Also, thank you to those of you who have made your pledge for 2022. Would you help us finish the great work you have begun? As our Finance team completes our budget for 2022, it would help us more than you know to receive your pledge if it hasn't already been made. We are encouraged by the results so far and continue to pray that through our collective generosity, God will continue to provide the resources necessary for us to "change the world through love" in 2022.
I hope you'll also note the announcement about UMCOR and how we can make a difference in the lives of those who've been devastated by the recent tornadoes in Kentucky and elsewhere. Remember that 100% of our gifts go to direct aid--not overhead.
Finally, I want to remind you that our Christmas Eve schedule is a little different this year. Our choir will present "Music for the Season" at 8:00 p.m. and worship will begin at 8:30 p.m. We will celebrate Holy Communion. The service will also be live-streamed. We look forward to this special time together this year.
We don't know exactly what challenges we will face in 2022, but we do know there will be exciting possibilities for new forms of mission and ministry and we will continue to ask God to show us how to make an impact in the city and beyond.
In Christ's love,
Matt
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Fellowship, Study & Outreach |
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Do you enjoy sending Christmas cards?
We have two ways to spread the love and joy of the season.
We will send Christmas greetings to our military Veterans at McGuire Hospital again this year. There will be a box located at the entrance to the Sanctuary for your cards, which will be delivered to the hospital on December 19. Please address the envelopes with: To a Veteran, To a Hero, To a Brave Person, etc. Inside the card please thank them for their service to our country, their devotion to freedom, their sacrifice, admiration for their service, etc. Please sign your card. Thank you for taking the time to acknowledge these women and men after all they have done in service to our country. THIS IS THE LAST SUNDAY TO BRING CARDS!
We also have the opportunity for you to share the holiday spirit with our own homebound congregation members. We have a mailing list with 15 addresses and also have a limited supply of Christmas cards. If interested in spreading the joy of the season in this way, please contact the church office.
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Fellowship Opportunities on Zoom
Drop-In Cafe and Wednesday Bible Study are taking a break over the holidays.
They will start back up again in January!
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Spam Email and Texts Warning
Once again, spam emails and texts that look to be from Pastor Matt are making the rounds. Please remember that Pastor Matt will never email or text asking for money, help, or any other kind of request. Please ignore, delete, mark as spam, or otherwise block the sender or caller.
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Christmas Offering
United Methodist
Family Services
United Methodist Family Services is an unwavering champion for high-risk children and families in Virginia. UMFS serves children in foster care and children struggling with mental health and behavioral challenges. They provide foster care and adoptive programs, specialized education schools, and mental health programs.
Your support of UMFS through this offering will help high-risk children achieve a brighter future. Thank you for supporting this transformative ministry. For more information about the impact of UMFS,
please take a look at this flyer.
You may give online here (choose Christmas Offering in the Fund pull-down menu). Christmas Offering envelopes will be available on Christmas Eve, or you can mail a check to the church with "Christmas Offering" in the memo line.
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UMCOR Disaster Relief
Following the devastating and deadly string of December storms and tornadoes, UMCOR is supporting conference disaster response coordinators as search and rescue efforts continue and damage assessments begin. Solidarity grants to provide immediate funding are being released and UMCOR will work with impacted areas to journey from the chaos of response on through long-term recovery. Please continue to hold victims, survivors, and relief workers in your prayers and make a gift to UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response and Recovery at https://umcmission.org/advance-project/901670/. Or you may donate by check to Centenary UMC with UMCOR Disaster Relief in the memo line.
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An Update on the 2022 Pledge Drive
As of this past Tuesday, we have received 44 pledges totaling $238,700. This is 82% of the $290,000 planned in the proposed 2022 budget.
Centenarians have always shared God's gifts most generously, even during the pandemic - in 2020, actual pledged contributions totaled $326,000!
At of the end of November, actual pledged giving is $275,700 or 95% of the 2021 commitments of $289,100 from 55 pledges! We pray God moves hearts to meet and, perhaps, exceed the 2022 $290,000 goal.
Along with pledged giving, our ministries are funded by unpledged offerings, gifts restricted to the walk-in ministries, rent from use of building space, income drawn from investments and grants. As we end the year and understand giving commitments for the next, we will share information on how we expect to use these resources, as done last year.
We continue offer thanks to God for your faithfulness and ask for prayers for our ministries and our church in the coming year.
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December 24 @ 8:00 pm - Music of the Season
December 24 @ 8:30 pm - Christmas Eve Worship
January 12 - UMW - Smethie Circle
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CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
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