Thursday, December 14, 2023

Join Pastor Kim this Sunday at 9:45 a.m. for coffee and an opportunity to visit, get to know each other better, get questions answered and find out what is happening in the ministry of our church.

The tenors & basses to meet early...


This is the last Thursday (Dec.14th) for the men to meet and practice the music they will be singing on Sunday, Dec. 17.

Please meet on the 3rd floor in the choir room at 7:00 p.m.

Welcome Winter Community Unity Dinner, Dec. 21

Calling all church cooks! We are looking for kid friendly appetizers, snacks or desserts for the December Community Unity Dinner.

 

Please sign up on the easels at the back of the church!



Thank you so much for your support of this ministry

Basement floors to be stripped and waxed


Starting on Monday, January 8th the lower level and tiled hallways will need to be cleared to allow the floors to be stripped and re-waxed. We will need to use all available closets, and non-tiled areas to hold furniture, etc. until these spaces are usable, hopefully by Thursday.  Volunteers are needed to help. There is a Pot-Luck after church that day. Volunteers can eat lunch if they'd like and help move after. Many hands would make this fast work. Thank you in advance for helping with this!

 

Barb Riney

Trustee

Even some BIG kids got to participate in the Pageant

Dear Friends,

 

This picture is of part of a massive honeysuckle vine at my parents’ house. One of my siblings, send the the picture to the rest of us two days ago, noting “It must be Mom saying hi. I've never seen honeysuckle bloom in this cold like that!"

 

There’s no way to prove that our Mom had anything to do with this out of season bloom. But, we do know that our Mom took great joy in watching her gardens grow and her flowers bloom. She paid attention to small things like a few blossoms appearing in the middle of the brown leaves. They gave her joy

Although we miss our Mom a whole bunch, because we have faith that she is wrapped in God’s love and care, and feeling much better than she was at the end of her life, we can find joy in the things that Mom loved.


This Sunday when we light the candle of joy, we will acknowledge that not everything has to be perfect for us to have joy. Joy seems to be hidden, sometimes between our tears and often in in the middle of our day-to-day agendas and to-do lists. We have to make a point to pay attention and seek it out.


I am glad my sister was paying attention when she walked by the honeysuckle vine. I hope between now and Sunday you make a point to be on the lookout for things that bring you joy.  


God’s grace and peace be with you,

 


Pastor Kim

Barb Stanford sharing during worship the gift of Peace.

Did You Know?


Maplewood UMC has two Facebook pages and one Instagram page.


1 Facebook page shares the mission of Maplewood UMC with the whole world.

facebook.com/mumcstl

2 Is a Facebook group page that

is made up of just members

and friends of Maplewood

UMC. This is where you can

keep caught up with what is

happening at MUMC and you

share as well

facebook.com/groups/457522991987536

3 Is our NEW Instagram page

https://www.instagram.com/maplewoodunitedmethodistchurch/

 


If you aren't following MUMC, click on each of the above links and hit follow to stay updated.

 

Advent Events are Coming Up. Mark your Calendars!



Sunday, December 17—Third Sunday in Advent

9:45 a.m. Children’s Sunday School Party

             Coffee with Pastor Kim


Thursday, December 21, 5 – 6:30 p.m. Welcome Winter Community Unity Dinner

 

Sunday, December 24—11 a.m. worship Fourth Sunday in Advent

No Sunday School Classes for Adults or Children

              5 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion Service


Sunday, December 31 - 11 a.m. Worship

No Sunday School Classes for Adults or Children


Coming up in January

Tuesday, January 9 and 16 at p.m

A small study group will read Ann Lamont's book Stitches..


The book study will be led by Suzanne and Jan. There is a sign up sheet on the easel at the back of the Sanctuary or sign up online using this link: Stitches: Tues. Small Group Book Study

Thank you to our youth and their leaders, Courtney Stotler and Jan Harsh for writing the Christmas pageant. Thank you to our MUMC kids for their participation in the pageant, with the guidance of their Sunday school teachers and Brittany Link, our Children’s ministry Coordinator.  It was indeed a celebration!


*****


I wanted to thank all of you that were able to volunteer for Build A Gift this year! I'm so grateful that you all take time out of your busy holiday schedules to do this for the kids in our community. This event cannot happen without you. Thank you to: 


Colette Cummings 

Charlotte Phelps

Dave Phelps

Nina Berry

Rob, Tori, and Robbie Chandler 

Maverick and Maria Smith and their friends Amy and Matt

Renee McDonough 

Amy Anderson

Hope, Kevin, and Luke Watkins

Diane Watkins

Julia Schaffner

Tom and Amy Cordeal

Maureen Ryerson

Colleen and Lilly Watkins

Lynn Page

Kathy Schmidt 

Lis Wall-Smith

Barb Stanford

Jan and Bob Harsh

Jerry Blackwell

Steve and Kim Shirar

Spencer Wilson

Brittany Buxton


Rona

Thanks for the dozens and dozens of birthday cards I received that made my birthday so SuperDooperSpecial this year!!!

Shay

Children's Christmas Pageant

**NEW DATES TO THE CALENDAR ARE IN GREEN


**Thursday, December 14

9:00 a.m. Second Time Around Shop

6:00 p.m. Praise Band Practice

7:00 p.m. Choir Practice

** Saturday, December 16

10:30 a.m. - Women's AA Meeting

**Sunday, December 17

9:00 a.m. Prayer with Pastor Kim

9:45 a.m. Coffee with Pastor Kim

9:45 a.m - .ADULT DISCUSSION GROUP  

9:45 a.m. Children's Sunday School

11:00 a.m - Worship - In-Person and

online Link: maplewoodumc.org

**Tuesday, December 19

1 p.m. Prayer time via Zoom.

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3745711178pwd=dktsaWkwNlNhVjRmOHpjTFNqR1dqQT09 Meeting ID: 374 571 1178

Passcode: 674257

4;30 p.m. Cub Scouts

7:00 p.m. Book Study


**Wednesday, December 20

6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts

**Thursday, December 21

9:00 a.m. Second Time Around Shop

Last Day to shop before Christmas

6:00 p.m. Praise Band Practice

7:00 p.m. Choir Practice



To see the entire calendar - click below https://73855810.view-events.com

A Way we can SERVE


Church Family, here is a way to give time to Shelly, Mac, Zana and Thurston. Shelly is a full time student and a single mother. We are her brothers and sisters as she succeeds in this challenge.

Please sign up for a meal on MealTrain, Wednesday drop off. Here is the updated link:

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/nvklw7

Call Lis Wall-Smith at 314 497-9186 or ewallsmith@aol.com for questions

Prayers for...


...Brian, Peg Chulick’s grandson, as he has open heart surgery Monday, December 18th. 


...Skip Watkins who is recovering from knee replacement surgery.


...All the strife in Israel, Gaza and Ukraine



...Linda Vawter's sister, Shari, for recovery from injuries from a fall


...Linda Vawter's nephew Allen for continued healing after a cardiac event



Continuing prayers for ...


...Skip Reynolds, health concerns.


...Shay Blackwell - for relief of nerve pain


...Daniel White - health concerns


... Nina Berry - for Chad to be happy and healthy.



...Jerry Chulick, health concerns.

The church office will be closed on Dec. 21st -Jan. 3rd. The office staff can be reached by phone or email during this time. Please call the office at 314-781-5902 or Email Brittany at brittany.l@maplewoodumc.org or email Pastor Kim at pastorkim@maplewoodumc.org

 MUMC Kid's 

Practicing for the Children's Christmas Pageant

DEADLINE for the church newsletter is MIDNIGHT EVERY TUESDAY; send articles to jbrx10@yahoo.com.

The Sunday morning worship bulletin will be sent via email at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday

For more information about Maplewood United Methodist Church, go to our website    (maplewoodumc.org ) or Facebook page (facebook.com/mumcstl)

The church office is open Tuesdays & Thursday from 9 a.m. til 1 p.m.

Office Phone: 314-781-5902. Pastor Kim Shirar: 314-651-9999 Email: pastorkim@maplewoodumc.org

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