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Join us TONIGHT!
The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear! As Christmas Eve nears, let’s spread some Christmas cheer among some of our local members!
We will meet in the parking lot at UMCE at 6 pm and carpool to Rocky Mountain Village then joining up with others from the church at Pastor Sarah’s Christmas Open House for some nibbles and warm hot chocolate!
Pastor Sarah’s Christmas Open House
Friday, December 17 from 7:30-9:30pm
Enjoy an evening of festive fellowship and holiday nibbles at the home of Pastor Sarah and Jerry Clark on Friday, December 17 from 7:30-9:30pm. Contact Jessica to get their address.
We hope to see you there!
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Lessons and Carols Service
Sunday, December 19 - 10:30 am
The online service for this event will be streamed live. Look for another email on Saturday and Sunday with those details!
Join us on this special Sunday as we tell the story of Jesus’ birth through scripture and music performed by our choir. This interactive service will help us hear and experience the beloved old story in new ways!
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Drive-Up Living Nativity
Sunday, December 19 from 3-5pm
The UMCE youth will be putting on a live nativity play on Sunday afternoon, December 19. You will be able to hear and see the story from the comfort (and warmth) of your car as you listen to the narrator on your car radio (just like a drive-in movie!) and see the youth recreate the journey to the manger. This not-to-be-missed event will take place in the upper parking lot at the church. The narration begins every 15 minutes, so drop by any time between 3 and 5 pm to support our youth and enjoy this wonderful nativity presentation.
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Latest Status Of Reaching The Stewardship Goal
As reported two weeks ago we EXCEEDED the $50,000 matching grant. We received another pledge and a one-time gift last week which puts the total we have received since the grant was offered at $56,466. Since the donor is matching any pledges or updates to pledges up to $50,000 it brings the overall match total up to $106,466. The matching grant made it possible for us to exceed our stewardship goal of $289,292 by $11,354 giving us a pledge total of $300,646. This truly is amazing. Special thanks to all who stepped up to help us take advantage of this generous matching grant. A sincere, heartfelt thank you to our donor. We have much to celebrate this Christmas season!
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Longest Night Service
Tuesday, December 21 - 7 pm
The Holiday season can be hard for some - you may experience grief, loneliness, sadness, loss, or you may just feel overwhelmed. You are not alone. The Longest Night service is designed to provide space for prayer, reflection, and remembrance amidst the holiday hustle and bustle. December 21, the Winter Solstice, is the longest night of the year. On this night, we invite you to a time of quiet, candlelight, and music - an offer of comfort, healing, and hope for the burdens you may carry.
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Staff Love Gift
This is the time of year where we like to let the amazing UMCE staff know how much we appreciate their hard work throughout this year. Please consider donating to our UMCE Staff Love Gift.
Checks and cash can be dropped off at the church. If you'd like to make your Staff Love Gift online, just go HERE enter the amount, click “Give this one time”, and then choose between ACH or Debit/Credit card, click Continue. Enter your information for payment and enter "Staff Love Gift" in the comments then click the black bar that has “Give $(your amount)”. Please consider checking the box to pay for the processing fee of the transaction, this helps what the church has to pay for using this convenient service.
Thank you for helping to recognize our great staff.
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Spontaneous Christmas Pageant
When: Friday, December 24 at 3 pm
The story of Christmas will come alive through storytelling, music, prayer, and lots of great fun in this interactive worship service planned with the whole family in mind. Every kiddo has a part in the pageant as we make our way to the manger with Jesus! We will end the service with our cherished tradition of singing “Silent Night” by candlelight.
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Christmas Ornaments for 2021
Get your 50th Anniversary UMCE Christmas ornament! They are available for sale in Fellowship Hall for $10 (gift bags are available for an additional $2).
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Pastor Deb Olenyik's New Address
Pastor Deb Olenyik's updated address is 7441 SE Henry St, Portland, OR 97206. She lives on the same street as her son and now has her own mailing address.
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New Upper Room Available
The January/February 2022 edition of Upper Room has arrived. Please grab one in the narthex or contact the office to have one mailed to you.
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Messy Church
Wednesdays at 6 pm. Messy Church is a service designed specifically with children and families in mind. Join us for music, a short message, crafts, and games as we learn about loving Jesus, our neighbors, and ourselves!
This Advent at Messy Church, we will be discovering the story of Jesus’ birth through the eyes of the animals who were there. From the donkey that went to Bethlehem with Mary and Joseph, to the shepherd’s sheep who were at the manger, to the camel who carried the Magi to meet Jesus, we will get a first-hand account of all that happened when Jesus was born!
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Sunday Adult Education Class
December 19: Our Christmas traditions enrich our holiday celebrations. What are yours? Come, join us and share your unique traditions.
After 12/19 the Sunday Adult Education class will resume after the holidays on January 9, 2022. Watch Happenings for the upcoming Sunday Adult Education classes. Hope to see you in 2022!
January 9: Power Against Fraud. Presented by Cary Johnson from the Jefferson County 1st Judicial District.
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Christmas Gifts for EChO and MRC clients
Evergreen Christian Outreach: The toy/clothes collection box for EChO children will be in the Fellowship Hall this Sunday and next. If you are able and wish to donate a gift(s) please place in the box by this Sunday.
Mountain Resource Center: MRC is not collecting and distributing toys and clothes this year for Christmas. Instead, they are giving gift cards to their clients from Target and WalMart, in denominations of $25 and $50. If you would like to contribute to the MRC Christmas program you may either purchase gift cards from Target and/or WalMart or donate money. If you are able and wish to contribute, please place gift certificates, checks or cash in the collection basket located in the Fellowship Hall (through Sunday the 19th), or donate directly to MRC via their website (“mrcco.org”). If donating via the MRC website follow the prompts to designate your donation for the Christmas gift program.
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Urgent Needs for EChO Shelter Program
Open for its Ninth Week, we have already hosted 23 Individual Guests (average of 7-9 per night) and over 350 Guest Nights!
HOWEVER The Shelter will be CLOSED if we can not get Evening Hosts to Signup and Volunteer.
Donations of clothing, gas cards, and financial support of EChO allow us to stock and maintain the Shelter (Thank You EChO Donors!)
And fortunately, we have plenty of volunteers that provide warm, home-made meals (Thank You to the 30+ volunteer Chefs!)
However, the Shelter does not come alive, CAN NOT OPEN, unless other volunteers take an evening away from their home and hearth, and give their time to be an ON-SITE Team Leader, Evening Host, or Kitchen Coordinator.
We have been blessed with a core of about fifteen to twenty volunteers that have already volunteered several nights each this season - THANK YOU !
But we need more volunteers!
Four of our Guests this season are ON FOOT - NO Vehicle and the Overnight Shelter is literally lifesaving.
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