Pilmoor Memorial United Methodist Church A family of Christians who love God, follow Jesus, and serve others.

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1 Volume 23, Issue 25 December 2015 Pilmoor Pilot Pilmoor Memorial United Methodist Church A family of Christians who love God, follow Jesus, and serve others. Pastor s Reflections The Advent Debate While attending seminary I was taught to never allow my congregation to sing Christmas hymns during the Advent Season. Advent, I was told, is the season leading up to Christmas in which we remember what it was like before Jesus walked the Earth. More specifically, Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The term is an anglicized version of the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming". I tried to be obedient to this wisdom for a few years, then it occurred to me that there is no way I can imagine what it was like before the advent of Jesus. There has never been a time in my life in which I have had no recollection of who Jesus is. Granted, my knowledge of Jesus has grown significantly over the years. Still, I have known something about Jesus all my life. So the question remains for me, how can we remember what it was like before the advent (coming) of Jesus? Some pastors, who are much wiser than I, have suggested that the focus of Advent should be on Jesus' second coming. This makes sense to me, but here I struggle with the concern that, if we focus on Jesus' second coming, which is what many Christians seem to do all the time, then we risk failing to live as Kingdom people here and now. John the Baptist's proclamation rings clearly in my mind, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. How can we unlearn what we have learned? How can we forget that "...the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father s only son, full of grace and truth... From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace...grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:14, 16, 17b)? This Advent Season I am encouraging us to sing Christmas hymns and songs throughout the Advent and Christmas Season. The Season of Advent is a great time to invite others to join with us to worship and praise God. It is a great time to remember who we are and whose we are. It is a great time to love a little deeper, to care a little more about others, and to share the miracle that is Christmas. Remember, I love you and God loves you. Pastor Steve Christmas Poinsettias will go on sale starting November 29th. Order envelopes will be placed in the pews that Sunday.

2 P a g e 2 P i l m o o r P i l o t Candlelight Christmas Concert 12/1 Jimmy Vick 12/1 Emily Cannon 12/1 Greg Schwarga 12/3 Caroline Lindsey 12/4 Joy Davis 12/6 Steve Bisbing 12/7 Taylor Schwarga 12/13 Sarah Cayton 12/19 Sam Casey, Sr. 12/19 Sharon Morgan 12/20 Harrison Baker 12/21 Whitney Bisbing 12/26 Holli Barnett 12/26 Dave Jacques 12/27 Daniel Pennington 12/30 Sue Jacques HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THOSE IN OUR CONGREGATION WITH DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS! Please contact the church office at so we can add your special day to our celebration list! Our Candlelight Christmas Concert will be held on Sunday, December 6th at 7:00 with a reception following. An offering will be taken to benefit the Food Pantry. Please plan to bring a friend and come a little early. Currituck Community Chorus The Currituck County Community Chorus will be performing the cantata "One Silent Night" at Griggs Elementary School in Poplar Branch on December An offering will be taken to raise money for a music scholarship. Eight choir members from Pilmoor are singing in the chorus this year. Please put this worthy event on your calendar. MEMBERS OF OUR PILMOOR CONGREGATION AND OUR EXTENDED FAMILY TO KEEP IN OUR PRAYERS: Church Family: Ray and Judy Cohoon, Patricia Crump, Chris and Becky Curdes, The Mary Daughdrill family, Carolyn Davis, Dukie Davis, Dave Falk, Anthony Garske, Bobby Harris, James D. Hartsell, Roy Haworth, The Mattera Family, Calvin and Mae Marie Moseley, Rodger Parker, Jean Perry, The Young Family Extended Church Family: Walt Artman, Mark Baggett, Larry Corbell family, Sue Davies, DeDe Dawson, Michelle DeJong, Bill Dodd, Josh Duncan, Melanie Garrett, Stephanie Garske, Leslyn Henry, Joni Hester, Marion Holcomb, The Hooper Family, Willy Inman, Jane Jones, Bob Jurinko, Audrey Lane, Barbara Little, Grace Mansperger, Kelley Minschke, Regina Nelson, Nathan Novack, Dawn Pearce, June Pell & Family, Angel Davis Perry, Erin Rench and Family, The Robinson Family, Tracy Warfield Schirmer, Kathleen Schurr, Danita Smith, Don Smith, Josh Smith, Mackenzie Smithson, Ginger Snowden, Jim Strain, Bonnie Stroud, Barbara Tice, Julie Tiede, Lindy Turver, Nancy Tyler, Carol Watson, Anna Weiler, Sue Ellen Williamson, Adrienne Capps Wimmer

3 V o l u m e 2 3, I s s u e 2 5 P a g e 3 Pilmoor will be conducting a Christmas Eve service on Thursday, December 24th at 7:00 pm. Please join the congregation in worship of our Lord and celebrate His birth. A Thank You from The Mullins Family Dear Family and Friends, It s November, and that means it is National Diabetes Awareness Month! Thank you so much for your generous contribution to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Although our fundraising started out slowly this year, we were able to reach our $1, goal by mid-october. Our grand total was $1,132.00! Your support means so much to our family. Thank you again for your continuous support and we hope that you have a blessed Thanksgiving! With Gratitude, Jill, Matthew, Carson, Suzy, and Preston Mullins (Carson s Cruisers) Dear Pilmoor Church Members, Thank you so much for the $ donation! I really appreciate it! Love, Carson Tiny Peeps from Pilmoor Preschool Throughout the month of December, the children will enjoy planning for the birth of Jesus with all the necessary preparations. They will busy preparing presents for family members and creating decorations and ornaments for our preschool Christmas tree. The Christmas program will be presented to the parents and families on December 15th at 6pm. The classes will then finish the month celebrating Jesus Birthday with a birthday cake and reading with a birthday cake and reading of the Christmas Story. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Preschool Staff and students! Finance Committee News Pilmoor has long had a Christmas Love Offering fund that is used at the Pastor s discretion to bless others in a time of need. Through this fund, we were able to promptly respond to a family in grave need just this Fall and it made a significant difference in rebuilding their lives. As the season of Advent is upon us and our hearts turn to sharing gifts with others in celebrating the One great gift given to us all, let us remember not only our Angel Tree children, but to love others by generously giving to replenish this special fund. Throughout Advent and on Christmas Eve, there will be an opportunity for each of us to give a Love Offering that enables our Church to continue to share the love of God with others who need a helping hand. Checks may be written to Pilmoor with Love Offering noted in the memo area. Bless you for showing God s extravagant love!

4 P a g e 4 P i l m o o r P i l o t Hilda Brumsey Circle News Our circle will be having a very busy holiday season. At our next meeting, we will be having our annual cookie exchange. It will be held on November 19th at Patsy Casey s home, and we will be making trays to be shared with our church shut-ins. The meeting is at 7pm. Our December meeting will be on December 10th at Nedra Lane s home. There, we will have our Christmas party and prepare fruit baskets for the shut-ins. The gathering will be at 6pm, and we hope to see everyone there. We are selling Rada cutlery for a fund raiser. If interested, please see any member or Patsy Casey to place an order. It makes a great gift. We are also assisting with the Christmas concert. We will be setting up and serving refreshments for after the concert. The concert will be on December 6th at 7pm. We will get back to our regular meeting schedule in January. Our circle is open to all women of our church, and we hope that you will come. We meet on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7pm in the social hall. Please join us. Leola Hall Circle December 2015 The Roaster Chickens for the Food Pantry has been a huge success!!! As of Friday November 13 th we have given away 108 chickens!!! We would like to thank, The Hilda Brumsey Circle, The Nurture and Disciples Committee, The Red Hats and everyone who donated chickens. A special thanks to all the Volunteers who give their time and hard work to the Food Pantry, without them we could not accomplish this great ministry to our community. In December, our circle will meet Dec. 9 th at 11:00 AM. This will be our Christmas Luncheon; it will be at the Nicholson House Café & Tea Room in Belvidere, NC. I will be asking for a headcount as we get closer to the date. Operation Santa Claus is in full force. We have been assigned a Family here in Currituck. So, we have signed up to purchase gifts for a family of four, (three kids and the Mom. We plan on delivering the gifts and Christmas Dinner on Friday Dec. 18 th. Our circle has agreed to Host a Wednesday night dinner on Dec. 16 th. This will be a Potluck dinner, so we will need to set up drinks, etc. and clean up after the meal. The Nurture and Disciples Committee will have a program on the history of Christmas Carols; we will be singing Christmas Carols. There will be no cost for this meal but we will have a basket out for donations to help buy kitchen supplies, (paper plates, cups, napkins, plastic silverware, etc.) Any donation will be greatly appreciated. December 2015 Events pm Choir pm Girl Scouts pm Candlelight Service :30p Trustees pm Boy Scouts am Leola Hall pm Choir pm Hilda Brumsey pm Boy Scouts, Prayer Ministry pm Preschool Christmas Pageant pm Newsletter Articles Due :30pm UMM pm Choir pm Finance pm Girl Scouts pm Boy Scouts pm Choir pm Christmas Eve Service pm Choir

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6 PILMOOR MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 192 COURTHOUSE ROAD CURRITUCK, NC DECEMBER 2015 PHONE: FAX: A family of Christians who love God, follow Jesus, and serve others. Common Lectionary Scripture Lessons for December 2015 December 6 2nd Sunday of Advent Malachi 3:1-4 Luke 1:68-79 (UMH 208) Philemon 1:3-11 Luke 3:1-6 December 13 3rd Sunday of Advent Zephaniah 3:14-20 Isaiah 12:2-6 Philemon 4:4-7 Luke 3:7-18 December 20 4th Sunday of Advent Micah 5:2-5a Luke 1:47-55 (UMH 199) Hebrews 10:5-10 Luke 1:39-45 December 24 Christmas Eve Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 96 (UMH 815) Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-20 December 27 1st Sunday after Christmas 1 Samuel 2:18-20,26 Psalm 148 (UMH 861) Colossians 3:12-17 Luke 2:41-52 WHAT S INSIDE THE DECEMBER ISSUE Pastor s Reflections... 1 Christmas Poinsettias... 1 December Birthdays... 2 Candlelight Christmas Concert... 2 Currituck Community Chorus... 2 Prayer Concerns... 2 Christmas Eve Service... 3 Tiny Peeps from Pilmoor Preschool... 3 A Thank You from the Mullins Family... 3 Finance Committee News... 3 Leola Hall News... 4 Hilda Brumsey News... 4 December 2015 Events... 4 Bible Crossword... 5

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