The season of Advent is a gift from God. It’s a special time of the year when families, friends, and churches across dominations join together to celebrate the incarnation… the wonder that somehow God became human and walked this earth in the Person of Jesus.
And yet, sometimes we get so bogged down in the parties, shopping and “things we have to do” that we miss the wonder.
And so this year we offer an opportunity to Slow Down. Plug into the activities that will help you connect with God in this season of Wonder.
We’re all busy; even at PUMC we will be busy with a lot of activities this Advent Season. We offer different activities because God speaks to each of us in a way meant just for us. But slowing down doesn’t mean dropping out. Slow down and look for Christ! Our events are places where you might find Christ. Not everything is tuned for everyone. Pray and consider where God may be leading you to spend your precious time this season.
The “Drop Down” boxes below are like gifts. Open the ones which seem to have your name on it. Dig in and enjoy the wonder of seeing Jesus this Christmas season.
===== WEEK 1 =====
SUNDAY 11/29: WORSHIP SERVICES
FRIDAY 12/4: LIVING WATER CONNECTIONS
===== WEEK 2 =====
SUNDAY 12/6: WORSHIP SERVICES
THURSDAY 12/10: OUR FATHER'S HOUSE PAGEANT
===== WEEK 3 =====
SUNDAY 12/13: WORSHIP SERVICES
And during the 11:00 Service the 4 year olds from Our Father’s House will present their Christmas program. Be inspired by these enthusiastic kids. Worship will NOT be “boring!” (see pastor Jim’s 11/8 sermon).
SUNDAY 12/13: CANTATA
WEDNESDAY 12/16: MIDDLE SCHOOL CONCERT
THURSDAY 12/17: FRIENDLYS FUNDRAISER
SATURDAY 12/19: NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME SINGERS
===== WEEK 4 =====
SUNDAY 12/20: WORSHIP SERVICES
SUNDAY 12/20: WHITE GIFT / BIRTHDAY PARTY
SUNDAY 12/20: GLOUCESTER COUNTY CHILDREN'S CHOIR
SUNDAY 12/20: BLAST CHRISTMAS PARTY
MONDAY 12/21: BLUE CHRISTMAS
THURSDAY 12/24: CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
- 4:00 PM- Geared to families with young children.
- 7:30 PM – Traditional candlelighting service.
- Week 1: Sunday Nov. 29 through Saturday Dec. 5
- Week 2: Sunday Dec. 6 through Saturday Dec. 12
- Week 3: Sunday Dec. 13 through Saturday Dec. 19
- Week 4: Sunday Dec. 20 through Christmas Day
This worship service and Sunday School will both be held at 10:15 AM.
How is Advent Like Lent?
In both seasons, we are called to prepare. Listen to some thoughts from Pastor Jim (given before his sermon of 12/6/15, entitled: “How Many Shopping Days are Left?”)….
What is Advent? What’s an Advent Wreath?
Advent is celebrated during the four Sundays preceding Christmas. This year is a bit different in that the first Sunday in Advent happens to be in November instead of December. But one of the ways we mark each Sunday in advent is with the lighting of a candle on our Advent Wreath. Each candle represents a different attribute (or “fruit”) of our relationship with God. The center candle is lit during our Christmas Eve service; it represents that Christ is among us.
Check out the following video from “Chuck Knows Church”…
What Happens After Advent?
Sundays throughout the Christian Calendar have names that follow the season. For example, the four Sundays before Christmas are called “First Sunday in Advent,” “Second Sunday in Advent,” etc. But what happens when you have Christmas Day- usually in the middle of the week- and then you come back to church the next Sunday? That Sunday has its own special name: “First Sunday after Christmas Day” (not really imaginative…).
Epiphany
The next Sunday (the first one in January) is called “Epiphany Sunday.” Click Here for more info. For the next month or so our Sundays will be called the “__Sunday after the Epiphany“.
Lent
The season of Lent begins a certain number of days before Easter Sunday (we’ll just leave it at that for now…). And so, in 2016 at least, on Sunday Feb. 14 we’ll switch from “__Sunday after the Epiphany” to “__Sunday in Lent“. After that you get into Easter and Pentecost… but we’ll talk about that later.
