Sugar River Mission Statement:
Connect, Grow, and Serve in our relationship with God
and others!
Mark your calendar for December 8th at 6:30!
This event will be led by the Missional Church Consultation Initiative (MCCI) team who, after providing a year and a half of training with our church leadership, will travel from other states to be with us. Our discussions will provide vital data for the consultants to help us leverage our gifts and resources to optimize our mission impact.
 
It is critical that we have a strong representation of the Sugar River family to share our hopes and dreams for our church. Your voice is important!
And... if you register by December 1st you will receive a Culver's gift card!
Connect
Questions or Ideas? Contact Emma Keller, Connect Director
This Sunday's Message at 9:30am
The Doubting Faith
 "Life After (and With) Doubt"
Romans 13:8-14; Galatians 5:14
This week we will explore the possibilities of seeing doubt as a companion rather than an enemy on the journey of life. Is it possible to live constructively with doubt and allow us to contribute to a larger growth process in our faith community…and in the larger scale of humanity?

New Advent series begins next Sunday, November 28!
"The Gift of Patience: Living Well Through Advent."

Virtual Worship
We also offer the service livestream at 9:30 am on YouTube.
Please let us know you are in service virtually (and in person too!) with "mobile check in" via the Realm App*! (Tap "more" first in the lower right corner.)
*Note: If you are a first-time Realm user, you'll need to create a login online first and create a password before logging into the App.
Email the church office if you have any questions about Realm. We're happy to help!
Deck the Halls!
Who doesn't love to decorate for Christmas? We can't wait for Sugar River's halls to be decked! Coming up THIS Sunday is the annual "Hanging of the Greens." We are looking for helpers to decorate and join in for this fun time of cheer. There will be cookies and hot chocolate and its a great way to serve as a family! Please email Emma our Connect Director today to let us know you'd like help decorate!
Poinsettia Orders
Speaking of Christmas... Would you like to add beauty and a festive feel to our chancel this Advent season? We have the Felly's order forms ready for Poinsettias! With 2 sizes and 3 color variations available, you can have your plants in memory or in honor of a loved one if you choose. Names will appear in the Source later in December. See and print the form HERE or pick one up at church included with the printed Monthly Source. Orders are due by NEXT Sunday, Nov. 28th!

Grow
Questions or Ideas? Contact Gary Holmes
9th Grade Confirmation Service
The 9th grade class will have a special Confirmation Service next Sunday, November 28 at 7pm. Their original session and service was affected by the pandemic, so we are looking forward to their celebration this month! All are welcome to attend and support the confirmands and their families. Keep Allison Bostley, Mia VanderMause, Brayden Sass, and Preston Yaucher in your prayers as they take this important faith step!
New Advent Study Groups Begin Soon
The LOL (Learn Out Loud) group will begin a 4-week Advent study on Tuesday afternoons from 1 - 3 PM at Sugar River. The title of the study is Living Well Through Advent. It is 4 weeks and and corresponds with the Advent sermon series topics.   
Meeting dates are: Nov 23, 30, Dec 7, 14. The group will discuss each lesson the week before Pastor Gary presents it in the Sunday message.  Participant guides will be provided and in-person and Zoom options both offered. All are welcome! For more information and to sign up, please contact Arlys Nilles  

The Thursday Morning Men's Group will also be doing the same study for Advent beginning December 2nd. This group meets virtually and participant guides will be provided. Please email Mike Polk to sign up and for more info!
Let’s Cover (the Cost of) the Floor!
Yes, here is a neat and simple opportunity for us to offer support to our facility renovations! Fellowship Hall is looking great so far and one of the final steps to its completion is the flooring. As a way of covering this cost, we are offered the opportunity to purchase carpet tiles for only $20 a piece! Every donation will help free more funds for completing the full “Restoration” project at Sugar River UMC. We are so thankful for your generous gifts this past year.  Maybe think of this as a stocking stuffer for your church! ;-)

Its easy! Just decide how many squares you'd like to sponsor; write a check to SRUMC with "Carpet" the memo or visit the Give page and select 'Restoration Campaign' in the dropdown menu.
Giving at Sugar River
Would you like to give to Sugar River? Its easy!
  1. Easily text 73256 from your Mobile Device; type and send this text: sugarriver
  2. Give online via the Give Page on our website
  3. Within your Realm Connect app
  4. Checks can also be placed in the Offering box on Sunday or mailed right to Sugar River.

Thank you to all who have given your commitments for 2022!
If you haven't had a chance yet:
  • Please consider filling out an Estimate of Giving card and mailing or returning to church by Nov. 19. We also have extras on the table in the Offering box as you enter the sanctuary.
  • Make your commitment via the Realm Giving Tab by selecting the gray "Pledge" box, then follow the prompts.
Questions? Contact Dan Day

Thank you for your generous hearts and prayerful support for Sugar River's ministries and missions!
Serve
Questions or Ideas? Contact Serve Director, Erin Wilson
November Monthly Mission: SR LOVES VASD!

1) VASD WARM WINTER PROJECT: SERVE CELEBRATION:
THANK YOU SO MUCH for your donations and service to the Warm Winter Project! We are THRILLED to report that we were able to provide winter gear to 154 Verona families because of your generosity! Well done!

You can still continue to serve the VASD community this month...check out the Mitten Tree Project below!
2) VASD MITTEN TREE PROJECT

The mitten tree is up and the table is beginning to fill! Help make Christmas merrier for a child during their time of need. Please help VASD bestow some Christmas cheer to these special kids by providing a Christmas gift for a terrific boy or girl in our district.

To Donate A Gift:

  • ·Pick a mitten from the tree in the church foyer. 
  •  Purchase a $25 gift suitable for a child of the age and gender on the mitten. Gift cards are preferred for children 12-18 years of age and the school is asking that we not give clothes for gifts. 
  • Bring the unwrapped gift to the church and leave on the serve table or under the tree by December 5th.
  • If you don't get a mitten, don't worry. Simply buy a gift for the age and gender you would like to give to and drop it off on the SERVE table!

THANK YOU FOR CARING FOR OUR VASD Community!
SERVE Celebration: October Monthly Mission: Thanksgiving and Christmas Meal Bags
Thank you for your generous donations to the October Mission! The monetary donations were tallied last week and we will be able to send $1841 to the food pantry along with the food donations you brought in! Thank you for sharing love and joy this holiday season!
Did you know? You can always donate food items to the pantry. Just place them in the drop box in the entryway by the name tags. You can also always donate on line, just here and select the food pantry line item!
SERVE Celebration: Afghan Refugee Donations
Thank you SO much for your generous monetary donations to the UMC's Wisconsin Conference efforts to support the Afghan Refugees at Fort McCoy. We just sent $475 in donations and are so grateful for your prayers and generosity!

Deuteronomy 10:19 “You must also love the immigrant, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”

"On behalf of the Conference Mission Motivation Committee and the Afghan immigrants, THANK YOU for your time, your generosity, and your prayers in this humanitarian endeavor. Mary Balson – Conference Mission Motivation Chair"
Red Cross Blood Drive, 11/26!

SR Family! We have another blood drive scheduled the day after Thanksgiving! Mark your calendars and invite your friends and family to join in this life-saving ministry! Consider waking up early, doing a little shopping, and heading over to donate!

Click here to register! Just scroll down to 11/26 and sign up!

Thank you for your generosity!
Do you need assistance? SR is here for you!
We care about you! The SR Care Team continues to reach out to people in our congregation to check in. Please let us know if you have any needs, questions, or want to check in.
Simply email here.
Curious about what's going on in the UMC this week?
Find all the latest happening in the Wisconsin Conference right HERE.
Church Conference - Monday, December 6th at 7 PM
Mark your calendars for the 2021 Church Conference at Sugar River UMC - Monday, December 6th at 7 PM. The Church Conference is the year-end conference to hear reports on the ministry and mission of the church as well as approval of ministry and budget related items for 2022. All folks are invited to attend, while all members are given the responsibility to vote.
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Sugar River United Methodist Church | sugar.river@sugarriverumc.org | 608.845.5855