for our community!

December Schedule!

December 7th - 7:00PM Blue Christmas Service

This service is designed to invoke hope for the year to come. Words of remembrance, lighting of the Advent Candles, and special music will be included.

December 9th - 7:00PM "Twas the Night Before Christmas"

December 10th - 7:00PM "Twas the Night Before Christmas"

December 15th - 7:00PM Christmas Carol Sing-Along

Well-known religious and secular music selections are included: audience members get to choose their favorites to sing from the sheet music provided. All are welcome, there is no charge for this joyful holiday event. 

December 18th - 9:30AM Annual Christmas Pageant .

All children, High School through Nursery, are invited to take part.

December 19th - 7:00PM Messiah Sing-In

December 24th Christmas Eve Services are:

3 pm Geared towards families with younger children. We will sing Christmas Carols, special music will be performed, special family message. No candle lighting.

5 pm Geared towards families with children. As in the 3:00 pm service there will be Christmas Carols, special music, and a family message. Since it will be dark enough, white glow sticks will be given out to light.

8 pm Traditional Christmas Eve Service with Carols, special music sung by the choir, scriptures, message, and candle lighting at the end while singing Silent Night.

11 pm Traditional Christmas Eve Service with Carols, special music, scriptures, message, and candle lighting while singing Silent Night.

Parent Volunteers Needed!

We need some Parent Volunteers to help for both the remaining rehearsals for "Twas The Night Before Christmas" at each rehearsal, AND that we need parent volunteers on both Saturday morning 12/17 from 9-10:30 am for the Christmas Pageant Rehearsal, AND for the Pageant morning itself, on Sunday 12/18, for the 9:30 Worship Service.

Last but not least, the Cast of "Twas The Night Before Christmas" are in need of your help! We need your best and funniest Ugly Christmas Sweaters!  If you are willing to let us borrow some of your best and funniest, we would be so appreciative! We need about 2 dozen sweaters, and size doesn't really matter, because it will only be funnier if some of them don't quite fit :)

Please feel free to email Taryn Noelle tarynnoelle5678@gmail.com, if you can sign up to volunteer for Rehearsals for both the Play and the Pageant, and if you're willing to bring in some Sweaters for us to borrow!

News from the Stewardship Committee

Thank you to everyone that has responded to our stewardship appeal and made a 2023 pledge. We are on our way with 16 pledges totalling $39,650! If you are prayerfully considering a pledge our stewardship campaign and have questions, please reach out to Chris DeRienzo - chrisd437@gmail.com

Just a reminder that pledges can be mailed, placed in our Sunday offering plate or by filling out our online pledge form at - https://forms.gle/JMwihSKFYV2VVmjX9

Many thanks to Maggy Dunphy for her heartfelt stewardship message this past Sunday. If you missed her talk, I encourage you to click here to watch.

https://c.themediacdn.com/embed/media/WFsdG7/c0rSOfWsOGT/iKIpZZs4e9W_1?preview=1

December Prayer Focus - Missions and Service Committee 

During the month of December we are asking for prayers for our Missions and Service Committee.

Our Missions and Service committee has oversight over global, local and emergency giving.  Throughout 2022 they have expanded our outreach into the community by adding church sponsored service opportunities with groups such as the Lamoille Habitat for Humanity and the Stowe Land Trust. The committee has organized a backpack drive, warm clothing drive, Thanksgiving food baskets for local needy families. They are currently collecting gifts for DCF and are planning a gift card giveaway to brighten Christmas for families experiencing a need.

The group oversees financial contributions to many local and global non-profits including the Lamoille Food Share, Meals on Wheels and a Kenyan Orphanage. A subset of this group handles giving to individuals and families facing an emergency need.

Committee members include Amy Cobaugh, Chair; Karen Monsen, Lana Burkhardt, Dian Williams, Jean Mudgett, Amanda Song, Margery Raines, Janet Godin, Theresa and Brad Osbourne. 

As you can see there is a lot going on with this group and they are looking for volunteers to continue expanding their outreach. If you are interested in helping in any capacity, contact Amy Cobaugh at amycobaugh@yahoo.com

Mission of the Month: Department of Children and Families

DCF's (Department of Children and Families) mission is to foster the healthy development, safety, well-being, and self-sufficiency of Vermonters. They provide benefits, services, and support to some 200,000 Vermonters every year, including children, youth, families, older Vermonters, and people with disabilities.

Vermont DCF Website

Ways to Support Ukraine!

The United Church of Christ (UCC) is appealing for support for refugees and for elderly and other vulnerable people who are displaced within Ukraine and unable to leave. As a member of the ACT Alliance, UCC support is being targeted to people most in need through humanitarian relief partners with a history of working in the region.

For more information or to donate go to

Ukraine Emergency Appeal