Impact Newsletter - Advent Edition

Welcome To Gateway

May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi and the peace of the Christ Child.

Below is a link to the fourth and final installment of LAKE TAMARON.

I hope you have enjoyed this simple Christmas time storytelling tradition I have been involved in for over 20 years.

Click here for first installment of LAKE TAMARON

Click here for second installment of LAKE TAMARON

Click here for third installment of LAKE TAMARON

Online Christmas Concert Opportunities

Emmanuel FMC offered a Family Music Night virtually on Sunday, December 18 at 6pm. Click here to watch

Brotherhood Mutual and Pickett Insurance Group are offering a free, virtual, on-demand Christmas concert. Click here and enter the password Y'R=2tz? to watch Heartland Sings perform Handel’s Messiah. The performance includes a large chorus, soloists, orchestra, and artists telling the story of Christ. Feel free to share the link with your church family, watch it at home with your own family, or just play it in the background as you prepare for your Christmas Eve services.

Greenville Free Methodist Church, Thursday, December 24 at 6pm will have the 47th annual Candlelight Christmas Concert given by FMYers, alumni and leaders. The Concert will be available on the church Facebook page (Facebook.com/greenvillefmc).

Today, December 21 in what is called a great conjunction, or "kissing planets," Jupiter and Saturn will be extremely close together (0.1 degree apart to be exact), The planets will come so close to one another that they will actually appear as a "double planet," which looks to us on Earth like one super bright point of light. Historically, this phenomenon has been known as the "Christmas Star" or "Star of Bethlehem."

This incredible conjunction will be the closest one since 1623—800 years ago!—which was just 14 years after Galileo made his own telescope.

Bishop Keith Cowart reminds us that the Incarnation speaks incredible truth that can reveal to us how our disrupted Christmas holds great hope and promise as we bear Christ's cross and share His mind.

Click here to view video

The call to ONE WAY through CLARITY, UNITY, and CULTURE

In response to numerous national conversations with FM leaders at all levels, the bishops introduce: The Free Methodist Way: Five Values that Shape our Identity. No more identity crisis. These five values express the distinctives that set us apart from other faith families in the body of Christ. Bishops Linda, Keith and Matt invite you to join us in creating a unique culture in every local church as you lead a disciples-making, mission-engaging congregation that embraces The Free Methodist Way as a way of life. You can also find more information and resources by visiting https://fmcusa.org/thefmway.

Click here to watch video from Board of Bishops