Stevensville United Methodist Church

December 16 Weekly Update

1.        I have enjoyed the reflections in our Advent devotional booklet. Even though there is only one week until Christmas, if you don’t have one, please feel free to take one and use it for this final week before we celebrate the wonderful gift of God’s coming in the Christ child.

            We can always take time, to get ourselves, body, mind and spirit, ready for this wonderful action of God.

            It’s never too late! Enjoy these final days of preparation, in Jesus’ name.

2.        Christmas Gift-giving possibilities

Your mission team offers some alternative ideas for you:

          a. Blankets of Church World Service - that are sent around the state, country and world for all kinds of disasters. ($5.00 each)

          b. Who wants to buy a Cow? The Heifer Project helps families around the world become self-reliant. See the Missions table for the list of animals.

          c. Caleb’s Kids at Ganta United Methodist School in Liberia -

Yearly tuition for a child to attend elementary school is $75 and high school is $100.

          d. Grocery Grams - $15 supplies a bag of groceries for a need family in southwest Michigan.

          e. GED Degree - An education is one of the most important gifts anyone can receive. The Benton Harbor Street Ministries provides this opportunity for area students.

It costs $200 for each student to take the four tests of this degree.

3.        December Highlights:

Dec. 16         7:00pm                   Middle School Christmas Dance in Faith Hall

Dec. 17         5:30pm                   Christmas Caroling

Dec. 18         8:30 and 11:00am     Fourth Sunday of Advent Worship Services

                                                          with the Christmas Choir Cantata

Dec. 24       6:00, 8:30 & 11pm        Christmas Eve Candlelight

Worship Services

Dec. 25         10:00am                 Christmas Day Worship Service

4.        This year’s Christmas Offering will be divided between:

          a. 50% for our summer Christian camp scholarships

          b. 50% for Mission trip scholarships and special projects

5.        As always, take time to check out the opportunities desk to see how  you can be involved. We still need help with the hospitality and snow shoveling areas.

Have a good week, pause for some silent waiting and always remember how much you are loved,    Gordie