Thursday, December 12 , 2024 | |
Join the children and youth this Sunday for the Christmas Pageant during worship | |
Monday Noon Sermon Zoom
December 9, 16, 23
Mondays in Advent, all are welcome to be a part of the “Monday Noon Sermon Zoom” with Pastor Andy. Beginning at 12:05, participants will have an opportunity to reflect on the previous Sunday’s sermon together. The group will share particularly meaningful moments from the worship service, discuss sermon themes, and answer questions that the sermon prompted. We will adjourn by 12:55 each Monday. Please feel free to eat lunch as you participate. CLICK HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK.
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Giving Tree Leader Needed
God may very well be calling YOU to a leadership role this Advent season - Organizer of the Giving Tree Ministry. This person would work with the school district and/or the city of Maplewood to gather names of families in need, gather what Maplewood UMC has given, and ensure that it gets to those in need. If God is calling you to organize this ministry, contact Brittany in the church office at 314-781-5902.
| The Giving Tree is an opportunity to provide Christmas gifts to children in the community who might not otherwise receive them. Pick up an envelope off the Giving Tree and enclose a $25.00 Walmart gift card (or funds so one can be purchased). Please return by Sunday, December 15th. If placing a check in the offering plate please mark the check Giving Tree. | |
Pastoral Visits
If you are hospitalized or homebound and would like a pastoral visit, Andy would love to come say “Howdy,” have a chat, and share a word of prayer. But he is a terrible mind reader! Please contact him at pastor@maplewoodumc.org or call the church office at 314-781-5902 to invite a visit and he’ll get there as soon as he can. Thank you.
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A Note from Pastor Andy
For this third week of Advent, we’ll focus on Joseph. He is the third character in the Christmas story who is told, “Do not be afraid,” as we continue our series, “The Hopes and Fears of Christmas.”
The different gospels tell the story of Jesus’s birth differently. While we often merge the different stories into one meta-narrative (see almost every single nativity scene, for example), each gospel writer has different audiences, different themes, and different perspectives.
For example, Matthew describes Joseph’s encounter with an angel, but mentions nothing of either Zechariah’s or Mary’s conversation with Gabriel. Luke, on the other hand, doesn’t say anything about Joseph and the angel, and in fact sort of relegates him to a supporting character in the story.
In fact, the Gospel of Matthew begins not with a story at all, but with a genealogy. Beginning with Abraham, Matthew traces a lineage that ends with “Joseph the husband of Mary, who bore Jesus, who is called the Messiah.” It was important for Matthew to convey to his audience that there was a clear connection from Jesus of Nazareth, back through King David and ultimately to Abraham himself.
It is noteworthy, however, that Matthew makes this connection through Joseph, who is actually not the biological father of Jesus. Matthew wants us to know that he was “a righteous man,” which seems to mean that he wanted to do the right thing, to uphold what he thought was expected of him. And knowing that he was not the father of Mary’s child led him to decide to end their relationship altogether.
So we’ll think about Joseph this week, the foster Dad of Jesus. He is one of my favorite characters in the entire Bible, and I am really looking forward to talking about his story with you.
See y’all in church!
Pastor Andy
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Join Pastor Andy every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. for the "Thursday thought for the day" on the church's Facebook page. If you can't join live you can always pick it up later. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mumcstl
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Help needed for the December Community Unity Dinner, Dec. 19th
A number of helpers from the Community Unity Steering Team are out of town for the December 19th dinner. Since we served 100 people at the November Dinner, we are planning for a fairly large crowd at our December Dinner. We realize we will need more help at this dinner: at the art area, assisting children; at the front door, greeting guests; in the kitchen, washing dishes; or at your home, making food.
If you have the time or the energy, please sign up on the form below. It can be a really fun way to connect with others in the church, and in the community.
Sign up to Help
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1cxUrglqZFhdb-78DgTp6zX-nFP7vL_YzF90q_vG3ShCdTw/viewform?usp=sf_link
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Tim and Erin Laurentius are excited to announce the birth of their grandson, August Lee on December 3, 2024. He joins siblings Amelia, William and Robert. This little guy is surrounded with love by grandparents Tim and Renee McDonough, great grandparents, Bob and Jan Harsh and so many other loved ones! We are so blessed!
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A BIG THANK YOU!
I want to give a big, heartfelt THANK YOU to all of the wonderful volunteers for Build A Gift last Saturday. This event does not happen without you all! And it was good to see so many new faces too! So thank you to:
Kathryn Cox, Jamie Broome & Mollie Berkwitz, Debra Lueckerath, Charlotte & David Phelps, Jan & Bob Harsh, Colleen & Lilly Watkins, Erin & Gabe Bryan, Maureen & Claire Ryerson, Lesley & Hugo Holloman, Julia Schaffner, Hope, Kevin, & Luke Watkins, Barb Stanford, Madaleaze Cramer, Tori, Robbie, & Rob Chandler, Brittany Link, Colette Cummings, Mary Kunce, Kathy Schmid
A special thank you to Tom and Amy Cordeal for heading up the refreshments and hospitality area! I’m so grateful!
Hopefully, I didn’t miss anyone, but if I did, please know you are appreciated. I can’t wait to do it again next year!
Thanks,
Rona
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NEW DATES TO THE CALENDAR ARE IN GREEN
Thursday, December 12
9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. Church office open
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Second Time Around Shop
6:00 p.m. Praise Band practice
7:00 p.m. Choir Practice
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Saturday, December 14
10:30 a.m. Women's AAGroup
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Sunday, December 15
9:30 a.m. Prayers with Pastor
9:45 a.m. Adult Discussion Group
9:45 a.m. Children and Youth Sunday School
11:00 a.m. Worship - Christmas Pageant
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Monday, December 16
12:05 p.m. Monday Noon Sermon Zoom -CLICK HERE FOR THE ZOOM LINK.
1:00 p.m. Overeaters Anonymous Meeting
Tuesday, December 17
9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. Church office open
1:00 pm. P rayer time via Zoom.
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3745711178pwd=dktsaWkwNlNhVjRmOHpjTFNqR1dqQT09 Meeting ID: 374 571 1178
Passcode: 674257
Wednesday, December 18
9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. Church office open
6:00 p.m. - Cub Scouts
6:30 p.m. - Cub Scouts
Thursday, December 19
9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. Church office open
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Second Time Around Shop
5:00 - 6:30 p.m. - Community Unity Dinner
6:00 p.m. Praise Band practice
7:00 p.m. Choir Practice
To see the entire calendar - click below https://73855810.view-events.com
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... Shelly McBurnett and family in the passing of their beloved Travis.
...Skip Reynolds Skip continues maintaining in hospice care at Laclede Groves Lutheran Senior Services. Donna visits nearly every day around 11:00 a.m., and they welcome visits around that time.Donna and Skip celebrated 60 years of marriage this year. Please send cards for Skip and Donna Reynolds to Donna’s address: 9400 Mackenzie Circle Ct., STL 63123-5476
... Linda Vawter .. Comfort in the passing of her cousin Vaughn and Aunt the week of Thanksgiving, also brother-in-law Jerry, healing and patience as he waits for tests.
Allen, guidance for mental health challenges. Sister-in-law Kathy, healing of vision issues.
..Peg Chulick: for Sister-in-law having long recovery from pneumonia, also for nephew, Randy, who is waiting for a call from Barnes for a lung transplant and continuing prayers for Jer’s vision and heart challenges.
... Marlene Whitehead, as she waits for test results to discern origin of fall, continuing strengthening and healing.
... for Brittany Link in the recent passing of her Great Uncle Thomas “Elmer” Buxton who was 97.
...Denise Perry continuing strengthening and healing.
...Sharon and Bill Housewright's
Nephew Chris, as he searches for new job. Sam Crawford, healing after stroke.
Pat & Butch Reid, health concerns.
...for bringing people in the country and around the world together in peace.
...Tori Chandler, that her new medication regimen works.
...Nancy Thompson- Please pray for my son, Peter Munshaw, to find appropriate employment.
Continuing prayers for ....
...Karen Raborn healing of hip issues
...Amy Cordeal’s sister, Diana, for health concerns
If you have prayer concerns you wish to share with the congregation, let Kathy Schmid know: kschmid2005@sbcglobal.net
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All children and youth are invited to take part in our Christmas Pageant on December 15th at 11a.m. Be sure to meet in the Children's Sunday School class room for the final practice and pick up your costume. | |
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DEADLINE for the church newsletter is MIDNIGHT EVERY TUESDAY: send articles via email only to jbrx10@yahoo.com.
The Sunday morning worship bulletin will be sent via email at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday
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