CHRISTIAN EDUCATION NEWS

UMC OF SWARTZ CREEK

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009

What is
Advent?
Advent consists of
the 4 Sundays
(including
weekdays) leading
up to Christmas and
is considered the Tired of Commercialized Christmas?...
season that marks
the beginning of the Embrace the Season of Advent!
church (or liturgical)
year. As the world speeds up this time of year with parties and presents and events, we as
Advent means a church are called to slow down, to wait, to wonder, to reflect upon this great
“coming” or “arrival” mystery that God comes to live among us as a tiny, vulnerable baby boy. Sometimes
and is a time of the church describes Advent as a season of waiting on tiptoes – it is a time not of
preparation and frantically running around, but of eagerly awaiting and seeing that which is around
waiting. us. It is a time of opening our eyes to the sometimes unexpected, surprising, small,
Advent leads us to and profound ways that God is working among us. On tiptoes, Rachel
the celebration of the
birth of Christ and Ways to Celebrate Advent
helps us look ✦ Anticipate Christ’s birth by lighting an Advent wreath each evening or
forward to the
utilizing an Advent calendar each morning.
second coming of
Christ. ✦ Create a blessing jar and place it on your kitchen table. Each day during
Throughout history Advent, take time to write down one blessing for which you are thankful.
a traditional Advent On Christmas day, pour out the blessings and read them aloud together,
prayer has been giving thanks to God.
“Maranatha,” which
translates “Come, ✦ Choose to decorate your home a bit more simply and spend the extra
Lord Jesus.” time you have meditating on the gospel lessons for Advent (Luke 21:25-36,
During Advent we Luke 3:1-6, Luke 3:7-18, Luke 1:39-55).
remember the
prophets and ✦ Commit as much time to scripture reading and prayer as you do shopping
journey with them for Christmas presents.
as our guides toward
✦ Choose a favorite Advent hymn (such as Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus;
our Light and our
Life. People Look East; Hail to the Lord’s Anointed; I Want to Walk as a Child of
the Light; O Come, O Come Emmanuel). Sing it or reflect upon it daily.
A traditional ritual
during the season is ✦ Participate in our annual Heifer International offering which is an
the lighting of the organization that seeks to end hunger and care for the earth by providing
Advent wreath; often
“appropriate livestock, training and related services to small-scale farmers
the candles
symbolize the and communities worldwide.”
following themes: ✦ Make time to attend the events of the life of our church, such as our
hope, peace, joy, and
Advent Fair on November 29th at 5:30pm to embrace the true meaning of
love.
the season.
 SPOTLIGHT ON SPECIAL EVENTS

Advent Fair - Sunday, November 29, 5:30-7:00pm

ru e meaning Activitie
s for peo
over the t ple of
Come disc ! all ages a
of Advent nd intere
sts!
Create your own Advent wreath and
Advent calendar!
Learn ab
out Adve
nt hymns ts for
prayers!
and Make cards and craf
ch and
members of our chur
community!
Worship Make holiday crafts!
the Lord in s
ong and
prayer! ts!
hmen
y ga m e s and refres
Enjo

Come join us in the Family Life Center as we explore the wonders of Advent
through crafts, missions, games, learning stations, and worship. There will
be activities for adults, families, children, and youth – invite your friends!

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20

Join us for our annual Christmas program on Sunday, Practice Schedule

December 20th at 6:00pm. This year our children will be
experiencing the awe and wonder of the Christmas story Sat, Dec 5- 10am-1
2pm

along with the joy of timeless Christmas carols.
Sat, Dec 12- 10am-1
All persons ages 3 and up are invited to participate in the 2pm

program. Please sign up at the welcome center or email Sat, Dec 19- 10am-1
2pm
[email protected] by Wednesday, Dec 2nd if your child * If your child cann
ot attend all
would like to participate. of the practices,
please let
Rachel know.
Sunday School classes are also invited to create their own
presentations for the program. * Families are invited to
bring 2 dozen
cookies on the morning
Adult volunteers are needed to help during the practices and of Sunday, Dec
20th to share as refres
hments following
the program - please see Rachel. the evening program.
ALIVE Update Sunday School
at a Glance
Singers with Mr. Moreland and have 30 Somethings’
learned Jesus Loves Me with the
Jerry & Danette Rice, Lounge
chimes! Great job! Connecting with Others

Lesa McKeon/Ann Brimley, Rm. 205
Our 2nd and 3rd graders are
currently learning a few phrases in Essential Christianity

Carolyn Landis, Johnson Center
sign language - next time you see any
of them, ask them to teach you! Fellowship Bible Study

Norma Mueller, Rm. 207
Our 4th and 5th graders can be
Journey Through the Bible
heard up and down the halls singing
During November, ALIVE
Dennis Thorpe, Rm.203
their Books of the Bible song. Wow,
participants are collecting items for Men’s Bible Study
they know their stuff!
Operation Christmas Child, are
Pete Plum, Rm. 302
learning a bit more about the Look to our next newsletter to hear
Women’s Bible Study
ministry through a Veggie Tales what our confirmation class and
Donna Heddins/Amy Gawthrop, Rm. 206
video, and together will pray for and youth have been up to!
make shoeboxes to be sent to children For Youth:
all over the world. Glory to God for Special thanks to all the veteran and Jr. High Class, Rm. 109
the giving, praying hearts of children! new kitchen crew volunteers - we Sr. High Class, Rm. 204
appreciate you!
Also this month, our Kindergarten For Children:
and 1st graders are enjoying Disciple 2 & 3 Year Olds, Rm. 101
4 & 5 Year Olds, Rm. 104
Kindergarten-1st grade, Rm108
Bible Sunday for 2nd & 3rd Graders 2nd-3rd grade, Rm. 102
4th-5th grade, Rm. 105
November 22
Each Sunday from 9:45-10:45am.
Mark your calendars! In celebration of Bible Sunday on Come join us!
November 22nd, our 2nd graders and new 3rd graders will be DEAR A
DULT SU
SCHOOL NDAY
receiving bibles. If your name is listed below, please plan to CLASSES
During the ,
join us for the 8:30 or 11:00 worship service so that you may Christmas
season, we
inviting eac are
be presented with a bible. Please contact Rachel if your child’s h Sunday S
chool class to
“adopt-a-fa
name is missing from the list or if you will be unable to attend mily” as a
way to pro
clothes, to vide
one of the services. ys, or othe
r needed ite
interested, ms. If
please see
informatio Rachel for
n and to b more
Katarina Cross Taylor Kawa Jasmine Moore family. Let’ e matched
w ith a
s find ways
Brendan Graves Gavin Keeler David Waddell the Christ
-child in ou
to be a ble
ssing to
Caleb Kawa Rachel Kraysovic Christmas r midst this
!

Rachel’s FOR ADULTS: FOR CHILDREN:

R Come,Thou Long Expected Jesus: Advent and Written by Gwenyth Swain and illustrated
E Christmas with Charles Wesley by Paul Chilcote by Ronald Himler, I Wonder as I Wander is the
C
O is a delightful, poignant devotional that draws story of a young girl and her father (a
M inspiration from Charles’ treasury of around traveling preacher) in the mountains of
M
E 9,000 hymns. Each day’s reading begins with North Carolina. A fictional narrative based
N a scripture passage, moves into a Wesley on an Appalachian folk song by the same
D
E hymn (some well-known, others more name, it draws upon lovely, expressive
D obscure!), a brief reflection, and closes with a watercolors to share a message of hope and
Reads prayer. love.
 Upcoming Opportunities &
Heifer Mission Project...Fill the Ark Announcements
During Advent, we encourage each of you to participate in Heifer
International’s FILL THE ARK program, which encourages individuals and
families “an opportunity to learn about - and offer a helping hand to - • An Advent devotional that
families around the world.” Your participation will support Heifer’s effort explores the stories of Simeon &
to end hunger as well as care for the earth by providing “appropriate Anna will be available at the
livestock, training and related services to small-scale farmers and welcome center beginning Nov
communities worldwide.” 29. Please pick up your own copy
(one per family, please) to take
Arks will be available on November 29th to all Sunday School classes and
home as our gift to you!
giving calendars and prayer slips will also be handed out to all children
participants. (Extra arks will also be available at the welcome center.) • A short-term Disciple Study
Take your ark home with you and begin your 4 week journey of giving! (8-11 weeks) is beginning in
January! Please sign up at the
A couple tips:
welcome center or see Rachel if
• Make it a habit to give to your ark daily, monetarily and/or through
prayer. Take time to pray for the recipients of these gifts and that our interested.
hearts might be filled with God’s generosity. For mor
e inform
these or ation ab
• Set a goal for your Sunday School class. other ed out
opportu ucationa
• Visit the Heifer table by the welcome center to learn about alternative nities, c l
ontact
gift giving and other ways to help! Rachel D
. Benton
Ministe ,
• Bring your filled arks to church on Sunday, December 20th! r of Disc
church ipleship
office, 6
rbenton 35-4555
@umc-sc
.org

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER SCHEDULE WEEKLY ACTIVITIES

November 18 – ALIVE, 4:00-6:30pm
Sunday School,
November 22 – Bible Sunday for 2nd-3rd graders, 8:30/11:00 worship
9:45-10:45am
November 25 – No ALIVE this week
November 29 – Advent begins! Sunday Worship,

Heifer’s Fill the Ark program begins 8:30am in the Sanctuary


Noisy Offering at 8:30 & 11:00 worship services 11:00am in the Family Life Center

Advent Fair, 5:30-7:00pm in the Gym
December 2 – ALIVE, 4:00-6:30pm Wed Worship,
Please sign up to participate in the Christmas Program by this date 6:30pm in the Sanctuary
December 5 – Christmas Program Practice, 10am-12pm in the Sanctuary
December 9 – ALIVE, 4:00-6:30pm Bible Studies:
December 11 - Sunday School Staff Christmas Party, 6:00pm (tentative) Monday -
Disciple I, 10am;
December 12 - Christmas Program Practice, 10am-12pm in the Sanctuary Disciple II, 6:30pm;
December 16 – ALIVE, 4:00-6:30pm Disciple IV, 7pm;

Special Lovefeast Service, 6:30pm Bible Study, 7pm
December 19 - Christmas Program Practice, 10am-12pm in the Sanctuary Tuesday –
December 20 – Please return your Arks for Heifer this Sunday Disciple III, 7pm
Christmas Program, 6:00pm in the Sanctuary
December 23 – No ALIVE this week
UMC OF SWARTZ CREEK
December 24 – Christmas Eve Services, 6:00pm & 11:00pm in the Sanctuary 7400 Miller Road
December 25 – Merry Christmas! Swartz Creek, MI 48473
810-635-4555
December 27 – No Sunday School (enjoy worship and extra time with loved ones!)
December 30 – No ALIVE this week