Experiencing and Expressing Christ's Love |
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Greetings from Lafayette UMC!
This is how we are sharing life together this week.
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Hello!
I know it’s that time of year where the announcements are long and schedules are packed but I hope you’ll take a few minutes to check out this newsletter and the many things we have happening this Advent season (including Saturday afternoon’s Christmas sing-along with exciting musical guests!)
The Advent season is always obviously a busy time for me, and I’m sure for many of you too. So this is my reminder, for me as much as for you, to remember the Hope and Peace that has been brought to us through Jesus. This season is all about celebrating the coming of Christ as a baby Jesus so long ago, and also remembering with anticipation the coming of Christ again. There is a reason in our communion liturgy that we say - Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
This Advent season may you find hope and peace in the waiting.
Blessings,
Pastor Lauren Michelle Stevens
P.S. The Freeing Jesus book small group will be meeting on Sunday at 11:15am and covering chapters 4 and 5 for week 3.
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Mary’s Golden annunciation by Carmelle Beaugelin
Inspired by Luke 1:26-38
Acrylic, gilding paint, canvas collage on handmade reclaimed paper
Mary’s Golden Annunciation explores the moment of encounter between Mary and the angelic messenger. This unusual encounter may have been startling to young Mary—a soon-to-be teen bride turned, possibly, unwed mother. Yet, with holy bravery in the face of communal isolation, she accepts the call to be a surrogate mother to a son who is to be the savior of her people and the son of God. There is not much commentary regarding Mary’s consent to motherhood. She is often portrayed as a humble, yet
passive, “accepter” of a fate predestined for her. But I wonder, what if the angel had appeared to Mary and she had declined? Would her name be erased from historic and religious memory in favor of another willing young virgin? Mary’s Golden Annunciation depicts not only a remarkable encounter, but also the moment that divinity in human
form was conceived. It is my speculation that the divinity of God entered Mary’s body no sooner than Mary’s “yes” went out from her mouth. In a time when women had few options other than marriage, Mary’s consent to a potentially unwed motherhood is a brave act of subversive agency. In Mary’s “yes,” uttered in her Magnificat, we see the transformation of a young teenage girl from fearful to determined, from simply accepting to deciding, from passivity to agency, from betrothed to surrogate mother of God—an honor rarer than gold. Perhaps the most remarkable annunciation in this passage is not the messenger’s revelation to Mary, but Mary’s “yes” to the call.
—Carmelle Beaugelin
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In whatever way you do it, I encourage you to pray this week for our church family, our community, and our world. For these prayers and for this journey of prayer, let us all say, "O Lord, hear our prayers!"
We lift up prayers for the world:
- Gratitude for all of our many blessings.
- Joy over each beautiful and blessed day.
- For all those who have lost loved ones.
- For all the ways in which violence harms our communities, near and far.
- Comfort for all those who have been affected by natural disasters.
We lift up prayers for our community:
- Diana Naldoza, who broke her arm.
- Baby Wyatt, a friend of the Emerson family, who has kidney cancer.
- Stacy, Nancy Sanders' friend, who is battling metastatic cancer.
- Doug Cowden's brother, who is in the hospital
- Joe Easley’s sister Dale and her family in the death of her husband Mike Johnson on November 29.
- Gratitude for Mark L.'s (not Mark Logan) continued recovery and return home.
- Jeff Sawdon, his family, and his care team during this time of recovery.
- The Cooke Family, Bob and Betty Dreyer, David Chow, Barbara Levander, Howie, Peggy, Mary Henderson, and Donna Walls.
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To Download this year's Poinsettia Order form
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Announcements & Upcoming Activities |
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What's Happening This Week?
Thursday, 12.8
Saturday, 12.10
- 3pm Christmas sing-along in the sanctuary (don't forget to wear your ugly Christmas sweaters!)
Sunday, 12.11
- 10am Worship Service
- 11am Friendship Time
- 11:30am Freeing Jesus small group in the Fireside Room
Tuesday, 12.13
- 1-2pm Tech Tuesday in Lauren Michelle's office
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Office Hours: Pastor LM is in the office and available to chat during the following days/times:
- Tuesdays:
- 1pm-2pm (Tech Tuesdays)
- 2pm-3pm
- Wednesdays:
- 1pm-3pm
- Thursdays:
- 1pm-3pm
You are also welcome to contact Pastor LM to set up an appointment.
Tech Tuesday: Have a tech question or need to learn how to use a device? Laptop or tablet suddenly not working like it should? Bring it in on Tuesdays between 1pm and 2pm and Pastor LM will help!
Wonderful Wednesday: This once-a-week coffee group is from 8am-10am at Papillon Quality Gourmet Cafe (67 Lafayette Circle). Come join us for a great mid-week conversation!
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Worship - Sundays at 10am in the Sanctuary
Sunday, December 4th, the service will be
led by Pastor Lauren Michelle
Sermon: We can choose a better way
Scriptures: Isaiah 35:1-10; Matthew 1:18-25
Advent 2022
This year's theme is "From Generation to Generation". From Generation to Generation reminds us of the ways our lives, histories, actions, and stories are interconnected and woven together. The work of God is always unfolding—in and through us. This Advent, may you remember that you belong—to a story etched into the wrinkles of time, to generations that have come before and will come after, to a love that won’t let you go.
To read the transcript of last week's sermon click here.
To tune in to LUMC's worship services online, either during the service or afterward, visit our YouTube channel or Facebook page linked below:
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Thank you for supporting
the ministry of our church! Faithful giving doesn’t just enable Lafayette United Methodist Church to operate, it makes ministry within our community and around the world possible.
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You can make a difference while you shop on Amazon.
Shop using AmazonSmile and Amazon will donate to LUMC.
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Office Hours:
- Sundays: 11am-12pm
- Mondays: Closed
- Tuesdays: 9am-3pm**
- Wednesdays: 9am-3pm**
- Thursdays: 9am-3pm**
- Fridays: Closed
- Saturdays: Closed
**closed 12pm-1pm for lunch
Office Administrators - Sarah Jayne:
925-284-4765
Director of Music - Greg Zema:
Pastor - Lauren Michelle:
408-747-9958
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Moved recently? Got rid of a landline? Started using a new email? Please keep the office updated with your contact information so we can stay connected! |
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Church Newsletter Deadline |
If you would like a prayer or announcement in the Wednesday eblast, please send the information to the church office by Tuesday at noon. |
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We are a church that strives to love as Jesus loves. Our congregation welcomes, includes, and affirms everyone on their journey of faith regardless of race, ethnicity, age, economic status, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation or gender identity. |
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Lafayette UMC
955 Moraga Road Lafayette, CA 94549
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