Celebrate Advent 2014 - St. Luke United Methodist Church

Celebrate Advent 2014
St. Luke United Methodist Church
1394 E. Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, FL 32514
(850) 477-3145 phone (850) 478-2085 fax www.stluke-umc.org
“As we begin the joyous season of Advent, let us join together as the family of God to worship our
Creator. All are sincerely welcome as we approach the throne of grace. May God bless us all!”
(The Newsletter Newsletter, December 2000)
The First Sunday in Advent 2014 is Sunday, November 30th ! Below are dates/activities for
you to review and save as we approach Advent! Continue to watch your e-mails and printed publications
for more information on the events/activities in the life of St. Luke. Save the dates and be blessed!
Poinsettias Orders Now Underway! - The beautiful Poinsettia Tree will be in place in the worship
area on Sundays, December 14th and 21st and on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24th. You may
order a poinsettia in honor of or in memory of a loved one, by completing a poinsettia order form or calling
the church office. Look for order forms in your Sunday worship bulletins. Sunday, December 7th will
be the last day to place your order. You may choose to take your Poinsettia(s) home after Christmas Eve
worship services.
Ensley Elementary Secret Santa Program is Underway! - The Secret Santa tree will be in
the Narthex beginning, Sunday, November 23rd. All types of elves are needed to ensure the success of
this year’s program for Ensley Elementary families. ~~ Gift Giving Elves, Shopping Elves, Organizing
Elves, Wrapping Elves and Delivery Elves ~~ Look for the Secret Santa Tree in the Gathering Area and
your opportunity to sign up to be the elf of your choice!
Chili Supper and Hanging of the Greens
Sunday, November 30th
-Chili Supper at 5:00 p.m.
-Hanging of the Greens Service at 6:30 p.m.
Prior to the Hanging of the Greens service, the St. Luke Youth will host a Chili Supper in the Fellowship
Hall. Come enjoy chili and fellowship before the service! Then… join your St. Luke family for the joyous
and festive Hanging of the Greens service celebrating the beginning of Advent! We will enjoy wonderful
music as presented by our Adult, Youth, Elementary Children and Cherub choirs; share Scripture lessons
and hang the beautiful Chrismons on the Christmas Tree. The Hanging of the Greens is a special service
your entire family can participate in and will enjoy.
St. Luke Youth Presents: A Youth Christmas Music Celebration
Wednesday, December 3rd, at 6:00 p.m.
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On December 3 at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary, our Youth will present A Christmas Music
Celebration featuring the Youth Choir, Youth Praise Band, Youth Handbell Choir, Youth
Drama Members, Christmas instrumental specials by youth members, guest elementary
children, and a congregation Christmas Sing-A-Long! Everyone is invited and encouraged to
attend and be blessed by this wonderful musical gift our youth and others are offering this
Christmas season.
Santa Claus will be joining us in the Fellowship Hall following the Youth Concert!
A Night in Bethlehem – A Hands-On Holy Land Experience
Saturday, December 6th, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Mark your calendars now for Saturday, December 6, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus by re-creating
a Biblical Times marketplace open to the community from 5:00 p.m. -7:00 pm. ALL families are
invited to “a Christmas experience where participants do more than just hear about the birth of
Jesus—they’ll see, touch, feel, and smell what life was like during this miraculous ime.” Preparations
are underway for our annual Night in Bethlehem! For more information or if you would like to
volunteer, contact Sandra Jesse at mygirls2012@gmail.com or 850-292-1539.
Children’s Choir Christmas Musical
Elementary Children’s Choir to present “An Unplugged Christmas”
Wednesday, December 10th, 6:00 p.m. - Sanctuary
Lindsey and her friends are excited! Why? The local TV station is having a contest for “The Biggest,
Brightest Christmas Show Ever” and they are entered to win! They've planned a great show to impress
the secret judge – lots of lights, a rockin' carol medley, and even a Silent Night light show. However,
all goes well until BAM, all the lights go off! It is in the quiet of a small shining star that they are
reminded that Jesus is the true Light of Christmas!
Kids Day Out – Christmas Edition – Saturday, December 13th!
In December, we will have a Kids DAY Out, so that parents can finish their last minute Christmas
shopping.
Here are the details:
Date – Sat., Dec. 13
Time – 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Please drop off in the Fellowship Hall.
Ages – 6 weeks old to 6th grade
Cost - $25 for one child, $40 for two siblings, $50 for three, $60 for four
Lunch and Snack provided! Please email esther@stluke-umc.org, or text (850) 291-6048, to register.
Christmas Parade Saturday, December 13th at 5:15 p.m.
Yes, we WILL have a St. Luke float in this year’s Christmas Parade, which will be held on Sat.,
Dec.13, 5:15 PM. EVERYONE is invited to participate! In 2010, 2011 & 2013, St. Luke won “Best
in Parade” in the church division. Watch for more information soon! Please contact Darlene
Henderson at 850-607-7616 or DandWH@aol.com if you would like to help out. . If you can’t ride
with us but would like to contribute some candy, beads, or gently-used stuffed animals, a drop box is
located outside of Room 12 in the Ed. Building. Leftover Halloween candy & recycled Mardi Gras
beads are greatly appreciated!
Pie and Caroling, December 14th at 6:30 p.m.
Join us on December 14, 2014, at 6:30 for Pie and Caroling. Everyone is welcome to come
along. Bundle up and we'll climb into a trailer (think hay ride) and take a ride through our
neighborhood stopping to sing carols for our neighbors. Join us as we begin spread Christmas Cheer in
our own backyard. Afterwards (approximately 7:30 to 8:00) we'll enjoy pie, hot chocolate and hot
cider in the fellowship hall. Please bring a pie (or other holiday treat) to share. Questions, contact
Darlene Henderson (850-602-4521 or via email at DandWH@aol.com). Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 14th
Chancel Choir Presents “Sounds of the Season”
Sunday, December 14th, 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. – Sanctuary
Join your St. Luke family as we enjoy the musical celebration of Christ’s birth presented by the St.
Luke Chancel Choir. This year’s cantata, “Sounds of the Season”, is a variety of anthems and songs
that celebrates His birth. You will be encouraged by God’s ultimate gift of love and experience a
deeper walk with the One who changed everything
.Other Notes for Cantata Sunday, December 14th:
-A nursery will be provided for all 3 services.
-Fellowship Time/Refreshments will still take place at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
-There will be a Contemporary Worship Service at 9:30 a.m.
-Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. will meet as usual
Youth Drama Christmas Performance…..FEUD!!!
Wednesday, December 17th, at 6:00 p.m.
On December 17th at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary, our Youth Drama Team will “play the feud”
and present: St. Luke Youth Christmas Feud and other Christmas Biblical Game Show Fun!
Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Services
Wednesday, December 24th at 4:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Services of special music, Scripture readings, candles and Holy Communion.
Nursery Notes: A nursery for Preschool Age Children Only will be available for ALL of the
worship services including WNT, special events and services: Hanging of the Greens and Christmas
Eve.
Advent Devotional 2014 - The Daily Devotional for the 2014 Advent Season can be found in The
Upper Room. If you have a copy of the November/December issue you can follow that or you can
read the Daily Devotional at: http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/. You may wish to subscribe to
this daily devotional online and have it e-mailed to you.
“As Christmas draws near, remind me, Jesus, to make time
for quiet anticipation of your coming.”
(The Newsletter Newsletter, November 2014)
Service Times: 8:00 a.m. (Traditional)
9:30 a.m. (Contemporary)
Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m. (Traditional)
The St. Luke SPRC has approved the following dates for the St. Luke UMC Church Office Closures:
NOVEMBER 2014:
-Close at 12 Noon Wednesday, November 26th
-Closed Thursday, November 27th (Thanksgiving)
-Closed Friday, November 28th (day after Thanksgiving)
DECEMBER 2014:
-Close at 12 Noon Wednesday December 24th (Christmas Eve)
-Closed Thursday, December 25th (Christmas Day)
-Closed Friday, December 26th (Day after Christmas)
-Open on Monday, December 29th
-Open on Tuesday, December 30th
-Close at 12 Noon, Wednesday, December 31, 2014
JANUARY 2015
-Closed Thursday, January 1, 2015.
-Resume normal business operations on Friday, January 2, 2015 (8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday)
Preschool Holiday Closures*:
The St. Luke Preschool will be closed:
-November 24 – 28, 2014 (Thanksgiving Holiday)
-December 22, 2014 – January 5, 2015 (Christmas and New Year Holiday)
-Preschool will resume session on Tuesday, January 6, 2015
(*Approved by the Preschool Board)
**
As always, continue to watch your e-mails and printed publications for more information on
the events/activities in the life of St. Luke. Blessings!