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Scam Alert
Hackers have recently sent fake emails that appear to come from Pastor Pete requesting the purchase of gift cards.
These are fake.
Neither Pete nor any staff team member will solicit gift cards in this manner. This particular round of scams is using the email pete.palmsumc@gmail.com, not Pete's actual email, but it looks like it could be. The message also is cleverly composed and so may seem legitimate. It is not.
Official Church of the Palm emails will come from email addresses ending with palmsumc.org. If you receive an email that seems odd, email security@palmsumc.org
This is likely not the last time such false emails are sent and received, so here are some general techniques to watch out for:
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You have to wire money or send gift cards. If you're about to wire money or send gift cards to someone in order to receive a prize or pay off a debt collector that contacts you ... STOP! This may be a scammer trying to take your money.
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They contacted you. When you contact a business, you know who's on the other end of the line. But when someone contacts you first, you can't be certain they're telling the truth. You don't know if they are whom they say they are. And remember, email addresses and caller ID information can be faked.
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They dangle bait — usually money. People simply don't give away large sums of money easily. If someone dangles bait in front of you — a big prize, a shopping spree, an easy loan — for nothing, they're probably lying.
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They want your personal information. Anytime anyone asks for your personal information — bank accounts, social security number, etc. — you should be on alert. Don't give it away quickly or easily, especially to someone you don't know. You may become a victim of identity theft.
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You have to pay them first. If someone offers you a prize, debt relief, or employment — but first you have to pay an upfront fee to get it — you're probably being scammed.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which has issued warnings about scams targeting churches and congregants, urges anyone who's been victimized to send a report to https://reportfraud.ftc.gov.
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Advent 2022
The mountains may shift, and the hills may be shaken, but my faithful love won’t shift from you, and my covenant of peace won’t be shaken, says the Lord, the one who pities you.
During the hectic holiday season when pressures abound take time to relish the peace that is promised by our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Did We Miss Your Commitment?
This is our annual time of re-committing our Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service, and Witness to God through God’s church - Church of the Palms. We are grateful to all those who returned their Commitment Card that was previously mailed to them or used the online Commitment option.
We hope we did not miss your commitment! Under the direction of the Stewardship team, follow-ups to all those whom we have not heard will commence as we don’t want anyone to be left out.
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Help Decorate the Tree
Please bring an ornament to share and place on the Christmas tree located in the rear portico entrance any time during Advent. You may retrieve your ornament any time after the service on December 25 and before December 30. If you would like, place a tag on your ornament to include your name and a Christmas Blessing to everyone.
| The first of multiple "Blue Christmas" services in the area is scheduled for 6 p.m., Monday, December 5 at Lord of Life Lutheran Church. This is a quiet time of remembrance and hope for those who are finding the holiday season not always joyful or happy. Contact Pete or any of the Stephen Ministers for more information on this and other Blue Christmas services scheduled for December. |  | |
Choir Cantata - December 10 & 11
The 2022 Christmas Cantata, “We’re Glad You Came – a Musical Celebration of the Savior’s Birth” will be shared Saturday, December 10, at 5:30 p.m. and again on Sunday, December 11, at 4 p.m.
“Many babies had become kings, but no King had ever become a baby. This news truly began to change the world. From the brilliant star shining bright over the city of Bethlehem to the birth of a King in a lowly cattle stall, things were definitely different!”
Titles include: We’re Glad You Came with Carol of the Bells; To Change the World; Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus; O Night Divine Medley (It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, O Little Town of Bethlehem, and O Holy Night); That First Cry; To Change the World; We’re Glad You Came; We’re Glad You Came with Carol of the Bells; and When I Think of Bethlehem.
Created by Jeff Bumgardner, Joel Lindsey, David Shipps and David Wise, of Word Music, this cantata is directed by Anna Marie Kuether, Director of Music and Worship Arts at Church of the Palms. A time of hospitality in the Fellowship Hall will follow both performances.
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Lowcountry Youth Wind Symphony Winter Concert
The Lowcountry Youth Wind Symphony who calls Church of the Palms their home, will present their Winter Concert, on Sunday, December 18 at 4 p.m. in the sanctuary.
Please come and support these young people. A free-will offering will be accept to support the efforts of the symphony. A time of fellowship will follow the concert.
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A Word of Thanks from Anna Marie
My family and I would like to thank the Church of the Palms for all the prayers, cards, and messages of support during the passing of our father. Deano (as we called him) loved God, his family, and his farmland. He spent his life taking care of his family and making sure that we knew God and God’s love.
In addition, I would like to thank you for the wishes for returning health during my battle with bronchitis. I am back to work and eager to make music again!
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Support The Mercy Mission
Please continue to bring your canned and packaged food donations plus unopened toiletries to the containers in the narthex for The Mercy Mission Pantry, one of our Cornerstone Missions. Please remember food items need to be in bags or boxes.
Your support will help supply the food pantry in Hardeeville. The pantry collects items such as: cereal, canned vegetables, canned tomatoes, dried beans, pasta sauce, small bags of rice, pork and beans, canned fruit and bottled water along with personal care items including individually wrapped toothbrushes and toothpaste.
Please contact Sylvia Kaufman for additional information: 843-705-5306.
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Mercy Missions Needs Volunteers!
Mercy Missions in Hardeeville needs volunteers: Thrift store cashiers, Warehouse, food pantry and thrift store assistants. If you have some time when you can help or need more information, please contact Kathy at 631-275-2803.
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In Joy and Thanksgiving
For Austen and Glenn Hecker as they move through the adoption process to receive Esperanza Grace
For Direction, Comfort, Protection
For our Country, our UM Church, and the leadership of each
The citizens and soldiers on both sides of the conflict in Ukraine
Healthcare workers – including those caring for the elderly and those with mental illness
Refugees in Syria and other war torn areas
The millions living in hunger in Africa and Afghanistan
Our military and those serving in law enforcement
Our civil service workers and leaders in government
For the people of Puerto Rico
For the people recovering from Hurricane Ian
For the Florida Disaster Relief Team heading out Dec 11-16 from Church of the Palms
Thanking God for continued Healing and Wholeness
Sam Hollis
Sharon Boulware
Aura Lee Mulik
Jack Hills
Mary Snyder
Sam Meyer
Lois Solomon
June Taylor
Robbie Moore
For Those Under Hospice Care
Rev. Kenny Burr
Helen Berntson
Jere Estes
Ill / Healing
Don Myers
Mark Forry
John Hurley
Dan Mabey
Carol Baxter
June Stone
Fred and Donna Bagley
Kristy, daughter of Linda and Lou Greer
Amy McCarthy, daughter of Ed and Katie Corbitt
Lou Greer
Kevin Alymer
Bill Teeter
Vickie DeSantis
Marsha Harrison
Dominic, grandson of Larry and Margie Fullen
Sam Meyer
Don Smith
Caitlyn Mulik, daughter-in-law of Aura Lee
Sue West
Cindy Donley, daughter of Arlene Small
Mary & Gary, sister and brother-in-law of Arlene Small
Hospitalized
John Kowalk
Luther Berntson
Joyce, neighbor of Christine McKim
Those Grieving
Anna Marie Kuether and Donna Wiles, and their families, in the death of their father, Dean Bare, on November 21.
Family, friends, and neighbors of Hugh O'Connor who died Nov. 22. Hugh was the neighbor of Barbara Lesniak.
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Today is the start of a new month and the first Thursday of the new church year. Among the many things I appreciate about the Christian year is that it keeps coming around. Over and over again, we get to try our hearts and minds, and hands at Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and Ordinary Time.
This repeating cycle means we get to dust off liturgies that have become favorites, along with songs and hymns. We get to try old prayers in new ways—or try new prayers on old themes. We get to pick up our symbols and phrases and examine them with new intensity, allowing their many layers and nuances to speak to us.
All this is called spiritual practice. And is the work we engage in during the season of Advent. During this time, we will rehearse and reenact the sacred story of God breaking into human reality and creating a whole new world. It is also a time of waiting and preparing for the coming again of Christ in full glory. It is time to practice living in hope.
Hope, the hope that is ours because of our faith in the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, is needed so badly right now. A time when countries are divided, when civil war annihilates whole communities and sends refugees fleeing, when hungry children are ignored because their interests are of no interest to powerful entities, when human beings are trafficked by the thousands to be used for sex or cheap labor, when industry and wealth win over the health of the planet and all its creatures and the global community. Without hope, how do you and I face such challenges? Without hope, how do we dare even attempt to make a difference?
This weekend our worship will focus on “hope.” The hope that is ours through and in Christ is so much more than wishful thinking. Hope holds us firm and keeps us trusting and looking forward, no matter how dark the world seems. Let’s use this Advent season and this weekend as a time to remember that God is the light at the end of a long tunnel and our faithful companion who will never desert or abandon us. Because God comes to us in Jesus, born in Bethlehem, we can trust that there is a world of hope for better days.
Eager to worship with you this weekend…as we practice a hopeful way of being in the world.
Grateful to be in ministry with you and serving as the sheepdog to the Lord Shepherd in this place.
Pete+
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December Birthdays
Berenice Fedder 12/01
Diane Scipione 12/02
Shirley Boyce 12/06
Jim Mackey 12/06
Rob Schlindwein 12/06
John Suberati 12/07
Lee Cleveland 12/08
Caryl Marshall 12/08
Don Myers 12/08
Ann Tullie 12/10
Skip Blymiller 12/11
Phyllis Paladino 12/11
Milt Baker 12/12
Pete Berntson 12/12
Nancy Voegele 12/12
Debbie Jones 12/14
Heather Larow 12/16
Irv McNair 12/18
Marzie Seibert 12/19
Frank Roland 12/20
Sharon Boulware 12/21
Al Couper 12/21
Martha Yeoman 12/21
Ellen Padgett 12/22
Claudia Williams 12/23
Elaine Graham 12/24
Jennifer Bernhard 12/25
Holly Higgins 12/26
Jack Williams 12/26
Dan Collins 12/28
Faye Fetzer 12/28
Ray Joyner 12/28
Ruth Kozak 12/29
Bill Goettge 12/31
Mark Reed 12/31
Ruby Rettew 12/31
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