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HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Does it surprise you that it’s time for New Year’s greetings? Unlike the regular calendar which waits for January 1st, December marks the New Year for the Christian church.
With the season of the church year called "Advent" we begin the journey of another church year. The four weeks of Advent are a time of preparation for Christ’s arrival as an infant born in Bethlehem long ago. The word advent itself means "coming" and during this season Christians prepare themselves and each other to receive the
promised Savior.
For early Christians, Advent was a time of joyous remembrance of the incarnation of God in human form in Jesus. Some Christians added the emphasis that Advent was a time to "clean house" spiritually in preparation for the Lord’s final coming. You see, there are really three "comings" we celebrate with Advent:
* our Lord’s coming into the world the first time, two thousand years ago,
* his presence among us here and now experienced in various ways including in
communion and baptism, in prayer, in Christian community and service, and
* his promise to return as the victorious judge over evil, which marks his final coming
at the end of time.
This year we will be observing Advent in a variety of ways:
1. We will be using an Advent wreath with one candle lit for each of the four weeks of the season.
2. Each week will have an Advent theme related to the wreath and our worship. This
year’s themes are
Faith (December 2), Hope (December 9), Joy (December 16) and Love (December 23).
3. We will have resources at the back of the sanctuary for personal study and prayer as well as family
Advent worship.
4. We invite the church family to gather on Sunday, December 2nd at 4:30 p.m. to help decorate for
the season. There will be a time to sing around the Christmas tree and special activities for children. After
the Advent Workshop we will have a Pasta Fiesta at 6:00 to raise money for missions. Reservations are
required.
5. Two small groups will meet for fellowship, study and prayer during Advent: "When
the World Breaks
Your Heart" Mondays at 7:30 p.m., and "An Advent Journey" Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Sign up on
the office door.
6. There will be an Advent Prayer Service on Sunday, December 16 at 6:30 in the
sanctuary.
Don’t miss out this New Year! Take advantage of these opportunities for the spiritual reflection and renewal you need, and prepare yourself to joyfully welcome Christ and celebrate His birth.
Grace and peace,
Susan
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Questions
about Middletown United Methodist Church should be sent to the Church Office. |
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7108 Fern Circle · Middletown, MD 21769
voice: (301) 371-5550 · fax: (301) 473-8090
TTY: (301) 473-9892 |
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