Celebration Service!

First Sunday of Advent!

Masks are optional at our services at this time. As a congregation, we respect those who choose to wear a mask out of personal concern/safety.

CHILDREN'S MESSAGE

READING Isaiah 9 Lay Reader Jake Emerick

ANTHEM "The Eyes of All Wait Upon Thee"

READING Luke 2:36-38

MESSAGE "Stories of Advent: Anna" Rev. Dan Haugh

COMMUNION

USHERS Deacons

Children's Worship

This Sunday, December 1st, for Children's Worship we will continue talking about, learning about and begin working on the annual Christmas Pageant!

Miss Jessica is joining us as our Musical Director, and we'll take a look at the Script, and talk about all of the various roles, and look at some of the music!

This year Pageant Sunday is on Sunday December 15th during the 9:30 am Worship Service and we will spend time on the next few weeks on Sunday mornings working on all things Pageant, and also will have a dress rehearsal the day before on Saturday December 14th.

We also have some fun events coming up, on Sunday December 1st, Caroling and our Tree Lighting starting at 6:00 pm, and a special Story Hour with David McGaughey after morning Worship on Sunday December 8th!

 taryn@stowecommunitychurch.org 

Evening Service!

First Sunday of Advent!

Words of Welcome

Special Music “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”     Performed by: Jessica Della Pepa Clayton & Dan Bruce

Reading

Message        

Special Music  “Frozen Finale”  Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez

Prayers

Christmas Sing Along:

“A Little Bit of You”

“It’s beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas”

“Silver Bells”                                

“Winter Wonderland”              

Tree Lighting - Parsonage Park

A very special thank you to Dan Bruce, Jessica Della Pepa Clayton and to members of the “Frozen” Cast!

Thanksgiving Message from Pastor Dan!

Last week, I attended a pastor’s conference at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Arizona. This provided an opportunity to fast, pray, and reflect upon our shared ministry. This Thanksgiving weekend, I offer my deep gratitude to the members and friends of Stowe Community Church.

Your faithfulness, generosity, Christ-like witness, and intentional fellowship have been inspiring and sources of hope.

 Our Scriptures remind us to reflect on God’s goodness with gratitude. 

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18) 

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." (Psalm 100:4)

When we practice gratitude, we can focus on the Lord and cultivate deeper faith. This is helpful, especially during difficult and uncertain times. 

"We are to be grateful not just in the good times, but also in the bad times; to be grateful not just in plenty, but also in need; to maintain thankfulness not just in laughter, but also through tears and sorrow." —Brian McLaren

"Grace begets gratitude, which, in turn, widens our hearts toward greater goodness and love." —Diana Butler Bass

I invite you to read a post from Father Richard Rohr on gratefulness entitled “Take, Thanks, Break, Give”

https://cac.org/daily-meditations/take-thank-break-give-2022-11-24/

On Thursday we gathered with family and friends to feast and offer thanks around a table.

On Sunday we will also gather with family and friends as we come to the Lord’s Table to take, thanks, break, and give. Through Communion, we remember the sacrifice of Christ and the great lengths of God’s love. 

As the Church calendar begins anew with Advent, we gather to worship and prepare our hearts and minds to receive Jesus. 

This Sunday we light the Candle of Hope and will be reminded of the hope we have in Christ and what we experience together in our community. 

May your hearts be filled with thanksgiving to God and may the hope, peace, joy, and love of Christ be with you in this season ahead. 

"I thank my God for every remembrance of you, always in every one of my prayers for all of you, praying with joy for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."- Philippians 1: 3-6

Pastor Dan

Order Christmas Wreaths by December 4th!

Preorder your Christmas Wreath’s now. We are now taking orders for our wreaths this year. 

12” plain $26, Bow $28, fully decorated $30

16” plain $32, Bow $34, fully decorated $36

Please contact Nan Myers to place your order at foxleemanr@aol.com or 802-244-1471 by December 4th.

Purchase Tickets

Sign Up To Be An Usher!

Interested in being an usher? We are always looking for people willing to help at our 9:30 Celebration services! It's a good way to get know folks and be a vital part of Stowe Community Church! Thanks for helping!

Sign Up Here!

Children's Story Time December 8th!

Dear parents and children.

Join us at Stowe Community Church for a delightful Children's Story Time on Sunday, December 8th, from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM following the 9:30 service. We'll gather in the Fellowship Hall (downstairs) for a warm and festive time!

Enjoy hot cocoa and treats as we listen to some wonderful Christmas stories read by David McGaughy. Children of all ages from the community are welcome!

Come share in the joy of the season with us. We look forward to seeing you there!

Date: Sunday, December 8th

Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Location: Stowe Community Church, Fellowship Hall

Happy holidays,

Oana

Thank You from Pastor Ouma

Dear Karen,

This is to kindly let you know that the money has arrived safely in our account!

On behalf of the children of Nyalwodep I deeply appreciate what the church and you have done.

Thank you so much for your love and sacrifice. Pass our heartfelt gratitude to the Stowe Community Church. You are a wonderful people with unique and special hearts.

May God bless and keep you now and forevermore.

Pastor James Ouma

Christmas Tree Tags!

This year we have four opportunities for you to share your Christmas Joy with others. We will be putting up the Christmas Tree with tags to start collecting gifts and gift cards beginning December 1. Your help will go to provide joy to those in need at the following organizations:

• Department of Children and Families – Gift tags to help buy gifts for kids in need
• Clarina Howard Nichols – Gifts for women escaping domestic abuse
• Lamoille Family Center – Teen gift cards for helping families in need to celebrate
• Stowe Community – Helping families in need with gift cards for the holidays

The gits and gift cards are due by Sunday December 15th!

Mission of the Month - Lamoille Family Center

Join us in welcoming Julia Skonicki from the Lamoille Family Center in Morrisville for our December 8^th Mission Moment.

Since 1976, the Lamoille Family Center has encouraged, educated and celebrated families, reaching approximately 4,000 children, youth, parents and caregivers annually. They offer a host of services to families and children from birth to age twenty-four throughout the Lamoille Valley.

As one of fifteen Parent Child Centers across the state, the Family Center offers early care and education services, home visiting, parent education, playgroups, childcare resource and referral, youth services and emergency assistance. They provide a network of care for children, families and youth that weaves together the best practices of professionals, the wisdom and experience of families, and the strengths and hopes of the community.

For more information visit their website at: https://www.lamoillefamilycenter.org/

Green Tip of the Month!

It’s time to upgrade that toilet! If your toilet is from 1992 or earlier, you’re using 3-5 gallons with every flush. Modern toilets use as little as 1.3 gallons. The same goes for your old showerhead. Older models use 3 gallons of water per minute compared to modern ones which use 2 gallons per minute. This difference may seem slight but a family of four using modern low flow showerheads can save up to 20,000 gallons of water per year compared to old models. So treat yourself to a new toilet and showerhead while contributing to the economy and saving the planet.