News from LUMC

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Experiencing and Expressing Christ's Love

Greetings from Lafayette UMC!

This is how we are sharing life together this week.

Message From The Pastor

Happy Wednesday!

I hope you’re having a good week, despite the fact that it now looks like midnight at 6pm. I know this happens every year, but it still really throws me off!

As the weather turns colder and frost advisories begin, let us especially remember and lift up in prayer those without adequate shelter and clothing. Providing supplies like warm shoes and clothes, gift cards to coffee shops, and hosting Winter Nights Family Shelter are just some of the ways this church serves our neighbors during the colder months. Your generous giving makes this possible. As you review this coming year’s pledge and what that might look like for your household, I invite you to remember the very real difference you make in the lives of people in this community and beyond.

Giving Sunday is this coming Sunday November 13th. On that day, we will gather up our pledge cards, bless them, and then celebrate during Friendship Time afterward. If you are unable to attend worship on November 13th, you are welcome to bring the card to the office during the week, or mail it to Lafayette UMC at 955 Moraga Rd. Lafayette CA 94549.

Blessings,

Pastor Lauren Michelle Stevens

P.S. Tuesday Nov. 15th at 5:30pm is the Tree of Lights Ceremony hosted by Hospice East Bay at 21 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette (by Roundup Saloon). Lafayette UMC and Joyful Beginnings Preschool have dedicated a memorial light in honor of loved ones who will be recognized at the Tree of Lights Lafayette event, where I will also be speaking. We hope you'll join us there. The lights of the tree will illuminate the evening sky as a symbol of remembrance and healing this winter.

P.P.S. I mentioned a marching band performance (Cavaliers' Frameworks show) in my sermon on Sunday - check it out HERE.

In Our Prayers

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:

For all the ways in which violence harms our communities.
Comfort for all those who have been affected by natural disasters.
For peace in Ukraine.
For the Iranian people who are protesting and fighting against the current regime. May their voices be heard.

We lift up prayers for our community:

Mike Johnson, Joe Easley's brother-in-law.
Jeff Sawdon, his family, and his care team during this time of recovery post-heart-transplant.
The Cooke Family, Bob and Betty Dreyer, David Chow, Barbara Levander, George L., Dean R., Mary and Rich W., Peggy, Howie, and Donna Walls.
Mary Henderson, who is on hospice. Her new address is 2957 Hannan Drive in Pleasant Hill CA, 94523 should you wish to send her a card.
Prayers for our Annual Conference, the United Methodist Church, and Bishops Minerva Carcaño, Sally Dyck, and Karen Oliveto.

Announcements & Upcoming Activities

Food Donations

There is a food barrel in the Sanctuary to collect non-perishable goods for the food bank.

The Food Bank cannot accept glass containers, food past its ‘best by’ date, open or partially-used products, alcohol, or food without nutrition labels.

They especially want cooking oils in plastic, healthy ingredients, grains, and canned fruit in syrup.

Altar Flowers

To place flowers on the altar for a specific Sunday, please sign up via the flower chart located in the Sanctuary, or reply to this email and Sarah Jayne will fill in your name on the chart.

Once signed up, you can either order flowers for that particular Sunday from Floral Arts in Lafayette or bring your own arrangement or plant (from a store, or from your yard if you're lucky enough to have pretty flowers growing at your house!).

Advent Book Study

What's Happening This Week?

Thursday, 11.09

5:30pm Church Council via Zoom

Thursday, 11.10

5:30pm Outreach Meeting in Maggie Mae
7-8:30pm Choir Rehearsal in the sanctuary

Sunday, 11.13

10am Worship Service in the Sanctuary *Giving Sunday*
11am Friendship Time in the Fellowship Hall

Tuesday, 11.15

1-2pm Tech Tuesday in Pastor LM's Office
5:30pm Tree of Lights Ceremony hosted by Hospice East Bay at 21 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette

Wednesday, 11.16

8-10am Wonderful Wednesday Group at Papillon Café
5-6:30pm Trustees Meeting on Zoom

Thursday, 11.17

7-8:30pm Choir Practice in the Sanctuary

Click here for details on Upcoming Events

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!

Hanging of the Greens

Worship Services

Worship - Sundays at 10am in the Sanctuary

Sunday, November 13th, the service will be

led by Pastor Lauren Michelle

Sermon: Together for Joy

Scriptures: Psalm 98:7-9

What’s Coming Up in Worship?

The First Sunday of Advent, November 27th, will be here before we know it. 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: