November 27 – First Sunday of Advent Light the first Advent Candle – the waiting has begun! Bless the Advent Wreath and Chrismon tree.

            December 4 – Second Sunday of Advent Light the second Advent Candle – prepare the way! 10 am Birthday Party for Jesus. Holy Communion at 11 am, Trinity Class Singers. Bring gifts for children under the care of DeKalb County Department of Family Services.

            December 10 – Mission project activity for elementary children, 2 pm. Contact Jonathan Harris at jdharris@gmail.com for more information

            December 11 – Third Sunday of Advent Light the third Advent Candle – listen for heavenly harmony! Choir Cantata, “A Glorious Christmas;” catered BBQ lunch.

            December 18 – Fourth Sunday of Advent Light the fourth Advent Candle – think of joy forever more!  11 am Worship – handbells, “Ave Maria” soloist, and children singing.  4 pm Service of Blue Christmas.

            December 24 - Christmas Eve Worship Service, 5 pm: Light the Christ Candle –

Let the alleluias ring! Celebrate the birth of the Christ Child with the carols and candles.

            December 25 - Christmas Day Worship Service, 11 am. Celebrate the love that came down at Christmas!

            January 1 - New Year’s Day and Epiphany Worship Join us on the first day of the New Year at 9:45 am for Sunday School and 11:00 am for worship.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

4:00 p.m.

          For many folks, Christmas is a bittersweet time of year as they, and we, remember both persons and events that have been a part of our lives in the past, but that are now changed or gone. This is also the time of the year with the longest nights close to the winter solstice that occurs on December 22, so winter nights are long.

            In the midst of all the wonder, joy, and celebration leading up to Christmas with the music, parties, decorating, gift giving and family time, we all have friends and family, and even ourselves, for whom the idea of Christmas joy is not part of the season this year.  

            Invite someone to join you for a service of worship called Longest Night or Blue Christmas. This is a time to remember and share our hurting places with God.  Come prepare your hearts for the coming of Christ.  Contact Donn Ann with questions, donnannw@mindspring.com.

Enjoy the special holiday fellowship of a meal shared with good friends. The catered BBQ meal is immediately following worship. The menu includes BBQ brisket and pork, Brunswick stew, slaw and baked beans. Children’s menu is Mac and Cheese and hot dogs. Write checks to University Heights UMC for “BBQ Lunch.”  Reservations & payment are due December 4^th.

Happy New Year!  Does that sound too early?  It is early only on calendars that begin with January, but not in the church, where the beginning of the Christian Year is the first Sunday of Advent – November 27 this year.  The story of Jesus Christ orders the seasons in the church much in the way that the natural world orders the seasons on calendars into days and months.  The rhythm of readings, prayers, music, colors and symbols proclaims a belief in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

     The Christian Year is organized into two “cycles” that lead to the church’s celebrations of Christmas and Easter.  There is more to the story than just two “holidays” or “Holy Days.”  Within each cycle are “movements” of preparation and celebration followed by times for “resting and growth.”  The colors, scripture and music used in the different seasons help tell the story of Jesus. 

     The Christmas cycle includes Advent, Christmas and Epiphany.  These are times to reflect on hope and growing anticipation of the coming of the messiah, then manifestation or “showing” to all people.  Advent – blue, the color of hope; Christmas – white for celebration; Epiphany – green, a color of growth as news of the birth of the Christ child is spread throughout the earth.

     The Easter cycle includes Lent, Easter and Pentecost.  These are periods of penitential preparation moving toward the death of Jesus, the joy of the resurrection and culminating in the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Lent – purple for penitence; Easter – white for celebrating the resurrection; Pentecost – red, the color of fire for the Holy Spirit. Green is also used for Sundays after Pentecost as we grow through the stories of the kingdom of God.  

Thanks to all who helped decorate the church for Advent and Christmas: Helen Bridges, Zach Dearman, Grace Farley, Jonathan & Marissa Harris, Erin & Elise Kirby, Jan Kline, Bill & Sue Roane, Becky Stephens, Cindy Stephens, Wynn Tabor, Ken & Donn Ann Weber. Flyers with information about the Chrismon ornaments are available on the desk outside the sanctuary. 

The Stewardship Campaign for the 2012 budget for University Heights United Methodist Church (“UHUMC”) will kick off on Sunday, October 2, 2011, and will conclude on Sunday, November 6, 2011, with the joint event of Celebration Sunday and All Saints Sunday.  Of course, each year’s stewardship campaign is your opportunity to commit to support UHUMC with your tithes and offerings for the coming year, but this year it is also an opportunity for you to take a new look at the relationship between your faith and finances.

This year’s campaign is titled Simple Rules, and is based in part on a book written by James A. Harnish titled Simple Rules for Money: John Wesley on Earning, Saving, & Giving, Abingdon Press, Nashville (2009).  Guided by the Bible and the timeless wisdom of John Wesley, the topics covered in the book, as will be discussed by Donn Ann and several lay speakers during the campaign, include the following:

1)         When Crisis Forces Change;

2)         Gain All You Can: A New Opportunity;

3)         Save All You Can: The New Frugality; and, 

4)         Give All You Can: A New Generosity.   

Several copies of this timely, insightful, and thought provoking book have been acquired by UHUMC and are available for a $11.00 contribution to offset the sales price from Cokesbury Bookstore.  We invite everyone to get and use this resource to reinforce and supplement the message each Sunday, and to allow for a deeper study of this topic.

UHUMC Finance Committee

The 55^th Anniversary Celebration was a day filled with hugs, laughter, stories, good food and excellent worship. It was good to see old friends and share in Christian fellowship.  

We now have a rough draft of the 55^th Anniversary History.  Zach Dearman, former Candler ministry intern, has done an excellent job of gathering data, stories and photographs. It will be available after another round of edits. Watch for more information about obtaining a copy of the history on CD. There is no budget for the project, but at least one copy will be available in the library.

Read elsewhere in the newsletter about the exciting new opportunities for music and missions for children. As both get started, we will let you know how you can help in these new ministries.

The psalmist wrote, “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts” and continues to describe those who find a home and place of rest in “God’s house.” While 55^th Anniversary celebrations occur only once in a lifetime, each day is a new gift from God.  May the ministries and services of worship guide you to the lovely dwelling place God provides at 1267 Balsam Drive.

Peace,  Donn Ann Weber