This Sunday, December 4
Second Sunday of Advent: Love
Sermon Series: “The Colors of Christmas”
Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12
Join us for Worship this Sunday, December 4 for 9 am Modern Service or 10:45 Traditional Service. Don’t forget to wear your name tag.
Communion will be offered at both services.
Both services are live-streamed. To find our live stream go to linktr.ee/castlerockfumc and click on either the YouTube or Facebook option.
December 4th is “Christmas Sweater Sunday.” Pull out that festive and colorful sweater or vest, the one with happy snowmen, crazy reindeer, or Christmas balls, bells, and lights, and join in the fun.
Our Table for All Sunday will be Dec. 4th a special offering will be taken up during worship. Click on the link below to watch this video to learn more about the Table For All initiative.
For those that want to receive Holy Communion during this Holy season, communion will be served between services on December 11 and 18 in the church library.
In Our Prayers -- Please lift up the following people in your prayers:
Jeri and Guy Groves, Joyce Carmella, Betty Grant, Sarah McAneny, Tracy Beaman , Betty Grant, Patty Claussen, Jan and Bud Richter, Cynthia and Tom Johnson, the family of Shirley Spencer, the family of Dave Archer.
The UMF Cookie Walk Returns!On Sunday morning, December 4th Fellowship Hall will be filled with tables of festive and delicious cookies to purchase. To make this a successful event, UMF is also looking for donations. Donating a few dozen of your favorite cookies is a wonderful way to share your tasty recipe with others while filling your own box with various cookies for your holiday gatherings. Whether purchasing, donating, or doing both, United Women of Faith appreciate your participation.
Look for the Mission Team Giving Tree when you enter the church. As you pick up a tag or two from the tree, you are supporting the Christmas project of the church Mission Team. Each ornament on the tree represents a gift to be given to a boy or girl associated with Southridge Elementary, or to a resident of Brookside Nursing Home, or Castle Care Nursing Home. All gifts should be wrapped and returned to the church by December 11. If you would like to give a $25 grocery gift card, the church has already purchased them and will track all donations accordingly.
Have you noticed the beautifully decorated Toy Shop as you enter the church?
In addition to welcoming us to worship, the Toy Shop is a key part of our children’s ADVENTure into Advent. Throughout the season, children will be playing an “I Spy” game involving the Toy Shop and a book titled I Got the Christmas Spirit. The book’s focus on the joys of the holiday season will be celebrated at the 4 pm Family Christmas. Be sure to encourage your children and grandchildren to join in the fun. Prizes will be awarded! (And thank you, Tammy Klos and Lisa Stead for the Toy Shop’s artistic presentation.)
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” is the theme for both our children’s musical program on at the 9 am service on December 11th and the Castle Rock Orchestra’s December 18th Concert. Both programs will be in our church sanctuary and promise to put you in the Christmas spirit.
Rev. Sarah has chosen the text for the Contemporary Studies Group Advent Study : The Angels of Christmas: Hearing God's Voice in Advent, by Susan Robb. This four-week Advent study explores the four angelic visits surrounding the birth of Jesus with Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds and how these four angelic appearances hold meaning for listeners both then and now.
In Person Sessions: Mondays, November 28 through December 19; 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Zoom Sessions: Fridays, December 2 through December 23; 6:30pm to 8:30pm
The Church Photo Directory is live at this time.
To view the directory online, go to members.InstantChurchDirectory.com and follow the prompts under “Sign In” to “Create a login now.” Please remember, you must confirm your email address before you can sign in.
There is also a free mobile app available for download at the Apple® App store in iTunes®, Google Play™ store and the Amazon Fire App Store. Simply search for “Instant Church Directory” to get the download.
You will need to use your email address as listed in our directory to create a log-in the first time you use the directory online and via the mobile app.
We will have print copies available by December 18th.
We can still add you if you missed the picture dates. Just let Pastor Matt know.
For questions or changes, please email Pastor Matt at matt.franks@fumccr.org
S.O.C.K. Volunteers are needed to provide and prepare meals for our Tuesday afternoon SOCK program (Serving Our Community Kids). Sign up at the Welcome Center.
Save these dates:
· December 4: Annual Cookie Walk, sponsored by United Women in Faith
· December 11: Children’s Musical “A Charlie Brown Christmas” 9 am
· December 18: Castle Rock Orchestra “An Animated Christmas” concert 3 pm
· December 21: Blue Christmas Service at 6:30 pm
· December 24: Christmas Eve Services at 4, 6, and 11.
· December 25 & January 1: one service at 10 am
November-December Upper Room and copies of the December Newsletter are available at the Welcome Center.
Want to become more familiar with #beUMC ?
Take a look at the video from the UMC website. https://fb.watch/g4gUdP6ioh/
Please contact the church office for links to these Zooms:
· Stephen Ministry Supervision meets the second and fourth Thursdays at 6:30 pm on Zoom
· Rev. Sarah’s Contemporary Discussion Group, Zoom Sessions: Fridays, December 2 through December 23; 6:30pm to 8:30pm
· Coffee Time with Rev. Sarah every at Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.
Reminder: Social Media Have Been Updated to help us be easier to find and connect with.
All the links in one place: https://linktr.ee/castlerockfumc
Website: www.fumccr.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/castlerockfumc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/castlerock_fumc/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/
1 Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children 2 and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. Ephesians 5:1-2
Agape is something of the understanding, creative, redemptive goodwill for all men.
It is a love that seeks nothing in return. It is an overflowing love; it's what theologians would call the love of God working in the lives of men.
And when you rise to love on this level, you begin to love men, not because they are likeable, but because God loves them.
Martin Luther King, Jr.