email, etc. by Wed. noon. Carol
December 11, 2011 (Musicale)
Liturgist: Not needed today
1st Hour Coffee Hosts: Susan and Scott Cole
2nd Hour Coffee Hosts: Shirley Anderson, Dot Hare
Flowers:
December 18, 2011
Liturgist: Norma Lee Smith
1st Hour Coffee Hosts: Helga Moran, Lois Anderson
2nd Hour Coffee Hosts: Joan Hegg, Bill and Pat McGlashan
Flowers: Poinsettias
December 25, 2011 One combined service at 10:45AM.
Liturgist: Fay Richardson
1st Hour Coffee Hosts: Not needed
2nd Hour Coffee Hosts: John and Barbara Shaffer
Flowers: Poinsettias
Sunday, December 11, 2011
8:30AM Worship Service with Carol Sing
9:30AM Sunday School
10:45AM Worship Service-Musicale
2-4PM Pastor Dan's Open House
Monday, December 12, 2011—Office Open, Pastor's Day of Rest
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
2:30 PM Congregational Care Committee Meets
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
1:30PM First Service Worship Planning Meeting
5:00PM Praise Band Rehearsal
6:00PM Handbell Choir Rehearsal
7:15PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, December 15, 2011
10:45AM Holly Holiday Catered Luncheon
Friday, December 16, 2011—Church Office Closed-Pastor In
10:00AM Lectionary Group Meets
Saturday, December 17, 2011
3:00PM Stanwood -Camano Chorale Concert Here
Annual Neighborhood Christmas Party This Friday, December 9!
Our annual neighborhood Christmas party starts at 6:00PM sharp! This will be a potluck so bring a dish to share. We'll sing some carols and there will be drawings for special prizes. This is your best chance to have a word with Santa about that special something. We are asking for donations for the drawings, such as baked goods (popcorn balls, granola?), decorative items, Christmas ornaments, plants, pictures, jewelry, etc. Please leave donations at the office during the week as we need to receive these ahead of time. Please bring an item for the food bank also!
Pastor Dan's Open House
All are invited to the parsonage Sunday, December 11 to enjoy Pastor Dan's annual open house from 2-4PM. The address is 9809-271st Street, Stanwood.
Calling All Youth!
Join Kristen Johnson and Emily Harpel, our Youth Group Leaders, for an awesome evening of food and fellowship every Monday here at the church at 6PM. Youth in grades 6 through 12 welcome. Kristen can be reached on her cell at 360-770-6873. Hope to see you!
Blue Christmas Service
The Blue Christmas worship service will be here Tuesday, December 20 at 7PM. This service is for those who may have lost a loved one or faced a recent difficult event or circumstance in their lives and find it hard to take joy in this season. This service gives people a time to reflect and remember and acknowledge their loss and feelings.
Handmade All-Occasion Cards Available
The United Methodist Women have been busy crafting a delightful variety of handmade cards for all occasions and they will be for sale. Look for their table in Wesley Hall; they will be selling before first service and will continue selling during Fellowship Hour after second service. Proceeds benefit Mission projects.
Holly Holiday Catered Luncheon
This annual catered luncheon will be held Thursday, December 15, starting at 10:45. Pastor Dan will read a Christmas story. This is a reservations-only event. Elaine Hilde will be selling tickets during Fellowship Hour today. Cost is $7. Checks may be made out to SUMC. Elaine may be reached at 387-5624. We hope everyone will be able to come to this special luncheon.
United Methodist Women
All women are invited to attend the Women's Christmas Party at 11:30AM on Wednesday, December 21 in Fellowship Hall. Bring a sack lunch; dessert will be furnished. Bring a wrapped white elephant gift for the Christmas Bingo game. Come for fun, fellowship, good food and to enjoy the Christmas program. Questions? Call Ann Taylor, 387-9540 or Claudette Cody, 939-0684. Many thanks to all who brought items for Mary's Place. All the gifts were delivered by Nancy Adams, Claudette Cody and Carolyn Gregory on December 6 and gratefully and happily received.
Stanwood-Camano Chorale Concert
The Chorale, with vocal ensemble Trouvere, will present "Our Christmas Favorites" on Saturday, December 17th at 3PM in our sanctuary. The director is Steve Jensen. A free-will offering will be taken.
United Methodist Men Thank You!
On Saturday, December 3, the United Methodist Men served breakfast to church members and the public in conjunction with the Stanwood Christmas Celebration that day. A free-will donation was requested with proceeds benefiting El Porvenir. This is the organization started by Nicaraguans to provide clean water for people living in the countryside. Paul and Fay Richardson helped this organization when they participated in a Primetimers' trip to Nicaragua in October. The UM Men are proud to announce that $450 was raised at the breakfast for El Porvenir. Many church members volunteered at the breakfast-thank you all!
Publicity in Church Publications
Regularly the Church publicizes press releases or announcements from other churches, community groups, service clubs, Josephine, of community events, personal announcements and others. The inclusion of these in our publications is for the benefit of our congregation. If it is deemed a likely benefit to our congregation, then these announcements and releases are included in the Messenger (newsletter), sometimes the worship bulletin, and/or all-church weekly emails.
Last month information was published about a new support group starting in Stanwood called, PFLAG, which is for the family and friends of lesbian and gay persons. Our congregation has twelve, maybe thirteen parishioners who have lesbian or gay family members for which PFLAG might be of interest.
This announcement was discussed at the Administrative Council and it was decided that it should be included because it might benefit parishioners. This is the usual and normal way a decision is made --- will it be a benefit for our parishioners?
Calendar of Events
Dec. 11 2-4PM Pastor Dan's Christmas Open House
Dec. 21 11:30AM UM Women's Christmas Party
Dec. 15 10:45 Silver Sages catered Christmas luncheon. Reservations-only event; advance ticket required.
Dec. 20 7PM Blue Christmas Service Here.
Dec. 24 5:30PM Contemporary Family Candle lighting Service in Wesley
Dec. 24 10:00PM Traditional Candle lighting Service in Sanctuary
Dec. 25 Christmas Day—One combined worship service at 10:45AM
Jan. 1 One combined worship service at 10:45AM
Housing Hope
Last year, Housing Hope sponsored a gift card drive for the first time with very generous responses. Most of our Housing Hope families have been recently homeless and they set up tight budgets to meet their needs. A donation of one or more gift cards can extend a little holiday cheer throughout the year. This holiday season, help homeless families by donating gift cards or gifts.
Here are some suggestions for a gift card: a gas card or bus pass; a gift card for groceries; a gift card to a drug store; a gift card for a bookstore; a card for department stores like Fred Meyer, Target, Kmart or Wal-Mart; a card for office supply stores like Office Depot, Office Max or Staples. Please feel free to get creative; these are just some ideas. Cards or a check can be mailed to Housing Hope, 5830 Evergreen Way, Everett, 98203-3748. Gifts can be dropped off at the Ken Schilaty Family Learning Center, 5908 Evergreen Way, Everett on Tuesday, December 13th, 10-4; Wednesday, December 14th, 10-4; and Thursday, December 15th, 2-7PM. Thank you!