Thursday, December 20, 2018

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Thursday, December 20, 2018 Dear Friends in Christ, Mary got up and hurried to a city in the Judean highlands. She entered Zechariah s home and greeted Elizabeth.

May your moments throughout this week before Christmas find you moving, like Mary, in the joy of the Lord!

1 Thursday, December 20, 2018 Dear Friends in Christ, Mary got up and hurried to a city in the Judean highlands. She entered Zechariah s home and greeted Elizabeth. Luke 1:39-40 Greetings! Whether you are home or traveling this holiday, please know that Jesus is born to each of us, with love overflowing! May your moments throughout this week before Christmas find you moving, like Mary, in the joy of the Lord! Grace and peace, Pastor Sherrie Adults Thank You Thank you to all the people of St. Paul's that helped Tom and I move on December Sally & Tom Young Longest Night Service, Dec. 21 When the season is difficult, when you don t feel like shouting Merry Christmas, when a more reflective time of gathering

with others would be a blessing, come on Friday, Dec. 21, at 6:30 pm. Come alone, Come with family or a friend, Come and simply be. Linger with a cup of cider, if you choose.

Each year, the first Sunday of Advent marks the start of the church s year as we begin our journey with Jesus anew.

But, it doesn t start with the fulfillment of all that. No, it starts with a promise: the promise that God is up to something new.

2 with others would be a blessing, come on Friday, Dec. 21, at 6:30 pm. Come alone, Come with family or a friend, Come and simply be. Linger with a cup of cider, if you choose. Linger with hope in Christ. Christmas Offering, Dec. 23 This year, we will partner with Johnson STEAM Academy to support our ongoing efforts to promote literacy in young readers. Each year, the first Sunday of Advent marks the start of the church s year as we begin our journey with Jesus anew. In the year to come, we will hear of the good news again: healings, miracles, parables, conflict, betrayal, crucifixion, resurrection, and the ascension of Jesus. But, it doesn t start with the fulfillment of all that. No, it starts with a promise: the promise that God is up to something new. This year in the season of Advent, we will take the four weeks to prepare our hearts once more to hear the best news of all: the news that God has come close to us to redeem all things. Each week we will hear this call: People, Get Ready! Christmas Eve Day Dinner, Dec. 24 St. Paul s Christmas Eve Day Dinner is for EVERYONE those who are struggling, those who are thankful, those who are lonely, and those in need of good food and conversation. St. Paul s will host a FREE Christmas Eve Day Dinner with all the fixings in the Wesley Center on December 24, 12:00-2:00 pm. Meals are also delivered to shut-ins. After guests are finished with their meal, dessert and games and more fellowship will be offered in the new Gathering Space. Guests are welcome to join us for our Family Worship service at 2:30 pm in the Sanctuary. No donations will be asked. Call United Way (211) to make reservation or if homebound to have a meal delivered.

Marcus Cedar Rapids Cinema View a movie at Marcus Cedar Rapids Christmas Eve Family Worship Families are invited to join us for our family service on Monday, December 24th 2018 at 2:30 pm.

This is a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus with your family, friends and loved ones. Christmas Eve Schedule of Events, Dec.

3 Marcus Cedar Rapids Cinema View a movie at Marcus Cedar Rapids Christmas Eve Family Worship Families are invited to join us for our family service on Monday, December 24th 2018 at 2:30 pm. Children are invited to participate as story characters and may join along with our children s choirs to sing, Joy To The World. This is a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus with your family, friends and loved ones. Christmas Eve Schedule of Events, Dec. 24 Noon-2:00 pm Christmas Eve Dinner 2:30 pm Family Worship* A family-oriented service including an opportunity for children to participate in the story of Jesus birth. 8:30 pm Traditional Worship* A traditional service including the choir and candlelight. 10:30 pm Communion Worship* End your evening with a quiet, candlelit service of Communion. * Twenty minutes before each worship services there will be a Christmas Eve musical prelude. Be on the Lookout for St. Paul's UMC Billboards Be on the look out for 2 billboards in Cedar Rapids through the mid January: st Avenue SE (over Brewed Awakenings) (picture shown on left) 5416 Center Point Road NE

Cinema, be right on time as it is the first commercial that airs pre-trailer. St. Paul's 30 second full motion commercial will be aired before all movies at the theatre through December 27th.

Can reach up to 134,500 people. Are You A Good Listener?

4 Cinema, be right on time as it is the first commercial that airs pre-trailer. St. Paul's 30 second full motion commercial will be aired before all movies at the theatre through December 27th. Can reach up to 100,474 people Council St NE, Cedar Rapids KCRG - Channel 9 St. Paul's UMC 30 second commercial will air on KCRG - Channel 9 News through December. Air times vary. Can reach up to 134,500 people. Are You A Good Listener? As the first phase in the Wellington Heights Investment Strategy, Sending to Serve will train and equip a group of volunteers to have listening conversations with targeted organizations and individuals living, working and serving in our neighborhood. If you d like to learn more, please contact Clint Twedt-Ball (karlaclint@yahoo.com) or any Sending to Serve member. Our goal is to recruit and train at least ten listeners in early Door Locking Policy NOTE: New door locking policy. The only door that will be unlocked in the evening is the handicapped door at the 2 nd Ave entrance. Do You Shop on Amazon? If so, use AmazonSmile and support St. Paul s UMC Foundation at the same time, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price. To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. On your first visit to AmazonSmile smile.amazon.com, you need to select St Pauls United Methodist Church of Cedar Rapids Foundation. Amazon will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation. Curio Cabinet Display

Stop by the parlor to see Barb Newhall's collection for Christmas.

took a festive turn as we learned about Christmas in Africa.

5 Stop by the parlor to see Barb Newhall's collection for Christmas. Visit our Facebook Page African Nationals Cross-Cultural Christmas Celebration Our last day of tutoring for the year took a festive turn as we learned about Christmas in Africa. Perpetua Nsabimana led us in song, Barb Oakland shared images of African Christmas traditions and our tutoring team provided food and gifts. The highlight was an African Christmas parable acted out by Ester Mwamikazi, Nancy Owen, Joyce Johnson and Jan Frischkorn. Adapted from a universal story, it told of a selfimportant woman named Kwiyolecha who implored Jesus to come to her home on Christmas Day. Jesus promised he would visit her after three days.

6 While waiting, Kwiyolecha decorated her house inside and out, prepared special food and dressed in her finest clothes. Early on Christmas morning, a series of visitors came to her house a bent old man, a woman dressed in rags and a boy with twisted legs but she rebuked them all and sent them away. And, although Kwiyolecha waited patiently for Jesus, he never came. The next day, she asked Jesus why he didn t keep his promise. Jesus replied that he had come to visit her three times, but Kwiyolecha did not receive him. At that moment she remembered the words of Matthew 25:40: Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. Kwiyolecha s heart was changed, and she looked for another opportunity to welcome Jesus in the form of her new friends. If you re seeking Jesus in the faces of others, you don t need to look further than the people pictured here. Seeking Volunteers We are Seeking Volunteers who would enjoy helping to watch small children Tuesday mornings from 9:30-11:45 am at St. Paul s, while their parents or grandparents receive English and citizenship tutoring. You can choose how often you volunteer. This is a very rewarding ministry! Please contact Stephanie Heifner at (cell) or stephanie.heifner@gmail.com. Arts Ministry Fitzgibbons Family Christmas Cards Now through December 30th in the Upper Room For over 30 years, St. Paul's member Dale Fitzgibbons has designed and published greeting cards using various media including ink, paint, and computer graphics. On display now are five recent designs illustrating scriptural passages inspired by Medieval fine lettering manuscript practice. All are invited to join Creative Expressions Sunday school class Sunday, December 2nd in the Upper Room at 10:30 am to hear Dale share and answer questions about his work.

I m sure all of us have some potential mending projects tucked into our drawers and closets. Mending parties are a growing trend.

7 Care, Serve, & Outreach Be Healthy. Be Green. Task Force Invites You to a Mending Party! - January 19 Taking care of the stuff we have, instead of throwing it away and buying more, new stuff, is one way to help the planet and our wallets. I m sure all of us have some potential mending projects tucked into our drawers and closets. Mending parties are a growing trend. Let s get together with some basic supplies and sew on that button, mend that hole, share valuable skills and knowledge, and enjoy fellowship together as we chat over coffee and give new life to our stuff! Saturday, January 19, 10:00 am -12 noon in the Annex Bring your expertise to share or projects to work, and materials if you have them. Basic needles, thread, buttons, other notions and sewing machines will be available. Any questions, contact Stephanie Heifner or Barb Oakland. Homeless Overflow Shelter Ministry You may have read in the Cedar Rapids Gazette that the Homeless Overflow Shelter for Cedar Rapids opened on December 1 at the old Salvation Army Store site on Third Avenue SE. It is being run by the Willis Dady Shelter. It is open as a place for evening shelter through March. This is the shelter of last resort for many of our least fortunate brothers and sisters. The shelter is in need of volunteers, and the people using the shelter are in need of many things. SPUMC member Brad Colton is putting together a ministry team to support the shelter and the people who use it. If you are interested in being on this ministry team, please contact Brad at or brcolton@msn.com. Children & Youth Pajamas, Popcorn, and a Movie! Children are invited to join us for jammies and popcorn on Sunday, December 23rd following the children s message at 9:00 am service for popcorn, cookie decorating and a showing of the movie, The Star. For children not attending traditional service the movie will start at 10am in the children s parlor. We hope to see you then!

Each child will have an opportunity to participate in the story telling and we will be blessed with a song from our combined Wesley Choir, Star Choir, Pathfinders Singers and our African Nationals

8 All Smiles Here! We are all smiles around here as we eagerly await our Christmas Eve Family Service at St. Paul s UMC. We invite all children and their families to help us celebrate the birth of Jesus at 2:30pm. Each child will have an opportunity to participate in the story telling and we will be blessed with a song from our combined Wesley Choir, Star Choir, Pathfinders Singers and our African Nationals Sunday School Choir. Thank you to Marty Lee for creating these beautiful stoles for all of our children's choir singers! We hope to see you there! Senior High News: No HS Sunday school December 23 BUT December 30 we will meet. No TGIW December 26 or January 2 Confirmation News (7th-8th) Reminder: No Confirmation on December 23 or December 30! No TGIW December 26 or January 2 Thanks to the Finnemans for hosting our Christmas Party and for Remington, Jenna, and Abby for the entertainment! January Winter Retreat Who Do You Say I Am? at Pictured Rocks near Monticello! More info coming! Club 56 News No Club 56 December 23 or December 30 No TGIW December 26 or January 2 Save the date of January 26, 2019 from 1-8 pm for the Winter Retreat! We will be learning how to put on the Armor of God. Dinner will be served around 5:00 pm. Prayers Stephen Ministers Stephen Ministers, wearing the blue badge, are glad to talk privately with anyone going through a rough time. Pray for...

9 For spiritual disciplines of a weekly fast Thursday after dinner to Friday midafternoon, and pausing to pray at 2:23 2:26 daily for our church s mission and way forward. Continued healing and grace for: Quinn Anton Jensen (Nancy & Brice Anton Jensen s son) Jean Shibley Janet Harding Steve Miceli (Esther Miceli s son) Gerol Goodlove Char O Brien Susan Moore (Lee Moore s sister) Jody Sloan Kathy Davis (Steve) Tom Titus (Susan) Haley and Kaleb Admire (Kay & Bill Galli s granddaughter and family) Joe Boots (relative of Chris and Mike Crilley) Craig Ekstorm (Colton Valenta s father) Theodore Teddy Dvorak Tom Smeed (Bill s father) Louise Single (Fred) Barb Zahradnik (Bob) John Matthews Audrey Swalley Cheri Young (Gene & Carrie Young s daughter) Patricia Hartwell (Heather Moore s mother) Sally Ford Dianne Berrett (Bob) Linda Hadley Justin Ilg (Sherrie & Larry Ilg s son) Clyde Satterly Neoma Starnes (Duane) Katherine Martensen Angela Shultz Rhonda Viktora Carrie Cummins (Jamie s daughter and Steve and Kathy Davis granddaughter) Edie Nekola Jim & Rose Milden Raine Allen (Dixie & Roger Allen s granddaughter) Charman Banks (John) James Wahe Nora Mae Vance Sandy Pingel (Gloria Ford s daughter) Robert Moore (Lee Moore s father) Marti & Spence Grayson (Dave Mahlke s sister and brother-in-law) Mina Arbore (John) John McQuilkin (Jean Kwader s father) Ryan Vick Pam Anslyn Kris Yahn (Steve) Memorial prayers for the families and friends of: Myrna Cooney Mark Streff (Steve Streff s brother) Paul Wrider (Darrel Wrider s son) View Worship Times Worship is for the whole family. While childcare is available in our nursery for all Sunday morning services, we welcome children of all ages at all worship services. stpaulsumc.org

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Thursday, December 27, 2018 Dear Friends in Christ, Merry Christmas to you! This week, we hope you've found moments to celebrate the gift of God's outpouring of love in the Christ-child born to all of