December 24, 2021
The Work of Christmas
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among others,
To make music in the heart.
Howard Thurman
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Beautiful Beloveds,
May all the hope, peace, joy and love of this holy day be yours. Merry Christmas!
God loves you, and so do I!
Heather
**I will be taking some sabbath time with my family, December 26- January 2. If you need pastoral care, please call Mary Anne Farley (774) 487-0719, and she will put you in touch with Rev. John Mueller who will be providing emergency pastoral coverage. John in the pastor at the South Yarmouth United Methodist Church.
Mark Your Calendars
Sunday, December 26: First Sunday of Christmas
10:30 am: Worship in our sanctuary—Wendy Lithwin leads worship
Monday, December 27:
9:00 am Lend-a-Hand
7:00 pm: Men’s Study Group (via Zoom)
Tuesday, December 28:
9:00 am: Yoga
12:00 pm: Deadline for “A Word on Wednesday,” AND Saturday Tidings
Wednesday, December 29:
10:30 am Chair Yoga
10:30 am – 3:00 pm Rainbow’s End Open (Donations accepted 11 am-2pm)
Thursday, December 30:
9:00 am: Yoga
10:30 am – 3:00 pm Rainbow’s End Open (Donations accepted 11 am – 2 pm)
Friday, December 31:
Saturday, January 1, 2022: Happy New Year!!
Sunday, January 2: Second Sunday of Christmas
Please register here for January Worship:
10:30 am: Worship in our sanctuary (masks required.)–Allen Morell leads worship
**As COVID-19 rates continue to climb on Cape, our leadership team strongly encourages all who attend our indoor worship and other activities to be fully vaccinated. If you are not vaccinated, we encourage you to participate in our drive in worship, and tune into 91.5 to hear either service on your car radio. Or join our live-stream on YouTube from home. Let’s continue to work together to keep one another healthy. Let’s show our love for one another by continuing to practice distancing, wearing our masks, and staying home when unwell.
Christmas Possibilities
December 26: First Sunday of Christmas (One Service only at 10:30)
Wendy Lithwin leading worship Register Here
10:30 Worship in our Sanctuary (Masks required) Worship also available via the radio in our parking lot.
January 2: Second Sunday of Christmas (One Service only at 10:30)
Allen Morell leading worship. Register here.
If you cannot join us in person, we will not be offering livestream December 26 or January 2. We recommend checking our YouTube channel or checking out Harvard-Epworth UMC, Cambridge, MA, Sunday, 11 a.m. Or Union in Boston, at 11:15 am. Or if you’re looking for something different, check out the Church of the Resurrection YouTube Channel or worship with New City in Minneapolis, MN at 9:30 CST.
Worship with Us Outside, Inside, and Online: For the health and safety of us all, please follow our safety guidelines, listed at the end of this email. This may be subject to change as our leadership team reviews this every week. If you are feeling unwell, tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, please stay home and join us online.
Together in Christ—We Pray
Please pray for all who grieving this day. May the gift of Emmanuel, God with us, comfort all this day.
Please submit prayer requests here or call MaryAnne Farley (774) 487-0719 .
2022 Calendars are on Sale this Sunday. Order blanks are available or you can call in your order (508-428-2811) or send us an email office@umcchurches.org. They come in small ($8.95) Large ($12.95) Small Frame ($5.00) Large Frame ($9.00.) You may pick up your calendars and any other of a few Christmas treasures that are on display in the Solarium on Sunday or on Monday through Thursday between 9 am and 1 pm.
Christmas Poinsettias
Joanne Bodley In Honor of her Family
Trace and Jackie Schrafft In Loving Memory of our Parents
Doris & Arthur Schrafft
Newell & Evelyn Wagoner
Patty Kilmain In Honor of Claire for all she gives to everyone around her and to Patty’s Mom, Angelina Salvo
Dave & Kathy Sandell In Loving Memory of our Parents
Alice & Mike Murphy In Loving Memory of Richard J. Murphy
Wendy Lithwin In Honor of those that have led the way.
Lois Taylor In Loving Memory of Blaine E. Taylor
In Loving Memory of Warren J. Field
Sharon Kaczmarczyk In Loving Memory of my Husband David
Pat and Sandy Slosek In Honor of our children and grandchildren
In Loving Memory of Paul & Ethel Smith
Stan & Virginia Slosek, Mary Burchell
Donna Bodley In Memory of many Loved Ones
Rainbow’s End, our church thrift boutique, is open Wednesday and Thursday, 10:30-3pm. Stop by to shop and/or donate goods, particularly, Fall and Winter Clothes. Bring them in on Wednesday and Thursday between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. Thanks so much.
To volunteer, donate or consign items, or find out other ways to support our store, please call shop manager, Pamela Turner, at 508-548-2245.
Give online. Visit our online giving portal, to set up your pledge, make a one time gift for a special project, support the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund, make memorial contributions, and more. You can use your credit card, bank card, or set up an electronic funds transfer.\
We’re here to help. Give Jane Gray, financial secretary, a call 508.428.2811 if you need help navigating the online giving portal.
Worship with Us
Outside, inside, or online
If you are feeling unwell, tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, please stay home.
Please register here for December Worship
If you prefer to not to register online,
please leave a message at the church 508.428.2811
10:30 am In Our Sanctuary
- We strongly encourage all who attend indoor worship and activities at our church to be fully vaccinated.
- Registering helps us with contact tracing if that becomes necessary.
- Please stay home if you are feeling unwell, tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
- Please wear a mask. If you forget, we’ll have plenty available.
- Sanctuary Shepherds will be there to greet and guide you, as you enter and exit our building
- Please enter through the main sanctuary doors, where you will be “checked-in,” and invited to use hand sanitizer. You can also grab a mask if you need one, and pick up a Bible if you choose. At this time we will not be using paper bulletins.
- After you are “checked in” you will be led to a seat by a sanctuary shepherd. We will be seating individuals and families at least six feet apart from one another from the front of the sanctuary to the back. Please sit as close to the colorful dot as possible.
- We will have one or two singers, but not congregational singing at this time.
- The ionizers will be on, and at least one window will have a fan running, and other windows will be open. Additionally, all doors will be open. Please dress warmly and feel free to bring a lap blanket.
- Please exit through our solarium as directed by our shepherds.
- An offering plate will be available as you enter, as we will not be “passing the plate.” Don’t worry if you forget, or are moved to give more, there will be another place to give on your way out.
- If, after worshiping with us, you test positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed, it is important to the health of our congregation that you let us know so we can notify others who may have been exposed. This will be treated carefully and confidentially, so that we can care for another. Please call Pastor Heather directly, 774.994.3645.
**Our COVID-19 Leadership Task Force is watching the rates of COVID-19 on Cape Cod. We will gather in our sanctuary on Sunday, and will decide week by week if we will continue to do so. If a change is needed we will communicate quickly, clearly, and in a variety of me.