Message in a Minute

Click the image above to hear from Pastor Harold and to learn about the three Key Announcements for this week!

Spiritual Reflection

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Hebrews. 13:2

Christmas Eve Love Offering Benefits New Covenant’s Wildwood Middle High School Mentor Program

The Love Offering collected on Christmas Eve at both services will go towards a scholarship program established for our Wildwood Middle High School mentees. We currently have 35 students in our program who work with mentors from New Covenant United Methodist Church and the community. These mentors visit their mentees weekly and provide ongoing support for their students. The goal of our program has been to create a partnership between local churches and students at Wildwood Middle High School by providing an ongoing Mentor Program for identified students, which provides ongoing encouragement, support, and love. This is our tenth year serving the students at Wildwood Middle High School.

This year, we will have nine students graduating. These students have been in the Mentor Program for the past four or five years, moving up with their mentor through graduation. Your generosity is funding scholarships for each graduating class. We are proud of our upcoming graduates and their commitment to their education.

If you are interested in Mentoring, please visit our table during Discover New Covenant in January.

Christmas Eve Services

Tuesday at 4:30 PM & 7 PM

This Christmas Eve, join us for an unforgettable evening of worship, music, and reflection as we celebrate the birth of Christ together. Our annual Candlelight Service is a cherished tradition that offers a peaceful and joyous way to prepare your heart for Christmas. The service will feature the glorious sounds of the Chancel Choir, Brass Ensemble, and talented soloists. Together, they will lead us in singing beloved Christmas carols such as “Away in a Manger,” “Silent Night,” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.” This vibrant musical celebration will uplift your spirit and remind you of the true joy of the season.

Celebrate the wonder of Christ’s birth with traditional Gospel readings that bring the nativity story to life. Rev. Harold Hendren will deliver a heartfelt Christmas Eve message, sharing the hope and light of the Savior’s arrival and its significance for us today.

We encourage you to invite your family, friends, and neighbors to join us for this special service. Whether it’s your first time attending or a beloved part of your family’s Christmas tradition, this night promises to be meaningful and memorable. Come, let us gather as a church family to worship, celebrate, and rejoice in the greatest gift of all—our Savior, Jesus Christ. We look forward to welcoming you!

Holy Communion from 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM in the Chapel

If you wish to spend time in solitude, prayer, and meditation, Communion will be available in the Chapel. You are welcome to drop in during this hour and be guided by a special Christmas Eve meditation.

Childcare

Nursery will be available for children ages 6 years and under during Christmas Eve Worship Services. Activity bags will be available for older children who attend worship with their family.

Missions & Outreach Christmas Update

New Covenant recently celebrated the Christmas season through the following giving opportunities:

Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child — we collected 1,206 shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies and other items that will be sent to children in Africa. A total of 29,399 were collected from all churches that participate in the Sumter/Lake area. This is a 9.35% increase from the previous year and we were a part of it!

Christmas Wish Tree — we blessed 217 children with their needs and wishes for Christmas through the following ministries/organizations, New Covenant's Mentor Program, Kids Central, Inc., Shepherd's Lighthouse, Voices for Children and the Refuge at Jumper Creek. 

Giving in the Spirit — 20 different ministries/organizations locally and around the world were supported through $85,906.50 in donations

We greatly appreciate the joy and love given to all of the children and families that were impacted by your generous gifts.

Journeys of Paul Cruise Tour

October 24 – November 4, 2025

Pastor Harold will hold an information meeting on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 9 AM in the Chapel.

The pilgrimage will be highlighting the key locations where the Apostle Paul launched many of his first century churches such as Corinth and Thessaloniki. The trip also includes time in Santorini and Mykonos, as well as Athens, one of the most historic cities in the world. To register, please use the button below and follow the instructions on the webpage. You may download a brochure for more information. Brochures are also available in the church office and at the Welcome Center.

Legacy Fund – What is it?

In 2007 New Covenant established an Endowment Fund which has provided members and friends the opportunity to make charitable gifts that become a permanent fund to support ministries and growth in the future. Under the guidance of a sub-committee of the Finance Committee, the name has been changed to Legacy Fund.

The Legacy Fund provides an opportunity for a “Planned Gift” by giving to the fund now or by way of your will, trust, or numerous other methods upon your passing. Anyone can make a planned gift – you do not have to be wealthy. Just think, if every one of our current members left just $500 to the Legacy Fund that would total almost one million dollars. WOW!! 

Legacy Giving

Less than two percent of people leave anything in their will or trust to their church.

Year-end Considerations

As we wrap up the end of 2024, we’d encourage you, if you have not already done so, to create a user name and password on your portal account. Please click the button below for a tutorial on how to access your portal and print your own contribution statement. This will allow you to check your giving statement for the year and if you find anything that needs to be corrected, please contact the Finance office and they will assist you.

Hospitality Highlight December 2024

We are quickly approaching the end of the year and with that, we’re also welcoming back our northern friends. A few fun facts:

1. A snowbird is actually a person, not a bird. The term snowbird is in fact a nickname for the Dark-eyed Junco bird, but in terms of people, it’s used to describe a group of seasonal travelers (usually retirees) who migrate to areas with warmer climates during the winter months.
2. Winter Visitor is actually the politically correct term for a snowbird.
3. The majority of international snowbirds come from Canada, eh.
4. In Texas, snowbirds go by a different name. Texas residents prefer to call the snowbirds “winter Texans.”
5. John D. Rockefeller was one of the very first snowbirds. He was way ahead of his time and spent winters in Ormand Beach, FL beginning in 1914.

With many new faces joining us on campus in the coming months, we have a wonderful opportunity to practice radical hospitality. As a congregation, we can create a welcoming environment by:

• Making personal connections: Look others in the eyes, smile warmly, and greet them by name whenever possible. A small gesture can leave a lasting impression.
• Listening with kindness: Speak with a pleasant tone and a positive attitude, showing respect for everyone – even those with different views. 
• Showing genuine interest: Ask about others and truly listen to their stories. Share something about yourself to build connections and make them feel at home.
• Practicing empathy: Before disagreeing, consider the perspectives and circumstances of others. Respond with understanding and compassion.
• Extending grace: Look for simple, sincere ways to help and encourage others.

Remember, hospitality isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about being intentional, kind, and authentic while staying true to your own well-being. Let’s extend love and warmth to all who walk through our doors, sharing the joy and hope of Christ with everyone we meet.

Thank you for being a vital part of our welcoming community!

Upcoming New Year Sermon Series

“The Message of Jesus… A Savior with a Cause”

Billions of people know about Jesus, but fewer “know” Jesus. Many claim to know Jesus but don’t know what he taught. Also, many have misinterpreted the teachings of Jesus and have manipulated His thoughts into a meaning that wasn’t Jesus’s intent.

Jesus was a man, Savior, and Rabbi with a cause. With crystal-clear clarity of His mission, Jesus did not waver on why He came to earth and what He came to accomplish. Over the next four weeks, we will view the teachings of Jesus as He was a “Rebel” with a cause, a “teacher” with a cause, the great “I Am” with a cause, and the “resurrection” with a cause.

Come join us as we dive deep into the teachings of Jesus about the “Kingdom of God” and see the impact of His “cause.”

Discipleship Opportunities

We are encouraging discipleship groups to consider using Adam Hamilton's new book titled, "The Message of Jesus: Words that Changed the World" as a guide for a four-week study to coincide with this sermon series during January 2025. A link to the book on Amazon is below. For any questions about implementing a study related to the sermon series, please use the button below to contact Pat Hill, Care Coordinator, Discipleship.

Spirited Singles Sunday Class:

“The God of the How and When”

Begins Sunday, January 5 at 10:15 AM in Classroom 3

Spirited Singles Sunday Class begin a new study about waiting on God and trusting Him in the process is one of the hardest things for any believer.

In this six-session video Bible study, Kathie Lee Gifford and Rabbi Jason Sobel will take you back to the Holy Land where God made His covenant with people like Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Joshua and Mary. “The God of the How and When” will show you how God is still building His kingdom through the lives of the followers of Jesus – and how you are part of this amazing story.

For more information, please contact Pat Hill, Care Coordinator, Discipleship.

GriefShare^® (January 2025)

Monday, January 6 from 10 AM - 12 PM

GriefShare support group is a safe, welcoming place where people understand the difficult emotions of grief. Through this 13-week group, you will discover what to expect in the days ahead and what's 'normal' in grief. You will learn hopeful ways of coping with grief in all of its unpredictability...and gain solid support each step of the way.

Registration is required ($20). Cost includes the workbook. If you already have your workbook, no need to pay for a new one. Scholarships are available for those who need. For more information, please contact Sharon Weimert, Care Coordinator.

Gospel on the Ground: 

The Grit and Glory of the Early Church in Acts

Wednesdays, January 8 – February 19 from 10–11:30 AM

Join Charlene English, Facilitator in this 7-week video based study as she unpacks the life of the early church in the book of Acts and shows us that the kingdom of God is always on the move, always looking outward to bring meaning and joy to a world looking for true fulfillment and hope. Explore the call of Jesus to His disciples then and to us today. See how God’s word can sustain us in the most difficult times. 

Registration is required. For more information, please contact Pat Hill, Care Coordinator, Discipleship.

On Purpose Book Study (January 2025)

Wednesdays, January 8 – 29 from 1–2:30 PM

Pastor Ellen will facilitate this upcoming book study. We are hungry for a sense of purpose, direction, and calling in our lives. That’s as basic an ingredient to the human experience as they come. We want to be part of something bigger than ourselves. We want to participate in something that has eternal merit and lasting impact. We do not want to live a shallow, hollow existence. We yearn for deeper meaning, for deeper purpose within our lives. We want to be more than we are.

In "On Purpose: Finding God’s Voice in Your Passion," authors Magrey deVega, Sam McGlothlin, Jevon Caldwell-Gross, and Susan Robb help us see God's purpose for our lives, how to open ourselves to God's voice, and how to take the first or next step to follow God's call. As you read this book and explore your life alongside others, you’ll learn how to channel your passions, hear God’s voice, and live the life you were meant to live.

For more information, please contact Pat Hill, Care Coordinator, Discipleship.

Women’s Gathering (January 2025)

Jesus’ Model of Friendship

Thursday, January 9, 2025 from 10–11:30 AM (with lunch to follow)

Some of the most impactful, life-changing connections have begun as chance encounters. It can lead to meeting a friend you didn’t know you needed.  Or a stranger you didn’t know needed you! Please plan to attend the January Women’s Gathering program presented by Karen Weber to discover how Jesus provides us with the perfect model of friendship.

“Some people come into our lives and quietly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts and we are never, ever the same.

Source Unknown”

Menu: Baked Meatloaf, Au Gratin Potatoes, Peas & Carrots, Dinner Rolls, Tiramisu

Registration is required. For more information, please contact Pat Hill, Care Coordinator, Discipleship.

Next New Member Class

Wednesday, January 15 at 1 PM

Membership is about commitment to Christ through a local church. Whether you are here full-time, or seasonally, we have a membership type that will fit you and your needs. Church membership is your opportunity to hold each other in responsibility and love. We hope you will consider being a member and become more engaged with your church community.

Registration is required. For more information, please contact Ashley Hill, First Impressions Manager.

MOAMI 2025 Class

Thursdays, January 16 – March 27, 2025 from 1 PM – 4 PM

MOAMI (Moving on: Always Master Inspired) is a 11-week, faith based program open to all women looking for joy and purpose in the second half of their lives. MAOMI uses biblical principles to help each woman strengthen her relationship with God, develop supportive friendships with other women, learn strategies to successfully move through changes, discover her unique gifts, explore her purpose, and have fun with like-minded women.

The first class (January 16) is a Kickoff from 11 AM – 4 PM and the last class (March 27) is a Celebration from 11 AM – 4 PM (all other classes are from 1 – 4 PM). If you have any questions, please contact Barb Dougal, MOAMI Coordinator.

Night to Shine 2025 — Volunteers Needed

Friday, February 7, 2025 from 5 PM – 9 PM

We have two committees which we need more volunteers. If you are able to add one of these committees to the role you are already signed up for that would be great. We also appreciate you passing this information on to your friends. The Set-Up and Tear-Down Committees require some muscle. We appreciate you reaching out to those you know that may be interested in helping. Everyone who volunteers is blessed by the experience.

• Required Meeting: Thursday, January 16 from 5:30–6:30 PM
• Dress Rehearsal: Thursday, February 6 from 4–6 PM
• Event: February 7 from 4–10 PM 

Purchase from Our Registries

We’ve created registries with needed items at Walmart and Amazon. Your purchases directly contribute to the event's success. Thank you for your generosity and support in creating a magical night for our guests. Your contributions make a world of difference!

Prayers and Squares Quilt Ministry

Our Prayers and Squares Quilt Ministry continues to go strong! There are quilts on the prayer rails each weekend for all to pray over and tie a knot for the recipient. New Covenant is proud to offer these tangible ways to show love and concern for those in need of prayer support. To order a prayer quilt online, please use the link below.

Jerry Emmert 

McWater's family

Nancy

Ruben Rivera

Lew Frey

Prayer Quilts

Beverly, who is having surgery in January.

Carol, who is healing from cancer.

Christian, an infant who has respiratory problems and is in an incubator.

Prayer quilts are made by a dedicated group in our church who envision the quilts being a special gift of love for people facing difficult situations. If you would like to order a prayer quilt, please click the button below.

Our prayers, love, and sympathy are extended to...

Bobby Locke, family and friends the passing of his wife, June Locke.

For upcoming Celebrations of Life at New Covenant United Methodist Church, please click the button below.

Our Altar Flowers have been provided by…

Carole Bullmer in celebration of my husband, Gary Andrews’ birthday.

Flower orders must be received by noon on Tuesday for flowers to be delivered that weekend. To place an order for altar flowers, please contact Ginny Davis, Ministry Assistant, using the button below.