Worship Sunday, December 12
3rd Sunday in Advent
Sermon: "A Home for All (Joy)"
Preacher: Pastor Jake Heskett
In-Person and Live-streamed: 8:30 Traditional,11:00 Modern
Face masks are required, regardless of vaccination status.
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Worship Series Resources: |
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Sunday School Advent Opportunities
for All Ages!
Weekly in the Gathering Area 9:30-11am
- Sunday Sunday Activities for Advent, Close to Home, and Celebrate Wonder
- Learn the tradition of the Nativity
- Help create a Gingerbread Nativity
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Worship at Crystal Park UMC:
Traditional Style Worship at 11 a.m. | 2219 Mahoning Rd NE, Canton, 44705
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Tomorrow's Preacher:
Zachariah Camp
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Sermon:
"Wrestling With God"
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You do not want to miss this Holiday Concert!
Bring the family and join us on Monday to see the Burning River Brass!
Per BRB, proof of vaccination is required
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Covenant to Build Beloved Community
Delegates of the North Central Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church met remotely for a special called session on November 10-11 this year. The delegation adopted a Covenant to Build Beloved Community. The covenant draws upon Hebrews 10:22-25 which encourages us to hold on to hope without wavering because God is reliable and therefore we should consider each other carefully for the purpose of sparking love and good deeds, and continue meeting together with other believers.
There are five jurisdictional conferences in the United States. The North Central Jurisdictional Conference consists of ten annual conferences spanning from Ohio to the Dakotas. Jurisdictional conferences usually meet every four years to worship, pray, elect bishops and tend to other church business. Statements adopted by any jurisdictional conference reflect the prayerful discernment of its lay and clergy delegates, and represent in general a perspective of the annual conferences in that jurisdiction. However, only the General Conference (GC) of the United Methodist Church is able to speak for the whole worldwide United Methodist Church denomination. The GC was originally scheduled to meet in 2020. Due to the pandemic and related international travel restrictions, it is now scheduled to meet in 2022. It may be necessary to reschedule GC again. A decision is expected in February, 2022.
In this time of waiting and discernment at the general church level, all United Methodists are encouraged by our bishops to pray for the church while continuing to be the church. Faith United is a church that welcomes all people. We celebrate that we engage in worship, Bible study, mission and outreach as a people with diverse theological perspectives held together by the love of Christ and the mission of God’s kindom.
I invite you to read the Covenant to Build Beloved Community here.
Pastor Steve
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Advent is a season of waiting and watching as we prepare our hearts and lives to experience that wonderful gift of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us.
Join us this Advent Season!
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Neighborhood Caroling
December 15, 6:30 pm
Carol through the church neighborhood after Wednesday Night Dinner Worship. Hot cocoa and Christmas stories at the church after caroling. Permission forms needed for kids or youth attending without an adult family member.
A Chorus for A Cause Concert
December 19, 3pm, Sanctuary
Advent Resources:
- Advent Calendar: Hang the calendar on your fridge and count down the days of Advent by completing the daily action prompt together as a family.
Limited Copies in the Gathering Area for both.
-Amplify Media has several Advent and Christmas videos available for all ages for individual or family advent devotions.
Contact: Kathy Schmucker, Director of Spiritual Formation
Family Worship Kits in the Gathering Area if you still need one.
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Advent Photo-A-Day Challenge
The Advent Photo-A-Day list below has a daily word that connects with our Advent theme, Close to Home. Take or find a picture, song, or poem that expresses this idea. You can also create your own image with paint, crayons, clay or other art and nature materials. We invite you to share on social media with @faithnorthcanton. Let us be on the lookout for our God who is coming near to us in this holy season.
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Christmas Eve Services:
12/22 at 6:30pm
Sensory Inclusive
Featuring low lights, soft music, & worship manipulatives
12/24 at 3pm
Crystal Park Traditional
12/24 at 5pm
Modern
12/24 at 7pm
Interactive Family
Dress as your favorite nativity character! "Flame-free" candlelight service is safe for all.
12/24 at 9pm
Traditional with Communion
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Adult Connect Groups
Check out some of our groups! Visit our Programs and Group Page or Find Groups in Realm to see more group opportunities. Winter groups are now forming. Contact Kathy Schmucker for information on starting, or participating in, an adult group.
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Into the Deep, Diving into a Life of Courageous Faith, Spiritual Seekers, Sunday School, 9:45am, Bob Snyder, Conference Room/Zoom
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The Heart that Grew Three Sizes: Finding Faith in the Story of the Grinch 9:45am, December 12, Kathy Schmucker, Parlor/Zoom
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Not a Silent Night, Wednesday Women's Group, 9am, December 15, Linda Reynolds, Zoom
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Diving Deeper Love Your Neighbor 2.0, 6:30pm, December 15, An opportunity to explore the intersection of Scripture with important topics such as Critical Race Theory, housing and voting rights to gain new insight, understanding, and perspective. Contacts: Pastor Jake, Kathy Schmucker, Teresa Purses, Kim Reynolds, Tom Strauch, Donna Benzing or Mike Howard
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Koinonia Fellowship Christmas Party—All are Welcome. Saturday, December 11, 6:30pm Christmas Party and Gag Gift Exchange. The Baker's will host and provide sandwiches. Please bring a food item to share, one wrapped “white elephant” gift per person, and money toward our adopt-a-family Christmas gifts. Masks required, except when eating, to demonstrate our love for one another. COVID 19 vaccination also required, per the group. Re-gift something you received but do not like/need, bake something, or eliminate some clutter from your home. RSVP Jan Baker 330-499-7321 (text)
Pick up study books in the Gathering Area weekdays 8am-4pm. Contact your group facilitator or Kathy Schmucker for other arrangements. Suggested donations can be made by cash/check, or online. Do not let book cost prohibit you from participating. Kindle/eBook versions can be ordered through the Cokesbury link below.
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Faith & Environment Weekly:
Use environmentally safe salt
and deicers effectively:
When snow and ice cover our sidewalks and driveways, we often turn to salt to stay safe. But common rock salt is corrosive and can be environmentally harmful. Here’s what you need to know:
- Salt (sodium chloride) corrodes and rusts our vehicles, as well as bridges and buildings
- Salt washes off into our soil and waters, poisoning plants, animals, and our water supply.
- Alternative salts such as Magnesium Chloride or Calcium Chloride melt the ice with less damage.
- Calcium magnesium acetate is an effective deicer, safe for the environment, and is no more corrosive than tap water.
No matter which deicer you choose, follow these guidelines:
- Use the Right Rate (don't use excessively or exclusively)
- Apply at the Right Time (use when temperatures and sunlight will allow a little bit of salt to melt a lot of snow and ice)
- Use in the Right Place (use only in critical areas such as slopes, steps, or high traffic areas, as well as high traffic areas and shadowed places)
Click here for a more lyrical and complete guide to using salt
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Wednesday Night Faith Connections Dinner and Worship
Wednesdays at 5:45pm
Join us for an evening of fun, food, faith, and fellowship! Enjoy a great meal and mid-week worship socially distanced in Robinson Hall. Groups for adults and kids follow worship. Childcare available during adult group times for little ones to learn about God in a loving, caring environment. Contact Kathy Schmucker or John Hartzell for more information!
We will not meet December 22, 29, & January 6. See you back on January 12
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Spiritual Practices 101 is a video resource you can explore to help you live more deeply into essential practices we have discussed at Faith United. Trying new ways of praying, studying scripture, and other practices that help you stay close to God is vital to our growth as disciples of Christ. Check out all the Spiritual Practice 101 videos here. Contact Kathy Schmucker if you have a spiritual practice you would like to learn more about or one you would like to share that helps you connect with God.
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January/February issue of the Upper Room Devotional and the Daily Bread are available for pick up on the Book Resource Table in the Gathering Area
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Faith United has an exciting way to support you living out your faith. Amplify Media is a video library with thousands of videos for adults, youth and kids that you can view from your phone, tablet, computer, or tv.
These resources can be used for individual or group studies, and has a special section just for kids! Follow these instructions to access your free account. Questions? Contact Kathy Schmucker, Spiritual Formation Director.
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Advent Sunday School activities are in the Gathering Area each week between worship services.
Celebrate Wonder activities are available in the weekly worship emails to guide children Nursery-5th Grade, and families, through Bible stories, creative experiences, and spiritual practices. Read more.
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Amplify Media Cokesbury Kids has special videos for Advent! Follow these steps to register for your free subscription, or contact Kathy Schmucker.
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Faith United welcomes children of all ages in worship. Our worship experience is enriched as we gather together to experience and praise God.
- Worship Kits and worship manipulatives available to guide children as they pray & learn about God.
- Family Prayer Ground with rocking chairs at the front of the sanctuary for families to have a comfortable, close-up view of worship. (One family at a time for COVID safety)
- Rocking chairs in the Narthex.
- Nursery care is in room 18 for children up to age 5 during both services, pending volunteer availability.
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Wednesday Wonder Kids: Grades K-5 gather from 6:30-7:30pm following dinner and worship to learn about faith through games, Bible stories, activities, service and mission projects and worship experiences! Little Wonders, up to age 5, learn about God in a loving, caring environment. Contacts: Kathy Schmucker, Kristin Krach, Bethany Sedziol, Rebekah Heskett.
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Students grades 6-12 are invited to come on Wednesdays 6:30-7:30pm. Get to know our new Youth Director Matt and have fun being back together!
Come early at 5:45pm for dinner and worship in Robinson Hall and then come down to the Youth Room. We can't wait to see you!
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Matt will begin transitioning into his new role over the coming weeks. Be on the lookout for more information on Youth Activities!
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Crystal Park Cooperative Parish News |
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Upcoming Worship Preachers |
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December 19
Rev. Jake Heskett
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December 26
Mr. Russell Bowman
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Opportunities to Serve this Winter
We long to be able to offer our many programs, but are in need of volunteers. We also respect and understand people's health concerns. There are many opportunities to serve:
- Sunday School teachers and helpers at 9:45am
- Wednesday Wonder Kids
- Wednesday Night Faith Connections meal team
- Nursery and Childcare on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings
- Youth Sunday School, Wednesday nights, and Sunday evenings
- Adult Group Facilitators and Coordinators
- Library Readers for Faith Friends Learning Center classes
Our children need our church. They need Jesus! And they need YOU!
Faith United’s Spiritual Formation and Youth Ministry Teams need your support to guide our children and youth as they grow in faith. Contact Kathy Schmucker or Pastor Jake, if interested.
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Faith United Open Positions
Faith United is hiring for the following position(s):
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Check out the Advent and Christmas Books and Resources available in the Library!
Type Advent or Christmas in the search bar to see available resources.
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Cokesbury is a great resource to purchase Bibles, devotionals, gifts & more! Please use this link when ordering. The church receives credit & a rebate from your purchases.
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Order gift cards year round from The Youth Mission Team. Part of each order benefits the Youth Mission Fund. Check out this listing of available gift cards and contact the church office to order.
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Resources to help
enhance your viewing
and using of Faith
United's digital offerings:
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Saturday, December 11
9am-11am Scouts Prepare Christmas Luminaries
6:30pm-830pm Koinonia Fellowship Christmas Party at Baker's
Sunday, December 12
8:30am-9:30am Traditional Worship - Live Stream (Sanctuary)
8:30am-12pm Nursery Care & Preschool Sunday School (Room 18)
9:30am-11am Sunday School Activities all ages (Gathering Area)
9:45am-10:45am Into the Deep Sunday School (Conference Room)
9:45am-10:45am "The Heart that Grew 3 Sizes" Grinch Study (Parlor/Zoom)
11am-12pm Modern Worship - Live Stream (Sanctuary)
Monday, December 13
2:30pm-3:30pm Men's Emmaus Accountability Group (Zoom)
7pm-9pm Burning River Brass Concert (Sanctuary)
Tuesday, December 14
9am-12pm Library Story Time (Robinson Hall)
9:30am-11am Celebration Bell Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
6pm-9pm Boy Scouts (Robinson Hall)
7pm-8pm Cub Scout Leader/Parent Meeting (Conference Room/Zoom)
Wednesday, December 15
9am-10:30am "Not a Silent Night" Study (Zoom)
5pm-5:45pm Children/Youth/Ensemble Rehearsal (Room 8)
5:45pm-6:30pm Wednesday Night Faith Connections Dinner/Worship (RH)
6:30pm-7:30pm Caroling
6:30pm-7:30pm Diving Deeper - Love Your Neighbor 2.0 (Parlor/Zoom)
6:30pm-7:30pm Little Wonders (Nursery)
6:30pm-7:30pm Wednesday Wonder Kids (FLC, Chapel, Room 6)
6:30pm-7:30pm Wednesday Night Youth (Youth Room)
7pm-7:30pm Praise Singers (Sanctuary)
7:30pm-8:30pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
Thursday, December 16
10am-11am Endowment Team (Conference Room)
1pm-3pm Cooperative Parish Leadership Team Meeting (Parlor)
5pm-6pm Love Your Neighbor Team (Conference Room/Zoom)
6:30pm-8pm Cub Scout Christmas Party (FLC & Robinson Hall)
7pm-8pm Trustees Team (Conference Room)
Friday, December 17
1pm-2pm Theology for Our Times (Zoom)
2:30pm-3:30pm Women's Emmaus Accountability (Zoom)
Saturday, December 18
11am-1pm Faith Kitchen (Crystal Park)
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