Dear Friends,

During this Thanksgiving and church stewardship season, we have been invited to start thinking and praying about how the Christian life includes cycles of exile and return. We at Mt. Tam UMC give thanks for the tools that God has given us to connect, even in diaspora; to be together in Spirit even when we aren’t together in body. Namely, we continue to give thanks that we can carry out hybrid worship which allows for folks to attend either in person, via our livestream or to watch a recording of the service at a later date.

During the pandemic we have been reminded that there is exile, there is return, and then there is a third movement: being sent back out into the world for the sake of our neighbors and creation as a whole. As your new Pastor, I want to affirm that I have witnessed Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church as a community of return, a place of homecoming, and a place that also welcomes the newcomer fully and extravagantly. I affirm that this is a community of sending; a place that commissions us as agents of God’s love and grace, so that all may experience a sense of homecoming into God’s new world of compassion, dignity, and joy. What a joy it has been to see all of the ways this church continues to look towards the new and exciting future while still honoring the work and saints of the past!

This Sunday in worship, we will be setting aside some time to present and pray over our financial pledges/gifts towards the work of the church for 2022. If you lost your card or didn’t receive a pledge card in the mail, we will have them available in the narthex on Sunday. While no member or constituent is required to offer a pledge, we hope you will consider making one as it greatly helps us in our budgeting process for the upcoming year.

Christianity was made for this: building bridges of homecoming and commissioning, sending and returning, welcoming the stranger and being sent forth to visit the sick and imprisoned. Mt. Tam UMC is made for it, too, as is each one of us; a child of God who reflects the image of God. We were made to be in ministry together, offering up all our skills, our hopes, our ideas, our financial resources, and our hearts to answer God’s call.

May we all arrive remembering that we have a past full of grace and a future full of hope. Thanks be to God! Thank you for your generosity and leadership — and see you Sunday!

Blessings,

Pastor Luke

Tuesday's Engaging Faith with Pastor Luke continues to meet-hybrid style. We will soon be choosing a new book to study- so it's a great time to join in! All are welcome-either in person in the church lounge or via Zoom. This is an opportunity to nurture your spirit, grow in faith and enjoy fellowship with one another. Please email Pastor Luke at luke@mtumc.org for more information or to join the group.

We'll be playing games, doing crafts and watching a movie. Cost: $20/1st child; $10 for additional siblings. Bring a brown-bag dinner and (if desired) a blanket or sleeping bag for movie-watching comfort. For kids ages 4 and up. Email triciawiig@mtumc.org to sign up.

Please join us Sunday, November 28th, for worship service and immediately after, we will assemble 300 Wildfire Cleaning Kits.

12/2- AdelphES meets at the home of Glenna Letsinger. Gather at 11:30am for a pot luck luncheon and discussion.

Please RSVP to register your child(ren).

If you have time to volunteer at the event, please sign up HERE.

Please join us for the in-person and livestream Christmas Eve Services:

4 p.m. Wiggles and Giggles Service geared to families "with young children all are welcome!"

7 p.m. Traditional Candlelight Service.

Order poinsettias for our Christmas in-person and livestream service that decorate the sanctuary. Please place your order no later than December 10th and the cost is $15.00 each. Order form is found in the latest issue of the Ridgelines. Or, you can email your order at office@mtumc.org. Please include the name of the person/people you are honoring or remembering. - An acknowledgment will also be printed onto the Christmas Eve bulletins.

The easiest, old-school way: write a check and send it to the church office (410 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley, 94941). Either a member of the finance committee or a staff member is at the office and collects checks at least twice a week for regular processing and deposit.

Welcome and Greetings - Pastor Luke

Call to Worship - Pastor Luke

L: We come before God as equals

==in God’s sight.

==and loves us completely.

L: None of us is perfect or

==without blemish.

==and asked us to be

==compassionate and

==responsible in our caring

==and witness.

L: We are called to joyful obedience

==in God’s realm.

==us and pours abundant grace

==upon us. Amen.

“Welcome”

Green Songbook , 3152

Hymn Singing: Joshua Choi

Verse 1

Let’s walk together for a while

And ask where we begin

To build a world

Where love can grow

And hope can enter in,

To be the hands of healing

And to plant the seed of peace,

Refrain

Singing welcome,

Welcome to this place.

You’re invited to come

And know God’s grace.

All are welcome

The love of God to share

‘Cause all of us are welcome here;

All are welcome in this place.

Verse 2

Let’s talk together of a time

When we will share a feast,

Where pride and power

Kneel to serve

The lonely and the least,

And joy will set the table

As we join our hands to pray.

Refrain

Singing welcome,

Welcome to this place.

You’re invited to come

And know God’s grace.

All are welcome

The love of God to share

‘Cause all of us are welcome here;

All are welcome in this place.

Verse 3

Let’s dream together

Of the day when

Earth and heaven are one,

A city built of love and light,

The new Jerusalem,

Where our mourning

Turns to dancing,

Every creature lifts its voice,

Crying welcome.

Welcome to this place.

You’re invited to come

And know God’s grace.

All are welcome

The love of God to share

‘Cause all of us are welcome here;

All are welcome in this place.

=This, this is where children belong.

=Welcomed as part of the worshiping throng.

=Water, God's word, bread and cup, prayer and song:

=This is where children belong.

A Time for Children and Youth - Pastor Luke

Hymn Singing: Joshua Choi

Standing on the promises

Of Christ my King,

Through eternal ages

Let his praises ring;

Glory in the highest,

I will shout and sing,

Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain

Standing, standing, standing

On the promises of God my Savior;

Standing, standing, I’m standing

On the promises of God.

Verse 2

Standing on the promises

That cannot fail,

When the howling storms

Of doubt and fear assail,

By the living Word of God

I shall prevail,

Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain

Standing, standing, standing

On the promises of God my Savior;

Standing, standing, I’m standing

On the promises of God.

Verse 3

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,

Bound to him eternally by love's strong cord,

Overcoming daily with the Spirit's Sword,

Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain

Standing, standing, standing

On the promises of God my Savior;

Standing, standing, I’m standing

On the promises of God.

Verse 4

Standing on the promises

I cannot fall,

Listening every moment

To the Spirit’s call,

Resting in my Savior

As my all in all,

Standing on the promises of God.

Refrain

Standing, standing, standing

On the promises of God my Savior;

Standing, standing, I’m standing

On the promises of God.

Joanna Beck and Pastor Luke

The Prayer before the Reading - Mary Harp

The Reading of the Scripture - Mary Harp

==Jesus was telling them a parable about their need to pray continuously and not to be discouraged. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him, asking, ‘Give me justice in this case against my adversary.’ For a while he refused but finally said to himself, I don’t fear God or respect people, but I will give this widow justice because she keeps bothering me. Otherwise, there will be no end to her coming here and embarrassing me.”

==The Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. Won’t God provide justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he be slow to help them? I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Human One comes, will he find faithfulness on earth?”

“Prayer and Persistence”

In recognition of all the gifts God has shared with us, you are invited to use the church website at https://mtumc.org/donate/,

Special Music - Joshua Choi

=Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

=Praise God all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia!

=Praise God, the source of all our gifts!

=Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!

=Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

L: We dedicate our gifts to you, O God.

==you; to be vessels of your work

==in this world.

L: We dedicate our pledges to the work

==0f your church in the world, O God.

==prepare us financially

==for the upcoming year.

L: Use us, O God, to do your work in

==this world.

==are all ministers called into

==the Body of Christ.

==Use us in your service.

L: We pray over these gifts and

==commitments, blessing them

==in the name of the Father,

==the Son and the Holy Spirit.

==This is a time for community prayers. If you are worshiping online, please post your prayers via the comment section on Facebook.

==The prayer team will lift your prayers up during the week. After each prayer is read or shared aloud by those in the sanctuary, you are invited to respond with the pastor: “Lord, hear our prayers.”

We are going to share the Passing of the Peace in our homes, from our homes and in the sanctuary.  Please share the traditional “The peace of Christ be with you!”

“They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love”

The Black Songbook, 2223

Hymn Singing: Joshua Choi

Verse 1

We are one in the Spirit,

We are one in the Lord, 2x

And we pray that our unity

May one day be restored:

Refrain

And they’ll know

We are Christians

By our love, by our love

Yes, they’ll know we are

Christians by our love.

Verse 2

We will walk with each other,

We will walk hand in hand, 2x

And together we’ll spread the news

That God is in our land:

Refrain

And they’ll know

We are Christians

By our love, by our love

Yes, they’ll know we are

Christians by our love.

Verse 3

We will work with each other,

We will work side by side, 2x

And we’ll guard human dignity

And save human pride:

Refrain

And they’ll know

We are Christians

By our love, by our love

Yes, they’ll know we are

Christians by our love.

Verse 4

All praise to the Father,

From whom all things come,

And all praise to Christ Jesus,

God’s only Son,

and all praise to the Spirit,

who makes us one:

Refrain

And they’ll know

We are Christians

By our love, by our love

Yes, they’ll know we are

Christians by our love.

Postlude