Coming Up at MUMC
November 24, 2024
9:15 AM Sunday Morning Adult Sunday School, WR
10:30 AM Children’s Sunday School, PG
10:30 AM Worship, S
11:30 AM Concert Series Mailing Party, WR
3:00 PM Pioneer Productions presents “Dinner with Friends”, FH
November 25, 2024
7:00 PM AA, YL
7:00 PM Caregivers Group, 1S
November 26, 2024
11:00 AM Property Team Meeting
November 28, 2024
Thanksgiving – Office Closed
November 29, 2024
Office Closed
10:00 AM Hanging of the Greens & Work Day, S
November 30, 2024
12:00 PM AA, YL
December 1, 2024
First Sunday of Advent
10:30 AM Children’s Sunday School, PG
10:30 AM Worship, S
11:30 AM ASP Interest Table, FH
Advent Worship 2024
Advent at MUMC begins DECEMBER 1
Advent is a season of endings and beginnings.
As the church calendar year comes to a close, a new church year begins with the season of Advent.
Christ’s birth ushers us into new ways of living and loving; and yet, the world as we know it spins madly on. In many ways, pregnant Mary was surrounded by endings—large and small, personal and political. But Mary proclaimed hope in a God who was and is making all things new.
Christ’s birth offered a beautiful new beginning for shepherds and Magi alike—all the while, King Herod tried to bring Christ’s story to an end. When we ourselves navigate seasons filled with endings and beginnings, we need reminders. We need words that can feel like steady ground, like a path for our feet to find as we step forward into the unknown.
This year our Advent services are filled with blessings, with the scriptures and reminders we need to hear again and again as we begin a new season. These reminders root us in the fundamental truths of our faith. Many of them are life lessons we teach to children—lessons that adults continue to learn and relearn. They may resemble the blessings we impart to loved ones during special ceremonies like weddings, graduations, or baptisms. And so, we invite you to move through this Advent season as if you are entering a sacred new chapter, holding fast to the reminders that will bolster you for the journey ahead.
As you journey through this season, may you find words for belovedness and hope. May you find words for beginning again. For no matter what you are facing, no matter what this new day brings, love is your beginning.
December 1 – ADVENT 1
YOU ARE A BLESSING
December 8 – ADVENT 2
WE CAN’T GO ALONE
December 15 – ADVENT 3
DO THE GOOD THAT IS YOURS TO DO
A Blessing of our Giving Intentions
December 22 – ADVENT 4
HOPE IS WORTH THE RISK
Children’s Pageant
December 29
DON’T FORGET TO LAUGH – Lessons & Laughter
January 5, 2025 – Epiphany
THE ROAD ISN’T STRAIGHT
Special Services
Tuesday, December 17
ENDINGS & BEGINNINGS
Blue Christmas Service at 7pm
Tuesday, December 24 –
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7:30pm
LOVE KNOWS YOUR NAME
Advent & Christmas – Save These Dates!
Saturday, December 7
UWF ADVENT Gathering
9am
Sunday, December 8
Parsonage Open House
1-3pm
Thursday, December 12
Christmas Singers Concert
12 Noon
Saturday, December 14
Cookies, Crafts, and Cocoa Family Event (Time TBD)
Thursday, December 19
Brown Bag Bible Study Christmas Potluck Dinner
6pm
Saturday, December 21
Tuba Christmas On the Green
3pm
Tuesday, December 17
Blue Christmas Service
7pm
Tuesday, December 24
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
7:30pm
Adult Sunday School Advent Study
On the Way to Bethlehem by Rob Fuquay
Dates: November 24, (no class December 1), December 8, December 15, December 22
Meets Sundays at 9:15am in the Wesley Room
On the Way to Bethlehem follows the long journey to Christmas. The story begins in Rome with a decree issued from the seat of worldly power for a census, setting into motion events leading to the birth of the Savior of the world in a town that represents the very opposite of worldly power, Bethlehem.
Author Rob Fuquay provides insight into the geographical and historical significance of Rome, Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem, along with the important characters through whom the Christmas drama unfolds. You will be drawn into those places in a way that helps you experience the spiritual truths each location holds. The reflection we give in these places prepares the heart and soul to experience wonder, awe, mystery, and joy.
