Greetings Parish,
With joy, I invite you to our “Sounds of the Season” Concert tomorrow (Saturday, December 10th, 4 pm, UMCA, in person and livestream)! The UMC of Auburn Handbell Choir, Wesleyan Singers, Park Avenue Pickers, Organist Ryan Slocum, and Mitch Thomas & Friends will join together to celebrate the holidays in song. Following the concert, we invite you to linger for home-made cookies and fellowship. There is no charge for the concert, but we will gather a free-will donation to support the Calvary UMC City Mission programs. Thank you to all who are helping to offer this annual tradition to the Auburn-Lewiston community!
On Sunday, we continue the theme, “Five Children of Christmas” by lingering with the story of Tiny Tim in Charles Dickens,’ “A Christmas Carol.” The prophet Isaiah envisions the healing compassion and capacity of God’s coming Messiah, Mary offers praise to God for choosing her to be the mother of Jesus and for advocating in behalf of the marginalized, James encourages waiting with patience for the revealing of God’s miracles, and John the Baptist receives confirmation of Jesus’ call through the extraordinary reports of signs and wonders.
This Sunday is also Confirmation Sunday! Three will be baptized, six will confirm their baptismal faith, and nine will unite with UMC of Auburn as new church members. The Handbell Choir will offer the prelude, and the Wesleyan Singers will sing an advent song of reflection. I am deeply grateful to all who helped with the Confirmation journey, but especially Cherie Poole who went above and beyond to foster memories for a lifetime. The mentoring component will be experienced in January at a faith-sharing luncheon.
The Concert will linger on our church website, www.auburnmethodist.org, for later viewing, just as our Blue Christmas service from last Sunday is currently posted for viewing. Next Sunday, December 18th, the youth will present UMCA’s annual Christmas Pageant at the 10:30 am service. Christmas Eve candlelight services are: 5:30 pm Family Service of Song and 9 pm service of Lessons & Carols. There will be one single service on Christmas Day at 10:30 am.
See you at the concert!
Pastor Steve Bascom
UMC of Auburn, pastor
Calvary UMC, Lewiston, coordinating pastor