Last Sunday, we stepped back and looked at the big story of Scripture — not as scattered pearls, but as one unified narrative of a God who keeps making covenants because He desires a real relationship with His people.

We traced the storyline:


• God creates humanity for fellowship.
  
• Humanity chooses its own way (Genesis 3), and the world descends into violence, blame, and brokenness.
  
• God begins again with Noah, sealing His promise with a rainbow — a sign of God’s commitment to His world even when the world is a mess.
  
• In Genesis 12, God calls Abram. Not because Abram is impressive, but because God is gracious. He promises to bless Abram so that he will be a blessing to all nations.
  
• That covenant unfolds through Abraham’s descendants, and in Exodus 19 God names Israel His kingdom of priests and holy nation — set apart not for privilege, but for purpose: to mediate God’s presence to the world.
  

Priests are mediators. Go-betweens.

People who stand between heaven and earth and help others see God.


And God says: “All of you are priests.”

Not just Moses, not just the Levites — all of God’s people are meant to reflect His light.

In Isaiah 2, God gives a breathtaking picture of what happens when His people live into that calling:


• All nations stream toward the light
  
• People long to learn God’s ways
  
• God Himself brings justice and peace
  
• Weapons of destruction become tools of cultivation
  

This is God’s dream for the world:

that His people would shine in such a way that others are drawn to His light.


So we ended with the prayer:

“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus… be born in us today.”


Looking Ahead to This Sunday – Isaiah 11


If Isaiah 2 showed us the vision of God’s future, Isaiah 11 shows us the source of that future:

a Messiah who brings new life out of what looks dead.

Isaiah paints the image of:


• A shoot rising from the stump of Jesse
  
• The Spirit of the Lord resting upon Him
  
• Wisdom, understanding, counsel, and strength flowing from Him
  
• A peace so profound that even creation is healed
  

It’s a picture of God doing His most beautiful work in the places we consider cut down, used up, or beyond repair.


This coming Sunday, we’ll step into the next movement of Advent:

“Be Rooted in Us Today.”

Because God does not merely shine light on us —

He plants Christ in us.

And when Christ takes root, everything changes.


If you’ve ever wondered what God could possibly grow from the stumps of your life…

Isaiah 11 offers hope you can hold onto.


This Sunday will be a special service of worship as our Handbell Choir helps lead us. 

Their music will beautifully echo Isaiah’s promise of new life rising from old stumps—a sound of hope ringing out for all who need Christ to be real to them today.


You truly don’t want to miss it.

See you Sunday!


Grace and Peace,

Tom 

There are millions of words that exist in the English language. In fact, I just used eleven of them in the past sentence. Despite this reality, zero of these words can sum up my gratitude for all that has been done for myself and my family in the past few weeks. 

Some of you know, and lots have been asking, that Robbie (our two year old son) gave us quite the scare this year with a large lump appearing on the back of his neck. After a couple months of testing and doctors visits, it was diagnosed as a lymphatic malformation. This was good news, because it meant that the large lump was benign. Despite that being the case, though, the cyst still needed to be removed. We went in for surgery just a few weeks ago but were sent home by the surgeon, who said that the cyst was, at that moment, too small to operate on.

What we have learned about these malformations is that they can grow and recede in size depending on a number of factors. And because this is a reality, it will likely have to be taken out at some point in the future when it grows back to a reasonable size. But again, we are now confident this is something that can be properly dealt with when the time arrives. We just don’t know quite when that will be, but in the meantime, Robbie will be the happy boy that he always is!

I’ve heard someone say before that “faith is not provoked without a world of irony.” We want to be strong, but Jesus asks us to be weak. We want to boast in our abilities, but Jesus asks us to boast in His death, of all things. The irony, I suppose, is that we often find ourselves in need of many things. And if we want to really experience a provoking of our faith, it’s best to lean extra hard into the irony we often want to ignore - which is why it is ironic! 

I can’t help but end this year with a smile on my face and laughter in my heart. That in my weakness, Jesus is shown to be strong through His people. That trying harder led to more stress, but receiving help was the easy burden He told me He always offered. I’ll keep trying to say thank you, but I’m certain it won’t be enough - so I suppose my only option is to just receive. But just in case it is, let me try one last time… THANK YOU!

Rob, Anna, and Robbie

We will deliver meals and goodies to our neighbors living in motels on Christmas Eve. 

If you would like to help with the delivery, email Katie at katie.pumc@gmail.com.

We are also collecting financial donations to make food bags for each family. Mark your donation “Food bags” and put it in the offering plate. 

We are also collecting new stuffed animals, blankets, board games, and puzzles for the families we will serve. All items can be dropped off in the church office. 

Ellis Carpenter
Debbie Ryan
Tommy Collier and family
Larry Gray
Peggy Connor

Mike Royals
Dan and JoAnn Mihelarakis

Sandra Mizell

Beverly Bowen

Rob, Anna, and Robbie Ray

Jackie Cooper

Larry and Vera Scott

Angie Carlson

Allen and Barbara Kingry

Jackie Beeland

Elaine Wright

Betty Coleman

Jim and Paula Geiger

Bob and Marguerite Messer

Terry and Denise Housel

Trey and Angie Cawthon

Brent and Liz Roper

Joyce and Mac McElroy

Wayne and Charlotte Bohanon

Vicki Duffell

Alvalyn Pope

Submit your prayer requests on our website

at here or email the church office here.