Stevensville United Methodist Church

December 9 Weekly Update

1.        “God presents himself to us little by little. The whole story of salvation is the story of the God who comes. It is always he who comes, even if God has not yet come in his fullness. But there is indeed one unique moment in his coming, the others were only preparations and announcement…. The incarnation brings the world his presence. It is a presence so complete that it overshadows every presence before it….

          God is made human in Christ. God makes himself present to us with such a special presence, such an obvious presence, as to overthrow all the complicated calculations made about him in the past. The invisible, intangible God has made himself visible and tangible in Christ.” (Carlo Carretto, “The God Who Comes”)

          This is what we are preparing our hearts and souls for once again.

May we be ready for God who comes again.

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. 10         1:00pm                   Scouts and others cleaning at Peace Temple

Dec. 10         2:00pm                   Youth Wrapping your presents in Faith Hall

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

                   2:00-5:00pm            Parsonage Open House (5846 Ponderosa Dr.)

Dec. 12         6:00pm                   Sisters in Faith Christmas Tea in Faith Hall

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.        We will share in the Celebration Service for Barb Geary tomorrow, Saturday, December 10th: visitation beginning at 10am and service at 11am.

6.        As always, take time to check out the opportunities desk to see where your help is needed. We have the hospitality and snow shoveling sign ups, as well as sign ups to help with the chancel flowers and the UMW Committee of the month.

Have a good week and be sure to take a copy of the daily devotional, Thy Kingdom Come. As always take some time to remember how much you are loved,    Gordie