Poinsettias: Order your poinsettias to decorate the church by this Sunday, December 9. Print and use this form or pick one up at church.
PORCH: The winter sort dates are December 10, January 14, and February 11. Please keep bringing non-perishables and canned goods to church. These items are taken to those with food insecurity needs in the area.
Hurricane Relief – Helping Our Neighbors: Check out this great video on the outreach page of our website about current needs and relief efforts in Lumberton from the SED featuring Pastor Williamson.
Hope Buckets: Thank you to all who donated cleaning supplies and helped pack “Hope Buckets” for families working to recover from flood damage in Lumberton. Your thoughtfulness and generosity make a real difference. The buckets were delivered to a distribution center in Lumberton on November 28.
Christmas Sharing Tree: Thank you for sharing with children in Lumberton. Please wrap your gift, attach the name tag you’ve chosen, and bring it to Advent by Sunday, December 16 to ensure delivery by Christmas. We encourage you to include a message to the recipient and sign your name as ‘A Friend from Advent’.
Gift Cards: We continue to collect Walmart and Lowe’s Home Improvement gift cards or cash each Sunday through December and will send your donations to Pastor Williamson in Lumberton at the end of the month. Look for a collection spot in the narthex. Contacts: Carolyn Jones and Lydia Berrong.
Advent Services: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us)” Matthew 1:23. Join us for our Advent worship series, “God with Us.” Each week will focus on a different word picture of the coming Christ found in the poetic and prophetic words of Isaiah and will reveal how Christ continues be present with us even now. Light Supper at 6:15 p.m., Worship Service at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Wednesday, December 12: Our Shepherd (Isaiah 40:11): God is with us as our Shepherd, who carries us close to his heart.
Sunday, December 16: Children’s Program during worship “Starry, Starry Night“
Wednesday, December 19: Our Living Branch (Isaiah 11:1): God is with us as our Living Branch, who died and rose to give us eternal life.
Sunday, December 23: Our Guide (Isaiah 2:3): God is with us as our Guide, who leads us according to his Word.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: Monday, December 24 – Pre-service Music 6:45 p.m., Worship Service at 7:00 p.m. The prophet Isaiah foretold, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). Join us for Christmas Eve to celebrate the great Light that has come into our world to dispel the darkness of sin forever. Candlelight, carols, Scripture, a homily and prayers reveal the Good News that our Great Light has dawned: Jesus Christ is born; let us rejoice!
Sunday Adult Bible Study Leaders: Dec. 9 – Bob Serpas; Dec. 16 – Dave Neely
Readings for Sunday, December 9, Second S. in Advent: For those who wish to prepare for Sunday’s lessons, please read Mal. 3:1–7b, Psalm 66:1–12, Phil. 1:2–11, Luke 3:1–14 (15–20)
Policy for canceling worship due to inclement weather or other emergency: The Pastor will confer with the President, the Chair of the Board of Worship, and an Elder to reach a decision about cancellation of a Worship service or other event. If the event is cancelled, the congregation will be informed by email no later than two hours before the event is scheduled to begin. The office manager will set up a phone tree to call all members who do not use email as soon as the decision is made and will notify local ABC & NBC television stations. The announcement will also be posted on the Advent website and Facebook as soon as possible. If a service is not cancelled and someone feels unsafe driving, they are encouraged to stay home.