Dear Members and Friends of Waterville United Methodist Church,
Millie Hires has been returned to St. Luke’s Hospital. Please keep her in your prayers.
Tom Wiggins came through his heart procedure on Thursday with flying colors. He is to lay low through the weekend and will return to “normal” on Monday.
Please keep Dave Landis and Family in your prayers as his father, Frank Landis, passed away on Monday afternoon in Omaha, Nebraska.
With the reports of snow this weekend, now is a good time to review our strategy for inclement weather on Sunday mornings:
Level 1 Snow Emergency – the church service will be held
Level 2 Snow Emergency – Pastor will be at the church, but we urge you to use common sense about whether or not you feel comfortable driving in bad conditions
Level 3 Snow Emergency – Church will be cancelled
Our December Mission Focus will be IMPACT WITH HOPE (formerly ISOH/IMPACT) is a community based organization with a clear picture of God’s desire for us to help children, their families & communities in desperate need wherever we find them (1 Peter 4:10). They mend broken bodies, bones and spirits by serving the needs of others.
For over 50 years, IMPACT WITH HOPE has reached out across the globe and touched the lives of the poor, sick, and suffering. They are an effective means of reaching hurting people in countries around the world with food, medicine, and other assistance. Their medical teams bring hope by providing medical care to children and their families locally, nationally and internationally. They also supply mission hospitals with supplies and equipment that are desperately needed.
Their disaster and relief aid programs provide desperately needed assistance to victims of natural disaster, war, disease, and famine. They offer food, water, and a network to provide temporary shelter for children and their families in need. Their Bucket Brigade, Kids Against Hunger and Keeping Kids Warm & Kozy ministries reach out to provide the basic essentials for children and their families in crisis. By meeting the critical needs of families in crisis they create hope, and give children and their families a chance to rebuild their lives.
Through Seeds of Hope, IMPACT WITH HOPE and their international partners work with children, families and entire communities to provide micro-enterprises, job training skills, community feeding programs, and educational opportunities for children. These programs reach out and touch the lives in impoverished villages and neighborhoods help individuals break the cycle of poverty and give them hope for a better tomorrow. Mission envelopes are available in the pew racks.
The children will be holding their Christmas Program Practice in the sanctuary on Saturday morning.
The Because of Bethlehem small group study begins on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room. Pastor Mike is teaching this class.
The Children’s Christmas Program will hold their final practice in the sanctuary at 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning. Worship Service for Sunday, December 11: Third Sunday of Advent
Call to Worship
Handbell Choir Prelude: Sleigh Ride
Lighting the third Advent Candle
Song of Worship - We Three Kings
Sanctuary Choir Anthem sung for the Offertory – We Want to Be Ready
Scripture- John 8:12
Homily - God Guides the Wise
Children’s Christmas Program - Journey to the Light
Liturgist - Pastor Mike
Terry Myers and Penny Greenlese are your Fellowship Hosts for December.
The Christmas poinsettia plants have been ordered for December. Order envelopes are located in the pew racks and in the attendance pads this week. The price will remain $7.00 this year. You may order a plantand have it be in honor of or in memory of someone or make a donation to our Building Fund. All plants will be displayed during our Christmas Eve Worship Service and you will be able to take the plants home following the service. Your name and your flower’s dedication will be printed in the Christmas Eve bulletin. We have ordered 30 red plants and 5 white plants this year. Fifteen red plants are still available; all the white ones have been spoken for. The final day to order you plant will be Sunday, December 18.
A date has been set for ringing the bell for the Salvation Army kettle at the Waterville Kroger Store. We will be volunteering on Saturday, December 17 from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Karen Wiggins has placed a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board AND ALL OF THE SLOTS HAVE BEEN FILLED!!! Thank you!!!!!
You will find the Christmas Eve Worship Services invitation card in your church bulletin this Sunday. Be sure to pass it along to a neighbor, friend or family member who might want to experience worship with us on Saturday, December 24 at either 7:00 p.m. or the later service which will begin with a Christmas Concert by Olga and 11:15 p.m. and worship at 11:35 p.m. As of right now, there will not be any nursery available at either service, but that might change. Will let you know for sure next week.
We will be having our regular Sunday morning worship on Christmas morning at 10:30 a.m. There will NOT be any Sunday School for the children that day.
The Friendly Center serves Toledo’s inner city children and is a ministry of The United Methodist Church. During the cold winter months, they have extra need for NEW hats, gloves/mittens and socks. If you would like to support this ministry, there will be a basket in the Fireside room for collecting these items. The final day to donate will be January 15. Our Women’s Ministry will deliver them to the Friendly Center.
As the year draws to a close, new opportunities for 2017 are just around the corner. New sign-up sheets are posted on the bulletin board in the hallway for Greeters and Fellowship Hosts. Janet is finished with the 2017 Altar Flower calendar. There is also a new Prayer Partner list on the Prayer Table in the sanctuary. Where is God calling you to serve?
Be a Blessing,
Church Cathy