Dear Friends in Faith,
Merry Christmas!  Whether you are traveling for the holidays or staying home, having a large gathering or celebrating quietly, I wish you all a blessed Christmas.  And on that special day take a moment to remember the baby whose birth we celebrate!
Below there is a Christmas prayer which you may like to share with your  families over  Christmas breakfast or dinner.  Please scroll down further to read about the upcoming activities of our Faith community.
Your Friend in Faith,
Pastor Krista Beth
O Ultimate mystery, 
who comes to us in many pictures,

grant that the story of Christmas may
 awaken the child within us,
so that we may
 experience child-like beauty and joy,

despite the sadness and destruction which
 often surrounds us.
May we be enabled to
 let go of our desire to acquire,
to abandon
 our misuse of power and cease to view life 
in segments,
instead of as a whole.

This we pray in the spirit of the Babe of Bethlehem,

symbol of the eternal child. AMEN.

~ William Wallace
 


Pastor Krista Beth’s Schedule

 

Next Monday and Tuesday I will be keeping my regular Office and Open Hours.  Wednesday (Christmas Eve) I will not be in the office in the morning since I’ll be working until midnight that night!  I will then be on vacation December 25-January 1.  I will be back for worship on Sunday, January 4th and in the office Monday, January 5th.  There will be no Faith UMC Update for the next two weeks.
Sunday Service December 21


Theme: Fourth Sunday of Advent:  Love
Scripture: Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:46b-55
Sermon: Unexpected Love
Christmas Eve Worship Services:

5:30pm – Children’s Worship with Interactive Story and visit from the Holy Family

7:30pm – A Service of Lessons and Carols with Candlelighting
11:00pm – Communion and Candlelighting
Sunday Service December 28 – Penni Cross Preaching
Scripture: Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40
Sermon: Celebrate! We Are the Heir.
 

Sunday Service January 4


Theme: Epiphany
: Star Child
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12, Isaiah 60:1-6
Sermon: Manifestation
Blessings of the Toys
 


 
Christmas Caroling Saturday, December 20th at 5pm

Please come join us in sharing our Christmas cheer with others on Saturday, December 20th beginning at 5 pm at the church. We will visit some of our close by friends and share a song or two. Hopefully the weather will cooperate this year! Wanting in on the fun? Have questions or suggestions? Call Wanda Bezio for more details at 324-4747.
 
Christmas Giving Opportunities
There is a sleigh in the narthex collecting toys for “Toys for Kids”.  Toys need to be left unwrapped (parents pick out the toys for their children).  All toys will be given to local children.  The deadline is Sunday, Dec. 21. 
 
Also we are collecting gas and grocery gift cards to be given to COTS and JUMP.  If possible, the cards should be in $ 10.00 denominations, i.e. 2 ($10) cards rather than 1 ($20) card.  Please put gift cards in the collection plate and then place an ornament on the giving tree in the narthex. The deadline for the gift cards is also Dec. 21.
Sunday Evening Advent Study
The Advent Study concludes December 21st. Gathering is 6:30-7:30pm to sing and study hymns of the season.  Come join in.  The more the merrier!
Blessings of the Toys:  Epiphany Sunday, January 4th 

On Epiphany Sunday we celebrate the journey of the Wise Men to visit the Baby Jesus and their gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Children are welcome to bring a toy to church that Sunday ~ a new toy or a favorite toy ~ for a special blessing.  Adults are also invited to bring a favorite childhood toy to be blessed.  The Blessings of the Toys will take place during the Children’s Message.
Tending Faith ~ Leadership Empowerment and Development ~ Launches January 7th!!
We will launch “Tending Faith” on Wednesday, January 7th at 7pm in the Upper Elementary room.  This will be an ongoing gathering on the first Wednesday of each month for current church leaders and those who are discerning a call to leadership in the church.  All are welcome!  Speak with Pastor Krista Beth for more information.
Sunday Evening Adult Study ~ The Book of Esther:  Holy Gumption

Pastor Krista Beth will lead a Sunday Evening Adult Study focusing on The Book of Esther.  We will meet Sundays January 11- February 15 from 5:30-6:30pm in the Upper Elementary Room.  We will discuss questions including:  Who was Esther?  What does her story have to do with our faith?  What can we learn from Esther to deepen our faith? How is Esther’s historical context similar to our context today? All are welcome!
We are the Deodorant Church! 
JUMP (Joint Urban Ministries Project) depends on us to provide deodorant to share with members of our community in need.  (The Dollar Store is a great place to buy deodorant.)  There is a basket on the Outreach Table in the Gathering Space where donations of deodorant can be placed.  Thank you!
Krista Beth
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rev. Krista Beth Atwood
Faith United Methodist Church
899 Dorset St. 
South Burlington, VT 05403

(802) 863-6764
www.faithsbvt.org


Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 9:30am (Tuesday 10:00am) -12:00pm (Off on Friday)
Open Hours: Monday 3:30pm-5:30pm Barnes and Noble Cafe on Dorset St.
“What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8