December

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Today begins Advent, O God, and we call on You to open our hearts to this first Sunday of the season … a season not of Hallmark cards and department store sales, of red and white clad Santas and greenery hung in every space, of holiday parties and shimmering lights, but a season of reminder that the church year began with a teenage girl, donkey travel, barn lodging and a helpless baby.
May our minds see all that is around us draped in the context of materialism while our souls translate it into that which is immeasurably valuable, like joy and love and peace. On this day we pray for children. We pray for those long awaited and those suddenly blessing us. We pray for those who are loved and wanted and for those who are met with anxiety. Forgive us that we sometimes abstain from the hard work required to make this world a better place for all children. Forgive us for being caught up in our own selfish pursuits and not noticing that needs exist around us even if they are not the reality in our own home. Forgive us if we do not seek to do all we can to care for the children in our family, the children of our community, the children of our nation, the children of our world … because they all belong to us and we to them.

From the Prayer Calendar:
We pray for Bethlehem Center in Spartanburg, S.C., Lester Domon, Elaine La Van, Tisha E. Turnbull, Scott Vickery and Tylie S. Waters.

L.R.R. 

December Birthdays

Dec. 6          Jamie Hurley              rm# 510

Dec. 9          Lynne Sanders            staff

Christmas Luncheon

December 6th

noon

At Pines Village

Speaker:  Carolyn Marshall

Executive Director of

Lucille Raines Residence

$10.00

RSVP by December 2nd

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Giving Tuesday

December 2

Greetings UMW "stars",  

      This coming Tuesday we have a unique opportunity to support a ministry that is special for those who follow the Margie's activities at Latin American Bible University.   This is where Margie has given her heart for the past 3 years...working with faithful church leaders from around Latin America who are seeking to bring others to Christ when they are finished with their studies.   One of the General Church Advance projects is Student Scholarships at UBL.   

On Giving Tuesday, we can give any amount we would like and if we do it shortly after 11:00 p.m. we have a chance to have our donation doubled.   It is an online giving opportunity and we can give any amount and give credit to our church.   It's real easy.  (I got so excited last year I made 12 donations to various ministries...way too easy!)    So check out the blog   http://valpofumcomissions.blogspot.com/   and on Tuesday, December 2, make donation for scholarships for UBL students.   This would thrill our Miss Margie who arrives home on December 3 for a few days, then off for the rest of the month with her girls.   She'll be back on January 5,  leave again in less than 2 weeks to go to Sager Brown and return in time to get back on the plane to return to Costa Rica in early February.  

Have some fun with this one.   If you have questions as to how to do this, don't hesitate to call or shoot me an email.   

Blessings,    Bonnie Albert