The Spirit of Sanlando eNews for December 15, 2021 | |
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Sanlando Celebrates Christmas!
Sanlando has had many successful and exciting events over the last several weeks, thanks to YOU, our wonderful and appreciated Sanlando family. Here's a few notes from our staff to thank you for your support and time during this exuberant Christmas season.
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I want to express the biggest thank you to all of those that attended, volunteered and watched our Christmas VBS and Pageant on Sunday, December 12th. We had 40 children attend and 25 volunteers! In just 4 hours, we practiced 2 songs that we sang during the pageant, learned the lines to the Christmas Blessing story to perform and made a few crafts to take home.
-Katie Hamilton, Director of Children's Ministries
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Youth Sunday School brunch was a success! We were able to serve pancakes, fruit, and sausage to youth who were volunteering in Christmas VBS and to those who usually attend Sunday School. Thanks to Emily Guglielmello, Lenora Pitts, and Kathy Moore for the generosity of your time and resources to make that happen!
We are in need of teacher for Youth Sunday School during the 11AM service in 2022. Please contact Sheryl at s[email protected] if you would like to volunteer once or twice a month, or every week!
-Sheryl Bane, Congregational Care and Discipleship Coordinator
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The Youth White Elephant and the Crossroads Christmas Party last Sunday, December 12th, were a blast! We ate great food, played fun games, had an ugly sweater contest and participated in an exciting White Elephant gift exchange. Thanks for those who helped make these parties a great time, and thanks to the youth and young adults who came out!
-Zack Kralik, Director of Youth and Young Adults Ministry
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Thank you so much to all involved at Christmas at Sanlando to make it such a powerful evening of Christmas worship! I'm so grateful to the choir and soloists for their faithful attendance to weekly rehearsals starting all the way back in September, and to our AVL team for the many hours put in behind the scenes to make the night a success. Thank you also to the rest of our Sanlando staff who supported and helped with greeting, reservations, food, etc. It truly was an evening that glorified God and brought everyone into the Christmas spirit!
This Sunday (Dec. 19), our Worship Choir will be leading us in a Christmas Cantata during the 11 AM worship service. There will be featured music from the choir along with instrumentalists, interspersed with scripture readings and a short reflection from Pastor Jonathan. We hope you make it out this Christmas Sunday for this special music event.
-Amy McCutchen, Director of Music and Worship Ministries
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Our first semester at Sanlando Christian School is almost over, and our children have grown so much already! They've spent this month learning the Christmas story, and this morning our kindergarten class performed a special Nativity play based on the Martin Waddell book, "Room for a Little One." Each animal in the play was looking for a resting spot, and eventually Joseph & Mary showed up as well. It was a little crowded in there, but Kind Ox said it best: "There's always room for a little one here!" As we work our way through what can be some crazy busy days, our prayer is that each of you will find room for Jesus, because he is the very best gift!
-Erica Holloway, Director of Sanlando Christian School
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Our 15th Annual Christmas Parade took place this past Saturday in the Mobile Manor Community. A big thank you to all of those who made this event possible! From the volunteers who set up the Angle Tree and crafted the Angels to those whom adopted the Angels and thoughtfully purchased those special gifts, sorted and wrapped, drove in the parade, walked the parade, and all the behind scenes work that went into this ministry! | |
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Santa and Mrs. Clause were joined by their Elves in passing out gifts, taking photos with families during their special visit and sharing the Spirit of Christmas with all. We are especially grateful for our special partnership with Seminole County Sheriff's Office, and appreciative for the care and service excellence they provide in our local communities every day! The remaining gifts from the parade were donated yesterday to the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home.
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It was a joy to witness the generosity from Sanlando UMC being poured into our community! Both the residents and volunteers were blessed during this time.
-Josh Miller, Director of Operations
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The Sanlando Christmas Telethon was another uplifting success this year! Thank you to everyone who generously donated. | |
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Together, we have raised at least $13,410.00 that will be shared equally between the following three organizations: | |
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The Christian Sharing Center
thesharingcenter.org
Providing essential resources to those in need while ensuring dignity, reflecting Christian generosity, and sharing God's love.
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Sanlando United Methodist Church
www.sanlando.org
Building a community of faith where everyone is invited to become committed followers of Jesus Christ.
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Impower
www.impowerfl.org
Dedicated to the mission of changing lives by protecting, counseling, teaching, and inspiring individuals and families to reach their full potential.
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If you phoned in a pledge and still need to give your contribution, you can quickly and safely give it HERE.
You can always mail your check to the church or place it in the offering basket in worship. Please make certain that you list Telethon on the memo.
The staff and volunteers that worked together to make this event happen had a blast again this year. I'd like to share a special mention of appreciation for Judy Wright, who volunteered her time and talent to coordinate the phone bank and the contribution processing.
I am so grateful for our church family!
-Pastor Jonathan, Senior Pastor
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Blue Christmas Service of the Longest Night
Tuesday, December 21st at 7pm.
The Blue Christmas service is a reflective service specifically designed for those suffering from grief and loss. Blue Christmas services focus on the comfort and light God offers during dark times. Knowing that the other attendees are in the same situation can be a relief as you do not need to "pretend" to be happy or joyful at this time of year if you are not. Yet you can still draw comfort from the peaceful tone of the service and sharing the experience with others. All are welcome to attend.
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Have you made plans for Christmas Eve?
Come spend it with us!
We will be having three Christmas Eve Candlelight services this season. Join us for worship at 3pm, 5pm or 7pm on Friday, December 24th. If you are not able to attend in person, the 5pm candlelight service will be live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook.
You can make a reservation by contacting the church office at 407.571.2100 ext. 109 or [email protected], signing up at the Welcome Center on Sunday mornings, or filling out our online RSVP form HERE. Nursery care is available for children ages 0-4.
Since our church policy has allowed for masks to be optional in our services, we have created a special mask-required section of seats reserved for those who wish to sit with others who are wearing masks. Everyone attending our services has the choice as to whether or not they would like to wear a mask, but this special mask-required seating section will assure all worshipers feel comfortable and safe during our Christmas Eve services.
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Ladies of all ages, mark your calendars for an event coming
March 3-4, 2022. You will not want to miss this!
We are bringing IF Gathering to Sanlando via livestream.
This event takes place in Dallas, TX (tickets sold out within hours this year) and via livestream all over the world. Some of the featured speakers are Christine Caine, Matt Chandler, Sadie Robertson, Ann Voskamp and more. Join Sheryl Bane and other ladies from Sanlando as we have an exciting weekend of spiritual development, fun, and memory making. To find out more about this event, click HERE and keep your eye out for upcoming details we will be planning for our event at Sanlando.
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IMPOWER thanks the United Methodist Women for volunteering on Saturday, December 4th at The Village, an IMPOWER Program. | |
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Before a new resident moves in to The Village, our team cleans, scrubs and disinfects all surfaces to ensure a sanitary and safe transition.
We are SO grateful for the help of the UMW to not only improve the space, but for the laughs and fellowship that morning at The Village.
This volunteer day was following the UMW All Member Meeting in October where IMPOWER shared about The Village, IMPOWER’s Transitional Housing Program which offers safe, affordable housing combined with comprehensive wraparound supports for homeless and former foster youth ages 18-24.
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Pictured: UMW President Live Kotkin, and members, Lesley McKeen, Erica Holloway, Carol King, and Kay Van Der Heyden transformed a room in the Women’s Residence. | |
For more information on volunteering, contact Jasmine Flores at [email protected]. Thank you for caring for The Village and IMPOWER. | |
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A message from Joyce McDonald,
Staff Parish Relations Committee chair:
As we approach Christmas, the Staff Parish Relations Committee would like to extend an opportunity to all church members. We are blessed with an extremely talented and dedicated staff at SUMC. Amen! The staff's unwavering commitment to maintaining as much normalcy as possible during these times has benefited not only us, but the Longwood community as well. We'd like to bless our staff in return with something extra this Christmas. SPRC will be accepting contributions to the staff Christmas fund so that Sanlando might honor our staff with a Christmas bonus.
If you would like to participate, please indicate "Staff Christmas" on your gift. Your gifts can be received in the offering baskets during the Sunday services, dropped off at the church office, or through the "Staff Christmas" designation on our website (visit directly HERE). We would like to receive all donations by Sunday, December 19th so checks can be distributed to the staff at the beginning of Christmas week.
Thank you for your consideration, and if you have any questions, please contact Joyce McDonald, SPRC chair, at [email protected].
Merry Christmas!
Staff Parish Relations Committee
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This week, December 19th, the flowers have been provided anonymously.
If you are interested in providing flowers for the altar, we have several upcoming Sundays available! The price remains at $30 for each flower arrangement.
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For questions or to choose a date, please call (407) 571-2100 or email [email protected]. | |
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Youth Annual Christmas Party
Sunday, December 19th, 5 -7 PM, The Point Youth Room
Join us for our annual Christmas Party! We will have some delicious food, a few crazy games, and a repertoire of the best dance songs. This is a great opportunity for you to wear your nice suit or pretty dress. And bring a friend!
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Join Pastor Jonathan and Sheryl Bane on Zoom to discuss our Advent devotional book, The Fullness of Time. | |
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Our final Advent Devotion will be
Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at noon.
Click Here to join on Zoom
If you haven't picked up your copy of our Advent devotional yet, it's not too late! You can pick one up outside of the Sanctuary on Sunday mornings, drop by the office to pick one up, or email Sheryl Bane at [email protected] to have one mailed to you.
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Jesus came in the fullness of time. He will come again in the fullness of time. Wherever Jesus the Christ is, the time is brought to its fullness. | |
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We often experience our time as empty. We hope that tomorrow, next week, next month or next year the real things will happen. But sometimes we experience the fullness of time. That is when it seems that time stands still, that past, present, and future become one; that everything is present where we are; and that God, we, and all that is have come together in total unity. This is the experience of God’s time. “When the completion of the time came [that is: in the fullness of time], God sent his Son, born of a woman” (Galatians 4:4), and in the fullness of time God will “bring everything together under Christ, as head, everything in the heavens and everything on earth” (Ephesians 1:10). It is in the fullness of time that we meet God.
Henri J. M. Nouwen
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Cancer Support Group
Have you been affected by cancer in your life or the life of someone you love? Join Sheryl Bane on Sundays at our cancer support group from 7:30-9:00pm in the church parlor. The participants and content of this group will remain confidential so participants may feel free to come and openly share their experiences. A Zoom option will be available for those who want to join remotely.
Please email Sheryl to RSVP at [email protected].
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Fresh Bread Bible Study LIVE @ First Watch! | |
All men are invited to join in our "Fresh Bread" Bible Study which reviews a few scriptures, what their historical context and messages were, and how they apply to us today. The meetings are in person and on ZOOM, Monday mornings at 8AM. | |
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Please contact Hugh Moore for more information and/or questions [email protected] or (407)404-4905. Click HERE for a complete "Fresh Bread" daily reading list. | |
Salvation Army Bell Ringers
Thanks to all the volunteers who have signed up to help with the Salvation Army Bell Ringing this year. The Salvation Army is requiring all Bell Ringers to wear masks this Christmas Season, so please come prepared. Below is a list of the schedule and volunteers who have signed up.
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Dates: Dec 16th, 17th and 18th.
Time: 9am to 7pm (1 hours shifts)
Place: Publix on State Road 434 & Wekiva Springs Rd (Springs Plaza)
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Thursday, Dec 16
9-10am: Cindy/Bill Van Gundy
10-11am: Erwin Wunderlich
11am-12pm: Dewey Dixon
12-1pm: Debbie Swords
1-2pm: Johny Blunt
2-3pm: Hal/Lois Womersley
3-4pm: Jinny Copeland
4-5pm: Sheryl Bane
5-6pm: John Brennan
6-7pm: Ron/Nancy Kenney
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Friday, Dec 17
9-10am: Tim Holcomb
10-11am: Connie Patterson/
Virginia Langston
11am-12pm: Lamar Folsom
12-1pm: Shane/Camden
Robinett
1-2pm: Gayle Hamilton
2-3pm:Jinny/Katelyn Copeland
3-4pm: Jill Mross
4-5pm: David Beckman
5-6pm: Ryann Taylor
6-7pm: Ron Kenney
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Saturday, Dec 18
9-10am: Brian Mills
10-11am: Frank/Joyce
McDonald
11am-12pm: Jennifer/Phoenix
Taylor
12-1pm: Brian Mills
1-2pm: Loretta Bagnell
2-3pm: Kitty Cannon
3-4pm: Tina Phillips
4-5pm: Tom/Judie Harris
5-6pm: Kathy Mills
6-7pm: Ron/Nancy Kenney
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USHERS NEEDED:
If you are interested in serving Sanlando, we are in need of ushers for our Christmas Eve services. To volunteer, please select a service and time slot HERE.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
As we return to many of our activities at Sanlando, we are looking for volunteers to serve in different capacities. All of the following opportunities are vital to our church ministry and programs and we encourage everyone to become involved in serving God and Sanlando. Here are several ways for you to volunteer:
- Usher
- Communion Server
- Sunday Morning Breakfast
- Wednesday Evening Dinners
- Welcome Center
You may sign up at the Welcome Center on Sunday morning, emailing [email protected] or by calling the church office.
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Remember to bring in your soda-pop tabs! Drop them in the beautiful Ronald McDonald House collection bin outside at the Welcome Center on Sundays. All money collected will help with operating costs at the Ronald McDonald House. Thanks for your support for this worthy cause! | | | |
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Online giving is safe, secure and easy. Just click HERE.
It is not necessary to create a profile.
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Rev. Jonathan Tarman, Senior Pastor
Rev. W. Dean Witten, Pastor Emeritus
1890 West State Road 434 - Longwood, FL 32750
Phone: 407.571.2100 Fax: 407.571.2121
Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday 9:30am to 4:30pm
Friday, closed
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