The Messenger

CALIFORNIA HEIGHTS UMC

Week of Sunday, December 14, 2025

ALL-CHURCH CONFERENCE

Our All-Church Conference is set for Saturday, December 13 at 10:00 AM. We will meet in Hughes Hall. This is our annual "state of the church" and "looking forward to next year" meeting.

We will meet with our District Superintendent, Rev. Saia Tu'itahi, to hear about what is going in the West District and the rest of the Cal Pac Conference.

Cal Heights is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84172047873?pwd=Urf4F6tNIZcxkQZuqzEkQxYyGZr0gZ.1

Meeting ID: 841 7204 7873

Passcode: 006255

We hope that you can join us.

WORSHIP THIS WEEK

EVERYONE IS WELCOME to California Heights United Methodist Church (3759 Orange Avenue, Long Beach, CA) on Sunday, December 7^th at 10:00 AM for our worship service.

Our Lead Pastor, Rev, Scott Andrews, will preach a sermon titled “Highly Favored” from Luke 1:46-55.

Fire Within Us will share an anthem titled “A Time for Advent.” Our Chancel Choir will share special music titled “The Angel Gabriel.”

We hope to see you on Sunday.

GIVING ON LINE

While placing our offering in the plate each Sunday is the way many of us grew up giving to the church, it is no longer the only way to give. At Cal Heights UMC, we utilize Vanco for our online giving.

Scan the QR code to the right to use this service.

ADVENT 2025

Advent is upon us once again. The Sundays of Advent this year are November 30 and December 7, 14, and 21. Each week this year promises to be a celebration not to be missed. Through decoration, music, and word, we at Cal Heights will also prepare ourselves for the Christ child to enter our lives.

We'll look at Mary’s visit to Elizabeth as we read from Luke 1:47-55 on December 14. We ask that everyone wear their favorite PINK clothing on this day!

And finally, on December 21, we will read from Matthew 1:18-25. The emphasis will be on Joseph's decision to wed Mary.

Advent concludes on December 24 with our Christmas Eve service.

We hope you can join us for the Advent season!

MISTLETOE WILL BE AVAILABLE

Is there something missing from your Christmas decorating? On Sunday, December 14 Cub Scout Jack Dyer (son of Peter and Jamie Dyer) will be selling mistletoe in Hughes Hall right after church,

DON'T MISS out on this opportunity to make your home Christmas decorating complete.

POINSETTIAS

Our sanctuary will once again be decorated with Poinsettias for the last Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve. Poinsettias can be ordered by clicking this link and downloading an order form, through the handout available on Sunday mornings during worship, or by stopping into the church office to pick up an order form.

On the form, please designate "In Honor of" for those still living or "In Memory of" for those who have passed on to glory.

The cost is $15.00, and the deadline for ordering is Wednesday, December 17th.

LIVING NATIVITY

Plans are in the works for a Living Nativity at Cal Heights UMC. We need a few volunteers. Contact Millie Mendez-Andrews at (760) 702-1282 or by email at millieperu@gmail.com if you are interested. The plan is to have the Living Nativity on Friday, December 19 from 6:00 to 7:00 PM.

HYGIENE PRODUCTS

We encourage everyone to bring hygiene products for the Long Beach Rescue Mission to the church on or before Sunday, December 21.

Items needed include:

·       Shampoo

·       Conditioner

·       Toothpaste

·       Toothbrushes

·       Hand and body lotion

·       Feminine Products

·       Q-tips

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

Help celebrate all our December birthdays during Coffee Fellowship on Sunday, December 21.

Our December birthdays include:

William Trunnelle - December 4

Xenia Andrews - December 5

Peggy Dougherty - December 7

Christian Von Gremp - December 9

Cassandra Geohegan - December 10

Noah Keefer - December 10

Ron Koelling - December 10

Keith White - December 10

Barbara White - December 15

Melody Doukenick - December 16

Evangelina Reina - December 19

Paige Hardin - December 23

Ryan Hardison - December 28

BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE

A special worship service will be held at Los Altos UMC on Sunday, December 21. A “Blue Christmas (or Longest Night) Service” will be held at 4:00 PM. 

This will be a time to remember and celebrate the lives of those we have lost, to acknowledge the ending of relationships, and to bring comfort to those who have gone through other painful transitions in their lives. Rev Scott will be one of those leading the service.

CHRISTMAS EVE 2025

Our Christmas Eve service will be on Wednesday, December 24 at 7:00 PM. Scripture and music will be used to lead us to the birth of Christ and the visit of the shepherds. The scripture reading will be from Luke 2:1-20. Rev. Scott Andrews will share a sermon titled "Jesus is Born." Our music will be a variety of hymns and an anthem.

We will conclude this year’s service inside the sanctuary with candle-lighting.

EPIPHANY SUNDAY

While Humphrey the Camel has had his adventures during Advent, the Maji have been travelling to Bethlehem. We celebrate their arrival on Sunday, January 4 during our Sunday worship service!

Come celebrate these mysterious travelers with song and word.

UNHANGING OF THE GREENS

We invite everyone to join us for Unhanging of the Greens on Sunday, January 4 following the 10:00 AM service. Help is needed in carefully taking down the decorations that blessed our sanctuary during Advent and Christmas.

Poinsettias can be picked up at this time also.

NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS

We will gather NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS for the Broken Loaf Food Pantry at Lakewood UMC on Sunday, January 4. All items for the Broken Loaf can be placed in the Narthex.

Food pantries like the Broken Loaf are being hit extremely hard currently. They are filling the gap that many of our neighbors find themselves in right now. What ever you can give is very much appreciated!

HARMONY BOUND CRAFTERS

The Harmony Bound Crafters are meeting on first and second Saturdays of each month from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 

Please contact Donna Jenks (562-209-2833) to let her know if you will be joining them.

HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT?

Do you have an announcement for The Messenger? You are invited to send information to the church office for inclusion in The Messenger.

Email office@calheightsumc.org no later than Wednesday at noon.

BEING THE CHURCH UPDATES

BEING THE CHURCH, LONG BEACH VIDEO UP-DATE

Journey to Christmas

@ Everyone’s Inn

Grace on 3rd UMC

2325 E. Third St.

Long Beach, CA 90814

Wednesdays, December 3, 10, & 17, 2025

5:45 - 7:30 PM

Cost: $8 pp/ $30 max per family

No one turned away for lack of funds.

Start getting ready now for our Dec. 3 Holiday Kahoot competition! 

Join the community for a mid-week meal, relaxed worship and lots of cheer. Each week, we will learn about our Christmas story with all ages together. Plus, Christmas crafts and music. Hope to see you there! 

Please email Pastor Melinda (Melinda@BeingtheChurchLB.org) to learn more or volunteer to help make dinner church happen.

Sign up in the Church Center App or under “signups” at www.BeingtheChurchLB.org

Servant Sunday

December 7, 2025

10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Long Beach Rescue Mission

1335 Pacific Ave

Long Beach, CA 90813

We will partner with the Long Beach Rescue Mission to serve our neighbors in need. We will be preparing and serving a hot breakfast to mission residents as well as helping with some much needed inventory and reorganizing. We will have a moment of prayer and communion amid all of our work together, too. We will be standing a lot; please wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes. Families are welcome with children under 16 years accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Please register early as this project has a limited number of participants. We will host another volunteer opportunity as we see that numbers reach the maximum! God is good to send many faithful servants!



Sign up in the Church Center App or online under “Sign Ups” at www.BeingtheChurchLB.org

Young Adult Holiday Lights Duffy Boat

Friday, Dec. 12

4:00 - 6:30 PM

86 N. Marina Dr.

Long Beach, CA 90803



RSVP Today!

It’s a Christmastime Young Adults tradition! Dress in your best holiday gear, and join us for a fun duffy boat ride in the LB canals. Cost will be shared by participants - approx. $30-$35 per person. Free parking with Ballast Point and Malainey’s Grill, and The Boathouse.  

RSVP and more info – Pastor Melinda (e: Melinda@BeingtheChurchLB.org).



Also in the Church Center App 

Christmas Party!

Sunday, December 14

5:00 PM

Belmont Heights UMC

317 Termino Avenue

Long Beach, CA 90814

We are getting together for a festive and fun time to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  Invite a friend and join us for some Christmas crafts, cookie decorating, yummy snacks, caroling in the neighborhood and the annual UGLY SWEATER CONTEST!  See you there for a wonderful, holiday time. 

If you can help with set up or clean up, please contact Pastor Bomi (E: pastor@belmontheightsumc.org)

HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT?

Do you have an announcement for The Messenger? You are invited to send information to the church office for inclusion in The Messenger.

Email office@calheightsumc.org no later than Wednesday at noon.