Good evening, parish,
On this, our fourth Sunday of Advent, we will focus on Bethlehem. At the 8:30 am service, we will look at the significance of why God chose Bethlehem as the birthplace for Jesus. At the 10 am service, the Park Avenue Pickers will sing carols before the service, and our Youth Group will present a Christmas Pageant from the animals’ point of view. There will also be an evening Blue Christmas service (in person and live-stream) at 6 pm. A Blue Christmas service is specifically crafted to engage those who have sustained loss during the year, or who simply feel ‘blue’ for whatever reason. It is a service of healing to help acknowledge the challenges of grieving in the midst of celebration.
Before this, though, on Saturday, we will be remembering and celebrating the life of Debra Humason-Fulgham who passed away this past Tuesday, following a lengthy, yet courageous battle with cancer. There is a calling hour from 10 to 11 am, with a memorial service at 11 am, and a reception following. Please keep Debra’s husband Stanford, children Koby, Saphryn and Michael, parents Marcia and Carroll Akers, and sister Dawn Beaule and husband Jeff in prayer.
Saturday evening, at 6 pm, Len Lednum hopes to broadcast the 2021 Annual (virtual) Christmas Concert from UMC of Auburn as a live-stream. The concert may be watched on You Tube, the UMCA facebook page, or the website, www.auburnmethodist.org. It will be posted to the website as well for any who wish to view it at a later time.
There will be two Christmas Eve candlelight services: Family Service with handbell choir at 5 pm (in person and live-stream, the handbell choir will also play a set of anthems prior to the service, beginning at 4:40 pm) and Lessons & Carols at 9 pm (in person and zoom). The church office will be closed on December 24th and 31st.
God’s joy be with you,
Pastor Steve Bascom, UMCA