Sunday School for PreK-6th grade during worship: This Sunday theme is Billy Bob’s Barnyard
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
Make Sandwiches for Dignity Center – Sunday, December 15, 10:00 am: All supplies are provided, you bring the willing hands. Come spend a few minutes in service for those in need. No need to sign up in advance – just go to the kitchen at 10:00 am.
2020 Giving Envelopes will be available for pick-up this Sunday, December 15. If you would like to receive giving envelopes, and didn’t indicate so on your pledge card, please email Cathy Carlson at cathycarlson1@gmail.com, or call her at 952-486-7452, and she’ll add your name to the list.
Holiday Bake Sale – Sunday, December 15: O Come All Ye Faithful …. bakers and buyers. Please bring your baked goods, jellies, and candies to the church kitchen by 9:30 am on Sunday, December 15. They may also be dropped off in the kitchen marked with your name and “UMW Bake Sale” during office hours. Note, the office closes at 1:00 pm on Fridays. Please have your donations ready for display, if possible. All proceeds from the sale go to mission.
Blue Christmas Service – Saturday, December 21, 5:00 pm: The Blue Christmas service traditionally takes place on the Winter solstice, the darkest day of the year. Christmas is a jolly and celebratory holiday for many, but Christmas is also a time of pain, loneliness, and sorrow for many others. This Blue Christmas service is geared specifically to those who struggle during the holidays for whatever reason. All are invited to join us for this plaintive worship service of darkness and light, despair and hope, sorrow and gladness, pain and healing. We will gather for a small reception of apple cider and baked goods after the service. More information will be coming throughout December. If you would like to help out with this important service for our church and our community, please contact Matt Reaves: matt.reaves@minnetonkaumc.org
Hat and Mitten Tree: Thankyou to those who have donated yarn to make hats for the hat and mitten tree. More yarn is needed to provide more warmth to those in need. Stop and see the wonderful hats on the tree in the lobby.
Adult Education Survey: HERE is a link to a Survey Monkey about Adult Education and Spiritual Growth at MUMC. It will take LESS THAN 5 MINUTES to complete and will BE A HUGE HELP to us as we plan education and growth opportunities for 2020. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZFW2MKR
Pub Theology: Pub Theology will not meet in December. We will resume on January 16, 2020.
Simpson Homeless Memorial Dinner, Thursday, December 19, 5:00-9:00 pm: In our MUMC tradition, MUMC will serve the Community Meal following the 35th Annual Homeless Memorial March. The Community Meal will be served at Plymouth Congregational Church and the shelter meal will be served at Simpson Shelter. Thanks to all who have already signed up to donate turkey or desserts and to serve at this event. Ten more pans of turkey will help us serve the expected 300+ guests. Turkey pans are available at the Welcome Desk. Contact Kathy Arendt at kjarendt@aol.comor 612.810.0699.More information about the event can be found at https://www.simpsonhousing.org/events/memorial-march/
Lessons and Carols Worship – Sunday, December 22: The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a service of celebrating the waiting and arrival of the Christ child. The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is told in nine short Bible readings from Genesis, the prophetic books, and the Gospels, interspersed with Christmas Carols, choir music, solos, and instrumental music. Prepare the way of the Lord by joining us for a morning filled to the brim with holiday music.
Dignity Center Coat Drive: with the cold and snow now upon us, please share your warmth by donating winter coats for adults. Extra-large sizes are appreciated! Please place your donations in the bin in Fellowship Hall. Donations will be taken to The Dignity Center on Monday, December 16, following Sandwich Making on Sunday, December 15.
ResourceWest Winter Warm Wear: MUMC continues to collect donations for ResourceWest Children & Youth programs. Donations of new or gently used jackets, snow pants, waterproof gloves, mittens, hats and boots for ages 0-18 will be warmly welcomed! Please place your donations in the big blue bin in Fellowship Hall. Deadline for donations, Wednesday, December 18.
ResourceWest Toy Chest: in our MUMC Christmas giving tradition, we are collecting donations of new toys and games for kids and teens, ages 0-18. When family budgets are stretched thin due to rising costs for housing, energy, transportation and food, parents have little left to buy gifts for the holidays. ResourceWest’s Toy Chest provides new gifts to over 1,200 children in our community. Families receive one large item, one smaller item, and a bonus bag for each child. Gift ideas are posted in Fellowship Hall and at this link: https://www.resourcewest.org/toy-chest-drive/. There you will also find a link to the Amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/M4FTFG8XZOLT. Your gifts will brighten smiles on Christmas morning!Deadline for donations, Wednesday, December 18.
Equal Exchange products make great Christmas gifts: to support social justice and caring for creation, MUMC has been partnering with Equal Exchange, a worker-owned cooperative, for many years. We brew and serve their Fair-Trade organic coffees every Sunday and sell their coffee, tea and chocolate products in the kiosk in the lobby. For every pound of product that MUMC and other congregations purchase, 15 cents goes directly to the UMCOR project to support small-scale farmers around the world. Locally, your purchases of Equal Exchange products contribute to MUMC missions all year round. Please stop at the kiosk and pick up the perfect stocking stuffer!
Reading Glasses for Homeless: Many thanks to all who have donated eyeglasses to the Hennepin County Health Care for the Homeless program. Your gift has enabled the simple task, like reading a prescription correctly or filling out a form. MUMC will continue to collect reading glasses (aka “cheaters”). Please pick up a few pairs at the drugstore and place them in the bin in Fellowship Hall.
