St. Andrew UMC 3455 Canton Road Marietta, Georgia 30066 770-926-3488 www.thepumpkinchurch.org Preschool office: 770-592-7250 Church Fax line: 770-516-3827 Our Mission Statement St. Andrew United Methodist Church strives to be a family of caring, nurturing followers of Jesus Christ welcoming all those seeking to know and grow in God s service. December 2018 The Essential Message of Christmas Behold the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel; which is translated, God with us! Matthew 1:23 At this time of the year, we say, Merry Christmas. I prefer that to Happy Holidays, but I don t get confrontational about it. Instead, I want to be gracious. After all, Christmas isn t always a happy time for everyone. For someone who has lost their job, this is not the most wonderful time of the year, because so much emphasis is placed on a merry Christmas being a materialistic one. There are also those who have lost loved ones. Things that once made them happy at this time of the year now make them sad. Those things that once brought happiness are now things that bring sadness, because they evoke memories of times spent together. Therefore, Christmas becomes a difficult time for some. There are many who are in need of encouragement at his time of year. They don t need a Christmas present; they need His Christmas presence. They need to be reminded in a loving way what this season is all about. It s not about things, It s not about presents. These things have their place, but we need to remember the essential message of Christmas, which is Immanuel-God is with us. And for the hurting person, the lonely person, the sorrowing person, this is the time of year to bring the gift of encouragement to them and say, The message of Christmas is: God will be with you. God will strengthen you. May God Bless us all, and Merry Christmas, Mack
From the Sr. Associate Pastor s Desk Incarnation In 1873 a Belgian Catholic priest named Joseph Damien de Veuster was sent to minister to lepers on the Hawaiian Island of Molokai. When he arrived he immediately began to meet each of the lepers in the colony in hopes of building a friendship and a ministry. Wherever he turned, people shunned him. It seemed as though every door to ministry was closed. He poured his life into his work, erecting a chapel and beginning worship services and pouring out his heart to the lepers But it was to no avail! No one responded to his ministry. After 12 years of rejection and failure Father Damien decided to leave. Dejected, he made his way to the docks to board a ship to take him back home to Belgium. As he stood on the dock he wrung his hands nervously as he recounted his futile ministry among lepers. As he did he looked down at his hands...he noticed some mysterious white spots and felt some numbness. Almost immediately he knew what was happening to his body. He had contacted leprosy! He was now a leper! It was at that moment he knew what he had to do. He returned to the leper colony and to his work,. Quickly the word spread about his disease through the colony. Within a matter of hours everyone knew. Hundreds of them gathered outside his hut. They understood his pain, fear, and uncertainty about the future. But the biggest surprise was the following Sunday as Father Damien arrived at the chapel to conduct the morning service. He found hundreds of worshippers already there. By the time the service began there was standing room only the place was packed with people and many more were gathered outside the chapel.! The rest is history.! Father Damien had a ministry that became enormously successful. If you have traveled to Hawaii lately, it's not long before you are reminded about his ministry. What was the reason? It's a simple concept of working with human beings... he was now one of them, he understood them, he hurt with them, and was able to emphasize with them. There was now an identity. There was no question if he cared or not. And this is the essence of why Christ came. There's a big word that describes this action, it's called "incarnation." It's when God became a man, a human being just like all of us. "And 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. "(St. John 1:14) Mary and I want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and to thank you for the joy and privilege of continuing to serve with you! In His Love, Terry and Mary Welcome New Members: Brad Bolton (Reaffirmation of Faith) Ashley Bolton (Baptism & Profession of Faith)
From the Associate Pastor s Desk The Helpers I was watching an old interview of Fred Rogers from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood a few days ago. He says in a portion of the interview, My mother used to say, whenever there was any catastrophe in the movies or on the air, she would say, Always look for the helpers. There will always be helpers If you look for the helpers, you ll know there s hope. Rogers words stick out to me today as I write this article in the wake of the senseless loss of life from the mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh at the end of October as well as the mass shooting in the Borderline bar and grille in California in the beginning of November. In the wake of so much brokenness, hatred, and hurt I offer this: Let us look for the helpers. Let us be the helpers. As we come into the Advent and Christmas season, we hold the tension between being in a broken and hurting world and never, ever losing hope. Jesus reminds us, In the world you have distress. But be encouraged! I have conquered the world. (John 16:33) Hurt and suffering do not stop in this life as Christmas approaches, but what a glorious and profound help we have in Jesus Christ! What a holy time of hope we enter into in remembering and celebrating the birth of God in the form of humankind, who saves us from the worst of the world. Let us look to Jesus as our helper, to other disciples, and let us be the helpers: bright lights in a world that sometimes seems more full of hatred than of love. Take heart this Advent season, celebrate our hope in a Savior that overcomes the world. I am blessed to celebrate the Advent and Christmas season with all of you at St. Andrew. I pray that in all the overwhelming news coverage, the hustle and bustle of social events, the stress of finances, and whatever else the world might throw at us, we throw ourselves joyously and lovingly into looking toward Christ, look for those imitating Christ, and being those helpers and shiners of light as we anticipate and celebrate the birth of a Savior who redeems the world. In Christ, Beth
Church News Choir Christmas Concert December 14, 2018 Come and enjoy an evening of music to get you into the spirit of Christmas beginning at 6:30 with a dessert reception to follow in our community room. We will be taking up a love offering to benefit our music ministry. Youth Bake Sale, December 2 Keheley Center Lobby following all 3 Worship Services. Come purchase some great homemade treats. All proceeds will support the youth purchasing toys for children from the UMM Toy list. Thank you for your support. Friday, December 21 Longest Night Service at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary This service is open to all in our community who are having difficulty during this season due to loss of a loved one, loss of a job, illness or other difficulties. Monday, December 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Services 5:00pm Contemporary Candlelight-Keheley Center 7:30pm Traditional Candlelight-Sanctuary
www.thepumpkinchurch.org SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ALL AGES! 2YRS-ADULT Children's Sunday School (ages 4-5th grade) kicks off with singing and prayer in the community room at 9:25am! Parent s of 2 & 3 year olds please drop off in their classroom #3. They will sing, play, and learn bible stories! NO SUNDAY SCHOOL on DECEMBER 30th. We will have one service in the Sanctuary at 10:30am. CHILDREN S CHIOR is during the Sunday School gathering in the Community Room starting at 9:25am We are practicing for the Church Christmas Concert which is on Friday, December 14th at 6:30pm. NOV. 28th Make a family Advent Wreath (6:15pm-7pm in the Keheley Center) (Cost $10 for supplies) DEC. 5th Christmas Carol Sing a long (6:30-7pm in the Keheley Center) DEC. 12th CHRISTMAS COOKIE DECORATING for MUST MINISTRIES 6:30-7pm (Keheley Center) Please bring sprinkles to share! DEC. 19 GIFT WRAPPING & SORTING-6:30pm SAT. DEC. 22 CRISTMAS GIFT DELIVERY-9:00am Meet in the Keheley Center. Come as a family pick up a family s gifts and deliver them to their home. In the Sanctuary. CHILDREN S CHURCH is during the 10:45am service on 2nd,3rd, and 4th Sundays of each month (4yr olds-5th grade). Children attend worship with their families and are invited to come to Children s Church following the Children s Sermon. During December we will be learning more about the Christmas Story through hands on activities! KIDS CLUB (1ST-5TH GRADERS) DEC. 2nd-Noon-2pm Christmas Cookie decorating, reindeer games and putting together gift boxes for Murphy Harpts Children s Home. Meet in the Community Room! FRIENDS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7TH 5:00 pm-8:00pm Keheley Center *Visit Santa *Frost cookies *Crafts* Make Reindeer Food Picture s with Santa are $12.00 and will be available to download the following week. Reservations for Santa are recommended but walk ins are welcome! To make reservations go to www.thepumpkinchurch.org and click on the link!